Mission Trip

This past weekend was the first mission trip that I lead and the first for New Hope Baptist Church. The couples who went on the trip were encouraged and saw opportunities for future events for New Hope. They were encouraged to see another church seeking to reach their community and hope to see us doing the same.

Pray that this will be the beginning of new growth and dedication to the work of the Lord.

Psalm X

The Righteous and Wicked Contrasted

In this Psalm, we see many elements from previous Psalms combined. Today we will look at verses 3-11 and see what the wicked look like and then we will test our biblical knowledge in finding verses and passages that describe what the righteous ought to look like. We look at the bad to see what the good ought to be. Many times, we learn best by seeing the wrong.

If you had to describe the characteristics of the Christian life, what would you list? What would you deem to be essential characteristics and markings of the Christian life?

3 Boast of the Lord; Praises and Exalts the Lord

Psalm 20:7- Some boast in chariots and some in horses; but we will boast in the name of the Lord our God.

1 Cor. 1:29, 31- that no man should boast before God. . .that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

2 Cor. 12:9- And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

4 Humble themselves before the Lord; Seek the Lord; Acknowledge the Lord

1 Cor. 13:4- and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant.

Psalm 42:1- As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for Thee O God.

Deut. 4:29- But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul.

Matt. 6:33- seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

2 Chr. 34:3- For in the eighth year of his reign while he was still a youth, he began to seek the God of his father David.

5 Recognize the judgment of God; Pray for those who hate you/Live at peace

Romans 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:10; 2 Thess. 1:5; Heb. 9:27

1 Thess. 5:13- Live in peace with one another.

Rev. 18:20-Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her.

6 God decrees and upholds all leaders

7 The mouth of the righteous shall bring praises/blessings

Psalm 149:6- Let the high praises of God be in their mouth

Psalm 108:3- I will give thanks to Thee, O Lord, among the peoples; And I will sing praises to Thee among the nations.

Psalm 71:23- My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to Thee

8 He serves the helpless; the widows; the orphans

Luke 10- the Good Samaritan

James 1:27- This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress

9 Harmless as doves

Matt. 10:16- Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves.

Gal. 6:1- you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness

Eph. 4:2- (entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,) with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love.

James 3:13- Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.

11 Work as though for the Lord

Col. 3:23- Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men.

Psalm IX- Our Rescuer

The Psalms often times seem to say the same thing over and over again. Constant requests to be rescued from the enemies and the evil along with praise for God but how does each one differ? When you study the Psalms seek to understand what that particular Psalm is saying about God and

you are likely to find the main point. What is God doing? Who is God?

In Psalm 9 we see David detailing the end of the wicked and evil, and he is detailing the results from the judgment of God. Why do we need to know the end results now? What comfort is there in knowing the results now?

Verses 1 & 2 are an opening praise to the Lord. He is saying that his thanks is to the Lord and completely devoted praise. It is with all of his heart. How much greater is the greatness of God than the greatness of man? David is captured by the greatness of God. He will sing His praises and declares Him to be above all else.

Looking at this Psalm we gain a new glimpse into why David would give praise to God. We will begin by looking at verses 6 & 7 and then moving to verses 5 & 8 and repeat the pattern until we get to verse 3.

Verses 6 & 7 are the climax of this Psalm. The main idea is found here in these two verses. Verse 6 tells us that the enemies of David, likely those who also oppose God will be in perpetual ruins. They will always be at a point of destruction. How can they defend themselves when there is nothing to protect them? There are no building in which they can seek refuge! All of their cities have been uprooted. The people are gone and so are the buildings and dwelling places. There is nothing remaining in order that people will know that they have even been there. For the enemies of God to have hope, they must cling to lies. There is nothing remaining for them to hope in. Untruth, lies is all that they are capable of clinging to but that still brings no hope.

Verse 7 is a contrast to verse 6. There is more than enough reason for the people of God to hope. The Lord will live and reign and take up residence forever. He will be with us forever. There is no end to God’s dwelling and existence. It is God’s throne that has been established. His throne is foundational to the justice of this world. Not the throne of the wicked, who no longer has a place to dwell, but the throne of God has been made authoritative. God will be the one who judges the world and all of the people who have inhabited this planet.

Verse 8 tells us that He will judge the world in righteousness. The world will be held accountable to the righteousness of God. There is no hope for those apart from Christ. Only those who have Christ’s righteousness have hope for being spared the punishment of sin. God’s judgment will not be unfair. The ones who are found innocent are those who have Christ. Those who are declared guilty are those apart from Christ. There will be no exceptions in the ruling. Verse 5 tells us that the nations have been rebuked, the wicked destroyed and their name has been blotted out. Those who have Christ and his righteousness will be spared, and those without Christ will be punished. They will be rebuked, disciplined. They will experience utter destruction. Their names will be removed from life. As verse 6 told us, they will be remembered no more.

