Brother Gary Sunday Morning 5/26/13

Brother Gary Sunday Morning 5/26/13

Pro 29:18  Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

It is very important that we have a spiritual vision.  Where is no vision spiritually, we will perish.  Much has been written in the Old and New Testament of being dim of vision and drunk.  Jude wrote that they turned the grace of God into lasciviousness. 

I want you to teach me.  I have no problem being taught by children or other saints.  Men and women turn from the marvelous grace of God to something that is even worse than moral sin.  I am not telling you that moral sin is ever right it is always wrong. 

To have known God and truth, having fellowship with God and with one another, and to turn and lose vision of the love of God and truth positions us in a place that is worse than moral sin.

I must have a spiritual vision.  I openly ask you to pray for my spiritual vision.  If I don’t have a spiritual vision I will be lost and others will be lost.  If you don’t have a spiritual vision not only will you be lost but others will be lost.

A ‘vision’ means to mentally perceive and contemplate in our mind with pleasure toward that which is ordained of God.  Everywhere you look today you see sights that are past being scary.  When men and women are living in sin, there is that which is alarming. 

God has ordained that we view spiritual things that we can view with pleasure and confidence.

Isaiah is a marvelous book and right while writing about the literal circumstances that were going on in that day, there is a prophecy that comes.  “Unto us a child is born…”

Right among the plans to have a garden and go fishing, you must have spiritual plans.  “I hope to pray more.  I hope to read through this scripture.  I hope to talk to someone about their spiritual condition.  I hope to encourage my brother and sister.” 

God spoke to Isaiah, “This is so sad that my people don’t know me.”  Everyone in this audience is sad with the tornado that hit Moore Oklahoma.  The thought of a child going to school and already they have had a funeral for that one. 

We must know God and know what He teaches.  God said, “My people don’t know me.”  It is not enough to just be religious and give people a Bible.  The vitalness is that they know God.

Isa 1:1  The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

Isa 6:1  In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

Isa 6:2  Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.

Isa 6:3  And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

The angels were there giving such honor to Christ.  Two of the wings covered their face, two covered their feet, and with two they flew.  The humility of the angels, who had never known sin, in the presence of the almighty God!  They were saying Holy. 

We know what Holy means.  The angels were worshipping Him that was upon the throne.  They were saying, “Holy” and then another one was saying, “Holy.” 

This means that the same God that was filling the whole temple and the whole earth is clean.  This God is so pure, so clean.  He looks at every one of us. 

When we were a child, He looked at us all with the thought, “If they live to the age of accountability I want them to be saved.” 

His attitude is an attitude of wholesomeness.  We live in such an unwholesome world.  Our atmosphere will be charged with such unholy spirits. 

“Trying to walk in the steps of the savior...  When we are tempted to turn from his side.”  Elisha Hewitt that wrote that song was a man that lived holy.  His atmosphere was like my atmosphere that tried to get him to turn away from God. 

Our atmosphere will try to get us to feel so sorry for ourselves.  Life is not going to be easy and work is not going to be easy.  My wife tells me that this is the reason that work is not called work.  Jesus came so that he could help us with the difficult things in life. 

“We have it so rough and tough, poor me.”  Our atmosphere is charged with a spirit that would try to run us away from God. And we should turn to God. 

Pure, ‘holy’ means pure.  We are so glad to have one to look at that is clean and pure.  I saw things I never thought I would see in my lifetime in Missoula yesterday.  It is so wonderful to have someone to look at that is pure, holy, and undefiled. 

We are so blessed to have a vision of seeing one high and lifted up that is pure, clean, undefiled, and set apart. 

This one is going to be God all through time, and eternity.  He will never change; He loves and cares for us.  He is honest.  No one has ever been more honest before you than God.  He shows us something to take care of.  He shows us a need and we say, “You are right again.”  He says, “Yes I’m right, I’m God.  I’m right, I’m pure, and I’m holy.”

If you have more than one thing that is not right in your life then you have failed to measure when God convicted you.  You failed to measure here and you failed to measure somewhere else and you are a great big mess.  We have a God in heaven that is ready to deal with messes. 

He says, “I’m ready to deal with this mess,” and you say, “I am too.  Here are six things to deal with.” 

