Brother Gary Sunday Evening 12/28/14

Brother Gary Sunday Evening 12/28/14

Psa 17:1  A Prayer of David. Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.

David was saying, “I am being honest before thee Oh God.  Hear my prayer.”

Psa 17:2  Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.

Psa 17:3  Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

Among the things God’s children are so blessed to have on a nightly basis is a visit from God.  Isn’t it wonderful how He gives a song?  Oh the songs that are sung in Zion!  Those songs that are backed up by, “This was a song in the night.  God gave it to me either when I was in the trial or after I got out of the trial.” 

We are so blessed to have heard inspired singing.  It is wonderful to have a song in the night.  It would be so amazing if we would journal all the songs that God gives us in the night.  Over and over and over He gives a song.

How wonderful it is to receive edification and to give edification.  Malachi said, “A book of remembrance was made for those that edify one another.”  It is wonderful to be edified and encouraged. 

Isn’t it wonderful that God always comes through?  I’m glad that it is not up to me for God to meet the need right.  The challenge is that I put everything into His hand and say, “God I’m challenged and you always come through.”

Isn’t it wonderful how good God has been?  I remember the times when I was the target.  I got phone calls, letters, phone calls, and more letters.  I had a whole stack of them.  I got tired of holding onto them and burned every one of them.  I don’t have to prove anything.  God always comes through.

Psa 17:4  Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

When you open the door to sin, you open the door to the devil, and then you open the door to destruction.  The devil is no respecter of persons.  He will tear anyone’s life apart and anyone’s mind apart. 

Psa 17:5  Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.

God help me to not slip, to not go off the path. 

Psa 17:6  I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.

Psa 17:7  Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.

We believe in strong preaching and rightfully so.  But isn’t it wonderful that there is a kindness with God?  God reached so far down, and He is still reaching so far down. 

This week as you intercede, we don’t need to name any names, as you pray and intercede for those souls that you are burdened for, in Isaiah 59 there was no intercessor, as you intercede for a soul, you and I know what the loving kindness of God does in reaching down.

There is no way that we can grasp what God’s loving kindness will save that young man from.  We used to think the most dangerous place for a baby to be was in the mother’s womb when all the abortions started to take place.  The teachers are seeing children being raised in an environment full of the destroyer, sin, and destruction.

Oh the terribleness that is piped into homes.  It is an abomination.  Can we do less than intercede for the loving kindness of God?  Little and young lives, and teenagers, the depths of sin reaches children before they are even teenagers.  It is in every family. 

Sin knows no limits.  May God stir every one of us.

Souls’ hope lays in our interceding.  How people get it together is through Jesus Christ.  Show forth thy loving kindness! 

It knows no limit.  My brother is a stroke victim and is 79 now.  How He and his wife need God’s loving kindness.

Psa 17:8  Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

Psa 17:9  From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.

I was among the religious people last week, those spirits!  Some were even shorter than me and they looked down their nose at me.  It didn’t bother me, I’m too old to be bothered by those fowls.  How they were out to protect their cluster!  I only read from Mr Risland’s bible.  I didn’t even bring my notes from Sunday. 

Deliver me from the wicked that oppress me from deadly enemies that compass me about.

Psa 17:10  They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.

Psa 17:11  They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;

Psa 17:12  Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

Psa 17:13  Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:

Psa 17:14  From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

Psa 17:15  As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Brother Gary Sunday Morning 12/28/14

Brother Gary Sunday Morning 12/28/14

Psa 80:17  Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself.

Psa 80:18  So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name.

Psa 80:19  Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.

In the Gospel Day, the thought is given to us: The hand of God being upon His Son Jesus whom He ordained would have strength.  It is wonderful that when we get a vision of Jesus in the Gospel Day it causes everything else to be substandard and encourages us that there is nothing impossible with God.

God moved upon Solomon to tell of the Messiah that was to come.

Pro 8:27  When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

Jesus was there when God ordained that there would be a compass.  Into every soul that has ever been born, they come into the world with a compass and a desire for the living God. 

