To Remain Faithful

Thanks to pastor Jim for this teaching.

Luke 18:1-8

1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 

2 He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 

3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.' 

4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 

5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'" 

6 And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 

7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 

8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" 

The reason for the teaching... 

(Luke 18:1, 8; cf. Genesis 6:2, 5; 19:4-5; Matthew 24:13; 

Luke 17:20-37; 18:8; James 1:27; Revelation 21:7-8)

 

God has ordained persistent prayer as the primary means by which we remain faithful 

as we wait for Christ's return. 

Jesus' return will be evident to everyone because... 

It will be dramatic.

It will be discriminating. 

It will be devastating.

Remaining faithful is difficult because of... 

The delay in Christ's return. 

The disregard for Christ's gospel. 

The deception of godless living

. 

The one who endures to the end will be saved. - Matthew 24: 13

The help that is promised... 

(Luke 18:2-8;cf, Matthew 7:7-11; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 

1 Thessalonians 1:10; 2 Timothy 4:18; Hebrews 4:16; 10:32-39; 

James 1:27; 5:1-11; 1 Peter 1:5; 2 Peter 2:5-9; 3:1-15; 

Revelation 5:8; 6:9-10; 8:3-4)

 

God-at just the right time-will give both grace

 and justice to His children who pray persistently. 

The glory of God's gracious help... 

God graciously set us on alert regarding the danger 

of false faith that doesn't last. 

God graciously determined to include us in the process

of persevering faith. 

God graciously ordained a relationship between our prayers 

and Christ's coming.

 

The question on the table... 

(Luke 18:8; cf, Matthew 6:10; Luke 11:13; 1 Corinthians 16:22; 

Philippians 4:6-7; Revelation 22: 17, 20)

 

When Jesus gets back will He find us-individually and corporately - praying persistently and living faithfully? 

Praying persistently for persevering faith... 

Long for Jesus to come back. 

Let the rejection of the gospel bother you. 

Look at the routines of everyday life through the lens of the coming 

kingdom. 

Pray "as you go" as well as "in the secret place." 

Pray for God's reign in your life and in the world, 

now and forever. 

Pray for both God's help today and our hope tomorrow. 

The End of the Beginning

Thanks to pastor David and the preaching of the truth of God's holy word!!!

Rev.22:6-21

6 And he said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place." 

7 "And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book." 

8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, 

9 but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God." 

10 And he said to me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 

11 Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy." 

12 "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. 

13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." 

14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. 

15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. 

16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star." 

17 The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. 

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 

19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. 

20 He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

The book of Revelation is not to promote hopeless speculation about the future but is intended to fuel hopeful obedience in the present!

See the world in all it's deception...
The beast...
Do not put your hope in government!
The false prophet...
Do not put your hope in religion!
The prostitute...
Do not put your hope in material affluence and social acceptance!

See Christ in all His glory...
He is fully human and fully divine!
He is the fulfillment of prophecy and the final high priest!
He is infinitely old and infinitely wise!
He sees all, knows all and reigns over all!
His purity has no error and His power knows no equal!
His voice resounds with authority and His face radiates with light!
He has the first word in creation and He will the last word in creation!
He was dead for a time but He is alive for all time!
He is the conquering Lion and the slaughtered Lamb!
His worth is undisputed, and His work is unforgettable, and His worship is universal!

His birth declared the death of the ancient serpent, His death de-fanged the adversary, and His resurrection demolished every accusation against the church!
He is faithful and true!
He is the righteous Judge and Messianic warrior!
Many crowns adorn His head, and much mystery surrounds His name!
He conquers God's enemies, and He reveals God's Word!
He rules the nations of this world, and He brings God's wrath upon
this world!
His grace is free, and His joy is full!
He is the Savior who came once, and He is the Sovereign who is
coming back soon!
He is King of kings and Lord of lords!
No one and nothing compares to Him!

See the church in all her beauty....
We are His body!
We are His bride!

See your life in proper perspective...
Fight against sin!
Resist compromise!
Refuse complacency!
God promises blessing for the faithful!
God promises judgment for those who fall away!

Endure amidst suffering...
Do not be surprised by it!
Do not be overcome in it!
Jesus is present with you!
Jesus possesses and protects you!
Jesus has a purpose for you!

Proclaim the gospel of Christ...
To everyone you know!
To the ends of the earth!

Hasten the coming of Christ...

God, give us unwavering holiness in this world ...
With unshakable hope in the world to come.

Amen and Amen!!!!

Cowards, The Truth and Sinners

If you see someone in a burning building, what do you do? We all know the answer, we help them! Then why by all that is holy do we keep silent when we see people headed for destruction in Hell? Why do we not point out their sin and love the person by telling them the hope that is found in Christ? We who follow Christ know Hell is real and from there you can not escape! We have become afraid to speak in truth to those who are perishing. Our, if it feels good do it, attitude is one sure way to let people stay in their sin. You can point out, in a loving, non judgmental way, that we all fall short and need a Savior. But to say nothing is being a coward! It is up to the person to turn from their sin just as we have, our only duty is to prayerfully, humbly and lovingly tell our story of a sinful life changed by the mercy of the Cross! You must see this, the devil is cunning, he will find your weakness and he will pick at it until it festers into sin! If he can get us to accept that all manner of sin as okay, then he can cause great confusion. When we ignore what God is teaching in His holy word and exchange the truth for a lie, then we are on the road to destruction.

