"The Commitment We Must Make"

Sermon by Bro. Stan Bunch
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
National Association of Free Will Baptists Convention

Isaiah 6:8

1. Isaiah's commitment came after brokenness and cleansing

• Before God can do a work through a person, He has to do a work in a person.
• Isaiah's brokenness and cleansing led to a commitment to serve God.

2. Isaiah's commitment didn't come with conditions

• Isaiah committed without conditions - he committed to God before he knew all the details. His response to God shows obedience and a desire to please God.
• Isaiah understood the task would be hard, but he relied on God for guidance and understanding one day at a time.
• How far can God trust you with a call? Are you faithful to carry through, even through hard times and trials?

3. Isaiah's commitment was based on the holiness of God and a desire to please Him

• Our success is not determined by the world. It is determined by our willingness to serve God and please Him.
• Isaiah committed fully to God. He continued in faith, even when things didn't go like he wanted.

Are you as committed as Isaiah?

"The Call We Must Consider"

Sermon by Bro. Karl Sexton

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

National Association of Free Will Baptists Convention

Isaiah 6:8

There is a specific call for every life, but no one escapes the general call to missions. We are all called to be witnesses for God.

1. The Question of the Sovereign

• The Questioner - He is the Holy Lord God
• Verse 8, "who will go for us?" - shows us the Trinity
• We are called by the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost
• The Questions - Who will go?
• The question is still going out today, but are we listening for the call?
• The question demands a decision from us - will we go?
• The question denotes a duty to us - it is our job to go. We have to be witnesses for our generation (Judges 2:10).

2. The Qualifications of the Servant

• God must qualify us before He can send us.
• What motivates your service to God? Are you motivated by the call of God upon your life? Isaiah had been busy about religious activities in the temple, but his life was changed when he felt the call of God upon his life.
• Isaiah was confronted by God's preeminence - Matthew 6:33-34.
• Your witness comes from your worship. Is your worship about pleasing God, or is it about making yourself feel better?
• Jesus doesn't want to be your #1, He wants to be your ONLY One.
• Isaiah was convicted and cleansed - only a cleansed man can serve the Master faithfully. Once we are convicted and cleansed, we are ready to commit to the Lord's call.

3. The Quest of the Saints

• We are to share our message - of redemption and grace.
• We are to fulfill our mission - to go and make disciples.
• "I do not fear that the church will not succeed, but that the church will succeed at things that don't matter." - Unknown
• Our quest is personal - evangelism is not an option (Acts 1:8). We are all called to be witnesses for Christ.
• Our quest is pertinent - we must go and make disciples.
• Our quest is pressing - is the call of God burning in your heart?

"The Condition We Must Correct"

Sermon by Bro. Charles Murphy

Monday, July 19, 2010

National Association of Free Will Baptists Convention

Isaiah 6:5-7

Do you desire to serve God? Our desire to serve God is evidence of our salvation. The strength of that desire is a measure of our spiritual maturity. But before we can be used by God, we have to be cleansed from our sins by God. We must correct the condition of sin...

1. Because of sin's hindering effect on our lives.

• Our sin separates us from God. (Isaiah 59:1-2)
• Without God, we can do nothing.
• You can't serve God if you are separated from Him and His will.

2. Because of sin's hardening effect on our hearts.

• Our sin hardens our hearts and makes us less sensitive to the calling of God. (Isaiah 6:9-10)
• "But exhort one another daily, while it is called to day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." Hebrews 3:13 - We should challenge and encourage one another to turn from sin daily.
• Our sin is an urgent matter. If we don't turn from our sin, it will hinder our lives and harden our hearts so that we cannot be used by God.

HOW DO WE CORRECT THE CONDITION OF SIN IN OUR LIVES?

1. We must see God as He really is:

• If we don't see the holiness of God, then we don't see our own sinfulness.
• When we see how holy God is, we can then see how unholy and sinful we are.
• Isaiah feared God (verse 5). The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Wisdom leads to repentance from sin.
• To know God as He really is, we must spend time with Him - in prayer, in His word, and in service for Him.

2. We must be broken before God:

• When Isaiah saw God, he saw his own spiritual bankruptcy. "Woe is me!" (verse 5)
• He recognized that he was a man of unclean lips - do you take the sins of the mouth seriously? "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh." (Matthew 12:35, Luke 6:35, James 3:6-10)
• We must confess our conformity to the world (1 John 2:15-17, 1 Peter 1:14-16)

3. We must receive cleansing from God:

• Isaiah 6:6-7 - The coal came from the altar, which points us to the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, Jesus.
• Jesus's death on the cross and His blood cleanses us from our sins. (Isaiah 53:5-12)
• "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:6
• Romans 5:20-21

4. We must consecrate ourselves to God:

• We must lay ourselves on the altar (Romans 12:1 - "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.")
• We must consecrate ourselves to God in our daily lives by being holy. (Ephesians 5:26-27)
• We must take personal responsibility for our actions. We live in grace, but that doesn't take away our free will or our responsibility for the choices we make.

Do we want the had of the Lord to be withdrawn from us because of our sin? Or do we want God to be with us and guide us? We must deal with the condition of sin in our lives if we are going to live in God's will.

"But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:6-7

"The Concept We Must Grasp"

Sermon by Bro. Jeff Blair

Sunday, July 18, 2010

National Association of Free Will Baptists Convention

"Caller ID"
Isaiah 6:1-4

When you read through the text, the main thing is not the mission or the missionary. The most important thing is the identity of the One who is calling...

