Brother Gary Sunday Morning 2/28/16

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.

Hebrews 11 is referred to as the faith chapter.  We turn to that chapter when we need our faith increased and need His help.  He is always faithful to answer prayer.  This 12^th chapter talks of being compassed about with this great cloud of witnesses.  We praise God for the testimony of those in the Old Testament and how God answered their prayer.

Those that are a new creature in Christ Jesus, have confessed and repented; all their transgressions are removed and cast into the depths of the sea.  Their name is written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life.  This is the reason that we don’t believe in joining church.  No man can add you or take you from God’s church.

As we walk this journey we find that there are things that are hindering us.  Sometimes it is habits other times it is things in our mind that we battle.  Sometimes there are things in our past that are a weight.  This is a marvelous thought: “Let us lay aside every weight.”

Lay aside the sin which does so easily beset you:  when we were born we were born with a carnal nature.  Through His blood we can be cleansed from this nature of sin and be filled with His divine nature.

Patience: it is wonderful that we can have patience with one another.  We all know that experience is not built over night.  A relationship or a marriage is not built over night. “I am going to have patience with God and with myself and know that He will help me to grow.”

It is easy to become distracted.  If you have started walking with God it is important that you realize, “We must ever keep Christ before us.”

He is the author of our faith.  It is wonderful to know that someone of an eternal power had a plan for our life.  Perhaps you might say, “I wish I had gotten saved when I was younger and stayed saved.”  For all the children that are in this audience that are in their single digits or headed to 21.  You are in a wonderful position that you can start out serving God and serve Him all the days of your life. 

If you didn’t start serving God as a teenager.  We have a God that is the author and the finisher of our faith.  He has a wonderful plan for you.  Eye has not seen neither has ear heard the things that God has prepared for them that love Him.

The issue is not how old or young you are.  The issue is: Get your eyes on Jesus.

We are compassed with a great cloud of witnesses.  There are wonderful examples to follow and other examples to not follow.  The most wonderful example is Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

To every man is given a measure of faith.

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

I have been challenged with the thought of our conscience.  The conscience of children and adults: when did our conscience begin to tell us what was right and what was wrong?  I used to ask my mother where I came from and where I was going.  There is something within us from childhood that causes us to hunger after God.

Our conscience can be developed.  God, our parents, and others have a great bearing on our conscience. 

Jesus is that faithful witness.  I believe that witness witnesses to children, “This is right.”  I believe that children at a young age know, “I need to obey my parents, I need to be kind to my siblings and to my classmates, I need to be sharing.”

We are born with a seed of faith to want to know about God.  Many wonder, “Who is God, where is God, and is there any way that I can get to God?”

He is the finisher.  For every spiritual desire that you have: Maybe it is, “I want to be saved, I am tired of feeling this conviction and guilt of sins that I have not been cleared or forgiven of.” 

You may wonder, “When I get saved do I have to remember all my sins?”  When I got saved I didn’t remember all my sins.  I had to say, “I bring my sin as a lump to you.  They are all recorded in the books.  Would be so kind to forgive me as I repent?” 

Without repentance there can be no forgiveness.  Repent means to confess and turn from our sin.  We confess to God.  Repent and ask God to forgive you.  The bible is clear in 1^st John chapter one, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Being forgiven is the thought: I have confessed my sin to God and I don’t want to ever go back to my sin.  I want to stay away from sin.  I am confessing that to God and He has promised that He will forgive.

Jesus is the faithful witness.  When you confess and repent then a miracle takes place.  In heaven they prepare for a celebration. There is rejoicing in heaven over one sinner that gets saved.  They go to the books of records and tear the record out.  God forgives you and your sin is blotted out forever.  A transaction takes place in your soul, and you are left forgiven and without regret.  That thought, “I sinned.” Is gone. 

