The LORD's Day October 28, 2007

He Knows the Way I Take

Proverbs 5.21 For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and He examines all his paths.

There are verses like this one that are very sobering. They tell us deep truths about the LORD. They give warnings out to those whose souls are in danger.

When sin entered the first family jealousy eventually sprung up in Cain’s heart. The account is in Genesis 4, In verses 6-7 Then the LORD said to Cain, Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it. God was warning Cain. He gave him the way out of his sin and temptation but he Cain chose to sin.

Here in this 5th chapter of Proverbs the sin of adultery is spoken about. The warning is from Solomon to his son. It is a warning to all the men today. We need to read meditatively this passage and get it into our hearts. We will avoid so much pain and destruction in our lives and in our families if we follow these words and take in this warning concerning this sin. Guys we must master it

In other sections of scripture we are warned about other things in life that can trip us up and cast its ugly shadow upon our lives for a long time. How we handle money and power fall into this category. We must master them as well or they will be our master.

So there are strong warnings in God ‘s Word.

Along with these warnings are statements like the verse we are looking at this morning. These sobering statements of warning carry with them assurance and care from the LORD as we look at His character. If we are aiming to please the LORD then great blessings come internally. Among these are peace, assurance, grace, spiritual strength and other good things.

If you are not obeying the LORD this verse will bring fear. How very foolish people like Cain’s parents were to think they could hide from God! Jonah found out the hard way you cannot run from him. Even Joseph’s brothers could not cover their sin

David knew this very well (Psalm 139). It is at the points David makes I want you to see this verse here in Proverbs in the light of. If you are disobeying the LORD then this verse is a troubling one, but if you are walking with Him it is a comforting one. If you are running from the LORD or caught in a sin then you don’t want to think about this verse. If you are walking with Him then there is comfort in this Proverb. God sees my motives- He knows my heart. He knows everything that is in my heart and in my life and in my thought processes


It is especially comforting...

1. When People misunderstand your motives.

Our intentions are not seen by others, only by the LORD From time to time people are going to misunderstand why we are doing something. This understanding is often painful especially if it casts you in a bad light when you were aiming to do good.

*This is true with disciplining children. “You are so mean ”, they protest It hurts because they don’t know why we are doing it. “You’re hurting me ” Sometimes kids’ comments can get to us. Don’t stop doing what is right.

* This is true when we are overwhelmed and are silent. Silence can breed suspicion. People can misread our situation and our needs.

* This is true when we are going through trials. People can think we are being disciplined when we are not. That is what Job’s “comforters” did. I want to avoid their sin.

2. When it feels like everything is against you.

Jacob felt this when he thought he lost Benjamin. Look at Genesis 42.14-36

There are times when most of us will feel like that. It is isn’t the truth it is a feeling. But sometimes feelings can be mistaken for reality. Jacob was about to receive Joseph back. He thought he was in the grave near Dothan, his brothers thought he was slave in Egypt but he was a king there. See how people can be wrong in their conclusions?

God knows our hearts. Our ways are in full view of Him. He examines our paths. That has brought me such comfort in my low times when even my heart was condemning me Whenever our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts (I John 3.19-20)

When your back is against the wall and you feel all is lost,
Remember the LORD knows your heart and sees your need.
When your hope is nearly gone and your strength is done
Look to heaven, trust in Jesus, God’s Only Begotten Son.

When your heart is being torn apart by the trials you are in
Don’t lose faith, Don’t quit, Don’t stop calling on Him.
He knows just what you are going through right now
He will give you courage and faith to face it all somehow.

Remember Jacob thought all was over and his two sons were gone
He lamented from His heart and almost gave up
Then God restored his family and his lost boys
He filled Israel with a song. It was a song of joy

3. When you are enjoying God’s blessing and people are jealous.

Someone told me I was lucky last week that my Dad had survived the fall... lucky no- blessed by the LORD -yes. Someone told my mom that she was lucky to have a friend who has been at her beckon call each day- not lucky blessed. I hate that word luck It is a pagan word meaning the force that seems to operate for good or ill in a person's life, as in shaping circumstances, events, or opportunities... a combination of circumstances, events, etc., operating by chance to bring good or ill to a person. It leaves God out of the equation and He is the Center

When we live under God’s blessings people can get jealous. I can’t imagine why but they do. So often jealous persons have had much more than I have had. This can even happen in th church. I know many that have been jealous of Billy Graham and the blessing of God upon him. I remember a group of ministers, among whom were critical of Billy Graham, talking one day. One spoke up and said, “When the LORD has used you to bring as many souls to Him as Billy Graham then you can criticize him.” It got very quiet.

This is nothing new. D.L Moody was criticized. Someone came up and said, “Mr. Moody I don’t care for the way you win souls. You speak and then have music played and it is emotional ” Moody responded, “I don’t like the way I do either. How do you win souls?” The lady said, “Well I don’t know that I do.” Moody said, “In that case I like my way better.”

For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and He examines all his paths

4. Blessed is the person who is comforted by this verse in all their life.

Man’s ways- the road he travels on. If the it is the good path then we are blessed as we reap what we have sown. We begin to get back in this life what we have sown. Some things bring results rather quickly but many things take time to produce fruit.
Don’t lose heart we will reap a harvest of righteousness at the proper time.

His journey- where he is headed. Are you seeking to climb the ladder or wash feet? His manner of living- are you a person of peace or strife?

People will know us by the path we are on. Is good or bad? Are we trustworthy and faithful?

What direction are we heading? Is it upward or downward? What influence do we have on people. Is it good or bad?

What are our habits? Not all habits are bad- many are good. The habit of giving is good. Prayer habits are wonderful.

God is concerned with the course of our life, where we have come from, where we are headed.

Our moral character is of great concern to the LORD. It s a good thing to pray, every once in a while, David’s prayer in Psalm 139.23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. When we have that honesty and openness before the LORD we are less likely to get caught in a sin.

Full view- be in front of

The LORD- Jehovah = the Existing One , He was and is and always will be.


Examines- God weighs our tracks. He makes them level and smooth. He gives us grace for the journey.

He takes everything into His balances. To whom much is given much is required.

When a man’s ways or paths are pleasing to the LORD, He is his Defense and Fortress. We can seek to make our lives safe and secure or we can trust in the LORD to do so. He does a much better job We can defend ourselves or we can let the LORD defend us. I would much rather have Him. He is my defense attorney, my Counselor and He runs interference for me.

He knows all things. He knows our hearts. Think of the meaning and message of the rainbow with me this morning.

To us it looks so beautiful,
God's sign in the sky,
To Him it appears
As a circle from on high.

He placed the rainbow
as a promise to His faithful few
To remind us He keeps His Word
And cares for His creation too.

Oh how the Father loves us,
His love is higher than all,
Yet We are told He take notice
When a sparrow falls.

So as we look to heaven
For Jesus to return
We see this sign of His Promise
That day for which we yearn.

Did you know that a rainbow viewed from above is a circle? It appears as a ring from heaven. If you want to read more about that fact see the link in your bulletin.

God placed the first rainbow in the sky in Noah's Days. The record is in Genesis 9.
12 And God said, This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.

17 So God said to Noah, This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.

God is remembering His covenant with the earth and us its inhabitants. He sees it as we do. He sees the full circle. Wow That is like life That is life. He knows the beginning from the end while we see just a portion. Yet that portion is full of His promises and is part of the bigger picture which God sees and has designed.

The rainbow is part of His grand plan. There is one in heaven surrounding God's throne. (Revelation 4.3) For me to see a rainbow is a foretaste of Glory Divine

As we said in the beginning the fact that God knows everything is either a tremendous comfort to your soul or it will strike terror in your heart. To Him our life is an open book. Let Him examine you, lead you, direct you. Live this way and you will live with peace and no regrets. Do it our way and you will be left to reap heartache and pain. Do it His way and He will be close and comfort you even when your heart is breaking.

The LORD knows the way we are taking. He knows it full well. He weighs everything together. He works all things together for good for those who love Him. He overrules things on earth. He is working in your life to accomplish His purposes which are the best thing for you. He is in control Easy to forget, God reminds us of this... Friday, trying to catch the 1:39 into Woodside. Emma, “I have to finish my lunch first Poppa”... I was all upset at cars going slow- you know I lost my perspective. The train station- I ran to get tickets... only to find the 1:39 was canceled and we had to wait for the 2:04. On the other end we ended up waiting due to the rain and traffic.

When people misunderstand your motives, when it feels like everything is against you, when people are jealous of the blessings God has given you, remember He knows. Our ways are in full view of Him and it is He Who examines all our paths.

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The LORD’s Day
October 28, 2007

We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Prayer
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
He Knows The Way I Take Proverbs 5.21

*Tithes and Offerings can be placed in the box at the rear of the sanctuary*
Please join us for coffee and bagels downstairs if you are visiting today.
Prayer Meeting -6pm at the parsonage 1312 Pine Acres Blvd.

