Serving the community since 1970
Serving the community since 1970
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Ephesians 2:8 tells us that we are saved by grace through faith, and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God. We are to grow and mature in this grace. We need to get out of the sandbox and mature in the Lord. I remember when I was in kindergarten at Vineland School and getting mad at some other kids. Running out of the class to go home, the vice principal picked me up on the way. I remember at Richland School getting swats from a couple of principals. I like to think that over the years that I have grown in the Lord’s g...
We Christians realize that the devil is a liar and a deceiver. He plays with our minds and tells us that there is no hope for what we are facing. It’s not always an easy road for us, but there is victory for us if we follow the Lord. In Exodus 14:15 as the children of Israel were at the Red Sea and the Egyptians were closing in on them, God told Moses to go forward. Get your eyes on the Lord. Exodus 14:10 shows that the Israelites lifted up their eyes and saw the Egyptians closing in, and fear gripped their lives. The Bible s...
In life, we see people who are experts in certain fields. Master plumber, master mechanic and master electrician are titles of people who are experts in those occupations. There are many people with a master’s degree, but Jesus Christ is the Master of all. I remember when I was a child, my pastor preached upon The Master. After hearing him preach, I came to the conclusion that Jesus can do anything. Jesus is the master of all things. No wonder Paul calls Jesus our All in All. In Luke 8:24 in the midst of a storm Jesus was asl...
We would be in terrible trouble if our God was made by man out of wood or gold. Psalm 115:5-7 says, [BEGIN ITAL]”The false golds have mouths but cannot speak, they have eyes but they cannot see. They have ears and they hear not, they have noses and they cannot smell. They have hands but they handle not, they have feet but they cannot walk and they cannot speak.”[END ITAL] Our God is not made by man, but He has always existed. He is the Potter, and we are the clay. He reigns over all. Psalm 50:21 says, [BEGIN ITAL]”You thoug...
Four times in Psalms 107 we are urged to praise the Lord. Verses 8, 15, 21 and verse 31 tells us to “praise him for his goodness and for his works." Psalms 52:1 says, “The goodness of God endureth continually." Psalms 119:68 says, “Thou art good and doest good." The song says, “All my life you have been faithful, and all my life you have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God." Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness. He satisfies our longing soul and fills our sou...
In life, we all face times of abandonment and loneliness. Sometimes it may feel like the whole world is against you. In 2nd Timothy 4:17, Paul said, “The Lord stood with me, and he strengthened me.”Paul had been done much evil by a man known as Alexander the coppersmith. Alexander had made a shipwreck of his faith and became an enemy of the Gospel. It seems like Alexander intimidated many of Paul’s hearers as he tried to disrupt the ministry of Paul. The spirit of this world will never embrace the teachings of Jesus Chris...
There’s an old song that says Heaven will surely be worth it all. The first verse of that song says, “Often I’m hindered on my way, burden so heavy I almost fall, then I hear Jesus sweetly say, Heaven will surely be worth it all.” Heaven will be worth all the hurt.[Down here we have sorrow and suffering, but Heaven will be worth it all. In life we face many discouragements. Psalms. 42:5 says, ”Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted in me? Hope in God and praise him for his help.” Elijah faced disco...
Thank God for the resurrected life. We are not what we once were, but we have been set free by the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:1 says, "...and you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins." Let's look at some marks of the resurrected life in a Christian. 1st Peter 1:3 says, "We now have a lively hope by the resurrection of Christ from the dead." There is a living hope inside the Christian and it's actively alive in every situation that we may encounter. This lively hope makes us look at...
Many people reject the thought of a soul spending eternity in hell. Many churches consider the thought old-fashioned and too offensive. Many say God is too loving to banish people to such an awful place for eternity. God's love does not negate His justice, His righteousness or His holiness. God's love has provided a way of escape. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting...
Second Corinthians 9:15 says, Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. God is a giver. He is rich in mercy and grace, and he gave the world the most perfect gift in Jesus Christ. James 1:17 says, Every good and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father. I remember as a child getting a BB gun and a package of toy soldiers, footballs and socks, but the greatest gift I received was when I accepted God’s gift, Jesus Christ, into my heart. Bicycles and BB guns can rust and fade away, but God’s gift is alw...
On Nov. 8, the United States will have its midterm elections. The midterm elections have been the main issue on talk radio programs and nightly news channels. We have heard the candidate’s arguments on policies, and we have heard their promises to you and I. I know one thing, when this election is over and no matter who wins, I will still be serving Jesus Christ. He will still be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I saw a button pin the other day that said "I vote for Jesus. " I thought it was interesting, and began to t...
2nd Timothy 1:12 says, For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. This world is a dangerous place. Carjackings, smash and grab, and assaults are an everyday occurrence in this world. Violence in major American cities continues to rise. Where can a person find shelter from this storm of violence and danger? Jesus Christ is the shelter for our souls. In him is the safest place you can be. Psalms 46:1 says, God is our refuge and strength, a...
