Christ the Saviour is Born! December 25, 2011

May the Christ of Christmas be with you in a special way as we celebrate His Birth together in His House!  He will rejoice over us as we worship Him on this special day of the year.  May God give you a blessed New Year!

   

“For unto you is Born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host Praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth Peace, good will toward men.”  −Luke 2:11-14

   

Thoughts from Pastors Heart: As we gather together in the Lord’s house today, it is with a heart of thankfulness that I write.  The saints here at Commerce are a great gift to me.  As your Pastor for these 27 years I am so thankful for you!  You are a great Gift to the Body of Christ!  Friendship among the brethren and the sisters are a special Gift from God and the Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Ghost being a great part of the Gift!  Because God loved us and sent His Son empowered by the Holy Ghost to be our Saviour, we have the Gift of Eternal Life.  We also have the Gift of the Body of Christ and thus the Friendship of the Saints.  I always think of one of the Psalms at a time like this, is says:  “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!  It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”  − Ps 133.   How awesome it is to think about the Gifts that God has so graciously bestowed upon us through Jesus our Lord, the King.  There is an Anointing that belongs to the Saints as they partake of the Friendship wherein God has blessed us. Today as we celebrate Jesus Birth, let us give thanks for all the Blessings He has given to us, especially the Gift of Friendship within His glorious Body, the Church.  Let us give thanks for the Gift of Life that He has given us and let us remember our incarcerated friends who are also the Body of Christ.  Wishing you a special Christmas filled with the presence of the Holy Ghost empowering you for the New Year ahead!  Happy Lord’s Birthday and have a blessed New Year! Loving you and Trusting God for a glorious New Year, Pastor

Holy Ghost in Advent! December18, 2011

As we enter this Fourth week of Holy Advent, we see the “Power” behind the glorious Advent of the Coming Christ Child, and the Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ.  It is the Power of the Holy Ghost, may you sense His presence today as we worship together!

            

Anticipating The King!

First Week in Advent; The Conception of our King!

Second Week in Advent; “Salutation, Annunciation, and Declaration!

Third Week in Advent, JOY − The Confirmation!”

Fourth Week in Advent, “Holy Ghost in Advent!”

“For there are Three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these Three are One.”  − 1 John 5:7

Throughout the Messages of Advent we have “proved” by Scripture that Jesus is the Son of God.  Born of a Virgin and witnesses by Wise men and Shepherds as they were guided to the Birth of the Christ. We continue this Fourth Sunday to reveal and “prove” the Power behind Advent.  It is not often that we have heard of the Holy Ghost in detail at Advent, as the Birth of Christ unfolds. It was the Spirit of God that inspired the Prophets to reveal the Virgin Birth. 2 Peter 1:21 “For the Prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” It is the same Spirit that inspired the New Testament writers to record the Account of our Saviour’s Birth.  Old Testament speaks of God’s Spirit while the New Testament calls Him the Holy Ghost.  They are one in the same, the difference is: in the New Testament He has come to live in mankind through the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ the Son of God. So as we celebrate the Lord’s Birth let us go behind the scenes as some would say to see the strength and power behind all the Supernatural happenings that transpire throughout Advent. The Bible begins with “In the beginning God!” Vs 2 reveals the Triune God head who created all things. “The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Vs 3 “And God said [spoke the Word] Let there be Light! Who is the Word, who is the Light!  In the beginning of all things, it is as John wrote there are “Three that bare record in heaven.” It was the Holy Ghost at Jesus Birth, He was revealed to Joseph as he pondered wither he should take Mary to wife. The Holy Ghost was present at Jesus dedication when Simeon took Jesus up in his arms and pronounced Blessings!  The Holy Ghost was present at Jesus Baptism, and drove Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted … no doubt the Holy Ghost was His strength in that moment, for we read that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness being “full of the Holy Ghost! It was the Holy Ghost that touched John the Baptist who would go before Jesus to proclaim Him the Lamb of God!  It was the Promise of the Father that He would send a Comforter and Jesus proclaimed − John 14:26 The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things … What an Advent! The Coming of the Holy Ghost!    Loving you, and wishing you a Christmas filled with God’s Spirit!

Anticipating The King! - Confirmation December 11, 2011

First Week in Advent; The Conception of our King!

Second Week in Advent; “Salutation, Annunciation, and Declaration!

Third Week in Advent, “JOY − The Confirmation!”

As we enter this third week of Holy Advent, we see the “Confirmation” of our Lord Jesus Christ, He is the fulfillment of Promise!  We trust that you will be blessed as we celebrate this glorious season together!

