Gifts of Our Fathers

June 19, 2011: “… Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:” − Matthew 25:34 
This is the 50^th week since the Resurrection of Jesus.  It is also called Pentecost because on the 50^th Day the Promise of the Father was fulfilled.  As we come together today, we not only celebrate Pentecost, but we celebrate our Fathers.  My Message today is about “The Gifts of our Fathers.”  The founding Fathers of our Country, our Spiritual Fathers, and our earthly Fathers and most importantly the Gift of our Heavenly Father!  We have been gifted by the men whom God has chose to be in our lives.  I know there are cases where, when you mention a Father or a Mother it brings sad feelings, but when we look at what our Heavenly Father has created in us, we are blessed to know that His life is in us.  Even in an unbeliever, the breath of God sustains their life. Scripture tells us that our Father God is not willing that any should perish. The circumstances of our life will break us or make us.  But God is always present in our life, wither a believer or unbeliever.  There is no life without God. When we look at the Fathers of our country, we are mystified that our country has come so far away from the God that they served, from God who led them in establishing our great country.  There is a great need in our world today to “Rediscover God in America!”  Our lives have been formed by the liberties that our founding Fathers set forth under the guidance of Father God.  Our eartly Father has given God’s life to us.  Without a Father we would not be here. So today we come together in our Father’s House to give thanks for the Fathers He has given us, not only our physical Fathers, but the Founding Fathers of “One Nation under God!” It was a Founding Father of our nation that declared: all people “are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”  Jefferson’s immortal words about  unalienable rights coming from our Creator echoed the thinking of so many of the Founding Fathers.  Our Creator loved us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus to die for us that we might have Eternal Life.  Today we thank our earthly Fathers for the Gift of life that they have given to us, that we might live in a free country and serve a Risen Saviour.  Giving Thanks, & Loving you, Pastor

The 40th Day, Ascension!” and “Ye shall be Witnesses!

June 12, 2011: “While they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”  − Acts 1:10-11
Last week was Ascension Sunday, but we had guests so we celebrate it this Sunday. Why, after hundreds of years, is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the Ascension still celebrated, still talked about, it is in the dictionary, and even on the Calendar??  WHY? Because there were “eye witnesses!”  These are Jesus own Words from Luke 24:48 ─ “Ye are witnesses of these things.”  Forty Days Jesus appeared leaving infallible proof that He came forth triumphant from the Grave! On the fortieth day Jesus took His disciples as far as Bethany and there He gave them this Prophetical Word:  “Wait for the Promise of the Father, … ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” Acts 1:4-5  As Jesus concluded this powerful statement of the “coming Holy Ghost, again He stated “ye shall be witnesses of me … and unto the uttermost part of the earth!” Vs8. Then the Ascension occurred, one more infallible proof … right before their eyes He was “taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” Angels attended this awesome event and declared to the amazed disciples as they gazed upward;  Vs11 “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”  O what a glorious Celebration! Jesus was “caught up” into the clouds into heaven to take His position at the Right Hand of the Father, where He would continue to intercede for us.  This is our Comfort, He will come again even as He left … Paul also relates:  “ For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thes.4:16-1  − Loving you, Pastor

The Spiritual Vibrations are in Concert

June 5, 2011: “I will Worship toward thy Holy Temple, and Praise Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and for Truth: for thou hast magnified Thy Word above all Thy name.”  − Ps 138:2
We welcomed the Spiritual Vibrations once more to our Church, it is a rare occasion as they came together in a precious reunion.  We are exceedingly blessed to have them.  We have set this day to just come into His presence and magnify His Holy Name.  Our Scripture Reading  is from the Psalms of David, the unique Psalmist of Israel!  May we enter into this precious time of song and celebration as the Praises go forth. David loved to go to the house of the Lord, it was joy to his soul and meat to his spirit. He talks much about the Lord’s house and there are multitudes of songs of praise in his writings.  He is truly nudged by the Holy Spirit of God and always ready to give forth a praise. We have been experiencing warfare in our city, there has been a campaign against God.  The billboards have declared there is no God, the marquee on the city buses have degreed the same message, but let us look at the Word of God for David writes under the unction of the Holy Spirit; “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works …”  −Psalm 14:1─ In Psalm 18 David sends a song to the chief musician,  a song of praise for deliverance from his enemies.  “I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my Rock, and my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my God, my Strength, in whom I will trust; my Buckler, and the Horn of my Salvation, and my High Tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be Praised: so shall I be Saved from mine enemies.”  This is our song of Salvation for the Lord has truly delivered us! He is our Rock, our foundation and we will be strong in Him!  So let the anointed music fill you heart and release the joy of the Lord within, for no weapon formed against us will prosper!  He, our Lord is worthy of our praise! Worshipping & praising with you, And loving you, Pastor