From The Pen Of Alistair Begg - TRUTH For Life...

Hurting Hearts...

He wept in the Garden as he prayed to His Abba Father, sweating drops of blood, knowing He would have to bear my sin... Punishment that I rightfully deserved, for the Sin I knew I was committing, as well as sins of omission. He took my stripes, the words of anger, the beating, the bruising and the thorns. Then he carried my cross in agony, and pain beyond anything I could bear. Finally, He took the spikes that were meant for me, thru His hands and feet. Then as they stood that old cross up, all the weight of my sin and yours pulled on those wounds around those huge old spikes. He took it, He bore it, He carried it, then He suffered the most horrific and agonizing pain of all, His Abba Father turned His back on Him for in the midst of all my sin on His shoulders, it repulsed His Father, for He could not look upon that sin which weighed and sucked the life's blood from His horrifically beaten body. Yet in His Sovereign power He kept His life until He was ready to lay it down for US !!!!!!!!!!

As a child of His, it hurts my Heart to see fellow Christians living like the world... Folks claiming the name of Christ, while cheapening Grace with their worldly vocabulary, with their pompous attitudes, with their worldly activities and their lustful eyes. My heart aches for my Jesus and the pain He bore and the sorrow He carried, when people claim His name in one breath, and dishonor it in the next.

Salt of the Earth... A Gospel that is offensive to the world... Light in the midst of Darkness... The "Armor" of God... To Seek Righteouness... Revere and Fear a Holy God...

Oh My Dear Jesus, how we must hurt and grieve Your Heart & Spirit... Forgive us Father, and help me keep the logs from my own eyes and confess & repent my own horrid sin moment by moment each day... Help me walk up rightly in the midst of Your Marvelous Grace...

Just For My Dad...

Dear Father in Heaven, Hallowed Be Your Name, and may it once again be spoken in this country with Reverence & Fear!

Lord, forgive me for taking so long to understand... Forgive me for not always staying on the path that you provided all thru my life.

Thank You Father for a loving family, tender hearted friends, and numerous opportunities to share Your Word and its redeeming Message.

Dear Lord, we are told, an old tree's value & worth is best measured after its fallen. When I have fallen, and folks measure my life, I pray that I be found Loving, Faithful, Loyal and a servants heart for my King, my family, my friends, and any of those that I may touched their lives along the way...

Father, those last years with my Dad, I learned your Joy. In the midst of his physical and emotional pain, he ALWAYS had a smile for family, friends and strangers on the streets of town. Dad showed his sons how to live for his King. Loving his wife, family and friends all the way to gates of Heaven.

Lord please give me the will and desire to be that strong, loving, compassionate and tender hearted man my Dad was, modeling His Heavenly Father and the King of his days.

In Christ's Name - Amen

This picture was taken one of the last trips we did a big family trip to the beach, he loved visiting the ocean.  His favorite was Emerald Isle, North Carolina...  This particular day, he and Mother had there fill of the sun and heat - so he was walking her back to the house to cool off.  I snapped the picture not knowing he would be gone in 3 short years...   This is one of my favorite recent photos, because it's Dad waving - saying "see you guys later"...

Folks, I was so, so, so Blessed to know him, he was a Great Dad, and he loved Jesus and his family...

Truth Family & Friends - Read It...

Look Deeper - Don't let the spirit of Anti-Christ confuse what you know as Truth in your Hearts concerning the True Gospel of Jesus, The One and only begotten Son of the Living God.
He Alone Is Worthy - He Alone is Sovereign - He will Return !!! The knee that has not yet bent in Loving Submission during this Age of Grace, will be bent by force, and Hearts will then be compelled to willful subjugation under His Mighty Hand...
...

The Signs are evident and His Return is immanent, Please, search, Look Deeper, know if what you believe is The Truth !!!

John 14:6-7 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”

Believer, are you a follower of the Living Christ, or "are you just a fan"... A True Follower of Christ - knows The Master, and more importantly, The Master knows His Sheep, and they hear only His Voice... Fans, may hear The Word, but they don't know The Word and do as He commands.

Encouragement To Pray...

John - Chapter 14  (Verses 12-14  &  27-28)

¹² “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. ¹³ And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."

²⁷ Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. ²⁸ You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.

