March 17, 2013 - What Is Your Goal In Life?

This week’s scriptures are: Isaiah 43:16-21, Psalms 119:9-16, Philippians 3:4b-14, John 11:1-8

Please pray with me:

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that the words of this sermon are YOUR words, and not mine.  I pray that the message here touches those that need to be touched.  I pray that those receiving this sermon remember that all Honor and Glory are yours, Lord, both now and forever.  Amen and Amen.

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

What is your goal in life?  I don't mean things like: a better job, earn 'x' amount of money per year or even to see your children or grandchildren get married.  I guess what I mean is, what is your goal WITH your life?

Have you even thought about it?  I think about it often.  My goal is to survive this life in such a way that is pleasing to God.  My goal is live the life that God wants me to live, so that even though I am not worthy, God may let me into heaven.  That's my goal.

In today's scripture readings, we find a short verse in Isaiah that, to me, says so much.  Especially when we add it to the reading from Philippians.  Isaiah 43:18 (from the New Jerusalem Bible) reads, "No need to remember past events, no need to think about what was done before."

Isn't that just right?  I mean, if you believe in Christ and all that He did for us, why are you dwelling on your past sins?  Did you ask God to forgive you?  Then forgive yourself and move on!

If we dwell on our past sins, even after we've asked for forgiveness, then why did Jesus suffer the pain and humiliation of death on the cross?  Why did God send Jesus to die for us?  There is NO SIN, that Jesus cannot forgive.  However, we need to forgive ourselves and go forward.  We need to not repeat our sins and move on in Jesus' love.

At the same time, it says, "...no need to think about what was done before."  So even if what we did was good in God's eyes, there's "no need to think about what was done before."  Seriously, just because we've done good things all of our lives, does not give us reason to boast.  We could very easily rely on our past good deeds, but yet mess up.

In Philippians, Paul tells us that no matter what claims to righteousness anyone has, his claims are better.  He was circumcised on the eight days after being born (as was called for in The Law).  He was not JUST a Jew, he was born into the tribe of Benjamin, and BOTH of his parents we Hebrews.  He was a Pharisee.  He was a persecutor of the Church - the followers of Christ.  He followed The Law strictly and did not waiver. 

These were all of THINGS he was counting on to get into heaven.  Then, he found Christ.  That's when all of those things became for naught.  "...no need to think about what was done before."  What good are THINGS, if we don't KNOW Christ?  What good is our lineage, if we are not following God's will?  Just because we follow The Law, does not mean that we KNOW God.

How many times in our lives have you met someone or watched someone on television that we think, "They are religious"?  Maybe you thought they were "holier than thou".  You might even have thought, "I want to have their relationship with God".

Only to find out later that all the things you've seen through them or the things you THOUGHT you knew about them were wrong.  Reality was not what they were showing you.

Or maybe what you saw WAS real.........at the time.  And then something happened to them and they changed.  Maybe they were leading the good, Godly life, only to stumble and then fall.

If they stumbled and fell, that does not mean that all is lost.  It just means they're at a crossroad in life.  Depending on how they respond, will be what matters.  If they brush themselves off, repent and move forward in God, all is well.  If they don't do that, then all of the good things they did in the past is for naught.

God has a short memory when it comes to our sins, if we honestly and wholeheartedly repent.  At the same time, God has a short memory when it comes to our good deeds.

We can live a Godly life from birth to fifty, and then lead a sin filled life from fifty to death.  God will only remember our sins when it comes time to determine where we will spend eternity.  "...no need to think about what was done before."

Paul continued in Philippians, "...striving towards the goal of resurrection from the dead.  Not that I have secured it already, nor yet reached my goal...I am racing towards the finish-point to win the prize of God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus."

That's my goal.  I want to reach that finish line and have God call me into heaven.  I want to be one of those that God looks down on and says, "well done my good and faithful servant".  I want God to stretch out His arms and welcome me into heaven.

THAT, is my goal in life.  That's my goal WITH my life.  What is your goal in life?

 

Amen.  Amen.

May the reading of this sermon bless you.  May God be with you and you with Him, until we meet again.

Amen.  Amen.