This Week
Bible Reading Proverbs 6
Monday Men’s Prayer Meeting 6:30am in the church basement
Wednesday Bible Study & Thursday Bible Study will not meet this week
Next Lord’s Day
Morning Prayer- 10am in the church basement
Morning Worship- 10:30am(Sunday School for Children)The LORD’s Supper
Spanish Service- 4pm


In Your Prayers For All of God’s People

Remember the men serving in the armed forces: Bradley, Julia Bujold’s grandson with Special Forces in Afghanistan, home on leave right now, Ken Brown, Pastor’s friend’s son finished his third tour of Iraq- His parents thank us for praying for him. Billy Knapp, Jr. in Iraq with the Marines (neighbor of the church and Pastor- Billy’s sister graduated from Good Shepherd). He is due home at Thanksgiving. Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton. Pastor’s nephews’ and niece’s cousin Kim’s husband, Jay, in Iraq. Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan, Ken Brown and Tom Hindelang safe during their times in Iraq. Please pray for Johnathan Kruzner (friend’s son of Rudy Migliore) who lost his arm from a roadside bomb in Iraq last month. Katharina’s Family in the death of her daughter... Remember Robert, her husband and her sons, Norman, Raymond &Jonathan anf their families. Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for fibromyalgia. Thank God for answers to prayer for her.Lucy, their daughter, scheduled for surgery next month. Pray for Eloise Brooks’ Family in their loss and sorrow... Remember Jean Louis on dialysis. Grace Martin, Edie Raevis’ daughter, recovering from surgery on her back and uindergoing Physical Therapy. Edie’s daughter’s mother-in-law, Millie Espisito in serious condition. Reginald Mooney, friend of Terri and John Garry, with a tumor in his kidney. Please remember Pastor’s friend Kim Richardson’s daughter, Kelly recovering from a mastectomy. Please remember this whole family in prayer. Two lymph came back showing cancer in them.... undergoing chemo therapy. Leah May’s cousin, Joan, respiratory problems now home... Lucy Mancini under Orthopedic Specialist’s care and physical therapy for pain and injuries resulting from the accident. Pastor’s Dad, Larry Mancini, Sr. In an intermediary care facility, undergoing physical and speech therapy. There is a blog for him: www.papa2all.blogspot.com Stephen Huges, brother of a Good Shepherd Nursery School Mom, their parents home in Hewlett was destroyed in a fire.. Please remember Dr. And Mrs. Mucci in your prayers as well as Judy’s daughter Tatum. Alice Gordon’s brother, Everette, in Illinois, with a serious medical condition... Anka’s family in their time of loss and grief. Joey Reda (Charlie and Diane Davison’s Grandson) experiencing some heart arrhythmia. Prudy’s Mom seeing an oncologist for a lump discovered this week that the doctor believes is not benign. She will have surgery this week. Pastor’s friend, Rudy Migliore, received a very good report from the doctors .Romans 12.15 Pray for those children who will receive Christmas shoe boxes this December.


*If you are would like to put together a shoe box for a needy child this Christmas,
see Margot for information. They need to be turned in on November 11th, the same day as the Harvest Dinner- sign up for what you would like to bring downstairs.

Notes on Our Time in God’s Word This Morning...

He Knows the Way I Take

Proverbs 5.21

* http://www.funtrivia.com/askft/Question18633.html

Pastor’s messages are now available online:
http://thesundaymorningmessage.blogspot.com/
Church e-mail: bayshorenaz@rock.com
Church Phone: 631-969-1730
1314 Pine Acres Boulevard, Bay Shore, Long Island, NY 11706-5436

The LORD's Day October 21, 2007

Better and Better

Proverbs 4.18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

When Jesus turned the water into wine at the wedding in Cana of Galilee they said, “You have saved the best to last.” That is a way of God. Life can be a crescendo of glory He always saves the best for last.

This verse describes the walk of the Christian as he journeys to heaven.

This is not trouble free living. Jesus told us we would have trouble in this world but to be of good cheer because He has overcome the world. Not will overcome but HAS overcome. Living for Jesus brings fellowship with Him until we see Him face to face and all the troubles of life are over.

1. The Path of the Righteous
Path= way, road,

Life happens. We cannot stop the passing of life. We choose each day whom we are serving. It is not a matter of saying I’ll consider Jesus and obey Him tomorrow. Putting off a decision is making one not to follow and obey. The paths of life must be walked upon- you cannot freeze them or pause them like a DVD.

If you have chosen to follow Christ Jesus you have made the wisest choice any man could make.

The Path is a way of living. It is a lifestyle It is not just something we do. It is what we are Character matters. It is not just doing what is right but it is doing what is right from pure motives. It is right in the heart and actions.

Righteous means just. We do what is right. Micah 6.8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Acting justly means to do what is proper and fitting according to God’s character. Doing what is right before God in conduct.

Righteous means doing what is lawful. Give to Caesar what is Caesars. In other words obey the law of the land. We live in a country where the basis of many of our laws are the ten commandments. For years blue laws made it easier to worship on Sunday but that is no longer the case. What about countries where it is illegal to worship the LORD? Then a higher law comes in- God’s law. We must obey God not man. But for the most part at least right now here in America our faith is protected.
Romans 13.1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

We are made righteous. We are justified and vindicated by God. Jesus paid the ransom for our sins on the cross. We are to live righteously now that we have been redeemed and transformed. We are to put to death the misdeeds of the body.

It is called a path. This refers to the traveler or wayfarer-One who travels, especially on foot, a traveler going on a trip. We are on a journey. Heaven is where we are headed. It is a way on which we make progress- more about that in a minute.

This is the way Jesus spoke about in Matthew 7. 13 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

2. The Dawn’s Early Light
He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness (Col 1.13) and brought us into His Glorious light.

We are children of the light. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. I Thessalonians 5.5

Dawn= light of day I am by nature an early riser. I like getting up around 5am. I can watch the sunrise each day. It is like the first gleam of dawn, not the first gleam of dawn. We are like stars... Philippians 2.14-16 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the Word of Life...

Day-break, dawn, morning light all speak of the beginning of life in those who believe. If you do not believe you are dead in your trespasses and sins and you are walking around in darkness. Life coming to a soul.

One of my favorite Christmas passages has become Isaiah 9.1 Nevertheless, there
will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future He will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan-
2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

Jesus is that Light and the light of salvation is He a light has dawned... The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn... The entry point on the path of the righteous is being born again. Jesus told Nicodemus as he searched for truth, “You must be born again.” That is when the light dawns. That is when your eyes are opened.

It is spiritual daylight. It is like lightning. You are born again in a moment. The vilest offender who truly believes that moment from Jesus a pardon receives In a flash your sins are washed all away and you are as white as snow inside.

You believe God’s Word and His Word becomes a light for your path and a lamp for your feet You see where the next step is and you avoid things that can make you stumble. We all have probably tried to navigate through a dark room. Ouch Oops Oh It is not easy. You can hurt yourself. The lamp shows us the things we need to step over or around. That is what God’s Word does for us

Jesus is the light of life. John 8.2 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” All life apart from Him is not life at all. It is darkness.

In Him there is the prosperity of the soul. We grow to reflect God That reflection comes out as the light of face . There is a spiritual glow that increases as people spend time with Jesus. This is recorded in the Old and New Testaments: Moses in Exodus 34.33-35 and Stephen in Acts 6.15

Light of instruction- We learn about Him as we walk in the light. It is a fellowship.

Jehovah as Israel's light- Let there be light... Pillar of cloud by day, Pillar of Fire by night... The LORD is my Light... Jesus: I am the Light of the world.

3. The Pilgrim’s Progress
shining ever brighter
It is the will of God that you continue to grow and mature and develop spiritually. It is His will that this is a continual thing. If you take in His Word each day, feed on it and pray you will develop. You will getting closer to the LORD. God is Light. You will shine ever brighter inside and out.

You are a pilgrim here. A pilgrim is a person who journeys, esp. a long distance, to some sacred place as an act of religious devotion: pilgrims to the Holy Land, a traveler or wanderer, esp. in a foreign place.

The thought here is that life can be a crescendo of glory. As we live the LORD develops in us the fruit of His Spirit so that all these things: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Until finally there is...

4. The Day of the LORD
till the full ( to be firm, be stable, be established) light of day

God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, Who alone is immortal and Who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see- I Timothy 6.15-16

When Jesus comes again this is known as the Day of the LORD. Day- we are told that in Revelation there will be no night there - in heaven. Revelation 21.24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.

This is what we are living for. This is our life This is when death is swallowed up in victory

Right now the world is unstable. Concerns of terror are here on our shores and in our heartland. The cost of living continues to rise. Dangerous things are taking place with nations such as Iran. Danger such as this new thing called home invasions. Jesus told us to be of good cheer. He HAS overcome all of this!

So we look forward and even long for the Day of the LORD. We don’t lose heart. Even though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

We are looking for that city of gold we sang about this morning, whose builder and maker is God.

It keeps getting better and better until we arrive at the best

***********************************
The LORD’s Day
October 21, 2007

We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Prayer
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
Better and Better Proverbs 4.18

*Tithes and Offerings can be placed in the box at the rear of the sanctuary*
Please join us for coffee and bagels downstairs if you are visiting today.

