Sunday, February 19th, 2012
Romans 6:21, 22
What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end everlasting life.
God is interested in increase. Every living thing God created has a seed within itself to yield according to its kind (Genesis 1:11). Man also produces fruit. The fruit we produce is important to God whether it is the procreation of man or the fruit of our labor or even our words. Before man was saved what he produced did not glorify God. As Paul said we have been set free from sin and its bondages to become a slave of God to righteousness. For some reason this seems impossible to most people because they know their human nature which gets them into trouble too often. If we are born of the Spirit then our old man is dead, the man with the sin nature. Think about it, do you really want to sin? No, you don’t! Each day we start off with the best intentions of doing everything right, then something comes along that pushes our button and off we go into the ditch. That doesn’t mean you are not saved it just means you missed the mark of living up to what you know is the truth in the Bible. God is just and forgives us from all unrighteousness. We learn from our mistakes and we turn to God for help if there is a weak area in our life. Don’t dwell on the one thing you did wrong when you have done so much right. Jesus died for all our sins past, present, and future. You are producing holiness, and you do have everlasting life if you gave your heart to Jesus and you are striving to obey God’s word in your daily life. What many Christians lack is the inner peace and confidence that comes from the unshakeable belief that God loves them and cares about them. When you have peace you know God and you want what He wants. We get caught up with too many details that we think are important when we have the gift of salvation that is more important and more precious than any other thing that exists in this world. Satan likes to play mind games and beat you up, BUT God is saying well done My good and faithful servant.
Sunday, February 6th, 2012
Romans 6:3, 4
Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Baptism begins with a decision to believe and hold to the doctrines of Jesus Christ. Paul begins by using baptism as a total immersion into the beliefs and profession of the gospel. If we choose to follow Jesus then it is imperative to be committed to the teachings of Jesus and not pick and choose what agrees with our own theology. Paul says those who are baptized into Christ Jesus are baptized into His death. Jesus died that man who was separated from God through sin, might have the barrier of sin taken away and regain fellowship with God. Salvation implies wholeness, a completeness that man can never obtain without Jesus. Many Christians have accepted salvation and then live life as though they were on their own. If you want to be baptized into Jesus’ death and all that it purchased you must become a disciple and learn all you can about the promises of God. As you grow you will change and you can walk in the fullness of life that Jesus died for. When the new birth takes place in your heart then it will manifest on the outside through the choices you make. In Mark 16:16 it is written He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. We cannot choose to believe some of the Bible, some of what we hear at church, and some of what our friends tell us or we will never know the truth. It is up to each believer to read the Bible and search for the truth. God is blessed when we want to know the truth. Reading the Word and acting on the Word is how faith in God is established. If the Bible says you must believe and be baptized, then do it. Through water baptism we have the opportunity to glorify God and identify with the death of Jesus. Man has many ideas about how to get to heaven, God said there is only one way, and that is through His Son Jesus Christ. If we immerse our self in Jesus our old man will die and we will be resurrected in Christ and walk in the newness of life.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 29th, 2012
1 Corinthians 11:26
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
Remembering and proclaiming the Lord’s death is of paramount importance to Christians. The basic foundation of our belief is that Jesus lived a sinless life in human flesh, received the wrath of God in His body as full payment for sin, then rose from the grave giving all men, who would receive Him, eternal life. Our human frailty is that we can accept what Jesus did but too often lose the awe and reverence of what His death accomplished. For many, church has become a forum for attractive events at the cost of sound Biblical principles. As we come together we must be careful that church does not become casual and common especially as we partake of the Lord’s Supper. We are told not to forsake the gathering of the brethren that we might be blessed by what the Holy Spirit is doing through the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit does not work on a schedule accordingly to man’s time. We need to be open to the moving of the Holy Spirit. If a church becomes complacent with its own events and does not prayerfully and reverently seek God’s presence then much is lost. Jesus is the living bread who has imparted eternal life into your body through the Holy Spirit. This is not the natural life that all men have received at birth, but life that brings health to the flesh and a life that goes beyond this world into eternity. Never take your salvation for granted. It is the most precious possession you have and should be highly valued above everything in your life. As you partake of the Lord’s Supper be aware of Jesus’ body and the price that was paid that you might stand holy and righteous before God because Jesus paid for your sins. We would do well to thank God everyday that Jesus died for us and we aren’t going to hell. But it is even more than that; we can have fellowship with God through His Son, and boldly come before the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Whatever you are going through in your life lay it down at the cross and eat the bread and drink the cup to wholeness in your life. Jesus paid it all, it is up to each believer to respond by faith and receive what He died for.