1. THE REVELATION OF GOD'S CHARACTER

• He is HOLY - With the song of the seraphim, we see that God is holy.
• There are two types of holiness that God displays - majestic holiness and moral holiness.
• God is so holy that even the seraphims cannot look at Him (verse 2 - with two wings he covered his face).
• The earth is filled with God's GLORY.
• If you can't open your eyes to His holiness, then you can't close your eyes to His glory.
• "God is both farther from us and nearer to us than any other being." - C.S. Lewis

2. THE REALITY OF ISAIAH'S ENCOUNTER

• Isaiah encountered the Holy One and it changed his life forever.
• One glimpse of God fueled Isaiah's ministry for a lifetime.
• God has to be the One that calls.
• He calls WHO He wants, WHEN He wants, for WHAT He wants.
• Isaiah's call is unique. We are each called in a unique way, but we all experience the presence of God with our call.

"The where, when and how are not important. What matters is the Identity of the Caller!"

"The Crisis We Must Face"

Sermon by Bro. Bert Tippett

Sunday, July 18, 2010

National Association of Free Will Baptists Convention

Before we can look at who will go, we have to examine the crisis that Isaiah faced in his life. Isaiah was a prophet under king Uzziah. We will examine the life of king Uzziah and the crisis that Isaiah faced with the king's decline and death:

1. THE PIETY THAT GUIDED HIM - 2 Chronicles 26:1-5 King Uzziah was only 16 when he became king, but he followed the example of his father and did what was right in the sight of God. He also had a godly mentor - Zechariah.
2. THE POWER THAT BLESSED HIM - 2 Chronicles 26:5-15 Because king Uzziah was faithful to God and followed Him, God blessed him and his kingdom. God gave Uzziah and his kingdom success, growth and blessings.
3. THE PRIDE THAT DESTROYED HIM - 2 Chronicles 26:15-23 Everything was going great for king Uzziah. He was a successful leader of a great nation and was being blessed by God. But in verses 15 and 16, we see that he became prideful. His pride led to his destruction when he went into the temple to burn incense in offering to God. Only the priests were allowed to burn incense, but in his pride, Uzziah wanted to do it himself. He ignored the warnings of the priests and defied God's law and insulted God's plan - the position of Priest AND King was reserved for Jesus. No other man was to have both of those positions. When Uzziah crossed that boundary set by God, he was punished with leprosy.

Isaiah watched his once godly and successful king die of a horrible disease. As he did, he faced a crisis much like the one we now face in America - He was faced with uncertainty and leadership changes that he could not control.

When we are faced with crisis, we must follow Isaiah's example and turn to God.

When you are faced with crisis, remember that:

1. YOU ARE THERE BY GOD'S APPOINTMENT. God has a reason for letting us go through hard times. Whether it's to show us something that we need to purge from our lives or to prepare us to do the work God has for us, He has His reasons.
2. YOU ARE THERE BY GOD'S KEEPING. God never lets us go through hard times alone. He will never leave us or forsake us. He is there, holding your hand and is ready to carry you when you can't walk another step.
3. THERE IS A PURPOSE FOR YOU BEING THERE. God uses the storms of our lives to teach and mold us.
4. WHEN IT IS TIME, GOD WILL BRING YOU OUT OF THE STORM. He will probably not change our circumstances until we let our circumstances start to change us. When we surrender to Him and trust Him, He will bring us to the other side.

Finding Happiness

Sermon/Outline by Bro. Rick Taylor 6/13/10

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." Psalm 1:1-3

Happiness: a state of well-being and contentment; a pleasurable or satisfying experience (Merriam Webster's Dictionary)

What makes you happy?

We all have different things that make us smile or lift our moods. For some people, it's shopping. Some people listen to music. Others play a sport or go for a run. Then there are people that get a rush of happiness when they see a plan come together or reach a goal.

While these things can make us feel happy for a moment, do any of them bring us lasting happiness or joy? No.

We can't get happiness from someone or something - at least not lasting happiness. People will fail us. Things can be destroyed. True happiness starts on the inside and only comes from Jesus Christ.

Re-read the verses above. In Psalm 1:1, "blessed" can be translated into "how happy". Now, put that into the verse:

How happy is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful...

This first verse tells us three things that a happy person does not do:

1. A happy person does not take the advice of unbelievers - When you are going through a hard time, where do you go for advice? Do you ask fellow believers, or do you go to worldly friends? Do you read the Bible, or do you pick up a magazine or secular advice column?

In Proverbs 3:13, Solomon said, "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding."

Our wisdom should come from God. We should go to His word and His people for advice and guidance.

2. A happy person does not follow the same path as an unbeliever - Who do you follow?

We all have heard that we're supposed to be separate from the world and that we're supposed to follow the "road less traveled," but how exactly are we supposed to do that?

In 2 Corinthians 6:14, Paul warned, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?"

This doesn't mean that you can't have unsaved friends. I think it's good for us to have some unsaved friends in our lives (because how can you be salt and light [Matthew 5:13-16] in the world if you hide away from the people of the world?). But we need to make sure that we are a bigger influence on our unsaved friends than they are on us.

When I was in high school, my youth pastor had one student from our group stand on a chair. He picked another student and had him stand on the floor next to the chair. The student in the chair represented a believer and the student on the floor represented an unbeliever. My youth pastor told the student in the chair to try to pull the other student up. At the same time, the student on the floor was trying to pull the other student down. Every time, the student on the floor succeeded in pulling the other student off the chair.

Because we are not perfect and because we all struggle with sins, it is easier for unbelievers to pull us down than it is for us to pull them up. Our unsaved friends need us. We need to be good witnesses to them. We need to show them the love of Christ. But we can't spend so much time with them that we are pulled back down into a sinful life.

