Psalm 33:12—Blessed is the nation whose God is Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
Church, I tell you this morning, any nation who chooses God is truly blessed. Any nation who chooses God cannot fail, for God is with it. After all, the Bible tells us very plainly that if God be for us, who can be against us?
But what if we’re not for God? What if God isn’t our Lord? What if we aren’t respecting the Holy Lord God, the creator of each one of us, the creator of our ancestors, the creator of this nation, the very one who gave America this land that we might live freely and worship him? Do you want to know why God gave America this land? Because those who founded this land worshipped, loved and respected Holy God, and they asked for his guidance, and he lead them to what we now call the United States of America, One Nation Under God, to live in a land where we can worship God without fear of retaliation! And in return, we’ve taken God completely out of our nation’s daily affairs and made it almost a crime to even speak his name!
We’ve taken the prayer out of schools! We’ve told our children they must not say the name of Jesus in school for fear of offending someone who doesn’t believe in his precious name! What kind of an example are we setting for our little children? Jesus said suffer the little children to come unto me! He meant to lead them to him, to teach them of his name and his sacrifice, and to teach them to love him, as he loves them! And our federal government turned around and decided that Jesus wasn’t good enough to be in our public schools, but don’t you dare say anything bad about Buddha or Allah! That’s a cardinal sin in our nation today! They played god when they made that decision and they’re still playing god here today!
I tell you, church, our soldiers through the years didn’t die for this nation to become a Godless, socialist, anti-Christian nation! They didn’t die for our freedoms that we’ve known since the Founding Fathers wrote them down to become a thing of the past! They died so that this nation, ordained of God himself, might stand until the day Jesus comes back!
Church, there’s a misconception in our nation today that America was not founded on the Holy Word and principles of God. Let me assure you, that wasn’t true, and if George Washington were here today, he’d stand up and say this country was absolutely founded on God’s word.
Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Samuel Adams, John Quincy Adams, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and the rest of America’s first leaders knew and respected the authority of God.
(Use newspaper quotes)
As I’ve said before, you can look at the Old Testament of the Bible, study the life and times of Israel, and you will find that America of today is nearly the same in the lifestyle that is being accepted and lived. The Jews, if you will remember, turned to homosexuality, as told in Romans 1:26-27. Women turned to women, men turned to men, and this was considered acceptable! This was the “in” thing to do.
In America today, homosexuality has become so widely accepted, you’re looked down upon when you say you’re against it. Homosexuals are celebrities, made famous by the media to the point that they’re looked up to for their lifestyle. People across the nation think it’s cool to be gay! People think they’re some sort of cool novelty item, and they embrace them, they want to be seen with them, they want to be their friends, etc. Jesus said in Matthew 7:15 to beware of false prophets, that come to you as sheep, but inwardly they’re ravening wolves.
Church, this world is filled with ravening wolves posing as sheep! They’re in the workplace, they’re in the government, they’re in our schools, and I dare say, folks, they’re in some of our churches!
If you study Galatians, as we’ve been doing on Wednesday nights, the Galatians had fallen prey to false witnesses, who had invaded the church and were trying diligently to undo all of the Christ centered work that Paul had done. That’s what’s been happening here. All the Christ centered work that our Founding Fathers began, and that the disciples of Jesus here in America have done, is being torn apart before our very eyes!
2 Peter 2:1 says 1But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 said there will be a great falling away before the Lord comes back.
Church, look at the world around you, and doubt not, that the world is falling away from the Lord Jesus here today! A country that once worshipped his name above all others now worships the latest celebrity, the president, the almighty dollar, the mansion on the hill, the devil himself! When you worship those things that are contrary to God, you worship Satan, whether you mean to or realize you do!
Listen to me, this morning. As we celebrate the Fourth of July this weekend, by all means, celebrate this nation’s freedom, and the soldiers who died for the freedom we have. We didn’t get this freedom for free. Israel didn’t get her land for free either, church. A lot of blood was shed, and lot of Israelites gave their lives to be free. But in the end, Israel turned from God, and despite his fierce allegiance to them, they still aren’t where they should be with God today.
