This week’s scriptures are: Genesis 11:1-9, Psalms 104:24-35, Act 2:1-21, John 14:8-17 (25-27)
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.
Sometimes I wonder what life would be like, if we were all alike. I don't mean that we all look alike, but that everyone, everywhere on earth, spoke the same language and believed in the same God.
We could travel the entire world and understand what everyone was saying! We could read all of the signs and know that they said. WOW! Can you imagine?
Back in the days of Genesis Chapter 11, that's the way it was. Everyone spoke the same language and they believed in God. But they decided to build a tower to reach the heavens. I guess they wanted to be able to climb for days and days to see God.
So God saw their plan and He changed they way everyone spoke. I'm guessing it was fear of what everyone else was saying or planning, that caused everyone to scatter throughout the earth.
I'm sure they all went away in groups of people who were now speaking the same language, but how many friends and family members did they leave behind?
Can you imagine the noise from the babbling? To get an idea of what it must have been like, just go to the 1 year old class of any day care and listen.
Now fast forward to Acts Chapter 2. There we read about the Holy Spirit coming down in tongues of fire and resting on each of the Apostles. They were so filled with the Holy Spirit, that they began to speak in different tongues.
By this time, people from all over the world had moved to Jerusalem. They had learned to speak a common language, but each of them were hearing the Apostles speak in their own native tongues.
I cannot explain it, but there were people from at least twelve different nations living there. Yet everyone heard everything ALL TWELVE Apostles were saying in their own native tongue. God IS good!
The funny thing is these learned men thought the Apostles were drunk! Excuse me! If the Apostles were drunk, why were they speaking in such a way that EVERYONE heard them in his/her native tongue? Wouldn't everyone ELSE have to be drunk to ASSUME the Apostles were speaking in his/her native tongue?
Personally, I think I would have been amazed at this. Everyone understanding everything being said by these men.
Imagine if one of our world leaders could stand up in front of a podium and give a speech that was broadcast world wide and NO INTERPRETER was need for everyone to understand what was being said. I don't mean that just the learned upper crust could understand. I'm talking about even the poorest of the poor in the farthest reaches of the earth, could stumble across the broadcast somehow and understand every word.
WOW!
At one point in time, everyone spoke the same language.........
Today, God speaks ALL languages. He sends His Holy Spirit to be with us and fill us. So that even if we encounter someone who does not speak the same language we do, they can know that we are filled with the Holy Spirit........a common thread.........a common love for God.
So go out into that world today and the rest of the week and speak the language of God! People will understand you, even if they don't speak the same "earthly language". By letting God speak through us, We Can All Speak The Same Language.
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.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Sunday, May 12, 2013
May 12, 2013 - Do you hate evil?
This week’s scriptures are: Acts 16:16-34, Psalms 97, Revelation 22:12-14,16-17,20-21, John 17:20-26
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.
Today, I have just one question for you: Do you hate evil?
If you listen to the world around you, God does NOT exist. More and more, the news media and the liberals blame the problems of this world on Christians.
For a long time in THIS country, the Bible was taught in school. It was a reliable text book. I'm not talking about in a private school. Back then, there were no private schools, just schools.
Schools used to start their day with (GASP) a prayer. And the walls didn't tremble and the roof didn't cave in.
And what do you know, sex out of wedlock was scorned and you didn't hear of unwanted pregnancies or unwanted children. MARRIAGE was for life!
Crime rates were lower also.
Today we have babies having babies or getting abortions. People walking around angry all the time and they don't even know why they're angry, so full of hate. People killing others just because they can. More people just live together instead of getting married. Marriages are "until I get tired of you".
Oh, and the crime rates around the world keep going up and up.
How is this good? How is leaving God out of our daily lives a good thing? That's what the liberals and the news media want us to do.
The news media glorifies tragedies with the 24/7 coverage. What would happen if the news media stopped providing the coverage of some whacko going on a killing spree? Do you think that MAYBE some other mentally deranged individual who wants their five minutes of fame, would go out and try to out do the last mass murderer?
How would they get their fame if no one heard about it?
