Jesus Our All

 

Intro: Jesus in Revelation 2:4 told the church of Ephesus that they had left their first love. Jesus is to be our first love, and we are to never forget Savior and Lord. He is our bridegroom and we are His bride. He has done so much for us, so we must give Him His rightful place in our lives and stand strong for Him in this dark and sinful world.

I. Christ's words are most sweet to us. [Luke 4:22: Psalm 19:10] More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Psalm 119:103 (NKJV) How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Christ' words are Sweeter than honey; which is the sweetest food we know of. The honeycomb is that which is sweeter than the rest. Words are a principal part of Christ's beauty, and the main means of our comfort, security, joy and salvation. Our comfort and joy completely depend upon his sweet and excellent words, his holy teaching and gracious promises contained in the gospel. Luke 4:22 (NKJV) So all bore witness to Him and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. To appreciate the sweetness of His words you have to feed upon Jesus' words by reading and meditating on it daily. His word tells us in Jude 1:24 (NKJV) Jesus is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. That is most sweet to our souls.

II. Christ is altogether lovely. There is no part of him which is not all together lovely and beautiful. Now the important question is this: Is He altogether lovely to you? Are you able to speak of Him with the enthusiasm the bride had for her bridegroom? We must know Christ intimately if we are to witness of Him. When one comes to Christ it is not a business transaction, it's a forever commitment. He is wonderful, and I don't think we praise Him, glorify Him, lift Him up, worship Him, and honor Him with thanksgiving enough. He is altogether lovely any way that you look at Him.

III. Christ is my beloved. Can you say He is beloved to you? Is He is the One whom you love the most? Is He is the One dearest to your heart. Do you desire none but him. Is He is the focal point of your interest; is your faith completely in him, and do you love him because He first loved you and gave Himself for you. Do you love Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength which is the first and greatest commandment?

IV. Christ is my friend: Christ is lovely as our personal friend. We can talk to Him at all times. He discloses the secrets of His heart to us. John 15:15 (NKJV)  No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. He paid our sin debt for us by his suffering in our place on the cross, and by shedding His precious blood to purchase us as His own. He has entered into heaven in our name, where He is our advocate before the Father. He is abundant in His mercy and grace, and gives us help and relief in times of need. We can share all our secret things needs with Him, knowing that He will help us. He gives us good and wholesome counsel by His word. He shows us the right path to follow to avoid the pitfalls of life.
He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother; He loves at all times; is constant and faithful, and always to be trusted in; He is a rich, powerful, everlasting, unchangeable friend.

Invitation: Christ is seeking those that have not experienced His love in the forgiveness of their sins. If you have never experienced Christ's love for you, confess your sins to Him, right where you are. Ask Him to forgive you and save you from hell and give you a home in Heaven. He will not turn you away and you will begin to experience His great love for you!

Be Thankful

 

Intro: We Christians have so much for which to be thankful for not just one day a year but each and every day we live. God has given us so many blessings both spiritual and material! I have listed some spiritual blessings because they are eternal. Be thankful

1. We are children of God. (John 1:12) But as many as received Him (Jesus) to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
This verse speaks of Jesus granting the right or giving the authority to become a child of God. No one can attain this new birth by his or her own power, merit, or ability. Only Jesus can grant it. When we place our faith and trust in Jesus’ death on the cross as payment for our sins, we ask for His forgiveness of our sins and we receive Him into our lives, Jesus gives us the authority and power to become children of the living God. Galatians 3:26 (NLT) For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. We owe thanks to Jesus because He gave us the right to become children of God.

2. We are righteous in God’s eyes. (2 Corinthians 5:21) For God made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. This is one of the great verses proclaiming the unbelievable love of God. Christ bore the penalty and the punishment for our sins. God made Jesus, who was completely innocent and perfect; to become sin for us so He could take away our sin. Once someone comes to Jesus and confesses their sin and asks for forgiveness and salvation, they become righteous in God’s eyes and they find a peace and satisfaction of soul which is everlasting and that person will never cease to be righteousness. Nothing can ever change our standing with the Father. Think about that, Christians will never cease to be righteous in God's eyes. Jesus said in; John 6:47 (NKJV) Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. Jesus makes it plain that the believer has been made righteous and has eternal life, starting the moment someone believes in Him as their Savior. The verb “believes” in these verses means “he who continues to believe.” We do not believe merely once; we keep on believing in and trusting Jesus. We owe thanks to Jesus for making us righteous in God’s eyes.

