He is alive!!!!! What a morning this was two thousand years ago when one minute those who had followed Jesus were in hiding, and the next they were racing down the road to see an empty tomb. What a morning this is today! The amazing fact is that Jesus rose from the grave, and just as amazing is the fact that HE IS ALIVE today. Jesus defeated death and continues to defeat death in the lives of people today.

     As a Christian you are a walking miracle. One minute your heart was a tomb full of death and the next a throne room of the King. JESUS!!! Life now as then can be full of so much drama, pain, confusion, sorrow, and a hundreds other words describing the challenges of life. But because of the resurrection of Jesus, we need not focus upon those challenges, but rather we can focus upon our hope. Jesus!!! The days following the ascension of Jesus were challenging, and the early church was scattered because of persecution. His disciples (less Judas) and countless others died martyr’s deaths for proclaiming this fact: that Jesus had risen from the dead and was the hope for the world. If Jesus was truly dead as some tried to convince people, it would be insanity to suffer the way many did in order to just perpetuate a lie. A man might be willing to live for a lie, but to die for a lie would be a whole different thing. Around the world today there are many who are still suffering and being put to death for their trust in Jesus as the Savior of the world. The reason for this…….

He Is Alive… He Is Not Here:
     You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where
they laid him. Mark 16:6 ESV
     People today still make pilgrimages to see the empty tomb. Pilgrimages to be in the place where the events of that day still affect the events of this day. These events continue to affect every generation until Jesus returns to takes home His followers. Those who are willing to follow Him for who He is and believe the message of hope that He alone gives to a dying world. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  John 14:6 ESV

He is Alive…And We Are Blessed:
     Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believe.” John 20:29 ESV A little over a year ago I stood in a tomb they said was used for the burial of Jesus. I did not hear angels telling me “He is not here.” Nor did Jesus, in His risen body, speak to me outside the tomb. At no time when I was in the Holy Land of Israel did I see Jesus in the flesh. Yet I, as a Christian, believe as other Christians that He died, was buried, and rose from the grave. I believe that He is alive today and is coming back to take believers home to live with Him forever. I believe this by faith, not in what I can see, but what I can know by the Holy Spirit. We have what the believers of that day did not have until after Jesus ascended to His Father. That is the Holy Spirit which was sent to enable us to do and experience all that He is and has promised. We may not have seen, but we are blessed by the Holy Spirit who enables us to see what otherwise we would never see. That He is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

He is Alive…. And Is Coming Again:
     Jesus said these words, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up , and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you onto heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” Acts 1:8-11 ESV
He is alive, and as Christians we are forgiven and have received the Holy Spirit with a message for all who will hear and listen. His sacrifice upon the cross for our sin, His death, burial, and resurrection make possible life everlasting to all who will believe. This belief is not with just a head knowledge, but a heart knowledge by loving Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. (Mark 12:30 Luke 10: 27) It is living with the anticipation of seeing Jesus the Savior of the the world appear one day to take us home to live with Him forever.

May I encourage every Christian who reads these words to faint not in well doing, for we will one day be with Him forever. If you loose sight of this, you will loose sight of the importance of the message that Jesus came to save sinners. Jesus came to restore what was lost in the the garden because of sin- that is our relationship with God the Father. He accomplished all that God sent him to do, and HE IS ALIVE!!!!

