Christian Faithfulness And Covenant Storytelling

Ps.78:1-8

1 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! 

2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, 

3 things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. 

4 We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. 

5 He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, 

6 that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, 

7 so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; 

8 and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.

Sermon By Matt M, thank you so much, what a blessing!

A question looms over the unfolding narrative of the Old Testament:

How could Israel be so well loved and yet so wayward?

Is faithfulness to God even possible?

How can we and the generation after us pursue faithfulness to God in 2013?

We faithfully hear the story:

"Our fathers have told us".

Ps.78:1-3

There is a vital relationship between what we hear and our present/future faithfulness to God.

Faithfulness to God displays itself in an attitude of eagerness to hear, to retain, to remember, to respond to what is heard.

The call to "give ear" comes first because biblical faith doesn't begin with an open mouth. It begins with an open ear.

We faithfully tell the story:

"We will not hide them from their children".

Ps.78:3-8

Faithfulness to God is demonstrated not only by our being hearers but also heralds of the covenant story-the story of the rescuing power of God in Christ.

Multi-generational faithfulness is a community effort.

1 Cor.4:15

15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

1 Cor.15:3-4

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 

4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures

The heart of Paul's message was the story of the covenant with it's central character, Jesus Christ, and His central work: living a righteous life, dying a substitutionary death and rising from the dead so that any who turn from sin and trust Him alone become eternal objects of the mercy and blessing of God.

Judges 2:10

10 And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel.

They faithfully tell the story:

"They arise and tell them to their children".

Ps.78:5-7

No hope without faith in Christ, have you told your children?

The Book Of Life Or The Lake Of Fire

Rev.20:11-15
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.
12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.
14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Words from Matthew Henry's commentary...

There is a book of remembrance both for good and bad: and the book of the sinner's conscience, though formerly secret, will then be opened. Every man will recollect all his past actions, though he had long forgotten many of them. Another book shall be opened, the book of the Scriptures, the rule of life; it represents the Lord's knowledge of his people, and his declaring their repentance, faith, and good works; showing the blessings of the new covenant. By their works men shall be justified or condemned; he will try their principles by their practices. Those justified and acquitted by the gospel, shall be justified and acquitted by the Judge, and shall enter into eternal life, having nothing more to fear from death, or hell, or wicked men; for these are all destroyed together. This is the second death; it is the final separation of sinners from God. Let it be our great concern to see whether our Bibles justify or condemn us now; for Christ will judge the secrets of all men according to the gospel.

Are you standing on your own merit? Or, are you standing on the promise of Christ? He was born to die for our sin, sent by God, an acceptable sacrifice, willing King, Lord of all! 

Phil.2:6-11

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

A Nice Warm Bed

1 Timothy 6:6-10

6 Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, 

7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 

8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 

9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 

10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

As I lay in my warm bed this early cold morning, I sang praise to the Lord for all the rich blessings He has bestowed on my family. I asked for mercy for those who are in the cold air today, those who sleep outside with no hope of a warm bed. We have the resources to help these lost ones, one person at a time, but do we? Is it not easy to think that someone else will help them?

Lord, convict each and every one of us. Let us not think of the vast amount of people who need help but just the one we will see today. Amen

Contemplating The Eternal At Christmas

Heb.9:27-28
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 

so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Thank You Pastor David!

We are...
surrounded by the superficial
blinded by the temporal
numbed by the trivial

We need to contemplate out lives...
Life is precious...
Gen.1:26-31
Gen.2:7-9
Job 10:11-12
Ps.22:9-10
Ps.139:13-16
Life is valuable...
Ps.8:3-8
Is.49:1
Jer.1:5
Luke 1:14-16
Gal.1:15-16
Life is fleeting...
Ps.39:4-5
Ps.102:11
Ps.103:15-16
James 4:13-14

We need to contemplate our death...
Death is coming...
2 Sam.14:14
Ps.90:10
Eccl.9:2-5
It is often surprising!
It is inevitably sure!
Death is a consequence of sin...
Gen.2:15-17
Gen.3:22-24
Gen.6:13
Ps.90:5-9
Death is a multi-faceted
Mt.10:28
Eccl.12:7
1 Cor.15:26
James 2:26