Jesus was there way back in creation when God ordained there to be poles that would pull toward the north and the south.  Jesus has designed the soul to pull towards God.  If you want joy, peace, and happiness, there is one way to find it and it is to allow the compass in your soul to lead you to Jesus. 

Jesus was there in creation when he made the clouds.

Pro 8:28  When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

Pro 8:29  When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

Pro 8:30  Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

Pro 8:31  Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

This audience can identify with the beautiful relationship between a father and a son, a mother and a daughter, a grandparent and grandchildren.  How they delight in them and take pleasure in their growth! 

As we see them maturing and see their manners grow, there is nothing like hearing a grandchild pray.  I remember hearing my daughters pray when I was so sick.  It is a treasure that I will never forget.  We got to hear our grandchildren pray this last week.

“I was daily His delights.”  Parents, love your children.  Grandparents, love your children.  Don’t push them aside.  There is not enough money in Brother Jason’s bank to even consider neglecting children.

I thought this morning, “Oh God, help me to know how to love all the children.”  I was a little frazzled this Christmas week and I knew it.  I prayed, “God help me with the children.” 

My daddy left me with the testimony of an aunt in West Virginia and there was something in her personality that she was not nice to my daddy.  My dad was hurt, he became bitter, and it went to hatred.  Before he could ever get saved, he had to get rid of that bitterness and hatred.

There is everything we need from Him.  This Jesus was with the Father, brought up by Him and was daily His delight.  Always rejoicing before Him. 

Those children at our house were just playing, and playing, and playing with those toys at our house.  It didn’t matter if anyone was playing with them or not. 

Jesus had a wonderful time before He came here.  He was the father’s delight.  But there was something in Jesus, it was ordained of God, part of the compass that God ordained that He have:  He was rejoicing in the inhabitable parts of the earth, and “His delights were with the sons of men.”

This Jesus had all heaven to enjoy and was the delight of the Father.  Yet His delights were with the sons of men.  He was there with the Father when the earth was created, yet He identifies with your burden and your concern for your brother and sister and for yourself.  “I don’t want to spend my life just going around and around, there is a highway to travel.”

Mal 4:2  But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

Jesus is still asking the question, “Will you be whole?”  Those rays and beams of the Sun of Righteousness reach out to every spot on this literal earth. 

On the morning of December 28^th the literal sun’s rays reached Switzerland.  These rays from the Son of God reach out to men and women with the realization, “There needs to be changes in my life that have not been made by my being just religious.” 

When you get Jesus Christ on the inside, everything changes, your dress changes, your talk changes, and your very set of heart changes.

We live in a very sad world.  People are so empty, empty of God, of life, of the Love of God.  Religious people are so empty. 

“To them that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings.”  It is whatever kind of healing that people need, emotional healing, physical healing, and spiritual healing.

Mal 3:16  Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

One thing that we really want to talk about is God: the goodness of God, what God has done, is doing and will do.  We are blessed to know about God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit of God.  We are not in competition with one another.  We are interested in building people up and strengthened. 

Mal 3:17  And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

Mal 3:18  Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

How beautiful, the Lord hearkened, and heard it.  The result of those that fear God is that God hearkens.  He hearkens to our every word.  That means feeding one another with good spiritual food.  That means the saints feel the weight of one another’s burdens.  They don’t make a big deal of it, but they let you know, “I am praying for you and carrying your burden.”

God said, “We need to make a book of remembrances.  Those saints encouraged one another.”  God said, “I want it written down.” 

There was brother by the name of Brother Lawson.  He had a love for God.  He would go into the movement churches and at the first service the place would be packed.  The second there would be only a handful.  He went right on preaching and hitting the chart. 

Sister Stewart felt called to go as far east as she could and get on a boat and go to the first island.  There were very few that encouraged her.  She went right on believing God.

Isaiah 59: there were a lot of things wrong in the day that Isaiah prophesied.  It would remind you of today.  God moved and told Isaiah, “There is one thing that I cannot see among everything down there; there is no intercessor.”

You and I are in a specific position this morning to choose to be unaffected in the thought of jumping on the band stand and talking of everything that is going wrong in our world, but to choose to be an intercessor.