 “…There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel …”
Num. 24:17─The Wise men came & inquired: “Where is He that is born King of the Jews? we have seen His Star in the East, and are come to worship Him.”  Matt. 2:2 

In this Third Week of Holy Advent we continue to “prove” that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He was miraculously born of a Virgin, John the Baptist went before Him proclaiming Him the Lamb of God!  He was declared to be the Light of the world and Salvation to mankind. The Confirmation is: Old Testament Prophecy confirms that the Promise of God is fulfilled in Him.   As we mention the Prophets, we are reminded that Jesus talked about this very thing… He said: “All things must be fulfilled, which were written in the Law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me.” Luke 24:44. Isaiah the Prophet pro-claimed Him the Prince of Peace!  And Paul wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost and declared:  “In Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the Blood of Christ. For He is our Peace.” Eph. 2:13-14 ─ O what glorious Confirmation, what Joy there is in our Saviour!  We find powerful Confirmation is the Book of Romans [8:3], “For what the Law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, condemned sin in the flesh:” We hear the immortal Words of John the Revelator: “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of Grace and Truth!” John 1:14.  O let the Church “Anticipate the King of Glory!”  There is overflowing JOY in obedience as we see Jesus conquer Death, Hell and the Grave!  Rising triumphantly in the Glory on Resurrection Morning!  The Virgin Mary was obedient, Joseph was obedient, Wise men obediently followed the Star, and Shepherds rejoiced and made haste to see the new born King!  The atmosphere was filled with Joy, Worship, and Praise, thus the “pink” candle represents Joy & Praise as our Salvation is confirmed in Jesus Christ our Lord & Saviour!   Loving you, & Anticipating a Joyful Christmas, Pastor

Anticipating The King! December 4, 2011

Second Advent; "Salutation, Annunciation, and Declaration!"

“The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” -Isa.40:3-5

To day we embrace the second week of Holy Advent, the season of our Lord’s Birth. We are blessed that you have joined us for this glorious occasion!  May you received the Christ of Christmas for He is the greatest Gift that you will ever receive.  You are loved in this house of His.

            

In this Second week of Holy Advent, we continue to “Anticipate the Coming of the King of Glory!”  Now we note that there is a second miraculous birth about to take place.  As Mary, the carrier of the Christ Child, comes to visit her cousin Elizabeth, a miracle has taken place in Elizabeth’s life also. Elizabeth once barren, and at a great age, now miraculously with child, hears the Salutation, the greeting of her  Cousin Mary, and Scripture tells us:  “It came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:” – Lk. 1:41 Once more we turn to the Prophets of the Old Testament to see God’s plan unfold. The Prophet Isaiah tells us; there will be a “Voice crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord!”- “And the Glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” -Isa.40:3-5 John the Baptist, Jesus Cousin would proclaim the Annunciation!; “John shall go before Jesus in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the… disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”   John was sent to bare witness of the Light, thus his Declaration; “Behold The Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.” -John 1:29 John declared “I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: John declared in 1:34 “I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God!” What a glorious report that verifies the miraculous Birth and Ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ!  He is the King of kings and the Lord of Glory and He is Coming again, an Advent of all Advents … “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: 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 is our Comfort – “Anticipating the King of Glory!”  Loving you, Pastor

Anticipating The King! November 27, 2011

First Week in Advent; The Conception of our King!

“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.”  ─ Matthew 1:23

As we begin to celebrate the Holy Christmas Season, we once again go to the Scriptures in St. Luke and see the glorious account of Jesus Birth.  The Conception of our Saviour is miraculous and we marvel as we read of this awesome account of His Birth!  As we come into the first moments of this Holy Advent, we see the first mention of the Holy Ghost. He has been called the Holy Spirit on several occasions in the Old Testament, it was the Spirit of God that moved upon the waters in the beginning of creation. The Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost is the Creative Spirit of God. He came into the earth in a most unique way, He came as Jesus was crucified. Jesus “… commanded His followers that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the Promise of the Father, which, saith He ... For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be Baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” Acts 1:4-5. The Holy Ghost is a great part of the Conception of our Saviour. Can you image the Anticipation that Joseph felt when the angel came to him and told him to take Mary as his wife, for that which was “conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.” And what “Anticipation Mary must of felt when the angel delivered the Advent Message to her:  In astonishment she questioned the Angel how this could be and this was the answer:  “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the Power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that Holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” Luke 1:35  Today, we continue to anticipate the “Coming of our King!”  ‘He is coming in power, O hail the Blessed hour!’ What a song of anticipation!  One last thought, the Creative force of God lives in you dear saints for Jesus said: “…The Spirit of Truth; … Ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you!” And on the day of Pentecost Scripture tells us “They were all filled with the Holy Ghost!” Acts 2:4:  Anticipate great things as Jesus lives in you!   Give Him Praise in this Holy Season!  Loving you & praying this will be a Precious season for you, Pastor

 

The God of All Comfort! November 20, 2011

“O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee: my soul thirsteth for Thee…, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land … To see Thy power and Thy glory, so as I have seen Thee in the Sanctuary. Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee.”  ─ Psalm 63:1-3

In these trying times it is good to know that we have a God of all Comfort.  He has prepared comfort for His people.  He has sent His Son Jesus to prepare an Eternal Home for us when we commit ourselves to Him.  And the Holy Spirit has come to reinforce God’s Comfort to us.  It is in the Sanctuary of God where we sense His presence.  His Sanctuary may be the House of God, it may be in a quiet spot somewhere a lone that we meet with Him.  Most importantly we must have a daily time to communicate with our Lord and Saviour.  We must establish these moments and dedicate ourselves to talking with Him.  In His presence the things of this world are shut out and we can focus on the power of His Word, and the comfort that is granted as we place our difficulties in His hands.  David the Psalmist writes about these times when his hear longs for the Sanctuary of God, not just to go into the temple, but to feel God’s presence and comfort in his trials.  We are buffeted on every side, but we are not alone for the God of all Comfort is our portion.  Paul who has suffered much for the Kingdom of God writes these powerful Words to the Church at Corinth:  “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Mercies, and the God of all Comfort;”  − 2 Cor. 1:3.  Let us be “Comforted” by the Word of God that reminds us: “He will turn our mourning into Joy” – “As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you!”   Loving you & praying for you, Pastor