3. We are redeemed from the curse of the law. Galatians 3:10-14 Every person is guilty of violating the 10 commandments and under the curse of God's law until they are saved. Jesus took our curse upon Himself on the cross. To be hanged on a tree signified to the Jews that a person had been cursed. Christ willingly allowed himself to become cursed for all humanity, and so He endured the Crucifixion for us. At the cross, the curse of the law was transferred from sinful humanity to the sinless Son of God. Christ became our representative and took on himself the penalty of our sin for breaking God's laws and then He gave us His righteousness so we could be accepted by the Father. We are no longer under God's curse for breaking His law. Thanks be to Jesus for redeeming us (saving us) from the curse of the law.

4. We have victory over the world. 1 John 5:4 (NKJV) For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. It is faith (trust) in Jesus that saves us, and it is faith in Jesus that keeps us. We (walk) live our lives by faith. We are children of God by faith in Jesus Christ, and faith is the only way in which you and I will be able to overcome this world around us.
The power of Christ, given to believers through the Holy Spirit, gives us the victory over the world, the flesh, the devil, death, and sin. We need to live our lives in the assurance that we belong to God and we are under His care and we have victory over the world. We need to thank God for the victory we have in Him.

Conclusion: These are just some of the things God has given us to be thankful for. As you read the word of God daily you will find many more things for which to be thankful because the bible says Ephesians 1:3 Thanks be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. May we be counted among those who are thankful for every good and perfect gift that comes from God our Father.

Invitation: Do you know for sure you are a child of God? Can you say that without a doubt? If not now would be a good time to confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you and invite Him to take charge of your life, then you too will be thankful that you now have victory over the world, the devil, death, and sin. The choice is yours!

Fellowship With God

 

1 John 1:3–4 (NKJV) That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. ⁴And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

Intro: Did you know God created you for close fellowship with Him? More than anything else that's what God wants from you and I. He wants to be in intimate fellowship and communion with us. Fellowship - means a friendly relationship; companionship: sharing of interest, feelings. The Father invites us to spend some time Him and enjoy the results.

I. Fellowship with God allows Him to more fully reveal Himself to you. Psalm 119:125 I am Your servant; Give me understanding, That I may know Your testimonies. You and I don't know all God wants us to know about Him. The more a servant knows about his master, the more useful and effective he can be. So we need understanding to know the mind of God as it is revealed in His word. If you want to know more about someone you have to spend time with them. You have to talk to them, share your feelings and then listen to what they have to say. There has to be a sharing of mutual interest and feelings. When you spend time with God in bible reading, meditation, and prayer, he will reveal more of His interest and feelings to you. We need to seek more of God's wisdom, knowledge, and understanding thru reading scripture, meditation and prayer.

II. Fellowship with God helps keep your focus on Him. Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Jesus, our example, perfectly finished his race so Christians should keep their eyes focused on him and His word, looking away from other options or distractions. It is upon him that our faith depends from start to finish. In this world in which we live, its easy to lose our focus of God and go astray. Fellow-shipping with God keeps us looking to Jesus and longing to be with Him more and more because He loves and cares for us so and He knows the path of life that is best for us and our families.

III. Fellowship with God helps you overcome sin. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. When you spend time fellow-shipping with God it leads you to recognize, confess and forsake your sin. Sin in your life blocks the sharing of interests and feelings with God. It robs you of the blessings that God intends for you to have. If we are truly committed to changing and we really want to overcome sin, God through His Spirit will spark the right thoughts in our mind if we ask Him to do so. God wants to help us overcome sin, and fellowship with Him helps prepare our mind to respond the way He would have us to.

