Directions From The Counselor of Wonder

Directions From The Counselor of Wonder Matthew 2.19-23 Joseph moved the Holy Family to Egypt. He also moved them back at the appropriate time to Israel. Joseph played a key role in the early years of the life of the Word becoming flesh. He was the protector and provider for the family. He led them according to his heart and the direction he received in the dreams he had. Joseph sets an example for all of us who are fathers on earth. He listened to the LORD and obeyed Him fully. He put the LORD and his family first. My Dad was like that. His example stays in my heart today. I have wonderful memories of him, sitting next to him in church, being in his Sunday School Class, serving as a Sunday School Teacher when he was Superintendent… and much more! Working with him, learning how to garden from him, laughing, singing, being together, going to Mets Games together, 1986. How we need the direction of God’s Spirit in our lives today. We have an Everlasting Father Who is the Wonderful Counselor! We have His Word for spiritual direction. We need His Spirit for what steps to take, our present and our future. Way too many people, God’s people, lean on their own understanding and end up settling for less than what God has for them. God’s people have been pragmatic when they should have been prophetic. Too often we have been about our comfort rather than God’s Kingdom. More concerned about monetary investments than the advancement of God’s Kingdom! With hearts that have not been refined or purified we follow our own desires, then wonder why we are in a mess! Pastor Mauricio and I yesterday afternoon. We have more than enough. Way better than most of the Pastors in the world. Yesterday early morning… Too many have floundered. As I look back on my life I am thankful for that guiding Hand of God, the direction of the Holy Spirit and the godly people who spoke into my life in times of major decisions. God has provided wise counselors to this very day, at 65 years old and on Medicare! As I interact with and observe those who lost all for the sake of knowing Christ my heart is filled with joy. I have learned from them. Blessed is the person who has nothing but Jesus! Fritz Chrysler, “The person who has everything and Christ is not a bit richer than the person who only has Christ.” * God Gives us the Direction We Need vs.19-20 When we need it. He does not lay the whole plan of our life out for us. One step at a time. A good man’s steps are ordered by the LORD. The life of following Jesus is a walk. We never see Jesus running, rushing or making haste, on the contrary! He does gives clues, visions and dreams. While we wait and work. Waiting does not mean inactivity. On the contrary it means watching and working. There is a great deal of work to be done. Sometimes, the vision or Dream is not for the immediate fulfillment. Habakkuk illustrates that. Habakkuk 2.1 I will stand at my watch
    and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what he will say to me,
    and what answer I am to give to this complaint. The Lord’s Answer 2 Then the Lord replied: “Write down the revelation
    and make it plain on tablets
    so that a herald may run with it. 3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
    it speaks of the end
    and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
    it[c] will certainly come
    and will not delay. Sometimes we can not get going fast enough. Joseph showed us that last week. This dream to return was not a matter of immediacy due to an emergency. He did not leave in the middle of the night. The LORD shows us the way. Genesis 12.1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” Many times it is this way as we follow the LORD. We encounter difficulties when we try to usurp the authority of the Holy Spirit for our own purposes. God’s mark of approval, whenever you obey Him, is peace. He sends an immeasurable, deep peace; not a natural peace, “as the world gives,” but the peace of Jesus.” -Oswald Chambers * Obeying the LORD is the Key to Living an Abundant Life v.21 He got up and left. It doesn’t seem like this was the middle of the night. Three times so far Joseph obeyed the dreams given. Matthew 1.24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the LORD had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. Matthew 2.14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And this time v.21 * God Works In A Mysterious Way vs.22-23 He brought them back to Israel He brought me back to Long Island. He brings us back some times. He is desiring the church be brought back to the manger, back to the simplicity of His birth, Back to the meaning of it, Back to the Son of a man Who had no place to lay His Head even at His birth! Some of you listening by livestream, God is calling you back to the church, to be part of His Kingdom. He brought them back home to Nazareth. Their hometown but not the most desirable place in Israel. The Father, the Everlasting Father, the Waiting Father is desiring to bring all people to His Home. Jesus was called a Nazarene. Isaiah 9.1-7 Galilee of the Gentiles by the Sea Nathaniel would ask, “Nazareth, can anything good come from Nazareth?” Not a compliment “Come and see,” said Philip. John 1.46 That is what we need to be doing! Inviting people to come to Jesus. Psalm 34.8 O taste and see that the LORD is good. As God deals with our lives it so important to follow His direction fully. Obedience to the LORD does more than we can ever dream of or envision! ❤️ There is peace and joy and blessing in following Jesus. It is the only way to have abundant life.

Warnings From The Wonderful Counselor

Warnings From The Wonderful Counselor Isaiah 9.6-7 Matthew 2.1-12 Joseph Magi 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. 13 When they had gone, an angel of the LORD appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” 14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the LORD had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” We hear and see warnings every day. Hess Truck small parts, not for children under 3 years old Warnings= A Divine Command To teach from Heaven Admonished, instructed God warns us through His Word Proverbs, Hebrews He warns us through other’s lives, their examples God warns us through dreams * These warnings came from the LORD. We may take certain warnings of man very seriously. Covid Protocol So strict, unbending We should all the more with the LORD’s warnings. I have found in my ministry people argue, debate, get angry at times when I have warned them. Neither Joseph nor the wisemen did that. They did what God instructed them. Joseph was a wise man. Few have heeded the warnings. Don’t be like them. Submit to the LORD’s will Submit to His Word Submit to His Plan for you. We spend the first half of life wrestling with God, wanting to work for Him, our way, according to our dreams. In the second half we submit to His will, His dreams and visions… the dreams and visions of Christmas. We need to remember: Jesus was born in obscurity. Jesus discouraged news about Him spreading. No self advertising. Jesus humbled Himself continually. He had one purpose: to do the will of His Father in Heaven. He told His disciples. Luke 10.20 “do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in Heaven.” Luke 17.10 “when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’” * Ignore the warnings of the LORD at your own peril, Listen to them and live, a full abundant life He is not trying to make life hard, on the contrary He is trying to spare you the consequences of grief and pain by making poor choices. Proverbs 3.1-17 The first nine chapters of Proverbs are full of warnings. Immerse yourself in the Proverbs Live and learn Warnings: Bees in backyard in Bellmore. Tried to drown them… didn’t work Waited for my father. He knew what he was doing. Our Father in Heaven always does. Listen to Him, listen to the warnings. Wait. Jesus, Everlasting Father, Counselor of Wonder… if you have seen Me, you have seen the Father! This is My Beloved Son, listen to Him. Bees with Tony a two summers ago. Night, warnings Taking down the tree in my Mom’s backyard… Tristan and I… all the others fled! Missed the warnings… first day of deer season… at Camp Taconic. Prayer Retreat. He keeps us in our ignorance but expects us to use our heads. You will understand what Jesus was talking about when He said in John 10.10 I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness. I have come that they might have life and that more abundantly. I have come that they might have life to the full. The warnings of God are to enhance our lives, to make them full, abundant, more and better than we have ever dreamed of. * Be wise and listen to and heed every warning! Proverbs 3.7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. Joseph could’ve said, “I just got set up here in business in the local guild. I’m getting to finally make a living and now I have to move to another country?” There is no record of Joseph or his name’s sake ever complaining about “inconveniences” that took place in his life. We do well to suffer quietly, when we are going through it. Share with your closest spiritual friends. Don’t broadcast or out on the social media your deep pain. Quietly, submissively bear it as Jesus did. If we are following Jesus there will be unexpected places and situations His leadership brings us to. Psalm 23 tells us that. Death’s Valley A Table prepared in the presence of my enemies God warned the Magi, the wisemen not to go back to Herod but to return to their own country bypassing Jerusalem, another route. -v.12 Following Jesus in your travels, where you are going to live My parents… moving upstate in 1973. Praying, deep praying. Found a church first, then work, then property. So when I came here, back to Long Island in 1984, I has their example. Mine was all wrapped up in one! But I remember asking Dr. Mucci for another week for praying.I wanted to be sure. My kids all around me. Grandkids all around me. God warned Joseph in a dream to get out of Bethlehem. an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” 14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. Immediate Obedience Undaunted Faith Total Surrender No doubt the Hand of God was in the census. It is what brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. God spoke to Joseph in a dream in Nazareth, now in Bethlehem. My dream, “You’re going the wrong way!” Letter. “I was going the wrong way.” January 2000 Missionary Robert Collins in the DR. Told me he had a similar dream and wrote a letter too. Same response. Your old men will dream dreams. Listen to the warnings of the elderly. Listen to their advice. Imitate their lives. Heed the warnings! Listen to the LORD. They will keep you from disaster.