Luk 2:40  And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

The awesome thing about Jesus is this:  At the age of 12, Jesus increased in wisdom and He was growing.  He increased in stature, and in favor with God. 

Jesus wants to really know you children this morning.  He wants to work on your personality, your thoughts, and your ambitions.  We as a church are behind you but it is God that knows how to place His hand on you children.

If you serve God, those hearts that are hungry for God will want to know what you have on the inside that causes you to weather the storms.

Jesus taught us how to pray.  You children need to know how to pray.

Luk 18:1  And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Learn to pray as a child, then when you become a young man or woman, when things get rough instead of losing your way, God wants you to follow His steps.  Jesus said to Peter, Satan has desired to have you but I have prayed for you.

Jesus prayed for his own when He was here on earth. 

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.

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.

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.

Jesus had the ultimate of trials.  He was in the garden praying.  There will be times when you need to shut the door on everything and pray.  Jesus had a time in His life when He desperately needed divine intervention from Almighty God.  He was in the garden praying and an angel came and strengthened Him.

You will come to the place in your life when you feel, “This is too big for me.”  That is how life is.  It is how life is for me.  It is how life is for a lot of you out there.  Jesus had that same experience.  It seemed that He was all alone during that experience. 

Sometimes it seems that no one understands.  It doesn’t mean that they wouldn’t understand if they knew, but we think, “God can I burden anyone with this burden?” 

Some of you know your children better than they know themselves.  Some of you know your husbands or wives better than they know themselves. 

Sometimes you feel like, “No one knows.”  It is not that you couldn’t tell anyone, but when you find yourself, “I don’t know if I can tell anyone.”  Jesus was there and He knew what to do, He prayed to God.  And an angel came and strengthened Him.

Remember that when things are such that the hour is not comfortable to call someone else, you can call on Him with such faith and fervency that God himself will dispatch an angel strengthening you.

Jesus is sitting on the right hand of the Father ever making intercession for us.  We are never alone.

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I will never conquer without God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit of God.  One of these days we will come to the river of death.  We want to have it settled now so that if it happens today, no matter what kind of a death, it will not separate us.

Life can be tough.  There is pain and heartache.  I won’t tell you what kinds of losses there will be in 2015, but there will be losses.  Life will bring losses.

There will be things stacked against us in 2015.  We all saw it with Brother Bill this last year, we all thought he was a goner in Plains High School.  You may have things stacked against you but thank God you can be more than a conqueror.

People may disdain you and look down upon you.  Don’t let it separate you.  Don’t let them agitate, irritate, or provoke you.  Go right on serving God. 

Don’t let things to come separate you.  We don’t know what is coming, but we know that we can trust God.  Go right on serving God. 

Brother Gary Wednesday Evening 12/24/14

Brother Gary Wednesday Evening 12/24/14

Luk 1:26  And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

Luk 1:27  To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

Luk 1:28  And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

Luk 1:29  And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

Luk 1:30  And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

Luk 1:31  And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

Luk 1:32  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

Luk 1:33  And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Luk 1:34  Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

Luk 1:35  And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Luk 1:36  And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

Luk 1:37  For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Two extreme impossible situations: one with Elizabeth, too old to have a child; the other with Mary, a virgin.  God was going to perform a miracle.  In our audience tonight you may have come in with the thought that someone else really needs a miracle.

I won’t argue with you, but I am going to bring it a little closer.   We will all end 2014 with challenges.  Some it is health, others financial, still others family difficulties, or a challenge in our spiritual life. 

Life will bring challenges.  We really need help on our job, our finances, and the projects that we didn’t get done in 2014, but our spiritual challenges are what are important tonight.  That ground, that answer to prayer, for some: that healing, for others: the area of attitude, “I am fighting a battle and am challenged there.”

With God nothing shall be impossible.  One of the things that gives us great faith for the extremely heavy requests that we have for others in the circle of our acquaintance:  God doing a miracle for us gives us such faith to pray and to testify for what God will do for those that we are heavily burdened for.

