Tuesday, March 29, 2011

God's Last Call

God’s Last Call
Introductions: In today’s society people just do not seem to be worried about where they will spend eternity. Their lives are passing and they are living like they feel they will be on earth forever.   James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.  Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: One of these days God will make his last call.  The question is, are you ready?
Text: Jeremiah 8:20 The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. And 2 Corinthians 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
I.)                 Seek God now!
*Isaiah 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
*Genesis 6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
*Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

II.)              Do not become hardened to God’s call!
*Proverbs 29:1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
*Heb 3:8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
*Heb 3:15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
*Heb 4:7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

III.)           When God calls let him know you are listening!
*1Samuel 3:1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
*1Samuel 3:6 And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
*1Samuel 3:8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
*1Samuel 3:9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
*1Samuel 3:15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.
*1Samuel 3:16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.

Conclusion: Friends I hope and pray this sermon will cause you to think about the urgency of being right with God. The Bible tells us about the consequences of dying without Jesus in our life. Please listen and respond to the Lord when he deals with your heart. God loves you and he will save you from spending an eternity in hell.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Victory in Life’s War

Victory in Life’s War
Text: Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
I.)                 Victory comes through Jesus.

Romans 8:37-39 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

II.)              Victory is in Jesus care.

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.


III.)           Victory is in the peace of God through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7-8 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.


Conclusion: Remember the Lord Jesus Christ is always looking out for us.  Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.  Matthew 28:18-20  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Don’t Settle for Less

Don’t Settle for Less
Introduction; So many Christians today settle for the norm.  We are comfortable with religion and casual worship.  I want to progress myself.  The word of God says; Philippians 3:13-14  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  I believe this takes action on our part to do as Paul did.  Remember, 2 Timothy 4:6-8 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.  Notice this involved action on Paul’s part.  Are willing to progress beyond the position we are in now?  Please take time to ponder on the following scriptures.

Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Luke 3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

Acts 1:5-8 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

2 Timothy 1:6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

            Works doesn’t save you or give salvation as we see in, Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.  And  Titus 3:5  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;  But we also know God doesn’t want us to be lukewarm.  Revelation So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.  In other words you will make God sick when you are a half hearted as a Christian.  Remember what the scriptures say.   Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.  Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.  Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
Works can not save you but faith is dead without works.  James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?  James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.  Therefore, I would like to share some principles that might help you to progress in your Christian walk instead of you regressing.

I) We should pray
*2 Chronicles 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
*Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
*Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
James 1:5-6   If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

II) We should study God’s Holy Word and apply it
*2 Timothy Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
*Romans So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
*James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
*1 Corinthians 3:1-3 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
*2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

III) We should GO to work for God
*Matthew 28:19-20  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
*Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
*Luke 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

Conclusion; There are three types of people in the church. 1) People that makes  things happen.  2) People who watch things happen. And   3) People who says what happened.  It’s time the church got CPR.  Confessed Up, Prayed Up, and Ready to go Up.   1 Peter For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? Lets move closer to God by progressing in the faith instead of settling for where we are now.  James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.