The Counselor of Wonder Speaks To Joseph

The Counselor of Wonder Speaks To Joseph Isaiah 9.6-7 Matthew 1.18-25 Try to imagine, if you will, the dilemma of the Joseph was faced with. He was in love with Mary. They were in the betrothal stage. They had made plans for the rest of their lives together. They were looking forward to a happy future, a simple life in Nazareth. At this point would be considered legally husband and wife. Although the marriage had not yet been consummated, if Joseph had died during that period Merry would be referred to as a widow who is a virgin. To break this agreement would require a divorce. It seems that Mary had told Joseph that she was pregnant and about her vision, her visitation, the Annunciation that she would be the mother of the Christ, the Messiah. When asked how this would be the angel of the LORD said to her that the Holy Spirit will come upon her so that the child would be the Son of God. It could be she never got to tell him anything but, “Joseph, I am pregnant.” Or maybe he saw she was. Perhaps she told him the whole story. Whatever was said or not said we know this Joseph was not buying it. One thing he knew for sure. Mary was pregnant and he was not the baby’s father! Joseph we are told in the scripture this morning had in mind to divorce her quietly. He was thinking about this when he had a dream. All dreams that are from God are in perfect alignment with His Word. God never contradicts His Word either in prophecy, dreams, and or visions. There is perfect harmony between the Word of God and the way that He manifests Himself and direction and warning and encouragement in dreams visions and words of wisdom and knowledge. We are told that Jesus would be called the Counselor of Wonder. What God said through the angel in Joseph’s dream was wonderful counsel. * Do not be Afraid Afraid: to put to flight by terrorizing, to scare away To be struck with fear, seized with alarm, startled with strange sights or occurrences A man who finds out his wife or fiancé is expecting a child that is not his is devastated. Fear is part of this dilemma. Anger and betrayal are as well. She has broken the relationship. How could things be right again. How could he ever trust her? Hosea the prophet had that problem with his wife. Homer had children by someone else. It was a lesson in spiritual adultery for the nation of Israel and the message from God through Hosea. In fact the direction God gave Hosea is a very strange message: Hosea 1. 2 When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.” 3 So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. Talk about fear! One of the 365 times this phrase is in the Bible in one form or another Now Joseph…Calls him by name, full name Speaks of wonders He was doing with Mary and now Joseph. Mary’s response to her unplanned, unwed pregnancy was, “I am the LORD’s servant. May it be to me as you have said. Only the servants knew. Wine at a wedding and things God is doing in your life that no one else understands! Fear not, Joseph, son of David… David committed adultery with Bathsheba. He was forgiven. The greater sin was having her husband Uriah killed. Matthew 1.6 David became king. 6-11 David had Solomon (Uriah’s wife was the mother), Fear not, Joseph, Fear is perhaps one of the worst prisons emotionally and mentally that a person can live in. Jesus Christ has come to set us free from fear. That is why throughout the Bible all the New Testament you will find these words do not be afraid, fear not. Always is because the Lord is with us. As He was with Joseph so He will be with us. He will speak to us. He will come to us. The way may not be easy. But it’s possible because of Jesus. That’s what Immanuel means, “God with us.” Fear paralyzes us. Joseph was moving away from God’s Plan. God was patient with him. He is patient with us. Fear makes mountains out of molehills. It enlarges problems. Fear is an insult to God, His character and His Word. * You Are Part Of God’s Plan Every day! Even the Quiet Ones. Psalm 139.16 You are here not by chance. His hand formed you and made you the person you are. He compares you to no one else. You are one of a kind you like nothing it is Grace can’t give you he is allowed you to be here at this time in history to fulfill his special purpose for this generation you are God servant in God‘s plan and God‘s perfect time. Roy Lessin I believe so why should I worry or fret? I know Who holds the future. I know Who holds my hand. I know just as sure as I’m singing this song I’ma part of His Almighty Plan. In times where you are saying, “Where are you, LORD?” You are still part of His plan. In this time when Joseph thought the worse, God was bringing about the best. True this couple lived with people drawing wrong conclusions. The amazing thing is they did not care about anything but doing what God wanted. There will be times, if you walk closely to the LORD, when you will have to walk a lonely road. People often misunderstand what God is doing in some else’s life. It gets more painful when they assume and even gossip. Being falsely accused puts you in the company of Jesus. Obey the LORD no matter what. * Joseph Obeyed Matthew 1. 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. The way of worry free obedience is the way of peace of heart and mind. Do not worry. Psalm 37.8 Do not fret—it only causes harm. It will eat at your soul and body. It will rob you of joy. You will never be able to enjoy the present. It will rob you of sweet sleep. You will be full of guilt. I know I should not worry. Go over the things you know are true. Look back over your life. All of your worry has been vain. God is all powerful. God is on my side. Go is in control. * God Took Care of Him, Baby Jesus and Mary He always does for those who trust in Him. A virgin pledged... God saw that His Son would be cared for as He grew in a family. He is a God of incredible details. He takes care of His people. He is always preparing a place for us! Egypt, Church of the Holy Family Old Cairo God spoke again in a dream to Joseph Matthew 2.19 After Herod died, an angel of the LORD appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” 21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. The LORD used dreams, dreams that Jospeh had, to reveal His plan to him. Today, primarily, He speaks to us through His Word and when needed confirms it with a dream or vision. Sometimes He speaks to us through a dream for a specific purpose. Father and daughter… going the wrong way. Father and son in DR. God is at to work in your life greater ways than you could imagine or even dream of. The wisest thing you can do is trust Him. Let the Counselor of Wonder be your guide. Get into His Word like never before. Pray about everything. Rest in Him.

Dreams and Visions of Advent

Dreams and Visions Acts 2.1-21 V.17 in the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions and your old men will dream dreams. You may think that I’m picking a strange section of scripture to begin Advent. This message is an overview, a preview, an introduction to our theme throughout December, The Dreams and Visions of Christmas/Advent. I’m not talking about “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas”, nor am I speaking about the “visions of sugarplums danced in their heads.” What is Advent? Over the month of December we are going to be looking at the dreams and the visions of the Christmas story. Before we get into that next week I want to talk to you this morning about dreams and visions according to God‘s Word. We are in a time where we have the whole counsel of God in the old and the New Testament’s. In the first book of the Bible and the last book of the Bible we have dreams and visions and all in between. Does God speak today through dreams and visions? I believe He does. But we need to test the spirits just like we read last week from I Thessalonians 5. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil. Dreams and visions cannot be completely understood immediately all the time. The LORD spoke to Habakkuk the prophet, Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.” Habakkuk 2.2-3 I do not believe that Dreams and Visions ought to sought after. As we are seeking God, seeking to be filled with His Spirit they do come from time to time. Having said that I have known some godly people that have said they had neither a dream or a vision. Yet whole works of God contain. It is indicated that since the Day of Pentecost they would be happening. * God spoke to Mary, Joseph and the Wisemen through visions and dreams. He also spoke through the prophets about Christ’s Coming. We will be talking about that during Advent. These were dreams and visions of information, warning and direction. We need that and we get that from God’s Word, the Logos. John 1.1 There is another word for word. It is rhema. It can come in two ways. From our reading the logos, a specific passage takes on special meaning. Someone speaks a Word of Wisdom, or a prophecy. From a dream, vision or prophecy. Helen Wilke. The rhema word can happen when you’re reading a particular passage of Scripture, perhaps one you have seen many times before, and you see it in a new light and see how it applies to your life personally. * We must test these. Psalm 105. 17  and He sent a man before them—     Joseph, sold as a slave. 18  They bruised his feet with shackles,     his neck was put in irons, 19  till what he foretold came to pass, till the Word of God proved him true. The Word of God is true. Wait. I John 4.1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. * Many times dreams and visions come when we are going about our lives. * We must be discerning but also not be closed to God speaking to us. * God often using His Written Word with A Vision or Dream He did so with Nehemiah and Haiti He did so with my coming here. Spanish speaking people moving into the area. Ron Posey’s word… three directly involved, others a hand in. Pastor Mauricio’s vision… Elisha’s vision, Belgium Block statement He did so with Joseph and Mary. Saturate yourself with His Word. Marinate in it. Dwell in it. Continue in it! God is speaking in these last days. We are in an epoch time. Things are happening that have never happened before. the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, Habakkuk 2.3 * We are in an appointed time. We are seeing things happen we have not seen until now in our lifetime. Through God’s Word, through Him speaking to us in unusual ways, we can be like the Men of Issachar, men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take. I Chronicles 12.32 The new potentially more contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus popped up in more European countries on Saturday, just days after being identified in South Africa, leaving governments around the world scrambling to stop the spread. Because of fears that the new variant has the potential to be more resistant to the protection offered by vaccines, there are growing concerns around the world that the pandemic and associated lockdown restrictions will persist for far longer than hoped. God is at work in our lives. I do not think we are understanding fully Christ in us. He resides in us by His Spirit. He is with us. He is in us. He is our Hope of Glory. * In these last days let’s be open to His Holy Spirit. * Let’s remember that He is able to do immeasurably more than we can ever ask or imagine. * Be discerning. Joseph got in trouble for telling his dreams, of course God used it. * Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Devoted To Prayer

