Brother Gary Sunday Morning 5/17/15

Brother Gary Sunday Morning 5/17/15

Pro 31:27  She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

Our burden is to help us as the church realize our responsibility to help one another.  Sometimes events of life put us in a position where we feel that we are on our own in this journey.  If we as the church will function as God would have us to function, then everyone will know that they are loved and cared for.

Courtship and marriage are a journey and there are things that are unknown and a certain amount of risk.  There will be times when us as the church will take our heart cry to someone to try to be a help and it is very well received and other times we reach out to someone and they say, “I don’t need help.”

In Proverbs 31 it describes a virtuous woman.  The bible also speaks of men of valor.  The meaning is the same.  The Bible wants both the sisters and the brothers to be men of virtue and honor.

We live in a world where for centuries there have been those that have chosen to be men of valor or women of virtue.  There are also those that say, “I don’t want to do good in life.  I don’t want to be a father or a mother to my children.  I don’t want to have responsibility.  I want to live by sowing my wild oats.” 

I don’t think I have ever met anyone live with that attitude to their dying day, but I have met lots of them with regrets. 

Virtue means a miracle.  I want it real in my life, in my relationship as a brother, and as the family of God.  Many times we feel strongly the great need of instruction and help of one another.  That is a part of looking to the ways of one another. 

May is a difficult month for the church in Paradise.  As a church, God has entrusted us with virtue: the ability to handle the challenges of today.  The ability to edify.  We are thankful for the young couples that are here today.  I wouldn’t want them to make the mistakes that I made in my marriage. 

Virtue means ability.  God has entrusted us with the ability to accomplish everything that we need to accomplish.  You all know and understand the parable of the talents.  What God has given to you, use. 

I am preaching to a congregation that has been entrusted with a lot of things from God.  Unless we use them we become dormant, and sad but true many have lost what they once had because they didn’t use it to the honor and glory of God.

God has entrusted us with strength.  The thought of virtue is having strength.  I look upon us as the family of God.  I think of the thought of rescuing the perishing and the challenge of being the church of 2015.  We see Babylon playing: coffee carts in the church, party time, very little gospel, and a lot of playing.

We can still be the church set upon the hill.  The church that loves God and God comes down and meets with us.  People come and go and say, “I have met with God and received instruction.” 

My challenge this year is that we as the church and I as an individual will experience Zion in a greater way.  That sinners will be fearful in Zion.  That the Holy Spirit of God sends a realization to those individuals, “You have not measured.  You need to measure to the Word of God.”

God doesn’t want us playing church, but to have a purpose in our life.  God wants you young people to have a purpose in your life.  May God help me as the pastor and your parents as parents, and us as the church to encourage every individual to have a real purpose in your life: “I want to know God.  I want to be an example of the believers.”

As far as following the crowd, whether you are a child or a senior citizen, following the crowd is not the answer.  Following Jesus is the answer.

Pro 31:10  Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

You might say, “When I came to Jesus Christ, I had a colorful past.  When I came to Jesus repenting and confessing and turning from my sin.  Jesus forgave me of my sin, buried it in the depths of the sea, He cleansed my heart, wrote my name on the Lamb’s book of life, and started me on a journey to virtue.”  For Brothers the journey is to valor.

Her price is above rubies.  The value of the Church.  The church is not a building. 

Act 2:47  Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Mat 18:20  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

The value of the church is far above rubies.  It is the household and family of God.  The household puts much effort into being a household.  My wife and I both work so that we can have a home.  There must be effort put forth. 

Don’t try to teach, or preach, or sing, or testify if you don’t pray and seek God.  The value of a message or a song that is prayed out of heaven money cannot buy.  It is far above rubies.

“I think I can get by on my own.”  That is your thought.  The bible doesn’t teach that.  We need one another.

Pro 31:14  She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

There is no place on earth that God ordains to send messages out for the church to preach.  The old messages of DS Warner, FG Smith, or Emerson Wilson were good.  But don’t ever try to preach someone else’s message.  Those messages will be sounding brass and tinkling cymbal if they are not born out of heaven.

In Jeremiah the bible teaches us if we turn to God with all our heart, soul, mind, and desire that God will turn to us with all His heart, and with all His spirit.

Thank God we live in the Gospel Day where it is the desire of God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Ghost to open the windows of heaven to our soul.

