Sermon Blogs

Rachel's Children

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 13:43:00 -0500

Rachel’s Children

Matthew 2:18 (KJV)

In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

(Lamentation)

threnos, Greek 2355, Strong’s

threnos, thray'-nos; from the base of Greek 2360 (throeo); wailing :- lamentation.

(Weeping)

klauthmos, Greek 2805, Strong’s

klauthmos, klowth-mos'; from Greek 2799 (klaio); lamentation :- wailing, weeping, × wept.

(Mourning)

odurmos, Greek 3602, Strong’s

odurmos, od-oor-mos'; from a derivative of the base of Greek 1416 (duno); moaning, i.e. lamentation :- mourning.

Rachel’s Children is a project that God has place in my spirit and has asked me to compel all that will to join this endeavor in prayer. From the scripture it is apparent the great suffer of the mother for her children. It is also clear that they have been destroyed, or killed if you prefer. The scripture states that she will not be comforted that she continually cries out for her children. Every day in this country our children are being destroyed and we set by idlely and do or say little about it. Just to bring a little attention to what is going on I had included a few statistics I researched on the net. You can find more with little effort. Some of them are a few years old so they may be much higher now, but you will get the picture.

Shocking Statistics

About 3700 abortions occur each day. (1% from rape or incest -93%fromunwanted pregnancies-87% of these from proclaiming Christians)

Over 48 million babies have been killed in the USA.

Every 78 seconds a teen attempts suicide-every 90 seconds they succeed.

4 in 10 of unintended pregnancies are terminated by abortion.

7 in 10 women who had sex before age 14, and 6 in 10 before age 15 reported that it was involuntary.

Close to 2800 teens become pregnant each day.

Teens 16-19 yrs are 3 ½ times more likely to be victims of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault.

1 in 4 sexually active teens become infected with an STD every year.

19 Million new STD cases are reported each year, half of those are young people.

About 1/3 of victims of violent crime were ages 12 to 19 yrs.

Homicide is the second leading cause of death for persons 15-24 yrs of age.

Every day nearly 3000 young people under the age of 18 become regular smokers.

Tobacco is often the first drug used by young people who use alcohol and illegal drugs.

8 young people a day die in an alcohol related accident.

About 2/5 of students have consumed alcohol by the 8th grade.

More than half of 12th graders have been drunk at least once.

28% of 15-20 year old drivers who had been killed in an auto accident had been drinking.

50% of teens will try an illegal drug before they graduate high school.

10.6 million high schoolers and 2.4 million middle schoolers will go to a school where drugs are used, kept or sold.

23.4% of youth ages 12-17 reported that they had been in a serious fight at school or work.

7.4% of youth ages 12-17 reported that they had attacked someone with the intent to seriously harm them.

9.2% of students have been slapped, hit, or physically hurt on purpose by a boyfriend or girlfriend.

7.9% of students have injured or threatened with a weapon on school property.

3.4 million youths ages 12-17 have had at least one Major Depressive Episode.

14.3% of high school students have had sexual intercourse with four or more persons.

1 in 3 children are born to unmarried parents.

1 in 8 children is born to a teen mother.

1 in 25 young people do not live with either parent.

Half of all new HIV infections occur among young people.

These are just a few random statistics, there are many more available to anyone who cares to look. Some are much more gruesome than these and some are much more encouraging than these. I just wanted to wake you up to the reality that our children are being attacked and destroyed everyday and not much is said and less is done about it. It is past time that we lift our voices to God in lamentation for our children and refused to be comforted until something is done. I believe God is waiting to see if any of us actually care what is going on around us instead of just in our own little circles. Let me assure you that charity begins at home, the Bible chastises us in the book of 1John to love one another. If we truly do love one another how we set and let these things happen to our children? 1Corithians 13 tells us what love is. Is this love applied to our children?

What am I asking of you for Rachel’s Children? Will you pray with me each day for them? Will you spend more time with your own kids, teaching them about God and talking to them about how dangerous this world is and what they are facing each day? Will you pray over them each night and each day for their protection? Will you spread the word that they need the prayers of every born again Christian each day? Will you cry for them? Will you mourn for them? Will you do anything you can for them? Our children need us to be strong for them, can we do that?