Being Devoted To Prayer Acts 2.42-47 Colossians 4.2 Luke 18.1-8 Revelation 16.15 Prayer= addresses to / conversations with God, places devoted to prayer/ synagogue and outside if there was no synagogue Prayer is conversation with the LORD God Almighty. Missionary and evangelist E. Stanley Jones wrote, “The first thing in prayer is to get God. If you get Him, everything else follows. Allow God to get at you, to invade you, to take possession of you. He then pours His very prayers through you. They are His prayers—God-inspired, and hence, God answered. “Prayer’s like the fastening of the cup to the wounded side of a pine tree to allow the resin to pour into it. You are now nestling up into the side of God—the wounded side, if you will—and you allow His grace to fill you up. You are taking in the very life of God.” Devoted= regular and continually, persist, constantly diligent, committed, dedicated, persevere Colossians 4.2 “devoted” to adhere to one, be his adherent, constant to one, to be steadfastly attentive unto, to give unremitting care to a thing, to continue all the time in a place, to persevere and not to faint, to show one's self courageous for, to be in constant readiness for one, wait on constantly So important being devoted to prayer is that Jesus ruthlessly cast out everyone who bought and sold in the temple, and said, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations…. But you have made it a ‘den of thieves’ ” (Mark 11:17). We need to be on our guard for those things that can enter our temples and take the place of prayer. The devil has an arsenal full of stuff… everything from bitterness to busyness. He told His disciples the parable of the widow, the friend at midnight and the unjust judge to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He calls us to faithful, persistent, importune, persevering prayer. Romans 12.12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. If you pray only when you have a great need in your life then you are not devoted to prayer. We are to pray always and not give up. What do we need to be devoted to prayer? * Faith Believing prayer makes a difference Believe God answers prayer. Believe that God is able to anything. Believing we receive answers Matthew 21.22 We are to pray from our hearts and have our hearts and mind in prayer. It is not just a recitation. It is communion with Almighty God. The early church depended upon it. They were devoted to it. Faith is believing what God says He will do. * Persistence the quality that allows someone to continue doing something or trying to do something even though it is difficult or opposed by other people. Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees. Praying for people who need the LORD. They may not feel they do. Praying for people who are addicted. This is very hard. Why we need a fresh move of God’s Spirit today. Lunch with the District Superintendent this week, spoke about the move of God in the 1970’s, how people were delivered from drug addiction instantly. Praying with faith can be so challenging. Not because we do not need it but because we are Laodecian times. Feeling we are rich and have need of nothing. Wealth management. Praying for one another. James 5.16 offered in faith Being devoted to prayer… * Importunity persistence, especially to the point of annoyance. Widow Luke 18.1-8 Friend at midnight Luke 11.5-8 Keep on asking, seeking, knocking Matthew 7.7-8 Inconveniencing ourselves and others. shameless audacity Grayson in Haiti, “Mommy,Mommy, Mommy…” Kimberly mimicking him. We do not inconvenience God but it may look like it. He Who watches over Israel neither slumbers or sleeps. We can call on Him any time and any place. Luke 11.9-10 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. * Perseverance Persistence: Firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition. Perseverance: Steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. Both terms imply that strength and tenacity are needed. Praying always and not giving up. The widow The friend at midnight Jacob, “I will not let You go until You bless me.” Genesis 32.26 We are in demanding times. We need to be devoted to prayer, right up to the end. * It is a spiritual battle for most. Ephesians 6.10-18 Spirit led prayers, Spirit filled prayers are needed for us to be devoted to prayer. Romans 8.26-27 * We need the LORD to open our eyes to the needs all around us. * To be devoted to prayer we must abide in Christ * There is nothing like the joy of answered prayer! Let’s pray. We have a personal account of the genesis of "I Need Thee Every Hour": Hawks writes, "One day as a young wife and mother of 37 years of age, I was busy with my regular household tasks during a bright June morning [in 1872]. Suddenly, I became so filled with the sense of nearness to the Master that, wondering how one could live without Him, either in joy or pain, these words were ushered into my mind, the thought at once taking full possession of me -- 'I Need Thee Every Hour. . . .'"

The Apostles Teaching

The Apostles’ Teaching Acts 2.42-47 Revelation 2.1-7, 13.8-10 We are looking at the things the church in its infancy were devoted to. In His addresses/letters to the seven churches in Asia the LORD commended the good as well as rebuke that which was wrong. The Ephesian Church had forsaken their first love. - Revelation 2.1-7 first= in time and place and rank. In the beginning, out of their love for Christ they their priorities in good order- correct order- their motive and actions were on target. We know they were strong witnesses- they held to the truth. the Word of the LORD spread widely and grew in power. Acts 19.20 What happened?! that Christ told them this! Simply could have been their heart was not as affectionate for Him as in the beginning. The beginnings of love… joy, thrill, just wanting to be around the person What were the early days of  our church like? No building, Main Street Memorial Building, Smith Street What brought us together in 1945 by the efforts of the Bellmore and Patchogue Churches. You had on the south shore Patchogue Bellmore and East Rockaway that was it as far as the Church of the Nazarene was concerned. These folks had concern for the lost and started this church from that heart. They were devoted. Sunday then was a full day of meetings. They held our services the beginnings of at 3 PM in the afternoon, every Sunday. Wonderful! 76 years later, what has happened? 3 Spanish Speaking Churches have begun, one Haitian Church and the rebuilding of a church down in Haiti, joining in with Peniel in Columbia Our congregation has survived and thrived in a Pandemic. Spiritually. What is holding us together today? The Apostles Teaching The Fellowship The Breaking of Bread Prayer What happened in Ephesus? Perhaps other issues became more important than witnessing- spreading the Word. It could be that they had become bitter and angry- perhaps they had gotten caught up in getting rich quick schemes? Paul wrote to Timothy about those who think godliness is a means to financial gain (I Timothy 6.5) Did they lose the fellowship? Did they stop breaking bread together? Did they stop praying? Maybe they were doing all of them but without passion. Maybe they had let some of them slip out of being “devoted to” The height from which they fell - Love is the highest place a church can come to. You cannot improve on love! They lost their first love.. Perhaps God's Word and prayer wasn't as important as it once was- maybe they stopped teaching about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit- we have all seen that happen. * When a loss of first love happens the Apostles Teaching, the Word of God loses it authority in a life. Acts 6. 3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the Word. We are in a time now that “calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.” Revelation 13.10b Difficult times are coming in the end for the people of God. We are told here of extreme terror. Some places in the world have seen that. Coptic Christians in Egypt… time will tell what is happening in Afghanistan with the church. If China invades Taiwan the church there will suffer greatly. Like In the times of the prophets. Jeremiah Elijah under Ahab. There is a need today to patiently persevere in the Word. Pastors need to be faithful to the Word. God’s people need to be devoted to the Word * What was the Apostles Teaching? It was the Word. What was the Word? It is the Logos. John 1.1 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. With great power the apostles continue to testify to the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus and much grace was with them all. Acts 4.33 The apostles teaching was Jesus Christ, the Son of God, crucified and risen and coming again! I Corinthians 2.2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The early church was devoted to this. Devoted= regular and continually, persist, constantly diligent, committed, dedicated, persevere We are in a time now that “calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.” Revelation 13.10b Patient Endurance= steadfastness, constancy in the face of the greatest trials Deliberate and loyal Faithfulness= conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it Revelation 10.9a He who has an ear let him hear… The Spirit is speaking to the church today, right now. The time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. There is also a time of persecution coming to the Christians here in the United States. We have seen it around the world. We need to be prepared for it here. The best preparation we can make is found here in the scripture this morning. Be devoted to the Apostles Teaching. Read your Bible. Hebrews 10.25 Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing but let us encourage each other and all the more as we see the Day approaching. Jesus said, “If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. John 8.31 Study God’s Word by yourself. Meditate on it. Remain in His Word. Abide in it. Continue in it. Listen to the online Bible Studies. If you are not up at 6:30am, listen later. Be a Berean! Acts 17.11 Now the Berean were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Jesus gave them a solution Remember- Repent- do the things you did at first. Be a lover of God and His Word. Be devoted to the Apostles Teaching.