Hebrews 10:23 says, Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised. In this world that we live in we are going to need spiritual endurance and stamina. We must hang onto the Lord and His Word. The Bible tells us to fight the good fight of faith. We are living in uncertain and perilous times, but God is faithful! Deuteronomy 7:9 says, He is the faithful God. That is his character – faithfulness. Scripture teaches that no matter what, He stays faithful. Psalm 89:8 says F...
As the days go forward the world gets more vicious and crazy. 2nd Timothy 3:1 says in the last days perilous times shall come. God said that if we humble ourselves and pray and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways, He would hear us and forgive us and heal our land. It is righteousness that exalts a nation. Sin is a reproach to any people. To get this country going on the right track, the Continental Congress called for a day of prayer. Once when a critical moment arose during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln as...
2nd Corinthians 1:3-4 says: "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort; who comforts us in our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort where we ourselves are comforted of God." God is our strength and comfort. If a people and a nation ever needed God’s comfort, it is I now. Our nation is in mourning as we pray and weep with the families in Uvalde, Texas. Jesus said, Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy...
Proverbs 31:10 says, "Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies." It speaks of a woman that is strong in moral principles. This woman in Proverbs is a strength and blessing to her husband and children. She is clothed with strength and honor and she loves God. Godly women are a strength and a stability in this chaotic world, as they exhibit hope and trust in God. Some of the most godly women I have met were moms and grandmas in the church where I pastor. Many of them have went on to be with the Lord,...
Proverbs 22:11 says a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches. I would like to talk about the greatest name ever spoken upon this earth. There is no other name like the name of Jesus Christ. His name is a saving name. Isaiah. 45:22: His name is a precious name. In 1 Peter 2:7, Peter said the name of Jesus was precious. His name means everything to a Christian. In that precious name I was saved. When I find myself in the storms of life I cling to that precious name. His precious name brings a soothing and calmness...
As a child in Sunday school when the teacher said quote a Bible verse and you will get a candy bar every student quoted John 11:35 Jesus wept. Every time Jesus wept it was connected with the effects or consequences of sin. No wonder he was known as the man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Jesus stood over Lazarus and he wept. The strongest manhood has its roots in tender feeling. The ancient Stoics would conceal and hide their tears, but not Jesus. As he wept over Lazarus people said, O how he loved him. His tears are a...
On the way out to church the other day the old song “What a friend we have in Jesus” played on the radio. I began to sing along with the man on the radio. When the song was over I thought, Jesus you are my friend. In John 15:15 Jesus said I have called you friends… Some friends can let you down, but Jesus is a friend that will never let you down. You are always on his mind and he cares for you like no other person. Jesus is my friend, he took my sins away. 1st John 1:9 says if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just...
Let me start by saying that the Christian life in the greatest life there is. It is so much better than my old life. I praise God that He rescued me from a life of hopelessness and misery. You gain by being a Christian, and you lose by not being one. Let’s look at somethings you lose by not being a Christian. You lose peace. There will be a continual uneasiness in man’s soul until he finds peace with God. Romans 5:1 therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through Jesus Christ. Without Christ in a heart the...
We sing the song To be Like Jesus but it’s not easy sometimes. God is working in our lives and using circumstances to conform us into the image of Christ. It does not happen all at once. Growing into conformity can be rough. It’s not easy being like Jesus. It’s not easy being like Jesus, he was a servant. Matthew 20:28 said he came to minister and to give his life for many. The Bible says He took up him the form of a servant. Christ said I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. We must have that servant attit...
God does not slumber or sleep. He is aware of all things. He sees time different than we do. 2 Peter 3:8 says one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. Peter was warning his hearers that in the last days scoffers would ridicule the promise of the Lords coming. He taught us that a flood did happen in Gods time. Thousands and even millions of years are nothing to God. Jesus told the Jews, before Abraham was, I am. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. God is not affected by time. God...
Most everyone will agree that these are turbulent and uncertain times that we live in. 2nd Timothy 3:1 calls it perilous times, or hard, difficult, grievous, and fierce times. Many people are fearful and uncertain at this time. We wonder who we should listen to for guidance in this time of adversity. Jesus Christ gave us the answer when he said have faith in God. Hold on to God! Psalm 56:3 says what time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee. Biblical faith is when we place our trust in the Lord. In these uncertain times hold on...
How true the Bible is when it said in the last days perilous times shall come.This is a time of uncertainty in many lives. People are battling stress and pressure as they try to support their families and businesses. The news is filled with fear and worry and sometimes misinformation. I heard one athlete say "I'm afraid to even wake upon the morning." Even though these are challenging times, there is hope. And that hope is to trust the Lord Jesus. He is the hope of glory, and He is the only one who can bring peace to this...
