Preach The Word

SUFFER THE CHILDREN -- Psalm 127

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0500

One grandparent said, “Grandchildren are God’s reward to us for not killing our children when they were teenagers.” Jeff Allen said, “Teenagers are God’s revenge on mankind. They let us see what it’s like to have someone created in our image who denies our existence and refuses to listen to us.” But listen to what God’s Word says about children: Psalm 127:3 (again): “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward." Proverbs 17:6: “Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.” Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 23:24: “The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.” But there is also a warning -- Proverbs 29:15: “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” I believe children have a special place in the heart of God and of our Lord Jesus. I also believe our greatest resource as a nation and as a church is our children. Sadly, though, in many homes in America children are regarded as a burden more than as a blessing. In many homes the children are ignored and even left to themselves. (May that NEVER be in a home that professes to be a “Christian” home!) I believe many young people right here in our city are longing for someone to give them a little positive attention. I believe a child desiring attention will take any kind of attention he/she can get. That may explain why some act out or act up. (Even negative attention is attention!) This message began to take form in my mind recently when I read something like this on Facebook: “If you want to get respect from others, you must respect others.” As I read that my mind went immediately to young people, children, especially with the new school year just starting. Having been around schools and the teaching profession for several years now - not just with my children, but serving as a substitute teacher and in school security - I have seen young people “act out” in order to get attention. It may range from being called down in front of the class to being sent to the principal’s office. Even though it is negative attention, it is attention that sets them apart from others. I am not a psychiatrist or psychologist, but I have observed people for a lot of years and have come to one conclusion: If you do not respect yourself, you likely will not respect others. I believe we have raised (a) generation(s) with little or no respect for themselves. With that thought in mind I would like to suggest some reasons that we are (and have been) raising generations that do not respect parents, teachers, law enforcement, but especially themselves.

I. WHAT YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TOLD.

II. WHAT YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD.

III. THE GREATEST THING YOUNG PEOPLE (ALL PEOPLE) NEED TO BE TOLD.

THE GRAND DOXOLOGY -- GLORY IN THE CHURCH -- Ephesians 3:20-21

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Paul has just finished pointing out and praising God for the unity that is in Jesus Christ and in His churches. A church is not to be a body divided over earthly considerations - ancestry, race, possessions, position, power, etc. Instead, it is to be a united body, united in Jesus, “That we should be to the praise of his glory,” (Ephesians 1:12). Having offered the petitions of vv. 16-19, the apostle realizes that such blessings are possible only through the grace of God. The demonstration of His grace deserves our praise, so in these last to verses of the chapter Paul breaks into a grand doxology of praise. DOXOLOGY = (doxa = glory) an expression of praise. We should feel compelled to join Paul in praising God after comprehending His love and grace. Paul praises the Lord for . . .

I. THE PROMISE OF GOD’S POWER - Vs. 20.

II. THE PLACE OF GOD’S PRAISE - VS. 21.

A FOUR-FOLD REQUEST -- Ephesians 3:14-19

Sun, 26 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

As we look at these verses we are going to consider four requests the Apostle Paul made of God for this church at Ephesus. I believe it is important to remember that he is writing to a church and putting forth an example of requests we need to make in relation to this church. First I will say that there is nothing wrong with making requests for physical needs, especially in relation to one’s health and well being. However, often our prayer requests for physical health outnumber and overshadow our requests for spiritual needs - individually and as a church. Dr. Vance Havner: “So many of our prayer requests sound like an organ recital. Pray for my liver, my heart, my lungs, etc.” It is my experience that (at least) 75-80% of prayer requests made in church are for physical needs. Where are the requests for our spiritual needs? James 5:16: “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.” In vs. 14 Paul gets back to the prayer he began in vs. 1. “For this cause” = goes back to what he has said in chapter 2. Because both Jew and Gentile can be one body in an authentic, New Testament church. He further reveals the unity that is in Christ in vs. 15 as he says, “(14) our Lord Jesus Christ, (15) Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named . . . ” Here Paul declares that all of the saved of every age, both “in heaven and earth” are in the “family” of God. Here is a clear distinction between the “family” of God and a church of the Lord Jesus Christ. FAMILY = (patria) It is from the word for “father” and refers to paternal descent. CHURCH = (ekklesia) Speaks of an assembly called together for a specific purpose. The “family of God” has existed since the first person in the Old Testament was saved (Adam), but includes those saved in the New Testament all the way through to those who are saved today. You become a family member by birth or adoption. You become a church member, after salvation and Scriptural baptism, by being fellowshipped into the church. “The church and family of God are never synonymous in the Scriptures” (Dr. Albert Garner). And now because through Christ God has made it possible for both Jew and Gentile to be one in the same body (an authentic ekklesia), the Apostle is going to make four requests of God for them.

I. A PRAYER FOR STRENGTH - VS. 16.

II. A PRAYER FOR STABILITY - VS. 17.

III. A PRAYER TO SEE AND SEIZE - VV. 17b-19a.

IV. IT IS A PRAYER FOR SUFFICIENCY - VS. 19b.

FIVE SLIPPERY STEPS TO AVOID -- Psalm 17:1-5

Sun, 19 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

This is a prayer of David that should be the prayer of every child of God. In vv. 1-4 he declares his faithfulness and commitment to obedience to God. In vs. 5 he prays for God to “keep him on track” (“hold up my goings”) in order that he would not waver, and slip, and fall. God’s people do not usually go away from Christ all at once. It happens over time. Someone said, “Church members are like old cars. They usually miss a lot before they quit altogether.” In my years of being a pastor I have found that to be all too true. Their departure usually starts by missing Wednesday evening (if they ever came to that at all), then Sunday night, and finally Sunday morning. And, based on current day attendance figures, I would say that most who have been saved any length of time will have to admit that they are not as close to Christ and as faithful to His church as they once were (if they are saved at all). In Romans 7:15-17 Paul is writing of his own struggles with the flesh, sometimes becoming things he didn’t want to become. He said: “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. (16) If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. (17) Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me." Here is what he was saying: “I do not understand what is going on. I am confused. Somehow I do not seem to do the things I know to do and need to do. And the very things that I hate, things which my own conscious condemns, that is what I do.” And in vs. 18 he contrasts his “desire” (as a saved man) and his “doing” (in the flesh). Desire - “ . . . for to will is present with me . . . ” (I want to do what God wants). Doing - “but how to perform that which is good I find not.” (I just don’t seem to ‘get around to it’ when it comes to living for Christ.) Do you ever feel that way sometimes? So he says in vv. 19-20: “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. (20) Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.” If this could happen to a faithful servant of the Lord like Paul, we are not immune! In God’s Word, in the book of Hebrews we are given 5 warnings to help us avoid becoming what we don't want to become. How does this happen?

I. DRIFTING (INDIFFERENCE) -- HEBREWS 2:1.

II. DOUBTING (INSTABILITY) -- HEBREWS 3:5-6, 14.

III. DISOBEDIENCE (INSOLENCE) -- HEBREWS 4:6,11.

IV. DEFICIENCY (INATTENTION) -- HEBREWS 6:1-3.

V. DIRECTION (INFLUENCE) -- HEBREWS 13:9.

THE MYSTERY AND MINISTRY OF A NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH -- Ephesians 3:1-13

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

This morning we are going to examine a “mystery” and a ministry. We will briefly see the “mystery” of the church. When I use the word “church,” I am using it in the way God, in the New Testament, intends for it to be used. I am not referring to some universal, invisible entity that can never assemble. Instead, I am using it according to the accurate meaning of the word. EKKLESIA = “Ek” (out) + “Kaleo” (to call). An “ekklesia” is a called out assembly, called together for a specific purpose. One of the first qualifications for a scriptural “ekklesia” is that it must be able to assemble! And, we will examine the ministry of an authentic New Testament church. This church and all true churches were purchased by the blood of Jesus. In Acts 20:28 Paul told the Ephesian elders, pastors in this very church to “feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” (That alone should make a church special.) However, even though we are to love the Lord’s churches, we are not to worship the church. We are to worship and bring glory to God in the church - Ephesians 3:21. In vs. 4 Paul mentions “the mystery of Christ.” That is another way of referring to the whole message of the Gospel -- the whole truth concerning Christ. I Timothy 3:16: “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” Certainly the coming of the Christ, Messiah, was no mystery, for He had been promised in the Old Testament. The mystery is the amazing way in which God has sent salvation to men -- The virgin birth, that Jesus was fully God and fully man (Emanuel = “God with us.”), His sacrifice, His resurrection, and His ascension. It was always God’s plan to bless all the people of the earth, including the Gentiles through the offspring of Abraham. Genesis 22:18: “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” Galatians 3:16: “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, seed, which is Christ.” But until Jesus came and died on the cross, rose from the grave, and ascended into Heaven, there was no way that any human could have fully understood how God was going to accomplish that. Before Jesus, the Jews did believe that the Gentiles could receive the promise of God -- but only by becoming Jews and observing all the Jewish laws, including circumcision. But in Christ Jesus as vv. 14-15 of chapter 2 tell us, God “. . . hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; (15) Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace . . . ” So that now, according to Galatians 3:28, the distinction between people -- Jew and Gentile, bond and free, etc. -- is abolished forever: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” (UNITY!)

I. THE MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH -- VV. 5-6.

II. THE MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH - VV. 7-13.

SHARING HOPE IN AMERICA -- I Peter 3:10-17

Sun, 05 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0500

In this year of and on this day after the 250th birthday of this wonderful nation I want to reaffirm my love for this United States of America. I have been blessed to travel half way around the world and back - twice! - but I know of no other place I would want to live than here (except, maybe, Heaven). I have said before and will unashamedly repeat today that I get a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye when I watch our flag (the most beautiful flag in the world) being raised while our National Anthem is being played. Sadly, the America I knew as a child is gone. Those happy, carefree days are gone! Today we are living in a post-Christian era. We are living in hostile territory. The kind of people who used to be considered good, old-fashioned, decent Christians, because they believe the Bible, are now labeled “religious nuts,” the religious right, fundamentalists, zealots, wackos, extremists. And, if you can believe the mainstream media, a recent poll says that pride in U.S. history and democracy have dropped and fewer people are proud to be Americans. Well, of course when you fill the nation with people who hate it and want to make like the place they came from that will happen. (If it was so great, why did you leave?) Of course, when you use our schools (high schools and colleges especially) to indoctrinate people to socialism and communism. Of course, when you use the entertainment medium to push those ungodly beliefs, what can you expect? (Don't doubt it, Hollywood is pro-socialist/pro-communist.) Remember what Soviet Premier Nikita Krushchev said in the 1960s, “One day you will just wake up and find that you are Communist nation.” (This is their goal.) Something terrible has happened in America (for further information, consult any news source), and in light of that, there are two dangers. Number one - As believers we may just retreat. We just adopt a “live and let live” attitude. We may say, “Since there is little or no hope for America or the world, let’s just try to hold out ‘till Jesus comes (and pray that He comes soon). We cannot do that, because, among other things, there is no place to hide. If we lose our freedoms in this nation . . . We will not be permitted to exercise our beliefs in private. Churches will not be allowed to protect their precepts/doctrines. Our church houses will be invaded. We will either speak up, or we will have to submit in silence. Martin Niemoller was a pastor in Germany when Hitler was coming into power. Because of his preaching, he was arrested under orders from Hitler. Other pastors were killed, but he survived, and after the war he was freed. That is when he began to speak. He would always ended his speech with these words: “First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak out for me.” We do not have the luxury of just being quiet, of saying “Live and let live,” because they will not let us “just live.” The second danger is that we will begin preaching a political agenda instead of the Gospel. Satan has always wanted to substitute something for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are supposed to be salt and light and must, “Preach the word.” However, we must also be involved in our nation. God's people today need to stand up and say, “Enough is enough is enough.” The times we are facing are new to us, but they are not new in Christian history. First Peter is a handbook for survival in days just like ours because believers of that day were being persecuted much like what may be coming to America. They were accused of being subversive because they would not bow to Caesar and confess that Caesar was Lord. They were perceived as being an economic threat because they were against idolatry, and idolatry was more than religion. It was big business. They were persecuted because of their lifestyle. They said as we say, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, etc. are all wrong, and that ran against the powers of the day. I Peter 3:15 gives us some principles of how we can be involved in sharing hope and being a help to our neighbors and our nation in the America of today.

I. THE FIRST PRINCIPLE IS LORDSHIP - VS. 15.

II. THE SECOND PRINCIPLE IS LEARNING - VS. 15.

III. THE THIRD PRINCIPLE IS LOWLINESS - VS. 15.

IV. THE FOURTH PRINCIPLE IS LIFESTYLE - VS. 15.

V. FIFTH PRINCIPLE: LOVE.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF A NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH -- Ephesians 2:19-22

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

In this message, and in these verses we are going to look at the significance of an authentic New Testament church. We understand the nature of an authentic New Testament church. The word “church” in the Bible is from the Greek word “ekklesia” (EK - a primary preposition denoting origin - “out,” or “out of.” KALEO - “to call.”) So, “ekklesia” refers to a called out assembly as demonstrated in Acts 19:39: “But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly (ekklesia).” Thus, one of the first duties of an authentic New Testament church is to assemble. Again, this is because that is what an “ekklesia” is, an assembly. And that is why you cannot have a universal, invisible “church” of all the saved of all the ages. It could never assemble. One of the chief characteristics an of authentic New Testament church should be unity! What is unity? Oneness. I Corinthians 12:14-27 compares the human body and the church body and gives us a beautiful picture of this unity. I Corinthians 12:14, speaking of the human body, Paul says, “For the body is not one member, but many.” In vs. 27 the Apostle reminds this church, “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” Now, remember the situation at Ephesus. The church was made up of both Jews and Gentiles. There was a division between the two groups of believers. There seemingly was no unity, or little unity there as Paul was writing to them. So, In the first 3 verses of chapter 2 he reminds all of the members of this church that regardless of their familial history, the all had the same spiritual background. They all at one time were “. . . dead in trespasses and sins . . .” (vs.1). They had walked according to “. . . the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience . . . ” (vs. 2). They “. . . were by nature the children of wrath, even as others” (vs. 3). But then he gave them and gives us that wonderful thought in vv. 4-6, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us” has . . .

1) Vs. 5 - “quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) . . . ” 2) Vs. 6 - “And hath raised us up together . . . ” 3) Vs. 6 - “ . . . and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus . . . ” 4) So that now even Gentiles (vs. 13) “. . . who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” 8. In vv. 14-18 we see that by His sacrifice on the cross Jesus . . . Has brought peace (“he is our peace”) between the two. “Has made both (Jew and Gentile) one,” by breaking down the wall that divided us. Has “abolished (slain, killed) the enmity (reason for hostility; hatefulness)” between both groups. And in vs. 16 Paul says God reconciled (put away the enmity so that no impediment to unity remains) both Jew and Gentile to Himself and to each other “in one body” (BODY = speaks of a church, one church,) (this church at Ephesus). So as we come to vv. 19-22 Paul talks about this body and our new position, our place, and our purpose as members of an authentic New Testament church.

I. OUR NEW POSITION -- VS. 19.

II. OUR PLACE - VV. 20-21.

III. OUR PURPOSE -- VS. 22.

3 DEADLY DECISIONS OF DISOBEDIENT DADS -- Exodus 20:1-6 (vs. 5) ; Lamentations 5:7

Sun, 21 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The greatest need in America today is revival -- in the Lord’s churches, and certainly in our homes. Why? We bring the spirit of our homes into the church. Imagine a husband and wife having an argument on the way to church. Yet, when they come into the building they are all smiles, calling others “brother” and “sister,” etc. Though they are pretending that all is well they still have anger toward their mate in their hearts and bring that right into the worship of God. Now imagine that same couple praying before coming into the worship services and the Spirit they would bring in then. If our homes are going to experience revival, the leaders of those homes must be revived, especially the fathers. Why? Because God has set the man as the head of and spiritual leader of the home. This speaks of the responsibility of leadership in the home. I Timothy 5:8 speaks of providing physical needs, but I believe the principle of spiritual needs is also present. I Timothy 5:8: “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” (INFIDEL = one who denies God, the Bible, etc.) The Bible says a child of God can be worse than an infidel if he doesn't provide for his family. A man should take care of the family. This means material AND spiritual provision. I repeat, the father is to be the spiritual leader in the home, and I believe God will judge us fathers for our faithfulness to do so or our lack of it. In training our children. In leading our entire families. We need more men like Joshua today. He said he and his household would serve God. “You can count on my being at church, Preacher.” If your children have to ask if you are going to church, something is wrong in the home. Read Exodus 20:5 again: “I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me . . . ” The responsibility falls on the shoulders of the men. God will visit our sins upon our children, grandchildren, and our great grandchildren. How? If Dad is worldly and unfaithful it can place a stigma upon his children. “He’s a nice young boy.” “Maybe, but, do you know who his daddy is?” “She’s a nice young girl.” “Do you know who her mother is and what she is like?” Also, when we do not teach and live the truth, we will turn them away from God. There is more responsibility upon saved parents than simply sitting and singing. We are responsible for raising a family that knows and follows Jesus Christ. The most valuable things we have -- besides our own souls -- are the souls of our sons and daughters. This message presents 3 examples of men who sinned against God, and their children ended up paying for it.

I. THE SIN OF DISOBEDIENCE -- SAUL -- II SAMUEL 21:1-6.

II. THE SIN OF DEFIANCE -- ACHAN -- JOSHUA 7:1, 20-21.

III. THE SIN OF DISSOLUTENESS -- LOT -- GENESIS 13:7-12, (13).

THE UNIFYING SACRIFICE OF JESUS -- Ephesians 2:11-18

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

There was a time in these United States of America that we were united as a nation. All sorts of people came here from different lands with different backgrounds, and they wanted to be “Americans.” President Theodore Roosevelt once said, ““There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism . . . a hyphenated American is not an American at all . . . Our allegiance must be purely to the United States . . . The one absolutely certain way of bringing this nation to ruin . . . would be to permit it to become a tangle of squabbling nationalities . . . ”

I believe that, in part, is what has happened in our great nation. As President Roosevelt said, being segmented and divided into these different groups is the surest way to destroy this nation. It is also the surest way to destroy a church. I believe one of the saddest sights in this world is to see a church of the Lord Jesus Christ that is divided and void of any type of unity. I have seen churches divided over many different things. (Remember the “brown hymnal” and “green hymnal” church?) One of the dumbest attitudes I have ever encountered is to hear a child of God say of another child of God, “As long as he/she is there, I just can’t go up there to that church house.” (Who are you worshipping?) The Bible tells us of a church which had divisions over several different things. It was a church that was divided over preachers and pastors. It was a church that was divided over material possessions and issues to the point that church members were suing each other in the public courts. This church was divided over discipline issues and argued about who had the most important spiritual ability or gift from God. By now you have probably figured out that it was the church at Corinth. And, apparently, during the time of the Apostle James there were issues over who would get to be a teacher in the church. “Be not (don’t rush to be) many masters (teachers).” I believe Satan works overtime to try to cause division in the Lord’s churches! There was diversity and potential for great division in the church at Ephesus. The church was made up of both Jewish and Gentile believers. The Gentiles disliked (almost to the point of “hatred”) the Jews. Many, if not most, of the Jewish members disliked the Gentiles for the same cultural, religious, and historical reasons the Gentiles used. When we get to vs. 15 we are going to see that there neither was nor is such a thing as “Jewish Christians”? and/or “Gentile Christians.” There are just Christians. Heritage and lineage are nice, and it is interesting to see where we came from, but

none of that can make anyone more saved or less saved. The words of Paul in Philippians 3:4,7-8 seem appropriate here: “(4) Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more . . . (7) But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. (8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ . . . ” So Paul begins by reminding the Gentile believers of 5 aspects of their lives before they were saved. They were: 1) Separated from Christ; 2) Excluded from citizenship in Israel -- COMMONWEALTH = (politeia) citizenship; 3) Foreigners to the covenants of Promise; 4) Having no hope. 5) Without God. Romans 2 was not written to the church at Ephesus, but I believe it deals with the attitude of superiority that may have existed among the Jewish believers there. “(1) Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. (11) For there is no respect of persons with God. (23) Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? (24) For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.” And in Romans 3:1-2 he reminds them that they had the advantage when it came to recognizing the Messiah: “What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? (2) Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles (logion/logos – word[s]) of God.”

So, we have Gentiles who were literally aliens to God’s promises, and we have Jews to whom were committed the Word of God, the promises of God, the covenants of God in the same church. Can you see where or how a problem might arise? Paul deals with potential issues by showing both sides the unity that exists in Christ and should exist in His churches. He reminds them that the sacrifice of Jesus . . .

I. BRINGS THOSE WHO ARE FAR AWAY NEAR – VS. 13.

II. PRODUCES PEACE WHERE THERE WAS ENMITY – VV. 14-16.

III.RECONCILES THOSE APART INTO ONE BODY – VV. 16-18.

A BELIEVERS LIFE: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE -- EPHESIANS 2:1-10

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

From time to time children of God need to be reminded of what we were before we were saved and what God has done for us. It is easy to get so “busy” with life that we forget what God has saved us out of. It is at times like those that we may sometimes take our salvation for granted. This can affect our faithfulness and our service of the Lord. We have seen and need to learn to appreciate the greatness of the power that has been exercised in our salvation. We have experienced both God’s mercy and grace. We have experienced the quickening power of God through the Holy Spirit. We know that salvation is totally from God. Man, in his natural state, is totally depraved - Romans 3:10-12, 23: “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (11) There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. (12) They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God . . . ” We could do nothing to earn salvation, nor can we do enough good works to keep it. The first 3 verses of our text reveal our spiritual poverty before we were saved; the next six show the rich mercy of God toward us, and His desire for us as we examine: Our past peril ; Our present purchase ; God’s pre-designed plan.

I. OUR PAST PERIL -- VV. 1-3.

II. OUR PRESENT PURCHASE -- VV. 4-7.

III. GOD'S PLANNED PURPOSE.

A MIGHTY PRAYER FOR THE SAVED -- Ephesians 1:15-23

Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Paul’s love for these believers caused him to pray for them. He was thankful for them -- vs. 16 – “I . . . Cease not to give thanks for you . . . ” ( CEASE = stop, quit, come to an end.) Are you thankful for your brothers and sisters in Christ in this church? Do you show it? Do you tell them? (Vs. 16 – “Cease not . . . making mention of you in my prayers . . . ” has the idea of, “Constantly making mention of you . . . ” (MENTION = from two words which mean “to bear in mind” and “to recall to mind.” Thus, recollection, recital, remembrance.) How often do we tell someone we will pray for them, but after a day or two we forget about it? We take prayer requests here, and we have a prayer list. We pray for those on the list in Sunday School and worship. Let me ask this. How often do we remember the prayer requests when we get home on Sunday, or Monday, throughout the week? Paul continually prayed for these brothers and sisters in Christ with thanksgiving. In these verses we are going to see that He prayed . . . For them because of their faith in Christ and their love for their brethren. (Oh, how new believers need our prayers!) For their spiritual growth and strengthening. For their realization of who and what they were – “an new creature (creation)” in Christ (II Corinthians 5:17). We need to pray and ask God for ourselves, for each other and for this church. What Did Paul Pray For? What do we pray for? First of all I want us to notice what Paul DID NOT pray for: 1) To have an easy time of it (of serving God); 2) That they would all prosper materially; 3) In this particular prayer he didn’t even pray for their physical health. I believe this reveals to us some priorities in our prayer life. Vance Havner once said, “If you listen to the prayer requests in many churches today, it sounds like an organ recital – ‘Pray for my heart. Pray for my liver, etc.’” I am not against praying for our health, praying for those in the hospital, praying for those having surgery, etc., but I believe there are other things we should pray for as well. Paul prayed for the spiritual enlightenment of these believers. “That. . . God may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation . . . ” This speaks of having a wisdom that is the result of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling work. The idea is, that they would listen to the Spirit as He sought to lead them. How often do we hear that requested? “Please pray for me that I can know God’s will for my life and have a wisdom and willingness to follow His Holy Spirit.” The sphere of this wisdom and revelation -- “In the knowledge of him.” (KNOWLEDGE = true, accurate, full knowledge.) It refers to an intimate fellowship and a closeness with the Lord. I know I have probably shared this recently, but I am sharing it again – John 17:3: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” In line with such a prayer, Paul seeks two things for these believers: 1) The education of the saint; 2) The exaltation of the Savior.

I. THE EDUCATION OF THE SAINT -- VV. 18-19.

II. THE EXALTATION OF THE SAVIOR - VV. 20-23.

WHAT WE HAVE IN JESUS -- Ephesians 1:7-14

Sun, 24 May 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Paul is writing to a church that lived in the midst of the wealth of a pagan world, and in that scenario it would be easy to compare “what we have” to “what the world offers.” We live in a similar situation. Daily the world’s wealth is paraded before us. Many dream of material wealth but have forgotten about being rich toward God (Remember Luke 12 - the rich farmer with the “too small” barns.) We forget Matthew 6:19-21: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: (20) But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: (21) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” God’s instruction to these in Ephesus is as good for us today as it was for them. Consider how rich you are in the Lord Jesus. Fulfill God’s purpose for your life.

I. THE REDEMPTION OF OUR PERSON.

II. THE REVELATION OF GOD’S PLAN - VV. 7b-10.

III. THE RICHES OF HIS PURPOSE -- VV. 11-14.

GOD'S MAGNIFICENT PLAN FOR THE SAVED -- Ephesians 1:1-6

Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Ephesus was also a very wealthy city, and that wealth (of the world) was in evidence throughout the city. It was the capital of pro-consular Asia. It was located on the western coast of Asia Minor and was an important shipping port. It was an old city with a history dating as far back as the fifth century B.C. The Great Theater in the city was elaborate and could seat 25,000. The temple of the goddess Diana, one of the seven wonders of the world, was located there. In the light of that background, Paul wrote to remind believers of their riches in God. Six times in the first 3 chapters Paul speaks of God’s riches: 1:7: “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace . . . ” 1:18: “. . . that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints . . . ” 2:4: “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us . . . ” 2:7: “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” 3:8: “. . . that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ . . . ” 3:16: “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man . . . ” So God’s wealth is described as unsearchable, exceeding, and an inheritance for believers. Paul’s visit to Ephesus is found in Acts 19. There he found believers, baptized them with Scriptural baptism, and spent 2 years establishing a New Testament church. These are called “faithful” and “saints.” FAITHFUL = dependable; can be counted on to perform the work set before them. SAINTS = reveals their relation to God. As always, Paul desired God’s grace, mercy, and peace for them. In the opening verses he reminds them of their glorious position, their gracious purpose, and God’s grand provision for them.

I. THE GLORIOUS POSITION OF OUR CALLING -- VV. 5-6.

II. THE GRAND PURPOSE IN OUR CALLING -- VS. 4.

III. THE GREAT PROVISION FOR OUR CALLING -- VS. 3.

A MOTHER’S FAITH IN A CHILD'S LIFE -- Hebrews 11:23 ; Exodus 2:1-10

Sun, 10 May 2026 00:00:00 -0500

As you can tell, this message is about faith - trust, dependence upon God. God’s Word has a lot to say about faith. It speaks of: 1) Great faith and little faith, and of some who had no faith. 2) Healing faith and saving faith, and faith “as the grain of a mustard seed.” 3) The righteousness of faith and sanctifying faith, and the obedience of faith. 4) It talks about strong faith and weak faith. I could go on, but this morning I want to share some thoughts about a mother’s faith. And II Corinthians 5:7 reminds us, “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) . . . ” Hebrews 11:23 tells us that it was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him 3 months, “not fearing the king’s commandment.” Recall what has happened in Exodus 1. Exodus 1:8: “Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.” This king was, apparently, quite paranoid because he said in vv. 9-11: “And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: (10) Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. (11) Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.” The Israelites were simply dwelling in the place they had been given in Egypt, and God was blessing them. In fact vv. 12-14 tell us: “But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. (13) And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: (14) And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage . . . " Finally, the king gave an edict - vs. 22: “And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.” This is simple genocide, for without males there would be no continuation of the Israelites. This is what Satan has attempted and even attempts today. This brings us to the faith of a child’s mother, the faith of Moses’ mother, Jochebed. Hebrews 11:23 says, “By faith Moses . . . was hid three months of his parents . . . ” It was because of the faith in God of Amram and Jochebed that Moses’ life was spared (“they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.”) but there were some challenges to Jochebed’s faith.

I. JOCHEBED ENCOUNTERED CHALLENGES TO HER FAITH.

II. JOCHEBED EMPLOYED POWER OF HER FAITH.

III. JOCHEBED EXPERIENCED THE BLESSEDNESS OF HER FAITH.

DESPERATE PRAYER FOR DESPERATE DAYS -- II Chronicles 20:1-19

Sun, 03 May 2026 00:00:00 -0500

I remember December 18, 1983 very clearly. We awoke to find the house half-filled with smoke. At almost midnight we jumped out of bed; we threw windows open, and on the coldest night of the year so far, we turned on the attic fan. It was a desperate situation. We live in desperate times and a desperate situation -- nationally, locally, morally, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, ecclesiastically (church), and in every other way. We need God’s preachers and God’s people to be moved by the desperation of the day and to return believers (first) and whole churches (second) to a faithful service of God. I see signs that say: “Prayer - America’s only hope.” But if we do not “put legs” on our prayers, if our lives are full of unfaithfulness and sin, it will be just so many words. What did God say in Isaiah 59:1-2? “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: (2) But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” As we look at our text we see that Jehoshaphat was king of Judah. He was facing a desperate situation. It drove him and the nation to take some “drastic” measures. So we see:

I. THE PROBLEM -- VV. 1-2.

II. THE PROCLAMATION -- VV. 3-4.

III. THE PRAYER - VV. 5-13.

IV. THE PROPHECY - VV. 14-17.

V. THE PRAISE - VV. 18-19.

GO . . . TEACH . . . DISCIPLE -- Matthew 28:18-20

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Some people think discipleship works like all those “instant” products. Many believe you take lost sinner, lead him/her to Christ, get them to submit to Scriptural baptism (and some don’t even require that), and viola, you have a disciple. But there is a big difference between a believer and a disciple. There is no such thing as an instant disciple; like the word says, it takes discipline. True disciples are made, not born! Matthew 28:18-20 are very familiar verses to us. We refer to them as the Great Commission, but do we realize what a “commission” is? A "commission" is a formal authorization to perform duties; a specific assignment or duty entrusted to an individual or group. it is quite obvious that our Lord gave this Commission to His church - the only one in existence at that time, but it is intended for every church of His that would come in the future. In this Commission Jesus tells us what to do, then He tells us how to do it. That is typical of how He does things. He doesn’t give us a work to do and then say, “You figure out how to perform it.” In Philippians 1:6 Paul said, “ . . . he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ . . . ” Just as Jesus will perform in us what He has begun in us, if we will allow ourselves to be used of Him, He will perform through us that which He was given us to do. See, it all comes down to our will, our willingness to serve Him. We think coming to church and sitting through a sermon is “serving,” but it is not. That is worship. “Serve means to perform a role or a function,” doing something. Here are four thoughts from Scripture about a disciple. 1. A disciple is not above his Master -- Matthew 10:24: “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.” (ABOVE = over; superior to.) 2. A disciple is to be like his Master -- Matthew 10:25: “It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord.” 3. To be a true disciple, one must put Jesus above everything else in his/her life -- Luke 14:26: “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” Jesus MUST be number one. Must love Him before all others. 4. A disciple has “died” to self -- Luke 14:27: “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” Bearing one’s cross is a picture of death to self. Galatians 2:20 is the testimony of a true disciple of Christ: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” There is a difference between a disciple and a mere follower of Christ. A disciple was not only a pupil but an adherent. Thus, they are spoken of as imitators -- Ephesians 5:1: “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children . . . ” A disciple, then, desires to be just like his master. There are two kinds of “disciples,” followers and faithful, and a true disciple stays. Our commission as a church is to “make disciples,” and I believe the Lord means, the kind who stay! Sadly, it seems that to many today the church door is a revolving door. Just as quickly as some come in the front door, others go out the back door. Many churches today are merely trying to “hang on,” to keep what they have, to maintain the present membership and not lose any more. Disciple making means not just getting people “saved” and baptized, but maturing those who are saved to the point that they will . . . 1)Not go away from Christ and the truth. 2) Have both the desire and the ability to bring others to Jesus. Well, how do we make disciples?

I. BE A DISCIPLE YOURSELF.

II. ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP WITH A NEW BELIEVER.

III. WE ARE TO LOVE THIS ONE WE ARE DISCIPLING WITH A GODLY LOVE.

THE IMPLICATIONS OF EVANGELISM -- Mark 16:9-16 ; Acts 1:8

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Our text clearly states that as believers and as the Lord’s churches we are to be involved in evangelism. What is evangelism? I feel sure most, if not all of us, know what evangelism is, however in this day and age it seems that few give thought to it. First of all, evangelism is not simply inviting someone to church. It is good to invite people, especially lost or unchurched friends and family members to church, but that is one of the easiest things to do. Those these things are true and good, they are not presenting Jesus to people. Now, inviting someone to church might result in evangelism, and that is wonderful, but it is not truly evangelism. Neither is hanging a “while you were out” sign on a doorknob evangelism. Then, what is evangelism? We get our English word “evangelism,” or “evangelism,” or evangelist from the Greek word "euangelizo." It is compound word made up of: 1) “eu” = well or good and 2) “aggellein” (angellein) = to announce, to tell, or to bring tidings. So “to evangelize” is to announce or bring tidings of something good, or some good news. But what “good news?” It is the good news of the Gospel! Not all “good news” is the Gospel, but the Gospel is always good news. In fact, the word “gospel” means good news. It is from the same word as evangelize. In fact, the word itself means, literally, “a good message; i.e. the gospel. That “good news,” the Gospel is defined and described for us by the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 15:1-4: “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; (2) By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. (3) For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (4) And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures . . . ” Notice a common phrase in these verses “according to the scriptures.” Any message that is not according to that which the Scripture records is not the Gospel and, thus, not good news. In both Mark and Acts the instruction that is given is in the imperative mood. It is a command - “Go ye” and “Ye shall be witnesses.” The instruction gives us the action we are to employ - “Go.” It means “to go forth.” The idea of “Go” here and in Matthew 28:19-20 is, “as you go, or in your going.” We are not to sit around and wait for the world to come to us. We are to go to it! Next it gives us the activity we are to exert - “preach the gospel.” (PREACH = to herald, to proclaim, to publish.) It presents the thought of making something (in this case the Gospel) known. Finally, the instruction to “go” declares the audience we are to enlist. We are to carry the Gospel message into “all the world” and proclaim it to “every creature.” (EVERY CREATURE = created being - for that is what mankind is.) Psalm 100:3: “Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves . . . ” Luke 24:47 says, “ . . . repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations . . . ” There is an urgency to these commands because Hebrews 3:7-8 says, “To day if ye will hear his voice, (8) Harden not your hearts . . . ” The instruction to and the urgency of evangelism make certain implications to us. That is what we are going to examine this morning, “The Implications Of Evangelism.”

I. THE COMMAND TO EVANGELISM IMPLIES A PROBLEM ALL MUST FACE.

II. THE COMMAND TO EVANGELISM IMPLIES THE PROMISE OF GOD’S GRACE - VS. 16.

II. AND THE COMMAND TO EVANGELISM IMPLIES A PUNISHMENT (MAN’S) WORKS CANNOT ERASE - VS. 16.

THE KIND OF PEOPLE GOD USES -- I Samuel 17:38-50

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0500

God has a work for you to do . . . and He has a work for me. In fact, God has a work and a purpose for all who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. Someone said that it has yet to be seen what God can do with and for and through and in a man who is fully dedicated to Him in this present age. I believe the Apostle Paul was determined in his heart to be like that when he asked, “ . . . Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6). He gave himself fully to the will of God for His life and the Lord used him to turn this world upside down for Christ (Acts 17:6). During Paul’s ministry he brought many to know Jesus as Savior, established churches, and wrote almost half of the New Testament. The Lord is still looking for men, women, boys and girls that He can fill with His Spirit and use to make a difference for Jesus today. And you and I can be that person that God will take and use for His name’s sake. Our text deals with David’s meeting the giant, Goliath, on the field of battle. In this meeting we see some principles that teach us about the kind of people God uses. These verses shed some light on the characteristics they possess. So, let’s examine some thoughts about “The Kind Of People God Uses.”

I. THE PEOPLE GOD USES ARE COMMON PEOPLE.

II. GOD USES CONSECRATED PEOPLE.

III. GOD USES COMMITTED PEOPLE.

IV. GOD USES COURAGEOUS PEOPLE.

THE 7 GREATEST WORDS IN THE WORLD -- MARK 16:1-8

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0500

As we come to our text for today let’s first remember all of the events that have led up to it. Jesus had gone from: A triumphant entry into Jerusalem about a week before, to a betrayal, an arrest, a denial (by Peter), to a mock “trial,” to hearing the people cry out for His crucifixion. He endured mocking, a crown of thorns, and the scourging which left the flesh on His back hanging in ribbons. (We often forget that as well as the purple robe which was allowed to cling to the clotting blood on His back and roughly ripped off at Calvary.) Then there is the crucifixion itself. But I believe the greatest pain Jesus felt while on the cross was not from the nails in His hands and feet but when He became “sin for us . . . that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” and He cried out “ . . . Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34). Now Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome have come to the borrowed tomb of Joseph of Arimathaea to anoint his body for burial. And, in vs. 6 of our text we have a statement upon which all of Christianity rises or falls. The “young man” sitting in the empty tomb said to Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, “ . . . he is risen; he is not here . . . ” That is the key - “ . . . he is risen.” We even sing about it. We sing, "I serve a risen Savior. He’s in the world today. I know that He is living, whatever men may say." However, do you realize that much of the world either denies or ignores the resurrection of Jesus? I Googled “Christianity.” In its listing of the “core beliefs of Christianity” it named: the Trinity, the Bible, original sin and salvation, and Jesus as Savior (and almost as an afterthought it says rather succinctly that Jesus died, “was resurrected, and will return.”) Some who claim to be “Christians” even deny the resurrection of Jesus - either outright, claiming He merely “swooned” and appeared to die and thus was not brought back to life, or, as many do, they deny it by their lives. And, sadly, in our nation crass commercialism has turned the attention of many from the glorious miracle of the resurrection to bunnies, chicks, and hunting of colored eggs. Those things have nothing to do with our Lord nor His death, burial, or resurrection. At this time of year we should, indeed, be rejoicing and celebrating the resurrection of the Lord Jesus for, as I said, everything we believe rises or falls on this one doctrine. Listen to what the Apostle Paul said about the resurrection in I Corinthians 15:13-19: “But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: (14) And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. (15) Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. (16) For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: (17) And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. (18) Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. (19) If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” If there was no resurrection, Jesus was not who He said He was because He said at one point, (John 10:17-18) “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. (18) No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again . . . ” (He didn’t do that if there is no resurrection.) If there is no resurrection, according to vs. 15, every preacher who has ever stood in a pulpit and every person who has ever witnessed to a lost friend or family member is guilty of lying about God. If there is no resurrection, we who profess to be “saved” are just as lost as we ever were. We are still in our sins because we have had faith in something that is not so. (Kind of like believing in the tooth fairy . . . or the Easter bunny.) If there is no resurrection all of our loved ones that we expect to meet and enjoy Heaven with one of these days “are perished” (destroyed, or ruined). If there is no resurrection, we are the most miserable (pitiable) because we have placed our hope, our expectation in something that is not so just to get us through this life. That paints a pretty grim picture, doesn’t it. But thank God for vs. 20! “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” (FIRSTFRUITS = In the Septuagint, this word is used for the offering of firstfruits and in secular usage the word was used for an entrance fee. Leviticus 23:9-14 gives the instruction for the offering of the firstfruits. Firstfruits represent and anticipate the rest of the harvest. The resurrection of Jesus also anticipates our resurrection, because we will be raised with a body like His. I Corinthians 15:51-53: “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” I John 3:2: “ . . . we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” There is our hope. There is our glad expectation! The seven simple words the angel spoke to these women have such a message that we can never exhaust their importance - “He is risen; he is not here.” Those words declare and prove to us . . .

I. THE CLAIM OF THE LORD.

II. THE COMING LIFE.

III. THE COURAGE OF THE LIVING.

THE RAPTURE AND RESURRECTION OF THE SAVED -- Philippians 3:20 ; Titus 2:13 ; I Thessalonians 4:13-18

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The following statement is not intended for “shock value.” It is the expression of my heart. I am tired of hearing preachers talk about “the rapture of the church.” Does that surprise you? It shouldn’t. As those who know the Bible to teach that a true, New Testament church has only one nature - local and visible - we should also understand that not all of the saved are in a true church, or in any church at all. And, that is sad because, according to Ephesians 3:21 a true church of the Lord Jesus Christ is the place God has designated to bring Him glory. Some say, “One church is just as good as another,” or “At least they are in church, even though they don’t teach the truth,” but that is just not so! When Jesus comes for His own, everyone who has trusted Him for salvation - whether in a church or in no church - will be “caught up . . . to meet the Lord in the air” (I Thessalonians 4:17). All of those who have died “in Christ,” trusting Him for salvation, will be resurrected. All who have trusted Him and are living at the time of His coming will be “caught up.” We do not believe the erroneous teaching of a universal, invisible “church” which is made up of “all the saved of all the ages,” and the Bible does not teach any such thing. Now, after that statement some who view our livestream and some who listen to my podcast may be like those in John 6:66. After the Lord’s statement in vv. 53-58 we are told in vs. 66, “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” But it is more important to please God than to please people and go along with the popular religious thinking of the day. Now, we do speak of a large group of believers of all ages, but that is called the family of God, and there is a huge difference between a family and a church. And there will be a time, according to Hebrews 12, when all of the believers of all ages will meet together (they can’t right now), but that will be in Heaven after the resurrection and rapture. Also, if you believe in the “rapture of the church” only, what are you going to do with all those saved ones who were never in a true New Testament church? The Old Testament saints were never a part of a New Testament church. John the Baptist - had authority from God to baptize and prepare the material from which Jesus would build His church, but he was never a church member. The thief on the cross was saved just before his death, but he was never baptized and fellowshipped into any church. No. The more correct term would be the resurrection and rapture of the saved, of all the saved, and that is what we are going to consider in this message. Millions of saved have believed throughout the ages that the time we call the “last days” would culminate with the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus. This has been the hope of believers since the first century. It is the subject of 1000’s of songs and (perhaps) hundreds of 1000’s of Bible messages. There are many different indicators of our living in the “last days,” but we don’t have the time to consider them this morning because we are considering the resurrection and rapture of the saved. This morning, we should find comfort and hope in knowing that God’s timetable is right on schedule and that Jesus is coming soon. That’s why the Bible calls it in Titus 2:13 the “blessed hope.” It is the hope (glad expectation) of being in Heaven with the Lord Jesus - I Thessalonians 4:16-17: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” This hope that we have is built on nothing less than the “more sure word of prophecy,” the Bible (II Peter 1:19), the divinely inspired and inerrant Word of God. First let's see . . .

I. THE PROMISE OF THE RESURRECTION AND RAPTURE.

II. THE PRECIOUS HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION AND RAPTURE.

III. THE PREPARATION FOR THE RAPTURE.

COURAGE -- Joshua 1:1-9

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Our text is the account of God’s instructions to Joshua as he becomes the leader of the Israelites in the place of Moses. Joshua was a man of great faith -- Numbers 14:6-9. He was one of the two spies who brought back a good report of the Promise Land and expressed faith that through God the Israelites could conquer it. He said, “(8) If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. (9) Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.” In vs. 1 of our text he is called Moses’ “minister” (right-hand man). He was a faithful servant of Moses and of God. You recall that Moses was not allowed to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land because of disobeying God. Deuteronomy 34:5 tells us that Moses died in the land of Moab and was buried “in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor . . . ” Now, Israel stands at the border of Canaan with a new leader and a new land before them. These verses are often used as the text “special occasion” messages, especially at the beginning of the new year. But that is not why I want us to look at these verses and what they teach us today. We are already one-fourth of the way through this year already! The Lord’s churches need a lot of things in this present age, and while some of them are material (I guess many of those may be wants more than needs), I believe most of what we need is spiritual in nature. We need revival - not just a series of services but a new recognition of the power and presence of God’s Spirit who dwells within us. Many need a refocusing on the position and purpose of the Lord’s churches in this world. We may need a new commitment to the daily reading and study of God’s Word. Some may need a rededication of their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ. But I believe one of the greatest needs we have today is courage. It has been a long time since the Lord’s churches were truly courageous and bold in this world with a holy boldness. We seem to have slipped into a comfort and a complacency that requires little to become a church member and less to remain one. John the Baptist required “fruit meet for repentance” before he would baptize those who came to him. The church at Jerusalem did not want to accept Saul of Tarsus into their membership until Barnabas spoke for him. And the Word of God teaches that as members of one of Christ’s churches there is a certain standard to meet as members. Remember once again what happened with that church at Jerusalem in Acts 4. Vv. 1-21 -- Peter and John are re-arrested, told not to preach in the name of Jesus again, and let go. Vs. 23 -- They went back to the church and reported what had happened. Vv. 24-30 -- The church prayed! This is not just one or two praying; it is the church as a whole praying! Look at what they prayed for, vs. 29: “ . . . grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word . . . ” Vs. 31 - “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” I don’t know about you, but that is what I want in my life for Christ - boldness! Boldness to preach as the Lord leads. Boldness to speak and stand for the truth. Boldness to be an effective witness for Christ regardless of where I am or who I am speaking to. That is what these first nine verses of Joshua 1 deal with - COURAGE. Three times in vv. 6-9 God tells Joshua, “Be strong and of a good courage . . . ” or some version of that. Then He repeats it in vs. 18! BE OF A GOOD COURAGE = be resolute. (Along with “strong” it implies fearlessness.) So in this morning’s message we are going to look at this thing called courage and at being courageous for the Lord.

I. COURAGE COMES FROM GOD’S WORD -- VV. 1, 3.

II. COURAGE COMES FROM THE PRESENCE OF GOD’S SPIRIT IN OUR LIVES - V.5.

III. COURAGE COMES FOR GOD’S PURPOSE IN OUR LIVES - VV. 2, 6.

WORSHIP AND THE HOLINESS OF GOD -- Psalm 99

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

There are two extremes to so-called “worship” today -- a cold, unresponsive formalism which gives the impression of a dead church, or a wild chaotic confusion of which God is not the author. Prior to their slipping away from God and going into idol worship, I believe the people of Israel had a clear understanding of the holiness of God . . . and showed it in their worship. The displays of thunders and lightnings around the mountain and outside the tabernacle, the cloud by day, and the fire by night gave them a sense of the awesome power of God. Sadly, it seems they failed to pass that on to their children. (See Judges 2:10.) There was a time when God’s people in this nation had that sense of the holiness of God, and it showed in their worship. Sadly, we have become so casual about many things, even our worship. We seem more concerned with our comfort than with our concept of God. In order to understand worship, we must have a Scripturally based concept and understanding of God. Listen to what Jesus had to say in John 17:3: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” Here is my personal, expanded translation of that verse: “And this is life eternal -- as to its character, nature, and divine purpose, that they (the saved ones) might know Thee -- God, the Father, the only true God -- with a personal and true knowledge and an intimate and active relation so that knowledge has an influence upon them (the believing ones) to the degree that they allow their lives to be determined or directed thereby.” The purpose of eternal life is not just so we may live in Heaven for eternity after we die. The purpose of eternal life is so we may daily have the kind of relationship with God and Jesus that is described above. The key, then, to understanding biblical worship is an appreciation of the attributes of God - especially His holiness. We must comprehend the exalted character of God (with holiness as the primary attribute) in order to understand our need as worshippers. God does not need our worship. It will not make Him any more God than He is. Worship of God is for our benefit and fills a divine vacuum in our lives. In Isaiah 6:5 Isaiah saw the Lord and realized his contrasting condition. He said: “Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” First, a personal assessment (“Woe is me! . . . I am a man of unclean lips . . .”) Next, a public assessment (“I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips. . .”) Until we realize ourselves as weak and needy and God as "lofty and exalted," we will be unable to grasp the magnitude of God’s holiness and thereby give Him truly “acceptable” worship. True worship must be from the perspective of God’s holiness and the sinfulness of the worshipper. Hebrews 12:28-29: “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: (29) For our God is a consuming fire.” Vs. 28 instructs us to worship God with holy fear and awe. Does that sound like the modern day Sunday morning worshipper? Many enter God’s presence with divided minds and scattered thoughts. Some pay more attention to their “electronic devices” than to the message. The sound of Bible pages turning has been replaced by the silence of “swiping” across a screen. Also, you don’t have to learn/memorize the books of the Bible if you are letting an app find the text for you. Some are anxious to “get it over with” and go about their day. That doesn’t sound like holy fear and awe to me. Holiness cannot be perceived apart from fear. Why? If you perceive God as utterly holy, you must perceive yourself as utterly unholy. What did Isaiah say? “Woe is me! . . . I am a man of unclean lips . . .” Very literally he said, “I am going to die for I have seen the Lord!” The holiness of God should produce a sense of reverential fear in us because a holy God has a right to a holy reaction against an unholy creation. God has become so casual in our thinking (so human, so buddy-buddy) today, that we do not understand the whole perspective of His utter holiness. He is a “consuming fire.” He has a holy indignation against sin. If we flippantly rush into His presence, with lives that are unattended to through repentance, confession, and forgiveness, we are vulnerable to His holy reaction. John leaned on the bosom of Jesus in the Upper Room, but he fell at His feet when he beheld Him as Sovereign in Revelation 1:17-18: “And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: (18) I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

I. WORSHIP AND THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD.

II. HOLINESS DEFINED AND ILLUSTRATED.

WE ARE CLOSER TO CHRIST’S COMING THAN WE REALIZE -- Ezekiel 38 ; Matthew 24

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

We woke up last Sunday morning to learn of a joint attack on Iran by the United States of America and Israel. I don’t know what you thought (obviously), but I was not sure what to think. When I begin to consider the rapture, or the catching up of the saved, the Great Tribulation, the Second Coming of Christ to this earth, and eventually His Millennial Reign, we must look to the Middle East. The things happening to, in, and around Israel are a divine road map as to where we are in the consummation of all things. Whenever Israel is involved my ears perk up just a little bit. So when the news is about them, I listen to it just a little more closely. When I heard what was happening in Iran and who was involved, one of the places my mind went to was this chapter in Ezekiel. Let me just pause a moment to say I am happy for the people of Iran, especially if from this they gain the liberty that has been pledged. It should not amaze us, though it often does, how God moves people and uses people to accomplish His will. Without waxing political I will say that I believe He is using our president to prepare our world for the soon coming of Jesus. God can do that. Whether a person is saved or lost, whether they acknowledge Him or not, He can use their decisions to accomplish what He wants done. In the bulletin article I made reference to Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus the Persian, and to Caesar Augustus. None of these individuals were considered anywhere close to godly, but God used them. The 38th chapter of Ezekiel describes a future invasion of Israel by a coalition of nations led by Gog of Magog. Some Bible commentators equate Magog with modern day Russia. The coalition of nations joining with Gog (Russia) includes Persia (Iran), Ethiopia, and Libya. One thing that is definitely known is that it speaks of an area that is to the north of Israel. Some of the early commentators believed it referred to Alexander the Great, but remember some prophecy can have an immediate and future reference. And, according to commentators, the names Mesech and Tubal are considered to be ancient names for the Russian cities of Moscow and Tobolsk. In Ezekiel 38:4-6 God says to Gog, “And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: (5 )Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: (6) Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.” The reference to “Gomer and all his bands” and “the house of Togarmah of the north quarters . . . and all his bands . . . ” in vs. 6 includes Turkey and its surrounding areas. Dr. I. K. Cross this suggests that the nations named above will feel compelled (“ . . . I will . . . put hooks into thy jaws . . . ”) to come against Israel. When will this happen? Most Bible expositors cannot agree as to when, but look at what God says. Vs. 8: “After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land . . .” Vs. 16: “And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days . . . ” LATTER DAYS = last, or end; end of days; last days. As I look at the things that are happening at this moment in the Middle East I cannot help but believe that the way is being opened for these things to take place. Consider the article about China and Russia being “forced” now to buy oil on the global market instead of purchasing sanctioned oil from Iran and moving it by way of tankers in a “ghost,” or “shadow fleet.” The article stated that this will definitely affect the economies of those nations. Just this last week Russia commented that anyone who is against Israel and the United States is their partner. But let’s go back to a previous question for just a moment. When is all this going to happen? In vs. 14 God told Ezekiel: “Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord God; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?” If things in Iran go as most expect them to go Israel will appear to be afforded certain degree of safety. But listen to what Paul said, speaking of the world, in I Thessalonians 5:3: “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” In Matthew 24:44 Jesus said: “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Luke 12:40: “?Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” Why did Jesus say that? Why did He have to tell us to “be ready?” Because He has told us about . . .

I.THE CONDITIONS AT HIS COMING.

II. THE CAUTION ABOUT HIS COMING.

SURVIVING THE SPIRIT OF APATHY -- Romans 9:1-3

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Someone has said that the epitaph of our society today should be: “This civilization died because it just didn’t want to be bothered. It did not care.” Dr. Lawrence M Gould, one time President of Carlton College said: “I do not believe that the greatest threat to our future is from bombs or guided missiles. I don't think our civilization will end that way. I think it will end, and it will die when people no longer care.” We are rapidly approaching that time in our world. Nineteen of 21 civilizations have died from within -- not by conquest from without. It happened slowly, gradually when no one was aware. If I had to choose a word to describe the condition of most of the Lord’s churches today, I would choose one of two: satisfied, or apathetic (apathy). Satisfied: We are comfortable with both our physical and spiritual condition, very much like the church at Laodicea which said, “I am rich . . . and . . . need nothing.” Apathetic: Showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern. (Apathy = A state of indifference, characterized by a significant lack of emotion, motivation, interest, or enthusiasm, often manifesting as reduced goal-directed activity.) Symptoms of apathy include emotional numbness, social withdrawal, neglect of tasks, and lack of initiative. As we sit this morning, cool (or warm) comfortable, I feel a trickle-down effect has taken place, and the apathy of the world has come into many of the Lord’s churches, and we are all in danger of being affected by it. Horatius Bonar (ancient Scottish poet) once said: “I looked for the church, and I found it in the world. I looked for the world, and I found it in the church.” I mentioned the church at Laodicea. We will look at it soon on Sunday nights. That church is a prime example of what I am talking about. They were lukewarm - neither hot nor cold. In their apathy they said, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing” (Revelation 3:17) and could not realize their true spiritual condition. However, when we read our text, we see a man not affected by apathy. I am not sure Saul/Paul was ever apathetic about anything. Before he was saved he was full of zeal, as he persecuted the Lord’s churches. When he met Christ and had his life turned upside down, he became full of zeal, not persecuting churches, but building churches. He was, indeed, a man who was not apathetic. For the next few minutes we are going to examine these three verses in Romans 9. And as we examine the attitude of the Apostle Paul, we will see what we need to survive in this age of apathy.

I. PAUL HAD A TRUE DESIRE -- VS. 1.

II. HE ALSO HAD A TROUBLED HEART -- VS. 2.

III. PAUL HAD A TELLING COMMITMENT -- VS. 3.

A FAITH LIKE NO OTHER -- Matthew 8:5-10

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Our text is the account of our Lord’s healing of the centurion’s servant. This centurion was a Roman, a pagan, but he exhibited great faith in Jesus. His faith was so great that it prompted Jesus to say (vs. 10): “Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” We heard a wonderful testimony Wednesday evening of multiple incidents where men placed their faith in God and saw Him answer and meet their needs. They were taught that faith by their dad as they were growing up. It is the kind of faith and dedication to the Lord we need to teach our children and the young people of this church today. “Lord, turn the hearts of our children to You.” Today we are going to look at this faith like no other and what we must do to have it. Hebrews 11:1 tells us: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (SUBSTANCE = foundation; prop; basis; confidence.) (HOPED = expected. It is the usual N.T. word for “hope.” Why do we expect things like the rapture, glorified bodies, the new heaven and new earth, etc? Faith! Because God’s Word tells us about these things, and we believe His Word. (EVIDENCE = demonstration, proof, convincing argument. Our faith is to be evidence to the world of things it cannot see - evidence of God, the Holy Spirit, Heaven, eternity, etc.) So, let me ask, “Is the way most (of us) believers live in relation to faith in God - not for salvation or service, but for supply - a convincing argument of His existence to the unsaved world?” Many of our prayer lives are weak because our faith is weak! I mention prayer here because prayer and faith go together. It seems that sometimes we pray half trusting God. We pray thinking, “Well, God will answer this prayer if He wants to.” Or, we pray hoping (as the world thinks of “ hope”) instead of expecting (biblical “hope”). And many prayers are not answered because we pray in a weak way. Why do we pray that way when Hebrews 4:14-16 says: “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (15) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (BOLDLY = (a compound word)(meta = with ; parrhesia = out-spokeness; frankness; bluntness; assurance). “Let us come with assurance.” A man had a burden of service on his heart, set out to obey God, and asked God to supply the means to meet the burden. James 1:5-6 gives us an example of how to pray -- “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (6) But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” (WAVERING = to be in separation with in one’s self.) One who wavers is a person with divided, unsettled as a wave that is blown and tossed by the wind. And look at what James says about the one who asks wavering, who asks in weak faith - vs. 7: “For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.” Why? Hebrews 11:6: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” [WITHOUT (FAITH) = (literally) at a space from; apart from.] [IMPOSSIBLE = is a compound word made up of “dunatos” with the negating “a” attached. “Dunatos” is from “dunamai,” which refers to “dynamic ability.” It speaks of being powerful, or capable. So, “a(not)dunatos” speaks of being weak and powerless.] [PLEASE = (euaresteo) to gratify entirely; to please well.] Without faith we are powerless to be well-pleasing to God. But what is “faith?” There was a song years ago that said, “Faith is just believing what God says, He will do.” However, biblical faith goes beyond that. [FAITH = (pistis) a firm persuasion, the conviction which is based upon hearing, not upon sight or knowledge.] The Scripture says in II Corinthians 5:7 “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) . . . ” Faith is a “firmly relying confidence in what we hear from God in His Word” (Bullinger) This kind of faith is absolutely necessary to the true worship of God - “ . . . for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” “ . . . for he that cometh to him . . . ” [COMETH = to approach; come near; (figuratively, it refers to worship).] “ . . . must believe that he is . . . ” [BELIEVE = (pisteuo) to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to).] This is not just mental assent. That is what demons do. James 2:19: “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils (demons) also believe, and tremble.” The use of the word here is TRUST. You don’t come near to or depend upon someone you don’t trust [DILIGENTLY SEEK = search out; crave; (a Hebraism for “worship.”)] We cannot truly worship God as we should and as He deserves without faith. So, let’s see what is necessary to have this kind of faith Jesus praised, this great faith.