I believe with all my heart that if we will unite as born again, blood bought Christians and cry out to god for our children in this country then 2Cronicles 7:14 will come to pass for us. The answer to a lot of our problems in this country lie in our slackness in raising our children according to God’s word, but can be easily corrected in their salvation. We have a generation that abjectly refuses God because they have not been taught any better. They are dying, becoming pregnant, getting addicted and suffering from mental illness as well as physical each and every day.

2 Chron. 7:14 (KJV)

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

If you will agree to join me in this prayer revolution please go to http://therefugepcg.webs.com and sign up and be account for. Click on the Rachel’s Children tab and just your name and a brief comment is all we want. We want anyone who looks at this page to know that there is a remnant of God’s people who will go to war for their children and their children’s children and for their neighbor’s children.

Will you also encourage everyone you know to sign up for this crusade to free our children from the bondages of this life? We are not asking for anything but your support in prayer, The Refuge already tries to reach out to young people on a regular basis, but we cannot win this war alone. I need your help, will you join me?

I pray that everyone who reads this message will have a consuming fire begin to burn within them for our children and that God would lay it on your hearts to go to war for their deliverance and salvation. I also pray that you all will be blessed beyond imagination in your lives for daring to defy this world and give your heart felt care for a child. If we don’t love them, who will?

Blessings!

Pastor Sean Marcum

The Refuge Youth and Family Ministry

What's Your Excuse?

Sat, 02 Jan 2010 10:26:00 -0500

Luke 14:15-24 (KJV)

15And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. 16Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 18And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 19And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. 21So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. 22And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 23And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

In this modern world of hustle and bustle we have found it so very easy to make excuses to put God off. That is what happened here in the parable from Luke that Jesus spoke about. The “certain man” had asked for his friends and neighbors to come in and fellowship with him, at his expense of course. But as each one was asked to come they began giving excuses to the messenger as to why they were not able to comply with the generous request. In our day we use excuses such as we have to work, we were sick, we lost track of time doing something else, and any other thing we can come up with to justify our unwillingness to fellowship with God. I think the best ones are, well I read my Bible every day, or so and I go to Church, sometimes. We are so very quick to justify ourselves in our lack of attentiveness to God’s will for our lives.

Now in our parable some of the invitee’s came to dine with the “man”, but he did not believe this was enough as there was still much room at the table to sit. So he instructed the messenger to go out and invite anyone to come in that wanted to. People he did not know nor knew him. This is without a doubt a reference to Jews and Gentiles, but as for us I think it refers to believers and non-believers. As believers we tend to get very complacent with our salvation and take it for granted. Somehow, in our mindless arrogance, we forget the great price that was paid for our freedom from sin. It is at this point we become unusable and God must call out to others to get the job done. So he reaches out to the unbelievers to come in and they accept their salvation and immediately God begins to use them to his will. But we as the “I’ve been in the way for….” generation do not like this and grumble and complain about these upstart young Christians who don’t know what they are doing, and so on so on so forth. The ones listed as the Blind, the halt, the maimed and the poor are ones that some had deemd unfit or lesser in some way than themselves. Even these were not enough for the “man”.

Jesus used the word compel to illustrate the seriousness of the “man” to have his house filled with guests.:

[compel] Greek:  (GSN-315), to necessitate, drive to, constrain by all

means such as force, threats, persuasion, and entreaties. It is translated compel 5 times

(Luke 14:23; Acts 26:11; 2 Cor. 12:11; Galatians 2:3,14) and constrain 4 times

(Matthew 14:22; Mark 6:45; Acts 28:19; Galatians 6:12). Compulsion was necessary

to fill this man's house with guests. What means he used is not stated, but with God it

is clear that He uses truth, exhortation, reproof, instruction, longsuffering, love,

meekness, gentleness, perseverance, and some times drastic means to turn men from

hell and the wrath to come; but He never forces one against his will. Compulsion is

necessary because the fallen will is not as strong as the unfallen will of Adam and

Eve. In the final analysis man has to make the choice (John 3:16; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Peter

3:9; Rev. 22:17).

It is here that the “man” sternly declares that his housed will be filled. The thing to pay attention to is the statement 24”For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.” Let’s not kid ourselves here, God will not except any excuse for us not being obedient to his will. A lot of people I have met truly believe that once they are saved that nothing else is required. God asks us every day to do something for him, and we choose not to listen. We make excuses to not do the things we don’t want to and justify them in our minds as good excuses.

