Tuesday, August 20, 2013

By Faith Until the End by R.W. Rounds Lay Leader

Todays Message from Lay Leader  R.W. Rounds
 
Today’s first scripture comes to us from the book of Isaiah. Now we have come to understand that Israel, if you have been paying attention the last few Sundays, had sinned and fallen out of favor with God. The Isaiah scripture today continues to follow the same condemnation that preceded it. Today’s scripture is actually a song written in poetic verse form. Like many country songs today, it tells of heartbreak and unrequited love. The song is based on Jewish teaching and is believed by Bible scholars to the basis for the Vineyard parable found in Matt. 21:33-44, Mark 12:1-11 and Luke 20:9-18.  Let’s look at the song again. Isaiah 5 The Song of the Unfruitful Vineyard
5:1Let me sing for my beloved my love-song concerning his vineyard: Who is the beloved mentioned here and what kind of love are we talking about? The beloved mention is God; the love mention is the Agape love that God has for Israel, also known as the vine. My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.2 He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; Now being in an agricultural area, we know about rock picking, don’t we? It is not a pleasant task. From hearing Lynn speak of it, I know she has many fond memories of the activity. But all kidding aside, it is hard arduous work. It takes effort to clear the ground to prepare it for planting. But this is what God did. Then he planted or started the vine or Israel.  He built a watch-tower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; again the we read of hard work, building a watchtower, which in those days was not a wooden platform on a wood frame. It was built up of earth and stone, which involved labor and sweat to move the earth and stones. Plus there is the vat he hewed. Have you ever hewed anything? It’s hard work. You can hew or hollow out a tree trunk or you can hew or hollow out a stone to make a basin for liquids, and this is what happened here. The owner of the vineyard, God, in anticipation of the upcoming harvest, knew he would need a wine vat so he hewed one to be ready. He expected it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes. So God, the owner, makes this wonderful vineyard and plants his vines, Israel hoping for a harvest of love from his chosen people, or parabably speaking, hoping for a harvest of grapes, full of sweet juice to make into wine. But Israel is a rebellious lot and their behavior is like wild grapes to the lord. Their behavior is bitter and not sweet. 3 And now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. 4 What more was there to do for my vineyard that I have not done in it? God had provided everything Israel needed to flourish and provide good fruit, but instead repaid God with sin and rebelliousness as we read. When I expected it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes? Good question, why did the vine produce wild bitter grapes? Because it chose to do so. Every time we sin we chose to do it. No one makes us. Remember a popular phrase from the 70’s saying “the devil made me do it?” The devil didn’t make you do anything, you chose to do whatever you did or do. One thing that God has never taken away from man is free will or freedom of choice. We all have our innate sinful nature. We either choose to fight against it and through faith attain righteousness or we chose to accept it and be sinners. We all have that choice. But to choose to take the latter path, to just go with our sinful nature has consequences. The song continues much like many songs do when written about unreturned love.  5 And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; many gardens in those days had thorny hedges planted around them to keep the animals that would eat the plants, out. I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. Again another fencing analogy, the wall built around the vineyard to keep people and animals from trampling the vine is torn down exposing the vine to danger. 6 I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and it shall be overgrown with briers and thorns; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. What happens to a grape vine or other plant that needs pruning if you don’t prune them? They send out what we call sucker shoots, unproductive branches that take the needed resources for fruit or flower production. Then the main plant or vine can’t produce fruit because it doesn’t have the necessary resources to do so. The same thing with hoeing, by not digging out the weeds, they rob the plants of the precious moisture they need, thus again no growth or production.  7 For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his pleasant planting; here we again see the condemnation of Israel by God, naming them as the sour grape producing vineyard. Continuing on, he expected justice, but saw bloodshed; righteousness, but heard a cry! Now this last part is somewhat confusing if you don’t know your Bible. It is one of those places where the Old Testament is linked to the New Testament illustrated through the teachings of Paul to the Hebrews. This brings us to our next scripture. 
