Scripture at Sunrise 10.3.2017

“As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness.” -Psalm 17:15

The portion of other men fills their bodies and enriches their children, but the portion of the believer is of another sort. Men of the world have their treasure in this world, but men of the world to come look higher and further.

Our possession is twofold. We have God’s presence here and His like-ness hereafter. Here we behold the face of the Lord in righteousness, for we are justified in Christ Jesus. Oh, the joy of beholding the face of a reconciled God! The glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ yields us heaven below, and it will be to us the heaven of heaven above.

But seeing does not end it: we are to be changed into that which we gaze upon. We shall sleep a while and then wake up to find ourselves as mirrors which reflect the beauties of our Lord. Faith sees God with a transforming look. The heart receives the image of Jesus into its own depths, till the character of Jesus is imprinted on the soul. This is satisfaction. To see God and to be like Him-what more can I desire? David’s assured confidence is here by the Holy Ghost made to be the Lord’s promise. I believe it. I expect it. Lord, vouchsafe it. Amen.

[from Faith’s Checkbook by Charles H. Spurgeon]

Scripture at Sunrise 9.10.2015

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.” -Psalm 19:1

The world needs people really thanking, really thinking. It’s what all the great thinkers do: they stay awake to the wonders of God’s world. -Ann Voskamp via Twitter

Scripture at Sunrise 1.21.2014

The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord. -Exodus 7:5

The ungodly world is hard to teach. Egypt does not know Jehovah and therefore dares to set up its idols and even ventures to ask, “Who is the Lord?” Yet the Lord means to break proud hearts, whether they will or not. When His judgments thunder over their heads, darken their skies, destroy their harvests, and slay their sons, they begin to discern somewhat of Jehovah’s power. There will yet be such things done in the earth as shall bring skeptics to their knees. Let us not be dismayed because of their blasphemies, for the Lord can take care of His own name, and He will do so in a very effectual manner.

The salvation of His own people was another potent means of making Egypt know that the God of Israel was Jehovah, the living and true God. No Israelite died by any one of the ten plagues. None of the chosen seed were drowned in the Red Sea. Even so, the salvation of the elect and the sure glorification of all true believers will make the most obstinate of God’s enemies acknowledge that Jehovah, He is the God.

Oh, that His convincing power would go forth by His Holy Spirit in the preaching of the gospel, till all nations shall bow at the name of Jesus and call Him Lord!

[from Faith’s Checkbook by Charles H. Spurgeon]

Wednesday Night Recap: Prayer

True prayer comes from humble people who express absolute dependence on God. It is the highest activity of the soul.
[Colossians 4:2; Ephesians 6:18; John 14:13-14]

Prayer honors God and humbles self. It begins and ends not with the needs of man, but with the glory of God.
[John 14:13; Jonah 2:7-9; Daniel 9:4-5; Jeremiah 32:17-23; Matthew 6:9-13]

The Model Prayer [Matthew 6] / High Priestly Prayer [John 17]
-These words aren’t magical. They are a model.
-Note the reverence towards God’s Name, especially compared to how people talk about God today.
-Note the preeminence of  His Name. Self and all needs must be given second place. His glory is the end of all things.
[Romans 11:36– Respect, reverence, glory, and worship.]
[Psalm 29:2; 34:3; 66:2; 72:17; 96:8; 99:6; 105:1; 111:9; 148:13; 20:7]

Scripture at Sunrise 9.27.2010

“Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.”  -1 Corinthians 15:49

As we bear the image of the earthy now, believers will bear the image of the heavenly.  Believer, are you bearing forth the glory of God in your life right now?

