WHO ARE YOU?

         Not only do we not know God saves through Jesus Christ, but we do not know ourselves save through Jesus Christ.  We know neither life nor death save through Jesus Christ.  Apart from Jesus Christ we know not what our life is, nor our death, nor God, nor ourselves. --Blaise Pascal

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14

         I am not sure when I was first exposed to a microscope but I remember jumping back when I saw what that little machine exposed was in a droplet of water from a mud puddle. Little squiggly things, some long, some round, some fat, some short, some with the potential to upset your stomach and I’m sure others with the potential to kill. Outside of seeing those little blessings though, I would have continued to drink from the ponds of nastiness in our driveway!

         Hey, if it had not been for the Lord Jesus Christ showing us who we are, we would still be drinking from the puddles this world offers to us! Child of God…that’s something monumental we ought to thank the Lord for! A sound mind that directs us to who we were before Him and then Him giving us the power to become the sons of God! We are nothing without Him!

JUST A SIMPLE THANK YOU WILL DO!

When is the last time you gave a little praise to someone?

He who sincerely praises God will soon discover within his soul an inclination to praise goodness in his fellow man. --Oliver G. Wilson

And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. Luke 17:14-16

            Someone holds the door open for you, do you say thank you? Someone says, “Have a blessed day”, do you say thank you? God sends a special blessing your way, do you offer Him praise? What keeps us from taking a moment to say thank you? God isn’t too busy for us we shouldn’t be too busy for Him or the lost, hurting, and dying in this world!

WILL YOU LIVE FOREVER…IN HEAVEN OR HELL?

This world is the land of the dying; the next is the land of the living. -Tryon Edwards

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. Revelation 20:12

There is a misconception sometimes when it comes to Heaven and hell; some people believe hell isn’t real. For some where not to be real, the Bible has a lot to say about it. As a matter of fact, it says more about hell than it does Heaven. So God in His wisdom knew it was important to convey a simple but true message that hell is hot and Heaven is sweet.

Have you ever stopped to think about tomorrow? Have you ever given a thought of what’s after this life? Friend, life isn’t as long as what you think it is. The older I get, the more I see the days fleeting away. Stop for a moment today and ask yourself this question, “Will I live forever…in Heaven or hell?” When you can’t answer, shoot me a message, I would love to help you see what the answer is. 

I NEED TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MY ROCK!

The LORD’s our ROCK and we can talk to Him and He will hear and answer us!

Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit. Psalm 28:1

            I recently saw a short portion of the View. (I don’t watch the View, someone shared a snippet of the show.) One of the show’s hosts said, “If someone hears from God, they’re crazy.” Well, I must be crazy then, because God talks to me all the time! He has a lot to say in His Word! His Spirit speaks to me while I’m studying and while I’m preaching.

Have I introduced you to MY ROCK—Jesus? He’s the solid ground I walk on! He’s the foundation of my life! Without Him I would be nothing, going nowhere! But because He lives and abides in me, I’m a Child of the King! He’s My Rock! My Shield! My Heavenly Father! My Saviour!

Is He your Rock?

UNDER THE INFLUENCE…

The Spirit of God first imparts love; he next inspires hope and then gives liberty; and that is about the last thing we have in many of our churches. -Moody

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Romans 8:14

Let’s face it folks, we are judged everyday by someone. It may be someone in another car, the waiter at a restaurant, or the kid starring at you in the checkout line at Walmart. People judge us by what we wear, where we go, who we support politically, even the place we attended college at has astigmatism that comes with it.

As people look, inspect, and even judge our lives, do we share the Spirit that is living in us in a way that they know we are a Christian? Does the Spirit of God influence our lives so that others would see His light living and abiding in us? Do you share the love of God that inspires hope and gives liberty to the captives?

What’s influencing your life this morning? It will show up in your actions later today!

WHY ARE YOU SO ANGRY?

Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.  --Thomas a Kempis

He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated. Proverbs 14:17

Anger is a hindrance to the Child of God. It will get you off your game plan causing you to open your mouth and insert your feet!  If you constantly get angry over the least little thing, you need to get alone with God so He can work in your heart exposing the sin that keeps tripping you up. You need to confess and repent of the sin that is exposed, trusting He will help you never do it again.

GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH!

In this day, there is nothing more important for you to do today, than to go to church!

Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders. Psalm 107:32

There is hope you just have to know where to look for it. I was looking for something many years of my life but couldn’t find it. Sex, alcohol, empty promises of pleasure was the way of my life but they never fulfilled my empty soul. But on July 12, 1992 my hope was placed in the Lord Jesus Christ. He came and gave me hope when I didn’t have any hope. Now, each Sunday I arise and go to worship Him in spirit and in truth, proclaiming He is my Saviour through song and message.

