Sermon Notes to the Homeless Hope Chapel 10.18.09
The Foolishness of Folly
Proverbs 9: 9, 13, 16
9 Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.
13 The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge.
16 “Let all who are simple come in here!” she says to those who lack judgment.
I. Add to Learning -this glorious virtue of wisdom increases your learning in the Lord and in his Knowledge. We are to seek to be enlightened by the wisdom of God and his Word. Learning by adding to your Faith the knowledge of your Lord and Savior and his words. The Bible says to Study to show yourself approved unto God a workman. When is the last time that you increased your knowledge of the scripture? The Bible speaks of gross darkness… that the people sat in gross darkness until Christ Came. Listen to this verse:
The Glory of Zion Isaiah 60
1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you..
This tells us that God no longer intends for people to sit in darkness but to experience his Love and Wisdom and Knowledge to increase in Learning. There was a period without Christ that people didn’t posses the knowledge of his power and his ability in their lives. Or have knowledge of his Salvation. So add to your Soul the knowledge of God and His love, His Light and His Salvation. Arise and Shine for your light has come and you no longer need to sit in darkness. It is time to learn about the Lord.
II. Folly - Recklessness, thoughtlessness, irrational behavior…How many of you have ever acted irrational, reckless, thoughtless and it left you in a world of hurt. Folly is following the trickery of your own stupid beliefs. It is your wisdom without truth. It is foolishness without Gods word. Folly is you acting in behavior that is ungodly. Foolish and has consequences. It is a life without Christ or Faith in God. For the fool has said in his heart there is no God.
9:8 The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.
Folly indicates a deception of your heart, and a misguided mind and heart. To operate in folly is to be deceived and indicates there will be deception. It is to live your life independent of God and his Wisdom. To try to succeed in life without the instruction manual of God or his Holy written word. You cannot succeed without God and you cannot make it without his help and holy counsel. Folly is for Fools and they perish in their ways. Repent of Folly and thoughtlessness and seek ye the Lord while he may be found and call upon him while he is near. And you will find help for your souls.
III. Undisciplined - This is a life without correction or authority within it. there are no guidelines or morals or convictions upon which your life is based. There is no moral law or higher calling to do good and to seek justice and truth in your hearts. You have not received the correction of Heaven and the Rod of God to guide you. His Rod and His Staff do comfort you. It states whom God loves he corrects. You must allow correction in your life to cease from sin and ungodliness. Life without Christ is a life with boundaries and morals and convictions. Confess your lack and the greatness of your need in order to receive the greatness of heaven. And the Glory of God will give Hope to your souls and strengthen your weak will and mind. Don’t allow an undisciplined life to not be a discipled life in our Lord Jesus. You can learn and repent. - Don’t allow yourself to be without knowledge of good. You have possessed a knowledge of Good and Evil because of original Sin but God wants to nurture you back to obedience and give to you the knowledge of Christ and his Peace. Listen to these words in the New Testament. About those who lack knowledge and discipline.
6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak–willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth—men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9 But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.
It states they are always learning but never able to come to the truth. That these men oppose the truth and as far as faith is concerned are rejected.
What a shame to end your life or come to the end of life and to have rejected the truth and have no Faith. This is sure Folly that leads to destruction eternally and spiritually. There is no victory or peace in a life that rejects God and his Holiness. As far as their Faith is concerned it is rejected…they have denied the Christ, the Messiah, and have chosen wickedness and a faithless life. It states their folly or thoughtlessness will be made known to all. In the judgment all men will be revealed for who they are.
IV. Those who lack Judgment …they will lack judgment though they will experience judgment or be judged. They will come to know what correction is and the judgment of God. The Bible says it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Therefore I want to ask you today to change, to repent to no longer be lacking in judgment but accept the truth of Gods word for your life. Christ is the escape of Gods judgment, those who find him find life and the happiness that knowing him brings. Will you today believe in him and allow him to bring mercy to your lives and health to your brokenness and wounded spirits and hearts
May God keep and help us today to add learning and wisdom to our lives to be presentable to him in the day of his wrath and coming. So help us God. Amen..