The Mystery of God

The Mystery of God Revelation 10.1-7 Psalm 92.1-2, 59.16-17 Call to Worship  Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. 2 He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. 4 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.” 5 Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. 6 And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, “There will be no more delay! 7 But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as He announced to His servants the prophets.” God moves in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform, He sets his footsteps on the sea, and rides upon the storm. There are mysteries in life and there are mysteries in the Bible. In the Word of God… · The ultimate conversion of the Jewish people is called a mystery (Romans 11:25) 25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. They are close. They are spiritually blind. They will come. God promised it. He never fails. · The church is called a mystery (Ephesians 3:3-11) The Gentiles coming in 2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. The fullness of the Gentiles is called a mystery (Romans 11:25) One day the last Gentile will come. At that time God will turn His attention to Israel for their salvation and all Israel will be saved. · The living presence of Jesus in the believer is called the mystery of God (Colossians 1:27-2:3) I Timothy 3. 16 Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh,     was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels,     was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world,     was taken up in glory. God in us. We becoming godly. Change in our hearts and minds. It is all about Him and what He has done. · The Gospel itself is called the mystery of Christ (Colossians 4:3) 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. That is a good prayer for us to pray for those suffering for the Gospel, for all of us. SunRay this week. * There are mysteries around the Second Coming. I Corinthians 15. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory?     Where, O death, is your sting?” The mysteries of life… When I Don’t Understand When I don’t understand, There is One Who does, Fills me with His presence, Til I am lost in His love. When I don’t understand, He gives me Grace each day, Places His Hand upon me, Leads me in His way. When I don’t understand, I trust in His Word, Looking to His promises Made by my LORD. God gives us somethings to know, others we do not know. Sometimes life doesn’t make sense. We need to have the Eternal Perspective. In Life… * Why do the innocent suffer? * Why are people who seem to have faith not healed. * Why does Christ wait for His Return? * Why do lose people at a young age? * If God knows who is going to heaven why do we just get there? * Why does God not answer me? * Why does He stand afar off in times of trouble? * Why can’t we just simple get along on earth? * Why do the wicked prosper? We need that heavenly perspective. I believe that many times we are disappointed because we have set our affections on things below rather than think above. I Corinthians 13. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. Matthew 11.6 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of Me. -Jesus to John the Baptist. Right now we are to reflect His Glory to a lost world. The glory of God was in the temple. The lamp stand was a symbol of light. Living holy lives is a way of bringing His Kingdom to earth. Sometimes there are no answers that seem to satisfy… Christ will come. O LORD haste the Day when this faith shall be sight. Jesus cried out “My God my God why have You abandoned Me? “It was the last blow for the Man of sorrows. Live by faith. -Fenelon

What Jesus is Saying To America and What He is Saying to the Church in America

What The LORD Is Saying To America And The Church In America Today Revelation 3.14-22 II Timothy 4.1 Proverbs 14.34 Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people. Honoring the Memory of those we lost this week in Afghanistan: -Navy Corpsman Max Soviak. Age 22 -Kareem Nikoui. Marine Corps. Age 20 -Rylee McCollum. Marine Corps. Age 20. He was expecting a baby in 3 weeks and wanted to be a history teacher when he completed his service. -David Espinoza. Marine Corps. Age 20 -Jared Schmitz. Marine Corps. Age 20 -Hunter Lopez. Marine Corps. Age 22. He was planning on following in both his parents footsteps and become a sheriff on his return from deployment. -Ryan Knauss. US Army. Age 23 -SSGT Taylor Hoover. Marine Corps. -Daegan Page. Marine Corps. Age 23 These men were among the heroes killed in Afghanistan this week. Most of them were infants when this war began, and this is how it ended. Please Pray for the families of these brave, fallen men. And pray for Afghanistan and the Church there, which is the 2nd fastest growing church in the world. This is heartbreaking 💔 With Hurricane Ida making landfall with 150mph gusts, with citizens and the church in Afghanistan, with inflation at a 25 year high, with the Variant spreading and conflicting info with that, with all the kids on Long Island having to wear masks as they start school, both private and public, with small businesses stressed… and with the 20th year since 9-11 took place, we need the LORD! We need to hear what He is saying today… The advice theologian Karl Barth gave to ministers of the Word, was to preach using the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other. That is what I am attempting to do this morning. God speaks through current events. He does this through His Word and His Spirit. * What is He saying to America Today? Proverbs 14.34 Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people. II Chronicles 7.14 God is calling America to return to its Judeo Christian Roots. We never were a perfect nation. We had a moral compass, an ethical mind. We were told about what was right and what was wrong. Mayflower Compact Covenant Communities Endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights… George Washington praying in Valley Forge In God we trust on our coins One nation under God in our pledge of allegiance to our flag. Being a very blessed nation so we have an annual day to give thanks to Almighty God We grieve over the young men killed in Afghanistan this week. We grieve over the Afghanis killed. If God does not intervene then there will be more of these attacks. We are being told there may be planes loaded with people blown out of the sky with surface to air missiles. There also could be a hostage situation. God is inviting us, urging us to pray. Our leaders need to humble themselves and pray and ask us to do the same. Our problem here is this country and it’s freedoms were designed to be in harmony with morality, with the Judeo Christian ethic… when that is removed all sorts of evil comes in. Absolute freedom leads to absolute evil. On the same course, if the LORD does not stop it, it appears that many will be martyred for their faith in Jesus in Afghanistan. This will begin soon. They are our brothers and our sisters. God is saying to America, “Repent and return!” * What is God saying to the Church in America? Revelation 3.14-22 II Timothy 4.1 The Spirit speaks expressly that in the last days (latter times) many will depart from the faith and give heed to seducing spirits. We are seeing a departure from the faith in America. Some will say, “Well our attendance is coming back up.” Really? Stop judging by mere appearances! I am seeing God working more in churches where it is not bouncing back. If you look at things with your natural eyes He will confound you! This has little if anything to do with that. People can depart from the faith and still attend church. So will not. Some will. As we commemorate the 20th Anniversary of 9-11 in less than 2 weeks… Regarding the Events of 9/11: The September 13th Interview of Anne Graham Lotz by Jane Clayson on CBS' Early Show... "Where Is God?"                                                                            Thursday, Sept. 13, 2001 - 12:00 AM ET NEW YORK -- Anne Graham Lotz is the second daughter of Billy Graham. She has stepped in her father's footsteps and formed a ministry that is based in Raleigh, N.C. She calls herself a Bible teacher. She is not an ordained minister. Her father has called her "the best preacher in the family."  She spoke with the Early Show's Jane Clayson on Sept. 13, 2001 to offer some comfort to the families of the terror victims. Jane Clayson: We've turned to your father, the reverend Billy Graham, so often in times of national crisis. What are his thoughts about what happened on Tuesday?                                                                          Anne Graham Lotz: I turned to him also. In fact, I called him last night after you all called to arrange for this. He's reacting like a lot of Christians around the country, we're all praying. I think about those people you just showed. I wasn't sure I'd be in control when you came on because it just provoked such emotion to see these people carrying pictures of their loved ones and knowing they don't know if they're alive or dead. And at a time like that, I know the families and the friends of the victims can hardly even pray for themselves. They don't know what to say or how to pray. I want to say to them - families and friends of the victims, that there are thousands of people in this country who are carrying you in prayer right now.                                                                                  And we're praying for you with hearts filled with compassion and grief and just interceding on your behalf, asking the God of all peace and the God of all comfort to come down in a special way into your life and meet your needs at this time. My father and mother are also praying like that. Jane Clayson: The pain is incomprehensible for so many of these people. At a time like this it is so easy to lose faith. How do you keep faith, Mrs. Lotz at a time like this? Anne Graham Lotz: I think it is almost easier to have faith because we have nothing else in some ways. I've watched as this nation has turned to prayer. We've seen prayer vigils. And in our city, we have prayer vigils. And so I think it is a time to turn to God.... Our nation has been hit and devastated by this day of terror and now I believe it is our choice as a nation as to whether we're going to implode and just disintegrate emotionally and spiritually or whether we'll make the choice to be stronger. I think right now, we have the opportunity to come through this spiritually stronger than we've been in the past because we turn to God. Jane Clayson: I've heard people say, those who are religious, those who are not, if God is good, how could God less this happen? To that, you say? Anne Graham Lotz: I say God is also angry when he sees something like this.  I would say also for several years now Americans in a sense have shaken their fist at God and said, God, we want you out of our schools, our government, our business, we want you out of our marketplace. And God, who is a gentleman, has just quietly backed out of our national and political life, our public life. Removing his hand of blessing and protection. We need to turn to God first of all and say, God, we're sorry we have treated you this way and we invite you now to come into our national life. We put our trust in you. We have our trust in God on our coins, we need to practice it. Jane Clayson: So many people have called this an act of war. Has he expressed anything about what a proper response for an attack like this should be? Anne Graham Lotz: No. I've tried to be very careful. I don't ever answer for my father. But I believe in the next few days you're going to be seeing him and hearing from him and perhaps he will express some of those things. Jane Clayson: As a spiritual adviser, how would you define the feelings right now? Anne Graham Lotz: I was watching television the first day and interviewed a construction worker that who had been an eyewitness through all of this in a building next to the World Trade Center. He said, I've seen planes hit this building, people falling out of the sky. He said, my heart is in my throat. I feel like I would say the same thing. You almost don't have thoughts to articulate. Your heart is in your throat. You can hardly stand it. You're numb. For myself, I fall back on my faith in God and the foundation, speaking of those buildings, as an illustration of America, our foundation is our faith in God and the structure we build on that foundation is what enables us to endure something like this. ...I believe God also knows what it is like to lose a loved one, gave his only son on a cross. He knows what it is like to see a loved one die a horrific death. He's emotionally involved in our pain and he has the answers to us and he can bring comfort beyond human understanding. Jane Clayson: There's such a feeling of helplessness among so many. They don't know what to do beyond giving blood, beyond writing a check to help those in need. What would be your recommendation as a spiritual adviser? Anne Graham Lotz: I thought Governor Keating said it right when you asked him. He said pray.  I believe we need to pray.  As Christians, we need to pray for people who can't pray for themselves right now. I believe we need to call out to God and ask him to forgive our sins and heal our land.  God is greater than sometimes we think of him and he can solve this, give us answer, give us wisdom, lead us through this in a way that makes us stronger as a nation but we have to turn to him. Jane Clayson: This event has changed us forever.  I know you believe that.  Going forward, as a nation, what do you say about that? Anne Graham Lotz: Well, I pray that God will use this event to change us forever in a positive way. And that will strengthen our faith in him. I thought of all those people who have died in this tragedy.  It doesn't matter right now what political affiliation they had or what denomination they belong to or what religion or what the color of their skin was or their stock portfolio. What matters is their relationship with God. I would like to see Americans begin to focus on some of the primary things and some of the things that are more important than just, you know, entertainment and pleasure and making more money. _______________________________________ Jesus is knocking on the door of the church in America today. If He is allowed in He will change us. He will change families, schools, government. Be hot. Hold onto what you have. Watch out That no one deceives you. Watch out that you stay alert. Stand firm! I Corinthians 15.58 Therefore, my dear brothers , stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the LORD, because you know that your labor in the LORD is not in vain.