And neither is America. God is for now still remaining loyal to us, despite our lacking of loyalty to him. We must find our way back to where we once were, in a relationship with God built on his word, on his love. We must find what made this nation great: a belief in God, a faith that is strong enough to sustain us through the storm that is coming.
Luke 18:8 says--I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?
The end is nearing, church, and now more than ever, America needs the One True Living God watching over and protecting her. It’s now or never to make a final decision.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
A lack of faith in God
Mark 11:22And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
Jesus is telling his disciples that regardless of the obstacle they may face in their lives, faith in God will carry them through. Faith in God will preserve our spirits. Faith in God will solve our earthly problems. Faith in God will result in blessings abounding in our lives. Faith in God will take us to an eternity in heaven.
But what happens without faith in God? What happens when we don’t put that trust, that ultimate belief that everything is going to be okay, in Holy God? The answer is simple: our lives are not being lived to the fullest. We can’t solve the biggest problems we face. Those mountains in our lives become insurmountable obstacles without faith in God. Our lives on this earth are all that we have. When we leave this world, if we haven’t placed in our faith in God, in the blood of Jesus to wash us clean, we’re left with nothing. When we close our eyes for the last time, that’s it. There’s no second chance. There are no redos, there is no rewind button in life.
We hear so much about what it takes to be a Christian, and what it takes to help others and to make a difference. Being a Christian, especially in today’s world, is not easy. However, the basis of being a Christian, no matter which denomination you belong to, comes down to one word: faith. Without it, you can’t serve God. Without faith, you can’t spread the Gospel. Without faith, you can’t teach your children how to grow up and be righteous adults. Without it, you can’t help build your church. Without faith, you can’t pray. Without faith, you can’t be saved. Without faith, you can never hear the praising words of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, ‘Well done, thy good and faithful servant. Enter into thy rest.’
Our world is filled with a lack of faith. Satan has sneaked in the back door and robbed the faith and fear right out of the hearts of men and women across the globe. In turn, without the faith and fear of Holy God in their hearts, they can’t teach their children with the faith and fear of God! Then, the children grow up to love and respect the world instead of loving and respecting God!
Matthew 4:10
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
When your faith isn’t in God, you’re not serving God. And if you’re not serving God, you’re serving Satan, whether you want to admit it or not! If you’re not following God, you’re following Satan, and your reward will not be profitable for you.
Proverbs 24:20
For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
Isaiah 3:11
Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
Revelation 22:12And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Jesus is but a heartbeat away right now, church. If this world stands as it is more than a few more days, I think it will be a miracle. If it stands just a few more years, then it will really be a miracle, because the lack of faith is growing, church, and growing quickly. If you go back to the book of Genesis, God destroyed the world with water because of a lack of faith! The people had no faith in God, and therefore Satan had lead them astray, just as he lead Adam and Eve astray, and the whole world had gone after the ways of the devil and not the ways of Holy God!
The world today is exactly the same! The whole world has gone after the ways of the devil and his temptations and his evil rewards he’s giving to those who follow him, and he’s convinced everyone that if they just follow their own path, their own destiny, that they can own the world! I’m going to tell you something, there’s not a man alive that can rule the entire world, because God is still in charge of this world, and he’s not going to let a mortal man take over!
You say pastor, Satan is the prince of this world! That’s right, he’s the prince, but the King outranks the prince, and the time is coming when the King is going to remove the evil prince from the throne and sit on the throne that is rightfully his as the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the ending, which is, which was and which is to come, the Almighty!
And then, those who have lived with no faith in Holy God and the Son he sent to die, and the Spirit that came to guide us after Christ arose, they will find themselves out in the cold. Cast into hell. Burning in flames, lost in the darkness for eternity. It’s too late, then, church.