You become a new creature in Christ Jesus; old things pass away and all things become new.  That idol that you couldn’t give up no longer will mean anything to you anymore.  You will feel, “There is one thing that matters to me.  That is knowing that I am a child of God.”

Looking to Jesus.  He is the beginner and the finisher.  He is a marvelous teacher.  God knows how to teach every one of us within the learning capacity that we have.  Isn’t that wonderful?  You might feel that you are a slow learner or have a learning disability.  You might think, “I am a visual learner.”  Others think, “If I hear it I can grasp it.”  You might think, “I have to read it.”

God has a way of teaching us.  You cannot have the attitude, “I am only going to take things from God.”  We need the attitude, “God I want to be a good student.  If you want to use a member in the body of Christ then I want to learn.”

God knows how to finish the house. 

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

There are times in building, if it is not built right, then you need to get a pry bar out and tear some things out.  We have to let God work with us.  When I got saved some of my ways were very displeasing to God.  I needed a lot of teaching and training. 

God comes along and says, “Son I need to teach you something.” Then if we don’t listen He has to come along with the pry bar and the hammer.  He is the finisher.  He wants to bring you to the finished product, to the individual that says, “I want the will of God in my life.”

God wants us to come to a finished product.  He wants your love and joy to come to a finished product.  You might say, “I am not patient.”  God will work with you on it.  As you measure and walk, then He will take that and give to you patience. 

If you want to hold onto it, God will say, “Son you can, but I will have to bring the crow bar and the hammer because I want a finished job.”

Jesus, who for the joy that was set before Him:  Jesus counted it joy to go to the cross for you and me.  He was already the son of GOD but He had a desire to make a way that you and I could be saved, be happy, and have freedom.

Jesus, for the joy that was set before Him, endured.  “He that endures to the end shall be saved.”  We need to learn how to endure, as Jesus did, with joy. 

We all face uncharted roads in our life.  I am pretty uncomfortable with uncharted roads.  If you know that in this week you are going to face situations and things that you are not comfortable with you can either take the thought, “I am going to be scared,” or take the thought, “If Jesus goes with me then I can have joy.”

Sometimes you are well received and sometimes you are rejected.  For most of us rejection is hard.  Did anyone know more rejection than Jesus? 

He was rejected, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.  Yet for the joy that was set before him He endured the shame; He despised the shame.  He was mocked and ridiculed.  He despised it.

He is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  He is sitting at the right hand of the throne of the Father.  He is interceding for souls.

If you are here this morning and facing uncertain waters, if you are at the age where you wonder what you should do with your life, you know that there are a lot of people that will try to tell you what to do.  Look unto Jesus. 

He is interceding.  He is concerned for every soul.  If you are sick, it is comforting to know that we are praying, believing that He hears, is concerned with every need, and is interceding with the Father.

He is concerned that not only do we make the journey but that we come to the finished product.  We can reach the place where we measure to everything and do all He wants us to do that day.

Truths concerning the cross: 

The “Old Rugged Cross” was written by George Bennard.  He got saved and began meditating on the scripture that many of us learned as a child: “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.”

As George meditated on this beautiful scripture he realized that God already knew every detail of His son’s life on earth: that he would face injustice and the cross on Golgotha or Calvary.  He went to the cross not for himself.  It was the just for the unjust. 

The first part of the song that George received was the chorus, “I’ll cherish the old rugged cross.”

I don’t want to let the time lapse of me not personally realizing the wonder of the cross.  It is what Jesus did for you and for me and for every one of us.

I’ll cherish the old rugged cross ‘til my trophies at last I lay down.”  When you look back on the things that God helped you to get the victory on and God helped you to come through.  When you thought, “Why Lord?”  Then you said, “I am not going to have a bad attitude but trust you to bring me through.”

I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it someday for a crown.

That whosoever believeth on Him:  This means you and me taking His word, “I know this is the Word of God.” 

Joh 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

If you want to know about God the Father, then know the Son; He is the expression of the Father.