Pro 31:15  She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

There is the night of the soul.  I haven’t visited with many people this last week or had many phone calls, but there will be times when you feel that it is a tough season of your life.  A couple weeks ago I had a phone call where one of the saints told me, “My heart is broken.” 

We have been entrusted with the thought that when a brother and sister is in a difficult spot we arise and say, “What can I say from God, what can I give from God?  There has to be food from heaven for that soul that is in a difficult spot.”

There is nothing like the dark night of the soul and someone calling and saying, “I have had you on my mind.  I am praying for you.”

We have to forget about ourselves.  As a pastor, I preach against knowing everything that is going on in everyone’s life.  We can’t be so calloused that we can’t call everyone that is here or absent and say, “I am praying for you.” 

You will not be rewarded with how things were received.  You will be rewarded for being faithful.  There are some people that are so starchy that they will never admit that they have a need.  Don’t let them hinder you from obeying God. 

Pro 31:16  She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

I want to preach on the thought of desiring a field of labor.  In the harvest field so ripe there is a work for all to do.  It might be your neighbor.  It could be anywhere else that God would choose.  It could be your classroom, it could be these little towns… the emphasis is to work with the soil until you can plant the Word of Life.

We are taught to be examples of the believers and we are taught to sow the seed.  Get your Bible out and have the seed of the Word of God to sow.  It is a powerful thing.

Pro 31:17  She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

Put on the whole armor of God.  Whatever God has convicted you of, when God shines light, “Son or God You need to measure here or there.  Son or daughter, walk in this light.”

If we don’t put on the whole armor of God we will not be able to stand against the wiles of the enemy.

Pro 31:18  She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

I don’t know what difficulties will come for you or what your trial will be, keep your lamp trimmed and burning. 

When it feels, “All I had hoped for is gone.”  America has the thought, “Youth has everything and let’s just take the old to a mountainside and let them die.”  No.  While you have breath you are of value.  Hold your testimony.  Keep your lamp trimmed and burning.  Walk in the light and hold your testimony with God.

Pro 31:19  She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

Pro 31:20  She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

That man, woman, boy, or girl that doesn’t know the plan of salvation is poor.  Know how to explain the plan of salvation: that all have sinned; that Jesus came to save all. 

Know how to explain what condemnation does.  God doesn’t condemn us, it is the sins of our life that bring condemnation.  The reason that so many are sick, unhappy is because of condemnation.  The reason that so many are rude, crude, and ugly is condemnation.  They feel so terrible because of how they treated their children, their parents, their teachers… those that they should have been good to.

Condemnation produces hopelessness.  “I failed God.  I failed my fellow man.”  That is different than conviction.  There is an answer to our problems today, it is Jesus.

You and I cannot stick our head in the sand.  “I cannot say anything because someone will not like me.”  Heaven will not be yours because you won a popularity contest.  If you love someone then tell them the truth. 

Virtue reaches out to the poor and the needy.  We are all heartbroken when we think of a young man, a junior in high school, his mother died one day last week in the hospital.  You think of all his needs:  car, money, food, cloths… You know what his real need is, it is salvation.

If you have a lot of money, what I know of America today, put it to a good use.  But what he really needs is God.  Reach to the poor, the needy.  Not just those out of the church.  Sometimes it is your brother or sister on the next pew that needs a word of encouragement.

Pro 31:21  She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

God so marvelously ordained that there would be the garments of salvation and sanctification, the garments of humility.

Pro 31:25  Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

When God comes in He gives strength, honor, and rejoicing.

Pro 31:26  She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

Wisdom comes from God.  One of the fruits of the Spirit is kindness.

Pro 31:27  She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

Look well to the ways of the household, the body of Christ. 

I will never forget one time going to camp-meeting and seeing this pickup and camper pull up.  I got excited.  A dear sister said, “Young man be careful.”  That was before Karen.  I look back to the snare that was laid for me.  I wouldn’t be here or serving God this morning.  Children, can you be told and instructed? 

Parents teach your children to receive instruction.  Godly instruction.

You cannot help someone that you haven’t made deposits of love in their soul.  If there is someone that there is a gulf between you and them, build a bridge before you try to help them. 

