12-3-2023 Worship
It says when they therefore work on together, they asked of him saying Lord without at this time. We store again that came to Israel and he said unto them. It is not for you to know the times or the seasons was the father has put in his own power. But you shall receive power after that. The Holy Ghost has come upon you and you shall be Witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the Earth. And when he had spoken these things while they beheld he was taking up and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked that fast me toward Heaven as he went up behold two men stood by them in white apparel, which also said you men of Galilee. Why stand ye grazing up into heaven this same Jesus which is which is taking up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as you see him going to heaven.
Thank you. I appreciate that reading if you're visiting. We're glad to have you hope you'll come back. If you looking for church, I'll be glad to work with you. Have you here? We are blessed by God in many different ways. But thank you for your love and your prayers and many different ways. It's great to see people praying for each other in Christ and I see great things happening here. Thank you for several here giving too many different works here and you've always been very generous and that way I received a note that this morning Maria. They're welcome. You're welcome to help make help yourself. I had to call 911. There's more they had to call 911 for that's all we know right now. So let's pray together, please.
The Holy Father we thank you for the hope that we have in Christ for the love that you give it to us for the tide. We were bored. And even when we were in the mother's womb we thank you Father for hearing our prayer week after week in person after person situation after situation. We pray you'll be with Maria mariotto, you know all things to Be Your Will with friends to help her health and help those who are telling her. Thank you for doctors and nurses and clinicians that use their skill that you've given them in their wisdom and they've been able to learn and grow at our country our other countries, but above and beyond that father we ask for your help with our life. We pray father for and flatly and we pray for Alonzo Alexander Kenya. I want to thank you that she's on a path to being better with Neal helson Doris Batiste with Eric Beaver, Carol Brown pray for John Wesley Chester and Eddy Cooley. Please be with Willie and Austin and Lester Elliott be with Selma Hawkins and George. How be with Andrea Jackson and Mikey hoek hymns. Please be with Mike lawsuit Michael Michaels. Please be with Rod Morris is Fran Dressler lymphoma and Bruce Miller who needs a liver you pray for Brenda Penninger via pipersburgh. Jebaraj wild to Shula's see what they had separate and ask you what Caroline Speedy Luke dots and all of our military their God pray you be with a child and family at this time of their loss is Lisa Hamilton America Hawkins, Gloria Madero and Tom Washburn father. I pray that you'll be with every hard to tear that their hearts will be open to your word. It will be blessed by hearing your word that we will prepare our hearts and our lives for the future day of meeting Jesus. Thank you for your birthday. Thank you for the hope that we have Because You Loved Us and didn't want to destroy us and hell for the worst thing we've ever done. Thank you Father for sending your son to die a seedless. Perfect sacrifice for us the guilty. Father it's the only hope we have in the only righteousness we can claim is Christ's righteousness for we have no righteousness of our own. We thank you Father for a country pray for our country have serious problems could be your gracious. Well as you have in the past off of the continue to pray for your church all over the world Jesus name we pray. Amen. I want to talk about the big picture today. I lured Willie are planning to go this week to a wedding in Tennessee. And we have family members that we'll see but I'm really excited about this coming Friday. Because the Medicare enrollment. Will be over the ads will stop hopefully the mail and it's like an election. I can't wait till it's over all that. If what if we have a deadline like that? She just read it. The reading Jesus goes back to heaven and Jesus is talking to 12. And if we were there we probably would ask the same question. Are you going to the beach or the kingdom has been buried in risen from the dead and I think with great frustration. He said it's not for you to know the times are the seasons I might coming. And it is same way of the reading yet Acts chapter one describes him coming back.
