Growing in Gods Grace

The Christian life is one of constant growth, or at least a healthy Christian life is.  For those who do not want to be stagnate and cold it is a constant battle to not only stay fresh and close to the Lord in our daily walk but to also display a Christ centered life to those around us.  As a husband, father and pastor it is a daily struggle not only to balance all of my God given rolls but to do so with grace. 

Stress is a real factor in today's society and the stress and toil of life displays itself in us all.  A Christian is not exempt from this stress and it seems sometimes it can be more intense as we are fighting the world the flesh and the devil on every corner.  Recently I was reminded that every word we speak matters, Colossians 4:6 "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."  This is not just from the pulpit or in the business meeting or in the Wal Mart- (Heaven knows it is difficult to hold ones tongue there!)  But also at home with our spouse and children. 

As a Pastor I desire to grow in Gods Grace and see my ministry grow as well.  But more than that I want my role as husband and father to be seasoned with salt and grace so that my family enjoys the benefits of God molding me into the image of His dear Son.  After all if I loose my home and family, what kind of ministry do I have?  May we all take a close look at our Christian growth and see how we are measuring up.  Christ is our example but he has sent us a guide in the Holy Ghost and the Lord Jesus is making intersession on our behalf daily. 

The Joy of a Godly Wife

On June 12, 2011 my wife Rebecca and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary.  The greatest treasure that I posses on this earth is my relationship with my wife.  The Word of God declares in Proverbs 31:11, speaking of the virtuous woman, "The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her..."  In my life and ministry my wife has been my greatest asset and joy.  While she is not perfect, she seeks to walk with the Lord daily and please Him with her life.  As a pastor I could not preform my ministry tasks were it not for the hard work and dedication of my wife.  In a day and age where marriages are falling by the way side, in the world and unfortunately in the church, I am a blessed man to say that I have the joy of a Godly wife.  May we all seek to work diligently in our marriages to be what God would have us all to be for His glory. 

Life Lessons Written in Stone

We have come to a place in our society where we do not practice, put in a place of emphasize nor give priority to the ten commandments found in Exodus twenty.  The reason the ACLU and other liberal organizations fight the displaying of the Ten Commandments is because they are vehemently opposed to the God of the Bible.  The reason a majority of public school systems are opposed to teaching creationism along side evolution is because they are opposed to the God of the Bible. 

Churches in this generation have allowed the liberal media to control the minds of our children.  The reason we are seeing an attack on the Word of God and the commandments of God is because the church has been silent and we have made the word of God palatable to a lost and dying world.  In the coming weeks we at Maranatha Baptist church will be examining the Ten Commandments in a series entitled, "Life Lessons Written in Stone."  Gods commandments are ever abiding promises of His love, care and concern for man kind.  Let us all determine as followers of the Cross of Christ to lift His banner high, follow the teachings of the Word of God and seek to win a lost world to a saving knowledge of Jesus. 

Christians View of the Death of Osama bin Laden

With the death of the notorious terrorist Osama bin Laden announcement the close of Sunday and early Monday morning many people are questioning, what should the Christians world response be to the death of this man.  How do we, as followers of Christ rejoice in his death with out becoming as radical as those who call for the death of Americans, Jews and Christians in this Jihad they are waging day in and day out. 

First I believe we should see the sad reality that this man did have a soul that was blinded by a false religion.  The fastest growing religion today is the Muslim faith.  He being a leading figure in this religion followed the teachings of the Quran to the grave.  Unfortunately now for his soul it is forever separated from God for all eternity. 

Second we should know that Government has the right to yield the sword.  In Romans 13 we find the greatest chapter on human government.  God has ordained three organizations in this order, the home or the family, the government and then the church.  In Romans 13:4 we find this truth "For he (speaking of government) is the minister of God to thee for good.  But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil."  The truth of it is Osama bin Laden was an evil doer, our former president George W. Bush continually referred to him as this and government, ordained of God has brought this man to the justice of Gods table.

Third, we have a responsibility to reach the lost.  With the propagation of false religions growing every day believers have an increasing responsibility to win the lost world to Christ.  While I am thankful for the judgment that has befallen this evil man and I desire for all those who stand against our country and freedom to be brought to the same fate, I pray for the salvation of those blinded by this false religion. 

It is time for believers and followers of Jesus Christ to rise as a mighty army and stand against the forces of the prince and power of this air not in our strength but in His.  Remember without Him we can do nothing, but with Him we can do anything but fail.

End Times study should always lead us to Evangelism

We hear it often, "You know, we are living in uncertain times...".  With the constant decline in our economy, rising prices of everything from diapers to gasoline one would think the entire world would be looking for the coming of the Lord.  Unfortunately we have seen a decline in church attendance to now under 826,000 Americans reporting they attend church on a regular basis.  The Word of God tells us that the Lord Jesus will return in a time, "...when ye think not..." Luke 12:40.  In another portion of scripture it describes the Lords return as a thief in the night.  As followers of Christ and believers we are responsible to be looking for the return of the Lord and longing for His return.  The primary responsibility of the church is to be leading to world to Christ.   Jesus last words to His followers on this earth were to commission them to go into all the world with His message.  We are seeking to reach this lost world with the glorious message of the Bible.  World missions is the heart beat of God and missions work in this generation is growing and churches are being planted  According to recent statistics the fastest growing areas of converts to Christ per populous are as follows. First is the Northern Mariana Island (6.64%), then Cameroon (6.07%), next Aruba (5.588%) Guinea (5.02%) and Togo (4.77%) The sixth fastest growing body of believers? French Guiana, at 4.77%. Then Nepal (4.69%), Jordan (4.64%), and Oman (4.43%).  If we truly believe that we erare living in the last days, the generation that will see the return of the Lord Jesus in the air, then we must not just be concerned with the economic state or the political climate, we must be concerned with the lost who die with out Christ around us every day.  Over 55,000 people die daily around the world without ever hearing the True Name of Jesus.

The reason we study the time called the tribulation in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ is so it will move the believer to know the urgency of the hour in which we live.  The time is now for the True Church of Jesus Christ to rise up and reach the world for Christ. 

Sermon series beginning this Sunday evening on Discernment in Uncertain times- A study of the End of Days. 

Statistics taken from Church society and 2020 Vision by Bill and Amy Stearns

Overcoming Temptation- The Power of Christ in you.

We live in a world torn with war.  While many talk of peace and safety a majority of our world lives in the turmoils of battle.  There are those all around us, and even those reading this who have loved ones involved in military conflict somewhere. 
As believers and followers of Christ we are all engaged in a battle, though it is not a physical one.  In Ephesians 6:12 we find this truth, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
The past few weeks our church has been looking at the spiritual war we wage every day.  Our enemy, his tactics, our weapons and the victory we all have in the person of Jesus Christ.  With Christ we can do anything, but with out Him we can do nothing.  May we all determine to be more vigilant in our Christian walk and fight the good fight of Faith not only as Pastors and preachers of the Gospel but as followers of Christ.  Follow the sermon series at www.sermonaudio.com/maranathabc