Look well to the ways of your children.  My mind goes to the thought, “What will happen when you get a little older?”  Know how to encourage, God will take care of you.

My mother became a widow way too young.  My dad wasted his fortunes prior to salvation.  Thank God he got saved.  My mother had nothing.  They might have owned a little old house.  They had very little money.  My dad was a lumberjack.  God never failed her.

The night she died, the furnace quit.  It froze every one of the African violets.  Young people, let the church and your parents help you to look well to your ways. 

Moms and dads live so that you have discernment.  Live close to God so your children hear you pray.  I have a lot of wonderful memories of my mom and dad.  I thought as I was getting ready for today, “Oh if I could only hear my mother pray.”  I remember when I shut off my power saw as I was working in the woods, hearing my father pray.

Parents, grandparents live close to GOD.  Look well to the ways of her children.

Pro 31:28  Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

There is nothing as wonderful as brothers and sisters in Christ saying as Paul, “I thank God on every remembrance.”

Christ’s attitude toward His church:

Isa 62:3  Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.

They will be as a royal diadem in His hands.

We are living in a churchy world but it is a world that the Word of God has designed to cause God’s church to be as a city set on a hill.

The redeemed are a treasure in His hand.  How beautiful!  How much He cares for His own!

Jer 32:41  Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.

God’s attitude toward everyone that is saved is, “I am going to bless them.  I will open all my spirit and all my desire to them.  All the blessings that I can bless them with, I will gladly give to them.” 

Sister Teri Sunday School 5/17/15

Sister Teri Sunday School 5/17/15

The burden of these Sunday school lessons is that we would live Coram Deo: in the presence of God, under the authority of God, and to the glory of God.

God has a purpose and is working everything that happens on this earth towards that purpose, whether it be a good thing or a bad thing.  When we question why a good God would allow bad things to happen we are looking for His remote purpose. 

Sometimes bad things happen as a result of going the wrong way.  There is a law of sowing and reaping.  Sometimes He will work things that seem bad to get us to turn from our own way to His. 

When a person is not right with God and has a religious profession, they must leave their false religious profession and own that they are lost.  They need to recognize that there is a spiritual need there. 

What appears bad in our mind, God uses to bring us to His ultimate purpose: union with Him and fellowship in every way.

Because God is good and has a good intent He is working good things in our life for His praise and His glory.  He is working it to bring us to Him.

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

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

Php 2:14  Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

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

Php 2:16  Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

The spirit of God will work in our heart to desire to do His will and His good pleasure.  When God is working things that don’t seem good, realize that God is working it for good and do things without murmuring and disputing.  Rather than struggling and resisting, we need to ask “What are you trying to work in me?” 

If we struggle and resist, we can handle things wrong and behave in the flesh which will not work to the glory of God and will not cause us to shine as His light, His grace shining through us in this present and evil world.

Hold forth the Word of life to others.

Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Eph 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Eph 1:8  Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

Eph 1:9  Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

Eph 1:10  That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

From before creation it was predetermined in God’s mind that He would have a holy people.  Every one of us was predestinated in God’s mind to be saved.  He gave us a choice and because of His choice we don’t always go the way that He predestined it to be.  The choice is ours.

It is by His grace and His power working in us that we have forgiveness of sin, redemption, and adoption.  It is all His grace.  Any wisdom and prudence we have is by His grace and His power.  He has made known to us.

His purpose is that we would all be gathered into one to Him, in complete fellowship with Him.  It is all for His glory and all by His strength and His working in us.  Everything about our salvation, working for God, and success in living Holy is by His glory and design.  All glory to Him.

Rom 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Rom 5:2  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Rom 5:3  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

Rom 5:4  And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

Rom 5:5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Tribulation that is not good, in our minds, is for our good.  It works patience, experience, hope, and makes not ashamed.  When love works in us, then it works through us, and then out to others. 

Psa 145:1  David's Psalm of praise. I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.

Psa 145:2  Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.

Psa 145:3  Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.

Psa 145:4  One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.

Psa 145:5  I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.

Psa 145:6  And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.

Psa 145:7  They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.

Psa 145:8  The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

Psa 145:9  The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

Psa 145:10  All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.

Psa 145:11  They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;

Psa 145:12  To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.

Psa 145:13  Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.

Psa 145:14  The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.

Psa 145:15  The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.

