Year: 2013
Law & Grace
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Sometime things are hard to see even if it is right in front of our eyes, but praise God he has giving us a Spiritual Mirror so we can not only see but understand his words.
Story: I once had a Boat named the Egabrag 1
You might ask what was so great about the Egabrag,it was no different then any other Vessel, but it had one of the most importance jobs in the Military working for the US Navy
Every day it preformed it job flawless, it never failed to do its job, too much was counting on it to fulfill its daily mission.
For almost 20 years it worked non stop, She was not much to look at but her Crew had great pride in running her
When she was decommissioned and I took her over, I just could not help but wonder, Who could of came up with a name like Egabrag 1 the name just did not made sense, until one of the Crew told me, people in California did not like a boat being called the Garbage 1 Egabrag backwards is Garbage
Sometimes the Bible is like that; but just because we don’t understand a topic in the Bible it does not mean we should just skip over or pass it by, for it is by studying God word that we uncover the true meaning of the hidden truth berried deep in Gods word.
Let Us Pray
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Are law’s importance?
Do laws put us in bondage?
Have you ever lived in a place where there were no laws?
What do you thing would happen to the USA if there were no law’s to govern the people?
Just think, if there were no laws; you could do whatever you want and no one would stop you. Except everyone else is doing the same thing as you, and there is no one stopping them either.
Do you see where a problem could come from?
What if I don’t like stopping for red lights, there are always a pain and turn red at the wrong times. So I am going to just drive straight through them from now on. I might not live long doing that; but remember there are no laws telling me I can’t.
Laws are not made to keep us from something good! They are made to keep us happy and safe. So everyone knows what to expect from the other person.
Were Gods Law’s to be a burden or a joy to mankind?
What about Grace if we have Grace Do we still need Law’s?
First we must understand What is GRACE?
We don’t have to earn it. It is the most valuable gift of all. The Scripture says in Ephesians 2:8, 9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Salvation does not come from any human effort. It is a free gift without money and without price, or let’s says with out cost to Mankind
In Revelation 5:9, the redeemed are pictured as standing before the throne of God, both the redeemed from the Old Testament times and from the New Testament times, singing glory to Jesus, the Lamb, “Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.”
A great, fundamental truth is expressed here—the only way a sinner can be saved is through the blood of Jesus. Since the time of Adam, sinners have been saved only by believing and having Faith in Jesus.
If men are saved through faith in Jesus Christ, where does the Ten Commandment law come in?
Throughout all the ages of controversy between Christ and Satan, the devil has sought to destroy the authority of God over man by casting the law aside and by preventing knowledge of the truth about God’s law.
The enemy of Christ brings this about by rejection of the law; or a wrong concept or understanding of the dispensation of the law as opposed to the dispensation of the gospel. This is what we call being one sided or not seeing the hold picture.
Satan could bring in the principle of salvation through works, and prevent the functioning of the law according to God’s design.
Kind of writing it out backward so that you see it but don’t truly understand what it is saying. Do you see the ECARG & HTIAF Grace & Faith
The role that the law fulfills in relation to the gospel is two-fold.
1. First, it is God’s standard of what is right and true. As a standard the law expresses the mind and the will of God, for in Psalm 40:8 it says, “I delight to do thy will, 0 my God; yea, thy law is within my heart.”
2. Second the law also declares man’s duty to God, for in Ecclesiastes 12:13 we read, “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
How often I have heard Christians boast that they don’t care about those old laws of God. “Why”
Because they hide behind Romans 6:14, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”
They say that since they are saved by grace, through the atoning blood of Christ, they don’t have to keep God’s commandments at all. Have you ever heard that theory?
BUT: You can not take just one scripture from the Bible and make a completed doctrine, that my friend is a very dangerous way to live. Because when you live your life that way you are not truly living it for Jesus, but for what fits your life style.
In Romans 6:15, the very next verse in the chapter, Paul says, “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? Paul says God forbid.” The fourteenth verse has stated, “Sin shall not have dominion over us,” or “it shall not be our ruler.”
We are not under Sin or the condemnation of the law either, when we obey God.
Why?
Because we are saved by grace, But that does not license us to sin? “God forbid.”
When an individual is saved by grace, he is under greater obligation than ever before to keep the laws of God.
As it says in Romans 3:31, “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid; yea, we establish the law.”
Are we licensed to break the law of God because we are saved by grace and saved by faith? God forbid. “Yea,” he says, “we establish the law.” The law is firmer than ever in our lives.
Question?
Who is under the law today in your city? Those who have broken it; they are under the law, and in jail.
The man who keeps the law, is the man who is free today.
The law breaker is under the condemnation of the law and doing time in jail.
Right here let us stop a moment and read the definition of sin in 1 John 3:4. “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”
Are we clear on this. When a man sins he has transgressed the law.
Who’s Law; “GOD”.
Every sinner has broken the law. What is sin? “The transgression of the law.” When a man sins, what does he do? He breaks the law of God.
There must be a law, otherwise he couldn’t break it. We are not under the law unless we break the Law.
I would fear to be called a minister of the Lord today and tell people it is ok to break Gods laws.
Matt: 5:19: Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
How does God feel about man making his own laws and rules and teaching people to live by them instead of his commandment Law’s.
Matt:15:9: But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Is there danger in not keeping God Commandments?
You might say; Lord I am saved by grace I was told I don’t need to keep those old laws.
The governor of the state has life-and-death power. A man has been sentenced and condemned to die. He is under the sentence of death. Friends intervene; they present evidence to the governor, special factors involved in this case—contributing factors as to why this individual was caught in this particular crime.
As the governor investigates the evidence, he feels that this man deserves clemency; so he uses his official prerogative as the head of the commonwealth. He takes his pen and dips it in the ink and signs across those condemnation papers, “PARDONED,” and then signs his name.
That condemned man, my friend, has been saved by grace, not by his works or by his goodness.
He was doomed to die, and being ever so good in that death cell would never, never in this world save him. That is very obvious.
In other words, after an individual has broken the commandments of God, he cannot be good enough to save himself. The wages of sin is what? Death. We have all sinned, so are under the sentence of death. And there is only one way of salvation, through Jesus Christ.
Now the condemned man is pardoned. He can hardly believe his eyes as he sees the kindness, the stroke of generosity and love shown by that governor.
PARDONED. SAVED. FREE. You meet the freed man a little later and he says,
“Wonderful what that governor did for me, and wonderful this new freedom of mine.
