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!

Brother Gary Sunday Evening 11/22/15

Brother Gary Sunday Evening 11/22/15

1Ch 29:15  For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.

David dealt with the thought, “We are strangers.”  Every one of us needs to keep it real, “This world is not my home.  We are just passing through.” 

God has been wonderful to us.  If it were not for the mercies of God, probably every one of us would not be here tonight.

We are sojourners.  We are just passing through.  We pay taxes on the place that Karen and I own over there and we are very thankful to have a home, to not be homeless.  We are very thankful that it is comfortable.  We have so much to thank God for.  Let us remember that we are just sojourners and we have this moment.

Our days are as a shadow.  The children’s shadow is as the sunrise or the beginning of life.  For some of us it is near the sunset.  Our time is as a shadow.  We will not be here forever.  We will only be here for a little while.

We have buried some aged individuals.  We have also buried some that were very young.  There is none of us that will continue here on earth.

1Ch 29:16  O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own.

We want to keep it real, what we have God gave us.  What we gave back to God He gave us.  The day is His.  The air is His.  The gas in our rigs is His.  The money we have, God gave us.  The time we have, God gave us.  The blessing of children, God gave us.

God gave you the ability to hunt, climb, or fish.  We want to be willing to give Him back all He has given us. 

1Ch 29:17  I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.

This I know, my God, you try the hearts.  You have pleasure in uprightness.  God loves uprightness.  God loves holiness.  God loves humility.  God loves love.  He has pleasure in uprightness.

In a world that stinks, that is making God sick.  In a world that is full of injustice.  We are on our way to where we will say, “Even so come Lord Jesus.”  It is terrible what is going on.  God is mighty happy that there are a few people that feel, “In the uprightness of my heart, I have willingly offered all these things.”

“My God you take such pleasure in uprightness.”  Then David comes to himself in the stillness of the Almighty God.  He could listen.  Then he said, “I have offered willingly in the uprightness of my heart.”  Willingly offering is giving without any strings attached.  We as a church offer willingly to God.

There is no greater joy for God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit of God than for you and I to say, “God, my life is a willing sacrifice.  I give my time totally to you.  You can totally rearrange my life and schedule.”

“God, if Karen and I get to have another anniversary, (I am thinking we will.  I am trusting for another fifty weeks.)  God we want to give a willing service to you.”  It could be more important to God that we go visit Sister Julia than that I get my project done.

Don’t give me a list of where you hope I go.  You go.  You pray and carry a burden. 

1Ch 29:18  O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee:

You and I know that David had to be quiet and listen and God gave Him this burden and he was praying.  “Keep it in the imagination of the thoughts of the hearts of thy people.”  He was praying that we would offer ourselves willingly and have a willing attitude.

Your place of security is being willing before God.  Your place of being ripped of is being your own watch dog.  Be still.  Know what God wants you to do and have your priorities right.  Have first things first.

Be as Jesus prayed.  “Not my will.”

1Ch 29:19  And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.

David loved his son and gave him excellent counsel.  But Solomon lost track of what his dad had so solemnly given to him.  “Give unto my son a perfect heart.”

All of you that had a daddy that loved you, you are blessed.  (For those that didn’t… I was talking to a young lady and said if you had a dad that loved you, she said, “I didn’t.”)  A daddy that loved you is a rare commodity. 

I covet your prayers that I will be a good parent, a good grandparent, and a good father in law.  I covet your prayers that I will have more boldness.

If you cross the ugly spirit of Babylon you will see an ugly spirit.  You will see the beast, the mark, the image and a few other ugly things crop up.

“Give my son a perfect heart to keep thy commandments.”  We are blessed to have Psalms 119.  Someday do a study on that.  You young minds learn what the words that describe the Word of God mean.

Keep thy commandments:  They show us what to do and exact our obedience.  We must be willing and obedient.  Babylon preaches lots of heresy, “Just repent and you can do whatever you want to.”  That is a lie out of hell.

The commandments show us what to do and exact our obedience.  You cannot be saved and not pray.  The bible teaches us to pray and to shun the very appearance of evil.  That is more sound then the very soundness of our building.

