- Sep 24, 2023More Love Less Hate
More Love Less Hate
- Sep 17, 2023Christian Journey
Christian Journey
- Sep 10, 2023All Means ALL
All Means ALL
- Sep 3, 2023Labor Day
Labor Day
Most people think of labor day as the unofficial end of summerThey celebrate with BBQs and beach tripsWhen I think about Labor day I think about a different kind of laborThinking about this kind of labor made me think of what Jesus told NicodemusRemember who Nicodemus is?Nicodemus came to Jesus at nightWhen Jesus said you must be born again Nicodemus was genuinely baffledJesus broke it down in verse 5Remember that the Jews being God’s chosen people, felt they were destined to HeavenWhy would they need to be born again, they were born right the first timeToday some people mistakenly believe that they are destined to HeavenGod loves us, so of course He would allow us all in heavenJesus said unless we are born again we can’t see the kingdom of GodHe said that because Nicodemus was extremely familiar with the Old TestamentIt takes cleansing and being filled with the Spirit in order to be born againJesus isn’t saying that the Spirit of God is randomHe is saying that although we can’t see it, the Spirit wishes to fill all who repent and believeMany people today think they are saved but they have not been born again by water and SpiritGod desires for ALL to come to Him but only those who do will see the kingdom of GodHave you been born again? - Aug 27, 2023Second Chances
Second Chances
Today we are going to cover the story of JonahSome background to know is that Jonah lived during a time of moral decay and worldly unrestWe could be talking about today just as easilySo God told Jonah to go and instead Jonah tried to run away from GodIn today’s tumultuous world God is telling His people to go and tell but most are trying to hide insteadWhy did Jonah do that?Everything he had been taught in Israel was to hate those against IsraelHe had been taught to be against people that were not GodlyGod changed the narrative and said preach repentance to this peopleToday American Christians also have these biases against lost peopleWe somehow believe that God only loves America and those who have already accepted HimWe would probably never say that but it is how we actWhat happened to Jonah when he ran from GodEven when Jonah was disobedient God protected himHowever Jonah was miserable in this situationWhen a Christian is not doing what God calls them to do they can not have true Joy.See even when we are disobedient if we call on the Lord He will answerThis was a second chance for JonahHe did what God asked but he wasn’t happy about itGod even used this half hearted effort to open the hearts of the people of NinevehIf we are honest we are just like this sometimes today.God gives us chance after chance but we somehow feel others don’t deserve thatThe story of Jonah ends without saying if Jonah ever had a change of heartWhen we leave Jonah he is still miserable even after doing what God told him to doGod will give us second chances and He will use us despite ourselvesWhen we are begrudgingly serving God we will not receive the Joy that should be thereToday my question for you is are you running from God?Are you serving Him but not happy about it?Wouldn’t you like to have the Joy that God gives when we serve Him gladly?Use your second chances joyfully! - Aug 20, 2023Persistence In Prayer
Persistence In Prayer
Do you ever pray for something truly important and grow weary when you don’t see the answer?Many believers will pray diligently but after a couple weeks allow it to fade away.I want to read a story about George Mueller and prayer.Where did he get the idea that he had to be so persistent?In America today we have become an inpatient people."I want what I want and I want it now!" Also, "I am not willing to wait any time for it."Sometimes it just takes timeSmoked meat takes hours to be ready but it is so worth it when you taste itI believe the lack of persistent prayer is the greatest reason for church decline todayWe as a church need to be in persistent prayer for God to use us to reach peopleIf you want to see Orchard or any church grow persistent prayer is the keyWhen I say persistent prayer I mean you gotta PUSHPray
Until
Something
HappensSo when we pray for something we have to prepare to receive itOne of my favorite quotes from “Facing the Giants”If you are praying for rain, prepare your field to receive itGod’s people today, when they do pray, they are not preparing to receive what they pray forThis means that we have to pray and we have to prepareFor every believer, we have to pray persistently, believing God will deliverIf we are praying persistently we have to prepare persistentlyWe need to get out in our community and invite people to meet GodAs we saw in George Mueller’s story, God answers in His time but our job is to keep praying“Do your work heartily, as for the Lord”Christians, we must get to prayer and get to work for GodBeing satisfied with how things are is not doing things for the LordAre you ready to diligently pray and prepare today?If not, then why not? What is preventing you from that?Do you truly know God? - Aug 13, 2023Consecrate Yourselves