Now I can break the law all I want, for the governor set me free from the law and from the sentence of death. I am saved by his grace.”
Did the governor pardon him so he could go out and become a greater law breaker? Shall we who are saved by grace continue law breaking? “God forbid.” We are under even greater obligation to keep the law because we are saved by God’s grace.
Matt:22: 36-40
36: Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37: Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38: This is the first and great commandment.
39: And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40: On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Love the Lord thy God it is the first four of the Ten Commandments;
Love thy neighbor it is the last six of the Ten Commandments;
Do we find any evident of keeping the old Jewish Ten Commandment Law in the New Testament Yes we do….
Matt:19:17: And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Mark:10:19: Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
Luke:18:20: Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother
Luke:1:6: And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
Over and over and over again we hear Jesus telling the people to keep his commandments.
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If you really Love the lord, and want to show him that you Love him, then do what?
Show him you love him by doing what he tells you to do.
I have heard some say, “Those commandments were only for the Jews.” Then a Christian can lie and steal, and murder people, and do anything else that he pleases. Is that possible?
Jesus says in ” John:14:15: If ye love me, keep my commandments.
It was because Gods Laws were broken that Jesus gave His life. If these were to be abolished, why not abolish them before Jesus came to die? Then His death would not have been necessary.
John:14:21: He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
John:15:10: If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
Some people say, “Well, I can’t leave my church.” We’re not talking about church my friend.
We’re talking about following God. And if your church is in the way of you following God then you need to move out of it…….
Don’t look at the people. Look at the Light God is showing you.
We need to take one more quick glance here at what Jesus said. Matthew 7:21. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
Now notice verse 22. This is an amazing statement by our Lord. “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?”
Oh yes, miracle worked in the name of Jesus. Good so called Christian people who refuse to do one thing, and that was to keep God’s laws.
Don’t you see Christ’s answer now in verse 23. “Then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Oh, this is one of the most sobering passages in the Word of God, because we’re led face to face here with an understanding which we can’t escape—that it makes a difference to God what we believe and how we live.
It isn’t enough to say, “Yes, I believe. I’m a church member.” Church will never get you to Heaven
It’s a matter of how you live and what you believe about God that makes a difference.
Many will say, “Lord, we’ve cast out devils. We’ve done miracles. We’ve prophesied.” And yet, they will be lost.
It makes a difference what we believe. Anchor your faith firmly, my friends, to the rock of Scripture “GOD’s WORD” and nothing else.
Christian can you say you know Jesus and not keep his Commandments
1John:2:3: And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
1John:2:4: He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
That’s not my saying brother and sister, for it is written in the book called the Bible, which is none other then God word.
1John:3:22: And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
People are always looking for bargains, for special discounts. Some churches advertise, “Come to us, we will give you a bargain, 10% off of the Ten Commandments.” But will that stand in the judgment?
Just because some great churches tell you that they will make it easy and only ask you to keep nine of the Ten Commandments, is that sufficient? Will you pass in the judgment day?
Has any church the right to discount the commandments of God? How do we dare imagine that we are on the high road to heaven when we knowingly break any of God’s commandments?
Matt: 5:19: Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
1John:3:24: And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
1John:5:2: By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1John:5:3: For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
So now we know that it is very importance to keep God’s commandments.
If you love God then who are you enemy with, That’s right the world.
For you can’t love God and the world!
What are we told will happen to God people because they love the Lord their God and claim to be his people. His people who keep his Laws and keep the testimony’s of his Son Jesus Christ.
Rv:12:17: And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Rv:14:12: Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Rv:22:14: Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
If the world hated Jesus then you know it will also hate you, But don’t worry He Jesus will give you the power needed to obey
Some time ago one of the items of interest in the newspaper was about a cave-in in a mine down in Pennsylvania somewhere—I think you might remember it. There were some miners trapped but there was reason to believe they were still alive under ground.
There was no way to dig down through the mine shaft that had caved in so they were hoping the miners were off to the side of the main shaft in a little room in a horizontal shaft.
So they brought in a great drilling rig and started drilling down through that solid rock trying to get into that room where they felt they were probably entombed.
Hour after hour, day after day, while the world watched, virtually holding its breath, as the news media portrayed for us the picture of how they went down there 6 inches and then another foot and down finally to three feet.
The families camped at the mouth of the mine where the rescue operations were going on.
Finally the day came when that great boring rig bore through the ceiling of that room where the miners were trapped. Rapidly it was withdrawn and they lowered a microphone taped to a little speaker down that hole.
The man who was directing the rescue operation at the top spoke into his end of the microphone and said, “Are you alright? Are you alive? Are you there?!”
And then a voice came back from the heart of the earth. “Yes, we’re here. We’re alright.”
A great shout went up from the rescue workers at the opening of that pit. Then the director said this into the microphone. “What do you want the most?” There was a pause and then a voice came back, “FREEDOM.”
Oh friends, heaven is involved in the greatest rescue operation the world has ever known.
All the universe is watching. Day after day, week after week, year after year, for the last six-thousand horrible years,
God has been seeking to rescue those of us who have been entombed by the avalanche of sin.
What must it do to His heart by our procrastination, our idleness, our spiritual postponement of eternal things.
We send back a message and say, “Oh, we’re satisfied with the trinkets, we’re satisfied with the things, but thanks just the same.”
How shall we escape if we neglect so great a Salvation?
Have you every ask your self just what is GRACE anyway,
Well here it is in a nut shell
GRACE “God’s Riches At Christ Expense”
Elder Tim McNab Restoring Gods Truth Ministry
In Vain Do They Worship Me!
Matthew: 15:9: But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
What did Jesus mean by saying this to the Great Religious leaders 2000 years ago. For almost 3500 years from the time of Moses the Religious leaders were responsible for the keeping of God holy word and for showing the common people what they need to do. But yet when Jesus came he told the Religious leaders in Mark:7:13: Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
If it was possible for the Religious leaders in Jesus time, to put there traditions before the word of God; could the Religious leaders of our time 2000 years after Jesus came be making the same mistake
We need a deep understanding of what Jesus meth when he said this.
Look at what Paul told the Galatians:1:6: I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Paul was surprised that no sooner then he left false teachers came in behind him teaching something other than the truth and people believed it.
Let’s take a look into the book of Acts:20:29: For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Paul called them grievous wolves, why because they did not care for the flock these false teachers wanted only the power, glory, and money that could be made off the common people by selling them religion.