Faith is what it’s all about! Faith is what we have to have in order to communicate with God. You can’t be saved without faith. You can’t grow in the word without faith. You can’t have your prayers answered without faith. You can’t receive a blessing from God without faith. You can’t spread the Gospel and be a witness without faith. You can’t serve God without faith. You can’t live forever without faith.
Paul quotes David in Romans 11:9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
Church, your table will have what you choose to put on it. Your table will either be filled with good things and blessings of God, or it will be filled with the rewards of this world that you earn and work for to put on it. That table, church, if it’s filled with worldly goods, will be a snare, a trap and a stumbling block, and you’ll get your recompence for what you put on that table.
Matthew 7:14
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Faith. Without it, you have nothing. And you’re running out of time to put that faith where it belongs.
Jesus is telling his disciples that regardless of the obstacle they may face in their lives, faith in God will carry them through. Faith in God will preserve our spirits. Faith in God will solve our earthly problems. Faith in God will result in blessings abounding in our lives. Faith in God will take us to an eternity in heaven.
But what happens without faith in God? What happens when we don’t put that trust, that ultimate belief that everything is going to be okay, in Holy God? The answer is simple: our lives are not being lived to the fullest. We can’t solve the biggest problems we face. Those mountains in our lives become insurmountable obstacles without faith in God. Our lives on this earth are all that we have. When we leave this world, if we haven’t placed in our faith in God, in the blood of Jesus to wash us clean, we’re left with nothing. When we close our eyes for the last time, that’s it. There’s no second chance. There are no redos, there is no rewind button in life.
We hear so much about what it takes to be a Christian, and what it takes to help others and to make a difference. Being a Christian, especially in today’s world, is not easy. However, the basis of being a Christian, no matter which denomination you belong to, comes down to one word: faith. Without it, you can’t serve God. Without faith, you can’t spread the Gospel. Without faith, you can’t teach your children how to grow up and be righteous adults. Without it, you can’t help build your church. Without faith, you can’t pray. Without faith, you can’t be saved. Without faith, you can never hear the praising words of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, ‘Well done, thy good and faithful servant. Enter into thy rest.’
Our world is filled with a lack of faith. Satan has sneaked in the back door and robbed the faith and fear right out of the hearts of men and women across the globe. In turn, without the faith and fear of Holy God in their hearts, they can’t teach their children with the faith and fear of God! Then, the children grow up to love and respect the world instead of loving and respecting God!
Matthew 4:10
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
When your faith isn’t in God, you’re not serving God. And if you’re not serving God, you’re serving Satan, whether you want to admit it or not! If you’re not following God, you’re following Satan, and your reward will not be profitable for you.
Proverbs 24:20
For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
Isaiah 3:11
Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
Revelation 22:12And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Jesus is but a heartbeat away right now, church. If this world stands as it is more than a few more days, I think it will be a miracle. If it stands just a few more years, then it will really be a miracle, because the lack of faith is growing, church, and growing quickly. If you go back to the book of Genesis, God destroyed the world with water because of a lack of faith! The people had no faith in God, and therefore Satan had lead them astray, just as he lead Adam and Eve astray, and the whole world had gone after the ways of the devil and not the ways of Holy God!
The world today is exactly the same! The whole world has gone after the ways of the devil and his temptations and his evil rewards he’s giving to those who follow him, and he’s convinced everyone that if they just follow their own path, their own destiny, that they can own the world! I’m going to tell you something, there’s not a man alive that can rule the entire world, because God is still in charge of this world, and he’s not going to let a mortal man take over!
You say pastor, Satan is the prince of this world! That’s right, he’s the prince, but the King outranks the prince, and the time is coming when the King is going to remove the evil prince from the throne and sit on the throne that is rightfully his as the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the ending, which is, which was and which is to come, the Almighty!
And then, those who have lived with no faith in Holy God and the Son he sent to die, and the Spirit that came to guide us after Christ arose, they will find themselves out in the cold. Cast into hell. Burning in flames, lost in the darkness for eternity. It’s too late, then, church.