Our Precious Jesus - Son of the One True Sovereign God Praying In The Garden of Gethsemane

Do You Want To "Know" The Truth...?

If we Love Jesus, as we do everything else in this country, there are many of us that will soon stand before a Holy & Righteous God, very, very surprised.  It IS ALL about The Relationship with Him.  The depth of The Relationship.  The exclusivity of The  Relationship.  The level of commitment in The Relationship.  The heart of loyalty in The Relationship.  The amount of dedication in The Relationship.  

 

This culture / society is in a point in our history, when we can't even properly define our relationships with friends, family or our spouses...?  Why...?  We want to "take" God on our terms, we want to "make" Jesus "fit" into our lives...?

 

News Flash!!!  He  IS  GOD, Creator, Sovereign of all that IS, we are the created, we don't take or make HIM anything,  HE  IS  !!!   He Is...  We do not define The Relationship...  God Does Loved Ones, please, understand, that we as a Nation have made idols before a most Holy & Righteous God...  He Created Us, therefore; He defines the playing field, the rules and he owns the game ball.

 

You will never get Friendships right, never get Family right, and never get Marriage right until you understand and have a Real Relationship with the Author of all Relationship, The Lord and King Jesus Christ and His Blessed Abba Father - God and Creator of all universes.

 

If we Love The Lord Jesus our Christ, then we will submit and yield to that Lordship, allowing Him to Define The Relationship...  Otherwise; you had best study Matthew 7, and become familiar with verses 13, 14, 21, 22 & 23...  HE and HE alone defines how and who HE knows, in the Word He provided to us to introduce us to Him.  Apart from His Word and His Spirit - there is NO Relationship...

 

Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. 

 

Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ 

 

Trust Me - I didn't get this right, I didn't understand...  I was a religious man, I wasn't a "servant to The King", I had a one way relationship with Christ, my way, which I have since learned is in No Way a Saving Relationship...  Pastor's wake up, accountability for your flock before the Bema Seat is real...  Tell them The Truth, teach them The Truth, and call Sin just that - it is Sin...   Not mistakes...  Not bad Choices...  Not wrong Turns...  

 

Folks - You willfully break the commandments of God and our Dear Lord Jesus, it is Sin and pride that defines your life, which Christ has no part in.  His Grace is not a license to follow the worlds ways...  He came to divide, to separate the world of Sin from the World of Righteousness, if you have a relationship with Jesus Christ, a True, Real, Deep, Loving & Serving Relationship with Him, YOU, already know this to be TRUE...

 

If you have a relationship with Jesus, then you already understand the mission...  Speak, preach and teach the gospel to all that will hear, upon their accepting, repenting and turning from their sin, get them Baptized and then Disciple them so that they can repeat the process...  

 

Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” 

Test of Trials...

Sometimes, Our Abba Father allows circumstances to occur in our lives that simply confuse the mind long enough to shake our focus from ourselves.

He allows events and situations to play out in our lives that directs us to reflect on Him and what we truly believe.  It stretches our Hearts to develop a deeper Faith & Trust in Him.  That process strengthens our resolve in Who He Is universally as well as Who He Is in our lives.

We have a choice, to allow these trials of the Spirit to soften our Hearts and strengthen our Faith and Trust in our Mighty King...  Or...  We can choose to let the events and others influence us to "wall up" and become embittered and hard Hearted.  This is the worlds way, take that tooth, require that pound of flesh.

God's way, is to Love, Yield and Submit to His will, His Authority, His Desires for your Heart & Life which is designed to purge the world from you...  The result of the trials and tests of this life, let you standing in His Holy Spirit resembling The Lord Jesus Christ more than this world and this flesh.  Sanctification costs something - It costs you your will, as you learn to lay it down and pick up your cross and carry it with and for Christ.

A word that is nearly hated in today's culture, we must "conform" to the ways and will of God - if He Truly called us out from among the world...  In conforming to His Will and His Spirit, we will then realize His Purpose for the moment and for our lives...  Folks, as my Sunday School Teacher Doug Olson often reminds us - it is "all" about the relationship!

Romans 8:28-30 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

Reward / Payday is not always Friday...  When we endure suffering in doing what's right and what is commanded in God's Holy Word - we may not see reward this side of Glory.  The world's ways are not His ways, instant gratification is of this culture - God may take a man's  lifetime to polish him into a shining jewel.  Sometimes Faith is measured in inches of upward progress, but is most always measured in continuance!  KEEP  GOING !!!