IV. Fellowship with God brings His power into your life. Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. When you fellowship with God, it means you will have more of His Holy Spirit power working in your life so you will be able to live as God would have you to live. Spending time in fellowship with God and His word allows His Spirit power to work in your life and do exceedingly, abundantly above all you can possibly ask or think.                                                                                                                                        V. Fellowship with God brings joy to your soul. Nehemiah 8:10 Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! There is nothing in this world that will bring you lasting satisfaction and joy of spirit and soul like God. God gives us joy because He is joyful. He is the source of joy, just as He is the source of love, truth, mercy, and grace. Joy is both a description of God and a description of what He gives. Joy means delight and pleasure. As you fellowship with God, it will bring delight and pleasure to your soul. Most people have the wrong view of God. Rejoicing in God as prescribed in his word, and serving him with cheerfulness and thankfulness, will give you and I strength of mind and body which we all greatly need, to perform the duties God requires of us, and to endure and oppose all the cunning and malicious schemes of Satan against you and I.

VI. Fellowship with God helps you hear Him better. Jeremiah 33:3] 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.' There are a lot of things you and I don't know. When we spend time in fellowship with God, communicating with Him in prayer, we are better able to hear His voice and understand what He has for us. God has great and mighty things for you and I but we must spend time praying, seeking His face and listening for His voice in our mind & spirit.

Conclusion: Spending time with God in intimate fellowship, sharing interests and feelings has great rewards. You and I would be wise to heed these words of advice. If we do, our lives will change for the better and it will benefit everyone around us.

Invitation: You can't fellowship with God if you don't have a personal relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. You must confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you and save you from hell. Invite Him to come into your life to take charge of you. Then spend time in fellowship with God by listening and sharing your interest and feelings with Him.

Christmas, the Celebration of Jesus Christ

 INTRO: Christmas is a celebration of Jesus Christ, who entered time and history through His birth and changed the world as none has ever done before. You and I are proof of that change He brought. We celebrate His coming into this world for the purpose of “Seeking and saving that which was lost.” (Luke 10:10)

I. At Christmas we celebrate Jesus Christ as the Eternal Son of God. December 25th, we celebrate the birth of Christ, His coming to earth as a baby in a human body. But His existence didn’t begin with His birth. Jesus existed before the foundation of the earth. John 1:1 (NKJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Psalms 2:7 "I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. Romans 1:4 Jesus was declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

II. We celebrate Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. By His birth He brought salvation to all who would believe in Him. Jesus is a gift of love from the Father for the salvation of the world. John 3:16 (NKJV)  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Jesus is the one who died for all of mankind; He is our "Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" who gave us citizenship in Heaven. Philippians 3:20-21 (NKJV) 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. As we celebrate the birth of our Savior and Lord, we are eagerly waiting for Jesus' return when we will be changed into His glorious image.

III. We celebrate Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God who fulfills Old Testament prophecy. John 1:29 (NKJV) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! The Lamb of God recalls the Passover Lamb, in [Exodus 12:1-14] whose blood was applied on the doorpost of the Israelite's houses to protect them from the death angel during the Exodus from Egypt. We celebrate Jesus as the Passover Lamb of God, who shed His blood as an offering to take away the sin of the world. We were washed clean by His precious blood when we confess our sins and ask Him for forgiveness. 1 Corinthians 6:11 (NKJV) You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. He is our Passover Lamb. He protects us from spiritual death and eternal separation from God. His salvation includes the resurrection of our bodies. 2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!                                                                    Invitation: You must know Jesus as your Savior to make it to heaven. If you are not sure about your salvation, you can make sure right now by confessing your sins to Jesus and asking Him to save you, and then Jesus will provide you a home in heaven. 

DELIGHT IN GOD'S WORD

 

Scripture Text

Psalm 1:1-3

Intro: The way to have a successful life begins with taking God's word and making it first and foremost in our lives and then be obedient to its instructions.

1. WE ARE TO DELIGHT IN GOD'S WORD. (Psalm1:2) But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. Delight-means to take pleasure- We are to take great pleasure in the word of God. Make the word of God the joy of your life. If we do delight and meditate in the word of God there will be revival and there are some other tremendous benefits. It is not enough to just to read God’s word, but we must meditate on it. In other words try to figure out what it is saying to me. Everything we do in our lives and in this church body should be based on God’s word and not on our good ideas. How many times do we go by our feelings and our desires rather than the word of God? Lets look at the benefits of delighting in and meditating in God's word.

