Tag: Holy Ghost
Unconditional Love
About 41 years ago I fell in love with a beautiful Island woman; but it was not just her looks that I loved it was also her mannerism. She was very well spoken of and treated her family, her friend & herself with a deep respect for everyone. At that time I was working in the oilfield off shore of Venice Louisiana, I was just 17 teen at the time but was soon to be 18. I would leave for 6 or more months at a time and she was always there waiting for me to return. One day I asked her to marry me and she said not until I ask her Father first. What I said ask your Father first but why I am not marrying him I want to marry you, not until I ask her Father.
Asking someone Father for the right to marry their daughter, no way am I going to do that, or at least I said that to myself. You see asking someone Father for the right to marry their daughter was a way of respect and that was one of the things about her that made her stand out from all the other woman that I dated. Now 41 years later she is still my beautiful Island woman, we have both made a lot of changes because time is no body’s friend. But is it not what is on the outside that matters it is what is on the inside because unconditional Love overlooks the faults in each of our characters and says I love you, I love you, I love you.
But what about God’s unconditional love for man, come take a trip with me in the Bible and let’s see what it says about God love for mankind.
Let us Pray!
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Let’s look at John: 3:16-17
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.
17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
The scriptures have a beautiful way to describe how God feels about His creation. Can you imagine the creator God stooping down from His eternal glory and becoming His creation in order to save them from a bad mistake they made.
Well that is exactly what happened!
Gen. 1:27. God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
All heaven took a deep and joyful interest in the creation of the world and of man. Human beings were a new and distinct order. They were made “in the image of God,” and it was the Creator’s design that they should populate the earth. They were to live in close communion with heaven, receiving power from the Source of all power. Upheld by God, they were to live sinless lives.
The holy pair were not only children under the fatherly care of God, but students receiving instruction from the all-wise Creator. They were visited by angels, and were granted communion with their Maker, with no obscuring veil between. . . . The mysteries of the visible universe–“the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge”–afforded them an exhaustless source of instruction and delight. The laws and operations of nature, which have engaged men’s study for six thousand years, were opened to their minds by the infinite Framer and Upholder of all. They held converse with leaf and flower and tree, gathering from each the secrets of its life. With every living creature, from the mighty leviathan that playeth among the waters, to the insect mote that floats in the sunbeam, Adam was familiar. He had given to each its name, and he was acquainted with the nature and habits of all. God’s glory in the heavens, the innumerable worlds in their orderly revolutions, “the balancings of the clouds,” the mysteries of light and sound, of day and night,–all were open to the study of our first parents.
God created man a superior being; he alone is formed in the image of God, and is capable of partaking of the divine nature, of cooperating with his Creator and executing His plans.
. 1 John 3:1. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not; because it knew him not
As John thought of the love of Christ, he was led to exclaim, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.”
People think that it is a privilege to see a royal personage, and thousands go great distances to see one. How much greater privilege it is to be sons and daughters of the Most High. What greater privilege could be conferred on us than to be given entrance into the royal family in Heaven?
In order to become the sons and daughters of God, we must separate from the world. 2 Corinthians 6: 17: Come out from among them, and be ye separate,” the Lord says, “and I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters.” . . .
There is a heaven before us, a crown of life to win. But to the over comer only is the reward given. He who gains heaven must be clothed with the robe of righteousness. “Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” In the character of Christ there was no discord of any kind. And this must be our experience. Our lives must be controlled by the principles that controlled His life.
Through the perfection of the sacrifice given for the guilty race, those who believe in Christ, coming unto Him, may be saved from eternal ruin. . .
Let no one be so deluded by the enemy as to think that it is a condescension for any man, however talented or learned or honored, to accept Christ. Every human being should look to heaven with reverence and gratitude, and exclaim with amazement, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” That when Christ appears we shall be Like Him
1 John 3:2. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
We are not to settle down, expecting that a change of character will come to us by some miraculous work, when Jesus shall appear in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Listen my young friends, we are judgment-bound right now, and probation is granted to us here in this life, in order that we may form characters for the future, immortal life.
Let none imagine that selfishness, self-esteem, and self-indulgence are compatible with the Spirit of Christ. Upon every truly converted man or woman there rests a responsibility that we cannot rightly estimate. The maxims and ways of the world are not to be adopted by the sons and daughters of the heavenly King.