God loved the world.  Isn’t that wonderful?  Whosoever believeth on Him:  If you are here and need to be saved then believe that He will save you.  If you are weighted down with the cares of life, then cast all your care on him. 

You say, “Can I do right and not feel this heavy weight of care?”  You will do best casting all your care on him and then saying, “Give me my job and I will do my best.”

Not perish:  God doesn’t want any of us to perish.  God doesn’t only not want you to perish in eternity but he doesn’t want you to perish in not using your usefulness to be the best for Him.  He wants you to be your best, your finished product, in whatever season of life that you are in.

Brother Gary Wednesday Night 2/24/16

Brother Gary Wednesday Night 2/24/16

It is vital that we receive the grace of God to our benefit, to receive not the grace of God in vain.  Can you imagine what it was like when Brother Warner got the song, In the Light of God? 

Along a dark and gloomy path
I groped beneath the shades of death. 
No hope beyond my dying breath
‘til light from the Savior came. 

In the light of God, now my soul is singing,
All, all is bright. 
In the light, of God,
I’m now in the light of God.”

2Co 6:3  Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

2Co 6:4  But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

In all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God: By the Word of truth.  We live in a world where it is getting harder and harder to find a sinner.  Everyone is praying and has a religious lingo. 

It is the truth that sets you free. 

We want to be prepared and start praying now that God will create a hungering in the soul of our new neighbors that they will know the truth.

By the power of God.  May God help me and you to grasp: “God help us to not limit the power of God.”  My mind argues when I think of talking to someone, “They won’t want to hear it.”  I have had people call me and say, “I am pretty sure you are thinking this or that.”  No I am not. 

When you feel a burden for someone and you hear a voice, “They wouldn’t…” by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left. 

Maybe some of you can get dressed with just one hand, but most of us need both of our hands to get everything together.  We need to be well armored on the right hand and on the left.

Take the shield of faith. 

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

The shield of faith is either built for you or built by you.  Taking the shield of faith.  The shield of faith is huge.  It is as big, or bigger, than you are.  It is designed to cover every area of our life. 

There are many areas in our life.  If you and I don’t have a shield of faith big enough that covers every area of our life, then when social security for example falls apart and you get a letter, “We had to cut it in half because there is not enough money to go around,” then you will fall to pieces.

We have to have our family on the altar.  If you haven’t let God build the shield of faith for you or you haven’t built your shield of faith so big that your relatives cannot get to you, then the enemy will move in on you and you will go over, “Why did my sister marry however many people and the same guy three times?”  Should I get an attitude toward a dead person? 

We have to have that shield of faith.  It will not be incidental that so in so knows how to push your buttons.  It isn’t them but more, “We wrestle not against flesh and blood.”  Flesh and blood enters into this wrestle; what they do wars on our mind.

We live in a world where people watch TV 24/7 in some houses.  In order for you and me to win this battle then we need a shield of faith bigger than we are. 

Everyone here has lost sleep because of their family.  They went to bed, and maybe couldn’t get to sleep, “What is going to happen?  Is my relative going to go out into eternity lost?”  Am I going to let this distract me so that I come into the house of God and don’t sing?  Am I going to let this heartache, we know heartache, keep me from functioning in the body of Christ?

The design of the enemy is to send something in that paralyzes us and wounds us.

We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities.  We all know the domino effect of things.  This happens and then that happens, then one more thing happens.  May God help me and you to have a shield of faith bigger than we are. 

The enemy is out to use every principality that he can to hinder us spiritually.  If the enemy can get us to be sickly spiritually then it hinders the whole body of Christ.

We fight against powers.  We need to have the shield of faith big enough that when the powers of darkness come against our soul we say, “You are not going to cast me down, take me from my devotions, or keep me from seeking God.”

The rulers of darkness of this world:  There are a lot of rulers of darkness even in Sanders County.  If the enemy can get that spirit to us, if the shield of our faith is not bigger than we are and stops that thing, then we are hindered in our journey.

