We sometimes are such great complainers! God starts working in our lives to bring us to closer fellowship with Him, but all He gets to hear is our moaning and groaning… “Oh, Lord, just let this pass” …or… “why can’t I do that” …or… “why does he still act that way!”

We act like we don’t believe that He said, “My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30)

That “burden” has purpose…even when we don’t see it. God places those burdens to squeeze the grapes in our lives and that is supposed to produce wine…not “whine”!

If your life is only producing “whine” instead of wine, then ruthlessly deal with it.

But how do we go from “whine” to wine?

We first have to know that God provides and that He will make a way to carry that burden, where there seems to be no way.

If you need some helpful reminders, read the following:

Deuteronomy 33:27
Isaiah 41:10
Isaiah 46:4
2 Timothy 4:18
Psalm 23:5
John 14:2
Psalm 31:19

(Listen to entire sermon below.)

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” On the 6th day He also “created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God blessed them; and God said to them, be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it…and God saw all that He had made, and behold it was very good.” “God also saw that it was not good for man to be alone and fashioned into a woman a rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her, Eve, to Adam. God said, “For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

Here in the very beginning God performed the very first union and united Adam and Eve for the sanctified purpose to obey Him in all things, to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth with their offspring.

It is alarming that not only in America but throughout much of our world that there is an unrelenting assault by Satan to pervert and destroy the very holy institution of marriage as ordained by God—the union of one man and one woman.

Thirty-seven states, plus Washington, D.C., have ruled in favor of “same-sex marriage.” The thirteen remaining states are in litigation over this issue. Oral arguments are scheduled to take place before the United States Supreme Court April 28, 2015. There will be two questions before the court: 1) Does the 14th Amendment require a state to license a marriage between two people of the same sex?  2) Does the 14th Amendment require a state to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out of state?

If the Supreme Court rules in favor of same-sex marriage, it will have tremendous implications toward restricting religious freedoms in this country. The agenda and goal for the gay rights activists is to desensitize the public to homosexuality. We are in a tremendous spiritual warfare and the battle is intensifying with every passing day. May we be encouraged to stand in the strength and wisdom of our great God and almighty Savior, Jesus, and receive these words spoken by Moses to Joshua and Israel before entering the promised land, “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you, He will not fail you or forsake you.”

Be in prayer and consider this verse in Philippians 4:8 as you intercede for members of our Supreme Court to rule with godly council and favor. Pray for our country to forsake a corrupt path and return to God’s design and purpose for marriage: “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.”

References: Genesis 1 & 2; Matthew 19:5; Deuteronomy 30:11-20, 31:1-8; Joshua 1:1-18; Philippians 4:8; 2 Corinthians 11:14-15; Hebrews 12:1; Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 3:9-11

This past Sunday afternoon, several people from GHCF went to see the movie, Do you Believe. Throughout the movie, we were certainly challenged many times to believe, trust in and have faith in God through Christ Jesus, no matter how difficult the trials that will come our way in Life. We were reminded that nothing is impossible with our great God, but there is a requirement on our part—we must believe and have unconditional faith in Him.

Jesus said, “All things are possible to him who believes.” Not even salvation is possible by man’s own efforts. Concerning this salvation Jesus said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”

On another occasion, Jesus and some of His disciples were passing by and saw the fig tree that Jesus had recently cursed and Peter said to Him, “Rabbi, behold, the fig tree which you cursed is withered.” And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it shall be granted him. Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they shall be granted you.”

What was most impressive in this movie was the urgency of the message challenging people, including Christians, to believe God for what He has said in His word.

Two blind men came to Jesus for healing and He said to them, “'Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ They said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord.’ Then He touched their eyes saying, ‘Be it done to you according to your faith.'” Believe here means to put one’s faith in, to trust, with an implication that actions based on that trust may follow.

Jesus’ disciples asked a very important question that we can also ask today. They said to Jesus, “'What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?' Jesus answered and said to them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.'”

Do you believe?