Because of His Grace & Praising His Holy Name ~ Pastor David

     Next Sunday we will enjoy and celebrate Easter – a day equivalent to Christmas in importance to the Christian. At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus who is our only hope for salvation. For thirty-three years he lived as flesh and blood, walking upon the very earth He created. He experienced everything a person born of flesh experiences: temptation, weariness, rejection, hunger, happiness, sadness, and just fill in the blank __________. Yet in all his experiences He NEVER sinned. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15 ESV  Jesus, the only Son of God, was born to take the punishment of sin on our behalf that we might experience saving grace from God. Jesus is the perfect Lamb of God!!! John the Baptist described him like this, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 ESV  In order to understand the seriousness of sin from God’s perspective, we read in Hebrews 9:22 (ESV), “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin.”  That is why in the garden when Jesus said, “My Father , if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” Matthew 26:39 ESV” , God was silent, except perhaps to say to Jesus’s ears only, “Son, there is no other way.” Then Jesus replied, “not as I will but your will be done.” Matthew 26:39b. Then came the cross of Calvary. I need not describe the pain and agony experienced there, for you have heard and read of it many times. One fact of the cross to always remember: JESUS DIED THERE. As flesh, he experienced death, not because of his sins, but ours. For our sakes he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV  Remember the statement Jesus made just a few minutes before He died? “My God, my god, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46b. I believe at just this moment, when all the sins of the world were placed upon Jesus, God looked away; for God does not and will not have fellowship with sin. Perhaps Jesus knew for just a moment the separation that sin causes between us and God. But the cross wasn’t the end!!!! Jesus was buried, and three days later He defeated sin and death. He broke the chains that enslaved us by rising from the very grave that tried to claim Him. Imagine Satan yelling to his demons of death, “HOLD HIM!!!! HOLD HIM!!!”
     Christ arose, and we have reason to celebrate this fact, especially if you are in the family of God, being forgiven, saved, and redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb. So let us prepare to make this next Sunday a day of celebration, not just at church, but the whole day with family or fellow Christians.

Prepare Your Heart This Week:
     In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. 1 Peter 3:15 ESV

     People are hopefully more open to church at Easter and Christmas than any other time of year. Seize the moment. Be more intentional this week to prepare your heart to reach out and invite those who may not attend church. Pray that God will put in front of you people you can invite to join in this celebration. Remember you are inviting them to a celebration of life made possible by Christ alone. Be ready to share with anyone the reason for the hope of life you have in Christ Jesus.

Anticipate:
     With God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26b

     Within the world we live, there is much that seems impossible concerning spiritual matters. When evil seems to be prospering around us and things look dark, let us not grow weary. Always remember GOD IS ALWAYS AT WORK. We may not see it from a human perspective nor understand how God is working, but his is working. What seems impossible to us is always possible with God. Jesus said, “With God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26b “All things are possible for one who believes.” Mark 9:23b  I am not teaching “name it and claim it”, nor a prosperity type gospel. I am teaching that God is greater that any circumstance in life, and nothing is impossible to God. We serve a great God and we need to seek how He is working, with anticipation, in things that can only be explained by God.

Believe:
     Jesus answered them, This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” John 6:29 ESV

     There are many verses about believing, but always remember this is the most important work you can do. The reason for this is that  what you believe will determine how you live. While believing in the resurrection this week, let this belief bring you to praise and worship of God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Person of the holy Spirit. Meditate upon this intentionally this week by thinking often of it and arranging things in your life to remind you of this wonderful ….. RESURRECTION DAY!!!! Celebrate it every day this week intentionally. Let your waking breath thank God for it, and then throughout the day do the same. Find a scripture that you could use to celebrate it by reading or quoting it often through the day. What you believe is important will occupy your mind. Doing this will make you more mindful of the importance of Resurrection Sunday!

     In closing, let me encourage you to do one more thing. Plan for next Sunday after church to do an intentional celebration with family or friends. Have a dinner, release balloons with scriptures attached as a witness to anyone who might later find one of them. Go online and find things you can do to celebrate this day in a special way. If you make this day that important to you, other may wonder why, which will give you opportunity to witness. For sure it will make a lasting impression upon your children, for what is important to you is what you will teach is important to them. Have a blessed coming EASTER CELEBRATION DAY!

