Sister Brenda Sunday School 12/6/15

Sister Brenda Sunday School 12/6/15

We can know and do the will of God in our lives. 

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.

Luk 1:38  And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Verse 26: Think of what made Mary worthy of this honor.  What kind of a person do you think that Mary was? 

Verse 28: She was a young virgin that was espoused to Joseph.  She was bound to him and for the espousal to be broken, you had to go before the magistrate and so to speak be divorced. 

Favored:  to grace, to endue with special honor, to make accepted.

There were some criteria for Mary to meet to be the one chosen by God to bring His Son into the world.  I think of her as meek, sweet, and humble.  In the home with her parents and with her siblings, she was kind.  She was disciplined.  This was to be a big task. 

She was probably helpful in the home and to other people and looked for opportunities to be kind and helpful.  We all have to work at being these things.  We must be saved and have a nature change, a pure heart, to be like this. 

For God to use us and have his hand upon us, we must know that we are saved and have our sins forgiven.  Then we must go on to sanctification.  The song, “Thou shalt be first.”  Has been really good to me.

Mary was one that pondered things in her heart.  She was exceptional.  We think of youth as being impulsive.  She could have been 13 or 14 years of age at this time.  She was of the royal linage of David, yet she was poor and low in the world.

She was a virgin, pure and unspotted, engaged to a man of the lineage of David.  She was dignified, full of grace, and highly favored. 

We have to live close to God and be humble to be dignified and full of grace.  It doesn’t just fall upon us.

She had the presence of God with her.  The Lord was with her.  “The Lord is with thee.”  We want that to be said of us.  We want people to be able to tell by our atmosphere that we have been with Jesus.

She had the blessing of God upon her.  God was pleased with her.  “Thou art blessed among women.”

She was troubled at this saying when she saw Him.  This was a sign that she was humble.  She was troubled.  She didn’t feel that she merited the kind words.  She was not conscious that she was worthy of or merited the honor of the great things said.

She cast in her mind the manner of the salutation.  She was not impulsive and was humble.  She was cautious and even a bit on her guard about this. 

We don’t want to just jump at things but be cautious and on guard.  Let us not be impulsive but cautious and pray about things.  We want to know and do God’s will in our life.

If we are impulsive and just jump at whatever falls in our path we will make mistakes and have troubles.  Not everything that presents itself to us is of God.  We need to meditate and pray about things.  A lot of times we have time to consider things before we make a decision. 

Her desire was to do right and to make good decisions.  She wanted to serve God. 

Fear not.  When things come to us that can stir us and scare us, God knows how to, when He is in it, to say, “Fear not, I will help you with this.”

Mary said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord.”  She was willing.  This was an honor but there were risks with it because of Joseph.  She was willing to say “Amen” to God’s will for her life.

When we do our best and follow God’s will and His way there is safety in that.  His will was her will.  “I am at your service.”  She submitted her entire life and will to God’s will.

This was not a moment’s action.  It happened because of her lifestyle.  She put her amen on it.  “Be it unto me according to thy will.

Mary was obedient.  She had victorious faith.  She was astute according to the things of life and was not afraid to ask a question when she needed clarification.  We are to ask God for clarification.  Obedience is not blind.  We can talk to God.

She was a precious young lady and a mother.  It was not an easy life that the Spirit of God lined her up for.  She was the vessel for the Holy Spirit to work through and has no power to answer prayer or above the power that anyone has today that is truly consecrated to God. 

All of us should be like Mary and have the same attributes.  It was never God’s will for her to be treated as Catholicism has treated her.  It was not her desire and was not what God wanted.  Mary was humble.  It was not all roses and easy.  In the first place, they had to go to Egypt and leave her family and home for quite a while. 

When Jesus went to the cross and went through all he went through it was hard for His mother.  She saw His suffering and all He went through.  She had to be consecrated and trust Him in God’s hands.

I wonder if there was a preparation that God had put her though before she got to this day.  Even with us, there are things that we go through that there has been a preparation for before we enter it.  God created the world in a proper order.  He did not make man before he made food for man to eat. 

May it be a challenge to us to let God prepare us.  We don’t know what God is preparing us for.  We wonder sometimes why we go through some things when we have done our best to do right. 

Let us believe God and continue to do well.  Let us keep the right attitude.  We know that God is faithful and just and everything He allows in our life is for a purpose.  It may be for something that is down the road.  One thing we know is that He is preparing us for heaven.