I. GREAT FAITH COMES FROM HEARING THE WORD OF GOD - ROMANS 10:17.

II. GREAT FAITH COMES BY HAVING A DAILY WALK WITH GOD -- GENESIS 5:24.

III. GREAT FAITH COMES BY HEEDING THE WITNESS OF FAITHFUL SERVANTS OF GOD.

THE GENERATION THAT DIDN’T KNOW GOD -- Judges 1:1 ; 2:7-10 ; 21:25

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The book of Judges is an account of a 450 year period when God gave deliverers to His people Israel. It lasted from the time of Joshua’s death to the rise of Samuel, the prophet. In fact, Samuel is referred to by some as the last judge and the first prophet. However, before we can truly understand why these judges were needed, we must know what was going on. The first verse of this book reveals Israel’s problem, and the last verse of the book reveals their practice. Judges 1:1: “Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the Lord, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?” Judges 21:25 offers us an overview of the book this book. It says, “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Judges is an account of Israel’s cycle of rebellion, retribution, repentance, restoration, and rest. From Joshua 24:15 to Judges 1:28 is only a few years. In Joshua 24:15 we see Joshua’s challenge to Israel: “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Vs. 19 Joshua warned the people that they would not be able to serve God. People make emotional, or as I call them revival service commitments to God that sound good at the time, but they usually don’t keep them. Have you ever prayed, “Lord, if You will get me out of this mess I am in, I will serve you faithfully?” Or, “Lord, if You will bless me I will serve you?” In Joshua 24:21-24 we see how the people indicted themselves before God. “And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the Lord. (24) And the people said unto Joshua, The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.” However, we see in Judges 1:28 how Israel failed at their commitment to God: “And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.” God commanded the Israelites to enter Canaan and conquer it completely -- Deuteronomy 7:1-3, 5. They were to: 1) Vs. 1 -- Possess the land. 2) Vs. 2 -- Utterly destroy all the nations of Canaan. 3) Vs. 2 -- Make no peace treaties with them. 4) Vs. 2 -- Show them no mercy. 5) Vs. 3 -- Refuse to intermarry with them. 6) Vs. 5 -- Destroy every trace of their pagan religions. And in Deuteronomy 7:6 God explained the reason for this command: “For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.” God demanded total separation of His people from the practices of those about them. He knew if they entangled themselves with these they would become spiritually corrupt and be drawn away from Him. He promised to visit them suddenly in His wrath when that happened. Israel had their instructions, but they failed to fully obey. Judges 1:22-36 (vs. 28) records this failure of Israel. Nine times between Judges 1:19 and 1:35 the word “but” is used to reveal their failure - vv. 19, 21, 25, 27, 29, 30, 32, 33, 35. God has instructed His people and His churches that we are to be separate from this world system -- II Corinthians 6:14-18 ; II Peter 1:15-16 (HOLY = set apart) ; II Corinthians 7:1 ; I John 2:15-16. So when we come to Judges 2:10 we are told: “There arose another generation which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done.” This was the generation that followed Joshua’s generation. We are one generation away from heresy. We need to teach these little ones NOW and not wait until they are grown. And we not only need to teach the what but the why of these great doctrines of the Bible. 2:7: “And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the Lord, that he did for Israel.” In vs. 8 Joshua dies, “being an hundred and ten years old.” Vs. 10: “And also all that generation (Joshua’s generation, including the elders that “outlived Joshua”) were gathered unto their fathers . . . ” These were 2nd and 3rd generation of those that had come out of Egypt. Someone said, “The first generation has convictions. By the second generation they are merely preferences. And by the third generation, they are gone altogether.” Today, the Lord’s churches are producing generations which “know not the Lord nor His works” (and I would say, nor His Word). Many teens and young adults know little about the Bible. They often don’t know what we believe or why we believe it. Many are “Baptist” only because “that's the way I was raised,” or “that's what mom and dad are/were.” Many churches and church members do not have a powerful influence with or testimony to the lost about them. So let’s examine that generation of Judges 2:10:

I. IT WAS A GENERATION VOID OF LEADERSHIP.

II. IT WAS A GENERATION OF UNREALIZED POTENTIAL.

III. BUT (SADLY) IT WAS A GENERATION THAT BROUGHT DARKNESS TO LIGHT.

THERE ARE NO “NOBODIES” IN GOD'S SERVICE -- SHAMGAR: USING WHAT WE HAVE -- Judges 3:31

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

I believe it is “crunch time” in America. In case you haven’t noticed it . . . There is and has been for some time an all out war against God, against Jesus, and against the Bible in this nation. This war is coming rapidly to the Lord’s churches and in an ever increasing degree. We may feel like we are enjoying a “lull” in the fighting at the present moment, but I can guarantee you that the sinister minister of evil, Satan himself, is operating under the surface and behind the scenes preparing his next attack for the days to come. It is high time that someone, or many “someones,” stand up and sound the warning that there is danger ahead. Some might consider Shamgar a ‘nobody’ because his name appears only twice in the Scripture, but the Bible is filled with accounts of people who appear on its pages for just a moment and then promptly disappear. Do you know who ADINO was? II Samuel 23:8 says he was one of David’s mighty men who “lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.” II Samuel 23:9-10 says ELEAZAR, another of David’s mighty men “arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword . . . ” There was SHAMMAH (II Samuel 23:11-12) who “stood in the midst of the ground, (a field) and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the Lord wrought a great victory.” Then there was the Israelite maid who told Naaman about the God of Israel which led to his being healed of his leprosy (I Kings 5:1-4). Even Joseph of Arimathea who, at great personal risk, asked for the body of Jesus so in that he might bury Him in his own tomb (John 19:38-42). The list could go on and on, but I think you get the picture. It seems that God often uses the unknown and the obscure to accomplish His work. Why? I Corinthians 1:26-29: “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: (27) But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; (28) And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: (29) That no flesh should glory in his presence.” Shamgar is no exception. He appears in two verses in the Bible. He is used of God. And then vanishes away. The Bible gives us information on the first two judges mentioned in this third chapter. First we read about Othniel. Othniel was Caleb’s nephew, the son of his younger brother. Then we see Ehud. He was of the tribe of Benjamin, a Benjamite. But when we come to Shamgar, and God has chosen not to tell us much about him. As I said, he is only mentioned twice -- Judges 3:31 ; 5:6. But, what is said of him reveals his character and his courage. Though he is relatively unknown to us, God knew him and used him in a great way. Some say SHAMGAR means either “sword,” or “cupbearer.” Either would fit with what we know of him. He was like a sword in the hand of God as He was used to defeat Israel’s enemies. He was like a cupbearer as he brought the cup of God’s wrath upon them. But his name could also mean “overthrower,” for he overthrew 600 Philistines. He is called “the son of Anath.” Some say that is because. . . His father’s name was Anath. But if that is so, we know little about his father. Or, that he was from Beth-anath (house of Anath) in upper Galilee. The area was given to the tribe of Naphtali in the division of the land. According to Judges 1:33 Naphtali did not “drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth-anath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and of Beth-anath became tributaries unto them.” Some have even suggested “son of Anath” might have been a nickname. ANATH = the Canaanite goddess of war. They say he may have been given that nickname because he was a “warrior.” Whatever the case, just as I Corinthians tells us, God can take those the world considers “nobodies” and do mighty things through them. We only have to make ourselves available. In this message we will see that . . .

I. SHAMGAR WAS A WORKER.

II. SHAMGAR WAS A WARRIOR.

III. SHAMGAR BECAME THE WINNER.

(HOW) I KNOW THAT JESUS IS GOD -- John 1:1-14

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Today in America someone is paying to have billboards erected that say, “Jesus is not God.” I don’t know what your response to this is, but I, for one, am outraged over it. This is not just an attack on Christianity, but an attack on Jesus Christ Himself. I like the photo I saw of a man who had climbed the billboard and was painting over the word “NOT.” People may deny Jesus, but that will not negate the fact that He is God. People may deny Jesus, but His is the only name governments ban, cultures mock, demons fear, and persecuted believers cling to with their lives. “You don’t silence a name unless it carries power.” In this series of messages we have already estabilished: 1) The reality of God - that He is. 2) That the Bible is the divinely inspired and inerrant Word of God. So today we are going to go to God’s Word and see that it tells us that Jesus is God. All 4 of the Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John - present Jesus to us, but John’s account of the life of Christ is different. The book John was the last of the “Gospels” to be written. Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called “Synoptic Gospels.” (SYNOPTIC = providing a general view or summary; to see together. It describes something comprehensive and unified.) They contain many of the same accounts and teachings as John but are presented from a different angle. Yet, each is fully inspired by the Lord. In John’s account of the life of Christ we see a side of our Lord the others do not show. John was a part of what is called the “inner circle,” those few disciples that were with the Lord during some of His most intimate moments. Matthew 17:1-2: “And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart (2) And was transfigured before them . . . ” (APART = by themselves; privately.) Matthew recorded this event, but according to vv. 1-2 he was not with them. Where was he? Based on vv. 14, 16 he apparently was left at the base of the mountain. “14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, (16) And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.” Mark 14:32-34: “And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. (33) And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; (34) And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.” John is referred to as the disciple the Lord loved - John 19:26: “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!” John is the only one of the apostles to record the Lord’s final words -- John 19:30: “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” So John gives us 21 chapters that present different facets of the divine character of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the first chapter, John paints a picture of Jesus as the Word of God. That is the image we will focus on today. First, John tells us that . . .

I. JESUS IS THE PRE-EXISTENT WORD -- VV. 1-3.

II. JESUS IS THE PERSONALIZED WORD -- VS. 14.

III. JESUS IS THE PROCLAIMING WORD -- VS. 18.

HOW TO READ THE BIBLE -- John 5:39

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

We saw last week that the Bible is the divinely inspired, inerrant, infallible, authentic, and perfect Word of God. We should value our Bibles. We do not worship them as we would worship our Lord, but we are to value them. Just think, as we stand here and hold our Bibles we hold in our hands the precious Word of God. Let that sink in a moment. Charles Haddon Spurgeon was a great Baptist preacher/pastor in England in the 1800s. He shared a message with his congregation titled, “How To Read The Bible.” I am not going to try to preach Spurgeon’s message, but reading the sermon caused me to consider how I read the Scriptures (and, possibly, how many who are saved read it) as well as consider how I should read them. In Spurgeon’s day he said, “I am afraid that this is a magazine reading age, a newapaper reading age, a periodical reading age, but not so much a Bible reading age as it ought to be.” Today is not much different except that we are in an electronic age. Most of our reading today is likely done online, and there is more available to read than in Spurgeon’s day. Tons of online magazines, newspapers, articles, etc. are available to us. How much of our time does the reading of Facebook posts take up on a daily basis? (And, of course, we know that everything we read on Facebook is true, right?) There was a time when people had a scant supply of reading material, but they found a whole library to read from in the Bible. Too much “Bible reading” today is little more than merely scanning the Scriptures. But Jesus said, “Search the scriptures . . . ” (John 5:39). [SEARCH = to seek; to investigate. (An investigation involves more than mere scanning.)] The setting of part of our text - Matthew 12:1-8. Jesus and His disciples are going through a field of corn on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and “began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.” [PLUCK = pull off. Some say they were rubbing/rolling the ears of corn in their hands (to remove the husks or whatever might have been on them).] The scribes and Pharisees viewed this as “threshing” the corn, which was forbidden on the Sabbath (even when one was hungry), so they called Him into question. Notice the Lord’s answer, (vs. 3) “Have ye not read?” (vs. 5) “Have ye not read?” (Essentially, “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?”) The scribes and Pharisees were great readers of the Law. The Pharisees were the lawyers. Surely they should have read. The scribes scrupulously copied the Law, and they should have read. They even made notes as to which was the middle verse of the Old Testament, which was halfway to the middle, how many times a word occurred, and even how many times a letter occurred, the size of the letter, and it peculiar position. The Lord's question was a cutting inquiry to these intense readers of the Law. Jesus insinuated that though they might have read the words, they missed the true meaning of what they read - (vs. 7) “But if ye had known what this meaneth . . .” That is the equivalent of, “You have not read because you have not understood. Your eyes have gone over the words, and you have counted the letters, you have marked the position of each verse and word, you have said learned things about all the books, yet you have not acquired the art of reading. You have not read it, for you do not understand it.” Sadly, much of what we call Bible “reading” is not true reading at all. One source defines “reading” as “the complex process of interpreting written symbols (letters, words) to understand meaning.” Webster’s Dictionary says it is “to receive or take in the sense of.” If we are not careful in our reading, our eyes will pass over the words and the sentences will go over our minds without our ever understanding what we have seen. This can happen easily, especially when we set aside a certain number of chapters or verses we want to read on a daily basis. When we try to “squeeze in” our reading at the end of the day. When we try to read hurriedly in order to “get on to the next thing on our schedule.” In order to truly read the Scriptures we must:

I. SEEK AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE READ.

II. SEE THE INSTRUCTION OF THE WORD.

III. SATISFY YOUR SOUL WITH THE BLESSINGS OF THE WORD.

HOW I KNOW THE BIBLE IS GOD’S WORD -- II Timothy 3:16-17 ; II Peter 1:19-21

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

If you will take your stand today on what the Bible teaches someone will ask you, “Why do you believe the Bible?” Probably 9 out of 10 people would reply, “Because it is the Word of God.” That would prompt the question, “How do you know it is the Word of God?” Here is the attitude of so many people today. They say, “Well the Bible is a good book. It is full of good stories. It teaches some good lessons. But I don’t believe it is the Word of God.” They seek to disregard the Bible. They say it is outdated, especially the KJV with its 1600’s phrasing and language. (That’s why there are so many “translations” that do damage to the beauty of the Word and are little more than commentaries.) Today, few want to spend a great deal of time in study. They want everything short, and sweet, and easy to read. IF they read the Bible at all, they don’t want to spend a lot of time doing it. II Timothy 2:15: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” STUDY means to give diligence; make an effort; be earnest. (It implies labor.) How much diligence do you give to daily Bible reading? (There is more to reading than merely calling the words of the text.) These also say that the Bible is not relevant or important today. God is always relevant, and God’s Word is always relevant and important. You can read and study the Bible and know more about what is going on in the world today than those reporting the news, or those sitting in Congress! Some distort the Bible. They try to twist the Scriptures to make them say what they want them to say. Galatians 1:6-7: “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: (7) Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.” (PERVERT = to turn across; transmute; corrupt. It is from a word that means “to turn quite around or reverse.) That is what a lot of these modern so-called translations do. There are those who despise the Bible. These are the ones who are opposed to anything that has to do with Christ or that we as believers in Him stand for. They say things like, “I am not going to let some ancient book control my thinking and my living!” There are many who deny the Bible. They simply do not believe it is God’s holy Word. They question it like Satan did when tempting Eve, “Yea, hath God said?” That was the first assault on the Bible, and Satan has been attacking it ever since. But, do you know where one can find the greatest enemy of the Bible? Right here! The greatest enemies of the Bible are often found in the Lord’s churches among those who say they believe the Bible but only give it lip service to the fact that it is the inspired, inerrant, infallible, and authentic Word of God! They don’t read and study it. They don’t know it. They don’t live by it. They don’t stand on it or for it. Why is the total inspiration of the Bible important? If the Bible is not inspired of God we have NO Divine authority on earth. If only part of it is inspired, who is wise enough to determine which part is inspired and which is not? (Isn’t my opinion just as good as yours?) If the Bible is not inspired, then it lies about itself because it testifies of it inspiration (II Timothy 3:16-17 ; II Peter 1:20-21). The inspiration of the Scripture gives a trustworthiness, an authority, and a profit to the Bible which is altogether Divine. And, it speaks this Divine word immediately to each reader’s heart. Especially in these days in which we are living we must know and be assured as we lean on the Bible that it truly IS the Word of Almighty God. Satan cannot disturb, disrupt, damage, or destroy us if we will stand on the Bible. In this message I will give several reasons why I know the Bible to be the Word of God. We know the Bible is the Word of God . . .

I. BECAUSE IT IS SCIENTIFICALLY ACCURATE.

II. BECAUSE IT IS HISTORICALLY ACCURATE.

III. BECAUSE OF ITS FULFILLED PROPHECY, HARMONY OF SCRIPTURES, INDESTRUCTIBLE

NATURE, POWER AND INFLUENCE.

Why I Know God Is -- Hebrews 11:1-6

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Today’s message is the first of several in which I ask the simple question, “Why?” “Why Do You Believe In God?” You may wonder, “Why would a preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ propose such a question?” Well, let me ask you, “Have you ever thought about that question?” What if someone - some stranger, friend, or relative - asked you that question How would you answer? I want to share a story I read recently. I don’t know if this is a true story, but I have read often refer to a child of some well known preacher, televangelist, or megachurch pastor that has turned away from God. I do not know if the man in our story was either of those, but he was a pastor. His son had been in church since he was a baby. He professed to be saved at one point. He was considered by many in the church his dad pastored to be a “good Christian.” Yet, one day he said to his preacher father, “Dad, I have decided I am an atheist.” His father was stunned! How could this be? His dad finally said, “We taught him what to believe, but we never shared the why of believing it." Folks, WE ARE LOSING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE!!! Fewer and fewer are choosing to accept Christ at a young age and serve Him all their lives. (The longer a child goes without being saved, the less likely it is that he/she will ever be saved.) And of those who do give their hearts and lives to Jesus at a young age, many will abandon Him and their service of Him in their late teens and beyond. (We have seen it.) Some of this is the fault of parents! A WORD OF WARNING TO FATHERS: A child is not just Mom’s responsibility! In fact, Dad, that child is one of YOUR greatest responsibilities! Ephesians 6:4: “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Proverbs 29:15: “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” What would you do if a child, a grandchild, a great-grandchild, a nephew, or a niece came home from college one day and announced, “I am an atheist?” We who are older grew up in a time when most of those in our and our parents’ circle of friends, at the very least, believed in God. But we live in a time when people (and especially our youth) are being taught to QUESTION EVERYTHING . . . in the music they listen to, in the movies and TV shows they watch, and even in the video games they play. Satan has a target on our young people, and he has done and is doing a job on young believers today. They are his primary target. So, what are you going to say when a child, or a teenager, or a young adult, or someone else asks, “Why do you believe in God?” This morning I want to share why I not only believe in God, but why I KNOW He is!

I. I KNOW GOD IS REAL BECAUSE OF THE COSMOS.

II. I KNOW GOD IS REAL BECAUSE OF THE CREATION.

III. I KNOW GOD IS REAL BECAUSE OF CONSCIOUSNESS (OR CONSCIENCE).

IV. I KNOW GOD IS BECAUSE HE DWELLS WITHIN ME.

HOW TO HAVE A TRULY HAPPY NEW YEAR -- Philippians 3:8-14

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Vv. 1-3 give us the setting of our text. In these 3 verses Paul . . . 1) Encourages these believers to “rejoice in the Lord . . . ” 2) But to keep an eye out for false teachers, especially the Judaizers. He calls them dogs, evil workers, and “the concision” (lit. mutilators). Paul had set before the Philippians the fact of Christ and His sacrifice for believers. Jesus is the center of our faith. He is to be the desire of our hearts, our all in all. In vs. 10 Paul states his desire to be lifted above the cares of this world/life. (It is only in Christ that one can really live for God.) Paul set his face to do God’s will and looked forward to the time when he would be called into the presence of the Lord. He summed it up by saying, “For me, to live is Christ, to die is gain” (1:21) His life was a determined life for Christ. The principle by which he lived is stated vv. 13-14: “. . . forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” This is the very principle by which we should live. We should admit our sins and failures of God, repent of them, be sorry for them, learn from them, but we should not lament or grieve constantly over them. We must put them in the background and move on for Christ’s sake. Today we stand at the threshhold of a new year for Christ. There are 51 more Sundays, 52 weeks, and 361 more days to live for our Lord this year. How will we use them? What will we do for Christ this year? Will we be faithful in our living for the Lord in 2026? I want to share with you a recipe which will assure the spiritual success of this church and each member in the coming year and will give us a truly happy new year. There are some things that we must leave behind, and there are some we must take with us into the new year.

I. THERE ARE SOME THINGS TO LEAVE BEHIND.

II. THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE MUST TAKE WITH US.

JUST ONE YEAR TO LIVE? -- Jeremiah 28:12-17

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Jeremiah vs. Hananiah is the classic battle of truth vs. error, of those who preach God’s message vs. those who preach what people want to hear. Jeremiah was a man of God and a God-pleasing prophet. Hananiah was of the world, a false preacher who sought to please those who heard him. Hananiah sought to please the ego of the king. He was the type that would find out what the king wanted to hear, then preach that. He preferred to deliver a syrupy sermonette in order to boost the self-image of his hearers. Jeremiah sought to please God. He was prepared to tell the truth, regardless of what it might bring upon him. He preached a plain message that was not popular with the crowd. It was a message of God’s condemnation and coming judgment. These 2 approaches to preaching are still with us today. (I don't need to tell you which is preferred by the world.) I Timothy 4:1-2: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (2) Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron. . .” II Timothy 4:3-4: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having having itching ears; (4) And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” Jeremiah 27:1-6, 9-10, 14-15 & 28:1-4, 10-11, and our text present this confrontation. We also see the culmination of this confrontation. Hananiah has sown to the wind, and he will reap the whirlwind. He will be called to give a personal account of his false word at the judgment bar of God. It is encouraging in this day of apostasy, to read of the ultimate triumph of good over evil, the triumph of truth over error. We need such encouragement. But Hananiah is at the center of our thoughts today as he is told by Jeremiah, “Within the year God will require your life of you.” How would you like to be told you were going to pass from this life within the next year? Do you think about it? Several of our members left this life in the past year, and we would not even have imagined at the start of the year they would do so? We don’t like to be reminded of death. The desire to survive is as natural as breathing. Most of us know to go and be with the Lord is far better, but we desire to live here, also. This was the dilemma Paul faced in Philippians 1:23-24. He said: “For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: (24) Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.” Why did the Lord include this account of Jeremiah and Hananiah in His Word? So we might reflect upon the brevity of life? -- James 4:14: “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” So we would not make the mistake of the rich man in Luke 12 and become prideful and presumptuous about life? Luke 12:17-19: “. . . he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? (18) And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. (19) And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” James 4:13-14: “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: (14) Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow.” Proverbs 27:1: “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” But what if God said to you or me, “This year, thou shalt die . . . ” What would our reaction be? Let us consider. . .

I. JUST ONE YEAR TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH GOD -- (SOLITUDE).

II. JUST ONE YEAR FOR DEEPER COMMITMENT -- (SURRENDER).

III. JUST ONE YEAR TO SERVE OTHERS -- (SERVICE).

IV. JUST ONE YEAR TO BE A BETTER STEWARD - (STEWARDSHIP).

V. JUST ONE YEAR TO WIN SOULS FOR JESUS -- (SOUL-WINNING ; WITNESSING).

A BELIEVER’S RESPONSIBILITY AT CHRISTMAS -- Luke 2:1-16

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

The Bible does not argue facts. It simply sets the truth before us, and we will either accept it or reject it. We who are saved should be quite familiar with these verses. They present the account of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the Christmas season. Regardless of the commercialism that accompanies it, and the world’s opposition to it, the season brings to mind one of, if not the greatest of God’s timeless truths - the virgin birth of Jesus. But, what does this season mean to you? To some it means hard work, crowded stores, running here and there. To others it may mean a time with family, etc. or, it may bring sadness and sad memories as we observe the holiday while missing loved ones who are no longer with us. But to millions, even billions in this world it means absolutely nothing at all because they do not know Jesus as Savior. In 2017 belief in the Virgin Birth among all Americans had dropped to 66%. To the saved, we realize that Christmas reveals the love and foreknowledge of God (John 3:16 ; Galatians 4:4-5). To us it means that God has regarded mankind in his lost and sinful condition and has given the best gift ever. It means that God has provided a Savior, Jesus, who was born to die for our sin, raised for our justification, and who has ascended to make intercession for us. It also gives us the hope of His return for all believers - John 14:1-3. In Jesus we have a: Companion for life, a Friend in the hour of death, and a loving Brother for eternity. But, if we are to truly have a right Christmas, there are some things we must do, some responsibilities we have, and we the it in this account of His birth. To have a right Christmas as believers . . .

I. WE MUST MAKE ROOM FOR JESUS.

II. WE MUST WORSHIP HIM.

III. WE MUST GIVE TO HIM.

IV. WE MUST TELL OTHERS OF HIM.

THE TRUE MIRACLE OF CHRISTMAS (A MESSAGE MANY WON’T PREACH) -- Isaiah 7:14 ; Matthew 1:18-25

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

I was surprised to see how many “Christmas” movies have been made that have the word “miracle” in the title. We are probably all familiar with the classic “Miracle On 34th Street.” But there is quite a list of other lesser know “miracle” Christmas movies, like: “A Christmas Miracle” (2019), “The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey,” “A Miracle On Christmas Lake,” “A Christmas Tree Miracle,” “Mr. Miracle,” and “Mrs. Miracle.” Of course, there is really only one true miracle that occurred at this time we call Christmas, and that is the miraculous virgin birth of the Lord Jesus. Our doctrinal statement number six says: “We believe in the virgin birth and sinless humanity of Jesus Christ.” No one can explain nor understand all there is to know about the virgin birth. But we do not need to understand nor explain it. God’s Word declares it, and we should believe it. In Isaiah 7:14 God said through the prophet Isaiah that it would happen. In Matthew 1:22-23 we are told that this miraculous birth took place “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, (23) Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” When the angel announced to Mary that she would have a son, she wondered and had questions. Luke 1:29 tells us that when Gabriel appeared to her that Mary “was troubled . . . and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.” When the angel announced that Mary would have a son Luke 1:34 says Mary questioned, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” Many still ask questions today. Some try to reason, or explain, or explain away the virgin birth of Jesus. How silly it is for finite man to try to reason the infinite God! Some simply ignore this doctrine and try to forget it. Others deny it, even accusing Mary of being unfaithful to Joseph, because it is simply something they refuse to believe. According to a 2022 Barna Research only 37% of U.S. pastors hold a biblical world view, suggesting skepticism on core doctrines like the Virgin Birth. In 2017 belief in the Virgin Birth among all Americans had dropped to 66%. This message presents 5 questions about the virgin birth that, when answered, will help us understand the importance of and defend the teaching of the virgin birth.

I. IS THE VIRGIN BIRTH TAUGHT?

II. IS THE VIRGIN BIRTH ESSENTIAL?

III. IS THE VIRGIN BIRTH A MYSTERY?

IV. IS THE VIRGIN BIRTH BELIEVABLE?

V. IS THE DOCTRINE OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH PRACTICAL?

TAKING GRACE FOR GRANTED -- II Corinthians ; 6:1 Galatians 2:21

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

The story is told that in a great debate about what makes Christianity unique that C.S. Lewis gave the answer, “Oh, that’s easy. It’s grace.” Lewis stated that Christianity has a unique claim that God’s love comes free of charge with no strings attached. He also said that there was NO other religion on earth that could make this claim. That is true, and yet I believe one of the greatest sins and one sin that is committed more often than many others by God’s people today is that of taking God’s grace for granted. What does it mean to take something or someone for granted? TAKE FOR GRANTED = to fail to properly appreciate, especially as a result of over familiarity; to presume the presence of something or someone; to fail to show gratitude for someone or something. This often happens when we become accustomed to having something or someone around and assume it/they will always be there. As the definition says, it involves a lack of gratitude. Example: An employer may take an employee for granted and then be surprised when that employee quits to go to another job. Example: A child may take his/her parents’ love and constant help for granted, but when he/she gets out on their own, or when Mom and Dad are gone they suddenly realize all their parents did for them and meant to them. We live daily in the grace of God. We know that we are saved by grace - Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.” When we are saved we are “in” Christ, and Christ is “in” us. Colossians 1:27 says “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory . . . ” Now listen to what Paul said to the “superstitious” people of Athens - Acts 17:27-28: “That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: (28) For in him we live, and move, and have our being . . . ” I repeat, we live daily in and by the grace of God! You woke up this morning by the grace of God. Do you Remember what David told Jonathan in I Samuel 20:3? “ . . . there is but a step between me and death.” You will survive this day by the grace of God. All God has to do, for He alone has the power of life and death, is to stop our hearts from beating, and we will leave this life in the flesh. Question: How often do consider, do you think about God’s grace? We sing that wonderful hymn “Amazing Grace,” but do we consider His grace on a daily basis (or just when we sing that hymn)? Do you know when I believe most of God’s people think about God’s grace (if they do at all)? It is probably most often after surviving some tragedy, some accident, or some surgery or illness. Then we may consider, “Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come. 'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.” I say (for a third time) we are to understand that we live daily by and in God’s grace. I want us to consider just two questions today:

I. WHAT IS GRACE?

II. HOW DO WE TAKE THE GRACE OF GOD FOR GRANTED?

IT’S ALL IN JESUS -- Colossians 1:19-25

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

We have officially come to that time of year when there seems to be great controversy over whether to wish someone a merry Christmas or just say, “Happy Holidays.” The world says we are being exclusive and offensive by acknowledging Christ this time of year. They see no problem with our Jewish friends saying, “Happy Hanukkah” or others saying “Happy Kwanzaa,” but our naming the name of Jesus bothers them. Many want to make Jesus just one of several “teachers of good things” in this world while ignoring His deity. This is basically what the Gnostics of Paul’s day were trying to do in the church at Colossae. The first century religious environment was much like our own. It was a time of religious mixing, with people borrowing a little from this religion and a little from that religion. The Colossian Heresy” was a corruption of Christianity with elements of mystical and legalistic Judaism perhaps combined with early Gnosticism. Gnosticism denied that Jesus was fully God but that He was just one of many emanations from God with each one losing a bit of deity as he arose. Some Gnostic traditions viewed Jesus as a mere messenger sent to provide knowledge, which they say afforded salvation, even though Jesus taught that salvation comes through faith in Him, not secret knowledge. That is why Paul wrote in vs. 19, “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell . . . ” The title of our Lord fully expresses His deity, His humanity, and His office. He is the Lord (Master), Jesus (Savior), Christ (Messiah, Anointed One). In John 14:9 He said, “. . . he that hath seen me hath seen the Father . . . ” In John 10:30 we see Jesus saying, “I and my Father are one.” Listen to the testimony of God Himself in Deuteronomy 6:4: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord . . . ” In His bodily appearance upon this earth Jesus was fully man and fully God. In Colossians Paul defends the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ before the Gnostics and declares the all-sufficiency of our Lord. Jesus is not just what we need; He is all we need, and we are sufficient in Him. I want us to see, first of all that . . .

I. IN JESUS THERE IS SUFFICIENCY -- VS. 19.

II. IN JESUS THERE IS SALVATION -- VV. 20-21.

III. IN JESUS THERE IS SANCTIFICATION -- VV. 22-23a.

IV. IN JESUS THERE IS SERVICE -- VV. 23b - 25.

A NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH - A DIVINE PARTNERSHIP -- Colossians 1:1-12

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Today there is a great misunderstanding about what a church is and its purpose. Some believe “the church” is some great, universal conglomerate of all of the saved of all the ages, regardless of their differences in beliefs concerning Bible doctrines. Some believe a church exists to supply physical food to the hungry, housing to the homeless, clothing to the destitute, etc., but that is not our purpose. A true, New Testament church is a local body of Scripturally baptized believers covenanted together to carry out the commands of the Lord by carrying the Gospel into the world. In other words, a church is a body, a fellowship of saved, baptized believers in a particular locale sharing the Savior with the lost world about us. Jesus has clearly shown us what He desires for His churches. He said we must love each other with a love that is so evident that when the world sees us, our love for Him and for each other points them to God. John 13:35: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” In the first 12 verses of this letter to the church at Colossae the Apostle Paul points out some things we have in common in one of the Lord’s true churches.

I. WE HAVE A MUTUAL POSITION - VV. 1-2.

II. WE HAVE A MUTUAL POSSESSION - VV. 3-6.

III. WE HAVE A MUTUAL PARTNERSHIP - VV. 7-10.

IV. WE HAVE A MUTUAL POWER - VV. 11-12.

THE PREEMINENCE OF CHRIST -- Colossians 1:17-20

Sun, 16 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Who, or what holds first place in your life? Some might say, “My spouse, my mate comes first. I would sacrifice everything for him/her. I would give my life to protect my mate.” Others might say, “My family, especially my children come first in my life. I would sacrifice my life to protect them.” Still others may say, “My job comes first. I have to work and make a living to take care of my family, so I put my job or my career first.” Some might say, “Being a success, being the best is the most important thing to me.” Sadly, I believe there are those in the world (hopefully none here) who would say, “Personal pleasure comes first in my life.” I have heard some very well meaning people make the statement, “The Lord is a big part of my life.” Now, we think we know what is meant by that statement, and might even find it somewhat commendable. However, all too often that statement is very literally true in the lives of many “Christians.” They tend to view Christ as only a part of the whole. He is only a part of their life. The fact is, Christ does not wish to be merely a part of our life, but to be the essence of it -- to be the life itself. There is something that is more important to me (and should be to every child of God) than being a good husband, or a good father, or a good pastor, or a good church member, or even a success in life! By this text you can see that it is making certain that Jesus Christ is first in all that I do. Do I always put Him first in everything? Sadly, and I am ashamed to admit it, not always. But Jesus must be first in our lives if we are to truly call Him “Lord.” He will not take second place. Luke 14:26-27: “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. (27) And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple." Jesus was not just saying that we are to love Him so much that our love for these others appears as hatred in comparison. Instead, our love for Him must surpass our love for these others. We must love Him above everything and everyone else. Jesus never comes next. (No “. . . but first . . . ”) Luke 9:59-60: “And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. (60) Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.” 5. Dr. Vance Havner: “There has been a cheap, easy profession of Christ as Saviour but no real confession of Christ as Lord. The lips claim Him as Saviour but the life shows no evidence of His Lordship. We love the same things we have always loved; we do not abhor that which is evil, we live our own lives, Christ has no say in the matter.” No Jew would say, “Jesus is Lord” (Dr. A.T. Robertson) “who had not really trusted Christ, for Kurios in the Septuagint is used of God. No Gentile would do it who had not ceased worshipping the Emperor as Kurios. The word Kurios was and is the Touchstone of faith.” Vs. 18 says of Jesus, “That in all things he might have the preeminence.” (PREEMINENCE = to be first, hold the first place, or highest dignity). I will ask this again at the conclusion of the message, but What place does Jesus hold in your life? Note once again that our text says Jesus is the head of His churches, the beginning, the first born from the dead, that He might have the preeminence. Jesus must have the preeminence:

I. IN OUR CHURCH LIFE.

II. IN OUR DAILY (INDIVIDUAL) LIVES.

THE PURPOSE OF PAIN AND ILLNESS IN THE LIFE OF A BELIEVER -- Genesis 3:16-19

Sun, 09 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Have you ever felt that because you are a child of God your life should be a “bed of roses?” No problems, no pain, no difficulty? Were you disappointed when it wasn’t? Our text reveals what we can look forward to in this life -- sorrow, toilsome labor, pain, etc. Pain and suffering are a fact of life! We don't have to be in this body long until we learn this. Childhood illnesses (measles, mumps, chicken pox, etc.), skinned knees, broken bones, etc. all serve to acquaint us with this fact. Growing older does not help. Pain and illness usually increase with age. And look at Job’s observation in Job 14:1: “Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.” And these effects of sin will remain with the human race until the end of the age. Even God’s children are not immune from pain, illness, and suffering -- Psalm 34:19: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” Therefore, all believers need to learn how to deal with both physical and mental suffering. Job is a prime example of the things we may endure in this life. He suffered as much as a man could and not die. Not only did he suffer physically, but he suffered mentally as we see his “friends,” even his wife deserted him. (But God never deserted him!) Did you ever say, especially as a child, “I wish I had never been born?” Look at what Job said in Job 3:11: “Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?” In the New Testament we know that the Apostle Paul suffered a thorn in the flesh. Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:26-27) was sick almost to the point of death. Timothy apparently had a stomach problem along with, as Paul called them, “thine often infirmities” (I Timothy 5:23). In this message we will examine some of the reasons people, even God’s people, suffer pain and illness and suggest how we may deal with it. However, we must remember we may not always know the why of the suffering - especially in others. That is for God. The only one we might be sure of is the one that looks back at us from the mirror. In other words, learn from Job’s friends and be careful about judging why someone other than you may be sick or hurting.

I. WHY DO SAVED PEOPLE SUFFER?

II. HOW WE CAN DEAL WITH PAIN AND SICKNESS.

II. HOW WE CAN DEAL WITH PAIN AND SICKNESS.

SIX CHARACTERISTICS OF A CHURCH THAT HONORS GOD -- Hebrews 13:9-16

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Why do churches exist? For our entertainment? To provide programs to (physically) enrich and excite their members? Is it to babysit the kids on Sunday morning so their parents can catch up on the sleep? Ask that question, and you will get many different answers. Churches exist for many reasons. Some exist to honor a man. Maybe it is some church member from the past who was an active worker in the church and helped many people. Maybe it is a former pastor who led the church through some difficult times. Some exist to give pleasure and satisfaction to those meeting together. Entertainment would replace worship. Less Bible and more “stories.” Some exist as monuments to some preacher’s ego. There are “preachers” who seek this. Seek to be remembered for the material growth more than spiritual. Some even exist for the money. “Religion” seen as “good business.” There the pastor would be constantly asking people to give. But churches should exist for one reason and one reason alone, and that is to honor God. Ephesians 3:21 gives us the reason for our existence: “Unto him (God) be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” God’s Word tells us how to do that as it tells us of both our purpose and our work as one of the Lord’s churches. Our purpose is to glorify God. Does just the fact that we have a building and a sign claiming to be one of the Lord’s churches glorify Him? Does just having a “gathering of people” on Sunday morning glorify Him? Our work is carrying the Gospel of Jesus Christ into the world. Everything else we are supposed to do falls under one of these headings. We fulfill our purpose by performing our work. We have little value otherwise. What is our purpose and our goal for this church? I pray that it is to honor God. I believe it is. Are we honoring God by carrying out the work He gave us to do? Our text lists at least 6 characteristics of a church that honors God. Let’s check ourselves by these this morning and see if we are fulfilling our purpose as a church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I. STEADFASTNESS -- VS. 9.

II. SERVING (AT THE ALTAR) -- VV. 10-11.

III. SUFFERING (THE REPROACH OF CHRIST) -- VV. 12-13.

IV. SEEKING (A CITY) -- VS. 14.

V. SPEAKING (THE PRAISES OF GOD) -- VS. 15.

VI. SHOWING (OF LOVE FOR OTHERS) -- VS. 16.

HE IS THERE! -- Matthew 14:22-33

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0500

I believe one of the greatest promises in the Bible is the promise of our Lord’s continual presence with us in Hebrews 13:5 where the writer quotes Jesus' promise, “. . . for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” In the midst of trials, trouble, and tribulation, HE IS THERE! Even when we stray from His side, He never leaves us. Even when we cannot see Him because of the cloud of darkness we are in due to our sin, HE IS THERE - waiting and wanting His child to come back to Him. Remember the Old Testament account of the 3 Hebrew children who were thrown into the burning, firey furnace (Daniel 3:12-27)? They would not fall into line with the king’s false worship and spent the night on a bed of coals. In the morning when the king looked in (I don’t know what he was expecting to see) he saw them still there, unharmed, unbound, and with a fourth man. That fourth man was the Lord Jesus who didn’t leave them or forsake them so that they survived the might without even the smell of the fire on them. A spiritual “high” will quite often be followed by a spiritual “low.” Satan will see to that. Just a few chapters later on, in Matthew 17, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up into the mountain and was transfigured before them. But, when they came down, they were confronted by a man whose son was demon possessed. In the preceding verses in our text Jesus had just fed 5,000 men, plus the women and children by a wonderful miracle. Now the disciples find themselves on the Sea of Galilee in the middle of the storm, and it appears that Jesus sent them into it. Vs. 22: “And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side . . . ” (CONSTRAIN = to necessitate. It is translated in other places by the word “compel.” (II Corinthians 5:14 says the love of Christ “constraineth us” [to live for Him].) One preacher said of these verses in Matthew 14 that there is a sense in which we need to learn to “walk on the water.” We all need to trust the Lord Jesus as Peter did in these verses because trials and difficulties are coming to us if we will live for Him - especially in these last days. Paul said in II Timothy 3:12, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” Jesus led His disciples into a storm in order to teach them a lesson, and we are going to consider that lesson this morning. First of all let’s look at . . .

I. THE PROBLEM OF THE STORM -- VV. 24-25.

II. THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SAVIOR -- VV. 25-27.

III. THE PROGRAM FOR THE SAINT -- VS. 26.

HOW TO STAY IN THE RACE -- Hebrews 12:1-4

Sun, 19 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Nowhere in the Bible are we promised that the Christian life is going to be easy. In fact, the opposite is often true -- John 16:33: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Difficulties and trials will come our way, and we may be tempted to quit on God. That is what was happening in the book of Hebrews. Believers were enduring a time of terrible persecution, and in light of that, the writer of the book is encouraging them to continue to be faithful to God. This race is not to the swift, but to those who endure to the end. Here the Christian life is compared to a race. And the writer isn’t talking about a 100 yard dash, but a marathon. A marathon requires endurance, training, and plenty of preparation. You may not be in the physical shape to run a marathon, but you can be (or get) in the spiritual shape to run this Christian race. We live in a time when runners seem to be dropping out of the race on every hand. These are days when it is easy to get discouraged. Trials and difficulties may tempt us to drop out and let others do the running. But this morning I want to share some steps with you that will help us run this race. I do not know what you may be facing as you run, but I do know doing the things revealed in these verses will help us be runners who are pleasing to God.

I. CONSIDER THE SAINTS -- VS. 1a.

II. CONSIDER SELF -- VV. 1b.

III. CONSIDER THE SAVIOR -- VV. 2-3.

REPENTANCE, REVIVAL, RETURNING -- I Samuel 7:1-4

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0500

We have heard the word “revival” mentioned in a message lately. Actually, “revival” is an Old Testament word. It is not found in the New Testament. The New Testament word is “repent.” As we saw last Sunday night in our study of the church at Ephesus this word refers to a change of mind that results in a change of direction. The Lord said to the church at Ephesus, the church that had left her “honeymoon love for Him,” “ . . . repent, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” That was His instruction to 5 of the 7 churches of Asia which needed some correction. We don’t hear much about churches having revival services these days. I haven’t heard of any such services anywhere in several years. For whatever my opinion is worth it seems that God’s people are just “too busy” with the things of this world to worry with a special time of getting right with Him. I shared a Vance Havner devotion dealing with that a couple of weeks ago. He said “The early church did not quake every time the ungodly had a spree in Jerusalem. The saints in Rome did not have the blues because attendance would be cut by a gladiatorial contest in the Colosseum. They had a robust, world-shaking power of their own that eventually put the Colosseum out of business.” Sometimes, all too often, revival services are little more than something “religious” we do in hopes of gaining God’s blessings. One church I pastored used to (and I guess still does) have “revival services” the last week in July “whether we need it or not.” (They needed it.) Many times these services are a “form of godliness” without the power of it. We often rate the success of a revival by the number of people that attended, or how many walk the aisles, etc. But the best way to find out if we have really had revival is to come back in six months and see if people are still committed to the Lord. In relation to the term “revival,” churches today are sometimes like Israel going after the Ark of the Covenant in I Samuel 4. They said, I Samuel 4:3, “Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.” It had become little more than a holy good luck charm to them. They may as well have said, “Let’s have a revival.” And we know the rest of the story. Israel was defeated, and the Philistines took the Ark of the Covenant. Finally, after defeat by their enemies, the whole nation began to lament after God. They were tired of playing games. Wanted a true relation and fellowship with the Lord. In response to that, Samuel told them what was necessary if they were to be blessed. I want to focus on vs. 3 of our text in this message. Let’s read it again: “And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” In this one verse Samuel told them what was needed if they were to return to the Lord and be blessed of Him. The same is true for us if we want to be revived today.

I. OUR RETURN MUST BE COMPREHENSIVE.

II. OUR RETURN MUST BE CONSISTENT.

III. OUR RETURN MUST ALSO BE COMMITTED.

IV. OUR RETURN MUST BE COMPLETE.

THE VIEW FROM THE SHORE -- Revelation 13:1-9

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0500

A few weeks ago I shared a message titled “Setting The Stage For The Man Of Sin.” That message laid out some of the things that have taken place and are taking place that appear to open the door for the coming of Antichrist. However, the recent announcement made by the Prime Minister of Great Britain not only opens the door, but invites the man of sin on in. Under the guise of preventing illegal immigration, the Prime Minister announced that every person in the nation will be assigned a digital ID. He stated that without this ID no one would be able to work or to get a job. What he did not say in his announcement is that no job means no income, and no income means the inability to purchase anything whether food, clothing, medicine, or any necessity, much less those things that are not considered necessities. While some columnists in Great Britain are calling this new law Orwellian in nature (as in George Orwell’s book 1984), it appears to be more satanic in nature and just the invitation the Antichrist needs to rise to power. We know that God’s Word prophesies that a man will arise who will assume authority as a one-world leader. The Bible gives 20 about different titles to this individual such as, Antichrist, The Beast, the son of perdition, man of sin, etc. Over the years there has been a great deal of speculation about who the Antichrist might be. The truth is, we do not know (yet) who he is, but I fully believe that he is alive and living on this earth NOW! I have wondered how the world could accept and even promote the teachings of someone whose thinking is so much against the Bible. But, The Bible answers our questions. In Matthew 24:11 Jesus said, “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” In vs. 24 of that same chapter the Lord said, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Satan is a deceiver, and when he brings the Antichrist, on the scene he will do it with such deception that, as we just read “if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” There are two mistakes preachers can make when preaching about the end times. First is the attempt to name a date for Christ’s return. In Matthew 24:36 Jesus said: “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” The second mistake many preachers make is in trying to name the Antichrist. This message is not about naming the Antichrist, but know this, the spirit of antichrist in already in this world. That’s what John said in I John 4:3, “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” And in I John 2:18 he warned, “. . . even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” Years ago we might have wondered how people all over the world could, at the same time, know who the Antichrist was and what he believed, but the explosion of technology took place, and today it is possible. Today, it is easy to see world-wide events in a moment. Technological advances are amazing, and the capability exists today for a world leader to promote his agenda instantly and visibly before everyone on the earth. There is coming and may already be prepared such a leader who is “waiting in the wings” about whom Revelation 13 tells us.

I. HIS APPEARING.

II. HIS ANCESTRY.

III. HIS APPEAL.

IV. HIS AMBITION.

HOW DID WE GET HERE? -- Genesis 1:26-28

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0500

The title of this morning’s message asks two completely different questions and answers both. We are going to go back to basics, back to the very beginning to see where we came from. Before you can know where you are going, you need to know where you came from. And when you realize where you are, it’s a good idea to find out how you got there. This nation and this world are in a mess today. Violence, terrorism, hatred, and distrust seem to be the order of the day. Sexual promiscuity, sexual perversion, and transgenderism, which violate God’s standards are the way of life for many. God’s order for the home, for the nation, and even for the Lord’s churches is often ignored. In fact, a true reverence, respect, and worship of God are generally ignored and seem to be passe in our nation. But, how did we get here? How did a nation that was built on God and on the principles and teachings of the Bible get to where we are today? Our text declares that God created man in his own image -- “in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. ” (IMAGE = resemblance, hence a representative figure; likeness; shadowing forth of anything.) Bro. J.C. James translated this verse this way, “in the blood flowing, shadow casting likeness which he intended to become.” Thus, God created man just like He is - mind, body, and spirit - and in the kind of body He intended to have when Jesus came into the world. In Genesis 1:1 the Hebrew word for God is “elohim.” “Elohim” is in the plural in the Hebrew. (Why is that important?) In English grammar our number (of persons) has only singular (1) and plural (2). The Hebrew also has singular and plural, but in between them is “dual.” Singular refers to one. Dual refers to two. And plural, in Hebrew, speaks of 3 or more. Thus, “Elohim” carries the thought of “three strong ones.” We know that we serve a triune God -- one God Who manifests Himself in 3 different and very distinct personalities - God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Therefore, since man is created in the image of God, he, too, is a triune being in that he is mind, body, and spirit. So, with these things in mind, let us first look at:

I. HOW GOD CREATED MAN.

II. HOW SIN CORRUPTED MAN.

THE WAR OF THE AGES -- Ephesians 6:10-18

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0500

In last week’s message I talked about the invisible war that is going on around us. It is a dark, diabolical, deadly war, a form of guerilla warfare with sabotage, subversion, innuendo, and sniping. The first few words of the song “It Is Finished” tell us about that war. “There’s a line that is drawn through the ages. On that line stands an old rugged cross. On that cross, a battle is raging For the gain of man’s soul or it’s loss.” This war has less to do with politics and more to do with spiritual matters than the average person realizes. The abusive, bitter, and hateful language toward any and all who stand for true biblical, Christian values is evidence of that. Many, especially among teens and your adults, are just spouting things they have heard and seen on social media without any anchor or frame of reference for the opinions. Few people actually think today. They just act, react, and speak without thinking. This war is a battle between light and darkness. It is a war between life and death. It is a battle between Heaven and hell. “On one side, march the forces of evil, All the demons, and the devils of hell. On the other, the angels of glory . . . ” Whether we like it or not, every child of God is called to be a part of this war. When we were saved we were not called to enter a “Sunday School picnic” but a war. In this war we cannot afford to be ignorant, idle, or neutral. Some little boys were sitting around talking and laughing. Mom asked, “What are you doing?” They said, “We’re playing war.” “We’re generals.” The Lord’s church is not a showboat, or a cruise ship, it is a battleship! II Timothy 2:3-4 tells us of the attitude of a good soldier: “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (4) No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” (What kind of soldier are you?) (Are you seeking to please your Commander?) You and I have not been discharged from this army. If you are not in this battle, it is because you have deserted (AWOL). It is high time to take up our positions and be strong in the Lord. Remember the words from last week. Right now, while we have the opportunity, we had better speak up before the world shuts us up . . . and it will try its best to shut our mouths. (And it has done a pretty good job so far.) I am sure the we are all familiar with these verses from Ephesians 6. We have probably heard many sermons from them from many different preachers. These verses clearly tell us of: 1) Our Adversary. 2) Our Armor. 3) Our Attack. Our text also instructs us how to dress us up in our battle gear and to get right into the midst of the fight.

I. THE ADVERSARY -- VS. 11.

II. THE ARMOR -- VV. 13-17.

III. THE ATTACK -- VV. 10, 18.

Sunday Evening Revelation Lesson #9 -- 9-14-25

Sat, 20 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Revelation lesson #9 -- The Church At Ephesus

THE “BIG FOUR” OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION -- II Timothy 3:12-13

Sun, 14 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0500

This is NOT a political message! However, it is a comment on things that have happened this past week and what I believe is their relation to the coming of the Lord. First, I know that the United States of America does not in any way represent the whole world. However, I believe that we can get an idea of what is going on in the world by looking at our own nation. It is interesting that almost 250 years ago we fought a revolutionary war in order to be separate and apart from those European nations that were governed by a king and had a state religion. Many fought for that very reason - to be allowed to worship God - not as the king or some pope told them but according to the dictates of their consciences which were being led by the Holy Spirit. Yet, today we have many, and way too many, who are willing to give up that liberty that was purchased by the blood patriots just for the sake of what they call “peace.” But “peace” that is purchased by the loss of liberty is not real peace. Over the years, and in the past few months we have seen things happen in America that I, being naive as I am, never thought I would see in this God blessed land. We have seen the total denial of God by a nation that was established by His providence. We deny His Word to school children so we can give it to them in prison. We don’t want His Ten Commandments hanging in the classroom or the courtroom, and yet we decry the increase in crime and wonder why so many young people seem to be turning to that life. (It almost seems a “badge of honor” among some to have a criminal record today.) And we regularly permit the wholesale slaughter of little babies by the abortionist’s hand. In many cases churches are no better. Many see “the church” as a social organization. It is not! A church of the Lord Jesus Christ was purchased by His blood, through His suffering and should exist to glorify Him. Many believe the church is to grow through programs and parties, but remember: In John 12:32 Jesus said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” Acts 2:47 says, “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (I want to pastor a church that the Lord adds to, not one that man adds to.) Many see the Lord’s church as a place to “have fun” in the sense that the world “has fun.” Coming to church should delight us so that we look forward to it, but we do not come just to “play” as a child would play with his toys. Church is a place where we come to worship God and to study His Word and learn more about Him. (And if anyone believes they know all there is to know about the Bible, about God, and about His worship, they haven’t learned anything yet.) There are those, also, who want the Lord’s church to be like every other “church” in town. We are different! And we are to be different. We have a different origin, a different Head, a different organization, and a different purpose in this world. Remember Israel from I Samuel 8:5 when they wanted to be like everybody else and said to Samuel, “now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” There is danger in wanting to be like everybody else. (Listen to that young people.) And now, this past week, we have seen where this devolution in America is leading. We have seen a man executed by a sniper’s bullet because he dared to speak publicly and often for the godly principles of the Bible. Remember what Jesus told His disciples in the 15th and 16th chapters of John. John 15:18-21: “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. (19) If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (20) Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. (21) But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.” John 16:2-3: “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. (3) And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.” Our text declares that society is not going to “evolve,” but “devolve” -- “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” This is what I call the natural progression of degeneration.

HOW TO BE READY FOR THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST -- II Timothy 4:6-8

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0500

We live in evil times. Some say we are living in “post-christian” America. Post-christian = anti-christian. The Bible tells us that the spirit of antichrist is in the world today. But it was also in the world 2000 years ago during John’s day -- I John 4:3: “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” All of this spells opposition for the child of God. However, none of it gives the saved an excuse for not serving God. Both II Corinthians 5:10 and Romans 14:10 warn us that we will stand before Christ in judgment - not to determine salvation, but to give answer for our lives as those who are saved. II Corinthians 5:10 says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” Romans 14:10-12 tells us, “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. (11) For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. (12) So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” I Corinthians 3:13 tells us that every man’s works shall be tried by fire: “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” I don’t know about you, but at the end of this judgment I want to hear my Lord say, “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matthew 25:23) We often hear a message from these verses at a funeral service or at the graveside of some faithful saint of God, but II Timothy 4:6-8 was given in light of the prophecy of perilous times (chapter 3) as Paul faced the end of his life. These verses should encourage believers to faithfully serve the Lord as they look for His return. They show us what we need if we are to remain committed to the Lord even in perilous times. They show us how we must live if we are to hear the Lord Jesus say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant . . . ” There must be:

I. THE FAITHFUL COMMITMENT OF THE PRESENT -- VS. 6.

II. THE FEARLESS COURAGE OF THE PAST - VS. 7.

III. A FULL CONFIDENCE FOR THE FUTURE -- VS. 8.

SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE MAN OF SIN -- II Thessalonians 2:1-12

Sun, 31 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Paul’s message to the Thessalonians makes it very clear that the apostle believed in the imminent return of the Lord Jesus -- I Thessalonians 4:16-17: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” I believe these verses also show us that for the past 2000 years the way has been being prepared, and is still being prepared today for the appearance of the man of sin, the Antichrist. Verse 3 says, “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. . .” Verse 7 tells us, “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work . . . ” Satan has been and is still at work preparing for the coming of his “messiah,” the Antichrist. And the only reason he has not appeared yet is the restraining power of the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, there is great reason to believe that even today Satan is readying the world for the full revelation of and take over by the Antichrist -- and it is occurring right before our eyes. The stage is being set, and the hearts of men are being prepared for the unveiling of the son of perdition, as he is called here, who the Lord will destroy with the very brightness of His coming. It seems reasonable that God would give His children some insight into His future plan, and though many doubt the Word of God the soon coming of Christ is being revealed before our eyes. II Peter 3:10 tells of the destruction by fire of this sin-cursed world: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” God shall judge this world by fire and with FERVENT HEAT (burning heat; hot heat; to set on fire). You’ve heard, “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity?” At this time it is going to be the heat! Man has advanced in knowledge to where he could set off such an explosion to bring this about, but God does not have to rely on the accidents and failures of men to accomplish His will. HE WILL BRING JUDGMENT! The Bible tells us that the man of sin will come to rule the world, and many things today point to the world’s being made ready for the Antichrist.

I. THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF SCIENCE.

II. THE HUNGER FOR PEACE.

III. THE INDIFFERENCE IN “CHRISTIANITY” (CHURCHES).

IV. THE ELIMINATION OF GOD FROM DAILY LIFE.

V. THE CENTRALIZATION OF POWER.

VI. THE SATANIC FACTOR.

VII. THE PROLIFERATION OF “MIRACLES” IN THE WORLD.

DO YOU HAVE A GLOW? -- Exodus 34:28-35

Sun, 24 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0500

There ought to be something different about a child of God and the rest of this sinful world. We live in a world of perversion, pre-marital sex, fornication, adultery, abortion, etc. And some of those who practice such things profess Christ as Savior, and some of them are even members of the Lord’s churches. And too often churches choose to ignore them in order to avoid having to deal with their sin. But listen to what our Lord had to say to one of His churches about this matter. I Corinthians 5:2, 6: “And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. (6) Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?” II Corinthians 6:14-18: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? (16) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” Based on that plea 7:1 says: “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” I will say it again, God’s people and the Lord’s churches are to be different from the world. We are to have a different standard -- a standard of righteousness. Since the world walks in darkness, we who are saved have an opportunity to stand out as examples of what God can do in a life by walking in the Light. Not only should we be different in the things we do, but we should be different in our attitudes and outlook as well. (A child of God who doesn’t have an outlook that is different from this world’s is not “good advertising” for our Lord.) And the difference should show . . . like a glow. Our text is the account of Moses’ second trip up Mt. Sinai to receive the tablets of stone with God’s commandments written in them. Recall he broke the first set of tablets when he came down from the mountain and found the Israelites worshipping the golden calf and committing fornication. In 34:1-2 God told him to “. . . Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest. (2) And be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me in the top of the mount.” This is also when God hid Moses “in a clift of the rock” and passed by him and covered him with His hand so that Moses saw only the “back parts” (the glory trail) of God. And vs. 30 says, “And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.” Moses had been in the presence and glory of God, and his face revealed it. We are in the very presence of God this morning. In Psalm 139:7 the psalmist asked concerning God: “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?” Jesus is here -- Matthew 18:20: "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” The Holy Spirit is present -- Ephesians 2:22: “In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” The entire Godhead (Trinity) is present in these services this morning (and every time we meet). For that reason, we should have a “glow” about us when we leave this place today. And note, Moses’ glow lasted for a substantial period of time. It didn’t go away the minute he came down from the mountain. Neither should our “glow” for having been in God’s presence this morning go away quickly or with any kind of suddenness. (I have seen some of God’s people put their “grumble face” on the minute they walk out the church house door.) In this message we are going to examine Moses after he came down from his “conference” with God on Mt. Sinai he had . . .