In separating from the world, we shall encounter difficulties on every hand. But here is what the servant comfort for us: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
We should show by our words and works that we recognize the great responsibility laid upon us. Our light should shine so clearly that others can see that we glorify the Father in our daily lives; that we are connected with heaven and are joint heirs with Jesus Christ.
To have fellowship with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ is to be ennobled and elevated, and made a partaker of joys unspeakable and full of glory. Food, clothing, station, and wealth may have their value; but to have a connection with God . . . is of priceless value. . . . And although it “doth not yet appear what we shall be,” “when Christ, who is our life, shall appear,” “we shall be like him.”
1 John 3:3. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure
Christ would elevate and refine man’s mind, purifying it from all dross, that man may appreciate the love that is without a parallel.
Through repentance, faith, and good works he may perfect a righteous character, and claim, through the merits of Christ, the privileges of the sons of God. The principles of divine truth, received and cherished in the heart, will carry us to a height of moral excellence that we had not deemed it possible for us to reach. . . . “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”
Holiness of heart and purity of life were the great subjects of the teachings of Christ. In His sermon on the mount, after specifying what must be done in order to be blessed, and what must not be done, He says, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Perfection, holiness,–nothing short of this would give them success in carrying out the principles He had given them. Without this holiness, the human heart is selfish, sinful, and vicious. Holiness will lead its possessor to be fruitful, and abound in all good works. He will never become weary in well-doing; neither look for promotion in this world; but he will look forward to be promoted by the Majesty of heaven when He shall exalt His sanctified and holy ones to His throne. . . . Holiness of heart will produce right actions.
As God is pure in His sphere, so man is to be pure in his. And he will be pure if Christ is formed within, the hope of glory; for he will imitate Christ’s life and reflect His character.
The princely dignity of the Christian character will shine forth as the sun, and the beams of light from the face of Christ will be reflected upon those who have purified themselves even as He is pure.
1 John 4:10. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
In redemption God has revealed His love in sacrifice, a sacrifice so broad and deep and high that it is immeasurable. John: 3: 16: God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son.
When Adam’s sin plunged the race into hopeless misery, God might have cut Himself loose from fallen beings. He might have treated them as sinners deserved to be treated. He might have commanded the angels of heaven to pour out upon our world the vials of His wrath. He might have removed this dark blot from His universe.
But He did not do this. Instead of banishing them from His presence, He came still nearer to the fallen race. He gave His Son to become bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. John: 1: 14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Christ by His human relationship to men drew them close to God. He clothed His divine nature with the garb of humanity, and demonstrated before the heavenly universe, before the un-fallen worlds, how much God loves the children of men.
The gift of God to man is beyond all computation. Nothing was withheld. God would not permit it to be said that He could have done more or revealed to humanity a greater measure of love. In the gift of Christ He gave all heaven.
The Highest, who was with the Father before the world was, submitted to humiliation, that He might uplift humanity. Prophecy withdraws the veil, that we may behold the throne of heaven, that we may see upon that throne, high and lifted up, One who in human form, came to our world to suffer, to be lacerated with stripes, and bruised for our iniquities.
Thus God showed His love for man. With Christ the Father gave all of heaven, that the moral image of God might be restored in man. . . . His grace in all its vastness is provided for all.
John 1:12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
Divine son ship is not something that we gain of ourselves. Only to those who receive Christ as their Saviour is given the power to become sons and daughters of God. The sinner cannot, by any power of his own, rid himself of sin. For the accomplishment of this result, he must look to a higher Power. John exclaimed, John: 1: 29: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” Christ alone has power to cleanse the heart. He who is seeking for forgiveness and acceptance can say only,–
“Nothing in my hand I bring; Simply to Thy cross I cling.” But the promise of sonship is made to all who “believe on his name.” Everyone who comes to Jesus in faith will receive pardon.
The religion of Christ transforms the heart. It makes the worldly-minded man heavenly-minded. Under its influence the selfish man becomes unselfish, because this is the character of Christ. The dishonest, scheming man becomes upright, so that it is second nature to him to do to others as he would have others do to him. The profligate is changed from impurity to purity. He forms correct habits; for the gospel of Christ has become to him a savor of life unto life.