He describes the truth here. But you will not know the times and the dates that the father has checked. We don't know what Jesus is coming back to 6:43. Most people. Well, I thought it was most people that work in December 16th to try to get right with God have it both ways. It's a smart guy. Maybe that's why he didn't tell us the date the time cuz he wants us to be ready. But God doesn't want that. Our bulletin talks about a preacher was asked a question about eternity. They said I'm going to be bored to do the presence of God. Can you imagine seeing Jesus in his glory his power and His Majesty Jesus is described as sitting next to the heaven that's describing the father. Several thoughts to think about that. I don't think we'll be bored singing. I think we'll take up a big part praising God in the sun and the Seven praise fold of Glory and Honor powered wisdom. We started last week about the great depression's promises and we rest today in those great at precious Promises. Of course, one of them is that Jesus will come back but the bigger one we're talking about is that we can have a relationship with him and all of our sins can be washed away. I read job Jo Barnett this week talk about that list. He calls it the qualities of a maturing Christian. We studied last week its first five to nine. God doesn't speak to me or you directly. Would that be nice but it doesn't work that way. But where are those gracious precious and great promises. There is word. It's one of the first fly this morning reminder this truth. We saw last week. This is the Eternal Word of God Matthew 2435, Jesus and Heaven and Earth will pass away. He's going to be gone about the end of time. He says Heaven and Earth will pass away, but my word will never passed away. These words are turtles and we're here today to hear the Eternal Word of God. Everything you see here is physical and will be gone either In Our Lifetime the next lifetime or when Jesus comes back.
We haven't spent we want a special program. We want a special technique. If you want a special preacher. The power is in the word of God. The power is not us. It is the power of the word of God in us and through us either John 15 Jesus as if you remain in me and my words abide in you you will bear fruit.
Jesus told her the night before he died rollers just 116 describes. The gospel is the power of God and salvation is the Greek word didymus dynamis. That's the power to change people's lives. It's the word of God that changes Our Lives. The rich man in torment in hell that Jesus tells the story. Abraham send us back to talk to my five brothers who are still alive. Can you imagine this morning? Someone coming from torment to appear before us you could smell their clothing you could see the pain on their face that Jesus telling the story Abraham's know they have Moses and the prophets. They will not believe if they will not believe most of the profits. They will not believe even though someone rises from the dead. That means if we could bring back to Richmond right now and someone coming back from the dead telling you or I what that's like So think about our response to the word of God. We believe the word of God. This is the Eternal Word of God where finite beings will pass away and what the Lord comes first, but the word of God has been here for thousands of years has the earth stand.
Direct flight we have many classes that are classes. We study the Minor Prophets in the point here is that there is a rising and falling and for Empire at the Empire that got word predicts that and you can go through history seeing that happen exactly like God said,
God telling the future that's exactly what happened for God and he will never pass away the kingdom of God. So we see this and what is God saying we have the point God is still doing this today kingdoms rise of Kingdoms fall. God is on the throne we get so distracted like you God is on the throne and all this about the news about the talk about Biden trop50 next president's maybe God is all the throne doing his work. We get sidetracked. We need to look up a little bit higher. to the Eternal Word of God Identify the fluid Pastore is referenced in 1902 Louis Pasteur live from 1822 to 1895. But it's the same attitude today. We think we have finally arrived. We think we are really, why's this is Louis Pasteur's been dead years. It describes the truth that we think we're smarter than God. What day will see the foolishness of modern materialism that there is a God in heaven? And he's more amazed at the god of Heaven and Earth as he studies in his laboratory. Here we see some of the things we've learned since then.
Our next slide is true for my life. And for yours if you're Christian for every Christian. The God is smarter and more loving than we give him credit for. Are you can be totally rational? I can be totally rad for my anybody else but myself. But the real question is do we believe in the grace of God we believe that Grace is greater than Sid. We believe in truth. The God was holding the door open.