Solomon warned us about this very thing in Proverbs 1:10 - 16, "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us...my son, walk not in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood."

So who should we fellowship with? Our brothers and sisters in Christ. Matthew 18:20 says, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." God blesses us when we gather with other believers to praise and worship Him. He wants us to have fellowship with each other so we can encourage one another and lift one another up.

3. A happy person does not dwell on the negative - Do you see your glass as half-empty or half-full? I have to admit, I often see mine as half-empty. There are many times that I catch myself being negative, sarcastic and cynical.

But does putting down others make me happier? No. Does it help the Kingdom of God? Absolutely not.

So why is it so hard to be positive?

My Sunday school teacher, Mike, reminds us to be positive every week. He often talks about the 80/20 rule (made popular by T.D. Jakes and in Tyler Perry's movie "Why Did I Get Married?"). The theory of the 80/20 rule is that most of the time, 80% of things are good. But we tend to focus on the 20% that's going wrong. We all tend to dwell on the negative, even when the good outweighs it.

The best way to focus on the positive? Look at the promises in God's word:
In Romans 8:28, we are promised that "...all things work together for good to them that love God..."

Proverbs 16:3 says, "Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established."

1 Corinthians 15:58 says, "Therefore, my beloved brethern, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

When you look at all the promises and blessings that God gives to us, you have to be positive. Battle negativity with thankfulness - because you always have more to be thankful for than you have to be negative about.

So, now that we know what a happy person doesn't do, what does a happy person do that makes him or her so... happy?

"But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." Psalm 1:2-3

1. A happy person desires the things of the Lord - What are the desires of your heart?

Do you want to be successful in your job? Do you want to be a better wife or mother? Do you want to be a writer, singer, or actor?

Psalm 37:4-5 says, "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."

Those verses don't give us a free pass with God's signature on it that says we can be successful at whatever we want, whenever we want, however we want. They say to "commit thy way unto the Lord."

When we are in God's presence and in His will, we will desire godly things. As we get closer to Him, He will place desires in our hearts, and as we continue to commit to His timing and His plan, He will bring those desires and dreams to pass.

So happy people dream big and trust in God's perfect timing. Happy people desire godly things.

2. A happy person thinks on the things of God - When you hear the word "meditate" what do you think about? Do you picture a little guy in a robe sitting on the floor with his legs crossed and humming "ummmmm"?

Psalm 1:2 says, "...in his law doth he meditate day and night." A happy person studies God's word. When was the last time you "meditated" on the Word of God? Do you just read it like it's empty words on the page? Or do you really let it speak to you?

Remember Proverbs 3:13? "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding."

3. A happy person will bear Spiritual fruit - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance..." Galatians 5:22-23

Take a moment to think about one of your heroes of the faith - a pastor, parent, Sunday school teacher, mentor, or friend that has had a great impact on your faith. What spiritual fruit was evident in his or her life? What first made you realize that he or she was different? That he or she had something that you didn't have? That he or she had something you wanted?

What made you realize that he or she had Jesus?

Do people see spiritual fruit in your life? When we can share spiritual fruits (love, joy, peace, etc.) with other people, it makes us happy.

So where does your happiness come from? Do you try to borrow happiness from people, things, and success? Or do you get your happiness from Jesus?

Family February

For the month of February, Bro. Rick preached about families.

Our families are the cornerstone of all our other relationships - at church, school, and work. Our families have the power to make us confident and strong in our faith, or they have the power to make us feel fear, doubt and failure.

Satan knows that the family is important to God. God has set up an order for the family, and Satan does all he can to disrupt this order. Satan wants to see our families fall apart. He wants to see us struggle, fight and disagree.

While God celebrates at marriage, Satan celebrates at divorce. God celebrates at the birth of a baby; Satan celebrates at an abortion. God celebrates when families pray together; Satan celebrates when families curse at one another.

Satan is the enemy of strong, happy families. Look at how he works in the world. You've probably heard, "Happy families don't sell" when reality TV families fall apart. It's sad and true. We, as a nation, don't embrace the true meaning of family. We want to see the drama and tension and fights. How sad that some families are willing to sacrifice their relationships with each other for fame, greed or pride.

Pride is a big problem in the family, especially for women in today's society. We're told by people in magazines and on TV that we need to be "Super Woman." Career, fame, recognition, money, family...we can have it all!

That may be true by society's standards, but when you look at God's standards, where is a woman's place in the family?

We can have careers, but our families should come first. Money is nice, but it's not a substitute for spending time with your children. Recognition and fame are slippery slopes, and it's hard to keep a godly perspective on your life when you're living in that.

Does that mean that we're limited to the kitchen? Absolutely not. God has given us gifts and talents and He expects us to use them for His glory. Women can be doctors, lawyers, writers, teachers, dancers, actresses, singers...

But no matter what we are in the corporate world, when we come home, we are expected to submit ourselves to our husbands. We should be chaste, modest, and trustworthy. We should help provide for the needs of our families and other's families. We are not to be lazy or idle. We should work with our hands and be good stewards of our family's resources. We should speak with kindness and speak of the things of the Lord. (Proverbs 31:10-31)

While the man is the head of the household, we serve as the backbone of the family. It's a huge responsibility. We shouldn't feel burdened by this, because it's a gift from God. He gave us, the weaker sex, the ability to bring forth life. He gave us the gifts and talents we would need to fill the role that He designed for us.

Satan loves to see us struggle to break out of God's design for our families. He likes to see us fight amongst ourselves about who is in charge. He likes to see husbands and wives that can't agree, children that are disrespectful, and families that never slow down enough to really know each other.

Here are few things to remember about God's design for the family...