The testimonies of God witness, “This is right and this is wrong.”  You have all heard false testimonies.  People get up and lie on someone. Know God; know His testimonies.  They always witness, “This is right and that is wrong.”  The Word of God is always right.

Keep the statutes.  Dear ones, we cannot change what Solomon did, but we can make sure of what we do.  The statutes are God’s word that marks the way.  ‘Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.’  God has a clear path marked.

God’s word describes our conduct.  We have to be upright in our conduct.  I want to tell you, we want to have the Word of God direct how we think, speak, and act.

“Give Solomon a perfect heart to do all these things.”  We have the answer to happiness and to eternal life.  It is not just knowing, but doing.

His job was to do all that God called him to do.

Perfect means complete, safe, especially friendly, peaceful, full, just, made ready, peaceable, quiet, whole, safe, at peace, full, finished, safe, unharmed, peace of mind, and complete.

God wants us to be complete and not lame.  We want to especially be friendly.  God wants us to know how to be friendly to both brothers and sisters, ladies, and men.  Children need someone to be friendly to them in this world that we are in.

We want to have perfect love.

Brother Gary Sunday Morning 11/22/15

Brother Gary Sunday Morning 11/22/15

1Ch 29:13  Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.

God had chosen Solomon to build the house of God.  We see where David had it in his heart to build the house but was never able to do it.  It was given to be the responsibility of his son.  David was a big enough man, a godly enough man, and a man that could think.  He had set his affection toward the house of God.

Whatever God has called you to do, whatever gifts that you have, or whatever you are not able to do, you may not be able to do as you wished.  You may not be able to sing but you can set your affection toward the house of God.

Every one of us will have his affection going somewhere.  We are created that way.  There are dangerous places that our affection can go.  We are not going to preach that way but toward setting our affection toward the things of God.

David had set his affection toward the temple.  What are you willing to give to God for the building of His church?  Not monetarily, but otherwise.

1Ch 29:5  The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?

This is a question that all of us are faced with.  A lot of young people have an intuitiveness, “I want to do something for God with my life.”  All of you that are young, that is wonderful. 

Of all the things that will be afforded you, the way the world will play up, “You are gifted here, or there and will be awarded this or that.”  If you have the ability to get A’s I encourage you to get A’s.  If you have the ability to only get D’s then I would like to have a meeting with you.  You may not excel in the academic world but you can excel spiritually.

1Ch 29:6  Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king's work, offered willingly,

The way to get saved is not difficult.  Godly sorrow works repentance not to be repented of.  This means you wish you had not done what you did.  Maybe you stole, maybe you were abused and have bitterness and hatred toward someone.  God can forgive you and help you to forgive them.

Who then is willing?  There are those that you talk to and they put up shields, “No one can tell me anything.”  If you have a shield up then I am not going to be able to help you this morning.  You have dismissed me; I am not going to dismiss you because I have a calling.  I am going to pray and do my best because that is what God has called me to do.

If you say, “No one is going to do anything for me.”  Then I want to tell you, you will be a very poor miserable, and selfish individual.

There is something in us that cries out, “I will be willing.”  It may be a total life change.  It may cause me to go in a different direction and position me in crowds of people that I never planned to be positioned among, but I am willing.

God has brought me a long ways as a pastor.  He has brought us a long ways as a congregation.  We have come from a building that did not have heat in the winter or a mowed lawn to a beautiful building with a well-manicured lawn.

I want to preach about the people being willing.  The people offered willingly.

1Ch 29:9  Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.

Before you are given a job, it is not God looking at how capable or talented you are but how willing you are.  The question is not your schedule, but your willingness to change your schedule, your priorities, and who you let control your life. 

People try to run me.  I am not talking about the deacons or the elders.  There are those that want to control everyone.  They tell me how to run my life and I look at the mess they have made of their life. 

The people rejoiced for they offered willingly.  I am not here to take anything from anyone.  I am here as a representative of one who is asking for your best and wants to give you your best.

These people identified with David the king and they wanted a place built for God.  They wanted it to be beautiful and lovely and offered willingly with a perfect heart.

We are taught in 1 John of our love being made perfect.  I often read 1 Corinthians 13 before I lay down for a nap.  I want my love to be made perfect.  I want to offer unto God a willing sacrifice from a perfect heart.