We sang the song, “I’m glad that I counted the cost.”  We don’t want to miss heaven.  I want to make it. 

We wrestle against spiritual wickedness in high places.  The enemy will look for someone that will fail spiritually and then him bring that as a war against your soul.

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

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

It is to our benefit to put on the whole armor of God.  If the enemy can get to you he will have you wrestling in your mind and in your emotions.  He will get you to do things so that your conscience is not keen.  We want our conscience keen.

The enemy is wrestling in the thought of devouring our soul.  He uses all the tricks of darkness.  Wherever you think that the enemy will show up from, it probably will not be there. 

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 wrestle against principalities.  The enemy likes to use things that he can make look real and then magnify.  We wrestle against these things.

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.

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

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

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

I believe that we serve a God that wants us to be alert enough spiritually that when the enemy is over there shooting his darts, we hear it coming and we lift up that shield of faith. 

I talked to a blind man recently that told me that he loved floating the rivers and especially the white water.  He is young and people say, “Aren’t you afraid to do that?”  He told them that if you listen then you will know what is ahead of you.” 

“When you hear this certain sound then it is this and if you hear this other then it is this.  But if you hear this sound then it is really important that you be careful.  For if you get into those wrong then you will go down and be capsized.”

God wants you and me to be prepared.

Peter was writing to those that were saved and sanctified.

2Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

2Pe 1:5  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

God wants us to build the shield of faith and then begin to add virtue.  Love people right and have them in their right place.  God helped me to see anew this week that I am no one’s savior.  Only God can see people saved.  We want to love and care for them. 

To our virtue we want to add knowledge and know about life.  We don’t want to just blunder.  There are some things that will help me spiritually and there are some that are a snare to me.  People that take chances can end up snared forever.

We need to have knowledge.  God gave us this treasure in earthen vessels.  We need to set good standards and stay with them.  Have temperance in every part of our life.  Take care of this earthen vessel.

We have to have a shield of faith.  I believe that I have to build my shield of faith by practical experience.  God teaches us patience.  We sometimes have run ahead of God and later we wished that we would have prayed longer, sought counsel, and viewed the experience in the light of eternity.

We want to keep our conscience pure, clean, and alive.  A good conscience brings godliness. 

Brotherly kindness: when the enemy tries to work something between you and a brother, then brotherly kindness.  It is mighty nice when Brother Figeroa calls and says, “Brother I want you to know that I love you.  How are you?” 

My brother called for the first time in years and wants us to come see his new furniture, it is mighty nice.  If you have called your brother many times and he has never called back, he is walking a different road than you are, we don’t keep track.

2Pe 1:5  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

2Pe 1:6  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

2Pe 1:7  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

2Pe 1:8  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

If these things be in you and abound…

Make sure that you have that shield of faith that is bigger than you are for we are in the battle of battles.  But we can take the shield of faith and be more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ.

Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Brother Gary Sunday Morning 2/21/16

Brother Gary Sunday Morning 2/21/16

Psa 139:14  I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Mat 16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

If any man will come after me: the greatest call that any of us has ever received is the call to follow Jesus Christ.  We receive many calls through our mind and through the world: voices and thoughts that would come and make an impression on us.

Jesus knew the value and the importance of us receiving His call.  He said, “Let him deny himself.”

This scripture is just as real and as convicting as it was the first day that Jesus spoke it.  “Let him deny himself.”  There is a very strong voice that every one of us has heard and will hear.  It is the voice of our flesh.  Our flesh wants its own way and will.

The burden of our heart lies with the thought, “Let him take up His cross.”  Many have preached the thought that it is difficult to serve God, “I have a difficult cross to bear in life.” 

Galatians 6:14 brings the cross in a beautiful position:

Gal 6:14  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

I don’t want to be unkind.  We see people wearing crosses today and I don’t know what that cross means to them.  We hear others say, “I have such a cross to bear in life!” 

