Brother Gary Wednesday Evening 10/28/15

Brother Gary Wednesday Evening 10/28/15

Php 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

With all the praise we had tonight, we have a lot to think on! 

This Word of God is forever settled in heaven.  I saw the name of a song, “The Golden Key of Prayer.”  I want to talk to you about the golden keys.  For every need that we have, the Word of God has the answer. 

Mat 16:13  When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

Mat 16:14  And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

Mat 16:15  He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

Mat 16:16  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Mat 16:17  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Mat 16:19  And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Mat 16:20  Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

It is wonderful to meet with God, to be lost in wonder in studying the Word of God, and to rejoice in the good things of God.

Jesus said to Peter, “Whom do men say that I am?”  As I looked at this scripture, it took a stronger role of conviction in my life than it has before.  It is unfortunate but true that there are millions today that don’t know who Jesus is.

God helped Peter answer this so that you and I would have this key to be able to discern when you run across a spirit that denies that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God and the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

Many cults today say that Jesus is a good man, a good teacher, or one of the prophets.  Without Jesus Christ there is no salvation.  Without Jesus Christ there is no heaven.

Whom say ye that I am?  There are a lot of evasive answers.  When you ask a question sometimes you get an answer and realize that you don’t know any more than you knew before. 

Thou art the Christ.  There is only one Lord, Jesus Christ.  He is the Christ: He is the anointed one. 

You have the ability to receive information from a lot of sources.  You can look stuff up in various books and on the internet.  There are a lot of avenues of receiving information.  When it comes to spiritual things it is vital that we receive our information from God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit of God.

Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God:  Jesus Christ is alive and well.  He is seated at the right hand of the Father.  The Gospel Day has not been a failure.  Jesus is not a failure, the Word of God is not a failure, and faith in God is not a failure.

The eternal God, the Father that gave His only begotten son… We are so blessed to have the opportunity and privilege of having Jesus Christ revealed to us.  It is not just head knowledge; it is a marvelous experience.

1Jn 1:1  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

1Jn 1:2  (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

It is marvelous that we know who Jesus is.  He came from heaven and gave us instruction of how to get to heaven.

Whom do men say that I am?  Whom do you say that I am today?  He is the Savior.  Isn’t it wonderful that we are not of this world? 

I was thinking sometime today that there was a nature to sin within me that I was born with that led me to the broad road of sin.  That is where the nature to sin leads men and women.  They don’t have to stay there but the Bible tells us that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

This Jesus, the Son of the living God, came to rescue each individual: child, young person, adult, or the one that feels, “I am really old.”

He will rescue a child from the broad road of sin.  Isn’t that marvelous?  May God bless every Sunday school teacher, every Bible Story worker, and every saint of God.  May God help us to know how to let the children know that we love them. 

As you have opportunity and the door opens with a sinner… for sure you want to tell the saints that you love them.  We are to salute one another.  We want to obey the scripture and take the keys.  When you tell the sinner that you love them, they look at you as if, “Could you love me?”

One lady told me, “Every time we go by your house my daughter says, “There is where that man lives that helped me to make stick men out of sticks and marshmallows.””  Children need loved.  I don’t know how many children there are in the schools in our communities but I wonder how many know they are loved.

He is savior, He is sanctifier, and He is King of kings.  Isn’t it wonderful that you and I can know this King?  We can crown Him again. 

Every day He gives us more victories.  I needed victories today, I needed help from God today.  After going through a hard time we can say, “You kept us from sin again.  You kept us from a bad attitude, you kept us from letting our mind go where it shouldn’t.”

Jesus is an intercessor:  you saints are fasting, praying, and interceding for souls.  There is a part that only the saint can do, but Jesus is an intercessor.  Those that discredit Jesus do so to their own destruction. 

Don’t you love it when Jesus teaches you something?  We thank God for what we know but every time He reveals a little more it makes us more hungry than ever before.

Whom do you and I say that Jesus is?  He is the head of the church and it is from Him that the keys of the kingdom come.  He is the captain of the Army of the Lord.

Remember when there was a great army come up against the Children of Israel and Jehoshaphat?  About the first thing that Jehoshaphat did was go to the temple and pray, “Isn’t there a God in heaven?”  Let me tell you, there is a God in heaven.

Your situation may be very pronounced.  Your battle is as real as my battle.  There is not anyone that is saved, sanctified, and rejoicing in serving God that the enemy doesn’t come to battle with everything that he possibly can.

“Isn’t there a God in heaven?  God, didn’t you defeat the enemy before?”  Have you ever been disgusted with yourself for worrying with what might happen?  How many times has God failed?  Why do we think, in almost the last chapter, He will not be God?  He is going to be God!

Proverbs 8 is a marvelous chapter!  This Jesus Christ is He who delights in the children of men.  Jesus wants to help you to be happy with who God wants to make you to be.  If you don’t feel good when you don’t do right then that is not self-esteem issues that is you need to do right.  If you do right then God wants you to be happy.

Jesus is the fulfillment of Isaiah 42: a smoking flax He will not quench.  You may feel, “I want to be a flame for God but right now I am smoldering.  Jesus will come and fan the desire.  He will not quench you.  That hunger for Him and to see someone saved!

