We are currently witnessing the military takeover of a sovereign nation by a standing army that has no identifying flag or insignias on their uniforms. This mystery military arrived in Ukraine in military trucks with Russian license plates. The Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, says there are no Russian troupes in Ukraine. The soldiers even cover their faces with masks and bandanas to hide their identity. Isaiah 22:7-8: Your choicest valleys are full of chariots, and horsemen are posted at the city gates: The defenses of Judah are stripped away. How can you fight an army who cannot be identified; to whom could you turn for help and safety? How would you know where their allegiance is? Cannot the same person hide in plain sight once his mask is off! This is the work influenced by the great deceiver of deceivers himself. The people do not know who they can turn to— they are indeed caught in a trap. Psalm 5:8-9: Lead me, O Lord in your righteousness because of my enemies; make straight your way before me. Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with destruction. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongue they speak deceit. Is it clear to the world that you are a Christian, a Christ follower, or do you look so much like the world that no one knows where your allegiance lies? Is Jesus Christ your “commander?” Is it evident to others that Jesus is the one you serve? We were rescued from the kingdom of darkness and brought into the Kingdom of Light. Now, we are the light of the world and wear garments of righteousness. Do not hide or hold back.—be a searchlight! When people see you, what do they see? Wherever you go, do they see that light shining; do they see good works of the Holy Spirit of God? Pray to hear and do what Jesus commands; let that light shine forth and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16: You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (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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Paul considered himself the foremost of all sinners. He said he was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor and a violent aggressor against the faithful followers of Jesus Christ. He later became a recipient of God’s grace and found mercy through Jesus Christ. Paul said that Jesus demonstrated His perfect patience toward him as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Paul expresses his gratitude to Jesus for saving his soul as follows: “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me (KJV, “enabled” me) because He considered me faithful, putting me into service.” Like Paul, all who have received Jesus Christ as Lord and savior have been commissioned and enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit to serve God and glorify His holy name. Paul said he learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. He gives us the “secret” and says: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” If you have received Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior, you also have been lavished with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus in order to serve the living God. Are you experiencing the ability to do all things through Jesus Christ who enables and strengthens you to serve Him daily? (I Timothy 1:12-17; I Peter 5:10, 11; Phil. 4:12, 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. ©CreationSwap/JoeCavazos Read Malachi, all four chapters. They’re short, so it’s not a huge request! In there you’ll read that God directed Malachi to admonish the people of Israel who had become plagued with corrupt priests, negligence of the tithes and offerings, mixed marriages with pagans and a false sense they were still secure with their relationship to God. Because the promised Messiah had not yet come they were filled with disbelief and doubt which caused them to turn cynical of God and His covenant with them. They started to wonder if it was even worth serving God at all. Ever been there with that thought? Well, if you are totally honest with yourself, you will know whether you have become like those “doubting Israelites”. Will you live a compromised life as they had lowered themselves to, or will you remain a messenger of God? Not just with the message of your mouth, but with the message of how you live your life. Mediocrity is not an option in the cause of Christ! 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. © 2009 Carolyn Marshall, www.livinglifephoto.com God’s grace is truly amazing in light of man’s long history of rebellion and disobedience toward Him. Romans 3:23 says that, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” In Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” That’s grace. “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.” See Romans 10:9. Grace has also been described as favor or kindness shown without regard to the worth or merit of the one who receives it and in spite of what that person deserves. It is God’s unmerited favor. God’s grace was certainly shed upon John Newton who wrote the song “Amazing Grace.” On May 10, 1748, John Newton, Captain of a slave ship, was on his way home when he encountered a life-threatening violent storm. When all seemed lost and the ship was about to sink, Newton cried out, “Lord, have mercy upon us.” Later in his cabin he reflected on what he had said and began to believe that God spoke to him through the storm and that grace had begun to work for him. Can you say today, along with John Newton, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me…”?
© www.123rf.com Neil Armstrong (the first man to set foot on the moon) said, as he took his first step on the moon, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” As we look back to this monumental accomplishment for the human race, we remember the incredible effort it took to make this happen – the well thought-out plans, engineering and physical labor were astonishing. Man left earth to set foot on a separate heavenly body (the moon) in the summer of 1969. But the greatest leap of all mankind – past, present, future, and for all eternity – actually occurred over 2,000 years ago. In the small town of Bethlehem, Jesus was born. God incarnate stepped down from the heavens. “‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ – which means, ‘God with us.’” (Matthew 1:23) “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) This is what God did for this world because He loves us so much. Today, man needs to take a leap of faith on his journey to salvation and seek out the Face of God through Jesus Christ. 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.
Humility, true humility, would admit that we also could have been one of the worse dredges of the earth! When we stop and think of the twists and turns in life, we soon realize that short of a few different variables, we, too, could be that drug addict, bank robber, unfaithful spouse, brutal dictator, etc. “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” The great preacher Charles Spurgeon had a few comments regarding true humility that helps set the stage for our sermon tonight. He said, “It is not humility to underrate yourself. Humility is to think of yourself as God thinks of you. It is to feel that if we have talents, God has given them to us. And let it be seen that, like freight in a vessel, they tend to sink us low. The more we have, the lower we ought to lie.” Humility doesn’t mean that you hang your head down and walk meekly on the earth being a doormat for everyone that comes along. No, no—that is not what God intended. Humility just means you know your gifts, but you know they didn’t come from you, they came from God. Humility is a protection against pride. Pride will get you all self-righteous when you see someone in sin; someone who has failed to reach the level of God’s directions. Rather, if you are “heavy” with God’s nature, you are lowly in heart and humble. You realize that all you have and all you are, have come from God and anything else ruling in you would make you one of the “dredges of the earth.” Scripture References: James 4:6, Matthew 11:29, Matthew 23:12, Colossians 3:12-13, 1 Peter 5:5b-6, Proverbs 15:31-32, Proverbs 15:33b, Proverbs 16:18-19, Proverbs 16:5 Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of message and/or download mp3 file.)
(See 2 Kings 21 and 2 Chronicles 33) Manasseh was the 14th king of Judah, the son of Hezekiah. He reigned for 55 years and had the dubious legacy of being Judah’s most wicked king. He was aggressive in the restoration of idolatry and idolatrous practices which his godly father, Hezekiah, had destroyed. He practiced divination, witchcraft, and he worshiped the sun, moon and the stars. Those who resisted his rule were killed. He even sacrificed his son (perhaps sons) to Molech, an Ammonite god. Some believe that he gave the command to have Isaiah sawn in two. In light of these acts, it would be likely to believe that Manasseh’s enemies would welcome his demise and death. However, Manasseh humbled himself greatly and entreated (plead earnestly) the Lord while distressed in Babylonian captivity. God was moved by his entreaty and restored him to his kingdom in Jerusalem. Here we have a powerful example of God’s great mercy, compassion and grace to forgive and save the most vile and wicked. Look in the mirror for another example of God’s grace and mercy: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of sermon and/or download mp3 file.)
Additional Audio: Personal testimony from the heart of Pastor Mark Parsons. |
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