V
This Week
Bible Reading Proverbs 5
Monday Men’s Prayer Meeting 6:30am in the church basement
Wednesday Bible Study- 7:30pm at the Parsonage, 1312 Pine Acres Blvd.
Thursday Bible Study 10:30am at the church
Next Lord’s Day
Morning Prayer- 10am in the church basement
Morning Worship- 10:30am(Sunday School for Children)
Spanish Service- 4pm
Prayer Meeting -6pm

In Your Prayers For All of God’s People

Remember the men serving in the armed forces: Bradley, Julia Bujold’s grandson with Special Forces in Afghanistan, home on leave right now, Ken Brown, Pastor’s friend’s son on his third tour of Iraq- He is due home Tuesday. His parents are heading to Topeka where he will return to greet him. Billy Knapp, Jr. in Iraq with the Marines (neighbor of the church and Pastor- Billy’s sister graduated from Good Shepherd). He is due home at Thanksgiving. Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton. Pastor’s nephews’ and niece’s cousin Kim’s husband, Jay, in Iraq. Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan and Tom Hindelang safe during their times in Iraq. Please pray for Johnathan Kruzner (friend’s son of Rudy Migliore) who lost his arm from a roadside bomb in Iraq last month. Katharina’s Family in the death of her daughter... Remember Robert, her husband and her sons, Norman, Raymond &Jonathan anf their families. Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for fibromyalgia. Thank God for answers to prayer for her. Pray for Eloise Brooks’ Family in their loss and sorrow... Remember Jean Louis on dialysis. Grace Martin, Edie Raevis’ daughter, recovering from surgery on her back and uindergoing Physical Therapy. Edie’s daughter’s mother-in-law, Millie Espisito in serious condition. Reginald Mooney, friend of Terri and John Garry, with a tumor in his kidney. Please remember Pastor’s friend Kim Richardson’s daughter, Kelly recovering from a mastectomy. Please remember this whole family in prayer. Two lymph came back showing cancer in them.... undergoing chemo therapy. Leah May’s cousin, Joan, respiratory problems now home... Lucy Mancini under Orthopedic Specialist’s care and physical therapy for pain and injuries resulting from the accident. Pastor’s Dad, Larry Mancini, Sr. was released from the hospital and moved to an intermediary care facility on Thursday. There is a blog for him: www.papa2all.blogspot.com Stephen Huges, brother of a Good Shepherd Nursery School Mom, their parents home in Hewlett was destroyed in a fire.. Please remember Dr. And Mrs. Mucci in your prayers as well as Judy’s daughter Tatum. Alice Gordon’s brother, Everette, in Illinois, two blood infections along with another serious medical condition... Anka’s family in their time of loss and grief. Joey Reda (Charlie and Diane Davison’s Grandson) experiencing some heart arrhythmia and had been wearing an event monitor for this past week to record them. Pastor’s friend, Rudy Migliore, received a very good report from the doctors .Romans 12.15


*If you are would like to put together a shoe box for a needy child this Christmas see Margot for information.*

Notes on Our Time in God’s Word This Morning...

Better and Better

Proverbs 4.18

Pastor’s messages are now available online:
http://thesundaymorningmessage.blogspot.com/
Church e-mail: bayshorenaz@rock.com
(Church Phone: 631-969-1730
*1314 Pine Acres Boulevard, Bay Shore, Long Island, NY 11706-5436

The LORD's Day October 14, 2007

Putting the LORD First in All of Life

Proverbs 3.1-18

There are simply no short cuts to truly good things, the excellent things.

I grew up in the advent of the instant age. There was instant pudding, instant pudding, instant coffee coming on in my childhood years. Then came Franco American Spaghetti in cans. There were TV Dinners. Campbells had already come out with its instant condensed soups. Then came instant iced tea mixes, instant oatmeal, and so on. Truth was it was okay but there was no comparison with the real thing. Convenience and quality often do not meet.

In our walk with the LORD there are no instant ways to please Him. There are no shortcuts. He is to be first and foremost in all of our life. He wants our heart, our soul ,our mind. He wants us to offer ourselves as living sacrifices. He wants our past (so He can forgive us and heal us). He wants our present and our future so He can do marvelous things in us and through us.

This chapter speaks of things we need to do to live under His blessings. How do we put the LORD first in our lives? How do we, in our lives, do what we are told to do in I Peter 3.15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.


1. Keep God’s Commands 1-2

Keep watch over your life and periodically examine yourself as to how you are doing in obeying the LORD. Daily Bible reading will do that for us. God’s Word will help point out things in our lives that we need to pay close attention to.

Guard your heart. Remember that verse from last week, “Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4.23 It is the same idea. You get God’s commands in there and then you watch that they stay and that you obey them and don’t let things into your heart that would pull you away from them. Guard your heart and God’s commands within it.

Preserve His commands. Keep them fresh with in you. Keep applying them throughout your life.

Guard them from dangers. One of the dangers we face is false teaching. There are things that war against our souls as Peter writes in I Peter 2.11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Keep your heart free from the love of money. Be content with what you have. Don’t try to obtain positions of power. Promotion comes from the LORD. Stay in marriage and be committed to one another. Love each other deeply.

Keep God’s commands secret. Don’t cast your pearls before swine. Don’t throw out precious truths before everyone. Share with deep discernment.

Keep these things close to your heart. Love the LORD with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself.

Set up a blockade with God’s Word. Don’t let anything in that is not in line with it.
The blessings are great - v.2

2. Be Loving and Faithful 3-4

Some versions have mercy. The Hebrew word for love here is kheh'Ased. It means goodness, faithfulness, kindness. Love and Mercy fit into both of those descriptions. These are also some of the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5.

Be faithful. That is something in short supply these days. A faithful man, who can find? Proverbs 20.6 Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find? You be that kind of man or woman Let’s be a church of faithful people

Be Kind. Another thing that is short supply these days. Let the love of Jesus come through in acts of kindness. Yield to the Holy Spirit. Follow the way of love when it would be easier not to be.

Be good for the sake of being good. Many are that way when they are being watched. Putting the LORD first in your life means being the same when you are being watched as when you are not. When eyes are on you and when they are not.

Be faithful. You say we already covered that but there is a greater meaning here in this word faithfulness or as some translations have: “truth”.

It means firmness. I used to have back pain all the time. Sleeping on a firm mattress resolved that problem. Too many believers today lack backbone. They are wishy washy. To put the LORD first means to have a firmness about certain things. To begin with the Ten Commandments...

This word also means sureness. It means we are certain of what we believe. Interestingly that is in the definition of faith. God give us strong men that will not waiver Give us women with tender hearts but tough minds.

This can also mean reliability. Are you dependable? It is horrible to be known for the fact your word is not good. Don’t say you are going to do something unless you are going to do it

Faithfulness means stability. How we need stable people today. What a blessing those kind of people are to the kingdom. Some are weak by nature and we who are strong ought to be bear with them. Charles Wesley’s hymn is true, “The weakest believer is built on the Rock.”

There is continuance in faithfulness. A steady life living out the things it has been taught and not veering off the course. My dad has been like that. Call from Dr. Ken Brown Friday... my dad taught him 50 years ago in the Springfield Gardens Nazarene Church.

Finally true doctrine is held in the heart of the faithful. False teaching abounds. People are not putting up with sound doctrine. Jesus said this would happen. Feelings rule often displacing truth.

Look a the blessings that come from love and faithfulness (v.4)


3. Trust in the LORD completely 5-8

Don’t trust in your or get support from your own understanding. Wow this is a challenge. We are more apt to go online and look up advice than we are to pray. If we don’t understand we begin to try and figure life out. Why is such a deadly question. It can actually freeze us up.

Be confident and bold and secure in the LORD. There is a difference between praying from time to time and breathing prayer out all the time.

God will take care of you is not just a hymn it is a truth that comes up over and over again in the scriptures. Back in the very early 80's when I was a pastor in Upstate NY, my brother had come for Christmas and the day after he was scheduled to fly out to Canada with an engagement ring. Snow came that Christmas night. The wind whipped and the temperature dropped. I am thankful I am back where I belong- on Long Island (Whenever I am tempted to complain in the winter I just need to remember upstate NY) Anyway... the cars all froze up and in the morning we couldn’t get one started. I called a kid in the church and he came to the rescue. Half way up the interstate, in a fairly desolate area, his car began to shoot out steam from the radiator and we came to a stop.

We were sitting there on the side of the snow covered highway and suddenly began to feel the cold outside coming in. It was getting colder and colder. On the other side we saw a NY State Trooper vehicle. Most of the time we don’t appreciate seeing them but I tell you that morning he was sight for sore eyes He cut over to where we were and tried to help a little. It was bitterly cold we could not stay outside very long. He gave us a ride to the next exit. It was the only time I have ever been in the back seat of a police car. It was warm

We spent the rest of the day waiting for someone to come and get us. First my folks came and picked up my brother on their way home. He flew out to Canada the next day. They told us someone was coming to get us. Now it was getting dark. Finally a man who had begun to attend the church pulled up. He had a auto business and owned a tow truck but this time he was in a big car. He said, “We’ll come up and get the car in the morning. Right now we need to get you guys home. It has been a long day.” We drove for little while and then he pulled off an exit. He said, “You both will feel better with some food in your stomachs.” It was one of those truck stops that had some of the most delicious food you can get anywhere ” He said, “Boys, this is on me. Order whatever you want.” So we did Then we got some hot coffee and he brought is home, right to our doors. The next day he went up and got the car. I remember him saying, “You should have called me when the cars would not start this morning. I would have come right over.” Instead we did what we thought was best and it ended up a mess. Yet Jim came to our rescue. That reminds me of God so much. We should consult Him first. He will take care of us. Even when we fail He doesn’t hang it over us but takes care of our needs and gets us back to safety. When we are faithless He is faithful

Be bold and confident and secure in His Great Love. Jesus never fails.


4. Honor the LORD by Giving To Him 9-10

What you give to God and how you handle your money is a strong indication of your love for Jesus. The idea of honor is for something to have weight in our lives.

Give God the best of your income. Give Him the choicest. Give Him the beginning. We are to put God first in the blessings He gives to us. I remember my first five dollars. I made it cutting grass for Miss Smith on Briggs Street in Bellmore. I showed it to my Mom and she said 50 cents of that belongs to God and that settled the question of tithing or giving God a tenth of my income. God blesses those who give to Him.

God loves a cheerful giver. It is a hilarious thing to give to God. It is a wonder filled thing to give to Him. He does wonderful things in the hearts of the people who give the way He says to. If you are not doing that, join the company of those who do. We have a box in the back of the church for this purpose. We haven’t taken an offering here for years. Pray and give what God puts on your heart to give. Do it regularly, in proportion to your income, and cheerfully.

