Building the Church of Jesus Christ requires active self denial on a personal level. We deny we forsake any personal pleasure or self-interest that interferes with following Jesus Christ. What is it that hurts-- Us by denying self. Why is it so painful to deny ourselves-- Why do we feel that-- We are being deprived of something important. By denying self. Is it not because our selfish desires have been touched by a greater cause-- We have been moved to a greater. Cause than our own desire and our own flesh and the flesh doesn't like it. Perhaps someone else's needs are at our doorstep and they ..read more

The Birth Story of our Great Lord Jesus Christ. This aspect of his birth. So why is the virgin birth-- So important to the Christian faith. You see Jesus Christ, God's son. Had to be free from the sinful nature that was passed on to all other human beings by Adam. He had to be free of that, and because he was born of a woman, he was a human being. He was a baby, just like all of us were, and some that are here still are. And that's how he came here. But because he was a son of God. He needed to be born without any trace of sin in his bloodline, in his genetics, so he was both fully human and f ..read more

Take it to Jesus. He understands. What's wearing you down-- Take it to Jesus. He's been there too. He's been through. The valley of the shadow of death. He's been through the desert and hungry for bread. He's been through the storm, through the flood and the wind. He's been through the judgment accused of our sin. Whatever it is that is troubling you. There is no pain that he hasn't been through. He knows how you're hurting and he knows what to do. Take it to Jesus. He's been there too. He lived as a poor man with no place to call home. His disciples betrayed him, left to die all alone. He fel ..read more

Isn't that exciting-- But for now, we have the privilege. Of knowing God. We can know that we know. How can we know that we know. That's the next one. The proof. Of knowing God. How do we know him-- How can we know that we know him-- Is it by-- Our feelings. I feel like I know God. Is it by our faith-- I believe I know God. Is it by our works-- I think I've done enough that I know what God wants, so I must know God. Maybe there's a bit of. A combination of all three of them. But the test. That John gives in this text. It is a fairly simple test of knowing whether we know God or not. If we. If ..read more

Yes, yes, from those that would swallow me up, there were people who wanted David out of the way and he knew it and he's writing about this someone else. Verse one would have a very clear indicator there maybe two of them. God's mercy. There's two more. In verse one. Shadow of thy wings. He's in a cave. He's actually in a in a protected area. That that's. Thank you for that, Angela. Another one. Refuge. There's another word in verse one. Calamities, calamities until these calamities be passed. How many of you are facing calamities right now-- Maybe not. To the extent that David did, but I woul ..read more

Be not conformed to this world, but be you transformed. Rejoice in hope. I didn't write. I didn't make a list, but we. Could go on. We don't really need a dictionary to figure. Out what this-- Thing what he's talking about practical teaching. Very practical. But sometimes it's. About as difficult as it is practical to leave it out right. Well, I soon discovered in starting to study on this chapter that. We will not cover everything. But what I want to look at today is. Being a witness for God. The the Book of Romans up to this point is loaded with doctrine or teaching heavy doctrine. We we mig ..read more

5 Marks of a True Christian- -1 Is Christ in us-- -2 is a Changed Character -3 is we're charged with reconciliation -4 were Commissioned to be Ambassadors -5 Were Counted Righteous.-What is righteousness-- Is the state or condition. Of being declared upright moral. Just or virtuous-- That's the true Christian standing with God. When God looks at. A true Christian believer. He approves of you because you are bearing his righteousness. You are. You are justified in this sight. You're just like you never sinned. How many of you deserve that-- Not one of us. Not a one. What does God think of you ..read more

Our children with that. So thinking of security, what builds security-- For a child, how-- What creates a place where they feel safe-- They feel secure. Well, first. Of all mom and dad. Deeply in love. A man was once asked about his five daughters. He had raised five daughters and they were grown up. I think maybe a few married, but they had turned out very well and he, said. He said we're asked every once in a while, how did we raise these fine daughters-- And he said. I'm not sure. There's a lot of things we didn't do right. But one thing we did do. Loved each other a lot. And we didn't mind ..read more

Our prayers are unhindered at that point. Another version. Says it this way. Live with your wives, with the proper understanding that they are more delicate than you. I do have a few things I would like to read again this morning. I have a book I hadn't brought before. It's called his brain, her brain. Very valuable book. It's written by a Christian couple. And there's something here they have to say about. A woman that. I like how they how they say it. I think it's powerful. They talk here about these verses from First Peter. And what the word weaker really means. And he says this. One day I ..read more

In The last Chapter of 1 Thessalonians, Paul here is trying to give last minute Instructions before he left earth ..read more