Oct 11, 2020
My God Will Hear Me
Series: 2020

Do you ever find yourself wondering how long the darkness can continue?

Seasonal

Affective

Disorder

Darkness has a negative effect on people

We talk over and over about how bad 2020 has been

The reality is that the darkness has been creeping in for a very long time

Will the darkness ever end?

Micah 7:2 NASB

"The godly person has perished from the land, And there is no upright person among men.  All of them lie in wait for bloodshed; Each of them hunts the other with a net."

This one verse seems to capture the feeling of our world today

The world is trying to make us believe that the darkness is overcoming

Anger and Hate are the normal emotions we should all embrace

Micah looked at the world around him and it was bleak

Vs 3-6

" Concerning evil, both hands do it well. The prince asks, also the judge, for a bribe, And a great man speaks the desire of his soul;  So they weave it together.

The best of them is like a briar, The most upright like a thorn hedge. The day when you post your watchmen, Your punishment will come. Then their confusion will occur.

Do not trust in a neighbor; Do not have confidence in a friend. From her who lies in your bosom Guard your lips.

For son treats father contemptuously, Daughter rises up against her mother, Daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;  A man's enemies are the men of his own household."

Among all the darkness, one thing remains

Hope

Micah has hope!  vs 7

" But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me."

I will watch EXPECTANTLY for the LORD

He isn’t making some futile effort. He knows the Lord will answer

He expects to see results. He has hope!

He waits for the God of my salvation

My God will hear me!

Do not be overwhelmed with the darkness, instead call on God

Expect to hear from Him

And wait with Hope

The Hope of Salvation

Jesus

Do you know that Hope today?

It is the only way out of the darkness.

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  • Oct 11, 2020My God Will Hear Me
    Oct 11, 2020
    My God Will Hear Me
    Series: 2020

    Do you ever find yourself wondering how long the darkness can continue?

    Seasonal

    Affective

    Disorder

    Darkness has a negative effect on people

    We talk over and over about how bad 2020 has been

    The reality is that the darkness has been creeping in for a very long time

    Will the darkness ever end?

    Micah 7:2 NASB

    "The godly person has perished from the land, And there is no upright person among men.  All of them lie in wait for bloodshed; Each of them hunts the other with a net."

    This one verse seems to capture the feeling of our world today

    The world is trying to make us believe that the darkness is overcoming

    Anger and Hate are the normal emotions we should all embrace

    Micah looked at the world around him and it was bleak

    Vs 3-6

    " Concerning evil, both hands do it well. The prince asks, also the judge, for a bribe, And a great man speaks the desire of his soul;  So they weave it together.

    The best of them is like a briar, The most upright like a thorn hedge. The day when you post your watchmen, Your punishment will come. Then their confusion will occur.

    Do not trust in a neighbor; Do not have confidence in a friend. From her who lies in your bosom Guard your lips.

    For son treats father contemptuously, Daughter rises up against her mother, Daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;  A man's enemies are the men of his own household."

    Among all the darkness, one thing remains

    Hope

    Micah has hope!  vs 7

    " But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me."

    I will watch EXPECTANTLY for the LORD

    He isn’t making some futile effort. He knows the Lord will answer

    He expects to see results. He has hope!

    He waits for the God of my salvation

    My God will hear me!

    Do not be overwhelmed with the darkness, instead call on God

    Expect to hear from Him

    And wait with Hope

    The Hope of Salvation

    Jesus

    Do you know that Hope today?

    It is the only way out of the darkness.

  • Oct 7, 2020Book Of Revelation Study 6
    Oct 7, 2020
    Book Of Revelation Study 6
     
  • Oct 4, 2020No Room For Hate
    Oct 4, 2020
    No Room For Hate
    Series: 2020

    Have you ever looked around your house and realized you were out of space.

    When that happens the first thought is, "YARD SALE!"

    The first thought is, "I have to get rid of some stuff!"

    Our lives are like our houses, often times we need to get rid of stuff.

    Hate is something that has no business being in our life anyway.

    Sometimes it is learned from others. Every time it comes from Satan. Our World today is full of hate.
     
    Look at Luke 23:32-43 NASB.
     
    "Two others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be put to death with Him.

    When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.

    But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."

    And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves. And the people stood by, looking on.

    And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One."

    The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine, and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!"

    Now there was also an inscription above Him, "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS."

    One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, "Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!"

    But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?

    "And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."

    And he was saying, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!"

    And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.""
     
    If ever anyone seemed to have the right to hate, Jesus did.

    He poured out nothing but love, and he was hated for it to the point of death.

    But instead of hate, Jesus simply showed more intense love.

    Well, that is Jesus, and we can’t live up to that because we are flesh.

    June 17th, 2015
    Emmanuel AME Church massacre in Charleston SC

    Within 24 hours, at the bond hearing, family members told the shooter, "I forgive you"

    When asked how they could do that, they said God was with them.

    Because Jesus was fully flesh, we can draw strength from His earthly life.

    Hate is a cancer that eats you up from the inside.

    The only way to get rid of hate is to be filled with Love.