What of the Heart…?

RCH - from my keyboard to your heart...

What of the Heart…?

Many strong & powerful men have been reduced to a pile of rubble on the ground over a devastating blow to the heart.  Not that beating cardio muscle in the chest, but the much more fragile core of a man’s being and spirit – the Heart God gave him to touch those around him.  The eye gate to the soul in which God communicates to men, the Heart…

Proverbs 4:23 – Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of Life…

Many men, yes many men, have chased dreams and desires, shaping their lives with those passions and manipulations of their will.  Men finding they have come to the end of the journey, beaten, hurt, empty, broken hearted, void of real purpose and meaning, humbling themselves to Death’s grip on their body and soul.  For they knew not the Master, they cared not for His counsel, they despised His offering, and they spat upon His gift.  For as those dear men in Mark 6 were described, when He tried to comfort them as He climbed into the boat – “they had not understood… – because their heart was hardened”…  Human Nature – the Sin that bears the curse of Adam – courses through our veins, but it doesn’t stop there…  Yes, we are born with the nature of Adam, but our hearts are only harden to the Joy of Life as we choose our own way, our own desires, our own wants…  For as those men, those 12, when they allowed their Hearts to be touched thru The Word, men & women today are born with the same opportunity to respond in like kind to the Light – The Word.

Yet these words are intended for those that “claim” His name, those that call Him Master, those that pray to the Father, yet have troubled hearts and feelings of despair.  Where is their comfort?  Where is their helper?  Do they walk with a book of words?  Or, is it The Word that walks with them?  Are they clinging to a book they have intimate academic knowledge of?  Or, does He that is The Word know them intimately, calling them Friend…  For knowledge of the words in that book, will not save you alone…  The Word must possess your Heart, but, HE will not possess a Heart not freely given, yielded and submitted to Him.  For the Holy Spirit is a fine gentlemen, and will not force a door open that is not unlatched from the inside.  Here is where this man finds himself, an unlatched door, from the inside – with a foot firmly planted preventing the door from freely swinging in…  Not willing to accept the cup before him, not willing to allow the Spirit to enter any further…

So friend, have you given it ALL to HIM?  If you have in your heart and mind, given it all to Him, have you “Guarded your Heart” from the outside?  Have you drawn a line of Honor, and said no entrance beyond this point to the world?  What in your life have you sacrificed in His name and for His purpose and that of the Kingdom?  Is your life a living sacrifice?  Are your whispers Worship to His ears?  Have you given Him all of your time, your checkbook, your house, your car, your energy, your marriage, your children, your family  – have you kept anything in reserve for yourself?  I did…   Lord forgive me - I did…   Brother – Sister, I write to you from the brokenness of man that kept in reserve a heart that was consumed with past transgressions in the life of little boy…  Things I held onto, having no right to, nor any good purpose to other than building walls.

We humans are so apt to draw conclusions, those conclusions sometimes wall up the Heart from risking any other opportunity to feel or connect with any depth.  We become comfortable with shallow connections – it’s safer and easier to flee if old pain is brought to the surface.  But the Spirit of God wants us to yield our whole Heart, we must submit completely – without reservation.  Many times, God’s Plan to show His most tender gentleness – is to allow us to be broken to the point that none of our own planning, scheming or manipulations can repair our image or perception of those past conclusions.  We realize that our walled up Hearts can no longer survive and the remaining choice is to either Pine Away to Death – or yield to His Heart, and let go of the hurt that until now has defined our identity – to ourselves…

1st Peter 2:9 – but, you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light…

Ephesians 1:4-5  –  For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will…

Proverbs 3:5 – Trust in The Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…

Peter's Message In The Temple...

I was looking over some old messages I had stored on the computer from back when I was teaching / preaching Wednesday nights.  I had forgotten I started the study of the Book of Acts, this message deals with True Repentance - a Change of Heart.  I hope you find it useful and hear God's voice and sense His Spirit in these words.  God Bless...