In today's lessons, we read that God loves those who hate evil. Are you engrossed in the daily news? Are you watching the 24/7 coverage of some individual going on a rampage? What movies and tv shows are you watching? Are they filled with evil?
How about the books you read? Are you reading Godly books or are you reading books about evil? Are you listening to music about killing and having random sex or are you listening to music about God and Godly things?
Recently here in Texas, a school track team was disqualified when one of their runners (a Christian) pointed to heaven as he crossed the finish line WAY ahead of his closest competitor.
We've had children expelled from school for having a Bible on their desk! It wasn't even opened. How far have we allowed the liberals and the devil to go? What was once a reliable text book is now banned.
We have people right now trying to make it a crime for Chaplains in the military to preach the word of God! They are doing everything they can to stop people from speaking of a God who LOVES. A God who loves those who hate EVIL.
Evil, is anything or anyone who goes against God. Of course, God will love those who hate evil. If we hate evil, then we MUST love God. If we love God, we MUST hate evil. It cannot be any other way.
GOD is good. Let me say that again. God IS good. One more time. God is GOOD.
If we love God (good), then we MUST hate evil (anything that goes against God). Simple.
So today, I have just one question for you: Do you hate evil?
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.
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.
Today, I have just one question for you: Do you hate evil?
If you listen to the world around you, God does NOT exist. More and more, the news media and the liberals blame the problems of this world on Christians.
For a long time in THIS country, the Bible was taught in school. It was a reliable text book. I'm not talking about in a private school. Back then, there were no private schools, just schools.
Schools used to start their day with (GASP) a prayer. And the walls didn't tremble and the roof didn't cave in.
And what do you know, sex out of wedlock was scorned and you didn't hear of unwanted pregnancies or unwanted children. MARRIAGE was for life!
Crime rates were lower also.
Today we have babies having babies or getting abortions. People walking around angry all the time and they don't even know why they're angry, so full of hate. People killing others just because they can. More people just live together instead of getting married. Marriages are "until I get tired of you".
Oh, and the crime rates around the world keep going up and up.
How is this good? How is leaving God out of our daily lives a good thing? That's what the liberals and the news media want us to do.
The news media glorifies tragedies with the 24/7 coverage. What would happen if the news media stopped providing the coverage of some whacko going on a killing spree? Do you think that MAYBE some other mentally deranged individual who wants their five minutes of fame, would go out and try to out do the last mass murderer?
How would they get their fame if no one heard about it?
In today's lessons, we read that God loves those who hate evil. Are you engrossed in the daily news? Are you watching the 24/7 coverage of some individual going on a rampage? What movies and tv shows are you watching? Are they filled with evil?
How about the books you read? Are you reading Godly books or are you reading books about evil? Are you listening to music about killing and having random sex or are you listening to music about God and Godly things?
Recently here in Texas, a school track team was disqualified when one of their runners (a Christian) pointed to heaven as he crossed the finish line WAY ahead of his closest competitor.
We've had children expelled from school for having a Bible on their desk! It wasn't even opened. How far have we allowed the liberals and the devil to go? What was once a reliable text book is now banned.
We have people right now trying to make it a crime for Chaplains in the military to preach the word of God! They are doing everything they can to stop people from speaking of a God who LOVES. A God who loves those who hate EVIL.
Evil, is anything or anyone who goes against God. Of course, God will love those who hate evil. If we hate evil, then we MUST love God. If we love God, we MUST hate evil. It cannot be any other way.
GOD is good. Let me say that again. God IS good. One more time. God is GOOD.
If we love God (good), then we MUST hate evil (anything that goes against God). Simple.
So today, I have just one question for you: Do you hate evil?
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.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
May 5, 2013 - May God Be Gracious To Us
This week’s scriptures are: Acts 16:9-15, Psalms 67, Revelation 21:10,22 - 22:5, John 5:1-9
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 God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us". What GLORIOUS words these are to me. You see they remind me of simpler times. Of times when I was a child and young adult. They remind me of a great Norwegian man that was a part of my life for many years.
Art was a huge fan of "Hagar The Horrible". He often quoted Hagar. In fact it was fun to wake up on Sundays and see how would Hagar be used this week.
