The Greatest Sacrifice
Romans 5:7
Recorded live at Pauline Baptist Church, Quitman, GA, May 27, 2018.
For more sermons, visit my SERMONS page.
For more sermons, visit my SERMONS page.
Piggin' Out
Piggin' Out
Luke 15:11
Recorded live at Brannonville Baptist Church, Lynn Haven, FL On April 29, 2018.
For more sermons, visit my SERMONS page.
For more sermons, visit my SERMONS page.
Because He Lives
Every Easter Christians around the world celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That event is the most important to the Christian faith. Why? Jesus explained it best. At the Last Supper, as He gave some final teachings to His disciples, He said, “Because I live, you will live also." (John 14:19 NKJV) He had just told the disciples that He would be crucified and given them the bread and wine as symbols of His impending crucifixion. Jesus knew He was about to die, yet He told them, "Because I live, you will live also." Although Jesus knew He was about to die to pay for our sins, He also knew He would rise from the dead three days later, proving that all He said was true. A dead man can save no one. Eternal life can only be given by one who possesses eternal life, one who is immortal and has conquered death. Jesus' resurrection demonstrated that He has the power to conquer death and give us eternal life. The grave is only a temporary resting place for the body of a believer. Just as Jesus was resurrected, so shall we be when He returns. The trumpet will sound and we will be raised from our graves with incorruptible bodies to live with God forever. Because He lives, we will also live.
Entering God's Presence
One does not visit a king just any old way. One must be invited and must follow the rules of the king's court. Likewise, God, the King of Kings, invites us to enter His presence and tells us how we should conduct ourselves before Him. Psalm 100 tells us three instructions on how to enter God's presence.
First, we must enter God's presence in the right manner. Psalm 100 tells us that we should enter God's presence with joyful shouting, singing, thanksgiving and praise. This is not a somber occasion. It is a boisterous celebration of God's goodness.
Second, we must enter God's presence with the right mindset. Psalm 100 instructs us to enter God's presence with the knowledge that the Lord is our God and our Creator. Also, the psalm instructs us to enter His presence with the knowledge that He owns us. God does not work for us. We work for Him.
Third, we must enter God's presence with the right motives. Psalm 100 tells us that we should worship God because He is good and forever merciful. Also, the psalm tells us we should worship God because His truth is eternal. God is worthy of our worship because of who he is and what He has done.
Just as one must be invited to appear before a king, we must come before God by invitation. He invites us to come before Him through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. Then He rose from the dead. We must believe this, and be willing to turn from our sins and follow Jesus to be saved. Then and only then do we have an invitation to enter God's presence.
When we enter God's presence in the right manner and with the right mindset and motives, our worship becomes more than a routine. It becomes an appearance before the throne of God.
First, we must enter God's presence in the right manner. Psalm 100 tells us that we should enter God's presence with joyful shouting, singing, thanksgiving and praise. This is not a somber occasion. It is a boisterous celebration of God's goodness.
Second, we must enter God's presence with the right mindset. Psalm 100 instructs us to enter God's presence with the knowledge that the Lord is our God and our Creator. Also, the psalm instructs us to enter His presence with the knowledge that He owns us. God does not work for us. We work for Him.
Third, we must enter God's presence with the right motives. Psalm 100 tells us that we should worship God because He is good and forever merciful. Also, the psalm tells us we should worship God because His truth is eternal. God is worthy of our worship because of who he is and what He has done.
Just as one must be invited to appear before a king, we must come before God by invitation. He invites us to come before Him through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. Then He rose from the dead. We must believe this, and be willing to turn from our sins and follow Jesus to be saved. Then and only then do we have an invitation to enter God's presence.
When we enter God's presence in the right manner and with the right mindset and motives, our worship becomes more than a routine. It becomes an appearance before the throne of God.
The Process of Forgiveness
"And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." (Matthew 6:12, NKJV)
Most people realize that forgiveness is one of the most beneficial actions a person can take, and one of the most difficult. Forgiveness is not forgetting. Sweeping a wrong under the proverbial rug or pretending it didn't happen does not heal the emotional damage caused by the wrong. Vengeance will not heal the hurt. Even if revenge is taken, the hurt will still return each time the wrong is remembered.
Forgiveness involves the following steps:
1. Recognition: Acknowledging a wrong has been done.
2. Release: Making a decision NOT to take revenge, but to let it go.
3. Repetition: Making that decision again and again each time the memory returns until your feelings get in line with the decision.
This process may take years. But it is the only way to truly heal.
Most people realize that forgiveness is one of the most beneficial actions a person can take, and one of the most difficult. Forgiveness is not forgetting. Sweeping a wrong under the proverbial rug or pretending it didn't happen does not heal the emotional damage caused by the wrong. Vengeance will not heal the hurt. Even if revenge is taken, the hurt will still return each time the wrong is remembered.
Forgiveness involves the following steps:
1. Recognition: Acknowledging a wrong has been done.
2. Release: Making a decision NOT to take revenge, but to let it go.
3. Repetition: Making that decision again and again each time the memory returns until your feelings get in line with the decision.
This process may take years. But it is the only way to truly heal.
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