Originally prepared for the Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting on 11 January 2012 @ BBCWM

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The Acts of the Apostles

Acts 3:19 thru 26

Peter's  Message  in  the  Temple

 Good Evening;  Open Your Bibles to Acts Chapter Three, Verses 19 thru 26, follow along with me please:

¹⁹Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.    ²⁰And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:    ²¹Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.   ²²For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.   ²³And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.   ²⁴Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have  spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.   ²⁵Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindred's of the earth be blessed.   ²⁶Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

Dear Lord, please calm our hearts, put the day's events aside and let your precious Spirit minister to our heart, and let only your message be seen and heard here tonight, and not the mere man standing before these dear folks.  Let all that is said here tonight bring your Honor, Glory and Praise in your Dear Son's Name we  come to you tonight, in Christ we pray, Amen

OK - really quick review from last week, where are we geographically in our text tonight? (Temple in Jerusalem)

Who was the audience in attendance? (Pharisees, Sadducees, Priests, Scribes and other Israelites)

What is Peter preaching here in our opening text tonight? (Repentance)

Repentance - Repentance; but wait a minute, these were the "Spiritual Giants" of the day...  These were the Holy and Righteous men of Israel in that day, or so they thought!

John MacArthur says in his commentary on the Book of Acts that "Throughout redemptive history, God's spokesmen have called sinners to repentance.  Old Testament and New Testament alike!

Check on my references later, but you can see this fact in Jeremiah 8:4-5;  Ezekiel 14:6;  2nd Kings 17:13;  Matthew 3:1-2;  Mathew 4:17;  Acts 2:38;   Acts 20:21;   Acts 26:19-20 

Peter continues this practice as he draws this sermon at the temple to a conclusion, and calls these people to repentance.  The word Repentance is drawn from the Greek word metanoeo, which is "to change one's mind or purpose".  This is meant to be much more than a mere intellectual decision to change.  It is a change of mind that issues in a life change of behavior and mindset.  It is literally, a turning in direction or a conscious choice to change your thinking, more importantly changing your perspective - from a world view of the present culture - to a world view with GOD in the center.  His Holiness and Righteousness guides your path, you "Change", the pace is determined by the rate of submission and yielding to the Spirit of God.

Peter knew his audience, he knew that deep in their minds and hearts they thought they were "Right" with God, but were they?  No, the temple in many ways exercised oppression through the interpreted and made up Laws.  Peter knew the ways of the Temple Leadership, he knew that they were entrenched in their ways, and turned a tin ear towards the Truth.

Peter also knew, that while most of these people practiced the religion of the Jewish Faith, it was mechanical, ritualistic, and out of a sense of duty.   In these circles, the true God Loving individual was not often in the lime light, or spoken of.  The Jewish Leaders were often the subject of Christ's observations and rebuking.

How is that different from the corporate church today in this country?  America is the land of opportunity and entitlement.  The people don't need to rely on GOD, they are either self reliant or rely on the government to meet their needs.  The bulk of TV Evangelist have turned the stomachs of the American people towards faith and Christianity due to their bilking the public out of BILLIONS of Dollars.  Followed up by numerous scandals that were wrought in deceit and greed. Unfortunately - this tarnished all Churches in some people's eyes, as we walked further and further from the days of innocence into the days of Postmodernism. To a country today drenched in corruption from the top down to the local community leaders and even some local church leaders.

Our former stalwart bible believing Churches have departed from the Truth of Christ and His Heavenly Father, to teach an easy believism that has infected even the little independent Churches in this country.   Do we remember, what happen that 1st day of Pentecost that Peter preached, when his message then was also one of repentance?  "All that believed were together, and had all things in common."  They had all things in common, and they fellowshipped and spent time together joined in the Bond of Love in the Spirit of Christ.  They sold belongings to provide for the less fortunate in their circle of faith, those in the early Church.

They continued daily with one accord, breaking bread sharing meals in gladness and a singleness of heart.  What was the result of this awesome faith and dedication to one another - God found favor with them, and the Lord added to the Church daily - and people REPENTED and were SAVED!!!

Why was that same message so important here at the Temple and also - so very important here tonight and today in the Corporate Church of America?

BECAUSE - we need reminded that Christ sacrificed it all for us, and that passion of our beloved Savior, does have a cost for us.  We must relinquish our desire and thirst for the things of this world, and repent of those things that draw us away from His word, away from devoted time with Him.  We need to invest our God given resources in the work and furtherance of the Gospel of Christ.  AND Listen to me, NO MAN Has the right to tell you what that means in your life...  I can't tell you what that means for you, nor can the Pastor, or some well dressed TV Preacher.