God’s Thoughts! November 13, 2011

“How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with Thee.” Psalms 139:17-18
“Thoughts” are unique!  They are private and personal, you can think them over and over, and yet no one knows what you are thinking unless you tell them. Interesting the “Thought Life” that God has included in His plan for humanity. Yet, there is someone who knows your thoughts! Of course you know that God is privy to what you think.  Perhaps though, we forget this in our haste, or anger, etc.  There is an Inspired Proverb which reminds us, ‘For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he:’ Proverbs 23:7 This Scripture would then remind us; if our thoughts are evil, they are heard by the Lord. If our thoughts are loving and charitable, they are also heard by the Lord!  It may be that we don’t have a huge amount of time to just sit and meditate upon the Goodness of the Lord, but we can have a “Thought Life” that embraces Him daily.  His benefits are new every morning, therefore we know we are on His mind and His heart is open to us.  He is present with us throughout our day, to know our heart and our mind, and this includes our “Thoughts!” God keeps records; He has “Books!”  Revelation 20 reminds us that He sits upon the Great White Throne of judgment and Scripture reveals that “the books” were opened: along with the Book of Life. When the thoughts of God sitting in judgment, opening His Books comes into our thinking, it is a solemn moment. To the saint, the one who loves the Lord with all their heart, we hear these words from the Psalmist: “How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!”  We have a sure Word from God that He thinks about us on a daily basis … What are our “thoughts” toward Him?  While the world dams His name, what will be the “thoughts” of His Redeemed people?  O let the Believers of Jesus Christ turn their thoughts toward heaven and let His presence be manifested in us until our “Thought Life” magnifies our Lord & Saviour daily! Thinking of you in His Love, Pastor

Sweet Savour, November 6, 2011

“Noah builded an Altar unto the Lord; and offered burnt offerings on the Altar. And the Lord smelled a Sweet Savour;…” Genesis 8:20-21
The Word of God tells us: God made a Covenant with mankind early in His Written Word. Once disobedience entered into the earth, wickedness came up quite quickly before the Lord.  He talks about it in the first Chapters of Genesis, in the beginning of time .… Genesis 6:5 “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.” There was however, a just man who found favor, that is, Grace in the eyes of the Lord because He walked with God.  If all we talk about today was this Passage of Scripture we would be left with a lot to think about. A just man, perfect in his generation, and one who walked with God! Thus when the wickedness came up before God, He made a Covenant with Noah and we continue to see the sign of that Covenant to this very day. God made this Covenant because He loved mankind. O how the Lord desires a relationship with His people today. God desires our love so much that He was willing to offer a Sacrifice whereby humanity could obtain forgiveness and be reconciled back to Him.  We know that the offering God gave was His Only Begotten Son!  What brings a “Sweet Savour” to the nostrils God?  What is a “Sweet Savour?”  It is an offering, a Sacrificial Offering that brings such a blessing to our Lord.  All through the Old Testament there were offerings: Passover Offering, burnt Offerings, Meat Offering, Peace, Sin, trespass, incense, heave, drink, wave, Atonement, etc. On and on go the offerings of God’s people in the Old Testament, but none satisfied the heart of God.  He was after the desires of His people, He was after their soul. The Sacrificial Offerings were offered by Fire and so it is today, let us embrace the “refiner’s fire” that we might offer unto our God a Sweet Smelling Savour!   Loving you, Pastor

Beyond The 12! October 23, 2011

"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." Acts 1:8

In today's message we are going to explore the Word of God that reveals to us the part of the foundation of our heritage that is the Apostles! These messages have been given under the directions of the Holy Spirit to teach us the strength of our Christian Foundation. We need to know this as “every wind of doctrine” comes forth to deceive the Body of Christ [Ephesians 4:14]. We can endure the trials and temptations, the persecutions and stresses of our day because we are founded upon the Prophets and the Apostles – permanently cemented into the Corner Stone, which is our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ. We know this, but as wickedness seems to be rampant in our society and there are multitudes of churches that line our streets, we need to be secure in the Truth! Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life!” There will be false doctrines that come in His name, but of such we are to turn away. Therefore, we must know the Truth – we must be grounded in His Foundation. [Mark 13:22-23]. The Apostles were primarily Jews. Jesus gave them the Great Commission to “go into all the world!” How then would the Gospel of Jesus Christ reach into the Gentile world? How would the Gospel go beyond the Jewish world? God had a plan. His Son’s Sacrificial Gift would go “beyond the 12” He had brought to the Last Supper. The Apostle Peter would receive a vision upon the housetop that would change his life forever. The Spirit of God would send him to a Gentile named Cornelius and prepare him for the Apostle Paul who would come to bring the Gospel message to the Gentiles. The Commission to “go into all the world” would go “beyond the 12” and reach even into our day. For the Spirit of the Lord is calling His saints everywhere to rise up and be a witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. May we have an ear to hear the Spirit of the Lord as He calls those “beyond the 12!” Together let us listen for His Still Small Voice within and answer, “Here am I Lord, use me!”  Loving you, Pastor