Faith is what it’s all about! Faith is what we have to have in order to communicate with God. You can’t be saved without faith. You can’t grow in the word without faith. You can’t have your prayers answered without faith. You can’t receive a blessing from God without faith. You can’t spread the Gospel and be a witness without faith. You can’t serve God without faith. You can’t live forever without faith.
Paul quotes David in Romans 11:9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
Church, your table will have what you choose to put on it. Your table will either be filled with good things and blessings of God, or it will be filled with the rewards of this world that you earn and work for to put on it. That table, church, if it’s filled with worldly goods, will be a snare, a trap and a stumbling block, and you’ll get your recompence for what you put on that table.
Matthew 7:14
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Faith. Without it, you have nothing. And you’re running out of time to put that faith where it belongs.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Fourth of July
There's a sad, but growing animosity in our country toward the Christian beliefs our nation was founded upon. The liberal leaders of this great nation have launced all out war on the name of Jesus.
We're right here at the Fourth of July, and we're not the same country we were just a few short years ago. We're on a downhill slope headed for hell, and Satan is busy greasing the slope for us.
The problem, it seems, is that the Great Deceiver has lived up to his name all too well. He's convinced people across our great nation that America was not founded on the Holy Word of God. I assure you, folks, that couldn't be farther from the truth.
This nation was absolutely founded upon God's word, and a study of history proves it. Stop listening to the liberal propaganda machine and start listening instead to the Holy Bible.
There have been two nations in the history of this world that were given to their inhabitants by God Himself: America and Israel. If you study your Bible, you cannot keep from drawing the obvious parallells between Israel of the Old Testament and America today.
Israel, as you will recall, chose not to follow after God. Instead, they followed their own ideas, paths and ideals, and you see where they ended up: without a home of their own until May 1948. Do you remember who cast the deciding vote in the United Nations to allow Israel to have its own country again? The United States, against internal opposition, recognized Israel's right to live freely.
In Biblical times, however, Israel chose to follow a destiny without God. In Judges 21:25 the Bible says --In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
Here in America, we've forgotten that our King is still God. We've forgotten the words of George Washington: "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and Bible."
Washington also said America has but one King, and his name is Jesus Christ. It's the job of the President to watch over the nation until his return.
“ God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel."--Benjamin Franklin, a man considered the least religious of all the Founding Fathers.
As we celebrate the Fourth of July, let us not forget the soldiers who died to defend this nation, which still stands, as one nation under God. At least for now, anyway....
We're right here at the Fourth of July, and we're not the same country we were just a few short years ago. We're on a downhill slope headed for hell, and Satan is busy greasing the slope for us.
The problem, it seems, is that the Great Deceiver has lived up to his name all too well. He's convinced people across our great nation that America was not founded on the Holy Word of God. I assure you, folks, that couldn't be farther from the truth.
This nation was absolutely founded upon God's word, and a study of history proves it. Stop listening to the liberal propaganda machine and start listening instead to the Holy Bible.
There have been two nations in the history of this world that were given to their inhabitants by God Himself: America and Israel. If you study your Bible, you cannot keep from drawing the obvious parallells between Israel of the Old Testament and America today.
Israel, as you will recall, chose not to follow after God. Instead, they followed their own ideas, paths and ideals, and you see where they ended up: without a home of their own until May 1948. Do you remember who cast the deciding vote in the United Nations to allow Israel to have its own country again? The United States, against internal opposition, recognized Israel's right to live freely.
In Biblical times, however, Israel chose to follow a destiny without God. In Judges 21:25 the Bible says --In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
Here in America, we've forgotten that our King is still God. We've forgotten the words of George Washington: "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and Bible."
Washington also said America has but one King, and his name is Jesus Christ. It's the job of the President to watch over the nation until his return.
“ God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel."--Benjamin Franklin, a man considered the least religious of all the Founding Fathers.
As we celebrate the Fourth of July, let us not forget the soldiers who died to defend this nation, which still stands, as one nation under God. At least for now, anyway....