Peter, knocked at the door and Rhoda came to the door and heard Peter’s voice then ran back in instead of unlocking the gate.

A few years down the road Peter wrote of a young man that was there whose name was Marcus.  God delights in helping souls.  He wants you to receive His help so that in turn you can help others.

Peter said, “Marcus, my son…”  He loved him.  We don’t believe in stealing another’s children.  But how we would love for any young man or lady to be our son or daughter spiritually.

A smoking flax He will not quench.  A bruised reed He will not break.  If life has been tough on you, then let me help you a bruised reed, a life that has suffered knocks from bad choices, bad friends, bad this and bad that…  Jesus said, “I will heal the broken hearted.”

Who do people say that Jesus is?  He is the King of kings, the Lord of lords. 

Jesus responded to Peter, “Peter you are blessed; flesh and blood didn’t reveal this to you.  My Father which is heaven revealed His Son to thee.”

It is marvelous how when God comes on the scene and begin to show us how great and powerful the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost is then everything takes on a different setting.

“I am going to build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  I will give thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” The keys are the bible.  Whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. 

Don’t you love it when you have been praying and asking God to take care of something and God says, “They are taken care of; heaven has bound it?”  Don’t you love it when you are pleading for souls, for God to visit and to send an angel, God says, “They are dispatched; it is taken care of.  It is up to them now whether they will accept or turn them away?”

Without faith it is impossible to please Him… diligently seek Him.

Brother Gary Sunday Evening 10/25/15

Brother Gary Sunday Evening 10/25/15

Eph 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

All of us have experienced facing something that we felt was very strong: a mind battle, an accusation, being overcharged with cares, pleasures, or lusts of other things entering in.  That is a part of life and God brings us to the place where we feel the need of His help for us to be strong in the Lord.

Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

The church in its early ages still had the need for Paul to write and tell them to put on the whole armor of God that they could stand against the wiles of the devil. 

The devil doesn’t show up and say, “I am here; take note for I am going to try a few tricks on you.”  That is not how he works.  If he did then it wouldn’t be a trick.

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

We are not battling people.  We need the whole armor of God because we are warring against principalities. 

There is a definite principal that if you are told something long enough then you begin to believe it.  If a seed of a thought is just dropped into your mind, or if an attitude begins to work, as it gathers more and more then soon it becomes a principality.  What started not that big can get really big in our mind. 

Our mind has the ability to affect our whole body.  I was doing something yesterday and Karen asked me a question.  I was thinking of something else and didn’t really hear her.  I had to ask her to run that by me again.  It is the same for us spiritually, our mind can be somewhere else. 

We can have our mind overwhelmed and we can actually have our mind build a case when there is nothing to build it on.

We wrestle not against people but against principalities and powers.  There is a real strong power of darkness.  We have all felt a power of darkness sweep over our soul.  We wondered, “Where is this thing coming from?” 

There are times that when there are people in authority and we ae not on their list of favorites.  We feel the disdain of the world.  When people have been talking to me and Karen shows up and I introduce them to her then they size us up and think, “What is going on with these people?”  As terrible as the world looks, there must be people that like it.

There will be times when, there was this lady that ran up to my wife in Santa Rosa, “If you don’t mind, how do you fix your hair?”  She had broken English.  They were from France.  We live in a world of wonder; people get on an airplane and rent a car.  You see their car and think they are from Texas.  There are those that have an appreciation for modesty. 

When a thought comes to our mind, don’t let it even get started to overwhelm you.  We are too near the end of the journey to worry what people think.  It is what the Word of God says.

Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Know how to stand.  Don’t try to avoid it.  Know how to stand sweet, in the grace of God, because that is what the Bible teaches.

Eph 6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

Know the truth and know what the Bible teaches.  Don’t hold the truth in unrighteousness.  Be right with God and right with man.

Eph 6:15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

The desire of Christ is that wherever we go, men and women be at peace with God.  That comes through Bible forgiveness and us forgiving those that have trespassed against us.  We can have peace with our past through confessing and repenting and having a new life.

Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

We must have the shield of faith.  The enemy targets our faith with issues.  We lift the shield of faith and quench the fiery darts.  You can hear the arrows flying but when they are quenched, we can thank God that they didn’t go any further.

Live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit and ask God for discernment.  When you hear that certain sound of a fiery dart coming, don’t let it knock you down, but lift up the shield of faith.

Eph 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

This covers the vital part of us.  Head injuries are very serious.  Being attacked by the enemy in our mind is very serious.  This protection that God has enabled you and me to have is termed the helmet of salvation.  Salvation in the Old Testament meant several things and health was added by Christ in the New Testament.

Salvation means deliverance.  Thank God for the old life that was canceled by Christ.  However long you have been saved you can thank God for whatever you missed. 

It is not only from what was in the past but it means up to date deliverance.  There are many things that will war on your mind.  The answer is the helmet of salvation.  I am going to take that deliverance.  We have such help with the Word and Spirit of God. 

