During this time of the year, particularly December 25, the world is being reminded of the miraculous birth of Jesus or Immanuel (God with us). Zacharias also spoke of another name given to Jesus and speaking under the anointing of the Holy Spirit he said that his son, John, would be a prophet of the most High who would go on before Jesus to prepare His ways, “…to give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the tender mercy of our God, which the Sunrise, (KJV, Dayspring) from on high shall visit us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:77-79) Dayspring means east, rising of the sun. “The east is the compass direction of orientation in the ancient Near East, just as the north is in the modern Western world.” (See Strong’s Concordance) Therefore, Jesus is the moral compass direction of orientation for souls. He is our Dayspring and He alone can illuminate our lives and bring light into captives held in bondage and darkness. We must press in and let Jesus, the Light of the World, shine throughout the year—in our daily lives. (Luke Chapter 1; John 8:12; John 1:1-18) (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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The Tampa Tribune printed an article on September 23, 2013, regarding Pope Francis’ remarks on gays, abortion, and contraception. The Pope remarked that, “the church has become too focused on ‘small-minded rules’” regarding these issues of today. Many applauded what they heard as a “message of inclusion.” One elderly Catholic lady said that the Pope was “spot on.” She went on to say, “As Catholic Christians, we do need to be more welcoming.” No one has been more welcoming to a lost and sinful world than Jesus Christ who gave His life as a ransom for all and said, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) That’s pretty inclusive IF one chooses to put His yoke on and learn from the Holy Spirit His way, His truth, and His life! Not all will enter the Kingdom of Heaven as illustrated in the parable of the marriage feast as told by Jesus in Matthew 22:1-14. Jesus also said, “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14) Yes, there are rules, ancient boundaries, established by God Himself and most assuredly they are not “small-minded rules.” God’s words are words of sober truth and need to be obeyed in the strength of the Holy Spirit. When we come to Jesus and receive Him as Lord and Savior, He will equip us and enable us to overcome all of our ungodly ways and habits and transform us into His glorious image. (Romans 12:2) Remember, there is inclusion for the faithful and obedient and exclusion for the unfaithful and disobedient. 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 Book of Revelation, God gives some messages to the “churches”, meaning the “called out” ones…not the buildings! Many people glean much information about the end times and its prophecies from that book, but tonight we shall cover some of God’s conversations on what He has observed…sort of His assessment of His followers. Hold on to your hats, it’s not pretty! Revelation 2-3 compiles a listing of what God has seen in each of the churches in the different areas of the ancient empire. It is best not to be seen only as a report card on what happened long ago, but rather as a teaching tool, if not an outright warning, of what is still going on today. I thank God He is not a vindictive and mean entity, for this assessment is pretty accurate; and, yet, He has not annihilated us. Rather, He wants to teach us and guide us out of our broken nature and into His marvelous light…to a better life, with Him eternal. I don’t know about you, but I think I’m going to listen up right about now! 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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It is becoming more apparent every day that Christians and their godly values have been given the “cold shoulder” by many leaders in Washington. The truth that our great nation was founded on biblical principles by God-fearing men and women, is being shunned, scorned, and marginalized by those with an anti-Christ agenda and Spirit. Recently, Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk Action, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Concerned Women for America, and the Tea Party have been targeted and attacked by the I.R.S. Dr. Dobson writes, “Are you aware that religious liberties cherished by millions of Americans, are being attacked viciously and relentlessly, by various departments of the federal government? These agencies are being led by appointees of President Obama, who gives them their marching orders. His policies are intended to implement what he refers to as the “transformation” of America. This is his word for it. We call it “unconstitutional.” Our nation is on a collision course with disaster without the rule of God and His Son, Jesus Christ. There is hope for revival but only in repentance and dependence on God. The church at Laodicea was in serious trouble for their lukewarmness and indifference to God’s ways. However, Jesus reached out to them (and America today) and said, “Behold I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20) (Message originally recorded: 6/9/13) 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.