Verse 9 tells us that the Lord will be a refuge, a stronghold, a place of protection for the oppressed. Those who are without refuge will find it in Christ. When the going gets tough we always hope for a place of rest and protection. God will be that protection from the wicked and from the destruction of his judgment but only for those who are in Christ. Verse 4 tells us that God is judging righteously. He is on His throne ruling and declaring judgment. His authority is established and is based in His righteousness. Why so much talk about God’s righteousness? It is His righteousness that is the standard. We will be judged according to our righteousness. Apart from Christ we will all be cast out of God’s sight.

Verse 10 we see that those who trust God are those who know God. How can anyone experience and know God and not be drawn to Him? How can you truly come to know your spouse and walk away without any anguish? To walk away from God is to reject your rescuer. To leave God behind is to ignore the rescue boat as the flood waters rise. God will not forsake those who seek Him. Those who seek God’s presence will not be disappointed or rejected. Those who are the enemies of God will merely stumble and perish. They do not have sure footing. They do not have any confidence on which to stand. When those who have lived in rejection of God stand before God’s throne they have no confidence. Only those who stand before God with Christ have confidence.

From verses 11 & 12 on we see the emphasis of who God is to us. Verse 12, He remembers the cries of the afflicted those who are in trouble and anguish.

Verse 13- Thou who dost lift me up from the grave- Rescue

Verse 14- I may rejoice in Thy salvation- Rescue

Verses 15 & 16- The wicked are defeated and the Lord’s judgment is righteous- Rescue

Verses 17 & 18- the injustices of the world will be made right- rescue

Verses 19 & 20- do not let man prevail- The Supremacy of God

On Distractions During Private Prayer

I believe one remedy for this is to confess our faults and to humble ourselves before God. I do not advise you to use multiplicity of words in prayer, many words and long discourses being often the occasions of wandering. Hold yourself in prayer before God like a [mute] or paralytic beggar at a rich man's gate. Let it be your business to keep your mind in the presence of the Lord. If it sometimes wander and withdraw itself from Him, do not much disquiet yourself for that: trouble and disquiet serve rather to distract the mind than to recollect it; the will must bring it back in tranquility. If you persevere in this manner, God will have pity on you.


One way to recollect the mind easily in the time of prayer, and preserve it more in tranquility, is not to let it wander too far at other times. You should keep it strictly in the presence of God; and being accustomed to think of Him often, you will find it easy to keep your mind calm in the time of prayer, or at least to recall it from its wanderings.



Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God with Spiritual Maxims, p. 49

When a Brother Injures You

Many may misjudge thy aim,
Think they have cause to blame,
Say Thou art wrong.
Go on thy quiet way.
God is thy judge, not they,
Fear not, Be strong!


A note wrote in the Bible of James David Grey (President of the SBC 1951, 1952) by one of his sunday school teachers.

Mission Trip

We will be out of town from Friday through late Sunday evening.

We are taking our first mission trip with New Hope Baptist Church. This will be the first mission trip that New Hope has ever taken. There will be two other couples going with us. This is an exciting time as we see some of the church members taking up this opportunity to be involved in missions outside of the home territory.

We will be assisting Shippensburg Community Church in their annual Pig Roast which is a major outreach opportunity for them. They invite the community to a free picnic and games. They use this to establish relationships and create opportunities to serve their community.

Please be in prayer on behalf of both churches for this opportunity.

Consequences of Faithfulness

Acts 4:21-31

Throughout his career WW Hamilton served as a professor of evangelism, secretary of evangelism for the then Home Mission Board, and president of the Baptist Bible Institute in New Orleans. He was a distinguished professor and denominational leader. He served churches in VA and KY with varying degrees of success. He supported and promoted evangelistic crusades which gave him denominational fame. He moved to New Orleans to pastor a church shortly before the Great Depression would hit. The SBC launched the 75 million campaign which was to be the foundational money for the Cooperative Program. Hamilton’s church was one of the few who met their pledge. The Baptist Bible Institute in New Orleans elected Hamilton as their president. The situation was dire. The school had $85,000 due in one year, and a total debt of over $350,000, plus no endowments to fund the school. Through the skills, knowledge and gifts the Lord had equipped Hamilton with throughout his lifetime, the school not only became debt free but began to flourish through a time that so many others collapsed and failed. At the end of his distinguished career Hamilton made an unfortunate mistake. What had been a remarkable lifetime became stained and tarnished due to one mistake. Hamilton was seeking a wife and chose to marry a young lady by the name of Catherine Hancock. You are probably wondering what is wrong with her? It was his niece. Recognizing the error he quickly filed for annulment but the tarnish and stain was there.

There are consequences for every action. Most of the time we think of consequences as negative and disastrous. For instance, there are consequences for building a city below sea level on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. But there are consequences for refusing to be found in a compromising situation with your master’s wife. There are consequences for faithfully praying for a husband for over 23 years. There are consequences for faithfully disciplining yourself to follow after the Lord.

In our text we see the consequences of the disciples faithfully submitting to the Spirit of the Lord. We see what took place in their hearts and minds following their persecution before the religious leaders of the day. Today we see three consequences of faithfulness to the Lord.