Php 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

When Karen was working on filling up our cellar, she would get out these canning books.  It was not enough to stuff the stuff in a jar and take it to the cellar.  It was important to know what had worked before.  It is important to her to follow the recipe.  It is the same spiritually.  Put on the helmet of salvation and know what to think about. 

To start our thinking on things that are true, think of God.  He is light.  He is the same yesterday today and forevermore.  The battle will soon be over. 

God has taken care of all of us.  Have we any reason to doubt that He will take care of us clear to the end?  God took care of my mother when she became a widow way too young.  The world would say that she was way too poor.  God did not fail her. 

My mother died February 1979 on a Wednesday night.  I was home sick, and Karen, Kayla, and Kathy came to prayer meeting.  In my sick condition, God told me to get up and go to mom’s.  She asked about Karen and the children and then she said, “Bless the Lord oh my soul; bless His holy name.”  A quiver came over her body and she died.

She had lived in a house that was heated with an oil furnace.  We left the house after my sister and the mortician came.  We came back the next day and the house was cold.  The furnace stopped and never ran again.  You can trust God. 

Think on that which is true.  God has not failed and will not fail.

Think on the things that are honest.  On the things that are just.  The justice that I have received in being forgiven of my sin.  The justice that the nature that we inherited from Adam can be cleansed and purged by the Blood of Christ is beyond description.

Think on the things that are pure, there are still things that are pure to think on.  There is still virtue and valor.

Think on things that are lovely.  It is wonderful that there are still lovely things to think on.  If there be any virtue or valor, if there be any praise...  We have so much to thank God for.  When you feel overwhelmed by stresses, it is amazing what praising can do.

Deliverance, help, safety: think of what God has protected us from.  I think of impostors.  There are men that I have personally known that looked for simple, ignorant people that they can take advantage of.  They have come to me for that is the way that I am.  Never once has God failed me. 

I remember a night that a man came to our house probably to rob us.  Before he got there, God made a way of escape for Karen and me.  God has been wonderful.

Unfortunately but true, the times have led us to where those that we once had contact with, we walked together, we were friends, we went to the house of God together, then the sad occasion of them turning.

Victory.  We can have victory tonight.  Health.  We can have a healthy mind, God can give health in our body.  We can have a healthy outlook.

Take the sword of the Spirit:  Have it sharpened.  Don’t be afraid to take it out.  When the enemy comes with whatever it might be, shred it up.

Eph 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Don’t just go through a form of prayer but pray and the Holy Spirit will come down.

Pray for me.

Eph 6:19  And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

Eph 6:20  For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Paul knew the value of the Body of Christ praying.  Know the value of your brother and sister’s prayers.

I feel as Paul, “Pray for me.”

Brother Gary Sunday Morning 10/25/15

Brother Gary Sunday Morning 10/25/15

The lesson this morning is on mind battles.  David had his mind overwhelmed and consumed by his battle:

Psa 55:1  To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.

Psa 55:2  Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;

Psa 55:3  Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.

Psa 55:4  My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

Psa 55:5  Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.

In David’s own words: “Oh God, please hear my prayer.  Come close and attend to me.  I am going to tell you everything.”  It is not wrong to tell God all the things that are painful to you.  You open your heart and pray. 

In that thought, one thing I have learned in trying to help people: I say, “Tell me the very worst that you feel you are facing.  Let’s start there.”  Often when individuals can put something out on the table, “This is what is going on and what is troubling me.” 

It is not my personality to try to find out who trespassed whom.  If someone had been trespassed as David was, he wanted to tell God all about it.  David said, “I have reached that place where I would like to run away.”  You will reach that place in your life sometimes. 

Psa 55:6  And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.

Psa 55:7  Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.

Psa 55:8  I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.

Psa 55:9  Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

Psa 55:10  Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.

Psa 55:11  Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.

Psa 55:12  For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:

Psa 55:13  But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.

Psa 55:14  We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

When this condition happened, David found himself overwhelmed.  This went over and over again in his mind.  In our journey, in our adventure, in the road that God has called us to travel, there will be very big surprises. 

There will be times in life when those that we thought would be our friend in life and through eternity yield unto something and there is a turning.  Even to the extent where in David’s case they became his enemy and they had evil to say and reproaches to make.  This overwhelmed David.

Psa 61:1  To the chief Musician upon Neginah, A Psalm of David. Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

Psa 61:2  From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Every one of us reaches the place in life where we feel as David felt, “I am at the end of the earth.” 

I have a heavy burden this morning.  When we have a heavy burden, the thought is, “Dear God help me to know what to do and to know how to do it.  Help me to act and move in humility at the right time and in the right place.”

The preparation of the heart is of the Lord.  We know a God that knows how to prepare hearts.  Not only the heart of the burdened, but also the heart of the one that is needy before God.

“When my heart is overwhelmed:” There are definitely times when our mind is overwhelmed.  It is churning around.  It is not wrong for your mind to be active, we just have to get it active in the right way.  We need to know what to do with what is going on in our mind.

“My heart is overwhelmed:” there are times when our heart is overwhelmed.  There have been in this audience times when we have been overwhelmed with grief.  There are times when Karen and I have been overwhelmed with a decision to make, “What should we do?”