Consecrate Yourselves
- Aug 6, 2023She Perished Not
She Perished Not
- Jul 30, 2023In His Image
In His Image
- Jul 23, 2023The Walls Of Jericho
The Walls Of Jericho
- Jul 16, 2023Rainbow Promises
Rainbow Promises
God’s word begins with Genesis 1:1 God created the heavens and the EarthBy Genesis 8, man was so evil, God destroyed everyone except the family of NoahIn Genesis 9 God makes us a promise that includes a signThe Rainbow!!This weekend in VBS the theme has been Noah and the ArkWhat I want to focus on today in the Promise or the CovenantA covenant made by God to all living thingsA covenant that God wanted to remind us of often so He gave us a beautiful rainbowA rainbow is actually a full circle when seen from above but we only see half from the groundA circle also represents perfection and continuityGod destroyed the earth because of the evil of manThis covenant never says man won’t be punished for their evilHowever it is a promise that God loves us so much he won’t flood the whole world againThe first thing that Noah did when he stepped out of the ark was give an offering to GodGod says “the intent of a man’s heart is evil”The only thing that can change that is GodSome try to explain away the rainbow as simply a scientific explanationGod’s word clearly shows that a rainbow is from GodSome of the most beautiful rainbows seem to occur after the worst stormsGod reminding us that He will never leave us or forsake us even when times are bad.Have you ever seen a double rainbow?Have you ever noticed that the color pattern of the second rainbow is a reverse of the firstHow amazing! I like to think of that as a full picture from top to bottom and bottom to top.No matter what comes your way God is always thereA rainbow also causes me to think of another covenant from GodThe one in which Jesus gave His life to save yoursThis beauty makes a rainbow dim in comparisonHave you ever entered into that covenant with God? - Jul 9, 2023Forgivness Is Paramount
Forgivness Is Paramount
Everyone here is humanSince we all make mistakes, we all need forgivenessGod gave us the ultimate forgiveness, if we accept itIf we have been forgiven, what does that mean for us?When we need forgiveness, it is the greatest thing we can receiveForgiveness can repair relationships as nothing else canIn this passage a person was in the wrong but they asked for compassionThe compassion led to complete forgivenessThis was an incredible act of kindnessUnfortunately, many people receive forgiveness but don’t reciprocateForgiveness should be given as easily as it is receivedToday we hear many people say, I can never forgive themI’m talking about Christians right nowWhen we have been forgiven there are consequences if we don’t forgiveIf we are to have a relationship, forgiveness is paramountWhen we hold unforgiveness in our hearts, the person that hurts the most is usUnforgiveness creates a barrier to a relationship with people and with GodWhen we have hurt someone we need to go to them and apologizeThis gives us a chance to show our sorrow and them a chance to forgiveWe need to go to those we have hurt and make amendsThis can make both hearts right with GodSee we, as believers, must give others the same forgiveness that God gives usThe way to do this is be kind to everyoneIf we do something wrong to someone, apologizeWhen someone apologizes, forgive themHave you received the forgiveness that Jesus offers today?
- Dec 18, 2022Your Best Christmas Ever – Joy
Your Best Christmas Ever – Joy
- Dec 11, 2022Your Best Christmas Ever – Peace
Your Best Christmas Ever – Peace
- Dec 4, 2022Your Best Christmas Ever – Hope
Your Best Christmas Ever – Hope
- Nov 27, 2022Be Ready
Be Ready
- Nov 20, 2022Thankful For Good Things
Thankful For Good Things
Happy Thanksgiving
This holiday is about giving thanks to God for all the blessings that He has given us this year!
The Pilgrims and the Natives came together to celebrate and give thanks for all the bountiful harvest.
We live in a world that thinks Thanksgiving is all about the Turkey
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above!
We are not entitled!
Even perfect gifts can be used wrongly
Father of Lights
Realize this, the light from the Sun never fades, the world turns away.
With whom there is no variation
God never changes! He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow
His light does not create a shadow. In His light, there is no darkness at all.