It is not the thought that I feel pressured to do this.  The thought is that I love God supremely.  If God would make a scroll of how my life would be without Him, there is not one in this audience that would not say, “You did the right thing to be saved.”

We are dealing with children in school this morning.  I don’t know how many children are in school in Superior or St Regis.  One of the things that comes strong to children is, “If I am all that God wants me to be, maybe there will be only one or two or three or four…”  The question is, “God is asking me to be willing to be my best for Him.  To put Him first.  To say, “God I have these plans but your plans are better.”

You may be planning on a new car but God’s plan is better.  You may want to have river front property, if God gives it to you then it will be wonderful.

Willing:  “I am willing to be what God wants me to be, to pursue what God wants me to pursue.  You say, “How will I know?”  You will never know if you are not willing.

Sometimes I ask people, “How did you get here?”  People choose their own way.  If you choose your own way then God will choose your delusion.  That is it.  That is how the Bible teaches it.

If you will be willing and obedient, have a perfect heart, and offer unto God willingly, then not only will the king Jesus rejoice, but you will rejoice.

It thrills God heart.  It thrills Jesus’ heart and the very Holy Spirit of God as we begin to fill our day and the sun begins to come up for us to say, “I have a busy day but whatever you want, I am willing.”

Willingness far outshines talents and gifts.  You are talented?  What are you going to do with it?  That is what counts.  Are you willing to use it for God’s honor and glory?  Are you gifted?  People play these things up.  You haven’t lived as long as Brother Bob without learning somethings.

People pump others up with pride and try to make a way for them to be in their control.  You don’t belong to them.  The availability to God thrills the heart of God.

God wants the youngest child to be willing.  Willing to obey, willing to ask Grandma to cook and after she makes something willing to say ““Thanks.  Availability to God thrills the heart of God. 

You say, “If God calls me to go to Africa then I will go.”  The question is, “If God called you to go to the neighbor then will you go?”  If God said, “Go,” are you available?

‘If you be willing and obedient then you shall eat of the good of the land.’  Jesus taught us to pray, “Not my will.”  Jesus prayed, “Not my will.”

‘Who then is willing to consecrate his service to the Lord?’  God is looking today for those that will consecrate their service to the Lord.

“Thou shalt be first, Thou shalt be first.  Before all else thyself shall be.”

“God you are going to be first.”  That is where the joy is, the victory.  That is where God leads and guides us.

1Ch 29:10  Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.

1Ch 29:11  Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.

1Ch 29:12  Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.

It is a marvelous thing the liberty that God designed for mankind.  We are not forced to serve Him.  We are not bullied and cannot be scared into serving Him.  There is the conviction that comes to the heart, “I am so lost without God.”

The only way that we could be saved is through the cross.  It takes the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved, sanctified, and overcome accusations.  It takes the stripes of Christ to be healed. 

If it were not for Jesus it would be impossible to have a sound mind.  We live in a society that makes men sick in their head.  It is because of God and His son that we can have a sound mind.

1Ch 29:13  Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.

1Ch 29:14  But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.

As small and insignificant as Paradise might be to the world, we are not looked upon by God for anything other than, “That is a soul, and heaven’s best was given for the souls of mankind.”

David asked, “How can we so willingly give back to God.  Everything we have came from Him and of His own hand we have given back to Him?”

Are you willing to teach a class of one?  Are you willing to make a meal for the incidental one?  In people’s mind, unless they think it is great, then they are not interested.  God is not that way.

God is not as the one that you would think was big in your mind.  That one was not there when you were so needy.  You might break your neck to help him but it was not he, it was Jesus that was there.  Jesus is the head of the church and He is asking the pastor and the church of God at Paradise, “Are you willing?”  Are you willing to reach to one?  Are you willing to reach to two?

We have only given back what you have given us.

1Ch 29:15  For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.

We are strangers: we showed up and one day we will be gone.  My father was born in 1908 in West Virginia.  They traveled west and came to Montana in 1922.  My dad lived mostly in Montana from that time to 1968.  He came, he spent time, he went to school, he got married, he worked, and he had a family.

In March 19, 1949 he got saved in a cow barn.  Later he was called to preach and he was a marvelous preacher.  Then in 1968 he was usured into eternity. 