Psa 145:16  Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

Psa 145:17  The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

Psa 145:18  The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

Psa 145:19  He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

Psa 145:20  The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.

Psa 145:21  My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

We are His works.  The saved and the unsaved are His works.  His great mercy is toward His works. 

Php 1:12  But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

Php 1:13  So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;

Php 1:14  And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Paul realized that even though he had suffered all that he had suffered, God furthered the gospel and worked it in a greater way than He would have otherwise.  How otherwise could God have reached the Palace? 

This also encouraged others to proclaim the truth no matter what happened and to know that God was working.  It is an encouragement even today.

Looking through the mirror, we need to judge the current situations by the light of the remote purpose.  We don’t have all the information so may not know what the end is.  We are still looking in a dark mirror because we don’t know the full purpose.  We need just the light to know that God will work it for good. 

1Co 13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

The then face to face may be interpreted, “In heaven.”  But some of it is just when we get through the trial, have met face to face with God, and see His purpose.  When we get to the other end, we can look back and see, “Oh that is what God was working.” 

As we share our experiences of what God does for us that encourages us, we encourage one another.

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

God will work good through bad situations even for those that are not serving Him.  But we know that because we love God are the called to His purpose and have sought and submitted ourselves to His purpose that He will work everything for His good.

Psa 30:5  For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Joh 16:12  I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Sometimes God doesn’t show us what is coming because we are not able to bear it.  We would be overwhelmed.  God gives us grace and light for the day and for the moment.  God reveals things by His spirit when we need it and in a way that we will understand.

Joh 16:19  Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?

Joh 16:20  Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

Joh 16:21  A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.

Joh 16:22  And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

When Jesus was crucified it seemed all their hopes and confidence in Him was destroyed.  Even though He had told them what was coming, they didn’t comprehend. 

Because He had told them, the Spirit of God was able to bring it back to their memory, “He told you He would die and rise again.”  That gave them confidence. 

He had given them some understanding before and then reminded them afterwards.  He was working all things for the good.

Psa 138:3  In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.

Psa 138:7  Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.

Psa 138:8  The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

Perfect means to bring to a completion and to an end.  It is not just bring it to an end and getting through it.  When we know that God is working it for His purpose then we know the perfecting is more than just getting through it.  It means that the intended goal is reached and the desired purpose is accomplished. 

When we go through difficulties then think, “What is the desired end for this?”  And let God work through it so that we get the good out of it.  If we don’t get the good out of it, then God will bring something else to us so that we come to the desired end.

Past: In the past when I cried unto you, you answered and strengthened me in my soul.

Present: in this present situation you will revive me and bring me through.

Future: the Lord will perfect… it is talking about God’s purpose in the whole thing. 

To trust in a good purpose of God is the very essence of godly faith.  Our world, its operation, and its goal is not an accident.  This is my Father’s world and everything that is happening is for His goal and His purpose.

God works for our perfecting. 

Heb 12:5  And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Heb 12:7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Heb 12:8  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Heb 12:9  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

Heb 12:10  For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

Heb 12:11  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Heb 12:12  Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

Heb 12:13  And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

Those that have submitted themselves to the correction, submitted their will to God, and allowed Him to work through it, whatever it is that God is correcting us for and working in us, make straight paths and let the work be done otherwise the lame will be turned out of the way.  Let it be healed.

It is ok to ask, “Why?”  When we desire to know the purpose of God in this and what He is working, it is ok to ask, “Why?” 

Job had no control of His situation.  He asked why.  He knew that God was good and he yielded his own will to God knowing that He had a good purpose for it all.  He patiently endured and saw the end of his confidence, “When He has tried me I shall come forth as gold.”

We have often, when we are going through deep distresses, gone to Job.  “When He has tried me I shall come forth as gold.”

2Co 1:3  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

2Co 1:4  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

We are able to receive much more comfort and help from a person that has gone through the situation that we are going through.  If someone has never been there, they can at most say, “We are praying for you.”  If they have never been there they may be as Job’s comforters and instead criticize.

When Jesus died on the cross, he didn’t deserve to die, but He suffered for our benefit.

Sometimes we suffer because we respond too hastily and emotionally.  We can suffer for a wrong decision that is made under those circumstances. 

Sometimes we suffer for the bad decision of others.  What our kids do will affect us.  Sometimes we suffer just because of life.

