God’s Gift

This morning I have been burden with a word to share so here it goes:

First I read: Acts Chapter 11: 1-18

Then, I read Mathew Henry’s commentary on Acts Chapter 11- Verser 1-18

“The imperfect state of human nature strongly appears, when godly persons are displeased even to hear that the word of God has been received, because their own system has not been attended to. And we are too apt to despair of doing good to those who yet, when tried, prove very teachable. It is the bane and damage of the church, to shut out those from it, and from the benefit of the means of grace, who are not in every thing as we are. Peter stated the whole affair. We should at all times bear with the infirmities of our brethren; and instead of taking offence, or answering with warmth, we should explain our motives, and show the nature of our proceedings. That preaching is certainly right, with which the Holy Ghost is given. While men are very zealous for their own regulations, they should take care that they do not withstand God; and those who love the Lord will glorify him, when made sure that he has given repentance to life to any fellow-sinners. Repentance is God's gift; not only his free grace accepts it, but his mighty grace works it in us, grace takes away the heart of stone, and gives us a heart of flesh. The sacrifice of God is a broken spirit.”

 

How are we as “godly people” displeased that the Word has been received- is it because it was done in a way we disapprove of?

How many of us shut out those on the street, homeless, or those who do not fit our criteria of a Christian?

We must be careful not to withstand God, we are to reach out to those, to give them the “gift” that has been so graciously bestowed upon us.

Repentance is a gift from God,let us all seek to bring all to repentance, not for self glory, but to bring Glory To God!!

Thank you Lord for your Word.. Continue to speak in me and through me!

The Dash (of Life)

Sermon By Pastor Persinger-

 

Psa 90:1-12

[[A Prayer of Moses the man of God.]]

Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou [art] God.

Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.

For a thousand years in thy sight [are but] as yesterday when it is past, and [as] a watch in the night.

Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are [as] a sleep: in the morning [they are] like grass [which] groweth up.

In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.

For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.

Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret [sins] in the light of thy countenance.

For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale [that is told].

The days of our years [are] threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength [they be] fourscore years, yet [is] their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, [so is] thy wrath.

So teach [us] to number our days, that we may apply [our] hearts unto wisdom.

This life, right now, is your only opportunity to invest in your eternity.

Do you know why people squander their lives in things of this world?

 because they Truly do not believe what the Word says.

- if you believed the Word, then you know that you will give an account for every idle word that comes out of your mouth

- if you believed the Word, then you know you are to love your neighbors, and  love the brethren

-if you believed the Word, then you know you are to forgive all trespasses as Christ has forgiven your trespasses.

-if you believed the Word, you know that the life you live today will effect your eternity.

 

James 4:14

Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

 

Don’t live your life in a way that would be displeasing to our Savior. Live your life knowing that you will face eternity sooner than you anticipated. Be ready to give an account. Be ready- so you may hear those sweet words “ Well done good and faithful Servant”.

 

Lord

Help us to see. Guide us through your Word. Speak to us and show us what has no value in eternity so we may live for you today, and not wait for tomorrow!

Thank you Jesus

Amen

 

Angie

His Secret Things…

Deu 29:29

The secret [things belong] unto the LORD our God:

-Not everything of God do we know

- Not everything of God do we understand

 

but those [things which are] revealed [belong] unto us and to our children for ever, that [we] may do all the words of this law.

There are things that we do know through His Word and understand of God. Those things are our responsibility. Those words/ways are to be taught to our children, children’s children, children’s children’s children FOREVER! so that they will do and keep God’s law and ways.

In our human mind we think we know God because He’s like us, right?

Wrong- we were made in HIS image, not His in our image and it is only in HIS image are we made, but without Christ and HIS redeeming blood we are NOTHING like God because without Christ we are DARK, Sinful, and Ugly.

No darkness is in Him( 1 John 1:5)

Only being redeemed are we washed clean, and Christ in us are we able to see the light beaming through the darkness in us to make out HIS image in us.  Only through Christ can we understand and follow HIS ways and Word.

Seek His face, His ways and His Word this day that you may know of this hope that is only brought to us by the Holy Spirit. Find your strength in Him and know that all His ways are revealed in His word. Allow it to guide you and strengthen you. In Jesus Name!

The attitude of the Accepted

Last night our pastor spoke on the attitude of the accepted.. at first I was not sure what it meant. But as he went on it all came together, so I will try to share with you his words, and what God spoke to me through this wonderful service!

He started in 2 Samuel 9-

READ this chapter it is great… My family and I had just recently read and reviewed this chapter.

In this chapter David is seeking someone from the house of Jonathan. Someone he could bless and restore. He called for a servant from that house who informed him that there was one son left, who was crippled.

As the crippled son approached the throne of David he did so with a humble and UNWORTHY heart.Though UNWORTHY as he might have felt, David restored to him all that was his father’s and granted the right to eat at his table for the rest of his life.

How do we tie this in with us now and Christ…  as we approach the throne of God, we are truly unworthy of his grace and mercy, but it is through the blood of Christ that we can communion with God.(or sit at His table)

How do we approach that table or the throne? Do we come with pride? Or anger? Or do we come with humble hearts, knowing we deserve the true punishment for our sins, but grateful for Christ??

Do you realize the God of all creation, the living God who is powerful and all knowing, has gave HIS ONLY SON for YOU??

So what is your attitude towards that- do you give Him all of you as he gave all HIMSELF?? Do you present your body as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your REASONABLE service? (Romans 12:1)

Is it not reasonable to give the one who gave it all, all of you?

Pastor Victor put it this way-

A man walks up to you hands you one million dollars for no reason. You have done nothing to deserve this money, but he gave it anyway.