Search for the true church:
There must be over 2000 religions in our world today and over half of them claim to be Christians, follower of Jesus who claimed to be the son of God. Have you ever wondered why so many different Christian religions, how do you tell which one is the true one, they all claim to be the one true church.
I am a Christian first, and then I am a Seventh-day Adventist Christian last
I am a Bible Believing Christian because I believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and want to follow his example. I also believe in every word of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation that it is the word of God. Teaching us about His love for mankind and how we need to live to show the World that we love God.
I am a Seventh-day Adventist because I believe the Seventh-day Adventist Church teaches the Complete Bible Truth as close as it can be with what light God has let shown in our day and time.
Many Churches clam that they teach the uncompromised word of God. But when it comes to keeping the 4th commandment they all say oh we don’t need to keep that one, it was just for the Jews we keep Sunday as the Christian Sabbath. Problem is that no where in Bible can you find that teaching. Not even the disciples of Jesus kept Sunday all through the New Testament you find them keeping and teaching on the 7th day Sabbath. And what is more interesting it is the only Commandment that God said to Remember and our Religious leaders saying it is OK to forget. Who do you believe God word or mans traditions?
I believe that more Truth is yet to come as we come closer to the End of Time and the light of God word is revealed unto his Children that have kept His word.
Many of good men and woman were lead astray by religion leaders who’s goal were not to teach the Pure Gospel of Jesus Christ but to teach there own version of how they believe it should be at the same time making a very nice living off of believers.
For this way they could hold people in darkness
Let’s take a look at some of the parables Jesus used to warn His believer about false teachings creeping into the Church.
Matthew: 25:
1: Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
What does a Woman represent in the Bible? That is correct a Woman represent a Church, a pure Woman or a virgin would represent Gods Church; and a harlot Woman would represent Satan church. In this story Christ out lines it as virgins so we know he is talking about his church and not the world.
2: And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3: They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5: While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Both the wise and foolish became weary while waiting for the Bridegroom (Jesus) to come, so they slept. But look at what happens next
6: And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7: Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8: And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9: But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
Here my friend is what makes the different, did they all bring enough oil with them. They all had Jesus, they all were Christians, but there was something missing with half of them, the oil. And what does oil represent in the Bible that is correct Gods Holy Spirit
10: And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Christians who are ready will go in with the Bridegroom when he comes; but what about all the rest.
11: Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12: But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
I don’t want to hear my Lord say to me I know you not. We need to be studying Gods word everyday we need to be obeying His commandments all ten of them. What did Jesus say in Revelation:14:12: Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Gods true Church will be the ones keeping His commandments, why because Jesus said in John 14:15: If ye love me, keep my commandments.
We don’t keep His commandment to be saved; we keep them because we are saved. If you love someone doing what they asked you to do is an enjoyment.
When I got married I wonted to do what ever it took to make my wife happy. So when she would ask me to do something I did it with joy. Why because I knew it showed her that I love her and still do after 39 years. When we do what Jesus ask us to do it shows others in the world who we love. So you see doing what someone ask is a way of showing you love them, that is what Jesus was saying.
There are some Churches today that say we don’t need to keep those old Ten Commandments Jesus did away with them on the Cross. Is that what Jesus said or is that someone interpolation, let’s take a look at what Jesus said
Look at Matthew 5:
17: Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18: For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
I did not come to do away with but to fulfill all the Law and commandments. These words are coming for the same God who created man and gave man His laws. Jesus said I am not come to do away with my Laws but to fulfill my Laws.
A rich young man came up to Jesus one day and asked this question
Mark: 10:17: Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
What must I do so I can have eternal life: What did Jesus reply to him
19: Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
If Jesus came to do away with the Ten Commandments why would He instruct this young ruler that he needs to keep them.
Let’s go on and see his answer:
20: And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
21: One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
22: And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
What was this young man real problem, Commandment number 1 Look at Exodus 20:
3: Thou shalt have no other gods before me. His money was his God, he was blind to the fact that he was putting his money before God and breaking the very first Commandment.
Take a good look now in the book of Revelation and hear what the angle is saying to every creature on Earth, it is called the Everlasting Gospel.
Revelation 14:
6: And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
7: Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Where in the Bible can we find those same words, in the 4th Commandment. It tells us who God is and what God did. God is the creator God; He made the Earth, the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars. He spoke the world into existence and then in Genesis 1 He said 31: And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.
Right in the very heart of Gods Ten Commandments we find the same words as the angle uses in the Book of Revelations. Go and read them for yourself
Exodus 20:
8: Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9: Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
My friend the Angle in Revelation is pointing man back to his Creator God; and is telling all the Earth to Worship Him and Him only this whole controversy is over one thing, who do you worship. God or Satan
So my question why did Jesus say to the religious leaders 2000 years ago In Vane do they worship me; because He knew as we get nearer to the end of time the religious leaders will again put there traditions above Gods Law. If they hated Him they will hate His true followers that do as He has asked them to do.
Matthew 5:
18: Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
I ask you what should you be doing, what Man said or what Jesus said. Read your Bible and study it and let Gods Holy Spirit lead you into all truth. You can’t trust the religious leaders today any more then you could trust them 2000 years ago.
Matthew 7:
21: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22: Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23: And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
In the judgment many of the great religious leaders today will be standing there on the outside saying Lord look at all we done for you have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works yes even miracles. But what does the Bible say Jesus will answer them. I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
These men knew the truth and refused to preach it because it was not the popular thing to do, it did not bring in the large groups of people that they needed to keep them living in there beautiful homes and churches. That is what will make the different between Gods true people. Who are you worshiping, who are you following.
Revelation:14:12: Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
I hope as you read this sermon that you study your Bible and see that no where did Jesus do away with any of His Ten Commandments. They are still there and still to be obeyed as on the very first day God gave them to Moses. And on the 4th He told Moses Remember, Remember what I did back in creation how it was I who created this World and all the things in it and it was I who created Man and gave him My Sabbath to be a day that we both will be together
The Ten Commandments are the very character of God Himself, in them He is showing us what He is like; He is a God of love, mercy, passion, and a God Justice.
In vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. In the garden God gave one little test to our first parents, He said you may eat freely of every tree in the garden except this one tree. It was a simple test of obeying what God said.
Along comes Satan and says to man oh you are not going to surely die. Who do you believe; you see the different it makes in doing what God said to do. Again God is giving man one little test of who will you obey. Jesus said in John:14:15: If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John:14:23: Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Just remember we don’t keep His commandment to be saved; we keep them because we are saved by His grace and we show that we love Him by doing the things He said to do. Keeping His Law keeping His Commandments, the ones He wrote on stone with His own finger.