The Apostles Gathered Themselves Unto Jesus! October 16, 2011

The Apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told Him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.”  – Mark 6:30           

“Until the day in which Jesus was taken up, after that He through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the Apostles whom He had chosen: To whom also He shewed Himself alive after His Passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God:” – Acts 1:2-3

Remembering Ephesians 2:20 where the Spirit of the Lord informs us “we are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ our Chief Corner Stone ....”  Today we embrace the portion of the foundation which are the Apostles.  Interesting to note that Jesus chose only 12 to start the Fire of His Fathers Gospel!  Sometimes we think we need hundreds in our Church or 35 for our Bible Study, But the Precious Corner Stone of our life began His work with twelve. Twelve that walked with Him, saw His miracles, heard His teachings and yet, ran and hid when the “Promise of the Father” was about to be set in motion. I wonder sometimes do we consider giving up when the crowd doesn’t seem big enough nor the attendance at a Church service seems so small?  The world was turned upside down by the twelve that Jesus choose. We learn a lot of lessons as we see Jesus teaching them, preparing them, comforting them, forgiving them, and ultimately using them for the Father’s Glory!  This is our Christian Heritage, having a foundation of Prophets and Apostles.  The Prophets suffered much to proclaim God’s Message, they foretold the “Coming Promise, the Messiah,” and now the Apostles “reveal the Promise,” the Saviour has come!  Jesus revealed Himself to the Apostles and they gathered themselves unto Him.  And in the final days of His presence with them, He imparted the Comforter. With the Comforter’s coming, we are never alone, we only need to come to “gather ourselves unto Jesus” and  His Holy Spirit sustains us! Together we are building His Temple within — loving you, Pastor 

The Father Seeks Our Worship - October 9, 2011

“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.”  − John 4:23

As we continue to meditate upon the Foundation of our Christian Heritage: that of we, being built upon the Prophets, the Apostles, and Jesus Christ being the Chief Corner Stone, let us look at the physical things of the Old Testament and glean some spiritual insight.  The Old Testament is about God’s dealings with His chosen people, the Israelites, Instructing them, guiding them, caring for them, and setting forth a pattern of worship!  We now turn our attention to Haggai and Zechariah, prophets of the rebuilding of the Temple. The time was such: Nebuchadnezzar had captured Jerusalem, and the Temple had been completely destroyed. The Temple was the most important part of Israel’s worship as the Church should be to the Christian. Now the Temple lay in ruins.  It was 50 years before the Jews were allowed to return to their beloved Jerusalem. They came with great joy and in haste begin to clear away the debris of their sacred Temple, but alas the hostility of the Samaritans, [the enemy always causes conflict] and the taxing labor, they soon lost interest and began building their own houses. 16 years pass when Haggai is summoned by God to bring the Prophetic Message for the hour.  Not much is known about Haggai, He has only two chapters in the Bible, he was older, he had a deep conviction regarding the Temple of God that he loved so much … His prophetic Word was blunt and to the point, something like this: “Consider your ways, you have built your homes and the Lord’s house lays in ruin.”  The spiritual concept here is:  They had turned away from spiritual matters and took on the cares of life.  To this moment God sends Zechariah who comes alongside of Haggai.  He is compassionate, full of vision, enthusiastic and is in the project for the long haul.  The Priest of the Temple rebuilding was Ezra and he records the laying of the foundation, Ezra 3:10-11, When the builders laid the foundation of the Temple of the Lord, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the Lord, after the ordinance of David king of Israel. And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because He is good, for His Mercy endureth forever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the Foundation of the House of the Lord was laid!  I imagine God heart is full of Joy when we perfect our foundation! 
Loving you, Pastor

Open Thou Mine Eyes - October 2, 2011

“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” Psalm119:18 
We continue in the Passage of Scripture where we are admonished that we are built upon the Prophets, the Apostles and Jesus our Corner Stone! [Ephesians 2:20 “We are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;] It is my prayer that we will be inspired by the Prophets, and the Apostles as they hear the voice of the Lord and they move to obey His voice.  The Psalmist wrote these Words that have begun this Message, his prayer was “Open my eyes, that I may behold the wonderful things of Thy Law.  This is truly a day in which we should pray such a prayer.  There are things of the spirit that would be revealed if the people of God had a vision to ask, to seek, and to press for a greater revelation of God, of our Saviour, of the precious Holy Ghost. Just has the blind men followed after Jesus and cried out to Him, He opened their eyes.  There is spiritual blindness in Christianity.  Oh that humanity would cry out to Jesus, He would open their spiritual eyes to behold the beauty of His Holy Word.  Elisha’s servant saw only with his physical eyes.  Then Elisha prayed that God would open his eyes, was he blind?  His spiritual eyes were not opened, but once the prayer had gone up from the Prophet Elisha, the servant’s spiritual eyes were opened and he saw that God was present.  It is that way with us sometimes, worry or fear attempts to grip our heart and blind our spiritual eyes, but God is ready to impart spiritual insight in the midst of our trials and disappointment.  He is an ever present God, and we need only to pray that He will open our eyes that we might see the power of His Word revealed in our lives.  We have an everlasting foundation laid by God, and we are built upon the testimonies of the Prophets and the Apostles, with the forever Stationary Corner Stone, Jesus our Saviour! ─ “Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” 
Oh, that we might see His glory together, loving you, Pastor

“Whom Shall I Send, Who Will Go for Us?”