2. WE WILL BE BLESSED.  (Psalm1:1) Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; We will not listen to advice from ungodly, sinners or those that are always scornful. As we reject the way of ungodly, scornful sinner we will be Blessed means blissfully, happy or contented. Bringing happiness and thankfulness. Bringing the favor of God. Deuteronomy 28:2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God. Delighting in God’s word brings His blessings.

3. WE WILL BE STRONG IN EVERY SITUATION (Psalm1:3) He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water. Rooted and grounded in the word of God. The word of God will bring you success over every situation, problem, worry, doubt and fear. Not wandering here and there not knowing what to do or which way to turn. Will have a never-failing supply of nourishment and refreshment.

4. WE WILL BE PRODUCTIVE(V:3) He shall be like a tree that brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; Will display the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. We will honor the Lord Jesus in our words and actions. They will always timely and appropriate. Leaf will not wither during dry season because we are rooted in God's word. We will not be subject to extreme ups and downs. One day hot, next day cold to spiritual things. We will be useful for in His kingdom work. We will be steady in and through all circumstances.

5. WE WILL BE PROPEROUS IN ALL THINGS(Psalm1:3) And whatever he does shall prosper. Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. The promise is that when we read and speak God's word then we will prosper, and we will have great success in all we do. The reason, of course, is that we are living in close fellowship with the Lord, knowing His will and all our life is therefore guided by the Holy Spirit. The only way to be efficient and successful in the Christian life is to be led by the Spirit of God in all we do as we read God's word. Living God's word makes us prosperous, productive, and it gives us good success.

CONCLUSION: This is the way of Revival, blessing and prosperity for our lives! This is the will of God for all His people. We can be revived! We can be renewed in our passion and zeal for the things of God. We can do all things through the Lord Jesus Christ who strengthens us. Luke 1:37 “For with God nothing will be impossible."

INVITATION: There in Psalm 1:4 is a warning for the ungodly. They will not stand up under God’s judgment nor will they be in the congregation of the righteous. Will you be able to stand up under God’s judgment of your life and will you be able to stand in the congregation of the righteous? You won’t unless you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. Come to Jesus right now. Confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you and get things right with God while there is still time. Please don't put it off!

Remembering

Intro: May 27th we celebrate Memorial Day. It is a United States federal holiday which occurs every year on the final Monday of May. Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. It was first observed on May 30, 1868 to honor those who died in the Civil War. Now on Memorial Day, we honor the memories of all those who have died in military service for the United States of America. There have been hundreds of thousands of great soldiers in this country’s history. We want to remember the tremendous price those warriors gave. They gave the ultimate sacrifice to ensure our freedom. As we remember those who have given their lives to protect our freedom, let us also remember the One who gave His life to free us from sin, spiritual bondage and death. While we honor the war dead throughout America's history this morning, another great Warrior comes to my mind. Jesus was the perfect Warrior! We are to remember Him, His life, death, and love for us. We don't want us to forget the tremendous price He paid for us.

I. We remember Jesus' life and mission. Luke 19:10 (NLT)  The Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Jesus left the glories of Heaven and came to this earth as a man to give salvation to as many as would receive Him and then He gave them the right to become children of God so all who believe could spend an eternity with Him and the Father in Heaven. He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10b) He came to show us the love, mercy, grace, and compassion of the Father toward mankind. John 1:16 From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.

II. We remember Jesus' death. Matthew 27:45-51 (NLT) ⁴⁵  At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. ⁴⁶  At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” ⁴⁷  Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. ⁴⁸  One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink. ⁴⁹  But the rest said, “Wait! Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.” ⁵⁰  Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. ⁵¹  At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Jesus died a horrible death as a common criminal in our place as our perfect sacrifice so we could be saved from the penalty of our sins and made right with God. Jesus died so we could have peace with God through Him. (Rom. 5:1) It's very important we remember His death on the cross for us because His death opened the way to God’s throne and Heaven. He paid the ultimate price for our sins so we might be saved and healed. 2 Corinthians 5:21 For God made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Christ bore the punishment for our sins. God made Jesus, who was completely innocent and perfect, to bear our sin so He could take it away and make us right with God.