There have been times when we are overwhelmed with a condition that we cannot touch.  We are in a time like that now.  We cannot touch it but we can feel it in our heart.  There are individuals that we love.  You will be that way.

There will be times when there are those you love and care for and you realize that decisions are being made that will not just affect one soul or two souls; they will have an effect on many souls. 

There are children today that will not be given a bible in the public school system.  When you think of little children not even having a bible from grade school! 

You meet young people, I talked to a young man in Sheridan Wyoming and I could not get a definite answer from him if he had a bible.  I said, “I want to give you some scriptures.”  I told him, “It is vital that you live so that you are ready to have wife like Proverbs 31:10-31”

We live in a society where it is shocking how many people have bibles or the percentage that read the bible.  Among evangelists in America, few have devotions.  They claim to love God and believe in repentance and turning away from sin.  Sometimes conditions overwhelm us.  That happened to David.

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

This psalm was written about a group of people in captivity:

Psa 77:1  To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph. I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.

Psa 77:2  In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.

Psa 77:3  I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.

There are times when we realize where we are.  We remember God.  He is a just God, a righteous God, and a God that gave His only begotten son because He loved the world.

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

This Psalm was written concerning those in captivity, “I remembered God.”  We know and it is devastating to think of precious souls that are destroying their lives.  People go into sin and then go deeper, and deeper into sin. 

Among the most wonderful memories that I have personally is being convicted of my sins in grade school.  I remember a girl that was older than me getting under conviction and going to the altar and getting saved.  I stopped her and asked her how old she was when she first got saved. 

I wanted to know if I was old enough to get saved.  The thought that I like is that I was convicted of my sin and realized that I needed a savior.

“Along a dark and gloomy path I groped beneath the shades of death… ‘Til Light from the Savior came.”

Souls in sin are in such darkness.  They are in such captivity.  You and I are listening to a teaching upon the thought of the battle for the mind.  When you think of people whose minds have been taken captive by Satan!  How many do you think are thinking, “This is the good life living in sin?” 

How many are thinking as Sister Marlene used to sing that song, “A moment of pleasure for a lifetime of sorrow?” 

I am thoroughly convinced that sin doesn’t make people happy.  I am thoroughly convinced that all the pleasures of the world, materialism or anything that involves sin to try to make it a little better does not make people happy.  Yet in their minds they are captives.

I have been listening to the song, “The Love of God.”  There has been a hungering in my heart to have God closer.  I found in one of Brother Chancellor’s book a song that was written by Elsie Eigermier.  Brother Chancellor used to visit her in the Golden Rule rest home. 

I wish we had that opportunity.  We would make a trip to Shawnee OK and say, “We just want to sit down as little children and have you tell us how God moved on your heart to write that bible story book.  Someday we will cross that river.  I don’t know how much time we will spend talking there of songs or books that were written. 

There was a season where I wanted to go to sleep and take my nap thinking of the good things of God.  “Oh Love of God!” 

David told us about being overwhelmed.  Asaph wrote a Psalm of remembering God in difficult times.  He said, “My spirit was overwhelmed.”  Our minds can be overwhelmed.  I have found when I am tired that my mind becomes my enemy instead of my friend. 

When my mind is overwhelmed with, “How are you going to get this done?”  The best way to prepare for the future is by faith in God. 

When my heart is overwhelmed: we are creatures of emotion.  There are times when our heart is broken.  You might say, “I have learned that there is a depth to disappointment that I never knew could be there.”  I believe you.

You might say, “I never knew that my heart could hurt so bad.”  You have heard of individuals that died of a broken heart.  It happens.

My spirit:  we have a spirit.  God doesn’t want us to allow our spirit to be overwhelmed by grief, by heartache and by sorrow.

Mat 22:36  Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

Mat 22:37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

We are so blessed to know this bible truth this morning.  Love is a verb.  It requires action.  Jesus helped us to understand that.

2Ti 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

The battle for the mind by the oppressing spirits of the enemy, by the eighth beast, by Satan being loosed out of his prison, brings a fear that wants to consume us.  I am not here telling you that this happens to all those in this audience, but fear can cause the heart to race, “What is going to happen?”

We know that people become homeless, the next thought is, “Will Karen and I be homeless?”  I know that you saints would have the attitude, “If something would happen to yours, we will share ours.”

The fear of, “What is going to happen to those we love?”  If they keep going the way they are going where will they end up?  There is no way for you to not say, “I really have a fear.”  That is good as long as you keep it a godly fear.

For that fear that has torment: “God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, of love and of a sound mind.”

I am not meaning mind over matter, I don’t believe that message, but the spirit of power in our mind that we have control of our mind.  “First I am going to seek God.” 

“My mind is running away from me and it is affecting me so that even my heart is running away from me.”  Stop right there.  He has given us the spirit of power.  Begin quoting scripture and praying.  We have to pray. 

The spirit of power!  The spirit of love!  How strong is love?  Many waters cannot quench love.  If we would ask you to testify tonight if it was love that helped you to get saved, how many would say “Yes”?

