The Saddest Day

Exodus Major Events.

• Captivity
• Calling of Moses
• Moses returns with God’s Power AND Direction
• Plagues unleashed concluding with the Passover
• Rea sea crossing
• Wilderness crossing
• Ten Commandments
• Water from the Rock and Manna to eat
• Spies sent out
• New Land was exactly as God promised
• Congregation voted not to enter, reason: it was too hard “The saddest day.”
• People return to the wilderness

Lessons we can learn

1. God has a plan
2. God’s plan is not easy
3. God’s plan takes faith
4. If we do not follow God’s plan someone else will.

The rest of the story

• When the last person that refused to enter die their children entered into the Promised Land.

Today, we as a church are at the edge of the promise land. God has lead us, the question is: “will we follow through.”

The Pursuit of Sin

One of the startling realities of sin is that it takes us farther than we want to go. The Bible says we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. In that way all sin is bad. But, we must understand that sin always left unchecked leads us to places we would never dreamed of going in the beginning.  Following is the way sin progresses.

1. Sin will pursue you. Before Cain killed his brother God told him, if you do not do well sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you.” Gen. 4: 7,11
2. Sin will disappoint you. Hebrews 11:25 “the pleasures of sin are only for a season. Time will run out, and misery will be waiting on the other side.”
3. Sin will trip you up. Hebrews 12:1 Let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us.”
4. Sin is addictive. Romans 6:11 “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey. Either of sin which leads to death, or of obedience that leads to life?”
5. Sin will expose you.  Proverbs 28:13 “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper.” Deuteronomy 23:25 “Be sure your sin will find you out.”

 

 

So my question for us today is: How has sin progresses in our lives?

      I am being pursued by sin. It is crouching at the door.

      Sin promised pleasure but I am disappointed.

      I am being tripped up by sin, ensnared.

      I am experiencing an addiction.

      I have been caught and exposed.

 

 

Today, Sin does not have to reign in our bodies. You can by God’s grace over come and be healed of sins damaging effects. How, Admit you have sinned. Turn from your sin. Ask God to forgive you of the guilt of sin. Pursue God.

Obedience

Good to be back form Vacation.

 

There is a country music song titled I’m here for the party. At times the reason we have no power and there is no down pour is we are at church for the party. In Mathew 7 Jesus said, “Not all people that sound religious are really godly. They refer to me as Lord but they still won’t enter the kingdom.” Jesus is saying that some people have religion i.e. are here for the party,” not a relationship with Him. We know this because 1) they are not obedient to His wishes. If you knew Me, Jesus said, you would do as I ask. 2) They are not producing fruit. I love the staff I work with because they are producing fruit. They are helping people come closer to the Lord. They are striving to win people to Jesus. They have a Christ like attitude. Jesus also speaks of the byproduct of obedience that a relationship with Him brings. “Anyone who obeys me is wise. They are like a person who builds there house on a solid rock.” Jesus promises stability to everyone who is obedient to Him.

            If you and I want the fire to fall on our lives we must be obedient. Jesus, I pray that we as a church will have a relationship with you and not just have a religious look.

God’s dream for You

When you sit and dream about the future, what do you think of? Most of the time what we think of the is best. We contemplate the brightest scenario with our lives and our surroundings. It has been said that you can only go as far as your vision can take you. Today, I want you to think about God’s vision for your life. Have you ever thought; what would God dream about concerning you and me? The great thing about God’s Word is we do not have to guess. It is printed in black and white. In Acts 2 God says, “

‘In the last days, God said,

I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions,

and your old men will dream dreams.

In those days I will pour out my Spirit

upon all my servants, men and women alike,

and they will prophesy.

(Act 2:17-18)

Wow! God dream for you and your children and grandchildren is to dream dreams, see visions. He sees a future that is filled with His Spirit abiding in us. I pray that your week will be filled with God’s Spirit and power.