The Glorious House of the Lord! April 22, 2012

O Glorious Salvation, Sing Praises unto our Lord & Saviour!  We are blessed that you have come to worship with us today! May the Joy of your Salvation overflow as we Sing His Praises together! I hear the Psalmist as he sings: ^“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the House of the Lord!” − Psalm 122:1       

Let’s talk about how we feel as Sunday rolls around!  It is the most wonderful day of the week!  Most do not have to go to their work place, and it is a day that the Lord has set aside for His people to worship Him, to “remember Him.”  It is a time to rest from our labors and a time to reflect on the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  God’s House is a safe House! It is glorious because the saints gather to fellowship and to think upon our Lord and all His glorious and marvelous works that He has done in the earth!  It is especially precious when we are as the Psalmist reminisces in 55:14, “We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the House of God in company.” O how great is our God!  He meets with us as we come together in His house, and as we dismiss the cares of this life for the moment and worship Him. We enter into Singing our Lord’s Praises C “I will Sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will Sing Praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of Him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.” –Ps.104:33-34; and then we are reminded of our responsibility to the Glorious Gospel; 1 Tim. 1:11, “According to the Glorious Gospel of the Blessed God, which was committed to ‘our’ trust.” The writer of Proverbs [16:24] declares; “Pleasant Words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”  … so is our fellowship in the family of God! Sometimes we are over whelmed with the cares of this life and the difficulties that we face, then again the Song of the Psalmist comes into my spirit … Psalm 27:13-14; “ 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!”  Jeremiah [17:12] talks about the Sanctuary and his prophetic thought is so precious C “A Glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our Sanctuary!” What an awesome thought, the Sanctuary of God is His high throne and we are destined to one day enter this place.  So important the House of God?  It is a place to prepare the next generation for worship and adoration of our God C “One generation shall Praise Thy works to another, and shall declare Thy mighty acts. I will speak of the Glorious honour of Thy majesty, and of Thy wondrous works.”  Praying for you and loving you, Pastor

“God’s Glorious Love!” April 15, 2012

Welcome to Worship in the midst of the Commerce Family, we are blessed that you have joined us today.  May our Resurrected Lord surround you with  His Glorious presence as you enter into Worship.

We are still basking in His Glorious Resurrection and the fact that Jesus desires to “Glorify” His Church.  As He prayed in John 17 For our sakes Jesus sanctified Himself that we might be sanctified through Truth [Jesus said I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.] He prayed for those who believe in Him that, VS21-23 “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be One in Us: And the glory which thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are One: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in One; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast Loved Me.” As my thoughts wander though the “Glorious” Scriptures of God’s Word, I’m inclined to think that Christianity has not given depth of thought to the Glory of God! I know we desire His Glory, we sometimes talk about His wondrous Glory and there are many teachings on His Glory! When we do a word search on Glory or Glorious, other words like Splendor, Radiant, Brilliance, etc. pop up. It is in the Sacrifice of Jesus Life that Glory is revealed in the midst of the Church and in the Temples not made with hands. Jesus desire is to place His Glory within the Church and within the Tabernacles not made with hands.  His Mercy, His Glory is overwhelming ─ like vessels who have sinned grossly, in the case of the Apostle Paul, the Women at the Well … yet His Love is so Glorious powerful, His forgiveness so uniquely and completely cleansing, what a Glorious Saviour! How healing His Words in Philippians 3:2; ^“Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His Glorious Body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself. Jesus, our Saviour, He is the one of great value, He is the One who deserves the Highest Praise, for He has given to us, His disciples, “The Light of the Glorious Gospel.  He is the image of God, and He desires to shine upon us!” Truly the Lord Jesus’ great desire is that He might present to His Father, “A Glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be Holy and without blemish.”  For this He died, for this He rose from the grave, for this He intercedes for His people at the Right Hand of our Father which is in heaven. O Glorious dawning, the day we arrive in Eternity to ever be with our King!       Loving you, Pastor