Thursday, July 2, 2009
America, and the world, is entering a time when we can truly see the signs of the end beginning to be more clear. One only has to open the Bible and begin to study the four Gospels and the words of Christ to know that we are nearing the end.After all, Christ and John the Baptist both warned us before Paul, Peter or any of the apostles that we should repent, for "the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
We don't have to read Revelation to know that we are drawing ever closer to the return of Christ, and his return is approaching rapidly. Of course, reading Revelation will help to provide more insight.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 give us one of the key signs:3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Now more than ever, false prophets are in this world, folks, and they're telling people what they want to hear. Listen to the politicians on tv. Listen to the liberal news media. Listen to the world around you. More and more, people are listening to the false prophets of this world and less and less to the holy word of God.There are plenty of teachers, and even more willing ears.
Christians must be ever vigilent in these last days, preparing our hearts and making sure we're ready, while continuing to spread the gospel and to try to reach as many lost souls as possible.
We're told in 2 Thessalonians that there will be a great falling away before Christ comes back. Look at the current time, and you don't have to go back very far to see that the falling away has begun in earnest just in the last few years.
2 Thess. 2:3-4 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
The time is coming, brethren, when the agents of Satan will rise to power, and the world will quickly change, hastening the arrival of Christ. Be ready, because time is running out.
If you have not already accepted the precious blood of Christ as your savior, now is the time. Tomorrow could be too late.
We don't have to read Revelation to know that we are drawing ever closer to the return of Christ, and his return is approaching rapidly. Of course, reading Revelation will help to provide more insight.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 give us one of the key signs:3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Now more than ever, false prophets are in this world, folks, and they're telling people what they want to hear. Listen to the politicians on tv. Listen to the liberal news media. Listen to the world around you. More and more, people are listening to the false prophets of this world and less and less to the holy word of God.There are plenty of teachers, and even more willing ears.
Christians must be ever vigilent in these last days, preparing our hearts and making sure we're ready, while continuing to spread the gospel and to try to reach as many lost souls as possible.
We're told in 2 Thessalonians that there will be a great falling away before Christ comes back. Look at the current time, and you don't have to go back very far to see that the falling away has begun in earnest just in the last few years.
2 Thess. 2:3-4 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
The time is coming, brethren, when the agents of Satan will rise to power, and the world will quickly change, hastening the arrival of Christ. Be ready, because time is running out.
If you have not already accepted the precious blood of Christ as your savior, now is the time. Tomorrow could be too late.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Romans 12:2--And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
How often does the church allow the world to dictate how it should act, instead of setting an example through a relationship with God about how the world should act?
Christ tells us in John 3:15 that we are to be examples to the world, as he has been an example to us. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Christ loved everyone, and he tried to teach everyone how to live a peaceful, Godly, humble, honest life before God. He took the time to show his love and his compassion to all, even those who rejected him. He showed everyone who listened the path to heaven and what it takes to follow that path.
Never did we see Christ fail to show love to those who lived in this world. Never did he fail to tell the lost souls how to inherit heaven. Never did he fail to feed the hungry, to heal the sick, to teach the unlearned, to tell everyone of the love that he and God have for them. Jesus never failed to spread the Gospel and to encourage the downtrodden, to remind the rich to be thankful, and to himself give thanks for the blessings God bestowed upon him.
Christ told us to go out into the world, and to be his examples not only in our towns, but in our states, our country and the world. Now, all of us may not go on a mission trip out of state or out of country, but we can set an example and testify of Jesus and his love and teachings on a local level. We can come together as a group, a family, and study his word. The Bible tells us not to forsake the assembly. This may make some people angry, but I do not believe you have to meet in a church to attend church, to attend the assembly. Christ taught plenty of people before buildings became known as churches. In olden times, people met wherever they could, often in homes, and they studied the word and heard sermons and learned how to live Godly lives.
The church isn’t the building. The church is the body of the believers.