I. HE EXHIBITED A GLOWING FACE - VS.28.

II. HE EXPERIENCED A GRADUAL FADING - 29-30.

III. HE EXERCISED A GLORIOUS FAITHFULNESS.

MOTIVATIONS FOR WITNESSING -- Romans 9:1-3

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Our achievements in life are, most often, a product of and controlled by what motivates us. Whatever motivates you drives you, compels you to become whatever you become. Sadly, there are those in our world, and some of them are in the Lord’s churches that seem to have absolutely no motivation whatsoever. These do little, produce little, achieve little. I believe the greatest failure of believers and the Lord’s churches in this 21st century is the failure to witness of Jesus Christ. We make many excuses for our failure. Someone has even come up with a list of the top ten excuses people give for not witnessing. What is the chief purpose of a New Testament church? (Hint: Ephesians 3:21.) Who makes up a church? (Ans: Saved, scripturally believers covenanted together to obey Him.) John 15:8: “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” John 15:16: “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” I believe we could say without fear of error that the greatest witness for Jesus, other than the Lord Himself, was the Apostle Paul. Paul was saved to win souls to Christ - Acts 9:15: “But the Lord said unto him (Ananias), Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel . . . ” Paul’s heart’s desire was to bring people, especially his Jewish brethren to Christ -- Romans 10:1: “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” Look again at his commitment and compassion in our text. "(3) For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh . . . ” He is saying, “If it were possible, I would give up my salvation so my kinsmen would be saved.” In II Corinthians 5 the subject under discussion is our desire to put off this tent (“tabernacle,” frail body) in which we live on this earth and to put on “a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (the glorified body). In vs. 2 Paul says, “For in this (this body) we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven . . . ” In vs. 8 Paul says, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” And in the verses that follow Paul reveals to us what motivated him and made him such an effective witness and soulwinner for the Lord Jesus Christ. The business of winning souls is the work nearest the heart of God, and it should be our first love. As we look at these verses we are going to discover that the same motivations should exist in our lives today.

I. THERE IS THE COMPULSION THAT DRIVES US - VS. 9.

II. THERE IS THE COMPENSATION THAT AWAITS US - VS. 10.

III. THE CONVICTION THAT ALARMS US - VS. 11.

IV. THE COMPASSION THAT OBLIGATES US - VV. 14-15.

V. THE CONFIDENCE THAT ASSURES US - VV. 16-17.

VI. THE COMMISSION THAT APPROVES US - VV. 18-20.

CAN A MAN LIMIT GOD? (ARE WE LIMITING HIM?) -- Psalm 78:40-41

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Can a person limit God? We would immediately answer with a resounding NO! But there is also a certain YES! You ask, “How is that possible?” In one sense it is impossible for the creature to limit the Creator. Certainly, no mere human being can limit the Almighty God. However, when God ties His work to man’s faith and/or obedience, there is a sense in which man can and does limit God. The psalmist is saying that God wanted to do so much more for Israel, but the choices in life they made limited the Lord from doing more for them. God will not bless our disobedience. God will not underwrite our sin. He will not help us sin -- James 1:13: “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:” If you are tempted, it is coming from YOU -- James 1:14-15: “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (15) Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” LIMIT is from a root word that means “to scratch; to imprint; to make a mark.” Some suggest the meaning of “grieved.” When we, in our hearts and minds, limit the power of God it grieves the Almighty. Adam Clarke says, “Here it most obviously means an insult offered to God.” Albert Barnes: “The idea in the word would seem to be that of making a mark for any purpose; and then it means to delineate; to scrawl; or to set a mark for a limit or boundary. Thus it might be applied to God - as if, in estimating his character or his power, they set limits or bounds to it, as one does in marking out a farm or a house - lot in a city or town. There was a limit, in their estimation, to the power of God, beyond which he could not act; or, in other words, his power was defined and bounded, so that beyond a certain point he could not aid them.” The Scripture says of Jesus when He was in Nazareth: Matthew 13:58 -- “. . . he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” Mark 6:5-6 - “And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. (6) And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.” You know what they were doing? They were limiting Jesus, limiting God! For just a few minutes I want us to look at this psalm and see why Israel limited and grieved God and then consider how we might limit Him.

I. HOW ISRAEL LIMITED GOD -- PSALM 78:1-72.

II. HOW WE LIMIT GOD TODAY.

BIBLE REASONS FOR BELIEVING CHRIST’S COMING IS AT HAND -- LUKE 21:25-36

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0500

In Matthew 24:7-8 Jesus was answering a question about the end times when He said: “ . . . there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. (8) All these are the beginning of sorrows.” Recently we have seen an 8.8 earthquake that just occurred off the coast of Russia. Wednesday evening I read that Mt. Rainier in Washington state, one of the few active volcanoes in the world is showing signs of waking up. Mt. Rainier is currently going through “earthquake swarms.” Since July 8 there have been over 1,000 tremors or earthquakes in and around it. “The USCS reports that earthquake activity has slowed down from the 41 events per hour on July 8 to a few events per hour by July 25.” (KIRO TV, Seattle). According to the USGS, there have been 184 Magnitude 2.5+ earthquakes on Earth over the last day (Thursday). Of those, 157 (that's a whopping 85%) have occurred in the general vicinity of the 8.8 quake off the coast of Russia. There is the recent deadly flood in Texas and two earthquakes in the past few days in Northeast Arkansas with the largest being a 2.5. And the north rim of the Grand Canyon is said to be a blazing inferno due to wildfire. (And that is just in the United States!) Romans 8:22: “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” In the introduction to the study in the book of Revelation I pointed out that we are pre-millennial, pre-tribulation Baptists. Pre-millennial means that we believe that Jesus will return to “catch up” (rapture) believers and remove them from “this present evil world” prior to His coming to set up His millennial kingdom. Pre-tribulation means we believe that Jesus will come just before or at the very beginning of the Great Tribulation that He spoke of in Matthew 24. The verses of our text are “companion verses” to the information Jesus gave in Matthew 24. In our text He is dealing with the questions His disciples asked in Luke 21:7: “And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?” These words are the answer as He tells of judgment to come, His return, and the end of the world. Someone will ask, “Is Jesus really coming again? Do you really believe that?” I know a lot of saved people live like they don’t believe it, but my answer is an unequivocal, “YES!” And, there is a way for us to know that His Second Coming is near, “even at the door.” No one knows the day or hour of our Lord’s return. Jesus said so in Matthew 24:36: “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” But God has revealed signs whereby we may be enlightened and know that His coming is near. I pray that God will use this message to stir our hearts and minds that the glorious coming of Jesus is close so that it may be uppermost in our hearts. That we will not be satisfied with merely being “saved,” but that we arise from our state of lethargy. That by the power of the Holy Spirit our hearts may be stirred to labor for Him for His coming is near. Here are some Bible reasons why I believe we should watch for the coming of Jesus, and why I believe His coming is near.

I. THE PRESENCE OF LATTER DAY SCOFFERS - II PETER 3:3-7.

II. THE GREAT APOSTASY - II THESSALONIANS 2:3.

III. REJECTION OF HOLY SPIRIT LEADERSHIP - I TIMOTHY 4:1.

IV. PERILOUS TIMES - II TIMOTHY 3:1-5.

V. THE IMMORALITY OF OUR DAY.

VI. THE LORD'S CHURCHES IN THIS AGE - REVELATION 3:14-22.

VII. THE LESSON OF THE BUDDING FIG TREE.

DON’T QUIT -- Psalm 73:1-14 ; I Corinthians 15:58 ; Galatians 6:9

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Last week we looked at a man, Jabez, who had every reason to “throw in the towel” and quit. His name, Jabez (“The son of my sorrow; the son of my pain and affliction; and he will cause pain”) didn’t help him any. His brethren apparently did not help him any because II Chronicles 4:9 says, “Jabez was more honorable (worthy of honor) than his brethren.” He lived in a time when it seems there were very few “notables” in his world because he Word of God has so very little to say about them - “so-and-so begat so-and-so, and he died,” etc. And yet, Jabez did not quit! In fact, his prayer is recorded in the Word of God and serves as an inspiration to each and every child of God. Most of us, no doubt, can relate to the psalmist when he said in Psalm 73:2, “But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.” Honestly, there have been time I have just wanted to quit. That is t Satan wants God-called preachers who are still declaring the truth to do. He is working on our minds! That is one of the reasons God-called pastors quit the ministry each year. It is also one reason some of the young men God is calling to preach do not answer the call. Did you know that being a pastor is listed among the four most difficult positions in the United States? It is listed among the top reasons for depression and other mental issues. Recently I shared the following on Facebook, “The Price Of Being A Pastor.” So please don’t think me unspiritual or lacking faith for saying I have thought about quitting. Instead, would you be truthful enough to confess the same - that there have been times when you thought about quitting? Look at what the psalmist said in vs. 2 of the 73rd Psalm - “. . . my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.” Some attribute this psalm to Asaph, and others attribute it to David. Regardless of who wrote this psalm, he was a servant of the Lord who almost quit. Unfortunately, for many of God’s people, they don’t almost quit, THE DO QUIT. Preachers quit preaching. Church members quit going to church. This is not new, but it is of great concern. The encouragement from the Apostle Paul in Galatians 6:9 is that believers not to be “weary in well doing,” and we are not to “faint.” Weary means "to turn out to be a coward; to lose one’s courage; to lose heart (in view of trial or evils); to become despondent. FAINT means "to relax, to weary; to be exhausted, esp. from failure of power." The idea is, “Do not lose heart, lose your courage just because you are wearied by trials.” Do you believe we are in the last days? Well, the Bible says difficult time will come in the last days. But it also teaches us that it has been difficult to stand for Christ in any days. I Timothy 4:1-2: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (2) Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” In I Corinthians 15:58 believers are instructed to be “steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” (STEADFAST = sitting fast; fixed; settled. UNMOVEABLE = without moving from place to place; not moving away; unmoved; firm. ABOUNDING = to be over and above.) Why do people quit serving God? How can we keep from quitting? Where can we find strength for the inevitable discouragements that come to our lives as believers? These are some questions we will examine in this message titled “Don’t Quit!”

I. THE REASON FOR QUITTING.

II. THE RESILIENCE TO CONTINUE.

III. THE REAL EXAMPLE (OF ONE WHO WOULD NOT QUIT).

MOVING OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE -- I Chronicles 4:9-10

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0500

I was talking with someone recently about this thing called a “comfort zone.” Everybody has a comfort zone. It is that temperature at which we feel most comfortable. It is the way of life in which we feel at ease. We probably all have people with whom we feel most comfortable. When we are in the wrong crowd, or the wrong situation, or the wrong place, doing the wrong things, we can feel very uncomfortable. As individuals we can become satisfied with the status quo. We can so structure our lives that we can almost predict what will happen from one day to the next. Now there is nothing wrong with being satisfied with your job, but when you are satisfied with your service to the Lord, you have problems. There is nothing wrong with being comfortable in your home, but when you become complacent with your prayer life and satisfied with your spiritual progress, you need to be revived. (By the way, that is a part of what revival is - being dissatisfied with where we are spiritually and DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT!) We should never reach the place as believers where we are totally satisfied with our walk with the Lord and our witness to the lost. If anyone ever reached a point he could be satisfied with his spiritual progress, it was Paul. Yet, he remained unsatisfied and always reached for more. Philippians 3:12-14: “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. (13) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Not only do individuals live in a spiritual comfort zone, many churches do too. In a few weeks, on Sunday night, we are going to look at such a church. What did the Lord say to that church? Revelation 3:15-16: “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. (16) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” I believe today most churches have found their comfort zone. We have learned the art of peaceful co-existence with the world about us. When our attendance is up and offerings are good, we may be tempted to back off and take it easy. We may not pray for the church as we should. We may not invite others, or witness as we should. The sad truth is that when a church becomes complacent, that church begins to die! It may take years, but she begins to die when she gets satisfied with her spiritual level and growth. A church is in serious trouble when it becomes satisfied and complacent -- in its comfort zone. How do we move out of our “comfort zone?” It is seen in our [TEXT] -- I Chronicles 4:9-10.

“And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. (10) And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.”

You might recognize these verses as the prayer of Jabez. About 20 years ago these verses were very popular and caused quite a stir. There were books written about this prayer. Many sermons were preached from these verses. Unfortunately, a great number of those sermons presented those verses as dealing with material blessings and success. But that is NOT what Jabez is talking about. He is praying for spiritual growth and blessing. Let’s look at these verses today and find out what we need to move out of our spiritual comfort zone.

I. JABEZ AND HIS PERSONALITY -- VS. 9.

II. JABEZ AND HIS PRAYER -- VS. 10a.

III. JABEZ AND HIS PROVISION -- VS. 10b.

THE PLANS OF MAN AND THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD -- Proverbs 16:9

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0500

I said something recently in a message when referring to our dad’s accident years ago and his response to one of his nurses at the hospital. She said he was lucky to survive a 35 foot fall, and he told her it was not luck. And I said, “I do not believe in luck, especially in the life of a child of God.” Now, you may believe in luck. You may believe that if the stars line up just right, and your horoscope looks good, and you have your four leaf clover, and your fortune cookie is right, and you have your lucky rabbit’s foot that things are going to work out for you. Or, you may believe in chance and coincidence. I do not. But if you, as a child of God believe in those things, you are putting your faith in them and not in God. Horoscopes are a part of the pagan, demonic world. Four leaf clovers can bring no luck. They are rare and fun to find, but that is it. Fortune cookies have no power (and the “fortunes” are printed randomly and in mass). And that rabbit’s foot wasn’t so lucky for the rabbit, was it? We are (or should be) familiar with Hebrews 11:6: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” “Without faith it is impossible to please” God! Faith, true faith and dependence upon God believes that He cares for His children and that He provides and makes a way for them. Listen to God’s promise of providence, protection and provision of Israel upon entering the Promise Land -- Exodus 23:27-30: “I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee. (28) And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee. (29) I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee. (30) By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.” Do you believe that God goes before His pastors, and His missionaries, and His churches in providence and provision? I hope you do. Do you believe that God goes before YOU in His great providence and provision? I hope you do. One of the most exciting things for a child of God is to anticipate God’s presence and providence in their lives. And, then, after we have anticipated it, to look back and see it and trace it afterward. God’s providence reaches into the most minute parts of our lives. There is no detail that is too small for His providence. Would you believe that I preach by God’s providence - prayer and God’s providence. That is why I pray and ask God what message I need to deliver. He knows who is going to be here, who, by His providence will visit here, and who needs the particular message that day. (I believe you are here today by the providence of God.) When I was in junior high, high school, and college taking speech and drama courses, I was not doing it because I planned to become a preacher. By His providence, God was preparing me. Our message today is titled “The Plans Of Man, And The Providence Of God,” and it is introduced by one short verse in the book of Proverbs, Proverbs 16:9: “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.” We may make up our minds as to what we are going to do, but God’s providence and protection and provision may change our direction completely. God’s Word has so many accounts that we can only look at a few this morning.

I. GOD'S PROVIDENCE IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS.

II. GOD'S PROVIDECE IN THE LIFE OF MOSES.

III. GOD'S PROVIDENCE IN THE BOOK OF ESTHEHR.

IV. GOD'S PROVIDENCE IN THE BIRTH IN BETHLEHEM.

THE WITNESS OF JESUS CHRIST -- Acts 13:42-52

Sun, 06 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0500

These verses give us the account of Paul and Barnabas in a place called Antioch of Pisidia during the first missionary journey. There are two Antiochs mentioned in the book of Acts - Antioch in Syria and Antioch of Pisidia. These two men had been called of God and sent out by the church at Antioch in Syria. This church had its origin from persecution of the church at Jerusalem -- Acts 11:19-21: “Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. (20) And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. (21) And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.” It was here that the term “Christian” was first applied to the Lord’s disciples. “And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26). "Christian" is literally “little Christs,” or fanatics for Christ. The name was given in derision because these lived so much like the Lord Jesus. Acts 13:2: “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” Now, Paul is in the synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia and there he preached Jesus. That was his only message. He declared Him to be (1) of the seed of David, and (2) a Savior to Israel - vv. 22-23: “And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. (23) Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus . . . ” And he declared His death, burial, and resurrection - vv. 27-30: “For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. (28) And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. (29) And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. (30) But God raised him from the dead . . . ” And Paul declared that through Jesus there is: 1) The forgiveness of sins -- vs. 38: “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins . . . ” 2) Justification which could not come by the law of Moses - vs. 38: “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: (39) And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” We, too, have been instructed by the Lord to carry the Gospel message into the world -- Acts 1:8: “. . . ye shall be witnesses unto me . . . ” Mark 16:15: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Luke 24:46-47: “And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day . . . (47) And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” In vv. 42-52 we see the reactions we can expect from men to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There will be:

I. THE APPRECIATION OF SINNERS -- VV. 42-44, 48.

II. THE OPPOSITION OF THE SELF-RIGHTEOUS.

III. THE REACTION OF THE SAVED.

PRAYING FOR AMERICA -- Daniel 9:1-10

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0500

This coming Friday our great nation will celebrate another birthday, but this “God bless America” of ours is at a crisis point. For the most part, the America that we once knew, that we grew up in is gone. There are those who are referring to these days as “Post-Christian” America. This is not a pessimistic message, but we are going to do some serious talking about prayer for our nation - revival type of prayer! Our greatest resource has always been prayer, and our only hope has always been God. I hope you believe that with all of your heart! The background of our text is that God’s people, Israel, had been taken captive by the Babylonians, and now Daniel is praying and asking God for deliverance. You ask, “What does that have to do with America?” This once God-blessed nation has been taken captive by the world, the flesh, and the devil. We need a national moral and spiritual awakening among all our people and a true, Holy Spirit sent revival among God’s people. Without these there is no hope for our future. The only thing that can hold back the judgment of God is the kind of prayer Daniel prayed. The raging waters of God’s wrath are beating against the dam of His mercy as I speak. God is merciful, but, if we do not pray and repent, we will get exactly what we deserve. As we look at this text, I want us to see how we who know the Lord as Savior should be praying and notice the kind of prayer God answers. We need to pray:

I. WE MUST PRAY WITH A STEADFAST CONCERN -- VS. 3.

II. WE MUST PRAY WITH STEADFAST CONFIDENCE -- VS 4.

III. WE MUST PRAY WITH SINCERE CONFESSION -- VV. 4-7.

IV. WE MUST PRAY WITH SPIRITUAL CONCERN.

TRUSTING GOD IN ALL THINGS -- Hebrews 3:12-19

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0500

I agree with the preacher who said, “The greatest sin of the God’s people today is their ignorance of His Word.” We have greater access to the Word of God today - printed Bibles, phone apps, etc. - and yet many seem to know it less and know less about it than when it was not so readily available. In Sunday School and Vacation Bible School classes we once taught and challenged children to learn the books of the Bible. Many times we had sword drills to help them find verses in the Bible and encouraged them to hide God’s Word in their hearts. The Word of God was once cherished, but I am not so sure it is so looked upon today. Challenge people to read through the Bible in a year and see how many do it. We may know certain verses that we can share as a sort of positive thinking saying to encourage us when we are down. But I also believe the sin that is equal to ignorance of God’s Word is the failure of His people to fully trust Him in A-L-L (all) situations. This message is about our unbelief, not unbelief as in failing to trust Jesus for salvation, but unbelief as in failing to trust Him for everyday living. The Scripture says in II Corinthians 5:7: “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) . . . ” I Corinthians 10:6 instructs us to learn a lesson from Israel, so that we do not follow the same sins into which they fell: “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.” One of those traps is explained in Hebrews 3 as the sin of unbelief -- of failing to fully demonstrate faith in God. Vs. 12 of our text says, “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.” Remember that the book of Hebrews is written to Jewish believers who were being tempted to go back under the Mosaic Law because of persecution. The theme of the book is “better” or “better things,” showing how much better life is under grace than under Law. God wants to bless His churches, and He wants to bless His children. (Do you believe that?) However, it is often our disobedience and lack of faith that stand in the way of those blessings. As His children and as His churches we have been given a work to do, but if we are not willing to perform it we will not see great blessings. Remember what the master of the house said to the servants who hid their talents in a napkin in the parables of the Pounds and Talents? With just a little faith, mighty things can be accomplished for the Lord. Living by faith is living for God’s blessings. Hear what Jesus said in Matthew 17:20 when His disciples asked why they could not cure the child: “Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” These verses present to us:

I. THE TRAGEDY OF FAITHLESSNESS -- vv. 12-13.

II. THE TRIAL OF FAITHLESSNESS -- vv. 16-19.

III. THE TRIUMPH OF FAITHFULNESS -- vv. 14-15.

THE KEY TO LIVING A TRULY CHRISTIAN LIFE -- Galatians 2:20-21

Sun, 15 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0500

We are truly living in troublesome times. Sin is ever-present. Immorality seems to be the order of the day. Many think lightly, or not at all, of such things as fornication, adultery, divorce. People are considered “enlightened” if they support abortion, homosexuality, and same-sex marriage. More and more our culture is accepting: lasciviousness, pornography, and drug abuse. All of this reflects a worldview that has denied and forgotten God and has been impacted by evolution, atheism, humanism, and selfishness so that today we find ourselves living in a very evil time. In the midst of all that is going on around us we are instructed in God’s Word to live for and witness of the Lord Jesus Christ. In Acts 1:8 Jesus said, “Ye shall be witnesses of me . . . ” Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God and his righteousness . . . ” (We like to quote the last part of that verse to assure ourselves that God will take care of us.) Philippians 2:15-16 instructs us to live in such a way . . . “ hat ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; (16) Holding forth the word of life . . . ” How can a child of God live as he/she is instructed to live in the midst of such a world? First, look at Galatians 1:4. Speaking of Jesus it says, “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father . . . ” "Deliver" means (actively) to tear out; ), to select; to take for oneself, i.e. to prefer. It is translated - “deliver, pluck out, rescue.” Someone has suggested that it is saying, Jesus gave Himself in order “. . . to recover us from the corruption that is in the world through lust, and to rescue us from the vicious practices and customs of it . . . ” Matthew Henry said, “Jesus Christ has died to deliver us from this present evil world, not presently to remove His people out of it, but to rescue them from the power of it, to keep them from the evil of it, and in due time to possess them of another and better world.” Barnes said, “It does not mean to take away by death, or to remove to another world, but that he might effect a separation between us and what the apostle calls here, ‘this present evil world.’ The grand purpose was, to rescue sinners from the dominion of this world, and to separate them unto God.” The idea behind the word “deliver” is not deliverance from the presence of “this present evil world,” but deliverance from the power of it. Jesus has prayed for this very thing for those of us who are saved -- John 17:15-17: “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. (16) They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (17) Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” Paul was confident of his salvation. In II Timothy 1:12 he said: "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” That is one reason he was such an effective servant of Christ. It is why he lived as he did. It is why he witnessed as he did. He counted himself dead to the flesh (crucified). And he was “sold-out” to Christ (committed). One reason many who are saved live such weak and anemic lives for Christ is because of an uncertainty about their salvation and an unwillingness to: Die to self, dedicate themselves to Christ, and demonstrate Him to the world. If we are to be faithful servants of the Lord, we must be:

I. CONFIDENT OF OUR SALVATION -- VS. 21.

II. CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST. -- VS. 20a.

III. COMMITTED TO THE SAVIOR -- VS. 20b.

THE BLESSING IN BEING GOD'S REMNANT -- Malachi 3:16-18

Sun, 08 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0500

The third chapter of Malachi presents us the judgment and with joy. The first part of the chapter deals with God’s coming judgment on Israel. The last part presents joy and hope for those who remain faithful and true to the Lord. Malachi lived in a day much like ours. It was at the end of an age. It was a time when even God’s people were indifferent, insensitive, and insolent toward Him. In Malachi 1:2 God says to His people, “I have loved you.” And they replied, “Wherein hast thou loved us?” The interpretation of that is, “If You really loved us, why are we having all this trouble?” From Malachi 1:1 up to this point, things are looking pretty grim in Israel. God has attempted to point out their failures in worship and service. However, the people have responded by accusing Him: 1) Of not loving them. 2) Of preferring those who do evil over those who do good. 3) Of not judging sin and evil in the world. Also, they had: 1) Profaned, polluted, and perverted His worship. 2) Wearied Him with their words. 3) Robbed Him of their tithes and offerings. At the end of chapter 2, in vs. 17 God says through His servant: “Ye have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delighteth in them . . . ” The translation of that, found in the end of the verse, is (they were asking): “Where is the God of judgment?” (Or, the judgment of God). So, at the beginning of chapter 3 God informs His people that judgment IS coming. The situation in Israel was much like the conditions we are seeing in our nation and among many of God’s professed people today. Few are devoted enough to Him to attend ALL of the times of worship. (“It’s just church, right?”) When “worship” is attended, many want it short and sweet and not to offend anyone. We withhold offerings from Him - not just monetary offerings, but our time, our talent, etc. Things look awfully grim for the Lord’s churches today. However, the verses in our text stand out like a light shining in a dark place because God speaks of some who had not followed the attitude of the day. These are often spoken of as God’s remnant. (God always has a remnant.) Even today God has church members, pastors, and sometimes whole churches who want everything to be right and in keeping His will and His Word. So, as we go through these verses, let’s see what this remnant did that set them apart from the majority, and let’s notice what God said to them and promised them.

I. HOW THEY DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES -- VS. 16.

II. HOW GOD DIGNIFIED THEM -- VS. 17.

III. HOW THEY WILL BE DISCERNED -- VS. 18.

A CAUTION ABOUT CARNALITY -- I Corinthians 3:1-3 ; 6:19-20

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0500

I believe that the greatest detriment to the cause of Christ in the world today is what the Bible calls “carnal” believers - those who profess and even possess Christ, but they live like the world. Now, I am not saying that any of you are carnal. When I look out at this congregation this morning I see good people, people that have professed faith in Christ and people who, I believe, serve Him to the best of their ability. And that is the problem sometimes we try to serve with our ability and not through His ability. But because we live in sin filled, fleshly bodies there is a danger that somehow, some way we might at some time be overwhelmed by the flesh, by carnality. What is carnality? "Carnal" is the word “sarx,” which speaks of the flesh. So to be carnal would mean to be governed by the flesh. So, in this message we will let God’s Word show us how to stay close to Christ and have a defense against carnality in our lives. In I Corinthians 2 & 3 the Word of God presents to us 3 types of men (people). 2:14 presents to us the “natural” man -- “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” "Natural man" speaks of what one is naturally, or what we would call “by nature.” The word translated “natural man” is the equivalent of the Hebrew “nephesh” which properly refers to “a breathing creature.” This is the unregenerated (unsaved) individual. He is given wholly to the flesh. 3:1 presents to us the “carnal” man and the “spiritual” man -- “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.” Again, “carnal” refers to being controlled by the flesh. The “carnal” man is saved, but gives more thought to this life than to the life to come. Some are to earthly minded they are no heavenly good. "Spiritual" speaks of the regenerated (saved) person. This is one who is following the leadership of and controlled daily by the Holy Spirit. According to I Corinthians 3:3 carnality produces problems in a church: “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” Carnality keeps one from truly receiving God’s Word when it is preached. It also is what keeps us from witnessing and praying as we should. This verse also shows us that carnality is marked by an overemphasis on the flesh. And Colossians 3:5, 8 identify the “warning signs” of carnality in the life of a believer. "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: (8) But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.” When we operate in any of these we show that we are being controlled by the flesh. So, what is the cure, how can I conquer carnality in my life? What will help us control our flesh?

I. BE AWARE OF OUR PURCHASE BY THE SAVIOR - VV. 19-20a.

II. BE AWAKENED BY THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN US - VS. 19a.

III. BE AVAILABLE FOR THE FATHER’S PURPOSE THROUGH US.

THE DEADLY DANGER OF UNKEPT PROMISES -- Acts 5:1-11

Sun, 25 May 2025 00:00:00 -0500

These verses show us how God used strong discipline to keep a church devoted to Him. It is also a warning about being quick with our vows. Each member of this church should hold this church (and every true church) in the esteem that Christ Jesus gave it. It is His body, and He is the Head. Speaking of Jesus, Colossians 1:18 says: “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” Ephesians 1:22-23 tells us that God, the Father “. . . hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, (23) Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” Acts 20:28 says this church (and every true church) was purchased with His blood: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” We are not to worship the church, but we are to respect it, not using it for our benefit. Instead, we are to honor and glorify God in and through it -- Ephesians 3:21: “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” What is your attitude toward this church and faithful service to God through it? “You’ll never feel connected to a church you don’t serve in. Attending keeps you growing, but only serving fulfills purpose.” Acts 4 tells us of a man named Barnabas who sought to sought to serve God through and be a blessing to the Lord’s church. In chapter 5 we learn of Ananias who sought to use the church for personal gain and recognition. We will see the contrast between these two men in this message. Barnabas acted in stewardship, but Ananias acted in selfishness. Barnabas acted to give relief to a problem, but Ananias acted to gain recognition for himself. This morning we are going to look at the lives of Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, and learn about “The Danger In Unkept Promises.”

I. THE PLOT THEY DEVISED -- VV. 1-2.

II. THE PROBLEMS THAT DEVELOPED -- VV. 3-4.

III. THE PUNISHMENT OF DECEIT -- VV. 5-10.

IV. THE PRODUCT OF DISCIPLINE -- VS. 11.

A DRY DITCH, AN EMPTY BARREL, AND A DEAD BODY -- I Corinthians 1:26-29

Sun, 18 May 2025 00:00:00 -0500

I believe we are still living in the day of the “superstar.” We have been for some time now. The larger the splash you can make in this world, the more important, impressive, and irreplaceable you are thought to be. I believe that attitude exists among many preachers as well as often among people in general, and (I’ll say it) among many church members in particular. Some enjoy having a “big name” and “being out front.” I believe that attitude even exists among some preachers in our associated work. There is only one way I have found to be “big” in the ministry, and that is to eat a little bit of everything (especially desserts) that our ladies bring to a fellowship. In our text verses Paul is talking about the kind of people God uses. Look again at vv. 27-28: “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; (28) And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are . . . ” That is not very complimentary is it? It certainly isn’t to this modern generation. "Foolish" means dull, slow, silly, absurd, moronic. Those who will put Christ first in their lives and serve Him first are seen as foolish, even moronic by the world. Look at what Paul said in I Corinthians 4:10: “We are fools for Christ’s sake . . . ” He did not say we act foolish (like some do today), but we are considered fools by the world “for Christ’s sake.” "Weak" means without strength, strengthless, feeble, needing power. Even in the eyes of the “religious” world we may be considered weak. These very Corinthians considered Paul to be weak. Again, in I Corinthians 4:10 he says, “. . . we are weak, but ye are strong . . . ” "Base" literally means to be without kin; of no family reputation; low-born; vile. And Despised refers to being set at nought; treated as contemptible; to make utterly nothing of. These two words describe how this world and this world’s system think of those who follow Christ. Here is how Paul put it in I Corinthians 4:10, “. . . ye are honourable, but we are despised.” (Many of the believers in Corinth had figured out how to be acceptable to the world.) And why does God use the foolish, the weak, the base, and the despised? I Corinthians 1:29: “That no flesh should glory in his (God’s) presence.” God has to bring us to the point that we realize that we have nothing to offer Him before He can really use us. Now, let’s turn to I Kings 17. We are going to go back and look at a man we looked at a few years ago. He is one of my favorite personalities in the Old Testament. He is a man of whom I have said I would like to be. His name is Elijah. It has been suggested that Elijah had an ego, and maybe he did. Look at what he said to Ahab in vs. 1: “As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.” He even felt like he was the only one standing for God. In I Kings 19:14, he told God “. . . I, even I only, am left . . . ” He was saying, “I am the only one that cares about standing for You, Lord!” Before Elijah could be used greatly of God in the chapters that follow, he is going to have to learn some hard lessons. He had to attend God’s seminary, and God is about to teach him the following three, that he is a . . .

I. A DRY DITCH - I KINGS 17:1-7. (SPEAKS OF OUR PREPARATION) (LESSON #1)

II. AN EMPTY BARREL - I KINGS 17:8-16. (SPEAKS OF GOD’S PROVISION) (LESSON #2)

III. A DEAD BODY - I KINGS 17:17-24. (SPEAKS OF GOD’S POWER) (LESSON #3)

HAPPY FAMILY DAY! -- Ephesians 5:22-6:4

Sun, 11 May 2025 00:00:00 -0500

We are well aware that God has created and ordained only two institutions upon this earth - the family, or home, and the church. We can read about God’s establishing the first family in the book of Genesis (and we will do that in a few minutes). The family is the first and oldest of the two organizations that God has established. Description: A “family” refers to a household consisting of a father, a mother, and their children dwelling together. The family is the most basic social unit of an organized and ordered society. Sadly, though, many families, many homes are in disarray today because they are not following God's design. First Corinthians 11:3 gives us God’s design for order in the home: “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.” The Head of the home is not the man, but it is to be Christ (for He is the head of every man). And, the head of the woman is to be the man, the husband. This DOES NOT imply that there is some inferiority in women. I believe I Timothy 2:13-14 clearly give us the reasons for this domestic order: “For Adam was first formed, then Eve. (14) And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” (Now, if you have a problem with that order, discuss it with God. He set it!) The husband/father is to be the leader, and especially the spiritual leader, in the home. Our text that we just read tells us essentially the same thing. If our homes are not what they should be for God, we husbands and fathers will be called upon by God to give answer for it. But what we are seeing today is that the “home,” especially the kind of home we read about in the Bible is rapidly disappearing from the landscape. Christ is no longer at the center of the home. Television is, or some hobby or recreation is, or some sport is. Children’s sports on a Wednesday or Sunday were once taboo, but today they seem to be all the rage. I can almost hear Satan laughing and saying, “Mamas and daddies, keep on showing your children that serving God and church are not as important as these other things. According to NCAA statistics, only a minuscule percentage of high school athletes go all the way to play professionally. Only 1 in 610 (.16%) will ever get drafted by a Major League Baseball team. Only 1 in 3,960 (.025%) will get picked by an NFL team. But I can guarantee you that 1 out of every 1 (100%) will eventually die, and if they die without Jesus Christ as Savior, 1 out of every 1 (100%) will go to Hell when they die. Many fathers are not interested in being the spiritual leader in the home (it’s not MACHO) and quite often the home is left leaderless. By the way, I thank God for good, godly, Christian mothers who, when dads won’t be the men they should be for the Lord, will take upon themselves (with all their other duties) the job that is supposed to be dad’s! (We will look at those duties in a moment.) And many homes are not united in a commitment to the Lord. Christ does not have first place. They are unlike Joshua in Joshua 24:15. Add to these things all that the world, the flesh, and the devil parade before families today - FORNICATION, LIVING TOGETHER WITHOUT BEING MARRIED, HOMOSEXUALITY, TRANSGENDERISM, UNGODLY SITCOMS ON TELEVISION, A SEX-CRAZED WORLD, THE PLAYBOY MENTALITY, DIVORCE, ETC. - and you can easily see why so many homes - even so-called “Christian” homes are breaking down today. Remember, the home is the basic unit of an ordered and orderly society. When our homes - especially God-fearing homes - are destroyed, we will be done as a nation! That is why Satan is working so hard today. He is:

I. CREATING CONFUSION ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF THE HOME.

II. CAUSING CONFUSION ABOUT THE ORDER OF THE HOME.

III. CAUSING CONFUSION (CONFLICT) ABOUT THE OPERATION OF THE HOME.

LIVING TO THE MAX -- Joshua 17:12-18

Sun, 04 May 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Someone has said that, in reality, every individual is actually 3 people, 3 persons. There is the person we are. There is the person we could be for evil. There is the person we could be for God. Dr. Vance Havner used to say, “God is using you all He can . . . but not all He could." If we would just “let go and let God" have His way in our lives, if we would just trust Him in a greater way in our lives, there would be no limit to how He could use us. The Bible has many examples of those who “sold out” to God, and He use them in a great way. There is PAUL who asked, “What wilt thou have me to do, Lord?” There is MOSES who chose “to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season . . . ” (Hebrews 11:25). There is DANIEL who defied the command of the king and prayed to God “in public” (with his bedchamber widows open, not worried about who heard him). There is JOSHUA who was a great leader of Israel and said, “ . . . as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). In modern day life there have been those like Dwight L. Moody who said: “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him. By God’s help, I aim to be that man.” None of these were “super saints.” They were simply ordinary individuals who trusted God and made Him the priority of their lives. They were men of great faith in the Lord. So, what is the problem? Why do we not live up to our potential for God? We are most often like those disciples who said in Luke 17:5, “Lord, increase our faith.” And Jesus said to them in vs. 6: “If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.” The tribe of Manasseh in our text is a picture of those who fail to maximize their lives for God, and it reveals at least 3 reasons we fail.

I. OUR SETTLING FOR “INCOMPLETE POSSESSIONS” -- VS. 12.

II. THE SIN OF IMMOBILIZING PRIDE -- VS. 14.

III. THE SETTING OF INVERTED PRIORITIES -- VV. 15-18.

SHARING THE “UNKNOWN GOD” WITH OTHERS -- Acts 17:16-34

Sun, 27 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0500

America is a nation of many gods today. What is a god? It is any entity (whether being or spirit) that is worshipped as having power over people or nature; any person or thing that has the power to direct our lives. In America some of the gods that are worshipped are: money, power, fame, pleasure, sex, possessions, sports, even people. False religion and a variety of cults that exist today (Scientology, New Age, occult activities, etc.) have made gods out of men - Jim Jones, David Koresh, and others. Not only do false religion and cults appear to be growing in our world, and especially in America, but there is a general agnostic or atheistic spirit that exists. Even some who profess to be saved exhibit a “practical atheism” or a “practical agnosticism” in their lives. They live as if it doesn’t matter to God how they live. They don’t pray. They don’t read, much less, study their Bibles. They don’t attend worship, etc. How do we, as believers, deal with a world that knows or cares little about the truth of and a relationship with Jesus Christ? We are to take Him to them. Paul gave us an example of how to do that when he visited the world center of pagan philosophy and religion - Athens, Greece. As we look at these verses, we will examine what Paul saw, what Paul said, and how the people (pagans, lost men) reacted to his message.

I. THE ARRIVAL OF PAUL (IN ATHENS) -- VV. 16-17.

II. THE APPEAL OF (THE) PAGANS -- VV. 18-21.

III. THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE PREACHER -- VV. 22-34.

WHAT WAS JESUS DOING? -- I Peter 3:18-20

Sun, 20 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0500

One of our favorite songs to sing this time of year is “Christ Arose.” It begins: “Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Savior, waiting the coming day, Jesus, my Lord.” I once had a friend ask me what Jesus was doing during those three days and three nights that His body was in the tomb. They asked, “He wasn’t just waiting for those three days and three nights to be over so He could come out of the tomb, was He?” On several occasions I have suggested an answer to this question. So, when I was asked the question again I began a deeper study and began writing an answer to it. That is what I want to share with you today. I call this “What Was Jesus Doing?” What was He doing during those three days and three nights that He was in the tomb? There is no single verse of Scripture that tells us what Jesus was doing between the time that He was crucified and dismissed His spirit from His body to and including the time that He came out of the tomb. However, several verses, when considered together, give us an insight into what was taking place during this time. Though I do not know, nor do I believe any man can know, ALL that took place during the time our Lord was in the tomb, I believe Scripture reveals at least two activities that occurred. We will consider both of them in order of what I believe is their importance.

I. FIRST IS THE ACT OF JESUS PRESENTING THE SACRIFICE OF HIMSELF BEFORE GOD.

II. THE OTHER ACTIVITY OF JESUS BETWEEN HIS CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTED IS FOUND IN FIRST PETER 3:18-20.

DO YOU EVER QUESTION GOD'S LOVE? -- Malachi 1:1-5

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0500

When you were a child did you ever question your parents’ love for you? Maybe When you were disciplined? Or, when you wanted something and didn’t get it? Or, you wanted to go somewhere and didn’t get to go? Or, when you didn’t get your way? But, when you grew up and matured, you saw how silly you were, right? Malachi is going to deal with some very immature people who who have decided to question the great love that God has for them. Satan wants people, especially those of us who are saved, to question God’s love, and it is entirely possible that at one time or another we might be tempted to do so. Maybe because of difficulties we may face, or failing to get our way, or failing to receive the things for which we may pray. Malachi lived in a day much like ours. It was at the end of an age. (For 400 years after Malachi spoke there would be no word from Heaven, now word from God.) It was a time when God’s people were indifferent, insensitive, and insolent toward Him. About one hundred years had passed between the return of the exiles from Babylon and the prophecy of Malachi. The people had gotten “settled down” in the land. Their apathy caused the prophet Haggai to say (Haggai 1:2-4): “Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord's house should be built. (3) Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, (4) Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste? (5) Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.” They were saying, “We’re too busy to worry about God’s house. We need to work on our own houses.” Have you ever noticed how the fervor and excitement of something new can fade? A church gets a new pastor, but the excitement of it eventually wears off after he has been there a while. People look back to the “good old days” when the building was filled, and people were being brought to the Lord and wonder, “Why can’t we have services like that today?” God has not changed! (We’re going to see that in the book of Malachi.) God’s Word has not changed! The Holy Spirit has not gone into retirement or gone out of business. What is left? God’s people have changed! We often no longer have the zeal that our forefathers had. Like the church at Ephesus (Revelation 2), we have “left our first love,” lost our fervor and excitement for Christ. These even came to the point that they questioned God’s love for them. In vs. 2 God says, “I have loved you.” But they replied, “Oh really? Wherein have You loved us?” They were actually saying, “If You really loved us we would not have all this trouble?” This is the first of 7 sarcastic questions the people of God ask Him in Malachi. So God answers them with 4 statements about His mighty love. We need to hear these statements because it is possible that we might today, especially if we’re not getting our way, do like these and question God’s love for us.

I. GOD SAYS HE LOVES WITH A SOVEREIGN LOVE -- VV. 2-3.

II. GOD LOVES WITH A STRONG LOVE -- VS. 3.

III. GOD LOVES WITH A STEADFAST LOVE -- VS. 4.

IV. GOD LOVES WITH A SEEKING LOVE -- VS. 5.

IT’S TIME TO DECIDE! -- Joshua 24:14-15

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0500

As I look at our world I see that our homes are in trouble. Not only are they in trouble, but they are troubled. We have families fighting against each other -- husbands against wives, wives against husbands, children against parents, and children against each other. It appears, as though everybody is just angry with everybody. What happened to the good times? What happened to the days when families used to sit down and eat together, laugh together, cry together, and share the Word of God together? I will tell you what happened. Prayer time has been replaced by Showtime . . . and HBO, and by X Box XS, and Play Station 5, by Nintendo Switch, and all sorts of video games like Call of Duty: Warzone and Minecraft, etc. Facebook and all kinds of social media have replaced the spirituality in our lives. Texting has taken the place of conversation. We allowed them to take prayer out of our schools. We have allowed them to take our rights to chasten our children. We stopped attending Bible classes, and “Mid-week services” have replaced “old fashioned” prayer meetings. (Probably none of us really know how to conduct a real prayer meeting today.) And if you think I am wrong, just check Sunday night and Wednesday attendance figures. In some churches attendance at those times is so low that they have just decided to do away with them and only offer Sunday morning worship - services just one day a week! People, God’s people, are not taking the time to learn the Word of God anymore, and these days we have to beg people to come and worship God (which they should want to do out of hearts of love and appreciation of what He has done for us). There is no way that you can say that you truly love and appreciate God when you can’t even even spend two days a week with him. There are a few things we note right off as we examine what Joshua said. First, when Joshua declared faithfulness to the Lord, he did so for HIS WHOLE FAMILY! He didn’t call the family together and take a vote. He didn’t ask Ms. Joshua and all the little Joshuas what they wanted to do in this matter. He recognized his responsibility as the spiritual leader of his family and said, “Family, here is what we are going to do.” I believe in this present day the one thing that is missing the most in the Lord’s churches is the willingness of husbands and fathers to seriously take on the role of spiritual leader in their homes. Many men have fallen victim to the Hollywood stereotypical idea of a man as being Mr. Macho, of being so “Ramboish” and so tough that he has no need of an Almighty God. Some have never accepted Christ as Savior and therefore cannot truly be a proper spiritual leader in the home. Others, for whatever reason, just do not desire that role and so pass it on to their wives. (I am thankful for mothers who will faithfully accept that role when dads refuse to obey God.) Churches today need MEN TO BE REAL MEN, men who will tell their families, “This is what we are going to do” . . . men who will take a stand for the Lord like Joshua did and stand up, stand up for Jesus! We need men who will say, 1) “We are going to go to church as a family.” “We are going to serve and worship God in our homes as well as in church.” “We are going to put away those things that are not pleasing to God.” “We are going to be a truly Christian family.” Next, when Joshua declared faithfulness to the Lord he set an example for all those around him. He said, “. . . choose you this day whom ye will serve . . . but as for me and my house . . . ” He didn’t say, “We’re going to take a poll and see what is popular among all of you and then do it.” He didn’t say, “We’re going to check for the least offensive way to serve the Lord and do that.” He didn’t choose to hide his candle under a bushel and only serve God at home and at church but not out in public. He said, “This is what we are going to do regardless of what you decide.” Our text is a charge and a challenge that is needed by God’s people today. And, lest we think we can get too old (or too old in the Lord) to be encouraged to faithfulness, be reminded that Joshua was about 110 years old at this time. We never get too old to declare our devotion to the Lord. And, we never get too old to faithfully serve the Lord. Joshua declared his devotion to the Lord and encouraged the people to do the same. We cannot possibly repay God for all His blessings, but I believe we owe Him a debt of gratitude for all He has done for us. There are a few other things I would like for us to notice from these verses.

THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD -- Deuteronomy 7:7-11 ; I Corinthians 1:9

Sun, 30 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0500

We live in a day when things are changing on almost a daily basis. We have seen changes in technology. We have gone from rotary dial phones, to touch tone, to cell phones, to Apple watches. We have gone from 4 and 8-track tapes, to cassettes, to CD’s, to digital. We have gone from dial-up internet to today’s fiber optic service, and more. We have seen changes socially. Today, a person’s word is rarely their bond. Marital problems seem to be the norm rather than the exception to the rule. We see young children and teens who interact more with video games than they do with their parents and who, in fact, seem to have little to no regard for those parents. And we have seen parents who feel no parental duty to care for and discipline their children. Some don’t even want their children and forsake them through adoption or abortion. We have seen changes politically. Nationalism is declining, and globalism is growing in our world and in our nation (setting the stage for the one-world leader, the Antichrist). In the U.S., many would love to see us move from a democratic republic to socialism. And we have seen changes religiously. Many churches have moved from, “Preach the word” to social and “feel good” messages and tickling the ears of their hearers. Yet, in this time when more change takes place in a year than have taken place over the past hundreds of years, we serve a God who does not change! He is the faithful and true God. In Malachi 3:6 He said to Israel, “For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” Human nature cannot be relied upon, but we can trust in the God Whose faithfulness upholds the world at this very moment. Vs. 9 of our text says that God “is the faithful God.” The Hebrew word that is translated "faithful" means "to support, bear; to be firm, faithful; here, to be trusty." The Greek word means "trusty, trustworthy, worthy of confidence; of persons, one on whom we may rely; dependable."

I. FIRST, GOD IS FAITHFUL IN HIS PERSON -- VS. 9a.

II. GOD IS FAITHFUL IN HIS PROVISION -- VS. 8.

III. GOD IS FAITHFUL IN HIS PROMISES -- VV. 9-10.

THE SCHOOL OF GOD’S GRACE -- Titus 2:11-15

Sun, 23 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Paul is writing to Titus about the duties of a pastor. Titus was led to the Lord by Paul (1:4) and labored with him. He had been left in Crete by Paul to “set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city . . . ” In this letter he is giving instruction to Titus how to carry out the things he was instructed to do and to faithfully serve God. By the way, good instruction for preachers is good instruction for the congregation. In Titus 2:1-10 Paul tells Titus to speak “the things which become (are becoming to) sound doctrine . . . ” and then he names some of those things. Just “holding” sound doctrine is not enough. We must live it as well, thus adding a reality and a beauty to those things we preach. In our text Paul states that God’s grace teaches us these things and how to live them daily. In short we can go to the school of God’s grace. The grace of God cannot be easily defined. II Corinthians 8:9 gives us one of the best illustrations of grace I can think of: “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” And Philippians 2:5-8 describes this grace in action: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Grace is the wonderful, unmerited favor of God. Someone came up with this acrostic: God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. The word that is translated “grace” is “charis,” or a gift. In that day it implied a favor freely done without claim or expectation of return. It finds its motive in the bounty and free-heartedness of the giver. In the New Testament it refers to an act that is beyond what might ordinarily be expected. Grace is getting what we do not deserve. (Mercy is not getting what we do deserve.) But does all this actually and accurately define God’s grace? I believe one of the reasons it is so easy to take God’s grace for granted is that we truly cannot fathom the great degree of grace that has been shown us “while we were yet sinners.” When we see ourselves as we once were -- lost, doomed, condemned sinful beings, destined to hell and helpless to save ourselves -- we begin to get a picture of our need -- Ephesians 2:1-5: “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; (2) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (3) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." But now grace enters: (4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) . . . ” When we see the Lord Jesus willingly stoop down, lift the cross, and begin to carry it to Calvary, and there submit to crucifixion, the cruelest death Rome could imagine, and do it in our stead, maybe we will begin to get a picture of God’s great grace. (“Wonderful Grace Of Jesus”) It was grace that caused Him to offer Himself. It was grace that caused Him to die for us -- that caused Him to remain on the cross. According to vv. 11-12 God’s grace that brings salvation also teaches us some things.

I. GRACE TEACHES US TO LIVE CONSECRATED LIVES - VS. 12.

II. GRACE TEACHES US TO LIVE CIRCUMSPECTLY - VS. 12.

III. GRACE TEACHES US TO LIVE CONFIDENTLY (LOOKING FOR CHRIST’S RETURN) - VS. 13.

AS ROME BURNED, NERO FIDDLED (OR, AT EASE IN ZION) -- AMOS 6:1

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0500

I believe the worst thing that can happen to any people, or to any church, short of denying the faith, is to become content and complacent - to be “at ease.” This is the warning God gave to Israel in our text - “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!” "At ease" speaks of being recklessly, carelessly at ease. Even though they had quit serving Him, God’s people felt secure in their walled cities. Vv. 3-6 describe their attitude: “Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; (4) That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; (5) That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David; (6) That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.” I can think of at least 2 examples of churches that were “at ease” in the New Testament. In the book of Revelation we see the church at Sardis. Revelation 3:1 tells us about that church: “Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” "Name" refers to reputation; that by which one is known. Here was a church that was living on past reputation. To the world they appeared to be flourishing. There may have been much activity go on. They had a “form of godliness” . . . but they no longer operated with godly power. We must be careful not to confuse activity with service and spirituality. They appeared to be doing all the right things, but in reality they were empty, vain. There was deadness: 1) In their souls; 2) In their services; 3) In the spirit of their pastor. (Nothing will sap a preacher’s strength faster than a dead church holding dead services.) There was deadness in the preaching because of this. Because there was deadness in the preaching, there was deadness, in their hearing, and in their praying. To the outside observer, all seemed well, but to the One who knows the hearts and deep secrets of men they were dead. The church at Laodicea is the other example. Revelation 3:17 tells us that this church also held a high opinion of themselves. Jesus said to this church, “Because thou sayest . . . and knowest not.” Their assessment of themselves was quite different from that of the Lord. They were comfortable. They saw themselves as doing O.K. They had a good bank account. They were increased with goods (had the latest and best stuff). They thought they were in need of nothing. They were self-sufficient. But the Lord saw them differently. He said they were wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked . . . and they had put Him on the outside. Many of the Lord’s churches in these last days seem to have adopted the attitudes of Laodicea, Sardis, and even these Israelites. It is a condition that refers to an indifference toward that which is most important in God’s eyes. Yet, in that condition we expect God to bless us and to act for us in difficulties and afflictions. So here is God’s warning - “Your condition has separated you from Me so that I cannot bless.” Isaiah 59:1-2 says, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: (2) But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” We need to let the things God said to Israel (and Judah) be a warning to us so that we do not fall into the same condition as them. Four words describe and warn us of this condition.

I. ISRAEL WAS COMFORTABLE -- VS. 1.

II. ISRAEL WAS CONTENT -- VS. 1.

III. ISRAEL BECAME CALLOUSED -- VS. 3.

IV. ISRAEL COMPROMISING -- VV. 4-6.

HOW WILL YOU ENTER HEAVEN? -- II Peter 1:10-11

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0500

If you are saved, if you have truly, from your heart repented toward God and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ by God’s grace and through faith, you are going to heaven -- period. We know that one who is truly saved cannot lose that salvation. Jesus said, “. . . I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). I Peter 1:5 says we are “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” God will not “recall” our salvation, nor can the devil steal it -- John 10:27-30: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (29) My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. (30) I and my Father are one.” Unfortunately, however, some will be saved with great difficulty. In Matthew 19:23, after the rich,young ruler had come to Jesus but gone away sorrowful because he did accept the Lord we read, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (By the way, if you reject Jesus you will go away sorrowful.) (HARDLY = with great difficulty.) Why is this? It is because of the tendency of men to trust their money and love their money more than they trust and love God. About the most we can do for some is just “snatch” them out of the fire of hell (as if we were pulling them from a burning building). Jude 23 says, “And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” So, one may ask, “Should I question my salvation?” Yes! Even if you have been saved for fifty years. It is better to question and make sure you are saved than to not question and end up in hell. Remember, Matthew 7:21-23: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” II Corinthians13:5 says, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (EXAMINE = To test (objectively), i.e. endeavor, scrutinize. (How? Read I John!) (REPROBATE = a reprobate is a lost sinner, unapproved of and rejected of God.) In our text Peter is talking about HOW we will enter heaven . . . not IF we will enter Heaven. He is writing to saved people. Their salvation is secured and assured. What you and I are deciding right now by our lives after salvation is our position and future rewards in Heaven. Vs. 10: “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure . . . ” (GIVE DILIGENCE = make an earnest effort; “work at it!”) This phrase makes it clear that he is not talking about salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast.” Titus 3:5: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost . . . ” This word “diligence” conveys a sense of urgency. (“Don’t put it off.”) It speaks of an intenseness of effort and an eagerness of spirit. (SURE = through the idea of basality, this speaks stability.) He is talking about evidence. He is saying that if we are truly, saved (born again) it will show in the way that we live. This “stability is both for our assurance and for showing our salvation to others. We have probably all seen people who professed to be saved but put a giant question mark on that profession by the way that they lived. This will often cause them to become unsure of their own salvation. Look back at vs. 9: “But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten (taken a forgetfulness to himself) that he was purged from his old sins.” What are the “these things” he is speaking of here and in vs. 8? (Just look at vv. 5-7.) “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; (6) And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; (7) And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. (8) For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” What is he talking about? GROWING and MATURING as a child of God. The end of this verse tells us, “for if ye do these things (of vv. 5-7), ye shall never fall . . . ” (FALL = fall, offend, stumble.) Continual growth and progress as a child of God is the surest way to keep from stumbling. It is in our unguarded moments that we easily fall into temptation and sin against the Father. Notice he does not say, “fall from grace.” He is speaking of PURITY Of LIFE as a child of God. The reason some lack assurance of their salvation is because they have never grown as a child of God, and their lives do not reflect the change salvation brings - II Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Vs. 11 tells us how to have an “abundant entrance” “into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” There are 3 key words in this verse - “Entrance . . . ministered . . . abundantly.” (ENTRANCE = coming in, entering in. MINISTERED = to furnish besides; to fully supply. ABUNDANTLY = from a word that refers to being wealthy; to be abounding with; richly.) The word has a view to abundance, overflowing; above ordinary measure. Remember, Jesus said, “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven . . . ” Some who are saved who have never grown up in the Lord will enter His presence with little or nothing to present Him in worship of Him. (“Must I go and empty handed? Must I meet my Savior so? Not one soul with which to greet Him. Must I empty handed go?) The question that must be answered is: How will YOU enter heaven?

I. SOME WILL ENTER “YET SO AS BY FIRE.”

II. SOME WILL ENTER ASHAMED.

III. SOME WILL ENTER ABUNDANTLY.

PLAYING MARBLES WITH DIAMONDS -- THE SIN OF UZZAH -- II Samuel 6:1-11

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0500

As I have said many times here, I am constantly concerned about our worship and our approach to worship. It must always be pleasing to God. If we are not careful, we will take the things of God, even our worship of Him for granted (and I am afraid many do). They sit in a Sunday morning worship service barely making a sound when they sing and with eyes glazed over during the message from the Bible, the inspired and inerrant Word of God. So many of them are like the lady I once pastored, that I have told about on several occasions, who said of whatever I was teaching at the time, “I don’t need an outline. I know all this stuff.” They remind me of those Jesus spoke to in Matthew 15:1-9: “Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, (2) Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. (3) But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? (4) For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. (5) But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; (6) And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. (7) Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, (8) This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. (9) But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” They also remind me of Uzzah in II Samuel 6:1-11. All of us have probably at one time or another heard the account of Uzzah and the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of the Covenant had spent many years at the house of his father, Abinadab. In I Samuel 4:3 as Israel was battling the Philistines the people said: “Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.” (They viewed the Ark as little more than a “holy good luck charm.”) In vv. 10-11 Israel was defeated, and the Ark of the Covenant was captured by the enemy: “And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. (11) And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.” In I Samuel 6:1-12 after having the Ark 7 months, the Philistines sent it back to Israel. The Ark came to rest in Bethshemesh where God smote over 50,000 people because the men of that city looked into the Ark. (God is serious about His commands, and what we do affects others.) In 6:21-7:1 - The men of Kirjath-jearim came and got the Ark and took it to the house of Abinadab where it remained for at least 20 years. Now David is ready to move the Ark to Israel’s capital, the City of David, Jerusalem. And that brings us to our text.

[TEXT]

“Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.

[I Chronicles 13:1: “And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.”]

(2) And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the Lord of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims. (3) And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart. (4) And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark. (5) And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals. (6) And when they came to Nachon’s threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. (7) And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. (8) And David was displeased, because the Lord had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perez-uzzah to this day. (9) And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and said, How shall the ark of the Lord come to me? (10) So David would not remove the ark of the Lord unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. (11) And the ark of the Lord continued in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and the Lord blessed Obed-edom, and all his household.” (II Samuel 6:1-11) There are many lessons we can learn from this account in God’s Word, but this morning I only have time to mention a couple. But today I want us to see: THERE IS A WRONG WAY TO DO A “RIGHT” THING.

I. THE OCCASION.

II. THE OFFENSE.

III. THE OUTCOME.

REWARDS OF COMMITMENT -- Revelation 22:12-13

Sun, 23 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

As we begin this last message on commitment we need to be reminded of what it means to be committed. COMMITMENT is “an agreement, a pledge to do something in the future. It is the state of being obligated." So, “ to commit” has the idea of a duty, or a responsibility - faithfulness. As it has pertained to these messages, “commitment” refers to obligating ourselves to Christ and to the will of God without hesitation and without reservation. And I will say again that I believe lack of commitment is the key reason more is not being done for the Lord Jesus Christ today. We have examined Christ’s call to commitment and seen how it involves our worship, this church, God’s Word, and sharing Christ, etc. With this message I want us to look at the rewards of our commitment to Christ. While rewards should not be our primary motive for serving God, it is good to know that He will reward us for faithful service that is performed out of a heart of love for Him. God’s rewards are referred to in several different ways in the Bible. In Matthew 6:19-20 Jesus uses the word “treasure.” “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: (20) But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven . . . ” In I Corinthians 3:12-13 Paul seems to refer to the value of our rewarded labors by using the terms “gold, silver, and precious stones.” The New Testament speaks of “crowns,” or rewards we may receive for faithful service of God. Now, before we get too far let’s understand that one’s salvation is NOT a reward. A REWARD is “something given in return for good done or received and especially that is offered or given for some service or attainment.” The lost sinner does not and cannot “live a life good enough” to cause God to one day “reward” him with eternal life. Many believe that in the end God is going to put our good works on one side of the scale and our “bad works” on the other, and whichever weighs the most will determine where we will spend eternity. THAT IS NOT SO! Even our “works of righteousness” (or that we consider righteous) are not sufficient to save. Titus 3:5-6: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (6) Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour . . . ” Salvation is a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast.” It is not possible for one to do enough good works to earn Heaven. If it were possible for salvation to be earned by works, Jesus died in vain -- Galatians 2:21: “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." If one could earn salvation by his/her works, the death of Jesus was the most unnecessary death ever. Salvation is a gift based on what Jesus did on Calvary, not what we do, and when a lost person repents toward God and trusts Christ that gift becomes his. But, whatever you call them, God has blessings to give to His faithful children in this life and in the life to come.