III. We remember Jesus' love. John 15:9-13 (NKJV) ⁹ "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. We remember that Jesus proved His love for us in leaving the glories of Heaven to come to earth to live a perfect life in our stead. He completely fulfilled the law of God for mankind. By living the perfect life, He became the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all mankind when He died on the cross to pay the price for our sins against a Holy God. In love He gave up His life on the cross for us that we could be free from God’s judgment and wrath. There is no greater love than Jesus had for us when He laid down His life for us and called us His friends. Revelation 1:5-6 Jesus loves us and has washed us from our sins in His own blood, ⁶  and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Jesus loves us as the Father loves Him. John 15: ¹¹ These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. What a Savior and God we have.

Conclusion: We must continually remember what Jesus has done for us so we will remember to give Him the priority in our lives and live for Him because He is truly worthy.

Invitation: Jesus loved you so much, He died on the old rugged cross to be your Savior and Lord. If you do not know Jesus as your Savior and Lord, now is the time to confess your sins to Him and ask Him to forgive and save you from the penalty of your sins.

Jesus will hear your earnest prayer. He will save you and prepare you a place in Heaven.

Time to Pray

 

Scripture Text

2 Chronicles 7:13-15

Intro: This Thursday May 2^nd is National Day of Prayer. If there was ever a time to pray for our nation, it is now. I believe all Christians should benhristians have been lax in prayer for our nation. We have the most powerful force accessible to mankind in the form of prayer. It’s time to put this most powerful force of prayer to work by using our faith in God that He will bring revival to our nation when we pray. We prove our love and faith in God by the time we spend in prayer. Much prayer means much faith. Little prayer, little faith!

I. God’s judgment comes when a nation turns it's back on God. 2 Chronicles 7:13 (NLT) ¹³  At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you.

a. Judgment comes in different forms. We see God’s judgment beginning in our nation right now. The extreme weather conditions, riots, same sex marriage, abortion, division, transgender perversion, plagues, fake news, and political unrest.

b. Purpose of God’s judgments. To turn people back to Him. God promised Solomon that if His judgment came, they need only turn to the Lord in earnest humility and repentance and they would find forgiveness and restoration. So will we in America if we turn!

II. God’s promise is conditional. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV) ¹⁴  if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

a. If My people who are called by My name. The stipulation for God’s promise is faith in action. If we who are God’s people do not call on Him, there will be no prayers for God to answer. It is time to pray. We have no one to blame but us. Just complaining and griping will change nothing. He commands us to pray!

III. The actions needed according to verse 14.

a. God’s people must humble themselves. Humble means to be respectful: not proud or arrogant. The source of all of our problems is pride. We think we know better than God what will make us happy. It’s that pride that causes us to be disconnected from God on a personal level, a church level, and a national level. We the people cannot save ourselves. Neither can any government or body of governments such as the U.N.

b. God’s people must pray with persistence. Prayer is spiritual communication with God. It is talking to Him. We must pray continually for revival. Colossians 4:2 (NKJV) Continue) earnestly in prayer, being vigilant (watchful) in it with thanksgiving; Philippians 4:6 (NKJV) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. God wants us to pray and refuse to give up. We sometimes give up too soon. That’s why we don’t see answers. That’s why America doesn’t see the widespread healing of the land the Bible talks about in this verse.                                      

c. Go        c. God's people are to seek His face. This means a serious setting of our mind and focus on Him. We don’t just seek God in your spare moments. We are not to be overly focused about the things of earth, but look to God & His word. God doesn’t want to be in second place. He wants to be our passion, an active part of our lives. If God is going to bring healing to our country, our churches have to be full of people truly putting God first in our lives and seeking his face in sincere prayer.

d. God’s people must turn from their wicked ways. Literally, turn from means to change your mind, to change how you think. To turn from the way you are going that God is not pleased with. Who here hasn’t found themselves straying far from God at some point in your life? God is not talking to sinners but His people. America is in deep trouble right now. If God is going to judge America, he’ll start with us. He’ll start with his people. National healing will also start with us. America will not be healed because we passed a certain law. Healing won’t happen because we elect the right people to government positions. When we repent, we change the way we think about ourselves and God. We change the way we think about our values, other people, our past, our present, and our future.