Rather than just giving me immediately what I deserve and send me to hell. This is about the heart of God. God has the power to give us life and give us a chance to repent achasta turn our life around and he's doing it right now and we talked about a few weeks ago to our our country in the world right now. Hoping that they will come to him and learn his word. The Apostle Paul is in parentheses scared. And their God himself appears to him and says do not be afraid for I have many people in this city. He wants Paul preached. He wants Paul to teach because he knows that some people are going to respond and become his children. He's holding the door open for the Corinthian to her. I will shipping Idol live in all kinds of ways that God wants them to come to know the true and living God and live in a relationship with him. Is it going to rain next slide need to Humble ourselves and come to Jesus and pride will stop us self-sufficiency will stop us. We may think I don't need a savior. Yes. We do. If not a person here the pride and self-sufficiency is not the answer. Electric Slide reminds us to the topic. What if what if Christ would come right now? This very minute.
What would happen to your life for mine?
Would you say that the holy righteous Christ coming down from heaven as it came up before?
Are there baby all kinds of different responses to that put some time and some place and somewhere that's going to happen. It's truth. But you sit here right now and you know, you're ready. I'll talk to you the church right now. The people have been immersed in the price and they're serious about putting the world one foot in God. That's the message of the book. epic Saga moment ago The love of God wants us to live with him forever.
Back in a few things what the scripture just does say when Christ will come Colossians 3:2 to 4. Set your mind on things above not on Earthly things for you died. And your life is hidden with Christ you describing our baptism in our next slide. Is that context? He says when Christ who is your life appears that you also will appear with him in glory. Is his glory we're going to share in it or next line of First John 2:28. Now their children continue in him so that when he appears we may be confident and I'll shame before him at his coming that is a lot of emotions. We have your emotions going to get all kinds of things butterflies that you're waiting on the table me even to make announcement. It's certainly not as easy as it looks as though Revelations while okay. meeting Jesus face to face There's all kinds of emotions that I can think of on that point. But John says dear children children of God that's sitters living in Christ in perfect that we can be confident and unashamed before him because his blood has the power to completely save those who come to him, but he is able to cleanse us from our sin that God of a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ. Jesus Redemption is amazing Redemption is deep and personal but God is able to do it or not. But he is it first John three two, two three, we see her next slide dear friends. We are the children of God church right now the children of God the Sons and Daughters of God. And what we will be has not yet been made. No, no, you're not going to be like you are right now kind of like I'd like that as my doctor says as we get older I'll get somebody else while I'm glad or not me, you know, it was time. We did the roof next door and we were all up on the roof. I'm not going up on the roof anymore. We will be like him. I don't know what all that means. That's a great first, but it goes on We Will Rock You for we shall see him as he is what happened on the Mount of transfiguration and they couldn't find English words or Greek words, even in describing his clothes are wider than a bleacher can make it. Peter is always speaking up. We're going to be quiet all of this great for us to be here. Let's build three Tabernacle and the father himself breaks in and says, this is my son listen to him.
I don't know. What emotions will have when we see him, but he will be there with power and glory and Majesty. Directions to motivation to keep us going. This is the motivation to clean up our lives with God forever can do.
And I can't we were by the 14. Why you don't even know that would happen tomorrow? What is your life your missed a little while and then vanishes away. We saw somebody with a couple times and it was a great job. But in that contact he had people come up to the stage and I wish 2021. If you've seen some of these videos going to be able to put this together. Otherwise, you wouldn't know baby class or Sunday night video on a church Facebook page. What we have to go through what you go through God loves you. How to use the story of Naomi and all the death and the loss and heartache but God loved her to get her to come back with Ruth to marry Boaz to be the legs of Christ. It struck me as I saw this, this is Tom Washburn his wife a year before he got all that diagnosis and withdrawal that stuff. We saw some of the videos in class that he went through which was incredible. We don't know what this the rest of this year or he'll be a next year what that will be like what you and I may go through physically health wise or otherwise live to ripe old age will do. Well, we don't know about even tomorrow. For a life is here for a little while. If that is the way we will see him with our old eyes. I love the song. I can only imagine it's written by Bart Millard had a father who was abusive to do son.