9-25-2011: “…I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the Temple.”  − Isaiah 6:1

The believers of Jesus Christ are fellow citizens, saints of the Household of God!  “We are built upon a strong foundation, that of the Apostles, and Prophets, and Jesus Christ our Chief Corner Stone. And as we are builded together, we are “fitly framed” and grow unto a Holy Temple in Him.
We are building together through the Holy Spirit, that we might be the Habitation of our God!” These are Words of God spoken in the Book of Ephesians.  They are the Foundation for our Message today as we examine the Prophet Isaiah.  Isaiah the Prophet had been active for 40 some years in the Southern Kingdom.  The political picture reveals a world stretching itself for a titanic struggle.  Government fostered prosperity dominated; there was a rich class and a poor class.  Religious conditions were at low tide. Israel had come to Palestine to bring God’s Message, but quickly succumbed to superstitions, customs of the East, and the deadly worship of Moloch – moral fiber was gone, ethical standards were low, prophets had left their message and little attention was being given to the spiritual welfare of the people.  The task of the true Prophet was a difficult one. God speaks to His people;  “O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, when I looked upon my vineyard, in place of good grapes, there is “wild grapes!”  Judgment was pending, Babylon captivity was pending, and their war cry would be like the roaring of young lions, they will roar and lay hold of their prey …. “In that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof.” Isa. 5:30 To this scene we find Isaiah.  God reveals Himself to Isaiah and asks Him this question? “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us!” Isaiah answered more quickly then most: “Here am I; send me!” When our response is that of Isaiah’s we will envision God and His presence will fill our temple and we will hear the heavenly sound – “Holy, Holy, Holy, for the whole earth shall one day be filled with the Glory of God!  Together let us go forth in the power of His Holy Spirit …  Loving you, Pastor

“Fitly Framed!”

“We are built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Corner Stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an Habitation of God through the Spirit.”  − Ephesians 2:20-22

9-18-2011: The Lord has impressed upon me these past few weeks that we as a Church family should look closely at the Passages of Scripture that talks about “Building up our Most Holy Faith.” And, about “Stirring up the Gifts of God within us!”  I can’t seem to leave these thoughts just yet.  The prompting of the Lord for this moment in time is that we take a good look at the Habitation that we are, that we are building for our God.  It is not meant to be a negative thought, but thoughts that inspire us to “grow” in God’s Grace, to purify our hearts and minds for the day of His coming approaches. It is not enough for us to be a “holy individual” but as we embrace the depth of the Scripture we see that our life affects others. That God is calling for His Church to be “Fitly Framed!” If we are to be fitly framed, there will be some sanding, nailing, shoring up, fitting, etc. Fitly: means adapted to an end or design, made ready!, “get the house fit:” and “being in such a state to be ready for joy, or sorrow, or suffering.”  Framed: means to shape or construct by fitting & uniting parts, “to fit or adjust for a desired end,” to produce.  The Spirit of the Lord nudges the Church as He reminds us we a powerful foundation, built upon the Apostles & Prophets, and then upon Christ, who is the Chief Corner Stone!  The saints know these things, they have read these Scriptures in God’s Word, yet there is greater depth as we meditate upon what God is saying to His people.  Think of these explanations in spiritual terms and allow the Holy Ghost to stir your spirit to action. Beside a Personal Relationship with Jesus, there is the building of the Body of His saints, that we will as a “whole” be fitly framed, growing together unto a Holy Temple in the Lord! That we will be Fitly Joined” together, compacted, every joint supplying its part and increasing the Body, edifying the Body of believers in Love.   Expressing my love to you, Pastor

Building and Stirring

September 4, 2011 “Building & Stirring!”

Today this message is about “building & stirring!” Building a spiritual tabernacle for the Glory of God. There are Scriptures that teach us commandments regarding “Building” as a wise “Master Builder.” We are alerted in God’s Word that everyone should take heed how they build.  Obviously we are talking about building a “spiritual tabernacle- foundation” in our Christian life.  Gold, Silver, Precious Stones, they are as wood, hay, and stubble, when used in the foundation.  We are told in Scripture that “we are the Temple of God.” This takes some solemn thought provoking meditation on the part of the saint of God.  “We are the Temple of God?” And the Glorious Promise that we have is: “We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” The saints know to build a proper tabernacle for God; it must have a Foundation that is the Lord Jesus Christ.  But how do we go about this “building” process?  The Message is also about “Stirring!”  Under the direction of the Holy Ghost, Paul gave this most powerful statement to Timothy;  “… Stir up the Gift of God!...” Then Peter came along and gave this declaration: “… Stir up your pure minds…” The Psalmist writes: “…Stir up thy strength …”  As we think upon “building” for eternity and “stirring” we look to the Theological part of the Webster Dictionary to find profound statements that bring deeper meaning to our thoughts. Build: to form, to order, to construct, to develop, to increase, Stir: to change position, to rouse to activity, evoke strong feelings, to call forth, provoke [to call forth – stir up purposely], to begin to be active!  Let us stir up the Holy Ghost in our life and build a stronger Tabernacle for our Lord & Saviour!  Stirring & Building together, Love Pastor