Because of His Grace ~ Paster David

     Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born KING of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2 ESV

     The wise men searched for Jesus in Bethlehem, and when he was found, they bowed down and worshipped him as king. Jesus was only about two years old at this time. Jesus had not yet done any miracles, was not yet crucified, and had not risen from the grave. But they worshipped him none the less because they knew he was more than just a mere child; he was a king! Unlike the wise men, we have read of the miracles, and believe by faith that he died and rose from the grave after three days. Perhaps we’ve even seen a miracle (something that can only be explained by God). Truth is, as a Christian, you are a miracle. God has made you alive in Christ. You were once dead because of your sin and now you will live forever. You have been twice born. Born in the flesh and then born again of the Spirit. The non-Christian may have knowledge of him but does not worship him, for to worship him is to show him great honor.  The question we must ask ourselves today as Christians is, “How should we honor, glorify, and worship him as King?”

Honor Him:
    To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. 1 Timothy 1:17 ESV
     When you honor someone, you recognize them as a person of great value. This person would take priority over all others. At a meeting or dinner they would be moved to the front of the line and given a special seat to be recognized by all as the guest of honor. In short, you would give this person the best of everything. This is how Jesus should be honored as King in our lives. The throne of our hearts should not be occupied by us, but rather by Jesus, as the guest fo honor in our lives. Man it never be said that we give lip service to honoring Jesus. Jesus’ description of some religious leaders was less than flattering, and hopefully this doesn’t reflect how we honor him. This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me.  Matthew 15:8-9 ESV

Glorify Him:
     In Revelation 4, John describes a scene that was shown to him in heaven where all those around the throne were giving glory and honor to the Lord and God. In verse 8, day and night there were those saying, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty.” In verse 10 there were twenty-four elders that fell down before His throne and cast their crowns before him. These elders said, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor, and power, for you created all things and by your will they existed and were created.” Revelation 4:11 ESV May we as Christians use this example as a school master in teaching us how we should glorify and worship Him even now.

Worship Him:

     Worship is to honor with extravagant love and extreme submission (Webster’s Dictionary, 1828).

     A person will worship what or whom they love. This is the most important part of worship… LOVE. It is this that makes worship heart felt rather than just an outward expression or act. The real place of worship for the Christian is in the heart. When Jesus was asked what is the greater commandment, he responded with this, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your HEART and with all your SOUL and with all your MIND.” Matthew 22:37 ESV  How can a person see the heart, should and mind? Only by what that person reflects as important in word and action is evidence of what is inside of them. How we live on the outside does not change what’s on the inside. How we live on the outside is a RESULT of what is on the inside. People will know that you worship God, not because of something you do in church, but how you live everyday. So worship out loud, not just with words, but with your life.

Because of His Grace ~Paster David

     Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord come. And will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction. Malachi 4: 5-6 ESV

     In Luke chapter one while Zechariah was doing priestly duties before the Lord, an angel came and told him that he and his wife Elizabeth were going to have a son. The Angel describes what this son will do, and who he would be like. And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared. Luke 1:17 ESV  This son’s name was know as John the Baptist, the for-runner of Jesus- needed Savior for a world lost because of sin.
     In Malachi we see God’s faithfulness and man’s bent toward sin. God loves Israel even though they have sinned and have complained constantly against Him. Man left to himself will never have hope and this is the reason God was going to send a needed Savior. God wants a people that will serve and worship Him with their lives. Jesus, the Savior of the world, made this possible. John described Jesus like this, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 ESV Jesus makes the impossible … POSSIBLE.

Makes it possible to be FORGIVEN:
When John was born, Zechariah told of his purpose in preparing the way for the coming of Jesus. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High: for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God. Luke 1: 76-78. ESV  The forgiveness of sin is made possible by the blood of Jesus. The blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1: 7 ESV John tells us that, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1: 9 ESV

Makes it possible to have a NEW LIFE:
     Sin no longer defines you, for you have a new life in Christ Jesus if you follow him and by faith believe. Sin equals death but Jesus equals life everlasting. We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might WALK IN THE NEWNESS OF LIFE. ROMANS 6:4 ESV

Makes possible a HOME IN HEAVEN:
     In my Fathers house are many rooms….. I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and
will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. John 14: 2a … 3  You and I were the reason Jesus came. By coming He created in us a clean heart that we might do what we were created to do; to praise and glorify God. Not only are we to bring God praise and glory in heaven we are to do so each day that we live.