BUT - if you are a born again, God Fearing, Christ Loving, Bible Believing Christian, and the Holy Spirit of the True and Living Christ lives within that chest of yours - you had better listen to what HE is telling you...  The only way this Church is going to grow, is if we listen to Peter's message.  Casual Sunday Morning Service Christians are playing a crap game.  For if they are sitting in these pews for any other reason than EXALTING the Name of Jesus Christ and Praising Almighty God with their solemn humbled hearts, they are spiritually confused.

A preacher can't stand up here and post a list of things not to do as a Christian, because those things can be mimicked and repeated without a change of the mind and heart!  However; I can tell you from the heart there are things that shouldn't be present!

If Sunday Morning for Sunday School and Morning Service, Sunday Evening Service, and Mid Week Services there shouldn't be a desire in your heart to be anywhere else.  God calls us to assemble together, to be HIS family, loving one another, ministering to one another.  This is a battle with self that I go through from time to time, in my flesh I make the wrong choices occasionally...  Then for days I carry the guilt and shame, tonight thanking the Lord for the conviction HE lays on my heart.

Satan doesn't want us,    to want to be here....  He is a sly old devil, he know the things you like to do for pleasure and recreation, and he places them before you wanting you to make a choice that will keep you out of the favor of God.  Yielding to His Will and Submitting to His service is HARD sometimes.  As you grow in His Spirit, and those choices become easier to make, He blesses you, and yes, in my eyes every answered prayer is a personal God given Miracle, and holds a special place in my mind and heart.

Please open your Bibles to Matthew 21:28 thru 31...   But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard.   ²⁹He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.  ³⁰And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.  ³¹Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 

Repentance that Peter is preaching here is a CHANGE of the Heart!!!  Giving God lip service, or sitting here on a Sunday morning doing the Church thing, then going out all the rest of the week partaking in what the world has to offer, with not another thought of Christ till you walk back into the Church the next Sunday morning - well - that is not a saving faith!

There once was a son that told his Father "No I won't", then he thought about what he had just done, he then went back and repented his error,  he saw his wrong - his Sin, and went back, then he did that thing His Father asked of him, truly he was repentant and understood, he conformed in humility and then knew the true depth of Love.

That son that gave his Father lip service, saying yes Dad, I'll do it, then went about his merry way doing what he wanted, he was a miserable liar at best.

But what is more interesting is Christ's question and to the Chief Priests and Elders of the temple at the end of His parable?    He asked, which of these sons truly did the will of his Father.  What did they tell HIM?

They said the first son did the will of the Father....  He then rebuked them, telling them that the publicans and the whores of the day go into the Kingdom of God before them...  Why?  Because they answered the question correctly, they got it right,,,,,,  but refused to practice that which they knew as Truth!!!!

Today's Church is in the exact same condition, our people sit and hear the truth Sunday after Sunday, yet chose to go their own way.  Telling the Preach and God, yes, we got it, we understand it, and then go about their own way.  Never plugging in, never praying with a dear hurting friend, never helping a family in need, never singing in the choir, never helping with the children or youth ministries, and worse yet, never uttering the name of our Beloved Jesus again until the next Sunday.

THAT Dear, Dear Friends here tonight is why this Church has an alter call / or / invitation at the end of every message.  Because the American Church today has a lot of people sitting in it in the same state of mind and spiritual condition as that Temple did back there when Peter preached this short and powerful message.

Let's change the discussion from one of repentance, to one of dependence!  What do we right here at BBC rely on or depend on God for on a moment by moment, or a day by day, week to week, month to month basis...  Do we thank HIM for all things, do we even realize that Dependence on God grows out of a thankful heart.

If we aren't thankful for every little blessing He bestows upon us, we are depending on ourselves, our own means and our own will.  With a contrite heart I wrote this lesson / message out, knowing that many times I don't take the time to reflect on the blessing of the moment.

