TO GOD BE THE GLORY

In whatever we do, may God get the glory.

1 Corinthians 10:31, Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Have you ever wondered, “What is the purpose of the trial you are going through?” Have you ever wondered why you had to face so much opposition? Have you ever thought, “God, why is this happening to me?” I believe if we were all honest, we would say yes to several of those questions and could probably add to the list.

As hard as it may seem, no matter what we are going through, no matter what trial or tribulation, it is so that God might get the glory. Does that mean He will, no it doesn’t, not immediately anyway. God did not get the glory when David sinned with Bathsheba. God did not get the glory when Joseph was sold into slavery. God did not get the glory when Judas took his own life. Did God take those messes and provide a message in them—YES! Yes, He did! He eventually got the glory and He can do it for you as well! Give Him your mess and see what He can do this morning! Give Him your trouble and watch Him give a triumph! Give Him your pain and watch Him provide! Give Him praise, honor, and glory in your trials and tribulations! It may just surprise you how He works in and through your life!  

WROUGHT IN CHRIST

The depths of His love for us provided salvation and much more!

Ephesians 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

As we press upon this Easter Sunday, I am reminded of what Christ brought to us when He resurrected from the dead. Absolutely, it was salvation, but have you ever set down to think about the riches we have in the salvation He wrought? Have you counted the blessings He bestowed upon us? Do you remember what He saved you from? Do you know what He can do for you now?

Friend, whatever your past is, whatever you are going through right now, Jesus can do in you what He has done for so many others. Will you trust Him this morning? Will you believe in Him this morning? Will you call out to Him? Don’t delay! We are not guaranteed tomorrow! Procrastination doesn’t always work and one day, it will be too late. Today, is the day of salvation! Will you be wrought in Christ? Will you be saved today?

IN CHRIST

Being in Christ is paramount in one’s life.

1 Samuel 22:23, “Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.”

David tells Abiathar says, “Abide thou with me… “, “… fear not”, “… for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life.”

David finally tells Abiathar, “… but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.”

 I believe we can apply this to what Jesus desires for our lives as well:

            Abide in me- John 15:6, If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

            Fear not- Matthew 10:31, Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

            Satan’s plots- Luke 22:31, And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

            We are safeguarded in Christ-

            Luke 22:32, But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

            John 10:10, The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

            Are you in Christ? Are you abiding in Him? If so, we have nothing to fear because we are safeguarded by the King of kings and Lord of lords!

CHRIST COMMANDS BAPTISM

Baptism doesn’t save but it is an outward showing of what has transpired in our hearts.

Matthew 28:19, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Baptism is for those who have trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. It’s for those who are willing to show others that they have consciously made a decision to trust Jesus with their life. While, baptism is not required for salvation, it does identify who you have chosen to love with all you heart, mind, and soul. When someone gets married, the husband and wife exchanges wedding rings, they are not necessary but the rings when worn, does show to those around that we are married.

Friend, if you have been saved and have not been baptized, what is hindering you from doing so? What’s holding you back from following the Lord’s command? What’s hindering you from taking that step of obedience? Go on, be a testimony to others! They may stop and take into consideration their standing before God and trust Him as Saviour as well.

WE NEED SOME MEN!

God ordained men to lead the home, so men, LEAD!

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Ephesians 5:22-23

What should we be led by, culture or the Word of God? If we follow culture then we will not recognize the Word of God’s counsel on the home. I mean really, it’s not popular today to say a man is the head of it. Much less is the counsel the man is the head of the wife. But can I share with you a simple truth, when men lead their homes in the way God has ordained, the wife is happier, the children are better, and society improves!

Men, lead your home in the way God wants you to; loving her as Christ loved the Church, serve her with your life, and most importantly forgive your wife when she doesn’t live up to your expectations, isn’t that what Jesus does for us?

BLIND AND DIDN’T KNOW IT

Without the light of the Gospel we would be walking around in this dark world without help or hope!

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. – 2 Corinthians 4:4

            Prior to the light of the Gospel piercing through our dark hearts we were marred by sin and Satan had shrouded us from His light (Paul Chappell- First Steps for New Christians; Establishing Biblical Direction For New Christians.) But thanks be to God who didn’t give up! He got up on the Cross so His light would shine through a dark world piercing a dark heart such as mine and yours! He did all of that while we were blind! Not looking for Him! Not caring about Him! But yet He cared enough for us that He died for us, to give us hope, to give us help, to save us from our sin! Amen!

MORE PRECIOUS THAN A BIRD!

A Christian in this world is like gold in the ore; at death, the pure gold is smelted out and separated and the dross cast away and consumed. –Flavel

Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:31

Child of God I have one thing to tell you this morning…God loves you! You are His child and He will take care of you! He took care of His only begotten Son when He needed a place to lay His head. He took care of Mary and Joseph when Herod would have baby Jesus killed. He took care of Paul while he was in prison. He made ways that only He could have done! So just remember—you are more precious than a bird and He will take care of you and meet your needs!

Profession or Possession...there is a difference!

Salvation is of the Lord!

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Acts 16:31

So many shout about how many people got saved at their tent meeting, VBS, or Sunday Service. I also rejoice when someone makes a profession of faith. I take pictures and rejoice with the Angels in Heaven!

However, I want to see those same people a year from the time of their profession. For at that time we shall see if they not only made a profession of faith but obtained a possession of the Saviour! Salvation is of the Lord friend…I don’t know who gets saved and who doesn’t. I just spread the seed and God gives the increase! What a privilege and responsibility we have to share the Gospel with a lost and dying world!

Hell is paved with good intentions. –Boswell

For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. John 6:38

Yes, Dad I’ll take the trash out. Yes, Mom I’ll wash the dishes when I get home from school. Yes, preacher I’ll take care of that for you. We have all heard it before; that person who has said that they would do something but then fails to do it. A man’s word is not what it used to be that’s for sure.

Except our Lord’s Word isn’t the same! The Lord tells us years before the birth of Jesus He would send the Messiah to deliver the sinner. He doesn’t do this with good intentions; He does it with a Great Guarantee! He came to do the will of His Father. He came to seek and to save that which was lost! That was you and I friend! And… ”That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9