Sunday, December 5, 2010

Hope is the anchor - Rom 15:13

 

Introduction

- As Vice President, George Bush represented the U.S. at the funeral of former Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev in 1982.
- Bush was deeply moved by a silent protest carried out by Brezhnev's widow.
- She stood motionless by the coffin until seconds before it was closed. Then, just as the soldiers touched the lid, Brezhnev's wife performed an act of great courage: She reached down and made the sign of the cross on her husband's chest. 
- There in the citadel of secular, atheistic power, the wife of the man who had run it all hoped that her husband was wrong.
- She hoped that there was another life, and that that life was best represented by Jesus who died on the cross, and that the same Jesus might yet have mercy on her husband. 
- When faced by death, people hope that there is a better life beyond
- Today is the second week of advent, and we are going to talk about hope – the hope that Jesus brought to the world

1. The hope of the gospel

- The hope of the gospel is referring to the good news of the kingdom of God
- Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. (yoo-en-gelion)
- The gospel is the good news that our sins can be forgiven, and we can be restored to a relationship with God
- This is refered to in the Bible as salvation
- It comes from the greek word “sozo”
- 1 Thes 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation
- This same word sozo, is also used for healing
- Mat 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
- Mat 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

2. The hope of eternal life

- We hope that this life is not all there is
- We have hope in eternal life
- John 3:16
- Titus 3:5-7
- Mankind has always sought to know about eternal life
- Greeks talked about man having an immortal soul
- The Druids believed in the transmigration of souls
- People want to believe in reincarnation e.g. hindus
- Satan started it all off by telling eve, you shall not surely die
- God says, he gives us eternal life
- But man has an emptiness inside, and knows when something is missing
- That element that is missing is God, he is the giver of life
3. The hope of the resurrection

- We look forward and hope for a day when we will meet Jesus and all our loved ones who have preceded us in death
- 1 Thes 4:13
- This will be a glorious reunion!
- It will be the greatest family gathering of all time
- Paul says, if we don't believe in the hope of the resurrection, we are to be pitied
- 1 Cor 15:12-21
- Jesus died for our sins, but then he was raised to glory to be with the father
- Each of us too, has thois same hope within us, looking forward to the resurrection when the body of this death will be clothed with glory
- Without the resurrectrion we cannot inherrit the kingdom of God
- 1 Cor 15:50-54

Invitation

Communion

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Funeral service - Eunice Clark - 1 Cor 15:12-26

Eulogy

- We are assembled here together to pay our respects to Mrs. Eunice Doshia Clark
- Eunice slipped away into Jesus arms this last Tuesday November 30, at the age of 92, with her granddaughter Vicky by her side
- Eunice had accepted Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior, and this is a great comfort.
- Eunice was born the daughter of Thomas Redmond and Effie Smith, on Nov 8, 1918 on the old Roberts place in Grant County New Mexico
- She was the youngest of 2 brothers and 7 sisters, and grew up mainly in Separ NM
- She met and fell in love with Jack Lester Clark II (whom she knew as Tex) at the age of 13 in her dad and mom's store.
- They eloped and married in Las Cruces in 1934, and were married for 61 years. Tex passed away in 1995
- Their door was alays open to anyone in need
- Visitors often stayed a while, and while sitting on the porch, Eunice would strum the guitar, and they would sing together.
- Tex and Eunice had 6 children – Leona Elizabeth, Jack Lester, Joseph Alfred, Daniel Carol, Eunice Lenora, and Jimmy Thomas
- They had 19 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and 34 great-great-grandchildren. Plus many nephews and nieces living from California to Texas.
- Eunice had many accomplishments, among which were composing a song, writing 2 books about the family history of the Smith and Clark familes
- She drew a map of the little town of Separ where she grew up, which is now in the Lordburg NM museum.
- Because it was a railroad station, this map is also in the Southern Pacific Railroad Museum, in Washington DC
- She also put Separ on the internet, as a ghost town, with pictures of the old school house where she and her siblings went to school
- Eunice lived in Lassen County off and on since 1943 – which is before I was born!
- Her family and friends loved her dearly and have been praying for her during her illness, even when she herself was no longer able to do so.
- But she is now in a better place, with Jesus and many of her family around her
- Eunice loved Jesus, she would often say, Jesus belongs just to me
- When she got worried she would say to God, Now you promised to take care of the widows and orphans – I am a widow, so I am claiming your promise that you are taking care of me.
- Eunice that believed God always keeps his word
- We have a lot of family here today, would any of you like to say a few words about your memories of Eunice?