In His will, He brought us forth by the Word of truth
Salvation doesn’t come because we want it to come,
In fact, natural man would never seek salvation
It is by His will, through His Word, that salvation comes
First fruits
The first fruits were an offering back to God for His blessings
As first fruits, our job is to glorify God by living for Him daily
This year, like every year, we have much to be thankful for indeed
Do you know the God of salvation?
Let this truly be your first Thanksgiving!
- Nov 13, 2022Light And Wisdom
Light And Wisdom
- Nov 6, 2022The Pain Of Waiting
The Pain Of Waiting
A little history on LamentationsAlso called the Lamentations of Jeremiah
The Book of Lamentations is the collection of five poems or songs mourning the conquest of Jerusalem and the Kingdom of Judah.
The tone of the book of Jeremiah is very heavy as God’s Judgement had come
However, today’s text is Jeremiah remembering Hope in the hard times
I recall hope
The Lord’s Mercies
His compassions never fail
They are new every morning
Great is Your faithfulness
The Lord is my portion
I Hope in Him
Wait for Him and seek Him
Hope and wait quietly
Waiting is excruciating for today’s "2-day delivery" generation
However, if we take the time of waiting to examine and seek and spend time quietly listening to the Lord,
The pain of waiting will become joy in the Hope of Christ.
- Oct 30, 2022God’s Ways
God’s Ways
- Oct 23, 2022From Dread To Joy
From Dread To Joy
In this passage today David has approached God to basically complain about the wickedness all around himAs we go through this Psalm today, notice the similarities of our world today.
Hear my voice O Lord!
Preserve my life from the dread of the enemy!
Hide me from the secret plots
They attack suddenly
Evil purpose
They devise injustices
Men’s hearts
God’s arrow
Suddenly
They will stumble
They will fear
The righteous will be glad!
The righteous will take refuge
Dread will become Joy!
Do you know the God that can turn dread to joy?
- Oct 16, 2022Service
Service
"Have this attitude"
KJV
"Let this mind"This is a choice
Jesus existed in the form of God
He didn’t cling to His Deity but embraced His humanity
In His humanity He became as a bond-servant
Remember, a bond-servant was one who chose to serve, even though they were free to choose not to
Being made in the likeness of men
He humbled Himself when He became obedient
Jesus humility was one of suffering
He served even when it was hard and humiliating
Today’s Christian needs to remember that humility is not weakness
Jesus humbled Himself as a man to be obedient to God
To show us exactly how we should serve God
Today we can serve in many ways even in our own church
Jesus humbled Himself and was obedient even to the point of death on the cross
He obediently suffered for the whole world to see
Are you willing to obediently serve God today that others may see Jesus?
- Oct 9, 2022Who’s In The Mirror?
Who’s In The Mirror?
Toddlers under 18 months don’t often recognize themselves in the mirror
We notice things in the mirror
This passage is describing the mirror which is the Word of God
If we are doers of the Word, when we examine ourselves, we see the Word
When the world looks at self-proclaimed believers today, how many reflect the Word?
Do you see the Word when you look in the mirror, or something else?
Ever looked in a funhouse mirror? It is still you, but looks wierd
Perhaps a version of the Word, yet distorted
Perhaps you see something broken that needs repair
When things are broken, they are not able to function properly
Some people hate to look in the mirror, but do nothing to change that
The only way to see Jesus, when you look in that mirror, is to be that doer of the Word
This is what our world needs today, believers who do what they read in God’s Word
Only you have the option to change what you see in the mirror
Do you want to see Jesus?
- Oct 2, 2022Jesus Calms The Storms
Jesus Calms The Storms
We live in a stormy time
I’ve heard it said that each of us is; either in a storm, coming out of a storm, or about to go into a storm every day.
With storms being on all our minds this week, I want us to remember something: Jesus Calms The Storms!Our text today isLet’s look at 35-39Jesus rebukes the storm
Let US cross over
Took Him how He was
A storm arose
He was asleep
He was awakened
He rebuked the storm
Jesus rebuked His disciplesHow is it that you have no faith
The disciples were fearful
Who can this be?
Jesus was fully man and fully God and the disciples just saw both
Are you locked in the storms of life?
Do you need a savior?
Trust Jesus! He is the only One that can calm the storms!
