“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

Jesus, Groaned & Wept! February 26, 2012

Welcome to the “Lenten Season.” We are commemorating the Lord Jesus life as He when into the wilderness and was tempted of the devil.  He was victorious over the temptations of the enemy and we are inspired to follow in His footsteps and be victorious! We are blessed that you are here.

The Lenten Season has begun, it is the season that points to spring, and reminds us of the knowledge of Resurrection.  Just as the earth wakes up when winter is past, so our mortal bodies shall one day spring forth in immortality – in Resurrection power! O Glorious morning!  In this Lenten Season, we remember the Lord Jesus as He came out of the waters of Baptism and went forth into the wilderness.  It was a time of preparation for Ministry as He fasted those forty days. As Jesus came to the end of the forty days of fasting, Scripture says He was hungry! This is when the devil chose to tempt Him, in the midst of a spiritual time of abstaining. Jesus was victorious as He came forth from the wilderness and the temptation of the enemy. He was now Truly about His Father’s business, the days wherein He would teach His followers, correct them, warn them and prepare them for His departure.  As the time of Jesus life on earth is winding down, He is busy going about doing good, obeying His Father. There has been quite a few attempts now on His life. His friend Lazarus has died and has been in the grave four days. As most saints know, Jesus went to Bethany to the place of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. It is here that Jesus declared: “I am the Resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though He were dead, yet shall He live!” Why then did Jesus “weep” at the grave site?  Jesus ‘groaned’ C it was a conflict once again with satan and the power of death! He ‘wept’ C because of unbelief of His followers. As Jesus was victorious over the conflict with satan so we too can be victorious!  May we be mindful of unbelief and eradicate doubt from our minds, and Trust in the Lord with all our heart! Let us maintain our Lenten Discipline as we “remember our Lord Jesus Christ and the Sacrifice He gave for our Salvation.   Loving you, Pastor