What a magnificent, miraculous, and permanent transformation that took place in Paul’s life! One day he was persecuting and destroying God’s people and the true church of Jesus Christ; the next day, to a transformed, faithful, devout, disciple of Jesus Himself.

Paul said in Philippians 3:7-8, “But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider as [one combined] loss for Christ’s sake. Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One)…”

He went on to say (v.12), “Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own.”

We also (God’s children) are to be faithful pilgrims on a progressive journey seeking to know Christ Jesus more intimately every day through obedience and faithfulness to Him alone.

The writer of Hebrews (12:1-2) encourages us to, “… strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Let us press on to the high calling and maturity in Jesus our Lord! And remember these words (from John 15:4) where Jesus spoke, “Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.”

Scripture: Philippians 3:7,8,12; Hebrews 12:1,2; John 15:4

The next time you think God doesn’t love you or can’t use you…think on these things:

• Abraham was too old
• Isaac was a daydreamer
• Jacob was a liar
• Leah was ugly
• Joseph was abused
• Rahab was a prostitute
• Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
• David had an affair and was a murderer

Many instances such as these are recorded all throughout the Bible, but God still contended with, provided for and LOVED His people. That’s because He is love…and the example we are to follow. His kind of love is found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 – go read it! It’s not the squishy, mushy, emotional “feeling” type of love. It is a solid relationship love that doesn’t stop because we fail Him. He will NEVER leave you or forsake you. And if you are still not convinced, try these too:

1 Peter 4:8—love covers a multitude of sins
Romans 12:9—let love be without hypocrisy
1 Corinthians 14:1—pursue love
Galatians 5:13—through love, serve one another
Hebrews 13:1—let the love of the brethren continue
1 John 4:7—love is from God
Jude 21—keep yourselves in the love of God

Only with God IN you, can you love as He says to love. He loves you no matter what…make sure you love Him no matter what.

(Listen to entire sermon below.)

In Matthew 6:13, we see a prayer that asks God not to lead us into temptation. But in James 1:13, it states that when someone is tempted, don’t say it is God because He doesn’t tempt anyone. Do we have a contradiction here?

Nope…God will never directly lead us into temptation. But in the trials He constructs, you yourself may be tempted. Don’t freak out now…there are some positive aspects of temptation. God uses them in your life:

• To reveal what is in your heart
• To replay significant life issues
• To remind others of His grace and goodness
• To reinforce your will
  

Read Genesis 3 and review the temptation of Adam and Eve. It wasn’t just something that happened…it happened in stages:

• Deceit–they were told a good thing would happen
• Delight–they were delighted with the fruit
• Desire–they really wanted that fruit
• Deliberation–they thought on it awhile
• Defeat–they went ahead and ate the fruit that was forbidden
• Despair–they felt so bad…shame and blame began

But there are steps out of temptation:

• Fight the good fight (James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8-9)
• Follow Jesus (1 Peter 2:21, James 4:7-8)
• Flee from sin (1 Corinthians 10:14, 2 Timothy 2:22, Romans 13:14)
• Feed your soul (Matthew 4:1-11, Psalm 119:11)

Just sayin’.

(Listen to entire sermon below.)

We just celebrated July 4th; a celebration of the start of our great nation…a Christian nation, founded and molded by God…which is now being torn apart by the godless. That’s why I want to talk today about ...
Duty – Honor – Country. 

READ:

Ecclesiastes 9:10a   Whatever your hand finds to do, verily, do it with all your might…

Ephesians 6:10-17   Take up the full armor of God…

John 15:13   Greater love has no one than this that one lay down his life for his friend.

I don’t know about you, but those scriptures give a word picture of who we are, and what our job is in the spiritual warfare of today!

Physical warfare is so similar to spiritual warfare that it bears some thoughtful comparison.

Many reading this are veterans and you have endured the “physical” warfare mentioned. Even though you have never laid down your life, the fact that you were willing to back then speaks volumes to not only our great God, but also to a nation who owes you a debt that can never be paid.

Christ also did just that, for us, to save us, to change us, to change our destiny…so we could be with Him forever and not suffer the punishment of being sent away eternally because we are unclean in our sins and cannot be in His presence – because nothing unholy can be in His presence. He died to make us clean, to pay God back, to set us free to be with Him. He gave up His life, for the greater good, to re-establish His covenant with mankind, a covenant not broken by Him, but broken by Adam.

Think on these things; allow your heart to listen to God to develop a personal relationship with Him through Christ. Jesus broke the PENALTY of sin over us and now we must fight the battle to break the POWER of sin over us.

Now, with these things in mind, may you be encouraged and emboldened as you face the awesome challenges of Duty, Honor, and Country.

(Listen to entire sermon below.)