First we see that the people will glorify God. The text tells us in verse 21, “And when they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which they might punish them) on account of the people.” The leaders were fearing the people at this point. They feared what would happen if they were to further persecute Peter and John. They saw how the people loved what they had seen. Isn’t that amazing? The religious leaders are not the favorites. Could it be that God’s favor is no longer with them? Could it be that the people have now found the hope they have been longing for? Or are the people merely being entertained? What does our text say next? “Because they were all glorifying God for what had happened.” If they were glorifying God, then that means that the people recognize the source of the miracle! They recognize that the source of the work was not the men Peter and John, but actually God himself! Peter and John are mere men who followed the prompting of the Spirit. They are mere men who faithfully proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ! The miracle was not them but God! The results were not them but God! The fact that people are now glorifying God is not them but the Spirit who brings new life into the hearts of man.

Do you want to see new life? Do you want to see people being made new? You have the opportunity awaiting you. On September 23, our community BBQ will allow each one of you the opportunity to establish a friendship with someone who is not a member of this church. First we all need to invite someone. I challenge you to invite 5 people who are not relatives or a member of this church. Then at the BBQ take the time to establish a friendship/relationship with someone you do not know. Then after the picnic contact them and maintain that relationship. While all of this is going on, pray that the Lord would allow this to happen. Pray that the Lord would make clear the opportunity and that you would be bold to do what is necessary to make this happen.

The point of establishing this relationship is to allow through genuine friendship someone to come to Christ. To allow the opportunity for someone else to glorify God.

The second consequence we see is that the church will be devoted to prayer. Further down we see in verse 23 that Peter and John went back to their companions and reported all that had happened to them. The response of the people is found in verses 24-30. When they heard what had happened they prayed to God. They lifted up their voices. They made their praise of God heard by him and then they requested for boldness in the face of persecution! When they saw the beginnings of trouble they didn’t start blaming one another they sought their God! When the trouble in the world started brewing they didn’t start to wonder well who did we offend? They didn’t wonder what went wrong with the implementing of this program? They didn’t wonder well did we have the right people leading us? They didn’t wonder what sin is in society that would cause this? They went straight to God for leading, guidance and boldness and sought him for the accomplishment of His will. Their hearts are committed to the work of Christ and the proclaiming of salvation through Him, and when anything hinders that work they seek God to overcome the obstacle. Prayer is the communion of saints and the Savior. When they saints are seeking their Savior they are allowing themselves to be focused upon the one who directs and is supreme over all things. Prayer is the greatest weapon and source of strength that a Christian could possess, and so often we overlook or misuse that opportunity.

The thrust of missions in the twentieth century was founded in prayer. On college and university campuses around the world saw some of the greatest revivals and prayer gatherings the world has ever seen. At Aberdeen university the regular chapel service saw many people openly and publicly repenting of their sins. One student who slept through chapel that day got up for his regular class schedule. As he was walking to campus over an hour after chapel had concluded he saw no one walking but himself. He finally went to the chapel to find everyone else there worshipping, praying and seeking the Lord for forgiveness. This launched a prayer emphasis in the lives of many. Prayer is essential to the mission of the church. Without prayer the Christian is weak and helpless.

The third consequence of faithfulness that we see is that the church will proclaim with confidence. In verse 29 the church is praying for confidence and boldness as they proclaim. But verse 31 tells us that the place where they had gathered was shaken. The power of God was with them. Do we shake and tremble before God or do we think we can just casually walk before God? We approach God with confidence because of and through Christ’s righteousness. Without Christ we had better fear God! Even with Christ we should fear God but approach him with confidence because of Christ. Do we expect the mighty and supernatural God to shake the foundations of where we live?! Then verse 31 says that they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Not only did they possess the Spirit but they were filled with the Spirit. We only get one filling of the Spirit but the idea here is that the Spirit was in control of them. The Spirit directed their actions, words, and thoughts. The people were submitted to the will of God through the Spirit. Then their prayer is answered and it is recorded here for us to see. They began to speak the word of God with boldness. Notice back in verse 23 it says they went to their companions. And when they had heard this, the companions heard this, they lifted their voices to God. Verse 31 tells us when they had prayed. Then finally they began to speak with boldness. This is the companions of Peter and John. The people of God proclaimed not just the apostles. The people are still expected to proclaim. It is still perfectly natural for all Christians to proclaim. “Well, pastor I am not eloquent or knowledgeable. I can’t do it.” Well, you have a Bible at home. These people didn’t. “Well, it was a different time. They weren’t as busy as we are today.” Well, maybe we need to slow down and focus more on God than making money or other issues in life that control our lives.

If we spent more time studying God’s word, prayer, and proclaiming the more fulfilling life would become for us all. Life will still have its struggles and disappointments but the essence of life will be fulfilling. At the end of life we will be satisfied that we have served God well.

Some thoughts of response as we close.

1. What is your ultimate goal for life? Do you live to please God and hear well done good and faithful servant?
2. What do you want God to do with you? What do you want to God to accomplish through you?
3. What do you desire to see God do in your community?