Testimonies
Message
- John 14:1-3 – Jesus preparing a place for us in heaven
- It will be a beautiful place, which is perfect for us
- We may be attached to our earthly home and possessions, heaven will be infinitely more wonderful
- In heaven, people who died having a relationship with their Savior, are now in the presence of Jesus.
- Revelation decribes a little bit about their state.
- It describes them as being in the presence of God, that they are speaking, that they are wearing white robes, and that they are waiting for a special day
- Paul talks about this day, in 1 Cor 15:12-23
- If there be no resurrection, Jesus himself was not resurrected, and so we would have no basis for our Christiuan faith
- But Jesus is alive, and we see this in the changed lives of Christians
- The Christian life is a changed life
- When a Christian dies, his spirit or his soul goes to be with God, until the day of the resurrection of our bodies to glorious life for all eternity
- This day is described in 1 Thes 4:13-18
- One more event will happen later on, when God moves heaven to be on this earth
- Rev 21:1-5
- And as Eunice said, God always keeps his word
- These words are a great comfort at this time

Invitation

- Jesus came to this earth as a baby in a manger, and grew up to be a man, both human and divine, who died on a cross so that our sinful ways might be forgiven
- If we would like to have a relationship with Jesus it will require that we surrender the rest of our lives to Him
- The way to do this is to quietly tell Jesus that you are sorry for the way you have lived your life, you ask him to forgive you, and to be a part of your life, from this day onwards.
- If you do this, you are now a part of a family relationship with God as our father and all other Christians as our brothers and sisters.
- At the close of this service, you will be able to surrender your life to Jesus

SONG – 23rd PSALM

Sunday, November 14, 2010

In All Things Give Thanks - Eph 5:20

In all things give thanks
November 14, 2010
Eph 5:20

Introduction
  • The Pilgrim Fathers left Plymouth New England for the New World. It was a hard and perilous journey, that lasted 2 months, and they arrived in Massachusetts in late November 1620.
  • They disembarked on December 11. They hastily put up shelters, but half of them died of starvation and sickness before spring
  • That spring and summer, praying hard, and assisted by helpful Native Amereicans, they reaped a bountiful harvest
  • They then declared a 3-day feast starting December 13, 1621, to thank God and to celebrate with their Native American friends.
  • This was the first Thanksgiving Festival, though an earlier thanksgiving service was held in Virginia.
  • But why is thanksgiving such an important aspect of the Christian life?
  • They gave thanks for a good year. But how about when other years surned sour?
  • What about in our lives? Do we thank God when things go well, but ignore him when things go bad?
  • This evening we are taking a brief look at the subject of thanksgiving
Reading
  • Ephesians 5:18-20 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
  • Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
  • Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Background
  • Paul here was imprisoned, probably in Rome, around 60-62ad
  • Paul describes himself as an ambassador in chains for the sake of the gospel
  • Being chained up is never something you would choose, whether you are imprisoned under house arrest, or in some foulsmelling dungeon somewhere.
  • Paul was in difficult circumstances
  • Some churches supplied for his needs part of the time, but there were times when Paul felt alone and without resources, and he may well have been placed in a prison cell during these times
The passage
  • In this passage, Paul is spreaking of the victorious Christian life in the Spirit
  • he says instead of seeking human shortcuts to our situation, such as getting drunk, we need to be following through on our walk in the Spirit
  • This involves worship from our lips and worship in our hearts
  • Be playing worship CD's and make these songs a part of your life
  • Music helps set the tone for our attitude, and worship songs point us to God
  • And then he says – ALWAYS giving thanks to God the father, for EVERYTHING, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
How can we do this?
  • How was Paul able to stay upbeat while he was in prison?
  • Paul went through all kinds of trials – shipwrecked, stoned, bitten by a snake, imprisoned, beaten, hungry
  • Yet he stayed thankful, through it all.
  • During this same period, he tells us in Philippians that he had learned to be content whatever the circumstances
  • This was only possible because he saw the bigger picture
  • Jesus promised us that he would never leave nor forsake us
  • Jesus said that with God, all things are possible - Matt 19:26
  • Paul said in Phil 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength
  • Rom 8:31 – If God be for us who can be against us
  • We can remain thankful to God even in adverse circumstances, if we believe that God is in control, that he is on our side, and that he will make all trhings work out for our ultimate good
  • Even though I may be going through financial storms, if I recognise that God is in control, and that if I trust him he will take care of me, I can stay thankful
  • Though I may be losing my home, and my kids don't care, God does. He has promised he will supply my basic needs if I place Him at the center of my life. I give thanks that God is in control and wont let anything too big for us, overwhelm us
  • Maybe we have been rejected by those dear to us, and we wonder where God is in all this. Jesus tells us that He becomes family when we accept him into our life, and our church family becomes closer than even blood ties. I can be thankful that I am part of that new family
Conclusion
  • Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Invitation
  • For the person who has not found Jesus, it is impossible to be thankful in hard times
  • It just does not make sense in the natural world
  • It only makes sense when we know we serve a God who will make it all work out right
  • If you would like to surrender your life to Jesus today, I want to give you an opportunity
  • If we would all bow our heads I will lead us in a prayer, accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior
  • Lord Jesus, I come to you as a sinner, needing grace
  • I now ask you to forgive me
  • I thank you that you died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins
  • I surrender my self to you and ask you to come dwell in my life. Please send me your Holy Spirit to empower me to live a life that pleases you. In Jesus name, amen”
  • If you just prayed this prayer for the first time, congratulations. Your sins are now forgiven and you have a fresh start in your life!
  • Your next step is to find a Bible-believing church, where you will learn more about this new life you have chosen.

