The Conditions of Discipleship

# Sermon Outlines by JRR SR # A New Cruse # A New Cruse Preached By Rev. James Reynolds Sr. at the Deliverance Center on March 25, 2007 ## OPENING THOUGHTS I am reminded of a time when they asked the elder Bro. Powers to testify. It was after probably eight or nine other preachers had been asked.Each preacher went on and said, "I just, I just can't, I just can't sit down. I got to preach a little.I just can't sit down." Each one was saying the same thing for seemingly a half-hour or more—just carrying on. "I can't sit down, I got to preach a little." Bro. Powers then got up and he said, "Well brethren, you asked me to testify and I'm going to tell you how to testify.I'm gonna go sit down." Sometimes a short sermon like that is more effective than a long one.I know I have a reputation for being long, but I never spend a lot of time just to spend a lot of time. I feel like God has given me something, and I need to deliver that to you in such a manner that you can grasp it because if you don't understand what I am saying then it won't do you any good. So, we try to lay it before you so you can understand it, grasp it, and apply it to your own life. This morning, I want to share some things with you that I believe God has been sharing with me, and I believe it will be a help to you—not only for today, but for the future. How many know that we need to have a move of God?I am talking about a genuine move of God, and not the kind we just advertise on a flyer saying we are going to have revival. I am talking about a revival when the Holy Ghost comes down and changes and gives direction to lives.We need that kind of revival. ## OUR TEXT II Kings, 2^:19-22: *And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is nought, and the ground barren. ²⁰ And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him. ²¹ And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land. ²² So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.* The prophet's response to those that were declaring to him the problem was, "Bring me a new cruse." ## The Condition of Jericho I want you to look with me at the condition that is behind this lesson.The city of Jericho is revealed here in three aspects.You need to understand that **there was a condition that existed that needed God's help**. **** **PLEASANT.** The men of the city came to Elisha and said unto him, "Behold I pray thee the situation of the city is pleasant."One aspect of the city was that it was pleasant.Looking up the word in the Hebrew gives the idea that there is something very wonderful about this situation. Now, as far as the outward appearance of the city, it was good, pleasant.The Hebrew word brings out the idea that it was favorable, privileged, and prosperous. **BAD WATER & BARREN LAND** Jericho is a privileged, prosperous, and pleasant city, but the water is bad.Notice that the Scripture says the water is *nought*. *Nought*is the translation of the Hebrew word *rah*, which means *bad* or *evil*. The water is contaminated. Because there is an element of poison mixed with the water, it is producing a barren condition in the land. Verse 19 says, "the ground barren." **The ground could not produce**.The land was not producing, and the reason why the land was not producing was because the water was bad. ### The Condition of the Church To me, this is a revelation of a spiritual principle that is in the Church today. First you look at the outward appearance of the church, the church is in a favorable condition. How many know the church is doing well as far as the outward appearance?They say there has never been a time when more people are going to church than today. Outwardly, the appearance is pleasant, favorable. Jesus used the words in Revelation, He said, "Your rich, increased with goods, and have need of nothing." He's talking about the latter day church. A church that has wrenched the reigns out of the hands of the Lord and is now in control of itself. And He said, "Your rich, increased with goods, have need of nothing."Could we agree with what Jesus was saying, that the church has become very prosperous as far as the outward appearance is concerned?But the water is contaminated. Listen to what He says as He goes on there in Revelation, "…and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and blind, and naked."Not producing spiritually. A church that He called has drifted so far away, they have become spiritually barren. Number wise, they are doing well. Financially the do well, but spiritually there is a problem. The water is contaminated. What does that speak of? The Bible speaks about the Word as water. Water of the Word produces life, but the Word here, in the hour that we face has become polluted, mixed with all kinds of heresies.A mixture in the teaching that is controlling the lives of many, and its producing barrenness. The apostle Paul said in Romans 16 verses 17 and 18 "…mark them…"You hear people say, "You should be careful."Here is Paul saying, "…mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. ¹⁸For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ… and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."The word 'simple' doesn't mean that they are simpletons, but they are unlearned, (they) don't have the knowledge.And people are being swayed by the words of men that have become orators and not simply preachers. They can spin all kinds of things and make people…I remember when I was in school myself, a Nazarene brother came to the church. And we had an orator for a preacher. He used to tell the folks, he says, "You know I can preach." He knew he could. And he had a lot of psychology. The Nazarene brother said to some of the students as they came out of church, he said, "I don't understand." He said, "That man gets me to clap my hands when I don't feel like it; (he) gets me shout when I don't feel like it." And he says, "When I'm in there, I feel these things but (when) I come out, I'm empty."That's what the water without the truth, does to people.It leaves them empty and barren.You need the truth! The Word of truth is what will put life into your spirit.Can anyone say amen? Good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.Again, Paul says in II Timothy 3: 4 and 5 he says, "Lovers of pleasure…" And the saddest thing is, its not just the world that is involved with pleasures, even to the degree that all of these sports events are being promoted by the church.Now I'm not against these things to such a degree that…But I don't think that they ought to be promoted in the church."Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God."Now you listen to what he says, "Having a form…"These are the same ones that he said love the world and pleasures more than loving God, and having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof.And he said, "Don't join up with them.Get away from them." The word 'denying' comes from a Greek word, to forsake, renounce, refuse to accept, reject. And what is he saying? Because they love pleasure more than loving God, they reject what God has for them.Refusing, renouncing… And isn't it true that we hear of a lot of voices today say, "Oh, you don't have to do that, you don't have to do this, you don't have to do the other."Listen, if you're a Christian and you've been born of God, there is an obligation upon you to live like Him.We name Him as our Savior, then let us walk like Him.How many know that's the Word of God? Peter said this, II Peter the 2^nd chapter verses 1 and 2, "…There shall be false teachers…" Now they've warned us… Why is it that as many warnings that we have had through the Scripture, that we can't seem to see where we are at? Jesus warned us, the apostles warned us. And here Peter is saying, "There shall be…"He didn't say, "There might be…"He said there is going to be "…false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, …and bring upon themselves swift destruction. ² And many… and many shall follow…" See this is the problem. This is why the church has become barren, because many have followed "…their pernicious…" their evil ways, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.And many… many… Dear God. By reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil… Isn't it true?Boy, they can say all kinds of things about us, they can call us a cult, they call me a cult leader. I've even got letters where they said, "You are the antichrist."I don't know if an antichrist that is going to follow the Word of God.But you see, they speak very freely against the truth because they don't love the truth. And they're in a very dangerous position because God said because the people did not love the truth, God will send them strong delusion.How many know we are living in a time when a lot of people have come under that spirit of strong delusion and they are going to hold to that?They believe this is alright, all you got to do is go to church once in a while and be at least a good upright person in society…It takes more than that, you must be born of God, and live it! Jude, the fourth verse, one little chapter, said "There are certain men crept in unawares, ungodly men…" Turning, they've come into the midst of the church and are turning the grace of God into lasciviousness.That is, it's a license. They can do as they want to. Rather than speak concerning their name at this time I'll refrain from that, but there is one church they say is growing in leaps and bounds.The minister said himself, "I don't preach against sin, I just preach about grace and faith." Grace and faith without principle will cause the church to become barren; spiritually I'm speaking. Now, the water has become polluted. You have to agree with me at least to some degree that the water of the Word of God has become polluted because men have mixed their doctrines and their ideas into the Scripture.Now there is nothing wrong with the pure Word of God, but when you mix it, it produces death and barrenness. So the church has become barren and unfruitful, spiritually.At the same time, the appearance is pleasant.And they can… And I've heard some of them say, "Boy we have come across the tracks.We are living on the other side of the tracks, and God is blessing us and prospering us." One woman claims that she just bought a ten million dollar airplane to fly around.Can you imagine Jesus, who wore sandals, and went around from town to town bringing the gospel without a place to lay His head…Could you agree with me at least to some degree that the church is become spiritually barren? I'm talking about spiritually. Numbers, finances… Now what is the cure? Look at what he says there in verse 20, and he said, the man of God said, "Bring me a new cruse." With the condition that we face right now, we need a revival of spiritual truth.There needs to be a reviving of spiritual truth, not men's ideas.There needs to be a spiritual application of the life of Jesus being made manifest in the life of the believer.I see a lot of people that they…Its like a drudgery, its almost a hardship to serve Jesus.If you have Christ in you, and His life is flowing in you, it will not be a hardship, it will be a joy, it will be a thrill, it will be exciting to live for Him! Not just on Sunday, but on Monday, and Tuesday, and Wednesday, through the week.Thank God there is something more than a religious experience. Not only do we need spiritual life, spiritual power, but we need spiritual purity. The man of God says, "Bring me a new, a new cruse, a new cruse." Again the word comes from a Hebrew word that means to be fresh, new, not chipped, not cracked, not broken, a new cruse.God is looking for vessels today that He can use.The man of God is standing in the position of God and he is saying, "Bring me a new cruse." God is saying, "I need a vessel, I need a vessel, bring Me a vessel that I can use."A vessel prepared by God. Did you hear what I said? A vessel prepared by God. See there is types.A new cruse. Do you know when a pot, a piece of pottery is made, it is made by the potter, molded and fashioned in the hands of the potter.And he is saying, "Bring me a new cruse, bring me a new pot, bring me a new vessel." Now, not only is it prepared by God, but the potter always puts the clay, after it is formed, into the oven. It takes fire…The vessel that God will use is going to have to go through the trials, go through the fire and not be cracked, chipped or broken.Are you listening? Oh yeah, there is a price. Why does He put the believers through the fire?The same reason the potter puts the clay through the