God was to be manifest in Christ, “reconciling the world unto himself.” Man had become so degraded by sin that it was impossible for him, in himself, to come into harmony with Him whose nature is purity and goodness. But Christ, after having redeemed man from the condemnation of the law, could impart divine power, to unite with human effort. Thus by repentance toward God and faith in Christ, the fallen children of Adam might once more become “sons of God.” When a soul receives Christ, he receives power to live the life of Christ.
Eph. 5:27: That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish..
The church, enfeebled and defective though it be, is the only object on earth on which Christ bestows His supreme regard. He is constantly watching it with solicitude, and is strengthening it by His Holy Spirit. Will we, as members of His church, allow Him to impress our minds and to work through us to His glory?
Christ loves His church. He will give all needed help to those who call upon Him for strength for the development of Christlike character. But His love is not weakness. He will not serve with their sins or give them prosperity while they continue to follow a wrong course of action. Only by faithful repentance will their sins be forgiven; for God will not cover evil with the robe of His righteousness. He will honor faithful service. He will abundantly bless those who reveal to their fellowmen His justice, mercy, and love. Let those who are engaged in His service walk before Him in true humility, following faithfully in His footsteps, cherishing the holy principles which will live through the eternal ages. Let them in word and action show that they obey the laws which are obeyed in heaven.
The church is the repository of the riches of the grace of Christ; and through the church will eventually be made manifest, even to “the principalities and powers in heavenly places,” the final and full display of the love of God…. The church is God’s fortress, His city of refuge, which He holds in a revolted world…. It is the theater of His grace, in which He delights to reveal His power to transform hearts.
God’s love for His church is infinite. His care over His heritage is unceasing.
2 Cor. 6:17, 18. I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
The Creator of the universe addresses you as an affectionate Father…. Your heavenly Father proposes to make you a member of the royal family, that through His exceeding great and precious promises you may be a partaker of the divine nature…. The more you partake of the character of the pure, sinless angels, and of Christ your Redeemer, the more vividly will you bear the impress of the divine, and the more faint will be the resemblance to the world.
“I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters….” What a promise is here made upon condition of obedience!…. He promises to be a Father unto you. Oh, what a relationship is this! higher and holier than any earthly tie. If you make the sacrifice, if you have to forsake father, mother, sisters, brothers, wife, and children for Christ’s sake, you will not be friendless. God adopts you into His family; you become members of the royal household, sons and daughters of the King who rules in the heaven of heavens.
If you call God your Father, you acknowledge yourselves His children, to be guided by His wisdom, and to be obedient in all things, knowing that His love is changeless. You will accept His plan for your life. As children of God, you will hold His honor, His character, His family, His work, as the objects of your highest interest. It will be your joy to recognize and honor your relation to your Father, and to every member of His family.
God is our Father, a tender parent, solicitous for His spiritual children. He is pledged to be the protector, counselor, guide, and friend, of all who are obedient to Him.
Rom. 8:17: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
All who enter into a covenant with Jesus Christ become by adoption the children of God. They are cleansed by the regenerating power of the Word, and angels are commissioned to minister unto them. They are baptized in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. They pledge themselves to become active members of His church in the earth. They are to be dead to all the allurements of worldly desires; but in conversation and godliness, they are, through sanctification of the Spirit to exert a living influence for God.
“Heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ,”–what an exalted, dignified position! Separate and distinct from the world, secure from the wily snares of Satan! By their baptismal vows, God’s professed followers have pledged themselves to stand in opposition to evil. The enemy of souls will work with all craft to corrupt their minds. He will seek to introduce his methods into their service for the Master. But there is safety for them if they will heed the injunction: “… be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” .
To what greater honor could we aspire than to be called the children of God? What greater rank could we hold, what greater inheritance could we find, than that which comes to those who are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ?
God so loved the world, what a blessing to this sin lost world that its creator would step in and pay the penalty for the law that mankind broke. Then to give the very best that heaven could give, the gift of His Son; the Father gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John: 3: 16:
My friend, God love you, no matter where you are in life, no matter what you done in life there is hope in the Fathers Son Jesus Christ. Pray He will always hear a prayer coming from a repented heart reaching out to Him for forgiveness. Always remember God loves you with unconditional love.
