The Indwelling Spirit

Scripture Text

 Romans 8:9-14

Intro: The apostle Paul makes a statement in Romans 8:8 “So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” In today's scripture we pick up with a very clear statement in Romans 8:9 of how we can tell if we are in the flesh or in the Spirit of God.

I. The Spirit dwells within the believer. Romans 8:9 (NKJV) But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 
Ask God, does Your Holy Spirit and the Spirit of Christ live in me? If the Spirit does not confirm yes to your question, you need to get saved today!

  a.The Spirit of Christ removes a person from being "in" the flesh. The Holy Spirit is the One who takes us out of the flesh and baptizes us into the body of Christ. The "Spirit of Christ" is said to indwell the believer the same as the "Spirit of God." Both are said to be equally within the believer. Galatians 4:6 (NKJV) And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"

By the Spirit's presence within the believer, he is no longer positioned "in" the flesh: not in God's eyes. The believer no longer lives his life controlled by his sinful nature. He is no longer comfortable with the things of the flesh. The old fleshly man is dead because he was crucified with Christ at the time of salvation and made a new creation in Christ. [2Cor. 5:10]

Since the Holy Spirit positions a Christian "in" Christ, to not have the Spirit of Christ within means to not be a Christian.

II. The Spirit gives life to the spirit of the believer. Romans 8:10-11 (NKJV) ¹⁰ And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 

  a. We have received Christ, He lives in us and has given us eternal life at the moment of salvation. Our fleshly bodies however are still infected by sin brought into the world by Adam's disobedience and will eventually die because (1 Cor. 15:50)“Flesh and blood can not inherit the kingdom of God, neither does corruption inherit in-corruption” Sin has been defeated by Christ, and even though our bodies will die, Yet in these bodies we are alive spiritually because of Christ's righteousness and can live by the Spirit’s guidance.

b. The Spirit will make alive our mortal bodies. (Romans 8:11b above) In addition to eternal spiritual life, we are also promised the physical resurrection of our bodies into eternal life. The Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to our corruptible dying bodies.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (NKJV) ¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words.

III. We Believers are debtors to the Spirit. Romans 8:12 (NKJV) Therefore, brethren, we are debtors--not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. Because of all that Christ has done and is going to do for us, we are debtors to the Holy Spirit of God, who brought us eternal life. We are under no obligation whatsoever to do what the sinful nature urges us to do. We are to refuse the thoughts and desires of our crucified sinful nature, and say no to ungodliness and worldly passions. The old way of life brings nothing good, only misery, death, and destruction. Remember we have been saved from sin's control over us. In verse 6 of this chapter it says to be carnally minded is death, but to be Spiritually minded is life and peace. SO,

IV. Believers determine their own fate: Death or life. Romans 8:13 (NKJV) For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Our sinful nature shows itself through the way we think, act, and live. Therefore, we must turn from following the sinful nature and its evil deeds, the practices and habitual responses of the sinful nature that leads to death. This is an action to be done, a moral decision to be made. Every day we are to turn away from the desires that draw us away from God. 2 John 1:8 (NKJV) Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. The Jews considered themselves to be children of God because of their heritage; but Paul explains that the True children of God are those who are led by the Spirit of God as evidenced in their lifestyle. In Eph.4:30 we are told to “Not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God.” May each of us God's children invite the Holy Spirit to lead us in our daily lives .

Invitation: As we close, I would like to ask each of you, Does the Holy Spirit of God and Christ live in you? Have you confessed your sins to Christ and asked Him to forgive you and come into your life by His Spirit and save you? If not, now is the time! If you have been born again by the Spirit of God, are you being led by Him each day? Does He make your decisions for you or does someone else? Surrender to the Spirit of God who lives in you and live the abundant, blessed life! 

Endued With Power

Intro: All Christians have been endued with power from on high for the purpose of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and His salvation throughout the earth.

I. Jesus instructs His disciples. Luke 24:45-49 (NKJV) ⁴⁵ And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. ⁴⁶ Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, ⁴⁷ and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ And you are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued (anointed) with power from on high."