fire.To make it strong, to make it durable, to make it hard.It won't crack, it won't fall apart.Now we know the story, in the hands of the potter… the pot or the vessel became marred in the hands of the potter and the potter always did one of two things. Actually three things, he would throw it back if it was the clay was not hard, he would throw it back into the mud and make it another vessel.But if it had gone too far, its beginning to get hard, he would set it up on shelf there to remain. It would never be of value to anyone. Then there was the third thing, if it was just falling all apart, he would throw it through the window out into the potter's field and it was shattered. Dear God, don't ever let the Lord get to the place where He throws you through the window. You say, "Well I can't stand the heat!" If you want to be a vessel that God can use, you are going to have to stand the heat. Now the vessel must also, not only be made by God, but it must be available to God. He said, "Bring me, bring me a new cruse." A vessel that has paid the price, gone through the fire… A vessel that now becomes an instrument in the hands of God.A new cruse. A vessel conformed to the image of Christ. How many know that God wants to make you like Christ?And we must understand… This is what God is after, a new cruse.One that looks like the original. A vessel that God can pour Himself into and through.See the whole thing is, this is what God did.It wasn't the vessel, it wasn't the cruse.It was what God did, and this is what the world needs, this is what the church needs, this is what this generation needs is a move of God in the life of the believers. Some of you understand what I am saying, and some of you are enduring it.But I want you to understand that God is looking for a vessel, a new cruse. We don't need new dynamics, power teams, showmanship, and all of that kind of stuff. That's taking the place of the gospel. They say, "Well we use this…" They produce after their kind. That's the principle that's in the Word of God. If you get people to accept what you are teaching and preaching, they'll be hooked on that and they'll be just like you taught. But if we teach them the truth, the truth will transform their life's and make them like Christ, a vessel that God can use.God is looking for vessels. A vessel that is the image of Himself. Now, when he says, "Bring me a new cruse…" he said, "…Put salt therein, salt…" If there was ever a time when we needed salt… Where are the salt of this age? We need the salt.Salt, according to what I see in the dictionary is seasoning, preserving, and healing. Some of you probably didn't even understand that salt is good for healing sores. My grandfather used to cut wood for us, he lived with us quite some time, and he had a very sharp axe. And one day he was chopping, and evidently holding the block of wood and he gashed his thumb way down deep and he would take salt and pour it on to that.Ooooouuuuuwwweeeeeee. Yeah, it might have a healing element but it smarts.And my daddy used to say, "No smart, no cure."But that thing healed because he kept putting salt…I mean he'd just pour that salt in there. The prophet is saying, "Put salt in the vessel."Salt is a type of the truth. Jesus said in Matthew 5 and 13, "Ye are the salt…"Talking to the believer, talking to those that were real."Ye are the salt of the earth…"If the salt is in you… not something that you carry under your arm.He said, "Put salt in it." We need to have the truth in us, not just carrying it around.We need to have that salt. This is what the world needs. This is what the church needs because its become barren.It needs the salt. "Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein." The results. Look at verse 21, "And he went forth unto the spring…" He didn't just take salt and through it into the water, he went to the fountain head. We need to get back to the fountain head where we missed God. How many know that we have lived in a time where we have drifted so far away from God we don't even know where we began?This might shock you, but my mother told me one time, way back (in) my early experience with the Lord, she said, "You know James, the church wouldn't even allow people to clean the church unless they were filled with the Holy Ghost." Not only saved, but filled with the Holy Ghost. I think that's missing today. You know, the old timers, they say, you go into the church sometime and see them cleaning and then they'd go by the chairs and they would be praying for the chairs. Listen, you get a Holy Ghost man praying for the chairs and praying for the people that set in those chairs, you're going to have revival. There is something missing. Right?Bring me a cruse with salt. Went forth to the spring of the waters and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the Lord, I have healed these waters.There shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.So the waters were healed. He didn't say the waters might be healed, he said, "So the waters were healed."God is still looking for vessels.A new vessel with salt in it. The salt being poured into the waters made it pure, made it alive.Notice what he said there in the latter part of that verse, no more death or barren land. No more death…Pour the salt in and there won't be any more death.There is a lot of death today.One church he said, "You say you have a name that you live and aren't dead…" Dear God, I trust that we have something more than just a name, that we live.I want to be recognized, not by men…I was thinking as I picked up the newspaper yesterday, there was a couple women I think came up from Boston, claim they are preachers and are going around town… And like that its such a wonderful thing that they are doing.We've have been doing this for thirty-nine, forty years going through this city trying to teach people that Jesus Christ is the only way.Trying to rescue the perishing, care for the dying…They don't come our way and put us in the newspaper. What is it the world needs? Somebody to just sit along side them and say, "You know things can be different."There has to be a difference in the heart.The waters were healed. Not only was the waters healed, but there was fruitfulness, no barrenness.The church has lost its saltiness.How many know most places that you go, and I've heard it…I've been in some of them and there is not an ounce of conviction.Boy it used to be when the preachers would preach, sometimes you'd see somebody slip out of their seat and head for the altar long before the altar call was given. Why?Because the Holy Ghost was getting a hold of somebody's heart and bringing them to the cross. No more death, no more barrenness, life! Listen to what Jesus said continuing on in that statement, "If the salt has lost its savour, it is thenceforth good for nothing but be cast out and be trodden under foot of men." What did Jesus say in Revelation to the church of Laodicea? "If you don't repent, I am going to spue you out of My mouth."He is talking about the condition that exists in the church today.You say that you are rich, increased with goods, and have need of nothing, but I say unto you that you are wretched, you're poor, you're blind, you're naked, and you have need of Me, and He counsels them. What am I saying to you this morning?I am saying God is looking for some honest, true, dedicated, committed new cruses, new vessels that are willing to serve God unreservedly, with truth, with salt. Salt that might bite a little, but in biting it brings healing.There will no longer be death nor barrenness. I am asking you this morning, are you willing to be a vessel God can use?Are you willing to pay the price?Are you willing for God to put you through the fire, to form, mold (and) make you hard and strong to stand against the opposition?Are you willing? I am asking you, Are you willing to stand alone? I won't tell you who it was, but one of the local pastors said to me, I was at a convention and he came up to me and he said, "Bro. Reynolds, I believe it just like you preach it, but if you preach that, you'll walk alone."What was he saying? "I am not willing to walk alone." But I can say to you this morning, I may stagger along the way but I am willing, I'm willing… So I am putting it on you, are you willing to be that vessel that God is calling for?A new cruse that's got salt in it, that can bring healing to the pollution of this hour, of this day? We must admit that there is something wrong somewhere… The doctrines have become polluted by heresy, false doctrines…What is going to stem that? What is going to turn that around? What is going to bring revival? It's not just that we pray that God will do something.God is looking for a vessel that He can take and use in this day.That He can pour Himself into and through and touch the lives of men that are now bound in their sin, even though they confess Christ they need to have the life of Jesus flowing in them. And I am asking you, Are you willing to be a vessel that God can use?That God can pour Himself into and through, and change the complexion of the church today? Dear God. The gospel has become polluted, has made the land barren.In closing, how many is willing to say, "God, I am willing to be made a new cruse, and I am willing for You to put me through the fire, and I am willing to yield myself totally to You, where You can put truth into me that I can be a means of turning this thing around and seeing the name of God…"We need revival folks, we need a real revival.We need a moving of the Holy Ghost that'll get a hold of people's hearts… I'm not talking just about sinners, I'm talking about the church, I'm talking about loose living people.We need to see them changed. There's barrenness, there's pollution, there's mixture, but there's a gospel that we have here that can change the lives of people and turn them around and make them fruitful for God. The land will not be dead and barren any more.Can we pray… Father, I've tried to deliver my soul that I felt You wanted me to deliver to the people. God, You are looking, You're looking… The message has gone out this morning, Bring me a vessel that's got salt in it, that'll stand for the truth, that'll love truth, that'll believe truth, that'll promote truth.Dear God, dear God. Bring me a vessel… How about it? Is there some here this morning that will say, "I am going to bring myself, I am going to bring myself to God. I am going to lay myself down, let Him mold, make and fashion and ultimately put truth in me for its truth that will prevail. Its truth that will take away the corruption, the pollution, the mixture and glorify the Son of God." Stand with me please… I'd encourage you this morning, if there is anything in your heart, if there's any desire in your heart at all to be a vessel that God could use, would you get out of your seat and find a place at this altar?If the altar's not big enough kneel behind somebody, kneel in these front seats. Let's make a commitment saying we are going to bring our vessel to the Lord and we want Him to fill us with the salt of truth that we can be a help in these last days to stem the tide of the pollution that is corrupting the lives of people across our land and around the world. Would you come?Would you kneel before Him? Will you surrender yourself? # A Throne in the Secret Place # A Throne in the Secret Place A sermon outline of Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. > Psalm 27:5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. ## INTRODUCTION ANXIETY - WORRY ## The Pavilion ### In Time of Trouble ### He Shall Hide Me Deut. 33:27; Psalm 34:7; Psalm 34:17; Psalm 46:1 Prov. 18:10 ### In His Pavilion \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* (5) Pavilion.