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bringing
the word
​to life

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Being an ignorant fellow is not a crime until it comes to the knowledge of God. I was ignorant of God for the first thirty years of my life because I was taught by ignorant men.  Men who are deceived teach their deception and enlightened men teach the truth.  I had a major problem, I didn’t know where to go to find truth, my church had no faith in the Bible.  My mother bought a large gold paged Bible and put it on the coffee table.  Before any of us could touch it or hold it we had to put on clean clothes and wash our hands.  I tried to read from it one time but I think it was written in Latin.  The last time I saw it, it was in a stack of Outdoor Life magazines, and my little sister used color crayons to mark it up.
 
Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father forgive them; for they know not what they do.
 
In my ignorance I prayed to statues and dead people, but Jesus forgave me.  Jesus is far more interested in establishing a relationship with us than chiding us for our ignorance.  I had no idea how stupid I thought until I was saved from myself.  We are surrounded by ignorant people but we can’t judge them because we were one of them.  The folks who know better but continue the wrong path are the ones who are headed for trouble.  Men who are offered the truth but reject it will also answer to God and no excuse they dream up will pardon them.
 
1 Timothy 1:13 The Apostle Paul said, I was a blasphemer, a persecutor and a murderer: but I obtained mercy because I did ignorantly.

 
Seems like to me that God is willing to forgive any sin we make in order to have us in His presence.  He forgave the men who crucified His Son onto the cross.  He forgave them while they were driving the nails into His Son’s hands and feet.  Some folks don’t think they ever need forgiveness because they don’t ever do anything wrong.  They may be the nicest people in the world, well, they may be the nicest people in hell.  No one in hell is ignorant but that’s a hell of a place to acknowledge the truth.
 
If you don’t meet Jesus in this life, you will never meet Him.

 
God wants just one thing from us, He wants us to acknowledge the truth and repent.  Some folks spend their entire life fabricating excuses and in one minute they could repent and not need any of their excuses.  Some folks won’t repent because they can’t figure out why God would want them.  Well you really won’t know until you make the connection, then you will discover that He loves you!  How can God love a sinner?  Because He is willing to forgive all of our sins.  Just let God be God, some folks want to argue with His way of doing things, as if they have a better way.
 
Isaiah 43:25 I am He that blots out your sins for mine own sake, and will not remember your sins.
 
So, not only does the Lord forgive us but He forgets our past.  The devil likes to remind us but there’s nothing to remember, so don’t.  God wants us to forget our past and focus on Him, just let the Lord love you.  Ignorance is a choice, don’t choose it, choose to know the One who loves you.  


The Progressive Christian

11/9/2018

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When the Apostle Paul was on his missionary journey he met some interesting people.  Some of them were significant and some made no difference.  The encounters that he did have were recorded for our benefit and enlightenment.  When he came to the coasts of Ephesus he met twelve men who were disciples of Christ.  He asked them if they had received the Holy Ghost since they believed.  They told Paul they had never heard of any Holy Ghost.  
 
Acts 19:3-4 Paul said to them, what then  were you baptized? They said it was John’s baptism. Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying they should believe on Him who is coming Christ Jesus. 

So, these twelve men were baptized in water which means they had repented of their sins.  This is an important event but it did not save them!.  I grew up in a church that taught me that I could not be saved without water baptism.  They also taught that I had to confess my sins to the pastor and then pray for punishment.  Then I had to take “holy communion” in order to enter a state of grace.  And then if I sinned I lost my place in heaven and I had to start the process over again.  Let us progress along with these disciples and we will revisit “baptism”.   
 
Acts 19:5 When the twelve men heard what Paul said they were baptized into the N
ame of the Lord Jesus.
 
To keep you from getting confused, let me point out to you what Paul said in the sixth chapter of Hebrews.  In this letter Paul says he wants to teach the church about the doctrine of baptisms.  So, baptism is not a one size fits all kind of deal.  In fact, there are three baptisms we need to experience.  So, when the twelve disciples were baptized in the Name of Jesus, they were born-again.  Now they are progressing, they began with water baptism and now they are baptized into the Body of Christ, but Paul wasn’t done with them yet.  

Acts 19:6 Then Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
 
Now in the space of some minutes the twelve disciples experienced all three baptisms, these are progressive Christians.  I watch Christians receive a promise of God and they become satisfied and don’t seem to want any more.  Part of the reason for this is that no one is telling them that they are entitled to more.  
 
Acts 2:38 Repent, be baptized in the Name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
 
This is not water baptism, this is being born-again where all of our sins are washed away.  This is our birthday and Father gives us a gift, He is the Holy Spirit.  If we will permit Him, the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth.  The truth is what God has prepared for us to possess over the span of our life.  The Progressive Christian.

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    OFFERING DECLARATION
    November 24, 2019


    My trust is in the Lord,
    therefore I live in hope.

    I no longer walk by sight,
    I live by the faith of Jesus.

    My life is in His hands,
    I will fear no evil.


    I am blessed of the Lord,
    so I put all my hope in Him.
    PRAYER FOCUS
    HOLIDAY SEASON
    Nehemiah 8:10
    Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat, drink the  sweet drink, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
     
    RELATIONSHIPS
    1. Separation from Family and Friends. (Examples: Military, Prison, 
          Hospital)
    2.   Praying against loneliness and isolation. (Yourself/Others)
    3. Communication   Romans 12:10 Act in love; prefer one another in honor.
    4.   Peace of God will reign in our homes.
          
    FINANCES
    1.   Pray about unrealistic expectations of buying and receiving gifts.
    2.   Ask God for strategies and ideas that fit your budget and talents.
    3. Pray for wisdom about what organizations you can help and be  realistic about how much money you can spend toward their need.
    4. Pray for increase in finances. God will supply all our needs through 
          Christ Jesus.
     
    COUNTRY/CITY
    1.   Peace of God throughout this Season
    2.   Protection for all from enemies seen and unseen
    3.   Praying for God assignments
    4.   Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with us!

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