Spiritual death: Separation of a person from God
Gen.3:22-24
Romans 5:12
We are all spiritually dead...
Ephesians 2:1-3
Physical death:Cessation of life in our physical body
Gen.5:1-8
We will all experience physical death...
1 Cor.15:22
Eternal death:Finalization of separation from God
Rev.20:6
Rev.21:8
We all deserve eternal death...
Romans 6:23
Death is not the end...
John 5:27-28

We need to contemplate coming judgment...
Fact: Judgment is inescapable...
Acts 17:31
Romans 2:5-11
Rev.20:11-15
The desire for judgment is instinctual...
Heb.1:2-4
The warnings of judgment are undeniable...
2 Peter 2:4-10
The scope of judgment will be universal...
Is.66:15-24
The nature of judgment will be personal...
Matt.7:21-33
Romans 14:10-12
Eccl.11:9;12:14
The effect of judgment will be eternal...
Matt.25:46
Rev.21:6-8

We need to contemplate the coming of Jesus
He came once in humility to provide salvation from sin.
He lived the live we could not live...
John 18:38
Heb.4:15
1 John 3:5
He died the death we deserve to die...
Heb.2:17
Rom.5:6-8
Gal.3:13
1 Peter 2:24
2 Cor.5:21
He conquered the enemy we can not conquer...
1 Cor.15:3-8
Heb.2:14-15
Col.2:13-15

He is coming back in glory to execute judgment for sinners
Those who have turned from Jesus...
Dread(or disinterested in) the return of Jesus...
2 Thessalonian 1:5-10
Death remains an eternally hopeless enemy...
Rev.20:12-15
Those who have trusted in Jesus
Long and look forward to the return of Jesus...
Phil.3:20
Rev.22:20
Death has become a surprisingly helpful friend...
Phil.1:20-23
Luke 23:46

When Your Heart Is Breaking

Have you ever had your heart ache so bad that you were sure it would just fracture into tiny pieces? This is how I feel when I see my big brother who is dying, a little every day, struggle to stand, breathe or eat. My soul actually is in deep pain, it is wounded, seeping raw emotions that I wish I did not have to experience. God did not plan for our life to be this way. Adam and Eve were tempted by Satan and brought sin into all of us. That corruption changed everything!! From one man man sin entered all! God's beautiful creation was tainted and forever sin would scar man's soul. But God who is rich in mercy did not let Satan ruin His plan. He sent His Son to defeat Satan! Satan, you are defeated and Christ is king! People ask,"How can God let innocent people die"? Remember what changed God's perfect plan for man? Satan and his temptation that leads to sin! So if you look for blame, look to Satan and his plan to entice man to rebellion against God. You better praise God for not destroying all mankind for we surely deserve it.

Who Christ is...
Phil.2:5-11

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 

7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant,being born in the likeness of men. 

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 

10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 

11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

Who man is...
Gen.1:27 

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Job 7:17

What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him

Deuteronomy 4:32 
Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created man on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of?

So remember when you seem to be all alone, there is One who is there. He was there when He took your place on that cross, there when He intercedes for you before God and He is coming again soon to take you home!

The Big Fish (Hear the Word of the Lord)

Jonah 1:1-4
1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me."
3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.
4 But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up.
Jonah 1:8-10
8 Then they said to him, "Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?"
9 And he said to them, "I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land."
10 Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, "What is this that you have done!" For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.
Jonah 1:14-17
14 Therefore they called out to the LORD, "O LORD, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O LORD, have done as it pleased you."
15 So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging.
16 Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows.
17 And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Jonah 2:1-2
1 Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish,
2 saying, "I called out to the LORD, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. 
Jonah 2:7-10
7 When my life was fainting away, I remembered the LORD, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple. 
8 Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. 
9 But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the LORD!" 
10 And the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.
Jonah 3:1-5
1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying,
2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you."
3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days' journey in breadth.
4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he called out, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!"
5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.
Jonah 3:7-10
7 And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, "By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water,
8 but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.
9 Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish."
10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.
Jonah 4:1-4
1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.
2 And he prayed to the LORD and said, "O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.
3 Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live."
4 And the LORD said, "Do you do well to be angry?"
Jonah 4:6-11
6 Now the LORD God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant.
7 But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered.
8 When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, "It is better for me to die than to live."
9 But God said to Jonah, "Do you do well to be angry for the plant?" And he said, "Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die."
10 And the LORD said, "You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night.
11 And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?"

Are you running like Jonah? Are you unwilling to give up that sin that has you enslaved?