1. The Parents' Obligation to the Family

• Christ must be the cornerston of the family (Ephesians 5:22, 25)
• Our devotion to God should leave no question to our devotion to our spouse and family.
• Loving God means loving people.
• Communication is crutial (1 Peter 3:5-7 and 1 Corinthians 7:1-5)
• Our committments must be kept (Genesis 2:24)
• Other than your committment to God, your committment to your spouse is the most important (Mark 10:9)
• We need to be committed to our family's spiritual well-being (Joshua 24:15)

2. The Children's Role in the Family

• Children should honor and obey their parents (Exodus 20:12)
• Children should fear the Lord (Proverbs 1:7-9 - "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge...")
• We must educate our children in the things of the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:5-8)
• We should teach by example, showing our children how to be dedicated to God, His Word, His Church, and His People (Proverbs 6:6-8)

3. The Church's Obligation to the Family

• Our obligation, as a church, is not to the building we worship in, but to the people we worship with.
• We as a church, are a family, held together by the love of Christ.
• We should provide families with positive communication (Philippians 4:8)
• We should provide families with help in physical, financial, and SPIRITUAL matters
• We should pray for families in our church and community (James 5:14-16)
• We should desire to see families be saved and become part of our church family

"...Choose you this day whom ye will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15

Which Group Are You In?

Sermon by Bro. Roger Lucas

Read Matthew 26:36-75. In these verses, Jesus goes to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane. He is later betrayed, arrested, tried and crucified. In this story, we see three groups of people:

1. The Group of Eight - These eight disciples were left at the garden gate. They represent the people in the church today that don't get involved. They attend, maybe even every Sunday, but they just want to sit in a pew for an hour or so and go home. They don't take on responsibility for the work of the church.

2. The Group of Three - These three disciples (Peter, James and John) went into the garden with Jesus. Jesus asked them to watch and pray with Him while He was in the garden, but they fell asleep. They represent the people of the church that take on the bulk of the load. They get involved - they teach Sunday school, they knock on doors, they sing in the choir, they organize pot lucks, they visit the sick... they work for Christ! And they get tired and weary, just like Peter, James and John did.

3. The Group of One - Judas, the one that betrayed Jesus, was missing from these activities. He gave up. He quit on Jesus. He represents the people that have just quit the church. They don't want anything to do with Jesus or His people. Maybe they got tired (like the people in the Group of Three), maybe they were discouraged... whatever happened, it caused them to give up.

Which group do you find yourself in?

Now look at Peter. He was in the Group of Three. He was member of the inner circle. If Jesus was the pastor, Peter was the head deacon.

But when Jesus was captured and tried, Peter followed from "afar off" (verse 58).

Because of fear, Peter denied Jesus three times. At that moment, what group was Peter in?

The greatest thing about God is that He gives us second (and third, and fourth, and fifth...) chances. Peter denied Christ, and it looked like he had given up, but he repented!

When Jesus rose from the dead, He told the women at His grave to "go tell Peter." He gave Peter a second chance - because Peter repented! He even chose Peter to be the one that preached on the Day of the Pentecost.

So....

If you're in the Group of Eight... get involved! God has blessed you with a talent (weather it's singing, cooking, or just being friendly) that you can use for Him!

If you're in the Group of Three... take heart! God provides rest for the weary (Matthew 11:28). Remember, "you can't out give God!"

If you're in the Group on One... don't give up. Jesus will never give up on you. He loves you and wants you to come back to Him!

Never Too Busy

These past few months of summer have been packed with special events and gatherings, and the church calendar for this fall is already filling up as well. We've been blessed and have experienced a lot of growth over the last year. With that growth comes great responsibility to be a shining light in our community.

We all seem to be busier than ever with school, work and extra-curricular activities. But I would like to challenge everyone (including myself) not to get so busy that we overlook ministry opportunities that God places in our paths.

On Sunday night (8-16-09), Bro. Rick preached about not missing ministry opportunities. He read from 1 Kings 17:1-16 (about Elijah and the widow woman). We can learn a lot from Elijah's actions in this passage:

1. If God is leading you to do something, He will provide for your needs. In 1 Kings 17, we read about Elijah delivering an unpopular message from God to His people. After Elijah told the people that there would be a drought, God told him to go hide because the people wanted to kill him. Elijah obeyed, and God provided for his needs by sending ravens to bring him food.
2. God brings people into our lives to help us and for us to help them. In this story, God sent Elijah to a widow woman so that she could help Elijah. But God also sent Elijah there because the widow needed help as well.
3. God places inside of us what we need to help others. Because Elijah had seen God provide his needs in the past, he was able to assure this widow woman that God's word is true and that she could believe in God's promises. Everything that we go through gives us each a unique testimony that can help us witness to our peers and bring others to Christ. Remember, you're not the only one to go through struggles, and God uses our experiences to reach others for Him.
4. We should never be too busy to see the brokenness around us to be there for someone that has a need. Even when we're trying to minister, we can get too wrapped up in the to-do lists, numbers, statistics, etc. We always have to be aware of the hurting that's going on around us and be willing to help others. Elijah saw the widow's need and gave her a promise from God. We also have a promise from God to share - the promise of SALVATION! It's a promise that's for everyone we meet, and we need to share it!

We have to be obedient to God's calling on our lives and we can not miss the ministry opportunities that He places in our paths.

Desire the Vision

Sermon by Bro. Rick Taylor
8/2/09

Proverbs 29:18 "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."

Vision is direction from God - it is God telling His people what He wants them to do.

1. How can I be a part of God's vision?

• You've got to be saved - If you want to be used in God's kingdom, you have to be a part of God's kingdom! Are you ready to do what God wants you to do?