Matthew:12:8: For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
Mark:2:28: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
Luke:6:5: And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
In three of the four Gospels you will find Jesus telling us what day He is Lord of, He is Lord of the Sabbath day.
John a disciple of Jesus was witting the book of Revelations almost 50 years after the resurrection of Jesus. Read Revelations:1:10: I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet. What day was John in the spirit, the day that Jesus called Himself Lord of; the Sabbath Day.
Friend do you love Jesus enough to do what He told you to do; don’t listen to anyone who is telling you different then what Jesus said. You want to show the world you love Jesus then do it His way and not the world’s way. Is God particular in what He says, you bet to know it. That is why He wrote the Ten Commandments Himself so no one could say oh those old Laws we don’t need them anymore.
God wrote them and on the 4th one He said Remember, don’t let anyone tell you to forget something that God told you to Remember.
God Bless
Elder Tim McNab
It will never Happen
Luke 17: 26: And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
Have you ever heard someone say! “Don’t worry that will never happen”
And the very next day there it is right in front of your face. And then you say to them I though you say this could never happen? and they look back at you and say “Well it not suppose to happen!
Our world today is a different place then it was just 100 years ago,
Some of you sitting here today can say yes that is true. I can’t say that because I was not here 100 years ago. But I was here 50 years ago and I tell you our world is a different place then it was just 50 years ago…so what happened?
I hear people saying things like what is going on; is the world coming to its end…..
When you say the end what does that mean?
Well most of the time it is the way we say the last part, its over, There is no more!
Well I am happy to say that with God the end mean just the beginning. For you see it is the end of sin but the beginning of life.
The 6000 thousand year old controversy over sin will soon be over and all who have put their trust in Jesus as their savior will live forever with him in a paradise home that he has created for all of his children
When you look all around and see so many things occurrence, one right after the other it really makes you wonder what’s Next!
Well let see what is in God’s word, and let him who is the Creator tell us what is next !
Let us Pray!
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History has always repeats itself; it is like an old broken record that is played over and over again.
So if we are going to try and find out what is going to happen next we must first go to the passed and see what happened before, in order to know what will happen now.
Our God is not a God of confusion but a God of perfect order; let’s go to the Book of Genesis for starters.
Genesis 6:
5: And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6: And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
Things must have been really bad for God to want to destroy all of his creation. For sin had filled the hold world and it had corrupted everyone, everyone except Noah, he like Faithful Job stood alone with only his Faith and integrity in the God of his Creation.
Now I want you to imagine for just a moment God telling you something like this
7: And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
I think I would be about as dumb founded as I could. Lord you are going to do what? Destroy everything what precisely do you have in mind when you say that.
12: And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
What a sad day it must have been for God to look at the world he had just created about 1,400 hundred years before and see the corruption sin had caused. How the un-falling worlds must have also looked in dismay at those who rebelled against such a loving Creator.
13: And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
14: Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.
Would it sock you, would you say well it’s about time, what would you do?
God told me to build a really big boat and get in it, so I will be safe.
17: And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.
If you were Noah what do you think you would be doing?
Obeying right!
I want us all to look at what God said in Genesis 6: 8: But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
God knows each of us by Name, there is nothing that happens by chance. It is either God’s will that it happened or God removed his protection from us because of sin and lets us have our own way. And the natural result of sin is the destruction of a person life.
Luke 17:
26: And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
27: They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
Almost 4,500 years ago God told Noah that the End was coming, he told Noah to build a boat a really BIG boat to hold all living creatures.
Noah himself did not know what a flood was he too had never seen a flood. But by Faith in God he knew if God said it, it was going to happen..
God loves and forbearing with mankind to repent and turn from sin and his sinful ways had reached its limit. The yard stick of sin was at last to its full mark about to run over.
No longer could God hold back the storm that was coming upon this world. Mankind had rejected God as there lord and Savior and in his place made gods for themselves of the wood, stones and the metal.
While faithful men preached to this world about the creator God who in 6 days made the heavens and earth, by the word of his power and rested on the seventh-day.
Who created our firth parents that had just died no more then a few hundred years earlier, even with the Garden of Eden still in mans sight, mankind rejected the God of his Creation.
It was not multitudes or majorities that were on the side of right. The world was arrayed against God’s justice and His laws, and Noah was regarded as a fanatic and a fool.
Satan, when tempting Eve to disobey God, said to her, “Ye shall not surely die.” Genesis 3: 4. Great men, worldly, honored, and wise men, repeated the same. “The threatening of God,” they said, “are for the purpose of intimidating, and will never be happen..
You need not be alarmed. Such an event as the destruction of the world by the God who made it, and the punishment of the beings He has created, will never take place.
Be at peace; fear not. Noah is an extremist.”
The world made merry at the folly of the deluded old man. Instead of humbling the heart before God, they continued their disobedience and wickedness, the same as though God had not spoken to them through His servant.
But Noah stood like a rock amid the tempest. Surrounded by popular contempt and ridicule, he distinguished himself by his holy integrity and unwavering faithfulness.
A power attended his words, for it was the voice of God to man through His servant. Connection with God made him strong in the strength of infinite power.
For one hundred and twenty years his solemn voice fell upon the ears of that generation in regard to events, which, so far as human wisdom could judge, were impossible.
The world before the Flood reasoned that for centuries the laws of nature had been fixed. The recurring seasons had come in their order. Heretofore rain had never fallen; the earth had been watered by a mist or dew every morning.
The rivers had never yet passed their boundaries, but had borne their waters safely to the sea.
Fixed decrees had kept the waters from overflowing their banks. But these reasoners did not recognize the hand of Him who had stayed the waters, saying, “Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further.” Job 38:11.
As time passed on, with no apparent change in nature, men whose hearts had at times trembled with fear, began to be reassured.
They reasoned, as many reason now, that nature is above the God of nature, and that her laws are so firmly established that God Himself could not change them.
Reasoning that if the message of Noah were correct, nature would be turned out of her course, they made that message, in the minds of the world, a delusion–a grand deception.
They manifested their contempt for the warning of God by doing just as they had done before the warning was given.
They continued their festivities and their gluttonous feasts; they ate and drank, planted and builded, laying their plans in reference to advantages they hoped to gain in the future; and they went to greater lengths in wickedness, and in defiant disregard of God’s requirements, to testify that they had no fear of the Infinite One.