Elder Tim McNab
Restoring Gods Truth Ministry
FACING TRIALS ALONE
Act 27:
31: Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
At the height of his popularity, Rudyard Kipling was one of the most widely read authors of all time.
At one point it was estimated that each word he had in print was worth twenty-five shillings.
A group of students at Oxford University pooled their change and sent twenty-five shillings to Kipling, and the accompanying letter read, “Send us your best word.”
Before long, the reply came back. And so with great anticipation, the students opened the envelope from Kipling to find a single word printed on the piece of paper.
It simply said,
“Thanks.”
One little word, but what power can it accomplish
How often do we use this simple word that can say so much all by its self?
Thank you Jesus, for being my savior, my Lord and my Friend.
Lets us Pray?
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We all have a bad habit of doing things all by ourselves and perhaps no one is worst with that then me. I hope I am the only one here today with that problem.
When someone needs help I am willing to go and help them, but when I need help and they ask me I just say ”That’s OK I can do it”. Then I suffer through the heat of the mess all because of some stupid little inner me that can’t seam to say OK I need you to help me.
I am glad Paul was not like that he knew where his help came from and he trusted God with his life.
Our story today starts with Paul being under arrest and escorted by a Roam guard.
First we must understand the setting of the story and the reason why Paul was where he was.
Paul was a prisoner and on his way to see the judge in Roam, Why because He was a Roman Citizen so he could only be judge by a Roman court
There are two reasons in life that we all suffer;
Number 1: Is problems we cause and bring upon ourselves. This we do through
Drinking, Drugs, Partying, This hurt our bodies
Number 2: Is problems that come because we refuse to be like what the world calls normal.
Jesus was one of these types. He was not the Normal
When he was just a little boy I am sure there were many of times his friends called him to go with them and do a little hell raising, but he would not go with them.
Sometime in life we must learner to stand alone.
We will not always be able to hide in our pleasant of comfort places where we feel warm and cozy. We need to take a stand of being different at being a true Christian
At being someone that said No; I will not follow the crowd Jesus is my leader and I will follow only Him.
Why do we fear to stand alone, what makes us afraid?
There is a day when we will be called to stand before kings and rulers of this world. How does that make you feels?
The Bible said don’t worry about what you are to say.
Mark 13
9: But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.
10: And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
11: But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
Mt:10:28: And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Now let’s look at Paul and his problems
Act 27:
6: And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein.
7: And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone;
8: And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.
It way late in the year and the winter months were just about on them. There was still some time for sailing but for only short trips and close to shore.
9: Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,
10: And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.
11: Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.
12: And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.
This all makes good sense to me,
I am a sailor, I don’t expect Pastor Paul to be able to tell me how to run my Ship or when it is good or bad weather. I am an expert right.
So the Centurion would only be expected to believe the ship owners rather then believe Paul
In our world people who do not know God believe what they are told by men of the world, not by men of God
13: And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.
This is kind of like Sin, at first it seams that all is OK and you have manages to achieve your objective, but like all Sin it is not what happened in the beginning or in the middle, but what happens in the End.
14: But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.
We know it better by its 21 century name Typhoon
15: And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.
Let me explain what is going on:
The Captain of the ship has lost all hope; he and his crew are doing all they can to keep the ship on curse but the Seas and the Wind keep pushing them backwards.
They had no Compass, they had no GPS to tell them where they were. All they had was the Stars and the weather was so bad the could not tell where they were
16: And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:
The weather seam to lay down some and they took the opportunity to try and make what repairs they could to the ship.
17: Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.
18: And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;
19: And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.
20: And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.
The world would give-up hope, but not God people, they know with Jesus there is always hope
When things seam like it is over we know that is where God takes control
The same is true in our lives today. Satan may make you feel that the end is near there is no hope, your condition is beyond help.
Don’t listen to that, Do this real fast, put a mirror under your nose and bread out, quickly remove the mirror and look for vapor residue on it. If it is there then you are still alive and there is still hope for you.
Why because Jesus came to save all who call on his name, no matter what boat you are in he can save to the up-most in any condition
21: But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.
No one was interested in what Paul had to say before, but they are interested in hearing what he has to say now.
A few weeks ago I was in Honduras, some of the Church leaders were telling a story about the resent Earthquakes there.