Bulletin January 22nd, 2012
John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit John speaks about the Word, the Logos, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Word and the Word was God. God’s Word is who God is. God spoke everything into creation through His Word. The Bible is Spirit breathed and must be interpreted by the Holy Spirit. When someone is born of the Spirit then reading God’s word becomes a gateway to the mysteries and the wonders of God. When we read that the Word was God we come to a simple but eternal truth that God and His Word are One and cannot be separated. Salvation comes by hearing the word of God, and through the gift of faith by God. As Paul wrote in Romans 1:16, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. God’s word is filled with faith, it can penetrate the darkest heart and perform a life changing miracle in someone who appears hopeless. If that can happen from hearing one sermon or one person sharing their testimony of Jesus Christ, how can we possible neglect the rest of the Bible? To say you are a Christian and not read your Bible is a dangerous thing to do. The Bible has all the instruction and life giving information every believer needs to survive in this world. We would never show up at work and do a presentation without having researched all we possibly can to make our ideas clear to our colleagues. Yet Christianity is often seen as people who go to church and try to do the best they possibly can if they are having a good day. But to do something like love your enemies as Jesus commanded does not work in the natural. It takes supernatural power to forgive someone who has hurt you deeply. When you have planted the incorruptible seed of God’s word in your heart you will have the strength, patience, and endurance needed to forgive your enemies, and to even pray for them. God’s word has been given to the believer to know, study, listen to, share, and live. God and His word are One and the same. God’s desire is to help you and bless you with everything Jesus paid the price for. Your faith to receive begins when the knowledge of God’s will is known through His word.
Bulletin January 15th, 2012
John 1:12, 13
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
God is clear in His word about what is and is not of God. It is important to be careful what we believe because many people have listened more to man’s opinion than have knowledge of the word of God. Christians believe in salvation and eternal life, but when asked why they are going to heaven you get many different answers. Those who have received Christ as their Savior, having understood they were once a sinner, are confident of their destination upon leaving this earth because their hope and trust is in the word of God, not man. The word written in John clearly states what salvation is not. We are not the children of God because we are born into this world, and God so loved the world. Our human birth and belief in a loving God does not give us entrance into the kingdom of God. Nor is salvation by the will of the flesh. Many people believe if they are a good person they will go to heaven. Salvation is not based on your righteous but God’s. Jesus said in John 3:5 unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. You have the freedom to believe whatever you want, but God will NEVER go against His word. John also says we do not become the children of God by the will of man. Because you participated in a ceremony in church and a priest or pastor prayed over you does not make you saved. God is a Spirit and we must be born of the Spirit. When Mary was in agreement with the word of Gabriel the Holy Spirit overshadowed her and the Seed of Jesus was planted in Mary. Our heart must also come into agreement with God’s word. We must believe the written word and receive that word into our heart, then the Holy Spirit overshadows you and a miracle takes place. That miracle is Jesus Christ coming into your heart whereby you receive a new spirit and the nature of God. Then you are a child of God, born of God. This new birth is the beginning of your walk with God. It will manifest in a wonderful way changing your life and your destiny forever.
Bulletin January 8th, 2012
1 Thessalonians 5:1-3
But concerning the times and the season, brethren you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
We long to see peace in our world and be safe from trouble in the coming year. We often think of peace as being the absence of war. Yet Jesus said in Matthew 24:7, 8 Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. The world we live in is not the world God intended for man. God created a perfect Garden of Eden for Adam to live and reign in. How could anyone ever be dissatisfied with total peace and safety? Adam did not recognize his perfect completeness in God and chose to listen to Satan over God’s word. Who are you listening to in this world? Even as we sit comfortably in our church pew there is always a voice of the world that tries to get us to see many things as important and on our must do list that have no relevance to God or His will for us. In this letter Paul told the church that they did not need to discuss the times or season that the second coming of Christ was inevitable and would happen when it was least likely to be expected. The return of Jesus Christ should be something you are very much aware of and looking for. It does not put our life on hold in fact it should be an underlying factor in our work for the kingdom of God. Putting things off that we know we should do may result in missed opportunities to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Your life on this earth is short whether it is eight years or eighty. Each day is a gift from God and we are to use it wisely. When the world speaks of peace, usually the absence of war, or safety because of our technology, do not be deceived only God can provide safety and lasting peace. Jesus is returning soon, those who are hidden in Christ will escape the wrath of God on those who do not know Him and obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:8)
Bulletin for January 1st, 2012
John 14: 21, 23
He who has My commandments and keeps them, is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him. If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
The fact that God loves you is probably one of the most difficult concepts for a Christian to walk in the light of. Someone reading these scriptures might think if they love God more He will show Himself to them, or if they try really hard to keep God’s word God and Jesus will make their home with them. If you believe that it is by works you earn God’s love and grace you are mistaken. A Christian must empty himself of all hope of being worthy to receive God’s love. You cannot earn God’s love. He loved us while we were yet sinners sacrificing Jesus on the cross. (Romans 5:8) When you turn your eyes to God with expectation and trust, you will not see a judge but someone who loves you so much He was willing to leave heaven and its glory to redeem you back from Satan. Once you see God as a God of love who accepts you just the way you are you are ready to know God. When you know God then you will want to worship Him. Too many Christians spend their life trying to win God’s love when they already have it. Our reaction to the fact that God loves us is how we become useful to the kingdom of God. When you love someone totally you will not have to be told to obey their word, you will desire to do it above all else. You will look for ways to please God with your life, your time, your money, your all. The love of God has been shed aboard in your heart by the Holy Ghost, when you allow that to manifest in your life you are actually letting God manifest Himself in you. If you want more of God in your life, instead of setting goals of what you can do in 2012 go back to your first love. Focus on God’s love by meditating on scripture about His love. Paul’s prayer to the church in Ephesus was that they might know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that they may be filled with all the fullness of God. When we are filled with God obeying His commandments is a product of the life in us.
