Bro Gary Wednesday Evening 11/30/11

Bro Gary Wednesday Evening 11/30/11

God is faithful; we need to be faithful.

Rev 19:11  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

Christ is the one that is on the white horse.  He is faithful and true.  The white horse represents power and authority.

Rev 17:14  These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

There is no question, it is important to get saved, to have a heart change, and become a new creature in Christ Jesus but we must continue to go forward.

Called of God:

Mat 4:16  The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

Mat 4:17  From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mat 4:18  And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

Mat 4:19  And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Mat 4:20  And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

God called them.  Where ever we were when God began to deal with our heart and we realized that we needed a savior, it is a wonderful thing to be called.

Mat 4:21  And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

Mat 4:22  And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

Joh 15:16  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Not in a proud way, but in a responsible way: we need to realize that not only are we called, we are chosen.

Dear ones, it is vitally important that we are able to recognize that God has a plan, and we may feel very challenged, but that is because we need God.  We cannot do it on our own.  We cannot save our self, sanctify our self, or make our self the chosen of God.  It is His work to ordain us so that we go forth and bring forth fruit.

God help us to sow good seed, see it produce, and it not be aborted because of misconduct.

Luk 19:17  And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

Throughout the gospel there is the teaching of being entrusted with a place with a position.  This servant was entrusted with a pound.  To some they may feel like there are some positions that are insignificant.  Especially on Sunday Mornings when we are gathering in it is not just the responsibility of one or two to greet people.  It is wonderful to be greeted. 

In West Virginia after one testifies about everyone in the congregation goes over and shakes their hand.  A warm greeting does something for you.  You may have come to church heavy laden but everyone else may have as well. 

Those that work in Bible Story time or Sunday school be faithful.  All good things have small beginnings.  When we go to rest-home it may appear that there is only one person that is glad to see us.  When you visit with them and show that you care, the effort may be small but be faithful in small things. 

Sister Stinson is a lady on her way to being ninety.  Her husband is gone and she is a widow.  She has some grand kids that we wouldn’t care to describe.  When she calls, you can’t talk to her because she cannot hear, but she talks to you.  She says that ‘my family’ is so kind.  “Nobody knows how encouraging it is to get a letter from someone.” 

Most of us here can knock on someone’s door without even driving.  Most people don’t have that opportunity.  God help us to be faithful in the little things.  Whatever you are doing, the natural mind would say, “it is little so it doesn’t matter.  It really does matter.” 

“Because thou hast been faithful in a very little…”  In the Gospel, what God has for us to do there will be times when it seems to be little.  Be faithful. 

Paul emphasized the value in faithfulness:

1Co 4:1  Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

1Co 4:2  Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

Be faithful.  Be faithful to the house of God, be faithful in preparing for whatever your responsibility is; be faithful in getting ready; be faithful in getting here.

Mat 24:42  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Mat 24:43  But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

Mat 24:44  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Mat 24:45  Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

Mat 24:46  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

Mat 24:47  Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

Jesus shows us the value of being a good servant, watching, working, and being ready.

Mat 24:48  But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

It requires faith to keep it real that Jesus is coming.  He is coming, the word declares it and we take it a step further, because we know he is coming, we take action and prepare.

The attitude “I’m just taking it for granted” costs much in the family and everywhere else.

Mat 24:49  And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

When we lose the reality of you and I standing before the judgment seat then a cooling off occurs and the shortcomings of our brother and sister begin to agitate us.  Keep it real, “I’m going to be faithful to God.” 

Sometimes people say, “I’m having a difficult time in prayer.”  Labor right on.  There are times at work, or in planting a garden, or in your business when things don’t go easy.  It always requires lots of work to accomplish everything.

It is a terrible thing when someone allows their spiritual condition to deteriorate and they begin to fault-find and talk to others about it.  They eat and drink with the drunken, their senses aren’t very sharp.  They get drunk on whatever it might be.  The enemy doesn’t care what we get drunk on.  Attitudes…

We don’t want to be surprised when Jesus comes.  Be faithful in the very little things.

Mat 24:50  The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

God is able to pick up the little we might do.  Sometimes it is just an expression.  “We are praying for you.”

Mat 24:51  And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

This would be sad.  We want to stay true and faithful to God.  We don’t want to spend eternity with the 

hypocrites. 