I. FIRST -- NEGATIVELY -- REWARDS FOR (CONSEQUENCES OF) DISOBEDIENCE.

II. POSITIVELY -- PRESENT BLESSINGS OF COMMITMENT.

III. FUTURE REWARDS FOR COMMITMENT.

CHRIST’S CALL TO COMMITMENT -- Luke 14:26-27

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

It seems that while there is more church activity today (more preaching, more internet sermons, more missionaries, more church websites, etc.) there is more crime, more perversion, more ungodliness . . . and more churches closing their doors each year. According to Lifeway Research, 4,500 churches closed in the United States in 2019, while only 3,000 new ones opened. This trend of more closures than openings has continued for a long time, and it is predicted that even more churches will close in 2025. For just a moment I want us to think about the early chapters of Acts. One hundred twenty church members went out on a great evangelism effort. (It’s hard to get one in twenty to do that today.) Because of their witnessing many people who were coming to know Jesus. (Yes, but they had the Holy Spirit at work for them! And we don’t?) The church at Jerusalem was expanding quickly and exponentially (with thousands added at a time). (And by the way, they didn’t have Facebook, livestreams, PA systems, etc.) And though there were many who did not choose to accept Jesus, it is interesting (and important to note) what those outside of that church thought of the church. They were impressed. Of course the “religious leaders” weren’t. They were out to destroy the church, just as they had been out to destroy Jesus. But among the people the Jerusalem church was held in high esteem. They saw their love for each other. They saw their care for the poor among them. They saw the godly fruit their lives were producing and they admired it, even if they were not ready to accept Jesus as Savior. Sadly, that is not true today. When you look at the polls, churches in America are not admired by many of those outside the churches. Even some who profess to be saved say, “Jesus, yes. Church, no.” They see many churches and church services as formal, uninviting, cold, and dead. After years of preaching and pastoring the Lord’s churches I have come to believe that the reason believers and churches are failing to make an impact upon our world today is due to the absence of a real commitment to God . . . on our part! We are failing to bring the lost to Christ as we should. We are failing to even “win back” our own who have been lost to the world. We are failing to make a positive impact for godliness in our nation and in our world. And while some say, “Oh, it's just a sign of the times,” (and according to Matthew 24:12 that is partially true), it still should not be. Commitment is defined as “an act of committing to a charge or a trust; an agreement or pledge to do something in the future.” Many want to be involved today, but few want to be committed. When we make a commitment, we obligate or bind ourselves to something or someone. As it pertains to this message, commitment means: We obligate or bind ourselves to Jesus and to do the will of God without hesitation or reservation. In our text, Jesus is declaring the need for commitment by those who follow Him. That commitment involves: 1) Denying self. 2) Dying to self (“take up his cross”) daily. 3) Following the Lord Jesus Christ. In Luke 14:26-27 He declared the cost of following Him. We must love Him more than our own family. We must love Him more than our own life. We must bear our cross and come after Him. As we consider this message, let us ask ourselves, “Am I committed to Christ, or am I merely involved with Him?”

I. THE CALL TO COMMITMENT.

II. THE COURSE OF COMMITMENT.

III. THE COST OF TRUE COMMITMENT.

ABSOLUTE SURRENDER -- Genesis 22:1-14

Sun, 09 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

As a pastor and as a preacher of the Word of God, I often fear that, if we are not very careful, our “worship” of God will become mere habit. We can become mechanical in our worship - prayer, song, announcements, song, prayer, offering, song, message, song, prayer . . . GO HOME! We should not “come to church” to be put in the mood to worship, but when we come to church we are to bring our worship with us and offer it to God. In the Old Testament the Jews did not come to the temple to “get a lamb” to sacrifice, but they were instructed to “bring” their sacrifice for worship. Sadly, some figured out they could make money selling “sacrifices” and even set up shop in the Temple, but Jesus took care of them. That same attitude is present today when people believe their mere presence and a few dollars in the offering plate is a substitute for their heartfelt worship of God. And in many cases and in many places today the “worship service” is merely a spectator event. (We have hired - or elected - a “church staff,” and we come to watch them do their jobs.) People come to sit and watch the musicians, the song leader, and the choir “perform.” Then it is time for the preacher to “do his thing,” and it better be short, and sweet, and not offend anyone. But these things are not true worship. True worship comes from the heart first and affects us not just while we are in the church service but throughout the week. True worship is “all that I am (mind, body, and spirit) responding to all that God is.” True worship is “whole heart” worship that seeks to please God and do His will in our lives. Listen to what the psalmist said: 1) Psalm 111:1: “Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.” 2) Psalm 9:1: “I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.” 3) Psalm 119:10: “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.” If people truly love God, you will not have to plead with them to come to church on Sunday. They will want to be present. And one thing (among others) that will increase, and add to our worship is the subject of today's message, ABSOLUTE SURRENDER -- of our hearts, minds, and lives to God. In this 22nd chapter of Genesis we find one of the clearest pictures of the coming sacrifice of Jesus Christ that there is in the Old Testament. In this event we see a portrait of God’s heart as He gave His only begotten Son to die for mankind’s sin and in the place of the one who was condemned. This is usually how this passage is viewed, but there is another dimension to this text. Let’s look at it from Abraham’s perspective. He was called upon to make a great sacrifice. He was instructed to take the child of promise that God had given him and give him back to God. By the way, the greatest thing a parent can do is to give their child to God for His service. Yet, in Abraham, we do not see the heart of a broken, devastated man. Instead, we see the heart of the worshipper, who acts in complete obedience to God. In life, various demands will be made of us, and some of these will come from God. They may call for personal sacrifices on our part. From a human standpoint, we may not want to face them or even participate in them. However, God’s requirement for our lives is absolute, total obedience to His perfect will. Remember what Samuel said to King Saul in I Samuel 15:22: “. . . Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” Romans 12:1: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Even though we know these things, a part of us still wants to rebel against the commands of God for our lives. In this message we will see what is required if we, like Abraham, are to worship God with absolute surrender.

I. IT REQUIRES OUR PERCEPTION -- VV. 1-2.

II. IT INVOLVES PREPARATIONS -- VV. 3-5.

III. IT INVOLVES PARTICIPATION -- VV. 6-14.

DON’T GET CONFORTABLE! -- II Kings 6:24-30, 7:1-8

Sun, 02 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Did you ever say those words to anyone? (COMFORTABLE = [Oxford Languages Dictionary] - “providing physical ease and relaxation.” Webster says it means “providing physical comfort; physically at ease.” Synonyms are: cozy, snug, easy, restful. But Webster’s also has this note: Comfortable “applies to anything that encourages serenity, well-being, or (the one that caught my eye) complacency. I believe the two biggest faults of God’s people today are apathy (lack of interest) and complacency. We are comfortable and satisfied, and we just aren’t interested. The fact that we live in comfort and ease is obvious. Even the saved tend to trust in what we have and who we are (Americans, Christians, Baptists!). And we hold that attitude - if not openly, at least in our hearts -while we live in difficult times. I imagine some would think after the last election, “We have it made now.” But remember what God’s Word has to say about the days in which we live. II Timothy 3:1: “This know also, that in the last days perilous (difficult, dangerous, furious) times shall come.” II Timothy 3:12: “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution (be chased, hunted down, persecuted).” And in the Lord’s churches, many (II Timothy 4:3) “will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.” Many will be “lovers of their own selves” and “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God . . . ” (II Timothy 3:2, 4). Hear what God says about this attitude of satisfaction in such difficult and extreme times. Amos 6:1: “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria . . . ” Just like believers today, the lepers in our text dwelt in an extreme time and and extreme situation. Samaria was besieged by the Syrians. There was a famine in the land People were eating donkeys’ heads and doves’ dung, and boiling their babies. (Can there be an any more apt description of the spiritual condition of people today than that?) But, in the midst of this, these were not content just to “sit here till we die.” Notice their thinking in II Kings 7:4: “If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.” This is not fatalistic thinking. It is an accurate assessment of their situation. I talked to one man years ago, member of a Baptist church near where I was pastor. He said, “We’re just trying to hang on” (till the end). He was defeated in his mind. That is where most defeat occurs first. The church I pastored, and the one he attended were in a rural setting. He had decided, “We have done all we can do. The ‘glory days’ of the church over. We have an aging congregation. We out here in the country, and we can’t do any more.” He had no plan, no hope, no vision for the future. He had given up. Proverbs 29:18: “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” We live in extreme times today (just like in the days of Samaria). We often feel besieged because Satan is active on every front - family, social, business, political, and religious. People are feeding on the filth of the world spiritually, mentally, and physically. Like those in Samaria, they are feeding on donkeys’ heads, boiled babies, and bird droppings. Unfortunately, in this extreme time, most of God’s people and the Lord’s churches are satisfied to sit and blend in. (We are not saved just so we can sit, soak, and sour.) For a brief period these lepers were satisfied to sit outside the city gate and beg. The Lord dealt with a church kind of like that in Revelation 3:14-22. They said, “We are satisfied.” They said (vs. 17), “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing . . . ” (They had even put Jesus on the outside - vs. 20: “. . . I stand at the door and knock . . . ” But the Lord showed them they needed to get rid of that satisfied attitude because He told them (vs. 17) that they needed everything - “thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked . . . ” If the Lord’s churches today could see themselves as the Lord sees them, they might not be so satisfied. And while we sit in our satisfaction, the world about us is perishing. What will it take for us to quit being satisfied? Our text tells us of some lepers (society’s outcasts) who became dissatisfied with where they were and what their future looked like, so they decided to do something about it. When they did they were blessed and were a blessing to others. So let’s notice some principles from this account.

I. THE PRINCIPLE OF DISSATISFACTION -- 7:3.

II. THE PRINCIPLE OF DECISION -- 7:4.

III. THE PRINCIPLE OF DELIGHT (BLESSING) 7:5-7.

JESUS -- Colossians 1:9-19

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

What kind of picture do you use as a PowerPoint background when you are sharing a message about Jesus? We do not know what Jesus looked like. We just know that Isaiah said of Him (53:2,3): “. . . he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. (3) . . . and we hid as it were our faces from him . . . ” That doesn’t much sound like the paintings of Jesus we see today, does it? By the way, the background for this message is a mosaic that was unearthed in the area where Jesus is thought to have performed the miracle of the loaves and fishes. The title of our Lord fully expresses His deity, His humanity, and His office. He is the Lord (Master), Jesus (Savior), Christ (the Anointed One). Jesus was fully man and fully God. This message deals with the deity of Jesus. The Bible teaches of us His virgin birth and that He is Emmanuel, or “God with us.” He said to Philip in John 14:9: “. . . he that hath seen me hath seen the Father . . . ” Paul defended Christ’s deity before the Colossian Gnostics who denied His deity by teaching that Jesus was some lesser emanation, some watered down, weakened spirit being descended from God, thus denying His deity. And, the writer of Hebrews (1:1-2) reveals that Jesus fully expounds the mind of God: “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, (2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son . . . ” God has a message for us today. It is a message we are to proclaim to the world, and that message is “JESUS!” So let’s look at Jesus this morning.

I. GOD’S PERSON IS REVEALED IN HIM -- VS. 15.

II. GOD’S POWER IS REALIZED IN HIM -- VV. 16-17.

III. GOD’S PURPOSES ARE REPLETE IN HIM -- VV. 18-19.

THE CHURCH THAT SHARED THEIR FAITH -- I Thessalonians 1:1-10

Sun, 19 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

I believe the greatest disobedience toward God, and toward our Lord Jesus Christ by His churches today is the failure to witness of Him to a lost and dying world. I believe there are several reasons for this, and at the outset of this message I want to name a few. The first and foremost reason, I believe, is fear. 1. Fear of opposition - that someone might just be opposed to our wanting to talk to them about their sin, their sinfulness, their lost condition, and their need of a Savior. 2. The second fear is fear of ridicule. It is human nature to dislike being fun of. We often learn at an early age that being different brings ridicule. We learn that the best way to avoid that is to conform to the world around us. But, we are told in Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Of being “insufficient” or “ineffective” - as in not knowing how to present the Gospel. Sometimes it is because we don’t go to where the lost are. Of course, we are not going to “hang out” in bars and nightclubs. They are not places where we can have an effective witness. (And we shouldn’t be in those places.) Often we cannot witness at work . . . Because our employer doesn’t allow it. But sometimes it is our fault (because our co- workers have seen how we act away from church). We don’t witness in our neighborhoods. Hopefully that is not because we are “feuding” neighbors. Also, as in #2 above, our neighbors have also see how we act away from church. And many times we don’t even know who our neighbors are. We won’t at Albertsons, Walmart, or out shopping (see “fear” above). And some will not even witness to their own families. Because they “are afraid” of creating a division in the family. Because, again, our families see us as we really are - good, bad, or ugly. But we have a command and a mandate from our Lord to be “soulwinners,” to tell others about Him -- Matthew 28:19-20 ; Acts 1:8. The terms “soulwinner” and “soulwinning” are actually misnomers. We don’t actually do the “winning.” That is the job of God and the Holy Spirit. Instead, we are simply to witness visually (by our lives) and verbally (by our lips) of what the Lord Jesus has done for us and in us. Acts 1:8: “But ye shall receive power (dynamic ability), after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” I personally fear that the term “soulwinner” scares many believers away from this work. Because they don’t feel equal to the task. Because they have never been taught how to witness. Or, because they have sat through “soulwinning classes” that put more emphasis on “making the sale” than on sharing the message. There are actually only 2 qualities needed to be an effective witness for Christ. You must know Christ as Savior - why you needed to be saved, and how you were saved. You must have a love for the Lord and love the souls of people like He does. If you have those qualities and can talk, you can witness. Yes, there may indeed at times be opposition to our witness, however, there is an even greater joy in being used of God to bring a lost person to Christ - to seeing a friend, family member, or even a stranger go from being a child of the devil to being a child of God. The church at Thessalonica was exemplary in carrying the Gospel to the world and stand as a wonderful example for us today. Following their example, we must . . .

I. WITNESS BY DEMONSTRATION.

II. WITNESSING BY DIRECT ACTION.

III. WITNESS THROUGH DOMESTIC CONTACT.

IV. WE WITNESS THROUGH A DEDICATED CHURCH MEMBERSHIP.

THE PRINCIPLES OF UNDENIABLE PRAYER -- James 4:1-10

Sun, 12 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

We are going to look at prayer this morning. Prayer is without a doubt the most powerful tool that a child of God has to get things done for his Lord. Prayer can go where we cannot go. Prayer can be offered anytime, from anywhere, and can reach any place. Prayer can touch lives that we cannot touch (because it enlists the power of Almighty God). Prayer is direct communication with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. I Timothy 2:5: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus . . . ” See what the Apostle Paul said we are to do after getting all dressed up in “the whole armour of God” -- Ephesians 6:18: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit . . . ” I am thankful that this is a praying church! (If you don’t believe or are unaware of that just check our Facebook group and page when a prayer request is listed there). In the first four verses of this fourth chapter of the book James warns us of some problems that, if we are not careful, can creep into our prayer lives. First of all there is the impertinence, or assumption and arrogance, of unoffered prayer. James 4:2: “ . . . ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.” There is the impertinence of unoffered prayer. Then there is the issue of unacceptable prayer. James 4:3: “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” Some prayers are not answered because they are unacceptable - “Ye ask amiss” (AMISS = improperly; with bad intent. Motive and manner are under discussion.) We have seen the impertinence of unoffered prayer, and we have seen the issues with “unacceptable” prayer. Now for the next few minutes we want to examine the essentials of undeniable prayer. There must be:

I. SENSITIVITY TO THE SPIRIT -- Vs. 5.

II. SUBMISSION TO THE FATHER - VV. 6-7a.

III. STANDING AGAINST THE DEVIL - VS. 7b.

IV. SEPARATION FROM THE WORLD - VS. 8.

V. SOBERNESS IN PURPOSE VV. 9-10.

DEALING WITH TEMPTATION -- Luke 4:1-13

Sun, 05 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

I realize this may be a strange sort of message to begin a new year, but what could be better than to enter the new year armed against the wiles and devices of the devil. Not a one of us knows what will happen in our lives in the year to come. I am pretty sure that we all had things happen to us or in our lives in 2024 that we never would have imagined at the beginning of that year. What will this year bring? Who but God knows? We will, no doubt, have some blessings, and we will have some disappointments. Let’s just pray that we have more blessings than disappointments this year. There is one thing I can guarantee, though, and that is the fact that during the coming year we will all face testings and temptations. I can guarantee it because the Word of God tells us so. James 1:13-15 says, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: (14) But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (15) Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” "Tempted refres to being tested, enticed, scrutinized. It originates from a word that means “to pierce through.” When you are tempted, do you ever feel like you have been pierced through? "Entice" speaks of being trapped, or caught with a bait. Satan works on the lust that is a part of the old nature to entice us, often when we are enticed we give in, and it brings forth sin. I Corinthians 10:13a tells us, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man . . . ” "Temptation" here is a form of the word in James 1 and refers to a solicitation, provocation; or a putting to the proof. "COMMON TO MAN" just means human. Too often we are like the woman who said, “I can overcome anything but temptation.” But be of good cheer! God makes it possible to overcome temptation. Look at the rest of the verse in I Corinthians 10:13b: “. . . but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” "Will not suffer" means allow, permit; leave alone. (God will not leave you alone in the temptation.) And "escape" simply refers to an exit, a way out. In this first message of 2025 we are going to examine temptation, see the source of temptation, and share some principles for overcoming temptation in the year ahead. We'll see:

I. THE PROBLEM OF TEMPTATION.

II. THE PROCESS OF THESE TEMPTATIONS.

III. PRINCIPLES FOR OVERCOMING TEMPTATION.

PREPARING FOR SPIRITUAL VICTORY IN THE NEW YEAR -- Joshua 1:10-11

Sun, 29 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

The book of Joshua is about the people of God getting what the Lord has for them. It is about moving out of the past and past difficulties into peace and blessings. It is about battles and victory. It is about the battles Israel faced in order to claim that promise from God. It is about warfare, painful defeats, suffering, and great victories. It has much to teach us about obtaining spiritual victory in our lives. After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, Israel was about to take possession of the land God had promised to Abraham. VICTORY! Many seem to have the idea that entering Canaan refers to Heaven. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Entering Canaan is a picture of the victorious Christian life that is available to every child of God, and every church today! It is a picture of victory in the midst of struggle -- Hebrews 4:8-9,11: “For if Jesus (Joshua) had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. (9) There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. (11) Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” As the book opens, Moses is dead, and God has called Joshua to lead the nation into the Promised Land. Vv. 1-9 deal with God’s assurance to Joshua that He will be with him to lead him and to bless him. Every child of God needs to be reminded of God’s promise to Joshua found in vs. 9: “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” In vs. 5 He said, “I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” In fact, 3 times in this first chapter God tells Joshua to “be strong” and to have courage. But beginning in vs. 10 the focus turns from Joshua to the nation as a whole. Those God has chosen to lead His people and His churches certainly need to be strong and of a good courage, but all of His children need the same instruction. So God speaks through Joshua to people who are ready to receive the land He had promised Abraham and tells them to get ready to move forward and take the land. It had taken them about two years to come to Kadesh-Barnea. They could have made the journey in a few days. But God led them through the wilderness so they could not return to Egypt when they got discouraged. Exodus 13:17-18: “And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt . . . (18) But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.” When they arrived at Kadesh-Barnea, they sent spies into the land, and we know how that went. They wanted to return to Egypt, but because of their refusal to follow Him by faith, God condemned them to wander in the wilderness until that faithless generation died off. That generation is like many who are living in our day. They stood in the way of everything God was doing. Now that the old generation is gone, and God is about to lead the nest generation into the Promised Land. Sometimes God has to infuse us with “new blood” to get us off of our pews of “do nothing” and get us to serving Him. The addition of “new blood” brings excitement, energy, and hope to a church. When God is blessing, and the church is growing, it should thrill us. What Joshua said to Israel and how they responded have some lessons for us today. Like Israel, we are standing on the doorstep of the unknown - a new year. But like Israel, we, too, have been promised victory and blessing -- Ephesians 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ . . . ” And like Israel, we must be properly prepared to claim the victory that is ours. Notice the lessons we find in these verses. We see:

I. THERE IS A CHALLENGE THAT MUST BE MET -- VV. 10-15.

II. THERE IS THE COMMITMENT WE WON’T REGRET -- VV. 16-18.

IN TIME, ON TIME -- James 1:17 ; Galatians 4:4-5

Sun, 22 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

There are many kinds of gift givers this time of year. There are those for whom “just anything will do, as long as I get them something.” There are those who are the “askers.” They ask, “What do you want for Christmas?” then get it. There are those who give thought and search high and low for the “perfect” Christmas gift. If you are in that third category, you can stop searching for the “perfect” gift. It has already been given. God, as to His character and nature is love -- I John 4:7-8: “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. (8) He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” And it is the nature of love to give. First John 3:16-17 says, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down (gave) his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (17) But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” Our declaration of love must be accompanied by a demonstration of love. James illustrates what John is talking about when it comes to this love in James 2:15-16, “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, (16) And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?” God gave the first and perfect gift when He came into this world in the form of God, the Son. What does James 1:17 say? “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights . . . ” John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” In I John 4:9-10 we read, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (10) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” In giving His Son, God was right on time. “When the fulness of the time was come . . .” Fulness means completeness; filling. “ When time had been fully filled.” “At just the right time.” Jesus was born at just the right time. Note 4 great events of this time. It was the time God had ordained (in keeping with Daniel’s prophecy of 483 years after the command to rebuild Jerusalem.) The Mosaic law had done its work. What was the work of the Law? Galatians 3:24 says, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” The law had reached its limit. Rome ruled the world. The Roman empire maintained peace. Roman roads made travel easy. The Greek language was universally spoken and made the spread of the Gospel easier. And, the Roman means of execution was crucifixion (“hanging on a tree”). Under these conditions God used a Roman ruler to move a young man and woman to a place that was prophesied in order to accomplish His purpose (Micah 5:2). In this message we will see:

I. THE PREPARATION FOR THE MESSIAH.

II. THE PRESENTATION OF THE MESSIAH.

III. THE PURPOSE OF THE MESSIAH.

THE CHRISTMAS STORY AS YOU HAVE NEVER HEARD IT (THE REASON FOR THE SEASON) -- Matthew 1:18a ; Philippians 2:5-8

Sun, 15 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

This morning I want to share what I call "The Christmas Story As You Have Never Heard It." Often, when we think of the “Christmas story” we start somewhere in the middle or near the end. However, the story has its roots and its beginnings long before what we call the traditional story. The “Christmas story” does not begin in the city of Bethlehem, nor does it begin in with a couple named Joseph and Mary. The “Christmas story” actually begins before the creation of the universe. I Peter 1:18-20 says, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (20) Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you . . . ” The “Christmas story” has its “beginning” in a garden, the garden of God which was “planted . . . eastward in Eden.” And we know the names of the couple in this garden. They were Adam and Eve. In this brief message we will see:

I. THE PRELUDE.

II. THE PRESENTATION (OF THE STORY)

III. THE POSTLUDE.

WE FAINT NOT -- II Corinthians 4:1-6

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

The book of II Corinthians is a book of encouragement. Paul certainly had reason to get discouraged. In II Corinthians 11:23-28 he tells us: “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. (25) Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; (26) In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; (27) In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. (28) Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.” If you want to get discouraged, try pastoring a church (At least I don’t have “the care of ALL the churches” upon me, just this one.) As we get closer to the Lord’s return, we are going to need more and more encouragement. But I have good news for you. Our God is the God of ALL encouragement. II Corinthians 1:3 says. “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort . . . ” COMFORT (paraklesis) speaks of imploration, solace, (ex)hortation (encouragement). The theme of chapter 4 is “We faint not.” (It is repeated in vs. 16.) Trials in Asia had brought Paul almost to the point of despair, but he didn’t quit. Listen to II Corinthians 1:8: “For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life . . . ” The picture of "Out of MEASURE" (from huperballo) is "to surpass, or to throw beyond the usual mark." ABOVE STRENGTH speaks of beyond one's ability. (Did you ever feel that what was going on was beyond your ability to handle it?) And DISPAIRED means "to despond; to be utterly at a loss." Have you ever felt that way? Paul is experiencing it due to his stand for Christ. But look at what he says in 4:8-10: “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair (9) Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; (10) Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.” It’s too easy for people to quit serving God today. Many are like Demas, they love this present world -- II Timothy 4:10. Some get angry with and out of fellowship with a brother/sister in Christ and refuse to follow the Biblical instructions to get it settled quickly and in love. (They like to hold a grudge.) Still others get offended (usually by some small matter) or get their feelings hurt. As we set about to serve the Lord we especially need the encouragement that is offered here, for it is:

I. ENCOURAGEMENT IN OUR WORK -- VS. 1.

II. ENCOURAGEMENT IN OUR WALK -- VS. 2.

III. ENCOURAGMENT IN OUR WITNESS -- VV. 3-6.

THE COMING OF THE DAY OF THE LORD -- II Peter 3:1-12

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

The term “day of the Lord” is used several different ways in the Scriptures. It can refer to the Lord’s day -- Sunday. Or, it can speak of the time of the rapture, the Millenial Reign of Christ, etc. Or, it may speak of that time of God’s great and terrible wrath upon the earth and all that live on it. Here Peter uses it to refer to just that. In light of present persecutions, he reminds believers that God’s judgment is yet to come upon this earth. Vs. 10 says, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” In I Thessalonians 5:2 we read,“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.” I Peter 4:17: reminds us, "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” What could be his purpose in reminding believers of this event? Vs. 1 – “This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds . . . ” "Pure minds" refers to that saved part of us. "Stir up" means to arouse; fully awaken (from inactivity); excite; incite. And vs. 2, “That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken” – by the prophets, by the apostles, and by the Lord Jesus. If anything should excite and incite believers to a greater dedication to and service of Christ, it should be realizing the fact and nearness of the day of the Lord. II Peter 3:11 challenges us, “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be . . . ” and Hebrews 10:25 says “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” In these verses of our text Peter tells us of the day of the Lord, and we see . . .

I. THE DENIAL OF THAT DAY -- VV. 3-7.

II. THE DECISIVENESS OF THAT DAY -- VV. 8-10a.

III. THE DECLARATION OF THAT DAY -- VS. 10b.

IV. THE DIRECTION FOR THAT DAY -- VV. 11-12.

ABOUNDING WITH THANKSGIVING! -- Psalm 107:1-2, 21-22

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

In scrolling around on several internet sites I saw the question, “Is Thanksgiving a Christian holiday?” George Washington’s first Thanksgiving proclamation was issued on October 3, 1789 acknowledged God and His provision, providence, and protection of this nation. The Bible is full of examples of and admonitions to God’s people to offer thanksgiving to Him. This is the theme of many of the psalms. Psalm 50:14: “Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High . . . ” Psalm 69:30: “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.” (MAGNIFY = to make large; to honor; to boast of.) Psalm 100:4: “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” Psalm 147:7: “Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God . . . ” This instruction to offer thanks to God is also found in the New Testament. Philippians 4:6: “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Colossians 2:6-7: “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: (7) Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Colossians 4:2: “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving . . . ” I Timothy 4:4: “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving . . . ” In Revelation 7, after the sealing of the 144,000 John says in vv. 9-12: “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; (10) And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. (11) And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, (12) Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.” As we consider these verses of Scripture, we must ask ourselves, “Am I truly thankful to God?” I am afraid that too often we may take the many blessings of God for granted. I also fear that many times we must admit our indifference to God, His church, and His will in our lives. As the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Colossae in Colossians 3:15 he instructed them, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” This is an urgent appeal to the believers in Colossae to let the attitude of thankfulness reign in their lives. It is also an eye opener for us as we read it, for the question is not, “Do we have that for which we should be thankful?” but simply, “Are we thankful?”

I. WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR THE LORD JESUS AND HIS OFFERING FOR SIN.

II. WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR GOD’S WORD, THE BIBLE.

III. WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF PRAYER.

IV. WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR THIS NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH.

V. WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR THE LIBERTY WE HAVE IN CHRIST . . . AND IN THIS NATION!

THE LORDSHIP OF JESUS -- Romans 14:9

Sun, 17 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Finish this sentence for me. “Jesus is _____________.” This morning we are going to consider the lordship of Jesus. Back in the 1970s and 80s at what I believe was the height of the Charismatic Movement in America you could hear and see all over the place signs and stickers that said “Jesus is Lord!” Jesus would love to be truly recognized and followed as Lord over this city or that city, but just repeating those words will not make it so. Have you ever encountered those people who may refer to Him as “my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? Once again, if there is no life, no living to confirm that claim those are just empty words. It is my belief that, first, most people, even saved people, do not realize what they are saying when they refer to Jesus as “Lord.” Secondly, if we were to use that phrase AND REALLY MEAN IT, there would be a massive change in the lives of God’s people today. Before we get too deeply into this message we need to understand the meaning of the term “Lord.” LORD refers to the one who has absolute power, absolute authority, the one who is the master. Many so-called “Christians,” “believers” do not understand this. We understand that during the days that the New Testament was written Rome ruled the known world. The ruler of the Romans was Caesar. Caesar was a title, and there were many Caesars. However, one thing was held in common. Caesar was not just to be considered “ruler,” but he was to be considered as a god. In fact those under his rule were required to declare their allegiance to him by saying, “Caesar is Lord.” Refusal to do so could result in death! So, it was serious business, a life altering claim for a believer to declare JESUS IS LORD! (Sadly, it does not appear to be so serious a claim today.) Today it does not seem to bother professed believers to declare “Jesus is Lord” on Sunday and live for the world, the flesh, and the devil the rest of the week. When we come to Jesus for salvation, we come as we are, trusting Him alone to save us. When you were saved, you probably didn’t “understand it all,” but you didn’t have to. What one needs to understand is that he/she is a lost sinner, bound for hell, and deservedly so, and that the only way to escape eternal condemnation is to “throw” himself/herself on the mercy of God by applying Christ’s payment for sin through faith. However, after one is saved, (I repeat, after one is saved) they need to realize that they are “under new management” - self and sin are to no longer be in control, and they have a new Lord. You are not your own -- I Corinthians 6:19-20: “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (20) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” When you trusted Christ as Savior, that was the last decision you made with “self” as lord of your life. Beginning in Luke 6:19 through the end of the chapter we see Luke’s record of the Lord’s Sermon on the Mount. We are studying this sermon on Sunday evenings, and we have already seen that it is indeed a guide to practical Christian living. We have seen and will continue to see that in this Sermon Jesus has given us some very direct commands. For example, He has taught us that we must be forgiving, that we are to love our enemies, that we are to love God more than material wealth, and more. At the end of the Sermon He showed us the difference between merely hearing His words and hearing them and doing them. At the end of the sermon He asked in Luke 6:46 He asked, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” How can we today call Him LORD Jesus Christ when we fail or refuse to follow His commands and practice His lifestyle? But regardless of what we do He is Lord!

I. THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST WAS THE INITIAL CONFESSION OF THE LORD’S CHURCH.

II. THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST IS THE AUTHENTIC CONFESSION OF A TRUE CHRISTIAN.

III. THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST WILL BE THE ULTIMATE CONFESSION OF CREATION.

FIVE DAILY ACTIVITIES THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE -- II Corinthians 4:8-16 (Vs. 16)

Sun, 10 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

I want to center my thoughts today on vs. 16: “. . . yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” We spend a lot of time “dressing up” the outward man which Paul says is perishing. Many have special diets, go to gymns, don't eat meat, etc. But regardless of all of that, the outward man, the flesh, is dying and will eventually die. In the meantime, many, if not most, who profess Christ as Savior today are living “get by” lives. They are not actively working against the Lord. But they are not actively living for Him either. They may consider themselves to have what I call a “negative righteousness.” “Negative righteousness” says, “I am right with God because of what I do not do (referring to the sins they avoid). Some may compare themselves to other professed believers and consider that they do more good things or fewer “bad” things than others. Quite often they find that they are like the church at Laodicea, neither hot nor cold. If we are to go forward and be effective as one of the Lord’s churches, we must reveal to others the changed life of a child of God. Here are 5 activities that, if practiced daily, will make a great change in our lives for the Lord. We might refer to them as “habits,” but they should never be merely habitual. A habit is “an acquired mode of behavior that has become nearly or completely involuntary.” It is something we do without giving thought to it. We should consciously strive to make these things a part of our everyday lives. If we will consistently do these things, we (and others) will see the change they can make in our lives in “the inward man.”

I. CONSUME THE WORD OF GOD DAILY.

II. COMMUNICATE CONTINUALLY WITH GOD -- I THESSALONIANS 5:17.

III. CONDUCT OURSELVES IN THE SPIRIT OF GOD -- GALATIANS 5:16.

IV. COMMIT TO GOD AND CARING FOR OTHERS -- MATTHEW 22:37-40.

V. SHARE JESUS WITH OTHERS -- LUKE 24:46-49 ; ACTS 1:8.

LEAPFROG EVANGELISM -- ACTS 1:1-11

Sun, 03 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

For four hundred years there was silence, with no word from God from Malachi to Matthew. In Amos 8:11 God had warned them of this time: “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord . . . ” I believe we are facing a similar famine today from preachers who won’t preach the Word and believers who won’t share the Word. But then Jesus came, not as the spoken Word but as the Living Word of God - John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” He walked among men for about 33 ½ years, then He became the sacrifice for our sin. These verses give us the final words of Jesus to His disciples before His ascension into Heaven. They are, “. . . ye shall be witnesses of me . . . ” He did not tell us to promote the preacher, or our “good fellowship,” but to proclaim Him. The word "witness" is “martus” or “marturion.” It literally means “martyr.” But the question is, “Are the Lord’s churches, which are made up is His people, fully obeying that command today?” First let’s examine:

I. THE QUESTION (CONCERN) OF THE SERVANTS - VS. 6.

II. THE COMMAND OF THE SAVIOR - VV. 7-8.

III. THE CONDUCT OF THE SAVED.

STOP AT THE LAVER -- EXODUS 30:17-21

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0500

The tabernacle was the Israelites’ place of worship in the wilderness as they were leaving Egypt and heading for the Promise Land. It was a temporary place of worship. When they settled in the land that God gave them, under King Solomon they built a permanent place of worship called the Temple. In I Corinthians 3:16 God said to the church at Corinth (and every true New Testament church) through Paul, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” In the Old Testament God had a temple for His people, but in the New Testament God has a people for His temple. The New Testament teaches us of the priesthood of the believer, and the High Priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ. In I Peter 2:5 Peter said to believers who, I believe, made up assemblies in the areas named, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” You don’t have to go through a priest, or a pastor, or a preacher to talk to God, you go directly to Him through the Lord Jesus Christ. I Timothy 2:5 says, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus . . . ” Hebrews 10:19-22 tells us, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (20) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (21) And having an high priest over the house of God; (22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” The tabernacle had several pieces of furniture in and around it. It had: (1)The Brazen Altar - which speaks to us of Christ’s sacrifice and our salvation; (2) The Table of Shewbread which speaks of Christ Who is our sustenance (3) The Altar of Incense which speaks of prayer and Christ our supplication. But between the Brazen Altar and the Tabernacle of the Congregation was the laver, which speaks of our sanctification. The Tabernacle of the Congregation was the place of service and of worship. Before the priest could enter that tabernacle, he had to stop by the laver and wash his feet and his hands. There were dire consequences if he did not. This carries a wonderful picture and wonderful instruction for us today. And (I will mention this again in a moment) this tells us, I believe, why that may be so much dead “worship” and so little witnessing and working for the Lord in His churches today. So, first let’s look at:

I. THE PICTURE OF THE LAVER.

II. THE PLACEMENT OF THE LAVER.

THE GOD WE WORSHIP -- Psalm 18:1-3

Sun, 20 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0500

As I have mentioned many times from this pulpit often the most difficult part of preparing a message is determining what God would have me share with you each week. I DO NOT want to preach what I want to preach. I DO NOT want to preach simply to fill up the time from the end of the song service to the final prayer. It is my desire to share the appropriate message to the appropriate people at the appropriate time. I never know from week to week who will be present in the services and what word of encouragement or witness of the truth or instruction and invitation to salvation they might need. Sometimes (and the problem lies with me and not with God) I have trouble determining that, so I fall back on what an older preacher once told me, “When you don’t know what to preach, preach about Jesus, preach about God.” So that is what I intend to do today. The inscription of this psalm gives us some insight into the background of these verses. “To the chief musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the Lord, who spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.” This psalm was originally a song written to glorify God and to honor Him for delivering David from King Saul and from all his enemies. It can also be found in II Samuel 22. David’s foes had been vanquished, and he wanted to express gratitude to God for His great provision. When running from Saul, David was in constant danger of death. Now that he has been delivered from his enemies, David can sing the song of victory. When God saved us, He gave us victory over our enemies. Listen to I Corinthians 15:57 : “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Also, I John 5:4-5: “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (5) Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” Romans 8:37-39 says, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We were in danger of death, of dying without Jesus, but we have been saved, and we have been delivered from Satan’s snare by God’s grace and Christ’s sacrifice. This gives us ample reason to worship and to praise God. . As we look at these first 3 verses of this psalm, let’s allow God’s Word to remind us of: Who He is; What he has done for us; And, what He can do for us. Let’s be reminded why our God is the God we worship. "Worship" is from Old English “worthship” and means to ascribe worth to someone. We worship God because He alone is worthy. Here are a few reasons He is worthy. First of all note that . . .

I. GOD DESIRES OUR CLOSENESS -- VS. 1.

II. GOD DESERVES OUR CONFIDENCE-- VS. 2.

III. GOD IS DUE OUR COMMITMENT -- VS. 3.

HOW TO SAVE A CITY, OR WHAT CAN ONE PERSON DO? -- Jonah 3:1-10

Sun, 13 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0500

I am concerned about our nation! I have been praying about the upcoming election. At times (sometimes I feel alone is this type of praying) I have wondered, “Can just one praying person change things?” The Bible has many accounts of the power of one dedicated, praying child of God which demonstrate to us the great power that is available to believers. Moses heard from God at a burning bush, went back to Egypt, and was used of God to lead His people out of bondage. Elijah was used of God to stand against 450 prophets of Baal and won the victory. Nehemiah. after he heard about the condition of Jerusalem and the walls of the city, 1) prayed, 2) moved with bold faith and asked permission of the king to leave his position in Babylon and return home, and 3) was used of God to rebuild the walls of the city. We must not resign ourselves to the idea that “I am only one person, and I cannot do much.” We must learn not to ask, “What can just one person do,” but realize that we are powerful through God. I have see revivals begin in cold, dead churches with just one person getting right with God. And it wasn’t the preacher. It is great when the preacher gets revived, but God can start a revival without that. It might be that one or two get revived, which gets the preacher revived, and his preaching gets revived, and God uses it to revive more people. By the way, I am continuing to pray for this nation and the upcoming election EVEN IF NO ONE ELSE DOES! (You may join me if you life.) Jonah chapter 3 describes a great missionary effort in winning a city to the Lord. Nineveh was a big and populous city, but it didn’t take hundreds of missionaries and millions of dollars to do a work there. Instead, all it took was one reluctant preacher (who even hated the people he preached to) who would surrender his will to God’s will and do it. When Jonah finally obeyed God, He honored His Word, the people obeyed, and the city was saved. Notice 3:1 -- "And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time . . ." We read last week about what happened the first time God told Jonah to go to Nineveh? Aren’t you glad that God gives a second chance? You probably didn’t accept Christ the first time you learned of your sin and eternal separation from God if you died lost. But God gave you another chance to be saved. And if you are like most people, probably another, and then another, and another. As a child of God you may have failed at some point of your service of Him, but He has given and is giving you another chance to be faithful. The will of God is not a machine that falls apart if one part isn’t working. It is a living relationship, and God offers mercy even toward His children who are reluctant to obey. So, God was merciful and gave Jonah a second chance. Jesus has instructed us to witness of Him. We are to bring people to Christ, and if this nation is to be won to the Lord, it will be done by people who have been given second, third, fourth, etc. chances to be faithful in this matter of “soul winning.” We are to lift up Jesus - with our lives, with the preaching, in our worship, etc. - because Jesus said in John 12:32: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” So let’s look into these verses and see what was involved in the repentance of an entire city. (We don't see things like this today.) The first thing we see is . . .

I. A GREAT CITY.

II. A GREAT CONCERN.

III. A GREAT COMMISSION.

IV. A GREAT CHANGE.

LESSONS FROM JONAH’S DISOBEDIENCE -- Jonah 1:1-3

Sun, 06 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0500

No doubt we are all familiar with Jonah and his encounter with the “great fish.” We have heard it from our childhood. Jesus referred to it (“legitimizing” the account) in speaking of His coming death, burial, and resurrection. Some would call Jonah a Zionist. We would call him a patriot. He loved Israel! He loved his land so much that he wanted to see her enemies destroyed. So, when God told Jonah to go and preach a message of repentance to Nineveh, the prophet rebelled and tried to get as far away from Nineveh as he could. Jonah 4:2 tells us why Jonah disobeyed God. “And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.” Jonah knew the character and nature of God - that He would show mercy to those who would repent and turn from their sin. The first two chapters of this book are the account of a disobedient child of God. The last two chapters show us what happens when we act in obedience to our Heavenly Father. I Corinthians 10 tells us that the things recorded in the Old Testament are for our education and edification. There are many lessons to be learned to be learned in these first two chapters of Jonah. In them we find at least four principles concerning disobedience and the dangers of it.

I. YOU CAN ONLY GO TO OR AWAY FROM GOD.

II. WHEN YOU ARE RUNNING FROM GOD, SATAN WILL BE SURE TO PROVIDE THE TRANSPORTATION.

III. WHEN WE DISOBEY GOD, WE BECOME INEFFECTIVE IN OUR WITNESS.

IV. THERE IS A PRICE TO PAY FOR DISOBEDIENCE.

JESUS DID NOT JUST “DIE!” - HE WAS SLAUGHTERED -- Revelation 5:1-7

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Each week it is my prayer that God would lead me to a message that He can use to touch our hearts, draw us closer to Him, and make us better servants of our Lord. I like simplicity. Things that are difficult or complicated often “boggle” my mind. But, I fear that we often oversimplify the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus Christ. I have heard preachers say, and I have said many times, “Jesus bled and died for us.” Well, while that is true, it does not fully set forth all that was involved in His sacrificial death. We talk about His crucifixion and consider that it began with prayer and ultimate arrest in Gethsemane and lasted until He “bowed his head and gave up the ghost” on Calvary, but it began before that. Listen to I Peter 1:18-20: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (20) Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you . . . ” What does it say? Jesus was “foreordained before the foundation of the world . . . ” to go to the cross. Before God ever created this world, in His heart and mind Jesus was already on the cross. Remember, with God everything is an eternal present tense. There is no past, present, or future. When Adam sinned, in the heart of God the price for sin was already paid, and He demonstrated it. Hear what God said to Satan (the serpent) in Genesis 3:15: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” This is the first promise of a coming Redeemer for all mankind. Then God demonstrated what He had just said in Genesis 3:21: "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” I personally want to believe that God clothed Adam and Eve in the skin of a lamb. Do you know what this is? It is the innocent dying for the guilty. II Corinthians 5:21: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Jesus was and is the innocent Lamb of God who willingly gave Himself as the sacrifice for guilty mankind on the cross. But before we talk about the cross I want us to see some of the other aspects of the sacrifice of Jesus that we don’t often consider when we simply say, “Jesus died for the lost.” Look at Philippians 2:5-8. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

I. HE SET ASIDE EQUALITY -- VS. 6.

II. HE MADE HIMSELF OF NO REPUTATION -- VS. 7.

III. HE WAS MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN -- VS. 7.

IV. HE HUMBLED HIMSELF -- VS. 8.

V. HE BECAME OBEDIENT UNTO THE DEATH OF THE CROSS -- VS. 8.

VI. HE WENT TO THE CROSS.

5 THINGS WE HAVE IN JESUS -- Philemon 1-6

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Many people believe that the only purpose for salvation is to keep them out of hell. Because of that, once they are saved they are content. They see no other benefit in salvation and no other responsibility, in their lives, toward God. But we have been saved to serve Him - Ephesians 2:10. We are all familiar with vv. 8-9 that tell us, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.” But vs. 10 says, “For we are his (God’s) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” "Workmanship" talks about a product. (It speaks of the thing made.) The word is “poiema” from which we get our word “poem.” It is from a word that means “to make” or “to do.” We who are saved are God’s doing! We are God’s handiwork! We are His epic poem to the ages of His marvelous grace. In John 10:10 Jesus said: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” People quote this verse and say Jesus promises the “abundant life.” But look at it. He says, “that they might have it more abundantly.” "Abundantly" means superabundant (in quantity) or superior (in quality). Some think of this as merely a satisfying life. The prefix on the Greek word is “peri,” around. Jesus gives us an all around, abundant, complete life. When He abides in us (we are saved) and we abide in (live for) Him we can live a full and complete life. Someone said, “Serving Jesus can add years to your life and life to your years.” In vs. 6 of our text Paul talks about “the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.” In this message I want to look at and remind us of at least 5 of those “good things” which are in us which we have because we are in Christ. They are:

I. WE HAVE ADOPTION -- EPHESIANS 1:5: ROMANS 8:15.

II. ASSURANCE -- II TIMOTHY 1:12.

III. ACCEPTANCE.

IV. ABILITY.

V. ASPIRATION (HOPE) - TITUS 2:13.

THE MAN WITH A HOLE IN HIS EAR -- Exodus 21:1-6 ; Romans 1:1-7

Sun, 15 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0500

In preparation for this message I decided to research the following question: “When did the practice of piercing ears begin?” Here is what I found. “Ear piercing practice dates back to about 5,000 years ago. Body piercings have been practiced for thousands of years and can be traced back to ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Rome, and India.” In ancient Egypt, body piercings were seen as a symbol of wealth and status." Today, in the 21st century, body piercings have become all the rage, and they symbolize, I suppose, many different ideas. But in this message we are going to look at a piercing that carried an entirely different meaning than most, if not all, piercings today carry. Today piercing is done seemingly for cosmetic reasons (though I have never figured out how a round ring in one’s nose made them more beautiful or handsome). However, in the verses we are about to read reveal piercing as a mark of love and dedication. Did you know that the Apostle Paul was a man with a hole in his ear? No, it wasn’t a hole put there with an awl as he stood against a door or doorpost. Paul’s “hole in the ear” went much deeper . . . into his heart. The book of Romans was written by the Apostle Paul about 58-60 A.D. The first few verses tell us: The writer is Paul. He was called by God (God calls preachers). He was set apart to preach the Gospel. (We are to preach God’s message.) Jesus was proven to be the Son of God by the resurrection. We who are saved are recipients of God’s grace. And notice what Paul calls himself in vs. 1: “ . . . a servant of Jesus Christ . . . ” (We will come back to that in just a moment.) We know that originally, Paul’s name was Saul. He was Saul of Tarsus. He was born of Jewish parents who were Roman citizens. (If you will study his life you will find that this gave him certain privileges.) He had studied under Gamaliel, one of the greatest teachers of his day. As Saul, a devout Jew, he had sought out believers, disrupted churches, consented to the deaths of believers. He held the coats of those that stoned Stephen to death in Acts 7:58. And he had no pity in his heart for those he persecuted. But God used Paul’s activities to further the very cause he was fighting. (Wherever believers were scattered, new churches sprang up, and the Gospel was preached.) Then, in Acts 9, Saul (Paul) met the Master on the road to Damascus. He was gloriously saved and was converted to the service of God. There is a difference between being saved and being converted. In Luke 22:32 Jesus said to Peter, “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (CONVERTED = to turn one’s self unto.) At this point, Peter operated in his own strength - Vs. 33: “And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.” But, of course, we know of his denial of the Lord. Not everyone who is saved is truly converted to fully trusting and faithfully serving Christ in their everyday lives. But, Saul’s (Paul’s) life and ambition were changed, and he became a man with a hole in his ear. We see:

I. THE LAW OF THE BONDSLAVE.

II. THE LIFE OF A BONDSERVANT (WHAT DOES HE DO)?

III. THE LASTING REWARD OF THE BONDSERVANT.

THE STRANGE CASE OF THE WITHERED SOULS -- Numbers 11:1-6

Sun, 08 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Question: Have you ever complained about the things God has provided for you? Be careful before you answer that! In Matthew 6:33 Jesus said if we will seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness first that He will “add” or provide the things listed in vs. 31 - our needs - food, drink, and clothing. But many people are dissatisfied when God only takes care of their needs. They want Him to give them their wants as well. Like a child wanting cake and ice cream for supper instead of a healthy meal, we often desire things that are not good for us and that will not help us grow spiritually. Someone said, “God answers our prayers as we would ask if we were wiser.” Look closely at vs. 1 of our text: “And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it . . . ” "Complained" carries the thought of mourning and sorrow. It also speaks of muttering in a low voice. Not only were the Israelites dissatisfied with God’s provision, they were grumbling about it. The Lord was displeased with them because He heard their complaining. We think only of hearing with the ears, but God hears and knows our thoughts. Psalm 94:11 says, “The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.” In Genesis 6:5 we read, “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” God knows our thoughts, and whether we vocalize it or not, He even knows when we are dissatisfied with His provision or how He is doing things. And it says, “. . . and his anger was kindled . . . ” "Kindle" is "to glow, or grow warm; to blaze up; to burn." God took care of the complaining and stopped it by stopping the complainers. Vs. 1 says, “. . . and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.” Did you ever say, “That just burns me up?” Well, God didn’t get so angry it burned Him up. Instead, His anger was kindled, and it burned the complainers up. Remember these are the people God has provided for by bringing them out of Egyptian bondage “with a mighty hand,” but they were constantly complaining against Him and His leader, Moses. Look at their complaint in vs. 6. They said, “But our soul is dried away . . . ” "Dried away" refers to being dry. (Dryness of soul.) (I think sometimes we get that way.) It is from a word that means “to be ashamed, confused, disappointed; to dry up as water; to wither (away).” And they said, “ . . . there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.” "Manna" literally means “What is it?” What was manna? Vs. 7 says it “was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium.” Vs. 8 says the taste of it “was as the taste of fresh oil.” Exodus 16:31 tells us “the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.” Psalm 78:24 says God “rained down manna upon them to eat,” and vs. 25 tells us that “Man did eat angels’ food . . . ” And Jewish sources tell us it tasted like whatever a person wanted it to taste like. Have you ever eaten bologna and tried to pretend it was steak? But manna did taste according to their desire. Manna was God’s provision for them! Deuteronomy 8:3 says, “. . . and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.” And most importantly, the Old Testament manna was but a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. And these are complaining about what God is providing and wishing to once again feed on the fare of Egypt - vs. 5: “We remember fish . . . the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick.” It is amazing how quickly we forget the bad times and only focus on the “good” parts of the past. Do you know what Egypt represents in the Bible? It is a picture of sin and bondage to sin. Just a very short time after being redeemed from bondage, God’s people were wanting to go back to Egypt, to sin, because of what it had to offer that pleased the flesh. And so they said, “Our soul is dried away,” withered up. We have dryness of soul. I believe in these few verses in Numbers 11 we see some of the things that caused them and will cause us to have “withered souls,” dryness of soul.

I. THEY FORGOT WHAT GOD HAD DONE.

II. THEY FOLLOWED THE WRONG CROWD.

III. THEY FELL A LUSTING.

“WHEN SHALL THESE THINGS BE?” -- Matthew 24:32-36

Sun, 01 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0500

The verses we are going to look at in Matthew 24 deal with events of the last days which lead up to the time of tribulation that is to come upon this earth. We know from Daniel 9:24 that 70 seven year periods (or 70 weeks of years) were determined upon the Jews: “. . . to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.” And he gives us a time schedule in vs. 25: "Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. (26) And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself . . . ” It took 49 years to rebuild Jerusalem (the first “seven weeks” of this verse). 434 years later Messiah, Jesus, would be “cut off.” There remains one week, or 7 years left to complete Daniel’s 70 years, and it is called the time of the Great Tribulation. Especially the last 3½ years of that 7 year period are known in Jeremiah 30:7 as “the time o Jacob’s trouble.” Jesus said of it in Matthew 24:21: “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” Scripture presents 2 major reasons for this time: Romans 1:18: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness . . . ” (Also, II Thessalonians 2:12-13 and Revelation 19:15.) And to purge/purify the people of Israel - Zechariah 13:8-9: “And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. (9) And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.” (Also, Ezekiel 20:37-38 and Malachi 3:3.) In vs. 3 of this 24th chapter our Lord’s disciples questioned Him about the “time of the end,” asking "When shall these things be?" What shall be the sign “of the end of the world?” "World" (aion) denotes the unbounded time, past or future, in which the history of the world is accomplished. We have a lot of people asking similar questions today. If one could successfully answer the questions of Matthew 24, he might have an idea as to the season of Christ’s return. Jesus tells us in our text that just as leaves on a fig tree indicate the coming of summer, certain signs will reveal that the end time is near. Then throughout this chapter He tells us what to look for so we may know “it is near, even at the doors.” Jesus says it will be a time of . . .

I. SPIRITUAL DECEPTION.

II. SOCIAL DEVASTATION -- MATTHEW 24:6-10.

III. SHOCKING DEVELOPMENTS.

THE BEGINNING OF THE END -- II Thessalonians 1:3-10

Sun, 25 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Someone once said, “Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.” I believe that is the way most people are about the Second Coming of Christ. People talk about it. They say things like, “It’s got to be close.” Or, “I don’t see how God can wait much longer before Jesus returns, etc.”? But few “do anything about it.” (What do I mean?) If you knew that Jesus were going to come today at 3 p.m. today is there anyone you would warn, anyone you would witness to? Any change you would make in your life? In this message we are going to consider the end of this age and the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is coming again! The Bible is full of prophecies of His return. In John 14:2-3 Jesus said, “. . . I go to prepare a place for you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” In Acts 1:11 His apostles were told: “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” We could share many more verses of Scripture, but time will not permit it. As we view the end of this age many people have what some have called “headline hysteria.” There are 3 kinds of people in this world. Those who are afraid. Those who don’t know enough to be afraid. And those who know their Bibles. Thessalonica was a typical Greek city . . . and much like many of our cities today. It was full of idols, and it had many who opposed the Gospel, and persecution often came upon those who were willing to profess their faith in Christ – Acts 17:5: “But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house. . . ” They said (vs. 6) “These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also . . . ” In light of the thought of persecution, Paul, in these verses, tells the members of that church and us how we can rest and relax in the midst of this present world. Vs. 7 – “And to you who are troubled rest with us . . . ” (REST = to lessen the tension on a bow string; relax.) He reveals that the only hope for this world is in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Hope will not be found in politics, nor in government, nor in science, nor in education, not even in “religion.” We can rest even as we face the end of the age because of the promise of the Lord, therefore . . .

I. WE SHOULD NOT BE DISHEARTENED.

II. WE MUST NOT BE DECEIVED.

III. WE WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.

IF WE HAD REAL REVIVAL -- II Chronicles 28:19-25, 27 ; 29:1-7

Sun, 18 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0500

In vv. 24-25 of our text Ahaz is king. The Scripture says he “did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord . . . ” He made images for Baalim, burned his children in the fire, and sacrificed and burned incense in the high places. When God brought chastisement on Judah, Ahaz “did . . . trespass yet more against the Lord.” In vs. 21 he took a portion out of the house of the Lord and gave it to the king of Assyria. In vs. 23 we see that he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus and said “Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me.” But look at God’s footnote to this action in the end of vs. 23: “But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.” In vs. 27, just like all ungodly and evil rulers, Ahaz dies. And his son Hezekiah becomes king. See what II Chronicles 29:2 says about Hezekiah -- he “did that which was right in the sight of the Lord.” How could a young man whose father was so evil and so anti-God turn out like Hezekiah did? Well, Hezekiah did not get his godly influence from his father, but from his mother. She was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. Apparently, she was a godly woman who raised her son in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. I am thankful for every mother who raises her children – with or without help from the father -- in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Abijah couldn't know for certain how her son would turn out, but she may have been familiar with Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” She was going to do the best she could to turn her son, Hezekiah, to the Lord. Under the reign of Hezekiah, revival came to Judah. He: 1) Sanctified the house of the Lord; 2) Re-opened the doors of the porch; 3) Re-lit the lamps in the holy place, and more. What is revival? It is more than just a week (or 3 days in our day) of special services in which we get some preacher from another church to come and tell us what our pastor has already told us. And, there is a difference between revival and an evangelistic crusade. “Revival” is an awakening, in a church and in the lives of individual believers, of faithfulness to and service of God. “Revival” is primarily an Old Testament word. The New Testament word is “repent.” It is a return to a faithful service of the Lord. A revival can happen at any time if God’s people will humble themselves, confess their failures of Him, forsake their sins, and seriously commit their lives to Him – II Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

I. WHAT IS REVIVAL?

II. WHEN IS REVIVAL NEEDED?

III. WHAT IF WE HAD A REAL REVIVAL?

THE MARKS OF A CHURCH ON FIRE FOR GOD -- Acts 2:1-4

Sun, 11 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Without a doubt the church at Jerusalem, in the first few chapters of Acts, appears as a church that is on fire for God, for the Lord Jesus Christ. They were active and doing the things the Lord had commanded. And, they were doing them in spite of opposition and persecution from those that many looked upon as the “religious authority” of the day. Because of their obedience and faithfulness, the Lord was adding “to the church daily such as should be saved.” If there was ever a time when the Lord’s churches needed to be on fire for Him, it is TODAY! Sinfulness is running at epidemic proportions in our nation and in the world. We have just recently seen how the lost of the world ridicule God and mock at sin. I believe it is a shame that to many in the world Catholicism is the representative image of Christianity. And many, if not most, of the Lord’s true churches today, instead of being a mighty army advancing for the cause of Christ find themselves either “dug in” just trying to hold their ground, or are in retreat. Let me ask, what words would you use to describe this church? Are we a church on fire for the Lord? Does the community around us take notice of us? Do we have a reputation of a mighty advancing army, or are those around us able to completely ignore us? Are we like those Vance Havner talked about who are trying to get the lost to ask (vs. 37), “What shall we do?” before we ever, by our lives, cause them to ask (vs. 12), “What meaneth this?” Or, have we, as so many, found our comfort zone where we are satisfied with ourselves? In this second chapter of Acts we see in the church at Jerusalem the marks of a church that is on fire fire for the Lord. We need to ask ourselves, “Do these marks describe us?” A church that is on fire for God has (demonstrates) . . .

