Keeping the Faith Part 2

Continuing this series of messages in Hebrews I hope you find encouragement in keeping the faith. The message today is Through His Blood. In Hebrews 10:19 we find three wonderful points to ponder:

A. Our Privilege- Come Boldly
B. Our Place- The Holiest of Holies
C. Our Provision- The Blood of Christ

Please listen to the short message in the podcast link to the right and come boldly before the throne of grace.

Keeping the Faith Part 1

I find it prudent that in these days we live the necessity of preaching some messages in regard to keeping the faith. I will be doing so out of Paul's letter to the Hebrews. Todays message will lay the foundation for the next 3 or 4 messages I preach on this subject of faith. What is the necessity of faith? The bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God. It is by faith alone that we come to and remain in this encounter with Almighty God.

I. Shadow of the Law, Hebrews 10: 1-6
A. Indelible remembrance of sin-The sacrifices of the Mosaic law could not atone for nor remove the guilt and remembrance of sin.
B. Insufficiency of Our Sacrifice-Our sacrifices and earthly works, good deeds and benevolence cannot atone for sin.

II. Sanctification by the Lord Hebrews 10:7-14
A. He Died Once for all v. 10
B. He is the Final Sacrifice v. 12
C. He is the One Offering v. 14

III. Superior Covenant Hebrews 10: 15-18
This new covenant was prophecied by Jeremiah

Please click on the podcast preaching link to the right for the full message.

Elijah: Depression or Devotion

Was Elijah depressed when he fled to Mt. Horeb after slaying the prophets of Baal? Open your bibles to 1 Kings 19 and read along with me the beloved story of Elijah's encounter with God at Mt. Horeb and listen to the podcast preaching for a message of devotion to God.

We Have Sinned

All to often I hear Christians and I have been guilty myself of blaming the unsaved, unregenerate for the evils that are happening in this land. Its not the homosexuals, progressives, politically correct or politicians in D.C. that have brought evil upon this land. It is the people of this land who call themselves Christians. Gods word says in 2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people which are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked way then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land". It does not read, "if the wicked will seek my face and repent". This land can only find healing when the churches repent and seek the Lord. Please listen to the podcast message to the right.

Charleston Tragedies

The shooting of 9 innocent people in the Emmanuel AME church in Charleston, SC has captivated and horrified the nation. No American is unaffected by this event. This tragic event has been a catalyst for many more tragedies thrust upon the American people.

"These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren." Proverbs 6

Please click on the podcast link to the right to hear the message.

Profane and Holy

For nearly a year now I have listened to a radio preacher with great delight. His expositions are solid and right on the mark with the text of scripture. Stephen Davey is founder and senior pastor of the Colonial Baptist Church in Cary, NC. I am traveling this weekend to nearby Greensboro and decided to spend an extra night and attend the early morning service at Colonial. Davey founded the church about 30 years ago and has grown with such success that he is now the president of a seminary associated with the church. They have 3 worship services on Sunday morning. I did not know what to expect with a church so large. I prayed before attending asking God to give me a spirit of lowliness and mercy. My morning devotion ended up being Philippians 2:1-3... "in lowliness of mind esteem other better than yourselves."

As I walked into the building rock music was playing over the PA system. That was a bit unnerving to me but I was determined not to pass judgement. I arrived 10 minutes early and sat in the rear of the sanctuary observing the people and testing the spirit to see if it was of God.(Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.I John 4:1) What I saw was disturbing in light of the preaching that Stephen Davey delivers. There was no spirit of reverence. People were chatting and socializing. In my opinion this should be reserved for after a worship service. When one attends a worship service they should go in reverence and expectation that God is going to meet with them that morning. The congregants minds were NOT focused on worshiping God.

There was an orchestra on the platform of about 50 people. I don't believe the scriptures are opposed to an orchestra but I'm not sure that it lends to "singing and making melody in your hearts to the LORD". Eph. 5:19. Orchestra's too often become the focal point or an instrument of a production rather than that of worship. That is precisely what happened. While the congregants were mingling and socializing, instead of preparing their hearts to worship God, a man started speaking over a loud speaker. The first words spoken in the service were, "Alright guys, lets do this service right. Cue the lights, turn up the sound......." It was a production of entertainment in the spirit of this world. It was Godless and irreverent. Colonial Baptist church was nothing more than another seeker friendly mega-church. I promptly exited the building with tears in my eyes. OH LORD, where is Your remnant?

I cannot for the life of me understand how Stephen Davey can preach as he does and yet mix the profane with the holy. This is the deception that will be so strong in the latter days that if it were possible even the very elect would be lost. Pastor Davey, I have a word for you,

" 15But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD: 16They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge.....23And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean Ezekiel 44:15-16,23

Pastor Davey, as well as you can exegete the scripture you have failed this commandment of the Lord. I call you to repent of this wickedness and break up your fallow ground. Stop allowing the external Godless environment of this pagan society to dictate how you serve the Lord.

Fallow Ground

Fallow ground is ground that has become hard and unable to receive life giving seed. This hardness occurs because the external environment such as wind, rain and sun have an adverse affect making the ground hard. The external environment of the Christian in this pagan culture we live in has made the average American christian calloused and insensitive to its surrounding un-Godly environment. If God is to rain down righteousness we must take extreme and sometimes painful measures to break up our fallow ground. Listen to the 11 minute podcast message to the right of this post and break up your fallow ground.

Seek the Lord while He may be found.