CALLED UNTO LIBERTY

“Saints, ye have been Called unto Liberty; only use not Liberty for an
occasion to the flesh, but by Love serve one another.” ~ Galatians 5:13

July 4th is almost here! Tomorrow all across our nation there will be great and wonderful celebrations! I always muse at things like this: a Celebration of Liberty! Not only to Celebrate our nation but to be reminded to Celebrate our Liberty in Christ. When our Nation Celebrates a Holiday, we can always see a Spiritual Opportunity. The Awesome Freedom that God has given to us in our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ! Today we honor our God-minded forefathers who set in motion a nation whose motto is ”In God we Trust” – We are One Under God! We also honor every man and every woman that has gone to battle for the Freedom we have in our Country. World War II– fought from 1939 to 1945 has been stated as the deadliest of all our Wars, over 70 million fatalities. We are exceedingly grateful and thankful for our Military! Wars cost lives. There have always been battles it seems from the beginning of time. Wars in the Old Testament, wars in our world even as we Celebrate this Day of Glorious Independence! Then there is the war that satan started so long ago with God in the Garden of Eden as he set in motion evil and disobedience. The Prophet Isaiah the records that moment ... [Isa 14:12-14] “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer ...For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” Then God’s Greatest Gift was given, the Life of Jesus to bring us Freedom from sin, we have Liberty in Christ! Scripture reveals this Glorious text ~ Gal. 5:13 “For, saints, ye have been Called unto Liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by Love serve one another.” It was the Love of God, the Love in the heart of Christ that purchased our Spiritual Liberty! And we are “Called unto Liberty!” To be free of sin as we move from Glory to Glory, as we grow in Your Love, and Your guidance. As we hear Your Word ...”Whoso looketh into the perfect law of Liberty, and continueth therein, they being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this one shall be Blessed in their deeds.” Loving You, Pastor

“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of 
the Lord is, there is Liberty. ~ 2 Corinthians 3:16-17


The Benediction: O God, Bless our America, bring us back to the Paths of Righteousness! Have Your way in our Country, and prepare us to be a witness of Your Great Salvation. Thank you for the Call to Liberty wherein you have set us free. Breathe Your Spiritual Strength into our heart and mind as we Celebrate this Holiday. A Day you have placed on our calendar! As we see and hear the “fireworks” may a Holy Fire be kindled in us. May we sense afresh the Liberty, You have given us in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master. All restrictions of the Law are past and we marvel at Your Goodness, Your Love poured out upon us, and the Power of Your Spirit that guides us! We Praise You O Lord! Please draw our Loved Ones unto Your Saving Grace. Thank you for Calling us to Liberty! We ask these things in Your Holy Name, and in the Name of Your son, and the Power of the Holy Ghost! Amen

The Unmatched Battle

There is a battle going on today in the hearts of mankind, in our country, and in Christianity! There is an enemy that looms larger than life as we face the future. Today we consider an “Unmatched Battle” that occurred in the Old Testament. There was much warfare as Israel faced the nations that were against God Jahovah! There was battle after battle, it seems that way today that warfare is present, it is one difficulty after another and God is in the Life of a Christian to prove their love and Faithfulness to Him. It may not be a huge battle in your life or it may be gigantic hardship that you face, but it is an unmatched battle if you are a believer in the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ! The enemy may think he is a “champion” in this hour in which we live, however large he may seem, God is greater! Our first response to an attack of the enemy/satan is to do what the King did to David, He tried to put on the amour of the day to protect David. The world’s way will never conquer, what we need is the Amour of God! It may look like we are in an “unmatched” battle. We must not be like King Saul and respond with “dismay and great fear!” Let us be reminded of David’s first response as He faced the giant/enemy! “Who is this Philistine/enemy that he should defy the armies of the Living God!” Imagine a small young lad standing in the shadow of a 13 foot + man. Sometimes our enemy seems so much bigger than we can even imagine, and we seem so “unmatched” for devils work against us. This is until we get on the Amour of God, rest in His Peace and use the weapons that are not carnal! Again we hear the positive voice of David; “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight!” In these battles that we face, let us use the weapon of David’s choice – the Rock of our Salvation: 2 Sam 22:3-4 — The God of my Rock; in Him will I Trust: He is my Shield, and the Strength of my Salvation, my High Tower, and my Refuge, my Saviour; Thou savest me from violence. I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be Praised: so shall I be Saved from mine enemies!” – Let us remember God knows those that Trust in Him! O Church Praise and Praise and Praise our Deliverer! Loving you, Pastor