We are strangers.  This world is not our home.  You will have an identity, “There has to be more than just here.”  People try to tell you that you are like a dog and you will die and then there is no more. 

I was at a Jehovah Witness funeral and the false prophet got up and preached, “This one doesn’t have a soul and there is no hereafter.”  There were those that didn’t know Jesus and were so mad that they were ready to fight.  They knew that there was a soul.

We are sojourners.  We are lodging for as if it were just a night.  That is just how it is.  Every night when Karen and I bow down we are thankful for what God has given us.  Compared to whatever, we just have an old house that is about 100 years old.  There are a lot of things that are not perfect but we are so thankful. 

We realize, “It may be just for the night.  We are sojourners.”  Our journey could end just as our fathers: They were and now they have gone on.  As you look around the audience it is rare for one to still have their dad.  Thank God the children still have their dads. 

The days on this earth are as a shadow.  As the sun comes up, the shadow is there.  As it moves then the shadow changes.  Then as the old song, “Evening shadows make me blue.”  There are some of us that are in the sunset of our life.  We are thrilled to be there.  We realize that there is none going to abide.  Time will end.  Jesus may come soon.  The more that we hear about the world we say, “Even so come Lord Jesus.”  We realize that we are as a shadow.  Then there comes a very strong conviction, “who then is willing to consecrate his service unto God this morning?”

We are not alone here in being targeted.  God’s people everywhere are being targeted.  I had a phone call last night; a saint of God was calling for prayer.  Another great need has arisen in one of the congregations.

We look at young people and children.  Ten years ago how many tattoos did you see?  How many people tried to take your order and you couldn’t understand them because they had a tongue ring?

Are you willing to save yourself and whoever else will hear you?  Are we willing to go back again?  Are we willing to plead before the scars of sin have left minds so messed up that they don’t know how to get to God?

I plead with you to pray.  Pray for me.  Pray for yourself.  

Sister Alice Sunday School 11/22/15

Sister Alice Sunday School 11/22/15

Praise terminates in God.  Thanksgiving is a circle; it continues.  It is what God has done for us personally. 

Adam Clarke -  As a hymn of praise, this is the most sublime in the whole book.

Praise exalts Him, sets forth His honor, lifts His name…

Psa 148:1  Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights.

Psa 148:2  Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.

Psa 148:3  Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.

Psa 148:4  Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.

Psa 148:5  Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.

Psa 148:6  He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.

Psa 148:7  Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:

Psa 148:8  Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:

Psa 148:9  Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:

Psa 148:10  Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:

Psa 148:11  Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:

Psa 148:12  Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:

Psa 148:13  Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.

Psa 148:14  He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.

Psa 149:1  Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.

Psa 149:2  Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.

Psa 149:3  Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.

Psa 149:4  For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

Psa 149:5  Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.

Psa 149:6  Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;

I am so thankful that no man can put me into being a part of God’s people; it is God’s work.  And no man can put me out.  He writes our name in the Lambs Book of Life.  We want to ever be found praising God.

Caleb stood for God.  He was very bold in his personality.  He said what he thought and didn’t care what people thought.  He just let the chips fall where they may.

It says that Caleb had another spirit, an “after spirit.”  We are born innocent but it is not long and we sin; we need an “after spirit.”  In salvation we are given an earnest of His Spirit.  We want to go on to full sanctification.  That is the full Spirit of God. 

Adam Clarke - another spirit: Caleb had another spirit; not only a bold, generous, courageous, noble, and heroic spirit, but the Spirit and influence of God, which thus raised him above human inquietudes and earthly fears. Therefore he followed God fully; literally, "and he filled after me:" God shewed him the way he was to take and the line of conduct he was to pursue, and he filled up this line, and in all things followed the will of his Maker.

Caleb followed Him wholly.  He had another spirit.  Caleb filled after Him. God drew a line and Caleb filled up to that line.  Where is our line and how can we fill up to that line?

David had another spirit: 

Psa 119:69  The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.

Paul had another spirit:

Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

What went wrong with the other ten spies?  How did they get in that shape?  They had an example; they could have had the identity.  They left God out.