God will work to reveal the glory of God.

Isa 43:1  But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

Isa 43:2  When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Isa 43:3  For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.

Isa 43:4  Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.

Isa 43:5  Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;

Isa 43:6  I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;

Isa 43:7  Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

God created us for His glory.

Brother Gary Wednesday Evening 5/13/15

Brother Gary Wednesday Evening 5/13/15

Dan 11:32  And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

We want to be prepared to do exploits this summer of 2015.  We look up to God for a strong desire from God.  We all have this treasure in earthen vessels.  I don’t need to tell you how your flesh or mind will speak to you. 

There is a wonderful privilege that each one of us has and that is being still before God.  When we pray, “Thy will be done.”  It means, “All these other things, I put on the altar of submission.  What you have brings fullness of joy, draws me closer to heaven and further from the world.”

Spiritual adventures:  How children like an adventure!  With you and I spiritually, break the mold of everyday life and say, “We are going to drive a new road.  We are going to visit a brand new green-house.  We are going to go to a new place to hike.” 

Spiritually, as all of you that work with souls, you cannot have any contact without realizing, “I am dealing with souls that are very, very needy.” 

You and I know that the preparation of the heart is of the Lord.  He will not bully His way into your heart.  It will happen because you love God enough and have an identity with one soul enough that you recognize that:

Jer 10:23  O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

Pro 14:12  There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

We feel our desperate need for God to prepare our heart.  He prepares it in the stillness of worshipping God.  We have a pattern of tabernacle worship that brings an awesome stillness to our heart.

The preparation of the heart is of the Lord.  I am not going to try to tell you who to call, or who’s door to knock on.  This message is about you and I as the church of the living God; we claim the highest claim, we claim to love souls. 

In order to reach souls, we must know the exploits that God has for us.  We live in a world that will leave us calloused.  If you have any exposure to modern media, the goal is to keep your vision clear. 

The preparation of the heart is of the Lord.  Our lives will become so full, enriched, and convicted; we will feel the desperate need of having the love of God spread abroad in our heart.  If the love of God is not spread over our natural personality, the flesh will come over and we will be a beast.

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

When Adam Clarke was a very young man, he was challenged on this scripture to go through the Bible and study the Bible so that he would have a grasp on God and truth. 

There has to be a strong desire for God.  We all have strong natural appetites.  We need a strong desire for more than what this flesh can give us.  Whether you have a lot, a piece of property, or just an apartment, you must have a desire past that. 

We must have a desire to have a lot of God in our services.  I believe we can have as much God that the posts of the door will be moved and the angels will cry out, “Holy, holy,” as they did in Isaiah. 

We must be willing to separate ourselves from some things.  Nothing matters in this world.  If God told me that I had to quit doing this or that, I would because we want God.  We want to do those exploits in 2015.

Instead God says, “Seek me first and all these things will be added unto you.”  Sister Phyllis Martin said, “I could never have had as full of life if I hadn’t obeyed God.”  If you want to be lonely, poor, and unhappy then leave God out of your life.

If you go through a season of no open doors, then go through the season.  Go right on serving God.  You don’t know where He is still working.  When it seems that He is not opening doors, He is still working.

Psa 27:4  One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

I have one desire of my soul:  He had one desire but there are three places to it.  He desired the presence of God.  He desired to see the beauty of the Lord.  As it is in the world today, as you see your family, as you see children that are lost, as you see relatives that are lost, as you see individuals where they are, other than seeing the beauty of the Lord, you will spiral way down.

When you get into the presence of God, you will feel that nothing is impossible with God.  One of the great adventures that I am on is to be changed into the same beautiful image of the Lord.  You say, your eyesight is poor, your hearing is bad, these skin cancers may get ugly… but I can still have beauty.  You and I will not have it unless we go into His presence and your and my life is changed.

I am told that it was a turning point in Brother Mullan from being a sweet man to becoming hard because he went to some of his family and they had apostatized and instead of turning to God it made him angry.

I remember going to camp-meeting and this brother that I don’t remember the name of preached the heavens open.  I ran into him the next year and he had turned into a glacier, cold, hard, and bitter.  It could happen to anyone of us, unless we turn to God. 

To enquire: God help me to know what you want me to do and help me to know how to do it.