Bulletin for 12/25/2011
Hebrews 10:5
Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me.
Jesus existed always with God as the Logos, the Word. His birth was planned and calculated before the creation of the world. The baby born in Bethlehem was not the beginning of Jesus, but it was the most wonderful exhibit of love from a Father that could ever be imagined. The saddest thing about the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus is that so few people really understand and appreciate what God did for mankind. We were created so close to the image of God that too often we think we are God. Man loves to rule and reign in his own domain thinking that he is in control of his life. We marry, have children, take a job and move from here to there by our own thoughts and merits rarely giving God due respect and honor by seeking His wisdom in important decisions of our life. If we truly understood salvation we would be on our knees from morning to night thanking God and His wonderful Son who came to save us from our sins. Not many people deny there is a God, but few really know Him, are you like that? If you know God He is part of your everyday existence, what you do, who you are, and how you speak reflect God in your life. Everywhere in this world at Christmas time and the other 364 days Christians are leading people to Christ, feeding and clothing families, helping the sick and needy and being Christlike in their life and purpose. When Christmas is over will someone have seen Jesus in you? It does not have to be a preached sermon but you can show the goodness of God in many ways. Don’t let Christmas end with a pile of bills and a worn out tired feeling. Let it be said, ‘Yes, I made a difference in someone’s life’. The Holy Spirit will impart ideas to you but it is up to you to fulfill them. God wants to use you because that is how He works in our world. We are all accountable to God for the works we do on this earth, and Jesus is returning with His reward in His hand. Do what you do every day to please God not man, and look with anticipation for Jesus to return, the best is yet to come.
Bulletin for 12/18/2011
John 20:9
For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.
John and Peter had been to Jesus’ tomb and did not know why the tomb was empty. Jesus had told His disciples many times that He must leave but would return. The disciples had seen Jesus with their own eyes and heard Jesus with their ears and yet did not understand His words. The Word is the priceless gift we have been given to know and understand God. We have been given God’s word to tell us all we need to know so that we do not need to fear when darkness surrounds us. Without the Word, Jesus, being revealed to us we cannot know or understand God’s purpose. What is God’s purpose for us? It is to glorify Jesus in everything we do. For Christians everywhere Christmas is a marvelous time to thank God for the birth of His Son and to give God the glory. We know that Jesus gave His life for us but it was more than that. In 1 John 3:8 it is written For this purpose the son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. God combined deity and humanity to pay the price man could never pay. Satan is defeated and whatever comes against you in this life has already been provided for, you do not need to fear but stand strong in faith. Had John and Peter known the scripture and believed that Jesus had risen from the grave they would have acted differently. How we react to any situation in our life shows either faith with knowledge, or doubt with ignorance. To be victorious we must have the revealed word hidden in our heart. The birth of Jesus is a wonderful time to witness to others about your faith and your victories in this life. It is not a baby we come to worship, it is God who blessed us through the death of His Son so we might live. Seek God each day for what is important for you to do and what isn’t. Have you thought about what God wants for Christmas? He wants you, all of you, now, and every day of your life. The world will not end if you don’t make, or bake, or buy everything on your list. Listen to your heart and choose the path of peace, it is there you will walk with Jesus. When you have peace with God nothing else matters.
Bulletin for 12/11/2011 by Judy Onofri
Matthew 2:11
And when they (the wise men) had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
The wise men were given a divine appointment by God to find the Christ child and worship Him. The wise men traveled a great distance and came prepared not only worship, but give gifts of the finest quality. The extravagant gifts would provide the necessary means for Joseph, Mary, and the Christ Child to escape to Egypt when Herod wanted to destroy the future king of the Jews. The wise men came to honor the birth of the Jesus. They had no idea of God’s plan to provide help for Joseph and Mary because of Herod’s deadly plot. God’s plan for this world is always much bigger than we will ever know or understand. Giving cannot be done only by what is seen on the surface in your church. So much of what is done in any church is not known by its members. Pastors do not stand up in the pulpit and tell of the heartbreaking stories they listen to so often. Our trust should be in God and who He has called and appointed to watch over His flock. Each of us is responsible for what God has given us. All you have that is good came from God and you need to be sensitive about when and how God wants you to spend your resources. The gifts we give our family are important but not life changing. The money that is used in your church can touch more lives than you can ever imagine. Instead of pastors asking, pleading, or needing to pray over church finances, ask your pastor if there any area that you can help in, or even better just given an extra amount anonymously. What you do in secret God will reward openly. The wise men provided the financial escape for the child Jesus, the money you give also has a plan and purpose by God. As we go about our holiday shopping be sure to pray and ask God if there is something you can do for your pastor and/or his family. Being a pastor is a work of love for God and His children but it is nice to be recognized too.