I feel very burdened for myself tonight.  I know how much I need divine intervention from God.  If you are challenged tonight as I am challenged, we want to leave this promise with you: with God nothing shall be impossible.

Luk 2:11  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Five descriptions of the savior:  He is the deliverer, He is a protector in a world that is so dangerous, especially spiritual danger.  He is a healer: He especially heals broken minds, dreams, and lives, and He heals bodies.  He is a miracle working God.  

He is a preserver:  I am wanting to preserve a memory.  I think of this young couple that got married November 9^th.  You want to preserve that.  If I were you guys I would get a book and start writing memories down.

The thought is to have God preserve what He has done in our life, what He has delivered us from and what He brought us to. 

Savior means ‘to be made whole’.  Life and whatever else leaves people with areas in their heart, mind, and all these other things so lacking.  This Jesus, this savior, is interested in us being made whole.  Karen as a nurse has liberty to speak to people about their soul as well as their hygiene and whatever.  They are working with the whole person.  This is the way Jesus is.

They waited a long time for Jesus.  John the Baptist was both an Old and a New Testament prophet. 

Luk 2:1  And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

Luk 2:2  (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

Luk 2:3  And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

Luk 2:4  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

Bethlehem means house of bread.  Jesus is the bread of life.

Luk 2:5  To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

Luk 2:6  And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

Luk 2:7  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

I am really glad that the manger is empty and that there is a really good place for Him to live in your heart and in my heart.  I am glad that we know how to get Him there.  As we begin to confess, repent, and turn from our sin, it is a wonderful thing to have that burden of sin rolled away. 

He doesn’t tell us to go through them from one to a million, he says, I have the record.  The blood has been shed, and if you will confess and turn from your sin, you can become a new creature.

That is the reason that Jesus is not in the manger anymore:  Men and women got so sick and tired of sin and the world.  I’m sick and tired of religion.  You don’t have to be around that long and you and you want to preach about Zion.

There is room in my heart for Him.

Luk 2:8  And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Luk 2:9  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

Luk 2:10  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

When God comes He doesn’t just come with a little bit.  He comes with good tidings of great joy.

Luk 2:11  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Jesus delivers us from our past, from our regrets, and from the bondage of sin.  It is wonderful to be delivered from bad habits, bad attitudes, bad schemes and dreams, and from the power of sin, self, and Satan. 

Jesus Christ delivers us from all our enemies.  The enemy of sin because sin opens the door to the devil.  You children are so blessed.  Have Jesus on the inside, it will keep you, preserve you, and protect you from the terrible things that are out there.  You don’t have to go to New York City to find it.  They will come looking for you in the country.

Thank God there is a healer, there is a deliverer, and there is a protector.  We want every one of these children to be protected.  You parents are free to always request prayer, “Pray for us as parents.”  It doesn’t matter what your name is, the devil is out to bring sin, the great enemy, and death.

It is wonderful to have a protector from the old slimy spirits in Babylon.  There is a healer.  A healer for the soul, for our emotions, for our disappointment; our heart will be torn, we will be hurt and know the need of a healer.  Thank God that He is one. 

He is a preserver.  That which you have committed to His keeping, “I’m yours, I am trusting you to keep me.”  Everything that you have you want to commit to Him.  Don’t hold on to something for control issues.  It never works out well. 

Put it all in His hand.  “I am trusting you to preserve this, my soul, my mind, this which you have given me the ability to accumulate, make or have.”

The manger is empty, but there is more to it than that, Jesus is still knocking at heart’s door.  

Brother Gary Sunday Morning 12/21/14

Brother Gary Sunday Morning 12/21/14

Mat 2:1  Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

Mat 2:2  Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Mat 2:3  When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

Mat 2:4  And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

Mat 2:5  And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

Mat 2:6  And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

Mat 2:7  Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

Mat 2:8  And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

Mat 2:9  When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

Mat 2:10  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

Mat 2:11  And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

Jesus was born in a time of a very evil king.  It was a very dark season.  The people were ruthless, and lived without the fear of God. 

Right while all that was going on, there were wise men coming from the east that had come to the understanding that there would be a messiah come and a star would lead them to the messiah.