—A booth or hut; tent; tabernacle Psalm 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. > J. WILBUR CHAPMAN-- It is said that some years ago the king of Abyssinia took a British subject, by the name of Campbell, prisoner. They carried him to the fortress of Magdala, and in the heights of the mountains put him in a dungeon, without cause assigned. It took six months for Great Britain to find it out, and then they demanded his instantaneous release. King Theodore refused, and in less than ten days ten thousand British soldiers were on shipboard and sailing down the coast. They disembarked, and marched seven hundred miles beneath the burning sun up the mountains to the very dungeon where the prisoner was held, and there they gave battle. The gates were torn down, and presently the prisoner was lifted upon their shoulders, and carried down the mountains, and placed upon the white-winged ship, which sped him in safety to his home. And it cost the English government twenty-five millions of dollars to release that man. God has provided more! - David Brainerd going to the Indians. - A lieutenant in the US army has behind him the force and authority of the entire army. Psalm 91:7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. ## The Tabernacle Not just "IN THE TENT" but special entrance!! ### A Place of Favor …in the secret of his tabernacle… - In the most retired and private part of His dwelling. In the secret of his tabernacle - In the most retired and private part of His dwelling. He would not merely admit him to His premises; not only to the vestibule of His house; not only to the open court, or to the parts of His house frequented by the rest of His family; but he would admit him to the private apartments - the place to which He Himself withdrew to be alone, and where no stranger, and not even one of the family, would venture to intrude. PRIVATE, EXCLUSIVE, FAVORED BY GOD "THOU ART HIGHLY FAVORED" Lu 1:28 ### A Place of Fellowship Treated as one of the family. We WERE beggars, now SIT AMONGST PRINCES. Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: ### A Place of Feasting Eating at the KING's TABLE ## The Rock# Are We Missing it? A sermon outline of Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. *Text: Revelation 12:12* *Revelation 12:12 — will to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea and the devil is come down unto you having great wrath, because he knows that he asked but a short time.* The devil has come down. Are we seeing him? 1. # What did Jesus say to watch for? "deception" — "be not deceived" the church — look at it — has it been deceived? Premarital sex — marriage and divorce — the government involvement in the family and the destruction of it. 2. # How have we been deceived? 1. ## Through television — subliminal messaging 2. ## Ready a talk shows 3. ## That movie E. T. Subliminal words. Get a Pepsi, etc. Get a drink. The man was crying "I did it". "Homosexuality is good." 4. ## Rock groups Groups — so-called Christian That Stripers — from the stripes of Jesus. Times Magazine describes them — "All 4 members of the stripers and shaggy shoulderlength hair, lots of eyeliner, and plenty of weather in chains to go with the spandex." 5. ## The New Age Movement the rainbow is their sign. 1. ### All major networks are now New Age. 2. ### Homosexuals are a part of it. 3. ### Feminists are a part of it. 4. ### Peace or anti-nuclear movement. Their rainbow has a dove in it. 5. ### Lucifer publishing house. 6. ### Unity church — homosexual marriages. 7. ### The holistic health movement. 2. # Have we forgotten the devil's tactics? 1. ## He lies about God. Genesis 3:4 — 5 what is going on? Now. 2. ## He instigates to sin. John 12:12 the devil having put into the heart of Judas to betray Jesus. 3. ## Sinners are under his dominion. Acts 26:18 4. ## Produces lying wonders. II Thessalonians 2:9 5. ## Sows tares — what are the tears? *Matthew 13:38 the tears are the children of the wicked one.* # Breaking Up Fallow Ground Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. April 13, 2005 Wednesday Bible Study Title: **Breaking Up Fallow Ground** Text: Hosea 10:9-15 ( 12 ) \["If you effect a child, you effect a life." The homosexual problem is a SPIRIT, and they are not born that way.\] There is yet some ground needing to be broken up. The Jews were a nation of farmers and it is common practice of Scripture to speak in terms they can relate to. Israel is spoken of as a nation of backsliders.God does not tolerate sin. He is very gracious and longsuffering, but at the same time He hates sin. WARNING: OUR HEARTS CAN BECOME HARD LIKE FALLOW GROUND. ## I. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BREAK UP FALLOW GROUND? The prophet of God is bringing a message to Israel that has turned away from the truth of God yet still holding on to religious worship and idolatry. It is past time to seek the Lord. The heart needs to be prepared to receive the Word of God. Our hearts can become like ground that has become dry and unable to receive seed. Fallow ground is hard ground and cannot receive the Word of Truth, the seed. To break up the fallow ground is to bring our minds into a state to receive the Word of God. Seed always produces fruit of its origin, its kind. A kernal of corn will not produce a cucumber, but corn. God's Word will produce a people after God's heart. It does no good to preach the Word of God when the mind is in a state of being fallow. Throwing good seed on hard ground is vain. The ground must become soft and able to recieve the seed to ultimately produce fruit. ## II. HOW IS THE FALLOW GROUND BROKEN UP? Look at your own heart. The devil will try to distract us with looking at others, but *Is there sin that has been overlooked in my life?* 1). Is there INGRATITUDE? Luke 17:17 If God has done something for me my heart should be filled with gratitude.God has been good to me! Romans 1:21 How much more would God do for us if we respond to his blessings with thanksgiving? Break up the fallow ground and allow it to become soft so that it could recieve the rain. The cross is more than a symbol, but is a reality (Christ died on that cross) and what more do we need to be thankful? . 2). Is there a lack of love for God? Rev. 2:4 You don't love Me like you use to. Does my heart no longer leap when talking about Jesus or the Bible? 2:5 "Remember from whence thou art fallen..." Examine my heart. 3). Is there neglect of the Bible? Psalm 119:11 For you to get the Word in your heart you must spend a lot of time with it and memorize it. Allow it to soak in and become a part of me. 4). Is there unbelief? Romans 14:23 "I believe the greatest sin is that of unbelief." Mark 9:23-Do we believe that or do we just read words? If the problem overcomes you then you are unbelieving. There are mountains which are problems which can be removed and cast into the sea. 5). Is there neglect of prayer? Possibly the most grievous thing to do is to come to the altar while others come down to pray and for a person to simply think about what they are going to do tomorrow. Do not put on an act, be real. 6). Is there worldly mindedness? (i.e. Son, stand up in that corner! -I maybe standing on the outside, but I am sitting on the inside.) Prov. 21:4 7). Is there lying? Any act that is designed to deceive is lying. Col. 3:9 8). Am I robbing God? ``` (1). We spend much more time with people and things than we do with God. "If you do not tithe your time in prayer to God then you are a robber."--a preacher from Texas. Apostle Williams, "I get up every morning at 5 o'clock. Sometimes I can walk, but other times I must crawl to church. (2). We rob God when we do not give Him our talents. (3). We rob God of our money. Malachi 3:8-10 ``` 9). Hindering others from being useful. Gossip-God never made us to be garbage cans, and garbage does belong in the garbage can. Be an encourager; do not hinder someone else.# Can America Escape Judgment (transcript) # Can America Escape Judgment? Isaiah 1:4 preached by Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. at Deliverance Center on Sunday Morning December 5, 2004 I have entitled this message in the form of a question, "Can America Escape Judgment?" I trust I will be able to help you to understand the answer. I want to read one verse of Scripture to you from the first chapter of Isaiah—verse four: > Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. Isaiah is talking here about the nation of Israel wandering far away from the precepts and the commandments of God. They turned their back upon the God that rescued them from slavery. Can America hope to escape judgment committing the same sins that brought judgment on the nation of Israel? ## I. The Privileges of the Nation — vs. 2 Let us take a look at the privileges Israel enjoyed. What a privileged nation Israel was! In verse 2, he says, Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The people of Israel were slaves in Egypt where they were driven by hard taskmasters. They were driven to the point that they even were commanded to worship the false gods of Egypt. Not only did they serve the Egyptians, working laboriously in their fields and building such structures as the pyramids, but also they worshipped the false gods of Egypt. But, God in His grace reached out and raised up a deliverer and brought them out of bondage and set them free from slavery. God not only brought them out of bondage and set them free from slavery, but He brought them into a land that flowed with milk and honey. He blessed that nation. Listen again to what he says, Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children…" Israel was taken from slavery and brought to an exalted position amongst the nations. If you have read the book of Isaiah then you would know, at this time in her history, Israel was feared by the other nations. One whole nation came and tricked Israel into accepting them because they feared them. America, like Israel, has been exalted to a high position. You must understand that we are not only exalted as far as finances, but we have been exalted to a position where all nations fear our country. Even this is beginning to change. I have nourished. The Hebrew word translated as "nourished" in this verse has in it the idea of advancement. God brought them out of slavery and brought them into a beautiful land, and He began to advance them in every phase of life. "Advanced, increased, prospered." Israel was a very prosperous nation at one time. There was not a king or kingdom that ever had what Solomon had, but it was because of the richness of the nation itself that Solomon had such a great kingdom. The Queen of Sheba came and spoke to Solomon: "I had surely thought they were exaggerating when they told me of your glory and of all of your pomp and of all of the arrangements of your sitting captains and lords and your position and your wisdom. I thought probably they had exaggerated, but when I saw all the wealth and the beauty and the glory and the grandeur, I knew the half was never yet told me." Israel and America haven been blessed of God. I have nourished—advanced, increased, prospered—and brought up children. He raised them and fed them like a mother feeds her child giving him nourishment. Not only did he nourish and feed them, but also He protected them. Every time Israel went on the battlefield, they never lost a battle, except, when they were sinful. Isaiah 18:2 says that Israel was a nation terrible from their beginning. What does that mean? Nations feared us. Israel was a nation terrible from its beginning. God's grace is what made Israel great—God's grace! It was not that they were any wiser than other nations, but it was because of the fact of God's grace coupled with God's covenant with Israel that she became the great nation that she was. God remembered his covenant with Abraham, and I have a feeling that God is remembering some things—not altogether good things—concerning America, but the people ought to realize that God has been good to this nation The measure of opportunity is the measure of responsibility. Surely, we have been blessed, we have been prospered, and we have been protected. How many wars have been fought with other nations in this country? One, but it won't be long until that is changed. You can mark it down, and you can say that Pastor Reynolds said it. It will not be long before America will face a war on her homeland. Surely, we have had great opportunity, and that, in turn, brings great responsibility. Israel imagined themselves to be elected to the privileges and the blessings, but they forgot their responsibility and in forgetting their responsibility they lost their privileges. The measure of grace is the measure of judgment. Judgment is according to privilege. The greater the light (understanding) a person has, the greater the requirement. The preachers argued this morning on the radio that our country really was never a Christian nation though it has been called that. No. Our country was a Christian nation and was proud of it. Our past countrymen had no fear to stand up for what they believed. We have watched the enemy slowly undermining the very roots and foundation of our country. It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city. \[Matthew 10:15\] Does that not include America? I considered William Branham to be a great prophet. I do not understand what happened at