It convicts me every time I follow the pattern of tabernacle worship.  There is the brazen altar.  I am humbled immediately when I think of the price that was paid for me.  The blood of the Lamb was shed.  Sin would have destroyed me. 

I don’t need to tell you, sin destroyed Kelly’s.  You drive around the country and see the crosses.  My brother died at 21 in an automobile accident; he left children.  You and I would not be able to watch a video of one of their lives.  Kelly’s have a bad record. 

Go to that laver where you can wash.  Wash me.  You say, “It is my personality.”  Get washed.  You can be washed and perfected.  You can measure.

The door:  I think of being able to get into God’s Church.  There is a door, it is Jesus.  I get in the door and there is the bread and there is the light.  You take the Word of God and He feeds you and gives you light on that path.

You go to the golden altar.  I realize that once the carnal man is gone he doesn’t come back unless you sin, but I also realize that you die daily; I set myself apart. 

We have to get past this thing, “I’m not sure they will accept me.”  We have to get into the Holiest of Holies.  Perfect love to God, to man, to one another, to those that have disappointed me. 

Don’t forget where you came from.  Don’t forget the longsuffering of God and of the saints. 

Brother Gary Sunday Morning 5/10/15

Brother Gary Sunday Morning 5/10/15

The questions of Bathsheba. 

This message is dedicated to the value of a Godly mother and the attributes of a Godly mother.

Pro 31:1  The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

Pro 31:2  What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

Lemuel is another word for Solomon.  Here we see the thought, “What my son?”  Everyone in this audience was once a child.  We were once in the thought, “What will we do with our life?  What will be the important aspect of our life?  How will we plan our life?” 

It is not wrong to make plans.  The important thing is to seek God in the making of our plans. 

What my child your goals?  I’m sure Solomon’s mother had great convictions and desires.  She had a colorful past but she came to God and did her best to raise her son in the fear and admonition of the Lord. 

She had failed, but she got it right and wanted to keep it right.  She did not want her son to go into the sin that she had known.

“What are you going to seek in life?  What will be your goal?  How will you spend your life?”  These are vital questions.  Too many times people take off down the road of life and just see where it will lead them.  We have way too many examples of how dangerous that is.

We are blessed to have children and young married couples and everyone that is here this morning in this audience.

1Ti 4:12  Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

As you age, youth takes on the thought, “You are still young at 30, 40 and brother Herb was in the convictions that you were still young at 50.” 

Let no man despise thy youth.  Everyone that is 40 years or younger, I trust God will help you to realize what an awesome privilege that you have to have the Word of God speaking to you.  “What am I doing here?  Why am I wasting time here, doing this or that?”  Remember David said, “Don’t forget God, remember God thy creator.”

Now Paul is saying, “Let no man despise thy youth. But be a good example in word.”

It is so important that we are an example in how we talk and what we talk about.  There are many avenues of getting thoughts to your mind.  You can live in a world of all the evil that is going on.  It will captivate your mind and your thinking.

You can live in a world of entertainment.  I believe in knowing how to really enjoy life, but don’t try to fix your soul with entertainment.  It will not work.  Only Jesus will satisfy your soul.

It is vital that you learn how to talk.  Your heavenly father has a real concern that you learn how to talk and what to talk about.  A standard for a sister is that the law of kindness is in your mouth.  He doesn’t want you to have a razor sharp tongue but to have discretion of what you talk about and where you talk about it.

As the Word and Spirit of God have taught us over and over, charity never fails.  You may be in an extreme difficult situation in your life and struggling with many things.  For those that feel they have gotten older or old, be an example of the Love of God in action.

Bathsheba said to Solomon, “What my son?”  I wonder if he was going back memories lane and reminiscing, “My mother taught me and instructed me.”

What the son of my womb?  Us brothers know what it is like to father a child but we don’t know what it is like to be a mother carrying a child.  Every day you are giving life to that child.  I believe Bathsheba was very concerned about this child that was going to be named Solomon.  Very concerned with his life and if he would live.

Be an example in charity.  You cannot out give God.  You cannot out love the Lord.  You can become rigid, paranoid, hard, and cynical; the spirit of our world will make you that way.  The love of God will not make you that way. 

We realize how much love we have received from God.  He sent His Son, and over and over His love comes to us. 