Luk 1:46  And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

Luk 1:47  And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Luk 1:48  For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

Luk 1:49  For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

Luk 1:50  And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

Luk 1:51  He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

Luk 1:52  He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

Luk 1:53  He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

Luk 1:54  He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

Luk 1:55  As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

Luk 1:56  And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

This is a beautiful song that Mary gave here.  Verse 48: all generations shall call be blessed.  Her intention and God’s intention was not for her to be exalted in a wrong way.

Back to Joseph:  What kind of person was he that God was able to use him?

Mat 1:18  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Mat 1:19  Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

Mat 1:20  But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Mat 1:21  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Mat 1:22  Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

Mat 1:23  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Mat 1:24  Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

Mat 1:25  And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

What kind of a man was this?  How would you explain to someone who he was?  We know that he was espoused to Mary.  This was binding like marriage.  You didn’t just break it.  It was a binding commitment. 

This angel came to him in his sleep and spoke to him.  He was just, honest, honorable, merciful, and kind.  He must have had doubts because the angel told him, “Fear not to take unto you Mary.”  He considered the situation.  He was not impulsive. 

He had respect to what God said was right and what God said was wrong.  There were consequences that God’s law had set in order to deal with what appeared to be wrong. 

Because he was compassionate, he didn’t want to handle it in a way that would be hurtful to Mary.  He realized that there were consequences and a result that needed to follow but wanted to do it with compassion.

They were chosen vessels.  Designed from the beginning. 

We all have choices.  Both of them were willing and obedient.  When he was told to marry Mary, he did it immediately and cheerfully.  It may have been a shame for him too, but he did it willingly.  He was willing to suffer the consequences on him too. 

He is a perfect example of a gallant and gentle man.  He had the height of valor.  He was continually listening for the voice of God.  When they warned him to flee to Egypt he was immediately on it. 

We don’t hear about Joseph later in Jesus’ mission, perhaps he had died, but he was a perfect example of a good father and obedience to God.

He was accustomed to knowing what the voice of God sounded like.  He was familiar with the voice of God.  We have all kinds of voices come to us, but he knew the voice of God.  He listened and obeyed.  When he knew what God wanted him to do he did it. 

I wouldn’t doubt that within the next few days they got married after the angel told him to.  You can imagine Joseph’s mind battle but he purposed to do what God told him was right.  He purposed in his heart to do what is right.

The consequences of being caught in adultery: in Egypt they cut off her nose, in Persia they cut off her nose and her ears.  Joseph knew this.  He didn’t want her to go before the magistrate.  In Judea the consequence was death by stoning. 

Joseph had great compassion.  He was merciful, and kind, and just in time God came through.  God always comes through.  Joseph’s heart was pierced by these thoughts.  The angel came just in time and told him to fear not to take Mary for his wife.  

Brother Gary Wednesday Evening 12/2/15

Brother Gary Wednesday Evening 12/2/15

Mat 13:51  Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

Mat 13:52  Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

We are blessed to have the Word of God and to know the value of studying.  “Have you understood all these things?”  This chapter, Matthew 13, is a lot to hear at one setting but they were doing their best to understand it. 

Jesus asked the multitude:

Mat 13:1  The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.

Mat 13:2  And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

“Do you understand what I have said?”  They said, “Yes.”

Then He said, “Every scribe…”  Some would say, “Every teacher, pastor, or minister...”  I believe He was saying, “Every servant that is instructed in the kingdom of heaven is as a householder that brings out of his treasure things that are new and things that are old.”

We have treasures that are from the Old Testament and some that are from the New Testament. 

Old Testament prayers: when we are dealing with someone and ask them if they are praying, it is vital that we help them to know that David prayed earnestly in Psalms 51 for Forgiveness.  It is vital that people truly repent.

We are burdened for and to whatever degree are working with individuals that need to repent.  I talked to a man in the rest-home and asked if he was praying.  He said, “I should be.”

In the New Testament it speaks of two men that went up to pray and the one was a Pharisee that told God how good he himself was.  That Pharisee even thanked God that he was not a sinner like the publican that was praying next to him.

What a sad and pitiful prayer.  He had very little understanding.  We know from the scripture that every man that compares himself with someone else is a very unwise man. 

The publican would not even lift his head but prayed, “Lord be merciful to me a sinner.”  Jesus said, “This man went down to his house justified.”