The Relationship of Body and Soul Part Two

When God Does Not Make Sense III John 1 The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth. 2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 It gave me great joy when some brothers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. There are Always Things That Are Hard to Understand. When things do not go well… God is up to something. In times when life doesn’t make sense we just have to trust Him… Until the Word of God proves us true Psalm 78. 16 He called down famine on the land     and destroyed all their supplies of food; 17 and he sent a man before them—     Joseph, sold as a slave. 18 They bruised his feet with shackles,     his neck was put in irons, 19 till what he foretold came to pass,     till the Word of the LORD proved him true. 20 The king sent and released him,     the ruler of peoples set him free. 21 He made him master of his household,     ruler over all he possessed, 22 to instruct his princes as he pleased     and teach his elders wisdom. He doesn’t write “I know.” He writes “I pray.” II Timothy 4.20 I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. People we prayed for to be healed and it seemed like a miracle was happening and then they died. A person that has disregarded God and His Word living long and seemingly pain free while others who lived for God die early. Isaiah 57.1 The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. People we think should be delivered… people we are wanting to rescue… I would have pulled Joseph out. Out of that pit. Out of that prison. Out of that pain. I would have cheated nations out of the one God would use to deliver them from famine.   I would have pulled David out. Out of Saul’s spear-throwing presence. Out of the caves he hid away in. Out of the pain of rejection. I would have cheated Israel out of a God-hearted king.   I would have pulled Esther out. Out of being snatched from her only family. Out of being placed in a position she never asked for. Out of the path of a vicious, power-hungry foe. I would have cheated a people out of the woman God would use to save their very lives.   I would have pulled Jesus off. Off of the cross. Off of the road that led to suffering and pain. Off of the path that would mean nakedness and beatings, nails and thorns. I would have cheated the entire world out of a Savior. Out of salvation. Out of an eternity filled with no more suffering and no more pain.   And oh friend. I want to pull you out. I want to change your path. I want to stop your pain. But right now I know I would be wrong. I would be out of line. I would be cheating you and cheating the world out of so much good. Because God knows. He knows the good this pain will produce. He knows the beauty this hardship will grow. He’s watching over you and keeping you even in the midst of this. He’s promising you that you can trust Him. Even when it all feels like more than you can bear.   So instead of trying to pull you out, I’m lifting you up. I’m kneeling before the Father and I’m asking Him to give you strength. To give you hope. I’m asking Him to protect you and to move you when the time is right. I'm asking Him to help you stay prayerful and discerning. I'm asking Him how I can best love you, and be a help to you. I’m believing He’s going to use your life in powerful and beautiful ways. Ways that will leave your heart grateful and humbly thankful for this road you’ve been on.” - Kimberly Henderson Proverbs 31 Ministries Top 5 Emotions That Drain Your Health by Michelle M. Pearson All month we are presenting articles in our series: “The High Five’s of Health!” One of the easiest ways to quickly gauge the health of the body is to measure the pH of saliva and urine. pH readings, while not diagnostic, are a simple way to measure the status of the body’s environment. In other words, it is a way to anticipate what might or might not grow in the garden as a result of previous choices. What does pH have to do with our “high five” emotions of the day? We call pH “your potential for health”. Emotions, or make that strong negative emotions, are the #1 thing that depletes your resources and destroys one’s potential for health. And some emotions are way more destructive than others! Stressful emotions place an increased demand on important resources and are capable of utilizing the body’s whole storage of available resources in a matter of hours, perhaps minutes. This demand leaves even the body’s most basic functions at risk or in peril. (Check out our article about Zinc and the anger connection!) No matter where you fit right now on the health or disease scale, the following five things are among the HIGH FIVE patterns of response that must be replaced by new mindsets and actions if you desire to live a long, strong, fruitful life: #1     UNFORGIVENESS – The most powerful form of destructive emotion that we are capable of. Unforgiveness eats away at the body, literally, like cancer, from the inside out. It’s only antidote is forgiveness, the complete release of debt toward us.  #2     BITTERNESS – Often rooted in unforgivness, bitterness rots the bones. In addition, the body’s chemical reaction to hardness of heart, bitter buried emotions, and walled off boundaries has proven to contribute to (if not cause) arterial disease, heart disease, and other vascular illness. Heart, brain, and reproductive related. Selah. #3     RESENTFULNESS – Resentfulness takes root from pride and covetousness when one’s heart believes they are owed or due something from another that has not been delivered. It keeps one’s heart and mind on the past, thereby robbing all joy and zest for life, all peace that produces health and healthy happy hormones. Resentment is also a sibling of ungratefulness. #4     GRIEF – Grief is often thought to be unavoidable and a natural response to loss. While this may be true of temporary sadness, grief on the other hand, is an entirely destructive, consuming scourge. We were NEVER intended to experience grief. Because of sin entering in and separation from God, the first grief also entered in. Up until the time of Christ, no one was immune from grief’s deathly grasp. But… after the resurrection of Christ, who carried our griefs and sorrows, and paid the price for reconciliation to a life free from grief, we no longer have to bear grief or the gripping killer dis-eases it has attached to it. (This is such a huge topic, we will write a separate article at another date to minister life and help in this area. Until then, be comforted in knowing God did not leave you without grace to keep you and He will send love and hope to your heart again.) And finally, in our Top Five Emotions That Drain Your Health: # 5   LYING –  OK So technically, lying is not an emotion, it is an action of your mind, will, AND emotions. But, it must be included in our Top 5 today because, after unforgiveness, it is perhaps the second most detrimental soulish action that literally destroys the physical body. To lie, in any measure, is to voluntarily separate yourself from Truth and Light. Only in Truth and Light can you receive health and healing. To lie is to deliberately reject the very power that heals. It is the nature of your enemy, who comes to steal, kill, and destroy… and to lie is to willfully participate in and connect yourself to that nature. Did you know that the physical body cannot lie? It’s goal is not health or disease, but it is to survive your choices. Choices that are lies or fool the body, result in dys-function and dis-ease. Choices that are in Truth, produce strength and health. Psalm 92. 12  The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,     they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; 13  planted in the house of the Lord,     they will flourish in the courts of our God. 14  They will still bear fruit in old age,     they will stay fresh and green, In overwhelming times we can be overwhelmed by the goodness of God. Out of the greatest pain comes the greatest blessings. Out of the greatest messes comes the greatest works of God!