All that was told by Malachi concerning the coming Savior happened. I am thankful I live on this side of the cross for I have hope that lives within me. …. Hope because I’m forgiven of all my sins, and I have a new life in which to walk everyday anticipating my future home in heaven. Live strong for He has made the impossible ….. POSSIBLE!

Because of His Grace ~Pastor David

Return to me, says the Lord of host, and I will return to you, says the Lord of host. Zechariah 1:3 ESV.

Zechariah is an interesting book as it tells of the dreams and visions of Zechariah concerning the people of Israel. In his dreams he sees the returning of God’s people after being in captivity, the rebuilding of the Temple, and the coming King (Jesus). It is a book of history, instruction, and of things to come. The Bible for us today can reveal and point to our past failures, instructions for rebuilding, and living our lives knowing we will be with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords for all eternity. But as in Zechariah it is not dependent upon our abilities but rather the Spirit of God. ( Zechariah 4:6 ) Let us always remember that as foretold in Zechariah, Jesus came into the world and is the ultimate King.

The King came:
     Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have come to worship him.  Matthew 2: 2 ESV
Wise men sought Jesus in order to worship him, and those who are wise today, still do. Not that he is missing, but rather, that we might learn to live as he modeled life to be lived. Jesus did not come to be king of this world, for he already ruled over all creation but came for the purpose of dying and taking the consequence of our sins upon the cross. Jesus made it clear when he said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” John 18:36 ESV Jesus also made clear his purpose in coming when he said, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost” Luke 19: 10 ESV

The King is here:
     Jesus said, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 ESV
     Jesus spoke these words just before he went back to be with his Father in heaven. He is with us via the Holy Spirit. When teaching of His return to Heaven, Jesus made this promise: These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 14:25-26 ESV The Holy Spirit indwells every Christian, and as Christians we are the temple in which He dwells. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? 1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV  King Jesus, lives in you via the Holy Spirit.

The King is coming again:
     And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is he one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. Revelation 22:7 ESV
     God has never left nor forsaken us. He had a plan from the garden, to the present day, and into the future. God’s desire for us is to live in accordance with His word and follow Him, having no other gods ruling our life. To have joy, peace, and real happiness is to make Him King of your life. This does not imply you will never experience conflict or difficult times in life; for Jesus, who walked before us, did. He suffered the consequence of our sins and made abundant life possible for all who would believe and follow after him. If you have strayed from Him,…. return to Him…. He is returning, and we will all give an account for our lives. May the Lord find all who go by the name Christian waiting with anticipation and faithfulness living the way He has called us to live: Living to bring Him much glory!!!

Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David

Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of Host: Consider your ways. Haggai 1:5 ESV

     The book of Haggai could parallel, to some degree, the way life is lived today by those who call themselves Christians when it comes to priorities of life and the church. We are so busy with our lives that many times the church and our relationship with Jesus suffers or takes a back burner. Think with me about this for a minute. I am speaking in generalities; but why does the church appear not to have the influence that it once had? I remember as a much younger man, the conversations of older Christians concerning a time when the church took priority in a community. Activities and events were planned in order not to conflict with the church. It does not take a rocket scientist to know that this is not even close to life today. I again am speaking in generalities, but it appears to me in church life today that it is less about being a priority and more about being a convenience. I am not speaking of the church as being a duty but a relationship with God. God always has taken the first move in our lives to restore and develop relationship. (Read John 1:1 and then John1:14) I believe He still moves in this fashion today but fewer are following… really following him. Think with me for a moment, if the pattern of your life style as a Christian in the church were followed in your daily life, how would you fair? Would you still have a job, still be married, have passing grades? The choices we make in life always have consequences and what we make our priority will influence every choice. So how do we change or return to where we need to be in terms of the church and our lives? How do we make what should be our priority, our priority?
     Here are three areas in which to start, but by no means do I mean to imply this is a formula. These three are foundational and much can be built upon them. 1. Forget the past 2. Commit to the Day 3. Plan to finish well.