They asserted that if there were any truth in what Noah had said, the men of renown–the wise, the prudent, the great men the great Religious leaders –would understand the matter.
Had the antediluvians believed the warning, and repented of their evil deeds, the Lord would have turned aside His wrath, as He afterward did from Nineveh.
But by their obstinate resistance to the reproofs of conscience and the warnings of God’s prophet, that generation filled up the measure of their iniquity, and became ripe for destruction.
The leave walls of this sinful world could only withstand so much sin before breaking the banks and flooding the world.
Genesis 7:
1: And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
Our world is again becoming ripe for the destruction that destroyed the antediluvians world. But this time not by water but by Fire, men again will turn from truth to believe a lie
I have no idea how much Faith Noah had, but I tell you this every time Noah drove a nail into the Ark his Faith grew. It is today no different with us only as we exercise our faith in Gods power will we be like faithful Noah one nail at a time.
Can we trust God? Let’s look at where we are today
We are told of a time of trouble that is coming upon this world we live in. A time that we who are God people will not be able to buy or sell, a time when the whole world will hate us and blame us for the problems that this old world will be going through
Can you believe the things that are happing in our world today!
This world is saying don’t worry; things are going to be just fine there is no need to be alarmed, your government will take care of everything and take care of you.
Do you believe that? What is going to happen when you find yourself all alone and the whole world against you?
When the day comes and its seam like everyone has turned agents you, even your own Brothers, sisters, Mother, Father, your own Children and husband or Wife. Where will you go what will you do, who will help you.
You will not be able to look to man for help, they will be the ones condemning you.
Soon very soon there will be a time of trouble that the world has never seen. When God’s people will be persecuted because of what we believe and who we believe in.
The Bible said that we won’t be able to buy or sell, how are we to live! What shell we eat what shell we ware, what shell we drink.
Look at how God lead in the pasted and you will see how he will lead in the future
Look at Moses 40 years he lead the children of Israel, did they want for anything
So what did they eat ?
Exodus 13:
14: And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.
15: And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.
God gave them what they needed not what they wanted, there is a big different between what we want and what we need. But it all takes Faith; we must learn to walk by faith and faith alone, relying upon God to lead and only upon Him.
Those who exercise but little faith now, are in the greatest danger of falling under the power of satanic delusions; and the decree to compel the conscience.
Even if they endure the test they will be plunged into deeper distress and anguish in the time of trouble, because they have never made it a habit to trust in God.
The lessons of faith which we have neglected now we will be forced to learn under a terrible pressure of discouragement.
We should now acquaint ourselves with God by proving His promises. Angels record every prayer that is earnest and sincere.
We should rather dispense with selfish gratifications, than to neglect communion with God. The deepest poverty, the greatest self-denial, with His approval, is better than riches, honors, ease, and friendship of this world.
If we allow our minds to be absorbed by worldly interests, the Lord may give us time by removing from us our idols of gold, and of fertile lands he may even allowed sickness or disease to come in and open the channel of communication again that was lost but only for a time.
The young would not be seduced into sin if they would refuse to enter any path except for that upon which they could ask God’s blessing.
If the messengers who bear the last solemn warning to the world would pray for the blessing of God, not in a cold, listless, lazy manner, but fervently and in faith, as did Jacob, they would find many places where they could say: “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” Genesis 32:30.
They would be accounted of heaven as princes, having power to prevail with God and with men.
The “time of trouble, such as never was,” is soon to open upon us; and we shall need an experience which we do not now possess and which many are too laid-back to obtain. It is often the case that trouble is greater in anticipation than in reality; but this is not true of the crisis before us.
The most vivid presentation cannot reach the magnitude of the ordeal. In that time of trial, every soul must stand for himself before God. “Though Noah, Daniel, and Job” were in the land, “as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.” Ezekiel 14:20.
So now the Future !
We are just in the beginning of the little time of trouble; we are just starting to see strange things that are happing in our world today.
It is not going to get better?
Sorry things will only get worse !
Will the Lord forget His people in this trying hour?
Did He forget faithful Noah when judgments were visited upon the antediluvian world? Did He forget Lot when the fire came down from heaven to consume the cities of the plain?
Did He forget Joseph surrounded by idolaters in Egypt?
Did He forget Elijah when the oath of Jezebel threatened him with the fate of the prophets of Baal?
Did He forget Jeremiah in the dark and dismal pit of his prison house?
Did He forget the three Men in the fiery furnace? or Daniel in the den of lions?
“Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?
yea, they may forget, but I will not forget thee.
Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands.” Isaiah 49:14-16. The Lord hosts has said: “He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye.” Zechariah 2:8.
Though enemies may thrust Gods Children into prison, yet the dungeon walls cannot cut off the communication between their souls and Christ.
One who sees their every weakness, who is acquainted with every trial, is above all earthly powers; and angels will come to them in lonely cells, bringing light and peace from heaven.
The prison will be as a palace; for the rich in faith dwell there, and the gloomy walls will be lighted up with heavenly light as when Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises at midnight in the dungeon.
The people of God will not be free from suffering; but while persecuted and distressed, while they endure hardship and suffer for want of food they will not be left to perish.
The same God who cared for Elijah will not pass by one of His self-sacrificing children. He who numbers the hairs of their head will care for them, and in time of famine they shall be satisfied.
While the wicked are dying from hunger and pestilence, angels will shield the righteous and supply their wants.
To him that “walketh righteously” is the promise: “Bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.” “When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.” Isaiah 33:15, 16; 41:17.
“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls;” yet shall they that fear Him “rejoice in the Lord” and joy in the God of their salvation. Habakkuk 3:17, 18.
“The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil:
He shall preserve thy soul.” “He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust:
His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.” Psalms 121:5-7; 91:3-10.
God will be there as he is here with his people now, to guide, to lead, to save.
We have nothing to fear but that we forget how God has lead in the passed he will again lead in the future.
Put your trust your faith in him he will not leave you.
God Bless
Elder Tim McNab
Reflections of the Christ
John: 15:13: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
While a man was polishing his new car, his 4 yr old son picked up a stone and scratched lines on the side of the car. In anger, the man took the child’s hand and hit it many times; not realizing he was using a wrench. At the hospital, the child lost all his fingers due to multiple fractures. When the child saw his father…..with painful eyes he asked,
‘Dad when will my fingers grow back?’ The man was so hurt and
Speechless; he went back to his car and kicked it a lot of times. Devastated by his own actions……sitting in front of that car he looked at the scratches; the child had written ‘LOVE YOU DAD’.
