Saturday, June 30, 2012

"Mystery of God's Secret"

"Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began..."  Rom 16:25

Thoughts from Pastor's Message...
Each Sunday for the the last couple of months we have closed with the benediction from Romans 16:25 and each Sunday I am mystified by the thought of the 'mystery which was kept secret.' And then overjoyed that the following scripture gives more information: "But now is made manifest, and by the Scriptures of the Prophets, according to the commandment of the Everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith."  What a powerful benediction. There is power that can establish us, and a mystery that has been revealed to us in this day. How blessed we are for I read of the Old Testament saints: Matthew 4:16,"The people which sat in darkness saw a great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up." We are not in darkness because the Mystery of the Secret of God is within us! He has manifested Himself to us through the Power of the Gospel; and what is the Gospel?  Jesus Christ crucified, risen, and dwelling in us. All this is a Mystery to those who do not believe, who have not come to know Jesus as their personal Savior. What a simple message, yet so powerful it is hard to comprehend. All through the Scriptures God reminds us that there is a 'secret' place in Him. Psalms 25:14, "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him; and He will show them His Covenant." The depth of this Glorious Secret is found in the Book of Hebrews as the Covenant is opened unto us. All through the prophets, Jesus was there; Revelation of the Mystery was there, The Secret of God was being revealed. But only when Jesus came was the manifestation fulfilled and those that sat in darkness received the revelation of God's Secret. O what glorious Mystery!
                              Loving you, Pastor 

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

"I Will Make Darkness Light!"

"...I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them."        Isaiah 42:16

Thoughts from Pastor's Sunday Message...
As we watch the newscast or read the newspapers, we note that there seems to be an ever ready darkness that is attempting to invade our world. The last couple of messages that the Lord has lead me to share with you seem to come together in like manner. God's voice is coming forth from the heavens. We need to know that we are God's Treasure: Because if we are His Treasure, surely He will be our escape in the time of trouble. Jesus made profound statements that humanity has taken for granted. We might even quote them on occasion; but the Words of Jesus in this moment and time are becoming our strength and hope as we see on the horizon--darkness forming for our nation. Yet one of the most powerful statements that Jesus declared is: John 8:12 "Then spake Jesus again unto them saying, I Am the Light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of Life." When darkness begins to invade our thoughts and trouble comes across our path, it is then we need to 'remember' that the Lord Jesus Christ is our Light and in this Light we have 'life!' We wonder sometimes in darkness because things do not go our way, or we are unhappy with the circumstance of our life. But Jesus has dispelled 'darkness.' Isaiah the prophet cries out:[50:10] " Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice but walketh in darkness, and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his God." This is the Christian's finest hour--to magnify our Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of the darkness of humanity. Jesus said in Matthew 5:14,"Ye are the Light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid." vs 16--Let your Light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Christianity needs to have a fresh revelation of His Light! A Light such as Paul saw on the road to Damascus...for His Word tells us:"Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet, and a Light unto my path." He is standing ready to focus His Light upon His Children!
                   Desiring this Light, and Loving you, Pastor 

"God's Treasure"

Thoughts from Pastor's Sunday Message...
As things heat up in our world, and politics become the focus of much of the news, we note the monies that are being spent to promote the candidates. Sometimes it looks like whoever has the most money is able to win the election. As humanity's thoughts turn to finances, the economy, jobs, and the huge debt of our nation, a certain amount of concern sets in upon the saints. Our message today is to glorify our Savior Jesus Christ and to let you know that His Treasury is full!! God is not bankrupt; He is not suffering any shortages of riches. He is the "Almighty" Presence in our world! 1Chronicles 29:11-13 exhorts us like this: "Thine, O Lord, is the Greatness, and the Power, and the Glory, and the Victory, and the Majesty: for all that is in heaven and in the earth is Thine; Thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and Thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of Thee, and Thou reignest over all; and in Thine hand is Power and Might; and in Thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we Thank Thee, and Praise Thy Glorious name." 


WOW! How powerful is that? In this short passage of Scripture, we are wonderfully encouraged if we hear what the Spirit is saying! God owns the Treasury! For He owns the world; He is Creator of it all!! Well, we know this, but sometimes we need to be reminded just how powerful He is! As our world moves fastly toward its destruction without God, His Holy Word rolls over our hearts and minds and we remember. "Our God will supply all our needs according to His riches in Glory because of Jesus Christ!" And with that thought, we are reminded that God owns us; He has shined the Treasure of Himself upon us and "we have this Treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us." There is no Treasure in the world save the knowledge and Grace of our loving Father. Strange but true, we are "His Peculiar Treasure" and I love you! Pastor

Monday, June 4, 2012

Praying in the Midst of Difficulties!

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain Mercy, and find Grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16

Thoughts from the Pastor's Message...
Praying is an awesome passage into the Throne Room of God. Scripture tells us we can come boldly into the Presence of God with our petitions. This is interesting, it is called the place of Grace and we come to receive Mercy. how gracious is our God granting Mercy upon us on a daily basis. He is full of Grace as we come to Him. This is the importance of Praying, coming first to worship Him, to honor His Holy Name, to thank Him for the multitude of Grace He has bestowed upon us, to thank Him for being our God, and to glorify His Son Jesus! We can bring our petitions to Him and especially in difficult situations. Prayer is of the greatest importance! I notice in Psalms 20:5-6 that when we rejoice in our Salvation, He attends to our petitions... "We will rejoice in Thy Salvation, and in the Name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfill all Thy petitions. Now know I that the Lord saveth His anointed; He will hear him from His Holy heaven with Saving strength of His right hand." Today we will talk about those who prayed in difficult situations. Hannah, for instance, she was barren and came before the Lord with her petition for a child. Note how she came into His presence: 1 Samuel 2:1-2--- "Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in Thy Salvation. There is none Holy as the Lord: for there is none beside Thee: neither is there any Rock like our God." It is in coming to Jesus in the time of our most difficult situations that we realize His Grace is sufficient and His answers are not always what we desire. Yet, He is ever ready to walk beside us, to never leave us or forsake us, this is because of His Grace and Mercy. As we communicate with Him in Prayer, it is important to enter into His presence with thanksgiving and praise. Consider Daniel, evil men moved against Daniel as he prayed before the Lord openly. They devised a plan to have him thrown into the lion's den, but it did not interrupt Daniel's prayer. Daniel 6:10, "When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went to his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and Prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime." 
Loving you, Pastor