He sent us His Spirit.  We must each bring our body under subjection, “I bring my body under…”  We all make a choice of what spirit we submit to.  Submit to the Holy Spirit of God in every avenue of your life, to have the Holy Spirit of God leading, guiding and dwelling in you. 

She said to Solomon, “Thou son of my womb.”  Oh sons and daughters this morning.  To think first of the love of a natural mother.  We face today sometimes a child saying, “I don’t know whether my mother loves me.”  But you can know that the spiritual mother, the church, loves you. 

We thank God for godly mothers.  The mother carried the child, and prayed for the child.  Our times are so shaky.  The enemy is working to destroy anything that is of eternal value.  Brother Davis said at the passing of his mother, “No one could pray for me like my mother.” 

In the world we live people say, “Everything is great.  My son is a doctor, the other a lawyer, and my daughter is a teacher.  Everything is great.”  Ok, but how is it spiritually?

In faith being an example.  I will believe God.  I am not just going to look at the visuals.  I will look to God and say, “I am going to believe God.  I will have faith in Him.”

Children believe God and know that He will always do what He has promised.  No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.

True friends are found among them that love God. The deep places that are found are in the hand of God.  There are reasons why there are deep places, it is so God can come and say, “I am still God.”

There are a lot of things going on in the world today and things may not have worked out like you wanted, but remember the deepest places belong to God, and if you will be His child then He will be there.

In purity.  There is nothing like a pure mind.  Whether you are my age or the age of the youngest child, purity is wonderful.  You may say, “I have already messed up purity.”  It just depends if you want to stay messed up.  We serve a God that performs miracles.  One of the miracles that He performs is giving virtue.  His name is wonderful and that means a miracle.

All have sinned and come short of the glory of God and we would all say to these children, “Keep your mind pure.” 

You may have messed up your life and gotten involved in many things.  But we serve a living God whose name is wonderful.  He will change you from where you are to where He wants you to be.

Paul, the man that wrote this to Timothy, beat up the saints, but He got a hold of God.

“Till I come give attendance to reading.”

Read the bible.  Read things that edify and build up.

Do you know how to encourage someone?  You say, “I think that I am the one that needs encouragement.”  That is the problem, you are focused on yourself.  God has the strength of the mountains.  If you are sick and tired of the hole that you are in, then head to God.

“I almost feel that I am going to drown in this hole.”  Get your eye on the mountain where there is strength.  Get on that mountain and get an anointing until you can pray and encourage someone else.

Son of my vows:  Parents pray for your children, vow to teach them the Word of God.  I visited a 24 year old man that is religious.  He is married and has a child that is about 2 years old.  I said, “Mother’s Day is coming up and it is vital that you wish your wife a happy mother’s day.”  I asked him if he knew what it said in Proverbs 31:10-31?  He said, “I have never heard of Proverbs 31.”

It is vital that we get this word of God out. 

Psa 119:9  BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

Young ladies how you can be perfected and have your life blessed is by taking heed to the Word of God.

1Ti 4:12  Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

1Ti 4:13  Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

1Ti 4:14  Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

To doctrine:  we need to know the Word of God.  By the truth is the only way that an individual will be free.

Neglect not the gift that is in thee:  To everyone that is saved, you need to know what you are called to do.  You need to then be very busy doing what you are called to do.  There are no inactive members of the body of Christ. 

When we come to Christ repenting and turning from our sin, we become a member of God’s church and of the Body of Christ.  God has a job for every member in His church.

Meditate, give thyself:  Take heed to thyself:  as Bathsheba said to her son, “What son of my womb, of my bowels?” 

Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Joh 7:16  Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

Joh 7:17  If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

The mother experience:  you mothers could exhort, I really couldn’t.  I know a little bit about Moses’ mother.  She lived in a day that babies were murdered.  She had a son and called him Moses.  She had a plan.

Mothers, be spiritual so that God can give you a plan for your son and your daughter.  Children need someone that has an identity with God to be an example to them and to pray for them.

Hannah wanted a baby.  How she longed for that child!  “This child have I given back to God.” 

My mother was saved after the death of her brother.  God taught her Bible sanctification and consecration.  She realized, “I need everything on the altar.”  Her husband was unsaved.  My father, prior to salvation, was not the easiest man to live with.  I know this because I know that his youngest son Gary is not.  My mother in her consecration told of putting my daddy on the altar. 