I. SUPERNATURAL POWER - VV. 1-3.

II. SCRIPTURAL PREACHING -- VS. 14.

III. SAVED PEOPLE- VV. 37-41.

IV. A SPIRITUAL PROGRAM -- Vv. 42-47.

KEEPING THE WONDER IN OUR WORSHIP -- Malachi 1:6-14

Sun, 04 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0500

By the time we get to the book of Malachi, worship in Israel had been so corrupted that it had become, at best a mere habit and at worst a drudgery. Look at their assessment of it in vs. 13: “What a weariness is it!” Weariness speaks of trouble or distress. (It is from a word that means to tire, or to tire out.) See their attitude toward it, also in vs. 13: “Ye have snuffed at it.” Snuffed means “to puff in order to disesteem.” (They “turned up their noses” at it.) Vv. 7, 12 reveal their animosity toward it. In Vs. 7 they said, “The table of the Lord is contemptible.” Contemptible speaks of being despised, disesteemed; to treat contemptuously and proudly; (to make little account of). In vs. 12 they said, “The table of the Lord is polluted.” Polluted means to soil or desecrate; defile, stain; profane, ceremonially unclean. Now, I sincerely pray that this is not and has never been your attitude toward the worship of Almighty God. Listen to what God said about trying to worship Him with the kind of attitude Israel had. In vs. 10 He asks, “Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? . . . ” He is (essentially) saying, “I wish one of you would shut the Temple doors so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered!” The greatest malady of our time, I believe, is the lack of true worship. Many people today treat attending church like they’re doing God a favor. They can hardly wait for the services to be over, and when they are they say, “I’ve done my duty again.” (We should NEVER be that way.) For such as these the thrill and excitement are gone; they have lost the wonder and the joy of serving and worshipping God. I will say again, I hope this does not describe anyone here today because an unexcited believer is someone who has forgotten who God is. When you really see who God is, enthusiasm is the result. “Enthusiasm” comes from 2 Greek words) and mean “In Theos,” or “in God.” We cannot believe what we are supposed to believe and be lukewarm about it. I pray that this message will help us restore the wonder, reality, and life in our worship of God if we have lost it and help us understand that we are not here today for the preacher or for any church member but for the sole purpose of giving “unto the Lord the glory due unto his name.” Here are three ways of doing just that:

I. RECOGNIZE THE NATURE OF GOD -- VS. 6.

II. REVERENCE THE NAME OF GOD -- VS. 6.

III. RESPECT THE “NOBILITY” OF GOD -- VS. 14.

THE JETHRO PRINCIPLES -- Exodus 18:13-24

Sun, 28 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0500

I heard the story of the preacher who told his church, “I am available to you 24 hours a day.” An older man asked, “If you are available to me and all the others in the church 24 hours a day, when will you have time to make yourself available to God? Or to your wife? Or to your family?” He continued, “If you are running 24 hours a day, you don’t have time to stop and be refilled, and we know that no one can run on empty. And if you fail to stop and be refilled, you will be of no value to me or anyone else.” Someone has said, “The man who is available all the time usually isn’t worth much when he is available.” The danger to every leader is the adherence to the lie, “I must do everything.” By the time we get to the 18th chapter of Exodus, God has freed the Israelites from Egyptian bondage and is leading them to the land of promise. Moses is God’s chosen leader, and he is taking all of the responsibilities of leadership upon himself. Vs. 13 tells us that “on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people . . . ” (JUDGE = in this instance - “to govern, or to litigate” between the people.) He is answering their questions and dealing with issues that may have arisen between them. This verse also tells us “and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.” The people were coming to Moses throughout the day, from dawn to dusk, to seek instruction and to offer their complaints. Now keep in mind that by this time the children of Israel number at least 2 million, and some even suggest that it was closer to 3 million people. Exodus 12:37-38 says, “And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. (38) And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.” This would be the equivalent of moving and judging a city about the size of Houston, Texas. We going to see that Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law introduced him to what our secular world today calls the PYRAMID PARADIGM - that “no organization can grow effectively beyond the solid foundation of equipped and engaged leaders.” That’s why Paul told Timothy in II Timothy 2:2, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” No one can “do it all,” and especially when it comes to the Lord’s work. Moses had been judging the people from dawn to dusk, “from the morning unto the evening,” and his father-in-law, Jethro, had two questions for him. These two questions give us the first Jethro principle.

I. JETHRO PRINCIPLE #1 - A LIMIT MUST BE SET.

II. JETHRO PRINCIPLE #2 - THE LOAD MUST BE SHARED.

III. JETHRO PRINCIPLE #3 - THE LIVES THAT MIGHT BE SAVED.

FOUR WAYS TO HELP DEVELOP DISCIPLES -- Acts 4:36-37

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Sadly, many times in the Lord’s churches we fail to fully obey our Lord’s instruction to make disciples. I believe one of the faults of modern day evangelism is that some go out to “win souls,” but once they’ve won them, they drop them to go on to another lost person. We may lead people to Christ and even encourage them to be Scripturally baptized. We may welcome them into the church, but our responsibility DOES NOT end there . . . and, this is where we often fall short, as we fail to fully “assimilate” new believers into the body and activities of the church. It often seems that we say, “You’re saved. You’ve been baptized. And you’re a church member. Great! Now figure out the rest of it on your own. Churches may expect new believers to simply attend every service, listen the presentation of the Word, and figure out what they need to do. THAT IS NOT MAKING A DISCIPLE. NO! We are told by our Lord Himself that we are to make disciples out of them, and a part of that is encouraging and edifying new believers. There is a man whose name is mentioned in the Bible only a few times, but I believe he was a great disciple maker for the Lord. We read about him in our text, Acts 4:36-37. Barnabas was not his “birth name.” His birth name, his real name was Joses. However, the Scripture tells us that the apostles “nicknamed” him Barnabas. "BARNABAS" means "son of consolation" The word translated “consolation” (parakleeseoos) means “exhortation, solace, comfort.” It is a synonym for “encouragement.” It comes from the Greek word “parakletos” and refers to “one who comes alongside to encourage or console.” Thus, it carries the idea of encourager. “Parakletos” is the word used to describe the Holy Spirit, the Comforter (John 14:16, 26). John 14:16: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever . . . ” John 14:26: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” II Corinthians 1:3 refers to God as “the God of all comfort,” and that word “comfort” (or encouragement) is a form of parakletos. (Note: God is the God of ALL comfort.) Barnabas was doing for others what the Holy Spirit does for the child of God as He comes alongside to encourage and comfort, and that is perhaps how Joses got his nickname, Barnabas. If God is the God of all comfort and encouragement, then Satan is the minister of discouragement. Discouragement comes from the devil. He discourages preachers. He discourages church members. And sometimes he is able to discourage entire church bodies. Do you know why many if not most preachers leave churches and/or the ministry? Discouragement. Have I ever been discouraged in the ministry? Many times. Do you know why many if not most church members quit? For the same reason, and Satan is killing churches today with discouragement. I believe discouragement is a major cause of failure among God’s people. Oh how we need to encourage each other today! Consider I Thessalonians 5:14 for a moment, “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.” We’ve already looked at the word “comfort.” It means the same thing here - “encourage.” Who are the “feebleminded?” FEEBLEMINDED means little-spirited, faint-hearted; discouraged.” That verses literally says, “Encourage the discouraged.” And that is a vital part of being a disciple maker for the Lord. When someone accepts Christ as Savior, almost instantly they are going to come under fire - from "friends," possibly from some family, and most certainly from Satan. I try to warn people that have just been saved that it is going to happen. And we who have been saved for any length of time should be there for those newly come to the faith. In this message we are going to look at 4 ways Barnabas was used to encourage others and see how we can apply them in the work of making disciples for Christ. We see that . . .

I. A DISCIPLE MAKER IS A SACRIFICING STEWARD.

II. A DISCIPLE MAKER IS A STEADFAST SUPPORTER - ACTS 9:22-27.

III. A DISCIPLE DEVELOPER IS A SOLUTION SEEKER - ACTS 11:19-26.

IV. A DISCIPLE MAKER IS A FAILURE FIXER - ACTS 15:36-40.

THE CHURCH AND THE COUNTRY -- Nehemiah 1:4-11

Sun, 14 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0500

The bulk of this message is going to come from the first chapter of Nehemiah. But I want to begin by sharing a verse of Scripture I have shared many times. It comes from Judges 2:10-11: “And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. (11) And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim . . . " I grew up in church, and I remember: Attending services in a mostly full church building, revival services, pastors’ conferences, and other meetings . . . and our family attended ALL of them! On occasion we would have preachers who were attending these meetings stay in our home. I remember attending services and supporting mission works which our church sponsored, sitting on unpadded wood pews in a building with no air conditioning in the summertime. I also remember the godly men I grew up around, men whose names and preaching I can remember to this day. Their character was such that I looked upon these men as almost next to God. When I was around them I was like the residents of Bethlehem when Samuel came to anoint David as king (in I Samuel 16). The elders of the town “trembled” at his coming. (TREMBLED = to shudder with terror; hence, to fear.) It implies a certain degree of awe and maybe even a little anxiety, as well. Remember, they asked Samuel, “Comest thou peaceably?” And there were other faithful men, church members who were not preachers, and my dad was one of them. Now, here is what is sad. Many young people in the Lord’s churches today are like the generation mentioned in Judges 2:10. They are not growing up with those types of memories, and neither the church nor the preaching have any effect on their lives. I did not learn most of what I know and teach about the Bible in seminary. I knew it when I got there. Do you know why? Because I learned it in church from faithful teachers and pastors. Our young people need to know the history of this church, yes, but not just the history of this church, but church history as well. Joni’s cousin told us last week of a kind of sad incident with one of her grandsons which, I think, reveals where many in the Lord’s churches (and in this church) are today, especially the youth. In some discussion they were having someone referred to a time “before covid.” The boy, who was much younger at the time said, “You mean there was a ‘before covid?’” All some folks know of this church is what they have seen and heard since they have been members here. To our youth it may seem that Bethel has “always been here,” and they may assume that it "always will be.” However, read Judges 2:10 again. Think of the history of Israel, their sin against God, and His ultimate chastisement on them, allowing them to be taken captive by their enemies. That is where we are when we come to the first chapter of Nehemiah, and I believe that is where we are in America today. Our nation has been taken captive by the world, the flesh, and the devil. In a recent prayer I asked God, “Can the prayer of one person change the course of a nation?” Shortly after that I began to read from the first chapter of Nehemiah, beginning in the fourth verse. Verses 4-11 of Nehemiah 1 contain the prayer this great servant of God prayed after learning of the condition of the Jews back home and of the city of Jerusalem. I am only one person - with a limited amount of time, a limited amount of money, not nationally known name, and no influence - but I am praying for our nation. I ask you to join me in doing so. I realize I shared a message from these verses a year ago. This IS NOT that message. It is a different one, but it basically deals with the same subject. Let’s read Nehemiah’s prayer. This nation was dedicated to Almighty God by our founding fathers, but there are forces at work in America today that want to make it illegal to even mention God’s name in public. The media is full of crime, vilolence, divorce, suicide, drug addiction alcoholism, unwed teen pregnancy, lust, fornication, and sodomy. The U.S. does more to corrupt other nations in the world than anyone else through our exporting of pornography worldwide. People watch American movies and American filth everywhere. And someone has suggested that the debauchery in the world today is a monument to the failure of the Lord’s churches to obey Him. The word that Nehemiah received about Jerusalem (the place God had chosen to put His name) was that the walls were broken down, and the gates were burned with fire. What are walls for? They are for protection, for separation, for identification. But they were broken down. The gates spoke of the glory of God. Many times in the psalms the psalmist would refer to the gates of Jerusalem. Psalm 87:2-3: “The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. (3) Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.” What a picture this is of the Lord’s churches today! The walls of protection have been broken down. The world, the flesh and the devil have declared open warfare on believers today. We need to be on our knees daily seeking God’s protection. The walls of separation have been broken down. It many cases, it is almost impossible to tell the difference between a church of the Lord Jesus Christ and any other worldly “church,” institution, or business. In many churches today you don’t know whether you are at a rock concert, a hootenanny, or a worship service. The walls of identification have been broken down. Few see any difference between a true church and the world’s imitation of a true church. For many doctrine doesn’t seem to make any difference so long as the preacher says a few nice words about Jesus in his sermon. Through Jude (vs. 3) God said we should “earnestly contend (agonize) for the faith which was once (and for all time) delivered unto the saints.” Also, in our nation walls have fallen. Domestic walls have fallen. America’s homes are in trouble. Walls of decency have fallen. (Pornography is a billion dollar a year business in America.) Of course in our schools prayer and the Bible are out, and evolution, humanism, atheism, homosexuality, illicit sex, and abortion are in. Many believe that character does not make any difference in the election of a public official. (Can someone with a rotten character have the wisdom of God?) Jerusalem, the place where God had put His name, had become the place of God’s shame, and I believe something similar has taken place in America. After Nehemiah learned of the condition of God’s people and God’s place, he prayed! And it is a prayer that God’s people today need to be praying - not flippantly, not just in repetition, but from the heart - for the Lord’s churches first and for our nation. We need to agonize in prayer. In this message we are going to see that in his agony Nehemiah’s prayer . . .

I. WAS PRAYED IN ANGUISH - VS. 4.

II. IT WAS A PRAYER OF ADMISSION - VV. 5-7.

III. IT WAS PRAYED IN ASSURANCE - VV. 8-10.

THE DISCIPLINE OF DISCIPLES -- Ephesians 4:11-15

Sun, 07 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0500

In these verses we see what our Lord wants, and what He expects, for and from His children. We are continuing our messages on discipleship today with a message on discipline. Now, I know when the word “discipline” is used in relation to one of the Lord’s churches, most people think of what we call “corrective discipline.” But there is another kind of discipline, and that is the discipline we are going to look at this morning. The Latin word for “discipline” comes from “discipulus” which “also provided the source for the word “disciple.” The Greek word for “disciple” speaks of a pupil or a learner who desires to be like his/her Master. So there is discipline involved in being a disciple. We call it “cultural discipline.” A synonym for “discipline” is “self control.” We know that we have liberty in Christ, but liberty does not mean we should “ live however we want or do whatever we want.” If we so do, it will not be without consequences. There is a difference between liberty and absolute freedom. We have liberty in Christ, but it is intended for our spiritual growth, not so we may do as we please. Let me quickly add that the first place where a child should learn to respect authority and learn discipline and self control is in the home. If a child does not learn to respect the authority of parents in the home, he/she will not respect the authority of the teacher in the classroom, the police officer on the beat, or the laws of the land. The same is true of self-control. Self-control must be learned. In II Timothy 3:3 Paul says that one of the marks of many in the last days is that they will be “incontinent.” (INCONTINENT = without self-control.) (Bullinger-“without power or command over one’s self, or one’s passions; unbridled.”) We must all learn self-control and respect for authority, and that is a part of “cultural discipline.” What is “cultural discipline” as it applies to the saved? It is “the cultivation of Christian character in a saved person by the process of teaching, learning, and training from God’s Word that includes and involves self-discipline.” We develop this discipline through obedience. The Lord requires His children to behave in a certain manner. John 13:34-35 says we are to act in love toward one another. I John 2:3 tells us we are to act in obedience toward God. This discipline is developed as we live and learn from God’s Word. Be a good learner of God’s ways -- II Timothy 2:15: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” But not only should we learn them, we must live them -- I Corinthians 9:27: “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

I. CULTURAL DISCIPLINE IS LIVING BY DESIGN.

II. CULTURAL DISCIPLINE IS LEARNING BY DOING.

THE WORK OF A NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH - MAKING DISCIPLES -- Matthew 28:18-20

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Sadly, the true state of many modern churches is that we are satisfied to be saved, but we are not motivated to see others come to know and serve Christ as Savior and Lord. It is my humble belief that most of the Lord’s churches in the 21st century have forgotten the purpose for their existence. Too many believe that their responsibility begins and ends at coming to church a couple of times (or maybe only once) a week, pray when we can, read the Bible now and then, and live a life that is slightly cleaner than that of the lost world around us. We have forgotten that our orders are not to sit by while the world drops off into hell, but to go into that world and tell them the glorious news of our Savior. We are saved out of the world, but we are left in the world that we might witness to the world. So many of the Lord’s true churches have pulled the covers of complacency and apathy up over their heads and have fallen into the slumber of self-satisfaction and comfort as the world has continued its plunge toward hell. And while we sleep, the door of evangelism in America closes. We would do well (and need) to follow the instruction of Paul in Romans 13:11: “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” "High time" says, " It is the day. It is the hour." (It is also translated “instant.”) Colleges and universities are closing their campuses to evangelism and Christian groups. They do not want them sharing the Gospel on campus. They will only allow them to operate if they promise not to attempt to evangelize students on campus. Thirty or forty years ago you could approach the door of a stranger, tell who you were and what you wanted, and they would more than likely let you in and listen as you shared the Gospel. That probably will not happen today. Before He ascended into Heaven, Jesus issued what has come to be called The Great Commission. "COMMISSION" speaks of a command; an authoritative command; a directive. Jesus spoke these words directly to that first church and indirectly to us. He was giving the church her marching orders, and telling us what He expects us to do in His physical absence. That first church took this command seriously, went into the world, shared the Gospel, and thousands were saved. Their message was so powerful and their witness so effective, that they were accused of “turning the world upside down.” That was then; this is now! What was given as the Great Commission has turned into the Great Omission. What does it mean when something is omitted? It is left out, left undone; neglected. Instead of taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth, most who profess Christ today won’t take it to the end of the street. Listen to these statistics. Ninety-five (95) percent of all believers have never led a soul to Christ, not one. Eighty (80) percent of believers do not consistently witness. Less than 2% are involved in evangelism. However, in spite of conditions and our excuses, The Great Commission still stands, and God still expects His people in this age to make disciples through the “process” given in Matthew 28:19-20. It is a very simple command to “go,” “to make,” “to baptize,” and “to teach.” Until God’s people in the 21st century feel the burden of that simple command this nation will sink lower and lower until finally it ends up in the trash bin of nations that have rejected God. But if we will go in loving obedience to His command, we will not go in our own strength but in His unlimited authority and ability. In the verses of our text Jesus tells us how to carry out this commission, this command to make disciples for Him.

I. THERE IS THE EVANGELIZING OF SINNERS.

II. THERE IS THE ENLISTING OF THE SAVED.

III. THERE IS THE EDIFYING OF THE SAINTS.

DISCIPLE OR FOLLOWER? WHICH ARE YOU? -- Luke 14:25-33

Sun, 23 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0500

This morning we are going to consider the cost of being a true disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. To begin, I want to ask you, “Do you consider yourself a disciple of Christ or merely a follower?” What is a disciple? A disciple is more than a follower. A follower merely likes the ideas, thoughts, and teachings of the one he is following. Sadly, many who "profess" Jesus today are merely followers, and churches count decisions, not disciples. But a disciple is a learner (DISCIPLE = a learner, a pupil.) A disciple not only follows the teacher, but the teaching as well. To be a disciple of Jesus we must let Jesus teach us. A disciple is someone who learns from his teacher or master and then becomes like his master. There is a difference between a disciple and a mere follower. A disciple desires to be just like his master. He wants to be with him and learn of him so he can be more like him. On the other hand, a follower may follow as long as it is popular to do so. He may like some of the teachings of the one he follows and excuse himself from others. A disciple is committed to his master; a mere follower is not. The Apostle Paul is an example of a true disciple of the Lord. Look at Philippians 3:8-10: “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, (9) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (10) That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death . . . ” Paul is saying, “I want to be just like Jesus . . . even in death.” How many of us who are assembled here today would say with Paul, “I want to be just like Jesus, even if it costs me my life?” Look at what the Lord said to the church at Smyrna in Revelation 2:10: “ . . . be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Note that He said “faithful unto death” not until death. There is a difference. “Unto death” means “until it costs you your life.” That is what Paul is saying in Philippians. That is what he said in Galatians 2:20: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” He is saying, “I am no longer at the center of my universe, Christ Jesus is, and my goal, my desire is to let Him live in and through me on a daily basis.” That should be the desire of every true child of God. Many think that only preachers are to give up their plans for their lives to follow the Lord. But Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” And most who claim Christ today are not willing to do that. Now, look at vs. 25 of our text. This “jumped” right out at me when I began reading these verses: “And there went great multitudes with him . . . ” Remember from Mark chapter 2 when He was in a house in Capernaum and word got out He was there? This is when the four friends of the one sick of the palsy let their friend down through the roof to be healed by Jesus. The Scripture says (Mark 2:2), “And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door . . . ” and Jesus preached to them. Today, if you will announce that some actor or some sports star is going to be “in the house” to give their testimony (or you’re going to have a car show) you can fill the church house. But if you announce that Jesus is going to be present (and He is every time we meet) and that He is going to speak to us through His Word, you have trouble just getting church members to show up (because we do). This thing called “Christianity” attracts a lot of people. Jesus compared the kingdom of God to a tree that all kinds of birds flock to, and we have many strange birds that are roosting in the world’s version of Christianity today. There are two kinds of “Christianity” - the world’s version and Christ’s version. There is a great deal of laxity of the world’s version. All you have to do is “claim the name,” wear some “Christian” jewelry, learn the terminology. These days you don’t even have to give up your old way of life or become a member of a true church. And you certainly don’t have to “contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” But when we start to apply the Lord’s standards of true Christianity and true discipleship the number of adherents suddenly grows smaller and smaller. John 6:49-50, 53-58,60, 66 gives us an example. But thank the Lord for faithful believers like Peter in vv. 67-69: “Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? (68) Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. (69) And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” Who is Jesus to you? Is He the One who has the words of eternal life? Is He the Christ, the Son of the living God? In Luke 14:25 the crowds were following Jesus. He was at the point of His greatest popularity, but rather than build upon this, He thinned out the crowd. He didn’t do a miracle to get more followers. He didn’t water down His teaching with user-friendly language. Instead, He talked to them about something that seemed almost shocking. So in Luke 14 Jesus gives us His requirements for being a true disciple for His. They are . . .

I. THERE IS A CROSS THAT CAN BE EXPECTED - VV. 26-27.

II. THERE IS A COST THAT SHOULD BE EXPLORED - 28-30.

III. THERE IS A CONCERN THAT MUST BE EXAMINED - VV. 31-33.

WHY DO WE PREACH? -- Deuteronomy 31:10-12

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Have you ever wondered why we gather together in this capacity each week on Sunday morning and evening and then again on Wednesday? It is because of tradition? Habit Some other reason? Is there any New Testament instruction for us to assemble together Hebrews 10:22-25 says: “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (23) Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) (24) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: (25) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” This is called the “worship” service. We have come together as a corporate body, a church body to offer our praise to God by singing, by giving an offering, and by praising His name. This is not the only time we should be worshipping God. We should worship Him every day, individually! Ephesians 5:18-20: “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (19) Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; (20) Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . ” But, as we gather, what is the purpose for the preaching? “Couldn’t we study the Bible just as well at home?” “Does the preacher have some insight into the Scripture others don’t have?” You can know God’s Word as well as the preacher does - if you are willing to put in the time to study it. Remember what the apostles said in Acts 6:2, 4: (2) “It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.” (4) “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” (MINISTRY = attendance (as a servant); service.) “Is there a purpose to the preaching other than just filling up time?” I NEVER want to be guilty of just trying to fill up the time between the end of the song service and the final ‘Amen.’” I Corinthians 1:21: “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” The order of New Testament church worship services largely follows the order of Jewish synagogue services back to the time of Jesus. There was the singing of the psalms. There was the reading of Scripture. Then there was the exposition of the Scripture (Luke 4:16-22). The verse we read is a part of Moses’ charge to the Levites prior to Israel’s entering the Promised Land. Moses was coming to the end of his life. Because of his sin, he would not enter Canaan. This charge reveals the purpose and the importance of teaching and preaching of the Word of God. In this verse Moses tells the Levites that they are to gather the people together. There is a biblical precedence for assembling to hear the Word of God. Note who is to be present: “ . . . men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates.” We should not be satisfied with just “our little group” (“me and you and our two”). We are to seek those who are not a part of our family or our church family -- strangers, visitors. Moses gives four purposes, four duties in presenting God’s Word. They are: 1) That they may hear. 2) That they may learn. 3) That they may fear God. 4) That they may “observe to do.”

I. THAT THEY MAY HEAR.

II. THAT THEY MAY LEARN.

III. THAT THEY MAY FEAR THE LORD.

IV. THAT THEY MAY OBSERVE TO DO ALL THY WORDS.

GREAT AND MIGHTY IS THE LORD OUR GOD -- Deuteronomy 10:12-18

Sun, 09 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0500

The name “Deuteronomy” is actually the Greek Septuagint’s spelling of the fifth book of the Bible. The Hebrew name for this book is “D’varim,” which means “words,” but also “things,” “matters.” The meaning of the word “Deuteronomy” (or, “to deuteronomion”) from the Greek is “repeated law.” Deuteronomy, then, is literally a restating of the Law that was given by God through Moses. Let’s look at the history of the Israelites very briefly. God had called Abram (Abraham) to follow Him. Who and what was Abram? He was a pagan in the Ur of Chaldees, an idol worshipper (Joshua 24:15). God called Abram right where he was in the condition he was in! He didn’t have to “get better.” He didn’t have to “clean up his act.” He simply had to believe and trust God. James 2:23: “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” Abraham had a son named Isaac, and Isaac had a son named Jacob who ultimately became the patriarch of the family. Jacob moved his family to Egypt because of a drought in his homeland, and for the next 400 plus years they lived in Egypt, eventually becoming slaves under a Pharoah who “knew not Joseph.” God heard the cries of His people and sent them a leader (Moses) to get them out of Egypt. We are well acquainted with the story of Moses - his birth, his early life, his escape from Egypt after killing an Egyptian taskmaster. We know of the Passover and how God miraculously brought about deliverance for Israel. In providing for His people, God gave them a leader (Moses), God gave them a Law (the Mosaic Law), and God gave them a land (the Promise Land). In Numbers 11 we read of their first opportunity to enter the land and their refusal. Because of their refusal they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. Now as we read beginning in the first chapter of Deuteronomy Moses is preparing the people to go into the land. In Deuteronomy 1:1-3 we are told: “These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain over against the Red sea, between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab. (2) (There are eleven days’ journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadesh-barnea.) (3) And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the Lord had given him in commandment unto them . . . ” Moses reminded Israel of God’s provision for them in bringing them out of Egypt, of His protection of them in their journey, and of His promise of this homeland to them, of His great power and warning them of His punishments. And now in our text Moses is reminding the people of what God requires (demands) and expects of them. One of the great faults of this flesh in which we live is our ability, and sometimes our willingness to forget the provision, protection, and promises of God. I am equally convinced that even those of us who are truly saved do not really grasp the character, nature and power of the God we serve, the One who made those promises. In John 4:22 Jesus said to the Samaritan woman - “Ye worship ye know not what” (KNOW = has the idea of perception). I am afraid that describes many of God’s people today. Do we really know the God we worship? Do we know His power? Are we aware of His great glory? Do we know of His holiness? We cannot, with our finite minds, fully perceive God. For instance, Psalm 96:8 says, “Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name . . . ” We know that God deserves “All glory!” But, how much is that? When it comes to glorifying God, to worshipping God, to serving God, we must give all we have -- (every inch, ounce, fiber of our being). In Matthew 22:37 Jesus said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” (This is the first and great commandment.) I have mentioned that several years ago I decided to present a study on God’s character. Not the usual things we study when we have a lesson on God. I wanted to develop and teach a series of lessons that explored His character “in depth.” That study lasted only a couple of weeks because I realized that in my finite, sinful humanity, there was no way I could aptly relay the character of an eternal, holy God. Still, I wonder, do we who are saved know Who and What we worship? In this message I want us to look at just a little of what the Bible says about the God we are here to worship and serve today. It is my prayer that we will: 1) Think about the glory and greatness of God; 2) Consider the holy nature of God. He says, “Be ye holy, for I am holy;” 3) Truly realize that “Great and mighty is the Lord our God.” We will see:

I. THERE IS THE GREATNESS OF HIS PERSON.

II. THERE IS THE GREATNESS OF HIS POWER.

III. THERE IS THE GREATNESS OF HIS PUNISHMENTS.

AVOIDING “HO HUM” RELIGION -- Revelation 3:20-22

Sun, 02 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0500

This is a very brief text for the message, but I believe it is of great importance. Jesus used the phrase in vs. 22 quite often in teaching during His earthly ministry, and He states it to each of the seven churches of Asia to whom He spoke in Revelation chapter 2 and 3. Now we know that here He is not referring just to that organ in our bodies by which we can detect sounds and speech. He is referring to spiritual ears. Not everyone that hears the preacher and the sermon hears the message. I Corinthians 2:14: “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” It is my prayer today that you will not just hear the words that come out of my mouth but the message that God has for us today. Dr. Adrian Rogers once said, “We have a big problem in churches today where we believe, but we have no zeal or enthusiasm for the things of God.” Many people - church members and pastors alike - are trying to find the answer to this problem. Some people believe that more activity is the answer. There are churches that have something every night of the week for the men, the women, and the children to attend. But this takes the family out of the home, and families need to have time together. I don’t believe one of the Lord’s churches should do anything to cause division in the home. Some think the answer is emotional - “If we could just have more emotional services . . . ” These think if they could just have some great emotional experience it would draw them closer to and give them more zeal for the things of God. God gave us our emotions, our feelings, yes, and there is nothing wrong with showing emotion when the Spirit convicts our hearts, but emotions and feelings can be deceiving. Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Then there are those who believe “living a better” life, following a set of rules, of “dos” and “don’ts” for their lives will make them more godly and give them more zeal. The Pharisees were one of the strictest groups in Israel. They put on a good show for others. In Matthew 6:5 Jesus, referring to them called them hypocrites and said: “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.” Then He said in vs. 8: “Be not ye therefore like unto them . . . ” They had a strict set of “dos” and “don’ts,” especially for others -- Matthew 23:4: “For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.” Some believe intellectualism is the answer - “If I could just know more, know the Bible better.” We should know God’s Word better. We should spend time in Bible study and prayer, and attend the classes offered by this church, as well as attending the worship services. However, if we only get it in our heads and not in our hearts we will likely be no different than the Pharisees mentioned above, thinking ourselves above others because we “know more Scripture.” Psalm 119:11: “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” I believe “ho hum religion” is affecting most, if not all, of the Lord’s true churches today. There is an old saying that goes, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” We can become so familiar with our habit and our practice of worship that it is no longer “special to us but is almost like the job we have to go to every day. Sunday is a special day - or at least should be - and gathering together with God’s people to sing songs of praise to our Father and hear a message from His Word should thrill our hearts. We may want to depend upon the song leader, or some special music, or the preacher to make the worship thrilling, but more often than not it is the condition of our hearts and our attitude toward the worship that affect us. Jesus said in Matthew 18:20: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, (by His authority) there am I in the midst of them.” Jesus is here today! God, the Father is here! The Holy Spirit is here! Bold statement warning! If you don’t believe that, you need to find you a church where they are present. And I know the Holy Spirit is here because He came in with me and several others that are here today and because He indwells me and every child of God. I never want this church to be guilty of “ho hum religion,” of just going through the motions, of just having “a form of godliness” (II Timothy 3:5), of just doing “our religion thing” on Sunday. So this morning I want to share a message called “How To Avoid ‘Ho Hum Religion.’” It is a very simple message with 3 very simple points.

I. WHAT IS “HO HUM RELIGION?” (The Account Of It)

II. WHERE DOES LUKEWARMNESS COME FROM? HOW DOES IT BEGIN? (The Advancement Of It)

III. WHAT IS THE CURE, HOW DO WE AVOID “HO HUM RELIGION?” (The Avoiding Of It)

FOUR CALLS TO SOUL-WINNING -- Luke 19:1-10

Sun, 26 May 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Of course, this is the account of the salvation of a tax collector named Zacchaeus. I have chosen to look at this message from this point: “Four Calls To Soul-Winning.” I am sure that all of us know who Zacchaeus was. He even has a song written about him, “Zacchaeus was a wee little man . . . ” which most of us probably learned at some point in our childhood. But how much do we really know about Zacchaeus? The name “Zacchaeus” comes from a Hebrew word that meant “righteous,” or “pure.” He was a walking contradiction because, as we learn from this account, he was anything but pure. Zacchaeus was famous, or maybe infamous, in Israel because of his position. He was a tax collector, but not just a tax collector, he was the chief tax collector. The Roman government collected 3 principle kinds of taxes: 1) A land tax; 2) A head tax; and 3) A customs tax. Rome’s method of collecting taxes was to employ locals who knew who had money and where they kept it. The land was divided in tax districts, and a man could bid for a district. The amount he bid for the district is what he had to pay the Roman government, the rest he could keep for himself. As chief tax collector, Zacchaeus owned the contract for his region. As far as the public was concerned, Zacchaeus did not have much going for him. He was not only a tax collector who worked for the hated Romans, but as a chief tax collector he hired others to collect taxes for him. Vs. 7 says that the people were shocked when the Lord went to his house. “And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.” When was the last time the Lord’s churches were accused of having too much to do with sinners? Now, we know that Jesus is the Master in all things. He is the Master Teacher, and He is the Master Soulwinner. We would do well to follow His examples of witnessing and leading people to salvation. He shows us how to use the direct approach in John 3. Vs. 2 says Nicodemus came to Him by night and said, “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.” Vs. 3: “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Vv. 5-7: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” He also shows us how to use the indirect approach in John 4. This is the account of the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well where Jesus turned a simple request for a drink of water into a soulwinning effort. First of all note vs. 4: “And he must needs go through Samaria.” Why? This was not normal for the Jews because of their disregard for the Samaritans. Jesus had a purpose in going through Samaria - the salvation of one woman who would lead many others to Him -- vs. 39: “And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman . . . ” In vv. 16-18 He let her convict herself of her sin. In vv. 20-24 He did not debate issues with her but spoke the truth. And now in our text we see Him going to the home of Zacchaeus, the hated tax collector. Do you notice anything unusual about this account? We are not told what Jesus said to Zacchaeus in his house. We are only told that He said (vs. 9), “This day is salvation come to this house . . . ” Oh, how I would love to have heard what Jesus said to Zacchaeus! And vs. 8 reveals the change that took place in Zacchaeus upon his salvation. II Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Once you have met and accepted the Master, you cannot stay the same. The greatest need of people in our day, as it has been in every age, is to come to know Jesus Christ as Savior. We know that: 1) Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God . . . ” And Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” And, we know John 3:16! And, I believe, the greatest need of this church is to be infused with new believers, which means we must have those who are willing to witness of the Lord Jesus to friends, family, co-workers, etc. Today I want to share with you 4 calls, 4 urgings to each and every child of God to be a faithful witness of the Lord.

I. THERE IS THE CALL FROM WITHIN.

II. THERE IS THE CALL FROM WITHOUT.

III. THERE IS THE CALL FROM ABOVE.

IV. FINALLY, THERE IS A CALL FROM BENEATH.

KEEPING IT TOGETHER WHEN THE WORLD IS COMING APART -- II Peter 3:10-18

Sun, 19 May 2024 00:00:00 -0500

It seems today that everything that is not nailed down is coming apart, and Satan is pulling nails as fast as he can. Godly standards and teaching with which we were raised are now being not only dismissed by the world, they are being attacked as passé and “old fashioned.” Many churches and many in churches seem to have traded pleasing God for pleasing men in an attempt to draw more people to them. Individual believers who you could once count on for faithfulness to the Lord and to the worship services of His church now appear to have different priorities even though God’s priority given in Matthew 6:33 --- “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness . . . ” remains. Of course, we have been told in the Word of God that things would get like this in the “last days.” II Timothy 3:1: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times (burdensome; hard to be borne) shall come.” II Timothy 4:3-4: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; (4) And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” Now, Peter tells us that not only are things falling apart on this earth, but the earth itself is falling apart. Vs. 10: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” Vs. 11: “ . . . all these things shall be dissolved . . . ” Vs. 12: “ . . . the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat . . . ” Hebrews 1:10-12 says something very similar: “And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: (11) They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; (12) And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.” In vv. 10, 12 the word “ELEMENTS” speaks of the components by which matter is made. It is speaking of the atomic structure of this universe. (The components into which matter is divided are going to come apart.) In vv. 11-12 the word “DISSOLVED” literally means “to loose,” or “to untie.” Mankind is not going to destroy this earth, but one day God is. II Peter 3:7 says the present heavens and earth “are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment.” KEPT IN STORE and RESERVED have similar meanings. KEPT IN STORE = to amass or reserve. RESERVED = to guard by keeping the eye upon; it implies a fortress or full military lines. What is at the center of the earth? What is the earth’s core? FIRE! When the elements are “loosed” this planet will be destroyed by “fervent heat.” FERVENT HEAT = a medical term; literally, “fever heat,” internal heat. In vs. 11 Peter is not asking a question. He is making a statement. MANNER refers to a region; country, race, or tribe. It has the idea of being an alien or stranger. It speaks here of exotic behavior, something that is not normal. “What ‘other world’ type of persons?” As believers, we are not to be like those of this present, evil world. The Bible calls us strangers and pilgrims -- I Peter 2:11: “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul . . . ” A stranger is not at home, and a pilgrim is on his way home. We are not citizens of Earth trying to get to Heaven. We are citizens of Heaven sojourning on the Earth (looking forward to going home). We are to be different - to walk differently, to talk differently, to live differently. In vs. 11 we are told that our “conversation” (lifestyle) is to be holy and godly. HOLY means separated, set apart. (A holy person is set apart to the Lord.) It means to be like God. God is holy. I Peter 1:15-16: “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; (16) Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” GODLINESS has the idea of being devoted and pleasing to God. So, here, very briefly, are 5 thoughts that should help us to live holy and godly lives even when the world around us is coming apart.

I. WE NEED TO LOOK FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD - VV. 12-14.

II. WE NEED TO LABOR BECAUSE HIS COMING IS NEAR.

III. WE NEED TO LIVE FOR HIM BECAUSE OF HIS COMING.

IV. WE NEED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HIS COMING.

V. WE NEED TO GET “LOCKED IN” TO THE TRUTH OF CHRIST’S COMING - VV. 17-18.

THE MESSAGE FEW WANT TO PREACH (AND EVEN FEWER WANT TO HEAR) -- Luke 16:19-31 ; Revelation 20:11-15

Sun, 12 May 2024 00:00:00 -0500

If you were driving down the road late at night (midnight) and saw a house on fire, how would you react? It is obvious the family is at home -- cars in driveway, etc -- and due to the time and no lights being on, they are in bed. There is really only one real choice -- call 911 then warn those inside to get out and escape the flames. Why would you react in that manner? Lives are at stake. To keep people from perishing. But, there is a fire greater than any one earth that daily threatens men, women, boys, and girls, yet we do not warn them of it. Many (30+) years ago stories of “out of body” experiences during “clinical death” became popular. Virtually all of those sharing these experiences professed to be saved and reported pleasurable (at least to the flesh), Heavenly scenes. During that time the book Beyond Death’s Door was published. It claimed that its reports of “near death” out of body experiences were from people who did not profess Christ as Savior. Those individuals were said to have “descended into hell” and reported hearing screaming, flame, heat, blackness, and spirit beings. Whether these accounts are true or untrue, one fact remains. Hell is real, people who reject Jesus as Savior really go there, and we who are saved need to warn people and pray that they will listen. Years ago Evangelist Freddie Gage once accounted the story of trying to win his best friend to Christ. At the end of the story he asked, “Have you ever had your best friend die and go to hell?” We who are saved need to warn people and pray that they will listen. Listen to the request of this rich man in hell in Luke 16:27-28: “I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him (Lazarus) to my father’s house: (28) For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.” Did you ever think that someone in hell, maybe some friend, is praying to God (they believe in Him now) and asking Him to send YOU or ME to their loved one(s) to warn them “lest they also” end up in that place? The title of this message is “The Message Few Want To Preach (And Even Fewer Want To Hear)." It seems that few preachers really want to preach about hell today for fear that they might “offend” someone or be called “old fashioned” and/or “superstitious.” Liberal theology has taken hell out of the pulpit, but hell still exists. Just because you ignore something or some place does not cause it not to exist! We who are called to preach God’s Word need to quit worrying about what people may think of us for sharing this truth and remind both lost and saved that HELL IS REAL! Too much of the time the passion to share the warnings of God’s Word dies in the pulpit, and when it does, it dies in the pew. Evangelist Billy Sunday once said: “If there was more hell in the pulpit, there’d be less hell in the community.” As we hear this message from God’s Word this morning, I want us to consider two questions. “Would I stand idly by and watch as my mother, my dad, my brother, my sister, a family member, a friend, maybe even my best friend, burned to death? Then, will I refuse to warn them about hell (or hope someone else will) and let them perish there for eternity?” “Do I have friends in hell who are today wanting me to go warn their families so that they do not end up in that place?”

I. THE REALITY OF HELL.

II. A RECORD OF HELL -- LUKE 16.

III. THE RANGE OF HELL - HOW LONG DOES IT LAST?

IV. THE RESIDENTS OF HELL - WHO WILL BE IN HELL?

5 KEYS TO AN EFFECTIVE PRAYER LIFE -- James 5:13-18

Sun, 05 May 2024 00:00:00 -0500

What is the most effective tool (weapon) a child of God, living in this world, has access to today? I am sure you can tell from the title of this message, it is PRAYER. Listen to what the Apostle Paul said in II Corinthians 10:4: “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)” We are in a war, a spiritual war, and we have weapons! Who is our enemy? Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that our battle is not “against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Then, in vv. 13-17 we are told to put on “the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Then he lists that armor: 1) Our “loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness . . . ” (vs. 14); 2) Our “. . . feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace . . . ” (vs. 15); 3) “Taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (vs. 16). Then Paul names “. . . the helmet of salvation,” and our only offensive weapon, “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God . . . ” (vs. 17). But when we look at those verses, if all we see is the armor and not the battle, we are missing out on what we are being told. You can get all dressed up in the uniform, or in the armor and never fight the battle. Vs. 18 puts us in the battle: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit . . .” The spiritual battle we are in will not be won on our feet, but on our knees! Look at what Paul says here, “Praying always . . .” Look at what he says in I Thessalonians 5:17: “Pray without ceasing.” I am of the opinion, and I believe it is a biblical opinion, that God’s people today DO NOT spend enough time in prayer! Examine the Scriptures and you will see that great things happen when God’s people pray. In Acts 6 when the church at Jerusalem was about to be torn apart by jealousy and dissension what did the apostles do? Vs. 4 -- “But we will give ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word” and deacons were chosen, and the church grew. In Ephesians 6:19 - Pray for the courage to witness: “And for me, that utterance (logos - “word”) may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel . . . ” In Acts 16 Paul and Silas were in jail, and at midnight they were praising God and . . . PRAYING! (And God shook that jail and the jailer and his family were saved.) Do we pray too much in our “worship” services? No, I don’t believe we pray enough. We open with prayer, close with prayer, pray before the offering and before the message. But, are we praying during the message? “Lord, convict the lost of their need of Christ.” “Lord, convict the saved of their need of faithfulness to You.” “Lord, convict ME of MY sin and my failures of You, and help me to better serve You.” Too many of God’s people and the Lord’s churches merely play at prayer. Dr. Vance Haver said, “Many prayer requests today sound like an organ recital - ‘pray for my heart, pray for my liver, pray for . . . ” Acts 4:31 reveals to us the great power of real, effectual, fervent prayer. Peter and John had been arrested for preaching Jesus. They were threatened and allowed to go free. After they reported what had happened the church had a prayer meeting. We see their request in (Vs. 29) : “And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word . . . ” (Notice what they did not pray for - an easy time, not to be arrested, etc.) God’s response is seen in vs. 31: “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” This is the kind of “prayer meeting” the Lord’s churches need today and the kind of prayer God’s people need to pray today - one that rocks our very foundations to a greater service of God. Think about the Sermon on the Mount. We are the salt of the earth, and this building is . . . ? Don’t you think God can shake the salt shaker if He wants to? I want to share with you this morning from James 5 what I call 5 keys to praying this kind of prayer.

I. WE MUST ASK - JAMES 5:17.

II. WE MUST ASK WITH FERVENCY - VV. 16-17.

III. WE MUST ASK IN CLEANNESS -- VS. 16.

IV. WE MUST ASK IN FAITH - JAMES 1:5-7.

V. WE MUST ASK WITH PERSISTENCE - JAMES 5:17-18.

SINKING FEET AND SLIPPING STEPS (OR, DON'T QUIT SERVING GOD) -- Psalm 73:1-3

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0500

This psalm was written by Asaph. Who was Asaph? Asaph was an organizer and leader for the temple choirs in the days of David. He begins this psalm by declaring the goodness of God - toward Israel and toward “such as are of a clean heart.” But look at verse two and see the contrast - “But as for me . . . ” He is saying, “Yes, God is good to Israel, but “as for me,” I almost missed seeing His goodness.” Then he says, “I had almost lost my footing, and my feet were slipping.” Most of us can relate to what Asaph is saying in Psalm 73:2, “But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.” Many of God’s people have the same problem Asaph had, and that is that even though God is good to us, it seems He is also good (perhaps too good) to the boastful and the wicked. So we think things like, “What benefit is there in being good? If the wicked enjoy the same prosperity in this world as the pure in heart, then what is the reward of godliness?” It makes us wonder, “If God is really in control of things, the plans of the wicked should fail, shouldn’t they? They should be punished, even openly. It is the godly alone who should prosper.” I think our soldiers and our police officers are worth a whole lot more than sports stars! I think preachers are much more valuable than rap artists and rock musicians . . . but not to the world and worldly (and we live in the world). Most of God’s people today were raised with the same thought that Asaph learned, particularly, that “the good always prosper and that the wicked will always fall.” The “good guys” always win, right? (“Winners never cheat, and cheaters never win.”) Do you remember the first time you saw a movie or TV show where the bad guys “got away with it?” Then Hollywood began to try to blur the line between good and bad with shows where the “good guys” did “bad things” to gain the victory and never got caught. Asaph said his feet had “well nigh slipped,” and then he tells us why in vs. 3: "For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” "Envious" admits to the sin of jealousy. Proverbs 14:30: “A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.” Proverbs 23:17: “Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.” Do you know why Jesus was delivered into the hands of those who crucified Him? The Bible clearly tells us in Matthew 27:18: “For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.” Listen to what Charles Spurgeon said about envy, “It is a pitiful thing that an heir of heaven should have to confess ‘I was envious,’ but worse still that he should have to put it, ‘I was envious at the foolish.’” And some of our own people, young people and adults like, so envy the lost world that they want to be like the world, and thus they do the things of the world. Now Asaph said his envy had caused his feet to slip, that he had almost lost his footing, but, thank the Lord, he didn’t slip and wasn’t gone. Sadly, for many of God’s people, they don’t almost quit, they do quit. Preachers quit preaching. (Often they see what their church members have, become envious of them, and want the same things.) Church members quit going to church. (Some want a little more of the world. Some are not saved, and when the preaching of the Word convicts their hearts, they find an excuse to quit going to church.) These things are not new, but they are of great concern. In Galatians 6:9 Paul encourages believers not to be “weary in well doing” and not to “faint.” "Weary" means "to turn out a coward; lose one’s courage; lose heart (in view of trial or evils); to despond." "Faint" means to relax, weary; to be exhausted. It speaks of failure of power (a power failure). In I Corinthians 15:58 believers are instructed to be “steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” Where can we find strength to face the inevitable discouragements that will come in our lives as believers? The Word of God, of course, and that is what we are going to look at this morning! Let's first examine . . .

I. WHY DO PEOPLE QUIT?

II. HOW CAN WE KEEP FROM QUITTING?

III. A MAN WHO WOULD NOT QUIT.

TRUSTING GOD IN DARK DAYS -- HABAKKUK 1:1-4

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Other than the book of Revelation, I cannot think of a book of the Bible that is more appropriate for our day than Habakkuk. Habakkuk lived in a day much like ours. It was a day filled with 1) apostasy among God’s people. (Today there is apostasy in the Lord’s churches) 2) anarchy in the world. (Consult your local newspaper) 3) and apathy in the hearts of men (and, certainly, apathy in the pews - look around). If we did not know better, know of God’s omnipotence and God’s omniscience, we might be tempted to think that He has lost control. Look at what Habakkuk says in vs. 4: “Why do I have to see all the evil that is going on?” “Why dost thou show me . . . ” Does the sin that is rampant in our world and in our nation today feel like a weight on you? Does it feel like it is just wearing you out? Then he names the evil. Spoiling speaks of violence ; to ravage. Violence talks about mistreatment; using mistreatment to get unjust gain - fraud, robbery, etc. There were people who Habakkuk said “raise up strife.” These were those who seemed to take pleasure in creating controversy. You know one of the quickest ways to notoriety in America today Create controversy. He said, "The law is slacked" (sluggish). He is saying, “The law has become paralyzed.” It may just be me, but it seems that there is very little respect for the law in America today. America is a nation of laws - not rulers, but laws - but when the laws of the land are not respected, the nation is weakened. Habakkuk is saying, “There is no justice in the courts.” Then he says, “The wicked compass about the righteous.” Compass means "to enclose ; besiege." They far outnumber the righteous so that the righteous feel intimidated. “Therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.” That’s just another way of saying, “Justice has become perverted.” So, back in vs. 2 Habakkuk asks, “How long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!” He uses two different words for "cry." The first "cry" refers to a cry out, a shout to attract attention. The second one means to shriek (from anguish or danger). Have you ever shouted out to God Not a shout of praise, but a shout of anguish, of need, of pleading with God to act? “Oh, Lord, PLEASE! (answer my prayer).” Habakkuk is basically asking, “GOD where are You?! “Why have You let all this happen.” Well, God answered Habakkuk, but He didn’t give him an explanation. God does not have to explain Himself to anyone! Instead of an explanation, God gave Habakkuk a vision and a warning. Israel faced some dark days, and I fear that unless there is a great revival among God’s people in America and a “vival,” a moving of people to salvation, we may face dark days, too. Well, how do you survive “dark days?” In Habakkuk 2:4 the prophet offers us the theme of the book. “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” The first part of the verse speaks of the sinner. He is "lifted up" (swollen, elated, possibly by his own pride). But his lifted up soul is not “upright” (UPRIGHT = to be straight, or even. “It is leaning.”) It is saying he is “high and mighty,” but he is leaning and about to fall. But in the second half of the verse God says “. . . but the just shall live by his faith.” "Just" speaks of the upright, or righteous person. This is the person who trusts and depends upon God. This verse is repeated three times in the New Testament in: 1) Romans 1:17 ; in 2) Galatians 3:11 ; and in 3) Hebrews 10:38. Rather than fold up and give up in difficult days, we need to look up and then stand up. I pray that in this message we will learn some things about living by faith and staying true to God, even in difficult days. We see that:

I. FAITH FUNCTIONS BY RELYING UPON GOD’S PROMISES.

II. FAITH FUNCTIONS BY RELYING UPON GOD’S WORD (NOT APPEARANCES) - 2:1.

III. FAITH FUNCTIONS BY PRAISING GOD, (NOT BY CIRCUMSTANCES) - 3:1-3.

DEFENSE FOR THE RESURRECTION -- I Corinthians 15:1-4

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0500

The resurrection of Jesus (and the promised resurrection and catching away of all who have entrusted their lives and their everlasting spirits to Him) are central to Christianity. In our text the Apostle Paul tells us that it is a part, a vital part, of the Gospel. If all Jesus did was come into the world, and die on the cross, and be buried, that would not be “good news.” We would have no hope. But look at what Paul says in I Corinthians 15:20: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” Someone may ask, “Why do you believe in the resurrection of Jesus and of the saved?” I could say, very succinctly, “Because the Bible records it,” and for me that would be sufficient. But what about someone who doesn’t believe the Bible? Or, what about someone who has never read the Bible? Or, someone raised in a religion that does not depend upon the Bible? Why do I believe the Bible? Why do I believe in the resurrection? Number one -- the Bible IS the divinely inspired and inerrant Word of God. (Penned over a period of 1500 years, by at least 40 men who, for the most part, did not know one another.) Because the accounts in the Bible were written down by eyewitnesses during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses. Those accounts report to us supernatural events that took place in fulfillment of specific prophesies, giving evidence that those accounts are divine rather than human in origin. And the Bible records the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, the Christ and tells us that it is THE good news that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. With that in mind, let me tell you of two men I heard of who decided they would destroy Christianity and remove it from the face of the earth. They were atheistic “intellectuals” and highly educated and believed they could succeed in their task. After meeting together they decided that if they could prove false the resurrection of Jesus and the conversion of Paul, they could destroy Christianity. One of the men agreed that he would investigate the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, Paul, and prove it to be false. The other man said he would investigate the resurrection of Jesus and prove it to be false. The men agreed to meet back in the same place in one year and share their findings with each other and put an end to Christianity. One year later the men met as agreed, and to each other’s surprise, BOTH had come to know Jesus as Savior! It is impossible to successfully deny the resurrection of Jesus and the conversion of Paul. Many, like these two men, have tried. Remember James Cameron from 2007? He claimed to have found the tomb and the body of Jesus. Mr. Cameron, I don’t know what you found, but I KNOW what you didn’t find! There are quite a few tombs from that time which have been found by archaeologists. I have stood inside one of them. I have heard our guide say that when it was discovered the contents of it were removed and sent for examination. And they did not find so much as one human hair in them. Was this the actual tomb where Jesus was laid? I don’t know. But what I DO KNOW is that if it is not the actual tomb of Jesus, there is one there that is just as empty as the other one. All of the Gospels record the resurrection of Jesus and give us various details concerning that day. In Matthew 28:6 the angel said, “He is not here: for he is risen” and invited them to “Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” In Mark 16:6 they were told, “Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.” But my favorite is in Luke 24:5-7 where the angel asked: “Why seek ye the living among the dead? (6) He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, (7) Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” One of our favorite songs (or at least it should be) is “He Lives!” But, just like James Cameron and the two men we spoke of earlier, there are many in our world today that would deny and attempt to prove false the resurrection of Jesus. These are not new. There were those in Paul’s day - who came into the Lord’s churches - who brought error and denial about the resurrection. For that reason, today we are going to see “The Case For The Defense Of The Resurrection.” First of all we will see:

I. A DEFENSE OF THE RESURRECTION. (The Calling Of Witnesses)

II. DISTORTIONS ABOUT THE RESURRECTION.

III. THE DANGERS OF NO RESURRECTION - I CORINTHIANS 15:12-19.

IN THE MIDDLE -- I THESSALONIANS 5:18

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0500

How do you react when you are in the middle of a crisis? How should we react? It’s easy to be happy, and thankful, and even joyful when things are going well. But what about when things aren’t going well? When there’s a financial crisis? Or, a family crisis? Or a health crisis? How do we, how should we react? God’s Word is full of examples of faithful servants of the Lord who stayed true to Him and did not quit serving Him, even during times of trial. (We have talked about some of these in our study of the Sermon on the Mount.) We can read about those who suffered for the cause of Christ. In Acts 5 Peter and those with him were beaten and told never to preach in the name of Jesus Christ again. In Acts 12 King Herod put the Apostle James to death, and when he saw that it “pleased the Jews,” he had Peter arrested, intending to do the same to him. II Corinthians 11:23-27 gives us a list of the many things he suffered - beatings, mockings, stoning, shipwreck, pain, hunger, thirst, etc. We can also see how they reacted when God was with them and took care of them in their trials. In Acts 5:41 Peter and those with him “departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.” In Acts 12 the Lord sent an angel to get Peter out of prison, and he went immediately to where the church was holding a prayer meeting, praying for him. (He had more trouble getting into the prayer meeting than he had getting out of prison.) And in I Peter 4:12-13 Peter said, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: (13) But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings . . . ” In II Corinthians 12:9 the Lord said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” And, even with all of these things, including the care of all the churches, Paul said in I Thessalonians 5:18, which is our text: “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” We have learned that the word “in” here has the idea of “in the midst of,” “in the middle of” everything that is happening. It is represented by a circle with a dot in the center. Now, obviously, we are not being told to be thankful for beatings and persecution, but we are to continue to be thankful to God while these things are going on. Be thankful for the assurance that our Lord will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), even during our times of difficulty, or that when the persecution is for the cause of Christ and He is glorified, or that God will give you the grace to endure the things that are taking place. With the thought of I Thessalonians 5:18 in mind we are going to looking briefly into the life of Job and see how his response to the things that happened to him illustrate this command from God. We are familiar with the account of Job. He was a faithful servant of God who, according to God’s Word, “was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed (hated) evil.” And yet, God allowed some terrible tragedies to come into Job’s life. Why? Well, today we know why, but Job never did know the “why.” The account of Job in the Bible helps us to understand that we don’t have to understand. You will make a big mistake if your life and in your service of God if you demand to know and understand everything that happens to you. Many times there ARE answers . . . but sometimes we DON’T understand, and sometimes we CAN’T understand. So, turn to the book of Job the first chapter. We are going to look at vv. 1-3 and 6-9 to start. Notice what Satan says in vs. 9: “. . . Doth Job fear God for nought?” Job’s character was such that God mentioned him. (Satan didn’t bring Job up, God did!) God had held Job up to Satan as a faithful servant. (Can He do that with your life?) So Satan says, “Job doesn’t really love God. He only loves what God does for him.” See, the devil is suspicious of anyone who loves God. Satan doesn’t love God; he hates Him. He wants to usurp Him and be equal with Him. And, he will do his best to attack and discourage and derail anyone who sets out to serve God. We have seen many of our own members attacked in various ways by the enemy. If you are saved and have never run into the devil, that means you and he are going in the same direction. (You’re in collusion with him. Serve God and you will have a collision with him.) So after Satan’s meeting and conversation with God a contest, as it were, began there in the land of Uz. This contest was not so God could learn anything about Job. God knew what he would do. It showed to Satan Job’s faithfulness and, perhaps, helped Job to learn something about himself and about God. I suggest to you that God may allow you and me to be tested so we can learn something about our own faithfulness to God and about His faithfulness to us. First of all we see:

I. JOB IN THE HANDS OF SATAN.

II. JOB IN THE HANDS OF JOB.

III. JOB IN THE HANDS OF GOD - JOB 38:1-5 ; 42:1-2.

THE AMERICA OF TOMORROW AND THE GENERATION TO COME -- Psalm 78:1-8

Sun, 17 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Many believe that today, in America, we are living in a post-Christian era. Many speak of people like the Jim Joneses, the David Koreshes, the Sun Yung Moons and all the other self-proclaimed Messiahs of this world and just lump us in with them. Because of that many believers and churches have adopted a “live and let live” attitude. It is late in the day, and we do not have the luxury of just being quiet, of saying “live and let live,” because this world will not let us just live. Do you remember what Mordecai told Queen Esther in Esther 4:14? “For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place, but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed. And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this.” Who knows whether we have been brought to this time and this place for such a time as this? I am concerned -- not only about the America of today, but about the America of tomorrow, and the generation to come. What kind of nation are we leaving our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in which to grow up? We may ask, “What difference will how I live now, my faithfulness to God, and to Jesus and to His church make a few years from now?” Well, listen to what God said to Israel in Exodus 20:4-5. (This is the second commandment.) “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth (5) Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me . . . ” The humanist agenda has Americans worshipping a false god called “Self,” or “Mankind” and we can readily see see the results of it in our society today. In this 78th psalm Asaph is the psalmist, and he reminds God’s people that the Lord has given us the responsibility of putting some things into the minds and hearts of “the generation to come.” And first of all he says, “We are to disseminate these things the same way we received them.” See what he says in vs. 3: “Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.” What does God say through Paul in Ephesians 6:4? “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Paul instructed Timothy in II Timothy 2:2: “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” You have heard me say that both truth and liberty are only one generation deep. If we do not teach our children AND LEAD THEM BY EXAMPLE, this church will not be here standing for God’s truth one day. That’s why Asaph says, “. . . shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.” “Shewing” means “to score with a mark as a tally or record; to inscribe; to enumerate; intensively; and to recount. He is saying, “Write it indelibly (permanently) in their minds and in their memories.” He is saying, “Etch it into their hearts so that it cannot be removed.” Don’t just give them a little bit of the Word. Give them as much as you can, then give them some more. (And do the same in your own life.) In this psalm Asaph names at least 3 things we need to etch into the hearts, minds, and lives of “the generation to come.” They are:

I. THE MAGNIFICENT PRAISES OF THE LORD.

II. THE MIGHTY POWER OF THE LORD.

III. THE MARVELOUS PROVISION OF THE LORD.

LIVING HOLY LIVES IN THE LAST DAYS -- I Peter 1:13-21

Sun, 10 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0500

We know that in the last days sin is going to abound (Matthew 24:12). So in light of that knowledge, here is a timeless truth: In these last days, God expects His children to be holy. "Holy" means to be separate, distinct, separated to God. There is to be an obvious distinction between a child of God and a child of the devil. Jesus said to some very “religious” people in John 8:44: “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” These had a claim and a pretense to godliness, but they did not have God in their hearts and lives. How would you like for the Lord Jesus to say that to you? If we truly believe we are living in the last days, we should want to live as holy lives as possible. Because we will soon stand before our Lord. Because of the lost who need to be saved and need to see true Christians in this world. If you wonder what is wrong with the Lord’s churches today, here it is. There are many who are undedicated, uncommitted, unholy, even some who are unregenerated in the membership of churches today. This offers two great problems that churches face: 1) The unregenerated have no heart for God or the things of God. They just don’t care. 2) The undedicated, uncommitted, unholy, unrepentant ones, though they ARE saved, have been living like the world for so long they have forgotten they ever were saved. Listen to what Peter says in II Peter 1:5-9: “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; (6) And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; (7) And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.” (He’s talking about growing as a child of God here.) "(8) For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (9) But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” Where do you and I stand in all of this? Committed, holy, serving the Lord? Or uncommitted and unfaithful? By the way, here is a quick warning. If you are committed and faithful, be careful about becoming arrogant about it (i.e., “all those unfaithful, uncommitted people need to repent”). REPEAT: God expects His children to be holy (separated, set apart), especially in these last days. This message is to encourage us to live holy, separated lives and offers four incentives for doing so. They are:

I. OUR ANTICIPATION OF CHRIST’S COMING -- VS. 13.

II. OUR IDENTIFICATION WITH HIS CHARACTER -- VV. 14-16.

III. OUR EXAMINATION AS HIS CHILDREN -- VS. 17.

IV. OUR EMANCIPATION BY HIS CROSS -- VV. 18-21.

PROCRASTINATION -- Ecclesiastes 11:4 ; Acts 24:24-25

Sun, 03 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0500

A man, quoting his pastor, said: “For a church to be a great church, you must have a dream” (or a goal). If we do not have a goal, do not know where we are going. It’s like travelling without a map. It will cause us to wander aimlessly in this world. The wisest man to every live, with the exception of Jesus, Solomon said in Proverbs 29:18: “Where there is no vision the people perish . . . ” "Vision" refers to a prophetic vision; a dream; a word, as from God. (We need to let God guide our goals.) "Perish" menas "to set at nought; to let loose." (It presents the picture of having no real direction.) Ecclesiastes 11:4 tells us, “He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.” You can’t always wait for “ideal conditions” to do what you know you should do. I believe that today many of God’s people are waiting for “ideal conditions” to exist before they take a stand for God and His Word. I’m not sure what those conditions are. To have an easy time of it? To have our witness of Christ welcomed by the world? To be considered “valuable” by the world? In James 4:13-17 James tells us man did some good things from a business standpoint. He designed a plan, a period (“. . . today or tomorrow '), a procedure (we will go into such a city . . . and buy and sell), and a profit (“. . . and get gain . . . ”). But this man had one problem. Do you see it? Look at vs. 15 - “For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” Whether this man is guilty of procrastination or disobedience in this instance, he did not consider God’s will for his life. This is probably one area in which God’s people today are so much like the world. We make our plans -- period. Consider the rich fool with the “too small” barns in Luke 12:16-20 for a moment. Here was a man whom God had blessed greatly. And we can hear him talking to himself (vs. 17 - “. . . he thought within himself . . . ”), and four times in just two verses he says, “I will.” He is making his plans. But look at what God says (vs. 20), “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” GOD CAN OVERRULE OUR PLANS! And that is why James says in vs. 15, “For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” How often do you and I make our plans contingent on the Lord’s will? Now this man failed to consider God and His will for his life in several different areas, but I am only going to consider one of them at length this morning, and THIS IS MY MESSAGE ON PROCRASTINATION! God’s people need to ask God to help us stop wasting our time and putting off what He wants us to do. We have a great waster of time (and maybe several of them) in our homes, don’t we? I know first hand how easy it is to turn the TV on, plop down in the easy chair, and vegetate, become a “couch potato.” I also know how difficult it is to get up, turn the set off, and spend time in God’s Word. Why is that? Because (Galatians 5:17), “. . . the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would." Procrastination may be the biggest problem that many/most of us have today. Many do not consider procrastination a sin, but what does James say in vs. 17? James 4:17: "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” Whether we just don’t do it, or just put off doing what we know to do. Delay is disobedience. In this message I only have time to mention 2 areas in which the sin of procrastination causes great troubles. They are:

I. PROCRASTINATION IS THE REASON THAT MANY PEOPLE DIE LOST.

II. PROCRASTINATION AND OMISSION ARE THE REASONS MANY CHURCHES ARE FAILING.

WALKING WITH GOD -- Ephesians 4:1-7

Sun, 25 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Do you know why people say there are “too many hypocrites” in the church? #1 – Because there are. #2 – Because many “professed believers” do not “walk worthy” of their calling. Walk” refers to our living; to deport oneself – deportment. “Worthy” means appropriately; deservingly; comparable; suiting. And our “vocation” is our calling, invitation. We are called to salvation – Romans 8:28-30. Vs. 28 says we are “the called according to his purpose.” “Called” here is the same word as in Ephesians 4:1. Vs. 29 presents biblical predestination. God knew (knows) who will be saved. This is foreknowledge (a knowing beforehand). He has “predestinated” (predetermined) that all who are saved should be conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus. We should live like Him. And vs. 30 tells us that He knows who will be saved. He has said they should be like Jesus. And, He has called them (us) to Himself. Who can be saved? “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord . . . ” How? By the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. Someone hears a Gospel message, or is witnessed to, and the Spirit convicts their heart of their lost condition. God is calling them to salvation. Now, back to Ephesians 4:1: “Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.” We have already seen that Romans 8:29 reveals that vocation – Christ likeness! And here we see that this call to the believer to live like Jesus is to be carried out in our daily living. “Walk” means to walk around; to walk about. It speaks of our Christian deportment. When we do not walk in that manner, we may excuse it in a brother or sister in Christ, and we may try to justify the failure in our own lives, but the instruction still stands. Paul did not say, “Walk worthy if you feel like it.” Or, “Walk worthy when you are at church.” He didn’t even say, “Walk worthy unless the crowd is opposed to it or the times are difficult.” And the excuse, “Well, I’m just a sinner saved by grace” is invalid. Look at the difference in the “old you” and the “new you.” Ephesians 2:1-3 tells us about the “old” man. II Corinthians 5:17 reminds us that we are new creatures and Christ “old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” And God has even made it possible to live for Him by a strong influence. Look at John 17:3: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent.” Most believers are missing the fullness and joy of eternal life because they fail to understand the purpose of it. Many believe the purpose of eternal life is: 1) To keep us out of hell. (That is not the purpose; it is the result.); 2) To cause us to live forever; 3) To allow us to live in Heaven; 4) That it is beneficial only for and relegated to the time after death. Question: When do you have eternal life -- now, or in the future? NOW! John 17:3 – “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent.” “Know” here means to have a personal and true knowledge of the One known, and to be influenced by that knowledge; to allow one’s self to be determined thereby. See what Jesus is saying in John 17:3 and in relation to our understanding of the word “know.”