As full as Matthew 13 is, Jesus in his discourse said to the multitudes, “Do you understand what I said?”  After they said, “Yes Lord.”  He said, “ A scribe, a teacher, a minister, a grandparent, (or any one that is saved that is trying to reach someone) is as a householder that goes into his treasure and brings out some things that are new and somethings that are old.”

There are things in our life that we will never quit thanking God for.

Isa 65:18  But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

You and I remember how God witnessed to our heart that we were saved and had a changed life.  We were a new creature in Christ Jesus.

The New Testament wealth brings to mind:

Luk 10:19  Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Luk 10:20  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Jesus said, “Rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

It is wonderful to know what to rejoice about.  We have something to really rejoice in: Our name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

There was a day coming that Jerusalem would be a land of rejoicing.  There are times that we must choose to rejoice.  (Isaiah 65:18)

There is a reason why God spoke to Isaiah in chapter 35: “The parched land, the wilderness, and the solitary places…” We live in a lonely world. 

I am not just talking about those that are married and don’t have a happy relationship with their companion.  There are a lot of married couples that are a great distance apart.  Lonely men and lonely women with husbands or wives and families.  We would be a very lonely couple or individual if we did not have God in our lives. 

With God, we are never alone.

Time alone with God:  I would like to write on this.  I have it in my mind a bit.

To be without God is to be alone without the care of brothers and sisters in Christ. 

New Testament wealth:

Joh 14:23  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

I don’t know whether to tell you if this is a treasure that is new or a treasure that is old to me.  There is something about God meeting with us!  He comes at times when we so desperately need Divine intervention.  He strengthens us.

There is no release through people from anxiety.  I need to preach again the message about being overwhelmed.  We live in a world where people are full of anxiety.  It mars their life and their relationships. 

If you have trouble with anxiety, then there is someone waiting for you in the Garden.  There is a place to go.  My wife cannot prop me up.  If you have someone that is challenged with whatever, you are not the ‘propper upper’.  God has to come on the scene.

Jesus said, “If you love me keep my commandments.”

Abraham believed and it was counted to him for righteousness.

New Testament righteousness:

Rom 5:17  For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

It is wonderful that through Jesus Christ we can be righteous.

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.

Old Testament hunger:  David wrote, “As the hart pants after the water brooks… oh when can I appear before God?”

New Testament wealth:

Rev 22:17  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

It is ok to be thirsty but it is vital that you know where to come.

As I got up to have my devotions this morning an old song came back to me.  “The Beautiful Garden of Prayer.”

I hardly got started reading it and my soul was thrilled.

1.   There’s a garden where Jesus is waiting,
There’s a place that is wondrously fair;
For it glows with the light of His presence,
’Tis that beautiful garden of prayer.

o   Refrain:
Oh, the beautiful garden, the garden of prayer,
Oh, the beautiful garden of prayer;
There my Savior awaits, and He opens the gates
To the beautiful garden of prayer.

2.   There’s a garden where Jesus is waiting,
And I go with my burden and care
Just to learn from His lips words of comfort,
In the beautiful garden of prayer.

3.   There’s a garden where Jesus is waiting,
And He bids you to come meet Him there;
Just to bow, and receive a new blessing,
In the beautiful garden of prayer.

Eleanor A. Schroll

Brother Gary Sunday Morning 11/29/15

Brother Gary Sunday Morning 11/29/15

2Ch 1:7  In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.

God appeared to Solomon and asked a very serious question, “Go ahead and ask what I shall give thee.” 

This question was asked after Solomon had offered 1000 offerings at the tabernacle of the congregation.  The tabernacle of Moses was at Gibeon.  David had moved the ark to Jerusalem but Solomon went to the tabernacle of the congregation.  He had taken a large number with him and Solomon and the congregation offered 1000 offerings there.

This took place when Solomon was 16 years old.  Some of you are at the teenage years, others of us passed the teenage years many years ago. 

This was quite a question to ask a teenager.  Our age may have educated us to not think of teenagers as able to make a good choice.  There were many prayers that had gone up for Solomon for this exact season of life.

Solomon’s testimony: verse 1, God was with him. 

This eternal God has a design to be with teenagers, with children, with those that pass through the teenage years and from then to when we are summonsed into His presence.  We have the testimony as Solomon that God was with him.

God strengthened him as a teenager. 

There is a great need of strength and a great warfare turned lose against God’s people everywhere.  Wherever men and women love God and truth, the enemy is fighting in a strong and vehement way.  The battle is pronounced.