The cross that I want to preach on is the cross that Paul experienced.  “I don’t want to have anything to glory in save the cross.”

There were many that had known the cross, in the day that Jesus was crucified there were two others crucified with Him.  There is one particular cross that has meaning and power for everyone that knows what took place on Mount Calvary where Jesus was crucified.

Take up His cross.  There is a cross it is the cross of Jesus Christ and it is through this cross that the world can be crucified in me.  “Dead to every worldly pleasure, dead indeed to sin am I, but alive to Christ my savior, daily to Him I’m drawing nigh.  Let me see Jesus only… only He can satisfy.”

There is a particular cross that God wants us to not only have identified with but to identify with today.  Paul found it was needful to die daily to stay dead. 

The world is crucified to me and I to the world:  For all that is in the world is what the flesh wants.  It doesn’t matter how old you will become, as long as you have this treasure in earthly vessels your flesh will speak to you.

It doesn’t mean that every time your mind and body tell you that you need to eat, put on a sweater or other things that it is sinful.  But our flesh is such that it wants to control.  Our flesh will become tired.  It will say, “Why don’t you just lessen up, quit carrying such a heavy burden, draw in because when you put yourself out you find that it is exhausting.  For they try to draw something from you that will help them cope with their needs.” 

This is why we need to know how to be dead to self, “God I need you to help me to enter into the secret closet and shut the door.  There to be renewed with graces, strength, wisdom, and anointing.

Pro 18:1  Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

The cross brings us to a separation.  We think of what Jesus suffered!  He did it all for us.  He was already the son of God.  Heaven was already His.  He did this for you and me and He did it so that through desire a man can separate himself and seek and intermeddle with all wisdom.

Before you and I can grasp the wisdom of God we must separate our self from all the things that would be deemed the world: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. 

Through the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, the world becomes dead.  Those things that we longed after prior to salvation and sanctification, become dead to us. 

One of the things that caused trouble among the church at Corinth was that men wanted to elevate themselves and others wanted to attach themselves to them and say, “I am of this one or that one…”

Isn’t it wonderful that you and I know that we can be dead to pride?  There is a way to be dead to the world, to the pride of life, to the lust of the flesh, and to the lust of the eyes.  Dead to wanting recognition. 

Paul had a grasp of this message: “Not only can I die to that but that can die to me.”

Gal 6:14  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Gal 6:15  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

There is no literal work that profits anything, people can say, “I joined church or I’ve done this or that or something else.”

The only thing that benefits is being a new creature.

Gal 6:16  And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

It is wonderful to know that what brings peace with God and with each other is being dead to the world and the world dead to you.  Whatever you have or do not have, the rejoicing is, “This is what God added and I am thankful for it.”

Dead to the world and the world dead to me.  We all have opinions.  Isn’t it wonderful to be dead to your opinion?  “It is my opinion, how I like it, and how we do it.”  Isn’t it wonderful to not be contentious about it?

The order of our services it would be much different if you were in Brother Wilson’s congregation in Alabama or in Far Rockaway, New York.  There are different things that work in different localities.  But the thought is being dead to the world, the world dead to us, and at peace one with another.

In our fellowship often the brothers wear neckties.   Just in case it would be the time for the visitors to show up, I want them to know that I took a bath and I have done my best to represent the King of Kings. 

If someone would show up that did not wear a necktie, as long as they were not contentious about it, they are my brother.  What makes the difference is if they love God, are sanctified, and have died to the world. 

It is not wrong to have convictions, to preach a standard, and to lift up a standard. 

Walking according to this rule brings peace: dead to the world and the world dead to me. 

Gal 6:16  And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Gal 6:17  From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

Gal 6:18  Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. To the Galatians written from Rome.