Sermon Notes to the Homeless Hope Chapel 10.11.09
Six Things the Lord Hates
Proverbs 6
The Curse of Sin and its Cure
16 There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.
These six things that the Lord does hate: all have to do with our interactions with a human society. Haughty eyes indicates a person looking for opportunity through criminal acts and prideful against society and God believing they are superior in all….a lying tongue is a person who intentionally deceives by words another human or person for personal profit or gain. Lying to intentionally keep the truth from being discovered. This is a huge problem in the homeless circle we think that lying protects or preserves something but it isn’t a profitable practice. Hands that shed innocent blood refers to our interaction with human life or interference of human life. It is not scriptural for man in any way to take human life. Life and Death are in the hands of God. Notice it states innocent blood, therefore it would indicate murder or a violation of a commandment of God. Life is precious unto God and should be preserved. A heart that devises wicked schemes…or a person who feels they can profit by deception. This again is man transgressing in his own ways…indicating that he has an intellect and superiority and creating a path of wickedness and crookedness. Feet that are quick to rush to evil indicates the lack of restraint in individuals to practice what is right and reveals the fallen nature of humanity within them,.. a depraved heart that has a quick response to evil and bonds with it. A false witness who stirs up lies, this indicates a person who creates troubles and has a heart of deception to mislead others intentionally. And finally the seventh which is a person who sows discord or strife among brethrens., Or is a relationship destroyer. those who destroy family or the core values within the home. Josephs brothers sold him as a slave. Dissension among brothers is a practice of a person seeking to destroy strong relationships or the closest relationships that exist.
These seven things the Lord does Hate. Indicating that it puts us in a position of Gods wrath and judgment. there is no mercy for the sinner who is unrepentant in these things, IN the day of Judgment he will be punished for his wicked deeds. Again they are: Haughty Eyes or superiority, a lying tongue or intentionally misleading others, hands that shed innocent blood this is murder or interference with life, a heart that devises evil things or a person who feels they can profit by deception, feet that are quick to rush to evil this is a lack of restraint and a love for evil, A false witness: a person who misleads others by deception and to destroy others with lies, He that stirs up dissension between brothers: a relationship destroyer.
II. Therefore we must correct ourselves…or we must change. It is given into our hands to change our paths of destruction through the Wisdom of the Cross and his Christ. If we are practicing any of these things we must have an true repentance from them. This repentance can only be confirmed through our Faith in the cross and the holy virtues of Christ flowing through us to keep us from these things. As the Lords prayer states…Keep us from temptation - it will only be through the Divine One being with us that we will be able to correct ourselves. Or as scriptures state we should not be judged if we judge ourselves. It is in your responsibility to repent and Believe in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and receive a divine pardon and forgiveness of your sin. Your moral violation of Gods word, ways and laws. You must keep his commandments to live. If you have failed or transgressed then you can only recover through the Faith of the Cross. Christ is made unto us wisdom and is the Wisdom of God: ..this Wisdom is more than an attribute of God but is the distinction person of Christ: Proverbs 8:22-36 22 “ The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way,
Before His works of old.
23 I have been established from everlasting,
From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.
24 When there were no depths I was brought forth,
When there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills, I was brought forth;
26 While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields,
Or the primal dust of the world.
27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there,
When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,
28 When He established the clouds above,
When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,
29 When He assigned to the sea its limit,
So that the waters would not transgress His command,
When He marked out the foundations of the earth,
30 Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman;[
And I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him,
31 Rejoicing in His inhabited world,
And my delight was with the sons of men.
32 “ Now therefore, listen to me, my children,
For blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction and be wise,
And do not disdain it.