“Glorious Resurrection!” April 8, 2012

O Glorious Resurrection! Our Eternal Life depended upon Jesus coming forth from the grave. When He said “I Am the Resurrection and the life,” there was in Him abundant Life for ever more!  To give us life, He sacrificed; He suffered, and ultimately surrendered His life on earth that we might have an Eternal home; That we too might be victorious over death and arrive in the heavenlies to ever be with Him, His Father, and the Holy Ghost. So many Glorious things happened in His life on earth, so many teachings, so many lessons learned.  Our whole existence relies upon His life on earth.  It was Jesus’ desire to bring forth a Blood bought Church. Ephesians 5:27 declares:  ‘That He might present a Glorious church, without spot, or wrinkle, with out blemish.’ Glorious, defined talks about magnificent beauty and splendor … Because of His Sacrificed life, the Church is beautiful, wonderful, magnificent in Glorious splendor!  Of course we realize that the Church is the saints of God, we are beautiful, to our Lord! Glorious also means, “Possessing Deserved Glory!” No wonder all Glory and Praise goes to the Son of the Living God! Matthew 16:7 tells us, “The Son of man shall come in the Glory of His Father with His angels.” This is something that all humanity desires to understand … the Glory of God!  Jesus speaks to His Father at the final preparations for Resurrection … In John 17:4-5 “I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest Me to do. And now, O Father, Glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the Glory which I had with Thee before the world was.” Let us meditate upon that statement; Jesus’ desire was to finish His work, that He might return to the Glory of the Father that was in the beginning. Only Eternity will reveal the Glorious Gift that Jesus has given to us!  The splendor of heaven, the possessed Glory of the Father which is bestowed upon Jesus as He comes forth from the grave.  Jesus possesses the Glory of the Father and He lives in us! We are so special to our heavenly Father and to His most Honoured Son, that He would desire to invest His Glory in us!  Hear Jesus Pray to the Father … in John 17:22-23  “The Glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are One: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in One; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast Loved them, as Thou hast Loved Me.”  Now we His people look forward to that Blessed Hope, and Glorious appearing of our Great God and Saviour Jesus Christ! May you experience a Glorious Resurrection today!  Loving you Pastor

“Lamp of Prayer” April 1, 2012

As the Lord’s Week of Passion begins, let us turn our hearts toward Jesus and His Sacrifice upon the Cross of Calvary. Let us take special time this coming week to do something that will Bless the Lord, something out of the ordinary as we look forward to Resurrection Sunday.  We are blessed that you have joined us today in worship!

  

“For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the Salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.”  Isaiah 62:1       

Again we look at “Blessing the Lord!”  This is our goal, our quest, and we are strongly reminded of it as we come into this Week of Jesus Passion. I am challenged to worship more, pray more, read my Bible more, reach out to other more… to be mindful of those who are less fortunate than I, and to offer encouragement more often to those around me.  Today we are lighting the Lamp of Prayer in our Lord’s House. There are many reasons for this: but most of all we remember Jesus powerful and sorrowful words when He said;  “…Why sleep ye? rise and Pray, lest ye enter into temptation.” C Luke 22:46 A cry goes forth from the heaven, “Awake, awake: put on thy strength …” Such strength comes with a relationship with our God.  We grow in our relationship with the Father when we communicate with Him in Prayer, in Worship, in Praise, and in Ministering to others, C ‘like loving our neighbors as our self!’  I love the Passage of Scripture where Jesus took the three disciples with Him to the mountain and there they beheld the vision of Jesus talking with Moses and Elias/Elijah. In the glory of such a moment St. Luke reveals [9:30-32] that in their fear … [Matt. 17:6] “they fall heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw His Glory!” We are placing the Lamp in the Sanctuary today, to call us to Prayer, to a greater dedication, that we might be awaken to His Glory!  That we might win in the battle, the struggle against temptation.  Gideon won the battle with pitchers that held Lamps. Our ‘vessels’ [pitchers] must be filled with the Light of God so that our Lamps light the path before us and we are beacon to the lost.  I hear the Song of Solomon calling, “Arise my love, and come away.”  Come away from the fears of today, the things of this world, and come into My presence and I will sup with thee!  Awaken my heart O Lord!   Loving you, Pastor

“Come Bless The Lord!” March 25, 2012

Welcome to the Holy Lenten Season in the midst of the Commerce Family.  We trust that you have plans to commemorate our Lord and Savoiur as we approach the Friday of Darkness, the day of our Lord’s death. You are always welcome in this House of the Lord!  We are blessed that you have come to worship with us today!