March 10, 2013 - REJOICE!

This week’s scriptures are: Joshua 5: 9-12, Psalms 32, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Luke 15:1-3,11-32

Please pray with me:

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that the words of this sermon are YOUR words, and not mine.  I pray that the message here touches those that need to be touched.  I pray that those receiving this sermon remember that all Honor and Glory are yours, Lord, both now and forever.  Amen and Amen.

Grace and Peace to you, from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

REJOICE!  ALL who believe in Christ, REJOICE!  For today you are children of God and all that He has to offer is YOURS!  REJOICE!  Rejoice and be glad in Him, who sent His son to die for your sin.

All of today's scripture readings address forgiveness.  In 2 Corinthians, we are encouraged to return to God and be forgiven.  In Joshua God says He has taken away the shame of Egypt (where the Israelites were slaves because of their offenses against God).  In Luke, we are reminded that even though we have strayed, God is longing to celebrate our return to Him.  In Psalms we read about how blessed are those whose offence is forgiven,whose sin is blotted out.   

Let's take them in that order.......

Everyone of us is a sinner.  We have sinned in one way or another.  It's our nature, but it's not the way that God wants us to be.  God wants us to lead the life that He has taught us in the Bible.  To be holy and obedient to Him.  Anything else, is sinful.

Throughout history, God has set examples of what He expects from us.  What it is He wants for us and from us.  Love God, first and foremost.  Follow His words and obey Him.  By doing those things, everything else will fall into place. 

By loving God, we will love others.  By obeying God we will not fall into sin.  Simple.  The problem is there's a devil out there that does not want us to listen to God.  That devil tempts us with things that may SEEM good, but actually are harmful.

When people talk about breaking one of the "Big Ten", they usually talk about adultery.  So, let's not follow along with everyone else.  Instead, let's look at honor your mother and your father.

How often do we not honor our mother or our father?  How often do we do things that THEY disapprove of?  Now, if our mother and father are not believers, doing what they say may lead us away from God. 

However, by following God's word, we can still honor our parents by leading a Godly life.  This will set an example for our parents and pray for their souls.  Hopefully, they will come to God and be forgiven.

On the other hand, if our parents ARE believers and we disobey them, we can end up in jail, with diseases or any other problems that could have been prevented.  By honoring our parents, we honor God. 

So no matter what type of sin we continue in, we need to return to God.  We need to honestly repent and we need to move forward in a Godly life.  We need to follow the example of Christ and love God and love our fellow man.  Everything else will fall into place.

Now once we return to God, He will remove our shame (Joshua 5:9).  He'll take away the shame of being a slave to the devil. 

The Israelites kept disobeying God and the only thing that seemed to get their attention, was to allow them to become slaves.  So, that's exactly what God did.  He allowed them to be slaves.

Once they repented, God took them up out of Egypt.  He lead them to the "Promised Land".  However, it was a long journey, because there were some who still continued to moan and complain and sin.

Even in their sin, God continued to meet their needs.  He provided for them, when no one else could.  As they wandered in the desert, God fed them.  They had manna every day as they wandered.  No one went hungry.  Only God could do that.

When they were obedient to God, and in God's time, He took them into the Promised Land and fed them the produce of that land.  THEN, God took away the shame of having been slaves.

So it is with us.  Once we repent and return to God, we may go through our time of "wandering the desert" (following God all the way), but when it is God's time, we will be free of the shame we feel for our sins.  We will be released into the joyfulness of God's love.

Once we have repented and returned to God, it is a time to celebrate!  God loves us so much, that He sent Christ to die for our sins.  Now Christ has returned to heaven and is to be celebrated. 

When we are in sin, we are dead to God.  Once we return from sin, we return to God as Christ did after His resurrection.  That's a great thing!  The old has passed away and a new US is living WITH God.  We then live IN God.  And God celebrates our return from sin.

So in the end, we are forgiven and our sins are blotted out!  We are blessed by God by His forgiveness. We are blessed by God with His love.  Our guilt and our sins are taken away.

What is better than God's love for us?  What is better than being ABLE to return to God?  What is better than to be able to celebrate our return to God?  What is better than to be able to BLESSED by God?  Nothing.