• You've got to be sure - Are you sure that you're saved? What are the visible signs of your salvation? What kind of fruit are you producing in your life? You have to DO AWAY WITH DOUBT! (Matthew 13:5-6) When trials come, trust in the Lord.


• Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

2. How does God's vision affect me?

• Seek God - God calls us for a reason, but we often miss what He has in store for us because we have a "just looking" mentality. For example - how many times do you tell a salesperson that you're "just looking" to avoid having to work with them? That salesperson is there to help and serve you, but you just want to wander by yourself. That's how we sometimes treat God. He has the map and wants to tell us where to go. He wants to give us a vision for the future, but we tell Him that we're "just looking" and continue to wander.
• Submit to God - God's ways are not always our ways. His plans for us don't always coincide with our plans for ourselves. But God has a role for us and He wants us to obey Him. Think about John the Baptist. He was the forerunner for Christ. He had to humble himself and tell people that Christ was coming after him. He was even beheaded for teaching about Christ. I doubt that was his plan for his life when he was growing up, but that's what God called him to. We have to humble ourselves and submit to God's will for our lives because it's not about us - it's about GOD!

3. How can I know God's vision?

• PRAYER - We have a direct line to God. We can pray to Him 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Pray for your church and your fellow believers. Pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal your role to you.
• Remember this - if you are here, you have a purpose. God's vision is SO MUCH BIGGER than us! Do you desire to know God's vision for your life?

What's Your Focus?

Our church has been blessed to be able to participate in Upward Basketball and Cheerleading for the past two years. Upward is a sports ministry program designed to help the church reach out into the community and introduce Jesus to children and their families through sports. This weekend, I was able to go to an Upward Leadership Conference with a group of people from my church.

It was such an incredible weekend! On Friday night, we heard a message from Upward's founder, Caz McCaslin. He has an incredible testimony and is a wonderful speaker. He told us about Upward's history and about how God has worked through this wonderful organization. One of the main points in his message on Friday night was that we are the tools that God uses to reach a lost world.

We all have a role to fill and we all have a circle of people that we influence. What is your role in the eternal influence of the people you come in contact with?

In today's society, we love excuses. We don't like to take the blame for anything, and we like to point at circumstances or other people as excuses for why we don't step up and fulfill the roles God has planned for us. Caz listed five main reasons that people don't step up and don't fill those roles:

1. They say, "I'm not worthy." This one is easy to understand and identify with. We've all felt unworthy at times. And we ARE unworthy - because we're sinners. But by the grace of God, we are saved from our sin and adopted into God's family. And when God asks us to do something, He really just wants us to be obedient. If we obey, He will work through us and His power will make us worthy.

2. They say, "I'm scared." We've all felt that way. I can't even tell you how many butterflies land in my stomach right before I speak to a group of ladies or sing at church - and yet, at the same time, I feel so close to God when I obey Him and share my testimony or song. Sometimes what God asks us to do is scary, but remember this verse: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7 God can erase your fears, if you let Him.

3. They say, "If I do this, I'll be criticized." We all know what it's like to have someone oppose what we're doing. Even if you've never been persecuted for your faith, you've probably been persecuted for something. That's a hard thing to deal with. But think about what Jesus went through for you. He was criticized, ridiculed, arrested, beaten and crucified. He knows what it means to suffer, and He will never leave you to suffer alone. He thought that you were worth His suffering - do you think the same of Him that He thought of you?

4. They say, "I don't have time for this." I know that we all try to squeeze 30 hours of stuff into a 24 hour day. We're busy. That's just a fact. But it's still one of my Aunt Wanda's pet peeves for someone to say "I don't have time" or "You have more time than I do." She always says that we all have the same amount of time - it just comes down to what we DO with our time. She is so right! How do you use your time? Could you sacrifice an hour a week to be a prayer warrior for your church? What about ten minutes to make a phone call to that friend that God has placed on your heart? Or five minutes for an email to your pastor to tell him that you appreciate his hard work and dedication to your church? A lot of us have packed schedules, but there is always something that you can do if you just take advantage of the free time you do have.

5. They say, "I can't do this by myself." A lot of us are just afraid of volunteering because we don't think we can handle the obligation of the position. Some people are just afraid of commitment. Some people just prefer to be a follower instead of a leader. But volunteering your time doesn't always mean that you have to the the person in charge. God calls some of us to be leaders and some of us to work behind the scenes. But no matter where you're called, you're NOT by yourself. Jesus said, "and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." (Matthew 28:20b) He is ALWAYS with you, and your church family is there for support too. You're not expected to do it alone. God designed the church to be like a machine. All the parts have little jobs that they have to do in order for the machine to run properly and they have to work together in order to accomplish their goals.

Notice the excuses people make. What word do you see in common?

"I"

Every excuse is about me, me, me. We have a ME MENTALITY. But guess what? It's not about you.

Galatians 2:20 says, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (KJV, emphasis added)

It's all about CHRIST!

So here's the question Caz asked us: Are you looking into mirrors or windows?

When we look in the mirror, all we see is ourselves. We see what WE want, and what WE like, and what WE need. But when we look out the window, we can see the lost and dying world that's all around us. Look at your neighbors, your friends, your co-workers, your family - how many of those people don't know Christ? Do you realize that it is your responsibility as a Christian and a follower of Christ to try your BEST to introduce those around you to Him?

Today at church, Brother Rick preached about God's Vision for us individually and as a church. We tend to get so focused on ourselves and the things that we need to get done that we lose our vision.

