Why do the Righteous Suffer?” March 18, 2012

We continue to be mindful of the Lenten season as we fulfill our discipline and keep our focus on our Savour!  We are blessed that you are with us in service today, may the Christ that we serve surround you with His Love!

 “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

It’s an age-old question: “Why do the Righteous Suffer?”  Down through the ages this question has been asked a multitude of times.  Greater Theologians than I have pondered the question and have written pages and pages of manuscripts discussing this question.  I have not a new thought on it, except to simply go to the Scriptures for the answer.  The simplest explanation of Righteous is “right standing.”  We have no righteousness except in Christ.  When we stand in Him, it is His Righteous that is seen. This Righteousness come about when we are dedicated to serving Him, when He is first and foremost in our lives.  When we realize that we must move in forgiveness on a daily basis and be mindful of our conduct and our example of Him in our life.  That being said, the question comes forward:  If we are doing our very best to serve the Lord, trying to follow close in His footsteps, “why is there such suffering in the saints life? Sin is the beginning source of suffering. The Righteous have suffered from the beginning of time.  Consider Able: because of his faithful-ness to offer the right sacrifice, he lost his life.  Job of old: It was said of Him that he was a “man perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.” Yet as we read the Book of Job, we note that he suffered great financial lost, family lost, and finally great illness.  Consider David, it is said he was a “man after God’s own heart.” Anointed to be King by the hand of a godly prophet, yet his life was threatened over and over, and he had to run for his life. On and on go the sufferings of the Prophets in the old Testament. In the New Testament, again there is suffering as Paul and Silas sat in stocks with their backs ripped open by the enemy’s wipe.  John the Baptist was beheaded, John the Beloved banished to the Isle of Patmos. In the old testament the Israelites suffered much: And this is what God said: “Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee… to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep His commandments, or no.” We have a Compassionate Savior who has purchased our end, it will be better then our beginning!                                            Loving you and praying for you, Pastor

“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