IV. God’s promise.

a. God will hear our prayers and petitions from Heaven. (v:14b) Then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

b. God will forgive our sin. Sin is the problem in America today. When we meet the conditions that God has laid out for us, He will keep His promise to forgive us of our sins. God will heal our land. God can and will turn this nation around if we do what He says.

Conclusion: If we don’t like what is going on in America, then we must seek God in prayer. This Thursday May 2^nd is National Day of Prayer. Will you join me to pray for America? Will you put your faith to work and pledge to pray for our nation?

INVITATION: Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord? If not now is the proper time to do that. Ask Jesus to forgive your sins against God and invite Him into your life to take charge of you and help you to live for Him! Ask Him to help you be faithful to pray!

Remembering Jesus

 

Intro: As we approach Good Friday and Easter Sunday, we are to remember what this special time means to us so we will never forget what Jesus has done for us. The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ meant our deliverance from hell and the penalty of our sin. We were set free from the power of Satan, sin and death through the blood of Christ.

I. Remember Jesus' suffering for you. Luke 22:39-44 (NKJV)
³⁹  Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. ⁴⁰  When He came to the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." ⁴¹  And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, ⁴²  saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." ⁴³  Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. ⁴⁴  And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. These verses tell us the magnitude of Jesus' great agony of soul as He prepared Himself for what was to come. He fell on His face—the pressure and weight were unbearable. Jesus suffered as no man has ever done before or since and it was not for His sins, but ours He suffered.
In verse 43 an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened Jesus. God sent an angel to strengthen Jesus in this horrible time of fear, and temptation. In his humanity, Jesus suffered terribly during this night, battling what He knew had to happen. Jesus was in extreme agony; His prayer reveals his terrible suffering. God did not take away the “cup,” for the cup was His will. Yet he did take away Jesus’ extreme fear and agitation. Remember Jesus' suffering for you as we approach Easter. Personalize it! It was for you!

II. Remember Jesus' suffering on the cross for you. Matthew 27:33-46 (NKJV)³³  And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull,³⁴  they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He had tasted it, He would not drink. ³⁵  Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: "They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots." ³⁶  Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. ³⁷  And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. ³⁸  Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left. ³⁹  And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads ⁴⁰  and saying, "You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross." ⁴¹  Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, ⁴²  "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. ⁴³  He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.' " ⁴⁴  Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing. ⁴⁵  Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. ⁴⁶  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? "After suffering in the garden, Jesus suffered the rejection of His own people, His disciples and the religious leaders. Even God had to turn His back on Him because He could not look upon Jesus as He became sin for us. 2 Corinthians 5:21 For God made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. The sins of the world were placed on Jesus, so that His righteousness could be given to all those who trust Him. What a Savior! (John 19:28-30 (NLT) ²⁸  Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” ²⁹  A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. ³⁰  When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit. Jesus' sacrifice for us accomplished all that was required to restore mankind’s relationship with the Father God that Adam and Eve lost in the Garden of Eden. Our sins were forgiven by Jesus Christ as He died there for us on the Cross of Calvary. As Jesus was dying on the cross for your sins and mine, He uttered three last words that have the greatest impact ever upon all mankind. Those words were “It is finished.” Nothing else needs be done for mankind to be forgiven of the Father. Jesus’ sacrificial blood was sufficient for all our sins. Remember our Lord’s Sacrifice of His life and blood for you as He died on that old rugged cross all alone.

III. Remember Jesus' resurrection from the dead for you. Matthew 28:1-7 (NKJV)
¹  Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. ²  And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. ³  His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. ⁴  And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. ⁵  But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
⁶  He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
⁷  And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you." History was witnessing the most violent event of all time in the resurrection of Christ from the dead. The grave could not hold Jesus; the quaking of the earth was bound to happen as Jesus came out of that tomb as described in verse 2. The bible says that the resurrection of God's dear Son Jesus made it possible for the resurrection of all who believe in Him. As the old hymn goes “He lived and died to buy my pardon, an empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives. Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future, my life is worth the living just because He lives.” Remember the victory over the grave the Lord Jesus won for you as you celebrate Good Friday and Easter. Because He lives you shall live also!

Invitation: Have you taken advantage of Christ’s sacrificial death and His shed blood for you? If not now is the time to do that by confessing your sins against a Holy God to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you and invite Him into your life to take charge of you. Then be baptized as a testimony of your faith in Jesus as your Savior and Lord!