If your desires for life are not focused on God, then pray that God would direct you to His will. If you desire to see God do something in your community pray that God will do it and do it through you.

Psalm VIII

There are many methods of expounding the Psalms. You can do the verse-by-verse that I have been doing, you can do a three point sermon with application points, or you can allow the literary method within the particular Psalm to structure the message.

In verse 1 we that God’s name is majestic in all the earth. The idea of a name is to describe someone. Often times, parents would name their children according to desired characteristics. The name would represent the person himself. If you were to erase someone’s name it is as if you would erase that person themselves.

Where is His name great? Throughout and in all of the earth. His greatness is displayed in the earth through all of His creation, whether it be the trees, waters, mountains or any moving creation such as animals and people. When you look at the stars at night it is amazing how little pricks of light in the blackness of the sky is beautiful, but consider how beautiful and majestic that view is. God’s majesty is far greater and above the majesty of the heavens.

In verse 2, we move from a declaration of God’s majesty to the foundation and establishing of His majesty. What is significant about the establishing of God’s strength from infants? They are weak and helpless. God establishes His greatness through the weak. (1 Cor. 1:27; 2 Cor. 12:9) From even the very young will God’s strength be established. Why would God choose to work through the weak? He chooses to work through the weak because He will be seen more readily through them. How was God seen through the Israelites? They were weak, without the latest weapons, yet they defeated many great armies because God was fighting for them. God’s strength will be established through the weak vessels of this world.

In verse 3, we see God establishing His creation. All that we see and experience is because God made it and placed it where it is today. All of the planets orbit the sun based on the path that God Himself established. We are where we are because God has placed us here. By God’s decree.

In verse 4, the word for man at the beginning of the verse, “What is man?” This word describes mankind with a connotation to man’s weakness and frailty. What is man that God would give attention to them in their weakness and frailty? Why would God consider us worthy of attention and expense of energy when we have nothing to offer him? Son of man. This is likely a reference to us being the children of Adam. We are all sons of Adam. We are the descendants of the first man created. The son of man that you care for him? We are weak and sinful yet we bear the image of God. We are image bearers. Why would God care for a weak and rebellious people?

Man has been made a little lower than God. Some translations have angels. The Hebrew word could be translated either angels or God. Man is lower than God in the created order of the world. Christ died for us not the angels. We as mankind are crowned with glory for one day we will be glorified and made like Christ. We are crowning piece of the creation account. We will one day reign with God though He will reign over us.

Verses 6-8 we see that God has placed man as having dominion over all of creation. We are to rule over all created beings that move on the ground, in the air or in the waters.

When you go back and look at verses 4-8 we can see that there may be another understanding from these verses. Many people are familiar with this, but we can see these verses referring to Christ. Christ came as a man. God came in the flesh of weak and feeble and frail man. Son of man which is a reference to Christ in the New Testament, but here I do not believe that is quite the reference here. But again son of Adam, Christ is the second Adam. He is the one who reverse the curse that the first Adam began. Christ came as a little lower than God, in that he gave up some of his godly characteristics and abilities in order to be man. Yet he was still fully god. Christ became weak in order to be made great.

The greatness of God is and always will be established through weakness. Salvation was secured through the weakness and frailty of humanity by God being made flesh.

How can we as the church establish God’s strength through weakness?

1. Reach those who have nothing to give back.
2. Determine to live according to the laws of God.
3. Determine that the church will only work according to the prescribed will of God.

Quote From JI Packer on Holiness

In God’s school of Holiness our Lord Jesus Christ (the Father’s Son and the Christian’s Savior) is with us, and we with him, in a controlling relationship of master and servant, leader and follower, teacher and student. It is crucially important to appreciate this. Why is it that in the school of holiness, as in the schools to which we send our own children, some move ahead faster than others? How are the different rates of progress to be explained? Fundamentally, the factor that makes the difference is neither one’s intelligence quotient, nor the number of books one has read nor the conferences, camps, and seminars one has attended, but the quality of the fellowship with Christ that one maintains through life’s vicissitudes.

JI Packer, Rediscovering Holiness, 1992

Confidence in the Truth

Acts 4:13-20

While we lived in North Carolina there came a time where the state pondered halting all executions due to a growing number of death row inmates who were being freed based on DNA evidence. Testimonies and evidence seemed to point to these men as the murderers, but years later they were winning in the courtroom in order for more advanced DNA technology to be used to prove their guilt or innocence. Many were found to have been falsely convicted and then released.

Because of their knowledge of the truth in their cases they confidently fought and contended for their innocence. They took whatever means to be cleared of all charges and be set free.

In Acts 4 we see Peter and John confidently standing on the truth and allowing Christ to proclaim the truth through them in the Spirit. We are told in John 16:13 that the Spirit is the spirit of Truth, and the one who proclaims the Truth to the world. How much more will he proclaim the truth through us when we seek to proclaim Christ?

In Acts 4:13-20, we see the unwavering, confident faith of Peter and John. In the midst of their enemies they confidently proclaim the truth. They do not fear or tremble but they stand firmly in the face of persecution. They demonstrate confidence in the truth.

