For so many, the annual pilgrimage to church occurs on Easter Sunday, perhaps out of tradition or feelings of guilt if they do not attend. But what do the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ mean to you? What is the significance of the power of God to raise His Son from the dead, and is it relevant in your life today? Let’s visit what the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus meant to Paul in Philippians 3:10-11, “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Paul diligently sought to know Jesus—not intellectually, but experientially and intimately in his daily walk. He hungered for and pursued God for a flow of the Holy Spirit that the life of Jesus would be seen in him and witnessed by others. All his passion was due to the identification, ownership, and commitment he had to Jesus who had surrendered His life for him. How about you? Are you experiencing and encountering the resurrection power of Jesus Christ in your life today? Remember—He arose that you may live! Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of sermon and/or download file.)
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We are finishing up the series on doing good works not just talking about them. We covered two areas: (1) why good works are important and (2) the sequence to follow to make sure the good works are God’s good works and not just our own, which are the good works that will burn. In finishing the sequence to follow to assure the good works are a work of the Spirit of God, we came to understand that:
Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of message and/or download mp3 file.)
Did you miss the first part of More Flappin' and Less Yappin'? Click here to listen.
In the previous posting of the message More Flappin' and Less Yappin', Pastor Pugsley referenced the video The Man In The Hole. Unfortunately, the sound did not translate properly in the audio, so we are posting it for your viewing below. To view the video full screen, click on the last icon to the right on the bottom of the video.
Tonight’s title says something to us. When a butterfly comes out of the cocoon, it doesn’t sit around and complain that it can’t fly or that no one told him how to fly. And he doesn’t ask “what do you expect of a caterpillar?” He just starts flapping his wings and flies. When we come to know the Lord, we can’t just talk about a life in Christ (the yappin’ part)—you have to live a life in Christ (the flappin’ part). Get up and DO IT! “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.” (James 2:17) Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of message and/or download mp3 file.)
It is always encouraging to witness so many souls who are giving their lives over to the lordship of Jesus Christ in our world today. However, as history bears witness, there are multitudes who remain refractory to God’s invitation of salvation through Christ Jesus. To be refractory means to be obstinately resistant to authority or control; to resist treatment; and unmanageable. Oh, yes, it also means to deflect light, even the gospel of the light of Jesus Christ and God’s plan for eternal life. Isaiah witnessed this arrogance in his time and wrote, “For this is a rebellious people, false sons, sons who refuse to listen to the instruction of the Lord; who say to the seers, ‘You must not see visions’; and to the prophets, ‘You must not prophesy to us what is right, speak to us pleasant words, prophesy illusions. Get out of the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel…’” Isaiah 30:9-11. Can you imagine anyone refusing eternal life? Jesus spoke of the wide gate that many enter into destruction and death, and the narrow gate that few enter into eternal life. See Mathew 7:13, 14. What’s your gate? Destruction or life; destruction or life; destruction or life; destruction or life; destruction or life…? Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of sermon and/or download mp3 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 mp3 file.)
There is no doubt that anyone who has sincerely received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior has also been aware of His mercy, compassion and grace shed upon them. When Jesus looked upon the multitude, He felt compassion for them because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus also said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore, beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:36-38) When Paul solemnly charged Timothy to preach the Word (Logos – written or spoken), he intended for him to be obsessed with the message and to have a burning compassion for souls! David declared, “My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue…” (Psalm 39:3) All true saints of Jesus Christ need to be asking God for His fire of compassion to burn intently within their hearts. Will you commit to stand before God and ask Him for such compassion? Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of sermon and/or download mp3 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 mp3 file.)
The world has always had numerous self-proclaimed saviors, false priests with personal agendas, and kings who love the adoration and praise of men rather than God.
However, only Jesus, God’s beloved Son, has been sent to man as the ultimate sacrifice for the redemption of men from death, hell, and the grave. He alone is Savior because "There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) Perfect and pure, Jesus entered into the Holy of Holies in heaven as God’s High Priest and sprinkled His shed blood on the mercy seat that all who call upon His name may be cleansed and forgiven for all manner of sin. He has sovereign authority and rule as King. In Revelation 17:14, we read, "These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful." Make it your ambition to watch and be ready for the soon return of Jesus, the resurrected Savior, Priest and King! Multitudes of people throughout history have acknowledged Jesus Christ to be the Son of the Living God! Sadly multitudes have not submitted or humbled themselves in confessing Him as Lord and Savior of their lives.
Paul writes to the Philippians in Chapter 2:8-11 and exclaims, “Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” James 2:19 tells us, “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe and shudder (tremble [KJV]).” Why will all, including Satan and demons, bend their knees and confess with their mouth Jesus as Lord? Because God Himself has appointed and declared Jesus, His Son, to be the only Savior, the only High Priest and the only King to Rule and reign Forever? |
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