Hebrews 11:29 – 12:2 11:29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned.30By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days.31By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient,* because she had received the spies in peace. 32 And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—33who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.35Women received their dead by resurrection. Here again we see God taking care of Israel his vineyard. Taking them out of Egypt, causing the fall of Jericho to secured the promised land, saving Rahab, and Paul goes on to mention other examples of God providing for his people.  Now, look back to that last part of our first scripture. God expected justice, i.e. the love of a grateful faith people, parabably speaking good grapes,  but the Israel was producing wild or sour grapes, Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection.36Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.37They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two,* they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented—38of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. Israel had turned her back on God and treated anyone who was righteous horribly. Remember the bloodshed mentioned in the first scripture? Let’s tie this back to Isaiah himself. There is Jewish teaching that Isaiah was killed for his prophetic preaching by being sawn in two. It is not in the Torah, but is mentioned several times in what we would call apocryphal texts. Just as there are apocryphal texts associated with our Bible, the Torah also has them. It is in these that the legend of Isaiah’s death comes to us. So there is the condemnation. The owner planted the vineyard expecting good grapes for making wine and got sour, wild grapes. God raised up Israel expecting a faithful and righteous people and got a bunch of rebellious sinners. Expecting justice and got bloodshed, Righteousness and got crying.  So what does any of this have to do with us, you may ask?  Let’s look at our next verse. 39 Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised,40since God had provided something better so that they would not, without us, be made perfect. Now what does that mean? I can see some confused faces out there. What this means is that all these people suffering are to be commended for their sufferings for the Lord, but their actions, their faith would not be fulfilled without Jesus’ sacrifice on Calvary AND us doing our part. Actually Paul was speaking of the part that he and his fellow Christians needed to do by spreading the Good News of Jesus’ death and resurrection. But that charge carries on through ages up to us today. We as Christians need to keep spreading the Good News message 12:1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely,* and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,2looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of* the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Can we, therefore do any less?
Our Luke passage, speaks directly to us in these coming times. Luke 12:49-5649 ‘I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!50I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Here we have Jesus telling his disciples of his coming persecution and death. 51Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!52From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three;53they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’ The time of this statement is at hand. Those that claim to be followers of Christ ARE being separated for their belief. Houses are being separated father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law, neighbor against neighbor. We see it in the Middle East; we’re even staring to see it here in the US. Interpreting the Time
54 He also said to the crowds, ‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, “It is going to rain”; and so it happens.55And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, “There will be scorching heat”; and it happens.56You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? Pastor Cleve believes and will tell you the end times are drawing near. I too, believe this. How do I know this? Not by some divine revelation. Not by prophetic dream. I read my Bible, I look to the Holy Spirit for discernment and with those I look at the world and see the event unfolding around us. Five years ago I stood up here in this very pulpit and predicted how in ten years the Mark of the Beast would be revealed to the world through the technology of RF chipping for humans. As I see current events in technology, it is progressing the way they, the people who make the technology, want it to go. We who call ourselves Christians are rapidly coming to the point where we must choose to follow Christ or go and join the world. We need to decide if we will just carry on with our existence or if we will fulfill the efforts of those who went before us, if we will spread the News of Jesus Christ crucified, dead, buried and raised from the dead. Thus making their efforts and our efforts perfect, and bearing good grapes for the vineyard owner, our Heavenly Father.

Where Is Your Treasure


Sermon August 11  2013 Where is Your Treasure

Old Testament – Isaiah 1:1,  10-20

The Word Isaiah means YHWH has saved or YHWH may save.

In reading this passage this week it made me do a lot of soul searching.  This message today is not against anyone or anybody but something to make us think a little more about where we are spiritually.  In our lives as a Christian sometimes we need something that will shake us to our very foundation. NOW, get ready for some SHOCK TREATMENT!

Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom!  Listen to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah!

Launch the words “Sodom and Gomorrah” at a group of people, and already your hearers are clear: Judgment is coming.

God said: I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity.  Your new moons and your appointed festivals my soul hates:  They have become a burden to me, I am weary of bearing them…..

One commentary I read from (Feasting on the Word) Basically said that God is saying he hates our worship. This is something I have been struggling with.  We come week after week endure an hour of singing and preaching and then go home and eat. Unchanged. The preaching of Gods Word does not seem to change anyone. Has Our tradition of worship  made Gods Word of None effect? We dream up new programs that don’t work.. What We need is a revival in our soul. Life is too good for us. Pain and suffering is too far removed from us.  We have allowed ourselves to become complacent and at ease.  We want preaching that will make us feel good. NOT point out our mistakes. This evil of complacency and apathy has crept into  churches world wide.The reason unbelievers want nothing to do with the church is because it appears powerless to them. They see the church as an institution….they see it as uninviting. They see us going in on Sunday but they just don’t know what we do.

I have served in ministry in over 22 churches since 1975 from Georgia to Montana. And it is the same in most of them. Lifeless.  Full of programs that are Lifeless. Think about this.  Where ever there are two Methodist churches on a charge they tolerate each other but otherwise want nothing to do with each other. What is that about???

The Church is now in the mode of  Re-Think Church…..Church Renewal.

The DVD that was sent to us from Conference is a DVD that I want everyone to see. The pastor shares many different ways to be the Church not just in our building. Not just in our programs. But seeing ourselves as the Church in the community. Perhaps something as simple as volunteering in the school system.  Recognizing our EMT’s, Firemen, Police.  Speaking to someone in the restaurant such as the waitress asking them if they would mind if we prayed for them. And then actually doing it.  Or paying it forward by paying for someones meal. An act of radical kindness to someone in the community….

Talk about a wake up call this morning…Perhaps through this message  God is trying to  get our attention. It has gotten mine I know...

The Scriptures do a good job such as pointing out in Hebrews 4:12: 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

And now for the conclusion of the Isaiah passage….You can breath now.

v.16-17-Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good, seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.

IN SPECIFIC TERMs, doing good and seeking justice look like this: “Rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.”

v. 19-If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Here comes some soothing ointment to this blazing message…..

Psalm 80

The mighty one, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its settings.

God is seeking us. God wants to have a relationship with us on a daily basis. Not just see us in church once a week.

Epistle- Hebrews 11:1-3 and 8-16

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval.  By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.

God said it is possible and we are  busy trying to tell God that it is not possible. Is it that we don’t believe it  or We just don’t want to believe it.  There was a song a few years ago titled “Excuses, Excuses

Think about this in Psalm 46: 10-11

Be still, and know that I am God:
I will be exalted among the heathen,
I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

So what is the solution? Be Still, Hold your peace, remain at rest. Remember the Israelites when they got to the edge of the Red Sea? They panicked. Look at Exodus 14:10-12.

10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord. 11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? 12 Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.

And Then look at vv 13-14

13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 14 The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

Are you facing a red sea in your life?  Are troubles surrounding you?  Wondering how in the world you are going to make it?

Gospel -  Luke 12:32-40

Our Gospel reading opens with the words :

v. 32: Fear Not

v. 33 sell all you have and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that fails not, where no thief approaches, neither moth corrupts

v.34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

The passage continues on about watching for the Lord to return. Something that is not talked about much in churches anymore.

Jesus concludes with:  Be ye therefore ready also: for the SON OF MAN cometh at an hour when you think not.

Yes the world is in chaos. Everything seems to be upside down. BUT we must keep the Faith. We must share the Faith. If ever there has been a time that we should be doing our best for the Lord it is now. We are in the last days.

We cannot go to sleep.  We cannot be complacent. We cannot be unconcerned.

We should be living in expectation of Jesus coming. We have never been closer than we are today in 2013.

For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.

We  must be ready ---for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.

Where is Your Treasure?????

Seek The Things Above


Sermon July 28   Ask, Seek, Knock

Old Testament -Amos Hosea 1:2-10

In this text Hosea, the first of the Minor Prophets, challenges us to see the world through God’s eyes.  It is not a pretty picture…

God is a like a long-suffering spouse who encounters never-ending unfaithfulness and rejection but whose love is so great that He is willing to suffer great pain and all kinds of indignities in order to win back the beloved.  On down the road God is even willing to be crucified for the unfaithful one. Just when the story is at its lowest point, Hosea sounds a message of incredible grace.

So, In this story God is showing how Israel had forsaken God. Hosea was instructed to marry this prostitute as an example of how Israel had treated God.  In the end Hosea had to go after this wife that had harloted herself out to a rich man and had to buy her back on the auction block.

But I will have pity on the house of Judah, and I will save them by the Lord their God; I will not save them by bow, or by sword, or by war, or by horses, or by horsemen.

4: 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because those hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shall be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children….

A warning by God not to forget His Law….Jesus told us the two laws that are the most important….Love the Lord they God with all thy heart, soul, might, and mind…and love thy neighbor as thyself.

Psalm  85

Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.

Even in the book of Revelation Jesus sends out a warning to the churches. Even in our world and society today when we get off the path we are given warnings.  We should take heed to the warnings given to us by Jesus,  God,   Almighty.  (I encourage you to go home and read these passages from the book of Revelation.)

Rev. 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto  the churches…(Ephesus)

Rev. 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches .(Smyrna)

Rev.2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches..(Pergamos)

Rev. 2:29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches.(Thyatira)

Rev. 3:6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches…(Sardis)

Rev. 3:13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches..(Philadelphia)

Rev. 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches..Laodiceans)

Rev. 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock, if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Epistle- Colossians 2:6-19

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human TRADITION, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ.

The problems the Pharisees got into was listening to man rather than God. They were pushing the people to hear their proclamations. The same is true today in many circles.

We must guard ourselves against traditions and STICK to the Word of God. That is where the answers lie.

Mankind has written all kinds of books. They have come up with all kinds of philosophies. All of that shall pass. But Gods Word last forever. Matthew 5:17-18 Think not that I am come to destroy the Law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.  For verily I say unto you, Til heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Isaiah 55:11 So shall my Word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Lets make a comparison.  In Genesis 1:1 what does it say:  In the Beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

 Look at John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by Him: and without Him was not anything made that was made.  In Him was LIFE, and the LIFE was the light of men.  And the light shineth in the darkness: and the darkness comprehended it not.

Now let us look at Revelation 1:8 JESUS is speaking:  I Am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

V. 17….Fear not, I am the first and the last. 18. I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and death.

Is there any doubt Who Is Speaking to Us.

Gospel Reading ( Please Stand if Able)  Luke 11:1-13

The first part of this text we see the disciples asking Jesus to teach them to pray. He instructed them to ask for Daily bread. There is bread that feeds the body. And there is bread that feeds the soul. Jesus stated that he is the Bread that came down.

He also instructed them about forgiveness. Look it up in the KJV and read it carefully. It says this:  And forgive us our sins; for we ALSO FORGIVE EVERYONE THAT IS INDEBTED TO US.

After this instruction Jesus gives the story about Asking, Seeking, and Knocking.

Ask, and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you.

Let us look at other areas that Jesus refers to Asking.

MT 6:8 Your Father knoweth what things you have need of, before you ask him.

MT 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Jesus is inviting us to have conversation with the Father.

In life we have to ask in order to receive. And after we ask we are in expectation of an answer.

Why do we continue with our education? Because we are seeking answers, we are seeking knowledge, we are seeking our purpose in life. 

When we are in doubt about our spiritual life we seek answers in Gods Word.

We have to keep knocking on the doors of knowledge to find answers. Sometimes we have to continue knocking until we find the answer we are looking for that satisfies us.

Matt 7:11 If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

How much clearer can this be?  If we can do the least to our own children and family how much more will God do for us.

 

Matt 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall Agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ASK, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. V.20 for where two or three are gathered together in my Name, there am I in the midst of them.

Some people get hung up on thinking that you have to have a large crowd to be thought of as successful. Jesus plainly tells us if two will agree it shall be done.  And if two or three are gathered together HE WILL BE THERE>

Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, BELIEVING, ye shall receive.

The key word in this passage is the word “BELIEVING”.  In the formula I have shared with you many times it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that most people get stuck between asking and believing which then hinders the receiving.

Even Jesus could do no great miracles in his own home town because of their  “UNBELIEF”.

John 15:7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.

Abide means to live. If we live in Christ and His Words live in us then we can ask and it shall be done.

John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ASK, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Many people ask without expecting God to hear or answer.  The same is true of seed time and harvest. You plant butterbeans you get butter beans back.  We give to God because we love him. Not because of a religious expectation. But he clearly tells us that  if we give it shall be given.  For as long as I can remember I have given away clothes, cars, furniture, and YES MONEY.  And guess what?  I can’t outgive God. It comes back as it says “pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall MEN give unto your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete (give out) withal it shall be measured to you again.

Giving is part of the principle of God’s Kingdom. He clearly shows that from Genesis to Revelation. It not a blab and grab it philosophy. It is the way with God. And God has tried to show us over and over that this is a principle of the kingdom….a law if you will.

James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lust.

God is not a vending machine and many people look at it as such. You don’t give to get as in bargaining with God. Yet the principle is in force which is giving and receiving. God gave us His Son so that He could receive us back unto himself IF , IF,  IF, we will accept that free salvation offered to us.

I John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that , if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever wwe ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

What is the Will of GOD?  It is His Word.  If you have installed a new ice maker in your refrigerator and it doesn’t work what do you do? You look at the instructions (MEN). The reason so many peoples lives are in such chaos is because they have not looked at the instruction manual for life in a long time. That instruction manual is Gods Word. Unless you know His Word you do not understand the principle of how to Ask, Seek, and Knock. Lord, open our eyes that we may see that you are our help in the Past, the present, and the future.

Ask, Seek, Knock


Sermon July 28   Ask, Seek, Knock

Old Testament -Amos Hosea 1:2-10

In this text Hosea, the first of the Minor Prophets, challenges us to see the world through God’s eyes.  It is not a pretty picture…

God is a like a long-suffering spouse who encounters never-ending unfaithfulness and rejection but whose love is so great that He is willing to suffer great pain and all kinds of indignities in order to win back the beloved.  On down the road God is even willing to be crucified for the unfaithful one. Just when the story is at its lowest point, Hosea sounds a message of incredible grace.

So, In this story God is showing how Israel had forsaken God. Hosea was instructed to marry this prostitute as an example of how Israel had treated God.  In the end Hosea had to go after this wife that had harloted herself out to a rich man and had to buy her back on the auction block.

But I will have pity on the house of Judah, and I will save them by the Lord their God; I will not save them by bow, or by sword, or by war, or by horses, or by horsemen.

4: 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because those hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shall be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children….

A warning by God not to forget His Law….Jesus told us the two laws that are the most important….Love the Lord they God with all thy heart, soul, might, and mind…and love thy neighbor as thyself.

Psalm  85

Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.

Even in the book of Revelation Jesus sends out a warning to the churches. Even in our world and society today when we get off the path we are given warnings.  We should take heed to the warnings given to us by Jesus,  God,   Almighty.  (I encourage you to go home and read these passages from the book of Revelation.)

Rev. 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto  the churches…(Ephesus)

Rev. 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches .(Smyrna)

Rev.2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches..(Pergamos)

Rev. 2:29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches.(Thyatira)

Rev. 3:6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches…(Sardis)

Rev. 3:13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches..(Philadelphia)

Rev. 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches..Laodiceans)

Rev. 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock, if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Epistle- Colossians 2:6-19

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human TRADITION, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ.

The problems the Pharisees got into was listening to man rather than God. They were pushing the people to hear their proclamations. The same is true today in many circles.

We must guard ourselves against traditions and STICK to the Word of God. That is where the answers lie.