As a true story where he got cancer he changed his life. It started he reconciled. He was able to go home and work through a lot of that with him together. a father passed
Bart wrote this song Cuz he knew as he was at the funeral his mother turned I can only imagine what he said right now.
imagine God changing Sinners by forgiveness I'm not going to stick it to you. Don't get excited. Don't get worried. I could only imagine. This is a goal and hope of Our Lives see Jesus Christ with a road. I see you face to face and be with him it immediately go into his presence. I can only imagine what that will be. Like when I walked by your side. I can only imagine what my eyes would see what your face is before me. I can only imagine what my heart feel will I Dance For You Jesus will or a table you be still while I stand in your presence or to my knees. Will I fall will I sing Hallelujah? Will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine I can only imagine when that day comes I find myself standing in the sun. I can only imagine what all I do for Everett's worship you. I can only imagine surrounded by Your glory. What will my heart feel will I Dance For You Jesus or in all of you be still while I stand in your presence or to my knees. Will I fall will I say hallelujah, I can only imagine surrounded by Your glory. What will my heart feel I can only imagine what all I do for a dishwasher few. I could only imagine. One day the people of God will stand before Jesus Christ himself and see him as he is and we will be changed to be like him. now I get lead understand the scripture teach in 1st Thessalonians chapter 4 writing to a group of Christians who believe in the death. Resurrection of Christ. They understood their hopelessness death resurrection of Christ members died. And they're worried. Are they going to miss stuff on the resurrection? Are they?
He reminds him of the truth. Someone asked about what why is it the Rapture to buy because
The only place you can find that word is the Latin text which means rapidito which means quickly and Jesus will come quickly, but people build this whole theology which is based in Scripture. Call rights of flushing Church who've lost loved ones in grief. Say for the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout with a voice of the Archangel and with the tropical of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first, then we which are alive and remain in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord there for Comfort one another with these words we have hope we have piece of being with them again of seeing them again. And the hope of the truth of God or the next slide is a God knows we have feelings and emotions.
Jesus was sinless Jesus knew that Lazarus was alive, LOL you died and was buried Jesus understood and knew more than anyone there. Then a couple minutes. He's going to say the words that come out of the grave. He saw the Weeping of the sisters. The Jesus cried just had perfect faith in God. Jesus had a life that confidence and he's going to bring the grave but Jesus still cried God Can Be Touched by your pay at your at your loss your heartache and that's what we have here. He knew that he cried.
In this context to the church remember day after day. As a Church of the Living God God understands Grace better than we do. He's wonderful. Give every said they after they are next.
There is an easy I could just use this for me and I posted it myself several times. Grace is greater than sin. God knows it. We're the ones that have to get the message. I've given Christ many times. He could have walked away from me and said I'm done with you what you are. You just don't get it what's wrong with you? Not once has he done that this is real love love that he wants me to live and you to live with him forever, but he's willing to forgive every sin day after day and here to the church for the love of God the mercy of God's remember there's hope for those in Christ if we would bring somebody in off the streets, we would teach him the word of God and it would be baptized you would be excited happy cuz they're washed away. Do you understand that for yourself? You understand that for me and for you? We just say that to the outside of Christ. This is what Christ is willing to do when you say this to the church.
Our next slide reminds the hope that there isn't Christ. We need to talk about this truth. to the church the Lost
This is a picture that got me in trouble this week. I jerked it off my Facebook page and the church Facebook page. And they're trying to decide where they're going to penalize me for a month and put me in Facebook jail for a month. I said this is not beat their Community standards. There is evil in the world. I'm not sure if it's a moth but I think it's abortion that lift them up here. It is for the web Facebook is a company at the world is not the church. That is we hear it from the church. Paul reminds the church in Ephesians about their lives Americans hate liars.