John

17:3 -- Harris Translation/Expansion

“And this is life eternal -- as to its character, nature, and divine purpose, that they (the saved ones) might know Thee -- God, the Father, the only true God -- with a personal and true knowledge and an intimate and active relation so that knowledge has an influence upon them (the believing ones) to the degree that they allow their lives to be determined or directed thereby. Also, that they might have the same type of knowledge and relationship with Jesus Christ, the Son, whom Thou hast sent.”

Having our lives determined, or directed by God means having a daily walk with Him like Enoch in Hebrews 11:5. If you walk with God, you will please Him. God wants, more than anything else, for us to walk with Him. When I speak of walking with God, I’m not talking about merely coming to church occasionally. We live in His presence. We don’t just “come” into His presence. Many people act differently when they “go to church,” but our walk with God at church and outside of the church house should not be any different. We are to be walking with God every day. Well, how do you walk with God? What kind of walk pleases Him?

I. IT IS A WALK (LIFE) OF FAITH.

II. IT IS A WALK (LIFE) OF FELLOWSHIP.

III. IT IS A WALK (LIFE) OF FAITHFULNESS.

IV. IT IS A WALK (LIFE) OF FRUITFULNESS.

WHEN THE TRUMPET SOUNDS -- I Corinthians 15:51-57

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Over the past couple of weeks we have seen (two weeks ago) how to get ready and be ready for the rapture of the saved: 1) Be saved - SAVED; 2) Be certain of your salvation - SECURE ; 3) Have a devoted service of the Lord -SERVING; 4) Prepare for persecution (because it will come) - STEADFAST; 5) Learn to share our faith - SHARING; 6) Make a break with worldliness - SEPARATION. Last week we looked at the signs of the times that tell us we are in the “season” of Christ’s return: 1)Counterfeit Christs; 2) Continuing Conflict; 3) Cataclysmic Consequences; 4) Committed Christians will be persecuted; 5) Christless Cults; 6) Carnal Coldness; 7) Christ’s Commission carried out. And now our study has brought us to the point for which we have prepared and for which we are to pray, (Matthew 6:10), “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Millions of saved have believed throughout the ages that there would be this time called the “last days” and an event called the resurrection and rapture of the saved as Jesus comes for His own. This has been the hope of believers since the first century. It is the subject of 1000's of songs and perhaps hundreds of 1000's of Bible messages. Sadly, not everyone has this hope, and not everyone will believe this message to be true. Is it important to preach about Christ’s return? Why? To remind us that He is coming, and His coming is near. (We have a tendency to forget.) To cause us to make sure that we are, indeed, ready for His return. To give us an incentive to faithfulness, to service, and to right living. To encourage and strengthen us as God’s children in these last days. To bring us comfort in the last days. I Thessalonians 4:18 says, “Wherefore comfort one another with these words. "Comfort" means to implore, to exhort, to console. We should find comfort and hope knowing God’s timetable is right on course and that Jesus is coming soon. That's why Titus 2:13 calls this the “blessed hope.” Because it is the hope of one day being in Heaven with Christ -- Colossians 1:3-5: “We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, (4) Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, (5) For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel . . . ” We understand that the Second Coming of Jesus is in two “stages.” First, He comes in the air for His saints. That is what we are going to look at this morning. Second, He comes to earth with His saints. That is seen in the 19th chapter of Revelation. I don’t think there is a better description of the first “stage” of the Lord’s coming than the one given in I Thessalonians 4:13-18. (Let’s turn there and read for a moment.) We see:

I. AN ABUNDANCE OF MAJESTIC SOUNDS - VS. 16.

II. THE APPEARANCE OF OUR MARVELOUS SAVIOR - VS. 16.

III. THE ASCENSION OF THE MULTITUDE OF SAINTS - VV. 16b-17.

THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES -- Matthew 24:1-14

Sun, 11 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Matthew chapter 24 is a favorite text for messages about the end times because Jesus very clearly sets forth some indicators of where we are on God’s Timeline for Mankind. In vs. 3 the disciples asked 3 questions. What prompted these questions? Vs. 1 says the Lord’s “disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.” The Temple was the focal point of Jewish life. It sat on Mt. Moriah in all its splendor. The disciples could not believe that it would ever be desolate or destroyed, and the Lord’s prophecy of its destruction did not make sense to them. But Jesus said in vs. 2, “There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” The Romans came against Jerusalem, and though General Titus had declared that the Temple was not to be destroyed, a flaming arrow shot at random set it on fire. The fire was so hot the gold that was in the Temple melted and ran down into the crevices between the stones of it. Then the plunderers came and pried apart all the stones of the Temple looking for gold and fulfilling the Lord’s prophecy. But in vs. 3 the Lord’s disciples asked: 1) When shall these things be? 2) What shall be the sign of thy coming? 3) What shall be the sign . . . of the end of the world? If we will get a proper understanding of the Lord’s answer to these questions, though It is impossible for any person to know exactly when Jesus will return, we can have a knowledge of the events that will signal to us that it is near. Some commentators say that Jesus did not answer the first question because the disciples were asking for a specific date (day and time) of Christ’s coming to rule the earth. In Acts 1:6 they asked, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” We humans are obsessed with time because we are here in this body for so little time. In James 4:14 James asked a question and answered it, “For What is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” The disciples wanted to know “when” Jesus was going to return and restore the kingdom to Israel, but look at the Lord’s answer in Acts 1:7: “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.” In Matthew 24:36 Jesus said, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” First century believers lived with a daily expectation of Christ’s return, quite unlike most believers today. Is Jesus really coming again? YES! And, there is a way for us to know that His coming is drawing near. And, I pray that God will use this message to stir our hearts and minds so that the glorious coming of Jesus may be uppermost in our hearts. We see there shall be:

I. THE PRETENSE OF COUNTERFEIT CHRISTS - VV. 4-5.

II. THE PRESENCE OF CONTINUING CONFLICT - VV. 6-7.

III. THE PROBLEM OF CATACLYSMIC CONSEQUENCES - VV. 7-8.

IV. THE PERSECUTION OF COMMITTED CHRISTIANS - VV. 9-10.

V. THE PERVERSION OF CHRISTLESS CULTS - VS. 11.

VI. THE PROLIFERATION OF CARNAL COLDNESS - VS. 12.

VII. THE PERFORMANCE OF CHRIST’S COMMISSION - VV. 13-14.

ARE YOU READY FOR THE RAPTURE? -- I THESSALONIANS 1:1-10

Sun, 04 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500

The greatest fact of the past is: Jesus died for us. The greatest fact of the future is: Jesus is coming for us. He said He would. We should be familiar with John 14:1-3: "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (2) In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” In I Thessalonians 4:16-17 we are told: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” And Jesus closed the book of Revelation by saying (22:12): “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” And in vs. 20 it is repeated, “Surely I come quickly.” The Bible also declares the conditions that will exist at His return. In Luke 17:26 Jesus said, “And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.” What were the days of Noah like? Vs. 27 says, “They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.” In other words it was a time when people were totally consumed with the affairs of everyday life. Just like today, they gave little or no thought to God or His coming judgment. Remember, for 120 years Noah built the ark and preached of God’s righteousness. In Luke 17:28-30 Jesus said, “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; (29) But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. (30) Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” In the days of Lot evil was not only present but predominate. As it abounded the saved (Lot) were vexed by it but did nothing about it. Romans 1:21 seems to describe the days of Lot in Sodom. The residents of the city were filled with: 1) Willful Ignorance - “when they knew God, they glorified him not as God . . . ” What has happened in America over the past 50+ years? We have slowly sought to put God out of hearts and minds. Wicked Imagination - “. . . but became vain in their imaginations . . . ” VAIN means foolish, morally wicked, idolatrous. In fact it carries the idea of “specifically idolatrous.” Vs. 25:tells us of the specific idol they worshipped -- “. . . and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator . . . ” When we think of Sodom we normally think of the sin of sodomy, but there was much more. Vs. 23: They “changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.” Vs. 24: They dishonored ". . . their own bodies between themselves . . .” - sexual impurity, fornication, possibly adultery. (Sodom was one of the first “free love” societies.) Vv. 26-27 say that they followed “vile affections” and began to practice women changing “the natural use into that which is against nature” and “men with men working that which is unseemly . . . ” 3) Waning illumination - “and their foolish heart was darkened.” Someone put it this way, “they trivialized themselves into silliness and confusion so that there was neither sense nor direction left in their lives. “ The descent into disgrace in America began when we decided to put God out of our everyday lives and replace Him with “vain imaginations” (discussions; considerations). We are looking at the conditions that will exist at the Lord’s return, and the Apostle Paul said in I Thessalonians 5:3 -- When men say, “Peace and safety.” “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” Is there anything I have mentioned from the Word of God that is not taking place in our world and in our nation today? NO! Someone might say, “But these things have always gone on.” This may be true, but there is one indicator that many miss, I believe, is one of the most important. It seems to me from the Scripture that the spiritual condition of God’s people has almost always been an indicator of coming judgment. Those who called upon, or began to be called by the name of the Lord in Noah’s day. The nation of Israel throughout their history. And here is the third one -- The conditions that exist in the Lord’s churches. (Didn’t He threaten judgment and chastisement upon 5 of the 7 churches of Asia?) Listen to -- II Timothy 3:1-5: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (2) For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (3) Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, (4) Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; (5) Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” If you can read the newspaper, or see on TV, or hear on radio events taking place today and not believe that the coming of Christ is near, you need folks to pray for you. The things that are happening in this world point to this next great event on God’s calendar. The first nine verses of First Thessalonians 1 tells us how to live ready for Christ’s return, and then vs. 10 talks about His coming. If we are going to live ready for the coming of Christ, we need to:

I. BE CERTAIN OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. THAT IS, BE SAVED -- VS. 1.

II. WE NEED AN ABSOLUTE ASSURANCE OF SALVATION, THAT IS SURETY -- VV. 4-5.

III. WE NEED A DEVOTED SERVICE TO CHRIST -- VV. 2-3.

IV. WE NEED TO PREPARE FOR PERSECUTION. BE “PATIENT.” BE STEADFAST. -- VS. 6

V. WE NEED TO LEARN HOW TO SHARE OUR FAITH (SHARING) -- VV. 7-8.

VI. WE NEED TO MAKE A CLEAN BREAK WITH THE WORLD (SEPARATION) --VS. 9.

AN EXAMPLE OF A COMMITTED LIFE -- Ruth 1:1-18

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500

There are many accounts in the Bible that serve as an encouragement to our hearts. The life of Ruth is no exception. Many look at this book and see nothing more than a love story. It may be a love story of sorts, but that is the most shallow interpretation. The bigger picture is that of a lost sinner who, through divine providence, is brought into a relationship with God and is made to be an ancestor of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are taught in this book that Christ is not just the Savior of Israel, but of all mankind. In these verses, and throughout this book, we see in Ruth a tremendous example of a committed life. She teaches us about remaining faithful even when others around us do not. So, let's look into these verses and examine this “Example Of A Committed Life.” In vv. 1-2 we see Ruth’s future mother-in-law Naomi, going to Moab with her husband, Elimelech (“God is king”), and they settled down there with their two sons, Mahlon (“Sickness”) and Chilion (“Consumption”). Vs. 2 says they went to Moab “and continued there.” (CONTINUE = to exist.) The suggestion is Elimelech did not intend to stay long in Moab, but the visit there turned into at least ten or more long and trying years. Doesn’t this sound like so many “Christian” families? The husband, who is supposed to be the spiritual leader, leads his family away from the place of God into an idolatrous land where the children grow up and marry. Or they leave a true church that is teaching and preaching the truth because the one “down the street” offers things that “appeal to us.” Or, leave a city were there are Scriptural churches to go where there are no such churches in order to make a little better salary. And what happened? Elimelech died - leaving his wife and sons in this cursed land without the leadership God intended. Dads, have we led our homes in such a way that if God were to call us to our Heavenly home right now that our families would continue to stand for the truth in this world?Now, we are going to see in this book how that God, in spite of our failure to obey Him, can take those failures and by His providence get glory.

I. RUTH'S CONDITION -- Vv. 1-7.

II. RUTH’S CHALLENGE -- Vv. 8-15.

III. RUTH'S COMMITMENT -- Vv. 16-22.

5 BEHAVIORS CHRIST DOES NOT WANT IN HIS CHURCHES -- Revelation 1:10-20

Sun, 21 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Some say the 7 churches of Asia represent seven distinct periods in history. Much of this is tied to Catholicism and the rise of Protestantism. Remember, true Baptists are not Protestants. We began before the Protestant Reformation and did not come out of the Catholic church. Another idea is that the 7 churches of Asia picture 7 distinct and dominant characteristics of churches that, again, coincide with 7 periods in history. If that is so, the dominant characteristic of the first century churches would be that of the church at Ephesus, etc. With that being so, the dominant characteristic of this present age would be that of Laodicea. (Now, I can believe that!) I believe it is possible that these 7 churches represent 7 types of churches that exist in all ages with their particular characteristics (or behaviors) being dominant, though not unanimous. Example: One church’s dominant behavior might be “Ephesian,” with some in the church holding the behaviors of the other six churches. This might explain why some churches are “on fire” for the Lord, while others seem to hold little interest in doing His will, or why some members will be dedicated to Him while others are not. Remember, as we look at these behaviors, we are dealing with true churches, not the world’s churches, and not “religion,” or “Christianity” in general. We commonly refer to Revelation chapters 2 and 3 as the “Letters To The 7 Churches Of Asia,” but they apply just as much to us today. As we examine these seven churches and their dominant behaviors, let us ask, “What kind of church are we, or what kind of church member am I?” Those "behaviors" are:

I. LOVELESSNESS -- REVELATION 2:1-7.

II. LAXITY - REVELATION 2:12-17.

III. LIBERALISM - REVELATION 2:18-29.

IV. LIFELESSNESS - REVELATION 3:1-6.

V. LUKEWARMNESS - REVELATION 3:14-22.

SEEING THE UNSEEN -- II KINGS 6:8-17

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500

This morning I want to bring us a message of hope from God’s Word. Now, I believe some will hear this message and think, “The preacher’s lost his mind.” Some will hear it and think, “Yes! That’s right. It’s what I have thought all along.” And, others will hear it and say, “I want to learn more about this.” This message is about seeing the unseen. As human beings we tend to judge circumstances, conditions, and events only by what we can see. In the middle of a foreboding difficulty we may see only the dangers and negative consequences. We may not see Romans 8:28 or James 1:2-4. Today we may look at what is going on in our nation and in the world and be filled with fear and dread. Let me ask this, “Do you believe in angels?” You should. The Bible clearly teaches they exist. Hebrews 1:13-14 says “But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” Do you believe in guardian angels? I do . . . and I believe in keeping mine busy. There are times that things happen, and we are preserved from injury or even death, and we cannot explain how we escaped. Example: “What caused me to go back into the house before I left for ? (And I don’t realize that I missed the semi that ran a red light in the intersection I would have passed through.) I believe, no, I know, with all of my heart that there is an unseen spirit world all about us. This is not a world of “ghosts and goblins” and all that ungodly Halloween stuff. No, it is much scarier, much more dangerous (in some ways) than that. It is a world of the demons of darkness, of principalities and powers, of spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). But, it is also a place of God’s angels who, as we just read, are “ministering spirits sent forth to minister (serve) for them who shall be heirs of salvation.” That’s us folks! Romans 8:17 says we are “heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” The text tells us about what seems to be a very dire situation in the life of the prophet Elisha. He was surrounded by the enemy, and there seemed, to the naked eye, to be no way out. Have you ever felt like that? Have you ever been in what seemed to be a hopeless situation? We all go through those times, and it may be that we will see more and more of them as this world grows more corrupt and the enemies of God and God’s people multiply. We all need to check our vision from time to time, because if we don’t we will certainly fail to see things clearly. Physically, we get our vision checked by an optometrist. Spiritually, we must turn the the Great Physician and His Word. That’s what Elisha did for his servant, & it gave hope to a hopeless situation. Notice first of all:

I. THE KING OF SYRIA SAW WHAT WAS NOT THERE – VV. 8-12.

II. ELISHA’S SERVANT SAW ONLY WHAT WAS THERE – VV. 13-15.

III. BUT ELISHA CLEARLY SAW GOD’S CARE – VV. 16-17.

LIBERTY IS NOT LICENSE -- II Corinthians 5:9-15

Sun, 07 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500

There are some today who, in their version of so-called Christianity, want to separate the triune God. They say that the God on the left side of the Bible (the Old Testament) is different from the God on the right side of the Bible (Jesus and the New Testament). These want to present Jesus as some sort of watered down, kinder and gentler version of the God of the Old Testament. Their version of Jesus, they say, doesn’t condemn or judge sin but wants to “get along” with sinners and let them work out their problems by themselves. Let me give you one quick bit of unsolicited advice. If you ever run into any of these people, don’t even give them the courtesy of listening to one word of their doctrine because it is straight out of the pits of hell. II John 10-11 says, “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” We worship and serve one God who manifests, or reveals Himself in three distinct personalities – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. His triune nature is seen in Genesis 1:1 when the Scripture says, “In the beginning God created the Heaven and the earth.” GOD is "elohim," meaning three strong ones. It is further revealed in Genesis 1:26 where God is recorded as saying, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness . . . ” (Who was He talking to? Himself.) The fact that the God of the Old Testament is the very same One as in the New Testament is found in what Isaiah prophesied in Isaiah 7:14 and the angel told Joseph in Matthew 1:23: "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” And to say that Jesus feels differently about sin than God did in the Old Testament is to err. Listen to John 2:13-15: “And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, 14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: 15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables . . . ” And notice how He is described in Revelation 19:11-16: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD of LORDS.” In that same chapter look at what the angel says (vv. 17-18): “And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.” Does that sound like the “Jesus” of many in today’s religious world? A Jesus who doesn’t mind sin? Now we come to our text where we are reminded that “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that hehath done, whether it be good or bad.” There are those in the religious realm that believe a saved person can so sin that they will lose their salvation – that God will take it away, or “kick them out” of His family, etc. However, we know that our salvation does not depend upon us or our works but upon the finished work of Jesus. For that reason we know we are secure in Christ. We also know that we have liberty in Him. Listen to what Paul says in Galatians 5:1: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Most of the religious world understands neither the security nor the liberty of the believer. Because they preach salvation by works, they have little understanding of grace. Salvation has to be by one or the other – grace or works – but it cannot be by a combination of the two. Romans 11:6: “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” And because we know the Bible to teach both security of the believer and liberty for the believer, we are often accused of continuing “in sin that grace may abound” (Romans 6:1). Unfortunately, the lives of some who profess Christ give credence to this accusation. But the eternal security of the believer and liberty in Christ are not given so we may “live as we want” after salvation (If this is your thinking, then you don't understand security.) Galatians 5:13 tells us that we are not to use liberty to serve the flesh. In I Corinthians. 8:9 we are told that we are not to allow our liberty in Christ is not to become a stumbling block to others (especially younger, spiritually weaker believers). Security and liberty, then, are based in Christ’s sacrifice (not man’s works) and are given so we may more freely and effectively serve our Lord. These verses offer at least three motives for serving God as He has commanded and for refusing to abuse the liberty and security God offers. They are:

I. THE AWAITING REWARDS FOR THE SAVED -- VV. 9-10.

II. AN AWESOME RESPECT FOR OUR SOVEREIGN -- VV. 11-13.

III. AN AFFECTIONATE REGARD FOR SOULS -- VV. 14-15.

MY FINAL MESSAGE (2023) -- Acts 20:26-27 ; II Timothy 4:6-8

Sun, 31 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0500

If you were driving by a house late and night and noticed that it was on fire, would you: 1) Drive on by, not wanting to make “too big a deal of it” and chance waking people up? 2) Or, yell loudly and beat on the door of that house to awaken the family that lived there (and even the whole neighborhood) to the danger of the fire? (I actually believe that most, if not all of us would try to awaken the family AND call 911.) But in this world we encounter people, sometimes daily, that are heading toward a hotter fire, and often we just pass them by. The English Puritan preacher Richard Baxter was plagued by poor health and “the frequent sight of Death’s most awful face.” As he was gripped by the urgency of the gospel message -- and the fleeting opportunity he had to proclaim it to the lost he wrote: “Still thinking I had little time to live, My fervent heart to win men’s souls did strive. I preach’d, as never sure to preach again, And as a dying man to dying men! ” We preachers are subject to the same vices as others. We sometimes joke about procrastination, but we have a natural tendency to overlook the present and put off for tomorrow what we should do today. Sometimes we think, “I will wait until another time to preach this message. Here is the one I want to preach today.” But of course, we are not promised tomorrow. I only get to preach today! So, if this very day is my one last chance to share God’s Word, would I preach differently? What if I preached as if my life depended upon it, as if I were to stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ immediately after the message and give an account for it? What if I pleaded with the lost to be saved and the saved to faithfully serve God? What if I spoke as a dying man to dying men? Why should I even consider such a thought – preaching as a dying man? It is because I am a dying man . . . and you are dying men and women (we don’t like to think about it), and we will one day stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ. Hebrews 9:27 reminds us that “ . . . it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment . . . ” James 4:14 tells us of the brevity of life: “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” Where did James get that idea? Inspiration! Observation! The Old Testament! Proverbs 27:1: “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” And not only is death certain, it is unpredictable as to the time of it. We probably all know of people who had their lives planned only to pass away before those plans could be carried out. In I Samuel 20:3 David said, “. . . there is but a step between me and death.” In Job 7:6 Job said, “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle . . . ” And in vs. 7 he said, “O remember that my life is wind . . . ” And in those verses he said, (vs. 6) “. . . and are spent without hope” and “. . . mine eye shall no more see good.” There is a sense of desperation in his words. Of course, we are aware of his physical condition at that time. Even some in the world understand the brevity of life (though their words may not acknowledge the eternal nature of man’s spirit). In the 1970s one musical group sang a song titled “Dust In The Wind.” Listen to some of the words. “I close my eyes only for a moment and the moment’s gone. All my dreams pass before my eyes, a curiosity. Dust in the wind, All they are is dust in the wind. All we do Crumbles to the ground, though we refuse to see. Don't hang on Nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky. It slips away. All the money won’t another minute buy. Dust in the wind, All we are is dust in the wind.” We are on the threshold of another year. (Isn’t it amazing that all it takes is for the minute hand to slip from 11:59 to 12:00 and we are suddenly in a new day, a new month, and a new year!) When the minute hand of our lives slips from now to eternity, we, too, will find all things new. As we face this new year we must wonder: 1) Will this be the year that Jesus comes? (That’s the best thing that could happen.) 2) Will this be the year that God calls me home? Once again, the quote from Richard Baxter encourages us, encourages me to preach “AS NEVER SURE TO PREACH AGAIN, AND AS A DYING MAN TO DYING MEN!” For that reason, I ask you to, as Paul said in II Corinthians 11:1, “bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me” for a little as I share My Final Message (For 2023) . . . or maybe for ever. I have put off this message, and even the preparing of it for a while. I have even tried to talk myself out of preaching it today, but as we approach the end of one year and the beginning of another, I feel led that NOW is the time to share it. If I knew for certain that after this moment I would never have another chance to preach . . .

I. I WOULD SPEAK FIRST TO THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW CHRIST AS SAVIOR.

II. I WOULD SPEAK NEXT TO THOSE WHO ARE SAVED.

III. AND I WOULD SPEAK TO THE LORD’S CHURCH WHERE I AM.

THINGS TO DO FOR CHRISTMAS -- LUKE 2:21-40

Sat, 23 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0500

I have been looking at titles of some “Christmas” messages that have been preached by Baptist pastors. Listen to some of these titles: “How The Grinch Store Christmas” (begins by reading from Dr. Seuss); “The Grinch That Stole Christmas”; “Don’t Let The Grinch Steal Christmas” (again citing the story by Dr. Seuss); “What Would ET See?” (begins, “This morning I am going to re-write a movie. Let’s suppose that you were a character in the movie ET.”); “Did The Magi Do Magic?” (“This ‘Christmas’ stuff is enough to drive a person crazy!”)“; A Christmas Message From The Peanuts Gang” (He says, “I want to try and preach this message by way of the Holy Spirit and through the eyes of Charles Shultz's characters, “A Christmas Message From The Peanut Gang”; “What Would Santa Claus Say About Christmas?”; and my favorite: “Rejoice Anyway.” Now, I know that preachers like to come up with interesting titles for their messages, sometimes in order to cause people to want to listen to their message. And, I don’t know anything about the messages these preached, but if the titles in any way indicate what the message was about, some folks are going far astray and out into left field in their preaching. Christmas is about Jesus! I’ll say it again, CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT JESUS! I realize that the business world doesn’t think so. (Many won’t even let their employees say “Merry Christmas.” It has to be “Happy Holidays,” or something along that line.) I believe it is obvious that the advertising world doesn’t think so. And I am beginning to believe that the majority of the “religious” world tends to forget Jesus at this time of year. One of the great dangers of Christmas (especially our modern day celebration of it) is that we will forget the real reason a certain day in December has been set aside to celebrate it. This is a busy time of year. There are places to go and things that must get done. Sometimes, to help us out, we make out a “to do” list so we can keep up with “what else” needs to be done. Well, this morning I want to add 3 things to your “to do” list as we consider Christmas 2023.

I. WE NEED TO CONSIDER THE WONDER - VS. 33.

II. WE NEED TO COME TO WORSHIP -- VS. 20.

III. WE NEED TO COMMIT TO WITNESSING -- VV. 16-18.

LOVE THAT’S OUT OF THIS WORLD -- I JOHN 3:1-3

Sat, 16 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0500

A little boy asked his father, “Daddy, what is a Christian?” His dad replied, “Well, a Christian is a person who loves and obeys God. He loves his friends and neighbors and even his enemies. He prays often, is kind, gentle, holy, and more interested in going to heaven than in earthly riches. That, son, is a Christian!” The little boy looked reflective for a moment, then asked, “Have I ever seen one?” The dad in that story gave a pretty good description of a faithful and devoted child of God, but imagine the father’s shock when his son asked if he had ever actually seen such a person! Is it possible that we who are saved sometimes talk a good talk, but walk a poor walk? Is it possible that we might be able to tell others what a Christian is and may even profess to be one ourselves but have never shown them a Christian? In chapter 2 of First John the Apostle has dealt with the world in vv. 15-17. In vv. 18-19 he has dealt with the worldly. Beginning in vs. 20 he draws a contrast between the child of God and the world. The saved have an “unction from the Holy One.” “Unction means an anointing, a special endowment. This is a reference to the Holy Spirit, with whom all true believers are anointed. It speaks of the coming of the Spirit into the heart of the believer at the moment of salvation. It is never repeated. The Old Testament priests were anointed with oil just once, when they were inducted into their office. In the New Testament believers are spoken of as priests and are anointed with the Spirit just once – when they are saved (the point of being inducted into the office of priest). Vv. 26-28 tell us that the “unction” we have received will: 1) Teach us the truth – “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and . . . teacheth you of all things, and is truth . . . ” In vs. 20 he says these believers, “know all things.” “Know all things” means that this anointing (unction) gives believers the ability to “rightly divide the word of truth” (understand the Word of God and to detect error). In I Corinthians 2:12-14 we read, “ Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (13) Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (14) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” This “unction” will also lead us to (vs. 27) “abide” (be fixed, settled down, at home) in him.” This anointing has great potential, but the help only comes when the believer is filled (controlled by) the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). As believers we are warned not to “quench” the Spirit and not to “grieve” the Spirit -- I Thessalonians 5:19 ; Ephesians 4:30. But what does John say about those who would deny Jesus? They are liars – vs. 22: “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.” “Liar” speaks of someone who utters an untruth, or attempts to deceive by falsehood. Then he says, “He is antichrist . . . ” Not the antichrist, but he is of the same spirit as The Antichrist. What spirit is Antichrist of? Satan’s. The antichrist spirit offers “something else” in the place of Christ for salvation – baptism, good works, church membership, legalism/law . . . Then in vs. 23 John deals with what we might call the “unfaithful believer,” but hear what he says: “Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father . . . ” He goes on to say, “(but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.” But think about those words, “Whosoever denieth the Son . . . ” “Denieth” means to contradict, to disavow, to reject, to abnegate. Is there any other way to deny Jesus other than saying, “Jesus is not God?” Or, “I don’t believe in Jesus?” The answer is “YES!”? Look at vs. 19: “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” This is talking about their lives, their living. Why do some people leave the Lord’s churches? They were never saved in the first place. When some come along and say, “I am saved,” but only last a few months – with no change of desire, no change of life – that is good evidence that “they were not of us.” And then the Apostle tells us in vv. 28-29 how to live so that we leave no question about our relationship with the Lord. In vs. 29 he talks about “right living:” “If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that (habitually) doeth righteousness is born of him.” In vs. 28 he tells us how to have that habitually righteous life so that we are not ashamed before our Lord: “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.” And now in the first 3 verses of chapter 3 John is going to remind us of what we are, what we shall be, and what we should be as children of God. We see:

I. WHAT WE ARE (THE DIGNITY OF THE BELIEVER) -- VS. 1.

II. WHAT WE SHALL BE (THE DESTINY OF THE BELIEVER) -- VS. 2.

III. WHAT WE SHOULD BE (THE DUTY OF THE BELIEVER) - VS. 3.

DOING THE KING’S BUSINESS -- Daniel 8:23-27

Sun, 10 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0500

For the last few weeks we have been looking at things that are going to take place in these “last days” in which we live. We have concentrated primarily on what will happen to the saved. We have seen that the “dead in Christ,” those who have died trusting Christ as Savior, will rise first. Then, we which are alive and remain will be caught up with them to meet the Lord in the air. But, sadly, we have also seen that those who do not know Christ as Savior will be left on the earth to endure the seven years of tribulation that are to come upon the earth and its inhabitants. In Daniel 8 the prophet was given a vision of coming world history, and it was so disturbing that he said in vs. 27, “And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days . . . ” Today we who are God’s people, we who are saved, are seeing things in our world and in our nation that should make us at least heart-sick if not physically ill. We are seeing - perversion, crime, greed, the killing of the innocent (babies/abortion), mothers who have no love for their children, and fathers who are abusive both physically and sexually toward their children. We are seeing a general refusal to acknowledge the existence of the God of Heaven. We are seeing terrorism on an unprecedented scale - and much of it is aimed at God’s people Israel and at those who support them. We are seeing the filth of Hollywood paraded before us, even brought into our homes by way of television, and the people who put it on and perform in it are treated like gods and goddesses. We are also seeing things in the Lord’s churches that should similarly affect us. We are seeing those who profess to have been redeemed by the precious blood of the only begotten Son of God forsake their Savior, His churches, and God Himself. We are seeing a lack of faithfulness to Bible study, prayer, and church attendance on a grand scale. We are seeing entire churches, for the sake of a few more (possibly unregenerate) members turn their backs on “the faith that was once delivered unto the saints.” We are seeing the Bible “retranslated” to appeal to this modern generation and the old hymns that appealed to the spirit more than to the feet and to the flesh forsaken. To that generation I echo some words I read the other day, “God is not going to rewrite the Bible for your generation. Stop trying to change Scripture when it is written to change you.” And your choruses that you sing over and over (almost as a chant) may make you dreamy eyed about tomorrow, but the words of the old hymns spoke Scripture to the hearts of men. With all that is going on in the world it is easy for a true child of God to get to thinking about Heaven and how wonderful it will be to be in the presence of the Lord, but we are not to get so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good. After Gabriel revealed to Daniel the meaning of the vision he had seen (vv. 16-27), Daniel said he fainted “and was sick certain days.” Not only was he ill for a few days, after Daniel went back to work at the king’s business, he says he continued to be “astonished (greatly troubled) (I’m afraid if Daniel had been a average believer of today, he would have just stayed in the sick bed several days longer, and after he got up might have said, “Well, I just can’t go on” and quit.) This message concentrates on 8 words of the final verse of Daniel 8 where Daniel, in spite of being ill and greatly troubled said, “. . . I rose up, and did the king’s business . . . ” When I think about those words one of the first thoughts that comes to mind is what Jesus said in Luke chapter 2. Mary, and Joseph, and Jesus had gone to Jerusalem for the Passover and when they started home 12 year old Jesus “tarried behind in Jerusalem” (Luke 2:43). What did he say to Mary and Joseph when they found Him? Vs. 49 - “How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” I must be about “. . . my Father’s business . . . ” “. . . rose up and did the king’s business . . . ” We know Jesus is going to return. We just don’t know when. We know those left behind after the Rapture will face a terrible time of tribulation. We have this information but are we really doing anything with it or about it? God’s people today need to get up, get out and do the King’s business. What is the King’s business? Matthew 28:18-20 tell us what it is - to make, mark, and mature disciples. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." It is my humble belief that in the last 40 to 50 years many of the Lord's churches have forgotten that purpose for our existence A business-type, “bigger is better” mentality seems to have affected our thinking. For that reason many churches seem to exist for the sake of numbers only. They appear to believe that “bigger” makes everything we do right. It is the “ends justifies the means” mentality. So, they seek programs, entertainment, and activities that will “draw” the world. However, our Lord gave us a command to follow, and He has told us how to follow it. A New Testament church is to be a disciple making body - not an entertainment medium for the world or an “exclusive” club for the saved. We are not here to make the world feel better about itself, but to be witnesses of Jesus Christ to this sin laden, sin cursed world -- Acts 1:8: “Ye shall be witnesses unto me . . . ” In our text Jesus told us how to make disciples, and and we are going to see how He said we are to go about this disciple making process, how to do “the king’s business.”

I. FIRST, THERE IS THE MAKING OF DISCIPLES.

II. NEXT THERE IS THE MARKING OF DISCIPLES.

III. FINALLY THERE IS THE MATURING OF DISCIPLES.

OUR BLESSED HOPE -- II Peter 3:9-10 ; Titus 2:11-13 ; I Corinthians 15:51-53 ; I Thessalonians 4:13-18

Sat, 02 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Over the past few weeks we have been talking about how near we are to the Second Coming of Christ, but today we are going to look at what happens when He comes. Many right now are feverishly preparing to observe the first coming of Jesus into the world (you may be one of them; you may not), but more than that we should be preparing for and looking for His Second Coming. The Second Coming of Christ has been the subject of thousands of songs and probably hundreds of thousands of Bible messages. Millions of saved people have believed throughout the ages that there would be a time called the “last days,” and that the “last days” would culminate with the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus. This has been the hope of believers since the first century. (Look at what Paul said in I Thessalonians 4 - “we which are alive and remain . . . ”) But not everyone has this hope, and not everyone will believe this message. Some scoff at the idea of Jesus coming again. There are those who rank people who believe the Bible as “hucksters,” and, by the way, that is the spirit that prevails in these “last days.” But, this is a Baptist church, and true Baptists believe the Bible is our authority in matters of faith and practice. We believe in opening the Bible and hearing what God has to say to His people. As we have seen, There are many different indicators of our living in the “last days.” Today we are seeing and hearing things now that we could only imagine 20 or 30 years ago. Several years ago Joel Rosenburg said, “To truly understand the significance of global events and trends, one must analyze them through . . . the lens of Scripture. Only then can the full picture be clearer." I believe we are seeing what Revelation 12:12 talks about when we read, “Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Sadly, some of God’s people will react in fear over what is going on in our world and especially in our nation, and many will become discouraged to see the present lack of love for God and country. But, today we can find comfort and hope knowing God’s timetable is right on course, and Jesus is coming soon. That's why, in Titus 2:13, the Bible calls the Second Coming of Jesus our “blessed hope.” It is the hope of being with the Lord in Heaven -- Colossians 1:4-5: “Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, (5) For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel . . . ” And it is based on what we have learned from Scripture which is called in II Peter 1:19 “a more sure word of prophecy . . . ” I don’t really care about the politicians’ and the political prognosticators’ opinion on these matters. What I want to know (and what we should want to know) is, “What does the Bible say about it?” That is what we’re going to examine today. What does the Bible say about the catching away of the saved?

I. THE ASSERTION OF THE RAPTURE.

II. THE ASSURANCE OF THE RAPTURE.

III. THE ANTICIPATION OF THE RAPTURE.

WHEN THE LAUGHTER ENDS, OR JESUS IS COMING! (GET RIGHT OR GET LEFT) -- I Thessalonians 5:1-11

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Last week we were reminded of the greatness and glory of God and how He deserves our praise and our thanksgiving. The week before we were warned that conditions are right for the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. This morning we are going to consider once again the coming of the Lord. After reminding the Thessalonians of “. . . how ye ought to walk and to please God . . . ” in the first Part of chapter 4 (I Thessalonians 4:1) how that “. . . no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter” (vs. 6) and “That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without,” (vs. 12) Paul begins speaking to the Thessalonians about end-time events, and his warning carries over into chapter 5. Of course, we are (or should be) familiar with 4:16-18: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (18) Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” Then in chapter 5 (vv. 1-11) he informs them (and us) of the conditions of that day and what should be a believer’s conduct in that day. Based on what the Bible tells us we can know we are nearing the time of Christ’s return. However, I often wonder if God’?s people today really believe that Jesus is coming soon . . . because many don’t act like it. This is evidenced by empty buildings, idle baptistries, ignored Bibles, and wasted lives. All of these indicate that a great number of “professed” believers don't truly believe that Jesus could could come today! This is evidenced by our idleness. For example, If you were at work and the boss gave you an important and immediate project, saying, “Drop everything else. This is of utmost importance. I need it done by this certain time, would you get to work on it right away? Another example is, (since it is after Thanksgiving and many decorate their houses for Christmas) if your wife said, “I have to go shopping, but it would be nice if you had the lights up when I return (and you wanted to please her), would you try to get it done? Jesus said, “Occupy till I come.” OCCUPY means to be employed with labor; be busy with a occupation. And He has clearly told us in Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8 what our main business is to be. The question is, “Are we occupying?” I only have two points to the message this morning, but in it we will see in vv. 1-11 the conditions of these last days and how God expects us to live in these last days.

I. THE CHARACTER OF THAT DAY – VV. 1-5.

II. OUR CONDUCT IN THAT DAY -- VV. 6-11.

SHOUT AND SING PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING TO GOD -- PSALM 95

Sun, 19 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500

As you are well aware, I am not known for my “special occasion” or “special day” preaching. However, I feel led today, especially since Thursday is the day we refer to as “Thanksgiving Day," to consider our giving of thanks and praise to our God. Thursday we will carry out a tradition as old as America. (The things you are about to hear probably are not taught in our public schools today since we want to erase any hint of God from public education in America.) In 1621 -- after a terrible year in which half their number died of starvation or disease, the Pilgrims set aside 3 days in December to praise the Lord for a bountiful corn harvest. Later in 1789, President George Washington proclaimed November 26 as a national day of Thanksgiving unto the Lord. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln revived the tradition of rendering thanks unto the Lord. Finally in 1941, the United States Congress decreed that the fourth Thursday in November was to be a national day of Thanks giving unto the Lord God. For many, Thursday will be a day when the family gathers, eats too much, some watch football on TV, and, most importantly, they do not have to go to work. I hope that it means more than that to us! We are to be thankful to the Lord every day of our lives. In fact, God goes so far as to say that being thankful to Him is His will for our lives. I Thessalonians 5:18: “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” In truth, we must never be guilty of allowing our thanks and our praise to God to wait until “Thanksgiving Day” to be expressed. Yet, I am afraid that we tend to be an ungrateful people! Children are ungrateful to parents. People are ungrateful to one another. And, worst of all, people are ungrateful to God. Thankfully, there are portions of Scripture like the one we just read in which we can find, not only a challenge and a call to be thankful, but also plenty of reasons why we should thank he Lord for His goodness toward us. Psalm 95 is part of a series of Psalms that begin with Psalm 91 and which look ahead to the advent and coronation of the King, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is suggested that the keynote for this psalm is found in Psalm 93. According to tradition, these psalms were used at the dedication of the second temple. However, this psalm has its true setting in the Millennial Kingdom during the reign of Christ. It is a time when all the world will be filled with righteousness and all men everywhere will exalt the Name of the Lord. It is a time when His praises will fill the earth as they should at all times. It will be a time when the glory of Jesus will literally fill the earth. (Thank God, that you and I that are saved will get to share in that glorious Kingdom!) 4. So, let's examine this psalm, especially the first 7 verses, and see what it says about giving praise to the Lord and about being thankful to Him. Here is:

I. THE INVITATION TO ENTER HIS PRESENCE -- VV. 1-2.

II. THE DECLARATION THAT EXPRESSES HIS POWER - Vv. 3-5.

III. THE DEMONSTRATIONS THAT EXCLAIM HIS PRAISES -- VV. 4-5.

RAPTURE WARNING! -- MATTHEW 24:1-8

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Today we have apps for just about everything -- weather, news, health, the Bible. Earlier this week I was listening to my radio, listening to police calls, and I heard one that interested me, then confused me a little, and then caused me to consider some things about the day in which we live. I thought I heard the dispatcher say that a woman had received a “rapture warning” on her cell phone and wanted to speak with an officer. Now, somebody would say, “I would like to have that app!” I even thought “That’s interesting. What if there really were such a warning?” Then I thought, “There is! It is called the Word of God.” So you and I do not need an app to warn us of the coming rapture or tell us it has taken place. (If you have to have an app that tells you the rapture has occurred, YOU MISSED IT!) I am going to read a number of verses from Matthew chapter 24 as our text this morning.

[TEXT]

Aren’t you thankful that we don’t need an app to get a “rapture warning,” but that we can read the Word of God and by the power of the Holy Spirit understand it! I Corinthians 2:14 is speaking of God’s Word just as much as of any other promise or dealing we have with God. It says, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” Those who are saved can read the Bible and understand what God is saying to us. (But it takes time and study to “get it.”) The unsaved, those without spiritual discernment, do not have that ability. I want to give you a “rapture warning” this morning. This message has been a while coming. With the things that are happening in Israel right now, many people have many questions. I cannot answer all of those questions, but I can tell you it is just another indication that the time of Christ’s return is drawing nearer and nearer. So this morning I want give you a “rapture warning” and share with you some reasons we need to be ready for it and, if we have time, we'll see some ways to get ready for it.

I. WE HAVE A WARNING IN THE WORLD IN GENERAL.

II. THERE ARE ALSO WARNINGS IN THE REALM OF RELIGION.

III. THE CONDITION OF THE LORD'S CHURCHES AND MANY WHO PROFESS CHRIST AS SAVIOR.

PRAYING WITH POWER -- ACTS 4:23-33

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500

As I read some of the great prayers of the Bible I cannot help but ask, “Why can’t God’s people pray like that and with that kind of power today?” Maybe I should ask, “Why don’t we pray like that and with that kind of power today?” Look at the prayer in our text. Peter and John had been arrested for preaching Jesus. They were released and told never to preach in His name again. Peter and John reported to the Jerusalem church what had happened, and look at what vs. 24 says: “And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is . . . ” They began to pray! But notice, “. . . they lifted up their voice . . . WITH ONE ACCORD . . . ” Can you imagine that! Here is a united church, all praying at the same time, and all praying for the same thing! Imagine the power! And if you can’t imagine it, look at vs. 31: "And when they had prayed, THE PLACE WAS SHAKEN where they were assembled together; and THEY WERE ALL FILLED with the Holy Ghost, and THEY SPAKE THE WORD of God WITH BOLDNESS.” Why can’t we have a prayer meeting like that today? We can, but too many of God’s people . . . 1) Are out of fellowship with the Father; 2) Or, are not serious in their praying (praying for the wrong things); Or, have a lack of real faith in the Lord; Or, are unwilling to obey God. The fact is that we can have an earth shaking prayer meeting, but it is going to require some real commitment on our part - commitment to God, to Christ, and to God’s Word. We cannot “play church” and have that kind of prayer meeting. We cannot be like many churches today - just going through the motions - and have that kind of prayer meeting. We cannot try to be like everyone else, fall in with the status quo, and expect God to bless us with that kind of power. There IS power in prayer! The Scripture tells us of Elijah in James 5:17-18. It says that Elijah prayed “that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. (18) And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.” But notice how he prayed, “Elijah prayed EARNESTLY . . . ” EARNESTLY = (Webster) “characterized by or proceeding from an intense and serious state of mind.” The language says, “Elijah prayed with prayer.” Quite literally it is saying, “Elijah ‘got with it’ in his praying. He wasn’t playing around. When he prayed Elijah meant business with God.” And note what it says about the one who was doing the praying. Elijah “was a man subject to like passions as we are . . . ” He was not some “super saint.” (Remember his depression when Jezebel threatened him?) But vs. 16 says it is the “effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man” that “availeth much.” EFFECTUAL FERVENT = (energeo) active, energetic, efficient; at work, active in operation. Think of the Gethsemane prayer of Jesus. Hebrews 5:5-6 lets us know that the writer is speaking of Jesus. Then in vs. 7 he says of the Lord: “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications WITH STRONG CRYING AND TEARS unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared . . . ” (STRONG = forcible. There was some force or power behind it. It is translated in other places as “mighty, powerful, valiant.”) (CRYING = from krazo to scream, to call aloud (translated “to cry out”). Hear what Luke 22:44 says about the prayer of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane: “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (AGONY = anguish ; MORE EARNESTLY = more intently; fervently.) Have you ever prayed in agony? Where you were so burdened that you fell to your knees (in your heart and in your flesh) before God, able only to cry out with a loud voice, exclaiming “God, help me!” (Ever been there? I have!) You will do that when you’re told that your mother has brain cancer and has maybe two months to live, and she has asked you to preach her funeral! You will do that when the weight of the world is so great upon you that you have to have some relief, and you know that the only One who can give it is God. You will pray that way when you feel the burden of the entire church and her future upon you. And you will do it with strong crying and tears, also. I fear that way too many of the prayers of “the saints” today are weak and ineffective. Prayers that come (only) from the head up are often that way. The Lord’s churches and this “God bless America” of ours are in a crisis today and they need the effectual prayer, fervent, foundation shaking prayer made with strong crying and tears of God’s people. “One of these days soon, if we do not change, we’re going to wake up and find the America that we once knew and the liberty we once enjoyed as the Lord’s churches are gone.” For the remainder of this message we are going to look at the prayer Daniel prayed in Daniel 9. Daniel had been give the vision of what is referred to as Daniel’s 70th week. He declares in chapter 8 that he did not understand the vision. Vs. 27 says: “And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.” Daniel prayed for two things - deliverance and understanding. Deliverance from the Babylonians and understanding of the vision. We could/should be praying for those two things today. Deliverance - America has been taken captive by the world, the flesh, and the devil. Understanding - That the eyes of God’s people would be opened and they would understand that we are, indeed, living in the last days. But we’re not going to look so much at the content of Daniel’s prayer as we are at the construction of it - not what he prayed for, but how he prayed. If we want to pray with power we need to follow his example. We must:

I. PRAY WITH SERIOUS CONCENTRATION -- VS. 3.

II. PRAY WITH STEADFAST CONFIDENCE -- VS 4.

III. PRAY WITH SINCERE CONFESSION -- VV. 4-7.

IV. WE ARE TO PRAY WITH SPIRITUAL CONCERN.

SIX IDOLS TO AVOID IN OUR CHURCH LIFE -- Acts 17:13-16 ; Exodus 20:1-6

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Paul had preached the Gospel at Thessalonica, but the unbelieving Jews had run him out of town. So, he went to Berea and preached. But when the Jews of Thessalonica heard that the word of God was preached at Berea, they went there and stirred up the people against Paul. There will always be someone who does not want the Gospel preached to the lost. Of course, the main one in this category is Satan. II Corinthians 4:4 says he blinds “the minds of them which believe not” lest the light of the Gospel should shine unto them. Fearing for Paul’s life, those around him set him from Berea to Athens. Apparently, they thought Athens would be a safe place for Paul. Maybe they knew about the reputation of the Greeks and those of Athens that they “. . . spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing” (vs. 21). Vs. 16 tells us that while Paul waited in Athens “ . . . his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.” “Stirred” has the thought of being sharpened. Figuratively it speaks of being exasperated. When Paul saw that the people in Athens worshipped many false gods and even had an altar to one they called “THE UNKNOWN God” (vs. 23) he boldly declared the God of Heaven to them. In vs. 21 Paul told the people, “Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.” “Superstitious” here refers to being “religious.” In fact, it speaks of being “more religious than others.” Athens was overrun with (false) gods and religion, but the people there had never heard of Jehovah God or Jesus Christ, Emanuel, God with us! This just shows us that being “religious” does not necessarily refer to someone’s having a relationship with the true and living God. “Religion” is Satan’s biggest business to keep people from coming to Jesus as Savior. Our world, and our nation are overrun with religion and idols today. It may be some sports star, or some singer, or (Lord help us) some actor. We even have a television show called “American Idol.” I believe that some of the TV preachers have tried to make themselves idols to those they have lured into following them. And throughout the world there are innumerable adherents of false religions that worship statues and man made idols, hoping to appease “the gods” or their god so they might have an easier life and end up in their version of paradise. What is an idol? I have seen and heard several definitions of what an idol is. Webster’s dictionary says it is “a representation or symbol of a deity used as an object of worship: a false god.” One writer said simply that an idol is the work of our own hands. (I think he left a lot out.) But the best definition of an idol that I have ever heard is “anything we love more, fear more, cherish more, or serve more than God.” Webster indicated that one who serves an idol does so with “passionate devotion.” We read as a part of our text God’s prohibition of idols among His people. In fact the first two of the ten commandments state that prohibition in dealing with the worship of God. Exodus 20:3: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:4: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image . . . ” But even with that prohibition it seems that God’s people have had a problem with idols. In Genesis 35:2 Jacob had to say to his household, “Put away the strange gods that are among you . . . ” In Joshua 24:23 Joshua had to say to the Israelites, “Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you . . .” In Isaiah 31:7 the prophet assured Israel that God would defend and deliver then and said, “For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin.” And in Ezekiel 14:6 God told Ezekiel to “. . . say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.” What is the problem with idols? First, because there is only one God, and He alone deserves our worship. To worship anyone or anything else is simply a following a lie. What does Psalm 96:8-9 say? “Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. (9) O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.” We have to battle against erecting idols today - sometimes in our own lives, and sometimes in our church life. I want to share with you this morning 6 idols that, if we are not careful, will destroy our individual lives and damage the life of this church.

