Sound The Trumpet

1 Timothy 4:1-3 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (2) Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; (3) Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth

Romans 1:19-25 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. (20) For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (21) Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (22) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, (23) And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (24) Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: (25) Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Do you see the process here? First, God reveals Himself to all mankind. We are all born with a knowledge of God and a desire to seek and to serve Him. This is why it is so easy to guide a child into a saving knowledge of God and a life of service to God. This is the desire God puts into a child. However, the first step one takes down this road is rejecting God. This is compounded when parents place their children into a sociological morass called the public school. In the public school, Christ is only mentioned as a part of a swear word, as a study of mythology or when the Catholic persecutions are purported to be in the name of Christ (Christ never encouraged anyone to convert another by force or at the edge of a sword). Christianity is, in many schools, mocked and ridiculed by the evangelistic secular humanist and her religion: evolution.

As the child grows, having this seed of humanism planted in them and nourished, they begin to actually believe there is no God. Still, God continues to woo them. Every breath we draw is a gift from God. Every ounce of energy we use to walk through our day is a gift from God. God could certainly demand and even force the worship of every breathing soul. That is not what God wants. That would be akin to a man saying he wants love then forcing himself on a woman. That would be anything but love. God does want our worship, but He also wants our love. The saints of God (see Saint Randy... for an explanation of who is really a saint), those who are genuinely saved, are also the bride of Christ. Would anyone really want an unwilling bride who does not love her groom? Of course not! Christ is wooing the lost person to come into the fold. Still there is a point when Christ must walk away and give that lost person over to their reprobate mind.

As one continues to grow in stature and age and continues to accept the gifts God gives, they may also continue to reject God. As they reject God they will move deeper into the depths of sin, their imaginations become vain and sin continues to darken their heart until there is a day when God realizes He cannot work with this person any longer. They have, in their own minds, changed an incorruptible God into nothing more than an idol. I believe God, in sadness, finally realizes this person is lost and will never accept Christ. With supernatural sadness, God gives up. God stops wooing this person. Until that point, their fall into sin has been restrained by the protections of the Spirit of God, held up by the wooing of God. But when God gives up, the free-fall begins. Puffed with knowledge, these people claim to be wise. True wisdom is only in the one who fears God. No matter how many degrees one may have, or what level of skill he has attained, the one who rejects God is a fool.

Having no restraint in their sin from the Holy Spirit of God, this person now plummets into depths of sin he never before imagined. Soon, he finds he has sinned against himself.

Romans 1:26-32 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: (27) And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. (28) And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; (29) Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, (30) Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, (31) Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: (32) Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Both men and women who find God has given up on them will quickly succumb to the lies of the devil whose only goal is the destruction of your flesh so he may then destroy your soul. Those who are given over will find themselves in vile affections: men lying with men and women with women. Yes, the lifestyle of a sodomite is one of the results of God giving up on you. This one will also receive a fit recompense for their error. Recompense simply means to compensate or to pay. Sodomy, and its consequences, is a payment for rejecting God. Sodomy is only one in a list of traits which may identify the one in whom God is not working. The list is a long one which includes: fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable and unmerciful. These are all sins and are all on par with sodomy.

All of the sins listed in that last paragraph are the fruit or the result of God giving up on you. However, they are all sins on par with each other. They are also all sins which can be committed by anyone. As you read this today, you may feel a little tug in your heart. Don't reject it. That may be the Holy Spirit of God wooing you. Don't say no. It may be the last time God reaches out to you before He gives you over. Will you heed that call in your heart today. You see, even if you are in the most vile of sin, God may still be calling you. Because you are even reading this proves that God is still working in your life. You may pretend to mock, but yet you are here reading what the preacher has to say and, more importantly, reading the Word of God. To turn from your sinful nature and accept Christ is a simple step to take. Will you take that step today? Click here to learn how to be saved.

The current occupant of the White House, Mrs Obama, has proposed (through her mouth-piece, Barry) that the borders if Israel and "Palestine" be returned to their pre 1967 positions. This would create an indefensible position for Israel. Rather, people should read the Word of God and understand that Israel is rightfuly due all the land from the river Nile, westward to the river Euphrates.