Lord God hear me tonight, I am thankful for the Miracle and Blessing of life, every Heart Beat and every Breath.  Father, see my tears of Joy and Thanks for my dear Godly Wife, that bears the weight of my humanness at times, Thank You Father for she prayerfully holds me in your Light, Your answers to those Prayers keep me safe and a Heart True to You and her.  Thank You Dear Father for the Family you have blessed me with...  Thank you for their health, and meeting their daily needs as well.

Father, Thank You for the Job I have, and the will to work when the culture has made it so easy to coast, I give ten thousand thanks.  For the Food you place on my table every day, the strength that you convert that food into for me to continue on, when that couch and television look so good to cuddle up to.  Thank you father for the mode of transportation that you have provided my wife and I to move about freely in this Country that you continue to Bless in the midst of our sinful and wayward ways.

Thank you Father for this CHURCH, for those in our midst that Yield to Your Word, Yielding to your TRUTH, Your Commandments and the Principles you have provided to guide and live our lives by.  Father bring us as a Church to your alter frequently, remind us that we are a peculiar people in your site, wrapped in the righteousness and justification of your Dear Son, paid for by His Blood and Earthly Life in our place.  Thank you for those dear, dear missionaries that were willing to go into those far reaches of this earth that many of us could never want to endure.  Continue to bless those mission fields and the ministries that those dear folks are providing to the lost.

Father - help us as a people, as a church, and as individuals come to the realization that we must rely on YOU!  Help us realize that a Proud and Self-reliant people have no need for a God, for they meet their own needs and wants without consideration to the real provider!

Father remind us on a regular basis of our Spiritual condition without Christ, then Father, help us sacrifice ourselves to and for your will in such a way that it ministers to others while bringing You Glory, Praise and Honor.  Without Christ, we are a vile, corrupt contentious lot in your eyes Father.  When we enter the throne room in prayer to you Father, you now look at us wrapped in Your Son.  But Your promise through His transaction at Calvary, gives us spiritual cleansing that on that day, we will stand before You and your Son forgiven and with robes of white.  There, and there alone lies the depth and foundation of our Love and Gratitude Father, for parting with your best long enough to pay the ransom for these tired and grateful saints.  -  Amen...

If you have friends that are playing the Sunday Morning Game, you may want to share this last point with them...

A Pastor, Church Doctrinal Statement, Church Constitution, Regular Attendance, or any daily, weekly, monthly or annual ritual in God’s name is NOT going to save a person from Hell.  It is the repentant - contrite heart, fearful of God, Loving His Son, and believing in the remission of their sin through the shed blood of Christ and conforming to His character as found on the pages of the book in your lap.

We are in the last days, and there is NO FIRE INSURANCE outside of confessing your sin and sinful ways, asking His Mercy and Forgiveness, accepting His Son's sacrifice and shed blood as Payment for that sin.  Then, accepting Him as, and elevating Him to LORD of your life - the rubber meeting the road is in this step.  For we are a proud nation, a prideful people, and giving over control is not in our cultural make up.  An old long gone friend use to say, son, you can accept Christ's payment, and Church all your life, but till you bend the knee and yield that proud heart, you'll be on the wrong side of the tracks.

Not really a theologically backed statement, but the message of Yielding and Submission hit home.  Not my will - but thine Lord...

A parting word of encouragement tonight is wrapped in this word FORGIVENESS!!!

Forgiveness produces JOY and relief from guilt.  One of my most favorite hymns was written by Horatio Spafford.  Mr. Spafford expressed that reality beautifully in his classic hymn, It Is Well With My Soul.  In it he penned the following familiar words:

MY Sin, Oh, the bliss of this Glorious Thought,    

My sin not in part, but the whole                          

Is nailed to the Cross and I bear it no more,         

Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, Oh My Soul....

As John MacArthur stated in his commentary, those words find their echo in every redeemed heart.  If we truly live with the Precious Spirit of Christ in us, and understand the verses of that Hymn, how can we not want to give up this old world and serve this Man that nailed it all to the cross.  May each and every one of you remember that moment when you realized that He saved you, and lifted the burden of guilt and shame through His Merciful, Gracious and Complete gift of Forgiveness through His Blood on that old tree.  Remember, Thankful Hearts, lead our Hearts home to Him, understanding our condition apart from Christ, helps keep our Hearts humbled and obedient to His Word.  Have a Great rest of the week, and we will see you Sunday Morning, let's pray...