I. LETHARGY.

II. THE “FOLLOW YOUR HEART” ATTITUDE.

III. COMPROMISE.

IV. RELYING UPON PROGRAMS FOR CHURCH GROWTH.

V. BELIEVERS WITH BIG EGOS.

VI. EMOTIONALISM.

ARE YOU BUILDING AN ARK? -- HEBREWS 11:7

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0500

We have seen things occur in our nation and in the world, not just in our lifetimes but more so in recent years, that we never imagined that we would see. But with all of that I believe there are things coming to the world and to the United States that are "not yet seen” and that we, in our wildest dreams, could never imagine. In I John 2:18 the Apostle John said, “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” We know that The Antichrist will bring in his one-world government, one-world, universal religion, and his one-world economy. But John also says the spirit of antichrist is already in the world and that there are those who picture the spirit and attitude of The Antichrist in this world as well. Listen to what John says in I John 4:3: “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist . . . ” We need to be reaching our loved ones, our friends, our neighbors, and even strangers with the Gospel because even though we won’t be around to see some of the things that are going to take place, they will be if they don’t know Jesus as Savior and Lord. What does that have to do with our text? God told Noah “There are some things coming that you have not seen before and could never imagine. In Genesis 6:13 He warned him, “. . . The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.” Why did God say that? In Genesis 6:1-3 we are told, “And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, (2) That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. (3) And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.” The “sons of God” is a reference to the descendants of Seth, the line of faith, those who followed God. Genesis 4:26: “And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord” (or be called by, identified with, the name of the Lord). The “daughters of men” refers to the daughters of those unbelievers who descended from Cain. The result of these unions, I believe, was that many of God’s people, intermarrying with the lost, were becoming just like the lost. But look at Genesis 6:8-9: “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” Why? “(9) These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.” Can you think of any other Old Testament character who “walked with God?” Enoch. Who was Enoch? He was Noah’s great-grandfather.) So God chose this one man, Noah, to live through the flood that He brought upon the earth and to go forth and replenish it after the floodwaters were gone. (Don’t ever think that your life will not matter to future generations!) And because of Noah’s faithfulness to God, he is recorded in Hebrews 11, a chapter in the Bible which many call God’s Hall of Faith, or God’s Hall of The Faithful, etc. Noah gets one verse in that chapter, but it says so much to us today. When God said to Noah, “There’s something coming that you have never seen before,” Noah believed Him and responded to Him. First we see that . . .

I. NOAH REACTED WITH FEAR.

II. NOAH RESPONDED WITH FAITH.

III. NOAH RESTED IN FAITHFULNESS (THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD).

3 THINGS NOT PREACHED THE BIBLE WAY (IN CHURCHES TODAY) -- II Timothy 4:2-4 ; Isaiah 5:20-21

Sun, 08 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0500

This morning we are going to examine “3 Things Not Preached The Bible Way In Churches Today.” Of course in this message we are not necessarily referring to every church because I believe there are still some churches where the pure, unvarnished truth of God’s Word is declared without any attempt to “round the corners” or “soften the edges” of it. And, I want to believe that this is one of those churches. But we live in a day when many preachers have become a lot like politicians and have learned the art of speaking without really saying anything. Now, I have shared with you before that part of the reason this happens is because some are afraid of the people they preach to. It’s called “job security.” “If I ‘tell it like it is’ (better yet, like God wants it told) I might be fired, or lose popularity, or offend someone of “importance” in the church. And, yes, I confess that I have been guilty of “softening” the message to some to “keep from being run off. (Also, “If I’m not here the next pastor might not love the truth as much as I do,etc.”) But listen, if we preachers don’t tell it like it is, like God wants it told, we WILL offend someone in the church . . . and His name is JESUS! The Bible is the Word of God, and it cuts to the heart. What did we read last week from Hebrews 4:12? “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” The Word of God is divisive! It will divide our real motives from the pretense we use to convince ourselves we are doing O.K. James (1:23-25) compares it to a mirror. Did you ever look into the mirror and not like what you saw looking back at you? If you will seriously and honestly look into the mirror of God’s Word, it may well be that what you see looking back is not the person you thought was standing there. Let me give you a brief example from the book of I John. I John 2:4 -- The Claim: “He that saith, I know him . . . ” The Condition: “. . . and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” I John 2:9 -- The Claim: “He that saith he is in the light . . .” The Condition: “. . . and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.” I John 2:6 -- The Claim: “He that saith he abideth in him . . . ” The Condition: “. . . ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” One’s claim to be something or do something is examined and revealed by God’s Word. One more example. Matthew 7:21 -- The Claim: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven . . . ” These are “religious” people trying to claim Heaven by their works. Who will enter the kingdom of heaven? The Condition: “but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” There is a lot of preaching going on today. There is probably more access to the Word of God today than ever before - even in the midst of the moral decay of this nation - but much of the preaching is merely rhetoric. Much of it is “nice little talks,” “religious performances,” and “fair speeches (which) deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:18). And you don’t have to go to the “religious channel” on TV, or to YouTube or Facebook, or somewhere else on the internet to find it. It is going on right here, right now in this town today. And they are drawing the masses because they would rather hear soft words and comforting phrases, to hear how “good” they are, and to get a “warm fuzzy” so they can go away saying, “My what a wonderful child of God I am. He is so lucky to have me on His side.” To those who do not preach like that some will say, “I don’t like what you preach. It is too plain. I’ll go down the street and listen to Dr. Sounding Brass, or Dr. Tinkling cymbal. And much of that type of preaching is taking place is in these three areas I will mention today.

I. SIN IS NOT BEING PREACHED THE BIBLE WAY IN MANY CHURCHES TODAY!

II. SALVATION IS NOT BEING PREACHED THE BIBLE WAY IN CHURCHES TODAY!

III. SANCTIFICATION IS NOT BEING PREACHED THE BIBLE WAY IN CHURCHES TODAY!

SATAN’S ATTACKS ON TRUE CHURCHES -- ACTS 8:1-3 ; II TIMOTHY 3:1-5 ; 4:1-4

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0500

We have already seen that Satan attacks God’s Word, the believer, and the Christian home. Today we are going to examine Satan’s attacks on the Lord’s true churches. Satan’s attacks upon the Lord’s true churches began almost immediately with the establishment of that first church. The one that Jesus started. Jesus and His disciples were constantly harassed by the religious elite of that day, the Scribes and Pharisees. Ultimately, they crucified the Shepherd and scattered the sheep. On the day of Pentecost the witnessing members of that church at Jerusalem were accused of being drunk at 9 o’clock in the morning (Acts 2:13, 15). Some said, “These men are full of new wine.” In Acts 3, 4, & 5 we see Peter and the others being persecuted, jailed, beaten, and told not to preach in the name of Jesus again. In Acts 7 we see Deacon Stephen being stoned to death for declaring Jesus. And in Acts 8:1 as we read a few minutes ago: “And Saul was consenting unto his (Stephen’s) death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles." Vs. 3 says, “As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.” Not only were the Lord’s churches attacked by persecution, they were attacked by false teachers and false teaching - perversion of the Word of God - as well. Jude wrote (Jude 3-4): “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (4) For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul warned (II Corinthians 11:13-15): “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. (14) And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (15) Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness . . . ” During the Dark Ages the Lord’s people were persecuted, put into prison, and killed for their faith, their faithfulness to Christ, and their conviction of the truth. Which causes me to ask, “Do you think that in 2023 we could find many church members with that kind of faith and conviction? We can’t even get them to come to church on a sunny Sunday morning (much less a rainy one), so why believe that more than just a few would take their stand for the Lord? And Satan is still attacking and will continue to attack the Lord’s churches today. He is waging an all out war against the Lord and His churches because he knows that his time is short. Revelation 12:12: “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down Unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Listen as God’s Word describes our day in II Timothy 4:3-4: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine . . . 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” Satan is attacking the Lord’s true churches today, and here are six of the ways he attacks.

I. HE CAUSES DOUBT ABOUT OUR MISSION.

II. HE CAUSES DISBELIEF ABOUT OUR MESSAGE.

III. HE CAUSES DISOBEDIENCE ABOUT HER MORALS.

IV. HE CAUSES DIVISION AMONG HER MEMBERSHIP.

V. SATAN CAUSES DEFIANCE ABOUT HER MAJESTY.

VI. HE SEEKS TO DERAIL OUR MOMENTUM.

HOW SATAN ATTACKS THE WORD OF GOD -- GENESIS 3:1-6

Sun, 24 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0500

The Word of God is under attack today and, in fact, has been since the beginning of creation. Satan hates the Bible when it is preached in truth and power, but he loves it when he, or men, twist it and pervert its teachings in order to lead unsuspecting souls into hell. Right now some, either because they do not know any better or because they don’t care, are preaching false messages from the very Word we have open before us. But we know that the Bible “is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). This signifies that the Word penetrates to the innermost recesses of our spiritual being just like a sword cuts through the joints and marrow of the body. Often people wonder how a preacher’s message can be so relevant to their lives. They sometimes honestly wonder if the preacher has secret information about their life. But it isn’t necessarily the preacher at all. It is the leading of the Spirit and the sharpness of the Word of God, delivering the right message, in just the right place, at just the right time. Charles Spurgeon on the Hebrews 4:12: “A sword with two edges has no blunt side: it cuts both this way and that. The revelation of God given us in Holy Scripture is edge all over. It is alive in every part, and in every part keen to cut the conscience, and wound the heart. Depend upon it, there is not a superfluous verse in the Bible, nor a chapter which is useless. While it has an edge like a sword, it has also a point like a rapier, ‘Piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit.’ The difficulty with some men’s hearts is to get at them. In fact, there is no spiritually penetrating the heart of any natural man except by this piercing instrument, the Word of God. But the rapier of revelation will go through anything.” God’s Word is both a sword and a mirror -- Ephesians 6:17 ; James 1:23-25. It is this Word that tells us of our enemy, Satan and how he attacks the Word of God. 1. He is a liar and a murderer -- John 8:44. 2. He does his best to hide the Gospel from poor, deluded, lost souls -- II Corinthians 4:3-4. 3. He roams about seeking whom he may devour -- I Peter 5:8. 4. And he will do his best to “snatch” the Word of God away from you, even this morning -- Matthew 13:3-4, vv. 18-19. There are some here this morning who will not hear this message. They may hear the words that come out of my mouth, but they will miss the message God has for them. Satan will always challenge God’s Word. He doesn’t want people to have access to it, to read it, or to understand it. But when they are confronted with it, he will always challenge it. Because the Bible tells us how our enemy works and because the Bible tells people how to be saved and escape hell, Satan has constantly and consistently attacked the Word from just about day one. The Bible records a time when the Word of God was lost in the house of God -- II Kings 22:8. From the moment the Lord established His church, there have been those who sought to misuse Scripture or take passages out of context - Jude 3-4. Satan is fully aware of the Scripture. He knows it is God’s revelation of Himself to mankind. He knows the Bible inside and out. And he knows that God’s Word is infallible and true. For that reason he causes people to question it, and he seeks to attack it. And in this message we are going to see “How Satan Attacks The Word Of God.”

I. SATAN QUESTIONS THE BIBLE’S AUTHENTICITY - VS. 1.

II. SATAN QUESTIONS THE BIBLE’S AUTHORITY - VV. 1, 4.

III. SATAN QUESTIONS AND ATTACKS THE BIBLE’S ABILITY (POWER) - VV. 4-5.

SATAN'S ATTACK ON THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY -- GENESIS 2:21-24

Sun, 17 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0500

God has created only two institutions upon this earth - the home (or family) and the church. The home (family) is the first and oldest of the two. Today the term “nuclear family” is often used. "Nuclear family" is (online definition) a couple and their dependent children, regarded as a basic social unit. “Nuclear” had a long history of figurative use before its main association with “nuclear energy,” as nucleus has senses meaning “kernel” or more simply “something essential.” “The term nuclear family refers to a household consisting of a father, a mother and their children all in one household dwelling.” (Wikipedia) We are heading toward the end of this brief series of messages on “The Enemy Among Us,” and I plan to end the series with the thought, “How Satan Attacks The Lord’s Churches.” So, the question comes to mind, “How can Satan get the advantage of God’s people and thereby of His churches? Or, how can Satan destroy churches? Satan knows that if he can disrupt and destroy families, he can hurt the Lord’s work. Satan knows that if he can disrupt and destroy families, he can hinder churches. So he attacks marriages and homes (families). It is estimated today that one out of every two marriages, even among “Christians,” ends in divorce. Churches are made up of people, and more often than not those people have family members who also attend the same church. Here is a beautiful scenario. A boy and girl grow up in the same church, are saved, ultimately become boy friend and girl friend and one day get married. This ends up putting three connected families in the church. In this church we have parents and their married children, parents and their grandchildren, brothers and sisters, and aunts and uncles, and cousins . . . and that is wonderful. But when Satan attacks families and homes, he is ultimately able to cripple the churches that are made up of those families. That is one reason why he seeks to bring so many under his influence. The first thing we note is that:

I. SATAN CAUSES DOUBT ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF THE HOME (FAMILY).

II. SATAN CAUSES DOUBT ABOUT THE HOME'S ORDER.

III. SATAN CAUSES DEFIANCE ABOUT THE OPERATION OF THE HOME.

THE DEVIL’S DEVICES TO DECEIVE AND DESTROY -- II Corinthians 2:9-11

Sun, 10 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0500

We saw last week that we who are saved have an enemy who is not of this world. His name is Satan. He is a fallen angel who was once known as Lucifer. He does not work alone. He has demon spirits (fallen angels) to do his bidding. And he is nefarious in his deeds. And Satan has a plan for every man, woman, boy, and girl in this world. That plan is to keep them from ever hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to cause them to reject God’s salvation. There are many ways he does that. We have already seen some. Originally, Satan’s plan for us who are saved was the same as it was for the rest of the world, but you and I messed that up when we accepted Christ as Savior. So now his plan is to isolate you from God, from His Word, and from other believers because he knows that when believers are fellowshipping together, they are (supposed to be) building each other up in the Lord. That is why regular church attendance is so vital to your life as a child of God. As I said last week, if Satan will tempt and attack Jesus, don’t think for a moment that he will not do the same to a child of God. He may cause you to be dissatisfied with serving God at some point. You may not know why you are dissatisfied. You just think, “I don’t seem to get anything out of it,” or “The preacher preaches too long,” or “The music doesn’t satisfy me,” or the like. Sometimes you might just wake up in the morning with a bad attitude. I heard about one man that woke up one Sunday and just did not want to go to church. He said to his wife, “Give me one good reason I should go.” She said, “You’re the pastor. You have to go.” But you may wake up and be angry or upset. You don’t know why. You just feel “out of sorts.” Little things will bother you. Maybe the coffee is too weak . . . or too strong. Things just don’t seem to go right. Maybe it’s just a difficult day, and you certainly aren’t feeling the joy of the Lord. Guess who is behind it! Last week we heard about 3 ways in which Satan comes against people - oppression, obsession, and for the lost, possession. Vs. 11 of our text says, “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” We pointed out last week that the word “devices” refers to “that which is thought out; a purpose; a project; a plan.” It doesn’t matter if you have been saved 5 minutes, 5 years, or 50 years, Satan has a plan “B” for your life. (Remember, plan “A” was to cause you reject Jesus.) He is persistent, patient, very methodical, and he is willing to use every method and to work long and hard to accomplish his goal. This message sets forth some tactics Satan uses to ruin our testimony, to destroy our lives for Christ and that he will use against the unsaved to cause them to reject Christ and die lost. Remember: “We are not (and not to be) ignorant of his devices.”

I. SATAN MAKES SIN LOOK ATTRACTIVE.

II. SATAN SEEKS TO STOP THE WORD OF GOD.

III. SATAN ATTACKS GOD'S PREACHERS.

IV. SATAN MISLEADS OUR YOUTH.

V. SATAN SEEKS TO GIVE THE WORLD “ANOTHER GOSPEL.”

DEALING WITH THE DEMONIC -- LUKE 4:33-37

Sun, 03 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Many today scoff at the idea of a devil and demons. They place demons in the category of mythology. Many seek to deny their existence because of the immature attitude that others have toward them. Some deny them because “educated” people don’t believe in that stuff. But we are only hurting ourselves to deny the existence of demons. I heard a story of a boxer who was getting badly beaten by his opponent. Between rounds he said to his manager, “He’s killing me out there. Throw in the towel.” His manager replied, “Aw, he hasn’t laid a glove on you.” To which the boxer said, “Then keep an eye on the referee, because somebody out there is working me over.” Someone is “doing a number” today on God’s people, on the Lord’s churches, and on our nation, and his name is Satan. Satan is not a figment of our imaginations. He is not some being preachers made up to keep people going to church. He is a real being, with all the qualities of a real person. He is the bitterest enemy of God and the evil opposite of all that God is for good. But Satan does not act alone. When Lucifer, who became Satan, was cast out of Heaven because of his rebellion against God, (Isaiah 14:12-17; Luke 10:18; Ezekiel 28:12-15) he took a third of all of the angels with him. Revelation 12:3-4 says, “And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. (4) And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.” These fallen angels are what we know today as “demons,” or “demon spirits” who do the bidding of their master, Satan. Satan is NOT omnipresent. He cannot be everywhere at the same time like God can. Therefore, he must have his “minions” do his bidding. These fallen angels have no love for God, have already rebelled against Him, and have sealed their eternity. This morning let's look at:

I. THE REALITY OF DEMONS - VS. 23.

II. THE REIGN (OR, AUTHORITY) OF JESUS OVER DEMONS -- VV. 34-35.

III. THE REALIZATION OF VICTORY BY THE BELIEVER.

THE CLOUDS ARE THE DUST OF HIS FEET -- NAHUM 1:3

Sun, 27 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0500

A wise older preacher once told me, “When you don’t know what to preach, preach about God and about Jesus.” That has proven to be good instruction over the years, and that is what I am going to try to do today. This one verse has several things to say about the God we serve. First of all it says He is slow to anger. He is longsuffering. Psalm 86:15 says “But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” Next it says God is “. . . great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked . . . ” Throughout the Old Testament He is called El Shaddai - the all powerful One. In the New Testament the word refers to “the all ruling One,” telling us He is the absolute and universal Sovereign. Every person will give account to Him, whether at the Judgment Seat of Christ (for the saved) or at the Great White Throne Judgment of God (for the lost). No one will escape appearing before Him or His judgment. Then Nahum says, “the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm . . . ” He is saying, “The Lord displays his power in the whirlwind and in the storm.” "Whirlwind" speaks of a tempest, or a storm much like a tornado. "Storm" has been translated “hurricane.” It is a storm that brings terror. Just an EF1 tornado can have wind speeds up to 110 mph. EF4 or 5 storms reach wind speeds up to 200 mph. A category 1 hurricane has winds up to 95 mph; a category 5 storm’s winds can reach 157 mph or higher. These storms are just an infinitesimal demonstration of God’s great power. He is the Almighty all powerful God! But I want to lock in on the last part of this verse this morning, “and the clouds are the dust of his feet.” Clouds interest me; I enjoy watching them. Science says clouds are “a mass of water drops or ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere . . . " but Nahum says they are “the dust of his (God’s) feet.” I think of different things when studying the clouds. I consider that far beyond what I can see of the sky there is an unlimited expanse of what we call “space.” That causes me to consider Creation and how my finite mind cannot understand an eternal God Who has such great power that all He had to do was speak, and all the things I can see and the things I cannot see all came into being in an instant -- Romans 1:19-20. Which causes me to wonder how those who do not know Jesus Christ as Savior can observe Creation and not realize that there must be, there has to be a Creator. Then, that thought of faith leads me right back to God’s Word and to the Lord Jesus. It reminds me that we are saved by His grace and through faith in His only begotten Son -- John 3:16 ; Ephesians 2:8-9. Then, that thought of the Christ who came causes me to consider that He will come again. Revelation 1:7 says “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him . . . ” I Thessalonians 4:16-17 tells us, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”As I look at the white clouds in the sky I can see Him coming. So for the next few minutes I want us to consider this Almighty God who created everything - from the most distant galaxy to the nearest cloud and to understand that “the clouds are the dust of his feet.” The first thing I want us to consider is:

I. THE WAY OF GOD IS OFTEN A HIDDEN ONE.

II. GREAT THINGS WITH US ARE LITTLE THINGS WITH GOD.

III. THE MOST TERRIBLE THINGS IN LIFE HAVE NO TERROR TO A CHILD OF GOD.

5 SINS THAT WILL SINK A CHURCH -- HOSEA 1:1-9

Sun, 20 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0500

How terrible it must be to hear God say, “You are not mine!” It can happen to a nation. It happened to Israel. In Hosea 1:9 God says, “Call his name Lo-ammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.” God is saying, “You have had every other god and rejected me, so I am turning you over to them.” When Israel was told that God would no more have mercy on them did not regard it, but instead they lifted themselves up with this conceited thought: “We are God’s people, and He must have mercy on us.” But God knocks their props out from under them, and disowns them. He says, “You are not my people, and I will not be your God. I will have nothing to do with you. I will not be your King, your Father, your patron and protector.” “You are not my people” = you do not act in a way that as becomes my people; you are not observant of or obedient to me, as my people should be. You are the people of whatever god you choose to serve. “Therefore I will not own you for my people and will no longer protect you.” The United States may have been at one time a nation favored by God, but not today. We have done just what Israel did - turned our backs on Him. It will happen to the lost at the Great White Throne Judgment of God. Matthew 7:21-23 they will hear, “I never knew you.” Thankfully, a child of God cannot lose his salvation, but we can get out of fellowship with Him and become estranged from Him so that His daily grace departs us and His chastisement comes upon us. And this can happen to a church. A great number of churches have turned away from God and His Word today and turned instead to the programs and ideas of men in order to produce “growth.” In Revelation chapters 2 and 3 we see 5 examples of churches that were warned by the Lord Who said in effect, “You are in danger of not being mine anymore,” and we see the sins that brought it upon them.

I. THE SIN OF LOVELESSNESS (EPHESUS) -- REVELATION 2:1-7.

II. THE SIN OF LAXITY (PERGAMOS) -- REVELATION 2:12-17.

III. THE SIN OF LIBERALISM (THYATIRA) -- REVELATION 2:18-29.

IV. THE SIN OF LIFELESSNESS (SARDIS) -- REVELATION 3:1-6.

V. THE SIN OF LUKEWARMNESS (LAODICEA) -- REVELATION 3:14-22.

THE RICH FOOL WITH THE TOO SMALL BARNS -- Luke 12:13-21

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Abraham Lincoln was walking with his 2 sons, and both boys were crying. A passerby asked, “What’s wrong with the boys?” Lincoln replied, “Exactly what’s wrong with the whole world. I have 3 walnuts and each boy wants two.” Our text deals with the sin of covetousness. It is probably one of the most common sins among mankind and even among those who profess Christ as Savior, and here is why. “Thou shalt not covet” is the last of the Ten Commandments, but whereas the other commandments deal with sins that originate in the heart and are expressed in physical activity, in this commandment there may be little or no evidence of covetousness. As a result, this is a sin that is rarely, if ever confessed, and it is probably the one most often broken. Fom the very beginning God said to His people, Israel, “Thou shalt not covet.” COVET is an interesting word. It simply carries the idea “to delight in.” (To desire greatly.) As it is presented here, though, it would refer to delighting in to the point of wanting something for ourselves. This word that is translated “covet” can also be translated with the word “lust.” In Romans 7:7 the Apostle Paul said, “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” Exodus 20:17 continues: “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.” God did not say you couldn’t admire it, you can, just not to the point of desiring it. You cannot read the Bible without finding incident after incident where men wanted what wasn’t theirs. Achan coveted gold, silver, and a Babylonian garment. Ahab coveted Naboth’s vineyard. David lusted after and coveted Bathsheba. Ananias and Sapphira coveted attention. Covetousness has been a problem as long as man has been in the world. Jesus warned against this sin in Luke 12:15 when He said, “. . . beware of covetousness . . .” And in these last days men still want what is not theirs. II Timothy 3:1-2: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (2) For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous . . . ” People wonder why crime is so high. I can tell you in one word - covetousness. Thefts, robberies, embezzlements, frauds, scams all come about because people want what is not theirs without working for it or waiting for God to give it to them. And, I believe, covetousness is the one sin that affects many, if not most of God’s people today. Why do some preachers not preach “the whole counsel of God?” Covetousness. Covetousness is why some church members are not faithful or quit the church altogether. Again, in Luke 12:15 Jesus says, “Beware of covetousness.” He is saying, “Guard against every kind of greed" (COVETOUSNESS = avarice; greediness). And look at the company covetousness keeps, the sins with which it is mentioned in Scripture -- Mark 7:21-23; Romans 1:29-31; Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5-7. And Peter tells us in II Peter 2:3 that covetousness is a chief tool of false teachers: “And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” Literally, “They will buy you and sell you through covetousness.” They present a picture of prosperity, giving the idea that their followers can have the same. In our text Jesus tells us about a man who was covetousness and had “I” trouble. This entire account is a warning against covetousness. Vs. 15: “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Many people want “things” because they believe it says something about them as a person. When people stand before God, whether at the Great White Throne Judgment or at the Judgment Seat of Christ, they are not going to be asked: 1) “What kind of car did you drive?” 2) “How big was the house you lived in - 2 or 3 bedrooms, square footage, etc.” 3) “How big was your bank account?” No, there will be one issue for the lost - “Did you accept Christ as Savior?” And there will be one issue for the saved - “Did you faithfully serve Me?” The man in our text had a lot, but he desired more. He had a desire for “overflowing abundance.” This man in Luke 12 accepted God’s blessings and hoarded them. His covetousness ultimately affected his entire being. With his mind he conceived ungodly desires. With his mouth he proclaimed his wicked thoughts. And with his hands he would attempt to carry out his covetousness plans. We are going to see in this message three great sins this man’s covetousness led to.

I. THIS MAN TOOK CREDIT FOR WHAT GOD HAD DONE - VV. 17, 19.

II. THIS MAN MADE HIS PLANS WITHOUT CONSIDERING GOD - VS. 19.

III. THIS MAN CLAIMED OWNERSHIP INSTEAD OF STEWARDSHIP OF GOD’S POSSESSIONS.

SHOULD I BE INQUIRED OF BY THESE? -- Ezekiel 14:1-5 ; 33:30-33

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0500

In a bulletin article a few weeks ago I mentioned the courage of Jeremiah, who stood before kings (who had the power of life and death over him) and delivered God’s message of doom and defeat. I even indicated that we all (and especially the preacher) should pray that God would give us that kind of courage to witness and speak His Word to others. And then we get to the book of Ezekiel, and we find another man of God with the same or similar courage. We see from our text that God gave this great servant, this prophet of His a very difficult and frightening message to deliver to some who had come to him. Pastoring and preaching involve taking God’s message from His Word to His people - not just filling a pulpit and filling up time each Sunday. I fuss a lot about preachers not taking a stand for the truth or preaching sickeningly sweet “sermonettes.” But it is also very difficult to stand before people you love and delivering a “hard” message. (I never enjoyed chastening my children, and I don’t enjoy preaching such messages.) Preachers have enough of the flesh in them that they like to feel loved and appreciated and popular just like anyone else. But you know another reason a preacher might be tempted to “go soft” on God’s Word. Listen to what God said through Jeremiah in Jermiah 5:30-31: “A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; (31) The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” “ . . . and my people love to have it so . . . ” It sort of reminds you what Paul told Timothy in II Timothy 4:3-4: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; (4) And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” I Timothy 4:1-2 tells us, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (2) Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron . . . " Sadly, the attitude of many church goers today is, “Preacher, make it short and sweet, and don't offend anyone.” (If you preach the whole counsel of God, you will probably offend some people.) If I quit feeding you from God’s Word, if I ever get to the point that I am just up here to fill up time, get a salary, and go home, it is time for the church to look for a new pastor (because God may be about to take care of the present one). This message deals with how some people come to church - to hear God’s Word and to worship and praise Him, or to appear to be a faithful servant when in heart we are not. We need to keep a couple of verses of Scripture in mind as we go through this message today -- Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” and Isaiah 29:13: “. . . this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men . . . ” Our text actually presents two different incidents at two different times, but they seem to deal with very similar (or the same) conditions. As these in our text come to Ezekiel we see:

I. THEIR APPEARING - VS. 1.

II. THEIR ACTIONS - VS. 1.

III. THEIR ASKING - VS. 3.

IV. THE ANSWER - VV. 4-5.

7 REASONS I BELIEVE JESUS COULD COME AT ANY MOMENT -- Luke 17:22-24, 34-37

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0500

There are some things that will cause us to fail to consider the reality of Christ’s return, and Jesus mentioned at least a couple of them in Matthew 24. In Matthew 24:12 He said, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” This is the same condition that He said existed in the church at Ephesus. In Revelation 2 the Lord praised their labor, their endurance, their testing and rejection of “them which say they are apostles, and are not . . . ” But then in vs. 4 He said, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” Ephesus was doing so much good. It’s like they were doing “everything except,” and it is the “except” that the Lord condemned and that endangered their existence as one of the Lord’s churches. Well, what does love for the Lord waxing cold have to do with not considering His return. First of all, a lax love, a lost love will adversely affect our labor. In First Corinthians 9:17 Paul names 2 motives for serving God - willingly and against my will. You can serve the Lord because you love Him and want to, or because you feel like you have to. With one there is a reward, and with the other, at least a dispensation (stewardship) of the Gospel is committed to you. Lax love will affect our walk, our work, our witness, our worship . . . our willingness to serve the Lord, especially in days in which those who “live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (II Timothy 3:12). Secondly, a lax or lost love will affect our longing for Christ’s return. I can tell you, when you are in that condition you are not looking for the Lord’s return, you are not praying for His return, and you are probably not wanting His return. The other thing that the Lord mentions that will cause us not to consider the reality of His coming is that we just are not thinking about it. Matthew 24:44: “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” What did the Lord say about the conditions on earth at His coming? Luke 17:26-27 -- “And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. (27) They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.” Luke 17:28-30 -- “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; (29) But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. (30) Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” What is He saying? People then were going about “life as usual” and were taken by surprise just like one of these days people will be going through “life as usual,” and Christ will return. When you woke up this morning did you think, “This may be the day Jesus returns?” Why not? One of these day it will be. We like to believe in the Second Coming of the Lord, but we don’t expect it! Jesus warned in Luke 21:34: “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares." The point is that our world, and many of God’s people in the world will be caught by surprise. Someone might ask, “If we don’t know exactly when the coming of Christ will take place and exactly how things will take place, what is the importance of preaching about it?” First, in the Model Prayer Jesus taught us to pray for His coming kingdom - “thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.” So (second), the preaching of the coming of Christ will: 1) Remind us of the “blessed hope” that we have; 2) Be an incentive for faithfulness to service of God and right living; 3) And, encourage believers to witness to lost friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, classmates, etc. Also, I pray that God will use this message to stir our hearts and minds so that the glorious coming of Jesus may be uppermost in our thoughts. That we would not be satisfied with merely being “saved,” but that we arise from our state of lethargy. And that by the power of the Spirit our we will be stirred to labor for Him for His coming is near. Here are some Bible reasons why I believe we should watch for the coming of Jesus and why I believe His coming is near.

I. THE PRESENCE OF LATTER DAY SCOFFERS -- II PETER 3:3-7.

II. THE GREAT APOSTASY -- II THESSALONIANS 2:3.

III. REJECTION OF HOLY SPIRIT LEADERSHIP.

IV. PERILOUS TIMES -- II TIMOTHY 3:1-5.

V. THE IMMORALITY OF OUR DAY -- PROVERBS 14:34.

VI. THE LORD'S CHURCHES IN THIS AGE -- REVELATION 3:14-22.

VII. THE PARABLE OF THE BUDDING FIG TREE -- LUKE 21:29-32.

HOW TO GET ON FIRE FOR GOD -- Daniel 3:1-12

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0500

We all are familiar with the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (or, their Hebrew names, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael). Like them, we will experience pressure on us because of our walk with God. That pressure will come from the world, the flesh, and the devil. Anyone who lives for the Lord will understand that the Christian life is difficult! We have found that we are at odds with this world’s system and how the world lives -- Romans 12:2 ; I John 2:16. We are at odds with Satan (I Peter 5:8), and even our own flesh (Galatians 5:17). This conflict causes a temptation to conform to all the influences around us and to go the way of the world. That is what many so-called “Christians” are doing. We see churches, homes, and whole families that have sold out and are going in the way of the world. That's why this message is needed today. These three men teach us that it is possible to be on fire for God when most of those around us are headed for the fires of hell. Where there is genuine faith in Jesus, there is fire! Our enemy (Satan) will try to extinguish the flame, but we can live for God. We can be on fire for God today, and these verses tell us how. We must:

I. BE DIFFERENT -- VV. 1-7.

II. BE DETERMINED -- VV. 8-18.

III. BE DELIVERED -- VV. 19-30.

JESUS – WITH HIS FOOT ON SATAN’S NECK -- Joshua 10:21-27

Sun, 16 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Many will look at these verses of our text and consider the actions of Joshua as cruel. After these five kings hid themselves in a cave he imprisoned them and set a guard over them until he got back from battle. Upon his return he brought them out, had his men stand on their necks, and then killed them. But we have to remember that there was a battle going on. There was a war going on. The battle that is going on in the book of Joshua should be typical of the battle in our hearts, in our minds, and in our lives. What are they doing in Joshua? They are conquering the Promise Land. They are possessing their possessions that God has given to them. Our battle as those who are saved, as children of God is a spiritual warfare about daily faithfulness to God and trusting Him to empower us to live for Him. In Ephesians 6:12 Paul said “. . . we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” We battle daily “with all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,” and God’s word says such “is not of the Father, but is of the world.” (I John 2:16) What was Israel supposed to do when they entered the Promise Land? They were to get rid of all of the inhabitants of the land – whether by driving them out or by destroying them. So Joshua’s actions in our text verses, as “cruel” as they may seem to us are simply following God’s instructions. This teaches us that sin in our lives must be deal with in a drastic fashion, or we will NEVER overcome it. In Romans 7:13 the Apostle Paul said, "Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.” That is how we need to see sin, especially sin in our own lives – “exceeding sinful.” It should bother us, cause us sorrow to sin against our Heavenly Father who loves us and gave Himself for us.

ELIJAH: A MAN SENT FROM GOD -- I Kings 17:1

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0500

One of the great problems in the Lord’s churches today is that we have developed a “professional ministry.” Too many preachers are more concerned with pleasing the congregation than they are with pleasing God. And too many congregations are happy to let them do it. Elijah didn’t mince words. He was plain spoken. He had not learned the art of saying something without saying anything -- of almost saying something. You didn’t have to wonder where he stood. Too many preachers almost bring a message from the Lord. They are an uncertain trumpet in an uncertain day (I Corinthians 14:8). There is only one place I want to get the message I share -- the Word of God. If there ever was a time that God’s preachers and God’s people need to stand up and stand out in this nation, it is NOW! With some preaching and preachers today you almost have to wonder if they’re speaking FOR God or against Him. You didn’t have the problem with Elijah. We need Elijahs today – in the pulpit, yes, but in the pew as well. So, we are going to look at Elijah this morning, and the first thing we’re going to see is that:

I. HE WAS A COMMON MAN.

II. ELIJAH WAS A COURAGEOUS MAN.

III. ELIJAH WAS A COMMITTED MAN.

IV. ELIJAH WAS A CONFIDENT MAN.

IS THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL? or IS THE PARTY ALMOST OVER? -- Daniel 5:1-9, 26-28

Sun, 02 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0500

At the outset of this message I want to share two verses of Scripture and two certainties that have to do with the thoughts I am about to present. Psalm 33:12 says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord . . . ” and Psalm 9:17 says, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” There was a time when we were happy and blessed as a nation. God was at least in our thoughts if not in our hearts. There was room for Him in most homes, in the classroom, in the courtroom, and in the state house. Sadly, today, we seem to have turned 180 degrees and are going in the completely opposite direction. Our condition resembles that of ancient Babylon as it is recorded here in Daniel 5. And, some of the events at Belshazzar’s feast may give us some insight into what is going on in America today. First of all, I want us to notice:

I. THEIR CORRUPT CONDITION.

II. OUR CURRENT CONDITION.

III. THE COMING CALAMITY -- VV. 5-9.

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS -- Proverbs 30:24-28

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0500

The attitude of so many in the world and so many worldly believers today is: Size equals success. (“If it’s bigger it must be better.”) Some believe that size and wealth equate to God’s blessings. That is not always the case. The devil will give the world what it wants in order to draw it to him. Remember what the Lord said to the church at Smyrna in Revelation 2:9: “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) . . . ” And to the church that said it was “rich, and increased with goods,” and in need of nothing (Laodicea -- Revelation 3:17) He said thou “knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked . . . ” And, many feel that if you are small you can’t do much for the Lord. Some would look at Bethel and say, “You’re not very big. You don’t have a lot of people. What can you do in this world?” Even some who are members of our sister churches, when they move to this town, will not even consider visiting here, preferring, rather, to visit a larger church because the “larger church” “has more to offer me and my family.” (They don’t know what they are missing.) Sadly, this seems to be the attitude of so many “church attenders” today. Well, for the record let me just state, you DO NOT attend a church for “what it can do for you.” You join and attend a church for what YOU can do FOR THE LORD in and through it. A New Testament church is a place of service, not a place to be served! Why should size matter (unless you’re just trying to “get lost” in a large group of people) if the church is: One of the Lord’s true churches, and if it is, preaching and teaching the Word in Spirit and in truth? The “bigger is better” attitude is what has hurt so many small churches, especially in our fellowship. I have known of people who would drive miles from home to attend a “larger church” and pass smaller ones which were just as much the Lord’s and just as spiritual as the one they were headed to along the way. And then those same people will ultimately wonder why the smaller church finally had to close her doors. I will tell you why. They couldn’t get workers. They couldn’t get families with young people (because the other church provided entertainment for their children). (What's wrong with growing and building your own youth group?) They couldn’t get people who weren’t on “fixed incomes” who could support the church financially. (Usually it's the older members, whose income may be limited to retirement or Social Security, who will stay with the church even as she grows smaller and finally non-existent.) See, what most “believers” in America want today is a work that is already built instead of being used of the Lord to build up a work that is faltering or to build a new work. Neither will I let preachers off the hook. I have known men who would not consider pastoring a small church. Maybe they felt they were too big, too important, or too good of a speaker to “waste” their time with a small church. It’s possible that is why some churches have trouble getting a pastor or getting a pastor who will stay. And therein, I believe, lies part of the problem for us -- not for believers in general, but for Bethel. If we are not careful we will consider ourselves small and insignificant. I remember Bro. Mike Pournoy saying that we tend to have a “small church” attitude and that we need to get rid of that. He didn’t mean for us to lose the closeness we have as a church or our love for one another but to get rid of the attitude that says, “We’re not much, and we can’t do much.” Just consider this: God populated the earth with just eight souls (Noah and his family). Israel went into Egypt as a family of 75 but came out a nation of about 2 million. Goliath didn’t consider David to be much, but who won that fight? What about Gideon’s army? Reduced from 32,000 to 300! Jesus started with just a few – Peter, Andrew, James, and John . . . and others were added so that some estimate that the church at Jerusalem grew to as many as 10,000 members (or larger). We need to be reminded of I Corinthians 1:26-29: “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.” Our text names 4 things that are small and yet mighty at the same time (WISE = intelligent, skilful, artful.) They are:

I. THE PREPARATION OF ANTS -- VS. 25.

II. THE PROTECTION OF THE CONIES – VS. 26.

III. THE PRECISION OF THE LOCUSTS – VS. 27.

IV. THE PRESENCE OF “SPIDERS” – VS. 28.

LESSONS IN AN OVERGROWN FIELD -- Proverbs 24:30-34

Sun, 18 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Proverbs 24 deals with the problem of neglect of and satisfaction with one’s spiritual condition. It sounds an alarm to any who suffer from this problem. Solomon says he went by a field, noticed a vineyard, and realized something was wrong. The field was overgrown with thorns and thistles. The wall that had once protected it was broken down. In those days farmers and vineyard husbandmen were respected, but the owner of this land gained no respect from Solomon. He says this owner was “slothful, and . . . void of understanding . . . ” (or lacking sense). SLOTHFUL = lazy; indolent. Laziness can come for a variety of reasons. Sommetimes it comes when we just say, “I’ve done enough. It’s sufficient. I’m satisfied. I’m happy with where I am and what I am doing, and I am just not going to do anything else.” Notice again what Solomon says of the condition of this field. It was overgrown with thorns and nettles and thistles and all sorts of weeds had taken it over. I enjoy gardening. I have had big gardens, and they are a lot of work - especially in late summer. About late July or so, I’d reach the point that it sure got hard to get behind that tiller . . . and the hoe wasn’t that easy to use, either. And it was easy to become satisfied with what I had already gotten out of the garden. Productivity in any situation, whether it’s in a business or even in a church is the result of constant labor and a refusal to become satisfied with the status quo. Someone said “status quo” is Latin for “the mess we’re in.” But we don’t ever need to become satisfied with the way things are. When have we done enough as God’s people? When have we reached the point that we can come into the house, sit around the table and not worry about working out in the field? We probably all know or have known people who were once “spiritual giants.” Once upon a time they were soul winners, prayer warriors, faithful servants, and even leaders in the church. They were load bearers, burden sharers, faithful to the Lord and to the His work. But somewhere along the way they began to neglect the things of God in their lives, and now they are a mere shell of what they once were. Possibly, there is someone here today who might have to admit “I am not where I once was spiritually speaking." Maybe your passion and zeal have been replaced with complacency and apathy. Maybe you suffer from a common problem in the Lord’s churches called spiritual neglect. Solomon draws our attention to the problem of neglect and proclaims it as the result of slothfulness. And he says poverty is imminent for anyone who abandons their duty in that manner. Many of our brothers and sisters in Christ are headed toward that condition - spiritual poverty - and, even worse, some are already there. In II Peter 1:9 we see what God says about those who neglect spiritual growth in their lives: “But he that lacketh these things (listed in vv. 5-7) is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” So let’s look at these verses in Proverbs and see:

I. THE CRISES OF SPIRITUAL NEGLECT - VV. 30-31.

II. THE CAUSE OF SPIRITUAL NEGLECT.

III. The Consequences Of Spiritual Neglect.

IV. THE CURE FOR SPIRITUAL NEGLECT.

THE ENEMY’S 3 GREAT TRAPS FOR BELIEVERS -- I John 2:15-16

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0500

This present world is Satan’s realm. In Revelation 2:13, to the church at Pergamos Jesus said, “I know . . . where Satan’s seat is . . . ” (SEAT = throne, by implication, power.) Satan’s circuit is throughout the world, but it seems that his throne is in some places that are infamous for sin, wickedness, error, and cruelty -- Ancient Rome, Hollywood, Washington D.C. And the seat of persecution of believers is Satan’s seat. II Corinthians 4:4 tells us that Satan is “the god of this world.” “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: (4) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” Truly, we are living in the midst of the enemy’s camp today, in the midst of a modern day Sodom and Gomorrah. In our text John names 3 traps that the world, the flesh, and the devil use against us to keep us from worshipping and serving God the way we should, the way He desires. Remember, John is writing, “that ye may know that ye have eternal life . . . ” Thus, he is writing to the saved. He is writing to people like us. It is not unusual that Satan would use our flesh against us. That has been his method from the beginning. Look at how he tempted Eve in Genesis 3 -- 1) “Good for food” speaks of the lust of the flesh; 2) “Pleasant to the eyes” presents us with the lust of the eyes; 3) “A tree to be desired to make one wise” talks about the pride of life. In Matthew 4 we see that Satan even tried to tempt Jesus in this way. -- 1) Vs. 3 - The lust of the flesh (Jesus was hungry, vs. 2); 2) Vv. 8-9 - The lust of the eyes; 3) Vv. 5-6 -- The pride of life. And the enemy’s attacks seem to be getting more frequent and stronger the closer we get to the coming of the Lord . . . but this does not surprise us. Revelation 12:10 says, “ . . . for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” Revelation 12:12 tells us, “. . . for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” This is why we need to follow the instruction of the Scriptures in Ephesians 6:11 and “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” We need: 1) The “breastplate of righteousness” to protect our hearts; the “helmet of salvation” to protect our minds (The battle is for the mind.); our “loins girt about with truth,” our “feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace,” “the shield of faith,” and “the sword of the Spirit,” and we need to pray “always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit . . . with all perseverance and supplication for all saints . . . ” In this message we are going to examine these three areas of temptation and testing.

I. TRAP #1 -- THE LUST OF THE FLESH.

II. TRAP #2 -- THE LUST OF THE EYES.

III. TRAP #3 -- THE PRIDE OF LIFE.

WHY TRIALS? -- I Peter 1:6-7 ; John 4:23

Sun, 04 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Why does God allow trials in our lives? Chastisement? Sometimes He allows the consequences of our actions to be the chastisement for sin in our lives. To show us how strong we are in Him? “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” (James 1:3.) To teach us? “ . . . we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; (4) And patience, experience; and experience, hope: (5) And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:3-5).I want suggest one other reason – to create worshippers. Have you ever noticed how ready we are to praise and talk about God when He has brought us through some trial or difficulty? In John 4 Jesus is talking to the Samaritan woman about worship. In vs. 23 Jesus said, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” “True worshippers” indicates that there can be false worshippers – those who only “go through the motions” of worship. Then Jesus said that God wants true worshippers to worship Him (vs. 24) “in spirit and in truth.” Peter 1:6-7 presents to us the relationship of trials and worship. Because of the assurance of vs. 5 we can and should rejoice and worship God in the security of our salvation, even in trials. I Thessalonians 5:18 tells us, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Is that possible? Can we give thanks and worship God even in trials? Not only can we, we are instructed to do so. In this message we will see how God moved in the lives of His people – in the Old Testament and in the New – to produce worshippers and to bring glory unto Himself. We will see:

I. RED SEA WORSHIPPERS – EXODUS 14.

II. MT. CARMEL WORSHIPPERS – I KINGS 18.

III. WORSHIPPERS IN PERSECUTION – ACTS 5.

CONSIDER GOD -- Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 ; Job 37:14

Sun, 28 May 2023 00:00:00 -0500

How often do we think about God? “Well, I pray before I eat and before I go to sleep at night, and maybe when I get up in the morning if I think about it. So, that’s about 4 or 5 times a day.” Let me rephrase my question. How often do we think deeply about God? What do I mean? I am talking about regularly considering the greatness of God -- His power, His knowledge, His wisdom - so that we get an idea of what we are doing and who we are before when we come here to worship Him. I am convinced we humans don’t really grasp the character, nature, and power of the God we serve. We are like the Samaritans in John 4. In vs. 22 Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, “Ye worship ye know not what.” "Know" has the idea of perception. We cannot, with our finite minds, fully perceive God. I fear that for many people today, even those who know Christ as Savior, “church” is just that - church. For some, it is a building, a place we go on Sunday out of a sense of duty or expectation. It is such a habit to be sitting in a pew in a church building on a Sunday morning that we would feel odd or out of place if we were absent. Some (certainly not Baptists) have been convinced that if they do not show up for “church” they will lose their salvation, so they attend out of a sense of obligation or fear. When we come into a service designed, designated for the worship of God, all thoughts of self need to be set aside. We are before the Creator of the universe, and He should occupy our thoughts. But, let’s get back to the original question: How often do we think deeply about God or consider God? From Psalm 96:8 we may ask the question, “How much glory does God deserve?” And the answer comes back, “All glory!” Well, how much is that? In Matthew 22:37-38 Jesus said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (38) This is the first and great commandment.” When it comes to glorifying God, to worshipping God, and to serving God, we must give all we have. That means of our time, of our treasure, of our talent. That means that God deserves every inch, every ounce, every fiber of our being in glorifying Him. Psalm 96:9 says we are to worship Him “in the beauty of holiness . . . ” Holiness speaks of sanctification; separation. That is why we must not use worldly means and methods to “enhance” the worship service. If the person, power, and presence of God and the proclamation of His Word are not enough to produce the praise of His people, then we need to look at ourselves in relation to Him. But again I must ask, on a daily basis how often do we deeply consider our God? Yes, it is important that we give God all glory and worship Him here, but what about our daily lives? I fear it is possible that we may know all of the “terms” that refer to God (omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent) and still take Him for granted. Here is the key. The word “worship” comes from the old English “worthship.” It speaks of the worth we attach to something or someone . . . in this case, God. We who are saved must, on a daily basis, worship and demonstrate the “worth” of God. How do we do that? We must give Him our whole hearts! Because if the lost world does not see His “worth” in our response to Him, they will consider that it is not enough for them to turn to Him. The same is true for our families. We may know all of the terminology that relates to God’s character and to our worship of Him, but how does that knowledge affect us . . . how should it affect us? For the next few minutes this morning, I want us to CONSIDER GOD.

I. GOD IS AWESOME IN HIS PERSON.

II. HE IS AWESOME IN HIS POWER.

ARE YOU OCCUPYING, OR JUST TAKING UP SPACE? -- Matthew 25:14-30

Sun, 21 May 2023 00:00:00 -0500

The story of John Stephen Akhwari of Tanzania. In teaching on the last days, Jesus reminded us several times that we are to be ready for His return and be faithful to the end -- to do the work He has given us to do. Matthew 24:42, 44: “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” Vs. 44 "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Matthew 25:13: “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” In I Thessalonians 5:2 Paul reminded the Thessalonians that “the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.” All of this tells us that when Jesus returns, He will come suddenly and unexpectedly. But while we wait and look for the Lord’s return, what are we supposed to be doing? We are not to be star gazers -- Acts 1:11: “. . . why stand ye gazing up into heaven . . . ” In Luke 19:13 the Lord is pictured as the nobleman who said to his servants, “Occupy till I come.” The word "occupy" means to be busy; be involved in a business. The account we read is commonly called the Parable of the Talents. It sets forth our individual responsibilities as children of God and as members of this church. This church has an “institutional” work to perform -- Matthew 28:18-20. The Great Commission was given to churches. However, without each member doing his/her part, the church’s work will not get done. So, as members of this church, we all have a work to do, and the responsibility to witness - Acts 1:8. As we examine this parable we can see what the Lord reveals to us concerning our responsibilities and labor as members of His church here. We see:

I. THE DEPARTURE - VS. 14.

II. THE DISTRIBUTION - VS. 15.

III. THE DEALING - VV. 16-18.

IV. THE DETERMINATION - VV. 19-25.

V. THE DECLARATION - VV. 28-29.

FROM PRAYER TO PRAISE -- Psalm 32

Sun, 14 May 2023 00:00:00 -0500

This psalm is the second of the so-called “penitential” (or penitent) psalms. It is the first of the 13 “maschil” psalms (“maschil” = for instruction). (David is going to teach us something.) It was almost certainly written after David had committed adultery and premeditated murder. In Psalm 51:14 he prays, “Deliver me from bloodguiltiness . . . ” (BLOODGUILTINESS = the shedding of blood that causes death.) David knew what he had done, and for nearly a year he resisted the accusations of his conscience, the conviction of God’s Spirit, and, possibly, chastisement by ailments in his body. This presents another great teaching of Scripture - God chastens His children -- Hebrews 12:6-11! His repentance did not come until Nathan’s message, “thou art the man,” cut him to the heart. The reading, studying, and declaration of God’s Word will reveal and convict us of our sin. The preacher who preaches God’s Word doesn’t aim to “step on toes,” he goes for the heart. Psalm 51 was probably David’s first prayer for pardon with Psalm 32 being written later for the instruction of others in fulfillment of his resolve in Psalm 51:12-14: “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. (13) Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. (14) Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.” David’s humility and repentance are seen in that he, the king, would commit this psalm, which told of his own sin and shame, to the chief musician for use of the temple choir at public services. This psalm teaches us that great sin can be met by a greater grace. It is possible that backsliding can ultimately produce blessing (not separation) if one is willing to give heed to the Word and the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Obviously, this is not an “encouragement” to backsliding but instruction to repentance and forgiveness. God has called believers to be sanctified, holy, and set apart to Him. However, as long as we are in this flesh we will never be perfectly sinless. This is why we need God’s grace and mercy that this psalm speaks of. Who knows how many sins we are guilty of every day -- thoughts, attitudes, failures, refusals to witness, to walk in the Lord, to serve Him, to read and study His Word, and -- pray all fall under the heading of “sins of omission.” Remember, James 4:17 reminds us that “. . . to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” And any unconfessed, unforgiven sin is a heavy burden for a child of God to bear. But we see something wonderful in this psalm. It is the very thing that David experienced. God’s grace and forgiveness await His penitent children. I John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” So, first of all we see:

I. THE POSITION OF THE SAVED - VV. 1-2.

II. THE PAIN OF SIN (GUILT) - VV. 3-4.

III. THE PARDON OF SIN - VV. 5-7.

IV. THE PRAISE OF THE SAINT - VV. 8-11.

A MORNING PRAYER -- Psalm 5:1-12

Sun, 07 May 2023 00:00:00 -0500

The practice of using set forms of prayer (i.e. prayer books, memorized prayers, etc.) finds no justification in the Psalms. Here and throughout the book we see a complete disregard for “mechanical praying.” When you have a burning concern, prayer comes from the heart, not the head. Such prayer gets straight to the point. It reveals our need without regard to words and phrases. Much modern-day praying is merely “saying” our prayers, like little children do when they first learn, “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the lord my soul to keep.” The Psalmist knew how to pray. He prayed: early, audibly, thoughtfully, earnestly, orderly, daily, expectantly, reverently, and wisely. In Psalm 5 his prayer begins with words, deepens into sighs, and rises into cries. In other words, he prayed with purpose! This is a psalm of David, written at a time when he was beset by his enemies. Either when King Saul was hunting for him, or when he was running from Absalom. In either case David had no option other than going to God in prayer. Sometimes God has to bring us to the point that we realize, “I can’t do this. I have to have help.” That is when we should realize that our “last resort” should have been first resort. That is when we need to pray like David did in this psalm. In these verses we see:

I. THE REQUEST OF THE RIGHTEOUS - VV. 1-3.

II. THE REVULSION OF THE REBELLIOUS - VV. 4-6, 9-10.

III. THE RELATION OF THE REDEEMED - VV. 7-8, 11-12.

SEVEN REQUESTS ALL THE SAVED SHOULD MAKE -- Psalm 119:33-40

Mon, 01 May 2023 00:00:00 -0500

God’s Word teaches us that, as believers, we can bring our requests before Him. Philippians 4:6 says, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Hebrews 4:16 tells us that we can “come boldly unto the throne of grace” to “obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Note that it says we can come “boldly,” not arrogantly. BOLDLY = with all outspokenness; frankness of speech; bluntness; by implicate on, assurance.) In other words, we can do just like the psalmist did and express our needs before the Lord with the assurance that we may “obtain mercy, and find grace to help . . . ” Philippians 4:6 is the essence of what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things (speaking of our needs) shall be added unto you.” What is to be the priority of our lives and of our prayers? “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness . . . ” I am afraid that many times in prayer God’s people put the priority on seeking their needs and ignore the kingdom of God and His righteousness. And James 5:16 tells us, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (RIGHTEOUS = right, just; a right state, of which God is the standard; fulfilling all claims that are right and becoming. EFFECTUAL FERVENT = active; working. God forgive us for our weak, ineffective praying! AVAILETH = to be mighty; to be powerful; to be strong; to prevail.) I like to have people praying for me who are right with God (righteous) and who have power with God when they pray. The 119th Psalm is the longest of all the psalms. It is about the Word of God. The theme of it is the surpassing excellence of divine law. It is written in stanzas of 8 verses with each stanza starting with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The psalm as been ascribed to David, Hezekiah, Jeremiah, and Ezra. While we do not know for sure the identity of the human author that penned it, but we do know that it is Holy Spirit inspired. It is quite possible that Ezra, the scribe, recorded this psalm. In Ezra 7:6 he is called a “ready scribe” (READY = skilful). He clearly resolved to make God’s Law the governing principle of his life. Ezra 7:10 says, “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.” In this section of the psalm we see 7 requests the psalmist made of God in relation to his life. What is the thing for which we today ask for the most in prayer? You see, what we ask for most is that which is most important to us. What 7 things would we find important enough to ask God for in prayer? As we look at section five (vv. 33-40) of this 119th Psalm we are going to note 7 things that the psalmist asked for and that we should find important enough in our lives to ask for. First, the psalmist asks God,

I. TEACH ME – VS. 33.

II. GIVE ME – VS. 34.

III. MAKE ME – VS. 35.

IV. INCLINE ME – VS. 36.

V. TURN ME – VS. 37.

VI. ESTABLISH ME – VS. 38.

VII. QUICKEN ME – VV. 40, 37.

THE PRAYER OF NEHEMIAH -- Nehemiah 1:1-11

Sun, 23 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Nehemiah was a man of vision. When he received news of the condition of the people of Judah and of Jerusalem, he stepped forward. God had prepared him for this time. He had been promoted to a place of political power. He was the king's cupbearer (vs. 11). It was, more or less, a rather cushy job. He lived in the palace. He was greatly trusted by the king. The job only had one drawback - he had to taste the king’s wine before the king drank it to make sure it had not been poisoned. He saw his position as an opportunity from God to rebuild Jerusalem and bring the restoration of Israel. We may be thousands of years removed from Nehemiah, but we need people of vision who want to see our Lord’s work here prosper. Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish . . . ” Where do we begin? Right where Nehemiah did -- in our own place, and with our own people. We can sit and worry about the future, or we can do something about it. Nehemiah was willing to sacrifice all that he had to perform what God had laid on his heart. Nehemiah is most noted for directing the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem, but he was also a great leader of men. He led them to do what some said could not be done. He did it in the face of incredible odds. He did it in record time. But he did not do it alone. (For what it’s worth, no pastor can build a church alone!) Nehemiah was a MAN OF FAITH. (Note the number of times he trusted God and encouraged his brethren to trust God in what we would call impossible conditions. But the main thought I want us to see in this message is that Nehemiah was a man of prayer. We see his prayer in chapter 1. We see him praying in 2:4 before he makes his request of the king: “Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.” In 4:7-9 he prayed when he was confronted and being harassed by the enemy. “But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, (8) And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it. (9) Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.” And that is what we want to examine in this message - Nehemiah’s prayer in chapter one.

