What I Want For Our Church
February 18, 2007
WHAT I WANT FOR OUR CHURCH
Text: 2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Introduction: I Thought Of Six Things I Want For The New Year.
I) FAITH TO ACCEPT WHAT GOD DESIGNS
A) THE MAN WHO SURRENDERS HIS LIFE TO JESUS DOES NOT LIVE ACCIDENTLY. Rom 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
1) If that statement is true, then Christ designs everything that comes into my life
2) The Poet Was Right When He Said…
My life is but a weaving
Between my Lord and me.
I cannot choose the colors,
He worketh steadily.
Ofttimes He weaveth sorrow,
And I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper,
And I the underside.
Not till the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly
Shall God unroll the canvas
And explain the why.
B) OFTEN GOD INTERRUPTS OUR PLANS.
1) Even Trials are designed by God. 1 Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
2) Bible says God knows how much we can bear and He will never overload us. Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship
C) WE NEED TO SURRENDER OUR LIVES TO JESUS CHRIST TODAY….
1) He brings the right trial into our life that will work out for our good.
2) We are the Clay In The Potters Hands. Jer 18:6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? Saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
3) Exciting to know everything that comes our way is screened by a Loving God.
II) LIFE YIELDED TO GOD THAT REALIZE HIS COMPLETE PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE.
A) SOME MEN GOD HAS USED IN THE PAST
1) God used D.L. MOODY who someone said
(a) World Has Yet To See What God Can Do With A Man Who Is Fully Surrendered”
(b) Moody said "I'll Be That Man"
(c) NO Education and NO Ordination papers, D.L. Moody surrendered his life to Christ.
(d) Moody Bible institute stands today as a pattern for most others to follow.
2) God used a MOSES.
(a) Stammering, stuttering man who couldn’t speak to lead his people out of bondage.
(b) b. Just because MOSES Was available.
3) GIDEON the least of his father's household
(a) He didn't want to go..
(b) Finally he submitted to God and won one of the greatest victories in the Bible.
4) DAVID – Youngest of his fathers children
(a) He was but a mere shepherd boy..
(b) He had the heart of a lion &God used Him
5) A SMALL LAD – Used to feed the 5,000
(a) He wasn't the greatest scholar there.
(b) However He Was Available.. With 5 loaves and 2 little fishes.
B) GOD COULD USE YOU ALSO.
1) It would amaze you as to what He will do with you if you will let Him.
2) He has plenty for us to do if He can find the Available instruments.
III) GRATITUDE ENOUGH TO BE THANKFUL FOR GOD'S EVER MERCY AND BLESSING. Psa 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
A) ONE OF THE GREATEST CHRISTIAN GRACES IS GRATITUDE.
1) Dr. Bob Jones said "Gratitude Is The Loveliest Flower That Grows In The Garden Of A Man's Soul;”
2) Jesus told of 10 lepers who were healed, only one turned back to give Him thanks
B) THANK GOD FOR HIS MERCIES. Lam 3:22 It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. multitude of
1) God's Mercies Are New Every Morning..
(a) They are higher than the heavens, and they Endure forever.
(b) Psa 86:5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
C) MANY THINGS WE TAKE FOR GRANTED ARE GREAT BLESSINGS.
1) GRACE is God Giving to us something we do not deserve..
2) MERCY Is God Withholding from us something which we do deserve.
D) INGRATITUDE LEADS TO OTHER SINS Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful;
IV) ENOUGH PATIENCE TO BUILD THIS CHURCH INTO A GREATER MINISTRY.
A) NOT SATISFIED WITH OUR PROGRESS.
1) God sent me here but I can’t do it alone.
2) We have grown Slack
B) SHOULD BE RUNNING OVER ____NOW
1) Why do people come and then leave???
2) We losing children to other groups
C) I HAVE PRAYED FOR PATIENCE
1) Now I am praying for PROGRESS..
2) I am asking for HELP in a big way.
3) Promise God you will do your best..
V) I WANT GOD'S SMILE & APPROVAL ON EVERYTHING I SAY AND DO. 2 Cor 5:9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, We may be accepted of Him.
A) I WOULD LIKE YOUR APPROVAL
1) However I have to have God's approval.
2) NO other way except by His approval
B) I WANT TO MAKE A COVENANT WITH GOD LIKE ABRAHAM DID. Gen 17:1-2 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
1) Now I already know I AM NOT PERFECT.
2) My Wife has already told me I AM NOT.
3) But I can ask God to make me perfect…
VI) GRACE ENOUGH TO BE SWEET UNDER ALL CONDITIONS
A) PREACHERS FACE TEMPTATIONS.
1) Many of these you do not understand.
2) Hard to show people they are wrong.
3) 2 Tim 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
B) DIFFICULT To DELIVER A HARD SERMON
1) To rebuke the congregation.
2) At the same time maintain a Sweet Spirit.
3) Blessed is the man who can be sweet under ALL Conditions.
CONCLUSION: What do YOU want for your Church?