Solomon had a great task before him. 

We each have a great task before us.  We have a job.  We have a task of a wife or husband, a parent, a grandparent, we have a task of being the church of God.  May we realize that we have a God in heaven that is very interested in strengthening us. 

When we recognize the call of God and that there are souls weighed in the balance, we realize that we need God to give us strength.

God magnified Solomon. 

The word Magnified means that God increased him in every necessity for the responsibility that God had given him.  God knows how to make us able ministers of the New Testament.  We are ministers, servants, of the Most High God.  God knows how to make you a bigger person. 

Let us follow the steps of Solomon after he was anointed King.  He went to the tabernacle, took others with him, and offered 1000 sacrifices.

God dealt with Solomon after he worshiped.  “Ask what I shall give thee.” 

You are not wrong to have desires and requests.  You are not wrong to have thoughts in your mind.  There is a time when after we have worshipped, or while we are worshipping, that God appears to us, brings a solemnness to our soul and our spirit, and asks, “What would you like from me?” 

Solomon answered wisely, “Thou hast showed great mercy to my father.”  It was a request of David that Solomon follow him as king.  God said, “You will not be able to build but your son will.”

“Grant me wisdom and knowledge that I may go out and come in and judge this people.”

One of the greatest privileges that we are afforded is to know tabernacle worship.  One of the greatest privileges what you and I have is understanding the symbols of tabernacle worship.  The brazen altar represents Mt Calvary and the sacrifice that was given to buy our salvation. 

Salvation means more to me the longer that I live.  It is not a cliché to me.  It brings a great deliverance, a great change.  It totally changes our life and our eternal destination.  When I think of where sin would have taken me fast… I would have already been in torments in hell had I not gotten saved.  God has been wonderful. 

As Solomon was in the presence of God, he prayed for wisdom to know how to go in and to know how to come out. 

There are so many things to cloud our vision, to dust our life.  I studied on the thought of the laver, it thrilled my soul that there is no measurement to the laver.  To every other piece of furniture there is a measurement.  It was vital that the priests would wash any impurities that they had picked up from the point of sacrifice to coming into the Holy place from them.

There are many conveniences afforded to us here.  There is a crock pot cooking in many homes today.  When we get home there will be a meal ready for us.  I appreciate Sister Julie being able to call this morning, Kathy being able to call this morning, and Sister Dorothy being able to call last night.

There are a lot of things about living today that are scary.  We can receive spots on our garment that we must be washed of before we can enter into the holiest place. 

“Here I am.”  It was taught in Sunday school and was sung by the choir. 

There is a strong conviction on your and my soul, “God from the time I thank you that Jesus paid the supreme sacrifice that I can be saved; to enter in the Holy place, I come by the laver.  Of anything that my mind would bring, of anything that I have heard, I want to be washed.  There is nothing more valuable than appearing before God and having Him meet with us.

2Ch 1:8  And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead.

2Ch 1:9  Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.

2Ch 1:10  Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?

2Ch 1:11  And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:

2Ch 1:12  Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.

God spoke to Solomon.  You and I know that Solomon knew the value of appearing before God before he appeared before man.  He wanted wisdom to go out and come in and judge righteously.  

God granted this request and added riches, wealth, and honor.

I would like to look at the New Testament riches, wealth and honor.  This is a definite riches and has definite value to you and me and is given to every man:

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.

Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Rom 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

The word of God is designed that the little seed of faith that was given you by God would grow exceedingly.  One of the greatest battles that we face as a saint of God is the battle of faith.  The enemy doesn’t want you to believe God.  He doesn’t want you and me to believe that we will receive wisdom, wealth, and honor.

There are two things that I was well instructed of as a child by my mother, father, and Sunday school teachers.  I learned John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” My mother wanted me to know how rich I was. 

Our neighbor told us that had I been a privileged child and been given a pedal car, they are worth anywhere from 50,000 to 75,000 dollars today.  My mother gave me something more valuable than a pedal car.

God help us to realize how valuable true riches are.  My mother and father and the Sunday school teachers gave me Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created heaven and earth.”

I want to tell you teachers and parents; I want to preach to myself this morning:  The most valuable thing that we can give to our children is truth under the anointing of the Spirit of God.  It is unjust for children to be left untaught the plan of salvation.  (That is not the message I want to try to preach.)