He said all the Churches were almost empty one week and then the earthquake and now its standing room only
It is funny how when there is trouble; the world looks to God, but as soon as the trouble is passed the world goes back to doing what it was doing before
Paul did not sway he stood firm because his Rock was Jesus and when your Rock is Jesus you can’t be moved.
Lesion to what Paul is telling the people
22: And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship.
23: For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
24: Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
25: Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
26: Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.
This was like a 9.9 Earthquake, and everyone was trying to get as close to Paul as possible
27: But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;
Have you been on a boat for more then a day, what was the sea condition, Good / bad.
We went fishing for my Son bachelor party in Tampa, what a good time, the ride was about 1 1½ hours out to the fishing area, the seas were about 4 to 5 foot, just beautiful for an old seaman like me.
Everyone was doing great except Pastor Edwin he was sick as a seadog, the only thing he was doing was feeding the fish over the side of the boat.
I almost felt sorry for him, almost that is.
I can only imagine how it would be with a boat load of men about 266 of them in a Hurricane force winds. I road out many of hurricanes offshore but never with so many people on board
Now the boat was coming up behind an Island, trained mariners can tell the difference in the sound of the sea and the waves of the Oceanic.
Look at verse 28
28: And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.
29: Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
30: And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,
31: Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
32: Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.
Here is a massage for us today.
Only as we abide in Jesus can we be saved
The world may have all types of roads to heaven but none lead to Jesus
John:14:6: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
There is only one way to heaven and that is by Jesus and the sacrifice he has giving on the cross in payment for our sins
And there is only one way to get forgiveness, Except it by faith what He has done for you
Now they are all waiting for Paul to give the word
The Roman centurion, the ship owner, the ship Captain, the crew, and the passengers, All eyes were now on Paul
Act 27:
33: And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.
34: Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.
35: And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.
36: Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.
37: And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.
38: And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.
39: And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.
40: And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.
If you are to be saved you must committee your live to Jesus, you must put yourself in His hands and let go of the rope that holds you too this world. The ride may get bumpy but the end results is what counts
41: And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.
42: And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.
43: But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:
44: And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.
Many times in our life we will face trials; and come up against forces mightier then we are.
Eph:6:12: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
When we are doing God will and going where God wants us to go, we must remember that He will take care of the problems that stand in the way.
God will not let his People Parrish, we may face trials but we will not face them alone
The ship was lost but the 266 souls were saved,
This is a great lesion for us today, by Faith we are saved through the Grace that Jesus gave on the cross; dieing in my place that I might have the life.
For he took my place in exchange he gave me his life . O what Love, O what a savior is Jesus my Lord.
Don’t be afraid to stand up for Jesus, someone’s life may be counting on your testimony
It is my pray that each of us will come to know Jesus as Paul did, that no matter what problems come to us in live we can say I know that my savior is in control and I have nothing to fear.
Do All to the Glory of God
There were two Families who lived across the street in this particularly neighborhood.
One day they got in an augment over some little foolish thing that happen and vow to never speak to each other again (As long as they would live)
A few years would go by and both couples started having children.
One day they notices that there children were playing together in the fount yard.
This infuriated the parents to see there children playing with those people across the street.
They would go and get the children and tell them they were never to play with the People across the street again.
Only to find the children in the front yard playing again with the children across the street.
The Parents knew they needed to do something to stop this with those fitly no mans who lived across the street.
So the parents on the right side of the street started to build all kinds of play things in their back yard for there children
The parents on the Lift side of the street saw what the pigs across the street was doing and started doing the same in their back yard.
Never would there children play together again!
Time went on and the children grew-up and were ready for School. The parents on both sides of the street made sure that there children would not attend the same school so they all went to a different private school.
Time again moved on and the oldest of these children now made ready for collage.
At Collage both of these young adults met many of new friends, one day the Girl from the right side of the street met a wonderful boy who she fell in Love with.
And the Boy from the Left side met a wonderful Girl who he fell in Love with.
They Loved each other so much they did not want to even go home when the semester was over, So they decided to register and go to school all year long, studying and cramming there curses so they could both finish get Married and start a life of there own when School finished
Funny neither of them every talk much about there family back home.