"Faith for the Future"

August 28, 2011 “Faith for the Future”

“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Matt. 6:33-34

The past few weeks we have been looking at the Scriptures that build us up in Spiritual strength as we see the wickedness in our society. It appears that God is no longer first in our nation and perhaps even in the lives of His People. We know what the future holds because we have read the Book of Revelation. There we have learned that there is a “payday” for sin. Scripture also reveals the result of a nation or a people who’s God is the Lord, for God’s counsel stands forever and He has thoughts in His heart for all generations! – Psalm 33:11. In the 12^th verse He tells us: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for His own inheritance.” It is not often that we think about the thoughts of God, but He calls us “His Inheritance!” We have a future in Him! This is our inheritance: to belong to Him. This is a strategic moment in which we live. As we look to the future, our hope must be in our God, not in the things of this world. We know this, but do we practice our “Faith?” Faith is more than confessing that you believe and trust the Lord Jesus. It is actually walking in a realm where you know that whatever happens He will never leave you nor forsake you. It is living the life of trust more than confessing it! Jesus commented several times regarding “little faith.” The Apostles once asked Jesus to increase their Faith. “Lord, increase our Faith for this generation!”

Loving you and desiring “Faith to be increased!” Luke 17

Come Unto Me!

August 21, 2011
“Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.”  −Isaiah 55:3

The call from the heart of God has always been “Come!”  Come unto me, come and hear!  Come ye after Me and I will make you fishers of men. Come apart into a desert place and rest. All that labour come unto me … We hear the admonition of Jesus half brother James as he calls for the saints to “draw nigh to God.”  There is a cry in the heart of the Lord that His saints might “come” into His presence.  As we enter the message today, it is with the solemn thought that God is calling unto His people in this moment and time! Calling us to draw near and to “Incline our ears to hear” His call. For when we “hear” our soul shall live and the Everlasting Covenant is in full force accompanied by the “sure mercies of David.”  Even in the lowest moments of David’s life, he drew near to God, and God received him with mercy and promise.  John the Revelator wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost and over and over there was warning: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches!” Hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying, it is the still small voice of the Lord that drawing souls unto Himself.  All that will hear, All that will come, will experience the goodness of God, the mercy of His grace.  On several occasions as Jesus spoke in parables, He talked about seed time and harvest in these parables. He said “The Seed is the Word of God.” As He described the Seed that fell among thorns and the Seed that fell upon good ground, the scripture concludes with “When He had said these things, He cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.  So has we hear what the Word is saying may we have ears to hear, and respond to “Come” into His presence with thanksgiving, joyful, and with gladness and singing, for “times of refreshing come from the presence of the Lord!  Come unto Jesus for rest, come apart into the desert place, and He will minister unto you, He will feed you and give you sweet rest.  Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church …
Let us come into His Rest, loving you, Pastor

Trusting in His Holy Word!

August 14, 2011 “Trusting in His Holy Word!”

I hear the stains of that wonderful song; “I’ve come this far by faith, trusting in His Holy Word … He’s never failed me yet …”  It is a timeless song, an older song, but one that never leaves the heart and soul! Trusting in the Lord is one of the most important issues of life.  We are often drawn to the “arm of flesh” rather then the Word of God.  It is easier to trust in man or the things that we see, but the writer of the Psalms warns us: “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.”  The Wisdom Literature of God’s Holy Word teaches us to: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways knowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” − Proverbs 3:5-6.  If we are a born-again Christian we know this, it is a powerful and well known passage of scripture.  But knowing it and practicing it is yet another thought.  Usually the first thing we do in a crisis is to try to figure out how to fix it, why did this happen, whose fault it is, etc, And sometimes God gets blamed.  We are being called upon to “Trust” the Lord in the circumstances of our life. It is necessary to practice our ability to “Trust the Lord!”  Over and over in the Psalms, we hear the Word of God plead with us to place our “Trust” in God.  Paul writes to the Church and talks of those who first trusted in Christ [He is the Word!]  It happened when they heard the Word of Truth, believed, and were sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise!  There are “Blessings” that come with “Trusting in the Lord!”  “ How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their Trust under the shadow of Thy wings.”  ─ “What time I am afraid, I will Trust in Thee. In God I will praise His Word, in God I have put my Trust;”  ─ “But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my Trust in the Lord God …” ─ “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that Trusteth in Him.”  ─ “Thou wilt keep him in perfect Peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he Trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:” This is our Strength, the power of God’s Word encouraging us in our life’s journey!
Loving you and Trusting in His Holy Word!  Pastor