 Jesus instructs His disciples to take His message of salvation to all nations. Jesus promised The Holy Spirit and power would be sent to help them. As the disciples went forth witnessing, they would be given the wonderful promise of the Holy Spirit and power of the Father. The disciples would to be equipped for witnessing. They were to receive the promise of the Father which was the Holy Spirit. They were to receive the Spirit and be filled with His power. The source of the spirit and power was God. Christ was to send the promise. The promise was "of the Father." God gave the promise. Believers had to tarry, that is, wait upon the Lord and pray for the promise. The Spirit could not come till Jesus was resurrected. The promise of the Holy Spirit was to come from "on high." God Himself is the Source of the Holy Spirit and power for all evangelism. Jesus' command is for us today. Our responsibility is to reach as many for Christ as we can.

II. The last recorded statement of Christ on earth. Acts 1:7-8 (NKJV) ⁷ And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. ⁸ But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

This last statement of Jesus was final, authoritative, and of utmost importance. The dates of the restoration of the Kingdom were not the disciples’ business Jesus said. These are set by the Father. What should concern and consume the disciples, however, was the loaded statement that follows. They were to receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them. The Holy Spirit is a major theme in Luke and Acts and is the major point of continuity between the life of Jesus and the ministry of the church.

Who is the Holy Spirit? God is three persons in one—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God became a man in Jesus so that Jesus could die for our sins. Jesus rose from the dead to offer salvation to all people through spiritual renewal and rebirth. When Jesus ascended into heaven, his physical presence left the earth, but he promised to send the Holy Spirit so that his spiritual presence would be in mankind as He promised in Luke 24:49) above. The Holy Spirit first became available to all believers at Pentecost (Acts 2). Whereas in Old Testament days the Holy Spirit empowered specific individuals for specific purposes, now all believers have the power of the Holy Spirit available to them because He comes into our lives at the moment of salvation.

When the Spirit comes Jesus said, you will receive power. Receive power to do what? To tell people about him. They were to start right there in Jerusalem (1:4). Judea was the region surrounding Jerusalem. Samaria was Judea’s hostile next-door neighbor, a more difficult but equally important place to take the gospel. The ends of the earth may have referred to the Roman Empire, the world power at that time. The direction was of primary importance: Beginning from where you are at this moment, take the message of Christ outward, like ripples caused by a pebble thrown into a pond, not stopping at just your city or state but moving on beyond regional influence to the very “ends” of the earth. In other words, reach it all!

The disciples took Jesus at his word and went about their task exactly as he directed: they began in Jerusalem, spread to Judea and Samaria, then filtered out across the known world at that time. We are to follow that same pattern and this “Reach Texas” mission offering was created to help us do just that.

Conclusion: Turning people to Christ and His salvation is the only way to save our state, our nation and be obedient to Christ's command to share the gospel with those who are lost. may we obedient to Christ's command!

Invitation: What is your relationship to Christ? Is He you personal Savior and Lord? If not now is the time to confess your sins to Him and ask Jesus to forgive you and save you for Heaven when this life is over. Invite Him into your life to take charge of you and your affairs. Then publicly confess Him by being baptized! You will be so thankful that you did. You will never regret it and you will have a home in Heaven!

Work, Labor, Hope

Scripture Text 1 Thess. 1:2-4

Intro: Monday is Labor Day where we pay tribute to those who work for their families and our nation. What if we had a tribute to the contributions Christian workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of God’s Kingdom and others? A Christian contributing to the strength, prosperity and well-being of God’s Kingdom is a Christian that is stirred up and aroused to work and should be commended.  

I. The apostle Paul commends the Thessalonian church. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-4 ² We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, ³ remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, ⁴ knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.

He commends them for their work of faith; labor of love and patience of hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.

These three things stir and arouse a Christian to work for God's kingdom, their families and nation.

2. Work of Faith. [Rom. 10:17, James 2:20] Includes living a life of faith that Follows conversion. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Rom:10:17

Paul had brought them God’s word and many had responded. When the power of the Holy Spirit is working thru the word, a person is drawn to Jesus Christ and when he truly believes in Him by faith, he is filled with joy and is stirred to work and serve the Lord Jesus. The same is true with a body of believers, the church. For our faith to do any good, there must be a commitment to work Our faith.  James 2:20 (NKJV) But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