Scripture at Sunrise 5.12.2010

“Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”  -James 4:14

“Make the vapor of your life an everlasting aroma of praise to the glory of Christ.”  -John Piper in  Life as a Vapor, page 12

Scripture at Sunrise 3.29.2010

Sunday School | Ruth 1 | Bro. Roger Harden
“For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”  -Ruth 1:16b-17

Note the difference between being kind vs. being pleasant.  Kindness carries committment with it.  Ruth made a committment to Naomi that was stronger than marriage.  She left her home, accepting widowhood and childlessness.  (We also discussed the providence of God, even in suffering, and the importance of reminding yourself there is a bigger picture.) 
A side note: I was so blessed by Sunday School this morning!  We had a great discussion that was very encouraging.  I love it when everyone participates in discussion and you can see the Holy Spirit at work in people’s hearts. 

Morning Worship | 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1 | Pastor Steve Wainright
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”  -1 Corinthians 10:31
Are you glorifying God in your Christian freedom?
[vs. 23- “All things are lawful for me…”  So does this mean that anything is fair game?  vs. 6- No.]

Will it glorify God? 
1)Does your decision edify/build others up or does it indulge self?  (Acts 20:32; 1 Corinthians 14:3, 8:1, 14:26; Ephesians 4:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Ephesians 4:29; 2 Corinthians 12:19)  *How much have you refrained from doing for the good of others?

2)Avoid Legalism
Don’t ask detailed questions.  Don’t get nit-picky. 
vs. 27- Dinner with an unbeliever?  Don’t ask questions about what they giveyou. 
vs. 28- Don’t offend the weaker brother. 
vs. 29- Show love toward the other…don’t bring it into question. 
vs. 30- Don’t give thanks for something and then turn around and offend someone with it. 
WHY? 
vs. 31- Because the glory of God should be your guiding principle in life.  (Colossians 3:4)
vs. 32-33- Paul was not going to aim not to offend anyone because his purpose was to win others to the Lord. 
vs. 1- Follow me as I follow Christ.

Are you living your life to the glory of God?

Evening Worship | Leviticus 26 | Pastor Steve Wainright

Leviticus 26:  God has put the way of life and death, blessing and cursing before the children of Israel.  As you read in verse 26 this is a conclusion of all we have read in Leviticus to this point.  The ultimate message is choices have consequences.  In verses 1 and 2 we se the supreme test of worship.  Verses 1-2 give two of the 10 commandments.  These two are the core of worship.  Verse 1 warns against false worship while verse 2 stresses obedience. 

In verses 3-13 we see blessings promised.  There are material blessings as we see in these verses related to rain and harvest, peace and the Lord causing the people to be fruitful.  The spiritual blessing is Gods’ promised presence.  For us today we can see many of the numerous blessings of God. For example: Mt. 6:31-32; His Spirit, prayer, power and relationship to name a few.  In verses 14-39 we see cursings.  Much more in number than the blessings.  Curses are not words said against someone but consequences of behavior.  Repentance is possible!  A curse is the opposite of a blessing.  The curses increase to the point Israel is no longer a nation.  In the N.T. there are no curses for the Christian, only discipline (Hebrews 12:5-11).  Punishment is for the unbeliever and discipline is for the believer.  Christ redeemed us from the curse.  Finally, in Lev. 26:40-46, we see grace displayed.  Restoration comes after repentance.  In verse 41, it isn’t the people who humble their hearts, it is God.  The only way a person can humble their heart is for their heart to be circumcised…God alone can do that.  Notice Colossians 2:11.

[Kudos to your Pastor for blogging the summary of this evening’s message!]

Scripture at Sunrise 1.6.10

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”  -Psalm 16:11

God will be fully God even if we don’t praise him. But we won’t be fully happy.  –John Piper at Passion2010
[via Noel Piper’s Twitter]

Scripture at Sunrise 12.3.09

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.”  -Psalm 19:1

The Boston Globe has set up a Hubble Space Telescope Advent calendar that will take your breath away.  They add a new picture each day!  Keep up with it!

