This week I would like to continue where we left off about three weeks ago on the sleeping church. That message really impacted many people's hearts, so I feel led to continue. Praise God.
We touched on many scriptures during the first part of this message and like I always do, we will be reading from many more verses today. In part one, we went over the 10 commandments. We also talked about the blessings and curses found in Deuteronomy 28. We went to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke about how Jesus told us how we should love God. Can anyone tell me what these verses say? Mat_22:37 Jesus answered him, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Mar 12:30 So love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' Luk_10:27 He answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind.' And 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself. We also touched on Galatians 3:13 and 14. Can anyone quickly refresh everyone’s memory on what these 2 verses are talking about? Galatians 3:13-14 KJV Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (14) That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Because I believe that God is directing me to teach on preparing our hearts and to be in right standing with Him, because time is short, I’m not going to stay long on these two verses, but I do want to say that this is a very important promise. Actually, there are many key factors here. First, we are redeemed from the law. All the curses brought upon the Jewish people because of disobedience have been redeemed because Jesus, who knew no sin, died for you and me. What love, Amen? We, who did not deserve what He did, He did because He loved us. The point I really want to get across to you all today, and I urge you to read this on your own and often, Galatians says we are redeemed of the law. Yes? Quickly, because I want everyone to see this and meditate on it AND if anyone tries to tell you Jesus isn’t in the healing business anymore you can show them this. Deuteronomy 28:61 KJV Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the LORD bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed. Does this speak volumes to anyone? Like I said a few weeks ago, I am not going to base messages around prosperity and healings, as I don’t believe that is where God is leading me, but when I come across a promise like this, I get excited. Are you excited? Thank You Jesus for redeeming me of all the curses of the law. Thank You Lord for redeeming us of things that aren’t even named in the law. Thank You Jesus for accepting gentiles into this promise and grafting us into your family. Halleluiah! Someone quickly shout "Thank You Jesus." Isaiah 64:6-7 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. (7) And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. Such strong words, but we have to remember that God is a Holy God. Because society has fallen so far away from God, I think we fail to understand what being Holy means. I think we have been so desensitized to Godly ways, because of how we have been brought up. I’m not saying everyone, but on average. We have come to the point in history where God is being taken out of our focus (look at cover of J and L Ministries bulletin) and our lives by government and activists of all kinds. Denominations becoming like the hypocrite religious leaders that Jesus rebuked in the gospels during His three and a half year ministry. To be honest, I thought it was going to be baby Christians that would walk into our house for church services on Sunday's. Guess who seems to be most interested in coming and also joining us on Skype? People who have been hurt by denominational churches are the ones most likely to be the first to come. Not because I haven’t been sowing seed or praying for the lost, but because I believe God is leading them to the truth. Not that it makes me special, but because I have a heart and a passion for knowing the truth. Praise God. Twisted messages that have brought division within congregations, but yet, Apostle Paul, speaking to the Corinthian church said this in 1 Corinthians 1:5-10 KJV (5) That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; (6) Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: (7) So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: (8) Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (9) God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. (10) Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. I did a quick Google search, and don’t quote me 100%, but this is what I found just on the Baptist churches. Their number can add up to a total of close to 100 million adherents in the world through (ready for this?) 211 denominations, making Baptists the largest Protestant denomination in the world. Yet Paul, being led by the Holy Spirit said “Let there be no division among you.” What happened my friends, to preaching from all of the Holy Word, even if it is a convicting message? Yes, I pray that I always teach in a loving manner, but Jesus help me, if there is a convicting message to be taught that the Holy Spirit gives me the boldness, strength and the words to get the message across, then let me do it. As I have said many times, if you feel there is a finger pointing at you, there are three more pointing back at me. Amen? I love each and every person who hears or reads this and I care enough to search God’s Word to find what He wants to share with me and you. I cannot do this in my strength. Praise God!!! Let’s go to another scripture. Let’s turn to Romans 1:18, which will show us about God’s wrath. Romans 1:16-23 KJV For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Who listening to this is ashamed of the Gospel? Now, who is willing to talk to someone at a restaurant, maybe shopping, at work, maybe on the phone to a family member about your faith? For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, “the just shall live by faith.” How do we get that faith? Rom_10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Jesus said over and over to the disciples “Ye of little faith.” He also said to those being healed of various diseases or troubles, “Your faith has made you clean”, or “has set you free.” So we know that faith in Jesus is very important with our walk with Him. Let’s get back to Romans. Romans 1: 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; (19) Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Can anyone tell me what Romans 6:23 says about unrighteous living, or as we know it (sin)? Romans 6:23 KJV For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Halleluiah!!! Let’s go to 1st Corinthians 6:9-20. Paul was talking to the Church of Corinth here and I believe that Paul planted this church. While everyone is thumbing through their Bibles I want to try to paint a quick picture. There were many things going on in this church body, as we will see. In those days, you had the Jews, who believed that Jesus was the spoken Messiah, and those that did not. Then you had the gentiles, mostly Greeks. This was a very busy shipping area, which I can imagine was like many busy shipping ports along a coast. You have many people from many areas of the world bringing goods and loading goods to take elsewhere. Is anyone getting the picture? You have many people, from all over the world, all having different gods that they were brought up to follow. Then there were probably some, like now that knew that there was a higher power, but not knowing who. Then you have these excited new believers, knowing they had a great thing. Then, because of the verse “Take the Gospel to the world”, they were sharing their beliefs with everyone they could, but like today in many congregations, pride sets in. Control sets in. Satan and his clonies step in and they have a field day. And the Church thinks this is all in the name of Jesus. Heaven help us. Friends, if I ever teach a false message, please, please set me straight. Promise me that. 1 Corinthians 6:9-20 KJV (9) Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, (10) Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (11) And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (12) All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. (13) Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. (14) And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. (15) Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. (16) What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. (17) But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. (18) Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. (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. See, the issue is not, "Are these things right or wrong?" The issue is, “Are we going to continue to do what we know is wrong and say it's right?” Or are we going to come to grips with what we know is wrong and let God change our lives inside out and upside down?" Paul says to the Corinthians, "Some of you were like that. You were effeminates; you were abusing yourself with mankind, abusers of your own bodies." Look, I don't like to talk about this any more than anybody else does. But I don't want us to be mistaken. God has opinions on the sins of the body, and those opinions are listed as truth in His Word. What He is saying is that there are some of our society that prefers their own sexual orientation than others of our society. And there are men who prefer to have sex with young boys than with women. Now, in our society today, we turn a blind eye to that. If we look at what has been in our newspapers, and what’s been going on in some of our churches for years, but now being uncovered, we see that things that God says about this is an abomination. Yet, it has and still is being covered up today. Church, this is totally wrong. Friends, this is going on in America today, behind closed doors and right out in the open. What about the churches that now invite gays to have their marriages done in their church? Love the sinner, but that does not mean to embrace that sin. Why was gay marriage ever brought up to vote in the fist place? In Maine it has been voted and and over-turned I think 4 times. Then if that be the case, why would churches be saying let the gays have their way in the government? I totally get love the sinner but hate the sin, but this political correctness needs to stop. Do you think God is politically correct? I think not. There is no humor God is receiving from what He is seeing in our government, I am sure. We touched on the conscience in the 1st part of this message. I have said that our conscience lines up with the 10 commandments, yes? So that being the case, I dare guess, that we as Christians believe that we have been created by God. He knows us. He knows our thoughts. He even knows every hair on the back of our heads. The Bible says that He wishes that no man perish. So reading from these few verses we have to conclude that we need to understand what is pleasing to God and what is not, so that we can turn from the wickedness and do what is pleasing to God, who is Holy. So let’s let God speak to our hearts a bit, shall we? Romans 1:29-32 KJV 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, covenant breakers, 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. Let’s look at some more that some of you may be very surprised at. Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Galatians 5:19-26 KJV 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. Arrogance, worry, anger, guilt, bitterness, hate, judging, revenge, jealousy, lust of money and power, impatience, prejudice, self-pity, selfishness, disrespect. Sorcery, oops here is one. Horoscope. I see horoscopes posted all the time by those who claim to be Christians. This is why we need to teach them. Here are some sins of the tongue, and we know James tells us about how dangerous the tongue can be. Gossiping, blaspheming, perjury, boasting, criticism, ridiculing, sarcasm, cursing, whining, flattery, complaining. 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. This, I know, has taught on some tough topics, but if we want to please God, we need to know. We need to help other brothers and sisters. I know things that I have been convicted of and if any of you would be honest with yourselves, I am sure that the Holy Spirit spoke to you also. We should seek God’s face daily. Lord, teach me the things I do that are wrong. Father, convict my heart when I start to get angry and shoot off at the lips. Lord soften my heart so that I may be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit who is my comforter. Thank You Jesus, I pray. There are so many other important verses that touch on things that I don’t have time to hit on today. But for those of you who want to live a clean life for Jesus and to let His light shine through you so that others will see Jesus in you, you will need to search your Bibles. Let’s all tell God He is awesome. My biggest prayer for you listening today, or who may read this on all the sites I share this, is that everyone of us would look closely at our hearts. Do we truly love God and give Him our all, or do we give Him some of our time? I am not saying that you have to be in prayer for 3 hours a day, or in your Bibles for 2 hours, but maybe for those of you who struggle with spending time with God on a regular basis, wake up and before you go about your daily routine, thank God for all He is and does. Thank Jesus for helping you become the person He can mold you to be. Pray that He will guide your tongue, or body language that might hurt someone else. That is something that I need to pray everyday. Buy a little pocket bible and when you have 15 minutes, spend time in His Word. For those who have a problem reading, There is an audio Bible on both Cross Roads Fellowship sites. 4himalone2.ning.com and also 4himalone.ning.com. If you do this on a daily basis, you will find that it is refreshing and that He really is right there with you. For someone who is hearing this or reading this at a later time, I want you to know I am here for you if you want to learn how to become a disciple of Jesus. I can pray for you, or send you information that will help you with your walk with Jesus. I can put you in contact with some awesome brothers and sisters who offer great teaching tools, prayer and counseling. The list goes on, but you have to make that choice. God gave us laws to live by, but He also gave us choices. I hope that this spoken to someone. Pray. Communion.
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