Godlessness In The Last Days

2 Tim.2:1-5

1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.
2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,
4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

Matthew Henry Commentary...

Christ is the Mediator of this new covenant, between God and man, to bring them together in this covenant; to keep them together; to plead with God for us, and to plead with us for God; and at length to bring God and his people together in heaven. This covenant is made firm by the blood of Christ sprinkled upon our consciences, as the blood of the sacrifice was sprinkled upon the altar and the victim. This blood of Christ speaks in behalf of sinners; it pleads not for vengeance, but for mercy. See then that you refuse not his gracious call and offered salvation. See that you do not refuse Him who speaketh from heaven, with infinite tenderness and love; for how can those escape, who turn from God in unbelief or apostacy, while he so graciously beseeches them to be reconciled, and to receive his everlasting favour! God's dealing with men under the gospel, in a way of grace, assures us, that he will deal with the despisers of the gospel, in a way of judgment. We cannot worship God acceptably, unless we worship him with reverence and godly fear. Only the grace of God enables us to worship God aright. God is the same just and righteous God under the gospel as under the law. The inheritance of believers is secured to them; and all things pertaining to salvation are freely given in answer to prayer. Let us seek for grace, that we may serve God with reverence and godly fear. 

We strive to analyze and stare in disbelief at the day in which we live, when people kill innocent children. 

It not only happens here in America but has taken place all over the world. 

It not only happens in the year 2012 but happened in the days of the Roman Empire when King Herod ordered the murder of all male children under the age of 2. 

So you see, evil has reigned in the heart of man for a long time! 

Why are we outraged? 

We allow the death of innocents everyday through the legally sanctioned abortions which is written in the law of the land! 

Wake up America and the world! 

You are under judgement from God, repent!

Lord, have mercy and forgive! Amen

This Thing Called Evil

What is this thing called evil?
Where does it come from?
What can possess a young man to kill innocent little children?
Evil began when Satan and his legion were kicked out of the heavenly realm.
Their rebellion against their Creator, set into motion this thing called sin which is driven by evil.
Now you will say I might sin but I would not kill.
Sin is sin before holy God!
It is all driven by evil which is rebellion.
Man wants to be God which is evil.
We are made in His image but we are not His equal!

Rev.12:7-12
7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back,

8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.

9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world-he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.

11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!"

Since before God created the earth, there has been evil! It is so deep within man that he must repent!
This is why we need a Savior, incorruptible, able to withstand Satan, wholly man, wholly God, and
an acceptable sacrifice for God's wrath toward sinful man. God is worthy of all our praise and obedience. God will judge sinful man but we have a Savior who is worthy, who intercedes for us if we bow before His throne of grace. Do you know and trust by faith that Christ alone died and was resurrected? He is seated at the right hand of God waiting for His command to destroy Satan and evil! He will come again to avenge the saints!

Jude 1:17-21
17 But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.

18 They said to you, "In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions."

19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.

20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,

21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

John 17:1-5

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,

2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.

3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.

5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

We are being held in Christ...

1 Thessalonians 5: 9-11
9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.
11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Evil man...
Mark 7:14-23
14 And he called the people to him again and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand: 

15 There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him." 

17 And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. 

18 And he said to them, "Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 

19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?" (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 

20 And he said, "What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 

21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 

22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 

23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person." 

Satan, the father of lies...
John 8:44
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies

Evil sons...
Ephesians 2:1-3

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 
2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-- 
3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.



Faith in Christ...
Ephesians 2:4-5

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 
5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--
Ephesians 2:8-9

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast



Repentance...

Luke 24:47 
and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem

We Worship You Lord

There is a peace that comes from The Lord, in knowing and obeying His words.

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

John 16:33 

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

1 Peter 1:2

according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

Hebrews 10:22 
let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

Today my brother entered into hospice care. He signed his" do not resuscitate order ".  

He is totally resting in the care of his Creator, waiting to return to his real home.
He believes that Christ alone saves sinful man, that there is nothing worthy in man that could satisfy the wrath of holy God.
That God alone sent Christ as a propitiation for man's sin, that Christ, in obedience to His father, willingly died on the cross.
My bother believes that your soul will live eternally, in heaven or hell.
There is no in between place where perhaps you can receive help! Your life is now, you make choices with eternal implications.

Luke 18:26-27
26 Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?"
27 But he said, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."

