Uncertainty is a given…fear is optional. Truer words have not been spoken…and that, by GOD! The scriptures are full of the admonishment/encouragement to stop being fearful. Genesis 26:24: “…I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you…” Isaiah 41:10: “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous hand.” There are many, many more scriptures showing us that we do not need to fear. Do we need anything else? What security…you won’t get that anywhere else. You’ll have:
I think I’ll sign up with God in Christ…how about 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.
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God spoke through Jeremiah to the false prophets of Judah, His people, and proclaimed, “But who has stood in the counsel of the Lord, that he should see and hear His word? Who has given heed to His word and listened? (Jeremiah 23:18) God also tells us what is the outcome or outflow of those who humble themselves to receive His counsel. He says, “If they had stood in my counsel, then they would have announced my words to my people, and would have turned them back from their evil way and from the evil of their deeds.” (Jeremiah 23:22) Paul certainly was a faithful and courageous man of God who received God’s counsel and boldly declared that, “I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose (counsel) of God.” (Acts 20:27) May you also be encouraged and emboldened to stand in God’s counsel and declare in His power the gospel of Jesus Christ in our world today. (Hear the entire message below. Originally recorded February 13, 2013) 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. David was incited (provoked, urged, and stimulated) by Satan to number Israel. Satan appealed to David’s pride and David was curious to take an inventory of his army’s power and numbers. God was greatly displeased with David’s actions and even his general, Joab, was alarmed when he was ordered to carry out David’s command. David acknowledged and confessed his sin to God by saying, “I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.” God wanted David to understand that it was not his strength, wisdom, or ability that brought him many victories, but it was God alone that enabled him to conquer his enemies. God further instructed the prophet Gad to give David the choice of three punishments for his disobedience. “…either three years of famine, or three months to be swept away before your foes, while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the LORD, even pestilence in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.” “…and David said to Gad, ‘I am in great distress. Please let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are very great. But do not let me fall into the hand of man.’” God struck Israel with judgment, and 70,000 men perished from a pandemic pestilence carried out by an angel of the Lord with a drawn sword. David knew there was hope in the midst of this calamity and held on to his God of mercy and grace! He obeyed God’s command to build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. “Then David built an altar to the LORD there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. And he called to the LORD and He answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering. The LORD commanded the angel, and he put his sword back in its sheath.” Today, the altar of the Lord is in our hearts, and we must minister to God as His priests and bring Him an offering of praise and thanksgiving – for God inhabits the praise of His people. We have been granted access into the Holy of Holies through the sacrificial blood of Jesus where we meet with God and call down His presence to push back the darkness in the world today. Build Me an altar! References: I Chronicles 21; Psalm 22:3; Acts 27:15-18 (Audio of message not available.) 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. Our journey on this earth as Christians is not about working harder for God or working harder to overcome sin. However, it is about yielding to the Holy Spirit and inviting Him and allowing Him to do His emancipating and marvelous work through us. We must remember that we can do all things through Christ who gives us the strength, wisdom, courage, and wherewithal to accomplish and fulfill His will and purpose in us. Without God, we are weak and poor, but in Christ Jesus, we are strong and rich! We must also remember we are no longer those who walk in darkness and confusion, but we walk in the Life and light of Jesus. In fact, Paul said, we are “not to be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” We are to be passionate in our memory of what Jesus our Passover has accomplished for us at Calvary. He gave His life as the ultimate sacrifice as a ransom for all who will accept His atonement for our sin. Atonement means “at-one-ment” with God! We are to be constantly mindful what Christ has accomplished as our Passover and sacrificial lamb. Do you have a passion to ask God to enable you to extol His name in your daily walk with Him? Do you thirst and hunger for a closer relationship with Him? The Psalmist declared, “I will cause Your name to be remembered in all generations; therefore the peoples will give You thanks forever and ever.” References: Philippians 4:13; Romans 12:1, 2; Psalm 45:17 (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. 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. Jesus made a most profound invitation to all mankind when He 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.” As we grow and mature in a life-imparting and spirit-led relationship with Jesus Christ, the old man with all the old ways, bad habits, worldly mindset and ideologies, must become things of the past and dead to us. We must let go and let God enable us to fret less and rest more in Him. Someone has said that, “A dead man doesn’t get hurt.” I might add neither does a dead man fret, worry, doubt, and fear, nor is he anxious for anything. In fact, as believers we are to have this confession, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and delivered Himself up for me.” David spoke these words to God’s people and said, “Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him and He will do it. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.” Remember, we can experience rest through commitment and obedience to Jesus Christ OR we can fret due to doubt, fear and unbelief. What do you choose? See: Matthew 11:28-30; Galatians 2:20; Psalm 37:5, 7 (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. God’s providence is for those who will humble themselves before Him and depend upon Him at all times and in every circumstance. Jehoshaphat, the King of Judah, was not perfect but he was determined to reform God’s people and turn them away from paganism and idolatry to serve the Living God. In this spiritual warfare, he also said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the Lord who is with you when you render judgment.” When Jehoshaphat came under attack by Moab and Ammon, he called for a fast, gathered Judah together to seek help from the Lord, and said, “We are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on Thee.” The Spirit of God responded and said, “Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s….You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.” Similarly, we also may not know what to do at times, but may we be quick to turn our eyes on Jesus and see deliverance and the salvation of our Mighty God! (See 2 Chronicles 19, 20) 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 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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