We are to seek God and believe His word, we are to believe his promises, believe he is able to do far and above anything, we could expect in the natural, because God is supernatural.  Hebrews 11:3 (NKJV) ³ By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Creation is one of God’s supernatural actions. He is able to do many supernatural things through our faith in Him. The stronger the belief of a Christian in Christ and His word, the stronger will be their work of faith for Him. Luke 17:5-6 (NKJV) ⁵ When the apostles wanted more faith they said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." ⁶ So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. A strong faith stirs, arouses, activates, and energizes believers to work and carry out the mission of Christ. There must be a commitment. People in that day were being persecuted severely but they didn’t stop lifting up Jesus. There must be an understanding, not to give up, but Trust God in everything. Even, if it is not politically correct, and Even if others don’t see it.  Strong believers don’t give up their faith, to try and please people. We want to please God.  

3. Labor of Love. Faith without love is of no value. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
¹ Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. ² And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.³ And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

When a person truly loves Christ, he is prompted and driven to labor for Christ. Love stirs the Christian to labor. The word "labor" means to toil; it’s a persistent work. Labor of love is work done by those who have experienced the forgiveness and love of Christ, Those who are always conscious that Christ has taken their sins upon Himself and borne the punishment for them. In response to Christ’s love for them, the believers are motivated to express God’s love to others.

Simply stated, labor of love is exercising the power of the Holy Spirit within to love God, self, and others just as Jesus has loved us. It is the wonderful love of Christ at work in the believer that moves him to love and serve others. The believer does all he can to please Christ and to fulfill the joy of Christ. This is what Paul meant when he said "the (love of Christ) constrains (makes) me" to serve Him. 2Cor.5:14

4. Hope in the Lord Jesus Christ stirs the church to endure in its work and labor. Our hope (confident expectation) is in the Lord Jesus Christ to return from Heaven to take us home to be with Him.

So we patiently wait for Him. Wait means more than doing nothing; it emphasizes an active attempt to live for His glory in the meantime. As we wait for Jesus we will continue our work of faith and our labor of love for Jesus by living for Him and serving others. We know that that Lord is going to transfer us into heaven at the end of this life and reward us according to our labor here on earth. Therefore, strong believers and churches are driven to endure in hope—to continue on in their difficult work of faith, labor of love and patient waiting for Christ. We love Him because He has first loved us and gave Himself for us.

Invitation: Have you put your faith in Jesus for your salvation? Have you experienced the love of Jesus? If not ask Jesus to forgive your sins and save you. Invite Him into your heart to take charge of your life. If you do have faith in Him, Are you working your faith? Are you laboring in love, serving Him out of your love for Him and others? Are you working patience into your life? If not, why not? We were saved to do works of righteousness and labor for His Kingdom. Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

The Holy Spirit and Salvation

Intro: This message concerns the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing lost men and women to Jesus Christ. Many think that the Holy Spirit does nothing in our lives until after we're saved. Yet, if it were not for the Holy spirit working in our lives before we accepted Christ, we would have never accepted Christ. What then is the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of an unbeliever?

A. HE BRINGS CONVICTION. [John 16:7-11] [2 Cor. 4:4]

 1. He tells us of our sin

John 16:8-11 (NKJV) ⁸ And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: ⁹ of sin, because they do not believe in Me; ¹⁰ of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; ¹¹ of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

The word "conviction" or "reprove" means to reveal, to bring to light, to expose.

2 Corinthians 4:4 says that the devil has blinded the spiritual eyes of an unbeliever. One of the primary things the dIevil does is to blind us about our sin. It's the Holy Spirit that opens our spiritual eyes, he brings to light our sin.

Notice vs8..." The Spirit will convict the world of sin." Do you see that the word"sin" singular, one? What one sin does the Holy Spirit expose in our life as he leads us to salvation?  Is it your worst sin? Is it adultery, drunkenness, which one? The one sin is the sin of unbelief. (vs 9) The Holy Spirit exposes our sin, the sin of unbelief.