Mat 16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

This message is so good that had it been preached and practiced since the days of Jesus Christ, in the morning time church and the church throughout the ages, how different lives are if they follow Christ.  Following Christ causes us to lose our life that we mind find true life.

Fleshly choice always reaps the rewards of the flesh.  There is no getting around the law of sowing and reaping.  The choice to follow Jesus always reaps life.

When you got saved you made a marvelous choice.  When you got sanctified you made the right choice.  Not only do you reap life but you reap life more abundant.  In this abundant life you can be reigning sweetly reigning all your life.

Eternal life: “What is a man profited if he gain the world and lose his own soul.”  Gain the world, neglect the soul, callous the conscience, and receive God’s grace in vain.  Is there anything sadder? 

Jesus asked the question, “What will a man give in exchange for his soul?”  I am struck at what people will exchange their soul for.  A moment of pleasure for a lifetime of sorrow.  People take the thought, “I am going to be my own man and no one will tell me what to do and all the time they are telling themselves, “Make the wrong choice.”

George Bennard was meditating on a scripture that the children here can quote:  John 3:16.  He thought about it for months, “For God so loved the world.”  He thought about the cross and about God giving His only begotten son.  Then he thought of what can be the result and effect of the cross, “Whosoever believeth on me shall not perish but have everlasting life.”

There are a lot of men died on crosses.  There is one particular cross where the blood of Jesus was spilt and the promise was fulfilled, “A fountain was open for their forgiveness.”  They should have everlasting life.

George Bennard wrote, “In the old rugged cross stained with blood so divine, a wondrous beauty I see; for ‘twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died to pardon and sanctify me, So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross ‘til my trophies at last I lay down.  I will cling to the old rugged cross and exchange it some day for a crown.”

It is marvelous to have victory over complaining, over being mistreated or ostracized.  It is what it is. 

Jesus said, “Whosoever takes up His cross and follows Him…”

Mar 8:34  And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Mar 8:35  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

Brother Gyme Sunday School 2/21/16

Brother Gyme Sunday School 2/21/16

Last week we learned a little about Corinth.  Heathenism was rampant, idol worship and corruptness.  There is no new thing under the sun, this shouldn’t shock us.  In the world we live in we see some of the same things.  We see things that are hard to believe, but it is happening and it is real.

1^st and 2^nd Corinthians were written to the Church of God, “With all and in every place that call upon the name of the Lord Jesus.”

This is to us today.  It applies to our life today.  It is comforting to our heart that this day did not shock God but that this is an old spirit that has been around.  It was there in the forties.  Read old writings and you will say, “Was that happening in that day?” 

We want to be honest with ourselves and see things the way that they are so that we can go on. 

Paul was called of God and what he writes is from God.  Men did not set him up, God set him up.  God called him to proclaim the gospel. 

We are called to proclaim the gospel.  That is our job.  We are not called to proclaim our thoughts or convictions but the gospel.

Called to be an apostle, Galatians.

1Co 1:5  That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

Wisdom and knowledge come from God.  That is why Paul got it right because he got it from God.

Paul wrote this because of divisions.  There were sects breaking off then just as it happens today.

1Co 1:6  Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:

1Co 1:7  So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

1Co 1:8  Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He wants to establish us.  The enemy can be mean in mind battles.  He tries to play with our mind.  My instruction to my daughter is, “You have to get violent with this.  You have to take a stand.”  Say, “I am going to get control over this.  When that thought comes, I am going to cast it down.”

1Co 1:9  God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Obeying; obeying the Word of God will help us to have the same mind and the same judgment.  Someone else may have more understanding than me but we will still have the same mind.  Many times a babe in Christ has taught us something.

It is important to us that we have no divisions, schisms, or any separation at all.  It does not say that we cannot have opinions or thoughts, but when it comes to the gospel, then we should all say the same thing.  If we are not unified then things will not flow the way they should.

He told the Corinthians, “Why are these divisions among you?  Why are these things happening?  They should not.” 