34 Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 For whoever finds me finds life,
And obtains favor from the LORD;
36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul;
All those who hate me love death.”
III. You must be recreated or born again- Jesus said you cannot see the kingdom of God unless you are born again. It is in this moment of spiritual renewal and awakening that you are infused with the virtues of heaven. It is the moment of as the scriptures state if any man be in Christ he is a new creation- It is in this act that the virtues of God are placed in our hearts..Primarily Love. For these three abide forever- Faith, Hope and Love but the greatest of these is love. It is in this Love in our hearts that we cease to sin. It is in this love in our hearts that we keep all the commandments. His virtue of Love keeps us from violating the six things that the Lord does hate. IF we are walking in Love and in His Light then we have fellowship with him and we will not desire to break Holy Law. If any man love not his Brother the Bible states then how does the Love of God dwell in him. If you have Hate, Violence, Deceit, A Lying Tongue to others then you need love. You need Gods love to assist you to Love others and then you are fulfilling the Royal Law of Gods Kingdom and you will have an abundant entrance into the Kingdom of God. Your salvation is through Faith, but you are to walk in Love. This is the greatest commandment Christ stated and we should fulfill it. The Love of God should be your compelling force your deepest conviction in helping and dealing with other humans. If we have not love then we aren’t of HIM.
Beloved if God so loved us then we ought also to love one another I John 4:11
Knowing God Through Love
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
May the Grace and Peace of Christ be yours and Gods Love Fill your Hearts to Capacity through his Son Jesus Christ forever and ever,
Amen
Sermon Notes to the Homeless in Hope Chapel- October 4
Stolen Waters are Sweet
Proverbs 9:17- 10:3 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell. Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death. The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.
I. Stolen Waters are sweet: Sometimes what is not ours looks like something we should have. This verse indicates that what is stolen is often sweet to the person who has obtained the possession. Or in other words it is nice to have something that belonged to someone else that you didn’t pay for. It is really nice if you didn’t pay for it. And what is done is secret is pleasant- again the indication is a false satisfaction in the heart of something that is perceived as gotten away with . We like that and the feeling it produces. For some of us it is an addicting feeling, a false feeling of accomplishment to gain in secret and to possess another’s possession. It sweet and pleasant. However look at the forecast of the Bible.
II. He knoweth not that the dead are there. Or the person who is committing this offense doesn’t realize that he is already in the path of the dead. And that her guest are in the depths of hell. This is a stout warning to those that would attempt or believe that life is gotten or obtained through wickedness or deception. It is also an indication that a person is already dead in their sins…as scriptures state.. You who were dead in your sins hath he made alive…through the regeneration of Christ to our hearts. The Bible says the heart is desperately wicked and who can know it? It is apparent that the person committing crimes is unaware that they are dead spiritually or in the path of hell or why would they continue to abuse this? Hell is not a pleasant place. It was prepared for Heavens worst and man. Her guest Are in the depths of hell. This should be enough to tell us that we are to change and not seek through deceit.\ It states that treasures of wickedness profit nothing. Just this past week a man in the community was corrupt and was arrested and now has lost all his kingdom through the pursuit of drug trafficking. It profits nothing to think life is productive by the pursuit of falsely obtained treasures. So what are we to do….Look at the promise of the Almighty.
III. He will not allow the soul of the righteous to Famish…have you ever seen anyone in obedience to God and his word that the Lord did not help? God is the protector of those who serve him. Jesus said to seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. It was Jesus who fed the 5000 and the multitudes. It was Jesus who had the power to break the bread and watch it to multiply. God is saying that in the time of famine or need he will not allow you to fail or fall. He is watching over you and will keep your feet from failing and your hearts from stumbling. It is the Lord himself who overlooks the care of the Righteous. King David said: I have never seen the Righteous forsaken or Gods seed begging for bread. I know there are some of us in this room who have literally begged or panhandled and it may have been the difference between life and death. But in all God is victorious and will keep you in the hours of darkness that come upon you and the world. Have you ever seen the righteous forsaken? There may have been times we felt that way or may have come to the point as the widow in the Bible. Who served he last meal to the prophet…or the widow who gave the mite…but God will establish the feet of those who obey him and follow him….I have never seen the righteous forsaken or Gods seed begging for Bread.