But that’s not all the Holy Spirit does in the life of a lost person

 2. He tells us what we need to do.

When the Holy Spirit brings conviction, he brings to light our sin of unbelief and  summons us to repentance. He reveals to us our sin and then points us towards Jesus, towards repentance and faith in Him as our Savior. That desire in your heart to be saved was put there by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is like a giant magnet that draws you to Christ. The desire to know God was put there by the Holy Spirit. Let me illustrate that by my own salvation. I was 37 years old. At that time in my life I knew I needed to get saved, I was under conviction. The Holy Spirit had exposed my sin of unbelief. One Monday night, I went to a friend's church where he was attending a revival. There I heard a message about God's three deadlines. At the end of the message I knew I needed to get saved and I responded to the invitation. That's how the Holy Spirit brings conviction. He exposes our sin and then points us towards the Savior. You can resist the Holy Spirit. That desire in your heart will not always be there. The more you say no the more your heart hardens. Your heart can become so hard and calloused that it no longer desires to be saved. That is why the Bible says that "today is the day of salvation."

But not only does the Holy Spirit bring conviction but also,

B. HE REGENERATES OUR SPIRIT. [Ephesians 2:1, John 3:3]

 1. Our Problem – We were spiritually dead in sin.

Ephesians 2:1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins.

We all, before meeting Jesus were dead in our sins. Spiritually dead, possessing no spiritual life, no connection with God.

 2. Our Need. Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3:3 that he “must be born again or we can't see the Kingdom of God.” 

All unsaved people are spiritually dead and need to be born again.

 3. Our Solution. [Titus 3:5]

Titus 3:5… “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” The word "renewing" means regeneration and it is actually a compound word that literally means "birth again" or as Jesus would say, "born again." It is the Holy Spirit that cleanses and causes the new birth. It is the Holy Spirit that renews, regenerates that which is spiritually dead. A spiritually dead person does not need to walk an isle and shake the preacher's hand. A spiritually dead person needs to repent and allow the spirit of the living God to give them new birth! It is through the power of the Holy Spirit and only through the power of the Holy Spirit that makes the spiritually dead come alive.

What does the Holy Spirit do in bringing unbelievers to Christ? First, He convicts, then He regenerates, and next,

C. HE SEALS OUR SALVATION. [Ephesians 1:13]

Ephesians 1:13 “In Him 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

This one verse gives the entire process of salvation.  You heard the gospel, believed the gospel, and then were sealed by the Holy Spirit. What does it mean to be sealed with the Holy Spirit?  Think of how a seal was used in the bible.  In Jeremiah 32, we find Jeremiah buying a piece of property.  The deed was signed and then sealed, making Jeremiah the new owner of that property. A seal was used in Bible times as proof of ownership and to provide security. The Holy Spirit operates in the same fashion.  The Holy Spirit living in your life is proof that you belong to God. With the blood of Christ he has bought you. He now owns you.  The Holy Spirit living in your life also provides protection and security.  It is impossible for you to ever lose your salvation because no one has the power to break God’s seal.

D. HE GUARANTEES OUR SALVATION. [Ephesians 1:14]

Ephesians 1:14… “who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory”

The Holy Spirit in your life is God's down payment on your salvation.  The word  guarantee or deposit is an interesting word.  In Paul’s day it meant engagement ring.  A fitting illustration, don't you think?  Christ is the Bridegroom and His church is the Bride.  We know he will come and claim His bride because he has given us his Spirit as the engagement ring. It also means earnest, as in earnest money, like a down payment on a house. When you want to put an offer in on a house you are asked for some earnest money. It proves you are serious about your offer. If the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life is God’s earnest money, can you lose your salvation? If you were to lose your salvation then God would lose His down payment, He would lose the Holy Spirit that He has placed in you.

Wait a minute, the Holy Spirit is God, God can’t lose God. Exactly! The presence of the Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee of salvation!

INVITATION: What is the Holy Spirit saying to you right now? Does the Spirit confirm with your spirit that you are saved? If not, confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive and save you. Invite Him into your life right now, don't wait, you may not get another chance. If you are sure of your salvation, are you filled with the Spirit of God and being led by Him daily? If not, ask for forgiveness of that sin and surrender your life completely to Him today!

The Lord’s Supper

                                              

Titus 3:3-8

Intro: You can celebrate the Lord’s Supper at home today, remembering  the things God has done for you through the gift of His Son, our wonderful Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. Get you some grape juice and crackers or unleavened bread and after you read this, serve yourself remembering to thank Jesus Christ for the sacrifice of His body and blood for you!