Look at the blessings in verse 10.


5. Accept Discipline and Learn From It 11-18

Finally this morning...

You know how kids know that their parents love them? The gifts are good but the proof is in the discipline. It is built into all kids to receive this. It shows them that their parents care. God is our Father in heaven. He disciplines us for our good so we will become more like Him He wants us to be like Him.

His discipline is perfect It is right and for our good.

His discipline has a purpose. He trims and prunes back things in our lives.

He cares about our soul.

Put the LORD first in your life Keep His commandments. Be loving and faithful. Trust in Him completely. Honor Him by giving to Him. Accept His loving discipline and learn from it.

You will experience joy unspeakable here on earth and heaven forever.
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The LORD’s Day
October 14, 2007

We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Prayer
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
Putting the LORD First in All of Life Proverbs 3.1-18

*Tithes and Offerings can be placed in the box at the rear of the sanctuary*
Please join us for coffee and bagels downstairs if you are visiting today.
Please read the wedding invitation for April and Jason posted above the guest book.


This Week
Bible Reading Proverbs 3-4
Monday Men’s Prayer Meeting 6:30am in the church basement
Wednesday Bible Study- 7:30pm at the Parsonage, 1312 Pine Acres Blvd.
Thursday Bible Study 10:30am at the church
Next Lord’s Day
Morning Prayer- 10am in the church basement
Morning Worship- 10:30am(Sunday School for Children)
Spanish Service- 4pm

In Your Prayers For All of God’s People

Remember the men serving in the armed forces: Bradley, Julia Bujold’s grandson with Special Forces in Afghanistan, home on leave right now, Ken Brown, Pastor’s friend’s son on his third tour of Iraq- He is due home this week. Billy Knapp, Jr. in Iraq with the Marines (neighbor of the church and Pastor- Billy’s sister graduated from Good Shepherd). He is due home at Thanksgiving. Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton. Pastor’s nephews’ and niece’s cousin Kim’s husband, Jay, in Iraq. Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan and Tom Hindelang safe during their times in Iraq. Please pray for Johnathan Kruzner (friend’s son of Rudy Migliore) who lost his arm from a roadside bomb in Iraq last month. Katharina’s Family in the death of her daughter... Remember Robert, her husband and her sons, Norman, Raymond &Jonathan anf their families. Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for fibromyalgia. Thank God for answers to prayer for her. Pray for Eloise Brooks’ Family during this time of loss and sorrow... Remember Jean Louis on dialysis. Grace Martin, Edie Raevis’ daughter, recovering from surgery on her back and uindergoing Physical Therapy. Edie’s daughter’s mother-in-law, Millie Espisito in grave condition. Reginald Mooney, friend of Terri and John Garry, with a tumor in his kidney. Please remember Pastor’s friend Kim Richardson’s daughter, Kelly recovering from a mastectomy. Please remember this whole family in prayer. Two lymph came back showing cancer in them.... Leah May’s cousin, Joan, respiratory problems now home... Lucy Mancini under Orthopedic Specialist’s care and physical therapy for pain and injuries resulting from the accident. Pastor’s Dad, Larry Mancini, Sr. has improved dramatically. Last Sunday the doctors told us he was not going to make it. Then Jesus stepped in and touched him. There is a blog for him: www.papa2all.blogspot.com Stephen Huges, brother of a Good Shepherd Nursery School Mom, their parents home in Hewlett was destroyed in a fire.. Please remember Dr. And Mrs. Mucci in your prayers as well as Judy’s daughter Tatum. Alice Gordon’s brother, Everette, in Illinois, two blood infections along with another serious medical condition... Anka’s family in their time of loss and grief. Joey Reda (Charlie and Diane Davison’s Grandson) experiencing some heart arrhythmia and had been wearing an event monitor for this past week to record them. Pastor’s friend, Rudy Migliore, received a very good report from the doctors .Romans 12.15


*If you are would like to put together a shoe box for a needy child this Christmas see Margot for information.*

Notes on Our Time in God’s Word This Morning...

Putting the LORD First InAll Of Life

Proverbs 3.1-18

Pastor’s messages are now available online:
http://thesundaymorningmessage.blogspot.com/
Church e-mail: bayshorenaz@rock.com
Church Phone: 631-969-1730
1314 Pine Acres Boulevard, Bay Shore, Long Island, NY 11706-5436

The LORD's Day October 7, 2007

Taking the Proverbs To Heart

Proverbs 2.1-8

All of us enjoy feeling good. The relaxation after a hard day’s work, eating our favorite food, going to our favorite place are all things we enjoy doing. These things make us feel good.

In our walk with the LORD there are feelings, deep feelings, the deepest feelings we will ever experience . But our relationship is much much more than that. Our relationship with Jesus involves faith and trust and obedience. Those who put too much emphasis on feelings end up with great disappointments in their lives. Those with no or little feelings are missing some of the most wonderful things life gives. Feelings must be balanced with faith and obedience.

The first verse of chapter 2 is an arresting one. Once again as the opening of the Book it describes a relationship with the Proverbs. We are to become one with the Proverbs, with Wisdom. This is the mind of Christ. This is being conformed to the image of Christ.

Accepting my words.... storing up my commands with in you. The idea is a repeat of what the opening lines of the Proverbs say. (1.2-3) It is expressing in the strongest sense that the Proverbs are to become part of a person’s life.

Accepting my words... to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away

We are to become one with the Proverbs. We are to become intimate with them. We are to treat them as a young man with a wife. Story of older couple in the car sitting against the doors... seeing a younger couple ahead of them in the days before bucket seats. The wife was upset and said to her husband driving the car, “Look at them ” To which the husband replied, “I’m not the one who moved.”

We are to take our Bibles in our hands and study this (and its other books). We should take and carry our Bible along with us on our various trips (like the doctor’s office- waiting rooms).

The Proverbs are be caught up and carried away in our hearts. A young groom takes his bride away on a honeymoon. Blessed are those marriages where the honeymoon never stopped. They are few and far between but they are blessed. The Proverbs are to be taken like a bride where the honeymoon goes on and on. The enemy is mentioned here. She Is the adulteress. the wayward wife with her seductive words, who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God. (vs.16-17)

We are to take to or for the Proverbs as husband takes to his wife.

We must take possession of the Proverbs. They are to capture our affections.

We are to take them for our own. We are to leave the foolishness and even the so called wisdom of this world and cleave to God’s Word.

Storing up my commands with in you...to hide, treasure, or store up

The Proverbs are a treasure chest of wisdom. They reveal to us the Pearl of Great Price.

We are to hide God’s Word in our heart to keep us from sinning against Him. The proverbs are to be treasured as they teach us how to live. They give us wisdom. We are to treasure them up. Mary did this with the things she saw as she gave birth to the Messiah. We are to do the same with Proverbs.

Some of the Proverbs may lie hidden for a long time before in our hearts before we bring them up and out to use them. There are some which are for certain seasons of life. The idea is that before life happens we are prepared because we have been given the ultimate Inside Information on life’s situations.

They are to be stored up- too often we have to look up a verse when a situation arises. The idea here is to have one for the moment we find ourselves in by storing it up. We are to fill our hearts and minds with the words in this book. This is an act of faith. As young people read this they are reading about things that they will not be confronted with for some time. However it prepares the heart to do what is right in the future.

The Proverbs are to be kept free from discovery from most people. These are the pearls. Cast them before people who do not believe they will be trampled on. Jesus told us that they are to precious for that to happen.

Take them in your hand and put them in your heart.


1. The Proverbs are to be read.

There are 31 chapters. A chapter a day would result in reading through them each month. That is a lofty goal and some are attaining it, most are not. If you are not or if you have tired and failed then many are your companions. Keep going. At the very least make Proverbs a regular part of your Bible reading. If it is not now is the time to begin. Begin today, this week. These are God’s instructions written in the form as a father to child or young man letter.

Reading the Proverbs is not easy. They are concentrated with truth. They are written in part to be read meditatively. There is really no other way to read them. If you skim over them you will miss most of the truth God has for you in them.

They are best read systematically. As we are finding out there is an introduction in these first few chapters. It is the heart of a father (Solomon) to his beloved son. The next few chapters show us the benefits and blessings of wisdom.

The Proverbs is not a reference book to be read once in a great while. They are not to go to just at particular times. They are to be read regularly so that they will find a lodging place in our hearts.


2. The Proverbs are for all of life.

All of the various stages of life are spoken about in this book. There is instruction for the youth as well as adults. There is observation on family life and friendship.

Proverbs deal with life decisions. They give us guidance on making the right ones.


3. The Proverbs are to memorized.

I don’t know that I have sat down and memorized them as I have other passages from God’s Word. They are best memorized by reading them. Of course there are a few key verses that are good for us to memorize such as Proverbs 3.5-6. More than any other verse that one has been the life verse, the theme of so many lives. Another one is 4.23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. My grandmother wrote both in my autograph book when I graduated from grade school back in June of 1968. I still have it on the shelf of my study in the parsonage.

The proverbs are memorized as we read them repeatedly. Keep going through this book and wisdom will enter your heart (2.10). In a very wonderful way, somewhat mystical, as you read the words of this book the promises begin to transpire in our life. As you obey the promise Jesus gave us in John 14 comes to be fulfilled.

21Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love him and show Myself to him.

23Jesus replied, If anyone loves me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

As you obey the LORD you will be love by Jesus, He will show Himself to you, and God the Father and the Son will come and make their home with you.