the end of his ministry, but at one time William Branham walked with God. He knew more of the Spiritual world than most people know of the natural world. In 1956, he made this statement at the Bangor auditorium, "If God doesn't judge America, He will have to raise up Sodom and Gomorrah and apologize to them." You say, "Is that some kind of a joke?" No. That is no joke. That is simply the facts. We are a wicked nation. How corrupt are we? ## II. The Corruption of the Nation — vs. 3-6 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. Isaiah is talking about the nation that God brought out of slavery and brought to a land that is known as the "Promised Land"—a land flowing with milk and honey. Taking you quickly to the scene that this verse comes out of: Here is a nation that has corrupted itself to the degree that it is corrupting others. God called them in the first place to be a witness for Him, but they became a nation that corrupted others. In Isaiah's time, gold and silver idols lined the streets in Jerusalem. Did you hear what I said? Gold and silver IDOLS lined the streets in Jerusalem, and Israel was by the royal authority commanded to worship the sun and the moon. You ought to thank God that your president is not commanding you to worship the sun and moon. They kept pure white horses at the gate of the temple in stalls that were well-fed and cared for, and at the beginning of each new season, these horses would prance out with gold all over their harnesses hauling golden chariots to meet the rising of the sun. A nation that was called of God and that was commanded by God "Thou shalt have no other Gods before Me" has now begun to worship the sun, the moon, and other false idols. Tell me, America has not done the same? Some of the great idols of our time come right out of Hollywood. Hollywood is full of some of the most corrupt people that have ever existed. Corruption is facing the nation everywhere you look. Israel—who was called "God's People"—is found here worshipping the sun and the moon! God even called them saying, "You are My Children. I brought you up and you are my people. I've watched over you. I've kept you." Here they are: a city that was called the holy city worshipping idols, worshipping the sun, worshipping the moon, and worshipping false gods. The streets of Jerusalem were filled not only with idols, but also with altars. And on these altars was placed incense so that it was like prayer going up to their false gods. I will not tell you at what meeting it was because I know that some people would stay right there and not hear the rest of what I am going to say, but there was an internationally-known evangelist in 1956, who asked an atheist to pray in his meeting. Can you tell me that an atheist is going to pray to a God that he does not believe in? Something has gone wrong somewhere. Not only were they corrupt outside, but they were also corrupt inside the temple; they had orgies in the temple. They had some wicked "goings on" in the temple. It has not changed a whole lot. I just picked up the paper yesterday and it said that about 100 million dollars was being paid because of priests attacking little children. The Roman Catholic Church had already paid out some 80 million dollars for that group down in Boston for their attacks on children. How much more will they pay? They made this statement, "You'll not deplete our coffers." Listen, we are living in a time when people are more concerned with the dollar bill than the God that is stamped on the dollar bill! It should be IN GOD WE TRUST! Has anyone noticed that I am a bit upset? Oh, yeah, I hate the devil. I hate what he is doing. I hate what he has done to you. I hate what he is doing to you. I hate the lies that he has told you. If you were on the streets of Jerusalem while these beautiful white stallions pranced out to greet the sun as it rose and while incenses rose off the altars and through the streets of Jerusalem, then you would not have to listen real hard to hear the screams and cries of the children that were being cast into the fire to the god they called Moloch. They burned their children! You say, "Well, we don't burn children." Dear God, they do not even give them a chance to be born! Do not tell me they do not have life and that they do not have feeling. The most hideous, the most terrible crime that a person can commit is against an innocent soul. They were throwing them into the fires. It has not changed. The same devil that inspired them to destroy children is the same devil that is behind this abortion scene. You say, "I don't like your preaching, Brother Reynolds." I know. I have been told that a lot of times, but at least when I stand before God, I will stand innocent of not telling the truth. Let us look at the sting of sin. Isaiah sums it all up in this statement, They have forsaken the Lord. After all of the terrible things that they have done, they have now forsaken God. In Isaiah chapter one and verse three, we see the error of ingratitude. Despite exceptional privileges, Israel and America have lowered themselves beneath the level of the beast—the ox. God is presenting the ox as having more sense than the nation of Israel. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. The evolutionists would like to bring man down on the level of beasts, but sin brings man under the level of beasts. Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider —they were ignorant of how blessed they really were. We see, also, their incorrigibleness. Verses 4 and 5 say, Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. Why should ye be stricken any more? (GOD is asking the question!) Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. No matter what God did to them by His grace and by His judgment to turn them around, they continued to go their own way! They would not change! Yes, I now that a lot of people got excited when 911 took place. It seemed like everyone was concerned about going to church. As you traveled down the streets you would read sign after sign stating, "IN GOD WE TRUST." I saw a great, big, beautiful sign and it said, "In GOD is Our Trust." They say the churches were packed for a few weeks, but since that time, if you have been listening to the news and the reports that have been coming forth, you will find that this nation is revolting more and more and more. The sad thing about it is that the president gets all the guff. Who was it that put those federal judges in that are making decisions for accepting the marriages of people of the same sex? God have mercy on the state of Massachusetts. No matter what, they will revolt more and more. They are increasing in degeneracy; they are going down all the time. Look at verse six. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. Again, look down at verse twenty-one, How is the faithful city become an harlot! "How did you turn into the corrupt nation that you are? I've brought you out. I've blessed you and I have provided for you. I prospered you. Now, you've become a harlot." The holy city that this is referenced to is Jerusalem, the Holy City. Prostitution is supported greatly in our country. Did you know that it would not take long to clean up our land if only the judges, when they get them into the courtroom, would give some hard sentences? Israel became a harlot. Do not tell me that America is any different from Israel. Not only were they corrupt in their dealings with one another and in their dealings with God, but they were corrupt in their justice system. Verse twenty-three says, Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them. They are only concerned about money. Did you know that you could commit murder today and if you have enough money you can get by with it? You say, "How do you know that?" Well, it was not too long ago when we had a scene in the court for months played like a soap opera over the television waves. I did not watch it; I did not want to watch it. I did not have any time to watch it, but I heard a lot about it and that man walked away free. Oh, yes, I know he lost some money, but He had enough, so, he did not have to worry too much. Money buys more than things. Now, I do not want to get onto the subject of some of the officials in our country, because you would get hung up there, but I will mention one thing. I know that a lot of people still believe that some of our political leaders were great men, but if you would read their backgrounds, then you would see that they were "corrupters." What a statement that is made in verse twenty-three: Princes (that is the dignitaries; those that are in high office) are… companions of thieves. When I was in the United States Marine Corps, I once borrowed a car without asking permission, and I ended up paying a lot of money because of it. I could have been thrown out of the Service, but in His grace and through my mother's prayers, God did not allow that to happen. While I was still in the Newbern Jail, my captain came to see me and he said to me, "If you can get out, we won't prosecute you. Do what ever you have to do to get out." When I got back to the station, my captain said to me, "Now, look Reynolds, you did a very foolish thing going out there and borrowing somebody's car without permission. Don't you realize the price that you paid?" (It did cost me a lot of money, but it could have cost me more.) He said, "Now, if you want to go and rob a bank, I will go with you if the price is right." I want people to know that I'm not for sale! I am not for sale! I do not know if that means anything to you, but I want you to understand I am not for sale! I know people have given me things and thought maybe that I would ease up a little bit, but I am not interested on easing up on sin. I want to help you, but at the same time I do not want to ease up on sin because sin is destructive. Can you honestly tell me that our justice system is doing well? Money and color buy a lot in the courtrooms today. If you have money, you can get by with most anything, and if your color is right, they hardly dare to touch you. I was in a courtroom once trying to help somebody else that had gotten themselves into some trouble. While I was waiting for their time to be prosecuted, there was a white young lady that was called down to the bar, and the judge read off the crime that she had committed. She had taken something from a store. I think the item she stole had a value of $41. It was her first offense in all of her life, and she was given six months probation and $250 fine. Almost immediately after that there was a colored girl that stood before the judge and the accusation was made against her for stealing hundreds of dollars worth of goods. This was the seventh time that she had been in the courtroom. The judge did not give her probation. He only gave her a very small fine and told her that she was free to go. I thought to myself that is the reason why we are in the mess that we are in. You say, "You are against colored folks." I am not against colored folks. Color means nothing to God, but what I am trying to tell you is that the justice system is messed up and God is displeased. When a man commits a crime, he needs to pay for it. If a man is not guilty, he ought to be able to go free. ## III. The Results of their Corruption — vs. 7-8 Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. The judgment of God follows sinful activity. Can I say that again? The judgment of God follows sinful activity. Will America get by with what Israel was judged for? An enemy ravaged Israel. Notice the term he uses here, "strangers devour it." Where? "Right in your presence." There are a lot of things going on today that people are not even aware of. Strangers overthrew Israel. That is, a foreign nation came in and overturned their country, burned their temple, confiscated their goods, and carried many of them off into slavery. WHY? Because they became sinful and forgot God. "As a cottage." Why is that statement made? "As a cottage in a vineyard." If you would look in the Hebrew you would find that the word cottage has more of the idea of a "booth." These booths were thrown together very quickly during the time of the vines producing their fruit. There were watchmen that stayed or guards or gardeners that stayed in these booths watching over the vineyard while the vines were producing, but as soon as the crop came to fruition, as soon as there was a harvest, they left those little booths and it was not long before those booths began to fall down. God is using that phrase in the sense of their ability