I. Remember your former way of life before Christ. Titus 3:3 (NKJV) For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.

 a. Without God, all of us were unbelievers enslaved to our passions and desires. Left alone, all human nature can only go from bad to worse. Instead of living for God, our lives were full of evil and envy before Christ. No matter how much “love” we tried to create without God, the overriding power of our sin produced a greater amount of hatred. Thus there was no hope for us apart from the intervention of the holy God, the Creator and Savior.

II. You were saved from your former way of life by God our Savior.  Titus 3:4-6 (NKJV)
⁴ But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, ⁵ not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

 a. All of our former ways changed when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared. His love is for all mankind as well as us! The contrast of our lives was startling. In verse 3 man is the actor, but in verses 4-7 man is merely the recipient, and God becomes the actor.

     What we could in no wise do for ourselves, God did for us through Jesus Christ His Son.

     God saved us in His kindness, love, and mercy. God in His grace saves those who believe, not because of any righteousness in them, but because of His mercy, love, and kindness. The three words, “kindness,” “love,” and “mercy” all represent aspects of God’s grace. Grace is the unmerited favor and mercy of God. The dual means of grace through which He accomplished this salvation are (1) the rebirth spoken of as a washing from the filth of our sins, past, present, and future. (2) We were renewed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor. 5:17). The moment we believed in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord we were washed clean from the filth of our sins and we were given new birth and new life by the power of the Holy Spirit which God generously poured out on us Paul says in verse 6.

   III. You have been justified by God’s grace. Titus 3:7 (NKJV) that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

      a. From Adam we inherited a sinful nature (the tendency to sin), and we were under God’s wrath and due His punishment. Because Jesus took the punishment we deserved for sin and made us right before God, we can trade punishment for forgiveness. We have been declared not guilty. We can trade our sin for Jesus’ righteousness. When we do that, we know that we will inherit eternal life. Colossians 1:12 – 14 (NKJV) ¹² giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. ¹³ He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Eternal life began the moment we gave our life to Christ, but there is more to come! Our experience now is only a foretaste of what God has guaranteed to us in the future! Praise Him.

IV. You are to devote yourself to good works. Titus 3:8 (NKJV) This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

  a. The things Paul wrote were true so we ought to constantly be reminded of them. Believers must show their beliefs through their conduct. We must be careful to do good deeds all the time, wherever we are. Sound doctrine must manifest itself in good works. Such teaching and action profits all believers as well as the unbelievers to whom the church witnesses.

Invitation: We are told in the bible to examine ourselves before we partake of the Lord’s Super. Allow the Holy Spirit to look into your heart and tell you whether you are a child of God or not. If God’s Spirit points out you are not His child, you need to correct that.  Do it now. Don’t wait! Simply confess your sins to Jesus Christ and ask Him to forgive you and save you for Heaven when this life is over. We will all die and we must be prepared for our eternity.

Casting Your Cares

Scripture Text

1 Peter5:6-7 & 2Kings 5: 10-15

Intro: The scripture texts for this message tells us in very specific terms what we are to do when we have a problem, situation, or circumstance we can’t handle or solve on our own. Our Father in Heaven wants to help us through everything we have to face in this life, but we must come to Him on His terms and not ours. 

I. We are to humble ourselves before God. 

1 Peter 5:6 (NKJV) ⁶ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, First we are to humble ourselves before God. 1081This means to offer oneself as lowly and submissive; in a spirit of lowliness; to present oneself as lowly; to be of low degree and low rank; not to be high-minded, proud, haughty, arrogant, or assertive.

     A humble person may have a high position, power, wealth, fame, and much more; but he carries himself in a spirit of lowliness and submission.

     He denies himself for the sake of Christ, his Savior and Lord.

II. We are to cast all our cares on God. 

   a. 1 Peter 5:7 ^acasting all your care upon Him, Care here means (worry, anxiety, or concern). Then we are to cast our cares. Cast means to fling; to throw; to hurl; to toss. Let go of them completely, not holding on or taking those cares back.

   b. Why you should cast all our cares on Him. [1 Peter 5:7b]  because He cares for you! The word cares here means God is the One who supplies the provisions of what is needed for the well-being or protection of His children.

III. We are to be obedient to what God tells us to do. 

 a. God tells Naaman through the man of God what he is to do for his healing. 2 Kings 5:10 (NKJV) And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean."