We were given Romans 6:23: “The wages off sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The plan of God is not for you to be spiritually poverty stricken, it is not for our children and grandchildren to think too highly of anything that is tangible.  I am not here preaching against gifts or loving your children, but those things fade fast.

There are things that are such riches that I remember after I got saved of the unsearchable riches of Christ.

1Pe 2:2  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

I have never been good with journaling.  I regret that.  I remember getting saved and having a deep desire to serve God:  Colossians 3 “If you be risen with Christ, seek those things that are above and not the things of the earth.”  These are riches that will not pass, they will never cease to give a bountiful reward in our life.

Shun the very appearance of evil:  There are somethings that you never want to touch.  Once the door is opened then it swings more freely than it did before.

What is wealth?  It is accumulated riches that become treasures.  In our lifetimes there are things that you are given that to the world may not be significant, but because of where it came from it is a treasure to you. 

These riches have become treasures in your and my life. 

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.

Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Do you realize the treasure that this is and that it becomes a great wealth?  There are a million people that do not have that wealth this morning and yet are religious.  They have not grasped, been taught, or have not hungered and thirsted enough to go from that stagnate state of “I can do no better than sin more or less every day.” 

What a wealth to have our sin all taken away!

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

It is interesting how even children become weighted down.  Last year my daughters’ families decided it would not work for them to come for Christmas.  The little boys wanted me to know that they didn’t want me to feel bad because they would not be coming but would have Christmas at their house. 

Danny bought this car and told little Danny that there wouldn’t be much money for Christmas, little Danny decided he needed to get a job.  Little children take things on.  They take on more than they should.  We need to be careful what we tell them.

Lay aside every weight.  There are many things that will weigh you down.  Do we know how to lay aside every weight?  This is an old message but it is almost a new experience every day. 

“I am not going to be weighed down with that.  God is this what I should be doing?  Is this going to help me as a servant?  Is this going to help my brother, my sister?  Is this going to help my joy?”

Before I leave the house Monday morning, my mind will be busy with a lot of things.  I usually choose to not look at my computer in the morning.  I want to give my best to God.  I am sorry for the trouble that is in America; knowing about it is not going to cure it.  Praying about it will bring healing to me.

I am convicted to pray for the prayer requests that have come in Wednesday and Sunday.  There are somethings that are a pleasure to carry, your request for a soul, your request for a decision.  I will pray.  I have learned long enough to know that prayer really works. 

You say, “I am going to do things my own way.”  You go ahead and do it.  People can do things their own way.  I will not be hoping something goes wrong.  I want to tell you that it is a value to have the saints of God pray.

When I am in a battle of unbelief I tell God, “God you have never failed.”  You did not fail in 1965.  There are a few occasions that I have just brushed death.  Last year if that logging truck would have hit us Karen and I would be buried.  We serve a might God, He has a mighty hand.  He can move logging trucks, he can move Toyota pickups. 

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Heb 12:3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Saints love to sing about heaven.  Oh the glory that must have been there when the saints wrote those songs.  I would love to ask some of them of their testimony when they wrote the song, “Did you write this before or after you were hurt?”

I can’t help but think of what it will be like when I am usured into the presence of God.  Can you imagine being there and hearing the saints singing and hearing the music? 

Such wealth is ours:  “Jesus, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross.”  When I think of what He went through… I would not want to miss it.

He will give us honor.

Rev 2:17  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

If you think that no one but you has ever had a battle, then go back and read Revelations.  To every church age it is written, “To him that overcometh.”

I will give to eat of the hidden manna:  “Poor old so in so was saved but kept sinning al the time.”  What an abomination!  I will give you the hidden manna. 

You must overcome to get there.  You must face something.  You must feel the violent attack of the enemy.  Then you and I will have to get violent.  I will give to eat of the hidden manna.

Give him a white stone:  you talk about the honor of having that stone.  It came from the day when individuals took stones, cut them in half, inscribed their name in a very place that might not be known by anyone but the one that had it and the one that would receive it.  They would give it to someone and as they would travel, they could ride into or walk into a place and say, “I was told to stop here.”  They would look at the stone, recognize it, and say, “Yes, come in.”

God wants you to have that white stone.  He wants the name of the savior on that white stone.  For whatever you need, when you present the stone, every need will be supplied.

There are two parables in Luke 12 that I would like to bring out:

There was a man that was covetous.  “I have a plan.  I will pull down my barns, make bigger ones…”  It was said to him, “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee.”