How many have said, “I never knew much until I knew of the love of God?” 

Sister Wingate and her husband Allen were professional entertainers.  They made their money by strumming a guitar on stage.  One day Sister Wingate went to the beach.  She was not dressed modest.  While she was there, they lost a baby, it threw up and the vomit choked the baby and it died.  A broken hearted mother!  

During that season of grief, she said, “I wonder why no one invites us to church.”  God was turning things around in her mind.  Babylon and the world has a lot of thoughts on what happens to a baby when they die.  The bible teaches that a baby goes to heaven when they die. 

One day a man that had known Allen Wingate called and said, “I have been thinking of you.”  They began to talk a bit and one day the brother and sister heard the wonderful message that God forgives all sin.  They had been nightclub entertainers; they had wasted their life.  God saved them.

God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love.  I don’t know who you are burdened for this morning, but I hope you take good care of your soul so that you can really love.  Unless we love God as we ought, we cannot love our wife or husband, or our children as we ought to.

Make sure that they know that you love them.  If you have a living brother or sister, “God help me to love God so that I can love him or her as I ought to.” 

I cannot leave my grandchildren a college education; I can leave them that I loved God and loved them.  We cannot leave our children a big inheritance; oh that they know that we loved God and loved them and loved the lost and our brothers and sisters in Christ!

Love is creative.  Have you ever noticed how creative love is?  Being consumed is not creative.  Consumed with cares!  You reach a certain age and you either get consumed with health or health consumes you.  Love God. 

Of power, of love, and of a sound mind:  when we are overwhelmed, we don’t have a sound mind.  It doesn’t matter what you get overwhelmed with, you will not have a sound mind.  Suppose you get out of church and have a flat tire.  Then if your mind is consumed with that, you will not be thinking about anything else.

God has not designed for you to be consumed and overwhelmed.  “I really don’t think it is right what Brother so in so did.”  Don’t get consumed by it; march on.  Get ahold of God, begin to pray, and begin to seek God. 

Jesus so kindly says, “Love God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.”  

Brother Gary Wednesday Evening 10/21/15

Brother Gary Wednesday Evening 10/21/15

Psa 116:1  I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.

We have much to love God for.  We have been taught and retaught that faith, hope, and charity abides; but charity goes on and on.

Psa 116:2  Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.

As long as we are in this earthen vessel, we will face challenges and battles in this life.  If you have been saved even a little while, you have proved that God hears and answers prayer.  The record shows that we have every reason to trust God. 

He has answered us individually time and time again.  He has answered for us as a congregation time and again.  God has been very faithful.  God did not fail.  We have every reason to believe God.

Psa 116:3  The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.

There are dark seasons, seasons where there is no assurance, and travailing darkness seems to come over your soul.

Psa 116:4  Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.

Psa 116:5  Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.

May God help every one of us to let God be gracious to us.  May He help us to receive His benefits.  He is gracious and righteous and merciful.

Psa 116:6  The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.

God help us to be open and trust God, “I am going to trust Him.  He has bene faithful.  He has brought us through.”

We can find our mind working against us spiritually.  Producing worries upon worries.  I don’t get the mail every day anymore.  Can you get the mail without there being something in there that will cause worry?

Psa 116:7  Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.

There are times when we feel the uncertainty of a soul’s condition.  There are times when we look at a prodigal or an individual that has never been saved.  Perhaps you are thinking of an unsaved husband or wife.  It will bring such agony to the soul.

It is not wrong to agonize and pray or stand in the gap, but you can only stay there so long.  God wants our soul to come back to that point of rest.  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

The Lord has dealt bountifully with thee.  We have every reason to believe God.  When we think of what God has done; how He has not failed! 

We may feel as Paul that we are pressed out of measure, pressed to the last limit.  “God I don’t know if I can take any more.”  And God comes through again.

Psa 116:8  For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.

This earthen vessel is just the carrier of that soul.  The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life.  Sin is so terrible it leaves people with no direction in their life and empty.

Psa 116:9  I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

It is wonderful to have that hope for tomorrow. 

Psa 116:10  I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:

Psa 116:11  I said in my haste, All men are liars.

There are times that you wonder, “Does anyone care?”  Yes, Jesus cares.  There are times that you wonder if you are all alone.  He says, “No, I am with you still.”

Psa 116:12  What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?

Brother Maconahae so well preached that God loads us daily with benefits. But it is vital that we are not loaded down with something else so that we miss the benefits. 

We cannot begin to number the benefits tonight.

Psa 116:13  I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.

The benefits of salvation.  There is deliverance!  Isn’t that wonderful?  We have no thought of elevating any particular location, but isn’t it a marvel that God set things in order so that you and I heard about Bible Salvation here in Paradise?

Salvation means deliverance.  The greatest deliverance is deliverance from sin.  That is just one aspect of it.  It is a great aspect.  We live in a world where people are so bound by sin. 

We stayed in a place where from nine to twelve the noise just increased and increased.  Not far from where we were there was a restaurant and a bar.  It is interesting that as literal darkness comes so sin goes out. 

I remember the first time that we were in Santa Fe.  We went out in the evening and I told Karen that “We will never do this again, this is too scary.”  Her aunt took us to the same place while we were there.  Isn’t wonderful that I don’t need to party or creep about in the middle of the night to have life? 

It is wonderful to be delivered from going out to try to find something to satisfy.

We are delivered from all our fears.  We are delivered from our hang-ups.  There are things that we acquired from our parents or the circumstances that we were raised in.  Isn’t it wonderful that there is healing and there is a deliverance?

Salvation means help.  Isn’t it wonderful that we have a God that is ready to help us?  He is as a friend that sticks closer than a brother.  God is a present help over and over again.

Salvation means safety.  We live in a world full of imposters; they are people that want to take advantage of someone else.  That is our world today. 

In salvation you have a protection.  When God speaks and warns you, you don’t need to make a big show of it but realize, “God has spoken and I need to be careful.”

Salvation is a wonderful thing.  “Salvation is the sweetest thing.”

Salvation means victory.  I am so thankful that God has given to every one of us a measure of faith so that we can have victory.  You can have victory today.  You may say, “You don’t know what has gone on or what I am facing.”  That is true, but I know that by faith you and I can have the victory.

I will take this cup that He has filled up.  Think with me of the wonderful deliverance and help that God has given you.  How many times has He helped us?  It is only His help that my wife, my children and I are not buried in a cemetery somewhere.  We were out of control for however long after my mom died and we avoided three head on collisions.  God has been wonderful.

The last meaning of salvation is health.  I would say that people are really struggling with health issues today.  Part of it is our times, our days, our lifestyle.  The greatest health that God gives us is a sound mind.  He will give us a healthy mind.  That is one of the greatest benefits.

Our mind is targeted by the devil, the chief imposter.  He has way too many helpers.

To think that we can have health in our mind, in our soul!  I am glad that the battle with the bad attitude is over.  I may battle it again, but I am going to win.  If the battle of bitterness ever comes back, I am going to win.  There is too much to gain to lose.

I will take the cup of salvation.  I will call upon the Lord.

Dear God you have been so good.  The things that really count… We thank God for our home, and for pillows without feathers.  That is a big thing when you are allergic to them.  But the greatest appreciation is for salvation.  We bring it back and say, “All of this is because of you God.”

Salvation is not just for a lifetime.  One of these days our feet will touch eternity’s shores.  For all the drab thoughts that came knocking on your mind this week.  Think of that hope of home at last.  Think of that hope of those loved ones.

“I am going to go away and prepare a place for you.”  Sister Beth is not thinking, “I don’t have that little house on the end of central anymore.” She says, “I have a mansion.” 

Psa 116:14  I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.

Church, I am going to take the cup of salvation.  I am going to call upon the Lord, I will pay my vows unto the Lord in the presence of His people. 

Psa 116:15  Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

Psa 116:16  O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.

Psa 116:17  I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.

Psa 116:18  I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people,

Psa 116:19  In the courts of the LORD'S house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.

One of these days He will say, “You have had enough.  Come on home.”

Sister Laurel Sunday Morning 10/18/15

Sister Laurel Sunday Morning 10/18/15

The lesson this morning is “Trapped, snared, snagged, and hogtied.”  We had problems with ground squirrels this spring.  Kent got a bunch of traps and our boys became trappers.  They really trapped a lot of them, 30 or 40. 

The devil’s intent is to trap and snare everyone. 

There are different ways to be hogtied.  They put both sets of the pig’s feet together and they cannot move.  When they hogtie prisoners, they are on their belly and they put an iron around their neck and tie their feet to the iron.  It can kill them because they get tired and can no longer hold themselves up so they strangle.

I thought of the people in sin, they are caught in traps that cannot be seen.  A liar has a trap on their tongue.  Picture them with their tongue stuck in a trap.  A liar will tell a lie when there is no cause for it.  A person when caught in that may never be freed. 

A guy with a fishhook in their eye.  They are trapped with bad internet, bad pictures… 

A cow or pig with a ring in their nose, it is a tender part of their body.  If they are led by the nose, a big old bull will not do anything against it.  They can be led by their nose.

A troublemaker always stirs people up. 

When God says He hates something and it is an abomination, we don’t want to take it lightly.  We don’t want to be caught in a trap like that.

Pro 6:16  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

Pro 6:17  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Pro 6:18  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

Pro 6:19  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Some of those things you may think aren’t so bad, but they can cause a world of hurt.  When it happens against us it is a horrible wound. 

I hate the thought of someone here today that is sitting in the pew and yet has their soul snared in a snare or trapped in a trap.  You can be free from sin.

The majority of denominations out there do not teach that blessed truth that we can be free from sin.  

There are people so snared that they are stuck and cannot even wiggle.  We want to see every soul that is bound, freed.  You children and young people: we want you to recognize the trap and the snare so that you don’t get caught in it. 

We need to not go through life lazily but watchful.  The devil is even now laying snares for you and me.  Make yourself strong where you know you have a weak area.  We want to be watchful, having our devotions, and never become lax. 