 

What God Has Done in Christ

Scripture Text

                                    1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (NLT)
³⁰  God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. ³¹  Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the LORD.”

Intro: There are many different religions in the world. Each one teaches a different way to try to reach God. Every religion except Christianity teaches works to try to make it to heaven. They are trying to reach God by their own goodness through their works, but our scripture for today says salvation is of God through Jesus Christ alone.

I. God has united us to Christ. [1 Corinthians 1:30] Even people who aren't any religion at all, think if they do certain good things God will accept them. However, since we have a fallen sinful nature no amount of so-called good works make us good enough to save ourselves. If we could work our way to heaven, then God would owe us salvation and Jesus died in vain. God will not be obligated to any man because man would try to boast of his goodness before God. In Christianity God did everything through Christ that was necessary for our salvation. God by His Spirit called us to Himself and then gave us the grace to respond to His call and when we did God united us with Christ. Our unity with Christ is by God's grace, not works. Read Eph. 2:8-10!

II. Christ is the wisdom of God. [1 Corinthians 1:30] If good works can't save a person, then how is God able to save men? By His wisdom. God took Christ and presented Him to the world as the wisdom of God. Christ is the wisdom of God given to the world so that men might know the way, the truth, and the life of God. God sent Christ to earth as the living Word of God. He was the perfect expression of God's wisdom to man. Everything Jesus Christ said and did was exactly how God wants man to speak and do. When you are united to Christ, you have God's wisdom. Read the N. T. starting with the four gospels to know the wisdom of God as revealed to us through Jesus.

III. Christ has made us right with God. [1 Cor. 1:30] It is not by man's efforts that we are made right with God, it is by what Christ has already done for us. God's wisdom tells us that. Jesus Christ is the answer, for He is the righteousness of God. God sent Jesus Christ to earth to live the perfect, ideal, and sinless life. Jesus Christ never sinned, not even once. Therefore, He stands before God and before the world as the Ideal Man, the Perfect Man, the Representative Man. By Christ's perfect life which He lived as man's representative before God and by His sacrificial death and shedding of His perfect blood on the cross for our sins, Jesus made us right with God. Jesus Christ is the righteousness of God. He is the only way a man can become righteous and acceptable to God. When a person believes in Jesus Christ—really believes—God takes that person's faith and counts it as righteousness. The person is not righteous; he and everyone else knows it. But God counts their faith and belief in Christ as righteousness. 2 Cor. 5:21 For God made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Jesus has also made us pure and holy before God. Pure means without spot or blemish. That's what we are in God's eyes because of Christ's sacrifice for us. Christ has freed us from sin. Jesus has provided complete redemption. He has freed our soul from the very guilt, penalty and power of sin, and He has loosed our bodies from the bonds of the grave. Philippians 3:21 Jesus will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Jesus will change our bodies into the glorious likeness of His resurrected body.

Verse 31 says that a man is not to boast in himself, but if a man wants to boast, let it be in the Lord for all He has done for us through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.

Conclusion: God through Jesus Christ saves a person. No person can ever save himself no matter what good works he might do or by what someone says. Don't be fooled by what you here on the social media, news media, or what you here from a religious leader or any other leader. There's only one way to heaven and that's by Christ alone. [John 14:6] This is the wisdom of God.

Invitation: You must know Jesus as your personal Savior, or you will not make it to heaven. To know Jesus as your Savior, confess your sins to Him and ask Him to forgive you of those sins and invite Him into your life to take charge of you. Then be baptized as a public testimony and to show your sincerity. Then you will have a right standing before God and He will receive you into His kingdom when this life is over.

Isn’t it Strange?