Your life is indeed a vapor. A mist that appears and is gone in an instance. All we have is faith in Christ that He is able to save our souls. This is what God planned!

Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
1 John 4:10
In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Romans 3:23-25
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

Hebrews 2:17-18

17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted

1 John 2:1-6

1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.

4 Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:

6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

What is worship? Obedience to God's Commands, reverence toward God and sharing the gospel for the making of disciples in every nation, tribe and tongue!

Luke 4:8

And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’”
Psalm 95:6 
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker

Psalms 96:9

Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!

Hebrews 12:28-29

28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 

29 for our God is a consuming fire.

Revelation 4:10-11

10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 

11 "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."

Revelation 22:3

3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.

1 John 5:1-5 

1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 

2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 

4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. 

5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

I love you brother for the man you have become in the Lord!

Death Has Come

The man facing death has died. There is no mercy left. He has chosen his eternity and there is no turning back. It is his time to face God his Creator. As a child, his loving mother taught him of the saving power of Christ but as a man he chose another path, far away from the love and mercy that Christ would show him. He chose to stand on his own with no mediator to plead his cause, no prayer of intercession offered when he fell into sin, no blood to wash him clean, only standing there in sin with no time of repentance. He was not a bad man. He tried to do good things. he had a family whom he loved. He had children he raised, grandchildren he loved. He worked a job, he had a ranch, he had horses, he enjoyed his life. What remains is judgement before God. The evidence of The Lord is near, it is plain that all we see was created by someone other than a human man. A much higher intelligence than we could ever understand, many mysteries yet revealed to us or even if we knew we could not comprehend! Satan has blinded man! Man is indeed willing! Today is the day of salvation! Open your heart to hear the word of The Lord.
Father, there are those searching for You. There are those who are indifferent. Help us to plant the seed so You can harvest souls for Your glory. Amen

Luke 16:19-31

19 "There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried,
23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.
24 And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.'
25 But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.
26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.'
27 And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house-
28 for I have five brothers-so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.'
29 But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.'
30 And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'
31 He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'"

Christ Alone Saves You From Hell

Just saw some stats that make me cringe! Thank you Pastor Larry for this bit of info.

Just read in my devotion something powerful. It was talking about a survey taken of almost 10,000 people. It asked "do you believe you are going to Heaven or to Hell". 90% said Heaven 10% said Hell. It then asked "why" they thought they were going to Heaven. 60% said because they were a "good person". There was about 5 other answers but only 10% said because they are "born again and living a life for Christ". So, 9 out of 10 people believe they are going to heaven but 9 out of 10 are not born again (in this survey). The devil has many people duped. It closed with this "survey". "Remember, 1 out of 1 is going to Hell without Jesus.

O Lord God, this is breaking my heart. Convict the ones who are believing a lie! Convict us, the ones that know the truth and do not speak up! Amen

I will not make excuses, the bible is real, it is the inspired word of the living God who is the alpha, the beginning and the omega, the end, there is no other! All other, so called forms of gods are false, leading the followers straight to hell! Your eternal destination is dependent on you knowing Christ alone saves man from hell. You can not be good enough because you have been born from the first man Adam, a sinful rebellious man!

Genesis 2:17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
Romans 5:12

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

1 Corinthians 15:21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The gift of salvation is because Christ satisfied the wrath that was yours! He did this by dying on the cross, a Lamb spotless devoid of sin, an acceptable sacrifice that God took as payment so that man might be saved from an eternity in hell.

Hebrews 7:27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.

Hebrews 10:10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 10:12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.

John 6:51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

Christ is our mediator!

1 Timothy 2:5

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

Do not cheaper what Christ has done by thinking works will get you to heaven.

Jesus is the Answer to Man's Doubt

Some are facing death soon!

We all have the destination of death waiting for us, maybe today or maybe in 10 years!

But that is not our immediate worry, our eternal destination is our everlasting reality!

Dr. Adrian Rogers tells a story about visiting someone in the hospital. He is praying for this person when he hears" hey, come over to my room". He says to the person calling out "are you talking to me"? "Yes" they answer. He goes into the room where he sees a little old lady in the bed. Her face shows great pain and she says "I am not ready to meet Jesus, can you help me"? He says "yes I can" and begins to share the gospel. Have you asked someone to share the gospel with you? Do you know that the gospel is God speaking to you? He is telling you all you need to know to find eternal life through His Son. God has shown great mercy by sending His Son to be a sacrifice for sin. Christ is the only acceptable sacrifice by which man can be reconciled to God. The world, in it's false hope in one's self, is a lie! You can not do any task to be reconciled to God, you can not buy reconciliation, you can not serve false gods and attain it, it is only through Christ's death and resurrection! Do you walk with Christ daily? Do you know that He alone can save man's soul?