If you do get caught, thank the Lord you can get turned around. 

Maybe you are a child or young person that has never given their heart to God.  God is looking on with sad eyes.  He sees down the road at the snares that you will get caught in.  It makes Him sad. 

Don’t give up if you are saved.  Now is the time for each one of us to set our feet and purpose that we are not going to turn back.  If you are saved, He wants you freed and not fallen into a trap.

Ecc 9:12  For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.

That is how a snare is.  It is just there all at once. 

Adam Clarke - Man acts so heedlessly, notwithstanding all his wisdom, and all his warnings, that he is often taken, as a fish is, by the baited hook; and the bird by the baited snare. And thus, an evil time, like the snare, gin, trap, hook, falleth suddenly upon them; and they are taken in a moment, and have no means of escaping. How frequently do we see these comparisons illustrated!

A snare is often a noose designed to catch a bird or an animal.  It is designed to look deceptively attractive.

Pro 12:13  The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.

The enemy wants to bring something appealing to you and trip you up in it.  You could be ensnared by your tongue if you are a good story teller. 

I like to listen to a good story.  If you are a good story teller you don’t want to embellish too much and make the story not true.  You may think in color and the story is black and white.  You don’t want to be ensnared by your tongue.  Make sure you stick to the truth in your story.  It is good to be excited, make sure you are not ensnared in that.

Half-truths: you are tempted to tell a little part, just the part that makes you look the best.  You might be afraid that you will get in trouble.  We don’t want to be deceptive in our speech as saints.  Some of us may want others to like us.  Telling half-truths is a lie in God’s book.

Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

We don’t want to be ensnared by our tongue.

Pro 18:7  A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

We don’t want our lips to be a snare.  Have you ever noticed that you think you have something conquered and the enemy will bring the old trick back and try to ensnare us again?

In Revelations 21:8 it speaks of the unbelieving.  It can be one of the biggest snares that can catch us if we have been walking this way a while. 

There are things that we as adults fear.  We fear for our children.  We get sick and fear, “I believe He can heal so-in-so but will He heal little old me?” 

We want to keep a watch out for fearfulness and unbelief.  We can be trapped by ways of thinking.  We want to break that habit. 

God is a great big wonderful God.  He does not want to be doubted in His abilities.  He is well able and He doesn’t want us wondering if He is going to take care of the petitions that we bring before Him. 

There are times that we should be silent.  We should never express feelings of unbelief.  When the children of Israel’s song of victory turned to doubt…

Exo 14:13  And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

Exo 14:14  The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

In times of unbelief, insurmountable problems, when you cannot speak faith and trust in God, then don’t say anything at all. 

When we come to a hard spot, we look back at our memorial stones set up, “When we thought we were at the end, He has never failed.”

The battle of Jericho:

Jos 6:10  And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.

God did not want the people as they walked about the city to express thoughts of unbelief:  “What are we doing?  We are marching about this city and they are laughing on the wall at us.” 

There was only one thing that He wanted to come out of their mouth: a shout of victory.  When they shouted, the walls fell.  What an incredible act of God.  He did this because they didn’t express unbelief and shouted victory.

In the story of Pilgrim’s progress Christian and Hopeful decided to take a shortcut.  Beware of shortcuts.  The old paths are safe, secure and they work.  He is not changing His will and His way in 2015.

On their shortcut a bad storm came along and they tried to turn about.  There was a flashflood and they found shelter.  The next morning giant despair threw them into the doubting castle.  He didn’t feed or water them, he showed them the bone pile and encouraged them to take their own lives.

He repeatedly beat them and starved them:  Doubting and despair will beat you up.  To remain in doubting castle will end in spiritual death. 

Christian while praying remembered the key called promise.  When the enemy tries to beat you up, God’s promise are key.  They tried it in the castle lock, it worked, and they were freed. 

We need to keep our mind on God’s promise and not on mountains of doubts. 

There was also a man named Ignorance.  Christian ran into him several times along the way.  He didn’t have the passport and he wasn’t saved, but seemed to be making it.  He got down to the river at the same time as Christian did and instead of swimming he rode in the boat across the river, a boat called Vain Hope. 

They asked him where his summons was and he pretended to look and then said, “I am here, surely I can get in.”  They told him, “You cannot get in without a summons.”

A few years ago I was speaking to an elderly lady about her soul.  She was raised in the Church of God here in Paradise.  I asked her if she was saved and she said, “I think I am alright because God answers my prayer.”

That is not a sure answer, it is an ignorant answer.  Saved people may be praying for you and He is answering their prayer.  Many want to feel that they are ok.  They “feel the presence of God” or “feel that He is answering their prayer.”  It is a terrible snare.  It left a question mark in my mind.  I don’t know if she made it. 

It is ignorant to hang your hope of your experience on that at the end.  The enemy loves to rock the baby, put the pacifier in, and try to keep them happy in sin. 

Moving on to the goose or duck decoy:  There are weights on them, there are a lot of them.  You put them in the water early in the morning and start calling.  The ducks and geese think that their pals are down there and they get out of the sky and are shot. 