The next day this same man comes and asks you for a cup of sugar and you look at him with an ugly face and say I do not have a cup of sugar for you. If I give you my cup of sugar then I won’t have any.

Wouldn’t  it be reasonable to give the man who just gave you one million dollars a cup of sugar, if not the whole bag or container of sugar??

 

It is our reasonable service to give to our Lord all of ourselves for his service!!!

 

Thank you Lord for this mighty Word!

 

Angie

Good Morning

 

I spent some time reading the Word and a devotional by Beth Moore.

The devotional was on how we see our walk as Christians. So  many see their walk(me including at one time) as a list of things we are not allowed to do as believers. (thou shall not steal, no lying, no, no, no) Instead of seeing it as being set free.  Set free to live a life to enjoy with Christ.

 

“ Think about this with me: only ONE tree in the entire Garden was forbidden to Adam and Eve. Instead of surveying everything God had given her and marveling, ALL OF THIS! the serpent seduced Eve into thinking, Perhaps I’d rather trade all this in for the one thing God told me to avoid. He could be holding out on me.” (When Godly People do Ungodly things by Beth Moore)

 

Eph 1:3

Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ:

 

Who hath blessed us with ALL spiritual blessings… all… not some, all!  Can you fathom that? What the ALL really is? I know for a fact in my walk I have NOT reached the all. I get stuck, I stumble and even reach from time to time for a forbidden tree because I have NOT grasped in my spirit the All of my spiritual blessings. I allow myself to get into this rut and I start believing those lies again that tempt me or make me unsatisfied with who I am and what the Lord has called me to do in my life.

I am fulfilled and I find joy only when I seek first the kingdom of heaven and HIS righteousness.

 

Heavenly Father-

I praise  your Holy Name because you are worthy to be praised! Thank you Lord for your blessings. I count it all joy to be called one of your own.

Help me Lord to show the blessings you bestow upon me. Help me to be joyful in my walk with you. Help me to see the positives!

Lord forgive me for believing the lies.

Be with me as I begin my day. I am thankful for your Word! May these words be food to my soul.

For thine is the Kingdom the power and Glory forever and ever-Amen

 

Thank you for stopping by this morning.. May our Lord Jesus be with you. May you find Joy in your walk with Him!

Angie

The meaning of the Cross

This morning I listened to Paul Washer.  His sermon called “The Cross of Christ”

This sermon spoke so deeply to the lack of understanding of the Cross and the sacrifice that Christ gave for each of us.

We will never fully grasp the greatness of the Cross.

Could you raise your face towards heaven and say “ I have loved you as you deserved to be loved, L-rd”?

There has never been a moment in Christ life that his love for the L-rd did not shine through. There is never a moment in our lives we can say that we have loved the L-rd as Christ has!!!

Christ was treated ,before the throne, as the sinner should be treated. He became a cursed for us.

What does it mean to be a cursed for  man?

A cursed means that a man is so vile, and depraved that the last thing he hears before going into hell is everything Holy applauding and rejoicing.

 

The only reason you are blessed is because he was cursed. Every good and perfect blessing you have is the result of the curse Jesus bore for you!

Christ bore every curse so that we could be blessed.

Be Attitudes

Blessed	Cursed
granted kingdom of heaven	denied entrance into heaven
2. recipients of a divine comfort	receive the wrath of G-d
3. satisfied	miserable and wretched
4. receive mercy	condemned without mercy
5. shall see G-d	cut off from His presence
6. sons and daughters of G-d	Disowned

 

It means that every curse listed above Christ bore for us on the Cross,so that we could be granted the kingdom of heaven, receive comfort,be satisfied, receive mercy,see G-d, and be called sons and daughters of G-d.

 

Do you think Jesus was fearful over the Cross and bled in the garden over the nails or the whip?

 

No It was the wrath of G-d he feared. The wrath He drank for us!!

 

Dear Saints

It is so hard for our  minds to comprehend the greatness and suffering of the Cross. Mothers sacrifice daily to take care of their families and even that sacrifice is nothing compared to the Cross. Father sweat to provide and even that is nothing!!

I am forever in debt to our L-rd Jesus for what He did for me. I can never love him the way I should! But I will strive to do so- with everything I am, and everything I do!

Will you?

 

Heavenly Father-

We honor and adore you. We give you praise because you are worthy to be praised. We ask you to hear us now and forgive us     L-rd of our sins.

Help us L-rd to understand your Word. Help us to live it in our lives. Help us to share you, your love, and the greatness of your sacrifice with others.

Be with us as we begin a new week of schooling, or work.

For Thine is the Kingdom and Power and Glory forever and ever- Amen

 

May these Words speak to all of you

Angie

He had faith in him…

Read:

Job 1

Here is Job living life, loving the L-rd, sacrificing for any sin that might be happening, basically minding his own business. The L-rd is proud of Job, his love and loyalty like any parent would be. Satan, of course, sneers and growls at this pride and thinks this is just a man that can fall like any other, but you won’t let me near him. So the L-rd grants satan passage, with one condition, you can not kill him or harm him.

Have you ever wondered why the L-rd granted satan passage to spiritually, mentally, and physically challenge Job?

We are all sinful creatures that when the going gets tough- we crack. I know there has been times in my life where I have questioned, cried, threw a fit and even got angry at our Heavenly Father.  

“Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,” Job 1:20 In his most desperate and painful moment- HE WORSHIPPED!!!

The L-rd had faith in Job and new his heart so completely Allowing satan passage the L-rd knew it was not going to change how Job felt or saw His Heaven Father.

Oh dear Saints the L-rd knows our hearts and knows whether we are able to worship through all situations. May you find strength and comfort that He is truly sovereign, merciful and most of all gracious!

Angie