Today we will see three truths concerning confidence in the truth.

A proper confidence in believers is founded in being with Christ.

During Jesus’ time on earth, the religious leaders and authorities on numerous occasions sought to silence his teaching and remove him from influence among the people. The Jews were thankful for the relative peace in which they lived under Roman rule. If they could keep relatively quiet in their homeland, the Romans would leave them alone. When Jesus came along and began to claim himself as King of the Jews, the leaders feared there would be a political uprising and the end of their peace under Roman rule. Now the followers of Jesus are proclaiming this name and the teachings of Jesus. The Jewish leaders are faced with a continuing conflict with this man and his teaching. Now they have Peter and John before them and the possibility of ending this problem. As they question them and observe them, they recognize these men are not educated. Well, not educated according to their tradition. They did not attend the religious schools of the Jews. It would be like today if someone were to say, well you didn’t go to the right seminary. You didn’t go to one of the Southern Baptist Seminaries or to Dallas Theological Seminary or what other school they think is so great. They were not taught according to the prescribed proper formula they had established. It was not according to the traditions of the Jews, therefore it was wrong. It was not adequate. Then verse 13 says they were amazed.

Amazed at what? Amazed at their confidence. Basically, in their minds they are thinking, these men are stupid ignorant folk who don’t know anything but look how confident they are! Look they do not fear us! Then they realize as they observe them and question them that they have been with Christ. They recognize Christ in them. When it comes right down to it, they went to the proper school. They went to the school of following Jesus for three years. How many of us can say that for three years we followed Jesus wherever he went and did whatever he tells us? The Spirit is molding them to look like Christ, and they are observing the teachings of Christ. Then when the teachers of the Law see the man who had been healed, they realize that these uneducated men have the power of God to heal. They cannot argue with a healing that so many people have now observed the changed man. The foundation for the confidence of Peter and John was their time with Christ.

Wal-Mart is a corporation whose reach is literally global. They touch nearly every market in the world whether through the purchase of products that they sell or by the placement of stores and other business ventures. One of the principles or ideals for Sam Walton the founder of the Wal-Mart Corporation was to provide stores in the small towns. After Sam Walton’s death, you could see a gradual shift in the practices of the company over the next few years. Wal-Mart stores in the small towns were closed as new stores opened a short distance away in a more heavily trafficked area. Those who work for Wal-Mart in management are probably represented in two groups, those who hold dearly to the principals of Sam Walton and those who hold dear to the drive for a profit. Those who hold to the principals of Sam Walton are probably those who had a chance to see him work and hear him share his vision for the company.

Acts 11:26- in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. Means a little Christ. They recognized Christ in them. They resembled Christ. They were recognized as ones who had been with Christ. As you live do people recognize Christ in you? Do people recognize that you have been with Christ? Colossians 1:15- Christ is the image of the invisible God. Are you the image of Christ? Are you a true reflection of Christ? Do people recognize him in you?

Christ in us is more influential than the education of men.

In verse 16, as the leaders are conferring with one another, they say how can we stop what so many people have already seen? A noteworthy miracle has taken place, how do we stop this? Why did the miracle occur, because of Christ in them. How do you stop that which is of God? You can’t. Then in verse 17, they decide to tell them to stop preaching in the name of Christ. This will insure that it spreads no further. Well, not really, if they stop preaching and teaching in the name of Jesus, then the rocks will cry out!

What was it that caused the leaders to fear Peter and John? Was it their vast knowledge? Was it the intellectual arguments they could not contend with? Was it their vast resources of wealth? Was it their fine clothing? Was it that they talked with an accent of elite status within society? Was it the fact that they were children of influential and wealthy individuals? Or was it the fact that they had been with Christ, and the witness of Christ in them could not be contested?

Every sport has their elite team. The team that has a loyal following even in the dark days but most other teams fear even during the worst season possible. Basketball had the Lakers then the Bulls then the Lakers. Football had the Packers then the Cowboys then the 49ers. Hockey has the Red Wings. Soccer has Brazil. Baseball has the Yankees. The unquestioned greatness of these teams is what inspires others to hold them so highly. It is said that the Yankees are so great because the other team cannot take their eyes off of their pinstripes. Their greatness is a myth that holds sway over the mindset of the other team. Even some of the most fundamentally sound teams have fallen disastrously to these great teams. Why? Because they allowed the legend to conquer their confidence.

We as Christians must understand that the power of Christ is more powerful than the education this world offers. A Christian who has studied his Bible, walked faithfully with Christ is vastly more powerful than someone who has degrees from the grandest theological schools in the world. A Christian committed and submitted to Christ is more powerful than the religious leaders of the world. It is Christ in you not your intellect. Philippians 3:8 tells us “I count all things a loss compared to the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.” Christ is of a value too great to truly be counted. Christ in us is of greater influence than any education and strength we could possess apart from Christ.

As believers we are to submit to the authority of Christ.

