Good morning friends and family. I thank you all for joining us here today, and also for those who might be reading this at a later time on all the various sites that it will be posted on. Our God is so amazing and I thank Him for bringing us all together and I pray that today’s message, as convicting to some as it may be, will be a blessing to all. I also want to thank Pastor Babcock and Sister Dianne for being here again today and for his message of Communion that he shared last week with all of us. Throughout this past week, I have been asking God what He would have me share with you. I was in hopes that it would be more on the importance of faith in Christ, but I don’t feel that is the direction He wants me to go in this week. Yes, faith in Christ has to do with part of this message, because it is possible that for some listening or reading it will need faith to maybe be delivered from the chains of bondage that is keeping them down. Throughout this week, I have seen people that I have been around doing things that a Christian should not be doing. I have heard things that confessing believers of Jesus say that they ought not to be saying. Now let’s get to the online part. Most of you know that I share a daily prayer on many sites each morning. I also post sermons on many sites. As I shared a couple weeks ago, I am amazed at how many times these prayer are being hit each day and also the great responses from others. The internet has become such a great tool for sharing God’s Word, yet I wonder much of the time if the majority of those who read are absorbing anything. Brother Jim, how can you say such a thing? Well my friends, I can say that because of the things I see some who continuously share, even in the open amongst other believers. Many probably have no clue that what they are doing is wrong in the eyes of God because some preachers don’t teach these things. But do you know what, my friends? Even though it seems like many preachers can’t get away from the ear tickling messages that make the listener feel all warm and fuzzy inside, he can’t be blamed for all of it. Well, who then, Brother Jim? How are we supposed to know what God wants me to do or not do? How do we know God’s heart if our pastors won’t teach us? If we really wanted to know what is wrong or right, if we really wanted to do what is pleasing to God and know how we could be a testimony to Him for His honor and glory, we would take that Bible that is covered with dust and open it and read and meditate on it every day. Not because Brother Jim says so, but because we want to spend time with God the Father. We would read it daily because we want to seek His heart. We would read and meditate on God’s Word because we want to have fellowship with our Heavenly Father. Amen? We would be in prayer constantly. Amen? Prayer. So friends, are we ready to see some of the things that Christians are dabbling in that are NOT pleasing to God? We all know what the 10 Commandments are, yes? In case someone isn’t sure, let’s turn to Exodus 20 and we will start with verse 1. Exodus 20:1-17 KJV And God spake all these words, saying, (2) I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. (3) Thou shalt have no other gods before me. (4) Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: (5) Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; (6) And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. (7) Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. (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. (12) Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. (13) Thou shalt not kill. (14) Thou shalt not commit adultery. (15) Thou shalt not steal. (16) Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. (17) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. So the commandments given to Moses were what we just read. Looking back through your life, how did you do through all these things? I can tell you, I failed miserably. Yes indeed. I failed most everything on this list, but thank God I know Jesus. I said thank God I know Jesus and He knows me. I thank Jesus for dying on the cross for me. I thank Jesus that when I cried out to Him confessing I was a dirty sinner He heard me. I thank Jesus my Lord and Savior for hearing me ask Him to be Lord of my life and that He washed my sins away. Halleluiah!! Now I'm a joint heir of Jesus. Praise God!! Can anyone in all honesty say they obeyed all these things we read in Exodus 20? If so, congratulations. If not, don’t feel bad. You are human. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and took of the tree of knowledge, from that time on, man was born with sin nature. For those who say they obeyed all of the 10 commandments, you haven’t messed up once, Wow!! You are a good person and I wish to shake your hand, but you know what? As good as you may be, if you have not asked Jesus into your heart to be Lord and Savior, to be born again......saved, you cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. If you went out into your community today and asked everyone that walks by, "If you died today, would you go to Heaven?" You would be surprised at how many would say yes. Some may never have been to church. Maybe never heard the Gospel, but because they are good, they would escape hell. Many think they have earned their way to heaven. Please turn in your Bibles to John 1:1. Friends, Jesus is the most important figure in all of human history. He, my friends, is the only man who has ever walked the face of the earth who had no sin in Him. Jesus came to earth from Heaven. He is God in flesh. John 1:1 KJV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Who was the Word? Verse 14. John 1:14 KJV 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. Please turn to John 14:6. There is no way to get to heaven but through Jesus. John 14:6 KJV Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. You cannot pray to Buddha, Mohamed, the sky, mother earth or some statue that you made. It won’t work. Yes, you can talk to these things, but why would you? Why waste your breath? Let’s turn to Isaiah 14:6. For those who think that because of the good things they have done..... they are useless. Isaiah 64:6 KJV But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. I want to go on a different course now. I have shared for years now that I take James 3:1 very serious. My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. Who wants to take over teaching now? You see, I understand that I am responsible for everything I teach you. I need to get it right. Those who teach God’s Word are held to a higher standard and I don’t want to stand before God and be told I taught wrong. I don’t want to hear that I taught you a message that does not line up with God’s Word. Do you all follow me? This is why I can’t believe, and this is where I get into the title of the message. Are we the church, or are we playing church? What is the church? It isn’t a building, friends. Again you ask the majority of people who and what the church is and they think it is that big building with the steeple that Jesus freaks go to on Sundays, or where they get married or go