 “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.” – Heb. 4:15

There are many thoughts when we bring up the subject of “Blessing the Lord!” In Christianity today, we need to have a deeper thought life!  As we meditate upon a Passage of Scripture, our thoughts will be guided by the Holy Spirit. He is the illuminator of God’s Word. The Holy Ghost is gentle and easily grieved. When we hurriedly give some thought to Scripture or breath a few sentences of worship as we go about our daily schedule, it does not give appropriate time for the Holy Ghost to prompt us to deeper meanings of God’s Word.  Please know that the Holy Ghost can work under any condition, He is the Spirit of God!  However to come into the sacred thoughts of Scripture and to see the depth of what is saying, one must ponder the Passage, and meditate upon it. We need to give “contemplation” room in our spiritual life.  Contemplation is a mental exercise. It is moments wherein we consider what we are reading, and give attention to it in a personal way. Meditating upon God’s Word, contemplating what He is saying to us will bring us into a higher level of Spiritual Awareness. The world is all about ‘new age’ and meditation, but this is not what I am talking about. To meditate upon God’s Word is a truly spiritual quest as we seek the heart of God, to ‘Bless Him;’ by searching for Him with all our heart.  Worshipping Christ is awesome and greatly desired of our Father God who loved Him so much that He would Sacrifice His Only Begotten Son that we might have Eternal Life! In this Holy Season of Lent, we focus on God’s Love, Jesus Sacrifice, and our awareness of more of Spiritual depth in our life.  Loving God, and Praising Jesus is where “Blessing the Lord” begins, but from there our life flows out to others.  It is in the “ACTION” of showing the Love of Jesus wherein we continue to Bless the Lord.  Hear His Words from Matthew 25:34-40; “…in as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me!”  Share your life in Jesus ~Loving you, Pastor

Why do the Righteous Suffer?” March 18, 2012

We continue to be mindful of the Lenten season as we fulfill our discipline and keep our focus on our Savour!  We are blessed that you are with us in service today, may the Christ that we serve surround you with His Love!

 “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.” – Heb. 4:15

It’s an age-old question: “Why do the Righteous Suffer?”  Down through the ages this question has been asked a multitude of times.  Greater Theologians than I have pondered the question and have written pages and pages of manuscripts discussing this question.  I have not a new thought on it, except to simply go to the Scriptures for the answer.  The simplest explanation of Righteous is “right standing.”  We have no righteousness except in Christ.  When we stand in Him, it is His Righteous that is seen. This Righteousness come about when we are dedicated to serving Him, when He is first and foremost in our lives.  When we realize that we must move in forgiveness on a daily basis and be mindful of our conduct and our example of Him in our life.  That being said, the question comes forward:  If we are doing our very best to serve the Lord, trying to follow close in His footsteps, “why is there such suffering in the saints life? Sin is the beginning source of suffering. The Righteous have suffered from the beginning of time.  Consider Able: because of his faithful-ness to offer the right sacrifice, he lost his life.  Job of old: It was said of Him that he was a “man perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.” Yet as we read the Book of Job, we note that he suffered great financial lost, family lost, and finally great illness.  Consider David, it is said he was a “man after God’s own heart.” Anointed to be King by the hand of a godly prophet, yet his life was threatened over and over, and he had to run for his life. On and on go the sufferings of the Prophets in the old Testament. In the New Testament, again there is suffering as Paul and Silas sat in stocks with their backs ripped open by the enemy’s wipe.  John the Baptist was beheaded, John the Beloved banished to the Isle of Patmos. In the old testament the Israelites suffered much: And this is what God said: “Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee… to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep His commandments, or no.” We have a Compassionate Savior who has purchased our end, it will be better then our beginning!                                            Loving you and praying for you, Pastor

“THE CRY OF NEED” March 11, 2012

Welcome to the “Lenten Season at Commerce.” Come Bless the Lord! He is blessed with your faithfulness, your worship, and your obedience.  May you sense His presence as we worship together today.