Her firstborn: my wife has a beautiful picture of my mother and her firstborn.  My mother told of consecrating her firstborn to God.  Moms give your sons and daughters back to God.  Vow to Him, “I am going to pray for this son and daughter.  I am going to love them and remind them of the vows that I made to God.”

I believe that the vows of Bathsheba echoed in the ears of Solomon.  He wrote this under the conviction that he had a godly mother. 

My mother put her second son on the altar, the son she loved and cared for.  She told of placing him there.  Give yourself some time for your consecration.  Don’t hurry.  Do it so you know they are there.  My mother prayed for a child after Joanne. 

Then came Gyme.  She told of getting him on the altar.  There were tears.  She had a prayer baby.  While she prayed for her children, she prayed for herself, “My vow to you is that I will do my best to train them.”

My mother was as strict with Jack as she was clear down to me.  In her tears, she visited my brother in jail.  Sin did not treat my brother well.

Then she had Joanne.  She carried that baby and nourished that baby with her life’s strength.  If you have a mother, tell her that you love her.  Mom loved those children.  She loved Joanne.  I believe that she did her very best.  She got Joanne on the altar. 

I don’t know if I was hardly able to walk when she put me on the altar.  Knowing my mother, she didn’t leave any stone unturned.

The vow of a godly mother, the vows during pregnancy, the vows during birth.  Your parents love you very much and are going to draw good lines for you.  They will be as Bathsheba, “Don’t make the mistakes that I made.  I know what is out there that wants to ruin special lives.”  When your mom and dad say, “No.”  Then don’t say “Why?”  Say, “Thank you.”

They may say, “I want you to have friends, but I am uncomfortable with the spirit of that young person.”  Say, “Thank you. I don’t see it but I am young.”

When they say, have devotions, or have you sought counsel?  Say, “Thanks.”

In the early seasons when the little ones are so teachable, the little children say, “Daddy can I do it with you?”  You think, “It only takes three times longer when you do it with me,” but you tighten your lips and think, “Someday they will be the technician that I am not.”  You say, “Sure son.”

The tender seasons when you talk to that little boy or girl and they cry; you say, “You didn’t treat your brother right.”  And tears begin to fall.  You say, “You were wrong.” They pucker up and tears begin to fall.  That is a wonderful season.  Love them.

Then they come to another season.  Sometimes it is a troubling season.  The world will make a strong call for their life.  They will say, “I am not going to let the world mess up my life.”  I want to tell you it is a troubling season.  I feel that you are too young for the choices that you will have to make. 

During those troubling seasons, keep the door open.  Know how to communicate.

There are times when our children have special needs.  There is not any season in a child’s life that is not really important to them.  If you have a son or daughter that is struggling in school, that is faced with a bully, or that is angry way too young, take it serious.  When they have a need, it is a special need. Pray, seek God and let them know that you care.

Pro 31:10  Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

Who can find a virtuous woman?  Who can find a man of valor?  It is a miracle, it is an individual with ability and strength, with meaning, with character. 

Have character.  Virtue is a miracle from God.  The Bible teaches us that a virtuous woman and a man of valor fears God.  What does it mean to fear God?  If there is anything in your life that is between you and God then the fear of God says, “Take care of it now.” 

It is not the fear that God will get a bat and beat you, not the fear that “Because of this I am going to go out and wreck.”  No, it is “Because you made me…”  I think it is a miracle that I can walk.  What a miracle!  I can read.  Every morning so far I have been able to get up and read.

The fear of God is this:  He made me.  We wouldn’t resent it if we had people come into this audience in wheel chairs.  But none of you younger and none of you older saints are in wheel chairs.  God has been really good.

This morning in this audience I would assume every husband and wife are one, but if you have let things come that has made a little difficulty in your marriage, fear God and get it worked out.

You parents and you children, do your best to work together.  The Bible says, “Children obey your parents.  Children love your parents.  Children serve God.”

The bible says, “Parents provoke not your children to wrath.”  Be a settled individual.  Have laws of the home that don’t change. 

If you feel you have failed your child, repent.  You can have virtue just like that.  Virtue means strength.  A virtuous woman and a man of valor fears God.

Who can find a virtuous woman?