The next day that man committed suicide. . . Anger and Love have no limits; choose the latter to have a beautiful, lovely life….. Things are to be used and people are to be loved, but the problem in today’s world is that, People are used and things are loved..
During this year, let’s be careful to keep this thought in mind: Things are to be used, but People are to be loved … Be yourself….This is the only day we HAVE. Have a nice day
Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits they become character; Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
Let us Pray!
What is the most importance thing in your life? To many it is there Silver and Gold and the things they have in Life. I use to work at a Shipyard many years ago and sometimes we had work to do on some very expensive yachts. Some of them worth many millions of dollars and right as you go in they would have a sign hanging over head saying He Who Dies with the most Toys Wins. One time I had the opportunity to ask the man who own Sandals in Lost Vegas about his sign. I ask him how much is enough, he replied back till I have it all.
Till I have it all; what does the Bible teach about material things Matthew:16:26: For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Growing up I had to work everyday, I would go to school and right after school I would have to go to where my Dad worked to help him. He was a retired seaman and worked in a store selling discounted lube Oil back in New Orleans. One day my Mom and Dad got into an argument and ended up devoicing. Mom did all she could to teach us about God but Dad always thought that Christians were nothing but weak minded people. Dad moved back to the Islands in Honduras and Mom did all she could to keep the family together. But I was an angry young boy just about 14 years old when they separated and had no direction in life. About 6 months after my Dad left I was getting into all kinds of trouble on the streets of New Orleans and one day I decided to run away. So I planned very carefully and on Christmas Eve 1969 I packed my bags and got onto an airplane and left the USA for Utila one of the HondurasBayIslands.
Here I lived for the next 5 year and here it was that I learned why my Mother could no longer take living with my Dad. I loved him but he did not know how to give back love, his life was void of affection and full of hate. With the help of my older brother who was from my dad’s first wife and lived on the Island I made it until I was old enough to come back to the US and work.
Before I meet my Wife, my hold life was a life of nothing but living for the next day. At the age of 17 I started working in the Oil fields and moved to VeniceLouisiana. My cousin & I who was more like a brother lived doing nothing but drinking and smoking dope and anything else we could get our hands on. But I always had an empty feeling in my life and tried to fill that void with what everything I could. I got married just after I turned 18 to a very wonderful young Lady who was 21 at the time. She said that way she could finish raising me, boy she did not know what she was getting into. But guess what I did not know what I was getting either, but God knew, He planned it this way because of a pray I would pray. Asking Him Lord please bring a woman into my life that will make me a good wife and love me for what I am. I was not even a Christian then but God heard my prayers and answered them with a beautiful young Island girl who did not know the first thing about cooking.
A few years after we were married we had our first Child, a beautiful little girl who had my heart. I did not want for her to have a life like I had, so I decided I will make a change. I want in her little eye’s to see me as a loving father, but I did not know what a loving father was because I did not have one as a pattern. But I did remember my mother reading from the Bible about a Father God, so I started to studding about Him. The more I read about Him the more I started to change my life. I gave up drinking, smoking, dope and even started to change my vocabulary to words of a pleasant nature. I wanted to be to them what I never had a father who Loved me; I wanted them to see in me the Reflection of Jesus.
I wanted my Children to see the God I meet in me!
What are we showing others around us, do they see Christ in you or a Devil.
The Bible is a book of love it is a love letter from the God who has created this world. But something went wrong the man God created in his image rebelled because he believed a lie told to him in the garden. From the beginning we are told that everything God did was perfect in the Book of beginning called Genesis on the very first chapter 1: we have the story of God’s creation of His love.
24: And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
25: And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
26: And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28: And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
29: And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
30: And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
31: And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good
But the question, with giving Man so much freedom and giving him dominion over the whole world; would he remain faithful to his creator. So God planted in the middle of the garden a tree just one tree as a simple test to see if man who He created in his own image would love him. Genesis 2: 9: And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Genesis 2: 15: And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
16: And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
17: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
God told the Man and Woman who He created that everything was there, but that there was one restriction they were never to eat of this one tree. Why because God loved His creation and God knew that if man would eat of this one tree it would open his life to a life of sin and rebellion and life of pain, suffering, sickness, and death.
There was nothing different about this tree; it was just another tree in the garden that God created. But what it was was a test of obeying God word, God said not to eat of it and live or eat of it and die. It was a simple test that God took one tree and said don’t eat of it.
It had to be this way, why because God did not create the Man and Woman to serve His from force, God wanted man to serve Him out of love; the same love that God had in the beginning the same love that God has for all of us today. For freedom to be free it must be willing to let go, willing to take a chance, willing to show love in the hope of receiving love back again. The freedom of choice comes with a price and we all have been giving that freedom and we must choose whether we will serve God or man.
God knew that man might sin but that did not stop His love for man, God knew that if man sinned he would have to die, Why because one of Gods Laws were broken, But God had a plan.
Now sin has marred God’s perfect work, yet the handwriting remains. Even now all created things declare the glory of His excellence. There is nothing except the selfish heart of man that lives unto it self. No bird that cleaves the air, no animal that moves upon the ground, but ministers to some other life. There is no leaf of the forest, or lowly blade of grass, but has its ministry. Every tree and shrub and leaf pours forth that element of life without which neither man nor animal could live; and man and animal, in turn, minister to the life of tree and shrub and leaf. The flowers breathe fragrance and unfold their beauty in blessing to the world.
The plan for our redemption was not an afterthought, a plan formulated after the fall of Adam. It was a revelation of “the mystery which hath been kept in silence through times eternal.” Rom. 16:25: Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
It was an unfolding of the principles that from eternal ages have been the foundation of God’s throne. From the beginning, God and Christ knew of the apostasy of Satan, and of the fall of man through the deceptive power of the apostate. God did not ordain that sin should exist, but He foresaw its existence, and made provision to meet the terrible emergency. So great was His love for the world, that He covenanted to give His only-begotten Son, “that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Lucifer had said, “I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; . . . I will be like the Most High.” Isa. 14:13, For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
But Christ, “being in the form of God, counted it not a thing to be grasped to be equality with God, but emptied Him self, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. There is no other love greater then the love that God has toward man, we have sinned we have broken our relationship with our creator we have turned our back on Him but even then He did not stop loving us. He came to save the world and the world knew Him not; He came to his own people and His own people did not except Him; but hung Him on a Cross. Why because of God’s great Love, God has never stopped loving mankind.