Ephesians 5:23 says that Christ is the head of the church, and following in Ephesians 5:25, Christ loved the church and gave himself for it.
Christ didn’t give himself for the church building. He didn’t give himself for First Baptist’s building, or Sacred Heart Catholic’s building. He gave himself for the members of the church, each one of us who sit in the pews. He gave himself for all those on earth, if they choose to accept him. When you choose to accept him, you become his church, regardless of what denomination you belong to. If you become a Methodist, that’s part of his church. If you want to be a Baptist, non-denominational, etc, that doesn’t matter. You’re still part of God’s church. You’re part of the church that Christ died for.
Ephesians 5:27 says That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Christ doesn’t care what this building looks like. He’s concerned with what the people in the building are like.
Are the people committing adultery? Are they worshipping idols? Are they more concerned with the opinions of everyone else than with the opinion of God? Are they hypocrites? Do they bear false witness against their neighbors? Do they come to worship God, or to eat and socialize? Do they come to church to see God, or to be seen by men? Do they put on false appearances on Sunday morning while showing their true colors Monday through Saturday? Are they part of the world, or part of Christ’s church?When church ceases to be about fellowshipping with other Christians, about studying God’s word, about spending time growing closer to God, it’s not church. It’s not what Christ designed to be his church.
See, man didn’t invent church. Christ did. But not all churches are what Christ wanted them to be. Christ wanted the churches to be centered around him, not around the things of this world. When you decide that you’re happy with the current members, and you don’t want to go out and tell others about Christ and invite them to church, that’s not what church is about.
When you wear your new suit so everyone can see it, you’re going to church for the wrong reason. When you make a showing of how much money you contribute to the church, that’s not honoring God. When you worry about whether the guy in the pew next to you likes you for who you are, you’re worried about the wrong things.
You should be worried about whether the guy next to youis saved. When making money is more important than being in church and fellowshipping with God, you’re worshipping an idol, not Christ. When you go to church because it’s time to eat, you’re going to church for the wrong reason. When you go to church to repent for everything you did the rest of the week, knowing you shouldn’t have done it, that’s not a real relationship with God. That’s not what church is for. Don’t get me wrong. Repent for what you’ve done.
But don’t think that you can do what you feel like all week, repent on Sunday morning, and be honoring the Lord the way you should. The world will tell you it’s okay to drink when you want to. The world will tell you it’s okay to have sex outside of marriage. The world will tell you that stealing is okay, if you don’t get caught. The world will tell you lieing is fine, if it means you get what you want, or prevents someone’s feelings from getting hurt. The world will tell you it’s okay to get drunk on Saturday night, sleep with the woman you met at the bar, and then lie to your wife so her feelings don’t get hurt.
We have Christians who are doing this and they can’t understand that just because they repent, that doesn’t make it okay. We have pastors that are homosexuals, with drinking and drug problems, and they preach against those very things on Sunday morning after living that lifestyle all week! Churches get caught up in the money aspect. Maybe your church is poor. Ours is. Maybe your church is a wealthy church. Stop worrying about how much money you have in the bank account and start worrying about whether you’re spending the money God blessed you with to honor him! Are you buying food for the needy? Are you willing to give to the poor family in your congregation? Are you trying to promote the church? Be very attentive of where you spend the money in relation to how you honor God. You use the money to honor God, and he’ll make sure the money supply is adequate.
Some pastors feel they have to water down their sermons to get people to attend. If you have to water down a sermon for people to listen, you might as well throw the thing in the garbage and not bring it to God’s house. Show me one time in the Bible where Christ watered down his sermon.