Listen to the blessing:
Deuteronomy 28
Blessings for Obedience
1 If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. 2 All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God:
3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.
4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.
5 Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.
6 You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.
7 The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.
8 The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.
May the Lord teach us today that we can fully trust in him and not pursue the path of wickedness, that his ways are above our ways and that we can fully trust in him. May God help us today and bless us to do his will and receive his goodness in our hearts and lives today.
Amen
The Prison Calling
Expanded Definition of Homelessness Signed into Law
Definition of Homelessness- New Definition in HEARTH ACT
The bill modifies the definition of homelessness and also allows grantees to use some
Continuum of Care funding for people who are not homeless under HUD's definition, but are
homeless under definitions of homelessness used by other federal agencies.
HUD's existing definition of homelessness includes people living in places not meant for human
habitation (the streets, abandoned buildings, etc), living in an emergency shelter or transitional
housing facility, and—although it is not specifically described in the McKinney-Vento statute—
facing the loss of housing within the next seven days with no other place to go and no
resources or support networks to obtain housing.
The HEARTH Act adds to this definition situations where a person is at imminent risk of
homelessness or where a family or unaccompanied youth is living unstably. Imminent risk
includes situations where a person must leave his or her current housing within the next 14
days with no other place to go and no resources or support networks to obtain housing.
Instability includes families with children and unaccompanied youth who: 1) are defined as
homeless under other federal programs (such as the Department of Education's Education for
Homeless Children and Youth program), 2) have lived for a long period without living
independently in permanent housing, 3) have moved frequently, and 4) will continue to
experience instability because of disability, history of domestic violence or abuse, or multiple
barriers to employment.
Sermon to the Homeless 9.20.09
Faith and its Followers…
Luke 18:6And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
Will Jesus find Faith when he returns?
This is a good question. Jesus was able to foresee the world and its cycle of absence of God and lack of Christian teachings in the world. That sin and its power would be on the increase. That as scriptures state that the world in its wisdom knew not God. IT is impossible to comprehend the Faith of Christ from a humanistic , atheistic society. It is important for us as individuals to embrace our Lords teachings and the works of Christ. As the absolute truths in the world. As it is stated: All truth is in Jesus. All his sayings are the guiding forces in our world and universe. As he stated will he find Faith.
There are three places he is to find Faith.
I. In us personally- Will he find that you have spiritually reached out to God and his Christ and made a connection point….each individual must have a core conviction or original conviction of Christ. Does Christ know you? It is important that we are known of the Lord. The Bible says that he knows those that are his. Do we have a personal relationship with Christ that sustains us in our daily walk in this community and world. Has Gods word conceived in your heart and created Faith in God and in his Son the Lord Jesus. Will he have found Faith in us- a story of Christ love in our hearts, His presence within us- the Force of Faith in this world. This world was created in Darkness by Gods word- will he find his word in us in this world of Darkness when he returns. Scriptures remind us that the wise man built his house upon the rock but the foolish man built his house upon the sand and when the storms came the one failed the test. Building our house upon the rock is a spiritual statement with a spiritual application- That he who builds his live on the teachings of Christ when the storms of even the end come that he will have the security to be with God in parades. Do you have Faith Personally? Faith must be in your hearts- to be a sincere Christian.
