Sunday Words of Encouragement July 9, 2023 - "Our Great God"

Our Sunday School lesson continued in James 1:16-18 with the message that Grace is connected to temptation; it is a good and perfect gift. Grace needed for sin. Gods unmerited favor is a higher level than forgiveness and mercy. Christ is the vehicle of that grace. Through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, death is swallowed by triumphant life. Sin, guilt, and death are gone. Romans 5:20-21. God sees us cleansed and as righteous with our final right standing to be revealed in our eternal lives.

We celebrated communion, remembering the sacrifice of Christ through the symbolism of the body (bread) and blood (wine/juice). We also celebrated our Pastor’s first year anniversary.

Pastor’s message was from 1 John 4:1-4, titled “Our Great God”. We are involved in spiritual warfare in this world. We have to test the spirits and teaching of any who present them as speaking for God.

Don't be misled by a charismatic person. Instead, ask if their message brings conviction. Preaching is sometimes a hard word in today’s worldly culture. Revelation 2:20-23. The church of Thyatira was scolded for tolerating the teachings of Jezebel instead of following God. [Note messages to the other churches also talk about false teachings. Revelation 2:2 and 2:14-15.]

Compare the acts and teachings of leaders and preachers to determine if it is consistent with the Biblical true. Does the teaching confess that Jesus is from God. Does it acknowledge our personal relationship with God?

We must discern what is of God. Antichrist has been in the world since the days that Adam and Eve were misled. We each must grow in faith by reading the Word daily.

Don't be deceived. “Feelings” are not reliable for decision making. There is a truth to stand on.
Once a believer has accepted Christ as his or her savior, the God dwells in that believer. ‘Dear children you are from God and have overcome’ the spirits of the world. ‘He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.’ 1 John 4:4.

No weapon formed against you can prosper. Don't compromise. Truth has not changed. Be biblically true rather than culturally correct.  Anchor yourself in the Word, and be in a church that teaches Biblical truth. We become Godly temples and must resist the upside-down teachings of the world.

I like this song for today:

Verses for Today:
1 John 4:1-4 NIV
On Denying the Incarnation
4 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

God my Father, Christ my Savior, Spirit my Guide, please keep me on your path and protect me from being deceived by the antichrist spirits of the world.

Sunday Words of Encouragement April 25, 2021

We enjoyed worship music online and, after announcements, Pastor continued his sermon series “It Matters”.

Sometimes we have to take control of our thoughts of defeat, discouragement, critical, sinful and anything that is not the mind of Christ. Stop making excuses. Don’t give quarter (or toehold) to thoughts that are not of the mind of Christ.
Give your whole mind to Christ. Position yourself through surrendering daily and spending renewing time with Christ.
Many times in today's engagements we see "Terms and Conditions". We are all probably liars because we don’t really read the Terms and Conditions when we say we have and click the "accept" button.

The Bible tells us how to live on God’s terms and conditions. The biggest issue revealed is our sin versus God’s holiness.

Today's message comes from Leviticus 10 and 16. Leviticus 16 gives instructions regarding the Day of Atonement. Leviticus is an instruction manual to the Levites, the priests of Israel. It is also instruction to the people in their relationship with God.

Leviticus 10:1-7 tells of the disobedience of two priests and their immediate death. They “offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command.” They thought they could walk into God’s presence on their own terms instead of on God’s terms.

When you come into God’s presence are you coming on his terms or on your terms? Since Jesus' sacrifice, we no longer need to meet all the details of incense and sacrifices on the altar. But we still need to come to God on his terms. Do you expect your terms to be met before you will worship? It is impossible to worship someone else on your terms. That is not worship.

God says all the time: “I am the Lord your God, I am Holy!”

The Point: It Matters: Worship should happen on God’s terms, not ours.

Psalm 40:3 says that God gave David a new song to sing praise to God.

If we truly understood whose presence we were in, what would be different? Would our posture, our attitude, our offerings be different? How can we be unaffected?

I had this song in my song list and I think it is beautiful and fitting.

Verses for Today:
Leviticus 10:1-3
10 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. 3 Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke of when he said:
“‘Among those who approach me
I will be proved holy;
in the sight of all the people
I will be honored.’”
Aaron remained silent.

Psalm 40:3
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
and put their trust in him.

Lord, I pray that I recognize, value and glorify Your Holiness.