Sermons

Does God show us how we can prevent falling away from Him and the truth? Are there, on the other hand, certain steps one has to make before one actually does fall away? We can draw seven principles from the first chapter of the book of Romans, describing the steps one needs to make to fall away from God. In that chapter, Paul addresses people who once knew God and His truth, but who neglected to glorify Him as God and to give Him thanks. As a consequence, they became futile in their thoughts, until their foolish hearts were darkened. They exchanged the truth into a lie and did not like to retain God in their knowledge. Finally, they became haters of God, despising God and everything He stands for. It is impossible to renew a person to repentance who had been converted, but who has become once again a hater of God.

Beyond the historical references of the House of Israel and the House of Judah, Biblical prophecy shows that both modern Israel and modern Judah are destined to once again undergo national captivity. At the return of Jesus Christ, the people of these nations will be gathered together to return to the land of Israel the second time. Particular emphasis is drawn on the reason why God will once again punish the rebellion of His people.

In spite of the fact we are told that we will face trials test and even tribulation we must not get discouraged by all this. God and Christ have promised in the Bible not to try us more than what we can endure. There will be a way of escape in a trial and that we would never be forsaken in trials. Our hope is in the resurrection and God is interested in the final outcome of us being in His family so trials is the lost of this Christian walk.

Are converted Christians the helpless victims of time and chance? Do true Christians die prematurely, because they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time? Did Solomon teach, in Ecclesiastes 9:11, that true Christians are subject to and dependent on time and chance? Some have taught this wrong concept over the years. In doing so, they have undermined the faith of Christians in the mighty and powerful hand of God. The Bible teaches very clearly that Christians do not die because of time and chance. Rather, when a Christian dies, it is because God decided that it was time for him or her to die. God is in total control. Many Scriptures prove this without a doubt.

The doctrine of the “Trinity” and the Holy Spirit as it is encompassed within the “Trinity concept” is not a minor issue, as it relates to the Christian world. In fact, it reflects the extent to which mankind will go in his effort to walk contrary to the Ways of God.

This sermon is about the Day of Pentecost. It covers a review of the commands from God to observe this Feast Day, and it presents a very specific examination of the great meaning in the particular part of God’s great master plan that is revealed in this Holy Day. The meaning of the “two wave loaves” as mentioned in Leviticus 23 is discussed in detail in light of New Testament fulfillments.

Those called by God strive to receive or use God’s Spirit to meet our ultimate goal and destiny — to become a Spirit being — a God being in the Family of God. But what then? What does it mean? Do we have any idea what it will be like to be God? Do we really know what God has in store for us? Do we understand why we need to strive — with the help of God’s Spirit — to become God? Or, are our action motivated by the fear what will happen to us if we don’t make it into the Kingdom?

We will notice in this sermon marvelous Scriptures revealing to us the life of God — the very life that we will share. How does God live? What does He do? Once we know, we will also know what really awaits us — and why all of our sufferings today, and the forsaking of things that are bad for us, are indeed worthwhile.

Christians need to understand what it means to have membership in the Church of God. Along with this we also need to understand that this unique membership requires something on our part. This sermon develops this topic by further examining specific aspects and duties of membership.

As a result of the error that has been injected into the Church by Satan, the devil, and by certain men over the past 15-20 years, God’s people have been scattered to the four winds as to what they have come to believe relative to the Truth of God! How does God view His people in light of these events?

In the eighth chapter of the book of John, Jesus Christ made several profound statements, when discussing spiritual matters with certain Jews who believed in Him. He told them that believing in Christ not enough. Rather, we must abide in His words, that is, we must obey Him. If we do, we shall know the truth, and the truth will make us free. Other Scriptures show that Jesus Christ must give us true freedom, but He will only do so, if we accept and live God’s truth. We must continuously repent of wrong habits and conduct, and we must grow in the faith of God. True repentance and true belief motivate us to action. Christ said that we, who know the truth, are blessed when we do it.

This sermon addresses the dimension of God’s anger. Seven points are given: (1.) We should fear god’s anger; (2.) God’s anger is fair; (3.) God is slow to anger; (4.) God will turn from His anger; (5.) God’s anger can save us; (6.) God’s anger can destroy us; and, (7.) We need to understand what invokes God’s anger.

When the Children of Israel left Egypt, they thought they understood where they were going. Yet forty years later, they still had not entered the “promised land.” Of those adults who departed from Egypt on that “night to be much observed,” only two actually entered into the land. This should provide food for thought for God’s people today, as Satan continues to attack the Church of God.

This sermon discusses the lives of two brothers — Esau and Jacob, sons of Isaac and Rebekah. They were twins. They impacted humanity — in fact, today’s problems in the Middle East and in the Western world can only be fully understood when we appreciate what happened in the lives of these two brothers thousands of years ago. Jacob had been preordained to be called by God and to receive the birthright. His wrong choices, however, and his refusal to respond to God’s calling earlier in his life caused many problems for him and others. At the same time, Esau’s conduct serves as a perpetual warning for us not to take our calling lightly.

Seven days of unleavened bread picture coming totally out of sin – out of the evil ways of this world, which ways have been inspired by Satan the devil. In disobeying God’s command to “not look behind you” Lot’s wife did “look back,” thus becoming a perpetual example of one not willing to come out of this world’s evil ways.

Asking the question, “How are we doing in our exodus from sin?”–this sermon addresses the lessons of the seventh day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. As commanded, this day is kept as a holy convocation as God commanded, and the parallels are made for Christians to complete their departure from sin just as the Israelites of old finally completed their journey by entering the promised land.

Pinpointing some of the big-picture themes of God’s master plan, this sermon covers three major teachings by Jesus from the 17th chapter of John: (1.) Jesus teaches about the world; (2.) Jesus teaches about unity; and, (3.) Jesus teaches about His work. The underlying theme is that of what both the Father and the Son are doing to make possible eternal life for mankind.

The Days of Unleavened Bread remind us that we must come out of sin on a continuous basis. Sometimes, this is very difficult, because we may not always realize that we are still living deceptive. Sometimes, we may not even know that we are sinning, or if we do, we may think that it is not a big deal to God. Hebrews 12:1 tells us that sin easily ensnares us, and David prayed that God would cleanse him from his secret sins. This sermon shows from many Biblical examples how sin easily ensnares us. But as long as we let God lead and rule our lives, we will win our fight against sin. Many of those whom this sermon discusses will be in God’s Kingdom, even though they sinned — sometimes severely. But they repented of their sins, and they pressed forward toward their goal of eternal life. We must do likewise. And with God’s help, we can and will succeed.

We noted in our sermon of 3/08/03 that prophecy can be found in Books of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and that over one full third of the Bible is devoted to this subject of prophecy. In this sermon we will go into seven of the basic keys leading to the understanding of this significant part of God’s Word.

The war with Iraq will prove to be one of the essential events necessary to bring about Biblical prophecy that will culminate in the return of Jesus Christ. The Bible clearly reveals what lies ahead for the near and imminent future. Focusing on the book of Isaiah, we need to understand who modern Israel’s future foes will be, and why. Why will God allow modern Israel and Judah to be defeated in the near future by their enemies? Could pagan worship services, the keeping of Sunday and other pagan festivals, the rejection of the observance of God’s holy days, and pride and trust in the military, have anything to do with it?