Amidst us we can see how when a church cuts someone off we think, “Division.”  Little things within our house can cause the same thing.  I tell my children, “What about team Kelly?  Are you working for your brother?  Are you helping your brother or sister?  Or are you tearing them down?”  Sometimes you can hinder your brother or sister just by not being an encouragement. 

How are we talking to one another?  How do we handle our differences?  Paul was saying, “No.  There is not the Jews and then the Greeks in the church of God.”  It is that way in the church and in our family. 

We are individuals and individuals think about themselves.  For there to be peace and no divisions we have to sometimes set aside our self.  “What am I doing to keep the peace?”  My part is important but so is my son’s part.

We should be perfectly joined together, all have the same mind and in the same judgment.

Brother Bill - When Achan got out of alignment, it caused the Children of Israel to lose the battle.  It is the same with us.  When we are out of whack, it will hinder the body.

1Ti 6:1  Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.

1Ti 6:2  And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

1Ti 6:3  If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

1Ti 6:4  He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

1Ti 6:5  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

1Ti 6:6  But godliness with contentment is great gain.

If any teach otherwise and consent not with wholesome words… words of sound health.  Wholesome - to be uncorrupt true in doctrine, be in health, be safe, and sound.

There is safety in wholesome words.  The doctrine which is according to godliness.

1Co 1:11  For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

Proverbs tells us that only by pride comes contention.  If we have contention then pride is working.  We don’t have to do any other then say, “God I am sorry that I let pride work.”  We need to find where it is and get rid of it. 

If any teach otherwise then he is proud.  Why are there so many divisions and sects?  Whenever there is a split or divide it is because pride is working.  “I am right and my way is right.”  It is fine to have an opinion, but put it in its proper place.  If it contradicts the Word of God then it will lead you astray.

Pride comes before a fall. 

1Co 1:11  For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

1Co 1:12  Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

1Co 1:13  Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

1Co 1:14  I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;

1Co 1:15  Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.

1Co 1:16  And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

1Co 1:17  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

1Co 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Paul said, “Christ sent me not to baptize.”  This helps us see that salvation is not through baptism. 

We see that they were trying to lift up man.  We need to keep people in their right place.  One is not above another.  When people put their ministry on a pedestal instead of praying for them then it can cause them to get off. 

Eph 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

The power of God to give a new mind, a new heart, and a new spirit!

Brother Gary Wednesday Evening 2/17/16

Brother Gary Wednesday Evening 2/17/16

2Co 6:11  O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.

It is wonderful that God’s people’s heart is enlarged among us.  We need great men of faith.  We need great preachers and great workers: great in love, great in works, and great in the heart.

2Co 6:1  We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

Receive not the grace of God in vain:  we have been taught over and again about the grace of God.  It is a mine that we will not exhaust and a jewel that will only increase in value.  It is the divine influence upon the soul and its reflection in the life.  Don’t receive it in vain.

Receive in vain: lessening its worth or significance.  When God sends grace, it is not the thought of a warning, but it is a wonderful thing to have God send grace to us.  We all have prayed for grace and know the need of grace.  We have preached come boldly before the throne of grace.

Grace means graciousness.  We want to be a gracious people.  When God moves upon us to be gracious, we want to go out of our self.  It takes effort and time to thank someone. 

You never know how something will be received even when you feel that you need to thank someone and have a great appreciation. 

This is a day when it takes just a little folding of the hands.  You don’t have to put any effort to have worldliness overtake you.  It comes looking for you. 

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Living sacrifice: We believe that we die daily and we believe that as a definite experience.  Dead to the world.

Grace is such a benefit!  To have grace! To not receive it in vain.  In our daily life, Karen is seeing all the things that she needs to get out there and do.  There are flowers that are trying to bloom where last year’s leaves are that she feels like she needs to remove. 