The second parable was the man that heard of a treasure hid in a field.  He heard of salvation, of total surrender, and he sold all that he had and bought the field with the treasure in it. 

Solomon was asked a question and he answered it right.  God said, “Not only will I give you wisdom and knowledge, but I will give you riches, wealth, and honor.”

We are blessed to be this close to eternity and have so much available to us.  May we not be as the covetous man, but as the man that heard about the wealth of total surrender, of totally trusting God.  He heard of the wealth that David spoke of, “All my springs in thee.” 

The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

I think of hymns that have been written, “Why should I long for this world and its pleasures?” or “Is your all on the altar?”

There is no rest in anything other than total surrender to God.  Fanny wrote, “Oh the unsearchable riches of Christ!”

May God help me to answer right when He asks, “What do you desire?”

Sister Alice Sunday School 11/29/15

Sister Alice Sunday School 11/29/15

What made Joshua and Caleb different than the other ten? 

Moses changed Joshua’s name so that it had the first part of Jehovah on His name to give Him confidence and cause him to feel the special unction of leadership. 

Because Joshua had already been appointed Moses’ minister, he let Caleb be the front runner in taking the stand against the other ten.  He stood with Caleb.  Even though they were threatened with their lives from the others, they stood.

If we have a low spot in our character… I decided I wanted to be called ‘loved and faithful’.  Maybe it may be to reach out and not be timid.  I want to encourage every one of you to claim a name and live it.

Rev 3:1  And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

It does no good to ask someone to give us a label unless we are going to be strong in living it.

It must have been important for Joshua to get that first part of Jehovah in his name.  Our name must be important because the enemy is always trying to tear our name down. 

It is also important to ignore negative labels that are put on us.  And to let the strength of God show through.

Joshua and Caleb had an identity not only with the city of Hebron, but also with the rest of the land.  They were not only going to conquer, but possess and take the land back over. 

When the Israelites went through the red sea it was only a year before this.  How quickly we can lose our faith in God!  It is as the snowball effect.  You just loosen a little bit or even a rock and soon there will be a big snowball in the bottom of the canyon. 

We must hold fast and keep that identity.  My grandmother believed in God with al her heart.  Her most important thing was to teach us about God.  She wanted to teach us to read so that we could read the bible. 

Today as we look around we don’t see many grandmothers that want to serve God.  We can know that children will still have the identity with God because the plan of God is for us to serve Him. 

The gentleman that wrote Amazing Grace could not wait to get out from under his mother’s hand.  His mother prayed for him daily.  He became a slave trader.  Even way out there on the ocean, God got ahold of his heart. 

He had an identity with a praying mother.  Even those that do not and cannot find any in their family that have served God before, can have an identity with God.

Mar 14:36  And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

Abba, Father, has the connotation of tender affection.  We were not born into the Jewish family or first intended to be God’s people but because of Jesus we can be adopted in.

Rom 8:13  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

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

Rom 8:15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Rom 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

We have received the Spirit of adoption that bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.

Gal 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Gal 4:5  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Gal 4:6  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Gal 4:7  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

We are not servants but an heir and have a right to call God: Abba, Father.  We have a right to God and to our identity. 

Are we truly enjoying the kingdom of God?  Righteousness, peace, and joy? 

The enemy will try to move us off of any of them to try to get us to give up.  Gloomy Christians are letting the enemy move them off. 

Return to thy rest.  Don’t be afraid of the battle, get back to God and win.  We didn’t come to a dark shadow, but to Christ the victor of all.

Some battles will be long in our life.  45 years Caleb was in the wilderness.  Yet he did not lose his identity: “Give me that mountain.  I will have it.” 

The years pile up but we want to be found servants of victory.  We want to be found holding the promise.

Jas 1:2  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Jas 1:3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Jas 1:4  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

How important is it that our faith be tried?  As we work our way through it we know that Christ wants us to have the victory.  The trial is important so that we will have patience. 

Jesus told us about the gardener with the tree: “Chop it down.”  The gardener pleaded, “No, one more chance, let me dig around it one more time.”  It is important that we have patience.

I am convinced the battle is for us to see a weakness or for us to see a strength that will rise within us one more time.

We have a right to call Him “Abba, Father”.  We have an identity. 

Caleb and Joshua showed an absolute, total consecration.  None of us will make it without this.  They followed Him fully, kept close to His duty, and went through even though they were deserted and threatened. 

This consecration means: universally, a single mind, not divided.  Cheerfully without disputing. 