The leaders command them to no longer speak or speak in the name of Jesus. Basically, no more Jesus in your talking. Do not talk about him nor teach about him. The point is to completely silence them with regards to Jesus. The source of power in their message is to be silenced and removed. They healed in the name of Jesus. They taught in the name of Jesus. Now they are to be silent. Nothing. No more Jesus. Well, that’s what they were told, but Peter tells them, you decide whether that is right or not, me, I am going to keep talking about it because I can’t help it.

Your threats don’t scare me. Your threats do not intimidate me. I love Jesus. He is all the world to me. I am going to keep talking about him. The end.

I have seen Christ heal the lame. I have seen Christ give new life to a lady who was divorced five times and now living with a man who was not her husband. I have seen the risen Christ. I have been forgiven of my denial of the Lord. I have seen a man born crippled healed by the power of Christ. I have a spring continually rising up within me. I will not, cannot stop. You be the judge if that is right or not, but my Lord is worthy to be proclaimed. My Lord is worthy to be shouted from one land to another.

When I worked at Wal-Mart in the DC during orientation they gave us all of the policies, rules, regulations, safety guidelines. When we actually began our work, found out they didn’t tell us all of the rules and policies. There were two sets of policies. The official and the workers unspoken rules. When it came down to it, whenever mgmt. was in the work area you followed the official rules. When you were by yourself you just did what it took to get the job done without getting hurt. In reality, we were accountable to the official rules.

No matter what man may say, God is the authority. The one who says there is no god or better to obey man and live long is a fool. Psalm 14:1 tells us that the fool says there is no god. The one who does not acknowledge God is one who has turned from the truth and refuses to admit they may be wrong. Christ is our authority and he has commanded that we follow him. Deny yourself and come follow me. Take up your cross and follow me. At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.

As we close some thoughts of response.

What are you doing in your life to insure that you are with Christ?

What keeps you with Christ?

If you are not with Christ, how will people know that you belong to Him?

When you are seeking to be a witness for Christ, do you rely on your intellect or on the Spirit in you?

In the end, who do you obey, Jesus or man? Who is your authority?

Want That One!!!

The other night we ate homemade chicken nuggets for dinner. Often Connor's silverware ends up on the floor and if enough falls we just stop giving him more silverware. Well, while we were eating chicken nuggets Connor had a spoon and two forks fall on the floor, so no more silverware.

Heather was helping him eat. She offered a nugget on her fork and he said no. Tried to get him to eat it and he wouldn't take it. His head went left and then went right. Mouth was sealed shut. So she pulled it away and then tried again. No way that nugget was going in.

So, Heather ate it. Then suddenly Connor said, "Want that one!" Pointing to mommy's mouth where it was being eaten up. She offered a different nugget but he wanted the one mommy ate.



Eventually, he did eat a different nugget.

The Wonder & Beauty of God's Creation

Psalm VII

1. Refuge- seek refuge: flee for protection; put trust in God;

a. Or confide- The vulnerability of confiding in someone else.

b. Do we open up our most protected area to God?

c. Do we trust Him to let Him see our deepest and darkest secrets?

2. Tear- presents the idea of one taking possession of the other.

a. Part of the idea here is that the ones pursuing David have no moral or legal reason to attempt to possess Him.

b. Do we allow ourselves to be taken as a possession by someone or something other than God?

c. What is a temptation for us to allow to take us as a possession other than God?

d. What are we tempted to pay attention to more than God?

3. If I am guilty of what these are doing.

4. If I have taken and destroyed the innocent. If I have falsely charged and punished the innocent.

5. Pursue- hunt; follow after; seeking to take hold of

a. Understanding that even in his greatness his deserved reward apart from God’s grace is destruction.

b. Even in our innocence according to this world, apart from God’s grace, we still deserve destruction.

c. How often do we intentionally recognize and declare to God His greatness and our weakness?

6. When we see wickedness ruling in the world what is our normal reaction to it?

a. Do we recognize that God is ultimately in control?

b. Do we believe that God has ordained that evil be or that in his patience allows us to experience the consequences of our sinfulness?

c. Spurgeon- “God’s silence is the patience of longsuffering, and if wearisome to the saints, they should bear it cheerfully in the hope that sinners may thereby be led to repentance.”

7. David is saying, In case I am not enough, Lord please remember all of these others.

8. What do we hold to when we stand before the Lord/

a. What do most people trust in to get them into heaven?

b. What is seen in the average Christian life that makes other people think salvation is about works and not Christ?

c. What should be our claim to be able to stand before God?

9. One day all wickedness will end. We must trust the Lord to conquer the wicked and establish His people.

a. What are some ways that God’s people can demonstrate their trust that God will conquer the wicked?

b. What reasons do we fear the Lord searching our heart?

10. Are you pure and righteous in heart?

a. Upright- Blameless, Possessing Discernment.

b. Granting the ability to recognize the divine law rather than ourselves.

11. Indignation- experiencing or expressing intense anger.

a. Why does the idea of God’s anger turn so many people off?

b. What is the best way to describe or explain God’s anger?

12. Repent

a. What is our point of reference in repentance? What are we turning from and turning to?

b. Return to the covenant terms.

