Child of God, as you come and take your seat, today, believe God. Here in this moment and in this place, He is in our very midst. Present. Here with us. Waiting. Watching. Standing by with His eyes fully upon you. Fix your eyes upon Him. You need a heart fixer and a mind regulator today, no matter what the hour. For every one of us, if the truth be told, can use a special touch from the Master today. What do you need today? What is your problem today? "How can I make it," did I hear you say? Trust Jesus. Jesus will surely make a way. In the time it would take for you to cry out to God, you will have received your answer. And that may be, "yes", "no", or "wait". An answer, nevertheless. There is peace in the offing. Let us pray. Bow your head in humble submission to the Lord. Just a little talk with Jesus will make it all right.
Master and Lord over all, be merciful to your people. Hear, oh God, their every cry and wrap your loving arms of protection all around them. Walk with us in the midst of this service. Speak to us by your Holy and everlasting Word, and touch us with your peace and blessed anointing to obey your will, your word, and your way. For we ask it all in Jesus's mighty name. Amen. Let the people of God now say, "Amen."
The cross of Calvary held at its very core, all of the promises of God to never leave you nor forsake you. Never to leave you alone. Never to reject you or turn you out. When you turn to Him, He will take you in. When you call on Him in the name of Jesus, He will hear you. And He will surely, surely "supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory." [Phil. 4:19] How do I know? The hymnologist sat down and penned these words inspired by God's Holy Word. "Jesus paid it all and all to Him I owe. Sin has left a crimson stain. But, [thank God] He washed it white as snow."
For just a few moments, let us consider, then, what this day means for us as Christians in a world that needs the Lord but at the same time reject Him time and again. Even as He stands with outstretched hands. Heart laid bare. Available. In even the most dire of circumstances, Jesus is being left out of the workplace, the schoolhouse, the whitehouse, the courthouse, the family house, and if you can bear it, His house. But, oh when you know Him as Jesus and Savior of the whole world, there is a certain peace. Isaiah was right when he said, "And He shall keep you in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee." [Isa. 26:3] Then Paul picked it up and said, "And the peace of God that passeth all understanding will guard your heart and mind!!" [Phil. 4:7]
THE SCRIPTURE:
THE THEME: Sabbath and The Bruised All Over The World
THE SONG: Sanctus from Faure's Requiem
In this moment of The Lord's blessed time, I want to let you know that whatever you may be experiencing right now or have experienced in the past, or have yet to experience at a later date -- Believe and you shall receive the victory. Everywhere you look, somebody is weak, worn, weary, tired, ready to throw up their hands and give up. Although Christians are reluctant to admit this and too often go out of their way to deny it, this is not just something that we find to be true in our homes, communities, or nation. In fact, if you care to search long enough, you will find how people are undergoing trials, test, persecutions, difficulties and just plain nagging as much as they experience the joys and highs of this life. This is happening all across this earth. And, the preacher is not exempt. If you want to follow Jesus, you must "first deny yourself [daily], take up your [own] cross, and follow Jesus." [Matt. 16:24] This is the Word of the Lord. And, while there are many types of organizations to address whatever type of ailment comes before it, yet, far too many people remain unhealed in their bodies, minds and spirits. Why? Because of the lack of followup -- follow through. Oh, there may have been an initial act of caring concern, but don't be sick too long. Friends just might get the feeling that you linger in your illness to vex their own souls.
Think about it. What would you want somebody to do to help you through a crisis in your life? Perhaps you or a loved one may be stricken with an incurable disease. For it is certainly true that none of us is immune from sickness and ultimately death. Even preachers die. But when you really stop for a moment and think about it, what one thing would bless you in the midst of pain and hurt, suffering, and walking through the valley of the Shadow of Death? You know intimately, "The Lord is my Shepherd. . .," [Ps. 23:1] but just how much pain could you really bear? Do you really know just how high your pain threshold is? Have you given any thought to what in the world is it that would sustain you in the midst of your deepest woe? For we have all been there. Indeed, and we shall return there again and again as long as we remain in the flesh.
What can best satisfy your emptiness? What is your emptiness? Many sisters and brothers are single -- some by choice. Some by circumstances beyond their control. Some married yet oh so lonely and alone. And my dear Christian friends, I am not altogether sure that this would not be the loneliest kind of aloneness there may be on the face of this earth. You remember? Job's wife told him to "curse God and die".[Job 2:9] And what's more, she knew that Job found favor in God's sight. Had not God blessed him? And her, too, for that matter. And did not Lot's wife turn when she had been instructed by the angels not to do so? And she was turned into a pillar of salt? [Gen. 19:26] Wait a minute. Did not Sarah talk Abraham into lying with her handmaiden, Hagar, instead of believing with him for the promise of a son? [Gen. 16] What are you saying, preacher? It takes a whole lot of courage to be sold out for the Lord God and to not give in to the many, many voices of this old world which urge you to turn aside from all that you know to be Holy, true, and wholly of God. Press on!
It takes all of the courage you have just to remain steadfast on the battlefield for the Lord. This is a message which comes from the depths of my soul and very spirit. For it looks to the cross of Calvary and away from this dying old sinful decaying world. It looks heavenward. It looks all the way to God's Throne in glory! It searches at the mercy seat for the True and Living God. For the Sabbath experience.
Sabbath Day. The Bible lets us know that "man was made for the Sabbath and not the Sabbath for man."
Those who run into the Sanctuary on the Sabbath, run there to find peace. Yes, it is true there are also those who run to seek trouble and to give you trouble and to flirt with the preacher (whether the preacher is male or female). It makes no difference to them. And, in their misguided belief that anything goes in God's House, Sabbaths have become tainted by secularist and carnal minds.
Philippians 4:7
 A House of PrayerA House of PraiseA House of PeaceA House of Perfecting the Saints of GodA House of Putting Satan Under Your Feet
The House of God and The People of God are coming together to make God's House and God's People one in the Spirit! The God of all be praised forever more! |
This very issue of bringing God's peace to the tossed and turned out, rejected, dejected, neglected, cast out, put upon, put off, placed aside, forgotten, isolated, shutup, shutdown, and shutoff hurting people around this globe, near and afar, must continue to be one brought up from out of the very depths of loving compassion which will compel you to "go ye," and when you get there, to "preach ye God's liberating message of the gospel's Salvation."
Yes, I daresay you have read these ideas before elsewhere. You have seen them and have even acted upon these and many more, besides. You have preached them. You know God's Word inside and out. You know The Word. But, one thing is sure. You must live the Word. You say that you are? Praise the Lord. But we know that somebody is not doing it! Somewhere on this planet, there is someone crying out in the hour of their greatest pain. But, guess what? Believers are too sanctified and Holy to draw near!!! And, what is more, when they do [if they do], they do not forebear!! It is time to bring back that lovely word, "Forebear."
And let us talk about grief. Grieving is a healing response of the mind, body and soul towards restoration. Mourning is another healing response. "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." [Matt. 5:4]
What do you need today? More money? I am not a bank, but I can believe with you that "My God will supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory." [Phil. 4:19]
Do you need to have a respite from the trials? Prayer? Hope? More faith? More strength? More peace? More of everything? God knows just how much you can bear. And, I cannot help but bear your burdens, if only in part, until you are able to pick them up again and carry them. Can you do the same for someone else?
Do you need a word from The Lord? I can help you to seek His face and to hear His voice. But you have to be willling to listen and hear. You have to know how to look and see. The Holy Spirit has made a connection and, that connection, in turn, hooks you up to the Father.
What is your need today? Do you need companionship? God is able above all to even take care of this need. When you seek companionship, God will grant your desire. Just be ready when He first works on you! Then be ready when that prayer is answered to receive God's answer. Be very specific, too.
In closing, I must add that it is never too late to bring all of your hurts to the altar. Just ask the thief on the cross. Only be sure you do not wait too long to do so. No one knows the day nor the hour that Jesus will return. None but the Father. [Matt. 24:36]
Help one another. Love one another. Bless one another by your touch and by your prayers. Be at the beck and call of somebody in the time of need. The bruised of the world will get that way by the church as well as by the world. But, surely the church could do far better than the world ever could in bringing about reconciliation and restoration. We are ambassadors of Christ. We are bearers of His mighty Word. We are recipients of His mercy, love, compassion, light, grace, Salvation, and peace and life.
Surely we can expend some energy enough to let all who know not Jesus in the pardon of their sins to truly get to know Him and to be blessed of God in so doing.
YOU CAN BE SAVED RIGHT NOW
In accordance with Romans
10th Chapter.
Take a moment to let us pray for you and with you. Repeat these words with your own mouth and believe in your heart. Just say, "Lord Jesus, I don't know if you can even look on me right now. But I do know that everything I have tried on my own has not worked for me. I need a Savior in my life. So, right now with my own mouth, I confess that you, Lord Jesus are my Lord and my personal Savior. I believe that you died for my sins on the cross at a place called 'Calvary'. I believe that you were crucified, died, and were buried to cover my own sins and the sins of the world. I believe that on the third day you rose from the dead (called the resurrection), and that you are now standing before the Father making intercession for me. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I surrender my life to you right now. Thank you for hearing my prayer in the name of Jesus. ~Amen.
Thank you for praying that prayer. Now, go get yourself a Bible. Get into a Bible-believing church. Stay in God's Holy Word. GOD LOVES YOU TODAY!
Jesus came to call sinners. Aren't you glad He called you and aren't you glad that you came forth? Stay your course of faith in Jesus' name. God bless you and grant you His peace as you go forth in His service.
Columbia, Maryland
"THE CHURCH WHERE JESUS REIGNS SUPREME"
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