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Theodore Roosevelt once said, “It’s not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena…who, at best, knows in the end the triumph of great achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly. So that his place will never be with those cold timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.” In honoring the fallen, we need to remind ourselves of what they sacrificed. The freedoms they fought to preserve are being taken away, one by one. The freedom of religion is under attack by a deliberate effort to stop all reference to God, the Ten Commandments and Jesus Christ. Also under attack is the honor of our country. There are some very, very important times ahead for us, our country, and the world — this affects me and you. My church in Tampa, Florida, Great Hope Christian Fellowship, has II Chronicles 7:14 on a banner hanging on our wall. It says, “If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” We need to be on our knees daily before our Living God on behalf of this great nation. Listen as I share with you Biblical truths on the difference between a “leader” and a “ruler” and how we determine the truth that is needed to save us from the dark and deceitful lies of the adversary. 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. © http://www.creationswap.com/media/5963 When Paul journeyed to Athens he observed a city of Greeks who were religious and lost in idolatry. (See Acts 17:16-34) “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the creator who is blessed forever.” It was “normal” to them. (See Romans 1:25.) In like manner, this godless and idolatrous mentality is upon us in our world today. Children are being born (multitudes out of wedlock and commitment to God) into a family/home environment where dysfunction, chaos, rebellion, and disobedience seem to be the “new normal”—that is all they know. God’s plan for a future of hope, peace, and eternal life through Jesus His son are being mocked and discarded for temporary pleasures, lusts and selfish ambitions in serving the god of this world. It all seems so “normal.” This mentality puts the child first, mother second, father (if in the home at all) third, and then last and least, the living God—the perfect equation for failure and despair. THERE IS HOPE, but only on God’s terms. Paul made it clear to those in Athens that all everywhere should repent, for God has appointed a day in which He will judge the world THROUGH JESUS His Son, whom He raised from the dead. (Sermon originally recorded on 3/11/12.) 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. Oh, how the times are changing on how Americans think and live. Speaking of changing times, Paul said, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.” (2 Timothy 4:3,4) We are now living in an unprecedented time in America’s history when the president of the United States, our commander-in-chief, has openly announced that he favors state recognition of same-sex marriages. Wow! And he was elected by the American people who full well knew his position on this vital moral issue. He also is an ally of those who favor and promote abortion—the murder of the unborn. Things are definitely different today when the majority of Americans support same-sex marriage. The once unthinkable has happened. Moral erosion begins immediately when any person or nation turns their ears from the truth—Jesus Christ—to seek teachings from the god of this world (Satan) to satisfy their own desires. 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. Multitudes of people including our elected officials at all levels, lawmakers, judges, teachers, corporate CEOs and the general population from the young to the elderly have become cold and hard of heart to the ways and laws of God. Many are deceived and believe that they are better off charting their own course of morality than yielding to God. It is a philosophy of humanism and a lifestyle that will lead to despair, misery and death. However, there is hope! Vast numbers of people do value and hold fast to God’s commands and are fighting the good fight of faith to preserve religious freedoms, the sanctity of life, and God’s definition of family and marriage (the union of one man and one woman.). God Himself spoke these words regarding Abraham, “For I have chosen him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice in order that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what he has spoken about him.” (Genesis 18:19) The choice facing our world is clear—Deny God’s outstretched arm through Jesus Christ and die, or hold fast to Him at all costs and live. 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.
Most assuredly, we are witnessing a cultural shift in our society today—a movement from what is morally right in the sight of God to what is morally corrupt and wrong. If you live in diminished light long enough, you begin to believe that obscurity, ambiguity, and obtuseness are rather normal, but in time this deprivation will show its ugly face. For example, if you place a blooming plant which requires full sun into a heavily-shaded environment, you will soon observe the ill effects of it yielding fewer or no blooms and declining health. In like manner, God created man to walk with Him and bear fruit in the light through Jesus Christ, the Light and Life of the world. I can just hear multitudes saying to themselves, “There must be a better way”—and there emphatically IS! His name is JESUS! In Matthew 4:16, Matthew quotes from Isaiah 9:2, “The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great light, and to those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, upon them a light dawned.” The light was JESUS. The book of Hebrews mentions the word “better” 13 times, all referring to Jesus—the better way, the better truth, and the better Life for those who walk in obedience to Him. Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of sermon and/or download file.)
Personal Testimonies: Prior to the morning's message, Pastor Mark opens the floor to life testimonies. It is great encouragement to hear how the Lord is working in each of our lives. Click the forward button below to play the personal testimonies of Pastor Mark and others and/or download file.)
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