when someone dies. Hey, I used to think that too, until I got into the Bible. Friends, when we are saved or born again, we are now part of the body of Christ. We are a new creation. The old man is dead, or it should be. I said it should be. Please turn to Romans 3:23. Friends, sin is sin. If you kill someone, you have not just broken mans laws, but you have sinned against God. If you cheat on your spouse, you haven’t just hurt your spouse, but you have broken covenant with God and sinned. If you take a piece of bubble gum from someone and you did not ask, you have stolen from that person and sinned against God. Sin is sin, no matter how big or small. Romans 3:22-23 KJV Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: (23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Now please turn to Colossians chapter 2. Here is where someone might start to squirm. Remember, these are not my words. I am not speaking these things or sharing this text on the many sites to condemn you, but to help you with your walk with God. In the next 15 minutes or so, I want to show you what I have seen from church people in OUR COMMUNITIES and online from professing believers. Colossians 2:6-23 KJV As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: (7) Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. (8) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (9) For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (10) And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: (11) In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: (12) Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. (13) And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; (14) Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; (15) And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (16) Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: (17) Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. (18) Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, (19) And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. (20) Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (21) (Touch not; taste not; handle not; (22) Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? (23) Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. Friends, I wish I could break this chapter down so you could really get a look at some of the things that Paul is leading up to, but because of time, I won’t this time. What I do want to say is this.... All through the Bible, we see that disobedience to God has consequences. We all know what happened with Adam and Eve. Then the first murder when Cain killed Able. We know that people were wicked and God opened up the flood gates, yet spared Noah and his family during the flood. We had Mosses who led the Israelites out of Egypt, yet they complained, stole, lied, and so on, and so on. Friends, we see from many prophets that this day and age we live in would be full of wickedness. When one looks deeper into some of these prophecies, the very things that Apostle Paul addressed to the Corinthian’s, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians and Thessalonians, is going on today and much of the body hasn’t got a clue that they are doing wrong, or they just don't care. Brother Jim, you have lost it. Have you fallen off your rocker? When one is saved, He is a new creation. The old man is dead, dead, dead. Gone! Out of here! The things of this world that we loved should be far from our minds. The things God hates we should hate also. Amen? I said Amen? Come on church, keep up with me. Colossians 3:1-25 KJV If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (2) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (3) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (4) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (5) Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: (6) For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: (7) In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. (8) But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. (9) Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; (10) And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: (11) Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. (12) Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; (13) Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. (14) And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. (15) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. (16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (17) And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (18) Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. (19) Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. (20) Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. (21) Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. (22) Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye service, as men pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: (23) And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; (24) Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. (25) But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. If you would, please turn to Deuteronomy 18:10-13. Here we go with things that probably many haven't realized are an abomination to God, because many preachers don’t teach about them. Here is where Satan has really fooled many. Deuteronomy 18:10-13 KJV (10) There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, (11) Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. (12) For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. (13) Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. Please turn to Revelation 21:4. I want to look at a little sliver of what John witnessed and what was said to him from Jesus our Savior. What I want to show is some of the things going on in many churches. I am going to catch a lot of flack from this, but these are not my words. Revelation 21:4-8 KJV And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (5) And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. (6) And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. (7) He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. (8) But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Galatians 5:14-26 KJV For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (15) But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. (16) This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (17) For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (18) But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. (19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, (21) Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (24) And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. (25) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (26) Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Please turn to Romans 1:28. We will look at a few more verses and we will finish up. I know that I have given you a lot to think about and in a short time, but these things are important for us to understand. From what I am seeing here from so-called church people and online from what are supposed to be Christians, they don’t get it. I want to be part of that spotless church that Jesus is coming for. Amen? Romans 1:28-32 KJV And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; (29) Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, (30) Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, (31) Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: (32) Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. 2 Timothy 3:1-13 KJV This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (2) For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (3) Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, (4) Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; (5) Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (6) For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, (7) Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (8) Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. (9) But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. (10) But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, (11) Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. (12) Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (13) But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. There is so much more that I would have liked to shared with you. Many more scriptures. I would have like to touched on many more things that are going on in our congregations all over the world. Church, this is why I urge you all to be in the Word daily. As you spend time with God through these readings and by being in prayer, He will point out things to you. Those who may be into witchcraft, sorcery, palm reading, horoscopes...stop. Ask to be delivered now. Those who are backbiters, gossipers.....stop. Repent. Turn away from it. Magic.....stop. Those who may be dabbling in spirit stuff, like ouija boards, stop and throw it away. Friends, this is not me being mean. I love you and I want to see God do great and marvelous things through you, but when we continue in things that we know are not pleasing to God, in fact, most of these things we see are an abomination. Detestable. I hope that you all might have learned from this. I would like to say it was a pleasure to deliver this message, but it never is pleasurable to deliver a message that is convicting, but it needs to be done. I need to hear convicting messages to get me on track at times. Prayer. Communion.
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Good morning friends and family. I thank God that I am able to continue to share God’s Word with you this morning. Praise God that we can still carry a Bible to church, or don’t have to worry about mentioning Jesus to a friend on the street. There are so many countries where it isn’t allowed, and it's getting very close to being like that here in the United States. A couple days ago, I was sent a picture and a story about a man that had been persecuted by a radical Islamic group, because he was praying for someone in the name of Jesus. Leanna happened to walk by as I was reading the story about this man from England. It was a wonder this man was still alive, as they had taken one of his eyes out, he had been whipped, stabbed and was just a bloody mess. Leanna couldn’t turn back to see this man for a second time. He looked very much like the man who played Jesus in the passion of the Christ movie. I read another article this week about how the Chinese Government is really getting stricter on home churches in their country. Friends, this is happening all over the world. Brother Jim, what do you bring up this for? Why? Because I believe we are going to see these same issues happening in this country very soon. I have held back some things that I have discovered going on for a reason. I want to gear the ones who listen on Skype, phone, those who hear these messages here at the house and for those that have been reading these notes online. There are now between 150 and over 300 reading these notes online every week. Praise God. He is the only One who could make this happen. Why would I bring up these crimes that have been happening all over the world and to happen here in the USA soon? I truly believe because of the changes going on in our government, because of the growing Islamic faith here in this country, and because of some other issues I have seen, that we are very soon going to have to make a choice whether to follow Christ or not. I have had many reply to me who say, “Oh no Brother Jim, Jesus will come before that”. I used to think that way too, but I don’t anymore. Prayer. Last week we kind of focused on our faith in Christ and how important it is. We found that it is impossible to please God without faith. Amen? Is each of us pleasing God? I pray so. We looked at scripture dealing with faith, but didn’t even scratch the surface. Friends, in the past few weeks, as I explained last week, Leanna and I have been attacked from every direction. Both vehicles breaking down when there were places that we had to go. We had just dumped money into the car for tires and other repairs. I had just put money in the truck and the problem went further than that and would cost more than I had at the time. There is much money that has been owed us for some time. Prayers that I post on some sites have been attacked. It seemed like everything I touched broke. There has just been one thing after another. I know where most of these attacks have come from and our only hope has been our faith in Christ. We know His promises, now we have to stand on His Word and thank Him. He knows our needs and most of us know what Philippians 4:19 says. Actually let’s turn there. We have to remember God is not like that fairy that waves her wand and abracadabra, your wish is commanded. Philippians 4:19 KJV But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Notice this verse doesn’t say God will supply all your wants, but needs. Where would our faith be if we could just snap our fingers and ask God to give us all our dreams and wishes? Can you bless me with a new yacht, maybe a mansion with a full staff of workers so I could just hang around the pool? Oh, and please give me my own private jet? That’s not what it says. Our need is what God will supply according to His riches and glory. Now, I want to share on just a little of how God worked in the past couple weeks. As I just mentioned, both vehicles have been down. For almost a week Pastor Babcock had been trying to get me to take one of his cars. Because of my pride, I kept saying no. Then I gave in. You see, we needed something to get from point A to point B and God knew that and put it on the Pastor’s heart. Also, by me not accepting this offer (blessing), I could have robbed Brother Dave and his wife from a blessing. That goes into a whole new teaching. At some point soon, I think it would be necessary to go into Kingdom dynamics. I think we all could learn much from it. As far as the car goes, I was told it was going to cost $600 to $650, and $330 would be for parts. There is a shop that is just starting and I was able to get the job done for a total of $90. Praise God. God knew our need and He supplied. Amen? Brother Jim, why are you giving a testimony? I give this, not to brag, but to give you examples. Mark 5:19 KJV Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. Mark 1:44 KJV And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. There maybe someone hearing or reading this feeling like God has forsaken you because of what your senses tell you. But you know what? He's right there with you because the Bible says in Deuteronomy 31:6 KJV Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Praise God!! We have looked into the life of Job before and I want to touch on some of the things he went through. If we read the book of Job, we find that he was a devoted follower of God who one day, under mysterious circumstances seemed to have been instantly forsaken by God. Job lost his business, his family, and his health. All through this horrible time, he kept his faith in God. Even when his friends told him to curse God, Job knew he would be restored. God seemed to have forsaken Job, and Job didn’t know why. But we know that God was still with Job, even protecting him from an even worse fate. Even when God restored everything to Job, He didn't tell Job why it had happened. He just said, “I'm God. You're not. Who are you to question me?” And Job faithfully agreed. We can read and see the big picture of all that happened, but Job was going through one attack after another and if we were to go through all the things he went through, could we keep our faith? I hope we all could. I think of Sister Dianne lying on the floor for approximately 43 hours, alone, with nothing to eat or drink. She heard the phone ringing but couldn’t get to it. Hearing Leanna and I banging on the door and hearing Leanna call her name, but not having the strength to yell out so we could hear her. For us, it was a helpless feeling. An empty pit in our stomach wanting to do the right thing, but having to obey the laws. Praying to God that she would be alive, but not knowing. That was our thoughts and feelings. Let’s think of her. Let’s imagine trading places with her. Lying on the floor and we know now that she had a mild heart attack. Lying on the floor with nothing to eat or drink. Knowing that her husband wasn’t going to be home till late Friday night. Couldn’t get to the phone. Suppose she cried out to God? I know she did, because I know she is a woman of great faith, but that slimy crooked legged devil knows how to plant thoughts into our minds. Later, Sister Dianne had mentioned that if she died, she didn’t want her husband to find her a mess. Bless her heart. You see, I know that God brought the four of us together for a reason. I thought at first it was because I asked to hear sermons from a good Godly church, while I had been taking Bible courses though Peter Stanway. I was in my Bible daily. Writing sermons. Now, I believe God is going to merge two ministries together, for His Glory. That is just a feeling I have, but He is in control and the both of us will have to listen for His will. There is another man in the Bible that we need to look at who had the greatest faith in God that ever lived. Anyone want to take a guess who that might be? For those who said Jesus, you are exactly right. Was His faith tested? Yes. First we see that Satan tested Him in the wilderness. Everyone remembers these verses? Then there were multiple attacks from the religious leaders and those who wanted to stone Him. Then we see while He hung on the cross before He gave up the ghost. Jesus Himself cried out on the cross, “Father, why have you forsaken me?” In this case, Jesus knew why. He also knew that even though it felt like God had forsaken Him, God was still with Him, in purpose if not in presence, and that He would be restored. Praise God. Brothers and Sisters, I guarantee you that we all are going to go through trials. Some of these trials are going to be so difficult that it’s going to seem like we are facing them alone. Here's what you can do when your human emotions and human faith are fighting to see who is dominate. Amen? We must remain obedient to God’s ways. We cannot, and I repeat, we cannot swerve from our faith, for God is counting on you and me to keep our faith in Him. Do we remember the fig tree that Jesus cursed? Later while they walked by it, it was withered up? Matthew 21:21-22 KJV Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. (22) And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. Church, for those who have been hanging around with people that are not believers that are bringing you down, stay away from them. People who always speak negative about everything and everyone are going to eventually bring you down with them. Spend time with friends and family who love the Lord and will be sensitive to your difficult situations. Praise and worship God through it all. Most importantly, and this is what I try to share each week, continue praying to the Lord and spending time in the Word. This is how God is going to speak to you, but you need to be sensitive to hear. He may point out scripture dealing with a problem you are going through. You may hear that still small voice. He may send someone to you to answer that prayer. Friends, when we read about Job, we see he was restored while he was still alive. Amen? Jesus had to die first. Not that I wish death on anyone, but if you keep your faith in Christ, whichever happens to you, you can be assured that you will be with Jesus in paradise because that's what the Word of God says. Amen? I am going to go through a few scriptures and even though we have all heard them or read them before, I want us all to see them today and memorize them. John 3:3 KJV Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. For a non-believer these are strange words, and I think this is why Jesus had to explain this. John 3:5-8 KJV Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (8) The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. John 3:15-21 KJV That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (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. (18) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (19) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (20) For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. (21) But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. Friends, these are not my words, but the Words of the Messiah, Jesus. Amen? John 3:35-36 KJV The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. (36) He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. Please turn to Acts 10: 43. Acts 10:43-45 KJV To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (44) While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. (45) And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. Church, this I need you to hear and get a grip of. God is proud of you who follow Him, especially when the whole world seems against you. Remember, He can do mighty works through you, so keep the faith. Amen? Praise the Lord!! Church, as I have been witnessing, posting prayers all over the web, sharing sermon notes on many sites, Christian and non-Christian sites, I find many questions that come up. There have been many from younger males questioning