Worship

THE MYSTERY OF THE RESURRECTION

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Frankly Speaking,

57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death

through our Lord Jesus Christ.” ~ I Corinthians 15:57 NLT

THE MYSTERY OF THE RESURRECTION! ~ We live in a day where conspiracy theories have become the norm! There is a rising number of people who doubt we ever went to the moon. They are convinced that the whole lunar landing was done in the 1960’s using green screen technology (which did not exist yet!). There are so many little things that ought to make us scratch our heads. For instance, most news broadcasts have become talk television to bolster ratings. I still believe we need a new service called JTN (Just the News) with no spin or opinions. So, how did we get here?

21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship Him as God or even give Him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.       Romans 1:21-23 NLT

Not prepared for some biblical truth today? Well, it’s not too late to change that. Our biggest problem is that we would rather make up stuff rather than simply worship our Creator for Who He is. Did you know that God loves you?  This is not the kind of love we have for food, opinions, or passing fancies. This is an “I created you to be in a personal relationship with Me kind of love.” This kind of love doesn’t give up on you when you blow it. It is an unconditional love that endures, teaches, reproves, and sometimes corrects.

Life does not end when our hearts stop beating. That’s when real life begins for those who have trusted Jesus. The Bible says, “For me to live is Christ, but to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21) Do you see it? There are two promises. First, living for Christ is awesome, unlike anything else. Second, when we die, we don’t have to be afraid because our lives will be even better. This is not a conspiracy: it’s a biblical truth given to us by our loving God. And yes, we are still awaiting the sound of the trumpet and His return! 😊

LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS.

Blessings in CHRIST,

Pastor Wes

I PETER 3:15

GOD’S WORK ~ GOD’S WAY!

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

But as THE ARK OF THE LORD’S COVENANT entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David skipping about and laughing with joy, she was filled with contempt for him. ~ I Chronicles 15:29

GOD’S WORK ~ GOD’S WAY! ~ Let’s review last week. King David wanted to move THE ARK OF THE COVENANT back to Jerusalem. He basically took a survey, and everyone thought it was “the right thing to do.” However, they left GOD out of the process. A man named Uzzah tried to steady THE ARK as it appeared to fall, and he was killed by GOD for touching THE ARK. We ended the sermon possibly thinking GOD was unfair. Go back and watch. 😊

FIRST, we must come to the realization that GOD is GOD, and we are not! When GOD makes a promise, HE never fails! HE promised HE would redeem us in Genesis 3:15, and HE fulfilled HIS promise. HE promised that HIS holiness was represented in THE ARK, and HE told the people exactly how to move it. HE warned them that if they touched it, then they would die. Why do we pick and choose when to believe GOD’S promises?  We argue with HIM when we disagree with HIS Promises? We seem to want Santa Claus instead of GOD!

SECOND, in today’s passage (I Chronicles 15:1-29), King David seeks GOD’S approval rather than a human consensus.  What a difference that makes! Too often, we, ministers, are more concerned with the opinion of the congregants rather than that of the CREATOR. When King David moved THE ARK ~ GOD’S WAY, everything went well and a HOLY GHOST party broke out. GOD first life!

THIRD, David danced for joy before THE LORD. He was not “showing off.” Michal’s reaction to King David’s worship is a vivid picture of our worship. (v 29 above) In my experience, someone somewhere is always filled with contempt whenever you worship GOD honestly and openly. It is too much for them to handle. Worship anyway! When worshiping GOD, never look out, look around, or look back. Always look up!  GOD’S WORK ~ GOD’S WAY!  😊

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

THE COST OF WORSHIP!

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

“I will not offer to THE LORD my GOD sacrifices that have cost me nothing.”

II Samuel 24:24b

THE COST OF WORSHIP! ~ If I got a dollar every time people promised to give the church lots of money when they win the lottery, we’d exceed the budget. This makes me laugh. 😊 Think about it for a moment. If giving your time, your talent, and your tithe to GOD is not important before you “win the lottery,” then how is getting a whole lot of money by way of gambling with the money you should have given to GOD in the first place suddenly going to make you a person who gives to GOD after you get those huge piles of money? (ROTFL ~ Rolling On The Floor Laughing). That’s funny ~ Unless, of course, you’re that person who is offended because you are not a good steward of the things GOD has already given you. (That’s conviction!)

Imagine for a moment that you had a relative whom you’ve never actually met. Momma told you about him, and grandma talked about him, too. You have been told you’re related, and you tell everyone that this person is a very close relative. Your “relative” is very popular and well-liked. Every time you mention this relative to other people, they all agree that everything they know about him is positive. In fact, everyone you talk to knows this relative. Does that make you close to this unknown individual? NO!

Here is THE COST OF WORSHIP! That unknown relative is JESUS CHRIST. HE is not SOMEONE you can meet and then simply forget! The experience of meeting HIM face to face is life-changing. When you truly touch THE ALPHA & OMEGA (Revelation 1:8; 21:6; and 22:13), THE KING OF KINGS & LORD OF LORDS (I Timothy 1:6; Revelation 19:16), THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS (Genesis 1:26), THE ONE WHO HOLDS ALL THINGS TOGETHER (Colossians 1:17), you won’t be the same. After all, JESUS SACRIFICED HIS own LIFE so you  & I could approach THE PRESENCE of THE ONE TRUE LIVING GOD (Jeremiah 10:10, I Thessalonians 1:9) ~ YOU & I ~ mere sinners, nothing good to bring, allowed to enter THE PRESENCE OF GOD! THAT is THE COST OF WORSHIP!

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

THE COST OF WORSHIP!