Jude 1:17-23

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.

22 And have mercy on those who doubt;

23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

Jude 1:4-11

4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

5 Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.

6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day-

7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

8 Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.

9 But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you."

10 But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively.

11 Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion.

2Tim.4:1-5

1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:

2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,

4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Lord God in heaven, Forgive us for not being bold in Your name. Amen

The Consummation of God's Kingdom

Rev.21:3
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.

Sermon by pastor David, thanks for your truth in teaching God's word.

Living between two worlds...
Pilgrims...
on a journey in this country today

Citizens...
of a kingdom of a country yet to come

We live between two times...
The birth of Christ.
The King has come.
The kingdom of God is a present reality.

The return of Christ...
The King is coming.
The kingdom of Christ is a future hope.

We live for one purpose...
To experience the consummation of God's kingdom.

A kingdom...
People are ruled by the King.
A place where the King has dominion.
A purpose for the King and His kingdom.

God's kingdom...
God is bringing his people...
To his place...
For His purpose...

God's people...
God's final blessing and judgement...
For all who have revered the King...
There will be inexpressible joy.
Heaven exemplifies God's eternal blessing for conquerors who have turned from this world to Christ.

For all who have rejected the King...
There will be irreversible justice.
Hell exemplifies God's eternal judgement for cowards who have turned from Christ to this world.

In God's place: Eternal fellowship
We will be with Him.
Death will replaced by life.
No more sin, sorrow, sickness, or separation.


Night will be replaced by light.
Corruption will be replaced by purity.
Curse will be replaced by blessing.
We will see His face.
We will reign with Him.
Our bodies will be resurrected.
All creation will be restored.
For God's purpose: God's Glory Enjoyed By All Peoples
See His diverse throng...
Every nation, people, tribe, and tongue living, loving, working, and worshiping together!
Hear their unified song...
Worthy is the Lamb!
Glory to our God!

Rev.21:1-27

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 
2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 
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." 
5 And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." 
6 And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 
7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 
8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." 
The New Jerusalem
9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, "Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb." 
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 
11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 
12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed-- 
13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 
15 And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. 
16 The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. 
17 He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel's measurement. 
18 The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, clear as glass. 
19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 
20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 
21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass. 
22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 
23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 
24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 
25 and its gates will never be shut by day--and there will be no night there. 
26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 
27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. 

Rev.22:1-5 

1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 
2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 
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. 
4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 
5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

Lord, by Your mercy alone are we forgiven. Pour out Your spirit of truth on this place so that we can not be silenced. Give us courage beyond understanding as we preach Your gospel. Amen

The Reconciler

1Tim.3:1-7
1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,
2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,

4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

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.

7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Jesus is the only way man can be reconciled to God. Jesus was appointed by God the Father, as His mediator between God and men.

Father, the gift of eternal life is through Christ. Speak to hearts today and give them hope that is in Christ alone! Amen

The Day of the Lord Will Come

2 Peter 3:2-10

2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 

3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 

4 They will say, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation." 

5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 

6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 

7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 

8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 

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. 

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 

God, who is rich in mercy, lingers so that all will not perish! On this day of the Lord, He will in all His glory, judge evil! Man has every breathing moment to repent!

Lord, prompt man to know that You will judge. In Jesus name show mercy to those who are struggling with sin. Amen

A Great Light

Matt.4:16-17

16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned." 

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

There are two witnesses that attest to the light which is Christ, all creation and man's conscience! These will not be denied! From the beginning, God created all things! Man tries and does indeed copy some things, but can man, as God from the beginning did, create? No! Everyone of us know that small quite voice in our being that prompts us not to do something wrong, and we either listen and will not rebel or we ignore the warning and fall head long into sin!! You can except this or not because we do have free will. But in either choice, there will be consequence! One leading to obedience, the other leading to life separated from God! Today is the day of salvation for we do not know if God will give us our next breath! Use this day as a blessing and tell others of the hope you have found in Christ. If you do not know Christ, open your bible, for a starting point and read the book of Romans. Then ask Christ to forgive you, repent from sin and follow His teaching. There is no other way to enter God's kingdom! You must have faith that Christ's death and resurrection have the power to save you from hell. Christ alone by faith alone!

Father, pour out Your forgiveness to the ones who struggle and are in bondage to Satan. Open the blind eyes to life everlasting found in Christ! Amen

Romans 3:23

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 3:9 What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin.

Romans 1:18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,

Romans 11:32 For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

Galatians 3:22 But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

Romans 5:9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!