Forget The Past:
     When I say “forget the past,” I mean don’t live there. Never forget what you have learned from the past especially if it caused failure. If a person doesn’t learn from past mistakes, they will be doomed to repeat it. The reason Israel, God’s chosen people in the Old Testament, were taken captive and placed in exile many times was because they failed over and over to remember God alone was to be worshipped. Israel didn’t need to forget past mistakes, but for sure they didn’t want to live in captivity, so they had to look toward the future, which wasn’t always easy. In order to forget the past you MUST look to the future. Here is how Paul describes this in Philippians 3:12-14 ESV, Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Commit to the day:
     Just as you don’t live in the past, don’t live in the future. I am not suggesting a person be irresponsible concerning planning, but remember your days belong to the Lord. It is appointed unto man to one day die. If you plan or dwell too much on the future, you will miss the day. I don’t know anyone who said when dying I wish I’d spent more time at the office or work and less time with God. Absolutely every day is a God day and is a gift from God. How you unwrap that day will depend on your thoughts of God. This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24 ESV ….. Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. Proverbs 27:1 ESV ….. (Matthew 6:25-34)

Plan to Finish Well:
     While we are not to dwell in the past, nor fret about the future, we know as Christians where our final destination will be. I‘ve heard it said that you begin a project with the end in mind. The project may not be completed in a day, but everyday it is closer to what it will be. Another way of thinking about this is a child growing towards adulthood. He/she is not what they are yet to be, but every day changes them into what would hopefully be one day a responsible adult. As a person grows they put away childish ways of thinking. One such thought is “It’s all about me.” Concerning love in 1 Corinthians 13:11 ESV it states, “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child, but when I became a man I gave up childish ways. Jesus gave us the greatest example of this when he finished well. He considered what God His Father sent Him to do…. Die for the consequence of our sins. Jesus even said, “My father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39 ESV Jesus finished well and when upon the cross he said, “It is finished.” John 19:30 ESV

     Let me challenge you today to forget the past, commit yourself daily to living for Jesus, and plan on finishing well. Commit to worship God before you commit to anything else.

Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David

     The Lord your God is in your mist, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.  Zephaniah 3:17 ESV

      Zephaniah speaks of the coming day of the Lord.  It would be a day when God brings judgement on the consequence of unconfessed and willful sin.   The world, as those in Jerusalem knew it, was going to end. (Chapter 1) This was true not just for Jerusalem but also for the surrounding nations. (Chapter 2)  People with no apparent concern of their sin were becoming more and more entrenched in the practice of it.  They were worshiping false gods and doing all sorts of evil in God’s sight.   People had become content in living with no regard for God.  Just a remnant of people believed the message of Zephaniah, to seek the Lord before this judgement came.  Gather together, yes, gather, O shameless nation, before the decree takes effect – before the day passes away like chaff –  before there comes upon you the burning anger of the Lord, before there comes upon you the day of the anger of the Lord.  Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the Lord.   Zephaniah 2 1-3 ESV   Sin has and will always be judged by God.  Neither a person nor nation sins successfully for a long duration of time.  Throughout the Bible sin has always been met with judgement from and by God.  People may enjoy sin for a season, but just as seasons pass so the enjoyment of sin when the consequences of such living comes to an end.  When evil appears to be winning, remember in your walk with God, faithfulness is a testimony of knowing and  believing He is in control.  The purpose of judgement is to destroy evil, but in the last part of Zephaniah Chapter 3:9 we see this judgment was to purify in order to bring hope to the land.  This world as we know it will one day come to an end, but as long as a person has breath, there is hope for that person.  Hope because God is “Mighty to save.”