4. The Proverbs are written to be lived out. (1.3)

From the heart where they are stored up. Out of the heart comes the issues of life.

You cannot live them out without having them in your heart. They must be taken to heart... your heart. As they are stored up and you live life and you see examples in the lives of others then you are gaining a heart of wisdom. You are numbering your days. You are realizing that life is forever in heaven, in glory, in eternity, not here on earth. As situations arise then you know what to do from the Word fo God in you and the Spirit of God bringing it to your memory.

.After they are within your heart then they come out in Life for the glory of God .


5. The Proverbs fill the heart with wisdom. (vs.3-4)

There are two activities associated with the Proverbs becoming part of one’s heart.

First Cry out to God for wisdom.
We will go to the LORD with needs of daily bread or healing. But if that is all we do then we are no better than the multitudes who forsook Him. How often have we cried out for wisdom. Too often it is only when we need it as James tells us in James 1.5. That is good but that is not the whole of it. It is a very small portion in fact. We are to be continually crying out to the LORD for wisdom. Pray for wisdom. The prayer for wisdom is one of the most important prayers you will pray If you continually cry out the times when you don’t know what to do will be fewer. The wisdom will have already entered your heart.

Second search for it like you would search for silver.
Ore must be smelted to refine silver in quantity, and this cannot have been an easy process to apply on a large scale basis when Solomon wrote these words To melt or fuse (ores) in order to separate the metallic constituents. The search for it was equally intense. Silver had to be dug out. Digging is not an easy task. There was a neighbor trying to save some money after my parents moved upstate in 1973. He had myself and another guy dig a leech field for him. It was brutal work. The hard pan as they call it, the flat rock as opposed to our sand stones here, all made for a demanding 10 days.

Dig deep into God’s Word. Meditate upon it. Saturate yourself in it. Take in the Proverbs. Live by them. Dwell in them. Think about how to apply them to your life.

Seeking for it as you would search for hidden treasure... the idea is to dig until you expose the treasure. Dig into God’s Word. Life is to be looked at on a deep level to uncover things that are not easily seen. Wisdom helps us to detect the wolves in sheep’s clothing.

Combine these tow activities together- Prayer and the Word of God- in this case the Proverbs. Pray for the LORD to reveal things to you. Open your heart to Him.

Take the Proverbs to heart. Let them become the guide rails of your life. Let them keep you on the good path.

Great promises for those who trust in the LORD and follow Him their whole life through. Many fall away but those who remain faithful- they are blessed and they are a blessing.

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The LORD’s Day
October 7, 2007

We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Receiving the LORD’s Supper
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
Taking the Proverbs To Heart Proverbs 2

*Tithes and Offerings can be placed in the box at the rear of the sanctuary*
Please join us for coffee and bagels downstairs if you are visiting today.
Prayer Meeting - 6pm at the parsonage

V
This Week
Bible Reading Proverbs 3
Monday Men’s Prayer Meeting 6:30am in the church basement
Wednesday Bible Study- 7:30pm at the Parsonage
Thursday Bible Study 10:30am at the church
Next Lord’s Day
Morning Prayer- 10am in the church basement
Morning Worship- 10:30am(Sunday School for Children)
Spanish Service- 4pm

In Your Prayers For All of God’s People

Remember the men serving in the armed forces: Bradley, Julia Bujold’s grandson with Special Forces in Afghanistan, home on leave right now, Ken Brown, Pastor’s friend’s son on his third tour of Iraq- He will be home soon. Please pray for the whole family. Billy Knapp, Jr. in Iraq with the Marines (neighbor of the church and Pastor- Billy’s sister graduated from Good Shepherd). He is due home at Thanksgiving. Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton. Pastor’s nephews’ and niece’s cousin Kim’s husband, Jay, in Iraq. Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan and Tom Hindelang safe during their times in Iraq. Please pray for Johnathan Kruzner (friend’s son of Rudy Migliore) who lost his arm from a roadside bomb in Iraq last month. Katharina’s Family in the death of her daughter... Remember Robert, her husband and her sons, Norman, Raymond &Jonathan anf their families. Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for fibromyalgia. Thank God for answers to prayer for her. Pray for Eloise Brooks’ Family during this time of loss and sorrow... Remember Jean Louis on dialysis. Grace Martin, Edie Raevis’ daughter, recovering from surgery on her back and uindergoing Physical Therapy. Edie’s daughter’s mother-in-law, Millie Espisito in grave condition. Reginald Mooney, friend of Terri and John Garry, with a tumor in his kidney. Please remember Pastor’s friend Kim Richardson’s daughter, Kelly recovering from a mastectomy. Please remember this whole family in prayer. Two lymph came back showing cancer in them. Pastor Jerry Bonfiglio’s family who has been through so much grief this summer... Leah May’s cousin, Joan, respiratory problems now home... Lucy Mancini under Orthopedic Specialist’s care and physical therapy for pain and injuries resulting from the accident. Pastor’s Dad, Larry Mancini, Sr. out of intensive care and off the ventilator. He is conscious but immobile and has a feeding tube. Stephen Huges, brother of a Good Shepherd Nursery School Mom, their parents home in Hewlett was destroyed in a fire.. Please remember Dr. And Mrs. Mucci in your prayers as well as Judy’s daughter Tatum. Alice Gordon’s brother, Everette, in Illinois, two blood infections along with another serious medical condition. Mary Von Fricken doing better and planning on being in the area this week.. Anka’s family in their time of loss and grief. Joey Reda (Charlie and Diane Davison’s Grandson) experiencing some heart arrhythmia and had been wearing an event monitor for this past week to record them. Pastor’s friend, Rudy Migliore, received a very good report from the doctors .Romans 12.15


*If you are would like to put together a shoe box for a needy child this Christmas see Margot for information.*

Notes on Our Time in God’s Word This Morning...

Taking the Proverbs To Heart

Proverbs 2

Pastor’s messages are now available online:
http://thesundaymorningmessage.blogspot.com/
Church e-mail: bayshorenaz@rock.com
Church Phone: 631-969-1730
1314 Pine Acres Boulevard, Bay Shore, Long Island, NY 11706-5436

The LORD's Day September 30, 2007

The Purpose of the Proverbs
Proverbs 1.1-7

Proverbs is a book in the Bible that could be subtitled, “Learn and Live”. We use the old saying to comfort people when they have made a mistake, “Well you live and learn.” Proverbs is written so that we could avoid many mistakes, sins and wrong paths. It is a book of life in a positive sense as well. It tells us what to do, the right attitude to have and the life decisions that will bring God’s blessings rather than sin’s consequences.

The Proverbs helps us to avoid unnecessary pain and suffering in our life. They are the stepping stones along the straight path that leads to life and heaven. Listen to them and obey them and you will experience God’s blessings, including His discipline. Ignore them and you will play the fool, someone the Proverbs often refers to.

Training and learning and growing are challenging experiences. Good things come out of them but sometimes the path is not the one of least resistance. One of the reasons people do not follow Jesus is because of persecution. It is also because that when we do we are submitting as He did to our Father in Heaven. The first section of the Proverbs tells us about things like this. It explains in detail what the purpose of the Proverbs are. Today there is an abundance of little sayings about life. The Proverbs are far beyond that. They are far beyond cute little sayings and go right into the heart and soul of the people who read them and they even speak of the heart and soul of those who do not.

Through this fall and into winter we are going to look at these wonderful words of life.


1. The Proverbs are for Right Thinking -v.2

for attaining wisdom and discipline

The word wisdom in this verse means “skill in war”.

We are in spiritual battle. That battle is spoken about throughout the Proverbs. It is the LORD against Satan, Good against evil, Righteousness against sinfulness. The Proverbs helps us to be skilled in fighting this battle. We sharpen our spiritual senses through spending time in the Proverbs.

For example Proverbs 15.1 says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Have you ever answered someone who was mad at you with a harsh word and watched the battle escalate? Afterwards you thought, “I wish I could take that back This is not good.” Well a gentle answer turns away wrath. When my girls were growing up that was hung on the refrigerator door and they memorized it. Some of us need to memorize it so we can practice it.


Let me go a step further. I was with two of my daughters this week for a little while. In our conversation we talked about a professional person whom we all have seen. The girls spoke about the receptionist in the office. She is mean. I am sure there is something just below the surface in her life that is causing her to be this way. One day the LORD (I know it was from Him because of the results) put it my heart to ask her about her son- she had pictures of him on her desk. Her heart melted and opened and the sweetness displaced the anger. I told the girls to talk to her about her child and see what happens. A gentle answer... here is some of the wonder of the Proverbs... an answer is a response... gentle means soft, tender, delicate. See how this works. We reap what we sow.

This word wisdom has to do with administration. Getting things done God give us wisdom on making the most of every opportunity. Help us not to waste time. Help us to get proper rest and nutrition.

Wisdom is also shrewdness. Jesus commended the manager in Luke 16 for this. The Proverbs helps us develop this. Many Christians lack it.


for attaining wisdom and discipline
discipline-chastening, correction. The Proverbs are part of God’s Word. Hebrews 4.12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. God’s Word cuts into us. It exposes our inner most thoughts and corrects us. We are inwardly changed by God’s Word coming into our hearts.

