Why do people think that our churches have to “change” with the times? I look at our churches today, not all but most, and they’ve become nothing but entertainment arenas where the gospel of Jesus has been watered down to be only about what you can get out of it. What has God got to offer me? It’s become all about “me” instead of being all about “Him”. Churches are to edify the Saints, not become social gatherings with your friends.
We go to God’s word and see that the church was multiplied because of two reason’s.
Acts 9:31
“So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.”
In the text we see that the church was being built up, why? The next line tells us. “And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied”. We see that they feared the Lord. Christians today don’t fear God. I’ve even heard that preached, that we shouldn’t fear Him, He is a God of love. This is a total misunderstanding of the word “fear”. If we look at “fear” as man looks at fear, we have a wrong perception of it. The greek word used in the text is “Phobos” which means….
“Reverential fear of God, as a controlling motive of the life, in matters spiritual and moral, not a mere “fear” of His power and righteous retribution, but a wholesome dread of displeasing Him, a “fear” which banishes the terror that shrinks from His presence, Romans 8:15 , and which influences the disposition and attitude of one whose circumstances are guided by trust in God, through the indwelling Spirit of God.”
We look at that second part and we see they walked in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Comfort means they depended on the Holy Spirit to guide them. They took themselves out of the equation and depended on the Holy Spirit. Walking in the will of God, being given direction from the Holy Spirit.
As we look at our churches today, how many actually do this? How many actually fear God and walk in the comfort of the Holy Spirit? How many actually truly teach the truth of God’s word whether it offends someone or not? These are some questions our churches must ask themselves. It’s all about God and His Glory, not us and our trivial pursuits to make us feel better about ourselves.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
A New Creation
Luke 19:1 He entered Jericho and was passing through.
Luk 19:2 And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich.
Luk 19:3 Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature.
Luk 19:4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way.
Luk 19:5 When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”
Luk 19:6 And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly.
Luk 19:7 When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”
Luk 19:8 Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.”
Luk 19:9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham.
Luk 19:10 “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
This is a great passage of scripture dealing with salvation. We that Zaccheus was a chief tax collector and was rich. Tax collectors in these times were just plain thieves. Whatever they collected over and above what they were required to collect was theirs to keep. They were despised and hated. But we see when Zaccheus has a run in with Jesus he comes away a new creature.
“Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the [poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.”
He’s a new creature in Christ. He’s totally turned from his sinful ways and is going to follow Jesus. My question is this, have you become a new creature? When we become a child of Gods that’s what happens to us.
2Co 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”
Have you really come to Christ? Or did you just say a prayer one Sunday in church but then continue on in your sin the same as you always had. Was your “salvation” based on the power of an almighty God or just because it’s something you felt you needed to do. If we are truly born again our old self dies. We begin to live for God and not us, our heart of stone is replaced with a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26) so that we may know the things of God.
As I write this this morning I’m thinking of people I know who profess to be a christian but live their lives the same as they did when they were still an old creation. So reasonably I have to ask myself, are they truly saved? Are they a new creation? The answer to that question would have to be no. From personal experience I know that you become a new creature and want no part of your former life. You will still have things you struggle with but there’s a difference between trying to live for God and not living for Him at all.
God tells us to examine ourselves to make sure we’re in the faith. That’s what I’m asking this morning out of love. Let’s examine ourselves to make sure. Our salvation depends on it so that one day we will not hear “Depart from me because I never knew you…..”
Luk 19:2 And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich.
Luk 19:3 Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature.
Luk 19:4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way.
Luk 19:5 When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”
Luk 19:6 And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly.
Luk 19:7 When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”
Luk 19:8 Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.”
Luk 19:9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham.
Luk 19:10 “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
This is a great passage of scripture dealing with salvation. We that Zaccheus was a chief tax collector and was rich. Tax collectors in these times were just plain thieves. Whatever they collected over and above what they were required to collect was theirs to keep. They were despised and hated. But we see when Zaccheus has a run in with Jesus he comes away a new creature.
“Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the [poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.”
He’s a new creature in Christ. He’s totally turned from his sinful ways and is going to follow Jesus. My question is this, have you become a new creature? When we become a child of Gods that’s what happens to us.