When man sinned by eating of the Tree that God warned him not to eat there was a Law broken and that Law said in Ezek:18:20: The soul that sinneth, it shall die.
The King of glory stooped low to take humanity. Rude and forbidding were His earthly surroundings. His glory was veiled, that the majesty of His outward form might not become an object of attraction. He shunned all outward display. Riches, worldly honor, and human greatness can never save a soul from death; Jesus purposed that no attraction of an earthly nature should call men to His side. Only the beauty of heavenly truth must draw those who would follow Him. The character of the Messiah had long been foretold in prophecy, and He desired men to accept Him upon the testimony of the word of God.
With amazement the heavenly messengers beheld the indifference of the people whom God had called to communicate to the world the light of sacred truth. The Jewish nation had been preserved as a witness that Christ was to be born of the seed of Abraham and of David’s line; yet they knew not that His coming was now at hand. In the temple the morning and the evening sacrifice daily pointed to the Lamb of God; yet even here was no preparation to receive Him. The priests and teachers of the nation knew not that the greatest event of the ages was about to take place. They rehearsed their meaningless prayers, and performed the rites of worship to be seen by men, but in their strife for riches and worldly honor they were not prepared for the revelation of the Messiah. The same indifference pervaded in our world today. Hearts selfish and world-engrossed were untouched by the joy that thrilled all heaven.
In Psalms 23: we read these words
1: The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2: He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3: He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5: Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
“I am the Good Shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” “I am the Good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine. As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down My life for the sheep.”
Again Jesus found access to the minds of His hearers by the pathway of their familiar associations. He had likened the Spirit’s influence to the cool, refreshing water. He had represented Himself as the light, the source of life and gladness to nature and to man. Now in a beautiful pastoral picture He represents His relation to those that believe on Him. No picture was more familiar to His hearers than this, and Christ’s words linked it forever with Himself. Never could the disciples look on the shepherds tending their flocks without recalling the Saviour’s lesson. They would see Christ in each faithful shepherd. They would see themselves in each helpless and dependent flock.
This figure the prophet Isaiah had applied to the Messiah’s mission, in the comforting words, “O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! . . . He shall feed His flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom.” Isa. 40:11. David had sung, “The Lord is my shepherd; He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young
And the Holy Spirit through Ezekiel had declared: “I will set up one Shepherd over them, and He shall feed them.” “I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick.” “And I will make with them a covenant of peace.” “And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen; . . . but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid.” Ezek. 34:23, 16, 25, 28
Christ applied these prophecies to Himself, and He showed the contrast between His own character and that of the leaders in Israel. The Pharisees had just driven one from the fold, because he dared to bear witness to the power of Christ. They had cut off a soul whom the True Shepherd was drawing to Himself. In this they had shown themselves ignorant of the work committed to them, and unworthy of their trust as shepherds of the flock. Jesus now set before them the contrast between them and the Good Shepherd, and He pointed to Himself as the real keeper of the Lord’s flock.
We are the sheep of His pasture and God has called us to attend His flock and to lead them by His example. We are to do this by doing the things that He did and speaking the words that He spoke.
John:10:14: I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
The life of every Father on earth is to be the leaded the priest of his family, we are to show our children the reflection of Christ living in us. We are to be to our Wife, family and others living around us a reflection of the good shepherd. We must follow His example we must study and read everyday and apply to our life the things we learn about being a true shepherd so that when the world sees us they see only the reflection of the Christ living in us.
Jesus gave us two great commandments to live by
Mark 12
29: And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
This commandment takes in the first 4 of the Ten Commandments, Mans duty to his creator
31: And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
This Commandment takes in the last 6 of the Ten Commandments Mans duty to his brother.
What a letter of love that God has giving to man that we might know the love of the Father through His Son Jesus.
I can only pray that my wife, my children and my grandchildren see only the reflection of the Christ living in me. Salvation is a free gift to all who by faith will except it, but it was not free to God’s Son Jesus he paid the price for our sins by His death. What a beautiful story about Love, how can anyone reject pure love so freely giving is a mystery to the heavenly host.
John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Friend I hope and pray that you find in Jesus the love that God has giving for this world salvation. John: 15:13: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. That is just what Jesus did, he dies to give you life, He took your sins upon Himself because He loved you with a Godly love.
There are many people that we meet each day in our world and you can always tell the ones that live with Jesus in there hearts. Just look for the reflection of His life in them.
God Bless and may your life also be a reflection of Christ living inside of you.
Elder Tim McNab
Baby Dedication
Giving back to God!
Scripture I Sam. 1:28
Question: Have you ever given your children back to God?
Some of you might be thinking, “I’d like to give them back—but I didn’t think God would take them back.
• The truth is, there are Lots of parents who have had a few moments or days when they would have liked to package up that kid and take them back….
Take them back to God’s customer service counter and demand a refund!”
I thought they had a ‘no return’ policy on kids without a receipt!”
• Well, , I’m not suggesting you return your kids to God and try to get your money back,
When I ask you if you have ever given your children back to God.
• What I am asking is, have you ever really recognized God gave them to us…
Recognized your children are a precious gift from the Lord…
They belong ultimately and always to God first—not to you?
Releasing ownership of your children to Him—
We need to understand that God is responsible for the way in which they were designed
God already knows the plan and purpose for their future!
I’m hoping we will Realize God has left it up to us to show them His way?
Let us Prayer
_________________________________________________________
God has been asking us to put many things on His altar recently.
today, He is asking every one of us who are parents to “BRING OUR CHILDREN AND PUT THEM ON THE ALTAR!”
There are many BIBLICAL examples Lets Look @ some of parents in the Bible who brought their children to God and gave them back to Him:
Of course, you remember Joseph and Mary brought there infant (baby)Jesus to the temple following his circumcision at 8 days. they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (Lk. 2:22).
But we are going to look @ another example of a parent surrendering his child to.. God …the Life I want us to read about today is that of Abraham offering his son Isaac on Mt. Moriah.
Let’s see what the Scrpiture would have to say to us today about “Giving Your Children Back To God.”
in TEXT GENESIS 22vs1-13
…Suddenly proposes the greatest test that could come to a human being… offering up a child..
Man that had to be hard and painful for Abraham…
After all:• Abraham loved Isaac. V.2 God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love, and sacrifice him …”
.I don’t know if I would do that
In the supreme test of a long, eventful life Abraham obeyed without raising a single question, without objection without seeking human counsel
• Oh yes, just try to put yourself in Abraham’s place.