Mankind has written all kinds of books. They have come up with all kinds of philosophies. All of that shall pass. But Gods Word last forever. Matthew 5:17-18 Think not that I am come to destroy the Law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.  For verily I say unto you, Til heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Isaiah 55:11 So shall my Word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Lets make a comparison.  In Genesis 1:1 what does it say:  In the Beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

 Look at John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by Him: and without Him was not anything made that was made.  In Him was LIFE, and the LIFE was the light of men.  And the light shineth in the darkness: and the darkness comprehended it not.

Now let us look at Revelation 1:8 JESUS is speaking:  I Am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

V. 17….Fear not, I am the first and the last. 18. I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and death.

Is there any doubt Who Is Speaking to Us.

Gospel Reading ( Please Stand if Able)  Luke 11:1-13

The first part of this text we see the disciples asking Jesus to teach them to pray. He instructed them to ask for Daily bread. There is bread that feeds the body. And there is bread that feeds the soul. Jesus stated that he is the Bread that came down.

He also instructed them about forgiveness. Look it up in the KJV and read it carefully. It says this:  And forgive us our sins; for we ALSO FORGIVE EVERYONE THAT IS INDEBTED TO US.

After this instruction Jesus gives the story about Asking, Seeking, and Knocking.

Ask, and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you.

Let us look at other areas that Jesus refers to Asking.

MT 6:8 Your Father knoweth what things you have need of, before you ask him.

MT 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Jesus is inviting us to have conversation with the Father.

In life we have to ask in order to receive. And after we ask we are in expectation of an answer.

Why do we continue with our education? Because we are seeking answers, we are seeking knowledge, we are seeking our purpose in life. 

When we are in doubt about our spiritual life we seek answers in Gods Word.

We have to keep knocking on the doors of knowledge to find answers. Sometimes we have to continue knocking until we find the answer we are looking for that satisfies us.

Matt 7:11 If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

How much clearer can this be?  If we can do the least to our own children and family how much more will God do for us.

 

Matt 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall Agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ASK, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. V.20 for where two or three are gathered together in my Name, there am I in the midst of them.

Some people get hung up on thinking that you have to have a large crowd to be thought of as successful. Jesus plainly tells us if two will agree it shall be done.  And if two or three are gathered together HE WILL BE THERE>

Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, BELIEVING, ye shall receive.

The key word in this passage is the word “BELIEVING”.  In the formula I have shared with you many times it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that most people get stuck between asking and believing which then hinders the receiving.

Even Jesus could do no great miracles in his own home town because of their  “UNBELIEF”.

John 15:7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.

Abide means to live. If we live in Christ and His Words live in us then we can ask and it shall be done.

John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ASK, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Many people ask without expecting God to hear or answer.  The same is true of seed time and harvest. You plant butterbeans you get butter beans back.  We give to God because we love him. Not because of a religious expectation. But he clearly tells us that  if we give it shall be given.  For as long as I can remember I have given away clothes, cars, furniture, and YES MONEY.  And guess what?  I can’t outgive God. It comes back as it says “pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall MEN give unto your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete (give out) withal it shall be measured to you again.

Giving is part of the principle of God’s Kingdom. He clearly shows that from Genesis to Revelation. It not a blab and grab it philosophy. It is the way with God. And God has tried to show us over and over that this is a principle of the kingdom….a law if you will.

James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lust.

God is not a vending machine and many people look at it as such. You don’t give to get as in bargaining with God. Yet the principle is in force which is giving and receiving. God gave us His Son so that He could receive us back unto himself IF , IF,  IF, we will accept that free salvation offered to us.

I John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that , if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever wwe ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

What is the Will of GOD?  It is His Word.  If you have installed a new ice maker in your refrigerator and it doesn’t work what do you do? You look at the instructions (MEN). The reason so many peoples lives are in such chaos is because they have not looked at the instruction manual for life in a long time. That instruction manual is Gods Word. Unless you know His Word you do not understand the principle of how to Ask, Seek, and Knock. Lord, open our eyes that we may see that you are our help in the Past, the present, and the future.