Jesus said, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” 

Encourage ourselves as David, “Didn’t God help us here? I know He will help us.”

It means: Constancy without declining.  Full consecration.  Another spirit. 

With sanctification we must have the Spirit of Christ or we will not make it.  Things that will dislodge us or shake us will come along if we do not have His Spirit.

In my study Josiah, Asa, David, and Paul were totally consecrated. 

Brother Bill - Joshua got a taste of what it was like to be in the presence of God.  Ex 33:9- he departed not from the tabernacle.  He had a taste of what it was like to commune with God and be in the presence of God and it was a help to him in wholly following God.

When Sister Marlene came back she said it was like she had forgotten everything that she had when she was here.  She was skinny: her mind, body, and emotions were not healthy.  There was a table spread for her of good things. 

How do we get people to taste of the reality, the preciousness, and wondrousness of serving God? How do we spoon feed them of just a little taste of the goodness?

Sister Brenda - There has to be a desire.  When the Kelly’s first came I remember how beautiful and lovely that sister Kelly looked to me.  She was simply and humbly dressed.  It was just the presence of God that was beautiful.  We can only present the things of God.  There must be something in them that wants to reach out.  Blessed are they that hunger and thirst. 

Sister Timberly - Sometimes we don’t know when we are giving them a taste.  Chambers says that we should focus less on the outpouring and more on God.  God is the one that does that work. 

The Word of God will not return to Him void.  I can hold onto that I have given the absolute Word of God.  They may not want me back, but with God’s help I am going to go back. 

Can I give someone a little something good and sweet on a regular basis so that they develop a desire, a taste and a wanting? 

I read a wonderful track of a lady minister that would call on miners a hundred years ago.  The miner was not interested in the scripture or whatever she was passing out.  She went many times. 

She happened to stop somewhere where there was a child.  The child asked to go or the lady asked the child to go.  When she knocked on the door of the miner that rejected her, when he saw the child he started to cry.  There was a child in his life that was lost through tragedy.  All the other times she went were not in vain.  They were preparing for that day.

Brother Gary - Karen and I had an experience that was even dryer than the one that you had as far as I’m concerned.  Sister Sharron asked if we could go to the home of one that had a child that was very sick.  The home was very cold and unaccepting.  The father continued doing whatever he was doing at the table.  The wife said, “You are here, go ahead.”

I explained that I was not the healer and if anything happened it would be because of Jesus and God.  I prayed the driest prayer that I had ever prayed; I searched for words.  When we went to the car we prayed again, “It is your Word; you can do whatever you want to do.” 

We are without any defense, we are just doing our best.  That very night Mrs Billings called and said, “I cannot believe it.  There has been a miracle.  The antibiotic caused a reaction and when we called, they told us that the doctor was not going to be there for three or four days so call back then.  The child was just thrashing from one side of the bed to the other.  Within 15 minutes of you praying, the child stopped thrashing.” 

She said, “I don’t care what anyone says, you can pray the prayer of faith.” 

I said all that to say, “We are just servants and just available.  However it turns out:  If we are scorned, we did our best.  If a miracle comes out, God did the work.”

Unless people taste and see, all they know of us is, “They are whoever and believe whatever.”  When they get hungry, sow beside all waters. 

Sister Toots - Live in the joy of the Lord.  Don’t be talking of your battles.  Everyone’s life is that way, be sharing the joy of the Lord. 

We must hold faith.  How long?  To our very last breath.  We must make it victorious over.

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Heb 12:3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Heb 12:28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

Heb 12:29  For our God is a consuming fire.

Brother Gary Wednesday Evening 11/25/15

Brother Gary Wednesday Evening 11/25/15

Psa 107:21  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Psa 107:22  And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

I was thinking in service tonight of how marvelous prayer is.  It can only come from the mind of God.  It is something that God ordained and is a wonderful, wonderful thing.

I thought of the beautiful songs and how they minister to us over and over again.  Since the Gospel Day how many services, how many messages, and how many individuals have been inspired by God?  “Oh that men would praise the Lord.”  Tonight it still rings in our soul.

Psa 107:1  O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

I think of God’s mercy, it is still enduring for all those that you are burdened for and for us that are burden bearers.  If it was not for the mercy of God, we would be blah all the time because of the weight of the burden and the physical and emotional challenges everywhere. 

Because of His mercy, He will never put on us more than we can bear and He will deal with those in the uttermost parts of the earth.