But the day came and they graduated; now they planed to get married. They were surprised to learn that they both came from the same state, and even more surprised to learn that they lived in the Same City.
What a coincident they said to each other.
The Girl told here Boyfriend the street she lived on and the Boy said why my parents live on that same street.
He told the girl his parent house number and she said why that is not far from where her parent live
They just could not understand how they had never met before, living so close to each other all this time.
Until they drove down the road and seen that they were neighbors across the street.
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How many of us today go to Church and never talk to each other. How many times do we pass each other by with not so much as a smile, a hello, a good-by, or a go and drop dead.
We are supposed to be representing God on this Earth, but some times we tend to represent only Satan in Christ clothing.
God said in all that you do, do it to the Glory of God!
Our Question today is “How do I give God the Glory”?
Let us pray !!!!!!
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The Sermon today will be taking from the Scripture found in 1 Corinthians: 10:31:
The King James Bible:
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Twenty Century New Testament Bible:
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do everything to the honor of God.
Bible in Worldwide English:
So, whether you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do everything to bring praise to God.
Do all to the glory of God.
Point #1 Is it possible to honor God in how or what we eat?
The Bible says yes it is possible!
In the beginning God created everything Good; it was perfect just out of the creator’s hands
Genesis 1
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.
We don’t need a preacher to understand what we just read? What we read is God gave to man his food, and it was not the beasts of the earth, it was the fruit that grew on trees, God call it meat.
For this reason you will find many Adventist who are vegetarian and not meat eaters. Not that there is anything wrong with eating Clean Meat.
The diet of man was altered after Sin entered into the Human family.
In the scripture we are told; God said I have given you every herb bearing seed & and every fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for Meat.
When God uses the word Meat; is does not mean animal flesh.
When I was growing up sometime we would get a young Coconut to eat and cut them open, and eat the Meat of the coconut on the inside, the fruit inside was conceded the meat of the Coconut. It is no part of any animal but the Meat of the Fruit that God had giving this is what God was saying
So where did Man start eating Flesh or animal protein.
Let go back to the Book of Beginning and see what happen
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.
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 am glad we have men Like Noah / even though he was called a Fool by the World Standards He Remained Faithful to Gods Laws. Out of the hole World God found only Noah righteous
We are not going into the story of Noah, because of time; let’s just take a look at what happen.
We know that God told Noah to build an Ark because he was going to destroy the earth with a flood. God gave Noah the plan for the size of the Ark, why because he knew it would have to hold a pair of all the beasts of the earth.
Lets pickup on the story where God is calling the animal and they are going on into the Ark.
Genesis 6
19: And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.
20: Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.
Let dig a little deeper here into what is happing and see if we can shade a little more Light on this subject
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.
2: Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.
God say to Noah Clean beast by sevens and un-clean by two. That is 14 of every clean the male and female and two of every un-clean one male and one female.
Did God make a distinction between what animals were clean and unclean back in the time of Noah?
So why do we hear men preaching today and telling us we don’t have to worry about those Jewish Laws, we can eat anything we want, just put a little more gravy on it. It is ok to eat what God said is an abomination, because those Law’s were for the Jews only.
Were those laws for the Jew only and not for us today? Was Noah a Jew?
Do you know there are a lot of similarities between Jews and Muslim?
One similarly is that neither one will eat Pork,
Do you know why?
Because they both had the same great Grand Father, the patriarch Abraham who taught his children of Gods Laws!
Not because they were Jews or Muslim but because they were his Children; and Gods Law was the delight of his Life.
The Jewish line came from Abraham Son Isaac who begat Jacob now known as Israel, The Muslim line came from Abraham other sons Esau & Ishmael
Now if it is understandable to be able to Give God Glory in what we eat, it is also understandable to believe we can Dishonor and not give Him Glory in what we eat and that is by eating what God said is an abomination to Him.
Isaiah 66:
16: For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.
17: They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.
If you have any drought as to what animals are Clean or Unclean just go to the Book of Leviticus and read in chapter 11:
1 Corinthians 6:
19: What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20: For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Where now is also the augment for abortion?
When is the Woman that said it is my body and I can do what I want with it. WRONG, God said your body belongs to him, he bought you with a price whether you like it or not. Now he will not force his way on you, but he will let you choose to do right or wrong that is a choice he has giving you.