Paul Wright stop lying to one another and speak the truth. I take it the fact that he writes it the season for the Holy Spirit had to put in the Bible. There's a problem. It's one thing to struggle with sin and try to serve God and fall down. It's quite another thing to say. No, it's not wrong. It's okay. There's nothing wrong with it. And you can say well, you know the Supreme Court switch to dark Ohio recently had a boat and they made it legal. Listen that none of that makes that moral. It's the Lord God Almighty who is just look at the Bible not the word not the world not our country James Patterson wrote a book basement. And here's some of the responsive 91% said they lied repeatedly both at work and at home the book was printed 1991. I'm sure it's probably got worse. Morality is not a morality simply cuz you got away with it anymore. I got away with it as she walked out the door that he realized later I can get away with anything. This how we think sometimes well, you know God didn't strike me with lightning right now. So nothing's going to happen. God has appointed a it which he will judge the world is right you just as people right now or doing all kinds of things does it mean it's moral just cuz it's legal. And that same survey revealed that many Christians were just as likely and steal from their workplace there anybody else another I take it he knows exactly what he's saying. Jesus at the Luke 16:10, if we're just honest with little will be dishonest with much. This is the post that the world doesn't want to hear. There is evil in the world.
in this context Let's go to the next slide. Let's look at what the scriptures say. Not what I said last week everybody and the first person to acknowledge Jesus is John the Baptist as a fetus leaping when he hears with his mother hears the voice of Mary but there's more biblical texts so we can look at the clear the Old Testament has 21 22 25, you know, the phrase eye for eye 141 blow-for-blow tooth for tooth, but the context is several. What are the context to your next is 20. What is two men are fighting and they hit a woman who's pregnant with a child. And God says you do those two men wound for wound blow-for-blow life for life. God calls it life doesn't matter what science answers this question in 1921. Deuteronomy, nineteenth show show. No pity take light for life. Feels differently about this too many people our country our world dude, we got is right, but let's try this another way. We go to will I think that's what I think what you think doesn't matter the Lord God Almighty is what matters is I talked with people at lakes and they've been forgiven of their abortion. The problem I talked with him is they have trouble forgiving themself for years. I've talked to him. That's a different story that somebody saying it's not wrong, but it's okay. It's like saying it's okay to lie story to say I tried to serve God. I know what's right. I know what he wants to me and I'm falling short and I made a mess. That's very certain of that. at all
Sonic contact we must remind ourselves that we have to come to Christ for forgiveness that the only righteous we can have it all of our sins can be forgiven.
I put that up this week. Somebody wrote. What a y. Okay, but here's what the scripture talks about. The FED Unforgettable said we'll talk about that some more but the only reason it's unforgivable is the person ever comes to Christ. Why did Jesus speak so hard to the Pharisees of teachers the law cuz they didn't think they needed a Saviour. They thought they were good self-righteous. They might even say. Only with Christ can we be saved? And this is God's offer. There is no plan B. I'll do when I want Living God we'll just welcomed in to have it isn't going to happen.
So many of the how we came to Christ how anybody can come to Christ. For the news this week a 17 year old Chicago Defender thesis and ASU is now a doctor at Behavioral Health 17 years old.
Dorothy Jean Tillman got her PhD from ASU a walk May 17th. Remember when you were 17, I wasn't that Focus. That's for sure. I doctor it. Like a lot of us were to try to get out of high school. This lady was focused like a rocket and Direction maybe near more time when laser focus. The Lakers laser focus were talking about it being ready to meet Jesus. Make it the number one Focus. And your context in your life. Why should anybody make the decision to be immersed immersed in the baptismal word for immersion is the Baptist word for Baptist can't say it. You know what I mean? If a person is the Greek word for baptism. It means we put under the water in Red Square the Russian and the Greek Orthodox and they had a huge tits m*** out there. Should we walk down it it obviously
Is the statue of immersing people into Christ? Baptism is necessary in significant. We should understand God's place for baptism and the spiritual benefits that bring us into Christ baptism. Say that your scripture that don't take my word for it. Whoever stands in his Pulpit or what you hear on TV or the internet take your Bible and run it through and see what Jesus Christ who gave his life says on this topic people say a lot of things.