The  Benediction

O Lord, our Faithful God, how Thankful we are for Love you bestow upon us, the constant and ever present help we know you have for us! Gratefulness rises from the depth of our being as we Trust in You! O God we ask for strength and faith as we walk in the mist of our struggles! May our Trust in You be strong for we know You care for us with an Everlasting Love. We need Your Blessings and guidance as we seek to walk in paths of Righteousness! Enlarge us for the battles and strengthen our hearts with the Power of Your Word, illuminate the Holy Ghost in our life for we know we are well able with you at our side. We ask for our Loved Ones, that you would draw them with Your Love to the Salvation that is available to all mankind! Thank you for Your forgiving Power, in You we Trust! We ask these things in the name of the Father, The Son and the Holy Ghost!

The Lord is Good! – Part 3 “Acceptance in the Beloved! “

 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but Righteousness, and Peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is Acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for Peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.” ~ Romans 14:17-19

There are four things, and a powerful 5th one to remember in Nahum 1– God is furious with sin 2– The Lord is Good 3– We have a Strong Hold in the day of trouble 4– He knows us when we Trust in Him! And 5– Nahum 1:15 Good Tidings;“Behold upon the mountains the feet of Him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth Peace!” Who is our Peace? Eph 2:14 tells us it is Jesus! The three As of these Messages are: We have Assurance in Christ, We have Assistance/Help in Him, and today: We are Accepted in the Beloved– the family of God! Eph. 1:4-8 is so powerful – “According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be Holy and without blame before Him in Love:” VS6 To the Praise of the Glory of His Grace, wherein He hath made us Accepted in the Beloved. In the Old Testament we were kept from the presence of God in the tabernacle ... but now the veil has been rent -ripped open from top to the bottom – Heb 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain Mercy, and find Grace to help in the time of need.” This final Message is prevalent for today – Have you ever felt like you were not accepted? It is an uncomfortable situation ... and often causes us to feel inadequate or insufficient, ... Isn’t that where we are today within our country ... racial issues – everyone vying for Acceptance ... O the power of God’s Word: “He has Accepted us in the Beloved, the family of God!” As Accepted in Christ, we are part of the Kingdom of God – and hear what the Kingdom of God houses – “For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but Righteousness, and Peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghost. For He that in these things serveth Christ is Acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for Peace, and things wherewith one may edify another!” – Rom. 14:17-19– This is truly the Goodness of our Lord! While evil seems rampant, and there are many issues of this life, still there is a God who forgives sin, loves us, accepts us, ready to Assist us and secures us in the time of trouble! All Glory to our God! Love, Pastor

 

The Benediction

Gracious and Mighty God, O how we Praise You! With hearts full of thanksgiving we give Praise for the Power of Your Word that brings encouragement to our hearts! You are a Faithful God and a Glorious Saviour! You give us Assurance of Your Mercy and Grace, the forgiveness of our sins, and we know You Love us! You give us Assistance, which is the gift of Your Miraculous Help! Thank You for accepting us into the Beloved, the family of God! Cause us Dear Lord to draw near to you in these times of stress and anxiety ... for you are our Hope and we Trust in You! You are an ever present Saviour! We thank You for the Power of the Holy Ghost to lead and guide us! May our lives bring honour to You! We ask that you surround our loved ones who don’t serve you and bring them to Salvation – asking these things in the Name of Jesus. In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost!