Month: January 2020

Be Constantly Striving Against Sin

Scripture: Hebrews 12: 4-8

You have not yet struggled to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; 5 and you have [c]forgotten the divine word of encouragement which is addressed to you as sons,

“My son, do not make light of the discipline of the Lord, And do not lose heart and give up when you are corrected by Him; 6 For the Lord disciplines and corrects those whom He loves, And He punishes every son whom He receives and welcomes [to His heart].”

7 You must submit to [correction for the purpose of] discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons; for [d]what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 Now if you are exempt from correction and without discipline, in which all [of God’s children] share, then you are illegitimate children and not sons [at all].

Scripture Commentary:

God is not only a disciplining parent but also a demanding coach who pushes us to our limits and requires our lives to be disciplined. Although we are constantly striving and may not feel strong enough to push on to victory, we will be able to accomplish it as we follow Christ. Draw on His strength! Then we can use our growing strength to help those around us who are weak and struggling.

We may respond to discipline in several ways:

  • We can accept it with resignation
  • If we think we don’t deserve it, we can accept it with self-pity
  • We can be angry and resentful toward God
  • Or, we can accept it gratefully, as the appropriate response we owe to a loving Father.

Do you love and obey your Father or are you not listening?

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Hebrews Chapter 12

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Hebrews:

Faith is the Substance of Things Hoped For

Jesus Is the Perfect Forever Sacrifice For Our Sins

Wait Patiently for God’s Promise

Scripture: Hebrews 6: 13-15

When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”[d] 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.

Scripture Commentary:

Abraham waited patiently 25 years from the time God promised him a son until it came to pass. Because our trials and temptations are often so intense, they seem to last an eternity. Both the Bible and the testimony of mature Christians encourage us to wait for God to act in His timing even when our needs seem too great to wait any longer.

God’s promises are unchanging and trustworthy. That’s because God is unchanging and trustworthy. God took an oath on His own name when he promised Abraham a son. God embodies all truth; therefore, He cannot lie.

God is truth.

And because He is truth, you can be secure in His promises. You don’t need to wonder if He will change His plans.

Are you true to your promises to God? Our hope is secure and immovable when anchored in God. To the true seeker who comes to God in belief, God gives an unconditional promise of acceptance.

When you ask God with openness, honesty and sincerity to save you from your sins, He will do it. This truth should give you encouragement, assurance, and confidence.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Hebrews Chapter 6

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Hebrews:

Jesus Freed Us

You Cannot Please God Without Faith

Stand on the Assurance of God

Scripture: Hebrews 11: 1-3

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

Scripture Commentary:

We read about people who had the assurance of God. How is our faith? Is it like Abel who offered God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain? Note that it wasn’t about the gift itself … it was about Abel’s heart which was true.

Enoch’s faith was so that God did not let him see death. On faith, Abraham left his home to go to a strange land, taking Isaac and Jacob because God told him to do so. Sara believed God when He said she would have a child although she was old.

By faith Abraham offered up Isaac to God as a sacrifice. God gave Abraham a nation instead. And then there’s Moses who took God’s people out of Egypt, passing through the Red Sea to safety.

God’s people had confidence that the walls of Jericho would fall. And the harlot, Ra-had was saved for doing what God told her to do.

There are so many more people we can point to who stood on the assurance of God.

Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephunneh , David, Samuel, and the prophets. They did what God told them although they did not see God. What faith!

Take courage from these people. They lived and died without seeing the fruit of their faith on earth and yet they continued to believe. Serve the Lord, Jesus Christ. Our best and greatest rewards await in heaven!

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Hebrews Chapter 11

Read Other Commentary from Hebrews Chapter 11:

You Must Believe That He Is

Faith Is the Confidence In What We Hope For

Endure: Faith Produces Patience

Scripture: James 1: 3-6

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

Scripture Commentary: Tested Faith Produces Patience and Endurance.

What is your relationship with Jesus Christ? And do you really believe that God listens to your prayers? Do you pray only for the things you think you need? Or do you pray for the patience to wait on God, and the wisdom to obey His Word?

Have faith in God and do not doubt.

At times we expect God’s answer to come right away. God will always give us what we need, when we need it. He does not grant every thoughtless or selfish request. We must have faith and confidence that God will align our desires with His purpose.

Remember that a mind that wavers is not completely convinced that God’s way is best. When you pray and ask God for advice, do not treat it as you would human advice. This would give you the option to disobey.

In asking God for wisdom, you show your faith and trust in Him. And then your decisions are sure and solid.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

James Chapter 1

Other Commentary from the Book of James:

To Know the Gospel is Different From Living It

Be Humble – Do Not Judge

Idols Can’t See Nor Hear Nor Walk; Worship the Living God

Sermon, Part Five (Final): The Final Destination

Revelation 9: 20-21

And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood; which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk; Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their thefts.

No one suddenly falls into immorality; it happens a little bit at a time.

These people were so hardhearted that even plagues did not drive them to God. People don’t usually fall into immortality and evil suddenly. They slip into it a little at a time, and when they realize what has happened, they are irrevocably mired in their wicked ways.

People who allow sin to take root in their life will find themselves in a predicament. Temptation entertained today becomes sin tomorrow. From there, it turns into a habit, leading to death and separation from God forever. To think you could never become this evil is the first step toward a hard heart. Go to God and confess your sin. Ask for His forgiveness.

Psalm 23:6

Surely Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

When you hear your name called and you take your last breath, what will be your final destination? Will you be the rich man in hell or will you take the same path as Lazarus, the beggar, and be in God’s House? You have a choice and a chance.

2 Corinthians 5:1

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house mot made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

The doors of the church are never closed.

Jude 1:24-25

24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Revelation Chapter 9

Psalm Chapter 23

2 Corinthians Chapter 5

Jude Chapter 1

Read the Other Parts of the Sermon, The Final Destination

Do You Know the Way to Heaven? (Part One)

Love Each Other As God Loves You (Part Two)

Don’t Be Ruled By Your Lusts (Part Three)

Disobedience Is the Devil’s Playground (Part Four)

Disobedience Is the Devil’s Playground

Sermon Part Four: The Other Destination for the Children of Disobedience

Ephesians 2: 1-2

And you [He made alive when you] were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you once walked. You were following the ways of this world [influenced by this present age], in accordance with the prince of the power of the air (Satan), the spirit who is now at work in the disobedient [the unbelieving, who fight against the purposes of God].

You are fresh meat to Satan.

To be in Satan’s family you have to be living in disobedience to God. Satan will not correct you if you are wrong. If anything, he will encourage you to be worse. Satan tempted Jesus. (Read Matthew 4: 1-10.) So you are not off limits to him. If anything, you are fresh meat.

Satan is in his last days so he is intensifying his recruiting. You’ve heard the saying, “misery loves company.” No one wants to be alone and Satan is a lonely creature.

Jesus can do anything but you have to believe and have faith.

Satan’s followers are the ones who possessed the two men in the tombs who Jesus met in Gadarenes. The demons cried out to Jesus, “What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?” These demons are fallen angels who joined Satan in his rebellion against God. They are evil spirits under Satan’s control. But we see here, when they are confronted by Jesus, they lose their power. Jesus doesn’t destroy them, but He will remove them, but only if you have faith in Christ. Jesus can do anything but you have to believe and have faith.

James 2:19

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well; the devils also believe, and tremble.

True faith involves your total commitment to God. The people of Gadarenes asked Jesus to leave. They were more upset because they lost a herd of pigs and feared His supernatural power than they feared the healing of the men in the tombs.

Even the demons know their ultimate fate.

The demons asked Jesus if He came to torment them before the appointed time. They showed that they knew their ultimate fate. The people of Gadarenes are like people today. They are more concerned about property than people.

Each of us is unique. No two are the same. How foolish of us to value possessions, investments and even animals above human life. True faith is nothing if we are contaminated with earthly values.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Ephesians Chapter 6

Matthew Chapter 4

James Chapter 2

Read the Other Parts of the Sermon, Your Final Destination

Do You Know the Way to Heaven? (Part One)

Love Each Other As God Loves You (Part Two)

Don’t Be Ruled By Your Lusts (Part Three)

Return later this week for the conclusion of the sermon, The Final Destination.

Don’t Be Ruled By Your Lusts

Sermon, Part Three: The Final Destination (The Other Destination)

John 8:44

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and a bode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.

Deuteronomy: 32:17

They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.

If you are moving to the alternate destination (to heaven), you are ruled by your lusts. This destination is the party of flashing lights and loud, provocative music. The women are made up, the men are dressed to impress. The person at the entrance is none other than Satan himself, selling you whatever you want to hear.

In the other destination life is a party … for now.

He tells you to look out for yourself, nothing and no one else matters. Do it your way; no one cares about what you say or do.  He says that life is a party. “Worship me and I will give you anything your heart desires. The price for my party is your soul.”

He is selling his tickets to anyone who is ready to live his lifestyle. Qualifications are, me, myself and I. Disrespectful, corruptible, slanderous, issuing damaging gossip about people, being useless, miserable, and contemptible are some of the characteristics of a place in Satan’s hell-hold.

Don’t be mislead.

If Satan was to be truthful (but he cannot be truthful), he would want to be back in the Kingdom of God, the Father. Satan will mislead you into thinking he has everything you want. But there is a difference in want and need.

God gives you your needs; Satan gives you your wants, like one-night stands. In the morning you say, “What have I done? Why am I here?”

Satan started recruiting in the beginning of the Bible in Genesis 3:1. He tempted Eve and succeeded, and ever since then he has been busy. His mission is to fill his house with as many of us as possible. To be tempted by Satan is not a sin, to give into him is the sin.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

John Chapter 8

Deuteronomy Chapter 32

Genesis Chapter 3

Read Parts One and Two of the Sermon, The Final Destination

Part One: Do You Know the Way to Heaven?

Part Two: Love Each Other As God Loves You

Return next week for Part 4 of the Sermon, The Final Destination