In the beginning...
Romans 5:12

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

What Christ did...

Romans 5:19
For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
Romans 6:23 
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Your response and it's eternal implications...
John 3:18
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Your appointment...
Hebrews 9:27-28

27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 

28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Are you ready to meet Jesus?

Lord, I pray for the lost souls who are searching for peace. Help them find that peace through Christ.
We all are sinners, we all need a Savior, we all have hope found only in You alone! Amen

A Sin Unto Death

1 John 5:16
16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life--to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.

What is a sin unto death mean? It is willfully rejecting Christ and the resistance to the Holy Spirit's testimony of Christ being God's Son and our Messiah. Also included is not excepting the divine grace offered through the blood of Christ on the cross. Are you among the ones who are in the state of apostasy?

Romans 1:18

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 



We have much evidence that Christ is who He said He was! It is plain to see it in the mere creation of where we live, Earth. The wide expanse of the sky and all that it holds, seemingly everything sitting, nothing attached and holding it in place! We also have an historical record, the bible, stating the facts of the birth of Christ until His death and resurrection and for an account of our future, as told to John in the book of Revelation.

Romans 1:19-20

19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 
20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.


These are the wicked...
Romans 1:21-32

21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 

22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 

23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 

24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 

25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. 

26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 

27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. 

28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 

29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 

30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 

31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 

32 Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

How can you deny God? Satan is there, offering all the passing pleasures that the world can offer. The things that do not count, the things that will be left when you go stand before God, are you willing to submit to Satan? Are you willing to say to God that you did not believe because you thought He was a joke? I challenge you take your bible, and if you do not have, buy one. Read it and see the truth for yourself. I would also be willing to say, look around you and there will be a Christ follower who will be glad to tell you of the hope that is found in Christ alone!

Lord, I ask, knowing that You will give us all the souls we pray for. I pray for the ones who will read this testimony today and will know in their heart, this is the truth. Asking in Jesus name, that they will fall on their knees and beg for mercy, knowing that you alone save souls from Hell. Amen

Do You Know Why We Die?

Do You Know Why We Die?

God created man in His own image. He meant for the garden to be a place of perfection. 

Gen.1:27

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 

Gen.2:7

then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

But sin entered into the heart of man, through the temptation of a woman. When sin entered through one man, it corrupted all!

Romans 5:12

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned-

Sin brings death, pain, separation and sorrow. But more importantly, sin brings judgement! God's word tells us that all will die.

Hebrews 9:27

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

You may ask, how do we know God is real? Creation speaks of a creator! Look around and you will see that man did not create the sky, the moon, the sun, the stars etc.!

Romans 1:19-20

19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.

20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

I am just presenting gospel facts to you. You will have to deny or pursue! The bible is open to all. If you seek God, He will be found! We are separated from God by sin. He is a merciful God who wants all to come to the true knowledge that man is lost and in need of a savior, Christ The Lord. Christ is the mediator between God and man. He is the only way man can receive a pardon and be reconciled to God! 

1 Tim.2:5-6

5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

How Do We Save Those Who Are Perishing?

Our mission here is to preach the gospel! We do not save anyone. God alone has that power. His Word is alive! We plant seeds (His Word) and God brings in the harvest (through the working of the Holy Spirit)! We live out the gospel, even though we sometimes fail miserably. We are to love the fatherless and widows. We are to go to the prisons! Go on the streets to the homeless and give hope to the ones who are forgotten. We are to help those who are struggling to feed their families. Most of all we are to pray for God's mercy! We are to minister to the dying, letting them know of Your promise. A godly mother prayerfully ask for mercy for her children, her husband, her grandchildren, her friends and the ones she does not even know. Prayer is the way we talk to God, through our mediator, Christ our Lord and Savior. Only He alone changes the coldest heart!!

Lord, give us a heart of compassion for the lost, hurting, helpless, hopeless and dying. Change hearts so they will care for others, open eyes to see and ears to hear. Amen

Matt.28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Matt. 9:36-38
36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;
38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."