 God has told us in the scripture text for today what we are to do. [1 Peter 5:6-7 above]

 b. We are not to argue or try to rationalize what God tells us to do as Naaman did. 2 Kings 5:11-13 (NKJV) ¹¹ But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, "Indeed, I said to myself, 'He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.'
¹² Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage. ¹³ And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, 'Wash, and be clean'?"

     Disobedience can cause us to miss God’s best blessings for us.

 c. Obedience brings results. 2 Kings 5:14-15 (NKJV) ¹⁴ So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. ¹⁵ And he returned to the man of God, he and all his aides, and came and stood before him; and he said, "Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel.

    Obedience is a test of how real our faith is. When we do what God says to do then He will do what only He can do. Will we trust God enough to take action on what He says and leave the results to Him? God says “Cast all your cares on Me.”

Conclusion: To show our faith in God and to give Him all the glory we have the privilege of bringing our concerns to Him because Jesus’ died on the cross for our salvation, healing or whatever we need as we ask, seek, and knock on Heaven’s door.

     When we do what He is showing us to do, He will do what only He can do!

Invitation: Have you been healed of your sins against God? If not now is the time to call on Jesus confessing your sins and asking Him to forgive and save you. The bible says in Romans 6:23 “The wages of sin is eternal death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Jesus waits to save you right now.

      Now is the accepted time for your salvation! The decision is yours to make! 

Set Your Mind

Scripture Text

Colossians 3:1-4

Intro: If you’re wondering why it’s so difficult to control your thoughts and maintain your faith, remember that your mind reflects what you feed it. The apostle Paul in these verses, knowing how important our thoughts are, gives us some wise advice on how to help control our thoughts and maintain our faith. We should think on these things!

I. Think about our resurrection with Christ. Colossians 3:1 (NKJV) ¹ If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Romans 6:4-5 (NKJV) ⁴ Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ⁵ For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection. A believer's life is a life that is raised with Christ. When a person believes, asks for forgiveness of their sins and really surrenders their life to Christ, God forgives the person's sins and accepts them in Christ. God begins to consider the person as having died to sin and risen with Christ

II. Think on things above. Colossians 3:2 (NKJV)  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. If you desire to become all that the Father created you to be, you must (set) or put (your mind) in a particular place, prioritize that which is above and not here below. Fill your mind with His ways and the principles found in His word! We are to not let the things of this earth control the thoughts of our mind and heart. The things on earth are temporary and the Things above are permanent.

III. Think of having died to this life. Colossians 3:3 (NKJV) For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. This is the reason we are to set our minds on things above. The moment we received Jesus Christ as our Savior, we were made new creations, we died to our old life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! Paul explains true Christian behavior is putting on the new self in Christ and regarding the earthly nature as dead. We change our moral and ethical behavior by letting Christ live and reign within us, controlling our minds so that he can shape us into what we should be. The resurrected Christ gives us power through His Spirit to live victoriously over the sins and trials of this world and to bear the fruit of God's Spirit as we walk throughout this world. Our life now is hidden with Christ in God, it is not in this world.

IV. Think of your resurrected body.Colossians 3:4 (NKJV) When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Our thoughts and praise should center upon the wonderful the new and glorious body God has promised us. The resurrection of Christ gives us a living hope, the hope of glory. The resurrection of Christ Jesus guarantees our resurrection. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 (NKJV) ¹⁵ For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive

     and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words.

 Our minds and praise should focus upon the glory of heaven which shall be ours when either God takes us home or Christ returns. The resurrection assures that God will judge the world by Christ.

     Our minds and prayers should be focused upon evangelism and the terrible fact that the wrath of God’s judgment is upon all unbelievers. Every Christian will have to give an account to Christ and all those who have rejected Him will be eternally separated from God in Hell, a place of unimaginable fire, darkness and eternal torment.

Conclusion: You must ask God to help you sift through everything that enters your mind each day and choose for God’s truth to take precedence in your life. It’s your choice, an act of your will.

 Prayer and Invitation: Lord Jesus we want to honor You by the way we think. Please reveal and purge the thoughts that displease You, and if there is anyone reading this today that does not know You as their personal Savior and Lord, we ask that You might have Your way in those hearts and call them unto You this day. We pray and ask these blessings in Your name Lord Jesus. Amen!

Stand Fast in Freedom!