The grace of God helps us to know, “This is what I need to do.  This is the song or the scripture that I need to have ready.”  A word fitly spoken… it takes grace. 

There are times when, as Karen reproved the individual that was talking bad at work, we need the grace of God.  We need to reprove people.  We need to have grace that we never accept wrong. 

Grace means joy liberality: in a world that is full of so much sorrow!  On Monday after the death of Manuel and after the death of Al; it felt like, “Just gloom all over.” 

I began to worship, call on God, and shut the door.  I began to exercise, when we come into his presence there is beauty, majesty, and glory.  God’s grace changed that entire scene.  I thank God for that and I have not gone back under it.

There is grace to change us.  The situation may not change but we don’t have to let the situation change us.

Grace is such a gift!  One thing that someone can write on my parent’s grave stone and on mine and Karen’s is, “He taught us to be thankful.”  I am struck by how children are being taught.  Someone is teaching Alex to be thankful.  That is wonderful. 

All that teach their children to be thankful and for all that war against this entitlement attitude, thank God.  Grace teaches to be thankful.

Grace brings pleasure to our life.  It is wonderful to be so happy.  Thankworthy goes along with our thought on gift.  Favor.

Don’t receive God’s grace in vain.  We have been blessed with a conscience.  Keep your conscience very active and very tender towards God.

Some people gamble with their conscience.  Unless God sends thunder and lightning, they will go on and on and on.  Don’t ever do it.  Don’t receive the grace of God in vain.  Today is the day of salvation.

2Co 6:2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

2Co 6:3  Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

2Co 6:4  But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

Patience is calmly trusting.  My life would have been a lot different if I had learned this at a young age.  Trusting God in the valley of school, in the valley of decision.  Calmly trusting God in the valley of weeping.  Trusting God in the valley of difficulty. 

I was talking to more than one person about individuals that are in sin.  Sin destroyed my sister’s son, Kenny.  He met an early destruction.  Alcohol got him.  Before he got through with his journey, he wept at what sin cost him.  He went from way up to penniless.  He went from being influential and all those pleasures that go with sin to laying in a hospital, dying alone.  There is a price for sin. 

If you, or you know anyone that wants their children to be just normal and just enjoy sin, then ask God to give them a video of my sister’s children.  If it is normal than this world is even sadder than your minds can grasp.

Calmly trusting God: you have to pay the price before the test comes, “I am going to trust you God.  I am going to lay my experience on that cornerstone.  I am going to build a back wall without a window.  I am going to do as Sister Henry wrote, “We are dead to the world and its pleasures, our affections are centered above.” (Page 300 in the hymnal)

Approving and in much patience calmly trusting God.  We have to have it settled before we get there or we will fly apart and the heartaches will come.

2Co 6:5  In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

2Co 6:6  By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

2Co 6:7  By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

The armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left hand:  The weapons of our warfare are not carnal.  When we are going to face a strong warfare we need to remember this.

Casting down imaginations. Whenever you face difficulty the enemy will come with emotions and fear.  “You better not do that.”  When God puts you in a position to be standing for God, “Casting down imaginations… bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

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

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

Wherever you are, whether facing fanaticism or compromise, whether facing principalities on the right hand or the left, we need the whole armor of God that we may be able to stand against the tricks of the devil. 

We are going to be faced with opposition, every time that you stand for God and truth, God witnesses to that.  We are not fighting people, we are fighting spirits.

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.

This scripture is written for today.

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.

To withstand means to stand and to keep standing.  Every time we see people they are going to check us out to see if we really believe that God hears and answers prayer, to see if we really believe in living holy, and if we really believe in salvation and sanctification.

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

One time my dad got preaching away on standing on the Word of God and he put his bible down and stood upon it.  “I want to tell you, you have to stand on the Word of God.”

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

Even when people get angry, this message will produce peace if they will do what it says.  The Word of God produces peace.

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

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

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

Brethren, let us put on the whole armor of God.