- Aug 7, 2022Serve The Children
- Jul 31, 2022Peace, Be Still
Jul 31, 2022Peace, Be StillBy: Bro. Tim HackettSeries: 2022Mark 4:35-41
35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?(KJV) - Jul 27, 2022Bible Study – 1 John 5:11-21
- Jul 24, 2022Go Deeper
- Jul 20, 2022Bible Study – 1 John 5:1-10
- Jul 17, 2022Evil
Jul 17, 2022EvilBy: Bro. George RiekSeries: 2022
Evil is everywhere in this world today, and probably nowhere more prevalent than the United States
It has become so commonplace, most people don’t even flinch when they encounter it anymore
This was a piece that Paul Harvey read on the air in 1965
WOW, he was right on target with how the devil was making our country his playground
We see exactly what you are talking about but what can we do about it?
That’s the thing, evil has become so prevalent that people feel as if nothing can be done.
I am going to read another letter to you this morning
1 Thessalonians 5 NASB
Apostle PaulThese are the very instructions for how to deal with the evil in the world today
We are in the end times and we do not know the day or the hour of Christ return
One of the most important things we can do today is;
1 Thessalonians 5:22NASBWe are usually pretty good with what we would consider the big things
Murder, Burglary, Assault….you know all the big things
But what about other stuff
We invite evil into our hearts on a daily basis
We have TV shows and movies that glorify evil
We go to movies that are even called Horror movies and pay to open our hearts to evil
We read books that are all about evil
You see instead of abstaining from evil or fleeing from evil we invite it in
The “we” I’m talking about here is not the lost world but people who call themselves believers
God’s people have got to wake up and realize that the toxic things of the world are exactly that, TOXIC
We know that judgement day is coming and instead of remaining vigilant and watchful we practice evil ourselves
I work for the NWS and their job is to keep the people safe by warning them of incoming bad weather
What if the NWS decided to just keep all the info to themselves and not put out the warnings. People would die!
If God’s people who know what is coming do not tell others, people don’t just die.
They spend an eternity in a devil's hell in eternal torment
Stop entertaining evil and instead pray without ceasing!
Sound the alarm and tell people how they can be saved!
Do you know Jesus?
- Jul 13, 2022Bible Study – 1 John 4
- Jul 10, 2022Pain
Jul 10, 2022PainBy: Bro. George RiekSeries: 2022
Most of you know, I went through a lot of pain last week
By Wednesday afternoon, I was feeling kind of sorry for myself and hoping for relief
Then I thought about all the pain others were going through
All those around me that I know had much worse pain that I was dealing with, yet they continue on
How about the Apostle Paul? He was shipwrecked 3 times and lost at sea for a day and night
He was stoned, scourged 5 times, beaten, scandalized, slandered and even bitten by a poisonous viper
Paul never left the path God put him on, and his focus and energy never wavered
So, is there something we can learn from the pain that comes in our lives?
First of all, we need to know that pain happens
We would like to think that God would allow those who know him to have less pain and suffering, but that isn’t the case
I read someone said “life starts with a swat to the bottom and goes downhill from there”
Those who serve God have pain too, in fact, we have already talked about some of Paul’s struggles
To top everything else off, Paul was given a thorn in the flesh that was straight from Hell
Our passage today says it was a messenger from Satan sent to torment him
Paul begged God 3 times to take away that pain, but God said "My grace is sufficient"
We know that pain is part of life, but do we ever look for purpose in our pain?
In our passage today, Paul says the thorn was given to keep him from exalting himself
Also think about Philippi, where Paul and Silas were beaten in public and locked up
After that happened, the message of Christ exploded in that city
Or maybe Ephesus, where Paul ministered for a long time and then, after a huge riot, was run out of the city
More people came to Christ in the aftermath of that riot than during the whole 2 years Paul preached there
While we are in the midst of Pain, it is hard to see a purpose, but we can trust God to have a purpose, and we should seek it
Not even Jesus was spared from pain, so, we should remember that pain also has power
In Paul’s pain, and his begging for relief, he received from God power
Paul determined at that point, he would rather be strong in Christ through pain, than in his own strength
We watch people who are in pain but work through it anyway with a great respect
A football player, who is hurting, but stays in the game to carry the team to victory
A soldier, who even injured, fights on to keep his platoon safe
How about Christ, who, while enduring the worst torture even before the cross, pressed on to finish the fight
These are things that inspire us to fight on through the pain
Pain happens, pain has a purpose, and pain has a power
One last thing to consider, Have you ever thought about how a pearl is made?