Psa 107:2  Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

It is wonderful to have a testimony that we have been redeemed from the hand of the enemy.  Isn’t it wonderful that God brought an end to the destroying influence of the enemy in our lives?

Psa 107:3  And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.

Psa 107:4  They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.

This not only references the wilderness that the Children of Israel wandered in, but also to the wilderness of sin that we all wandered in. 

A sojourner is as an individual that is traveling and just spending one night in a mansion that is not theirs.  We are just sojourners.  It is wonderful that we have a bed to sleep in. 

I am glad that I am not wandering in the wilderness anymore.

Psa 107:5  Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

Sister Alice brought that the children of Israel got in such a sad state in their unbelief that they appointed a captain to take them back to Egypt.  They became hopeless.

Psa 107:6  Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.

Psa 107:7  And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

It is wonderful that in the decision making process we have the privilege of going into the holiest of holies and communing with God.  Sister Sue told us that in order to be a composer you must be able to be still and quiet.  That spoke to me.  I go through my day with my mind racing.

He leads us:  there is a secret to being led by the right way.  We have the teaching of tabernacle worship and it is right.  The scripture doesn’t show that there is any size on the laver.  God has a wonderful plan on washing us and He keeps washing us. 

God has a marvelous way of teaching us.  He doesn’t beat you up but He teaches and He can scourge.  He says, “I want you to go over to the laver; I want you to wash and wash. There are a few things in life where if you wash you will be more beautiful.” 

Isn’t it wonderful that He has a way of leading us into the right way?  As we go to the Golden Altar we present ourselves a living sacrifice Holy and acceptable which is a reasonable service.

He says, “Come on in to the Holiest of Holies.  I want to commune with you.”

He says, “Behold I stand at the door and knock.”  I was waiting for a knock this last week.  I wanted someone to come and get saved.  Jesus said, “I stand at the door and knock.  If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to Him.  I will sup with Him.” 

I felt like a boy this week worshipping.  I felt like the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost were saying, “Son what is on your heart and your mind?  What do you want me to sup with you on?  What have you been eating drinking on?  What are your plans and your burdens?  You can tell me anything.  I will sup with you and I will help you to see things through another’s eyes.”

It is so wonderful to see things through His eyes.  You all know the scripture where He anointed the eyes.  I thought of the wonderful experiences that I have had, the riches of grace, the riches of experience, and I had a wonderful time telling Him of them. 

He said, “Have you told me everything?  I want you to sup with me for a while.”  In order for you and me to sup with Him, we must experience blessed quietness. 

The Psalmist wrote, “Be still and know that I am God.”  Quit working for your mind to try to figure out things.  Bring your mind to the place where you tell your hand, “Quit trying to set the stage the way that you want it to be.” 

He never puts more on us than we can bear.  He always takes more from us: our caress, our burdens, our sorrows.

He will lead you in the right way.  The ways of the Lord are right.  God’s way is always right.  If you are making a decision, if you have made a decision, if you made it God’s way then God’s ways are always right.

Hos 14:2  Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.

When we meet God God’s way He always receives us graciously.  “So will we render the calves of our lips.”

Psa 107:7  And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

I can almost hear Sister Gerhardt singing, “Oh I will not be a stranger when I get to that city.”  It is wonderful to be headed to a city of wonderful habitations. 

Psa 107:8  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Psa 107:9  For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

“All this world, its wealth and honor, cannot sate the human breast; But when filled with God our Father every want is fully blest. All my soul can wish forever, I now find in Christ replete; Every blessing and the Giver in my peaceful bosom meet. My soul is satisfied. My soul is satisfied! I am complete in Jesus’ love, and my soul is satisfied.” DS Warner

There would be a longing in your soul to see someone saved.  There would be a longing in your soul for another brother and another sister.  I understand the longing to see someone saved.  There is a longing to see a child saved, to see a friend saved.  He satisfies the longing soul.

Psa 107:10  Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;

Psa 107:11  Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:

There is no greater bondage than rebelling against God’s Word.  It offers freedom.  When it is rebelled against then there remains bondage that can be broken only by a miracle.

Psa 107:12  Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.

Psa 107:13  Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.

Psa 107:14  He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.

Psa 107:15  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Have a wonderful thanksgiving.  As Americans, we can thank God for those that had the courage to cross the ocean and find this land. 

As Saints of God, we can be thankful for the wonderful experience that Jesus made available for us. 

Heb 13:15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!