II. In public- Do you realize that now it is no longer accepted to speak of Christ or Gods word in world. Just this week I read where Poteau Oklahoma has voted to place the ten commandments on the lawn of the court house- this is the exception in America- Our society is caving in in its moral and Faith convictions. We have given up the wisdom of God in exchange for our limited wisdom of life. Listen to how God describes a society without Christ….They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator. This absence of God and Christ in our society is a lack of truth in true believers. We must continue to share and to do the Good works of Christ to deepen the convictions of hearts toward our Lord. IT is no longer politically correct to state God and Country , or pray in public…our Nation is slowly becoming an abomination- the weakening of a society morally- decay isn’t instant it is a slow process- in time our nation has exchanged truth for world views, embracing and endorsing all to please all. We no longer preserve the truth but pretend it is no longer a truth for us. As a nation embraces it then reflects into the cities and stated of our society. Our society must be revived in the essence of its belief in God. We must be protectors and preservers of theses Holy Truths and hold fast the Faithful words of God. There is an evolution it is one of moral corruptness where evil prevails more and more. It evolves from the hearts of evil men and lawmakers and leaders of this world that declare that God is no longer to be a part of the discussion of our public society. They impose their beliefs on the whole of a society. Wouldn’t you hate for your eternal destiny to be denied because leaders didn’t allow you to know the truth? Or hear it? Most people don’t believe in creation because they were denied the opportunity to hear it in the public system! We must be citizens for Christ. We don’t have a public option as spoken of by politicians - we have only the proclaiming option. To show God in our country- Don’t be cowards in your Faith but soldiers in your Faith- the days of compromise are over. However there is a movement in those that do believe to ensure that Faith is preserved. IT is our duty.
III. In Private- or in our conversation with other individuals. OR will God find that you were a sharer of your Faith. Scriptures say that our conversation is to Glorify God and to be a testimony of his grace in our lives. If people don’t perceive a moral uprightness in you then how will they know the truth of Gods love. We are commanded to share and show our Faith. Christianity wasn’t just a great suggestion or belief it was one that was to be shared. Jesus said to go ye into all the world and share the gospel the good news of hope with everyone. It is our duty and responsibility to bring the Christian witness into our communities and where we live and work. Does your conversation glorify God? Is it faith based when called upon. Do we reflect Christ in our present conversation and present lives. We are to be the witnesses in our society and our social networks and friends. Does our communication impact others for the Faith. Can people tell you are a Christian by your speech an conduct. Is there a separation seen in you by your personal witness and conduct in this life? We are to be the moral examples for others to follow to many times we are the horrible examples for others to follow. I encourage us today to live the life of Christ and the one he has called us to in this present world. Allow God to live in you, and develop you to serve him and live for him, to be separate from the flow of the world and listen and hearken to his Voice. He loves you and desires to have a personal relationship with each of us today. When Jesus returns will he find Faith? Will he have found it present in you? While it may decay in the world it can excel in you to be the light in your community and world. Don’t go along with the status quo or the wide road…Jesus said to enter in at the narrow gate for broad is the way to destruction but narrow is the way that leads to life- And few there be that find it. You have opportunity to do well and accept the truth. All truth is in Jesus- He said I am the way the truth and the life, enter in by him and you shall be saved.
Given to Hospitality in light of Hostility
September 2009
Greetings to all of you this month.
This month I have been reminded by scriptures to be given to hospitality. Or the practice of generosity to the poor. The generosity of the believer to show good to those who are in need. As I continue to face battles and challenges with our city over homeless care I am mindful of our victories in the prison system and its continued works of evangelism and discipleship. We at this present moment have seen over 565 decisions to follow Christ for the year 2009. Our focus isn’t only on the Harvesting of the wheat but of the preservation of the seed. We are given to hospitability and good works. I want to encourage us all in times that cities and citizens are voicing opposition to the poor and toward charities providing services to remember that we are commanded in scriptures to do the work. The qualifications of a deacon are to be given to hospitality or remembering those in need. Listen to these words…
Distributing to the necessity of the saints, given to hospitality Romans 12:13
We are dedicated through your help and our efforts to be dedicated to the prisoner, the poor, the unfortunate and the needy in our community and our works. We believe not only in the message of the Gospel but in the methods of the Gospel. If a person is hungry we believe to feed them, if a person is in prison we believe to visit them, if they are a stranger give them shelter. This year I took part in a bottled water program that distributed over 5000 bottles of water to the thirsty in the summers heat. This was an act of compassion upon the poor and homeless. Our works are reflected through our Faith. My Faith is a reflection of Gods work in our hearts demonstrated in our community and world we live in.