 

Isn't it strange how 2 hours seem so long when you’re at church, and how short they seem when you ' re watching a good movie? Isn't it strange that you can’t find a word to say when you ' re praying but.. you have no trouble thinking what to talk about with a friend? Isn't it strange that you can ' t find a word to say when you 're praying but.. you have no trouble thinking what to talk about with a friend? Isn't it strange how difficult and boring it is to read one chapter of the Bible but how easy it is to read 100 pages of a popular novel? Isn't it strange how everyone sits out in the rain and cold for ball games but they use the weather for an excuse to skip Church? Isn't it strange how we need to know about an event for Church 2-3 weeks before the day so we can include it in our agenda, but we can adjust it for other events in the last minute? Isn't it strange how difficult it is to learn a fact about God to share it with others; but how easy it is to learn, understand, extend and repeat gossip? Isn't it strange how we believe everything that magazines and newspapers say but..we question the words in the Bible? Isn't it strange how everyone wants a place in heaven but... they don't want to believe, do, or say anything to get there? Isn't it strange how we send jokes in e-mails and they are forwarded right away but when we are going to send messages about God, we think about it twice before we share it with others? If you don't know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, your destiny will be hell because that's what you choose. You can change that choice right now right where you are by confessing your sins to Jesus and asking Him to forgive you and save you for heaven. If you are sincere, be baptized in a bible believing church as a public Testimony of your faith in Jesus Christ. You will never regret that decision.

Messages From Easter

Intro: Even though Easter is passed, the message of Easter has not. There are some messages from Easter we need to remember so that we shall never forget Jesus' love for us. May we always give Him all the praise, honor and glory for what He has done. He is worthy!

I. Easter's message of the cross shows there is nothing Jesus wouldn't do for us. John 1:14  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Luke 19:10  for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." Jesus left the glories of heaven and the worship of angels to come to this earth to seek and save that which was lost. That includes you and I. He was treated terribly from birth to death, yet He lived the perfect life in our place as the representative of all mankind. Then He proved there was nothing He wouldn't do for us by giving His life on the Cross of Calvary as a sacrifice for mankind's sin. He suffered more than any man. He was beaten with a whip, mocked, spit on, slapped, His beard plucked out and a crown of thorns pushed down on His forehead. Then He was nailed to a cross by His hands and His feet where He hung for nine hours where He was forsaken by the Father God for the last three hours of His suffering on the cross. There He shed His perfect innocent blood for us as a propitiation for us to appease God's wrath toward us because of our sins. 1 John 2:2 Jesus Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. The message of the cross is Jesus completed everything needed for our salvation when He cried. “It is Finished!” John 19:30

II. Easter's message of the tomb shows us there isn't anywhere Jesus wouldn't go for us. Matthew 27:57-60 ⁵⁷  When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. ⁵⁸  He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. ⁵⁹  And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud ⁶⁰  and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. Jesus went to the tomb for us. Jesus who is God and could not die, became man so that He could experience death and be buried in a new borrowed tomb where His body lay for three days. Jesus in His love for us was willing to die and to be buried in that tomb so that He could experience everything that we do. At the tomb, God opened a sealed place of death, to reveal unmistakable evidence of Jesus raised to new life. The message of the empty tomb is our faith is to rise and trust in Jesus, His death and resurrection. The tomb proves there is nowhere Jesus would not go for us so that He could bring us abundant and eternal life.

III. Easter's message of Christ's resurrection promises nothing can separate us from God. The resurrection of Jesus confirms that God accepted Jesus' sacrifice for sin on the cross and gives us access to a right relationship with Him. When we believe Jesus died for our sins and God raised Jesus from the dead, we become children of God. Ephesians 1:13-14 ¹³  In Jesus you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴  who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. The Spirit sealed us for God and took up residence in us when we were born again and the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our complete salvation when Jesus returns for His church. 1 Cor. 3:16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? Because the Spirit of God lives in us, we can never be separated from God thru all eternity. Romans 8:31-39 (NKJV) ³¹  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³²  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?³³  Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.³⁴  Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
³⁵  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
³⁶  As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."³⁷  Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.³⁸  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,³⁹  nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Praise be to the Lamb of God, our Lord Jesus Christ. All glory, praise and honor go to Him! The message of Jesus' resurrection is that the price for the penalty of our sins has been paid and our salvation has been secured forever!

Conclusion: In conclusion, let us continually give Jesus our all as we live for Him in this dark and sinful world. May we ever be the light of the world and salt of the earth as we reflect God's glory into the lives of others through our testimony for Him.

Invitation: Jesus came to this earth to save you from the penalty of your sins. If you have never taken advantage of His salvation for you, right now confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you and save you for heaven. Be baptized to show your sincerity!