Just reflect on this scripture a little while and meditate on it for a time. Then ask yourself, What’s my excuse? Brothers and sisters, children of God, the hours grow darker and we sit and make excuses to allow the world around us to destroy so many other people and even our beliefs at times. Did you notice that Christmas was an after thought in 2009? Have you noticed the coldness toward God in this last year? To whom much is given, much is required. We cannot sit on our lazy behinds and make excuses to do our will over God’s will and think he will let it slide. Some of you are even called and do nothing to move toward God’s will for your life. Some are called to preach, some to teach, some to sing, some to help, but we all make sure we do what we want before any of that. I pray that we all find God’s perfect will for our lives in this coming year and stop making excuses to do nothing. I have made excuses in this past year, have you?

Blessings!

Pastor Sean Marcum

Thirty Seven and Counting

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 19:40:00 -0500

Thirty Seven and Counting…. Are you ready to be added to the List?

By Tashia Creech

As Christians we all have struggles some are little and some are so big that we can’t see over them and that is just how life in general is whether you are a new creature in Christ or a sinner. Take heart, we have an advantage with Jesus that He can turn our sorrows into joy and turn our tears into laughter. He can make our struggles in the past our victories in the future. Just praise him in the storm.

Struggles all have there various degrees and like I said some are little and some are big. I want to talk about the BIG ones. The Deep ones, the ones that are hard to overcome, the ones that you can’t see over no matter how hard you try.

In II Samuel 23 is recorded some of the most valiant men in history under the reign of King David, there are 37 to be exact. Thirty seven men worth recording. Thirty seven men that faced struggles or trials in various degrees and all overcame them. In all of their battles they all had to prepare themselves to engage in the fight. They faced fear and abandonment while going through the battle. They fought and held on to God, which led to their victory.

The Thirty Seven were called to be over comers and to stick out above the crowd. You like them are made to overcome obstacles thrown at you by the devil or the enemy. You can have victory over the enemy.

It is time for your victory, but first you have to get prepared to face the enemy.

Get Prepared. It is time to wield your spear.

What warrior do you know goes out into battle with no type of armor on except David? No one does. David had faith, which is one of the main things you have to have when going to battle. But Adino in II Sam. 23:8 knew to prepare for his battle he needed to not only wear his armor, but make his own sword. Verse 18 tells about Abishi also wielding his sword before battle. So it must be important for you to wield your sword -Amen?

Eph. 6:11-18 describes best how to win a battle by putting on the armor of God. Verse 13 “Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger]”. Apart of the armor is the sword, verse 17 says “And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the spirit wields, which is the word of God”. Know that the bible refers to the Word as Jesus. John chapter one talks about in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and was God, (which is Jesus Christ) so if the sword that the spirit wields is the Word of God then it is talking about Jesus Christ. Your Sword is Jesus. Jesus is the mighty weapon that brings down Satan and his foes.

So first put on your helmet of salvation- get saved. When you are saved Jesus makes his home in you. His spirit comes and lives inside of you and it leads you and guides you. It helps you make good decisions and gives you strength to face heartache and trials. He is your present help in time of need. Jesus is in you if you are saved. You are His temple. He abides in you. So since He abides and lives in you then you posses His power in you. He commissioned the disciples before He ascended into Heaven and told them to go preach the word and that these signs shall follow them that they would cast out devils, heal the sick, etc. all in His name. They did it because He had to go back to Heaven and He needed someone to carry out His perfect plan. He doesn’t need anyone to help Him. He doesn’t depend on us to carryout salvation or bring healing to someone, but He wants us to be apart of it. I don’t even understand it all. But I do know that Jesus gave us power to do these miracles. Not that we are the ones doing them, but that we allow Him and His power that we possess on the inside of us through His spirit to work out side of us. He is performing, as we are believing. He said greater works that I have done will you do because I go to the father. It is that easy. The sword is in our possession. It gives us authority over the enemy. It is up to us to use it, to use the power He has given us.