to protect themselves. "You're like a vineyard that is being watched over by a booth that will soon fall." We are talking about Israel in comparison to our country. "We are so prosperous," you might say. Things are going to get worse, folks! There are many businesses closing up and hundreds of jobs being lost because of corruption in our own state. Jordan's meat place closed up causing a loss of about 200 jobs. Hundreds of jobs across the state have been lost and they are blaming President Bush for it. Who is responsible for this state? (The Governor) And it is not just the Governor's fault, but it is the fault of the Democrats that have been in control of this state for so long and have raised the taxes higher and higher. Maine is the highest taxed state in the country. Tell me that these companies and these businesses want to stay where they are being so highly taxed? To top it all off, we have so many people on the other end of the totem pole saying, "Oh, they are giving all the money and all the breaks to the rich." No, they are trying to help them stay in business! The federal government has only allowed these businesses to keep a little more of their own money that they have earned. The government is not giving them anything. ## IV. Their Insincere Efforts to Obtain Mercy — vs. 11-15 Amongst all of this, they are insincere in their efforts to attain mercy. Please listen to what I am going to say. If you have not heard anything before now, just listen to what I am about to say. While they are taking part in all of this idolatry, they are at the same time reaching out to God. Look at verse eleven down through to verse 15. To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? "Your filthy lifestyle has been treading in my courts. It is no wonder that Jesus went into the temple and overthrew the changers of money using a scourge to drive them out. "You made my Father's house a house of merchandise! It should be a house of prayer." There they are in the courts of the house of God with their feet that are filled with evil. Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. That is, "You are going up to the house of God and committing sin." God says, "I don't want it." Psalm 50 and verse 13, Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Those things do not satisfy Him. To what purpose are your sacrifices? Vese 15, And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. "To what purpose…?" He asked. "What do you think your doing?" is what He is saying, Do you know that this morning across our land and probably around the world in places of worship, people have gathered and they sing songs to the Lord, but hardly before the night will end some of them will be doing the same thing they did last week? God is looking for obedience, and not insincere sacrifice or form or ritual. God wants your heart! Verse 19 says, If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: What is God looking for? He is looking for us to obey. Does not the Scripture say to obey is better than sacrifice? Here they are sacrificing bullocks, lambs, and rams and God is saying, "I don't want it. Away with it!" What is God after? He is after the heart. Now, when I hear people say, "In the Old Testament, they brought the blood of rams and lambs and it washed away their sins." No, the blood of an animal never washed away anyone's sins. It is the blood of Jesus Christ that washes away a man's sins. As I have said so many times, they looked forward to the cross, we look back to it. The blood of Jesus Christ is efficacious for their sin and ours, and His blood is the only means of atonement. God wants devotion of heart from us. Obedience pleases God. God is looking for obedience. "Oh, all you got to do is mouth a few pious platitudes." That is a lie folks! "As long as you go to church once in a while and do the best you can, you will be all right." That will split hell wide open! You have to obey God in order to please Him. ## V. There is Only One Way of Escape — vs. 16-18 Coming down to this: There was only one way of escape for Israel (and they did not escape) and there is only one escape for America. Will we escape? Will America escape judgment after committing the same sins as Israel? Verses 16-18 Wash you…. "There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins. Sinners plunge beneath that flood and loose all their guilty stains." There is only one place where your sins can be washed away and that is at the cross. Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. There is only one thing that can wash away the sins that are scarlet, that are red like crimson, and that is the blood that issued down from the Son of God. Life flowed out of Him, so that life could flow into us. "Come now…" I know that this has been used many times as an evangelistic message to individuals, but if you will take notice, the context and setting helps us to better understand the text. God has been dealing with a nation that is wicked, ungodly, and have turned away from Him and have gone their own way. He is speaking to this people, Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. One hope for America is that they would call on the Lord, but I am here to tell you this morning that I have read of some very serious indictments against people that have sinned like our country has and they did not escape judgment. I do not want to leave you on that note, but we will take a look at one verse just to try to help you to see that in the midst of it all there is the grace of God. Going back to verse nine, Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. What do you mean? We should have been as Sodom and like unto Gomorrah? The flames of God's wrath destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, and here the prophet is saying, "We would have been like them if it hadn't been for a remnant." The people that are in public office today that are criticizing the church and the Believer, bringing accusations against them, and are telling rotten lies about them that live right ought to be thankful for that remnant. Now, I know that there is a lot of foolishness going on. When the sons of God came together, the devil came, also. Expect it, folks. We hear people say, "Oh, there are hypocrites in the church." There are hypocrites out there everywhere you go! The world is filled with them, but at least there is a remnant! God has kept his hand upon some that refuse to go the way that Israel went and the way that America as whole is going, but will stand up and say, "I WILL NOT GO THAT WAY!" It is because of that kind of people that America has not yet been judged. In 1975, my mother asked me, "James, why hasn't God judged America?" It is because of a remnant. We would have been like Sodom; we would have already tasted the wrath and judgment of God if it had not been for a remnant. That little skirmish that happened down there in New York was nothing compared to what could have happened, and probably what will eventually happen. Some of you may have heard about Dimitri Dudeman. He was considered to be a prophet that heard from God. He said that he was carried by some kind of a conveyance over a city and an angel spoke to him and said, "Do you know what this is?" Being from another land, Mr. Dudeman did not know what city it was. The angel said, "This is Los Angeles: Sodom and Gomorrah. It will burn." The angel took him to another place that I believe was Las Vegas. The angel asked him again, "Do you know what this place is? Just as before, Mr. Dudeman did not know. The angel said, "This is Las Vegas: Sodom and Gomorrah. It will burn." The angel then took him over Florida, and, again, the angel asked him, "Do you know what this is?" He answered, "No." The angel said, "This is Florida: Sodom and Gomorrah. It will burn." The angel finally took him over New York City, declaring the same words of judgment over her. Now, this is a man that paid a great price to walk with God. He is gone on, now, but he left behind him a message that says, "America will burn if it does not accept Christ." Now, we have not burned, yet, because of a remnant. Did you know that God said that he would not have destroyed even Sodom and Gomorrah if He had found ten righteous people? His mercy is because of the remnant. Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. It will not be long before the remnant is taken out of this world. Do you understand what I am saying to you? When God takes out the remnant, he that now hinders will hinder until he is taken out of the way and then all hell will break lose. The world ought to be thanking God for the Christian instead of degrading them and cursing them. The remnant is the one thing that is keeping the judgment of God back! I do not know about you, but I do not want to be here when God's wrath is poured out. In order for us to escape it is still just like it was for them: you will escape only if you are willing and obedient—WILLING and OBEDIENT. Many, many times I have stood behind this desk and said these same words to you time and time again, Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. \[Luke 21:36\] "If you are willing…" You say, "Well, I'm willing." It does not stop there, but verse nineteen says if you are "willing and obedient." How many want to stand with the Son of man? Some will escape and the means is: a life committed to the Christ who shed his blood. It is not enough just to mouth some words saying, "Jesus is my savior." Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. \[Matthew 7:21\] Judgment is coming! Mark it down. You can call me a false prophet and you can call me a prophet of doom, but I have read this Book and I have read It well and I understand that the God that brought judgment on Israel will not turn his back on judgment on America because America has not only committed the sins that Israel committed, but has aggravated those sins to a higher level. God is holding off judgment because He is waiting for the remnant. God's remnant today holds back judgment, but that remnant will soon be taken out of the way, and when that remnant is taken out, God will bring judgment. I want to be amongst them that are taken out.# Can America Escape Judgment? (outline) # Can America Escape Judgment? A sermon outline of Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. > Isaiah 1:4—Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. Can America escape judgment committing the sins that brought judgment on Israel? ## I. The Privileges of the Nation — vs. 2 ### A. Israel was taken from bondage and was brought to an exalted position among the nations and was feared by the nations. ### B. Like Israel, America has been exalted to a high position among the nations and has been feared by the nations. 1. "I have nourished" — advanced, increased, prospered. 2. "And brought up children" — raised, fed, protected ### C. God's grace made the nation great. 1. The measure of opportunity is the measure of responsibility. Privileges require responsibility. 2. The measure of grace is the measure of judgment. Judgment is according to privilege. — Matthew 11:24 > "But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee." ## II. The Corruption of the Nation — vs. 3-6 ### A. Their Idolatry — 1. Gold and silver idols glittered on every street. 2. Incense ascended from altars to heathen gods. ### B. Their Children Sacrificed They were offered in the flames to Moloch. ### C. Their ingratitude — vs. 3 In spite of exceptional privileges, they have lowered themselves beneath the level of beasts. ### D. Their Forsaking the Lord — vs. 4 The sting of death is seen in the statement. Psalm 9:17 ### E. Their Incorrigibleness — vs. 4-5 They refused to change and rebelled more and more. "Ye will revolt more and more." ### F. Their Increase in Degeneracy — vs. 6, 21 Once, the righteous lodged in it; now murderers do. ### G. Their Injustice by their Rulers — vs. 23 What a statement — "Princes companions of thieves." Looking for bribes — The justice system had gone bad. ## III. The Results of their Corruption — vs. 7-8 ### A. The judgments of God followed their sins. 1. Ravaged by an Enemy- "Strangers devour it in your presence" "Overthrown by strangers" 2. "As a cottage in a vineyard." "Booth" frail dwelling — the insecurity of the nation. ## IV. Their Insincere Efforts to Obtain Mercy — vs. 11-15 ### A. "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto Me?" ### B.. God is looking for obedience — vs.19 1. "If ye be willing and obedient" 2. "To obey is better than sacrifice" 3. Sacrifice by itself is nothing 4. Devotion of the heart and obedience pleases God. ## V. There is Only One Way of Escape — vs. 16-18 ### A. Not armies — not armament — But God. > "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be scarlet, the shall be as white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." ### B. "Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah." v.9 God has a remnant today that holds back judgment, but it will soon be taken out of the way.