• Isaac had been a MIRACLE baby. He was born when Sarah was 90 and Abraham was 100 years of age.
I’m sue It was very painful for Abraham to strap his dear son on an altar and a stack of wood,… raise a knife to slash open that boy’s chest and throat,… cremate the body and sit by as he smelled the stench of the burning flesh of his boy—and then watch that boy literally disintegrate into a pile of ashes!
…no he didn’t do it…. but ….he was going to
In GENESIS 22vs 5 he said to his young men that went with them, that we will come back… Its was Only by Faith was it possible NOT to expect to return alone
..,.He believed that even if God would have to raise Isaac from the dead(heb11:19)
Gods promised him for in Isaac your seed shall be called. Gen.21
• Whew! I don’t know if I would do that…even if God asked!
But in a very real sense, I know I MUST DO THAT every day with my children
Do you know—the best thing Abraham ever did for Isaac was to tie him to that altar and to surrender him back to God?
1) Had Abraham refused to give Isaac back to God, he would have forfeited all God’s promises and plans for Isaac.
Isaac would have lived and died in darkness, a nobody.
2) Because Abraham obeyed and gave Isaac back to God,
Isaac received the fullness of God’s best plan and promise for his life:
• Isaac became a wealthy man.
• Isaac became the forefather of God’s own Son, the Lord J.C.
• Isaac’s life is still having an impact on and blessing millions of people worldwide through his offspring—Jesus Christ.
And so, you and I need to learn from Abraham today. If we refuse and fail to give our children back to God—we may very well be forfeiting God’s best plan and purpose for their lives. And when we entrust our children back to God—we secure for them the covenant of God’s best purpose and plan for their lives.
Lets take a look @ FOUR ELEMENTS OF GIVING YOUR CHILD BACK TO GOD:
• What does it mean?
1) Giving your child to God is a CONFIRMATION of your love for God.
• The first thing you are saying when you give that child back to the Lord is simply this…that you love God even more than you love that child. (Your child is a most prized possession…but don’t allow them to take the place of God!) [I love you,(child), so much, that I want the very best for you. If that means giving you to God, correcting you, giving you limitations (holding the line), changing my life for your benefit…I’ll do whatever it takes!]
• This is exactly what Abraham proved by his willingness to offer Isaac. He was demonstrating that his love and fear of God were supreme in his life above all else.
Matthew 10:37-38
• Abraham loved God above the most prized treasure of his life…his only son Isaac.
Not only a Confirmation…also a CLARIFICATION
2) Giving your children to God is a CLARIFICATION of ownership.
–When you give your child back to God, you are openly declaring that:
• This child is a gift from God.
• This child does not really belong to you.
• This child belongs to God.
(You have the privilege to love and train this child.
But this child is not yours—but God’s!)
• Was this not what had to be on Abraham’s mind when he lay Isaac on the altar? Was he not saying, “Lord, this young man belongs to you—not me?” He was saying, “You do with him as you please. He’s yours!”
• Hey listen! These little children do not really belong to us—they belong to God! They are a precious gift from God, on loan to us.
Ps. 127:3 “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” (KJV).
Note: We’d better be careful how we treat and care for God’s property!
Not only Confirmation and Clarification…also a COMMITMENT
3) Giving Your Children To God Is A COMMITMENT to Raise Your Children God’s Way!
Eph. 6:4 says we are to bring our children up “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
• LISTEN…To give your child to God is not just a CEREMONY…It is a COMMITMENT. It is a commitment that you are going to:
Be a Godly parent. (Parent dedication…requires getting right w/ God)
It is a commitment that you are going to:• Pray for this child & Teach this child of Christ. (they will need to be saved)
It is a commitment that you are going to:• Keep this child in church.
It is a commitment that you are going to:• Love this child. (even if loving them means disciplining them & letting God discipline you!)
It is a commitment that you are going to:• Train this child.
It is a commitment that you are going to:• Stay married for this child. (there are other reasons for this too, but that is a great one!)
It is a commitment that you are going to:• Make your home a holy place.
It is a commitment that you are going to:• Put away worldliness
and Live a righteous life.
• I think some people see baby dedication as a magical ceremony. Let me tell you if you are not making a sincere commitment to raise this child God’s way! this little ceremony means nothing….
: I like what Joshua told the children of Israel as they settled into their new home, the Promised Land.
Joshua 24:14-15
14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served…and serve ye the LORD.
15 , choose you this day whom ye will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord
“I want my family to turn out right, and so, as a parent, I’m going to begin to lead them right!”
• Man, that’s the kind of commitment God is looking for in parents today!
Not only a Confirmation, Clarification, Commitment…also a CLAIMING
4) Giving Your Children To God is a CLAIMING of God’s plan and promises for that child’s life.
• Isaac inherited God’s blessings, protection and promises because his dad, Abraham, gave him back to God.
(read) Genesis 22:15-18
• Your children are blessed by your obedience to God AND cursed by your disobedience to God.
What I mean by that is they have a free will, but you stack the odds in their favor or against them by the way YOU live!
• As you obey God with your life, and as you give that child back to God, you are allowing that child to receive God’s very best for his/her life.
Read Proverd22vs6
…So, this is what it means to give your children back to God:
1) It is a CONFIRMATION of your supreme love for Christ.
2) It is a CLARIFICATION of ownership (God owns that child).
3) It is a COMMITMENT to raise that child under the Lordship of J. C.
4) It is a CLAIMING of God’s best plan and promises for that child’s life.
• This is exactly what transpired when Abraham took Isaac up Mt. Moriah and laid him on the altar to give him to God.
1) Abraham was CONFIRMING his love and fear of Jehovah.
2) Abraham was CLARIFYING that Isaac really belonged to God.
3) Abraham was COMMITTING to be a Godly parent.
4) Abraham was CLAIMING God’s plan and promises for Isaac.
1 more very short example of a parent in the Bible who brought their children to God and gave them back to Him…
the classic example of Hannah bringing her son Samuel to God…
I Sam. 1 26,she prayed to the lord for some thing lets see what she prayed for our scripture of today vs 27…now lets continue to see what happens next, what will she do with the child ,28…She Gave him back to the Lord…
Closing Song
Lord help us entrust our children back to God —we need to secure for them the covenant of your goal, best purpose & plan for their lives. Help us not forfeit that in their lives… Its only through Christ can God make them & us the way he wants you to be…