Who are we following?  Do we care too much what our peers think?  Are we going to follow them to the path of destruction?  We want to be in the in-crowd?  We don’t want to be fooled by decoys and lose our soul because of it.

1Co 15:33  Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

You need to make good friends.  You need to recognize in your life if someone is more of an influence on you than you are on them.  Have a back bone.  We don’t want to please our friends, but please God.

Pro 22:24  Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:

Anger is a leaven that leavens the lump.  If you are around people that are angry all the time then it can cause us to follow that path and you will have something that you are always cross about.

Pro 29:22  An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.

Pro 22:1  A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

Ecc 7:1  A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

A person with a good name is one that is called when help is needed.  They are called when prayer is needed.  Keep growing character and grow in the Lord so you can have a good name.  People know how you will react.  Keep that good name.  If you let it down then it is hard to get it back and it gets thrown in your face.

If we are afraid of what our friends think, then we need to recognize that we need a good backbone and to be a strong leader and not a fearful follower.  Fear God and not man.

God wants us to be the good influence, taking the lead, taking a stand.

Jdg 2:2  And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?

Jdg 2:3  Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.

This happened because they made a league with the inhabitants.  Remember there was a people that dwelt right among them and yet they acted like they had come a long way and they made a league with them.  They were ensnared by them. 

The fishhook can be hidden in a lure.  The devil likes to hide the hook under some good bait.  There are flashy hooks.  The devil wants to make sin appealing.  The devil will make sure that you have some fun in sin. 

There might be a pretty girl or a handsome guy.  It might be partying and being on the in-crowd.  You might enjoy popularity.  You want to be liked; everyone likes to be liked, but I guarantee that you can be liked and still be godly. 

People don’t want to look down the road to how they will look when they are decrepit and ruined by sin.  The enemy wants you to see today, here and now.  What benefits do you get today? 

Maybe you want to climb the ladder; you just have to step on someone to get there.  There are benefits…  You are bound and when it comes time that you want to be free, then it is hard to be free.  We are creature of habits and it is very hard to get rid of bad habits. 

The devil doesn’t play catch and release.  He is playing for keeps.  He wants you until the end of your life.  And it is always open season.

Pro 7:23  Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.

It is for your life.  Your life is not a plaything.  We don’t want to see you damned by the devil.  We want you to be saved and not scarred by sin.

2Ti 2:22  Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

It is not God tempting you but your own lusts.

Jas 1:13  Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

Jas 1:14  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

If you are feeling tempted then look at your life and think, “What is there in me that is causing me to not let God meet my need?”

Have you ever snagged a fish?  I have snagged a fish right in his eye before.  Are you snared in your eye?  Are there movies that you view that you would not be showing to Jesus?  What about the internet?  The devil is wicked and mean.  He will ensnare even a child. 

What pictures are your friends trying to show you on their smartphone?  Tell them before you even look, “I don’t want to see anything indecent.  That poor person deserves their modesty.”  People will respect a decent person. 

Kids, be careful what your eyes take in.  The enemy wants you to be caught in your eye at a young age.  Be careful when you are on the internet.  You can type in an innocent thing and something else will pop up.  Know where the x-button is and be ready to use it. 

Back in the day there maybe was not bad pictures to view that were easily available:

Ecc 7:26  And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.

We all want to live.  You don’t even have to visit that woman, it is available very easily.  It is the exact same sin.

How to help someone that is trapped: I want to help them.

2Ti 2:24  And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

2Ti 2:25  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

2Ti 2:26  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

That is our goal.  As Christians, people that are saved, we don’t want to go to heaven by our self but help others get out of the snare.

Luk 22:31  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

Luk 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

This encourages me for my loved ones that are not saved.  Peter did fail.  He totally denied that he knew Christ.  How awful he felt!  He repented and did exploits for Christ. 

Let’s not dwell in doubting castle where our unsaved loved ones are concerned.  We need to continue on our path to heaven and speak truth in their life. 

Can we speak to them in faith, “When you get back…”  Build the dream of it to them.  “When you choose to serve God again, when you come to the end of the way…”  When we look to the end of them being restored, then they may see it themselves and it helps them not get a false profession. 

“We sang that song that we used to sing together the other day, I look forward to when you are back in your place and can sing with us again.”  Help them know that you see them getting back and there is hope.  Look with the eye of faith and hope.  It might look impossible, but look that we might see the return of the backslider.

We don’t have to be trapped.

Psa 119:110  The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.

Pro 13:14  The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

Psa 124:7  Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.

There are two testimonies here.  The one is, “There was a snare laid but we didn’t fail or error.”  The next testimony, “The snare was broken and I am no longer ensnared.”

Thank the Lord we can be escaped from the snare.

The devil could use some real thin thread to ensnare you.  You could break one strand but with each sin you commit you get bound stronger and stronger.  One line can be broken, but get enough of them wrapped around you and you cannot break them.

Isa 28:22  Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.

Be you not mockers lest your bands be made strong.  You thumb your nose at God: you form those habits and enjoy that sin and your bands get stronger.  I have seen people mock God and choose their own way and their bands are strong. Their road is rocky.  It is mocking God to play in sin.