Jesus Came Not to Condemn:
     Jesus said this concerning Himself.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.  John 3:17-18 ESV 
     I’ve had said to me many times over the years,  “Don’t judge me.”  To be able to judge a person  would imply that I have authority over that person of which I do not have.  Another reason one person cannot  judge another person is that judgement has already been made by God.  His judgement informs us that without believing in Jesus a person is condemned already.  The reason for God’s judgement is found in John 3:19-20. …. people love darkness.

Jesus Came….Mighty To Save:
     The Lord God  became flesh and walked among us.  He was in the mist of people for a period of thirty three years and many didn’t have a clue that He was the salvation to all who would follow Him.  He still walks among us by the Holy Spirit and many today still do not recognize this fact.  Yet there is a promise that all who call upon His name and follow Him, he will be mighty to save!!!   If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.   For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.  Romans 10:9-10 ESV 

Jesus Gives You A Invitation:
     One of the things I hear often is, “I hope I’ve lived a good enough life  to make it to heaven.”  What a burden to live everyday trying to depend upon yourself for a hope of entrance to heaven.  Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 ESV   His invitation is exclusive and only made possible by Him.  Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  John 14:6 ESV   

     The day of the Lord will come upon this world because of sin; yet as in Zephaniah if you seek the Lord  (2:3) and believe His word, this judgement will have a happy ending for you; for you will be in the Christ Jesus.  Today is the day for salvation in your life. Why would you ever want to put off such an important decision?  How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation. Hebrews 2: 3 ESV….   And there is salvation in no one else,  for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.  Acts 4:12 ESV  

Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David

     Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herds in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:17-18 ESV

     Habakkuk asked the question that many people ask even today: If God is so good, why does He allow so much evil to exist, and how long will evil win? Truth is, over the centuries and even today, many ask this question. While we may not know the answer with human knowledge, as Christians, we can rest assured that God is in total control. Christians are to have faith, believing and trusting God even when things might not make sense. “The righteous shall live by faith.” Habakkuk 2:4b ESV  When experiencing directly the consequences of evil, remember what appeared to be the greatest evil that has ever happened in this world. Jesus, God’s only Son, the perfect Lamb of God, was crucified for the sins of the world. Have you ever asked, “God, if you’re so good, how could you allow your only Son to experience such evil?” If God had not allowed the crucifixion, we would all die with no hope. We would die in the consequence of our sin. Evil never wins, even though at the time it may be appearing to do so. God had a plan at Calvary and still does in the world today. Evil is not and will not win even if it appears to be doing so from our perspective.

     Every person in the world places their faith in someone or something. Where have you placed your faith this day? Faith is to the Christian what air is to the lungs. Faith is believing God was, is, and always will be. Faith believes that He has overcome the world in you. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. Who is it that who overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:4-5 ESV

Do You Believe The Voice of Evil, or God?
     During the liberation of prisoners from the German concentration camps, these words were found etched in the wall.
          I believe in the sun, even though it does not shine
          I believe in love, even when it isn’t shown.
          I believe in God, even when he doesn’t speak.

     What we dedicate our minds to is going to affect our faith. The battle is fought, then won or lost, in the mind. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. Romans 8:5 ESV

     The voice of God says: And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

How To Have Victory over Evil.
     You believe that God is always with you no matter what you experience or feel. Jesus, who is God in the flesh, spoke these words to us. “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28: 20b ESV  “In the world you will have tribulations. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 ESV

     Corrie ten Boom, who spent time in the concentration camps, said, “There is no pit so deep that God isn’t deeper still.”