Some pastors don’t want to speak out against homosexuality because they’re afraid they’ll offend someone. They don’t want to speak out against abortion because it’s controversial. They don’t want to tell someone to go vote because they’re afraid of the separation of church and state. Let me tell you this: homosexuality is wrong, abortion is wrong, and the separation of church and state has been warped by the liberal media to mean something totally different than what’s intended meaning is. I can imagine how badly Christ’s feelings were hurt when prayer was taken out of school. I can imagine how badly his feelings were hurt when the government decided that the Ten Commandments shouldn’t be displayed in government buildings and schools. How dare we slap him in the face after he died for our sins! The world thinks we as Christians should act differently. We’re too strict. We’re bigots. We’re cold hearted. We don’t teach our kids safe sex. We’re prudes. God didn’t give us license to sin. I’m not a bigot, and neither is a real Christian. I love the people of this world, and I want to see them saved. God said casual sex is wrong. I’m no prude, I just believe in dignity and humility. Until the churches in America stop letting the world tell them how to worship, how to act, how to live their lives, and how to run the church, you won’t see a real revival in America. You won’t see a return to real Christian, Godly lifestyles. You won’t see a government that respects God and prays before making a decision.
We as churches are supposed to set the example for the rest of the world. We’re supposed to help the world to find Christ. They certainly can’t find him on their own. That’s what we’re here for. To love one another, to help one another, and to finish the work Christ started. The church should permeate the world, not the other way around.
Senior Pastor Bro. Charlie Kincaid of Cornerstone Ministries Church cordially invites you to attend services at Cornerstone Ministries Church or visit online at www.cornerstoneministrieschurch.net
How often does the church allow the world to dictate how it should act, instead of setting an example through a relationship with God about how the world should act?
Christ tells us in John 3:15 that we are to be examples to the world, as he has been an example to us. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Christ loved everyone, and he tried to teach everyone how to live a peaceful, Godly, humble, honest life before God. He took the time to show his love and his compassion to all, even those who rejected him. He showed everyone who listened the path to heaven and what it takes to follow that path.
Never did we see Christ fail to show love to those who lived in this world. Never did he fail to tell the lost souls how to inherit heaven. Never did he fail to feed the hungry, to heal the sick, to teach the unlearned, to tell everyone of the love that he and God have for them. Jesus never failed to spread the Gospel and to encourage the downtrodden, to remind the rich to be thankful, and to himself give thanks for the blessings God bestowed upon him.
Christ told us to go out into the world, and to be his examples not only in our towns, but in our states, our country and the world. Now, all of us may not go on a mission trip out of state or out of country, but we can set an example and testify of Jesus and his love and teachings on a local level. We can come together as a group, a family, and study his word. The Bible tells us not to forsake the assembly. This may make some people angry, but I do not believe you have to meet in a church to attend church, to attend the assembly. Christ taught plenty of people before buildings became known as churches. In olden times, people met wherever they could, often in homes, and they studied the word and heard sermons and learned how to live Godly lives.
The church isn’t the building. The church is the body of the believers.
Ephesians 5:23 says that Christ is the head of the church, and following in Ephesians 5:25, Christ loved the church and gave himself for it.
Christ didn’t give himself for the church building. He didn’t give himself for First Baptist’s building, or Sacred Heart Catholic’s building. He gave himself for the members of the church, each one of us who sit in the pews. He gave himself for all those on earth, if they choose to accept him. When you choose to accept him, you become his church, regardless of what denomination you belong to. If you become a Methodist, that’s part of his church. If you want to be a Baptist, non-denominational, etc, that doesn’t matter. You’re still part of God’s church. You’re part of the church that Christ died for.
Ephesians 5:27 says That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Christ doesn’t care what this building looks like. He’s concerned with what the people in the building are like.
Are the people committing adultery? Are they worshipping idols? Are they more concerned with the opinions of everyone else than with the opinion of God? Are they hypocrites? Do they bear false witness against their neighbors? Do they come to worship God, or to eat and socialize? Do they come to church to see God, or to be seen by men? Do they put on false appearances on Sunday morning while showing their true colors Monday through Saturday? Are they part of the world, or part of Christ’s church?When church ceases to be about fellowshipping with other Christians, about studying God’s word, about spending time growing closer to God, it’s not church. It’s not what Christ designed to be his church.