One of the purposes of the Proverbs is to bring correction to our lives. As we make this journey through it the next 6 months we will see this truth become a reality in our own lives Open your heart to the Truth and Jesus Himself will touch you and set you free in ways you may not even be aware of that you have need of at this moment.
for understanding words of insight
understanding = discernment
I pray that all of God’s people would be given an increase of discernment. We all have a measure of discernment because of Jesus being inside. His Spirit gives us this (I John 2.20-27).Some have the spiritual gift of discernment. Most of us need to seek it like Paul said to in I Corinthians 14.1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts...
Proverbs helps us develop this gift. There are many things that enhance spiritual gifts as we read and study God’s Word and discernment is one of them. There is so much pain and confusion that could be avoided if this gift were more active in the lives of believers. False teacher would not be having the response and following they are.

The reading and studying of the Proverbs help us distinguish spirits. They show us what is behind certain actions and even attitudes of people. They open human hearts.

2. The Proverbs are for Right Living. v.3

for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,

acquiring=marry, take a wife, snatch, take away
Become one with the Proverbs. Let the Word of God dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom. This is a book of the Bible that is meant to be shared with each other, quoted to one another, used a counseling tool between believers. As I spend time in the Proverbs, I am snatching up the truth and living right.

prudent= look upon with insight
We look at life emotionally and financially. What does it cost? How will it make me feel? We look at it as we shared recently that we are going to heaven on beds of ease. We seldom look on it with insight, learning from our own lives and the lives of others. To be prudent is to look on it in this way- gaining insight from life’s lessons.

One of the purposes of the Proverbs is to help us enjoy life. It is to help us avoid bad situations and bad people and bad attitudes. It promotes healthy living from an emotional spiritual standpoint. It tells us how to avoid financial stress and the benefits that come from not being rich. It is straightens out wrong thinking and helps us live right.


doing what is right and just and fair

fair=evenness, uprightness, straightness, equity, evenness, level, smoothness
rightly

Micah 6.8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.


3. The Proverbs are for Simple People and Young People. v.4

One of the purposes of the Proverbs is help the simple and the young, those lacking wisdom, spiritual maturity. It makes up what they lack in learning from life and experience.

for giving prudence to the simple,
prudence=shrewdness, craftiness
Once again Jesus commended the manager in Luke 16 for his shrewdness. So many times God’s people do not possess that. We are naive. The simple are naive and need to learn to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

for giving prudence to the simple
simple= naive, foolish, open minded


There is a sense in which being open minded over some things is an asset. There are other things we need to be tough minded about. There are non-negotiable things. The Word of God gives us things that cannot be altered. There some things that are always wrong, no matter what the circumstances. We need to be closed minded about such things. The simple are open minded about all things. I remember hearing things along the path of life from others. They were condoning sinful behavior in others and that is wrong. It used to upset (still does) my spirit.

knowledge and discretion to the young-
knowledge= perception, skill, discernment, understanding, wisdom

The Proverbs gives all these things to the young. How children and teens need this. Look at the passage we read this week and how young people bent on doing evil try and bring along someone who has been brought up to know better. Discernment will keep a young person from going down the wrong track, from getting his feet on the path that leads to destruction. Such discernment is received from the Proverbs. Let’s encourage the young people in our life by teaching them these things.


4. The Wise and Discerning Grow By Proverbs -v.5-6
Let the wise listen (implied obedience) and add to their learning (insight)
and let the discerning get guidance(direction, counsel, guidance, good advice, wise counsel direction)- for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. We need wisdom to understand the Proverbs. We need the LORD to help us interpret His Word, to understand the depth of it. He will help us.

So many are in a state of arrested spiritual development . We ought to be growing in our knowledge about God’s Word and growing in the grace of God and fruit of the Spirit. Proverbs is a book that helps us feed the inner man with spiritual truth for life. It helps even those who are well along on the path to grow. Do you see the implication here? We ought to all be growing until we see Jesus face to face and become like Him. Follow His example We are told in Luke’s Gospel as a boy, Luke 2.52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Doesn’t it amaze you at times how much you need to grow in becoming more like Jesus? The Proverbs are given to help us on that path. We are on the way to heaven and on it we reflect more and more of the LORD Whom we are looking to.

They are for all of us

Let’s grow in love, wisdom and grace
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The LORD’s Day
September 30, 2007

We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Prayer
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
The Purpose of the Proverbs Proverbs 1

*Tithes and Offerings can be placed in the box at the rear of the sanctuary*
Please join us for coffee and bagels downstairs if you are visiting today.
Prayer Meeting - 6pm at the parsonage

This Week
Bible Reading Proverbs 2
Monday Men’s Prayer Meeting 6:30am in the church basement
Wednesday Bible Study- 7:30pm at the Parsonage
Thursday Bible Study 10:30am at the church
Next Lord’s Day
Morning Prayer- 10am in the church basement
Morning Worship- 10:30am(Sunday School for Children) The LORD’s Supper
Spanish Service- 4pm

In Your Prayers For All of God’s People

Remember the men serving in the armed forces: Bradley, Julia Bujold’s grandson with Special Forces in Afghanistan, home on leave right now, Ken Brown, Pastor’s friend’s son on his third tour of Iraq- He will be home soon. Please pray for the whole family. Billy Knapp, Jr. in Iraq with the Marines (neighbor of the church and Pastor- Billy’s sister graduated from Good Shepherd). He is due home at Thanksgiving. Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton. Pastor’s nephews’ and niece’s cousin Kim’s husband, Jay, in Iraq. Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan and Tom Hindelang safe during their times in Iraq. Please pray for Johnathan Kruzner (friend’s son of Rudy Migliore) who lost his arm from a roadside bomb in Iraq this month. Christine Frankland, Katharina’s daughter, went to be with the LORD yesterday afternoon. Remember Robert, her husband and Jonathan, her son as well as Katharina and the rest of the family. Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for fibromyalgia. Thank God for answers to prayer for her. Pray for Eloise Brooks’ Family during this time of loss and sorrow... Remember Jean Louis on dialysis. Grace Martin, Edie Raevis’ daughter, recovering from surgery on her back and uindergoing Physical Therapy. Edie’s daughter’s mother-in-law, Millie Espisito has a severe infection and is in grave condition. Reginald Mooney, friend of Terri and John Garry, with a tumor in his kidney. Please remember Pastor’s friend Kim Richardson’s daughter, Kelly had a mastectomy this past Tuesday. Please remember this whole family in prayer. Pastor Jerry Bonfiglio’s family who has been through so much grief this summer... Leah May’s cousin, Joan, respiratory problems now home. Leah was taken to the hospital following Eloise’s funeral on Thursday. She is home now... Lucy Mancini under Orthopedic Specialist’s care and physical therapy for pain and injuries resulting from the accident. Pastor’s Dad., Larry Mancini, Sr. came through surgery to remove a blood clot on the brain very well Friday. Stephen Huges, brother of a Good Shepherd Nursery School Mom, their parents home in Hewlett was destroyed in a fire.. Please remember Dr. And Mrs. Mucci in your prayers as well as Judy’s daughter Tatum. Alice Gordon’s brother, Everette, in Illinois, two blood infections along with another serious medical condition. Mary Von Fricken was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. She is having pacemaker problems as well. Anka’s family in their time of loss and grief. Joey Reda (Charlie and Diane Davison’s Grandson) experiencing some heart arrhythmia and had been wearing an event monitor for this past week to record them. Pastor’s friend, Rudy Migliore, received a very good report from the doctors this week.
Romans 12.15

*If you are would like to put together a shoe box for a needy child this Christmas see Margot for information.*

The LORD's Day September 23, 2007

When A Believer Dies

I Thessalonians 4.13-18

Three people associated with our congregation went to be with the LORD this week. Tuesday, Lucy and I were praying with Anka, hours before she left for Romania. Her dad had died and she was going there to be with her family. Late Wednesday Night Judy Mucci, Dr and Mrs. Mucci’ daughter went to be with the LORD. Her funeral will be this week in Pittsburgh. Friday morning early the phone rang with the news of Eloise’s going to be with Jesus. I read this passage to her family that morning. She had told me a number of times in the rehab, as she was getting ready for her prosthesis that she was going to surprise me one Sunday and walk into church. The skeptic would say, “See that never happened.” I would say, “Something more far more wonderful than that is happening ” She is walking around heaven this morning and without an artificial limb. She is with the One who died for her.
Yesterday morning early around 5am the LORD drew me to this message for today. I was prepared to speak on Proverbs 1. After I had finished it I received a phone my Dad had a serious fall and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. This morning bleeding on his brain has spread... He is in the LORD’s Hands. We will leave right after church this morning.
We are to use this truth in this passage regularly and in special times (like at the death of a loved one) when we need it.
Encourage each other with these words...

to call to one's side, call for, summon, to address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, comfort, instruction.
to admonish,
to beg, beseech
to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort,
to be comforted
to instruct, teachAs believers we have the ultimate comfort for life and death. Jesus has sent us the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth (His Spirit) to be with us forever. He has given us the Promise of His Return and with that the Promise of the resurrection for all who died believing on Him. The video tape from 1986 this week. We need this truth. We need this truth this morning.