# Character Development Preached by Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. at the Deliverance Center in Portland, Maine on Sunday Morning, March 28, 2004. TEXT: Romans 12:1,2 > Romans 12:1,2—I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

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## Introduction God is more interested in who you are than what you do. God is interested in making something out of you that far goes beyond anything this life \[world\] has to offer. Most people are interested in a career; God is interested in character. God is interested in developing something in us more than just conforming us to certain rules and regulations. There is nothing in this life as satisfying as the presence of the living God moving in your heart. - "be not conformed to this world" > DEFINITION: conform — to fashion one thing like another. to think, to act, to be like the world Do not draw from the world. Do not talk like the world. Do not act like the world. Do not be like the world. - "but be ye transformed" Undergo a complete change. ## I. Character Development Requires Commitment ### A. God is after Character and not Comfort You may desire to be different, but it is going to take a commitment on your part for you to change. God is more interested in developing character in us than making us comfortable. Christ did not die on the cross so we could live comfortably in this world. Christ's ultimate purpose is to be make us like Himself. God is fitting us for the world to come! If you were not fashioned for heaven, then you would be awfully uncomfortable when you got there. ### B. Character is Developed Through Difficulty It takes heat to mold metal. The trying of your faith is more precious than of gold … though it be tried with fire… > 1 Peter 4:12—Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: > 2 Corinthians 4:17—For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; A woman described an incident where she had gotten mud on her shoes as if it was the trial of her life. That is not even a "light affliction" but that experience certainly cannot be compared with the glory of God! ### C. Life is Suppose to be Difficult - The difficulty of life is what makes you. - Most people expect to have heaven on earth. If you believe this you will become disillusioned or live in denial of reality > 1 Peter 1:7 — That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Character is developed not so much by the heat, but how we respond to the heat. Sometimes the heat makes folks bitter and other times better. ## II. Character Development has Responsibilities > Ephesians 4:22–24— That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. ### A. "Put off the Old Man" Put off the old man which is corrupt. The old life is rotten and deceitful. The command to "put it off" implies there is a choice. ### B. "Be Renewed in the Spirit of Your Minds" #### 1. Change Starts in the Mind > Proverbs 23:7— For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. We are to think like Christ. To change your life, you must also change the way you think. #### 2. Thoughts Produce Actions, Actions Produce Deeds, Deeds Produce Habits, Habits Produce Character. ### C. "Put on the New Man" Effort has nothing to do with our new birth. Effort has much to do with spiritual growth. **Make every effort**: It will take much effort to swim against the current. > Luke 13:24— **Strive to enter** in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. > 1 Corinthians 9:27 — But I keep under my body, and **bring it into subjection**: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. > Romans 14:19— Let us therefore **follow after** the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. \[pursue, press\] Next time before you yield to temptation, think about who you are yielding to. (Romans 6:19) > Ephesians 4:3— **Endeavouring** to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. \[to make effort\] > IILUSTRATION: "You can take this class one of two ways: 1) You can take it seriously or 2) you can take it over!" > 2 Timothy 2:15— **Study** to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. \[study,spoudazo: to make effort, labor\] > Hebrews 4:11 and 12:14— **Let us labour** therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. > 2 Peter 1:5— And beside this, **giving all diligence**, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; \[add to, employ every effort\] > 2 Peter 3:14— Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, **be diligent** that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. \[be diligent,spoudazo: to make effort, labor\] When you are born again, you have not arrived. You have only started on the course. There is a responsibility given to us to develop character. ## III. Character Development is a Process "renewing the mind" ### A. We Grow in Grace Most Christians grow old, but they need to grow up. > "I want more of Jesus." — Sister Peebles ### B. Christ-likeness is not Produced by Imitation but by Inhabitation > Colossians 1:27 — To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: "transformed" – "metamorphoo" transfigured God takes a caterpillar to a butterfuly. Do not be a worm, be a caterpillar. You can be what God wants you to be. - changed on the inside - we become like Himself - we are made free to soar to new heights Character development is progressive - it is not instant nor automatic - it is progressive development If you come upon a butterfuly struggling with its cacoon, do not bother it or you may prevent it from ever being able to fly. God is more interested in who you are than in what you do. Character is more important than career. ### C. We Must Cooperate with the Process - A man is known by the company he keeps. (Psalm 119:63) - We choose to do right, God will help us. - We must cooperate with the Holy Spirit. - The Red Sea Opened — Moses Holding up the Rod - The Jordan River Parted — Israel Stepped into the waters - The Walls of Jericho came down — as Israel marched in obedience > Romans 8:37 — Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. # Conditions of Discipleship The Conditions of Discipleship # The Conditions of Discipleship A sermon outline of Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. Text: > Matthew 16:24 -- Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. ## INTRODUCTION The conditions of discipleship are not easy. It is going to cost you to be the disciple of Jesus Christ. Often in the preaching of the Gospel the conditions of discipleship are neglected. The Gospel is presented in such a way the hearer must only name the name of Christ and they are assured that they are all set. The fact remains not only is there more required of us as His disciples but no leader throughout history has ever proposed such things for his followers. And He requires them to be done willingly--"If any man will.". Following Christ implies three things: ## Imitating Christ > John 13:15 -- For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you ### Having the Feelings of Christ > Matthew 9:36 -- But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. > > Lamentations 1:12 -- Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?… If you pass by knowing a soul is lost and you have the answer, is it nothing to you? ### Obeying Christ > Matthew 7:21 -- Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. ## Self Denial ### Christ himself set down self-denial as a condition for discipleship. > Luke 14:33 -- So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. ### We can have nothing between Him and us. > Mark 10:28 -- Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. Self is the root, the tree and the branches of all the evil of our fallen nature. We are so quick to say we gave it all to Christ, but like Peter there is often much we have not denied. Until man denies self, he will deny God. ### Obedience to Christ's Words is an important part of self-denial. Our self-denial must also be out of love. > John 14:21 -- He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Christ was a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3). How can we continually desire pleasure? ### Difficult The duty of self-denial is not easy but is like rowing against the tide. There will be a struggle against the violent emotions of our affections and will. > Titus 2:12 -- Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Self-indulgence shows that we lack genuine interest in God and His Word. What we deny is nothing compared with what we get. ## Cross Bearing > Matthew 10:38 -- And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. ### Self-denial for Christ leads to bearing our cross. It is our cross that we must bear and not another. > Galatians 5:24 -- And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Alfred H. Ackley wrote: > (chorus) Take up thy cross and follow Me, I hear the blessed Savior call; How can I make a lesser sacrifice, When Jesus gave His all. > > (verse 1) I walked one day along a country road, And there a stranger journeyed, too, Bent low beneath the burden of His load: It was a cross, a cross I knew. > > (verse 3) Oh, let me bear Thy cross, dear Lord," I cried, And, lo, a cross for me appeared, The one, forgotten, I had cast aside, The one, so long, that I had feared. ### Christ Gave Us the Example > Matthew 10:38 -- And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. Salvation is a free gift, but as His disciples there are requirements. > John 13:15 -- For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you When you see someone having a hard time, do not add to their burden. Christ was always reaching out and is still reaching out today to those who are under a burden. Christ gave us the example we are to follow. > I Timothy 4:12 -- Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. It is a much stricter rule to follow in order to be an example to believers than it is to be an example to the sinner. > I Peter 2:21 -- For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: > > Revelation 14:4 -- …These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth… ## CONCLUSION Lord, give us the vision and compassion that Christ has for the lost.# Conformed or Transformed? # Conformed or Transformed A sermon outline of Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. TEXT: Romans 12:1,2 ## I. Be Not Conformed to this world "suschematiz" – "Sun" union; with or together association, companionship, resemblance "schema" — external condition, fashion, form; to fashion or shape one thing like another. It has a reference to that which is transitory: changeable, unstable "this world" : this age "aion" \[GREEK\] — a period of time Marked by spiritual or moral characteristics. ### 1. "Conformed to the World" The word "conform" implies that the world is the mold into which the mind is cast. #### a. The World is Satan's Kingdom The world's customs are determined by the spirit that reigns over it. > 1 John 5:19—And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. #### b. The World is Evil > 1 John 2:16—For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. It is selfish, carnal, earthly minded. #### c. To Be Conformed to the World - Is to have the spirit of the world - Is to be ruled by the world's practices instead of by what is right and wrong, but what the world calls right. ### 2. The World is the Enemy of God > James 4:4—Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. ## II. Be Ye transformed > "It is quite clear that the conformity to the world interferes with our being transformed." ### 1. We are to be transformed with the image of God > 2 Corinthians 3:18—But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. ### 2. Transformed — "metamorphoo" transfigure, to change into another form, implying change and form The word is used to denote the Lord's transfiguration ### 3. To be transformed is to be made a new creation > 2 Corinthians 5:17—Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. - In Judgment - In Our Thoughts - In Our Affections - In Our Words - In Our Actions ### 4. Signs of Being Transformed Our actions proceed from new principles: #### a. Obedience to God (1 Samuel 15:22) #### b. A Desire to Please God (1 Thessalonians 4:1) #### c. A Love for God, His Word, His Church, and For Prayer ## III. By the Renewing of Your Mind > Matthew 12:33—Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. The Believer is not merely to be unlike the world, but is to be like Christ. ### 1. There Has to be a Radical Change in the Mind ### 2. The Renewed Mind is the Result of the New Birth ### 3. The New Life Must be Cared For ### 4. A Transfigured Life suggests that the outward life is shaped by the inward life. If there is not outward change what evidence is there of an inward change?