They came to the city of Jerusalem, it was on the way to Bethlehem.  They asked, “Where is the king of the Jews?  We have seen His star and have come to worship Him.” 

Num 24:17  I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

These wise men were seeking for a messiah.  It has been real to me for a season how empty lives are.  It is not just in those that are bound by sins that we abhor.  It is everywhere in lives of men and women that do not have Jesus Christ as their personal savior.

We live in an area of religious people.  One thing I observe is that they are empty, sad, and have not found the Joy or the Kingdom of the Lord. 

There will be those among them that will desire to find the messiah.  These wise men came into Jerusalem and asked the question, “Where is the king?”  This question troubled King Herod.  He demanded for them to tell him what they knew and then called in those that should know, “In Bethlehem of Judea.” 

Bethlehem means the house of bread.  It was a small town of about 3,000 residents situated on the top of a hill.  It is written that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem.  “Out of him shall come a governor.” 

I love the thought of Jesus the ruler and the governor.  He is the king with the heart of a shepherd.  It is wonderful that we have such a one to rule over us: the king of kings and Lord of lords, with a heart as a shepherd.

When they departed, after receiving instructions from the king: they saw the star and rejoiced with exceeding joy.

Everyone in this audience needs to recognize that God is leading you.  You may be in a quandary “What is God speaking to me about, where is he leading me?”  When the wise men saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

I don’t need to tell you that life, our times, and circumstances in which you live will position you to be drained of your joy.  Everyone here has things to do in the world, and has things coming to you through newspapers, radio, internet, and all those things. 

Beyond a shadow of a doubt, we live in a media world that will fill you with discouragement.  In a world that will desire to come to you in a form of temptation to rob you of all the good things God has prepared for you.

There is an eternal God in heaven that wants to lead every one of us.  Your mind will work against you, “If I let God lead me, will I have to give up my home or my job?”  One thing I know, if you follow God, the treasure that you will find will make what you leave behind very insignificant.

There is no need to put on sackcloth.  Perhaps you will be called away from confusion into order. 

Mat 2:10  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

The devil doesn’t want people happy.  Take the hymnal and read, “The joy of God, the joy of the lord will be our strength, and happy in the savior.”  We will go through sorrows in life but remember in our sorrow, “God where do you want to lead me?”

Mat 2:11  And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

They fell down, they worshipped, and they gave gifts.  They came into the house, into the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.  They saw Jesus.  All the Old Testament prophecies of Christ are so beautiful.  Jesus isn’t limited to certain parts of the gospel; He is, in reality, the Word of God.

When they saw Jesus they fell down.  It is a wonderful thing to come into His presence.  They were so moved upon that they fell down, worshiped, and gave their gifts.

It is marvelous when we come to Jesus.  Many times we come needy and concerned.  There are those that have been sick and naturally we come with those requests.  But there are times we come without request: I am here to worship Christ.  I am here to be in the presence of Christ. 

We bring our thank offering but we always come away with a lot more than we give.  We came to Jesus Christ with a heavy load of sin and we left a new creature in Jesus Christ.  We came in need of Bible sanctification and when we met the conditions He cleansed us.

Three times in Isaiah 41 God said, “I will help thee.”  God knows what every one of us needs.  There would not be enough room on the walls to write all about the needs that are represented here this morning. 

When we fall down before God the Father and worship Him, He gives us something that is of a great value for us personally in our soul.  “Yes Jesus took my burden I could no longer bear… and left me with a song.”

Paul knew how to tremble before almighty God.  We never get too old to tremble in His presence.  It is marvelous that God teaches us at a young age.  We are so privileged.  In the eyes of God no one is inferior.  May God help us to be so tender.

Php 2:9  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

Php 2:10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

Php 2:11  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus is not only the savior, He is Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One.  This morning when you bow your knee to Jesus, the savior, worship Him.  I think of how lost I was.  I think of what it means to be lost and to be lost for time is a consideration, but to be lost for eternity is a much greater consideration.