Continual Praise

August 7, 2011

“I will bless the Lord at all times: His Praise shall continually be in my mouth.” C  Psalm 34:1
An explanation of “Continual” is: “Continual implies enduring existence often through constant renewal – reoccurring thoughts without fear …”  Let’s meditate on this as we think about “Continual Praise!”  The Holy Spirit prompted David of the Old Testament to sing out Psalms that speak of Continual Praise, Truth and the Goodness of God. It is quite thought-provoking to think about God’s Continual Truth, and His awesome Continual goodness to us in the land of the living.  Psalm 27 is a song of great distress, a time of discouragement that David was going through, he recalls;  “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the Goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.”  We have all had times of waiting, and here, we are encouraged to wait, to remember the Goodness of the Lord.  It would be a great period of waiting if we could do it with “Continual Praise” in the midst of our waiting. “Enduring through constant renewal!” Renewing ourselves in our Faith, our commitment to Christ, Continually giving thanks for His Mercy endures forever.  Our God is a “Continual” God.  He never gives up on us! He is a Faithful God.  He sent His Son to Redeem us, and He blessed us with His Precious Holy Ghost.  The Psalmist wrote in the 52^nd Psalm, “… the Goodness of God endureth Continually!”  We are admonished in Psalm 70; “Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in Thee: and let such as love Thy Salvation say continually, Let God be magnified!”  We serve a God that said:  “Neverthelese I Am Continually with Thee:”  O let the Church enter into Continual Praise and Worship for in Christ we have the Peace that passes all understanding!   Loving you, Pastor

“I will Hope Continually, and will Praise Thee more and more …!” Psalm 71

July 24, 2011 A Sure Foundation! -Part 5: America's Cornerstone

The Foundation of our society and our government rest so much on the teaching of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be universal in our country.  

30^th President of our Country, Calvin Coolidge

   

Today’s final Message of a “Sure Foundation,” deals with what I call, America’s Cornerstone. We will look at and consider the United States Capitol Building. As I studied and researched I found that the US Capitol is filled with religious imagery and inscriptions.  Perhaps you recall that on September 12, 2001, 200 members of Congress gathered on its steps to sing “God Bless America.” In a similar scene in June of 2002, members of the House of Representatives gathered on these same steps to recite the Pledge of Allegiance after the Ninth Circuit Court ruling that it was unconstitutional to describe our nation as “Under God,” which, of course, was the exact way President Washington described our nation in July 1776 and also President Lincoln at Gettysburg in 1863.  Today the House and the Senate both open their daily sessions with the Pledge of Allegiance. Thus on a daily basis as they enter the sessions, God is glorified! This is marvelous considering that more and more we are beginning to see an outward onslaught against God, as I showed you from the newspaper last week, and as we here, in our town have experienced such slogans as, “There is no God, etc.”  In the Cox Corridor in the House wing of the Capitol, there is a line from “America the Beautiful” carved in the wall:  “America! God shed His Grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea!” America has a Cornerstone, it is the most prominent structure in the District of Columbia and the signs of a God fearing people are set within and without as you venture throughout its sacred halls. The signs of time are in this structure and they bear the knowledge that America was founded on God and His Grace.  So it is with the Christian, we have a Cornerstone; He is a Living Stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, “A tried Stone, a Precious Corner Stone, a Sure Foundation.” He is Jesus Christ our Lord & Savior!  Giving thanks for Him, and loving you, Pastor

July 17, 2011 A Sure Foundation, Part 4, Liberty Came by Prayer

Sometimes we take for granted the Liberty of our country, and the Liberty of our Salvation. Our country was rescued from tyranny, as was our soul.  Jesus rescued our soul with His Own Life.  Quite a few of you have sat here in this house for the many years that I have been the Pastor.  The Message never changes; it is an ongoing Biblical Path leading us through the pages of God’s Holy Word.  Could it be that when we have walked a path many times, we tend to not notice the beauty of the flowers along the way nor the sweet smalls that come from the honeysuckle or dog wood trees.  It has become a familiar path and one might say I could walk this path with my eyes shut. This is where Christianity is today, walking along the path to Eternal Life, but not noticing the pitfalls, the changing terrain, just quietly ambling along. Our country was salvaged by Prayer. Prayer & God’s Word are the elements that breed a “Sure Foundation.”  It is well noted that our Forefathers read the Bible, they prayed. There was a Thanksgiving Proclamation October 3, 1789, President Washington declared, “It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the Providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly implore His protection and favor.” Our country as walked the path of righteousness in its origin, but today it does not notice its need for Almighty God.  In our spiritual life, the Word & Prayer paved the way for our Eternal Life.  Jesus, being the Word of God incarnate, knelt in the Garden of Gathesme and Praying until He sweat great drops of Blood. He is the only “Sure Foundation” that we have, and this Foundation was built on the Sacrifice of His Life.  America prays, even today, when there is a disaster!­ But with the Prayer comes Sacrifice.  America has moved away from Sacrifice, as the Word of God has warned, 2 Tim 3:1-5:  Perilous times shall come, men will be lovers of their own selves, blasphemers, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, traitors, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. We must maintain our “Sure Foundation” with the Word of God and Prayer.  Laboring with you in Love that we might be fruitful in these perilous times. Pastor

“Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.” President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

“Liberty has its life in Christ, who has washed us in His precious Blood and put within us His Holy Spirit. Our Christianity is daily earned and refreshed in His Word and on our knees - else like the fig tree whose roots yielded no fruit, it withered and dried up.”  Loving you, Pastor

July 10, 2011: A Sure Foundation! #3 - Glorious Liberty!

“Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the Glorious Liberty of the Children of God.” − Romans 8:21

In the month of July each year our Country celebrates its Liberty!  As we pass through this celebration, let us remember that Liberty is throughout the Word of God. In the Old Testament in Leviticus 25, we learn there was “a year of Jubilee declared, and at that time Liberty was to be proclaimed to all the inhabitants of the land. For this Jubilee shall be holy unto to you ­thou shalt fear thy God: for I Am the Lord your God.”  NOTE: a portion of Vs 10 is the famous quotation on the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, PA. USA! It states Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: No wonder the Apostle Paul exclaims there is a Glorious Liberty to the Children of God! The above Scripture is unique in its setting: God was calling for His people to Hallow or set apart each 50^th year to proclaim Liberty to all people, and to start their business all over again as at the beginning. All mortgages were cancelled, all servants released, all bondages of men were annulled, debts were forgiven, and lands reverted to the original owners and in another 50 years there would be another such Jubilee!  The Psalmist refers to this in 119:44-45, “So shall I keep Thy Law continually forever and ever. And I will walk at Liberty: for I seek Thy Precepts.”  The Prophets talk about Liberty, ¨The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me; because the Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim Liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.”  Of course we know this is speaking of Jesus for He read this same Passage of Scripture in the temple [Luke 4:18-21] and then declared, “This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears.”  As God nudges us in this great month of our freedom, celebration it is well if we pursue the thoughts of Liberty in Scripture. In this moment in our history there are those who come privately to spy out our Liberty, that they may tempt us and bring us back into bondage. [Gal. 2:4] O saints remember: If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed! This is the Liberty of the believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.   Loving you & giving thanks for our Precious & Glorious Liberty!   Pastor

A Sure Foundation! Part 2 ─ “America Founded on God!"

July 3, 2011: “If thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments: Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom …” − 1 Kings 9:4-5

As we come to the great celebration of our Independence as a nation, July 4^th -it is good to give all the glory to our Father God. I pray that you will read the column in today’s bulletin on The Declaration of Dependence on God.  Nothing is said about this in our generation, but none the less, it was a part of the “Founding of our Nation. America was founded upon God.  Today, it seems that we have moved quite a distance away from our Founding Fathers thoughts and desires for this Nation. Today in our society it seems there is a relentless effort to drive God out of America’s public square. There was a decision in 2002 by the Ninth Circuit Court Appeals that the phrase “under God” is unconstitutional and represents a fundamental assault on our American identity. We thank God that the Supreme Court overruled the Ninth Circuit Court and “One Nation Under God still stands.” It is interesting to note that “The Court itself begins each day with the proclamation, “God save the United States and this honorable Court.”  This phrase has been used for almost 200 years.  It was adopted in the 1820’s because they actually wanted to call on God to save the United States and the Court. 91 percent of America agreed that we are a Nation Under God. It is believed that most Americans believe the blessings of God are the basis of our liberty, prosperity, and survival as a unique Country.  Prayer is real, as we noted on 911 when everywhere we heard the call for prayer and from the government steps we heard them sing “God Bless America.” Wither one confesses their belief in God or rejects such precious thoughts, when disaster strikes, there is an inborn natural heartbeat that cries out for God! At present I am reading “Rediscovering God in America” and sharing thoughts from this book. It is a walk though our Nation’s Capital which proves God is the Foundation of our American History. Let the Church arise in prayer and Intercession for our Country and prayerfully we will defend our Nation’s Godly Foundation.  Loving you, Pastor

PS: [Comments are from Rediscovering “God in America,” ─ Reflections on the Role of Faith in our Nations’ History and Future.] By Newt Gingrich, Photography by Callista Gingrich. I highly recommend that every Christian read this Book regarding the “Godly” History of our Country.

 

A Sure Foundation, Part 1

June 26, 2011: “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: Isa. 28:16-17

We are living in a day when it feels like the foundation of our lives is being shaken.  As we look at our nation in the news, we see disaster on every hand. We have well noted that everything we purchase for our daily living has gone up in cost. And the rumors of war and wars loom on the horizon. In this moment in our history we need to be reminded of the “Foundation” on which we have built our life.  In these Messages we will consider the spiritual foundation, and the foundation of our country. It is the will of God that we be secure in our Christian life and that we remember He is in control of all things even the founding of our nation.  The Old Testament is all about His creation of a strong foundation ─ the physical temple that He commissioned Solomon to build, and the Spiritual foundation that He has set forth for us in our Salvation.  This is a time in our history that we need to be reminded on Awhat foundation are we built@ ─ as a Christian and as an American.  We talk about our hope and trust being in the Lord, yet there is a great fear in humanity as things escalate toward the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Yes, He is definitely coming! Scripture warns us of these days, but there is no fear in whose heart is the true belief in His Coming.  In this hour of our history we are called upon to stand strong, to practice our Christian beliefs and to encourage everyone around us of our strength in our Christian heritage.  We will inherit AEverlasting Life@ as we commit our lives to Jesus Christ.  This is something that we need to be mindful of each day as it begins.  Keep Christ in the center of everything, and our foundation will be firm and sure.  Let us take in His Word & commune in prayer daily that there may be spiritual growth in our lives and we will be able to stand strong in the face of these changes.  Working with you to build our faith and Loving you, Pastor