# Conformity Versus Transformity # Conformity Versus Transformity A sermon outline of Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. TEXT: Romans 12:2 > Romans 12:2— And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. ## Introduction - There is a great struggle going on. - The Appeal of the conformist is to be like them that you not offend them — so you can win them. ## The Believer Must Be A Non-Conformist > …Be not conformed… - The Gospel is not a a rule of CONTROVERSY. - The Gospel is a rule of DIRECTION. The Believer is not different for the sake of being different. The Christian is going somewhere. "conform" suschematizo \[GREEK\] — to fashion or shape one thing like another. > 1 Peter 1:14—As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: "not FASHIONING" (same word, suschematizo, as in Romans 12:2 "conformed") The Believer must not follow the following three things: 1. The Fashions of the World — looking like the world 2. The Philosophies of the World — talking like the world 3. The Ways of the World — acting like the world ## The Believer Must Be A New Creation > …but be ye transformed… Jesus transfigured (transformed) before the disciples. (Why could they not see His glory? The Flesh. ) The Glory of Christ was **let out**. The veil of flesh was drawn aside. The veil of our flesh must be drawn aside **to let the Glory in** "metamorphoo" \[GREEK\] — to change into another former - meta — implying change - morph — implying former - morphe — lays stress on the inward change - schema — lays sress on the outward change > 2 Corinthians 3:18—But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. We are "changed" / transformed as we behold Him: - In Faith — Revelation, etc. - In Obedience — doing His will - in Appropriation — partaking of His Divine nature Remember only those that have been transformed will be translated. > Hebrews 11:5—By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.# Fire on the Altar Deliverance Center – Portland, Maine Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. Sunday Am, May 16, 2010 Title: Fire on the Altar Text: Leviticus 6:12 The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar Le 6:12 And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings. 1. **The Fire Comes from God** There came a fire out from before the lord. Pentecost transformed ordinary men into divine oracles. We need the fire and it should be evident in the lives of everyone that has received the Holy Ghost. 2. **The Fire was Never to Go Out** The Fire of the Holy Ghost. John the Baptist was a burning Luke 1:15 The path of the Just is as a shining light shining more and more unto the perfect day. Men on fire are invincible. We need men that have the real fire. Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain which are ready to die. **Fan the Sparks so that There Can be a Fire of the Holy Ghost** 3. **The Means by Which the Fire is Kept Burning** 4. By Meditation of the Word Then shat have good success Psalm 1:2 in his law doth he meditate day and night. 2. By Revelation of the Word Jeremiah 20:9 His Word..burning fire shut up on my bones. 3. Earnest Prayer Jeremiah 29:13 4. Sacrifice The altar cannot be empty if the fire is going to burn. Present your bodies a living sacrifice. The fire wil continually burn as long as there is sacrifice on it.# First Love maybe: preached 20110223A by James Reynolds, Sr. Deliverance Center – Portland, Maine Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. Sunday Morning, October 23, 2011 TITLE: First Love TEXT: Revelation 2:1-7 ``` Revelation 2:1-7—_Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; 2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God._ ``` 1. **The Savior’s Perception** He has a keen eye for all that is good. He does see the faults so much that he forgets what He admires and accepts. He sees the good! He sees the other, but He sees the good. While He is searching our hearts, He never passes by the faintest longing. 2. **The Savior Prescription** 3. **The Savior’s Persuasion**# Forgiveness # FORGIVENESS Preached by Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. Sunday Am, March 14, 2010 at the Deliverance Center > Matthew 6:14,15—For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. ## INTRODUCTION Professor Charlotte Van Oyen of Hope College (Michigan) was part of a study that was considering causes of increased blood pressure in people. Each subjects blood pressure and heart rates increased, as well as muscle tension was shown to be higher when an individual is walking in unforgiveness as opposed to walking in forgiveness. Stress leads to a host of other illnesses that land people in hospitals daily. Dr. Don Colbert, M.D., "One of the secret causes of stress plaguing millions of people is unforgiveness." People often feel justified to be unforgiving because of pain they have suffered; however, it ultimately destroys the person that is unforgiving and not the offender. World Research links cancer to unforgiveness. Stanford University Center for Research in Disease Prevention published, "When you hold onto the bitterness for years, it stops you from living your life fully. As it turns out, It wears out your immune system and hurts your heart." Dr. Everett L. Worthington, a psychology professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, "Chronic unforgiveness causes stress. Every time people think of their transgressor, their body responds. Decreasing your unforgiveness cuts down your health risk. Now, if you can forgive, that can actually strengthen your immune system." (More sources can be found in the addendum.) ## I. Forgiveness is a Divine Action > Psalm 103:3,4—Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. ### 1. Christ forgives us and helps us to forgive those who sin against us. Forgiveness is a Divine activity. If Christ is in our heart, He will help us forgive those that hurt us. The wife of a Zulu priest snuck into a Christian meeting and responded to the salvation call. Upon discovering this, her husband forbade her to never to go to another meeting. She was still eager to go and went anyway. Her husband met her on the street on her return home and beat her so severely that he left her for dead. Curiosity moved him to go back to where he left. He found her moved from where he left her, but his search found her hidden under a bush. Looking at her he sneered, "What can your Jesus do for you?" She gently looked at him and answered, "He helps me to forgive you." ### 2. You cannot control your circumstances, but you can rule your response to your circumstances. > Ephesians 4:31,32—Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. > Colossians 3:13—Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. ### 3. A connection between forgiving and being forgiven. > Matthew 6:14,15—For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. ### 4. Men who will not forgive cannot be forgiven. If you hold bitterness and unforgiveness against people, God will not forgive you. John Wesley, heard an unusual noise coming from the cabin of a general with whom Wesley was sailing. As Wesley stepped into the cabin, the general apologized. "Mr. Wesley You must excuse me, but I have met with a provocation beyond what I can bear. My valet has stolen from my cabin , but I will have my revenge on him. He will be tied hand and foot and tied to the mast of the man-of-war. That rascal should have taken care how he used me, because I never forgive." Wesley said, "I hope, sir, you never sin." The general quickly took a bunch of keys out of his pocket and threw them at his valet. "There villain, take my keys and be better behaved in the future." Matt. 6:12—And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. \##. II. Forgiveness Brings Reconciliation ### 1. Forgiveness reconciles us to our brothers. > Matthew 5:23,24—Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. D.L. Moody remembered one town that he and Mr. Ira Sankey had visited. "For a week it seemed as if we were beating the air; there was no power in the meetings." At last, one day, Moody suggested, "Perhaps there is someone cultivating an unforgiving spirit." The chairman of the meeting, who was sitting next to Moody, immediately left the meeting in plain view of the audience. The chairman had been holding strong feelings against someone in that congregation. The chairman had left to hunt out the man whom he had not forgiven and told him, "Please forgive me." The chair man came back with tears in his eyes and thanked Moody that he came that night. Moody remarked, "That night the inquiry room was filled with souls repenting before God and revival broke out." Why? Because someone got unforgiveness out of their heart. Forgiveness brings reconciliation. ### 2. The spirit of forgiveness is the spirit of mercy. > Proverbs 11:17—The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. Who does revenge and bitterness hurt? Yourself. They probably do not even know how you feel! It is best to take it to the foot of the cross and cry for help. You should forgive it is good for your OWN PEACE. Revenge is like a thorn in the flesh. ## III. Forgiveness is a Divine Characteristic > Matthew 5:44,45—But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Our problem is not altogether the world, but is right inside here amongst ourselves. How are going to distinguish a child of God form one that is not? By our characteristics. Are we acting like Christ? A measure of maturity: How willing are you to forgive others? ### 1. Divine Forgiveness is Absolute. > Ephesians 1:7—In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; He did not just show us an example, but He paid our debt. ### 2. Divine Forgiveness is Complete. > Psalm 103:3—Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; What a deal we get! God paid a great price to take away our sin! God's forgiveness covers ALL. ### 3. Divine Forgiveness is Immediate. I have heard of hospitals telling people to come back later because of a lack of room. If I had a need and was in trouble I would not want to be told to come back. When you ask God for forgiveness he does not tell you to come back in a week or month, but His forgiveness is immediate. He made the provision long before you made the confession. > I John 1:9—If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. A young man said to a missionary, "I am so happy Jesus has forgiven me that I will do anything for him." The missionary said to him, "Are you sure you would do anything for him? Because the Bible says, 'thou shalt do no murder.'" "Well you don't understand, that man killed my father!" The missionary dealt with him for a long time. He came back one day and said, "Sometimes I feel inside like I'm gonna forgive him and then something else rises up and I want to kill him again." "When that forgiveness rises up that is the spirit of God. When that ugly thing rises up to murder, that is the devil. You need to get rid of that." After a while, the young man eventually gave up his murderous desire. He sent an invitation for the murderer to come over to his house on the other side of the river as a friend. Eventually the man accepted. By the end of the visit that man invited the young man to come to his house. The young man crossed the river himself and spent a long time with the murderer of his father. This older man watched anxiously from high up on a cliff as the young man got into his boat to leave. The young man noticed a camouflaged hole in his boat and knew instantly it was purposely made. He quickly filled up the hole and as he continued to row turned and waved to the murderous man on the cliff, "I freely forgive you for Jesus freely forgave me of all my sin." ## ADDENDUM (1) What does it mean to forgive? In The Five Languages of Apology, by Dr. Gary Chapman (also author of The Five Love Languages) simply states, "To forgive means to cover, to take