James 5:19-20
19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back,
20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

James 5: 13-16
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.
14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

1 Peter 4:8
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

Death is final, if you die in Christ you will spend eternity with Him! If you ignore this great salvation, you are doomed to an eternity of suffering in Hell.

Luke 16:26-31
26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.'
27 And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house-
28 for I have five brothers-so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.'
29 But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.'
30 And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'
31 He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'"

Titus 1:2-3
2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began
3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;

Rev.21:3-4
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

Gift of New Life

The following verses warn man against proud behavior and an unruly tongue....
James 3:1-10
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 

2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 

3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 

4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 

5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 

6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 

7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 

8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 

9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 

10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

Romans 3:0-18

10 as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; 
11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." 
13 "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips." 
14 "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." 
15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood; 
16 in their paths are ruin and misery, 
17 and the way of peace they have not known." 
18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes." 

The following verses show God's wisdom....
James 3:13-18
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 

14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 

15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 

16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 

17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 

18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Man can not rule his tongue or his desires without divine intervention! Every human being is guilty of not being able to control their tongue. It is only by the grace of God that we change!

Ephesians 4:22 
to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,

James 1:21 
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

Romans 6:6-7 
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--
7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.

Romans 6:14
14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Because Of His Mercy

Titus 3:5 
he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit

1 Peter 1:3 
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

2 Thessalonians 2:16 
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,

1 Peter 1:21 
Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

Ephesians 2:4
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,

Rejoice in The Lord, again I say rejoice. No matter your circumstance, you are blessed! Christ has saved you! He intercedes for you before God! You will have trials, your faith will be tested. It is the devil's delight, to torment. Our salvation is our hope through the grace imparted by Christ on the cross. His shed blood has sealed us for eternity. If you do not know Christ as savior, you are a slave to sin. It rules you. It drives you. But you may say, I don't do bad things, I am a good person. Many good people will go to Hell because they think it is about them. It's not about you, it's about Christ. It is about Him being able to satisfy God's wrath toward man because of sin and man's fall from grace in the garden. God will judge our wickedness. 

Lord, help us to show the urgency of salvation. We need to know that our next day may not come. We need to know that Christ alone is our hope. Amen

There Is A Man Facing Death

Heb.9:27 

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment

God is patient with man and his rebellion. He withholds judgement while we ignore the gift of salvation. He places loving people within man's path who believe that Christ is able to save their souls from eternal damnation, so they can hear the gospel. Man responds by glorifying God for His gift of Jesus or he ignores the gift. There is no in between, no other choice by which man is redeemed! Your soul was designed by God as an eternal spirit. God meant it to return to Him for all eternity. The beginning sin of man in the garden of Eden and the sin that remains today changed that! God gives man freedom of choice! With choices come consequences, this we are taught from childhood. Ignoring salvation comes with an eternal consequence, eternal suffering in Hell. We can present the gospel, which is our mission here on Earth, but only God calls you to repentance and only He, in mercy, can change your heart and your sinful life! There is a man, a brother of family member, who lays in his bed dying of cancer. He does not believe in the saving power of Christ! He will die lost, eternally sentenced to Hell. Why? How can this be? God is loving! It is because God hates sin! He sent Christ to atone for sinful man! Christ is the only way for God's forgiveness. For sinful man is eternally lost without the blood sacrifice of One who is worthy to satisfy God's wrath against sin! Christ alone, by faith alone! What is your choice? Are you the one who is devoted to destruction because of the lack of faith, that Christ indeed, can atone for your sin or will you humbly ask God's Son for hope and mercy that comes only from the blood of His death on the cross and subsequent resurrection? I will be praying that God will awaken your soul to the truth that is found in His Word.

Lord, I humbly ask for souls to be shaken awake. Time is short, there will be judgement, Christ is our hope! Amen

God's patience toward sinful man...

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
1 Timothy 2:4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
2 Peter 1:4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Man's soul...

Ecc.12:7

and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
Ezekiel 18:4
Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.

John 5:28-29

28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 

29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

1 Corinthians 15:53

For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

Christ sufficiency...

Heb.10:12

But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God

Hebrews 10:10 

And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 9:14 

How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

Hebrews 7:27 

Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself

1 Tim.2:5

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus

Acts 4:12 

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

1 Corinthians 8:6 

yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

Hebrews 9:15 

For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant