Scripture at Sunrise 8.17.09

Sunday School | 2 Peter 1:12-21 | Bro. Steve Dawson
“Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have…And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts…”  -2 Peter 1:12, 19
–Peter’s message is urgent because he knows he’s dying soon.  He wants believers to remember the greatness of salvation and that God has given us all we need to sustain us.  He wants us to have assurance, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and love.
-He reminds us of this so we will ALWAYS remember.  (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
-vs. 16-21: They saw it all happen, but the Word is more sure.
-We have been entrusted with Truth.  Defend it.  Be like Jonathan Edwards and others who believed it was more important to pass on truth than keep worldly possessions, etc.

Morning Worship | Colossians 4:15-18 | Pastor Steve Wainright
“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”  -Proverbs 27:17
-koinonia=fellowship
–We are called to give ourselves to others.  When you have selective hearing and tune out discord, you miss the beauty of the symphony.  You experience more joy when you share others’ burdens.
-Paul’s heart was enlarged.  (2 Corinthians 6:11)  He had many friends in his heart.  (Romans, Acts, Colossians 4, Galatians 2)
-In this text, he mentions 3 Jewish friends and 3 Gentile friends, which was taboo in that time, but the Gospel breaks all kinds of barriers.  (Acts 16:4)  The ground is level at the cross.  (Ephesians 2:12-19)
-We have fellowship with one another because of the blood of Jesus Christ (1 John 1:3)
-We are filled with Christ’s fullness and are complete in Him.  (Colossians 1:13-19, Psalm 89:27)
-Because we are complete in Him, we are risen with Christ, therefore, focus that way.  (Colossians 3:1) Get your mind fixed on Christ.  (Isaiah 26:3-4)
-Keep eternity in mind at all times.
-vs. 18- Remember Paul is bound for the Gospel, but the Gospel is not bound!
*Have you received the fullness of Christ?

Scripture at Sunrise 8.10.09

Sunday School | 2 Peter 1:1-11 | Bro. Steve Dawson
“…Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.”  -2 Peter 1:5-9
-This is Peter’s last letter.  He is writing about what concerns him most.  He is looking out for the brotherhood and wrote to expose false teachers.
-vs. 1- The ground is level at the cross!  By Christ’s righteousness, we stand!
-vs. 3- His power has granted us everything we need to live a godly life to glorify Him.  (Jesus’ full power is our sufficiency and enables our perseverance).  [John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:15-20)  It’s all His.  He gives us what we need to fulfill what He’s called us to do.
-vs. 4- Think about His very great and precious promises.  He will sustain us through everything.
Divine Nature>Maturing Christian Life
-vs. 5-7- Multi-step process:
virtue=desire to be morally excellent, desire to be more Christ-like
knowledge=Scripturally applied knowledge
self-control=controlling personal desires through the working of the Holy Spirit
godliness=be like Jesus
brotherly affection=1 John 3:14; love being around Christians
love=love like God loves: full and sacrificial (Missionaries have a sacrificial love for others, even those who aren’t saved)
*When all of these are fulfilled, we have no need for rules and regulations.
-vs. 8-9- without these qualities, one can still be saved, but they have forgotten what Christ has done for them
*Progressing in these things provides evidence and assurance of salvation.