May God help us understand the benefit of faithfulness.  Tomorrow morning when we awaken, God will be faithful.  Sister Karen was awake in the night and God gave her a song.

You say, “The answer hasn’t come yet.”  God will be faithful.  There are times when God allows our patience to be tried.  As the song says, “Keep holding on just one more hour.”  Sometimes it is just one more hour but the answer does come.

Faithfulness is the power tool to overcome the enemy.  It is a power tool of encouragement.  “I’m going to be faithful today.  I don’t feel good but I’m going to have devotions.  I’m going to get ready for church.  It may be as I go I’ll get feeling better.”  Faithfulness is a powerful tool of encouragement. 

Once you break a discipline then it is easier to break it again. 

Be faithful to do what God lays on your heart. 

When we pray that God protect us, we never know what God protects us from.  God is so good. 

Faithfulness to God opens the hand of God to us.  It really does.  May God find us faithful in what we consider small.  It may look small but is of great significance to God, to us, and to others.

Bro Gary Sunday Morning 11/27/11

Bro Gary Sunday Morning 11/27/11

Joh 7:37  In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

Joh 7:38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Joh 7:39  (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

On the last day of the feast they offered several offerings for a sin sacrifice.  The priest would bring water from the pool of Siloam and would mix it with wine and poor it upon the sacrifice.  The people would march around the sacrifice.  

On this last day, Jesus was there.  God created every individual with a desire in their soul for God.  Jesus was there and understood the depths of the thirst for God of every soul that was present.  Jesus knew that not only would that audience thirst for God but every individual in the world thirsts for God.

Many get distracted and try to satisfy that thirst with various things that the world has to offer and are disappointed. 

Jesus stood and cried, “If any man thirst let Him come unto me.  It is vital to realize that the deep thirst that is in us is the same thirst that was in them.  That thirst will only be satisfied by coming to Jesus and drinking. 

Jesus called the thirsty ones to him.  “He that believes on me.”  There is a difference in believing and having faith.  Believing is knowing that God is what He is.  He is the all knowing, al powerful and almighty God.  Having faith means that we believe that God will do for us what He has for others.

Believing in the thought that God will establish us and will quench the thirst of our soul and as Jeremiah 31 says “He will saturate the soul.” 

Sometimes men and women have the literal and spiritual mentality of “just surviving.”  God doesn’t want you to just survive.  He wants you to be able to have your soul filled and have your soul as a watered garden.  In the gospel day Jeremiah 31 is fulfilled.

John concluded in verse 39 that the Holy Ghost would be given and living waters would come forth.

In John 17, Jesus was not only praying for those present, but also for us.  John heard Jesus praying, “I pray for them.”  This was Jesus.  He was concerned about His own.  Jesus is really concerned about everyone in this audience.  He is not just concerned about those that are going to be traveling.  He is concerned about everyone that is here. 

Joh 17:9  I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

Joh 17:10  And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

Joh 17:11  And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

Everyone in this audience knows that it is only God that can keep us.  When we recognize how much Jesus felt the need to pray for all that would believe on Him how we need to be kept through the Father’s name.

Joh 17:13  And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

John heard and recorded that Jesus wanted us to have His joy fulfilled in our self.  The survival mode will leave you without joy.  There are many things in the world to be concerned about, but if you take on that load, you will not have any joy. 

Jesus prayed that we might have His joy fulfilled in our self.  Among the joy that He had was that He was doing the will of the Father.  Each one that is here this morning has life.  No matter our age, our whole life is before us whether it be many or few days. 

Jesus wants us to have the joy of doing the will of the father.  He wants us to position our self to have our thirst fully quenched and submitting our self to the will of the Father so that we have a river flowing out to others.

Joh 17:14  I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

We are blessed to have our own Bible and to be able to read.  We want to seek God not only when we are in dire straits.  We want to seek Him daily because the Word of God will prepare us for whatever our day may hold.

Joh 17:15  I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

May God help you and me to position ourselves in such a way before Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit of God until we realize that we are here to be an instrument for God with God flowing out of us.  Sometimes you are sick, or tired, or feel that you are so old.  God ordained that we be here and be kept with that river flowing out of us.

Joh 17:16  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Joh 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Jesus was praying that we would be cleansed and set apart by the teachings of the Word of God.  Jesus knew that there was an inward foe.  He was parying that they be cleansed and set apart through the cleansing of His word.

Joh 17:18  As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

Joh 17:19  And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

How could Jesus need to be sanctified?  He didn’t have a carnal nature; He was the son of God.  Jesus told us this because He wasn’t far from Gethsemane when He prayed this prayer.  He was saying, “I’m setting myself apart.”  We had a wonderful lesson this morning of dying to self.  Jesus didn’t want to go to the cross.   

He didn’t want the nails in His hand.  He didn’t want the spikes in His feet.  He set Himself apart to do the perfect will of the Father. 

Every one of us here has a life, a mind, and desires.  We each can make plans of what we’re going to do tonight or tomorrow.  We can map our life out as far as we want to.  There is one thing that man needs to consider and that is that we are not our own.  There have been brilliant minds that mapped out how it was going to be through school, careers, financial goals, etc.  We need to have goals, but we need to realize through that process, “Not my will.”  We need to as Jesus did set ourselves apart to do the perfect will of the Father.

Joh 17:20  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

Joh 17:21  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

We will each go our own way unless we realize that the most dangerous thing that you and I can do is choose our own way.  The Bible declares that God will choose the delusion for those that choose their own way. 

God’s plan is not only for us to drink and be satisfied but that we let the Word and Spirit set us apart in such a way that we realize that we are only one.  We are one with God and with His people.  We all labor together and work for the common good to help souls. 

Programs to aid the poor and the uneducated are good, but we must labor to help one another spiritually.  It takes effort to be one.  We come from different backgrounds and different personalities.  We must sometimes tell our personality to leave us alone.  We need each other to be perfected.

The wisdom that is from above is first pure, gentle, and easy to be entreated.  None of us is sitting on a throne.  My dad preached the message, “There are no big I’s or little you’s.”  We are all to be approachable, edified, helped, easily entreated and taught one of another. 

Joh 17:22  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

Joh 17:23  I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Have you thought of the thought of souls perishing and if you don’t serve God you will perish?  If you don’t serve God, those you love will perish.  Life is a very small window.  Even if we live 100 years, life is really short.  My father was born in 1908, and they came to Montana in 1922.  none of them are here today.  That is the story of life.  You and I will perish. 

Jude wrote of those that perished like Balaam.  What he wanted was some kind of a reward.  What can you receive that will last past time? 

Cain, there are a lot of people that will perish because they will not let the Bible tell them how to worship.  They are going to worship their own way.  The God that created us gave us instruction how to worship.

Oh that we might know that love of him that sent Christ into the world.  He came so that we wouldn’t perish. 

I well remember the voices that called to me as I walked down the road of life.  The voice of the world and flesh only leads to perishing.  (The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.)

Joh 17:24  Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

He wants us with Him.  It is wonderful to be invited and when people want us to be with them.  We all appreciate when our children come home or someone calls and asks us if we can come over.

Joh 17:25  O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.

Joh 17:26  And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

The ugliest condition displayed in the Bible: men shall be lovers of their own selves.

2Ti 3:2  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Men shall be lovers of their own selves.  This is the ugliest condition and has many and various types of fruit.

The most beautiful words:

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

In order to make an expression of love to children, to husband or wife, to brothers and sisters in Christ, or to whomever it is vitally important that we have presented our self a living sacrifice to God. 

There are scammers that figure out a way to get something from someone else.  Whatever you have to give to whomever it might be, when you give love you don’t give it expecting anything in return.  If an individual has love in their heart, that love expresses itself.

Our love to God, “God I love you.”  If you love God, first you will give yourself to him totally.  You will give yourself and your time.  You will desire for more of your thoughts to be about God.  To spent more of your time praying and thinking of God.  “I want to love you and give myself totally unto you.”

Sis Timberly Sunday School 11/27/11

Sis Timberly Sunday School 11/27/11

1Jn 4:7  Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

God is the source of love.  This Greek word,  reference #26: love or affection or benevolence, a feast of charity.  It comes from reference #25: to love in a social sense, embracing the sentiment of will.  Compare this to another that means: to be a friend to personal attachment as a matter of feeling.   Sometimes you love because you feel it, other times you love because you know how you should act.  When you are tired it can be hard.  One is of the heart and the other is of the head.

1Jn 4:16  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

1Jn 4:13  Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

He has given us of His Spirit.

Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Gal 5:23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

If we have the Spirit of God working in us then it will produce this in our lives.  We cannot take the credit, it is God’s doing. 

