All sorts of New Year’s resolutions are being made at this time of the year…the time of new beginnings. People are looking for peace, inner peace, relational peace, and some even go big and want world peace. But rather than just a new year, a new resolution or a new point of view, what is needed most of all is a new you. And at the foundation of a new you, is having a teachable spirit. The formula for a “new you” can be found in the scriptures, and in those scriptures you will discover that the “new you” isn’t even you! The “new you” is you dying and letting the nature of Jesus Christ come forth. Now that’s worth celebrating…a new you in the New Year! (John 14:26-27, Romans 12:2, Jeremiah 29:11) (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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Perhaps there have been times when you have been on the mountaintop with Jesus and were reluctant to come down to the everyday grind of life in the valley below. As Christians, we must remember that Jesus has given us the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to be a very present help in time of need regardless of our circumstances. Jesus brought Peter, James and his brother, John, to a high mountain by themselves, and He was transfigured there before them. Jesus' face shone like the sun, and His garments became white as light. Moses and Elijah appeared and were talking with Jesus. God spoke out of a cloud and said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." (Matthew 17:5) What an experience on the mountain they must have had. Peter said, "Lord, it is good for us to be here." (Matthew 17:1-13) We can only imagine their profound joy and trembling at the same time. However, it came time for them to come down and continue their journey of faith where they were hammered, forged and transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. (Romans 12:2) We must allow the King of glory to direct our every step and show us the more perfect way. The spiritual and physical landscape will be threatening and ominous at times, but nothing is impossible with our God of Miracles. David said, "Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle...The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory." (Psalm 24:7-10) Is the King of glory having His way with you on mountains high or valleys deep? 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. When we observe the obvious disorder, confusion and chaos in our world today, we are witnessing the outcome of disobedience and rebellion against the only true and living God. God is not the author of this confusion, but of peace. (1 Corinthians 14:33) He also has not given us, His people, a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7) David was certainly out of order and felt the sting of sin and ensuing heartbreak of disobedience when he committed adultery with Bathsheba. His actions were disgraceful and wrong, yet the Bible tells us that David was a man after God’s heart. And he cried out to a forgiving and compassionate God to set things in order in his life. David asked God for help and said, “Order my steps in thy word, and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” (Psalm 119:133) Order here means to be established, be steadfast, be firm, be prepared and to set in place. David was not alone in his striving against sin for we have ALL sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) Like David, each one of us must ask our heavenly Father through Jesus to, “Order my steps, order my thoughts, order my words, so that I may glorify You in all that I do and say.” 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.
Image © Alekss Dreamstime ID: 8107926 The above title is the theme for GHCF for 2012. Paul wrote to the church in Rome, "...do not 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." (Romans 12:2) The Greek word for transform is metamorphoo (meta, meaning change and morphe, form). In biology class, we learned that through metamorphosis a caterpillar changes into a butterfly, and a tadpole transforms into a frog. Likewise, when we come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we begin a lifelong journey requiring us to submit daily to the Holy Spirit who teaches us, enables us, and empowers us to be conformed and transformed into the image of Christ. Our mind is actually renewed to prove and know the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. Yes, it is a battle, a spiritual warfare to die to self and old habits and to live for Christ in the refreshing newness of the Holy Spirit. Paul's own words cry out in this struggle to put off the old man–"Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?" He answers his own question, "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:24, 25) You are like a complex puzzle–are you willing to let go and let God put the perfectly-fashioned pieces together to transform you in 2012 and beyond? Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of sermon and/or download mp3 file.)
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