Sermons

How will it be like for us, when we are born-again members of the Family of God? When we are Spirit beings, unable to die or to sin, and no longer subject to physical limitations? What exactly does our future hold? Why is our potential worth striving and fighting for?

By living according to God’s way, we can avoid so many of the problems experienced by those who ignore it.   Our life can be more fulfilling and enjoyable because of our faith – not grinding out this life before we enjoy eternity.   Those of us who have been called to understand God’s master plan as revealed through His holy days are of all people most blessed, and the Feast of Tabernacles is a wonderful time to enjoy both now and what the reality holds for us in the future.

We are commanded to “afflict our souls” on the Day of
Atonement. Does this really mean that we must fast for 24 hours? And if so, do
we fast by just abstaining from solid food during that time, or do we also have
to abstain from liquids? What are some of the reasons and purposes for
fasting? On the other hand, what are some of the motives which we should not
have when we fast? Does fasting have rewards? Can we fast in vain? And what is
the connection between reconciliation or at-one-ment and fasting?

When Lucifer rebelled against the Almighty God he had a specific, all consuming purpose in mind for what he did. That purpose is still his major objective today. He continues to work toward that all consuming objective.

We speak of how things change–usually it is over time. But the Feast of Trumpets focuses on a period when sudden, catastrophic occurrences will be happening with mind-numbing speed! The good news of this Day is that Jesus Christ will return to this earth to change the government of this world and to establish peace. Reviewing the examples and meaning of the Feast of Trumpets will help us prepare for what lies ahead.

The Feast of Trumpets is a memorial–a day of blowing an awakening blast. We are warned that literal slavery is coming upon the modern houses of Israel and Judah, as well as parts of God’s Church. Upon repentance, the returning Jesus Christ will bring freedom from slavery. Today, we can become worthy, in God’s eyes, to escape the yoke of captivity, as well as the spiritual slavery of sin and death, by submitting to the will of God, and by fulfilling, individually and collectively, God’s commission to His Church to be “spiritual trumpets.” God offers us protection from the Great Tribulation, but it is not received automatically, just because we may be “in” the Church of God.

Seven areas where the gulf between God and man is inestimable are discussed in this sermon, that of Time, Space, Wealth, Vision, Power, Perfection and Love. 
The day celebrating the Feast of Trumpets is an exciting glimpse into the future when those who have been faithful to the very end, will become members of the family of God.   There is a massive, unbridgeable gulf between God and man at this time – in every way.   We’re human now, but when we are members of God’s family as spirit beings in the future, we will have the same attributes and capabilities that God now has.

We live in a time when the faith we embrace is under assault–the truth of God has been corrupted. In spite of this, we must endure these times that will grow even more difficult. According to what Jesus Christ taught, the true worshipers of God must worship Him in spirit and truth. The Bible reveals just who are the true worshipers of God.

After giving a brief update on Feast preparations for 2007, this sermon will discuss the dangers related to requesting or seeking signs; focusing on dreams; or analyzing “circumstances,” when confronted with having to make difficult decisions. We must be aware that there could be wrong signs and false dreamers of dreams–even in God’s Church. And, as Biblical examples prove, “circumstances” could be easily misinterpreted or misjudged, if we are not very close to God, so as to be able to really know His Word and His Will for us.

Part-I: Story of Noah: 1)Billion people, 2)An Age of Evil, 3)Noah found grace, 4)120-year Ark preparation/capacity, 5)The Great Flood, 6)A curse on Canaan, Part-II: Additional material: 7)Lamech–Man of Violence, 8)Noah’s life threatened–forced to flee, 9)Noah’s day compared to ours, 10)Criminals who lived for centuries, 11)Mankind could have been better, 12)Noah and the Work of God, 13)The Deluged, 14)Conclusion: a)3-worlds b)Noah’s Future c)9 lessons from Noah.

Are we watching world conditions? Why? So that we just know more than others? Or is there a deeper purpose involved? Why do we study Biblical prophecy? Just so that we gain intellectual knowledge? Why do we keep the weekly and annual Sabbaths; and why do we attend the Feast of Tabernacles–if we do? Just because of social reasons, or because of feelings of guilt if we don’t? Are we watching our own spiritual condition? Do we understand that the time of Jesus Christ’s return is drawing near? Are we getting ready for His return? Are we involved in the Work of the Church to preach the gospel? Or have we become deceived to think that the Work is over and all we need to do is to “make it into the kingdom”? Do we approach our call to salvation in just a selfish manner? Are we willing to make sacrifices for the good of others? Are we watching?

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Scripture admonishes us to hold fast but we can’t hold fast if we compromise.   Those who compromise will fall short of what is required and compromising with God’s Law and His way of life will ensure that we will not inherit the promises for the future.   Those promises, amongst other places, are spelled out in Revelation 3:12.

The Scripture tells us that one who is “in Christ” is a “new creation.” Such a person has the potential of becoming “…as God is”! But this progression requires “God’s Spirit in us” and our continually striving to live our lives according to the Way of God. We must not limit God’s Power in us in achieving this wonderful calling of the Eternal God!

Christians must continue to repent of their sins–it is a life-long challenge. The function and purpose of repentance sometimes gets neglected in our lives, and that is dangerous ground to stand in! The warning for us is that we never take for granted the calling of God or the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We must not allow sins to sear our conscience.

Did Paul believe that he would go to heaven? Is this what he meant when he said that he wanted to depart and be with Christ? Did Christ promise Peter heaven when He told him that he would follow Him later, even though He said that he could not come where He would go? What did Christ mean when He said: “Where I am you cannot come?” Did Christ promise His disciples a place in heaven when He told them that there were many mansions in His Father’s house, and that He would go to prepare a place for them? If you believe that heaven is the reward of the saints, then the answers in this sermon will shock and surprise you.
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Do we live our lives in accordance with God’s Will? Do we live according to the faith God has allowed in us? Or do we live our lives based upon our own will, in accordance with the standards of this world?
When we vary our approach according to the world’s standards, we effectively condemn ourselves in what we have approved (Romans 14:22). When we do this, we have placed this world’s ways above the ways of our God, an action the Scripture refers to as idolatry.
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Jesus Christ taught about the Kingdom of Heaven, and he spoke of the time of harvest of the righteous. Eventually, the good must be separated from the bad–that is the final step taken in the process of harvesting. Will we be among the wheat or the tares?

When God created a physical garden for man–the Garden of
Eden or Paradise–, He made special trees and placed them in the midst of the
garden. These trees had special symbolic meaning. They were called the Tree of
Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. While God allowed man to
eat freely from the Tree of Life, He commanded man not to eat from the Tree of
the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Man disobeyed God, and disaster was the
consequence. What is the symbolic meaning of these two trees, and how do they
affect us today?

Satan, the deceiver of mankind, continues in his practice of using deception to trick mankind into following his ways. Ways which are contrary to God and all that God stands for. Through his deceptive ways, Satan has caused mankind to turn from the laws, the statutes, and the judgments of God to live in total rebellion to God’s Way; and to organize his life such that he appears to be doing good, while he continues to move further from the perfect Way of God.