I grew up hearing those words…and most of you probably did, too. If you practice being angry, you’ll get really good at being angry. The same goes for selfishness, impatience, judgment, hatred, etc. God tells us to reject those areas and, instead, opt to practice kindness, trust, self-control, etc. But here is where the warning comes…YOU CAN’T MEET GOD’S MEASURE in those areas! Only the Spirit of God can meet the measure of God. So, in order to meet His expectations, you need to have Him inside of you. He tells us that if we walk by the Spirit, we cannot sin. Whew—that’s a relief. But it will take practice letting Him rule and not your broken nature. So start practicing God’s way…you’ll get really good at it! References: Romans 12:9-21, Galatians 5:1, 16-25 (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.
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In the Bible, the book of James concentrates on faith and works. Both subjects have often been misunderstood, but as we go through this series, God will surely enlighten our hearts. Right up front, though, we need to understand a few principles cited in James: faith without works is dead; dead faith is worse than no faith at all; faith must work, must produce and must be visible; and lastly, verbal and mental faith is not enough, it must inspire action. Faith is more than just “believing”. The original meaning of the word was closer to “binding” and that is what faith really is…being “bound” to Jesus Christ. Are you “bound” or just hanging around? In James 1, we are encouraged to consider it pure joy when various trials are encountered because God has a plan and there are definite purposes for your tribulations. Endurance, perfect results, wisdom and the crown of life are all the benefits of those trials. But we must do all this in faith, without doubting or double mindedness – tough row to hoe, but absolutely essential in clinching that “binding” to Jesus. Listen in to the sermon and get some more golden nuggets from the Lord. (Originally recorded 11/20/13.) 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 all have been in situations that we needed help getting out of. Many of us are in some right now. Whom we turn to, or even if we stubbornly try to self-rescue, can be a life mistake. Can you give yourself CPR? Let me see you do your own chest compressions! It’s not going to work, is it? So we call 911 and pray they send someone who knows what they are doing and in time before it is too late. Are you in a place where your heart is turning hard and you can see nothing for you in the way of hope? Caring rescue is there, and it is close. Contact is not made by dialing 911, but by calling out to the one that loves you – not only now, but for all of time, the past, present, and the future. Call on Jesus. Because of His love, we are and can be, forever saved. [Scripture References: Psalm 30:1-4; Psalm 31:1-5; Luke 23:46; Acts 7:59; Psalm 31:21-24; John 17:20-26; 1 Timothy 2:4] 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.
© Carolyn Marshall, www.livinglifephoto.com
“We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10) Through God’s unmerited grace, not as the result of any effort, ability, intelligent choice, or act of service on our part, we become Christians. Out of gratitude for this free gift, we will seek to help and serve others with kindness, love and gentleness, and not merely to please ourselves. We are each under construction by our God who creates masterpieces, and are a work in progress. Christ is day by day chiseling and building us. He is removing the unwanted and harmful things in our lives and rebuilding the internal workings of our heart and mind. Just like the roads we travel each day, the construction goes on and the traffic cones are deployed. We must steer around them just as we need to steer around the things that are still obstacles in us so we don’t fall into pot holes or drive where the road is no longer there. Please watch the video below prior to listening to Pastor Ted's message.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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When Joshua came to the Jordan River on his way to conquer Canaan, he faced a big problem. The river was at its annual flood stage and the banks were overflowing. However, nothing is impossible with God! He ordered Joshua to send the priests into the Jordan carrying the Ark of the Covenant. When they stepped on the edge of the river, they suddenly stood on dry ground. God miraculously stopped the flow of the Jordan eighteen miles above at the City of Adam. After Israel crossed safely, God further instructed Joshua to have one man from each of the twelve tribes to go to the middle of the river, pick up a stone and carry it to their camp at Gilgal (their first camp in the Promised Land). These twelve stones were to be used as a memorial for future generations. Joshua said, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘what are these stones?’ then you shall inform your children, saying, ‘Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed, just as the Lord your God had done to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed; that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, so that you may fear the Lord your God forever.” (Joshua 4:21-24) This account in Joshua is not just about the memorial stones in themselves. It is about passing on the treasure of a godly memory to the next generation. Our memory is one of the most valuable uses of the mind. How limited and void our lives would be without it. Memory tends to fade with time. It is therefore of utmost importance for God’s people today, to be reminded like in Joshua’s generation, to keep afresh the word of God, the greatness of God, and the memory of God’s works and wonders—and to pass it on! 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. © www.heartlight.org God knows precisely and thoroughly what’s on the inside and the character of every man. The writer of Hebrews says, “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart, and there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” (Hebrews 4:12-13) In Psalm 139:1-3, David wrote, “O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.” We also know that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, calls His own sheep by name and they hear His voice and not the voice of strangers (John 10). Paul wrote to Timothy and said, “The firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and ‘Let everyone who names the name of the Lord abstain from wickedness.’” (2 Timothy 2:19) It is such a comfort to understand that Jesus knows my name and hears me when I call to Him. 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.
© Carolyn Marshall, www.livinglifephoto.com Shirley and I recently attended a memorial service for Dr. Daniel Mayer, a wonderful man of God who officiated our wedding 35 ½ years ago. The congregation sang one of his favorite hymns, “It is Well with My Soul.” The first verse says, “When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul.” Though we are certain to experience peace and sorrow, it is God’s desire for us to have unbroken communion and fellowship with Him. When Jesus fed the multitude of 5,000 men, plus women and children—perhaps 15,000 people—with five loaves and two fish, the disciples were present to witness this miracle in a safe and peaceful setting. However, His disciples were soon sent out to sea where they were to face physical and spiritual sea billows of great magnitude. Jesus had gone up to a mountain to pray, and we can be assured He was praying for them. In Matthew 14, we read where He came to them walking upon the water, and He saved them all from perishing. If you will call out to Jesus, He will come to you, also, just like He came to Peter when he began to sink, and you, too, will be able to say, “It is well with my soul.” (Message recorded 7/15/12) LISTEN TO AUDIOPERSONAL TESTIMONIESPastor Mark shares a personal testimony with us prior to the morning's message. It is great encouragement to hear how the Lord is working in each of our lives. Listen to the personal testimonies and/or download file. We are facing times when we may stumble and want to give up. Or maybe we have just run out of gas, it seems, to face the day-to-day onslaught. It is time for someone to step in and help – to help in refueling that spiritual wing tank. In these times that can be so discouraging, we need to step up and help our fellow brothers and sisters and remind them that Jesus Christ is always there. What do we say to give encouragement and how? We talk about a checklist in the audio below, and I hope you can use it to guide you in encouraging others. Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of sermon and/or download mp3 file.)
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