Point #2 Can we Honor God in our Relationships.
1. Life is built on Relationships
Can we bring Honor to God by having friends?
Yes we can, God did not create us to be independence of each other, we were created to be social, in other words to have relationships with other.
One of the worse things that can happen to someone is to be totally isolated, put away from everyone else. We were not made to be alone; we need the fellowship of others in our life to be totally happy. When we are a Friend to others or as Jesus said a neighbor to others we give God the Glory.
Mathew: 22:39:
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Why?
Because It give Glory to God.
Just the opposite is true if you do not love your neighbor, you do not bring Glory to God
► God holds the Marriage relationship as a Most Holy Thing.
It was giving to mankind in the garden before Sin, when God took the one Man and one Woman and joined them together, and they two became one flesh.
What God has joined together let no Mankind separate or come between.
Let me ask you a question? Can Sex bring Glory to God ?
When in the confines of the Marriage relationship even Sex can bring Glory to God. It was Gods way of forming the bond between the Man and the Woman, for God said and they two shall become one flesh
The Intermit relationship between the Man and Woman forms a strong bond and holds them together, but even it is not complete!
There is one missing element, and that is the need for his creator to be part of that relationship. That brings Honor to God in the Home and the Children of that Home will also bring Glory and Honor to God.
Because they will learn of Him by the example of the Parents, Children watch everything there Parents do, and imitate there very actions and words.
If they are words of Love and cheer of compassion and Faith, they too will have the same. But if it is words of hate and violence words of markery and slander they will become exactly like the Parents and that brings dishonor to God.
Marriage is a commitment to each other a way of saying I love you and want to be part of your Life. It is a way of saying I Will Always Be There for You
That is what God is telling us; when he is part of that relationship he will always be there for you, if you accept him into your Life.
In the Marriage relationship; if Sex brings Glory to God, Then the opposite must also be true.
Sex outside of the Marriage relationship brings Dishonor to God
Adultery is when the Marriage relationship is Broken.
In other words when the Covenant, when the Agreement, when the Promise, is made Void by one of the parties involved in the Marriage relationship and that is by Sex whether Physical or Mental is committed our side of the Marriage Relationship the Vow is broken and bring dishonor to God.
Satan loves nothing more then to destroy the Family, because there are two things that came out of Eden, One was the Marriage; our relationship to Each Other, and the Sabbath; our Relationship with God.
Satin will stop at nothing to break our relationship with God and with each other.
He attacks our very Homes when we are the lease expected; so we can dishonor our Creator
We are attacked everyday by the T.V. in our Homes, every time you look there is a Sex seen on the tube. Just about every Movie you see will has at lease one seen with people having Sex.
Most of the time T.V., Magazines, and Movies don’t give Glory to God
You open the News paper and there are pictures of Woman in there undergarments, the same with a magazine from JC Penny or Sears. All to lead your Mind away, and into a place it should not be and to help you break that covenant relationship you made.
By Far the worse Magazine you can have in you Home if you have Men or young boys is a Victoria Secret magazine.
It is Pornography at the first stage (it opens the door to Sin in young boys)
Look at what Jesus said in Matthew: Matthew:5:28:
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Please notice here there is nothing wrong looking at a beautiful Woman. That is not the problem; it is what a man does in his mind when he looks that is the problem.
There were a sect of Men in Israel that were called the Burse and Bleeding Pharisees. Why because they believed that to look at a Woman was Sin.
And so to keep from Sinning if they were walking and a Woman was coming down the other way, they would cover there eyes, thus running in to Buildings or in a Ditch
As Paul Harvy would say now you know the rest of the story… Burse and Bleeding Pharisees
To look at a Woman is not Sin but to “Undress her in your Mind is Sin”.
Because you have committed Adultery with her in your heart
That is what Jesus was saying, if you Lust after her, if you desire her, if you long for her, if you hunger for her you have committed Sin because you have broken the covenant with your Marriage Partner.
God also liked the Marriage relationship to Himself by the Church.
The Church is his Bride
He is coming back for a Pure and Holy Bride that has not committed Fornication or Adultery with the world.