Scripture at Sunrise 7.13.09

Sunday School | 1 Peter 3:8-22 | Bro. Steve Dawson
“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.”  -1 Peter 3:8
vs. 8-12– Living and Loving the Good Life
1)The Right Attitude (vs. 8)
-unity of mind, sympathy (touched by what’s happening to your brothers and sisters in Christ), brotherly love (relish being together, tenderhearted, humble minded (realize you don’t have all the answers)
2)The Right Response (vs. 9)
-Does my life bless and build up others or hinder them and make them stumble?
3)The Right Standard (vs. 10-12)
-Seek peace and pursue it.  (This often goes back to having a humble mind).

Morning Worship | Colossians 4:2-4 | Pastor Steve Wainright
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.”  -Colossians 4:2-4
-Be rooted in doctrine (ch. 1-2), then apply it (ch. 3-4).
ch. 3:1– If Christ is your life, then apply ch. 3-4.
vs. 16– Get the Word in you.  Read it and apply it to your life.  Flesh it out.  Put it in every aspect of your life.  Proclaim it with your lips AND live it out!
ch. 4:2– Continue steadfastly in prayer…
*Prayer without reading the word is a one-way conversation with God.
-If you don’t pray like you should, it’s because you don’t want to pray.
Matthew 6:9- Prayer is essential to your relationship with God.
vs. 2– continue=be devoted, committed, persevere in prayer; stick with it in good times and bad times, those devoted to something put priority on what they are devoted to; commit your life to praying.
1 Thessalonians 5:17, Matthew 6:8
*Perseverance in prayer shows your dependence on Him and develops patience.
-watch=stay alert
James 5:16-18- Pray fervently/boiling
-with gratitude, thanksgiving (Ephesians 3:20, 2 Chronicles 20:21- they put the singers in the front because they knew the battle belonged to the Lord so they were praising Him with thanksgiving!)
vs. 3– Pray for us…
The Apostle Paul is asking for prayer?!
*Why do we seek the prayers of others?
Psalm 50:12-15- It brings more glory to God.  (John 14:13)
*Our need magnifies His supply.
-Open door for the Word to go forth (God gets the glory for opening doors)
*Pray for others in their witnessing, for missionaries, for preachers, for hearers…
****You can have a mission work in your prayer life…
-Boldness: Paul was in chains not because of doing wrong, but to preach the Gospel.  He saw it as an opportunity brought about by the providence of God.
-Make it manifest, clear and simple.
*Pray that God will help us put it like people will understand it.

Evening Service | Exodus 34:29-35 | Pastor Steve Wainright
“Those who look to Him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.”  -Psalm 34:4
-If you’re glowing as you’re going, you’re growing.
-There ought to be something shining through us and that’s the glory of the Lord.
-There is an afterglow when you have been in God’s presence.
-God is glorious and just a fraction was revealed to Moses.
-The holiness of God reveals sin.  (The sinfulness of Aaron and the Israelites was exposed in God’s glory shown through Moses).
-When the children of Israel, who rejected Moses’ authority, saw God’s glory showing through Him, they realized this was a stamp of approval from God on Moses.
-1 Timothy 2:5- Our Mediator has inherent glory.  He is not a reflection of God’s glory, He IS God’s glory.
-Matthew 17:2, Hebrews 1:3, John 1:13, John 17, Revelation
2 Corinthians 4:6
The light of the knowledge of the glory of God is in the face of Jesus Christ.
*God glows through those who are redeemed.
*As we gaze upon His glory, God is working in us so He might work through us.
*Psalm 34:1-5
-Our gaze must be on Jesus Christ.  Continuallly look at Him through His Word to shine with His glory (Hebrews 12:1-2).
*Catch fire for the glory of the Lord!
*Glow to the glory of God!
*2 Corinthians 3:7-11- How much more glorious is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  (vs. 13-14: Through Christ, we have boldness and access).  The Lord removes the veil, therefore He gets the glory because it’s His work.
“Shine, make ’em wonder what you’ve got, make ’em wish that they were not on the outside lookin’ bored!”

-Do others see Jesus in you?