The Holy Spirit brings us what we need to be equipped to handle what comes into our lives.  We don’t want to refer to something that comes to us as a challenge because that is limiting the Holy Ghost. 

No man will make a law against the fruit of the Spirit.

1Co 13:1  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

1Co 13:2  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

1Co 13:3  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

1Co 13:4  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

1Co 13:5  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

1Co 13:6  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

1Co 13:7  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

1Co 13:8  Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

1Co 13:9  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

1Co 13:10  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

1Co 13:11  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

1Co 13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

1Co 13:13  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

This is the same word for love as the Greek reference #26, it comes from God.  When we feel our lack we can go to God.  I desire to have the Spirit working in my heart.  It will cause the fruits to be there and all that is in this chapter to be in our heart. 

This kind of love will help us to know how to raise our children and help us with relationships in our life.  It is a guiding light that will inspire us and help us with situations in our life. 

The end of the matter is that our children have a choice.  Even when your children are grown if you show charity to them then it will make a difference.

There are many love languages.  We don’t always feel that people love us as much as they do.  We need to know how to communicate love to others. 

The love languages: the first one is physical touch.  (Reading from the seven love languages of children.)

Luk 18:15  And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

Luk 18:16  But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

Luk 18:17  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

Jesus understood the need of children to be touched, held and loved.  He didn’t withhold himself because of fear of being misunderstood.  When physical touch is the primary language through which they understand love, make sure that after you discipline them that you hold them and hug them. 

Holding them on your lap and reading a book is a great way to communicate this.  Playing games and wrestling, high-five or knucks are all physical touch communication.

The second love language is affirmation.  These words are like a gentle rain falling on the soul and are not soon forgotten.

Pro 18:21  Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

We have all experienced both death and life from the tongue.  When you realize that the love language of your child is affirmation, be very careful to not tear them down with words.

1Co 8:1  Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

Edify here means to be a house-builder.  There is nothing that will puff up in charity it will build them up and embolden them. 

Once you say something in the negative you cannot take it back.  You can say sorry and regret it but it takes a while to repair the damage once you tear down.  It is a good thing to go to your children and tell them that you are sorry. 

We need to watch what we think about and talk about; why tear down when you can take the opportunity to build up?  It makes all of us feel wonderful when someone builds us up. 

Pro 15:1  A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

Anger is a big subject.  It is the biggest enemy of encouragement.  It takes patience and practice to give a soft answer.  It is a process and we need to always be working on it with our self and our children.  When you get sanctified we still have to deal with anger.  When someone pours anger on you, you will have an emotion. 

Deal with it constructively.  Solve the problem.  If you work on solving the problem, handle it peaceably and work through it.  Don’t just internalize and have it jump out later.

If you just flatter your child then it will come across fake.  Say what you mean.  Watch for your child doing right and praise them.  We need to be careful to say things the right way to our children.  Choose your words wisely, this also comes from God.

The third love language is quality time.  It will require your undivided attention.  It will be you putting them first and then you can get your project done. 

Joh 12:25  He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

Being a mother or a father will require us to lay down our life to be what God wants us to be.  I met a mother of eight that is trying to be a godly mother.  She gave me a paper that said, a two year old told her, “Wow you sure have your hands full.”  Everywhere you go there will be those that will tell you that you won’t be smiling when they are teenagers.  I told my two year old what I tell everyone, “I have my hands full of good things.

In society children rate below everything, below college, below sitting around and doing nothing, below everything.  Is motherhood a rock bottom job for those that cannot do anything else? 

When you are with your children you are standing with the defenseless and represent everything that our culture hates because you are laying down your life for another.  Death is what society hates.  A Christian should run to the cross and desire to give up his life.  Following death is resurrection.  

Have you given your life for your children resentfully tallying everything that you do for them?  Or have you given it as Jesus did, unreservedly?  Put the value of your children ahead of your own.  Give your life for theirs every day joyfully, lay down pettiness and self pity.  There is more laughter and life on the other side of death than you can possibly carry along.

A lot of misbehavior is seeking for attention and love.  Many are talking of quality time yet few people are receiving it.  It is a sacrifice to give quality time.  It means giving up something on your list.  You must sacrifice something in order to give quality time. 

To that child the most important thing is being together and doing something together.

Suzanna Wesley scheduled an hour a week with each child alone.  She taught them schooling, morals, manners.