1. We need this truth as we face the loss of a loved one.
We have memories the LORD gave us and God has told us in His Word that the memory of the righteous will be a blessing. That is a blessing but that does not take the place of the loss. However this section of scripture contains promises for us specifically for the loss and grief we feel. It is a love letter from God’s heart to ours about the grand reunion coming up.
We are told in Psalm 34.18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. and in Psalm 147.3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Human loss through death is unlike any other experience we will ever go through. A premature death (like the Muccis are facing today), one out of order, is even worse. Healing can only really come through the LORD’s touch and His Word and after that we have only the scars.
There is a loneliness in grief. Life does go on and we feel the world should stop, at least for a while, to acknowledge our loss. But it does not. It is akin to the closing scene in the classic movie starring Gary Cooper called Pride of the Yankees. Lou Geherig’s Story... where they have pre game festivities honoring him because he can no longer play the game he loved due to illness. As he walks off the field and into the dugout and down the hall to the clubhouse, you hear the umpire yell out, “Play Ball ”. Life goes on. Grief is something we face by and large alone with Jesus. We feel it is not right for the world to continue because our world has come crashing down. It seems almost disrespectful for it to continue. Seeing people laugh doesn’t seem right. There seems to be an emptiness in it.
Facing a loved one’s death- the death of someone we loved and who loved us is one of the most difficult things to do. But one day all these things will be done away with. Death will be swallowed up in victory That is the point of this passage. That is the ultimate comfort
We need to quote and share this passage more than we are doing. When someone is facing the loss of a loved one we need to put this passage into practice. When we are facing the loss of a loved one we need to hear this from others. It doesn’t change the fact of death; it does put it in perspective.
I know this passage has helped me this week. I know it is helping family members. We will read it after Eloise’s funeral here on Thursday Morning out at Calverton.
God comforts us with the truth of His Word, the ministry of His Holy Spirit and through His people, the Church of Jesus Christ.

2. We need this truth as we face our own mortality.
We need this truth because we are so often being told aging is a bummer and we should do all we can to avoid it What utter nonsense That is living in denial not to mention that people make themselves look foolish as well.
It can be depressing to get old or it can be wonderful. Everyday with Jesus is sweeter than the day before. Often we do it without this promise close at hand and embedded in our heart. Listen to Paul’s words in Romans 13.11-12 ... Understanding the present time...our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed... the day is almost here. The Day of Jesus’ Return or the day when we will meet Him after we finish our life here. I have trouble sometimes waiting for that time. I called on the LORD to come several times this week. Maranatha is in my heart this morning! It is going to be wonderful- far beyond words.
2 Corinthians 4.16 - Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are quite small and won't last long ... But the joys to come will last forever
The truth is, unless Jesus comes first, we will die one day. There is an end coming for all of us. When we think of that there should be a sense of urgency-
I want to finish well. I want to hit the finish line in full stride. I want to be more like Jesus.

Jesus impressed the fact upon His disciples while He was here on earth that we would all stand before Him one day. There will be a time of giving account of our lives. There will be a separation of the righteous and unrighteous. This Truth sobers us. We need to think soberly about our own mortality. But we should not be morbid or think about it alone without the whole truth. D.L. Moody said, “One day you will pick up the paper and read Dwight L. Moody has died. Don’t you believe it For on that day I shall be more alive than I have ever been ”

3. We need this truth for daily living.
Coping with life itself can wear a soul out Facing the loss of a loved one is exhasting We need to be renewed everyday, especially in this time we are living in “Outwardly we are wasting away... inwardly we are being renewed day by day - II Corinthians 4.16

What a great renewal is our hope and trust in the LORD’s Word and this His own word. This comfort and encouragement is exhortation. We need to be exhorted, to be spurred on, to be told the truth each day.

Our faith is a daily faith. The thought of it being confined to Sunday is ridiculous. We come together to worship but serving the LORD takes place in the other 6 days.

We need to consider the possibility of going into eternity each and every day. This has a purifying effect on our lives. It keeps life in perspective and is has benefits whether it happens today or not.

If we go on living a full span of years then we need this truth to remind us we are looking for a Savior from heaven. But our citizenship is in heaven and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the LORD Jesus Christ. (Philippians 3.20)

Think with me about the “there” for a moment... the seat of order of things eternal.. The place Jesus told us He was going to prepare. That which is perfect where God dwells with cherubs and seraphim and the souls of those who have died in the LORD. The place where there is no more death, sorrow, pain or tears. That is where we belong.
4. We need this truth as a tool to use to help those who are grieving.

What a golden opportunity we have to show Christ’s love. What an awesome responsibility The church knows how to help its own in their grief. God has given us this direction here. There is no grieving group or counselor that can help like the Church does. The comfort in loss is that Jesus is with us.

I believe when we fall short it is often because we are not comfortable.
It also may be selfish. C.S. Lewis wrote about this. In his journals following his wife’s death, that were published into a book, A Grief Observed, he tells about meeting couples and feeling them say to themselves, “One day one of us will be like him.” He felt avoided due to the fact that people his age didn’t want to think about this happening to them one day. Many avoid talking about death or dealing with it because of this. But God’s Word stands and is very plain. We are to comfort each other.
Encourage=
to call to one's side, call for, summon, to address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, etc.
to admonish, to beg, beseech
to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort, to be comforted to instruct, teach

5. We need this truth to keep our hearts filled with hope.
To be comforted ...
This, like so many other truths in God’s Word, works in a reciprocal manner. We comfort and as we do we are comforted. We encourage and we are encouraged. Now this should not be our motive, that would be selfish. It is a benefit of obedience. Our hearts should be set on comforting others. When we do this we will be comforted. I was always blessed on my visits to Eloise. I’ll miss her and them.

We need to keep this truth in our heart because we need to be filled with hope. I do hope there will be reforms in our nation spiritually. I so desire to see the values I grew up with once again n the lives of the people called Americans. If this does not occur I will be still be filled with hope- Christ in you the Hope of Glory

We cannot live according to the flesh and expect to reap the Spirit. We cannot live for this world and then expect to be filled with the hope of eternity. It doesn’t work that way. We will be filled with what our hearts are set on. If we set our hearts on heaven our hearts will be filled with the hope of heaven. Likewise anyone who hopes in this world will be disappointed.

As followers of Jesus we have been given this instruction, admonition in God’s Word: I Thessalonians 4.13-18
Let us encourage each other and all the more as we see the day of Christ’s coming approaching.
_______________________________

The LORD’s Day
September 23, 2007

We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Prayer
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
When a Believer Dies I Thessalonians 4.13-18

*Tithes and Offerings can be placed in the box at the rear of the sanctuary*
Please join us for coffee and bagels downstairs if you are visiting today.

This Week
Bible Reading Proverbs 1-2
Monday Men’s Prayer Meeting 6:30am in the church basement
Wednesday &Thursday Bible Study will not meet this week
Next Lord’s Day
Morning Prayer- 10am in the church basement
Morning Worship- 10:30am(Sunday School for Children)
Spanish Service- 4pm
Prayer Meeting- 6pm
In Your Prayers For All of God’s People
Remember the men serving in the armed forces: Bradley, Julia Bujold’s grandson with Special Forces in Afghanistan, home on leave right now, Ken Brown, Pastor’s friend’s son on his third tour of Iraq- He will be there until next month. Please pray for the whole family. Billy Knapp, Jr. in Iraq with the Marines (neighbor of the church and Pastor- Billy’s sister graduated from Good Shepherd). He is due home at Thanksgiving. Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton. Pastor’s nephews’ and niece’s cousin Kim’s husband, Jay, in Iraq. Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan and Tom Hindelang safe during their times in Iraq. Please pray for Johnathan Kruzner (friend’s son of Rudy Migliore) who lost his arm from a roadside bomb in Iraq last week. Christine Frankland, Katharina’s daughter undergoing chemotherapy beginning tomorrow. Remember Robert, her husband and Jonathan, her son as well as Katharina. Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for fibromyalgia. Thank God for answers to prayer for her. Pray for Eloise Brooks’ Family...
Eloise went to be with the LORD this week. arrangements are at
Boyd Claude R Caratozzolo Funeral Home 1785 Deer Park Avenue Deer Park on Wednesday Evening at 7pm. The funeral will be here at the church on Thursday Morning at 10am with the burial to follow at Calverton.
Remember Jean Louis on dialysis. Grace Martin, Edie Raevis’ daughter, recovering from surgery on her back. Edie’s daughter’s mother-in-law, Millie Espisito has a severe infection and is in grave condition. Reginald Mooney, friend of Terri and John Garry, with a tumor in his kidney. Please remember Pastor’s friend Kim Richardson’s daughter, Kelly scheduled for a mastectomy this Tuesday. Please remember this whole family in prayer.. Jeannie Rocarro recovering from surgery. Pastor Jerry Bonfiglio’s family who has been through so much grief this summer... Leah May’s cousin, Joan, respiratory problems,coming home. Lucy Mancini under Orthopedic Specialist’s care and physical therapy for pain and injuries resulting from the accident. Pastor’s Dad., Larry Mancini, Sr. with bleeding on the brain in Neurological Intensive Care following a fall yesterday. Stephen Huges, brother of a Good Shepherd Nursery School Mom, their parents home in Hewlett was destroyed in a fire. Judy Mucci went to be with the LORD late Wednesday night. Please remember her and Dr. And Mrs. Mucci this week in your prayers as well as Judy’s daughter Tatum. Alice Gordon’s brother, Everette, in Illinois, two blood infections along with another serious medical condition. Mary Von Fricken was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. She has had pacemaker problems as well. Anka’s family - her dad went to be with the LORD this week in Romania. Joey Reda (Charlie and Diane Davison’s Grandson) experiencing some heart arrhythmia and has been wearing an event monitor for this week to record them. Good Shepherd Nursery School -let’s remember the staff and students in prayer as well as the children of our fellowship in this first month of school.
*If you are would like to put together a shoe box for a needy child this Christmas see Margot for information.*

The LORD's Day September 16, 2007

The LORD On High

Psalm 148.1-6

This is one of the Hallelujah Psalms, those psalms beginning and ending with the words, “Praise the LORD” which in Hebrew is “Hallelujah.”