Scripture Text

1 Tim.2:1-5

Intro: America will celebrate its 241^st year since the declaration of independence from Great Britain was signed. Faith in God and prayer has played a major role in the establishment of this nation. Galatians 5:1a “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore.” We are to stand firm in our Christ given freedom by continuing to spread the gospel by which we were set free, and by praying for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Over 300 times in the bible prayer is mentioned. If we love the freedom we have in this nation we must pray for God to continue to have His way in America. Only then can we be blessed of Him. Every nation that has turned its back on God has fallen from within.

1 We are to Pray for all men! 1 Timothy 2:1 (NKJV) Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men.      It is both a privilege and an obligation. It is a sheer privilege for us to have audience with God on behalf of our nation and fellow men. And it is an obligation, too, for we are debtors to all with the good news of salvation.

    a. There are four aspects of prayer mentioned in this verse,—supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks. In modern usage, supplication has the thought of strong and earnest request, making specific requests for specific needs. The word here translated prayers is a very general term, covering all kinds of reverent requests to God. Intercessions describe petitions in which we address God as Supreme Authority in behalf of others. Giving of thanks describes prayer in which we realize the grace and kindness of our Lord, and pour out our hearts in gratitude to Him for the privilege of coming before His throne with our needs.

2 We are to pray for those in authority. 1 Timothy 2:2 (NKJV) For kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. Our prayers include Kings, presidents and all who are in authority. These must occupy a special place in our prayers. In (Rom. 13:1) Paul reminds us that the authorities that exist are ordained of God and in (Rom. 13:4) he says they are ministers of God to us for good. Without government we would have chaos. The NT teaches that a Christian is to be loyal to the government under which he lives. Part of that loyalty for the Christian is to pray for all those in our government as commanded in this verse. A Christian should not engage in revolution or in violence against the government, but take lawful ways to change government when we believe the government is wrong.  The reason Paul gives for praying for rulers is that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness [conforming to the laws of God] and reverence [deep respect for God]. It is for our own good that the government should be stable and God fearing so that the country is preserved from revolution, civil war, turmoil, and anarchy and have God’s blessings. We should also pray for those that protect and serve us, such as our military men and women, firefighters, policemen and all civil servants.

3 Prayer is the will of God our Savior. 1 Timothy 2:3 (NKJV)  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

     God is pleased and accepts our prayers when we pray for all mankind, including all who are in authority over us. Therefore, to pray for all men is to promote the will of God in this regard. Prayer proves we depend on God for everything that we need in this world! We don’t depend on mankind alone because mankind is fallible. God alone is Supreme! He is our Savior, protector, and defender against all evil.

4 We are to pray for a spiritual awakening. 1 Timothy 2:4 (NKJV)  God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. We must pray for the salvation of people in America. Only by being saved will people turn from their wicked ways. No one is beyond salvation if they desire it. In order to be saved, man must come to the knowledge of the truth. God does not save men against their will. He does not populate heaven with rebellious subjects. Man of his own free will must come to Jesus who is: “the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” because Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ and Him alone. So we are to pray for lost people to be saved and for God to open the eyes of the spiritually blind and open their hearts to the gospel message of Jesus Christ.

5. We are to pray for all mankind to know the truth about salvation! 1 Timothy 2:5 (NKJV) For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

      God says He is one; He is the God of all men, no matter what their race or nationality, and prayer should be made to Him in behalf of all men. He desires the salvation of all mankind and that they may know the truth, which is, there is One God, and there is only One Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. This declares the deity of the Lord Jesus. In order to be the Mediator between God and men, He must be both God and Man. The Lord Jesus is God from all eternity, but He became Man in Bethlehem’s manger for us. He represents the whole race of humanity. No man can come to God in any other way. (John 14:6)

 Conclusion: If we love our nation we will pray for it daily to come to know the truth of God’s word. Without God this nation will never be what He intended it to be and that is one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. A nation established on faith in God and prayer. This is why we must continue in prayer and continue to proclaim the gospel message of salvation in Jesus Christ.

Invitation: Have there been a time in your life where you have stopped and asked Jesus to forgive your sins and save you from Hell? If not, now is the perfect time to do that. Jesus said “no one comes to the Father but by Me.” (John 14:6) God wants you in His kingdom but the choice is yours to make. How will you respond as we give the invitation to come to Christ right now?