Have you been looking for something not knowing where to turn? Have you no hope? It can be found—today! Hope is in Jesus! Don’t just sit there…get up, get ready, and go to church!

THERE’S PLENTY TO DO, GET BUSY!

When a man turns to God desiring to serve Him, God directs his attention to the world and its need. –Brunner

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10

What has God been pushing you to do? What area of service does He want you to serve in that you have been avoiding? What will it take for you to surrender to His will?

Friend there is no better feeling than knowing you are doing exactly what God wants you to do. On the flip side of that is there isn’t a worse feeling in knowing you are so far out of God’s will! But the greatest thing about it is He will let you come back to Him…if you repent and go back to where you left Him at. He’s willing, are you?

I WANT A DIVORCE!

Sin and hell are married unless repentance proclaims the divorce. –Spurgeon

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:7

            Several years ago I had to take some wallpaper down at the Christian School I was working at. I consulted the local paint store and they recommended a product call DIP. I had to buy this little tool that pierced the paper so the DIP could penetrate the exterior and get to the adhesive. That paper was married to that wall but that DIP dissolved the adhesive and proclaimed a divorced! It came off that wall better than the last banana I peeled!

            Friend, if you are going to be free and have victory over the sin in your life you’re going to have to let repentance proclaim a divorce. You must pierce the deepest sin with the Word of God and apply the Blood of the Lamb to get to the place of repentance! It is then and only then will you have the only divorce God wants you to have—the divorce from sin!

7 THINGS GOD DOES FOR YOU BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU!

I.          He initiates His love- 

 He loved us first!

“We love him, because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

II.         He includes us in His love- 

David commits to prayer his need of the Lord’s presence.

            “Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.” Psalm 95:2

III.        He inclines His love toward us- 

Friends and family will leave you high and dry but God will go with you for the ride!

            “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” Joshua 1:5

IV.        He instructs us in love while in danger- 

He gave us His Word for instruction!

            “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

V.         He installs Help in love- 

David knows where to go for help! He cries out to God!

             “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2

VI.        He issues Hope in love-

            While believing in God…He gives Hope!

            “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” Romans 15:13

VII.       He influences our outlook with love- 

  If we put our faith in service toward the Lord, He will give us strength to get us through!

            “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” Psalm 37:5

WHO DO YOU LOVE?

Nor father or mother has loved you as God has, for it was that you might be happy when He gave His only Son.  When He bowed His head in the death hour, love solemnized its triumph; the sacrifice there was completed. --Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Titus 2:3-5

 I have always found it confusing how Parents could sell, abandon, or even kill their own child. We hear it on the news almost every week now; a Mom sells a child for her next fix, a Dad abandons his children for selfish gain, a Mom aborts her child because she doesn’t want the responsibility of raising it, a Dad takes his child’s life because it was crying in the crib of hunger or some medical issue. What’s gotten into people? Well, the question should be, “What’s not gotten into people?” The answer, THE LOVE OF GOD!

       Friend, whether you agree with me or not on this issue is fine but what you cannot disagree with is that this world is waxing worse and worse. As some would say, “It’s going to hell in a hand basket.” In my opinion, it’s because we have stopped teaching the fundamentals found in the Word of God. We have taken the influence of a Loving Saviour and replaced it with Liberal Science.

You want to make a difference in your life and the lives of others…start with the Word of God! You want to know how to love your spouse and kids...meet the One who created love! 

WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST DESIRE?

Whatever you greatest desire is will be what defines you as a person.

            One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. Psalm 27:4

David’s desire was to dwell with the Lord forever! With this desire in focus it caused Him to seek after the things of God. It caused Him to make provision for the things of God. It caused Him to obtain the things of God; love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.

What is your greatest desire this morning? Is it to finish High School? Is it to finish college? Is it to find a spouse? It is to be on your own? Is it to get a new car? Is it to be debt free? Is it to see souls saved? I am reminded of Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

DON’T FEAR! JESUS IS NEAR!

I fear God, and next to God I chiefly fear him who fears Him not. --Saadia Ben Joseph

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? Psalm 27:1

When I think of fear I think about darkness; the dark turn around a corner, the dark step of the unknown, the dark step of a dreaded trip to the doctor. But David says in Psalm 27, the LORD is his light, his salvation, his strength of his life! With the Lord David says, He fears nothing not even the dark!

Lord, help us today to view life in light of Your Word, to not fear the dark times of life, to gain strength from your Word as we walk in the darkness of this world!

GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH!

Before someone else has to take you!

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. Psalm 42:1-4

What keeps you from going to church? Is it some uppity people looking down upon you? Is it the senior citizen that gives candy to the kids? Is it all of the hypocrites? Do you feel as if it’s all a joke, some manmade fairy tale just to get into people’s pockets? Do you think it’s a systematic lie to have a group of subservient people bowing down to the pastor?

Sure there are those type of organizations out there but just because they have the title church on them doesn’t mean that’s what they are. What they are is a cult. A group that has taken just enough of the truth and twisted it into what they believe will serve their purpose. Preacher, how do I know the difference? Friend, read the Bible! Read the King James Bible! Compare what the Man of God is saying to scripture and see if what He is saying is truth. Don’t blindly follow someone just because they say they had a dream, saw a vision, or had a revelation from God. No, stick to the Book! Stick to God’s Word by Getting Up, Getting, Ready, and Going to a Bible Believing Church this morning! Don’t wait until you die for someone to haul your dead carcass there—for it will not do you any good!

Mama, I love you...

We need to say I love you as often as we can, especially when someone doesn’t expect it.

Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) Ephesians 6:2

We never know what tomorrow may bring; famine, abundance, success, peril, life, or death comes with the next blink of the eye. James says, “Life is like a vapour… that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” With this thought in mind, we ought to tell those we care about we love them often!

Tell Mom and Dad, “I love you!” Tell your son or daughter, “I love you!” Let a brother or sister in Christ know you love them! Let that aunt or uncle know you love them! More importantly let the Lord know you love Him...If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15

Life or Death…

Death to the Christian is the funeral of all his sorrows and evils, and the resurrection of all his joys. –Aughey

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

Almost fifteen years ago my parents went home to be with the Lord. At each of their funerals we had the song “I’m a Winner Either Way” played. I can remember sitting there listening to that song thinking about how much truth it contains. If I stay here, I’m living for Christ= winner! If I die, I’ll be in His presence= winner! Friend it doesn’t get much better than that!

If this was your last day on Earth, would you be a winner or loser? If you don’t know Jesus as your Saviour—you lose!

I GOT IT, DO YOU?

Full assurance is not essential to salvation, but it is essential to satisfaction.  May you get it-may you get it at once.  May you never be satisfied to live without it. –Spurgeon

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30

Yes, I have the full assurance of my salvation. I cannot lose it for if I did, I did something to earn it. When Noah was in the ark he may have fallen down several times but he never fell out of the ark!

Do you have the full assurance of your salvation? If not, maybe you’re not saved at all…just something to consider!

THANK SOMEONE WHILE YOU CAN!

Before tomorrow passes by thank a friend so you won’t have to do it at their casket.

Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. Proverbs 27:2

The Lord is looking for people with a thankful heart; thankful for help, thankful for hope, thankful for life, thankful for liberty, thankful for salvation, and thankful for God! He wants us to convey that thankfulness to those that it is due. Say it to your spouse, your children, your boss, your employer, your postman, your lawn care guy, your pastor, your pastor’s wife, Sunday School teacher, your missionaries, your Mom, your Dad, your Saviour…get the point?

Now go thank someone for their influence in your life!

UNTIL NEXT TIME FRIEND!

Insomuch as any one pushes you nearer to God, he or she is your friend. –Anonymous

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Ecclesiastes 4:9

We are saying good bye to a great friend today! Brother Russell Pruitt has been my friend for 10 years. He has been a person I can talk to when I could go to know one else. He has given me sound advice, even when I didn’t want to hear it. He has been a blessing to my family and I in more ways than one. To say good bye isn’t what we want to do but what we must do in order to serve God where God has us planted. Bro. Russell may the Lord bless you as you travel today and bless y'alls ministry in Montana! Love yah Bro!

OUR GREAT CONCREN IS THE GREAT COMMISION—CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH- STATESVILLE

It is the pagan heart that needs the redeeming message of Christ whether the person who has the heart lives in Shanghai or New York. –Decker

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15

     After finishing out our Faith Promise Mission’s Conference and seeing this message from CBC- Statesville posted on a friend’s page, I have to rejoice in what the Lord is doing in missions at Calvary Baptist Church of North Lenoir County! After the morning service yesterday our people committed to raising our mission’s given by 70%! Yes, that was 70%! Amen!

If you don’t go to a church that is mission minded…why not? How do you fulfill the Great Commission if you don’t support missions through your local church? Do you tell others about Jesus yourself? Have you gone to the uttermost for the guttermost? What and or how are you fulfilling the Great Commission child of God?