their faith. Why? This might upset some, but it is the truth. They have been confused because of man’s dumb religion. Yes, I said it. Man’s laws and rituals. So many, and especially younger people, have never heard a salvation message. They hear about praying for more money and fancy cars. They hear that God is love and if you get drunk, no problem. All you have to do is tell God you are sorry. Now you have certain churches marrying gays. Wow! Can you believe that? We are told to love the sinner, hate the sin, but that doesn't mean to embrace the sin. They have never been to the cross. I will probably get hate-mail because of this, but I wonder if some of the pastors out there have ever had a real Calvary experience. Are they really saved? What I am trying to say here is this. If the leadership isn’t saved in many churches, what is the congregation learning? Amen? Turn if you will to Ephesians 2:1-10. For many people they may think they have been saved because of a feeling. It may have been at a Christian concert where the music was awesome. Great light-show, they might have heard a powerful word, or whatever. For me, twice I heard a message on hell and it scared me and I repeated a prayer that someone said. Because of my lack of fruit, I know I was not saved. I hadn’t had that cavalry experience. I did not have a relationship with Christ. There are those who know all the right words, speak all the right things, and serve the ministry. They base their belief of going to Heaven on the fact that they are a good person and because they do good works. They don’t know God. Ephesians 2:1-10 KJV And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; (2) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (3) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. (4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (7) That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. So, I would ask you, have you given yourself completely to God, accepting your salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ? You have admitted to Him that you are a sinner and have repented from that sin? Not say I am sorry and then go back and do it again. Repent means to turn away from. You now hate those things that God hates. Have you asked Jesus by mouth to be your Lord and Savior? You believe that He died and rose on the third day and now sits next to His Father in Heaven? If you have done these things with all your heart, you are a child of God. Praise the Lord and now a target of spiritual attack and oppression. The good news is, according to scripture, we are given power to bind things here on earth through the name of Jesus Christ, who has given us His authority. When these things come at you, rebuke them in name of Jesus. Friends, we need to understand that these forces are legalistic and seek to lay claim to you, but you are no longer under that authority, you belong to God, and God is not going to send you to hell simply because you are afraid and it clouds your thinking. Second, do not talk back to those thoughts, don't reason with them, don't give them your time, simply rebuke them in the name of Jesus. Then declare your relationship with God. Love on Him. Praise His name. Thank Him for doing what you asked for, even before you see it manifest. When we look at the Bible and see what we are referred to (sheep), He, Jesus is the good Shepherd. I leave you with this passage you might want to take a look at. Most of us have probably heard this may times, but really meditate on it. I can remember hearing my dad say this verse when I was very young, but had no clue to what it meant. It was my dad’s favorite scripture. Psalms 23:4 Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me. I love you and I pray that this was a blessing to someone. Next week, God willing, I would like to have Pastor Babcock share a message that Leanna and I heard him teach on Communion. It is a message that I think everyone who hears will be blessed from and could change your heart and life. Prayer. Communion Good morning friends, God is so good. Amen? Think about it. He created all the good we see every day. He made all the birds, animals, trees, grasses, mountains, seas, lakes, rivers and you and I. He created all the beautiful sounds we hear by speaking, and they were. He loved what He made, and especially mankind. In fact, He loved us so much that He sent His one and only Son to come to earth as a man to die a brutal death so that we can live. Someone hearing this who doesn’t know God’s Word may be saying, "Brother Jim, you say that we may live? How can you say that we may live? We all die, don’t we?" I would say that is what Satan said to Adam and Eve. You won’t surely die. They did. I say they did. By doing the very thing that God said not to, they died. We find in the beginning of Genesis that God’s only command was not to eat or touch the tree of life, and they did that very thing. Satan came into the garden that they were supposed to guard and convinced them in a subtle way to eat, and their eyes were opened to good and evil. Until that very command that separated them from God, He, God, walked with them in the cool of the day. After they partook from the tree of good and evil they died spiritually. It separated them from God. They didn’t die a physical death, but a Spiritual death. From that time forward women had birthing pains when having children. Now they had to work by the sweat of their brow. They had to raise and work for their food. Now they knew that they were naked. The list goes on and on. As we look through the Old Testament, we see that after the fall man continued to go against God. Adam and Eve had two sons, Cain and Abel and we see that the first murder was committed when over jealousy Cain slew Abel. We see that mankind had become so perverse that God flooded the earth and all man was killed except for Noah and his family. And two of every animal and the animals that were needed for sacrifice were spared from the great flood. We can see how God was very unhappy in Genesis chapter 6. Genesis 6:5-6 KJV 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. I feel this may be the introduction to a series we are going to do dealing with heart issues. What I want to do today is take a brief look at how much God loves us and how He shows His love toward us...how we can get closer to God, and hopefully, if time allows, to touch on how to receive power from the most High. As I said, we are going to touch on these things, because to do a full research on these things would take months of Sunday services to dig deep into many scriptures. Maybe that is where He will take us as time goes by. Prayer. All week, the things we are going to look at have been en-grafted into my mind. It has been a very eventful couple of weeks...finding a friend who had fallen from her bed that had laid on the floor close to two days...keeping up with hospital reports and visiting her and trying to get hold of her husband who was on a trip up in Canada....dealing with medical issues of my own...truck and car problems that all of a sudden appeared...financial issues...persecution from some who don’t know Christ as their Savior on Christian communities. It has been a week full of things that could have pulled me into a dark place. Stress could have made me say things I shouldn’t, and would have at an earlier time. It could have gotten me depressed. Company that came unexpectedly...more company on their way. It was a year ago that Leanna found out that she had all these medical symptoms. A year ago last Thursday, my dad passed away. So many things could have happened. But God. I said, but God. I know He is guiding me. He is the Potter and I am the clay. Have any of you ever had these weeks? Weeks where the attacks just keep coming and coming? Weeks where you just want to stay in bed and pull the covers up over your head and hide from the world? Weeks where everything you touched broke, or it seemed like every time you turned around someone brought you more bad news? It is going to happen, but we can’t let it get us down. When we are God’s children and we are living our lives for Him, we can’t let these storms rule our lives. Amen? 1 Corinthians 10:9-13 KJV (9) Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. (10) Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. (11) Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. (12) Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. (13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Look back to verse 9. Let us not tempt Christ. Should we be tempting the Lord? I can think of many times throughout the Bible where God had been tempted, but the one place in particular where we find that the destroyer was allowed to destroy was before and during the time that God took Israel out of bondage from Egypt. And these same words were used. "The destroyer", or "God allowed the destroyer to destroy". Turn, if you will, to Psalm 55. Here we are going to look at storms that King David was going through. I love looking into David’s life. We all know that the Bible says King David was a man after God’s own heart. So to me, I want to see just how he did that. What suff did he go through? How did he overcome daily struggles and how did God react to his prayers? David was a prayer warrior. He also knew how to Praise and worship. Psalms 55:1-5 KJV To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication. (2) Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise; (3) Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me. (4) My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. (5) Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. We see that David was going through a storm. Maybe some of the things he was going through you might be experiencing now, or might soon be on it’s way. Maybe you know someone who is and you can use this message to help. What are some of these issues? Restless, the voice of the enemy, oppression, trouble, they hate me, pained, terror, fearful, trembling, overwhelmed. Been there? Let’s continue reading. Psalms 55:6-8 KJV And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. (7) Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah. (8) I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest. Friends, I am going to start reading scripture and I pray that the Holy Spirit convicts every heart hearing or reading this. Some of these scriptures many of us have heard so many times, but let it sink in this time. Let us not be just hearers of the Word, but also doers. Amen? Romans 3:23 KJV For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Does everyone understand this verse? You and I, and every human that has lived other than Jesus have sin in them. Every one of us has gone against God. Do we get this? The wages of sin is spiritual death, which is separation from God. Being spiritually dead means that you are separated from God. Friends, If you were to die today without knowing Jesus as your personal Savior, you would find yourself in eternal hell. What I am saying is this...if you were to have a stroke and die, get hit by a car and die, or however you were killed and you had not repented from your sins and asked Christ into your life as Lord and Savior, you would not go to Heaven. I don’t care how good a person you are, or what great deeds you have done. Your deeds are like filthy rags to God. Keep your place here, but turn a few pages to Chapter 6 in Romans and verse 23. Romans 6:23 KJV For the wages of sin is death; but (I said but) the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Can I hear a Amen? Let’s turn back to Romans 3:24-31 KJV Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (26) To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (27) Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. (28) Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. (29) Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: (30) Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. (31) Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. Praise Jesus for what He has done and seen us through. Please turn to Hebrews 11:6. Church, we have discussed in part the importance of faith, amen? We have seen in the last couple weeks where the Bible says it is impossible to please God without faith. Remember? Hebrews 11:6 KJV But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. I want to please God, how about you? Do you believe the God is what the Bible says He is. Do you believe that He came to earth as man to save you from your sins and to give you eternal life? Hebrews 11:1-2 KJV Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (2) For by it the elders obtained a good report. We find out through the Bible that faith is so very important. By faith, by faith, by faith. Friends, I have a question. Can you see the wind? No. Can you see the wind blow? No, but you see the results. You see what it picks up and moves. You see it rustle the leaves. Now let me ask you this. Do you see God? No, but you see the results of what He has done and continues to do. Praise God!! Friends, believers know God by faith. You can’t see Him, but you know He is true. You know He lives in your heart. You know by faith that He guides you. Others can see that you have Christ living in you by your fruit. Jesus spoke of the fruit a Christian in Matthew 7 and we will start with verse 15. Praise Jesus!!! Matthew 7:15-24 KJV Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (Are there false prophit out there? You bet there is.) (16) Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? (17) Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. (18) A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. (19) Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. (20) Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (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. (Listen up friends at what Jesus says here) (24) Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: Is that you? I pray so. Friends, I don’t know your heart. There maybe someone that has never made the decision to make Jesus Lord and Savior of your life. You may have heard this sort of message over and over and never have prayed a prayer to ask Jesus into your life and right now your heart is racing. Yield to