 “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.” – Heb. 4:15

In this day in which we live there are many cries going forth from the heart of humanity. It is not just huge devastating things that happen, but it is also a mirad of small things that come from every direction until they have manifested themselves as an overwhelming deluge against our heart and soul and humanity cries out for release.  There is in every human a cry!  Some are manifested outwardly, and some are manifested inwardly, but the cares of this life press upon the soul of mankind. The only true release, an eternal release is in Jesus Christ.  Humanity looks for help in many ways.  Often we pump ourselves us and say “I can do this,” but we are reminded in the Holy Scriptures in Prov. 3:5-7− “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.”  When the Israelites came to themselves in the land of Egypt, “the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God.”  There is great bondage in our land today, but until humanity comes by reason of that bondage and “cries” out unto God, there will be no release from the evil in the land.  Jesus “cried” because of the unbelief in the hearts of the people, and there is still a cry in the heart of God as His Son is rejected among men. Jesus wept over the people in His day on earth.  He was touched with the feelings of their infirmities. He was tested with disappointment, mistreatment, and rejection and upon the Cross He cried out with a loud voice and asked God “why hast Thou forsaken me?”  Then He commended Himself into God’s Hands.  If the “cries” of humanity would only commend themselves into the hand of a Merciful God, He would rise them up:  It is written in Eph 1:19-21: ‘God’s exceeding great power is toward us,  working for us through Christ, our Saviour:’  Let us cry unto Him who is able to deliver us from our wayward ways, for we need Him! Receive with meekness the engrafted Word of God!    ~~Loving you, Pastor

Jesus Said, “I will never leave you!” March 4, 2012

Welcome to the “Lenten Season.” We are commemorating the Lord Jesus. In our Messages this month we are exploring the earthly feelings of Jesus as He walks among men and as He prepares for the final Passover.  We are blessed that you are with us today.  May you sense a depth of His Love as we worship together.

“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” − Heb. 4:15

As we walk through the Lenten Season this year our theme is, seeing the humanness in Jesus.  He is Divine but He is robed in flesh. We know this, but somehow we take for granted that the Son of God does not experience weaknesses or fleshly feelings such as we might have.  Our Lord Jesus experiences in these years upon earth, the same temptations that we go through.  He is our example of “overcoming!” Jesus experience things that He has not known before, when He was seated at the Right Hand of His Father in Heaven. When we truly begin to think on these things and to meet with Jesus as He teaches, and goes about doing the Father’s Will, we will see His heart. A heart that is willing to Sacrifice it’s own life that we might live eternally. A heart that was willing to be abused, mocked, berated, and scoffed at: but in obedience to His Father He set out to fulfill His Father’s Will. He experienced grief, agony, He wept, He embraced the “Joy” that was set before Him ─ to die for humanity. Something that we sincerely need is “rest.” A good night’s sleep always feels good.  This day Jesus enters into a ship and the disciples follow Him. [Note here, even when you follow Christ, there can be storms in your life]. We will be looking at the Scriptures in Matthew the 8^th Chapter as Jesus no doubt weary from the crowds, the miles and miles of walking, nestles down in the ship and catches a few ZZZZ. A storm comes us and as it rages, the disciples wake Him and said: “Save us: we perish!” [It’s always a good thing to call on Jesus when your in the midst of a storm ─ ‘there are many types of storms in life.’]  Jesus, He is always there, sensing your fears, instructing in love, overcoming His flesh, and being miraculous in your life!  Remember Him in this Holy Season of His Passion!  His Passion was for you and as you practice your Lenten Discipline, it is for Him.               Loving you, Pastor