We get so wrapped up in our daily lives and the things that we have to do and want to do that we forget to look at the big picture. We lose focus on what's really important. We forget WHY Jesus came to the world in the first place. He didn't come so we could just profess to believe in Him and live mediocre lives where we just barely scrape the surface of His plans for us. He came that we could have life, and that we could live ABUNDANTLY! (John 10:10) And He came so that WE could learn how to teach others how to have abundant lives as well!

If you feel God calling you into a position or a ministry, don't look in the mirror for your answer. Look out the windows and see the fields that are ripe and ready for harvest.

What's your focus? Mirrors or windows?

*For more information about the Upward organization, visit http://www.upward.org/.

"Lead Me To The Cross" by Hillsong United

Savior I come

Quiet my soul, remember

Redemption's hill

Where Your blood was spilled

For my ransom

Everything I once held dear

I count it all as loss

Lead me to the cross

Where your love poured out

Bring me to my knees

Lord, I lay me down

Rid me of myself

I belong to You

Lead me, Lead me to the cross

You were as I

Tempted and tried, Human

The Word became flesh

Bore my pain and death

Now You're risen

Everything I once held dear

I count it all as loss

Lead me to the cross

Where Your love poured out

Bring me to my knees

Lord, I lay me down

Rid me of myself

I belong to You

Lead me, Lead me to the cross...

"And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name." Acts 5:41 (KJV, emphasis added)

The disciples understood what it meant to be persecuted for their beliefs. They truly understood the sacrifice that Jesus had made for them. They knew what it meant to take up their crosses and follow Christ - and they were thankful to be able to do so.

My Sunday school lesson this week is about persecution. Last night's devotion was "We must trust God more than we fear men." (Acts 5:17-42)

The above verse (Acts 5:41), really spoke to me. The disciples had been arrested, thrown in jail, had to stand before the council and were badly beaten. And what did they do?

They REJOICED!

They didn't cry out to God with complaints. They didn't whine and pout. They didn't give up and give in to the demands of the council. They were THANKFUL that they had even been considered worthy to suffer for Christ!

Do we understand what it means to suffer today? Do we really know what it means to take up our crosses and stand out and be different in the name of the Lord?

I'm afraid that we have become controlled by fear. We don't want to look like one of those "Jesus Freaks." We're afraid that if anything seems out of place, people will judge us. We're afraid that if things aren't perfect, people will wonder what we did to deserve punishment. We're afraid that if we freely worship God and raise our hands to Him in praise that people will think we're weird. We definitely don't consider it an honor to suffer for Christ.

But that's exactly how the disciples felt. See, they had witnessed the Savior be beaten and die on the cross. They had seen Him die, they had seen Him after He rose from the dead, and they believed in Him.

They didn't care what men thought about them. They didn't care what traditions and rituals they broke ("...We ought to obey God rather than men." - Acts 5:29) They had life-changing news to share and if they had to share it while they were being beaten and stoned, so be it.

They suffered joyfully. (See 1 Peter 4:12-19)

But what does that mean for us today? We don't have to fear being stoned to death for our beliefs, but our fears are just as real. We fear being ostracized by friends, having to miss out on certain activities, or not getting that promotion if we stand up for what's right. But take heart!

We were promised that we would suffer in this world. "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 2 Timothy 3:12

But Jesus also promised us that we would be rewarded for our faithfulness and perseverance. "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you." Matthew 5:11-12

So if you're struggling, rejoice in the Lord.

Remember how Jesus suffered for you, and remember that He is still with you always. Consider it an honor to suffer for Christ. He considered it an honor to die for you.

Happy Father's Day!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

"The Influence of a Father"
Sermon by Bro. Rick Taylor

Fathers have a profound influence on the family, therefore they have a profound influence on the church. And because they have a profound influence on the church, they have a profound influence on God's kingdom - as designed by God.

"And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Joshua 24:14-24

Joshua's Instruction -

1. Fear the Lord (verse 14) "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction." Proverbs 1:7
2. Serve the Lord - Joshua instructed the people to serve God in sincerity and truth. In this verse, sincerity means entirely and wholly. Truth means faithful and stable. In other words, we should give God our all, ALL the time!
3. Put away false gods - Here, Joshua was instructing the children of Israel to put away the Egyptian influence and to beware of the influences of the world. He knew that the people of the world were going to try to influence the children of Israel to stray from serving God, and he wanted to make sure that they didn't allow themselves to be easily influenced.

Joshua's Intentions -

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15 (KJV, emphasis added)

Joshua was the leader of his household and he made sure that his home and family were in the right spiritual condition, just as a father should. He knew that he had taught his family how they should live. He was confident that his family knew God and would serve Him. Joshua understood the influence he had on his family as the spiritual leader of their home, and he did not take his position lightly.

The People's Intentions -

1. They intended to serve God - "And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods; For the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed: And the LORD drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God... And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey." Joshua 24:16-18, 24
2. They forgot their good intentions - "And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel." Judges 2:10

Why did they turn from God? Because of the influence of their fathers:

Their fathers were disobedient

Check out Judges 1:21-36. God had instructed the children of Israel to go into the promised land and destroy all that lived there and take the land for their own. He did not want them to cohabitate with Canaanites because He did not want them to be influenced to sin against Him. But the Israelites did not obey God. They didn't drive the Canaanites out of the land and lived among them. In Judges 2:1-4, God sends the angel of the Lord to rebuke and warn the children of Israel -

"And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this? Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you. And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept."

As a father (or mother, or big sister, or mentor), the decisions you make effect the future generations. How are you influencing the future?

"A May that Matters" Part Five

Freedom Matters (Based on a sermon by Bro. Rick Taylor 5/31/09)

Romans 8:1-3 "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak thorough the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh."