    If you are filled with hate, there is no room for love.

    Are you willing to be filled with Love, God’s Love, today?

  • Sep 27, 2020The Constant
    Sep 27, 2020
    The Constant
    Series: 2020

    Someone once said the only constant is change

    Certainly that seems to be true in our world today

    A year ago who would have ever thought we would wear masks every day

    The problem is that when everything keeps changing, we get tossed about

    There is however one constant that we can always count on;

    Jesus

    Colossians 3:1-3 NASB

    "Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above,

    where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

    Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

    For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God."
     
    When you are on a boat getting sick, they say to focus on the shoreline

    If you are trying to balance on one foot, focus on a single spot

    The point is, when you want to stand firm, you have to focus on one thing…

    God

    This year, 2020, we have been reminded that the world around us is volatile

    From Covid, to fires, to storms, to floods; it seems like everything has happened

    I’ve said before that most of us just want 2021 to get here so this will be over

    But, what if these crazy times don’t stop with the flip of the calendar?

    "Set your mind on the things above not on the things on earth"

    Phillipians 4:8 NASB
     

    "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right,

    whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute,

    if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."

    Don’t close your eyes and repeat there is no place like home

    Open your eyes wide, and see what is happening, and dwell on the Father

    The rest of this chapter tells us how to put away self and live for God

    The point is, when we put away self and dwell on God, we love others

    Not only do we love them, but we want to show them what we see

    John 3:16-17 NASB
     

    "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,

    that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

    "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world,

    but that the world might be saved through Him."

    Dwell on the constant that God loves us, and because of that, we can have life

    We can have an abundant life! That means, a life full of Love

    Love that anchors us and drives us at the same time

    Hebrews 12:1-3 NASB
     

    "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us,let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us,

    and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

    fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith,

    who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame,

    and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

    For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself,

    so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

    This world is changing quickly every day, but keep your eyes fixed on the constant

    Keeping our eyes on the constant, Jesus, helps us run the race to the finish

    When we run the race, others see there is Hope in this hopeless world

    If you have been raised up with Christ, you can rely on the constant

    What is the constant in your life?

  • Sep 23, 2020Book Of Revelation Study 5
    Sep 23, 2020
    Book Of Revelation Study 5
     
  • Sep 20, 2020Through The Storm
    Sep 20, 2020
    Through The Storm
    Series: 2020

    Storms can be terrifying

    Some storms in life are, in nature, like hurricanes

    Other storms in life happen within our lives like financial difficulties, and relationship issues

    No matter which type of storms come; the fact is, they come

    Most of us would be happy if these storms would just pass over us

    Sometimes they do, but often, we must go through the storm

    Luke 8:22-26 NASB
     
    "Now on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat,

    and He said to them, "Let us go over to the other side of the lake." So they launched out.

    But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake,

    and they began to be swamped and to be in danger.

    They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!"

    And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm.

    And He said to them, "Where is your faith?"

    They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?"

    Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee."
     
    The amazing thing about going through the storms, it is better not to be alone

    Even if whoever is with you can’t do anything, it is still better

    For a believer, the great thing is we are never alone!

    Look at verse 22
     
    We see here that Jesus was with His disciples

    Believers sometimes get this false thought that, as long as Jesus is with them, there will be no storms

    We were never promised that!

    In fact in John 16:33 Jesus says, in this world you will have trouble

    So, instead of thinking there will be no storm, prepare to go through them

    In June, everywhere you look people are saying "Get prepared for Hurricane season"

    Being prepared doesn’t stop the storms, but at least you are ready

    Vs 23-24
     
    You see, as they went through the storm, they knew that Jesus could help them

    They didn’t know what He would do and were astonished at what He did

    They just knew they should call on Him

    The point is, as we go through the Storms of life, our Father is with us

    He may not calm the storm as quickly as we want, but He is with us

    The second part of John 16:33 says, take heart I have overcome the world

    I am always amazed at how Jesus brings us through storms

    Vs 25
     
    The disciples who walked with Him in person were amazed

    Where is your faith? Yes, there are going to be storms in this life.

    But if you have faith, He will go through the storm with you.

    After the storms, we are usually stronger than before and more faithful

    Vs 26
     
    Jesus brings us through the storms to continue our mission of the Gospel

    Are you storm ready?

    Do you know the one that will take you through the storm?

  • Sep 13, 2020Faith or Flesh
    Sep 13, 2020
    Faith or Flesh
    Series: 2020

    "I want to be a better Christian, but I gotta get some things straight first."

    "I know I can do better and I’m working on that."

    "I know God loves me, but I have to fix some issues before I can follow Him."

    People tend to believe they can get straightened out before coming to God.
     
    Galatians 2:19-21 NASB

    "For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.

    "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;

    and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

    "I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly."
     
    Through the law I died to the law

    The law, meaning the Levitical laws, show me that I am a sinner

    I can not live up to the law,
    no one can

    But what does it mean that I died to the law?

