“He That Overcometh!” January 1, 2012

“He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these Words are True and Faithful.” – Rev. 21:5  

New Year Thoughts from the Pastor: As we walk into the New Year, it is good to once again make a commitment to our Lord and Saviour!  It is always good to renew our Covenant with Him!  We look to the Book of Revelation as we face a new season of our future.  In this last Book of the Holy Scriptures we glean some powerful Truths. Among them we are reminded that He is the Alpha and the Omega, which means He is our beginning and He is our end. There is a call in the heart of God that His people might have a thirst for Him, for He says He will give all who thirst, Water of life freely! We are also admonished to “overcome!” This might sound strange since we are born again believers in our Lord Jesus Christ …  But there is always room to “overcome!”  What would you like to overcome in this brand new year that has begun today?  Take a few minutes to meditate and think upon these things as you enter into this fresh year.  We are living in such an instant society that there is rarely time to contemplate serious matters about spiritual condition or our life. I challenge you to take a few minutes, close out the stresses of the moment, and draw into the quiet of His presence.  There must be a least one thing that we would like to change, to overcome: maybe an attitude, a specific thing that worries us, a responsibility that seems to allude us, a habit that we are unwilling to change, a dislike for someone?  Maybe we need to develop a new pattern in our devotions each day, or maybe we need to read the Word of God more each day: If we will take the time to sit quietly before the Lord and listen, the Holy Ghost will nudge our heart and give us guidance in personal spiritual matters. Vs 7 in that Passage of Scripture reminds us:  “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”  Paul spoke concerning the believers in Thessalonica:  He thanked God, that their faith had showed “exceeding growth” and that “Charity abounded” among the believers, there was love one to another. This is a good pattern for us today, may we grow in Faith and in His Love!  To overcome is to grow in God’s Grace and to gain spiritual strength for the New Year. This is a serious time, a time to grow spiritually!   Wishing you a Joyous New Year!  Loving you, Pastor

Christ the Saviour is Born! December 25, 2011

May the Christ of Christmas be with you in a special way as we celebrate His Birth together in His House!  He will rejoice over us as we worship Him on this special day of the year.  May God give you a blessed New Year!

   

“For unto you is Born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host Praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth Peace, good will toward men.”  −Luke 2:11-14

   

Thoughts from Pastors Heart: As we gather together in the Lord’s house today, it is with a heart of thankfulness that I write.  The saints here at Commerce are a great gift to me.  As your Pastor for these 27 years I am so thankful for you!  You are a great Gift to the Body of Christ!  Friendship among the brethren and the sisters are a special Gift from God and the Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Ghost being a great part of the Gift!  Because God loved us and sent His Son empowered by the Holy Ghost to be our Saviour, we have the Gift of Eternal Life.  We also have the Gift of the Body of Christ and thus the Friendship of the Saints.  I always think of one of the Psalms at a time like this, is says:  “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!  It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”  − Ps 133.   How awesome it is to think about the Gifts that God has so graciously bestowed upon us through Jesus our Lord, the King.  There is an Anointing that belongs to the Saints as they partake of the Friendship wherein God has blessed us. Today as we celebrate Jesus Birth, let us give thanks for all the Blessings He has given to us, especially the Gift of Friendship within His glorious Body, the Church.  Let us give thanks for the Gift of Life that He has given us and let us remember our incarcerated friends who are also the Body of Christ.  Wishing you a special Christmas filled with the presence of the Holy Ghost empowering you for the New Year ahead!  Happy Lord’s Birthday and have a blessed New Year! Loving you and Trusting God for a glorious New Year, Pastor

Holy Ghost in Advent! December18, 2011

As we enter this Fourth week of Holy Advent, we see the “Power” behind the glorious Advent of the Coming Christ Child, and the Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ.  It is the Power of the Holy Ghost, may you sense His presence today as we worship together!

            

Anticipating The King!

First Week in Advent; The Conception of our King!

Second Week in Advent; “Salutation, Annunciation, and Declaration!

Third Week in Advent, JOY − The Confirmation!”

Fourth Week in Advent, “Holy Ghost in Advent!”

“For there are Three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these Three are One.”  − 1 John 5:7

Throughout the Messages of Advent we have “proved” by Scripture that Jesus is the Son of God.  Born of a Virgin and witnesses by Wise men and Shepherds as they were guided to the Birth of the Christ. We continue this Fourth Sunday to reveal and “prove” the Power behind Advent.  It is not often that we have heard of the Holy Ghost in detail at Advent, as the Birth of Christ unfolds. It was the Spirit of God that inspired the Prophets to reveal the Virgin Birth. 2 Peter 1:21 “For the Prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” It is the same Spirit that inspired the New Testament writers to record the Account of our Saviour’s Birth.  Old Testament speaks of God’s Spirit while the New Testament calls Him the Holy Ghost.  They are one in the same, the difference is: in the New Testament He has come to live in mankind through the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ the Son of God. So as we celebrate the Lord’s Birth let us go behind the scenes as some would say to see the strength and power behind all the Supernatural happenings that transpire throughout Advent. The Bible begins with “In the beginning God!” Vs 2 reveals the Triune God head who created all things. “The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Vs 3 “And God said [spoke the Word] Let there be Light! Who is the Word, who is the Light!  In the beginning of all things, it is as John wrote there are “Three that bare record in heaven.” It was the Holy Ghost at Jesus Birth, He was revealed to Joseph as he pondered wither he should take Mary to wife. The Holy Ghost was present at Jesus dedication when Simeon took Jesus up in his arms and pronounced Blessings!  The Holy Ghost was present at Jesus Baptism, and drove Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted … no doubt the Holy Ghost was His strength in that moment, for we read that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness being “full of the Holy Ghost! It was the Holy Ghost that touched John the Baptist who would go before Jesus to proclaim Him the Lamb of God!  It was the Promise of the Father that He would send a Comforter and Jesus proclaimed − John 14:26 The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things … What an Advent! The Coming of the Holy Ghost!    Loving you, and wishing you a Christmas filled with God’s Spirit!