We feel so blessed to be saved, to have a home.  I slept in our own bed and on my very own pillow last night.  I had the clock right there just in case it was one of those nights that I woke up every hour on the hour.  It wasn’t.  I slept way too late. 

We are blessed to have people to fellowship and to call to pray.  We are blessed to have people to show our love too.

If you are waiting for someone to show up and break a rib hugging you then you are wrong.  If you are lonely then the problem is you.  We need to have so much love flowing out of us that we show love.

God’s throne is high and lifted up above all thrones.  God doesn’t want us ever putting people on a perch or a pedestal. 

“I have to do this or they will be upset.”  I’ll be asking her if she is mad and she’ll be asking me if I’m mad.  Stop right there.  There is one God on the throne high and lifted up.  We are all servants.

He has all dominion.  People talk about dogs, grizzlies, and hummingbirds that are territorial.  There is one above everything, above all power.  There is a lot of power in the world today.  A lot of people are control freaks.  Don’t give them your eye; get your eye on Him.

God’s design for his church:  Jesus is a governor with a heart of a shepherd.  We are so blessed.  There is more to be said about a shepherd than I can say this morning, because I haven’t studied it out.

There was a beautiful staff and there is that rod.  There are times when you must have that rod that keeps you from falling.  There are trails that you hike in Glacier that it is important that you have them or you will slip.  You don’t want to have a great big fall.

Five characteristics of the throne:  It is a throne of authority.  When you look upon Jesus you are looking upon authority.  I’m not taking away from the authority of the parents, the pastor, the husband, or the law officers.  This throne is high and lifted up.

A throne of grace:  It is marvelous; he was sitting on this throne of grace.  It is a throne of mercy.  It is wonderful that you can go to a throne of grace and mercy.

It is a throne of justice.  In the courtrooms it is a question of trials being decided before you ever get into the room.  It isn’t always that way.  You will get justice at His throne.

A throne with angels:  In the Old Testament it says 20,000 chariots and thousands of thousands of angels.  In the Gospel Day there are an innumerable company of angels. 

The humility of the angels: cover face, cover feet, and fly.  This throne of power, grace, and mercy, also has angels around it.

“Holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.”

His glory filled the temple and now His glory fills the whole earth.

There is an invitation to this throne.  This throne of the King of kings, you and I are invited to this throne. 

Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

What does the vision of Christ, of God, (of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost), mean to you personally on May 26, 2013.

If you are ready to pray this morning, I want to point you to the throne where there is an innumerable company of angels.  He is able to meet every need. 

There is need of healing for this brother that fell that no blood clots form.  How long will it take for my heart to heal?  I don’t know, I still miss my brothers, my sister, my mother, my father but there is something at this throne that gives me comfort and helps me take my eyes off myself.  As I worship Him I see Him high and lifted up and He heals, directs and moves.  I hear the angels say, “Holy, Holy, Holy.”

He who has all power, strength, counsel, and wisdom, supplies every need.

Brother Bob Sunday School 5/26/13

Brother Bob Sunday School 5/26/13

We need each member in the Body.  I’m so glad for each one.  There is not anyone that is going to make it alone.  We need each member of the Body.

Paul said this:

Eph 4:1  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

Beseech means to beg.  How important it is for us to stay true and faithful to God!  Paul is an example of a man that was going the hardest in the wrong direction that anyone has ever gone.  He was persecuting God’s church and causing some to be put to death.  God showed him he was wrong and in His loving mercy turned him around.

He did the same to me.  I have no talents or smooth speech, but I want to be faithful to God’s service.

Paul was a prisoner of love.  God didn’t make him a prisoner.  He felt the love of God and he was willing to return the love of God with his whole life and being.  The books he has written prove it.

We have an adversary.  We have a real hindrance that would try to hinder us.  By the grace of God we can be successful in our walk with Him.

The love that God showed to send His very son to die such a terrible death for us!  We don’t have to be lost in a devil’s hell for eternity.  We can be saved and have access to the grace of God to walk in the light that God shows on our pathway.

We walk worthy of the vocation.

Eph 4:2  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

This is instruction for us: walk with lowliness, meekness, and longsuffering.  This means patience too.

Forbearing one another in love.  Before God saved me from the life of sin I thought I knew something about love.  After I got saved I realized that I’d had no clue of what love really was.  That love that He shed on us is the same love that we show to others.

With longsuffering…  God’s children are peace makers. 