Hospitality is the practice of our Christian Faith. It is our compassion in action and our faith in deed not just in creed. That is why in October we will be conducting a crusade in the Northeast Arkansas Unit in Brickey, Ar. You should try to Google earth this one; it is the only structure in the area. At least prisons provide economic stability in rural America. Where there is crime there is a profit somewhere in someone’s pocket, usually the states.
We are about the Faith aspect. We are sharers of good news and fellow soldiers of the Christian Faith. Pray for us as we press forward as scripture says joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer this is our creed.
May God bless you and thank you for supporting our ministry.
Brian Hilts
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blog.fscrm.org
Our Original Conviction -Sermon for the Homeless
Our Original Conviction
Hebrews 3:13-14-15
We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold firmly till the end our original conviction.
As has just been said, Today if you will hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion. So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.
I. Hold firmly till the end.
We as Christians and Believers are commanded to hold on to our Faith until the end. That indicates that there will be trials, discomforts, challenges to your Faith in God. Faith in Christ doesn’t not mane an absence of trouble, temptation or problems in your life. You will be tested in your faith. Your commitment will be tested. Your loyalty to Christ will be tested. As Christ told Peter, he stated that Satan has desired to sift you as wheat…but I have prayed for you that your Faith shall remain. However the Bible has a clear message on endurance, enduring the test of life and the persecutions of the Christian, it is a message for those who do endure to the end they shall be saved. This is not to indicate you lose your salvation but a message of endurance to Christians to endure to the End. Enduring to the end isn’t always easy as your Faith walk faced daily issues. As Paul stated to a young Pastor named Timothy to endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ that he may please the one who enlisted him, You have been enlisted upon the conception of your faith. Once you professed Christ you were enlisted into a heavens citizenship and representation of God in the Earth. You were enlisted to be a soldier one who fights battles daily. Moral battles, engaging in truth, watching for your souls and the hearts and problems of others in this world, You are in the forestages of the Apocalypse and the days of the anit Christ. Your hearts must be strong to persevere and deal with the moral corruption that will be and is present in the earth. Evil doers the bible says will wax worse and worse. So hold firmly to your Faith and Belief in Christ for he is your redeemer.
II. Our original Conviction.
Hold firmly till the end our original conviction. Your original conviction comes from the moment that your heart was touched by Christ. It was the moment of your revelation of his love and that his salvation became forged in your spirits and hearts. It was your moment of discovery of the paths of righteousness and the promise of heaven became true to you. It is your original conviction because it was your first moment of understanding the truth of God as the Holy Spirit convicted you and brought you to the understanding of your need in Christ. It is where your relationship with Christ and God began..it is what sustains you at this very moment and day to day. IT was your starting point in your Faith. This is what you are to hold to. As God says to Timothy Hold Fast to the Faithful Words…we are to be keepers and holders of the truth. Don’t let them slip from your grasp. Hold on to the words of life, and the faithful testimony of Christ. Never let go of your First love or your original conviction…the moment you were convicted of your sins and your hearts received the salvation of God and you became a believer. That is your conviction moment…the moment of Gods love to you. Christ said to one of the Churches in revelation, You have left your first love. Never leave Christ and he will never leave you. Jesus said I am with you even until the end. Don’t allow desperation cause you to do desperate or disastourous things with your Faith. Hold to your core values that you have known and received in Him. Be strong and courageous for your redeemer will comfort you. Adam and Eve lost their original conviction..they walked away from paradise but you and I have a conviction that is the Anchor of our souls. And as Jesus has always declared the Truth shall set you free. So allow you inner being to be infused with strength from the Almighty to Keep that which has been entrusted to you. And what God has given you. Your Faith that has embraced Christ and his Love for you. Your original Conviction will conquer time and consequences.. Conviction is a firmly held belief…one that if necessary you would die for. Not many or no one is willing to die for an idea but a belief is different. We see this is suicide bombers and in the name of Jihad or Holy War. But here your original conviction is in Christ and his resurrection, Pick up the works of Christ and be a contributor to his kingdom through acts of kindness and love. To serve and to assist those in need. A motivation of Faith and Love in our Lord Jesus Christ. This is one of the compelling evidences of our Faith, it is Love and Keeping his Commandments. Obedience to the Cross and words of Christ. These all hold and work together in our Faith of our Lord.