So today, I encourage you to return to God.  I encourage you to allow God to take away the shame of sin.  I encourage you to allow God to celebrate your return to Him.  I encourage you to be BLESSED, because your sins are forgiven by God.  Today I say REJOICE!

Return to God.  Lose the shame.  Celebrate your return.  Be blessed.  REJOICE!  ALL who believe in Christ, REJOICE!

Amen.  Amen.

May the reading of this sermon bless you.  May God be with you and you with Him, until we meet again.

Amen.  Amen.

March 3, 2013 - Do You Need the Instructions?

This week’s scriptures are: Isaiah 55: 1-9, Psalms 63:1-8, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9

Please pray with me:

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that the words of this sermon are YOUR words, and not mine.  I pray that the message here touches those that need to be touched.  I pray that those receiving this sermon remember that all Honor and Glory are yours, Lord, both now and forever.  Amen and Amen.

Grace and Peace to you, from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Have you ever noticed how simple things can look, only to find out that's not the case?  You get the box home, take out all of the pieces  and think, "I can DO this!  I don't need those instructions to put this together." 

You get started and everything is going GREAT!  And then you find one piece that doesn't seem to have a home.  Or it's SEEMS finished only it looks...........funny.  NOT exactly what the box promised.  You go ahead and set it in place, only to have it fall apart or worse, break so bad it's beyond repair.

If only you'd taken time to pay attention to those instructions.  Of course, the instructions are there for a reason.  The manufacturer wants you to USE the instructions and avoid problems.

Centuries ago the children of Israel wondered the desert and the wilderness.  All of their needs were provided to them by God.  Were they satisfied?  Were they content?  NO!

They had everything they NEEDED, but not everything they WANTED.  They complained to God.  They engaged in sexual immorality.  They tried to test God. 

Earlier they were told what was pleasing in God's eyes.  They knew what was not.  They knew right from wrong. 

They had examples of what happens when you go against God.  They knew about Sodom and Gomorrah, but they still insisted in engaging in sexual perversions. 

God did not tolerate this.  A written record was created to instruct future generations that God will provide for your NEEDS.  The record is there to instruct future generations on what happens when you test God.  To instruct on what happens when you complain about God.

If you want to do ANYTHING, you can find instructions on how to complete that task.  I was trying to find out how to contact a retired baseball player.  All I had to do, was go to the internet and search.  BOOM!  There's instructions on how to write to him.

If you want to know how to build something, use something, go some place, or just do anything.  It's simple to look it up on the internet.

The problem is do we follow the instructions that are right there?  Or do we decide it's too simple and we don't need the instructions provided for us?

If you are a young man, do you want to know how to be a good father?  Look in the Bible.  It's the best instructional manual you'll ever find.

If you're a young woman, do you want to know how to be a good wife?  Read your Bible.  It's the best instructional manual you'll find.

Do you want to know how to treat your spouse?  Read your Bible, it's in there.  How to treat your children, your parents, the stranger on the street?  It's in your Bible.

The problem is we have instructions and yet we ignore them.  How simple would our lives be if we just studied our Bibles and HONESTLY tried to live by the instructions provided for us?  If we learned our lessons not from PERSONAL experience, but from the failings of those who went ahead of us, would our lives be better?

The Bible is full of examples for us to follow or to learn from.  People who have failed and people who have lived successfully.  The Bible instructs us to avoid certain things, behaviors, that are bad in God's eyes.

Still we go blindly into situations and then cry out and complain that God allowed us to do that.  We're not robots.  We have free will to do things and to live as we see fit.  

God provided us with an instruction manual to help us live a successful life according to His ways.  It's up to us to follow the instructions and have everything fit, look and be right.  Or we can go about our way without following the instructions provided and HOPE that things work out.

I'm not sure about you, but I NEED instructions in my life.  Sometimes I need to following the instructions more closely.  However, in everything I do, I need instructions from God.

What about you?  Do you need the instructions God provided for us? 

Amen.  Amen.

May the reading of this sermon bless you.  May God be with you and you with Him, until we meet again.

Amen.  Amen.