Eph 4:3  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Eph 4:4  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

We are all called to be saints.  Everyone that is saved is a member of Christ’s body.  You are either saved and serving God or you are lost and bound for hell.

There is only one faith, one spirit.  You can ask people what faith are you and they will come up with some manmade organization.  They have missed it.  I hope some of them are saved and walking in all the light they can see in spite of the organization.

Eph 4:5  One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Eph 4:6  One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Aren’t you glad that you can be cleaned up and saved from your sin and able to live a life so that Jesus can live in your heart?  His grace is sufficient for us.  Whatever life you’ve lived, you can be cleaned up and can measure to His word.

Eph 4:7  But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

God’s grace is sufficient for us that we need have no lack.  There are scriptures that bring that out clearly.

Eph 4:8  Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Eph 4:9  (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

Eph 4:10  He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

When Jesus came He did a complete job.  There are many religious people that think that He has to come back and finish his job.  He did a complete job so that we can live an acceptable and Godly life here on this earth. 

He will come back to receive His saints.  The kingdom of God is here now.  Jesus paid a full price that we can enjoy the kingdom of God today.

Rom 14:17  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

We can have it right now.  We don’t have to wait for a better day.  We have access to the kingdom of God that He bought for us with His very blood.

There is nothing unfinished.  If there is anything that is unfinished, it is us.  The only way we can be finished is to walk in the light that God shows in our pathway.  We can have confidence that every promise in the Book is ours if we are walking in the light.  If we’re not then we cannot have confidence.

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

These verses make it clear to us how the church of God is designed by Him to work.  There is not anyone that can be saved and be isolated by his own will and make heaven.  God’s plan is that we have prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. 

They are necessary.  Each one supplies for the needs of the others. 

Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

This is how much we need the body and each member working together for our protection.  Until we come to the stature of the fullness of Christ. 

Paul said that he had not attained.  As much as he had been used for Christ and had done, he pressed on to the mark.

We want to press on to the mark.  We want to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called, not doing despite to the grace of God but having the grace working in our lives, perfecting us and in honor preferring one another.

This is how the church of God works.  We need teachers, evangelist: the exhortations of the saints.  God talks to my heart through all the exhortations in this church.  We need it.  If we are by ourselves then we will not make it.

Pastors:  thank God for the pastor that we have.  He loves the sheep.  We’ve seen other churches that struggle because they did not have a pastor that had a pastor’s heart to love the sheep.  Thank God for a pastor that loves us and has given us his life.

I don’t know if there are any of you that desire to be a pastor.  I don’t.  I don’t think that I could handle the stress.  They don’t have an easy row to hoe.  They give their best for counsel and instruction.  Not everyone is going to be happy with it.  They love the sheep and the counsel that they give is for (to the best of their ability) to protect the sheep. 

It is not easy and every godly pastor is that way.  We really need to hold up our pastors.

Part of the battle is that the enemy attacks any that will use their influence for the truth.  The pastor is working for their own soul too.  We really need to lift up the hands of those that are laboring for the gospel.  For us looking on if we don’t understand the counsel then mark it down it is the best counsel that he has and can give to perfect the sheep.

We may not understand, but we need to back off and take his counsel.

I’ve been appreciative of Sister Karen, it cannot be easy to be a pastor’s wife: the time that is taken from them even in their home and companionship.  I’ve been appreciative of her sacrifice.

Gal 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

We need to gird up the loins of our mind and keep our self so that we don’t have to be touched by the enemy.  God can strengthen us so that we don’t have to fall into anything that would cause us to be disobedient to the gospel.

The gospel of Jesus is a gospel of love; there is no strife or enmity.  God’s children are a children of peace.  This brings to my mind the elder sister Kelly.  She used to bring the message often.  You need a backbone like a saw-log and stand for truth.  We can have a backbone and stand in love.  We don’t need to be contentious to stand for truth. 

We can stand and be saved.  Think of the vilest sinner.  Who are we?  We are saved by grace.  We were nothing and less than nothing before God saved us.  Thank God for the righteousness, peace and joy that we can have.

It is so important that we stay in the love of God.  There is a list of the fruits of the flesh that are enmity against God in Galatians chapter 5. 

We are instructed to bear the fruits of the Spirit of God.  These fruits are not optional.  We must bear these fruits and the enemy is out to destroy them.

