True Followers

Summing up Sunday mornings sermon…Contrary to what many believe, Jesus was in many ways not so unique during His earthly ministry. There were many false prophets and fake messiahs in Israel that had come and gone. Even John drew larger crowds initially. So in an age with no television or internet, people flocked to hear whoever was speaking. Jesus was different in one regard however, he was performing genuine healing miracles and feeding the crowds who came to hear Him speak. As is often the case when you hand out free food and health care, the crowds began to grow exponentially. During one occasion Jesus rebuked the crowd openly, this because He knew the only reason the people were seeking Him out was because of what He could do for them personally, and that they had very little concern for their lives spiritually. It was in this setting that Jesus turned to a riotous mob to set the record straight. It was on this occasion that Jesus proceeded to tell the crowd, if you don’t love me more than any other, including the members of your own family, if you don’t intend to serve me faithfully, and if you intend to keep one foot in the world, don’t bother going any further, because you cannot be a disciple of mine! Today the world is under the impression that you can come to Jesus and get the cookies and Kool-Aid and then disregard His prerequisites for following Him. How foolish to have such an assumption. The church is filled today with welfare believers, those who want what Christ and His church can offer them, without any intention of giving anything in return. Jesus said they may be present among you, but they are not followers of His. The Christian life is about serving and giving, it is characterized by selflessness. While some preachers are promising miracles and prosperity, Jesus was quick to point out that being His follower has nothing to do with that. If what Christ did for you on Calvary isn’t enough, if there isn’t a sense of debt you feel you owe in return, if you are not compelled to give back and serve, Jesus said, you can be sure, you are no follower of His!

Your Pastor

Bro. Joel

Understanding Faith

Summing up Sunday mornings sermon…There are many things we believe, many things we mentally may affirm, none of which will automatically find its way into reality, as far as our daily lives our concerned. Somewhere in the mix, between what God has said or commanded and our willingness to obey, is the point where our will is surrendered to His. The momentum of that occasion, the place where understanding gives way to action, is what the writer of Hebrews describes as faith. As... Abel prepared his sacrifice to present to the Lord, he did so based upon what he knew was acceptable to God and in so doing, he acted in faith. Faith is where knowledge gives way to obedience. This is why James could say with confidence that a faith without works is dead. This because genuine faith is always yielding in obedience! This is also why Jesus said a little faith, like that of the grain of a mustard seed could move a mountain. This knowing that anytime we act based on what God has said, nothing under heaven or earth can prevent it, for it is based on His Word. Where there is no action…there is no faith. Remember all the conviction in the world could never build an ark, however, a man filled with conviction, overwhelmed by the presence and influence of the almighty, now full of faith, could not be stopped from building it!...

Bro. Joel

Regular Maintenance...

Life is filled with principles that permeate every aspect of creation. One of those is the principle of maintenance. In all my years in strength training, it became obvious very quickly that if you quit lifting and working out, the effects were seen almost immediately. Whether it is an old tractor that needs the oil changed, or a car that needs new tires, everything in creation, without exception, needs to be maintained, and nothing reveals this principle greater than our spiritual lives. Jesus said without me, you can do nothing, and how true we must learn this simple spiritual fact is. Time spent with Christ each day, is the same as light and water to a plant, they are the essential parts of the plants daily life cycle, remove either, and you can watch almost immediately the plant begin to weaken and whither. As I look out over the congregation each Sunday, it is always easier to notice those who aren’t there, verses those who are. Knowing faithfulness to ones prayer life, worship, and time meditating on God’s word are essential parts of the Christians daily life cycle, it begs the question, are the people you see so inconsistently, healthy spiritually? Now to the one who says, I don’t need to go to church to walk with God, I would say, then why the church at all? Who is Sunday worship supposed to benefit, if not you? The Lord established the church to be a part of the Christians maintenance, the place where the oil is changed and the tires rotated. It has been my experience, that the lack of this maintenance in a believer’s life is evident to everyone. Like brakes on a car that squeak, or a tail pipe that burns oil, the car is moving, but signs of trouble are obvious. If you feel life has become a bit sluggish, maybe some regular maintenance in God’s house is in order! Remember the Church is God’s garage and with regular visits your life will simply run better!

 

Your Pastor,

Bro. Joel

You Are Salt....

Can you imagine putting salt on your food, but you couldn’t taste it? Hoping that it would put flavor where there was none, only to have that same boring bland taste in your mouth. Salt has been used for thousands of years to preserve and add taste to foods, which otherwise would be unpalatable. To have salt that doesn’t possess the properties of salt, makes the salt useless. That is what Jesus was talking about when He said, “You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt lo...ses its savor, with what shall it be salted? It is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and to be trodden underfoot by men.” (Matthew 5:13 MKJV) Jesus was comparing bland salt to a believer that did not possess the qualities a believer ought to have. As salt without flavor is useless, so is a believer who doesn’t reflect the qualities consistent with the person of Christ. The Christians flavor is Jesus! It is something people should taste wherever we go. Make sure that you leave the right taste in people’s mouth and not a bland and tasteless Christianity that according to Jesus is useless. Remember, you are the salt of the earth!

Your Pastor
Bro. Joel