We can position ourselves bowing down before Jesus acknowledging that He is the savior, the messiah, the anointed one.  My life would be empty without Christ.  Without Jesus and the anointing we are empty, as sounding brass and tinkling cymbal.

We can humble ourselves as the wise men and bring our gifts whatever they might be.  “Oh Jesus you are my governor; I want you to control my life.  I want before any conversations are made, or contracts signed, I want my life under your control.”

Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Paul, a very gifted man, wrote in such depth with such love.  Oh for a filter like that that our words, which are given, would be so full of the love of God and penetration of the Spirit of God.

It is God’s design that every knee bow, and that you and I know: This not as a ritual that we do every day, but as a reality.  “Oh God, it is your design that we labor to be accepted in the beloved and have the thought: We are working out our salvation with fear and trembling.”

“God before you, I want to humble and feel my desperate need of your help so much that I shake and tremble.”  As saints of God we want to feel our need of God so much.  God help this preacher to shake and tremble that I have the right message.

God help the choir, the director, the piano player and the organ player to realize, “I really need God.”  It is not entertainment that we are looking for.  You can buy a CD or go on the internet for that.  Even if you are gifted to sing like Jim Reeves, it is God, who comes by men and women falling down before Him as the wise men did, that makes the difference.

I thought of Simeon, when he took that babe in his arms, that he shook and trembled.  I believe that he saw what he had waited so long to see, was so moved upon. 

When I think of souls this morning, family or not family, it doesn’t matter who you speak of as a soul, when they are lost without God and you realize what the results are of being lost.  Their life may be terrible but it won’t compare with eternity.

We have the opportunity of realizing, “God I need you so much; I need your presence so much.”

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, godly fear.  Realizing, “Oh God How much I need you!”

Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

It is so wonderful for God to ignite that hunger in you.  It is wonderful to say, “God more than anything else, I want to do the will of the father and what is in your good pleasure.”

Isa 66:1  Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

Isa 66:2  For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

Let us remember the wise men.  They studied the Word of God.  God sent the star at just the right time.  They began the journey just at the right time.  They worshipped.  Worship is a wonderful thing.

They gave their gifts.  Dear ones this morning.  I covet your prayers that I will study the Word of God.  As I told you, I have no hesitation, God is leading.  You may ask, “Who all do you think God is leading?”  I believe beyond a shadow of a doubt, God is leading all souls.  That is how God is.

As we end 2014, in the midst of all the distractions and the things that will take you astray, I believe there will be the Word of God, Jesus the Son, the Star if I may use the term to lead you on the journey.

Mary and Joseph journeyed about 100 miles and it was a rough journey.  Sometimes we look at the journey and think it is rough.  If you would have asked Mary and Joseph after everything had transpired and Jesus was born, they wouldn’t have remembered the journey; they were in the perfect will of God.

There isn’t anyone here that worship comes easy to.  It doesn’t come easy to the retired, the one that works for themselves, that work together, that travel, it is the same everywhere.  Worship doesn’t come easy.  God looks to the one that is poor, contrite, broken – “I need you God.”

We read the Word of God and enjoy it.  Yet there is a time that when we hold it in our hand it causes us to shake and tremble in our heart and in our spirit for we know that he that came from eternity is the Christ.  Jesus the savior, the Christ, the messiah, the Lord, the governor.

Those wise men came with gifts, they studied the Word of God.  They were lead with a divine institution, the star.  They took the journey, when they found the house and Christ in it, they came in and they worshipped.

Sister Dorothy Sunday School 12/21/14

Sister Dorothy Sunday School 12/21/14

The enemy would love to steal from us what we have through salvation, sanctification and all of God’s plan for us.  He is always working, even when we are sleeping.

Temptation is the test of an alien personality of the possessions held by an individual.  When we are saved and sanctified, we have treasure that is more precious than gold which perishes.  The things we possess by serving God is a treasure that will never perish.  The enemy wants to take it from us.

Sanctification means perfection.  In sanctification we possess treasures.

2Pe 3:17  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

Beware means: through the idea of isolation, watch, be on guard, preserve, obey, and keep.

