God called Abraham when he was 75 years old to leave his home in Ur of the Chaldees and journey to the land of Canaan. This was the land He was promising to Abraham and his descendants forever. The Canaanites were a culture living in darkness serving Baal and other false gods. They practiced witchcraft, and spirits of darkness were in control of the land influencing the nature of the Canaanite people. However, God had a plan to use Abraham as a forerunner to “push back the powers of darkness” and prepare the way for Joshua to conquer the Promised Land for His people, Israel. In fact, after Abraham arrived at Shechem, God appeared to him and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord and called upon the Name of the Lord. Abraham, an obedient and faithful servant of God, knew that he was facing a spiritual warfare with the powers of darkness and Satan. He went directly to his Source of strength, wisdom, might and life and “He called upon the Name of the Lord,” to push back the dark forces of evil in the land. Abraham traveled on from there and pitched his tent between Bethel on the West and Ai on the East, and yes, once again, “He built an altar to the Lord and called upon the Name of the Lord.” As God’s children we, too, like Abraham, must establish prayer altars in our own personal lives, our families, our work places, our churches and throughout our nation. These prayer altars today are not to be stone monuments or physical structures, but the altar of God in our hearts. These altars are hearts devoted to God through Christ Jesus in worship, adoration and praise to Him. The voluminous reading of God’s word is imperative and a sincere urgency to minister to God through Jesus as His devoted priests are a must to call down His presence. We are to enter the Holy of Holies in God’s very presence through the atoning blood of Christ and offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving due to Him. God inhabits the praises of His people! God’s presence therefore will push back the darkness of evil forces seeking to destroy the communion He so desires between Himself and His beloved children. References: Genesis 12:1-7; Psalm 22:3 (Hear the entire message below.) If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS.
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Some people are those “glass half full” people who … complain, complain, complain! God doesn’t want us living like that, for sure. But how can we live a better life in a world that sometimes seems so bitter and full of evil? Viewpoint … viewpoint … viewpoint – that’s how. We can’t brush sin and hardship under the rug; I’m not suggesting that. Just realize there are beauty, treasure, and holiness here, too! What you train yourself to see and think on is the key. That training must be based on the Word and will of God. Remember, all the positive thinking in the world will only get you so far; but a life in Christ will cover all aspects and truly make you BETTER not bitter. God tells us to set our affections on things above and not on things of the earth. There is no way you can stay bitter and not get better when you realize that in Jesus you have:
(Listen to entire sermon below. Originally recorded 06/01/14.) If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS. Doubt is certainly a dark place to be. The real problem, though, is not in the object doubted but in the subject who doubts! There is a lot more going on with doubt than meets the eye. We doubt God because there are often underlying issues in our hearts:
So, let’s give the devil a heart attack—let him be the “doubting Thomas”, not you! (Listen to entire sermon below.) If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS. Have you ever found yourself in a situation when someone has said to you, “Trust me, I know what I’m doing.”? Perhaps on certain occasions they did know what they were doing and, unfortunately, sometimes it proved out that they didn’t know after all, and your trust in them was dashed to pieces. However, when the Living God says to trust Him and have faith in Him alone, you can be most certain that God knows what He is doing! Moses addressed God’s people and reminded them of their covenant with Him. He told them to listen and be attentive to God’s word and to perform and do His commands. They were further instructed not to add nor take away from His Word. They were to trust and obey God only. Moses continued to say, “For all the men who followed Baal-Peor (a pagan god), the Lord your God has destroyed them from among you. But you who held fast to the Lord your God are alive today, every one of you.” What a marvelous promise to us today, to those who are obedient and hold fast to God (meaning to cleave), for we also are destined for the promise of life! It is one thing to say I trust and have faith in God, but we must remember these sober words from Jesus when He said, “And why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” He was emphasizing the importance of trust and faith and backing up confession with obedience. Samuel also spoke to his generation and said, “Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.” Yes, man will disappoint us and often fail to know everything, but Jesus, our risen Savior, will never deceive nor fail us nor ever give us a snake instead of a fish. We can trust Him for He alone is the way, the truth, and the life! References: I Samuel 15:22; Deuteronomy 4; Isaiah 30; John 14:6; Luke 11:11 (Hear the entire message below.) If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS. When the spies of Israel reported back to Moses from their journey of forty days throughout the Promised Land, they were fearful, they trembled, and were overwhelmed with their own inferiority before their enemy of giant people and walled cities. They said, “We went in to the land where you sent us, and it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless, the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large; and moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak (giants) there…” They also instilled fear in the congregation by saying, “We became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” The spies were defeated within, without ever drawing a sword and trusting God for victory. However, there were two faithful and obedient leaders, Joshua and Caleb, who boldly declared, “Only do not rebel against the Lord; and do not fear the people of the land, for they shall be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.” What a distinction between the person who has God-confidence and he who is self-confident. He who is faithful to God doesn’t grow weary and faint because he depends upon the unfathomable resources of God through Christ Jesus. He’s certain of victory because his confidence is in the Victor! Are you learning to depend on the Living God regardless of the “giants of adversity” in your life? If so, you will experience the daily victories belonging to the confident, faithful, and obedient children of God. Can you say with confidence along with Paul, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”? References: Numbers 13-14; Philippians 4:13 (Hear the entire message below.) If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS. We continue with our last chapter…James 5. In this chapter, James teaches about the power and reassurance of faith. He challenges believers to examine the quality of their daily lives in terms of actions and attitudes. The end of the chapter encourages us on the triumph of faith. Some have misunderstood James’ comments regarding the rich…as he tells them to “weep and howl for the miseries which are coming upon you." (Vs 1). James is not railing against riches; he is making the point that if someone is not of the Lord, even his riches will not help him when he dies. In comparison to the riches in Christ, the riches of men are like dust and rust…worthless. He continues to impress on the reader the importance of faith (binding) in Jesus Christ. A summary of James 1-5 includes the major faith principles:
(Listen to entire sermon below.) Previous Messages On James - If you missed the previous four messages on the Book of James, we have included the links below for your convenience. If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS. The King of Aram, an enemy of Israel, had finally caught up with his nemesis, Elisha, at the city of Dothan. The king’s horses and chariots surrounded the city and Elisha’s servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do!” Elisha answered and said, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” These words of Elisha may were not shallow and pretentious because Elisha was faithfully and fearlessly devoted to the Living God and prayed to God to have his servants eyes opened to see what he saw. God answered and opened his servant’s eyes, “…and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire around Elisha.” We must understand that as followers of Jesus Christ, we belong to God. We therefore have access to His throne of Grace which includes all His blessings and gifts. We are children of the King! John wrote, “You are from God, little children and have overcome them. Because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” He spoke the same encouraging words in his letter that Elijah had spoken to his servant over 500 years before. David prevailed over Goliath –“You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted.” He was faithfully and fearlessly devoted to God. May we cry out to God, through Jesus, like Elijah did and beseech him to open our eyes to see and understand the power, provision, and resources of the Holy Spirit He has for all His children. The “chariots of fire” are still at God’s command to come to the aid of His chosen ones during this time of our spiritual warfare with Satan. Let us be determined to be faithfully and fearlessly devoted to our God! (See NASB: 2 Kings 6; 1 John 4:4; 1 Samuel 17; 2 Chronicles 20) (Hear the entire message below.) If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS. In seeking God for a theme for this new year of 2014, I heard several times, “Stand By Me.” I asked God for the meaning and understanding of these words. I understood that it is a clarion call to diligently draw near to God, to listen and receive revelation and be built-up in Christ Jesus, because the enemy of God’s people, Satan, has greatly increased his evil and malicious assault on His glorious church. I also received further clarification and amplification that these words and message are calling God’s people to stand in Him, on Him, for Him, near Him, and to abide faithfully committed to obey His voice. The devil is a master at deception and we, as believers, are encouraged to not be deceived but to know the good, acceptable and perfect will of God. We have heard it said, “knowing what you stand for limits what you fall for.” There is a sense of caution and admonition in this year’s theme to draw near to God that He may draw near to us. Paul wrote the Philippians and encouraged them to “STAND FIRM IN ONE SPIRIT, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents – which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.” (Philippians 1:27,28) This is a time for renewal and commitment to prayer, devotion and communion to Jesus, the Great Shepherd of our souls. It is imperative that we, God’s children, exhibit spiritual discernment of good and evil, and allow the very power of the Holy Spirit to pierce the dark and deceptive assaults of Satan. May we stand by Jesus in the fullness of the meaning and implications thereof and see the salvation only He can impart in every moment of our lives. This year, let us declare along with David, “But Thou, O Lord, art a shield about me, my glory, and the one who lifts my head.” (Psalm 3:3) (James 4:8; Philippians 1:27,28; Romans 12:1,2; Psalm 3:3) (Listen to entire sermon below.) If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS. It is hard to fathom that God would descend to this earth to be born of a virgin by His own miraculous seed. His name is Jesus, or Immanuel, which means “God with us.” He lived among men and was made for a little while lower than the angels. He fulfilled His mission by giving His life as a sacrifice to redeem mankind from eternal death. God was also with mankind from the beginning of creation, and Jesus was there to witness His Father’s divine power and handiwork. Paul says, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” Therefore, man can see the invisible God by witnessing His awesome creation, but only in Jesus Christ can a man be transformed and given a new mind and heart to know the good, acceptable and perfect will of God. In Christ alone can a soul declare, God is not only with me—He is in me! (See Hebrews 2:7; John 1:1-18, 3:1-21; Romans 1:20, 12:1-2; Colossians 1:27) (Listen to entire sermon by audio below.) If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS. Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him three times before the cock crowed. Peter insisted that he would never fall away nor deny the Lord, and that he was willing to die with Jesus. Peter’s devotion and zeal for Jesus seemed to be proven true when he cut off the right ear of Malchus, one of the servants of the high priest who came to arrest Jesus. However, when Jesus was arrested and taken away, Peter followed “at a distance” and when questioned about being a follower of Jesus, Peter denied that he even knew Jesus—three times before the rooster crowed. This account proves to all of us how vulnerable we are to the temptations of Satan to deny Christ in our daily lives in any given situation. Peter was greatly humbled through this experience, and from that time on he was never the same but was more ardent to receive and welcome the divine power of God in order to become a partaker of Jesus’ divine nature. Be encouraged like Peter, apply all diligence, and run with a godly passion the race before you in the strength, power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit of God. [Scripture References: Luke 22:31-34; Matthew 26:33-35; 2 Peter 1:1-11; I Corinthians 9:24-27; Philippians 3:8-16] Listen to entire sermon by audio below. If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS. |
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