Acts 4 verse 12 there is no other name given under heaven. Whereby we must be saved accept Jesus Christ Mark 16:16. He tells us just Matthew 28 go into all the world and preach the gospel to Every Creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. In this context it's necessary to be obedient to God. Several patches. Jesus says, why do you call me? Lord Lord, but do not do the things I say. We aren't we will talk about Jesus Is Our Lord, but somehow we got the idea. He's like our boss never have a boss you a total concept of Lord the concept of ownership. You don't have the right to go. I'm not going to do that. I know what you want. I know what you're telling me. I'm not going to touch the great transgression of the Old Testament got to know exactly what you want and I'm not about to do it. Baptism washes away. Our said that 22:16 Paul Saul is a fasting praying penitent believer in Jesus Christ and heard Jesus Christ himself. He's still not forgiving of his sins and Isis. What are you waiting for arise and be baptized and wash away your sins. He had to do it. If we did look at Matthew 3:14 to 17, Jesus is the one who's obeying God and baptism if Jesus needed obey God and be baptized why we think we're the exception.
They are baptism also helps us our sins punishment is given to Christ and we receive his perfect righteousness. This is what the scriptures teach. We need cleansing. His blood is the cleansing Power Revolution 714 by his blood we are washed. It is blood. It's only the power that has the ability to deal with s*** that tires are those are baptized or forgiven asked to 36 to 38. He tells the very much again. You are God offers forgiveness to the people who killed his son, which is amazing. Repent and be baptized two things. You got to do them both and you'll receive the Forgiveness of Santa and the gift of the Holy Spirit do both you received both. You can't just do that pissed of a bear on the resurrection. We talked about this Roman 6 raised through life. We bury somebody in that Cemetery put them under the ground. Baptism is accepting Christ. As Lord is putting on people on a coat you are close with Christ. You are clothed with his rights. We have no rights as tomorrow. Isaiah says our righteousness is as filthy rags, but we put on Christ. We are now righteous. Holy because of him. baptism exercise in the Christchurch
We don't know what the future holds. You ever have time in your life when you thought you're going to die without a few? Taco Bell by the church was in an accident. When she was okay, and it was just a little small damages recently. I see you're probably going to spend the rest of the day thinking about how what could have happened you could have died. It could have been a lot worse. You could hurt your body could damage your car lot worse experiences. Where you been? Very close to death through this have you kept those commitments?
God spared your life to bring you to this point today. If Jesus would come right now we talked about the hope and the great blessings for those who are ready. We'll talk about that. There are people who are not ready. Scriptures teach it s best buddies resolve 1st Thessalonians chapter 4 for those are ready rights and 2nd Thessalonians chapter 1 for those who are troubled rest with us. Where the Lord Jesus comes with his holy and powerful angels taking Vengeance on them that know. God and obey. The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. If you do not obey the gospel, we just sought the death of Christ that you do not know God. To know God is an intimate personal relationship with him and God set the conditions of how to get into Christ. He is the only one that has the right to accept those conditions.
So if we would die right now or Christ would come right now, would you go to heaven or hell? I reading today Jesus left just like that. They're looking up to the sky and they said he's going to come back the same way, but have no idea when he's coming back. The only logical thing to do is to get ready while you have time open opportunity. He'd come today. It's easy to come Ten Thousand Years. There is no prophecy that has to be fulfilled. What's keeping him from coming back. It's only the mercy of God saying I want more people to be saved. I want more people be forgiven, but it's up to us. He's not going to make you he's not going to force you. He's not going to drag you out of the water. We have the free will to say no. If you're not ready to meet Jesus, why don't you come sweet standards?