III. Hear his Voice- Jesus said I am the good Shepherd and my sheep know my voice. Those that know the voice of God are listening to the Lord lead them. HE leads us in the paths of righteousness for his names sake. God never leads us down paths of corruption or evil. We are to listen to the instructions of the Great Shepherd as he guides and governs our lives. This is done through his word, his Spirit and through Prayer…the Lords prayer states: Lord lead us not into temptation…We are to listen to his voice and he will guide us into greener pastures where Gods provision exist. Listen and Learn,. Hear his Voice Today as it is said and harden not your hearts as some did and could not enter into his rest.
IV.. Were not able to enter in…So we see they were not able to enter in because of their unbelief. Entering in indicates the stepping through a doorway into another room or place. In this case it is entering into the promises of heaven a better land to dwell in. There is a story of 12 spies in the Bible who went into the land that God had promised the Children of Israel. In that land they saw bountiful fields of food, grapes and everything they would ever need to sustain them, but they also saw one more thing Giants that lived in the land. This became a hindrance to reaching their full potential that God had promised. They focused on the problem and not the promise. Today you can enter in to the promise of God in your life but you cannot allow the negative or the presence of Giants in your path cause you to back away. They went back to the people and told them it was impossible to possess a land that God had promised them. As I have said before if you be willing and obedient you shall eat the good of the Land. Today don’t look at what keeps you back but look at what God has said in his word. And allow him to move you forward. It says it was due to their lack of belief or their unbelief..but if God is able to save you His grace is able to take you to where you need to go. Yeah though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me…your rod and your staff they do comfort me…you cause me to lie down in green pastures beside still waters… you prepare a table before me in the presence of mine enemies, you anoint my head with oil and my cup runs over…surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever….this is the rest and place God wants us to enter into. Shall we do it? We are more than able through him that loved us. To whom be glory and honor and power forever and ever ….Amen
Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
Prayer for Prison Crusade
Labor Day and the Lords Day
Yesterday was a wonderful day at the Mission Chapel and in our ministry with Hispanics where I spoke this Sunday. It was a time where there was ministry of Gods word and a postive atmosphere of the Holy Spirit. We then partook in Holy Communion with the Hispanics. It was very different as they are true worshipers and seekers of God in our Christian Community.
My thoughts today are from the book of Hebrews where it states: He who has entered into rest has ceased from his labors. That the work of Christ has enabled us to enter into his rest. In todays world we needs some rest, however we need spiritual rest as well as physical. Or as scriptures state that the times of refreshing come from the presence of the Lord reviving our souls from our works.
I hope all have a wonderful Labor Day and allow our hearts to rest but to not cease from our labors with the Homeless and those who are less fortunate. One thing I am mindful of as I set in my office this morning is that Homelessness is a seven day a week problem. That the Community Rescue Missions doors are open today to the needs of the community. While other main agencies in our city are closed today for a Holiday the Missions doors are open because the needs of people never go away.
So remember in our city, there is a place where the lights never go out but for briefly through the night.