     Victory comes when you take God at His word no matter what your circumstance is. The battle at times might be so strong that you may need to cry the prayer, “I believe; help my unbelief.” Mark 9:24 ESV

Resolve Yourself To Have Faith In God’s Salvation!!!
     Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herds in the stalls, yet I WILL REJOICE IN THE LORD; I WIIL TAKE JOY IN THE GOD OF MY SALVATION. Habakkuk 3:17-18 ESV

     The same sun that hardens the clay melts the wax. (a quote by George Buttrick)

     It is our choice whether we will let suffering and misfortune of life harden or soften us. We can choose to be hopeful or hopeless. We can decide whether we will be an optimist or a pessimist. It all depends on how we look at it, and we determine in which direction we look. (Rick Ezell, Pastor FBC Greer, South Carolina.)

     Jesus is our hope and salvation in the mist of evil. By His name we are saved, and in Him we live and have life. When your world seems to overtake you, ask Jesus to take over your world. By His grace and mercy, and by invitation, Jesus will live in you through the Holy Spirit. When this happens, you can have the assurance that, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4b ESV

Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David

     The wrath of God. Not something a person would want to face alone. Thankfully, if you are a Christian, you need not to worry; you are not alone. Jesus suffered the consequences of your sins on Calvary. Nineveh was about to experience God’s wrath when Jonah was sent to tell them of God’s coming destruction because of their sins. Nineveh, when hearing Jonah’s message, repented, and God forgave them. Over the period of around one hundred years or so, Nineveh reverted back to their former sin and Nahum told them once again that God was going to destroy the land. We read of no repentance at this point but only God’s wrath upon their sins. Think of the story of Nineveh in this way. A person is born and by the mercy of God lives a hundred years. The decisions made during that hundred years determines whether or not they experience God’s wrath or mercy. Sin is the nature of every human due to the fall in the garden of Eden. A curse passed on from generation to generation. Nineveh was never perfect, even after they experienced God’s forgiveness and mercy, but they chose to revert back to their sin, forgetting and taking for granted the mercies of God.
     I’ve heard people make the statement concerning an individual, “It would have been better if they had never been born,” but the true statement is, “It would have been better if they had been born again.” To be born again is to never suffer the deserved punishment for sin, but to experience the forgiveness, mercy, and grace of God by believing in Jesus, His only Son, as Savior. Sin carries a great consequence, but God, not willing that any should perish, willingly gave His only Son to die that we might live. In order to understand this truth, what must a person do to believe?

Believe, Jesus Delivered Us From Wrath:
     A statement that I’ve heard over the years more than once and have even made it myself is: “I’m not that bad.” If we judge ourselves based upon the goodness of man, we will always be better than someone else relatively speaking. God, however; does not compare us to each other but rather with His standard of Holiness based upon Himself. But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16 ESV  This is the standard by which we are to live, and by this standard we will be judged. But there is one who made it possible for us to live up to this standard. Jesus. He cleansed us from every sin on the cross by His sacrifice and suffered the punishment for our sins. We are made holy in Christ because he was the perfect Lamb of God. Jesus who delivered us from the wrath to come. 1 Thessalonians 1:10b ESV

Believe, You Must be Born Again:
     Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom God.” John 3:3 ESV  This was an answer given to a man named Nicodemus when he came to Jesus asking questions. Do you have questions? How can a person be born again?
     Please understand, to be born again is a Spiritual birth. It begins with asking questions, and while you may not understand everything, by faith you believe in the one who makes Spiritual birth possible. People are not Christians because they are physically born but because they are Spiritually conceived by the Holy Spirit. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:6 ESV

Believe In Salvation By Jesus:
     God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 ESV  This is true for every Christian. As Christians we are being saved in Christ; and as one who is lost, you can be saved by the same blood that redeemed every Christian. The Bible, God’s living word, makes it very clear, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 ESV

     Thank you God that in your mercy and grace you sent your Son Jesus to redeem us from the coming judgement and wrath that you will pour out upon all sin. May we live to prove that Spirit of the living God lives in us. We know that if there is anything worthy of praise in our lives, it is you. To God be the glory now and forever. Amen

Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David

     Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:18-19 ESV

     The answer to “Who is a God like you?” is obvious: there is none like God. God is a God full of forgiveness, love, and mercy, and, ultimately, walking on our sins which means, He puts them underfoot and does not hold them over our heads. He casts them into the depths of the seas which means, He buries them in the sea of forgetfulness, remembering them no more. The deepest point in the ocean is reported to be over 36,000 feet, or approximately 6.8 miles deep. That is deeper than the peak of the mountain Pikes Peak which stands just over 29,000 feet high. This gives you a glimpse of the magnitude of God’s forgiveness and willingness to forgive sin. It was in His plan all along. Seven hundred years before God sent his Son, it was foretold by Micah the prophet. But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Micah 5:2 ESV  This prophesy was fulfilled in Matthew 2:1-2 (ESV) Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem saying, “Where is he who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
     Forgiveness from God sets us free from the power of sin, and its consequences, which is death. Let
me touch on three truths of forgiveness that scripture teaches.

Without Forgiveness, Judgment:
     The whole purpose for Jesus coming and dying was so that we might be forgiven of our sins and not experience His wrath. We are justified (just-as-if-I’d never sinned) before God at the coming judgment for all sin. The Bible teaches the seriousness of sin when it teaches what it takes to receive forgiveness. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin. Hebrews 9:22b ESV  The only way anyone will ever stand before God without condemnation is to be covered and forgiven by the blood of the Lamb of God. John the Baptist introduced Jesus in this way, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29 ESV  Throughout the Bible we never see a place where God winks at sin, but we do see His righteous anger and judgment because of sin. Forgiveness by God is essential to escape God’s final judgement for all sins. Never assume before God that you weren’t that bad, for God will not judge on the curve of comparing yourself to others, but by HIS righteousness only.
This is the simple truth of the matter, For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD. Romans 6:23 ESV

Forgiveness In Christ Alone:
     Contrary to many teachings of our day, there is only one way to Heaven, as taught by Jesus himself. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 ESV  Simply put, if there was any other way, then Jesus’s death was unnecessary. Peter, when preaching in the book of Acts, said, “Repent and be be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38 ESV …… And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12 ESV  Forgiveness and Salvation are in CHRIST JESUS ALONE!

Forgiveness for Whoever:
     For GOD so LOVED the world, that he GAVE HIS ONLY SON that WHOEVER BELIEVES in him should not perish but have ETERNAL LIFE. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be SAVED THROUGH HIM. John 3: 16-17 ESV
     So the question may arise, “How do we experience this forgiveness?” There is not a set formula, nor should we look at it as just the words we speak, but what follows may help you in your search for the truth of forgiveness.

The first thing that happens, when desiring to know Jesus personally, is REPENTANCE. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret. 2 Corinthians 7:10a ESV  It is coming to the realization of your dirtiness before God, as did David in Psalm 51 concerning his sin.
     Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. AGAINST YOU, YOU ONLY HAVE I SINNED AND DONE WHAT IS EVIL IN YOUR SIGHT. Psalms 51:1-4a ESV

     Secondly, we call upon His name. It is one thing to know the truth of your sin; it is another to call upon the name of Jesus for salvation. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:13 ESV

     Thirdly, we live in the forgiveness we have received. Jesus said this of the woman who washed his feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven- for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little loves little. Luke 7:47 ESV  I believe it is a spiritual impossibility to be redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb of God and there be no change in a person’s life. The moment we are saved the sanctification process begins in our lives…. we are not what we once were, but we have not totally become what we will be. God does not save a person from their sins to leave them as they were…He changes them day by day into the image of His Son Jesus. People will know we are different by the EVIDENCE of God in our lives. We will NOT be perfect, but we will be forgiven, and hopefully, we will love much as this woman who washed Jesus feet.

Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David