Adino and Abishi made sure before they faced their enemy they possessed the power to bring the enemy down. They brought the enemy down alright! II Sam. 23:8 says, “Adino wielded his spear and went against 800 men, who were slain at one time. Verse 18 says, “He [Abishi] wielded his spear against 300 men and slew them, and won a name beside the three.” Because two men made a decision to get prepared, they won and became extremely victorious. By the way, how many foes or trials have you overcame? 300 or 800? You will be surprised what the power that you posses can do. The spear lives in you, use it. Here are some ways we can use our sword or spear- which ever.

*Praying

*Reading the bible

*Praying scripture over situations (Overcoming evil-Is. 54)

* Praying in the spirit (tongues)

*Fasting

*Staying positive that God is going to work things out

Those are just a few ways we can use Jesus’ power to overcome the enemy. In the wilderness Jesus used the Word (scripture) to undermine Satan of his evil plots. When Satan tempted Jesus, Jesus would throw the word at him. It would knock Satan for a loop every time. Get ready to knock Satan out! Find scripture that fits your battle and start slinging or speaking it out loud to the situation. By faith we can speak to a mountain and command it to be moved. By faith we can speak to the mountains in our life and they have to scoot over and get out of our way. The sword is sure to win and is able to- “successfully stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil” (Ep. 6:11).

Before Jesus died on the cross, which was His ultimate call, he preached for 3 years. Before He stepped into His call to preach he went on a forty day fast. He made sure he prepared Himself. It is SO important to get prepared.

The Time Comes For the Battle

When the battle begins, fear likes to show up. But don’t let that knock you out of your victory. Faith is the opposite of fear. So have faith when fear arises. Fear is deceiving.

Here is fear’s story: There was an ancient tribe that nested on a small island out in the middle of no where. On that island lived four courageous young men who were curious about the monster who lived on “The Big Mountain”. All of the young men’s lives their parents talked about the monster who lived on the big mountain. Legend said no one had ever reached the top of the mountain because of the fear of facing the monster that lived on “ The Big Mountain”. So the four young courageous men decided one day they would try to defy the odds and take the risk and climb the mountain. The day came for them to climb and they all were in good spirits as they left their family behind and disappeared into the dark wilderness. They were walking and climbing when suddenly they heard a low growl coming from the top. The ground started to shake. Two of the four young men decided right then and there that they were out of the weekend camping trip. They weren’t about to die. The other two laughed it off and said, “So long!” and continued up the mountain. Half way up the mountain as the growl got louder and deeper, the ground began to shake and rocks began to fall and crumble.

One guy looked at the other and said, “Is it really worth it?”…

“I don’t know, let’s go a little farther,” said the other.

“No! I have a wife a two little kids at home, forget it.”

So the one left and all alone was the other. His knees were shaking, heart pounding but he put one foot in front of the other and went on. The growling got louder as he reached the top. Finally he made it. The growling was so loud his head rang. He saw something dark in the bushes. He felt his stomach tie into a knot and his knees felt weak. He cupped his hand over his ears and walked toward it, when all of a sudden the growling turned into a high pitch scream.

“AHH, please mister, please, don’t hurt me!” squeaked a little voice.

Out of the bush popped the legendary monster .The monster was as little as an ant and his name was Fear. The man laughed and wiped the sweat from his forehead and with one big stomp, squashed the Fear into the ground.

That day was so liberating for the whole village. Now they all could stop living in fear of “Fear” and could get on with their lives. They all lived happily ever after.

The point is fear can make you believe things that aren’t true. It can trick you into running away from what lies ahead. It can keep you from pressing forward to reach your goals in life. Fear sounds mean and disguises itself as vicious when in reality it is tinny and petite and scared of you.

It has no respect of persons and it even tried to keep Jesus from His ultimate sacrifice in the garden. After the last supper Jesus and his disciples went on a walk and they came to the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus asked them to stay up and pray for him as he went into the garden alone. It was night and you know what a full belly and the moon combined can do. Jesus entered in and prayed to Daddy. The Big D. He went to prepare himself for what was about to happen. Jesus started to pray and as soon as he did, Satan came with his Fear.

“Please, let this cup pass from me. But let not my will, but your will be done.” he said with great strife. Perhaps he could already feel the nails being hammered into his hands. Maybe he heard all of the mocking and blasphemies ringing in his ears. The thought of such agony and darkness brought blood to his brow. It ran down his face and dropped off his nose.