What do you think of when you hear the word freedom? Do you think of an American flag flying proudly? Do you think of cute little houses with white picket fences and kids playing in the yard? Do you think of yellow ribbons tied around trees and the soldiers that sacrifice for us daily?

In America, we have so much to be thankful for. We are free to worship. We are free to share our faith. We are free to pursue happiness.

But we have an enemy that is attacking our freedom everyday. Satan tells us that we can find freedom in sin. He wants us to believe that when we follow our sinful desires and do whatever we please, that we will be free. And too many Christians have chosen to live their lives in bondage to sin.

But take heart - because we can be FREE:

Who is free?

1. "Them which are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1) We are free when we accept Jesus and become a part of Him. How do you know if you're living in Christ? Think about how much you let Him be a part of your decisions. Do you go to Him with ever question and every care? Do you seek Him daily?
2. "Who walk not after the flesh" (Romans 8:1) There is a daily battle waging within us between our flesh and the Spirit. (Imagine those old cartoons where the angel and the devil would pop up on the character's shoulder and argue out what he or she should do.) Galatians 5:16-17 "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."
3. Who walk "after the Spirit" (Romans 8:1) Walking in the Spirit begins with PRAYER. We cannot get closer to God or be more like Him without prayer. Prayer is followed by PURGING. As we get closer to God and follow the Spirit, He will purge things from our lives that are holding us back. This is a constant process of sanctification. Purging is followed by PROGRESS!

What are we free from?

1. The law of sin (Romans 8:2) We are all bound by our sins. We try to manage our sin, but our sins always end up controlling us. Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
2. The law of death (Romans 8:2) Hebrews 9:27 "And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." We will all face death and judgment, but if we accept Jesus we can be saved from the punishment and eternity of death and have eternal life!

How are we set free? (Romans 8:3)

1. We were condemned by sin, but Jesus came and condemned sin to set us free.
2. We have a choice to live a life of sin, or to accept Jesus and live a Spirit-filled life for Him.

Romans 8:30-32 "Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? IF GOD BE FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"

Romans 8:37 "Nay, in all these things WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS through him that loved us."

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32

"A May that Matters" Part Four

Looking Forward to the Future - Remembering the Past (Sermon by Bro. Rick Taylor 5/24/09)

Our future depends on the faith we have had in the past and the things that we have gone through.

"Choices, no matter how small, do matter. Your day-to-day decisions have a way of determining your destiny. The person you are becoming - situation by situation, decision by decision, choice by choice - is ther person you will be forever." David Ausburger

2 Timothy 1:3-7 "I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; When I call to remembreance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Remembrance in Prayer

1. Paul had been taught how to pray. As parents, it is our responsibility to teach our children how to pray. Do they see and hear you pray to God on a regualr basis? Is prayer something that you do together? Do they know that you pray for them? Do they know how to pray?
2. Paul prayed without ceasing. "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving." Colossians 4:2

Remembrance of Faith

1. Timothy had been shown what it meant to have faith by his mother and grandmother. *Women that have to be the spiritual leaders in your homes - do not give up! Keep the faith, and God will bless your homes for your faithfulness!
2. Timothy had a pure and uninhibited faith. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

Remembrance of the Gift of God

1. The Gift of God is our salvation and the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." 2 Corinthians 9:15
2. The Gift of God is personal. You can't receive His gift unless you know Him. "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 7:21
3. The Gift of God should stir us up! Don't be afraid to get stirred up! "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of POWER, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7

God wants us to always remember what He saved us from and what He saved us to do. We can't move on to the future without remembering the past.

"A May that Matters" Part Three

Forgiveness Matters (Sermon by Bro. Rick Taylor on 5/17/09)

Check out the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32. There are many lessons that we can learn from the prodigal son, but today we're going to look at forgiveness.

WHY DO WE NEED FORGIVENESS?

Because an offense has taken place:

1. The son's demand - "And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me, And he divided unto them his living." Luke 15:12
2. The son's devouring of his inheritance - "And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living." Luke 15:13 *The far country represents any place that we are or that we want to be that is out of God's will.
3. The son's devotion to another - "And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine." Luke 15:15 *The citizen of the far country represents our sin (and the devil).

The responses to sin - The younger son:

1. He recognized his sin. He knew that he was living in sin because of the way he had been raised. When he "came to himself" (Luke 15:17) he realized that he was living in sin. *Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go" and when he is old, he will not depart from it." As parents, it is our responsibility to train our children in God's ways and educate them with God's word so they will recognize sin.
2. He repented of his sin. We cannot be forgiven of our sins until we ask for forgiveness. The son admitted his sins to his father and asked to be forgiven.
3. He was restored to his previous position. After the son asked for forgiveness, his father received him back into his home. This represents the way that God takes us in as His children when we repent. He not only restores us, but He promotes us - we are taken from being beggars and are made into children of the King!

The responses to sin - the father:

1. He was waiting for his son to return. This represents the way that God waits for us when we turn from Him and to sin. He patiently waits for us to come home, and he rejoices when we do.
2. He was wanting his son to return and he welcomed him with open arms. Just like the prodigal son's father welcomed him home, God is waiting to welcome us into His kingdom.
3. He was willing to forgive his son. God is willing to forgive us, too. "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace." Ephesians 1:7

God is that Father that is waiting for us to come back to Him. He wants to restore us and promote us to the place that we need to be.

"A May that Matters" Part Two - Happy Mother's Day!

Family Matters

What is the Mother's Role in the Family?

Titus 2:3-5 "The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed."