They were fearful:  “We looked as grasshoppers and we cannot do it.”  It overtook them.  They even appointed a captain to take them back to Egypt; they forgot the horrible bondage.

We will all battle unbelief.  Our job is to hold on and to hold faith.  When people give into unbelief it hardens them.  Do the backsliders consider what will happen to their children?  Somehow when you give into unbelief it separates you out and leaves God out.  It immediately begins to harden your heart and conscience.

People say, “I love my children.”  Do they really?  They would never leave God’s counsel if they did.  They are not thinking of how they could help their brothers and sisters. 

It is ok to share a battle but don’t leave it there.  What is happening in the hearts of people after we leave them?  Unbelief will steal our peace and joy, the peace and joy of those around us, and the peace and joy of our siblings and children.

In this recording of the Children of Israel, we see how unbelief made it so that not all of them were able to make it to the Promised Land.

God can be grieved.  He loves us and His love made a better plan for us.  God is angry with the wicked every day.

Heb 3:10  Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.

Heb 3:11  So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)

Heb 3:12  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

Heb 3:13  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Heb 3:14  For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

Heb 3:15  While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

Heb 3:16  For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

Heb 3:17  But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?

Heb 3:18  And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?

Heb 3:19  So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

The whole purpose of unbelief is to cause us to depart from the living God.  We must hold fast.  If we want something in our life that we don’t think that God will give us, then we are being pulled into unbelief.  “He who spared not His own son will freely give us all things.” 

If is a little tiny word that holds the whole universe.  “You are made a partaker with Christ if…”

It is so wonderful that Joshua and Caleb brought delight to God.  He has a beautiful heart to His people and it is hurt when they don’t do right.

We see where two people can sit on the same pew and one of them grow spiritually and the other wander away.  Their hearing the Word was not mixed with faith.

Our rest is knowing that Jesus has everything under control and knowing that Jesus paid the price. We trust in Jesus’ blood.  Then we have to be obedient to everything that He wants us to do.  If we have faith then there will be some works.  These works will follow.

It is not our rest; it is God’s rest.  It is wonderful that we can have access and enter in.  The Pharisees and others did not fully accept Jesus Christ. 

Heb 4:1  Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

Heb 4:2  For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

Heb 4:3  For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Heb 4:4  For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

Heb 4:5  And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.

Heb 4:6  Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

Heb 4:7  Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Heb 4:8  For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Heb 4:13  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Heb 4:14  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

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

The marrow is where the blood is refreshed.  Every now and then we need to refresh that blood on our heart and our mind. 

We need to endure.  Those that endure to the end shall be saved. 

Joh 6:28  Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

Joh 6:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

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

1Th 5:8  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

1Ti 1:18  This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

1Ti 1:19  Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

1Ti 6:11  But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

1Ti 6:12  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Heb 10:19  Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

Heb 10:20  By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

Heb 10:21  And having an high priest over the house of God;

Heb 10:22  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Heb 10:23  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

Heb 10:24  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Love will cause us to provoke one another and faith will encourage us to come boldly before the throne of God.

Caleb was as strong at 85 as he had been when he was 45.  He exercised his faith. 

Hebron was a city of refuge chosen and Caleb cheerfully gave it up. 

Joh 16:8  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Joh 16:9  Of sin, because they believe not on me;

The comforter will not reprove the brethren but will reprove the world:  We can have faith that He is working on our loved ones.  If people could get their faith going in God then they would see things from a whole different perspective. 

The comforter will hold to righteousness.  Jesus is not here physically to do it but the Holy Spirit will do it.

Joh 8:24  I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

It gets right down to a battle for faith in God.  We can do as this dear father:

There is nothing wrong with praying, “lord help my unbelief.”  How do we exercise?  By having a battle that we cannot get around and we must go through it. 

Mar 9:17  And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

Mar 9:18  And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

Mar 9:19  He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

Mar 9:20  And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

Mar 9:21  And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

Mar 9:22  And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

Mar 9:23  Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Mar 9:24  And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

Mar 9:25  When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

Mar 9:26  And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

Mar 9:27  But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

Mar 9:28  And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

Mar 9:29  And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

God help our belief.

2Pe 1:1  Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

Our faith is the most precious thing that we possess.  Don’t let anything mar that faith in God.