    Vs 20
    I have been crucified with Christ

    The life I live in flesh, I live by Faith

    So, understand this, you can not get your life straight in your own strength

    It is not possible in the flesh, but must be done through faith
     
    Galatians 2:21 NASB
    "I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly."
     
    If you could do it on your own, then Christ would not have come
     
     
    Galatians 3:1-2 NASB
    "You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?
    This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?"
     
    Who bewitched you or who has confused you?

    Why do people today, who have confessed Christ, suddenly try to live through flesh?!?

    Who has confused you?
    Satan is the author of confusion!

    Vs 2
    Answer one question

    Was it through the law or by faith hearing that you received the Spirit?

    In other words
    Was it by flesh or Faith?

    Vs. 3
    Are you a fool?!?

    Having begun by the Spirit are you now being perfected by the flesh?!?

    The foolish part is we gave ourselves to Christ because the flesh was not able

    Did the flesh suddenly become able?

    Believers, return to the one who saved you in the first place!
     
    Galatians 3:4-5 NASB
    "Did you suffer so many things in vain--if indeed it was in vain?

    So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law,

    or by hearing with faith?"
     
    How does Jesus do it - flesh or faith?
     
    Galatians 3:6 NASB
    "Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."
     
    Faith becomes righteousness

    Have you ever lived by faith?

  • Sep 9, 2020Book Of Revelation Study 4
    Sep 9, 2020
    Book Of Revelation Study 4
     
  • Sep 6, 2020Labor Of Love
    Sep 6, 2020
    Labor Of Love
    Series: 2020

    Labor Day

    The first celebrations of Labor day were municipal ordinances in 1885

    Oregon was the first State to make it law in 1887

    U.S. Congress passed the Labor Day act on June 28, 1894

    Labor day celebrates the social and economic achievements of workers

    We are designed to be workers not place holders

    Too many Christians today have forgotten the old Hymn “We’ll Work Til Jesus Comes”

    John 9:4 NASB

    "We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day;

    night is coming when no one can work."

    This is a Labor of Love

    "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world,

    according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

    Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind,

    and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

    But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions,

    made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

    and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

    so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

    For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

    not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

    For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,

    which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." Ephesians 2:1-10 NASB

    First of all, let us understand that we were all once sinners

    Verses 1-3

    Today, as you sit here or watch on Facebook, you are either dead in sin, or you were

    But GOD

    Verses 4-6

    Because of HIS great LOVE

    By GRACE you have been saved or can be saved

    Vs. 7

    He saved us to show us His grace and kindness over and over again

    Are you wrapping your head around this?

    Jesus performed a Labor of Love by dying on the Cross to save YOU!

    Verses 8-9

    Salvation doesn’t come from you or your works it is grace given not earned

    I want you to pay close attention to verse 10

    "We are His workmanship" meaning He created us, not by chance

    We’re not an accident that crawled out of an explosion, we are designed by God

    We are designed for "Good Works" which he has already prepared

    This Labor of Love means that as Christians, we are designed to work for Him

    I am convinced the decline of the church is largely attributed to not WORKING for Him

    On this Labor Day weekend, will you decide to "Work 'Til Jesus Comes"

    Right now in our world, so many people feel hopeless; and we can show them the Hope

    It is time to get back to work for Him!

    Do you know who I’m talking about?

  • Sep 2, 2020Book Of Revelation Study 3
    Sep 2, 2020
    Book Of Revelation Study 3
     
  • Aug 30, 2020Life Is Short, Eat Dessert First
    Aug 30, 2020
    Life Is Short, Eat Dessert First
    Series: 2020

    In honor of my Amazing friend;
    Katherine Ellis

    Solomon tells us life is a vapor, dust in the wind, vanity

    In other words it goes by very quickly

    With the time we have, we need to live life to the fullest

    Ecclesiastes 11:1-10 NASB
    "Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days.

    Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.

    If the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth;

    and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it lies.

    He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap.

    Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman,

    so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things.

    Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening,

    for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed,

    or whether both of them alike will be good.

    The light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.

    Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all,

    and let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many.

    Everything that is to come will be futility.

    Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood.

    And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things.

    So, remove grief and anger from your heart and put away pain from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting."
     
    YOLO!
    You Only Live Once

    Some use this as a call to reckless abandonment

    Instead, think of it as; make the most of the life you were given

    Live by Faith
    Vs 1-2
     
    Be Generous:
    "Cast your bread upon the water"

    Not a little generous, but a lot generous

    "Make your portion seven or even eight"

    Live Life
    Vs 3-6

    Don’t let stuff stop your living

    Inevitables

    Uncertainties

    Mysteries

    When it gets hard, double up

    Enjoy Life
    Vs 7-8

    Savor the little things as well as the big

    Rejoice in ALL our days!
    All means ……

    Vs 9-10

    Be wise, as we will all give account for our choices

    Remove grief and anger and put away pain

    John 10:10
    This is Jesus speaking

    "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

    Are you ready to have dessert by living life to the fullest?

    That can only happen if you give your life to Christ

  • Aug 26, 2020Book Of Revelation Study 2
    Aug 26, 2020
    Book Of Revelation Study 2
     
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