The Sacred Landmarks
February 11, 2007
THE SACRED LANDMARKS
Deut 19:14 Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it. Introduction: A) A Landmark distinguishes one man’s property from another. 1) Landmarks are not to be moved. 2) Landmarks are to be permanent B) There are landmarks that control society 1) We are living in an age in which Satan is trying to destroy the Sacred Landmarks. 2) A Time when the world & the flesh are doing all they can to destroy the Sacred Landmark C) Five Landmarks that have been destroyed 1) The Landmark of the Home. 2) The Landmark of Education. 3) The Landmark of Statesmanship. 4) The landmark of Morality. 5) The Landmark of Religion. i) The Bible is being attacked by the Critics. ii) The Doctrine of Heaven – Hell – Judgement is not Being preached. D) What God said about saving the Landmarks 1) Deut 27:17 Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmark. 2) Prov 22:28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set. E) Some Landmarks that will not be removed I) THE THRONE OF GOD WILL NOT BE REMOVED A) SATAN THOUGHT HE COULD OVERTHROW GOD 1) Satan was thrown out of Heaven. 2) Rev 12:9 Satan… was..cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. B) MAN HAS DONE EVERYTHING HE COULD TO DRAG GOD DOWN. 1) 1954 Krushchev said “We will drag God out of Heaven” 2) God is referred to as “The Man Upstairs” 3) God is look on as an errand boy. C) MANY DENY GOD. 1) They try to disprove His very Existence. 2) At the end of this age God will still be there. II) THE CROSS OF CHRIST WILL SURVIVE A) THE CROSS CANNOT BE DESTROYED. 1 Cor 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 1) Man had ridiculed and mocked the Cross. 2) But – He cannot do away with it. B) NOTICE THE CROSS. 1) To the Jew it was a Stumbling Block. 2) To the Greeks it was Foolishness. 3) To the Christian it is “The power of God unto Salvation” III) THE WORD OF GOD WILL SURVIVE A) THE MODERNIST CANNOT DESTROY THE BIBLE 1) The Bible is absolutely Indestructible 2) The Bible is Indispensable. 3) The Bible is Infallible. 4) The Bible is Inexhaustible. B) THE BIBLE IS A WONDER BOOK. 1) Survived despite men like Voltaire. (a) Said 100 years from now it will be NO More. (b) Today more Bible printed than ever before. 2) Survived despite men like Robert Ingersol. (a) Said “15 years from now Bible will be forgotten” (b) He was dead in 15 years – Bible still lives. C) YOU MAY DENY THIS BOOK BUT YOU WILL NEVER DESTROY IT 1) There is a copy on file in Heaven. 2) Ps 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. IV) THE CHURCH WILL SURVIVE Eph 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. A) I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT DENOMINATIONS 1) Some Denominations will be rooted up. Mt 15:13 Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 2) Only those in White Robes will survive. B) WHERE DOES THE LORD GET HIS GLORY? 1) Not through the Preacher…. 2) Not through this Building… 3) God gets His Glory through HIS Church… V) THE SAVED WILL SURVIVe Jn 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. A) THE WORLD – THE FLESH, AND THE DEVIL MAY TRY TO DESTROY YOU…. 1) One day you will be with Jesus forever. 2) Discouraging when you see so many things fading 3) However – I am on the winning side….
Five Fearful Facts
February 4, 2007
FIVE FEARFUL FACTS
Text: Matthew 7:13-25
A) The Five Fearful Facts.
1) Not everyone is going to be saved.
2) More people will be Lost than Saved.
3) Many expecting to be saved will be lost.
4) No one will be saved after death.
5) Could be your last opportunity to be saved
B) Some wonderful Bible verses.
1) Ps 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2) Jn 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
3) Rom 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.
I) NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE SAVED
A) NARROW IT DOWN – NOT EVERYONE IN THIS CONGREGATION WILL BE SAVED.
1) Unsaved will stand at the White Throne
2) Many don’t know the power of God. Mt 22:29 Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
B) DOES GOD ALLOW MEN TO GO TO HELL? Lk 16:22-23 The rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes
1) Many think because God created us He won’t send us to Hell.
2) He also created the Donkey.
II) MORE PEOPLE WILL BE LOST THAN SAVED Mt 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
A) TEXT NOT TALKING OF TIGHT ROPE WALK
1) Narrow Way is Trusting Jesus
2) Wide Gate is Trusting + baptism + 10 Commandments + Church membership.
B) MANY RELIGIOUS PEOPLE IN HELL
III) MANY EXPECTING TO BE SAVED WILL BE LOST Mt 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?
A) CAN YOU DO THIS AND STILL BE LOST?
1) I believe many “So Called” preachers will split hell wide open.
2) Many “MaMa” - Wife and Money Called
B) LOOK WHAT JESUS SAID TO THEM Mt 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
IV) NO ONE WILL BE SAVED AFTER DEATH
A) HOW LONG WILL YOU HAVE TO REPENT.
1) Cannot Repent one hour after death.
2) Cannot Repent one second after death.
B) YOU HAVE TODAY ONLY AS A PROMISE 2 Cor 6:2 Behold, now is the day of salvation.
1) No promise of tomorrow.
2) No promise of one more minute
V) THIS COULD BE YOUR LAST OPPORTUNITY TO BE SAVED
A) YOU COULD VERY WELL DIE BEFORE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY COMES
B) I HAVE PREACHED FUNERALS OF THOSE FROM 1 DAY OLD TO 99 YEARS OLD.
C) YOURS COULD BE THE NEXT ONE.