The Relationship Between Soul and Body Health

III John 1 The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth. 2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 It gave me great joy when some brothers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. Questions: Does being a Christian make us healthier than others? Are Christians, if they have faith, always get healed? What about people we have prayed for to be healed and they die? The Main Thing is our Spiritual Health Our bodies will die. Our spirits will live on forever. Jesus said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10.28 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Mark 8.36 John 4. 31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” 33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” 34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of Him Who sent Me and to finish His work. 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.” John 6. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval. 33 For the Bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. (Bethlehem = House of Bread) 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty.” 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit. There is a Connection Between Our Bodies and Souls When It Comes To Health John makes the connection Proverbs speaks of it: A cheerful heart is good like medicine. Proverbs 17.22 A heart at peace give life to the body. Proverbs 14.30 Envy rots the bones. Bitterness will hurt the body, causing chemicals to flow in the bloodstream. According to Newsday this morning, Long Island alcohol treatment and recovery centers said they've seen a big increase in people seeking help, both those who previously had problems with alcohol and relapsed, and people who never had serious issues with alcohol So many people in pain today. Turning to addictive things temporarily anesthetizes the torture in their souls. Only Jesus can heal our brokenness. Generally a Life Lived for God Produces Healthier Bodies. This is true with things life cigarettes and stress and excessive use of alcohol. Because we live in a fallen world sometimes people who never smoked die of lung cancer. We need “ocean time” What is ocean time? On my birthday I went to the beach as per my request. I swim for several hours with my grandchildren. Timmy, 12 years old, and I talked. We talked about life. We laughed at the girls getting knocked over by the waves as we were beyond the place where they were breaking. He invited his cousins Tristan and Grayson to join us in the laughter. In those moments I forgot what time it was all of the stresses that I had spoken to my daughter Theresa about just moments before. We were like birds flying in the air. We were bodies floating in the ocean. All of the technology emails texts phones TVs etc. were not available to us. We were in the moment completely body soul and spirit. We all need ocean time. The occasional desire to run away from everything is an indication that we are desperate for this time. Jesus had this time. His ocean time was the time that He spent in the mountains and in the boats on the sea of Galilee. Wherever you find a place where you can be in God‘s presence, detached from disturbing annoyances and interruptions, and will you can embrace nature that is your Ocean Place. Go there often. It is there that your soul is renew your spirit is strengthen and you come into the place of being quiet before God. Look at the birds. How precious to me are Your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. Psalm 139.17-18 Generally a Life Lived Disregarding God Produces Death Ultimately but not immediately. Eventually but not always evident. Sowing and reaping. Galatians 6.8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Jeremiah 17.7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,     whose confidence is in him. 8  They will be like a tree planted by the water     that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes;     its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought     and never fails to bear fruit.”

Walking In Love

II John 5-6 5 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands. As you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love. Walk= * To make one’s way working out our salvation with fear and trembling * To progress grow in His Love * To make use of all opportunities making use of every opportunity because the days are evil * To live * To regulate one’s life (obedience) * To conduct oneself (. “) John 13. 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” * Love is the Mark of the Christian Among ourselves. Affirming our faith Wherever we go… around the country/ around the world No matter what Jesus’ Love is our goal. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. We are called to love as He loves, forgive as He forgives. We are to represent His Love to the world * Love is a Sign to the World. Know= understand, perceive, become acquainted with This is the way people will be attracted to Christ Titus 2.10 so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. Paul writes about lawsuits among believers, that these things ought to be resolved in the church, among the people of God. Be a good example of a believer. Love! I Timothy 4.12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. An example in love. Exemplary Paul and Bonnie Codington yesterday. It is the love of God that makes people want what we have. Romans 2.4 the kindness of God leads you to repentance * Love is a Lifestyle Ephesians 5. 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. A description of love= giving ourselves up as a fragrant offering sacrifice to God. This is descriptive of worship. Our walking in love is an act of honoring God. We live in it Hebrews 13.1 Keep on loving each other as brothers We grow in it * Love is forgiving. How we all need this. Every day. * Love is the greatest Faith, Hope and Love Faith will one day be sight, our walk, our journey to heaven will be over. Hope will be fulfilled. Our Blessed Hope described in Revelation 21.1Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” * Love will remain forever. I Corinthians 13. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. Remain in Him!

God Is Greater

God is Greater! I John 4. 4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One Who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. We are in a spiritual battle. It seems to have intensified recently. Satan knows his time is short. The Kingdom of God against the Kingdom of Darkness Each generation has had to face this conflict for its time. We have to contend with the world, the flesh and the devil. We have to contend for the faith. Jude 3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. From the Kingdom of God we receive Truth. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” Satan, we are told by Jesus, is the father of lies. John 8. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Eventually there will be a war in heaven. Revelation 12.1-17 In this present time... * Satan tries to overwhelm us. When the enemy comes in like a flood. Isaiah 59.19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. We have all had those times when we have quietly thought, “What on earth is happening? What else could possible go wrong?” He works using fear tactics. A roaring lion... I Peter 5. 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. Here our struggle is against affluence and comfortable living. In other places it is against poverty. * We must be sharp and on our guard. This is a life and death matter. Some of the battles we are facing today: Discouragement Loneliness Fear of the Future Feeling abandoned * People Who are instruments of the enemy can sound very convincing. Watch out for them! Smooth talk... Proverbs 26. 23 Smooth talk from an evil heart is like glaze on cracked pottery. 24 Your enemy shakes hands and greets you like an old friend, all the while conniving against you. 25 When he speaks warmly to you, don't believe him for a minute; he's just waiting for the chance to rip you off. 26 No matter how cunningly he conceals his malice, eventually his evil will be exposed in public. Romans 16. 17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Jeremiah 5.30 A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: 31 The prophets prophesy lies,     the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way.     But what will you do in the end? * The One Who is in you The LORD God Almighty The Holy Spirit Rushing Mighty Wind Power Power to overcome. Revelation 12.11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. * God is Greater He is everywhere. He asked Satan where he had come from. Job 1. 6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” He knows everything. Colossians 2. 2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. He can do anything. Jeremiah 32.27 “I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for Me? Satan is an interloper. God with us. God in us. Creation groans. Romans 8. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. We have this treasure in a jar of clay. God is greater than all our problems, fears and all that Satan can throw at us. II Corinthians 1. 8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, Who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us again. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. Let’s pray for one another, having always in mind, God is greater.

The Blessed Hope

Our Blessed Hope I John 3.1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 All who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure. There has always been a lot of talk about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. As with His first appearing so with His second... I Peter 1. 10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when He predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. We have the Blessed Hope. It is of Christ’s Return. Christ will come. We do not know the day or the hour.(Only our Father in Heaven knows) We must always be ready. Let’s follow the scripture this morning... Our salvation, our preparation for that Day is rooted in the wonderful truth that... * God Loves Us He has lavished His Love on us. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5.8 The grace of our LORD was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. I Timothy 1.14 For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. John 3.16 God has loved us to the uttermost. Jesus showed the Disciples the full extent of His love. John 13.1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. His death on the cross. We are now the children of God. We have been adopted. Romans 8.15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, "Abba, Father." John 1.12 Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. We belong to Jesus. God is our Father in Heaven. We honor our fathers today but they are ours for this time. God is our Father Forever! We, as His children, are under His care. We are under His Protection. We are loved by Him. He delights in us. He disciplines us for our good, that we might share in His Holiness. * We Do Not Know What We Shall Be Christ will soon appear. We shall be like Him. I Corinthians 15. 42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second Man is of heaven. 48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we[g] bear the image of the heavenly Man. 50 I declare to you, brothers that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. We will see Him. I Corinthians 13. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. I know Whom I Have Believed II Timothy 1.12 For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that Day. * We Have Hope Salvation is now and future. We have hope in a world that is in turmoil. Pastor Mauricio and Erica and I were riding home from Humberto Chavez’s Installation at the Bridge Church in Malverne, stuck in the traffic,surrounded by souls in need of Jesus. This is our mission field. Houses going up all over, people moving out of the city here. This is our time! Let’s look to the fields, let’s look to the LORD! Let’s see what God will do. We have hope when our own souls are being tested. Peace and Hope are given to us in times that try men’s souls. This has a purifying effect on us. Luke 19.11 We have work. We’ll Work Til Jesus Comes We desire to be found in Him when He comes. When we all get to Heaven. There is going to be a meeting in the air. Heaven’s Jubilee. I’ve got a Mansion