"And Jesus said to him, ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes. Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.'” (Mark 9:23-24)


References: Mark 9:23; Mark 11:20-24; John 6:28-29; Hebrews 11:1

God has a purpose and destiny for all who have come to know His Son, Jesus Christ, as Lord and Savior. Even though Moses struggled and wavered and asked God to get someone else to return to Egypt to free the Jews from 400 years of bondage, he finally did acquiesce and comply with God's commands. God had a plan for Moses even before he was formed in the womb.

The writer of Hebrews encourages us and writes, "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race (the purpose and destiny) that is set before us." God has plans for us, but we must cooperate and walk in obedience to His will, not ours.

David made a lot of mistakes and sinned greatly in the sight of God; however, he was a man after the heart of God and knew that he had a destiny and purpose to fulfill. David said, "My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth. Your eyes have seen my unformed substance, and in Your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them." David was wounded, saddened, and assaulted and discouraged by Satan many times but he ran and completed the course God planned for him.

Before Paul's time on earth was over, he wrote "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course. I have kept the faith...". Paul followed through on his commitment and destiny! He was faithful to Jesus Christ to the very end of his earthly journey.

We also must have a joyful expectation to hear our Savior say, "Well done, good and faithful servant! I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master."

Scriptures:
Exodus 3; Hebrews 12:1; Psalm 139:15,16; 2 Timothy 4:7; Matthew 25:21

Let’s talk about grace…you rascals (I’ll get to the “rascal” part later).

Grace: Greek – Charis

• the friendly disposition from which the kindly act proceeds
• goodwill
• bounty, liberality
• you don’t deserve it – but you get it
• a favorable regard, highly favored
• designed to give pleasure or joy or delight
• TOTALLY different from a “debt” or the “law”

Some difference from the wrathful, angry God so often portrayed!

Examples to show you are in good company:

• John Newton (wrote Amazing Grace) – he was an English slave trader/curser/blasphemer; conversion to Christ on a slave ship; became a crusader to stop slavery; endured much suffering and mocking in doing so
• King David – murderer and adulterer; sought after God with all His heart and served Him (lost his first born for his sins though)
• Peter – traitor; denied Jesus; went on to be great apostle; was crucified for serving the Lord
• Paul – persecutor of Christians, arranged their executions; went on to serve God in a mighty way; was crucified for his work in Jesus

So, don’t think you’re alone – that you can’t make the cut with the Lord. He’s shown His grace over and over again!

Grace is not a license to sin…it’s a return ticket home after you’ve run away from God!

Grace is freely given: Psalm 84:11
Grace enables you to lead a simple life: 2 Corinthians 1:12
Grace empowers you for service: 2 Corinthians 3:5-6
Grace is not given for selfish use: 1 Peter 4:10
Grace is promised to the humble: 1 Peter 5:5
Grace is sufficient for all human needs: 2 Corinthians 12:9
Grace is the source of power: 2 Timothy 2:1

(Listen to entire sermon below.)

Today, Christians all over the world will be celebrating Easter. There will be many elaborate ceremonies and a re-telling of the Passion and death of Jesus…hopefully all will be an honoring to our Holy God.

For us today, instead of recounting the suffering, crucifixion, death and resurrection of Christ…I pose a question for you. You are saved by His suffering and death...but have you risen from the dead as He has?

God has certainly done His part. "But God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

That was His “word picture” to us of what we are to do – endure unjust suffering and insults, forgive those who have wronged you, sacrifice for others…die to the flesh. Read through Galatians 5:19-21 to review spiritual death…give it up…die to these things. And then read Galatians 5:22-24…now that is spiritual resurrection!

But how do we rise from the Adam-inflicted death? Only through the life-restoring Jesus! Romans 8:11, "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you."

Once risen in salvation, don’t be a zombie…be alive in the new vitality of a new life. 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, the old things passed away; behold new things have come."

And if you should be reading all of this thinking that you cannot possibly do it…oh, yes you can. Ezekiel 11:19, "And I shall give them one heart and put a new spirit within them. And I shall take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give then a heart of flesh."

He died for you…now you die for Him so you can rise up a new creature! Death has no sting in Jesus!

(Listen to entire sermon below.)