I. THERE WAS A SERIOUS CONCERN - VV. 2-4.

II. THERE WAS STRONG CONTRITION - VS. 4.

III. THERE WAS SOBERING CONFESSION - VV. 5-7.

IV. THERE WAS A SETTLED CONFIDENCE - VV. 8-11.

HOW TO BE BOLD IN THE LAST DAYS -- Isaiah 41:10

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Fear is probably the greatest tool Satan uses against us today -- fear and laziness. There is the fear of failure. We are afraid to witness (or try) because we fear we might fail. There is the fear of security -- of what might happen to us (if we do witness). But God said, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee." There is the fear of the future. Sometimes we fail to serve because we're afraid of what tomorrow might bring. Notice what God says to His people in Isaiah 41:10, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee . . . " God says not to fear, because He is with us. This is the promise of His presence. He also says, "Be not dismayed . . . " Dismayed means to be perplexed; to have to look around for help. The reason we are not to be perplexed -- He is our God. We need no other reason to refuse to be dismayed than because God is our God. This is the peace of His power. If these were the only reasons not to fear, they would be sufficient. However, God gives us more reasons in our text: He will strengthen us; He will succor us; He will sustain us. He says:

I. I WILL STRENGTHEN YOU.

II. I WILL SUCCOR YOU.

III. I WILL SUPPORT THEE.

RESURRECTION SUNDAY -- John 20:1-10

Sun, 09 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0500

This is “Resurrection Sunday!” (Of course every Sunday is “Resurrection Sunday.”) Today, at a time that coincides with the Jewish Passover we place a special interest or acknowledgement on the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Passover marks God’s freeing of His people, Israel, from Egyptian bondage. If there had been no Passover, if God had not sent that final plague on Egypt, the Israelites might still be in bondage. Christianity is unique in this world for several reasons, but the first and most important reason is that we serve a risen, living Savior. That is the message that the angel had for those who came to the tomb. It is the message that Peter preached on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:22-24. It is the message Paul preached everywhere he went proclaiming the Gospel. In fact, he declared the resurrection to be a part of the Gospel (“good news”) – the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Without the resurrection, merely the death of burial of Jesus is not good news. The Gospel message is the message that gives us hope. It is the message that we need to be declaring in our (hopeless) world today. Here is the reason why. Do you realize that if there were no resurrection to remember, no resurrection to acknowledge, if the body of Jesus had remained in the grave (tomb) we would still be in bondage to (the law of) sin and death today? That we’re all going to die, and we’re all going to go to hell if Jesus did not rise from the dead? In I Corinthians 15:13-19 Paul gave a whole list of problems and difficulties we face “if Christ be not risen.” In Vv. 13-14 – There is the danger of false preaching (deals with our credibility). “But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.” VAIN means empty (as referring to content). If Jesus was not raised and there is no resurrection, we are like those Paul talked about in II Timothy 4:4 – “ . . . turned unto fables.” (That’s how vital the reality of the resurrection is.) And if we preach it but do not believe it enough to live it, we are hypocrites and deceivers. Vs. 15 – There is the danger of being false witnesses of God (for saying He did something He did not do if Jesus was not raised.) Do you know what it is called to accuse or credit God for doing something He did not do? Blasphemy! What was the penalty for blasphemy, or taking God’s name in vain. Death! Exodus 20:7: “ . . . for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” Leviticus 24:16: “And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death . . . ” Vs. 17 – There is the danger of a “false faith.” "And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” Strong Statement Warning! If Jesus did not rise, if His body decayed in Joseph’s tomb, we have NO forgiveness for sin. We have had a false faith in a false Messiah! Neither the blood of bulls, nor goats, (Hebrews 10:4), nor ANY MAN can take away sin. (Micah 6:7-8: “. . . shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”) Vs. 18 – If there is no resurrection, there is no hope of anything but destruction and punishment after death. "Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.” PERISHED means destroyed; ruined; punished. Vs. 19 – If there is no resurrection we are miserable people. “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” If there is no resurrection, we have practiced the worst form of deceit – self deceit. Some try to deny the resurrection or at least its power because the resurrection is the very heart of Christianity. It declares the deity and power of Jesus. It is the very reason we can have hope. There are those who deny the reality of God, the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the resurrection. There are lost people who refuse to repent and trust Jesus, thus denying the only sacrifice for their sin. And many saved deny the power of the resurrection and the resurrected life by the way they live. However, note what I Corinthians 15:20 says, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” And Paul names witnesses of the resurrected Christ in vv. 5-8. So, we come to our text and we find that Jesus had been crucified. Now, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome come to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus for burial. He had been hurriedly wrapped and placed in the tomb because of the coming Sabbath. Joseph of Arimathaea requested His body of Pilate and placed it in his new tomb. Now the Sabbath is over, and the women come to properly prepare His body for burial. However, when they arrived at the tomb, they found that it was empty! There are many interesting thoughts we can observe in relation to Christ’s resurrection. There is a message that rings from this empty tomb. It sounds forth clearly and triumphantly as we examine it today. Let's examine some of these truths this morning. The message from the empty tomb:

I. IS A MESSAGE OF FULFILLED PROPHECY.

II. IS A MESSAGE OF VICTORY.

III. OFFERS A MESSAGE OF REDEMPTION.

IV. OFFERS A MESSAGE OF JUDGMENT TO COME.

IT IS FINISHED -- John 19:28-30

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0500

We began this series of messages several weeks ago by presenting the politically incorrect Jesus. As we pointed out, by the world’s opinion today, He is neither politically nor religiously correct. This present world has “conformed” the Son of God to its liking, but the world’s Jesus IS NOT the Jesus of the Bible. Next we joined Jesus in Pilate’s judgment hall and heard Peter, who had sworn his devotion to the Lord, even unto death, deny Him, not once, not twice, but three times. Remember Ecclesiastes 5:2? “Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.” And vs. 4? “When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.” Be careful of the commitments you make, and do not do like Peter and deny your Lord. Then last week we listened as wishy-washy Pilate, though he was convinced that Jesus was not worthy of death gave Him into the hands of those who wanted to crucify Him. We live in a world today that would much rather have Barabbas than Jesus! I John 2:16 says, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” And this world seeks to conform believers to its ideals and its standards. That’s why Romans 12:2 tells us “be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed . . . ” Today we will stand on Mt. Calvary and look to and listen to the man on the middle cross. Jesus spoke seven times from the cross. Each time He spoke He had something important to say -- to fulfill prophecy and to instruct us. He prayed (Luke 23:34) – “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” He promised (Luke 23:43) – “Verily, I say unto thee, to day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” He provided (John 19:26-27) – “Woman, behold your son” and to John, “Behold thy mother.” He pled (Matthew 27:46) – “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” He pronounced (John 19:28) – “I thirst.” He professed (Luke 23:46) – “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” He proclaimed (John 19:30) – “It is finished.” “It is finished.” Three simple words, but they contain so much for us. Jesus was saying He had fulfilled all. He had done all that that was necessary so that we might be saved and be secure in the knowledge of that salvation. Let’s see some of the things this means to us.

I. “IT IS FINISHED” SPEAKS OF HIS SUFFERING.

II. “IT IS FINISHED” SPEAKS OF OUR SALVATION.

III. “IT IS FINISHED” SPEAKS OF OUR SECURITY.

THE SUBSTITUTE -- John 18:28-40

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Have you ever been a substitute? A substitute is “a person or thing acting or serving in place of another.” Here is the example that was given: “soy milk is used as a substitute for dairy milk.” I agree with the definition, but I heartily disagree with the example. I tried substitute teaching once. (I think I would rather drink soy milk!) We are going to talk about THE SUBSTITUTE, the ONLY substitute today. Look with me to John chapter 18. Review of events of vv. 28-34. Jesus has been taken before Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest. Annas “sent him bound unto Caiaphas.” Matthew 26:57-65 gives us an account of His mock trial before the kangaroo court of the scribes and pharisees. Then in vv. 66-67 Jesus is given the death sentence and then mocked and abused. As Hebrews 12:3 reminds us, “For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” Then, Caiaphas sent Jesus from his presence to Pilate’s judgment hall. Pilate sent Him to Herod (who simply wanted to see Jesus, hoping He would perform a miracle before him). That’s the only reason some people care about Jesus - for what He can do for them. Then Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate, and now we see Him before the Roman governor. In Vs. 36, in answer to Pilate’s question, “Art thou the King of the Jews,” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world . . . then would my servants fight . . . ” In Matthew 13:24-30 we have the parable of the tares. In vv. 37-43 Jesus gives us the interpretation of the parable. The field is the world. The good seed is the children of the kingdom. The tares are children of the wicked one. The enemy is the devil, Satan. The harvest is end of the age (world). And, the master of the house said of the wheat and the tares, “Let both grow together until the harvest . . . ” In that parable Jesus teaches us that there will be a time of separation of the righteous from the unrighteous, and we do not have to seek to advance His kingdom by violence. We understand that the kingdom of God is not advanced by violence. Some have imagined that violence is the way to promote His kingdom. During the Dark Ages, when 50 million Anabaptists were put to death. Some today kill in Christ’s name, blow up abortion clinics, murder abortion doctors. Others kill in the name of “allah,” their god. But Christ’s kingdom is not of this world! Then, Jesus revealed His purpose for coming into the world the first time - “that I should bear witness unto the truth” (vs. 37). Pilate asked the question so many ask today, “What is truth?” Man has many different answers to this question, but simply stated, Jesus is truth. The Word of God is truth. Jesus is the embodiment of truth -- John 14:6. As to His essence and character. (Because He is God, He is all truth and all truthful.) As to His teaching and example. (He taught God’s Word -- John 17:17). As to His death, burial, and resurrection (which showed His deity and man’s lost condition and need of a Savior). He told Pilate (vs. 37) that everyone that is of the truth hears Him. He revealed the lost condition of the religious people (Jews) who rejected Him. He revealed Pilate’s own lost condition. Pilate is like so many today. He had the truth of God standing in front of him, and he could not (or would not) see it. Then, vv. 38-40 bring us to the bulk of the message. Pilate, again like so many, sought to avoid the question which he asked in Matthew 27:22, “What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?” Instead of choosing Jesus, he relied upon the custom of the Jews and his judgment of men to settle the issue. So in vs. 39 he asked, “But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?” Matthew 27:16 tells us, “And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.” Remember, Matthew 27:18 tells us that Pilate “knew that for envy they had delivered him.” As a Roman governor Pilate had, no doubt, judged men’s motives many times, but on this occasion he grossly under estimated the evil that is in the hearts of those who do not know Christ. Of course, we know that the people, stirred by the religious leaders of the day, asked for Barabbas to be released to them. Even in this we are provided with a beautiful picture of the substitutionary death of Jesus. First, we want to look at . . .

I. THE STANDING OF BARABBAS.

II. THE SUBSTITUTE FOR BARABBAS.

PETER’S DENIAL OF CHRIST: ARE WE GUILTY OF THE SAME? -- John 18:15-27

Sun, 19 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0500

It is very easy, sitting here in comfort on a Sunday morning, to condemn Peter for denying the Lord Jesus. We have grown up enjoying the blessings of liberty as Americans. One of those blessings is what we often refer to as freedom of religion. For that reason many, if not most, Americans take that freedom for granted. They have the attitude, “I’ll go to church if I want to, and if I don’t want to go, I won’t.” They believe that “the church will always be there,” and “I will always have this liberty.” However, that may not always be so. There is a rapidly growing anti-Christian sentiment in this nation. Interest in satanism and the occult is growing among our youth. What many call “traditional worship” is difficult to find in many churches. (It has taken on a more worldly approach in order to attract the world.) And Islam, which forbids any mention of Christ or the Bible, has made inroads in America. So, let me ask you this, if you were put into a situation (as Peter was) where your identification with Jesus could cost you your life - would you profess Him or deny Him? It is easy in our sense of security (because we don’t think we could ever be put in that situation) to declare that we would never deny Jesus. But be careful. Peter did the same thing, but when it came time to “Stand up, stand up for Jesus,” Peter denied his Lord. But we might not have to be put in a life or death situation to deny Jesus, and it is possible that we could do it every day. We do it when we who are saved live like the world and have the world’s priorities. We do it when we are with friends but refuse to talk about Jesus because we fear their ridicule. We do it when we intentionally fail or refuse to witness of Him among friends and family alike. (Sometimes this failure is because we depend upon ourselves and not upon Him.) As Jesus closed the prayer of John chapter 17, we are told that He and His disciples then went to the Garden of Gethsemane. Of course, we are familiar with the events that took place there. It was there that: 1) Jesus prayed, “Not my will, but thine be done;” 2) His sweat was as it were great drops of blood; 3) He came back and found Peter, James, and John asleep. This is also where Judas betrayed Him with a kiss, and He was bound and led away. As we come to vs. 15 we find Jesus before the High Priest Caiaphas, and we see Peter as he denies the Lord. From the events surrounding Peter’s denial of Jesus, we can learn some lessons about our denials of the Lord and how to avoid them in our lives. We see:

I. PETER'S CLAIM.

II. PETER’S COURAGE.

III. PETER’S CONTRADICTION -- VV. 15-27.

CONCLUSION: PETER’S CONVICTION.

THE POLITICALLY INCORRECT JESUS -- John 19:1-16

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0500

In case you haven’t noticed, in our society today it is politically incorrect to claim Jesus, to speak of Him, or even to invoke His blessings upon our nation, our homes, or our families. Now, I’m speaking of acknowledging the REAL Jesus. I’m speaking of the Jesus of the Bible. The “hip” religious crowd today is offering the world a different Jesus – a “modernized” version of the Son of God. (And many have bought into it.) They have crafted a watered down version of the Jesus of the Bible. They offer a Jesus who is tolerant of sin, not expectant of holiness. (See Matthew 5:48 ; I Peter 1:15-16), and politically and socially correct. Even in Paul’s day “another Jesus” and “another gospel” were being presented. Listen to what the Apostle Paul had to say in II Corinthians 11:1-4: “Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. (2) For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. (3) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (4) For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” And in Matthew 24:4-5 Jesus said: “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. (5) For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” But I am here to tell you this morning that there is only one Jesus, and He is NOT the politically correct Jesus many are promoting today. God only had one Son. John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The Bible is a picture of Jesus from Genesis to Revelation, and if you change even one little thing about Jesus, you change the picture into something that does not even resemble the Jesus who came to this earth and went to the cross to die for our sin. What our nation and what our world want today is a watered down Jesus, a “modern” Jesus, a “trendy” Jesus, a Jesus who is tolerant of sin, a Jesus who expects no holiness from His people. Instead, we need the Jesus of the Word of God -- Who condemns sin but loves the sinner, Who is the way, the only way to the Father, and Who those that have gone before us served and worshipped in spirit and in truth. For the next few weeks – all the way to Easter – we’re going to look at this Jesus and what He has done for us. But first we want to view Him as the politically incorrect Jesus. In America today many people (and some of them profess to be Christians) do not want to acknowledge the reality of God or confess the deity of Jesus. This is sad! A 2022 Gallup Poll said belief in God in America had fallen to its lowest point with only 81% of Americans professing a belief in God. This is sad because our founding fathers quite obviously believed in God and in creation. They said all are “endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights.” Yes, in America today it is politically incorrect to believe in, to talk about, or to stand up for Jesus. But it has always been so when you take you stand for the Jesus of the Bible. In II Timothy 3:12 Paul said: “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” We will see in this message that even in Bible days, Jesus caused quite a stir.

I. JESUS WAS POLITICALLY INCORRECT.

II. JESUS IS RELIGIOUSLY INCORRECT.

III. JESUS IS ALWAYS CORRECT WITH THE FATHER.

SAFETY IS OF THE LORD -- Proverbs 21:30

Sun, 05 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0500

There is an unbridgeable gap between the best of human wisdom, human understanding, and human counsel and the sovereignty of our God. The writer of Proverbs, Solomon, declares that none of these can stand “against the Lord” (AGAINST = in opposition to; which can be compared to; which can avail, or prevail against Him) Someone put it this way, “Nothing clever, nothing conceived, nothing contrived can get the better of God.” To fight against God is to fight a losing battle. We can never succeed when we go against the Sovereign Creator of the universe. This means, God wins and ultimately all His purposes will be accomplished. The ways of this world seem so subtle, so clever, so cunning in antagonism to God, and, yet, look again. The futility, feebleness, and failure of this antagonism has been revealed. Listen to what the Bible has to say about those who ignore or oppose Him. Job 5:13: “He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.” (FROWARD = perverted, false, deceitful ; HEADLONG = easily). Matthew Henry put it this way, “He snares them in the work of their own hands . . . ” Psalm 9:15 says, “The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.” Psalm 33:10: “The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect” (COUNSEL = advice ; DEVICES = contrivances, intentions, plans. ). Psalm 33:11 says, “The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.” Whatever our plans, whatever our devices, these may fail, but the counsel of the Lord will stand sure. Proverbs 21:30 teaches that opposition of any kind toward God will never succeed. Let's notice:

I. MANKIND’S WISDOM VS. GOD’S WISDOM.

II. MANKIND’S UNDERSTANDING VS. GOD’S UNDERSTANDING.

III. MANKIND’S COUNSEL VS. GOD’S COUNSEL.

JUDGMENT BEGINS HERE! -- I Peter 4:14-19

Sun, 26 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0500

The believers to whom Peter is speaking are being encouraged to continue in the faithful, sanctified life EVEN IN THE LIGHT OF PERSECUTION and because of the day in which we live. In vv. 1-2 he says “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; (2) That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.” Vs. 4 speaks of not running with the world so that “they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot” and thereby speak evil of you. Vs. 7 is a warning. “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” Vv. 12-14 instruct us to endure persecution (some can endure anything but persecution) with rejoicing because: 1) When we are persecuted for the cause of Christ, we are partakers of His sufferings. (That was Paul’s desire - Philippians 3:10); 2) “. . . for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you . . . ” (While the world speaks evil of Christ, our testimony and faithfulness, even in persecution, we are to bring Him glory.) In vv. 15-16 he says, “Do not suffer because you deserve it -- “. . . let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.” But if you suffer for serving the Lord, DO NOT BE ASHAMED! So, in this context of faithful living, and maintaining a sanctified life, and of enduring ridicule for the Lord, Peter reminds us that JUDGMENT IS COMING! I assure you today by the Word of God that every man, woman, boy, and girl is going to come face to face with God, with the Lord Jesus to be judged by Him. The saved will stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ - II Corinthians 5:10 ; Romans 14:10. The Lost - will stand before Him at the Great White Throne Judgment of God - Revelation 20:11-12. And look at where that judgment is to begin -- vs.17- “at the house of God,” and notice that he says that “time has come that judgment must begin” there. (TIME = proper time; suitable place.) Vs. 17 also says, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God . . . ” Well, what is the house of God? I’m glad you asked. I Timothy 3:15 says, “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” What is the house of God? It is the church - each and every New Testament church. And Paul says two things about what the Lord’s churches are supposed to be: a) PILLAR = a column or pillar; used of any firm support. (These were also often ornate.); b) GROUND = basis; foundation. It refers to that which is fixed, settled, stationary. I Peter 2:5 says “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” Obviously, Peter is speaking of the body, not the building. And, he says 3 things about it: a) A New Testament church is a spiritual house -- Ephesians 2:19-22 ; b) We as saved members of a New Testament church make up a holy priesthood. (HOLY = sanctified; set apart. Means we are to be different from the world.) We are to offer up spiritual sacrifices (Hebrews 13:15-16) that are acceptable to God. And Hebrews 10:21 says we have a high priest who is over the house of God, and 4:14 names Him - Jesus the Son of God. And I would suggest to you today that the Lord’s churches may already be being judged by God. Sometimes He allows the fruit of our actions (or inactions) to be the punishment for those actions. And we know that (James 4:17) when we know what we should do and don’t do it, it is . . . SIN! What do we see in this nation today? Churches with low attendance. Churches with few (if any) being saved. Churches with a membership that has little commitment to Christ. (Some excuse themselves by blaming the pastor or the “staff,” but neither your pastor nor the “staff” can do the work God expects YOU to do.) And listen to what the Lord says to other of His churches. “Repent; or else . . . ” 1) To Ephesus (Revelation 2:5) “. . . I will come unto thee . . . and remove thy candlestick . . . ” 2) To Pergamos (Revelation 2:16) “. . . I will come unto thee . . . and will fight against them . . . ” 3) To Thyatira (Revelation 2:22) “I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.” 4) To Sardis (Revelation 3:3) “I will come on thee as a thief . . . ” 5) To Laodicea (Revelation 3:16) “I will spue thee out of my mouth.” I want to share with you very briefly 7 things that God may be judging in His churches today as He prepares to clean house in His churches.

I. UNLIVED MORALITY.

II. UNHOLY MERGERS.

III. UNSCRIPTURAL METHODS.

IV. UNCONCERNED MEMBERS.

V. THE UNSHARED WITNESS.

VI. UNBENT KNEES.

VII. UNCONFESSED MISCONDUCT (SIN).

OH, HOW HE LOVES YOU AND ME! -- I John 4:7-10

Sun, 19 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0500

We have studied the holiness of god and the sovereignty of god, and we have seen: 1) God’s holiness is His chief characteristic; 2) God is sovereign because, “It is he that hath made us and not we ourselves.” God’s great love for us comes out of His holiness and His sovereignty. The word that is used to relate the love of god is, of course, the word “agape” (AGAPE = good-will, benevolence, love.) It is raised to its highest level when it is used in relation to God. “Agape” refers to a love that is unconditional and sacrificial. God places no conditions upon His love for mankind. It is this love that caused Him to make the ultimate sacrifice in sending His only begotten Son to the cross. As our society drifts farther from God, it is not surprising that many are skeptical about the possibility of having a truly loving relationship. One reason is that so many do not know God. God does not attain love, then maintain love. Love is simply the structure of His being. First John makes 3 comprehensive statements about God: 1) God is light -- pure righteousness, holiness; 2) God is Spirit. (No man hath seen God.) 3) God is love. As we attempt to get an understanding of the love that god is, i want to present 3 thoughts about the subject.

I. GOD’S LOVE IS A REVEALED LOVE -- VV. 8-9.

II. GOD’S LOVE IS A REDEEMING LOVE -- VV. 9-10.

III. GOD’S LOVE IS A REASSURING LOVE.

OUR SOVEREIGN GOD -- I Chronicles 29:11

Sun, 12 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0500

As we consider the sovereignty of God, I want us to first look at a few verses from the Old Testament that deal with this subject.

Deuteronomy 4:39 -- “Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.”

Deuteronomy 10:14 -- “Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the Lord’s thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.”

Deuteronomy 32:39-41 -- “See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. 40 For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever. 41 If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.”

Nehemiah 9:6 -- “Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.”

Psalm 24:1 -- “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”

Psalm 89:11 -- “The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.”

The New Testament also declares God’s sovereignty and creation:

Revelation 4:11 - “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

Acts 17:24-25 - “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things . . . ”

Sovereignty means (Webster) supreme excellence; supreme power; freedom from external control; autonomy. Sovereign means (Webster) possessed of supreme power; unlimited in extent; absolute. As applied to God, “sovereignty” means (among other things): a. He is the only true God; b. All authority exists with Him -- Matthew 28:18; c. Since God is the Creator of all things, He can do whatever He desires with them; d. Whatever God does is right -- period. Sovereignty, then, is God’s exercise of His supremacy. In Psalm 2, God is revealed as looking down on mankind and observing him from Heaven. He sees the heathen raging, people with empty (vain) imaginations, and kings at war and kings in rebellion. His response? He shall laugh and have them in derision. Why? Because He is sovereign and knows their beginning from their end. God is sovereign by right of creation, by right of position (He is God and He is in Heaven), and by right of power. Psalm 100:3 says, “Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves . . . ” This is a simple fact that mankind, in this day of atheism, agnosticism, humanism, and the teaching of evolution has forgotten. Mankind has become a god in his own mind and has forgotten the true and living God. We must remember: God can exist without man, but man cannot exist without God - (Colossians 1:17: “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”) However, the fact of God’s sovereignty should be comforting to us who are saved because we know that God rules, overrules, and sanctifies even under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe trials, and in affliction, persecution, illness, and even death. He is the ALL POWERFUL GOD!! Thank God He is on His throne, high and lifted up, and sovereign over all creation! I want us to notice:

I. GOD’S WILL IS SOVEREIGN.

II. GOD’S WORKS ARE SOVEREIGN.

III. GOD’S WAY IS SOVEREIGN.

THE HOLINESS OF GOD AND WORSHIP -- Leviticus 20:26 ; Psalm 99

Sun, 05 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0500

God has become so casual (so human, so buddy-buddy) in the thinking of many today, that they do not understand the whole perspective of His utter holiness. The Scripture says our God is a consuming fire, and He has a holy indignation against sin. It is possible to flippantly rush into His presence, with lives unattended to by repentance and confession of sin so that we are vulnerable to His holy reaction. Remember, John leaned on the bosom of Jesus in the Upper Room, but he fell at His feet as he beheld Him as Sovereign in Revelation 1:17: “And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead.” (How do we come before God?) At the burning bush Moses was told he was on holy ground. (Why? What made it holy?) Because he was in the presence of God.The language of Israel’s worship makes it clear that the Israelite thought of God as being locally present. And we know that He is present with this church when we come together to worship Him. Matthew 18:20: Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” The quality of anyone’s worship depends upon and is conditioned by the object of his worship, and an underlying cause of much shallow worship is failure to recognize the holiness of God. Most Bible commentators rank love as the primary attribute of God. Many churches have distorted the love of God to make Him appear indulgent of sin and indifferent toward justice. Someone said, “An understanding of God as He truly is, the sovereign Lord of heaven and earth, inflexible in His holiness, righteous in all His ways, unwilling to countenance sin, even in His own children, but gracious beyond all human capacity because of the eternal sacrifice of His Son, would be reflected in the worship of His name and thus would certainly bring glory to His person.” The key to understanding biblical worship is an appreciation of the attributes of God – especially His holiness. We must comprehend the exalted character of God (with holiness as the primary attribute) in order to understand our need as worshippers. In Isaiah 6:5 Isaiah saw the Lord and realized his contrasting condition. “Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” Until we understand ourselves as weak and needy and God as “lofty and exalted,” we will be unable to grasp the significance of God’s holiness and thus give Him “acceptable” worship. The average person, even among believers, often thinks, “I did this. I got this degree. I got this job” when in reality, without God’s working our lives we would not have those things. Hebrews 12:28-29: “ . . . let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire.” One man said this about holiness: “ There is a simple yet profound word which occurs 900 times in the Bible. You see it first in Genesis . . . You see it in the closing chapter of Revelation where we are told about God’s creation of a new heaven and a new earth. But except for a few grand old hymns of the faith, you do not see this word much today. The word is holy.” (When was the last time you heard a message, or read a devotional or a lesson on holiness?) I fear that when we consider the thought of holiness, of consecration, or of dedication to God, we are tempted to compare ourselves to someone we less mature, less consecrated, or less holy than ourselves. We find it easier to measure ourselves and our service to God using an imperfect standard – one another rather than God or the Lord Jesus. Someone said this: “God’s holiness is not simply the best we know infinitely bettered . . . Holy is the way God is. To be holy He does not conform to a standard. He is that standard . . . ” Now, why did God say to Israel in Leviticus 20:26 and to us through Peter in I Peter 1:15, “Be ye holy?” It is because He is holy! And because He is holy, His attributes are holy. That is, whatever we think of as belonging to God must be thought of as holy. But what do you think of when you consider the holiness of God?

I. THE HOLINESS OF GOD -- (“for I the Lord am holy.”)

II. THE HOLINESS OF GOD’S -- (“Be ye holy . . . ”)

HELL DO YOU BELIEVE IN IT? -- Matthew 25:31-46 (Vs. 41)

Sun, 29 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Hopefully I am not presenting this message for anyone who is present in the services today. At the same time, however, I am sharing it for everyone that is here today. You say, “That’s confusing, Preacher.” I hope no one here needs this message because you are lost, but we all need this message because we are saved -- 1) To be reminded of what awaited us before we accepted Christ as Savior; 2) To help us to be thankful to God for what He has done for us - not only in saving us but in preserving our lives until we came to the point that we accepted Christ; To remind us of our family, friends, co-workers, classmates, neighbors who may not have a saving relationship with the Lord. Hell is not a subject you hear preached on much today. Because it is not a “popular” subject. It is considered "rude," “crude,” and “ill mannered” to suggest that there are some who will die lost and spend an eternity in hell. Possibly, also, because the saved quit bringing/inviting the lost to church so that the preachers felt there was little need to preach on the subject. However, the subject of hell is relevant because hell is a real place where real people will spend eternity. And before we will actively try to lead men to Heaven, we must first realize the reality of hell. We must get a vision of hell. We must envision the flames, the torment, and the eternity of it. I feel as though I was offered a challenge this week when I read the following post on Facebook: "The friendly preacher who fails to warn of the reality of hell, betrays the Son of God with a kiss” (Ray Comfort). Too many modern day preachers do not care to preach on sin or Hell. By their actions they betray the command of Christ who specifically stated that we who are saved are to warn the lost of their impending doom. John 3:17-18: “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Mark 16:15: “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Acts 1:8: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” The simple fact is that many of God’s people and God’s preachers ARE NOT doing this today. So this morning we are going to hear about hell, and we are going to consider:

I. THE REALITY OF HELL.

II. THE RESIDENTS OF HELL.

III. THE "REACH" OF HELL.

EXCUSES -- EXODUS 3:1-12

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500

There is a difference between reasons and excuses. A reason is a statement offered in explanation or justification; a sufficient ground of explanation or of logical defense. An excuse is an attempt to remove blame; attempt to lessen the blame attaching to (a fault or offense); seek to defend or justify; an explanation put forward to defend or justify a fault or offense. George Washington said, “It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.” Benjamin Franklin stated “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.” George Washington Carver offered, “Ninety-nine percent of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses.” Someone said, “The trouble with excuses is that they become inevitably difficult to believe after they’ve been used a couple of times.” Whatever our excuse, I’m sure the Lord has heard it before. The life of Moses can be divided into three 40 year periods -- The first 40 - His life in Egypt, the second 40 - His life in the wilderness, and the final 40 - leading Israel to the Promised Land. Notice, 2/3 of Moses’ life was spent preparing him for this one task. Just because you have years on you does not mean that God is ready for you to retire. In Exodus 3 we see the beginning of the final forty years of his life. We find him on the “backside of the desert.” (Exodus 3:1: “Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.” This is where he encountered the burning bush and the call of God to lead Israel into Canaan. God clearly stated what He wanted Moses to do and even promised His presence with him. But Moses, like us, offered excuses as to why he could not perform God’s will for him. The excuses Moses offered were just that - excuses, attempts to lessen the blame for his failure and refusal to serve God as God intended. In all of his excuses (and we do the same) Moses was effectively telling God, “You don’t know what you are doing calling me.” Here is a problem in the Lord’s churches today, so many members know about God, but they don't really know God. Many believe only pastors and missionaries are supposed to leave the place where they grew up, quit their jobs, sell their homes, leave their family and friends and move their wife and children to some unfamiliar place where they know no one, and depend on God to take care of them. How many of us, if God so led, would be willing to leave all behind to go and serve God on an unfamiliar field? We’re going to take a look at Moses’ excuses in Exodus 3 and see if they remind us of some we have used or warn us against excuses we might use for not serving God . . . faithfully!

I. THE “UNWORTHY” EXCUSE - “I AM A NOBODY” - VS. 11.

II. THE “UNLEARNED” EXCUSE - “I HAVE NO MESSAGE” - VS. 13.

III. THE “UNAUTHORIZED” EXCUSE - “THEY WON’T BELIEVE ME” - 4:1.

IV. THE “UNABLE” EXCUSE - “I AM NOT ELOQUENT . . . I AM SLOW OF SPEECH” - 4:10.

V. THE “UNAVAILABLE” EXCUSE - “LORD, SEND SOMEONE ELSE” - 4:13.

GOD GETS THE LAST LAUGH -- Psalm 2:1-4

Mon, 16 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500

We don’t usually associate laughter with God’s Word, but it is there. There are several references to laughter in the Bible.There is good cheer and laughter of all kinds. In Nehemiah 8:10 the Scripture records that Nehemiah encouraged those who were helping rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, “. . . neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” And Ecclesiastes 3:4 says there is “A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance . . . ” There are different kinds of laughter for different reasons. There is the innocent laughter of children and the wholesome laughter of pure joy. There is good laughter and bad laughter. Remember what Ecclesiastes 7:6 says about the laughter of the wicked: “For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.” (What an apt description that is! It makes a lot of noise, but it doesn’t last long.) To the lost in Proverbs 1:24-26 God says: “Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh . . . ” To saved sinners James 4:9 says, “. . . let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.” In II Chronicles 30 King Hezekiah called the people to repentance and revival and sent messengers throughout the land to tell the people, but they laughed them to scorn. Nehemiah and the people were trying to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem when we are told that their enemies mocked them and laughed them to scorn. Mark 5:38-40 Jesus Himself was laughed to scorn in the house of the ruler of the synagogue prior to raising Jarius’ daughter from the dead. In Acts 17:22-34 After Paul spoke eloquently on Mars’ Hill the Scripture says, “And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked . . . ” There is the laughter of the world. Americans are laughing themselves to death today trying to forget their trials and tribulations. There is the laughter of the believer. Even though we may weep now, we shall one day laugh when we see the cause of Christ triumph and see truth vindicated. Psalm 52 was written to evil people and says: “1 Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually. 3 Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah. 5 God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah. 6 The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him . . . " That brings us to the laughter of the Almighty. Psalm 37:12-13 is speaking of the wicked again: “The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. 13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.” GOD WILL HAVE THE LAST LAUGH! Let’s look right quickly at these first four verses of Psalm 2 and see how they remind us that we can be, we should be bold for our Lord today. They remind us first of all of:

I. THE REBELLION OF MAN – VV. 1-3.

II. THE RESPONSE OF THE MASTER – VS. 4.

REMINDERS FOR THE NEW YEAR -- James 4:13-17

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500

None of us knows what the future holds. We may speculate (and many do). We may hope (and most of us probably do). I would dare to say if some of us could have looked ahead to this past year: 1) We would have avoided some things; 2) We would have done some things differently. It is a part of our human nature to want to know what the future holds for us. Millions are spent each year on “psychics,” seers, fortune tellers, etc. in an attempt to know the future. Daily there are people who read their horoscopes and plan their activities by them. It is this desire that has made people like California Psychics are well known. For some the future is a place of anticipation and optimism. For others it is miserable and filled with pessimism. Depending upon your outlook, the future is either very bright or very dark. As we make this trip into the new year that is ahead of us, we need to do so with a plan. James offers us some reminders as we plan for the coming year. Let’s note:

I. THE FUTURE IS CLOUDED BY HUMAN SPECULATION -- VV 13-14.

II. THE FUTURE IS CONNECTED TO DIVINE SUPERVISION -- VS. 15.

III. THE FUTURE IS TO BE COMMITTED IN FAITHFUL SATISFACTION -- VV. 16-17.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS -- Luke 2:1-16

Sun, 25 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0500

The birth of Jesus into this world is the most significant birth that has ever taken place. There have been many great men, by the world’s standards, born, but none of these can even begin to compare to Jesus. There have been leaders - some great and some not so great - and teachers born, but none of them can even begin to compare to Jesus. Why? What makes the coming of Jesus into the world so significant? We answer that question when we sing those words in “Hark, The Herald Angels Sing” - “VEILED IN FLESH THE GODHEAD SEE. HAIL TH’ INCARNATE DEITY!” God has made Himself known to men by living among them in the person of Jesus Christ. In John 14:9 Jesus said, “. . . Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?” A proper appreciation of Christ’s coming and the significance of the events surrounding His birth should cause each one of us to have a greater love for God and a idea of what Christmas really means to us. As we examine some of the people, places, and events around Christ's birth we see:

I. THERE IS SIGNIFICANCE TO THE PURPOSE OF HIS VIRGIN BIRTH.

II. THERE IS SIGNIFICANCE TO THE PLACE THAT JESUS WAS BORN.

III. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANCE TO THE PEOPLE THAT HEARD OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS.

IV. THERE IS SIGNIFICANCE TO THE PRESENTS THAT WERE BROUGHT.

THE ETERNAL JESUS -- Micah 5:2

Mon, 19 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Many people come to this time of year and expect to worship a baby in a manger, the baby Jesus. However, if that baby had not grown into manhood and completed the work the Father gave Him to do, we would all be in our sin today. Those who wear the title “Christian” (whether self-imposed or assigned by the world about them) observe, celebrate, honor, commemorate, remember Jesus and celebrate His birth. (We celebrate His birth, and we honor His death, burial and resurrection.) We are certainly thankful the Son of God came into this world, and that He was born of a virgin as God had said. And God had told Israel many times and in many different ways that He would send a Savior into the world. In Isaiah 7:14 He said, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Also, Isaiah 9:6 tells us, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” And then we have in our text God’s announcement of the very place He would be born. But Israel looked for a military man, a ruler, a political figure and ignored the Baby born in a manger. As I begin this message, I want to assure you that December 25th IS NOT the beginning of Jesus. It is the date that we observe, celebrate, etc. His coming into this world in human flesh 2000 years ago. He has existed for a lot longer than 2000 years. In fact, we know that Jesus is just as eternal as God is. And what I want to do in this brief period of time today is present to us:

I. The Eternal Jesus.

II. The Preeminent Jesus.

III. The Coming Jesus.

CAN YOU BE A CHRISTIAN AND NOT BE FAITHFUL? Proverbs 20:6, 11

Sun, 11 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Some other verses on faithfulness:

I Corinthians 1:9: “God is faithful by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”

I Corinthians 4:2: “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

Luke 16:10-11: “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11 If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?”

Several years ago I wrote and shared an article with you titled “Love Jesus, Love The Church.” It was in response to an article from the Barna Research Group website titled "Meet Those Who 'Love Jesus But Not The Church.'" That attitude is much akin to the thinking some have set forth that a person can be a “Christian” with no or only sporadic church attendance. As I stated then, that sentiment cannot be substantiated biblically. That attitude is equivalent to saying, “I like to play baseball, but I don’t care to be on a team.” The Lord did not intend for believers to be “freelancers,” working by our own authority (of which we have none) and for personal benefit, when it comes to His Kingdom work. Allow me to share some heartbreaking statistics with you.

Only 63% of Americans identify as “Christians.”

The decline of “Christians” in the U.S. has been matched by a rise in the religiously unaffiliated.

Their number has almost doubled since 2007—from 16% to 29%.

Just 47% of Americans are members of a “house of worship.”

Religious membership fell from 70% in 2000 to 47% in 2020.

Only 3 in 10 unchurched Americans say a “Christian” has shared the gospel with them.

(Few unchurched Americans have ever had someone explain exactly how to become a Christian or why they should think about doing so.)

Only 3 in 10 (29%) say a Christian has ever shared with them one-on-one how to be saved.

Only slightly more (33%) say a Christian has told them about the benefits of participating in a local church, or the benefits of becoming a Christian (35%).

And 38 percent indicate of pastors say they have considered quitting full-time ministry within the past year. This percentage rose 9 full points (from 29%) since Barna asked this same question at the beginning of 2021.

In this message today we will get back to basics as we deal with the issue of whether one can truly be considered “Christian” when they willingly and without providential hindrance absent themselves from the assembling together of the Lord’s church (where they are members).

THE BEST INDICATOR THAT CHRIST’S COMING IS NEAR -- II Timothy 3:1-5 ; 4:1-4

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0500

As we prepare to observe the birth and first coming of Jesus into this world, we need to pause and remember that He is coming back. I believe that thought was daily on the minds of those early believers, and it should be on ours. In Matthew 24:44 Jesus said, “for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” In the books of Matthew and Luke He gave examples of those who lived without giving thought to God and His judgment. In Noah’s day “. . . They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all” (Luke 17:27). In the days of Lot “they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; (29) But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all” (Luke 17:28-29). Then He says, “Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed” (vs. 30). So as we think about the coming of Christ we ralize that there are some things we know. Jesus is coming back -- John 14:1-3 ; Acts 1:11. When He comes, we who are saved will go to be with Him -- I Thessalonians 4:16-18 ; I Corinthians 15:51-52. The saved will ultimately stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ -- II Corinthians 5:10 ; Romans 14:10. And we look for new heavens and a new earth “wherein dwelleth righteousness” -- II Peter 3:13 ; Revelation 21:1. Then we realize there are some things we do not know. We don’t really know what the glorified body will be like -- I John 3:2. We don’t know how the change to glorified bodies will occur, or the glory we will share - I Corinthians 2:9. And we certainly do not know the day nor the hour of the Lord’s return. In Matthew 24:36 Jesus said that no man knows. That is reserved for the Father. And then there are some things we may know. According to Luke 21:29-33 we can know the “season” of Christ’s return. We may understand there are certain signs, certain indicators that His coming is near. Many of these relate to the condition of the Lord’s churches in these last days. I want to share some of these with you from God’s Word and reveal how they apply, not to the lost world, but to professed saved people. They are: 1) Abounding iniquity; 2) Abandoned truth; 3) Abated power (ability). God’s Word says there will be:

I. ABOUNDING INIQUITY -- MATTHEW 24:12.

II. ABANDONED TRUTH -- II THESSALONIANS 2:3.

III. ABATED POWER (ABILITY) -- II TIMOTHY 3:5.

LIVING UP TO OUR SPIRITUAL POTENTIAL -- Galatians 5:24-25

Sun, 27 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0500

How many present would say, “I want to live a more Christ-like life on a daily basis?” So, I will ask: What is your spiritual potential? Do you know? With reference to Christian service, I believe each of us has a different potential. It will vary according to: 1) The abilities God has given each of us; 2) What we do with those abilities; and 3) The opportunities that come to us to use them. However, in Christian character we each have the same potential. It is the potential for Christ-likeness. It is the potential of producing a full harvest of the “fruit of the Spirit” - love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. As we think of each of these qualities in detail, one may say, “That is beyond me.” Not so! That is your spiritual potential. You are a potentially fruitful child of God. Let’s do a little personal assessment and ask ourselves (and be honest with ourselves and attentive to the answer of the Spirit). What percentage of my spiritual potential am I now reaching? How would I measure my fruitfulness? Can I honestly look at my life and see signs that I am moving toward Christ-likeness? Have I seen spiritual growth that would encourage me to believe I am moving toward my potential? These are important considerations, for growth in the Christian life is growth in these very areas. With this potential for fruitfulness in mind, Paul comes to our text verses. Our fruitfulness is dependent upon the truths stated in these two verses. To the degree that these are applied in our lives, we will be moving toward our potential. We're not going to make a giant leap and suddenly change our spiritual potential, but we need to be moving toward it. If we are going to live up to our spiritual potential, we must:

I. REALIZE THAT THE FLESH HAS BEEN CRUCIFIED - VS. 24.

II. RELY UPON THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT - VS. 25.

A CALL TO THANKSGIVING -- Psalm 100

Fri, 25 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0500

I fully intended to post this message yesterday (11/24), but I got side-tracked and failed to do so. Since this is the "Thanksgiving season" I will share it today.

Psalm 100 concludes a series of Psalms that began with Psalm 91 and look ahead to the coronation of the King, the Lord Jesus Christ. Its true setting is the millennial Kingdom of Christ. When the world will be filled with righteousness. When men everywhere will exalt the Name of the Lord. His glory and His praises will fill the earth (as they should at all times.) While these things are future, there is an application in this Psalm for us because it is a call to Thanksgiving. The title literally reads, "A Psalm Of Shouting." It's a plea to its readers to look to the Lord and exalt His Name! We see:

I. OUR ENTRANCE INTO HIS PRESENCE -- VV. 1-2.

II. ENLIGHTENMENT CONCERNING HIS PERSON -- VS. 3.

III. THE EXPRESSION OF HIS PRAISES -- VV. 4-5.

WHEN OUR FAITH SEEMS TO FAIL US -- II Corinthians 5:7 ; Hebrews 11:6

Sun, 20 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0500

It is impossible to live the Christian life without faith. We come into this life by faith – Ephesians 2:8-9. And we are to live this life by faith – II Corinthians 5:7. We cannot please God without faith. But not only do we need to possess faith, we need a faith that possesses us. We are not talking about a “blind faith.” And we are not talking about the power of positive thinking. Yes, as believers we need to be a positive people. I don’t enjoy being around negative people, the “Woe is me. Everybody is against me” type. But just thinking positively about something isn’t going to change it. Faith must have an object, and the object of our faith is the Lord Jesus Christ. We trust Him. The Bible teaches us to pray in faith -- James1:5-6: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (6) But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” None of us is immune from this wavering. All I have to do is look back to some of my FB memories from 10 years ago and see how weak my faith was. (Those are the memories I don’t share.) What does the rest of that reference in James 1 say? Vs. 7 – “For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.” So we are to ask in faith . . . But what happens when we have faith, and it seems to fail? Sometimes we pray for very specific things. We try to have faith. We try to trust. But the answer does not come exactly as we think it should or as soon as we think it should. In fact, the very opposite we have asked happens. Example: From the day Mother was diagnosed with cancer, I prayed for her healing. I didn’t just pray occasionally, but I almost constantly with “strong crying and tears.” I suggested doctors and treatments to my dad, and they were followed. But about 3 months after her diagnosis she passed away. Had my faith failed? NO! (I will address that thought in a few minutes.) Sometimes trials, temptations, tribulations, heartaches, tears, and fears come, and faith just does not seem to remove them. Sometimes the answer in found in James 4 – you have not because you ask not; you ask ask and received not because you ask amiss (for the wrong reason, with the wrong motive). Sometimes the answer is found in James 1:3: “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” God is growing us, maturing us, and we know “And patience, experience; and experience, hope . . . ” (Romans 5:4). We know that the book of Hebrews was written necause there were some who were ready to quit Christ and go back under the Mosaic Law because of persecution. But, in chapter 11 these were confronted with “so great a cloud of witnesses,” Old Testament figures who stayed true to the Lord even during difficult trials of their faith. Some of these are mentioned in Hebrews 11:32-39. In vs. 32 the writer names Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthae; David, Samuel, and the prophets. In vs. 35 he mentions women who received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, “not accepting deliverance.” Vv. 36-37 speak of others who “had trial of cruel mockings and scourging . . . of bonds and imprisonment: (37) They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented . . . ” But today many believers and church members have faith only in the good times. When some trial or some crisis comes, the “cut and run.” They quit. That is because many of these do not have a strong faith. Instead, they have an immature faith. For the remainder of this message we will see what a strong, mature faith in God will do. We see that:

I. STRONG FAITH TRUSTS THE POWER OF GOD.

II. STRONG FAITH BOWS TO THE PURPOSES OF GOD.

III. STRONG FAITH IS BASED ON THE PROMISES OF GOD.

WHO HATH BELIEVED OUR REPORT? -- Isaiah 53:13-53:12

Sun, 13 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0500

We know that the Bible is the divinely inspired and inerrant Word of God. That means that every book, every chapter, every word in the Bible is significant. I believe even the “Amen” at the end of the book of Revelation is significant and inspired of God. After seeing and recording all that was to come upon this earth before, during, and after the Tribulation, John said, “Amen. So be it.” And, there are many more chapters and verses in the Bible that have a special significance in regard to the greatest need of mankind, and that is salvation. One of those is Isaiah 53. We need to remember that the book of Isaiah was written about 700 years BEFORE the birth of Christ. It is written with such amazing accuracy and detail concerning the Messiah that it could have only come from God. Most of our Jewish friends miss this description of Jesus. Dr. James Tour is an American chemist amd nanotechnologist. He is a Professor of Chemistry, Professor of Materials Science and Nanoengineering, and Professor of Computer Science at Rice University in Houston. He is also a saved Jew. He has a wonderful testimony of the power of God’s Word and of his own salvation, which you can find on the internet. He gave the following explanation of this 53rd chapter of Isaiah in relation to his Jewish brethren: “Most Jews do not read this portion. They may say they have read it because they assume it is on the yearly reading list.” Then he explains, in every synagogue they will read the same passage from the Torah and the take a complimentary passage from the Psalms or the prophets. Isaiah 53 is speaking about Jesus Christ. God’s Word makes that clear in Acts 8. Vs. 30 tells us that Philip ran to the Ethiopian eunuch “and heard him read the prophet Esaias . . . " In Vs. 32 we read, “The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth . . . ” Vs. 34 says the eunuch asked Philip, “of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?” Vs. 35 says, “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.” Actually, Isaiah begins speaking of Him earlier in the book: Isaiah 7:14 talks about the birth of Jesus: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 9:6 says: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” I believe it is easy for us today to read Isaiah 53 and miss so many wonderful lessons about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We see:

I. THE PRESENTATION OF THE SERVANT - 52:13-53:1.

II. THE BIRTH OF THE SERVANT - ISAIAH 53:2a.

III. THE APPEARANCE OF THE SERVANT - VV. 53:2b-6.

IV. THE SUFFERING OF THE SERVANT - VV. 7-9.

V. THE PROSPERITY OF THE SERVANT - VV. 10-12.

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN OTHERS ARE QUITTING? -- Ruth 1:1-22

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0500

There are many accounts in the Bible of people’s lives that serve as an example and an encouragement to our hearts, and the book of Ruth is no exception. Many look at this book and see nothing more than a love story. It may be love story of sorts, but that is the most shallow interpretation of this book. The bigger picture is that of a lost sinner who, through divine providence, is brought into a committed relationship with God and is made to be an ancestor of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are living in a day when real commitment is a rare item. Young adults (and even some older) don’t want to commit themselves in marriage but choose instead just to live together in fornication. Employees often seem to just “want a paycheck” and are not committed to their jobs, etc. Even among God’s people there seems to be little true commitment to the Lord and His church. One of my great fears as a pastor is that as we see some church members fall by the wayside that their unfaithfulness will discourage and affect others who will then follow their example. I have seen it happen. I have shared the testimony of one young lady who got caught up in that very thing. Some may say, “You don’t trust God.” It’s not that. I know people, and I know how we often react when we feel like everyone else has deserted us and left us alone Remember Elijah? Remember what he said in I Kings 19:4, 10: “O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers . . . (10) I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” Of course, we know the Lord said (vs. 18): “I have left me seven thousand in Israel . . . which have not bowed unto Baal . . . ” In the verses of our text today, and throughout this book, we see in Ruth a tremendous example of commitment, faithfulness, and a steadfast life. She teaches us about remaining faithful even when others around us do not. So, let's look into these verses and see “What To Do When Others (Around You) Are Quitting.”

I. RUTH’S CONDITION -- Vv. 1-7.

II. RUTH'S CHALLENGE -- VV. 8-15.

III. RUTH’S COMMITMENT -- Vv. 16-22.

THE HOLINESS OF GOD -- Exodus 15:11

Sun, 30 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0500

God's most important characteristic is His holiness. It is also His most exalted attribute. Many today want to focus only on the love of God, but His love comes out of His holiness. And (as I have said many times before) you DO NOT violate God’s holiness and “get away” with it. God’s character is one of absolute purity, perfection, and integrity. The Old Testament writers and prophets held strong convictions about the holiness of God. Psalm 145:17 says, “The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.” Psalm 99:9 tells us “Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the Lord our God is holy.” God's holiness is a doctrine we rarely seem to study today. His holiness is even more rarely understood, even by people who profess to be His children. In His holiness God exceeds all limits of purity and majesty known to man. It will be a great day when we fully realize that God is above us and beyond us. “Holy” is almost a foreign word in many churches today. In this day of “Christian” comedians, “Christian” rock and roll, and “Christian” nightclubs, many who are saved do not truly understand the personality of God. They do not fully understand what worship of God is all about. In the attempt to bring God down to man’s level, we have forgotten that it is impossible to do that because He is high, and holy, and lifted up. One of the best places to get a glimpse of the holiness of God is in Isaiah 6:1-8. Even though the prophet recalled King Uzziah who was a very popular king in Israel, Isaiah saw a vision of another King. Isaiah 6 records for us the words, “I saw the Lord.” Can you imagine what Isaiah saw when He saw the Lord? He says he saw the Lord “high and lifted up.” He also saw the angels gathered round the throne of glory proclaiming, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts.” The Bible never repeats a word by accident. By giving the word “holy” 3 times, it emphasizes the nature of our God. He is the thrice holy God. In John 17:11 God the Father is called “Holy Father.” In Acts 3:14 God the Son is called “the Holy One.” And in Ephesians 4:30 God the Spirit is called the “Holy Spirit.” When Isaiah was confronted with and convicted by God's holiness he immediately recognized his own sinfulness. He said, “Woe is me for I am undone. I am a man of unclean lips.” "Woe" is a lamentation of sorrow or grief. “For I am undone” is literally saying, "I am going to die!" (UNDONE = to fail or perish) Each of us, as God’s children, need to be similarly convicted so that we, too, recognize that holiness. When we fully understand Who God is an humbling should take place in our hearts (just like Isaiah). Isaiah came to this place and very quickly recognized his insignificance in the presence of a holy God. In this day when we feel we must cause everyone to “feel good” about God and about themselves, the fact is that when Isaiah got very close to God, he didn’t feel good about himself at all. He said, “There are some things in my life that need to change.” Today believers in America do not need a God that gives us the “warm fuzzies” all over. America needs a fresh glimpse of God that causes us to say, “We need to change some things in our lives.” As a preacher of the Word it is not my responsibility to try to take away from God's glory in order to help people understand Him. Instead, it is my prayer (and I believe my responsibility) to present our God in such a way that the Holy Spirit will give us a glimpse of His holiness through the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. That we find ourselves of getting a fresh glimpse of Who God is, and what He wants in our lives. Notice with me now a few things about the holiness of God. Notice, first of all, that . . .

I. THE WORKS OF GOD ARE HOLY -- PSALM 145:17.

II. THE WORD OF GOD IS HOLY.

III. HIS WILL FOR OUR LIVES IS HOLY.

HE’S ALWAYS BEEN FAITHFUL TO ME -- Deuteronomy 7:7-10

Sun, 23 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0500

We live in a time when things are changing almost on a daily basis. There are changes in technology. Just in my lifetime we have gone from rotary dial , to touch tone, to cell phones. We have advanced from record players, to 4-track, to 8-track, to cassettes, to CD's, to digital. We have increased from a few thousand on the internet, to millions, even billions, and internet traffic continues to increase. There are changes socially. Today, a man's word is rarely his bond. Marital problems are no longer the exception but seem to be the rule. We have young people who interact more with video games than they do with their parents. There are changes politically. Nationalism is declining, and globalism is growing. In the U.S., if we are not there, we are on the fast track to socialism. There are changes religiously. Churches are moving from, “Preach the word” to social and “feel good” messages, teaching less and less doctrine. And many claim that we are now living in a post-Christian era in America. Yet, in this time when more change seems to take place in a year than over the past hundreds of years, we serve a God who does not change! He is a God Who is faithful and true, and we are going to talk about that faithfulness today. In Malachi 3:6: “For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” Human nature cannot be relied upon, but we can trust in a God Whose faithfulness uphold the world at this very moment. God's Word declares over and over again the faithfulness of our Heavenly Father: I Corinthians 1:9 ; Isaiah 25:1 ; Psalm 36:5. His very name speaks of His faithfulness -- Revelation 19:11. Many other verses speak of His faithfulness -- Psalm 40:10 ; Psalm 89:1-2, 5, 8 ; Psalm 119:90. Vs. 9 of our text says that God “is the faithful God.” Faithful (Hebrew) means to support, bear; to be firm, faithful; here, to be trusty. The Greek word means to be trusty, trustworthy, worthy of confidence; of persons, one on whom we may rely; dependable. This is the character of our God. You can depend upon Him! We see first that . . .

I. HE IS FAITHFUL IN HIS PERSONALITY -- VS. 9a.

II. GOD IS FAITHFUL IN HIS PROVISION -- VS. 8.

III. GOD IS FAITHFUL IN HIS PROMISES -- VV. 9-10.

THE MOST PREVALENT SIN TODAY (AMONG GOD'S PEOPLE) -- Revelation 3:14-22

Sun, 16 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0500

This IS NOT so much a message on the condition of the church at Laodicea as it is a message on a danger to and the condition of many of the Lord’s churches today! We have a problem in the Lord’s churches today, and it is this: We believe, but we do it without zeal or enthusiasm for the things of God. It is as if we are yawning in the face of the Lord God Almighty Himself. In many ways it says to God, “You don’t excite me. You don’t thrill me. Your work is a burden.” Remember what I John 5:3 says? “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." (GRIEVOUS = weighty, burdensome, a load to bear.) The book of Revelation can be very easily outlined with 3 divisions: 1) The things that were (the things John had seen), 2) The things that are (the church age), and 3) The things that are to come. The “things that are” are found in chapters 2 and 3. Those chapters contain the Lord’s letters which He dictated to John to the 7 churches of Asia. Some say these letters picture the entirety of the Church Age. The characteristics named for each church present the dominant characteristic for the period of the Church Age that each church represents. If that is so, and we are living in the last days, we are living in the Laodicean Period, and the dominant trait of that church and this age is – Lukewarmness. Listen to what the Lord says. [TEXT] In the first chapter of Revelation Jesus is pictured as standing in the middle of seven golden candlesticks – vs. 13. Vs. 16 says He held “in his right hand seven stars,” and vs. 20 gives us “The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks.” The seven stars are “the angels of the seven churches.” (ANGEL = messenger.) A church of the Lord Jesus Christ better pray that her pastor is in the hand of Jesus! This reveals Who is in control of the one bringing the message to the church. The seven golden candlesticks are “the seven churches.” What did Jesus say in Matthew 18:20? We NEED Jesus in the very middle, in the midst of this church. This pictures fellowship. When we get down to vs. 20 we’re going to find Him where He is in relation to some churches -- on the outside. (I pray WE never put Him there.) In vs. 14 Jesus says two things about Himself. He is “the Amen.” (He didn’t just say, “amen,” He IS the Amen – the One who is steady and unchangeable in all of His purposes and promises.) He is “the faithful and true witness” -- He is the One who ought to be received and fully believed, and whose testimony of men to God will be fully believed and regarded. So whatever He says, we can count on, and He says to this church and to many churches today, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.” They were too hot to be cold and too cold to be hot. Have you ever forgotten a cup of coffee? It hasn’t cooled off so that it is cold, but it just isn't as good as a fresh, hot cup of coffee. That is what so many churches and believers are like today. So He begins by warning this church . . . and us of . . .

I. THE CURSE OF LUKEWARMNESS – VV. 15-16.

II. THE CAUSE OF LUKEWARMNESS – VS. 17.

III. THE CURE FOR LUKEWARMNESS – VS. 18.

CONSIDER YOUR WAYS -- Haggai 1:1-12

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0500

What is the most valuable thing in your life? It can be a material possession, a person, an activity, etc. What one thing in your life, if you had to do without it, would affect your life the most? God's Word teaches us that anything that comes between us and God is an idol Anything we love more, fear more, serve more, or worship more than God is an idol god. On that basis, most (American) believers would have to plead guilty to idol worship. The name of our primary idol is spelled S-E-L-F. This message deals with priorities. Matthew 6:33 tells us, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God . . . " Matthew 22:37-38 says "Thou shalt love the Lord . . . this is the first and great commandment." One of our greatest problems today is maintaining proper priorities in our lives as children of God. This has often been a problem for God's people. In our text the Jews had returned from Babylonian captivity. One would think they would be so thankful to God for their freedom and that worship would be their priority. However, instead of working on the Temple, they began to build houses for themselves. (What a contrast with the attitude of David in I Chronicles 17:1. The Temple in the Old Testament is a picture of New Testament churches. In the early days of the Jerusalem church, people sold their lands and goods and gave to the church (Acts 2:44-45; Acts 4:32, 36-37.) In these last days of the Church Age, few show such great love for the Lord and His churches. We're busy doing things that won't amount to anything in 50 years while the Lord's churches go lacking. God's words to Israel should serve as a warning to us. As Haggai spoke to these we see:

I. THEIR PRACTICE.

II. THE PROTEST -- VV. 3-8.

III. THE PENALTY -- VV. 9-11.

LOOK WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE FOR ME! -- I TIMOTHY 1:12-17

Sun, 02 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Have you ever wondered, "Can God really use me?" If you have, I encourage you to look at Timothy. Some say he was around 30 years old at this time. Paul (after at least 2 years at Ephesus) had left him there as pastor of this young church. Timothy encountered several problems at Ephesus: False doctrine and legalists (Judaizers); Issues about the public worship; The need for qualified leaders; Some may have questioned his youth (4:12). Greek society believed a man came of age around 40; Materialism (chap. 6) & others. In an effort to encourage this servant of God, Paul uses his life as an example of what God can do through His grace amd power. He says, "Timothy, look at me. See what God has done in me." He knew if Timothy could see that God could take him (Paul) with all his baggage, save him and use him, He could do great things through Timothy as well. These verses are a look at Paul's personal testimony. In them we see that what God did in, to, for, and through Paul; He can do in to, for, and through any one of us. We only have to make ourselves available to Him. "It's not your ability God wants; it's your availability." Let's notice:

I. THE TESTIMONY OF A SINNER -- VV. 13, 15.

II. THE TESTIMONY OF A SAINT -- VV. 13-14.

III. THE TESTIMONY OF A SERVANT -- VS. 12.