Some folks are excited about Christmas, but some are struggling because Christmas time is coming. This message is the first sermon of a series entitled 'PUTTING MERRY BACK INTO CHRISTMAS'. It is our prayer that this message and this series will help encourage you and help you have the Merry Christmas that you desire...
A blog produced by Rolling Fork Baptist Church designed to help Christians live out their faith in their homes, their work places, their schools, and their communities.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
VIDEO- 'COME INTO HIS PRESENCE' (11.21.10)
As we approach this Thanksgiving, let today's message help COME INTO HIS PRESENCE.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
VIDEO- 'THE UGLY SIDE OF EASTER'
We all know about the pretty side of Easter... the pretty crosses that people wear, the Easter Lillies, new dresses for Easter Sunday, and of course, the most important part... the RESURRECTION. But is the 'Ugly Side Of Easter'? The first 90 seconds of the video is a repeat by accident but then it finishes the message...
VIDEO- 'WHERE'S THE KINGDOM' PART 1
Why does the Bible sometimes say 'kingdom of Heaven' and sometimes 'kingdom of God'? Find out today in part one of 'WHERE'S THE KINGDOM?'
Friday, November 19, 2010
DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOUR LIPS?
I read a story about a school that was having a lipstick problem. Yes, you heard me right... a lipstick problem! The story has it that the girls of the school were putting on their lipstick in the bathroom which was fine except they would kiss the mirror before leaving the bathroom. The janitor quickly got tired cleaning the ‘kissing lips’ off each day and told the principal about the problem. The principal led as many girls in the bathroom as possible and showed them the messy mirrors. The principal explained how much time was being wasted cleaning lipstick off the mirrors each day and asked the janitor to demonstrate how long it took to clean one of the mirrors. The janitor picks up a long-handled squeegee, dips in the toilet a few times, and uses that squeegee to clean the mirror. Since then they have not had that problem anymore!
Christians may not have lipstick problems, but often we find that we do have problems with our lips! Instead of having words of praise to our God coming from our lips, we speak words of fear and doubt and unbelief.
Don’t Worry
MT 6:25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
What would cause us to have problems with our lips?
L- Lack of faith (or wrong focus)
MT 6:25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,... 31 So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?'
‘Worry communicates lack of trust in God, complicates our ability to enjoy each day, and compromises our planning for tomorrow. Worry is not supposed to be a characteristic of those who are citizens of the kingdom of God.’ - David Jeremiah from ‘Sermon on the Mount: Tough Questions Answered By Jesus’
I- Insecurities
26 Look at the birds of the air;...28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow.
27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
If worrying could add time to your life, how much longer would your life be?
P- Problem-focused
30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ...
32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
S- Self-centeredness
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
His kingdom and his righteousness is sometimes paraphrased as God’s way of doing things. What is God’s way of doing things? GE 8:22 "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease."
We can’t worry and seek his kingdom and his righteousness at the same time. When we worry, we are disobeying at least two commands: 1) the command not to worry and 2) the command to seek his kingdom
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Conclusion:
Are you living by faith or fear and doubt?
Do you realize how much God loves you?
Do you focus the problem or the Problem Solver?
Christians may not have lipstick problems, but often we find that we do have problems with our lips! Instead of having words of praise to our God coming from our lips, we speak words of fear and doubt and unbelief.
Don’t Worry
MT 6:25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
What would cause us to have problems with our lips?
L- Lack of faith (or wrong focus)
MT 6:25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,... 31 So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?'
‘Worry communicates lack of trust in God, complicates our ability to enjoy each day, and compromises our planning for tomorrow. Worry is not supposed to be a characteristic of those who are citizens of the kingdom of God.’ - David Jeremiah from ‘Sermon on the Mount: Tough Questions Answered By Jesus’
I- Insecurities
26 Look at the birds of the air;...28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow.
27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
If worrying could add time to your life, how much longer would your life be?
P- Problem-focused
30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ...
32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
S- Self-centeredness
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
His kingdom and his righteousness is sometimes paraphrased as God’s way of doing things. What is God’s way of doing things? GE 8:22 "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease."
We can’t worry and seek his kingdom and his righteousness at the same time. When we worry, we are disobeying at least two commands: 1) the command not to worry and 2) the command to seek his kingdom
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Conclusion:
Are you living by faith or fear and doubt?
Do you realize how much God loves you?
Do you focus the problem or the Problem Solver?
Thursday, November 18, 2010
'COME INTO HIS PRESENCE'
A Psalm for giving thanks. 1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Psalms 100:1-2 (ESV)
Come into his presence- When you are about to pray, what are you thinking about?
Do you rush into the prayer and rush out of it?
Do you allow time for the dust to settle around you before you start?
Do you actually talk to God or just repeat the same things over and over?
Do you talk to God as if He was your equal? Your servant?
Do you acknowledge God for who He is or just start telling him what you want Him to do?
Do you make sure that everything is okay between you and God first by confessing your sins specifically and truly turning away from the desire to do those same sins again?
Do you make sure to thank God for being so good to you or do you take Him for granted?
In the book, 'Crazy Love' by Francis Chan, the idea of praying and 'coming before God's throne' are dealt with in an incredible way. Francis uses two passages of scripture that I want to use daily and I suggest you use daily as well. Read these two sections of scripture and imagine that you can see what Isaiah and John saw... then pray to God.
1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple.
2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”
4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.
5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!”
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar.
7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” Isaiah 6:1-7 (ESV)
1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”
2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne.
3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.
4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.
5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God,
6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind:
7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.
8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” Rev 4:1-11 (ESV)
Come into his presence- When you are about to pray, what are you thinking about?
Do you rush into the prayer and rush out of it?
Do you allow time for the dust to settle around you before you start?
Do you actually talk to God or just repeat the same things over and over?
Do you talk to God as if He was your equal? Your servant?
Do you acknowledge God for who He is or just start telling him what you want Him to do?
Do you make sure that everything is okay between you and God first by confessing your sins specifically and truly turning away from the desire to do those same sins again?
Do you make sure to thank God for being so good to you or do you take Him for granted?
In the book, 'Crazy Love' by Francis Chan, the idea of praying and 'coming before God's throne' are dealt with in an incredible way. Francis uses two passages of scripture that I want to use daily and I suggest you use daily as well. Read these two sections of scripture and imagine that you can see what Isaiah and John saw... then pray to God.
1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple.
2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”
4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.
5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!”
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar.
7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” Isaiah 6:1-7 (ESV)
1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”
2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne.
3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.
4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.
5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God,
6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind:
7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.
8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” Rev 4:1-11 (ESV)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)