Living Like Jesus

Living Like Jesus I John 2. 5 But if anyone obeys His word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in Him: 6 Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did. The goal of every follower of Jesus is to be like His Master. We are called to it. It is the acid test of being a Christian. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch. (Acts 11.26) Like Jesus being called, “A friend of sinners”, the term “Christian” was a term of derision. Sometimes the judgment of the world is complimentary to us. Like someone who criticized me years ago in a note, “I think you only talk about money when it is brought up as you go the Bible.” What a compliment! The term “Christian” meant follower of Christ. They were saying that the disciples looked like they were imitating Jesus. What a compliment! I hope that is what they say about us! Ephesians5.1Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children, 2 and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.… Walking in the footsteps of my Savior.... giving ourselves up, His will becoming my will. I Peter 2.21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps. * Walking In His Footsteps to make one's way, progress; to make due use of opportunities Walk regulate ones life, conduct oneself. Following Jesus “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew. ... 'Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men. ' At once they left their nets and followed Him.” Matthew 4:18-20 NIV Follow Me, the invitation to begin the journey It is a journey. Progress, growing to become like Him. You cannot rush the process. Like a plant we grow on this journey. We mature. We grow in grace. II Peter 3.18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen. Following in His steps, living as a Jesus did means we will have... * Forgiveness as a Life Style Colossians 3.13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. You will need the help of the Holy Spirit. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. That is completely impossible without the Holy Spirit’s power. How did Jesus forgive you? Fully, completely and forgetting our sins. You will need to pray over some situations until you are free. Keep praying until you are free. Remember His Words on the cross. Remember His words on teaching on prayer. Following in His Steps, living like Jesus means we will... * Listening to the Broken-hearted Making use of every opportunity because the days are evil Ephesians 5.16 Jesus looked at interruptions as opportunities. He took advantage of them to share His love. He never looked at them as inconveniences. Matthew 9.36 When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Living like Jesus, walking in His Steps, means we will see people who do not know Christ, as victims of the enemy, not the enemy. Compassion= a heart in which mercy resides Blessed are the merciful for they will obtain mercy. He spoke the words that cheered and blessed, He welcomed sinners to his breast, I want to be like Jesus. Following in His Steps, living like Jesus means we will be... * Seeking to Please Our Father in Heaven Hebrews 10. 5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,     but a body You prepared for Me; 6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings     You were not pleased. 7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about Me in the scroll—     I have come to do Your will, my God.’” (Psalm 40.6-8) Seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness, doing His will, Following in His Steps, living like Jesus means we will be * Having a set purpose of finishing the work God has given to you to do. Jesus prayed, “I have brought You glory on earth by finishing the work You gave Me to do.” John 17.4 Following Jesus means that we are going to do the same thing. Having a life of Intercessory Prayer Using your gifts Investing your time and money in the Kingdom of God. This is not sinless perfection. Only Jesus had that. As we all like Jesus walk we contend with the sinful nature. We stumble sometimes. Provision is made for sin. I John 2.1 Keep your eyes on Jesus. Walk in the Light. Live like Him. Always make it your goal to please Him.

From The Beginning

From The Beginning I John 1.1-3 The Son of God is one with the Father and the Spirit. God in three Persons, Blessed Trinity. God is Eternal. He has always existed, is and always will be. Isaiah 40.28 The LORD is the everlasting God,     the Creator of the ends of the earth. John 1. 3 Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. He is the Creator. Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Father are One. Jesus Christ is Eternal. Philippians 2.5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God,     did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; 7 rather, He made Himself nothing     by taking the very nature of a servant,     being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man,     He humbled himself     by becoming obedient to death—         even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place     and gave Him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,     in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,     to the glory of God the Father. Colossians 1. 15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross. The Son of God is from the beginning. He became a man. The Creator at the creature’s breast. Hebrews 1. 1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So He became as much superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is superior to theirs. John 8.58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” He is * The Eternal Word John 1.1-2 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. Micah 5.2 “... Whose origins are from old, from ancient times.” or from “everlasting”. The Hebrew word for "everlasting" means "beyond the vanishing point". When things began as we know time, God already was. He was always. He is. He always will be. We have eternity in our hearts. Ecclesiastes 3.11 ... He has set eternity in the hearts of men... This makes us unique. This makes us hunger and thirst for God. He has shared His Nature with us. The Eternal One was there when we were conceived and when we born. Psalm 139.13 For You created my inmost being;     You knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;     Your works are wonderful,     I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You     when I was made in the secret place,     when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;     all the days ordained for me were written in Your book     before one of them came to be. What is happening in your life today, God wrote in His Book before the beginning of time. We are in touch with Eternity back, here and when time is no more. We need to remember that the LORD’s ultimate goal for us in to fit us for heaven. He uses all of our experiences in this life. Psalm 100.3 Know that the LORD is God.     It is He Who made us, and we are His;     we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Walking with Jesus, the Eternal Word. His Word in us. His Spirit within us, making us like Him. The Creator of the universe and all that exists is personally involved in our lives! We have fellowship with Him! v.3 fellowship= community, communion, joint participation, intimacy From the root word: a partner, associate, comrade, companion We are heading on the path that leads us to Him at the end. Psalm 48.14 For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end. That means right now He is with you, at work within you, knows the way. He is the Way! What a wonderful Savior and LORD! He is... * The Word of Life The expression of God The Living Word and the Written Word are the same. Jesus came from eternity was here and went back into eternity. His Word is eternal in the heavens. Psalm 119.89 Your word, LORD, is eternal; It stands firm in the heavens. Here is such an important Truth. God’s Word, Jesus, is in Heaven. By His Spirit Jesus is in us, with us and upon us. He walks with us. Even though heaven and earth pass away His Words will never pass away. They stand firm in the heavens. Jesus never fails. We can depend on Him. We can depend on what He has said. He is with us. He knows all about our struggles. He will guide us to the end. All the Way my Savior leads me, has led me, will lead me. There is not a friend like Jesus. "There’s no higher dream than experiencing God as He moves through every circumstance of life to an eternal encounter with Himself where transformed people will enjoy perfectly loving community around Jesus Christ, the source of Perfect Love. If that really is the highest dream of the human soul, why do so many of us dream only of lesser things and then despair when those dreams are shattered?" -Larry Crabb Jesus has the Words of Life. John 6.68 He is * The Word Become Flesh Titus 1. 1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— 2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, Who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, That is eternity back, before the beginning of time. He humbled Himself He became a man He became obedient to death on a cross He understands our predicament. He walked in a human body. Revelation 13.8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world. This was God’s plan. This was God’s will This demonstrates God’s love for us. We walk with Him in the light of His Word. One day we understand. We will know even as we are known. He is coming again. Jesus is our Hope. He has the Words of eternal Life!