2Co 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”
Have you really come to Christ? Or did you just say a prayer one Sunday in church but then continue on in your sin the same as you always had. Was your “salvation” based on the power of an almighty God or just because it’s something you felt you needed to do. If we are truly born again our old self dies. We begin to live for God and not us, our heart of stone is replaced with a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26) so that we may know the things of God.
As I write this this morning I’m thinking of people I know who profess to be a christian but live their lives the same as they did when they were still an old creation. So reasonably I have to ask myself, are they truly saved? Are they a new creation? The answer to that question would have to be no. From personal experience I know that you become a new creature and want no part of your former life. You will still have things you struggle with but there’s a difference between trying to live for God and not living for Him at all.
God tells us to examine ourselves to make sure we’re in the faith. That’s what I’m asking this morning out of love. Let’s examine ourselves to make sure. Our salvation depends on it so that one day we will not hear “Depart from me because I never knew you…..”
Monday, November 10, 2008
Are you sure?
As we go through our day to day lives we always get caught up in whatever we’re doing. Stop a moment, take a breath, and ask yourself one question. Am I sure that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of my life? Am I one of Gods children? That’s the most important question you could ask yourself. I mentioned this when I had the opportunity to speak at Faith Community Church yesterday. I found out that the football announcer for WPTL in Canton died of a heart attack Friday night right after announcing the Pisgah football game. He was 48 years old.
James 4:14 says “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You re just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.”
Our life is but a vapor. In an instant it’s all over. Now if you’re born again and put your trust in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation this really doesn’t bother you. You know that when that last breath comes you’ll be standing in the presence of the Lord! If you’re not born again and Jesus Christ is not your Lord and Savior then the only home that awaits you is hell. Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the father except through me. You see so many people believe that they’ll “do that” when they get older. Let’s be real here, you might not get older. If God has been working on you and showing you your sinfulness and you feel the burden of your sin don’t run from Him. You might not have tomorrow. I know, your thinking “Russ you’re just trying to scare us.” No, I’m just giving you the true facts as to how things are. Biblical truth, something we all need to get back too.
James 4:14 says “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You re just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.”
Our life is but a vapor. In an instant it’s all over. Now if you’re born again and put your trust in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation this really doesn’t bother you. You know that when that last breath comes you’ll be standing in the presence of the Lord! If you’re not born again and Jesus Christ is not your Lord and Savior then the only home that awaits you is hell. Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the father except through me. You see so many people believe that they’ll “do that” when they get older. Let’s be real here, you might not get older. If God has been working on you and showing you your sinfulness and you feel the burden of your sin don’t run from Him. You might not have tomorrow. I know, your thinking “Russ you’re just trying to scare us.” No, I’m just giving you the true facts as to how things are. Biblical truth, something we all need to get back too.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Whose your God?
My brother John Galloway gave the word last night at the WNC Rescue Mission and what a blessing it was. It never ceases to amaze me at how God puts us in certain places at certain times for His will and glory. The message John gave last night was choosing your God. When you take a hit off that crack pipe, you’ve just chosen your God. When you turn that bottle up, you’ve just chosen your God. When you can’t live without your cellphone or video games, you’ve chosen your God. That becomes your idol. So my question this morning is what’s your idol? Anything that you put ahead of God is an idol.
Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
So who is your God? Thank you John for the word last night and delivering it. It was truly a blessing!
Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
So who is your God? Thank you John for the word last night and delivering it. It was truly a blessing!
Monday, November 3, 2008
Vanity of Vanities
I've studied through the book of Ecclesiastes and if you've never taken the time to not just read it but break it down and study it I highly recommend it. We here from a man who's had it all, Solomon was the richest and wisest man to ever live. Yet toward the end of his life and starts to wonder about it all. What good was it all and what was the purpose and did it make him happy. His conclusion is in the book of Ecclesiastes, is that none of that mattered. He came to the realization that everything is meaningless by itself. Pleasures, wisdom, money, it's all meaningless without God. He closes in 12:13-14 "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." So the question that we have to ask for ourselves is are we serving the living God and living our lives for Him, or are we living our lives searching for what Solomon had? "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity."
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