See, man didn’t invent church. Christ did. But not all churches are what Christ wanted them to be. Christ wanted the churches to be centered around him, not around the things of this world. When you decide that you’re happy with the current members, and you don’t want to go out and tell others about Christ and invite them to church, that’s not what church is about.
When you wear your new suit so everyone can see it, you’re going to church for the wrong reason. When you make a showing of how much money you contribute to the church, that’s not honoring God. When you worry about whether the guy in the pew next to you likes you for who you are, you’re worried about the wrong things.
You should be worried about whether the guy next to youis saved. When making money is more important than being in church and fellowshipping with God, you’re worshipping an idol, not Christ. When you go to church because it’s time to eat, you’re going to church for the wrong reason. When you go to church to repent for everything you did the rest of the week, knowing you shouldn’t have done it, that’s not a real relationship with God. That’s not what church is for. Don’t get me wrong. Repent for what you’ve done.
But don’t think that you can do what you feel like all week, repent on Sunday morning, and be honoring the Lord the way you should. The world will tell you it’s okay to drink when you want to. The world will tell you it’s okay to have sex outside of marriage. The world will tell you that stealing is okay, if you don’t get caught. The world will tell you lieing is fine, if it means you get what you want, or prevents someone’s feelings from getting hurt. The world will tell you it’s okay to get drunk on Saturday night, sleep with the woman you met at the bar, and then lie to your wife so her feelings don’t get hurt.
We have Christians who are doing this and they can’t understand that just because they repent, that doesn’t make it okay. We have pastors that are homosexuals, with drinking and drug problems, and they preach against those very things on Sunday morning after living that lifestyle all week! Churches get caught up in the money aspect. Maybe your church is poor. Ours is. Maybe your church is a wealthy church. Stop worrying about how much money you have in the bank account and start worrying about whether you’re spending the money God blessed you with to honor him! Are you buying food for the needy? Are you willing to give to the poor family in your congregation? Are you trying to promote the church? Be very attentive of where you spend the money in relation to how you honor God. You use the money to honor God, and he’ll make sure the money supply is adequate.
Some pastors feel they have to water down their sermons to get people to attend. If you have to water down a sermon for people to listen, you might as well throw the thing in the garbage and not bring it to God’s house. Show me one time in the Bible where Christ watered down his sermon.
Some pastors don’t want to speak out against homosexuality because they’re afraid they’ll offend someone. They don’t want to speak out against abortion because it’s controversial. They don’t want to tell someone to go vote because they’re afraid of the separation of church and state. Let me tell you this: homosexuality is wrong, abortion is wrong, and the separation of church and state has been warped by the liberal media to mean something totally different than what’s intended meaning is. I can imagine how badly Christ’s feelings were hurt when prayer was taken out of school. I can imagine how badly his feelings were hurt when the government decided that the Ten Commandments shouldn’t be displayed in government buildings and schools. How dare we slap him in the face after he died for our sins! The world thinks we as Christians should act differently. We’re too strict. We’re bigots. We’re cold hearted. We don’t teach our kids safe sex. We’re prudes. God didn’t give us license to sin. I’m not a bigot, and neither is a real Christian. I love the people of this world, and I want to see them saved. God said casual sex is wrong. I’m no prude, I just believe in dignity and humility. Until the churches in America stop letting the world tell them how to worship, how to act, how to live their lives, and how to run the church, you won’t see a real revival in America. You won’t see a return to real Christian, Godly lifestyles. You won’t see a government that respects God and prays before making a decision.
We as churches are supposed to set the example for the rest of the world. We’re supposed to help the world to find Christ. They certainly can’t find him on their own. That’s what we’re here for. To love one another, to help one another, and to finish the work Christ started. The church should permeate the world, not the other way around.
Senior Pastor Bro. Charlie Kincaid of Cornerstone Ministries Church cordially invites you to attend services at Cornerstone Ministries Church or visit online at www.cornerstoneministrieschurch.net
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