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.

Gal 5:24  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Gal 5:25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Gal 5:26  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Love, joy, and peace go together.  If you have lost one of them then you are in trouble.  If you have love, joy, and peace then you can have longsuffering.  Have longsuffering for the one that rubs you wrong.  Love them until they get saved.  Love them unto salvation.  God is no respecter of persons.  We have no right to be one.

Jesus is our perfect example.  All the attributes of God we need in our life.  If we are going to be perfect before God we need them.

We don’t want to get ruffled up like a mother hen with chicks.  We want to be gentle: gentleness, goodness, meekness.  We don’t want to be puffed up in any way shape of form.  We have no capabilities of our self.  The only good that we can accomplish is because of God.

Temperate in all things:  Not overcharged with the things of the world, playing, we want to be temperate in all things.

They that are Christ’s have crucified… if we haven’t done this then we will have trouble bearing all these good fruits.

If we are bearing the fruits of the flesh and they are not crucified.  It says in verse 21: They which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  This instruction from the gospel is not optional but by the grace of God we can live, fulfill, and talk it.  Zero strife saints!

Brother Gary Wednesday Evening 5/22/13

Brother Gary Wednesday Evening 5/22/13

We live in perilous times and we have a great responsibility to carry the torch in our hand and to prepare others to carry the torch. 

Isa 6:1  In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

Isaiah saw the Lord on His throne high and lifted up.  In our everyday practical living we must keep God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit in His rightful place and then we will be in our rightful place. 

Isa 4:1  And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

This has been true in every age of time.  Individuals, as Cain, have wanted to do it their own way. 

Isa 4:2  In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.

This is the Gospel Age.  The Gospel is designed to make our lives beautiful with the grace and truths of God.  If all you can think about is how hard you have it because you can’t do this or that or go here or there… then, yes, you have it hard. 

The other attitude that we can have is that it is my privilege to bear all the fruits of the Spirit that I can.  God has made all things beautiful in His time.  God ordained that His church be beautiful and have the glory of God.

Isa 4:3  And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:

Isa 4:4  When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.

Isa 4:5  And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.

The Cloud led the Children of Israel all day long and then was a protection to them at night.  It went between them and their enemies.  God has a wonderful way of leading us all day long. 

If you have problems being led by God then get Him in His rightful place: high and lifted up, and you get in your rightful place: saved, sanctified, measured, loving, and doing the Word of God. 

Jude was written around 30 to 35 years after the church was established.  Already things had begun to deteriorate.  I have seen all I can handle and all I need to see to know that, “God, help me to have and keep a vision with Him in His rightful place and me clothed with humility.” 

What is more beautiful than a person clothed with humility and bearing all the fruits of the Spirit?  What a beautiful garden!

‘Holy’ means that which is clean.  The angels described God in Isaiah’s vision, “Holy, Holy, Holy...”

It means clean, pure, undefiled.  No one can get to God and defile Him.  He loves, He cares, and He has an attitude of supplying the very best for us. 

How can we be worthy of His best?  Be in your rightful place and have Him high and lifted up. 

The word ‘Holy’ means sanctified.  God, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are totally set apart.  He is not political.  He is not affected by others.  He is God. 

We deal with a God that is undefiled.  You may relive the past, your failures and bad things that have been said.  STOP.  If you have done this for very long then you need to repent.  Why?  Because we need to be thrilled and thankful for what God has done for us and for what He has for us.

‘Holy’ means honest.  He is honest with us.  All we need to do is get Him and get ourselves in our rightful places.  He is true and lovely.

There is a price to pay.  We need to have the attitude: I have measured, and I have my measuring shoes on.  When He draws a line then I will walk right up to it.

God wants to make the very best of every one of our lives.  He had a cloud and a pillar of fire to lead and to protect the Children of Israel.  God has a way of leading and protecting.

How can we have a vision?

Isa 28:9  Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.

Isa 28:10  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

Isa 28:11  For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

It boils down to this: “Grow up.”  Precept must be upon precept. 

Have the attitude: “God you can use the best preacher or that one with a stammer to teach me.  I’m not telling you who to send a message to me.  I’m in my position and I am lifting you way up.  I want to be humble and grow up and put away childish things.” 

God has a way of making our life so that it can produce.  He can make us a vessel of honor meet for the master’s use.