THE MOTHER SETS THE EXAMPLE:

1. She is the example of holiness. (Hebrews 12:14 - "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." and Ephesians 4:24 - "And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.")
2. She is the example of honesty. (Titus 2:3 - "...not false accusers...")
3. She is an example of humility. (Titus 2:3 - "...not given to much wine..." - Also see Proverbs 20:1 and Proverbs 23:29.)

THE MOTHER SERVES AS AN EDUCATOR

1. She is an educator of good things. (Ephesians 5:22-24 - "Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything." - Our children must be taught about God's plan for the family. Our best lesson is one taught by example.)
2. She is an educator of godly things. (Titus 2:5 "To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands..." - It is a parent's responsibility to teach our children about modesty, how to behave in the home and in the church, and about God's plan for the family.)

THE MOTHER IS AN EXTENSION OF GOD

1. Titus 2:5 "...that the word of God be not blasphemed."
2. A mother must raise her children in a way that glorifies God.

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

She riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

She looketh well to the ways of her household, she eateth not the bread of idleness.

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, he praiseth her.

Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

Give her the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Proverbs 31:10-31

"A May that Matters" Part One

This month, Bro. Rick is preaching on things that matter. His first sermon (May 3, 2009) was on FAITH.

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

Take a minute to think about the 3 things in your life that matter the most to you. What are they?

1. _______________________
2. _______________________
3. _______________________

Is your faith on that list?

Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

Why is faith so important?

FAITH IS ELEMENTARY: It is our basic starting point in a relationship with God. (Ephesians 2:8 - "For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.")

1. It is our foundation. (1 Corinthians 3:11 - "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.")
2. It should be our focus. (Galatians 2:20 - "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.") Our focus should always be on Jesus. Where is your focus?

FAITH IS ESSENTIAL: We cannot have a personal relationship with God without faith. (Hebrews 11:6 - "...without faith it is impossible to please him...")

1. It is essential for salvation. (Ephesians 2:8 - "For by grace ye are saved through faith...")
2. It is essential for seeing miracles happen. (Hebrews 11:1) What miracle do you need God to do today? (Mark 9:23 - "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.")

FAITH IS ETERNAL: Our faith ensures us that we have a home in Heaven.

1. It is our responsibility to be faithful. (Hebrews 11:6 - "...he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.")

HOW DILIGENT ARE WE IN OUR FAITH?

Stewardship Month

This month, Bro. Rick has been preaching about stewardship.

Usually, when you mention stewardship, most people think about money. We are supposed to be good stewards of our money (check out the story of the rich men and the poor widow in Luke 2:1-4). The most important thing for us to remember is that all of our money and material belongings are gifts from God. Take a look at your checkbook - based on where you spend your money, what are you committed to?

Managing our money is important, but being a good steward is so much more than numbers. I think the hardest thing for women (or at least for me) is managing our TIME. Every second of the day is a gift from God. It is our duty as Christians to make sure that we use our time in a way that would be pleasing to God.

Sometimes, that means taking a little extra time to DO something - whether it's spending a little more time on your daily Bible study, spending more time in prayer, volunteering to help with the Children's Church class or nursery, or even dropping a card in the mail or sending an email to a friend that needs a little encouragement.

At other times, it's about saying NO - God knows that we're not super heroes. He doesn't expect for us to be Wonder Woman. He gave each of us unique gifts and abilities so that we can ALL work TOGETHER to accomplish His divine plans. No one is expected to do it all alone. Women are multi-taskers. We want to fix things and we usually like to do things our own way. We tend to volunteer for tons of positions and put tons of pressure on ourselves when it isn't necessary. I like the way that Vicki Courtney put it in her book The Virtuous Woman: Shattering the Superwoman Myth* -

"There is nothing wrong with cultivating our God-given gifts and talents and using them to the best of our abilities. In fact, in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), God reminds us that we are to be good stewards with what we have been given. However, often this gets out of balance when worth is defined by our accomplishments...Even today I find myself sometimes reverting back to performance-based worth, but then I stop, take a deep breath, and remind myself that God loves me for who I am, not what I do. How about you? Is your worth based on who you are in Christ, or are you spinning a hundred different plates of good deeds to feel like you are worth something?...Ephesians 2:10 puts it into perspective: 'For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.' Our worth comes in knowing that we are his workmanship, and the 'good works' result as a by-product of that truth."

In other words, if you're stressing yourself out with all these jobs, titles, and good deeds to bring glory to yourself, STOP. If you truly want to bring glory to God through the work you do, continue on - but make sure that your work time doesn't cut into your personal time with God. If you're too busy working to take time to pray, read your Bible, and glorify God, then you need to say no to something. Even Jesus took time from His busy schedule to be alone with God - don't you think we need to do the same thing?

While our money and our time are gifts from God and we need to be good stewards of those things, the greatest gift we've ever received is the gift of salvation. I know what you're thinking...how can I be a steward of my salvation?

First, you have to accept the gift. God and Jesus were good stewards of our salvation from the beginning. They both knew that a sacrifice was required, and Jesus provided that sacrifice. After the sacrifice was given, our salvation was freely offered.

In the Old Testament, a sacrifice was required to "cover up" a man's sins. But sacrificing an animal didn't change a man's heart.

Now, the Perfect Sacrifice has been given and we are "covered" by the blood of Jesus Christ. But Jesus does more than cover our sins - He forgives our sins. His sacrifice DOES change hearts and lives like the Old Testament sacrifices never could.

After salvation comes sanctification. We must be good stewards of our daily lives - turn from sin, give up selfishness, and commit to carry our crosses and follow Christ.

*The Virtous Woman: Shattering the Superwoman Myth by Vicki Courtney, Broadman & Holman Publishers, Copyright 2004