Ge 15:18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

Wow, where to begin. Sunday was, well, another stellar Sunday. It is hard to imagine how church can keep getting better. Yet, church just keeps getting better and better. We wrapped up revival last week with Bro. Eddie Davis. It was great. Preacher preached Sunday morning and evening - both services were great, and an older gentleman was saved! Sunday night, a bunch of people were baptized, and their testimonies blessed our hearts. I was blessed to be allowed to preach in the Sunday afternoon service. I thought I would share a video of our youth choir. This video was from the Monday night revival service. I am sure you will agree, they are the best youth choir around :)

Yes, today was a good day. I spent the day completing the classroom requirements to become an instructor for the American Heart Association in the Heartstart program as well as the health care provider Basic Life Support.  We are in the process of setting up a Medical Emergency Response Team at our church.  On a typical Sunday, we may have three-hundred or more kids at the church. It is our responsibility to care for them. It is also our responsibility to care for the many people who regularly attend our church.  I am thankful the Lord is giving me another chance to use some of my skills and knowledge. I am also thankful our Pastor has a vision to care for his people.

How was the revival tonight? Great.  There was a young lady who was saved a few weeks ago. She and her husband have been faithful ever since.  Monday night, her brother came with them and he was saved! All three of them were back again tonight.

There is one more night of revival ... maybe. Revival may extend into Thursday. Check and see.

Oh, God is so good!

I really wish I had time this morning to tell you all how good yesterday's services were. Of course, yesterday was Mother's day. Bro. Davis preached on the mother of the home being a type of the Holy Spirit. How if the mother is out of fellowship with the Lord, the whole house will be askew. I have never looked at the mother as being a type of the Spirit, but it is quite true. In that relationship, the father is a picture of the head, the mother a picture of the Spirit and the children a picture of the son. That new perspective really put a whole new spin on things. The wife, the mother has always been an honored position in the home. Despite what others may claim, this is the Biblical view - this is the view that anyone who is a real believer in the fundamentals of the Word of God will have. Then, yesterday afternoon, I preached to the adults from Matthew 14:22-33

Matthew 14:22-33 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. (23) And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. (24) But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. (25) And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. (26) And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. (27) But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. (28) And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. (29) And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. (30) But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. (31) And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? (32) And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. (33) Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

The title of my message was Constrained to Sail. So, first, Jesus sent them from the safety of the shore into the storm. Of course Jesus knew the storm was coming. In fact, I believe the disciples could have seen the storm coming as well. Nevertheless, they chose to obey God and enter into the ship. As a result of their obedience, they were in a storm being tossed from wave to wave. Suppose they had said no. What would they have missed? We can read about four different, distinct miracles they would have missed seeing. What a blessing came from being in a storm. This passage always encourages me: it reminds me that the storms we have faced over the last few years were of God. It also makes me remember that God sent very distinct miracles for us. Then, in the PM service, Bro Davis preached from Mark 6, about being in the storm! You will want to make sure you come by this week. Bro. Eddie Davis will be preaching Monday-Wednesday night. Service starts at 7pm. Aside from my pastor, I believe he is one of the greatest living preachers around. He is certainly my hero.

I am way behind in praising God for those who have turned from their sin unto salvation over the last few months at our church. There have been four who were saved just in our group of 'tweens over the last few weeks. There have been many more throughout the church. Of course,when your pastor sets a goal of reaching 10,000 homes in one year, what should we expect?

So often, we are quick to praise the Lord over professions of faith. This is right. We should rejoice and praise the Lord when someone repents of their sinful nature and turns to God in salvation. Sadly, some of these professions are just not real. Sometimes, people will "get saved" to get out of trouble. Sometimes, people will pass through and "get saved" to try to get money or something else from the church. Sometimes, people will genuinely get saved. The proof of the fruit is watching to see who remains. If someone claims to get saved this morning, but you cannot find them tonight, were they really saved? Someone who is genuinely saved will genuinely want to serve God. They will genuinely want to please God. They will start working toward giving up their old habits. The drunkard will be convicted over drinking. The drug addict will be convicted to give up his addiction. The gossip will be convicted to stop her mouth.

I thank God for our pastor who is not quick to deal with someone who claims to be saved. The true fruit is the fruit which remains, right? Those who make a profession and disappear are likely not truly saved. No, we cannot know for sure, but we can look at the fruit. At our church, we're running a little behind. I believe it was six people who have remained and were baptized last night (I lost count). Our pastor is planning to baptize six to eight people every Sunday night for the next four weeks. Our church is, indeed growing. God is honoring Pastor's unwavering stand on the Word of God.

Mt 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.