FORGIVENess-What God’s Word says God’s Word is just that, the Words of God. What does God teach about my forgiving another who has wronged me or another? Many times we have heard the words, “I can’t forgive.” We can properly translate this statement as, “I won’t forgive.” Forgiveness is really a choice of the will, whether we feel like forgiving or not. God has commanded us to forgive. Really forgiveness is one of man’s most basic needs, because he is born a sinner-breaking the laws of God. The ground is very level when it comes to the need of forgiveness. Those who have been forgiven by God have not only the divine mandate to forgive, but the divine motivation stemming from their own forgiveness. Forgiveness is not forgetting but rather choosing to releases one from the guilt who has wronged me! Forgiveness not only releases the offender but also the offended. 1. Jesus teaches us that we are to forgive: Matthew 5:23-24: If I [...]

The prophet Samuel records the capture of the Ark of the Covenant from God’s people and the placement of this spoil of war in the temple of the Philistine god Dagon. Dagon is said to be a god of fertility; part fish and part man. This was the god in whom they gloated in the defeat of Samson. The Ark of the Covenant represents the presence, power, and provision of God. It was completed by the mercy seat, the place of atonement. It contained the Aaron’s rod which budded, the golden pot of manna, and stones with God’s commandments upon them. Truly when the Ark of God was taken, the glory of the Lord had departed from Israel. The Philistines thought that their god had given them this great victory over the God of the Israelites. In just the chapter before the Philistines found themselves in fear as the Ark of God entered the camp of Israel and they shouted so that the earth [...]

Biblical Local Church Ministry I Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. One of Paul’s purpose statements for writing to the young pastor, Timothy is found in this text. What should be the behavior visible in the local assembly? Edifying the Believers Ephesians 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Establishing in Spiritual Growth Ephesians 4:13-14 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie [...]

January Continue in the Grace of God Acts 13:43 “...many...followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.” February Continue in Love Jn. 15:9 “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.” March Continue Witnessing Acts 26:22 “Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great...” April Continue in Holiness I Tim. 2:15 “...continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.” May Continue in Doctrine I Tim. 4:16 “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them...” June Continue Seeking God I Chron. 16:11 “Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.” July Continue in the Faith Acts 14:22 “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” August Continue Following the Lord 1 Sam. 12:14 “If [...]

“Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.”   Jeremiah 18:3-4 LESSONS FROM THE POTTER’S HOUSE God is the Loving, Caring, Skillful and Sovereign Potter – We are His vessels. All belong to Him by creation; believers belong by redemption. God has an Individual and Intricate Design for Each Vessel – His plan is best, good, wonderful and perfect. We must not resist. A Vessel can be Marred and Scarred – There’s no deficiency in the Potter, only in the clay which is often hard, selfish, stubborn, unbending, unyielded and unusable. Grace can Remake the Vessel – Disgraced, disfigured clay can only hope that the Potter’s mercies will start over and mold anew. Vessels must be Sincerely Submitted and Stay Sanctified to the Potter – [...]

A Famous Man- I Chronicles 5:24-25; Chapter 12:19-40 It does not take much to become instantly famous these days. If you happen to be somewhere or do something and it is caught on camera, you might just become a viral sensation, instantly famous. Many men are considered famous. Some would consider the founding fathers of our country to be famous. Some would consider Al Capone to be famous. Some would consider John Wayne to be famous. Fame is as much about the one who views the individual as the individual himself. Regardless of whether one is famous for the wrong reasons, or in the wrong people’s eyes, or not considered famous at all, there are some lessons which we can learn about fame from God’s Word. The Scriptures refer here to the men of the half tribe of Manasseh. The heads of the house of their fathers are named. These men were mighty men of valour; they were known for their bravery in battle. While [...]

Being a Mighty Man of Valour-I Chronicles 5:24-25 We could like to consider what it means to be a Mighty Man of Valour. Understanding valour as having a capacity as a man; to be qualified; to be fit with ability  Mighty—God has called me to do all, with all my might Man—God has called me as a man to step up to leadership Of Valour—The proper blend of ability and courageous action These men of valour in the Scripture had the capacity to fight and win battles. They were skilled at what they did. Many men here this weekend have the capacity and skill with a weapon, a tool, a computer, a fishing pole, and the list can go on. How can I be skilled as a Mighty Man of Valour?  The term mighty man of valour generally refers to a soldier being prepared to fight the battle with courage. Now more than ever in today’s culture we need men who have the spiritual capacity [...]

Prospering through Preaching Ezra 5:1-2; 6:14 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them. And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. In the book of Ezra we find this incredible statement about prospering. God’s people had begun to prosper through the preaching ministry of God’s prophets. This begs a few questions which if we answer will help us to [...]

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Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them.                    (Ezra 5:1-2 ) It ought to be the heart’s desire of every God-called preacher worth his weight in salt, that he be a proper preacher with a prospering ministry. It is not that he desires to have self-promotion or greatness attributed to his name, but rather that he effectively point people to Christ and witness their lives prospered as they respond correctly to his message. The preacher does not preach about himself nor promote himself, but rather he preaches the message that the people need to hear. He is not in it for popularity. He [...]