We need to really beware lest we also being led away with the error of the wicked, (this is temptation), we fall from our own steadfastness.  We desire to be and are steadfast in the things of God; but it says here, “Fall from your own steadfastness.” 

There is a real importance that we beware.  Our treasures are precious to us; the treasure that we cannot lose is ours by salvation, sanctification, justification.  We need to really be aware of how important that treasure is lest we be led away.

Heb 6:1  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

1.      Perfection:  He wants us to go onto perfection, not repenting every night, or thinking, “I failed again.”  No He wants us to go onto perfection.

2Co 7:1  Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

The promises of God are wonderful.  Let us cleanse ourselves from the filthiness of flesh and spirit.  Perfecting means to fulfill further, or completely, accomplishing, doing, performing. 

These words represent action.  If we are going to be perfect, we must do something about it.  Sometimes we expect someone else to do something to make our life perfect.  When we become perfect before God in His fear, it settles the whole question, because we have taken care of our self.

Christian perfection is a perfection of a Christian toward God that shows itself.  We need to show that perfection so that others can see.  We need to live so that it causes a longing after God in others and not admiration for ourselves.  God gets the glory He is due.

2.      Holiness:

1Pe 1:14  As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

1Pe 1:15  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

1Pe 1:16  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

There are holiness movements out there; there is not much holy in it.  I am so thankful to be delivered in true holiness.  That we can live a righteous life and be perfected in the sight of God.  We have beautiful treasures that we can have in life that He has given us.

3.      Sinless

1Jn 2:1  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

Sinless: not just when we get down to pray at night and go to bed without doing anything wrong.  He wants us to be sinless all day long and when we pray at night thank Him because He has kept us.

Rom 6:11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rom 6:12  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

Rom 6:13  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Rom 6:14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Be dead indeed unto sin; a dead person can’t sin.  We can be dead to sin and alive to Christ.  The opposite was that we were dead to Christ and alive to sin. 

Those are precious scriptures.  To think that we can live a sinless life!  How many people are saying, “Don’t tell me that you don’t sin.”  It is a privilege that we can live without sin.  Sometimes it is almost more than we can take in; the provisions that He has provided for us.

1Jn 5:18  We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

Isn’t this scripture wonderful?  The wicked one tries to come in and steal and destroy; he tries to steal everything from us.  We have to work to be kept, and the wicked one touches us not.

4.      Blameless

Php 2:15  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

We can live so that others can’t say anything amidst a crooked and perverse nation.  The bible is true that it will get worse and worse.  We think, “How much worse can it get?”  We can still live godly.

5.      Beareth fruit

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.

We can have and enjoy these things.  There is no law against them.  That is bearing fruit.  We have to bear fruit in justification.  In sanctification there is a deeper work.  We get purged.  There are things that we become aware of when we are justified: “I shouldn’t be doing that, forgive me.”  But when we get sanctified, that purging cuts those things off.

We are around people that talk and as soon as they realize that we are there say, “I’m sorry.”  Those words and thoughts don’t enter my mind so they never come out. 

We have been purged of those things that we become aware of in justification.  When we get rid of self and get wholly sanctified, He does that work that only the Spirit of God can do in us. 

We cannot do it ourselves.  There have been many try to clean up their life.  They can’t do it until they come to the end of themselves and give up the right, “I have a right to say that.”  No they don’t but they cannot change on their own.  God takes care of it.

We bear the fruit every month according to the Revelation.  In other words there is no time when we do not bear fruit.

6.      Comforter:

Joh 14:16  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Joh 14:17  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

It is a beautiful promise; that we can have the comforter.  It is so comforting to have Him abiding not only with us but in us.

Joh 15:26  But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

There is a witness there; He will testify of Himself.

2Ti 2:21  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

7.      We can be used of God; this is a wonderful treasure that we can have that the enemy wants to take away from us.  He wants us to feel useless. And feel that we cannot be used.  He will condemn us if we are wrong and condemn us anyway.  Let’s get rid of the enemy and do what is right.

Eph 6:6  Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

Eph 6:7  With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

Do what we do to God.  Forget men’s applause or anything else that men have to say.  Doing the will unto God and not to men.