But for those who have kept themselves as a Virgin awaiting the coming of the Bridegroom to give Glory to God
Phil:2:11:
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Rom:3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Jesus did say Be ye Perfect as I am Perfect, It is only as we are in Christ that we can become Perfect not in ourselves, In ourselves we are imperfect becuase we are sinners
We Glorify God in our acceptance of His Sacrifice on the Cross in Man behalf because we could not do it ourselves
The opposite it true we Dishonor God when we try to do it ourselves, it is like saying God I don’t need you
Point #3 Can we Honor God by keeping the day He blessed and said was Holy
Can Worshiping God on the 7th day of the week the Sabbath bring Glory to God?
The Jewish people had a very big problem; they refused to keep Gods Law. Jesus said; If you Love me keep my Commandment. So we may say if keeping Gods Law shows that we love Him; then by not keeping them or braking even one of them shows that we don’t really Love Him; or at lease not totally; and if you don’t love Him totally, then you don’t love Him at all. And so Jesus has no choice but to let you have your own way
At the restoration of Jerusalem, in the days of Nehemiah, Sabbath breaking was met with the stern discipline “Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath. , “ Nehemiah 13:18
Christ, during His earthly ministry, emphasized the binding claims of the Sabbath; in all His teaching He showed reverence for the institution He Himself had given.
In His days the Sabbath had become so perverted that its observance reflected the character of selfish and arbitrary men rather than the character of God.
Christ set aside the false teaching by which those who claimed to know God had misrepresented Him.
The Sabbath was embodied in the law given from Sinai. The people of Israel had knowledge of it before they came to Sinai. On the way there the Sabbath was kept. When someone profaned it, the Lord reproved them, saying, “How long refuse ye to keep My commandments and My laws?” Ex. 16:28.
The Sabbath was not for Israel only, but for the world. It had been made known to man in Eden, and, like the other precepts of the Decalogue, it is of perpetual obligation. Of that law of which the fourth commandment forms a part, Christ declares,
“Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in nowise pass from the law.Matthew:5:18:”
So long as the heavens and the earth endure, the Sabbath will continue to be a sign of the Creator’s power. And when Eden shall bloom on earth again, God’s holy rest day will be honored by all beneath the sun. “From one Sabbath to another” the inhabitants of the glorified new earth shall go up “to worship before Me, saith the Lord.” Isa. 66:23.
In the days of Christ the Sabbath had become so distorted that its observance reflected the character of selfish men more than God.
They began to worship the Day, more then the Creator of the Day.
The Religious leaders virtually represented God as giving laws which it was impossible for men to obey. They led the people to look upon God as a tyrant, and to think that the observance of the Sabbath, as He required it, made men hard-hearted and cruel.
It was the work of Christ to clear away these misconceptions. The Religious leaders followed Him with merciless hostility because he did not keep the Sabbath by their traditions. He did not conform to their requirements (Traditions), but went straight forward, keeping the Sabbath according to the laws of God.
The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27″
Does the Sabbath make us perfect, No it don’t, but it does make us dependence on Gods Grace, for it is by Grace that we are Saved through Faith and not of our works.
So if keeping the Sabbath brings Glory to God, then not keeping the Sabbath brings Dishonor to God.
How did the whole thing get mixed up in the first place, look at the Book of Daniel?
Daniel: 7:25:
And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
God knew these things would happen, because he knew Satan would stop at nothing to dishonor Him.
He knew Men would try and bring in another day; that He God did not bless and did not make Holy.
You must understand God did all He could do for Man
1. The Sabbath Came out of Eden,
2. Marriage Came out of Eden
3. The Food God gave us to keep us in good Health came out of Eden
God did all this to keep mankind happy and healthy, why because of His great love for his Creation.
Do you know who wrote the Bible, Men who were moved by the inspiration of Gods Holy Spirit?
Do you know the only part of the Bible God did not let man write?
His Ten Commandments, He God wrote them himself on stone with his own finger. Are his laws importance can man change something that God himself wrote. I don’t think so.
What every you do, ask yourselves this first
In what I am going to eat, will it bring Glory to God?
In what I think does it bring Glory to God?
In how I worship does it bring Glory to God?
If your answer is yes then you have no problems, but if it is NO I leave you with a Choice you need to make.
Give God the Glory by your obedience to his will and live forever or take your chances with the world.
To God be the Glory, Great things He has done so love He the world He gave us His SON.