Will You Come? - Rev 22:17

Will you come?
November 14, 2010
Revelation 22:17

Introduction
  • God reveals himself to us in three different ways

Father of love
  • God loves us and
  • 1 John 2:15 - “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
  • 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.”
  • 1John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
  • 1John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
  • The ultimate expression of that love was that he gave up the most precious things he possessed, his Son
  • Joh 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.
  • Like identical twins, life revolves around the other twin

Son of compassion
  • Jesus came to show us the Father
  • John 14:8-14
  • Jesus came to show us the Father
  • He was a living picture of the Father's love
  • Psalms 145:8 The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.
  • Psalms 112:4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
  • That love was expressed in the way he related with people
  • Matthew 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
  • Matthew 14:14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
  • Matthew 18:27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
  • Mark 1:41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

Spirit of comfort
  • Rom 5:5 - “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
  • 1John 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
  • Holy Spirit sent as another Comforter
  • Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
  • Holy Spirit is the breath of God
  • Is intimately involved in all that God does
  • OT ruach NT pneuma
  • He seeks to be part of our lives
  • Disciples with Jesus 3 ½ years – close, trusting sharing
  • The Holy Spirit has been sent to be with us, to show us Jesus, to teach us, help us grow and develop
  • Above all, to show us the intimacy God desires with us

Conclusion
  • Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Halloween - Trick or Treat?

Trick or Treat?
October 31, 2010
Eph 5:8-11

Origin of Satan
  • John 1:1-3 – In the beginning
  • Hebrews 1:7 – Makes angels winds
  • Heb 1:14 – created to serve us
  • Heb 2:5-8 – Little lower
  • 1 Pet 1:10-16 – Angels desire to look
  • Gen 1:1-2 – chaos and confusion
  • Isa 14:12-15 – Lucifer
  • Ezek 28:11-17 – guardian cherub
  • Verse 14 – cast to earth
  • Luke 10:18 – Jesus saw it
  • John 10:10 – thief comes to kill, steal, destroy
  • 1 Pet 5:8-9 – Lion seeking to devour
Video - the Dark Truth About Halloween

Conclusion
  • 1 Cor 10:16-21 – table of demons

Closing prayer