Not my will, but your will. Trials bring great grief, callings bring great grief, but Jesus could handle it. He really could handle it. You couldn’t have handled it, or I. Because God said he will not put us through something that He knows we cannot bear. You think you can’t go through something, but if you are facing it or right in the middle of it God said you CAN bear it- through Him. Fear cannot be tackled alone, but by Faith we can overcome. We can go all the way to the end- Jesus did. He lives on the inside of us. He conquered death, hell, and the grave. Now, so can we. We are not equal to Jesus, but he has given us power. Power over fear. No doubt fear tried to grip the warriors that II Sam speaks of but they overcame and pressed on like Jesus.

In Battle sometimes you face abandonment.

Everyone that you thought were behind you are now cowards in the corner. And sometimes God separates you from your friends so you rely and depend on Him and not them. That is what happened to some of the mighty men of David. Like Eleazer son of Dodo, and Shammah son of Agee the Hararite.

In IISam. 23:9 Eleazar and king David and the Israeli army were gathered together to war against the Philistines and the men of Israel decided that they weren’t going to be involved and departed the scene. Eleazer and David were left alone to fight. So, Eleazer arose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary and clung to the sword. Notice Eleazer’s hand clung to the sword. Cling to the Word of God while fighting. The Lord wrought a great deliverance and victory that day.

After all the hard work was done, the bible says in verse 10, that the men returned after him only to take the spoil. In other words, after all the hard work and effort was over with, the other soldiers came back to get the reward. After war, who ever won got to get the spoil or the weapons, food, horses, etc of the defeated army, the good stuff. Does that sound familiar? Here you are facing a big battle, most of your help leaves and here you are to fight alone. You over come it and win it and then the so- called help returns to get the stuff you fought for and should get to have fare and square? Really I would say that there was so much spoil that Eleazer himself couldn’t take it all. After all it was a great deliverance and victory. When you fight so hard spiritually for something chances are that after you have come through on the other side you want everyone to share in your victory, no matter how much they did you wrong.

II Sam 23:11 Next to Eleazer was Shammah. He and the Israelites were gathered on a piece of land at Lehi. This ground that was between them was full of lentils. I believe that the lentils had great significance. There are several things that run through my mind. The first is that lentils were a main course in the Israeli entrée. Perhaps the Philistines were out to hurt Israel’s crop and cause famine on the land, I don’t know. But I really think that Shammah was fighting to save the crop. It could go even deeper than that, I don’t know. Any way, the bible says that once more the Israeli army fled from the Philistines. They were so scared of them. But Shammah stood in the midst of the ground and defended it and slew the Philistines; and the Lord wrought a great victory.

Again, notice that Shammah stood in the midst of the ground.

Eph. 6:13-14 says, “Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]. Stand therefore [hold your ground]…Shammah stood firm and defended his ground. On what ground do you stand on to defend. Don’t give up, when you get tired, stand. When you fill like sitting down, stand. When you fill like calling it quits, stand. Then and only then, after all that standing you can be like Shammah and defeat your enemy and get the victory!

Stand, Stand, Stand, Stand, then Stand some more, Stand a little bit longer, Stand, Stand, Stand… WIN!

The Lord will go before you in battle and fight your battle for you. You may say that sounds tough. It is tough, that is what being a soldier is all about, were tough. We’re Army tough. There are no strong honorable soldiers sitting on the bench on God’s team. Were tough, and He makes us like that. He gives strength to us.

The Holy Spirit wants to lead us and strengthen us through trials. Paul and some others were in Asia suffering affliction and Paul said that they were made sorrowful and weighed down by circumstances. But although they felt so down and out, they looked to the Lord and relied on Him.

2 Cor.1: 8- For we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about the affliction and opposing distress which befell us in Asia, how we were so utterly and unbearably weighed down and crushed that we despaired even of life itself.

2 Cor. 1:9- Indeed, we felt within ourselves that we had received the very sentence of death, but that was to keep us from trusting in and depending on ourselves instead of our God who raises the dead.

In verse 8 when you feel abandoned and weighed down even crushed, God wants you to trust in Him the one who has the power to raise the dead.

King David said in Ps. 37:25- “I have been young and now am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their seed begging for bread.”

Ps. 37:34- Wait for and expect the Lord and keep and heed his way and he will exalt you to inherit the land; [in the end] when the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.

As long as we don’t give up and wait for God in troubled times then He will exalt you to an inheritance. You can get double for your trouble. God will not cause you to go through something alone. He is here, even though you may feel like you are the only one in the world who is going through a tough time. He says that He is always with you and that He will go with you even to the end of the world. God sticks with you through thick and thin. We are His beloved. Don’t have the mentality that when you pray your prayers are just hitting the ceiling and bouncing right back on the ground. That may be how it feels, but it’s not true. Jesus is in you. He not only hears your whispers, He hears your thoughts. He lives in you. If you pray, if you think, if you imagine, He knows. Jesus knows you so well read Ps. 139 that is God’s perfect knowledge of man. My point is that Jesus knows and He cares and He is always here for us. Feeling Abandoned isn’t fun, but Jesus said He would be a father to the fatherless. He loves when we are totally Dependant on Him and not totally Independent . Lean on him through these times.

What would have happened to Israel if the valiant men of David had decided to call it quits when the armies that was behind them bailed out? What would happen to you if right now nearing the end of your battle were to give up?

When engaged in battle you can grow weary. Jesus grew weary He could barely walk up the mountain to be crucified. Could barely carry the cross. There comes a weary stage right before your Victory. That is when most people give up; it gets too tough for them. And that is usually a sure sign that Victory is near.

Victory is Here

Is. 40:29-31- He gives power to the weary and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and abound]. Even youths shall faint and be weary and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted. But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to the sun]; they shall walk and not faint or become tired.

I lift my eyes unto the hills where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of Heaven and earth….

Your help comes from the Lord. Victory comes from the Lord. And right as the battle gets too much for you to handle, Jesus steps in and conquerors. Mighty Conqueror. See, Adino, Abishi,Eleazer, Shammah, or the other thirty three valiant men of David didn’t conquer the enemy, God did. God just gave them the ability to fight. He did the rest. And if we just engage, draw our swords and run, Jesus will accomplish the rest. Could you kill 500 men all by yourself in one afternoon? Doubt it, but Jesus can. Jesus conquered death, hell and the grave in just three days. He made us more than conquers. We are able to overcome the battles because the overcomer lives within us, telling us what to do. We just have to listen and then we will be valiant.

I believe that engaging in battle and following through to the end is the hard road to take. A real Christian doesn’t take the easy way. A real Christian is aggressive and focused. The valiant men were aggressive and focused. They didn’t take the easy way out. They ran to battle and won. They took spoil (the defeated army’s riches and food etc.). Lets take the enemy on and win. Stay focused. Fight hard. Because while you are fighting all of Heaven is standing up looking down and shouting, “GO, GO, GO!” The valiant men of old have been there in your shoes. Jesus has been there, The Thirty Seven, Matthew, Luke, John, Timothy (the young one), Paul, Silas, Peter, Stephen, Ester, Hannah, Deborah, Phoebe, Mary, Anna, just to list a few, the list goes on and on. Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us press on. Their testimonies live and they are there in the midst cheering us on as we continue in their footsteps. Make the decision that you are going to be apart of the Thirty seven. Be an overcomer. And one day you can be up in heaven cheering on the new Christians as they fight their battles.

Remember Get Prepared because Battles will come, and with battles always comes Fear and Abandonment, but hold on because if you wait on the Lord You will have Victory! Automatically you will be added to the List of the Valiant men and women of God. God bless you and keep you. Press on and Stand you Valiant Soldiers of Christ Jesus! -Tashia

No Looking Back

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 19:30:00 -0500

No Looking Back

We are to busy living in the pain and disappointment of yesterday. We are constantly looking back. It holds us back from being what God wants us to be. Even though it is still in our mind, we have to choose not to think about it. If we live in the past all of the time we will never have a future. If you are not saved the past is still present and the pain of yesterday stays, but if you are saved your sins are forgiven and you have to choose to not think about the past.

Every blessing and curse is a choice right now for you. He became sin who knew NO sin that we might become his righteousness. Jesus’ blood was righteous. If you are saved, Jesus’ blood covers you and flows through your veins. You might say, “My righteousness is like filthy rags.” True. But if Jesus’ blood is in your veins you are his righteousness and this is a fact. Stop living in the guilt, the shame, the pain, and the disappointment of yesterday. Realize who you are in Christ and live a victorious life and don’t let any man discourage you. Living in your former failures and mistakes will cause you to be someone that you shouldn’t be. You will be a miserable person. You will be bitter, cold, and hard to get along with. This makes you dead opposite of what God wants you to be.

We have to spend time with God by reading his word, through prayer and fasting, going to church and allowing other Christian people to encourage us and minister to us or give us a word from God when He gives it.

God Bless You,

Bro. Neil

Foundations

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 11:50:55 -0500

Introduction

Hebrews 6:1-3

-- New International

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2. instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3. And God permitting, we will do so.

What are the elementary or foundational teachings of Christ?

They are the foundational principles of Christ.

When we think of a home the foundation is the first thing built and is the basis of the whole house.

When we look at the word elementary we may think of elementary school, which is the basis for all learning that the rest of our learning is built on.

The foundational or elementary principles of Christ are the basis that our whole Christian experience is built on.

Without a form foundation the house will fall or without elementary teaching we can?t go on in the learning process.

Without them we can?t go on to maturity or grow in our Christian life and faith in Jesus the Christ.

The scriptures say with these principles we can go on to maturity.

-- King James

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

9. The King James uses the word perfection in place if the word maturity.

The only way we can be perfect is in Jesus the Christ!

The word Christ means ?the anointed one? or the ?Messiah?.

When we are rooted in the foundation, which is Christ we are anointed of God.

The elementary or foundational principles of Christ are:

1. Repentance from dead works

Faith toward God
The doctrine of baptism?s
The laying on of hands
The resurrection of the dead?
Eternal Judgments

All of the above are built on the foundation of Jesus the Christ.

The picture below illustrates what we are talking about

Stone #1 Repentance from dead works

-- New International

Acts 17:30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

God overlooked ignorance in the past (or before Jesus died on the cross).

God commands everyone to repent after Jesus death on the cross.

We will be without excuse if we do not repent from dead works.

Why is repentance important?

It is the first foundational stone toward salvation.

-- New International

Mark 1:14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

It was commanded by Jesus.

6. Notice Jesus said repent and believe the good news.

-- New International

Mark 1:4 And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

It was preached by John the Baptist.

-- New International

Acts 2:37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38. Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

It was taught by Peter

-- New International

Luke 13:3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

Jesus said that if we did not repent we would perish.

What is true repentance?

2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

There are two types of sorrow spoke of in the Bible that bring forth repentance.

These two types of sorrow are worldly sorrow and Godly sorrow.

Worldly sorrow brings death but Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation.

Godly sorrow produces in us earnestness, eagerness to clear ourselves, indignation, alarm, longing. concern, readiness to see justice done.

Simply said when we have Godly sorrow we have a true desire to get ourselves right with God.

There are two Greek words that are mostly translated as "repent". (These are the two most common and are more)

Metamelomai - to care afterwards, i.e. regret:

Example of worldly repentance

-- King James

Matthew 27:3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders

16. Judas felt bad about the outcome of his betraying Jesus but he did not change his mind or actions.

Judas did not have true repentance.

Metanoia ? a change of mind concerning sin,

Example of true or Godly repentance

The Prodigal Son

-- New International

Luke 15:11 Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12. The younger one said to his father, `Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. 13. "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17. "When he came to his senses, he said, `How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18. I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20. So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21. "The son said to him, `Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.

22. "But the father said to his servants, `Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. 25. "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27. `Your brother has come,' he replied, `and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' 28. "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.

29. But he answered his father, `Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' 31. "`My son,' the father said, `you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.

32. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'"

18. Notice that the prodigal son ? came to himself ? or realized his sinful and separated condition.

19. We must first realize that we are lost before we can realize that we need found

20. Notice that the prodigal son confessed his sin when he said ?Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you ?

21. Notice that the prodigal son had a change of heart and came home to the father?s house.

22. It is our responsibility to come home.

23. Notice that the father restored him to his rightful place as son.

What Are Dead Works?

-- King James

Romans 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

24. It is our effort to establish our own righteousness apart from the righteous that God has supplies for us

(see also Phil 3:9) we can not get our own righteousness by obeying the law. Our righteousness is as filthy rags (literally ministerial rags). You throw out the blood of Christ when you use your own righteousness!

-- New International

Romans 3:20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. 21. But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,

25. We cannot do what we see as good things by observing the law and be made righteous.

26. We must become righteous through faith in Jesus the Christ.

-- New International

Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--9. not by works, so that no one can boast. 10. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do

27. Salvation is not of ourselves it is the gift of God.

28. Salvation is not by works of our own righteousness.

29. Simply put dead works are our way of trying to earn righteousness with God.

True Repentance

30. Turns from dead works or trying earn our own righteousness with God.

31. Has Godly sorrow for sin that brings a change to the way we live.

32. Confesses or agrees with God concerning his sins that produces a changed lifestyle.

33. Trusts in the goodness and mercy of God alone for his righteousness.

24. When we truly repent it will bring a gratefulness or love for God that will cause us to change but our change is not what saves us.

Stone # 2 Faith in God

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,

1. In chapter one we learned about repentance from dead works and we realize the reason that it came first is that dead works will kill our faith.

What is faith?

-- New International

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

2. Faith is being sure of what we hope for.

-- New International

1 John 5:14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him

3. To be sure of what we hope for we must make sure that it is according to his will or his word.

4. You must hope for something you do not have to have faith.

5. We know that if we ask according to his will he hears us and also that we shall have what we are asking for.

-- New International

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

6. Now faith is being sure or we could say sure that it is God?s will.

7. And certain of confident of what we do not see.

8. The thing we are confident of or are turning our faith to is God because he is a Spirit and we cannot see him.

-- King James

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

9. When we have faith it is the evidence of things not seen or our faith will show evidence of God that we can?t see.

-- New International

James 2:17 in the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

10. Without works faith is dead or we will do something to show we have faith.

11. If we are working in his kingdom that is proof that it is more that just a good thought.

-- New International

Matthew 8:9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, `Go,' and he goes; and that one, `Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, `Do this,' and he does it." 10. When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.

12. To have great faith we must understand authority.

-- New International

Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me

13. Jesus said he had all authority or he has the power to do what he said he could do and nothing can hinder him.

-- New International

Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?

14. God can?t lie and what he promised he will do he will do it!

Why is faith important

-- King James

Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

14. As Christians or those who are righteous we live by faith.

15. We have to have faith for right standing with God to be revealed.

-- New International

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him

16. Without faith we cannot please God.

17. It takes faith to believe that he exists, as we can?t see him.

-- King James

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

18. We are justified by faith.

19. Without faith in Jesus we cannot access grace or the goodness of God.

-- New International

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,

20. Without faith we will not have a good foundation and we cannot go on to

maturity.

-- New International

1 John 5:4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

21. Faith causes us to overcome the world and have the victory.

Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-

22. We are saved through faith.

How do we get faith?

-- King James

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith

22. Everyone has some faith given him or her by God.

-- King James

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

22. We get faith or increase faith by hearing what God says about something.

-- King James

1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

3. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

4. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

6. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

7. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

8. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

9. To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

10. To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

11. But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

23. Faith can be given as a spiritual gift

Foundation stone # 3 Doctrine of Baptisms

Ephesians 6:1-3

-- New International

1. Notice that the word Baptisms is plural which means that there is more than one baptism.

2. We will be looking at three baptisms John?s baptism, Water baptism in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit, and Holy Spirit Baptism which includes the baptism of fire.

3. The Greek word for ?baptize? means to immerse, bury, dip, or submerge.

4. The word is interpreted; to put under or into water, to entirely immerse.

5. We will look first at the baptism of John

-- New International

Matthew 3:11 "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

6. John?s baptism was a baptism of water unto repentance only.

-- New International

Acts 19:1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2. and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." 3. So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John's baptism," they replied. 4. Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus."

5. On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

6. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7. There were about twelve men in all.

7. Paul baptized again the believers that were baptized in Johns baptism showing us that the baptism of John was done away with

Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20. and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

8. Jesus told us to baptize in the name of the Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit

9. When we are baptized in the name of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit we are baptized into the fullness of the Godhead

Who can be baptized?

-- New International