Morning Worship | Colossians 4:7-18 | Pastor Steve Wainright
“…They have been a comfort to me.”  -Colossians 4:11
*Friends: they influence you and you influence them.  Choose your friends wisely.
-Paul chose his friends wisely, surrounding himself with a strong support system.
-Tychicus=man with a message (vs. 7-8); responsible for delivering messages and, therefore, preserving God’s Word
Are you being faithful in delivering the Gospel with which you have been entrusted?
–Onesimus=man with a past (vs. 9); a fugitive slave who had stolen from his master, Philemon; Paul is sending him back to Philemon in Colossae, a small town where people would probably talk about him [Philemon 10-20: Paul pleads Onesimus’ case…God brought Onesimus to Paul to be led to the Lord!]
We all have a past.  Have you been forgiven?
-Aristarchus=stuck with Paul through thick and thin, willing to go in chains for the sake of the Gospel (vs. 10); Acts 19:29, Acts 27:2, Galatians 6
Are you a faithful friend willing to bear the burdens of others and stick with them during the very difficult times?
-Mark=deserted Paul; though Mark failed, the Lord gave him a second chance and used him with Barnabas (2 Timothy 4:11 shows Mark progressed in faith)
-Jesus/Justus=a Jew (vs. 11); Did he live up to his name?  (Matthew 1:21)
Do you live up to your name as a Christian?
-Epaphras=Gentile Pastor from Colossae who was seeking Paul’s advice; had a great zeal for his flock (vs. 12-13); His zeal for the Lord created a zeal for his people; Prayer crosses all kinds of boundaries.  He was in touch with his congregation through the throne of grace!  agonizomi=agonized in prayer
Do you exhaust yourself in praying? You can reach hard hearts through the throne of grace.  Do you have zeal for the glory of God?
-Luke=Paul’s beloved doctor (vs. 14); Paul had no bounds in sharing the Gospel (2 Corinthians 12:9); Luke was the first medical missionary; He used his talents for God’s glory (Acts 16:8-10)
Do you use the abilities God has given you to glorify Him?
-Demas=loved the world more than he loved God; formerly a fellow-laborer, seen in Philemon); 2 Timothy 4:10- turned his back on the truth
Do you love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength?  (Deuteronomy 6:5)

Evening Service | Exodus 37:1-29 | Pastor Steve Wainright
“Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”  -Hebrews 7:25
Items in the Tabernacle:
1)Ark of the Covenant (vs. 1-9)
—-Inside the ark of the covenant: (1)manna: to remind that God provides (2)Aaron’s staff: to show God’s rule and authority (3)Law: to remind of God’s covenant and promises, showing Him as both Lord and Savior
—-On top: (1)Mercy seat with cherubim (Psalm 80:1, Psalm 99:1)- Shows God reigns in Heaven and earth (2)Blood: covered sin and appeased God’s wrath, showing He is a God of justice, mercy and forgiveness
2)Table of Showbread (vs. 10-16)- shows God provides and also shows He has fellowship with us
3)The Lampstand (vs. 17-24)- to continually give light, showing that God reveals things and illuminates; like an almond tree, represening life
4)Altar of Incense (vs. 25-29)- incense represents prayers (Revelation 8:3); shows God hears and answers prayers
*Our Tabernacle today is Jesus Christ.  He is all we need.  (1 John 2:2; Romans 3:25>Greek for propitiation=mercy seat; Christ is our mercy seat!)
—He is our sustenance (Bread of Life); He is the Light of the world (John 8:12, 1:4); He ever intercedes for us (Hebrews 7:25)
****All these types point to Christ!

Scripture @ Sunrise 1.5.09

“Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.  And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.  You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.  But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”  -2 Peter 3:14-18

2 Peter 3:14-18
-We’re anticipating the coming of Christ and the judgment of God, which makes us more diligent to be found in peace, without spot and blameless.

*Be diligent
*In peace– Isaiah 26:3– at peace thinking on Him
                       I Peter 3:6– at peace
*Without spot– referring to character
                       I Peter 2:13– false teachers are spotty=opposite
*Blameless– referring to reputation

How?
Acknowledge your sin and confess and repent = Hate Sin
-Desire holiness: avoid temptation, have fellowship with one another, get in the Word to find His will and be conformed.

Vs. 15– God is longsuffering.
2 Corinthians 6:2; Romans 2:4– It is our duty to evangelize. We are His ambassadors.

Vs. 16– Refers to Paul (who warns). Equates Paul’s writings with Old Testament Scripture.

Vs. 17– Be careful with God’s Word.
How to stay stable and steady in the Word: stick with the Word and in it DAILY!!!!

Vs. 18– Grow (it’s a sign of life!):
-in the Word, in the fruit of the Spirit, in trust in Christ, in giving, in evangelizing, in seeing God’s hand at work in your life.
-in grace (saves and keeps us)
-in knowledge of our Lord and Savior
2 Peter 1:2– Grow in grace and peace (which is multiplied in the knowledge of Him).

*To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
When you do vs. 18, your life becomes a doxology!

Summing Up Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008

Here are pictures of my notes from yesterday.  I tried typing out the main points and such, but I couldn’t get it to look like what I wanted it to.  So, if for some reason you don’t have any notes from yesterday’s messages to review, I give you these.  But, please do not use these as an excuse not to take notes.  :o)  I can’t imagine not taking notes, but I guess that’s just my personal preference!!!!

Let me know if these are beneficial to you or start some discussion about what the Lord opened your eyes to in the comments below!  Thanks!

Summing Up Sunday

It was another wonderful day in the Lord.  He shed plenty of His Sonshine in my soul despite the rain and thunderstorms! 

My day started out with a thunderboom!  I drove during a thunderstorm for the first time ever today!  I did jump several times which was really weird, but the Lord helped me through it! 

First, I went and let Nick and Brooke’s dogs out since they’re out of town…well, I tried to let them out.  The rain made the world’s third greatest beagle (third only to Punky and Snoopy!), Peanut, a little bit lazy and I unsuccessfully tried to get her off the couch.  After the world’s second greatest dog (second only to EmmaLee), Rocco, was obedient and recited Psalm 119:1, I left their house to go get Miss Jennie.  I thought the wind was going to blow us both away, along with her magnolia tree! 

Wayne and Sherry went by to get Jennie after I had already picked her up.  They saw a tree on fire behind her house.  Something had happened to a transformer during the storm and Jennie’s power went out. 

Well…long story not at all short, Jennie and I took the long way to church and blew in at 9:59 a.m., probably the latest I’ve ever gotten there, but it’s just because I wouldn’t take New Circle!  I copied the announcements (which I forgot to give to anybody), sang with the kids, blew down to my Sunday School class, and enjoyed a really great Sunday School lesson once again from Steve D. 

His lesson came from 2 Timothy 3:1-17.  The outline was basically warnings that 1)people will be lovers of themselves, 2)They will appear godly but deny the power of the Gospel, and 3)Don’t be deceived…the Word of God is the answer to every problem in life.  I learned so much more that I had never realized before, especially the Jannes and Jambres connection.  That was really interesting!  And…a shout-out to Kevoy all the way from Jamaica.  He had a lot to contribute to our lesson today, too!  For those of you who have stuck with me reading this so far, here’s a prayer request: pray that we can get Kevoy registered for the New Attitude Conference.  Registration closed a week ago, but we’re trying to see if we can get him in. 

Ok-to the morning service.  After the meet and greet, we had a precious baby dedication, dedicating both Owen and “Second Samuel.”  

Then, my dad preached an excellent sermon from 2 Peter 2 on our sure Foundation that I really tried to take notes on.  Have you ever heard a sermon that is so good, no matter how hard you try, your notes can never do it justice?  It was one of those days.  But, let me just ask you what he asked all of us: “Is Jesus Christ precious to you?” 

Well, after a mad dash on New Circle Road to take Miss Jennie home (with all the rain, you would’ve thought I was sailing Noah’s ark!), I had a delicious lunch but even better fellowship at Abuelo’s with Wayne, Sherry, Hannah, Roger, Gina, Ryan, Sarah, Olivia, Cheryl, Micheal, and my parents.  Aside from the drink spilling on my dad and the lights going out, it was a very peaceful lunch!  :o)

Thanks for hanging with me, if you have this far.  I went from there to drop Cheryl off at her house, then to my house to put on some warmer clothes, then back to check on the puppies.  After a few piggy rolls and rolling the piggy, I finally coaxed poor Peanut outside with some cheese.  I tried my best to cheer up my niece and nephew, but I guess I’m just not as good as mom!  :o)  Look at these pitiful faces, people! 

 

 

After a little bit of down time at home celebrating my grandmother’s 89th birthday, we headed back to church where attendance was low, but the presence of the Lord was very near.  As if the sermon this morning could not have been topped, tonight’s message was even better and it went hand-in-hand with this morning’s text.  It came from Exodus 17:1.  It was still about complaining, the most convicting one yet!  Complaining is equivalent to saying, “I’m not satisfied with God.”  Rather than complaining, try to flip a situation around by thinking, “I wonder what’ God’s going to do now.”  That wasn’t even the main point of the message!  A few other things I found interesting: the rock had to be smitten before the water gushed out (same as in Christ’s death).  Oh there was so much more…not sacrificing truth, the Lord will stand before you, once Christ was smitten all we need to do is speak to Him.  Please, if you weren’t there, get a copy of it!

Ok, so my day is now coming to a close -goodness- what a day!  I think that’s all the words I have in me.  There’s a lot more, but I’ve already written a lot about nothing.  Thanks to those of you who bear with me even in my rambliness!  :o)  I love you all!