13. –

14. –

15. –

16. The one in iniquity is the beast. He is his own demise.

17. This is the occupation of the godly. To give thanks to God, conversely, the unjust do not praise God.

Connor at the River

Connor and Daddy always enjoy a trip to the river to throw rocks and play at the playground. After a long day of toddler disobedience today, Connor and Daddy took a trip to the river to let out some bottled up energy. Here are a couple of pictures from a fun day.

The Boys are Growing

The boys are both growing a lot. Brennan is getting to be so big. He is almost too heavy to carry in his carseat carrier. Connor is learning so many things. Heather is teaching him a preschool curriculum. This month they are learning about creation, and Connor can tell you that John 1:3 says the God created all things. He can tell you his ABCs and count to 10.

Children are a blessing from the Lord. What a burden but what a joy so often.

The Rejected Foundation

Acts 4:11-12

When you look at the Old Testament, you are likely to see one of two things: either a God who is full of judgment and wrath or you see the work of God through humanity, namely the Israelites to bring redemption to mankind. All of those sacrifices and tabernacle and temple rituals were to picture what God desires and requires of us. He desires that we be a pleasing aroma to Him just as the incense was to represent. He desires our purity and holiness just as the priests were required to be ritually clean before performing their duties. He desired for us to be rescued from death and His judgment as demonstrated in Egypt with the first observation of the Passover. The central focus of the work of Israel was and is to be God’s witness of redemption to the world. When the Jews returned from the Babylonian captivity they continued to veer away from God’s desired and intended purposes for them. So when Christ came, they missed Him for the most part. They missed their redemption and the one who was to bring it.

In Acts 4:11-12, we see Peter pointing to the religious leaders that, “Hey you missed it. You tried to stop it, but what you rejected is the foundation. The main support for the whole building. The church.” When you attempt to build upon something other than Matthew 16:16, you are not building the church you are building your own work. If the church is built upon something other than the work of Christ then it is built upon a false foundation that will only one day collapse. If the church is built upon “You are the Christ the Son of the Living God,” then it will never collapse. Its foundation is sure and strong.

Based upon today’s passage I will give you three truths concerning the church. As we go through this keep in mind that they are speaking to the religious leaders of Israel. They are the builders. They are the ones who rejected the chief cornerstone. The foundational cornerstone is the most important building block.

When we reject Christ as the foundation we accept man’s untruth.

In church life, there is a great deal of focus upon growth and rightfully so. If you are an organism as opposed to an organization, then you should naturally grow. Life is defined by growth. That’s why Brennan doesn’t have clothes to wear, because he keeps growing. He is healthy. If you go to LifeWay, go to the church growth section back in the corner. Most of those books are developed on principles that worked in one church. So many of them are focused on growth for the sake of the numbers. The principles that they propose are based on man’s work and wisdom and research. We are not promoting a product, but we are proclaiming a truth, that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God. And when you base your church’s structure and ministries on man’s wisdom from those books, you are not building upon Christ. Any church whose focus is other than Christ will one day collapse maybe not in the physical sense of the church falling apart an disbanding but spiritually the church will fail. What I mean is this: If you are not proclaiming Christ as the foundation but man’s wisdom you are more than likely going to see programs as the basis or structure of your ministry. Programs do not allow for flexibility and change, but when proclaiming Christ is your foundational focus, then you will be constantly seeking ways to proclaim Christ that are effective. If it becomes ineffective then you will seek another way to proclaim. If a program becomes ineffective, then you have not advertised it enough or your church has simply become uncommitted. Those are the excuses for the failure when in reality it is probably that your method or message was incorrect.

The two builders. Matthew 7:24- Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock. Christ is that rock. Consequently, if you do not heed Christ’s words then you are building upon a foundation of sand. If you are not building a church upon Christ and proclaiming Him, then you are building a church upon the sand.

When Christ is rejected then you are accepting man’s untruth. Which would you prefer for the church to be built upon? A solid sure foundation or a weak and unstable foundation. A foundation which can withstand the pressure of storms or a foundation which will crumble under even some of the weakest storms.

When salvation is other than Christ alone it is untruth.

Acts 4:12 tells us that “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Salvation is found in the rejected cornerstone. There is no other name in which salvation is found other than the rejected cornerstone. And the rejected cornerstone is where salvation must originate. In short, it is Christ alone. Jesus alone. Jesus the Nazarene is the one in which salvation may enter into your life. So why look anywhere else?! When we look to church membership or attendance for signs of salvation, we are looking for the wrong symptoms. We should be looking to conformity to Christ. Do they look more like Christ today than before their day of salvation? If we are looking at their church membership or attendance then we would be asking, do they look more like their church today? But the church has no power to save only Christ has the power to save. There is no other name. There is salvation in no one else.

I am sure you have heard someone say, “Well, all religions are leading to the same place. They are all seeking the same being, which is God. Their expressions of God are different.” Well, no not really. According to Islam and Judaism we are heretics. According to Christianity, all other religions are wrong. We cannot be seeking the same thing if one religion says all of the others are wrong. Christ claimed to be God and His Son. He claimed that without Him there is no salvation.