Joy In The Time Of Judgement

Joy In A Time of Judgment Habakkuk 3.16-19 The nation was awaiting judgment from God. It was coming through an invading nation, Babylon. Habakkuk is still not understanding this but he comes to accept it. This is similar when we lose someone we love. We don’t understand but we come to terms with living with it. This is the pathway of grief. Life is full of coming to terms with God. God is always at work in our lives, even when we feel most alienated or alone. That is where Habakkuk was. Whether it is the nation, the health of someone we love, the pain from broken relationships or decisions we need to make, life is hard at times. The LORD is here to help us. Look at what He did in Habakkuk’s heart through prayer. It amazing where the LORD brought this prophet to. It was more than acceptance. He was embracing the LORD and what He was going to do. He found joy in the LORD, even in a time of impending judgment! We can too! God keeps His people in times of distress, difficulty and judgment. Noah Joseph Daniel David We can even have joy in these times! Here is how: * Waiting Patiently Does not mean there no emotion It does. Means we are not pushing the river. We are going with the flow of His Spirit. John 7. 38 Whoever believes in Me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. Flow with that River, the Holy Spirit We trust God’s timing. He makes all things beautiful in His time. Ecclesiastes 3.11 We are trusting in God’s plans. Romans 8.28 We are trusting in God’s love. We know He has a plan for us. Psalm 139.16     all the days ordained for me were written in Your book     before one of them came to be. Habakkuk listened to God’s counsel in chapter two. Though it tarry wait for it... * Remember That Shortages Does Not Diminish Hope, Faith, Love or Joy If we find our happiness in things then we will lose it when things run out. If our Joy is in serving Jesus then our joy will no be affected by shortages. Hope is an anchor in times of difficulty. Our faith is purified during trials. Patience comes from this. Our love for God is tested in times of scarcity. We also grow closer to Him in the valleys and difficulties. Priceless gifts come in times of great pressure. Great lessons are taught when we out on a limb, when we are going through difficult and pressure filled times. We are comforted by God and then we can comfort others with the same comfort we received. Hospital Experiences teach us invaluable lessons. The LORD is bringing us to situations where He is our only Hope. Like Habakkuk we can rejoice in the times he describes in the latter portion of chapter 3. Habakkuk had nowhere else to turn. He had tried to figure out what God was doing in the nation. It made things worse in some ways. * We can have joy! In the LORD Philippians 4.4 We can rejoice in Him. He is with us. Habakkuk found out that God was listening to him and his cries. In our salvation Psalm 51.12, 13.5 We are saved from sinful living. Free! Free to obey the LORD. We are saved from a life of destruction. Our sins are forgiven never to be remembered against us! That our names are written down in Heaven Luke 10.20 This world is passing. We are just passing through. I think of those 24 young people that sailed over 150 years ago this past week from London, England to China with the China Inland Mission. Most of their names are not remembered. They obeyed God and today they are in heaven, rejoicing forever. That God has promised to take care of you! Matthew 6.33 We are so thankful for the food we have to eat and the clothes we have to wear. Every need He is supplying. The LORD wants us to live carefree. He doesn’t want us burdened down with worry. * The LORD lifts us up above our circumstances In our hearts Nothing really changed for Habakkuk as far the circumstances in the nation. His Hope was that God would reform the nation, bring about revival of righteousness. The nation had left the LORD no other option but to judge. His prayers were being answered however, just not the way he thought they would be. Yet we see his Hope was in the LORD. When our prayers are not answered as we had hoped they would be and we only have God how rich we are! We pray for God to help and change circumstances. Sometimes He does, but He always changes me. I am changed through my praying to become more like Jesus. He prayed, “Father, if possible, let this up pass from Me.” We read in Isaiah 53.10 “Yet it was the LORD's will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer, and though the LORD makes His life an offering for sin, He will see His offspring and prolong His days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in His hand.” A new perspective Part of the change the LORD brings in prayers not being answered the way I thought they should be is a change of perspective. This was certainly true in Habakkuk’s life. This burden and oracle, what he uttered all showed how circumstances did not change but the prophet did. God is so patient with us, amazingly patient. He allows us to work through these difficult times and issues in our own lives. He works in our prayers. He listens and responds to us, to our hearts. He knows all about our struggles. Perhaps you need a new perspective! God will give it to you. Wait for Him. God’s Habakkuk 1.5 The LORD let’s the prophet in on His plans. When God does that in response to our prayers then our perspective changes to His. We are seeking that with Colombia. The prayer meeting yesterday morning. Heights Ephesians 2.6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, We have a heavenly perspective, a sense of the LORD’s ways being so much higher than ours. On this earth, in a world that is sinful, among people of unclean lips, Isaiah saw the LORD! The LORD gave Him a Heavenly Vision. I love to fly. As I look down from the plane I see a little how God sees. I love to pray from heaven. I know that one Day, one Glorious Day Christ will return. We can have joy all the time. We can be distressed and even depressed and know the joy of walking with Jesus. Today, right now.

God’s Promises In A Time of National Calamity

The Promises of God For A Time Of National Calamity Habakkuk 2.1-4, 14, 20 Things were bad in the nation. Things were out of control. Justice never prevailed and the wicked hemmed in the righteous. Justice was perverted. And in chapter 2 God lists the sins of the people that brought judgment on the Babylonians, the Chaldeans. He pronounces judgment on the nation of Israel in chapter one. Habakkuk and Jeremiah were contemporaries. Jeremiah‘s ministry as we know it was in Jerusalem. Jerusalem the capital and also the Center for the Jewish faith. It knew better. It should have been leading the world in righteousness. Instead it was a center of sin. Interestingly Habakkuk’s assessment of the condition of the nation in the first four verses of chapter one were spot on. It was his understanding of God and God’s seemingly lack of response to his prayers that troubled him. He didn’t understand what God was doing. God was getting ready to judge the nation and the center for their faith, the Temple. What is going on in our nation and in the church in this nation is perplexing. A.W. Towzer wrote, 70 years ago, “I believe a time is coming when we not be able to take our Christianity as casually as we do now.” That time has come. God is sifting His church today. He is calling His church out of the institutional church. What will happen to our country is in His hands. In the early part of this century we have experienced 9-11 and other forms of terrorism. We have experienced a Pandemic. We have passed laws against the Word of the LORD. God always gives us promises for difficult times. And He was making some statements here to Habakkuk concerning the righteous. He said the righteous will live by his faith and He gives promises with that. They were facing national disaster, a calamity beyond anything they had experienced before. They were being judged for their sins. But God was going to be faithful to the righteous. And they were going to live by their faith in Him. When a nation celebrates what God condemns, judgment from on High must eventually come. No one can say how or when or where that judgment will come. But as certainly as God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, as certainly as the great empires of history have fallen, America will not escape God’s judgment. Hard times coming Habakkuk. You are going to have to live by your faith if you are going to get through it. Thus the promise... * The Righteous Person will live by faith v.4 This is going to work out in very practical ways in these days of calamity and judgment. Mental and Emotional Support In a time of judgment our support systems and people we leaned on are often removed. All we have is God. And He is all we need! Physical needs being met in a time of scarcity. Psalm 37.25 I have been going and now I am old. I have never seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. Habakkuk 2.4b The righteous (the just) will live by his faith. Matthew 6.33 Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you. A time of shortages and scarcity upon the nation but the righteous living by his faith. Spiritual strength coming to those who trust in God. The testings brought the people to lean completely on God. They had not other choice. Psalm 11.3 When the foundations are being destroyed what can the righteous do? The answer is here in Habakkuk! He said it. I am going to wait. 2.2 Then the LORD replied: “Write down the revelation     and make it plain on tablets     so that a herald may run with it. 3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time;     it speaks of the end     and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it;     it will certainly come     and will not delay. I am going to rejoice no matter what. God is my strength. I wait for Him. * The Earth will be filled with the Knowledge of the LORD v.14 Kenya, Haiti dancing this week. In other words, there will be nowhere where the true and delightful knowledge of God, who is the source of all life, truth, and joy. There will be personal, and universal knowledge of God. This is not mere knowledge about God, but a relational knowledge of Him and with Him. Just as when you are in the sea, water is all around you, so when you walk the face of the earth, God and the knowledge of Him will be all around you, all the time. This will be a totally transformed, restored, renewed, and redeemed Earth, and animals and human beings will be full of the true knowledge of the true God and therefore permeated by holiness and happiness. “We are looking forward to a New Earth, in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13). Obviously that time is not now. It is Hope for the Future. A promise of God that will be fulfilled. * The LORD is on His Throne v.20 As the Son of Man, Jesus Christ deliberately limited His omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience. But now they are His in absolute, full power. As the Son of Man, Jesus Christ now has all the power at the throne of God. From His ascension forward He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. This is the Day of Pentecost. We celebrate that today. The conditions of the first century are what the church finds itself in many places around the world, growing strong with governments that are either opposed or indifferent to it. God is in control. Jesus showed that to a His disciples. He demonstrated that from the Ascension to Pentecost. Acts 1.3-8 It was not time that God was going to restore the Kingdom to Israel. It was time for the Kingdom of God to come in the outpouring of His Spirit. They would live in it and proclaim it. Then it happened in Acts 2. Jesus had gone up. His followers had been in prayer. He poured His Spirit out. People started coming to Christ. The promises given to Habakkuk nearly 2,600 years ago are for us today... in a time of National Calamity, on this Pentecost Sunday 2021 Let the whole earth be silent before Him. Michael Card’s song comes to mind often... You and me we use So very many clumsy words The noise of what we often say Is not worth being heard Quiet waiting, listening... Listening to what God is saying... Live by faith. Look to the LORD. God is in control.