A pearl is made through great suffering to the oyster
The gem inside has great beauty and great value, all from the suffering of the oyster
We can be inspired by Paul, but it was the pain that Christ endured that gives us life
While we still endure some pain in this world, through Christ, we can be relieved of all pain when we get home
Are you certain of that fact in your life?
- Jul 3, 2022God & Country
Jul 3, 2022God & CountryBy: Bro. George RiekSeries: 2022
In the last two weeks we have seen decades of bad laws reversed
Our 2nd amendment rights were protected
Abortion laws were overturned
Prayer in school was protected
I heard it referred to as a month of horrors but I believe it was a month of celebration
However, our country still has a long way to go to get back to God
Happy Independence day weekend!
Our great country was founded based on the freedom of Religion
Way back in the old testament, God showed a nation that it could only survive if it followed the Law
That law we know as the 10 commandments
Our very own country’s laws were originally based in the 10 commandments
Today, I want us to look at the most important way we can serve God and Country
We call this the Great Commandment
Love God and Love your neighbor
The first thing we all have to do for God and for Country is Love God with all our everything
How is this going to be good for serving our country?
If you love God with all that you have, you will walk with Him and He will direct your path
If God directs your path you will live the love of God and not get caught up in all the division
The biggest problem we have as a Nation is not all the division among the lost but among the saved
God’s people need to act like God’s people and live the love of God
Love your neighbor as yourself means to love like God loves
Jesus says we respect our Nation and God
We follow the laws of the land in a way that is pleasing to God
Our Nation is a Nation because brave men and women sought freedom to worship
When we think about Independence day it is important to remember why
With all it’s flaws, the United States of America is still the greatest country in the world!
But, always remember our first devotion is not to country but to God
If we truly lived the great commandment and loved God with everything and loved our neighbor as self,
The whole Nation would see how badly they need God
How can you live the great commandment unless you know the one it is about?
- Jun 26, 2022Unbearable Heat
Jun 26, 2022Unbearable HeatBy: Bro. George RiekSeries: 2022
Have you been enjoying the Heat lately?
We have had new record high temps all over our area just this week.
I don’t know about you but all this heat made me think about one thing...
HELL!
So many people go through life never giving the existence of Hell one thought
For those who believe the Word of God, thinking about hell should cause us to work even harder to reach people
For those who have never made a decision to follow Christ, the thought of hell should be terrifying
There are those who argue, “a loving God wouldn’t send anyone to Hell”
To that I say you are right. But unrepentant people send themselves to hell
Today I want to look at several scriptures that tell us about hell
Hell is a place of eternal torment and agony
“Where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched”
In this chapter in Mark that phrase is repeated 3 times! Do you think it is important?
“In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth”
Have you ever seen a dog that is in terrible pain?
The outer darkness is also a reference to hell as indicated by weeping and gnashing of teeth
Have you ever sat in total darkness for an extended period of time?
There are months in Alaska where the sun never shines and the depression rate is off the charts
Total darkness can make you feel as if you are being crushed to death.
How hot will hell be?
This fire was so hot the guards died just getting near it. We have to believe hell is hotter than that.
We’ve already established that the fire is not only hot but unquenchable meaning it never burns out
The point today is that hell is real and those who do not accept Jesus send themselves there.
There is good news!
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 NASBJesus saves us from the wrath to come.
To perish means to spend eternity in Hell
Good news God did not send Jesus in the world to condemn the world but to save it.
Today if you are here or watching online you still have the opportunity to accept Jesus
“whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life”
That eternal life is in heaven with Jesus!
- Jun 22, 2022Bible Study – 1 John 3:7-24
- Jun 19, 2022A Father’s Blessing
- Aug 7, 2022Serve The Children
- Jul 31, 2022Peace, Be Still
- Jul 27, 2022Bible Study – 1 John 5:11-21
- Jul 24, 2022Go Deeper
- Jul 20, 2022Bible Study – 1 John 5:1-10
- Jul 17, 2022Evil
- Jul 13, 2022Bible Study – 1 John 4
- Jul 10, 2022Pain
- Jul 3, 2022God & Country
- Jun 26, 2022Unbearable Heat
- Jun 22, 2022Bible Study – 1 John 3:7-24
- Jun 19, 2022A Father’s Blessing