“This do in Remembrance of Me!” February 19, 2012

Come worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness!  Today we partake of Holy Communion as we remember our Lord and Saviour!  Let all who Love Him received the emblems of His Grace & Healing.  You are always welcome in our Church family.   

One would think we would be in remembrance of our Lord’s Sacrifice on a daily basis, but alas the ‘cares of this life’ have a tendency to overwhelm us at times or just interrupt the plans that we make concerning our spiritual activities.  Jesus said these powerful Words on the eve of His incarceration and ultimate Sacrifice.  As He gave thanks and brake the Bread with His Disciples at the Last Supper, He said:  “This is My Body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of Me.” There is controversy among spiritual leaders concerning when we should have Communion in our Church Services: Some day once a month, some say every Sunday, some think you must go through a ritual and have a set time to be brought to the Communion table.  Some teach it is so holy that the saints are fearful to partake. On and on go the thoughts of mankind.  But Look at who Jesus brought to the Communion Table. Men of righteous indignation, desiring to call down thunder from heaven, a man with an uncontrollable temperament who would even attempt to chastise the Lord and would deny he knew Jesus, one who would soon betray Him and those who would go into hiding when things got dangerous. These are the followers of Jesus whom He desired to have Communion with, to eat the Passover with before His suffering.  They too like humanity of today, were caught up in the ‘cares of this life.’ Did Jesus say He was going away?  Did He reach out to those who seemed to follow Him so close and invite them to come to a prayer meeting with Him?  Yes in His most desperate hour He brought them with Him to pray.  This is a desperate hour for our country, for Christianity, for the followers of Christ.  We must daily remember Jesus, to the point of take Communion in our home as we begin our day. For He is our strength, our consolation− Let us daily Commune with Him…. Prepare for your Lenten Discipline. Loving you, Pastor

The Word to Live By, part 4 “Love In The Word!” February 12, 2012

What a joyous occasion, Valentines Day, a wonderful opportunity to share your love with one another and to remember the greatest valentine of all time, our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ.  Welcome to the Service today and may you feel His Love in this house!

Whoso keepeth God’s Word, in him verily is the Love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.” − 1 John 2:5-6

Today the stores are loaded with Valentines of all sorts.  Every year it gathers more momentum as business sees the opportunity to make money.  But the Valentine we are going to talk about today can not be purchased with money.  Yet, it is the most valuable Valentine that you will ever receive. God’s Love given to us in Jesus Christ!  It is an Everlasting Gift. This Eternal Gift, our Salvation, was a Sacrifice. Those who are “Born Again” know this, but often we forget to give thanks for this valuable Gift.  Pictures of hearts will be before us until Valentine’s Day is over.  But showing our Love and appreciating the people in our life should be shown our Love more then just one day a year. Thus it is true of our Love for God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus heart was broken for the sins of the world and He gave the Sacrifice of His life that we might have the greatest Gift of all, Eternal Life. God has given us instruction concerning our Love for Him: “Thou shalt Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the First Commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt Love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”  As our heart turns toward our loved ones and we scurry about finding just the right Gift for someone we love, may we remember our Saviour, who is the Love of our Life!  Let us not just show our Love in this season, but let us walk daily in the Spirit of Christ and Love our neighbor as our self and in so doing fulfill the Commandment of our Loving Saviour. You are Loved, Pastor

Word to Live By, Part 3 “How NOT to Sin!” February 5, 2012

Just as I was beginning to prepare this Message for today, someone said to me, “There is no hell fire and damnation being preached today!”  It almost detoured me from this Message.  But as I tried to escape from the subject, the Holy Spirit continued to nudge me.  It is really not a ‘hell fire and brimstone’ Message, it is a nudge to evaluate our spiritual condition that we might be more mindful of spiritual matters. As wickedness sometimes seems to rule in our society, we need a conscience toward sin that alerts us to NOT be drawn into the sinful ways. So the Message before us is:  “How NOT to sin?!”  If this statement came before the Lord’s Church, there would probably be a lot of answers, some Scriptural, perhaps some not. God is dealing with humanity, God is displeased with sin.  The tract called the Roman Road has been around for more than 50 years; well it’s as old as the Word of God. We used it in our College days as we fulfilled our Practical Ministry on the streets of Des Moines. Today we, Christians are going to take a journey down the Roman Road and remind ourselves what it means to travel this tried and true road.  A journey of self evaluation, a time of choice, and a renewing of ourselves in the power of the Jesus’ Sacrifice.  It is not once saved always saved … It is a continual pressing for spiritual growth and righteousness. The Psalmist declared: “Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.”-Psalm 119:11─ It is the power of the Word in our heart that keeps us in the hour of temptation.  Not only will the Holy Ghost convict us, but we must listen and obey.  How not to sin?  There are a multitude of ‘helps’ in God’s Holy Word that will teach us and strengthen us in our journey.  As you will note the Roman Road is found in the Book of Romans and it begins with: We have all sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.  The wages of Sin is death, but the Gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord! God commended His Love toward us even in our sin and sent His Son to die for our Redemption.  If we call upon Him, He will save us and if we confess Jesus Christ and believe in our heart, He will Save us!  It is a perpetual journey, a righteous walk daily ─ Let us keep our mind stayed on Him and Trust in the Lord with all our heart!  Loving you, Pastor

The Word to Live By, Part 2 “Thou Shalt Keep Them!” January 29, 2012

Welcome to a Joyous season of Worship and the Word in the Lord’s house.  We rejoice that you are with us today, may you be encouraged as His presence surrounds you. You are always loved in the midst of the Commerce family.

“The Words of the Lord are Pure Words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.”  − Psalm 12:6-7

We have a sure Word from the Lord Jesus commanding us to “Keep His Word!”  As I thought on the word “Keep,” which is used in regards to God’s Word, I thought such a simple word.  But exploring it further, the meaning of such a small and often used word is very powerful when you think of it spiritually.  Jesus said these Words as He was teaching on the parables.  “… Blessed are they that hear the Word of God, and keep it!” As we meditate upon keeping the Word of God, we think on the meaning of “Keep!” ─ to be faithful ─ to act accordingly ─ to conform ─ to stay in accord with ─ to preserve, take care of ─ to establish relationship with ─ to stay and remain in ─ continue without interruption ─ to persist in a practice ─ to watch-keep an eye on, etc.  The meanings go on and on. Such meanings are easily seen as spiritual references to what is meant by Psalm 12- The Words of the Lord, Pure Words;“Thou shalt Keep them, O Lord, thou shalt Preserve them from this generation forever.”  As we explore the Scriptures that mention “keeping God’s Word” we will find strong evidence that when we “keep His Word” there benefits and when we do not “keep His Word” there are also repercussions. Again, His Word is Life!  We discussed this last week as we saw in Scripture His Words will bring Life!  We are living, but the His Life in us brings new meaning to the life we Live.  We are challenged by His Word to keep it, preserve, share it with our generation and the generations to come.  His Word is sweet to our taste, sweeter than honey…!  We can not get enough of His Word, His Life in us!  “The Entrance of His Word giveth life!”  In this New Year that is almost one month passed … let us be challenged to take in more of God’s Holy Word, to memorize it, to write it on small pieces of paper and place it in strategic places, that His Word will continually be before us!  “Deal bountifully with Thy servant, that I may live, and Keep Thy Word!”  Loving you, Pastor