The first part of this Psalm takes us from earth to heaven. We need to look to the skies. We need to remember that our citizenship is in heaven. We need to let the LORD take us in spirit to the place of His dwelling. Our hearts should be set on heaven. Paul writes to the Colossian Church, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, Who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (Colossians 3.1-4)

This world is full of trouble. Jesus told us we would have trouble in this world. Oswald Chambers wrote, “We say we do not expect God to take us to heaven on flowery beds of ease, and yet we act as if we do ” We really do expect life to get to a place of bliss here on earth. We want heaven here on earth. A friend told me recently of his desire in his youth to live in a near perfect place. He thought he had found it at one point. Then reality came in. The truth is there is no paradise here on earth- that is why Jesus said to the dying thief, “Today, you will be with me in Paradise.” It isn’t here in this world. It is in the world to come.

It is futile trying to find it. Some of the most disillusioned people I know are the ones who think and act like what Oswald Chambers wrote about: those who expect to go to heaven on beds of ease. Heaven is where the LORD dwells and where one day He will bring all those who are faithful to Him. Right now we live in a world that is full of sin.

This Psalm lifts us to heaven, where the LORD is. While we can’t go until the LORD brings us there we must keep these things in mind.

1. We need continual contact with Heaven.

The Psalms help us do this. This particular psalm is naturally divided into two distinct sections. The first is verses one through six. This section speaks of the LORD in heaven. He is in on high. High above the earth and the heavens is the God’s Throne. We need to be in continual contact with what is happening there.

*Prayer is the avenue. Too often we think of prayer in the area of asking God for things and that is certainly part of it. But a great deal of prayer and this psalm is an example is praise. Giving God glory is being in tune with what goes on around His throne day and night. Look closely at Isaiah 6 and Revelation 4-5 and let the LORD use that to get your heart in tune with Him.

*Prayer is praising God. We need to do that. Every human being on earth today worships something or someone. Some worship sports heroes or music or movie celebrities. Other worship nature. Many people worship themselves.

God’s people worship Him. In our prayers, lets praise Him more than we are doing. Let’s give Him glory and honor. Let’s exalt Him and nothing or noone else

*Prayer is petition and we need to do that. Presenting our requests to God with thanksgiving is the only way we can have the peace of God guarding our heart and our soul in Christ Jesus.

*Prayer is also as we have just mentioned, thanksgiving. We need to thank the LORD for all the wonderful answers to prayer. Every day we have much to thank God for. Look for things to thank God for in struggles- they are there!

*Prayer, keeping in contact with heaven, is also intercession. That part of prayer where we bring the needs of others to the LORD. We stand in the gap for them. We lift them up to the throne of God. We bring them to LORD feeling some of what they are going through.

We are called to pray without ceasing. This is a continual attitude of prayer. This is quiet praying in our spirit. Keep seeking for this if you have not come to that place in your spiritual walk with Jesus.

2. Heaven is our Home. II Corinthians 5.8
We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
Hebrews 11.15 they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Our citizenship is there. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ...” Philippians 3.20
I was born in Queens, in 1956. I am a citizen of the United States of America by birth. I was born here. In 1963 I asked Jesus to come into my heart and I became a child of God and a citizen of heaven. Now I am really a stranger on this earth. I know I don’t belong here. I have many friends and family who are already there in heaven. That is where I belong and where you belong if you have received Jesus Christ as your Savior.


Our names are written down there. Luke 10.20
do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

3. Heaven is High.

Position- Above the earth and all the cosmos. It is in eternity and out of our space time continuum.

It is a Holy Place. There is no sin there. There is no evil there. Revelation 21.1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
4He 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.

The results of sin (death and destruction) will be done away with in heaven We need to think of this for this is our comfort. We need to comfort each other with these words from our hearts to other hearts. This is our comfort.

One day Jesus will bring all who have believed on Him and remained faithful there.


4. Heaven is Near.

While heaven is, as far as its position, high and away. Heaven is near in the sense of time. Now our salvation (final) is nearer then when we first believed. Romans 13.11 And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Romans 16.20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.
This is a promise for the end of life and the end of time. There will be no more temptation in heaven.


5. Our Life’s riches are there.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth... We live in time of wealth management today. We can store up treasures on earth by spending or saving. Spending money on things that do not bring glory to God is laying up treasure on earth. Stashing money away that we will never use is storing up treasure on earth. Don’t do that rather...

Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven... Giving to the work of the LORD is storing up treasure in heaven. Giving to missions is a way of storing up treasure in heaven. The little boxes in the foyer- all that money goes to buildings around the world. I was in some of those churches a few years back in the Carribean. Little simple buildings now bulging with people each night of the week. Good investments Souls Any giving that is used to bring souls to Jesus is a way of storing up treasures in heaven.


6. God Rules From There
Our God is in heaven; He does whatever pleases Him. Psalm 115.3

We spoke about this a few weeks ago. He is in control. This morning God reigns from heaven, from His Throne He rules on the earth. I know it seems sometimes He is not but He is. His will is being done. Obviously not everything that happens is His perfect will right now. But He overrules and brings good out of difficult things.
Heaven is God’s throne and earth is His footstool.

The LORD is on high. He reigns in majesty. I love the way He works. He does all things well. He is the King. He does whatever pleases Him. That is a good thing. It is good He doesn’t do whatever pleases us. Our understanding has limits. His understanding has no limits Our does. If we were to do what we pleased in this world we would mess everything up. How wise it is to submit ourselves to the will of God. His will is the best. We may not feel that but we can believe it and trust in Him and we will see if not on this earth in this life then definitely in heaven when we join Him there in eternity.


7. What He has said will stand firm in the Heavens. Psalm 119.89
Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.

God keeps His Word. He cannot lie His Word is truth.

When we look into the heavens and we think of this verse we see that not only here on the earth which God made but out there is the expanse which He also made His Word stands firm. We hold His Word in a written form in our hands. It is the Bible. It goes beyond that. It is written in the heavens.

God’s throne is in heaven. Above the clouds and planets. Way out in outer space is the throne of God. The Jews referred to this as the third heaven. This is where the LORD rules from. Revelation 4-5

It not only stands firm on earth, it stand firm in the heavens Looking to the heavens reminds of us of this promise. God’s Word stand firm there. It stand firm on earth. Heaven and earth will pass away but Jesus’ words will never pass away.

The LORD is on High. We are here on earth. We are to set on our hearts and minds on things above where Christ is seated.

So take these promises you have been living by and continue in His Word-
continue to live by them
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The LORD’s Day
September 16, 2007

We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Prayer
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
The LORD On High Psalm 148.1-6
Dedication of Dylan Brian Hrubes

*Tithes and Offerings can be placed in the box at the rear of the sanctuary*
Please join us for coffee and bagels downstairs if you are visiting today.

This Week
Bible Reading Proverbs 1

Monday Men’s Prayer Meeting 6:30am in the church basement
Wednesday Bible Study -7:30pm at the parsonage
Thursday Bible Study 10:30am in the church basement
Next Lord’s Day
Morning Prayer- 10am in the church basement
Morning Worship- 10:30am(Sunday School for Children)
Spanish Service- 4pm


In Your Prayers For All of God’s People


Remember the men serving in the armed forces: Bradley, Julia Bujold’s grandson with Special Forces in Afghanistan, home on leave right now, Ken Brown, Pastor’s friend’s son on his third tour of Iraq- He will be there until next month. Please pray for the whole family. Billy Knapp, Jr. in Iraq with the Marines (neighbor of the church and Pastor- Billy’s sister graduated from Good Shepherd). He is due home at Thanksgiving. Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton. Pastor’s nephews’ and niece’s cousin Kim’s husband, Jay, in Iraq. Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan and Tom Hindelang safe during their times in Iraq. Please pray for Johnathan Kruzner (friend’s son of Rudy Migliore) who lost his leg from a roadside bomb in Iraq this week. Christine Frankland, Katharina’s daughter undergoing chemotherapy beginning tomorrow. Remember Robert, her husband and Jonathan, her son as well as Katharina. Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for fibromyalgia. Thank God for answers to prayer for her. Pray for Eloise Brooks in Sunrise Manor undergoing rehab and hopefully coming home soon. Remember Jean Louis as both he and Eloise are on dialysis. Grace Martin, Edie Raevis’ daughter, recovering from surgery on her back. Edie’s daughter’s mother-in-law, Millie Espisito has a severe infection and is in grave condition. She alos suffered a stroke this week. Reginald Mooney, friend of Terri and John Garry, with a tumor in his kidney. Please remember Pastor’s friend Kim Richardson’s daughter, Kelly , the latest MRI showed improvement. Please remember this whole family in prayer.. Jeannie Rocarro recovering from surgery. Pastor Jerry Bonfiglio’s family who has been through so much grief this summer... Leah May’s cousin, Joan, respiratory problems,coming home. Lucy Mancini under Orthopedic Specialist’s care and physical therapy for pain and injuries resulting from the accident. Mary Butler, Pastor’s family’s former neighbor from Bellmore and dear family friend, recovering from surgery removing a tumor in the colon as well as removal of gall bladder and appendix. Stephen Huges, brother of a Good Shepherd Nursery School Mom, their parents home in Hewlett was destroyed in a fire. Judy Mucci is in the hospital. The cancer has spread to her spinal fluid. She has been placed in Hospice and has been given two to six months to live. Please remember her and Dr. And Mrs. Mucci this week in your prayers as well as Judy’s daughter Tatum. Alice Gordon’s brother, Everette, in Illinois, two blood infections along with another serious medical condition. Mary Von Fricken was diagnosed with congestive heart fauilure. Good Shepherd Nursery School -let’s remember the staff and students in prayer as well as the children of our fellowship in this first month of school.