You see, "Art", was Pastor Arthur Solem. He was first my Chaplain at the Chapel on Fort Bliss, where he confirmed me in the Lutheran faith when I was thirteen. He married my wife and I, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (in El Paso), when I was twenty. He was there for the renewal of our vows, when I was forty-five. Easter Sunday, 2013, was his funeral service (I'm forty-nine). Yes, he was a part of my life for a long time.
Pastor Solem always ended his services with the benediction. Those very familiar words:
The Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord make His face to shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace."'
I realize that the Benediction words that Pastor Solem used were from Numbers, but the words from Psalms 67 remind me of them. And how GREAT is it to think about God being GRACIOUS to us?
How many times have our children done something wrong and we dished out the punishment we thought was right? How many times were we GRACIOUS to them? Is God not our Heavenly Father? Are we not supposed to emulate Him? Then why are we not GRACIOUS to our children?
I've been guilty of this more times than I care to admit. You see, I have a temper that can flare at the slightest provocation. And yet, I TRY to be like God. I'm not saying that I'm abusive, although there are some, I'm sure, who would say that. I just know that I'm not GRACIOUS.
Think about Judas. I believe that even JUDAS would have experienced God's grace, had he given God the chance. And who among us has betrayed God to His enemies?
There have been many men and women who have committed horrible crimes, done terrible things. And yet, God has shown them Grace. God has reached down to them in their lowest moment and lifted them up. Bringing them into His loving arms and delivering them from sin. How AWESOME is that?
By being gracious, God blesses us. By withholding the things we deserve, we are blessed. Remember, the cost of sin is death? God's kept us from death by sending Jesus to die on a cross, so that our sins could be forgiven, if we just believe.
THAT is grace.
THAT is blessing.
So believe and receive that blessing! Receive eternal life, with God. Allow God to be gracious to you. Allow Him to bless you.
Until we meet again, may God be GRACIOUS to 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.
"The Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace."
Amen.
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.
"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us". What GLORIOUS words these are to me. You see they remind me of simpler times. Of times when I was a child and young adult. They remind me of a great Norwegian man that was a part of my life for many years.
Art was a huge fan of "Hagar The Horrible". He often quoted Hagar. In fact it was fun to wake up on Sundays and see how would Hagar be used this week.
You see, "Art", was Pastor Arthur Solem. He was first my Chaplain at the Chapel on Fort Bliss, where he confirmed me in the Lutheran faith when I was thirteen. He married my wife and I, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (in El Paso), when I was twenty. He was there for the renewal of our vows, when I was forty-five. Easter Sunday, 2013, was his funeral service (I'm forty-nine). Yes, he was a part of my life for a long time.
Pastor Solem always ended his services with the benediction. Those very familiar words:
The Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord make His face to shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace."'
I realize that the Benediction words that Pastor Solem used were from Numbers, but the words from Psalms 67 remind me of them. And how GREAT is it to think about God being GRACIOUS to us?
How many times have our children done something wrong and we dished out the punishment we thought was right? How many times were we GRACIOUS to them? Is God not our Heavenly Father? Are we not supposed to emulate Him? Then why are we not GRACIOUS to our children?
I've been guilty of this more times than I care to admit. You see, I have a temper that can flare at the slightest provocation. And yet, I TRY to be like God. I'm not saying that I'm abusive, although there are some, I'm sure, who would say that. I just know that I'm not GRACIOUS.
Think about Judas. I believe that even JUDAS would have experienced God's grace, had he given God the chance. And who among us has betrayed God to His enemies?
There have been many men and women who have committed horrible crimes, done terrible things. And yet, God has shown them Grace. God has reached down to them in their lowest moment and lifted them up. Bringing them into His loving arms and delivering them from sin. How AWESOME is that?
By being gracious, God blesses us. By withholding the things we deserve, we are blessed. Remember, the cost of sin is death? God's kept us from death by sending Jesus to die on a cross, so that our sins could be forgiven, if we just believe.
THAT is grace.
THAT is blessing.
So believe and receive that blessing! Receive eternal life, with God. Allow God to be gracious to you. Allow Him to bless you.
Until we meet again, may God be GRACIOUS to 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.
"The Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace."
Amen.
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