Islam claims that the best expression of its religion is through total domination of the society and government. An Islamic empire is what they seek to establish. Christianity is waiting for the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth through His power. When we wait for the government to establish the church’s work or think the work of the government and the church is one and the same then we are terribly mistaken. Christ’s work is salvation. The transformation, the making new of people. The government establishes and upholds law. Christ fulfills the law of God. There is no other name.

When the mission of the church is other than proclamation the church is hindered.

I know you are thinking one of two things, that’s a strong statement or that’s what we are doing. Let me ask you, now be honest, are you really proclaiming? What I mean is this, are the people being affected by your church hearing the gospel in a way that they understand? Are they seeing the love of Christ and service that demonstrates Christ? I am excited about this picnic in September, because if we invite the unchurched and have those without Christ attend, then we have the opportunity to make relationships with the lost that could impact their lives. If we intentionally make the effort to be a cold drink of water on a hot day to them, what a difference that could make.

Christ told us that we are the light of the world. We are to be salt of the earth. What light is best? The sun pouring through a sky light directly above you on a hot day? What about a spotlight when all you need is a flashlight? What about a search light when all you need is your headlights? The light needs to be spread evenly. When it sticks together it is repulsive. What about salt? Do you want a piece of rocksalt in your green beans? You would probably prefer just a little bit spread throughout. When the church stays clumped together instead of being spread out among the world we are not being light or salt. We do need to gather regularly. We are commanded to gather regularly. But if we are spending time among only churched people we are not affecting any good among the world. Well, pastor, where do we find these lost people? Good question. I wish I knew. That is why we pray for God to bring them into our lives. Let me emphasize prayer. I wish I knew exactly what would work and what won’t but in order to get the lost to come and to get the churched to come it will take different means. But we must be willing to make the necessary efforts to connect with the lost when they come.

Do you see where I am going with this? If we are always sticking, emphasize the ALWAYS, with the saved, then we have no opportunity or influence among the lost. If we are not with the lost, we cannot reach the lost. It is perfectly acceptable to hang out with the lost, just don’t turn into the lost. Now if thy are getting drunk and doing drugs, you might want to find a different time to hang out with them so you are not implicated in their criminal activities. We need to be among the lost in order to be a witness to them.

When you think about what this church ought to be doing, what is your basis for that idea? Why should the church be doing what you think? What is the basis for your ideas? What is your foundation for church-life? Is it fellowship or is it Christ? If it is not Christ you are building on sand. If it is not, You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God, then you are building on sand and your church will be weak.

Salvation is based in God’s righteousness that is why Christ had to die. We proclaim Christ because He is the means to our salvation. Without Christ there would be no salvation, therefore we proclaim Him. But our salvation is based in the fact that God in His righteousness demanded our righteousness. So Christ came to make peace with our God in order that we might escape His wrath. Grace is what rescues us from God’s wrath.

If we are doing other than proclaiming Christ we are not being the church. You are probably thinking just a minute ago you said we were hindered. Yes if we are not proclaiming then we are hindered in being the church, because the church is to be proclaiming. We are not being the church if we are not proclaiming.

May we be the church that proclaims Christ, the foundation of our work, our salvation, and our world. We are rescued because He is our salvation.

Psalm VI

There is so much in this Psalm that I am only doing the first 5 verses. In Spurgeon's Treasury of David, he divides the Psalm after verse 7. There is a lot to think about and consider. May the Spirit search your soul and encourage with the Word.

1. When we sin do we pray for God to keep His discipline away?

David prays for the Lord’s rebuke and discipline to remain, just not in anger.

Do we desire the Lord’s correction even when it hurts? Why?

What attitude do we need to have in order to be open to the Lord’s correction?

The goal of God’s discipline is to bring us to repentance.

2. Languishing (ESV); Pining Away (NASB): weakness; exhaustion; feeble

God’s objective is to bring His people to their knees as a warning and to humble

them.

Are we willing to be weak even in the eyes of others?

Are we willing that God should be our strength and alive in us and that we are

weak in man’s eyes?

Do we have a fear of God that gives him the respect that is His as Creator?

3. When your soul also is in anguish that is true agony.

Have you been in true agony over sin in your life?

Do you grieve over lack of zeal for God, neglect of His teaching, neglect of

prayer, neglect of service?

4. Rescue- to remove from peril; distress

In our time of spiritual need, do we turn to God for our help?

In our time of spiritual need, do we just wait out the anguish or do we turn from

our sin of prideful self-reliance and turn to God?

Our rescue is based in His mercy. The fact that He willingly passes over our sin.

Receiving the undeserved.

5. In death there is no longer the ability to voluntarily praise God.

The saved may be in heaven praising eternally but not on earth giving praise

before the nations.

The lost are bound for eternity in the pits of hell. They are involuntarily glorifying

God because rebellion against God is being punished. Sin cannot enter God’s

presence.

Do you desire to see the lost come to salvation?

What actions are in your life to make that happen?

Do we care that there are millions of people passing into eternity without Christ?