the Spirit. Jesus is waiting and willing to come into your heart and wash the sins away and guide you in your new walk with Him. Today is the day of salvation, the Bible says. Will you? Matthew 7:7-11 KJV Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: (8) For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (9) Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? (10) Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? (11) If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? If God is talking to someone, ask Jesus into your heart. This is nothing to put off, because tomorrow may be too late. Not one of us is guaranteed tomorrow. Anything could happen today or tonight. If anyone needs help on how to pray to ask Jesus into your heart, I am right here to guide you, but it needs to come from your heart. Praise God!! This is scripture that I have had to cling to for the last few weeks. Please turn to Mark 11 and 22. Mark 11:22-24 KJV And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. (23) For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. (24) Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. In closing I want to touch on those mountains that are in our way. Do you have any? If not now, you will. We need to speak to them as Jesus says here. Not just speak, but believe with all our hearts. Friends, as we grow in our faith we learn key things that help us in our walk with Jesus. We have said that we cannot please God without faith. Our faith in Christ and His Word is what helps us overcome trials. In this passage, Jesus teaching His disciples shares things we need to learn. One is that faith is released by speaking words. Amen? He also commands us to believe that what we say will come to pass. Amen? We are to believe in the power of our words. Praise God. Church, Listen up. Failure to believe in the power of words won't keep this law of God from working. Do you want to see those mountains (problems) to come crumbling down? Then we need to have faith and not doubt. Jesus said "He shall have whatsoever he saith." When we get this in our hearts and we begin to speak words in faith that line up with God's Word, then we will see those things come to pass. But if we refuse to learn from this and continue to speak words of doubt, we will eventually believe them and have the negative things that these words produce. It is all about faith. Faith filled words can move mountains. I urge all of you to read the book of Hebrews, but on faith, chapter 11. Church, I pray that someone got a revelation from today’s message, but I hope all were blessed. Prayer Communion I felt led to share this revised lesson of the power of our tongue. For some of you, you may remember part of this lesson, but I think it is important that we be reminded from God’s perspective on this, because He knows all and He know us, being our Creator. So first, do we all agree that the Bible is true? Every word of it is true? We all agree that the entire Bible was inspired from God? Let’s pray. Again this week, we are going to be searching throughout the Bible for God’s truth, so if you are taking notes, please have your paper and pen handy. I want to look at Proverbs 18:21. This verse I hear used often, but I wonder if most heed the meaning. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. What a powerful verse. We can speak death unto someone. We can speak death unto ourselves. You may say, “Brother Jim, how can I do that?” My friend, many do it on a daily basis. Example: My head aches so bad I want to die. Hmmm!!! I hurt so bad, it’s just killing me. Really? Friends, is this what you really want? The enemy has been having a field day with our words and we need to change what we say. It may take time, and for families it might mean having other family members helping to remind us when we slip. It is important for all of us to guard our tongues. Mark your place here, but turn to Genesis 1:1-3. We are going to go quickly through some verses here in Genesis, and you all know this, but I want to point something out. Genesis 1:1-3 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (2) And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (3) And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. : 6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. 7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. Getting a picture here? God spoke, and it was. :9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.:11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. : 14-15 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. Notice that everything He spoke was. I know some of us have heard these verses over and over, but we need to get them deep in our hearts. Amen? Gen 1:20-22 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. Genesis 1:24 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. 1:24 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. What an Awesome God we serve. Amen? Genesis 1:26-29 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. (and look what we have done to it) (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. I don’t want to dwell on this today, but I do want you to notice something. God said, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish”. Someone jog my memory. What does replenish mean? We may hit on this during a Bible study. My point on this is God spoke and it was. Verse 26: He created us in His image and likeness. We, my friends, can speak to things and they will obey us, if we have the faith. Let’s go to Matthew 15:18-19. Jesus speaking here. But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. (19) For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: Let’s see what else the Bible says about our hearts. Next let’s go to Jeremiah 17:9. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? So my friends, if our hearts are not right, we should not say a thing. You know when we get frustrated, or angry, we are apt to say things that we shouldn’t, or don’t mean. Has anyone been there? I know a husband and wife that did that a couple days ago. Proverbs 12:18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. Psalms 57:4 My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. One thing that really bothers me, and I am sure you have heard it - parents who speak ill words over their children like, “You won’t amount to nothing. Why are you so stupid? You are so dumb”. This doesn’t just hurt at the time it is being spoken, it can leave a scar on that child’s life forever. It also can be spoken into existence. A wife or husband when in a rage of anger toward one another say things that can never be taken back. Never!! Ephesians 4:29 KJV. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Okay, so we are to say good things to one another. What kind of words should we speak? Proverbs 16:24 KJV. Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. Here is what Jesus said at the mount: Matthew 12:36-37 KJV. But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. (37) For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. The amplified version says this: 36 But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every[a]idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak. 37For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced. Are we seeing the dangers of speaking negatives towards others or ourselves? What stirred me up to discuss what we speak was we had a sermon playing one night this week and I heard a few scriptures that kept going through my mind. You know how a song comes on and you can’t get it out of your head? Sometimes it stays for days. Well, I woke up and there were parts of scriptures that I woke up with very early in the morning. So when I came downstairs I looked them up on E-sword. They didn’t seem to go with anything that I was going through, but I figured that someone needed to hear them. These are powerful and very important scriptures that I want us to listen to and repeat. Psalms 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. Ephesians 6:10 KJV Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Later that morning I got a letter from a woman, that I knows battles from depression and she was tired of stuff and said she felt like ending everything like a friend of hers did a few months back. See how God works. HalleluYAH!!! I replied to her and gave her the scriptures and told her to pin them up all over her house as a reminder and to speak them out. You see, I believe that the Bible is true. I believe there is much power in God’s Word and when we speak scriptures out we are speaking God’s words. Hebrews 4:12 KJV For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Proverbs 4:20-23 ASV My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings. (21) Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart. (22) For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh. (23) Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life. My friends, when we get into the Bible and meditate on these Words we get our Spirit filled. Let’s all say this verse together. Psalms 18:32 KJV It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. Again!!! GNB He is the God who makes me strong, who makes my pathway safe. Let’s say it again. He makes me strong. Do we hear our friends saying this? This is where we need to start changing what we speak. Pastors Mark and Alice, when they first started the church here, taught us that when someone asks how you are, don’t start in with “Well you know, I’m tired and I’m broke and I…. No, say, “I am blessed”. When you are a child of God, you are blessed. Speak it out. Leanna and I always say we are blessed when someone asks how we are, even when we don’t feel it. We are blessed, and if you want to go even further, say you are blessed and highly favored. Let’s say it again. I am strong in the Lord. He fills me with strength. Remember, there is life and death in the power of the tongue. He makes my path safe. Glory to God!!!! Psalms 27:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Let’s say it again. Let the weak say I am strong!! You are not saying your words, you are saying God’s Words. Do we believe there is power in these words? Psalms 19:14 KJV Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Say this, My God makes me strong!!! Satan wants you to say you are weak. He, little “h” wants you to speak ill of yourself. The Lord is the strength of my life. Again. I am strong. God is the strength of my mind, my body, my emotions. The Lord is the strength of my life. Friends, we need to get this and put our faith in this. Psalms 29:11 KJV The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace. Let’s go to Psalms 71. I love this book. So many verses we can use, but let’s look at Psalms 71:16 KJV. I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only. Say it with me, I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD. Glory to God. Remember, this is what we are told in the Bible. I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD. Remember this when the enemy comes and says you are too tired to go to church, or to go to work, or whatever. I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD. Remember Lindsey was down in the dumps last week and had sent us a letter saying she wouldn’t be joining us, but she pushed through the deception the enemy was trying to bring on to her. Friends, that is the place where we all need to be. I have been bombarded with issues this week and I could have said, “God, I am too tired and frustrated to write a sermon up for this week”. My mind has been so busy and others have been needing a piece of me that I NEVER TOOK THE TIME LISTEN TO THAT STILL SMALL VOICE. Notice I said I didn’t take the time. I had the time, but I didn’t take the time. Psalms 84:7 KJV They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God. They go from strength to strength. I’m going from strength to strength. Friends, we have looked at many verses today on what we should be saying when we feel like giving up. When we feel we can’t get something done. When we get discouraged. Philippians 4:13 KJV I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. Brothers and sisters, we went through many scriptures, yet I would highly suggest copying them down and posting them in places where you will see them often. When you see them, keep speaking them out. Not just once or twice, but over and over. Friends, this is what the enemy tries to do with and about the Word of God. I am going to read scripture and give you an outline and urge you to write them down and then when the enemy attacks you, or should I say comes into your garden subtly, you will know he (little h) there…..you will know how to combat those attacks by the Word of God. Amen? Psalms 119:57-64 KJV CHETH(or the eith part). Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words. (58) I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word. (59) I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. (60) I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments. (61) The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law. (62) At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments. (63) I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. (64) The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes. Ephesians 6:17 KJV And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Hebrews 4:12-13 KJV For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (13) Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. So I ask you friends, is it that important the things we say? So much more could have been looked at in the Bible about our words. The book of James discusses many more things about our words and we have looked at them before, but well worth us all to look on our own. In closing let’s turn to Matthew. Matthew 7:7-8 KJV Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: (8) For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Let’s remember to speak good things. Let us remember to speak words that were inspired from God over situations. Let us not talk down other people. It is easier to not say anything if we remember that we are going to be held accountable for the things we say. Let’s pray. Communion. |
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