away; to pardon; and to be gracious to. When we forgive, it means to lift the penalty and to pardon the offender. Forgiveness is not a feeling, but a decision. This does not mean that trust is immediately restored." (2) "People often feel justified to be in unforgiveness because of what they had to endure, or pain they had to suffer; however, it ultimately destroys the person that is the one that is in unforgiveness, not the other person. Whenever we are wronged or an offense has been committed towards us, at that moment, we have the option to forgive that person or that wrong. The human brain is like a computer, it is a memory bank, whether it's short-term or long term, it releases biochemical stress responses when you meditate and rehearse all the offenses that have been committed towards you. I have heard it said that the individual that is in unforgiveness is the one drinking the deadly poison, but instead wishing the other person would die." (http://ezinearticles.com/?Unforgiveness---A-Deadly-Virus&id=784282; http://www.chce.research.va.gov/docs/pdfs/pi\_publications/Harris/2005\_Harris\_Thorsen\_HF.pdf) (3) "Physical Health: A healthy lifestyle is what many people value, but when they are angry, they seek out ways to escape their situation and their way of dealing with things is usually self destructive. Some people overeat or don't eat at all, and some turn to drugs and alcohol as a way to forget. When something weighs heavy on the mind it also hinders or interrupts a person's sleep. Without proper rest, their bodies are susceptible to sickness and then before you know it, they have a forgiveness issue and a physical decline." (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/505201/infected\_hearts\_the\_dangers\_of\_unforgiveness.html) (4) "The program's preliminary work suggests that forgiveness lowered the stress hormone cortisol that in turn affects the immune system, but only when the patients forgave the ones they blamed". \[University of Maryland - Institute of Human Virology\] (5) "Forgiveness could boost the immune system by reducing the production of the stress hormone cortisol" \[Rockefeller University - New York\] (6) "When you hold onto the bitterness for years, it stops you from living your life fully. As it turns out, it wears out your immune system and hurts your heart" \[Stanford University Center for Research in Disease Prevention\] (7) "Those who received forgiveness training showed improvements in the blood flow to their hearts" \[University of Wisconsin - Research Dept\] (8) Researchers at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research found that forgiveness was linked with better self-reported mental and physical health. (9) A new study from Duke University Medical Center demonstrates that those who forgive others experience lower levels of chronic pain and less associated psychological problems like anger and depression than those who have not forgiven. (10) Researchers at Ohio States University found that the highly stressed women had lower levels of natural killer cells than women who reported less stress. "Natural killer cells have an extremely important function with regard to cancer because they are capable of detecting and killing cancer cells. Psychological interventions, such as forgiveness, have important roles in reducing stress and improving quality of life, but also in extending survival." \[Barbara Andersen, Professor of Psychology, Ohio State University\] (11) "I have collected 57 extremely well documented so-called cancer miracles. At a certain particular moment in time they decided that the anger and the depression were probably not the best way to go, since they had such little time left. And so they went from that to being loving, caring, no longer angry, no longer depressed, and able to talk to the people they loved. These 57 people had the same pattern. They gave up, totally, their anger, and they gave up, totally, their depression, by specifically a decision to do so. And at that point the tumors started to shrink." \[Yale Medical School - Dr Bernie Seigel, Clinical Professor of Surgery\] (12) "When I suggest emotional healing to people with cancer, they always misunderstand me. They hear it as emotional support. They think I either just want to comfort them, or show them how to have a more positive attitude. They don't get that something like forgiveness might be the key to their getting well. I see their eyes glaze over when I go on to say that emotional toxicity is most likely the cause of their cancer, and that forgiveness, if used with appropriate treatments and lifestyle changes that address the physical, is a 'first-line' primary treatment. Their inability to hear this as a strategy for survival, is a measure of how brainwashed we all are into thinking that treatment for cancer must always be harsh, drastic and violent. With our War-on-Cancer mind-set, it's hard to imagine that something so seemingly soft and gentle as forgiveness could be the answer to our problem." \[Colin Tipping, Director, Institute of Radical Forgiveness\] (http://www.alternative-cancer-care.com/Cancer\_Counseling.html) (13) Unforgiveness is a complex mixture of thoughts, attitudes, beliefs and emotions involving a feeling of injustice. If a person transgresses another they can find it very difficult to offer the transgressor their unconditional forgiveness. If this conceptualisation is correct it implicates a whole range of correlations between stress and immune response. This is demonstrated by many psychoneuroimmunology research projects and in particular, research conducted by Kiecolt-Glaser et al (2002). They found that a high level of stress significantly correlated with immune dysregulation.# From Vessel to Vessel 20101017A Title: Empty from Vessel to Vessel Text: Jeremiah 48:11,12 Jer 48:11 Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed. 12 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will send unto him wanderers, that shall cause him to wander, and shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles. 1. The Blessing of Disturbance God knows what he is doing. The illustration is taken from how wine is prepared. The grapes is at first thick and impure. Then it is left for a time undisturbed until a sediment called lees is left. Then it is drawn out so that only th elees is left behind. This pouring from vessel to vessel until the odor is gone. Repeated over and over. Here Moab is in a condition --- moab is at ease from his youth. Nothing has come to unsettle them. No enemy, or natural disaster. LIVING Translation: *He will send them troubles to pour them out from Jar to Jar.* Do not expect always to be as it is. HOLD ON . WATCH OUT. GOD IS NOT ASLEEP. 2. The Reason for Disturbance “EASE” Why are we so frequently upset in life? “I am so upset! I am angry!” Because things are not going the same as they were. Often we complain because we are not allowed to become settled. We want no disturbance but to be settled. We react often because we have arrived at a place of resting. “I have arrived.” WATCH OUT! About the time you have ‘arrived’ God will arrive on the scene! He will cause you see beyond what you see in the natural. There seems to be no end to trouble. EASE TO THE CHRISTIAN IS INJURIOUS. Why is it that God constantly brings disturbance? He is after something. “Born and filled with the Holy Ghost, you have it all.” No! There must be development. NO PLACE TO PARK.” Oral Roberts sermon. You have not arrived, keep on moving, keep on growing. GROW UP. Such repeated disturbance in thease verses is recognized as a BLESSING. “I will send.” They are settled down and at ease. A long time undisturbed. A lot of lees and corruption, STINK. ``` 2 Corinthians 4:17 _For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;_ ``` **WHY? Ever find yourself asking, “Why?” Light afflictions. We are being fitted for spiritual advancement.** These emptying, disturbances are preparing us for growth, development. God knows us best and He knows us well. What we go through, we might know we need, but it is a blessing and God knows we need it. How does this come about? 1. **It reveals me to myself** (when calamity comes, we find out what we are really made of) Andrew Fuller, “A man only has as much religion as he has in the day of trial.” 2. \*\*It reveals the defects in our character. \*\*(These defects show up under pressure.) 3. **The frequency of these disturbances have a way of getting us out of ourselves**. (“Do you know who I am?” “Who cares!?!” We trust too often in self. Proverbs Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own….and he shall direct thy paths. 4. These frequent disturbances\*\*, should keep us apart from the world. \*\*(We do not belong in the world.) 5. We need to see Jesus. Little girl set to take a nap said, When I lay down I see Jesus, when I sit up I see myself. (in a mirror) 6. Necessary Disturbances aren’t desired or enjoyed, but they are necessary. I search, the Lord is the searcher. I do not know all that is in me. “Bro. Reynolds, you have been through a lot of trouble.” “God really loves me!” Our will must be surrendered to the point that we say, not my will but thine be done. The Pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world. Adoniram Judson. “Has Judson ever been tempted to be proud? “Proud of what? What have I done? ” God did it all! PRIDE ANGER “*Anger hath no mercy*” (some other translation) Proverbs 16:32 “He that is slow to anger is better than…” GOD ALLOWS DISTURBANCES TO COME, TO MAKE OUR VESSEL LIKE HIS. Bill Gunderson “Students, if you can stand the pull, God can pull you through!”# God is Not Mocked God Is Not Mocked Rev. James R Reynolds, Sr. January 5, 2005 Ezekiel 38 versus one through 23. - - - - - - Get first part from the tape. - - - - - - All that is happening is happening today is building up to a climax. There will be another world war. Now my studies over the years I've found a whole lot of people misinterpret scripture put the battle here at the end of the age. It is very definite that there's a difference between the last days of the latter days. What is referred to here is a war that is going to be climaxed with great devastation to the nations that rise against Israel. And we're watching today the formation. Now it has been expressed and is being expressed as a matter of fact that picked up the newspaper today read a small article how that Israel is so hated by the Palestinians and not just by the Palestinians but Israel is hated by the nation's by the Arab nations and Egyptians. And we can't forget that Russia has been very picture of mental to the nation of Israel. They've slotted literal millions of Jews. But there is coming a climax to all that is going on right now. Will we see a time of peace? Will men succeed in bringing about peace in the Middle East? I fear not have the feeling to struggle is going to go on until such time and is received with the prof takes he Ezekiel is inspired of God hundreds of years ago. Now I know that they're different bodies of believers that think one thing and something something else but I don't know that you can place in the setting a nation that has been more a detriment to the kingdom of God than the mission of Russian pair Abiola says this God is not mocked not by individuals or nations. We must say that Russia has been mocking Israel for years. In a few years ago one of the leaders literally shook his fist to saying narrow, day when we will find God Karen from his throne and cast him down. God is not mocked. Whatsoever man so if that's shall he also read the weatherman or nation. That Chelios will reap one of the Russian cosmonauts that went out when they came back they said we will tell our spacecraft window a police found no God therefore their conclusion was there is no God. But do you understand that Russia prior to the early days in the 1900s was a leading Christian nation how many new that? But communism came and with communism coming into power they turned against everything that was godly. Communism took over and Russia forgot God. Communism to its leaders tried to wipe out to and pay close attention because I believe that at Summerlin's to some other nation. The Communist leaders of Russia tried to wipe out Christianity. Millions of Christians have been put to death or have died in slave labor camps. Christian parents and Russia were not allowed to to teach their own children in their own homes about the Bible. And if they were found out the government would take to children from them put them into government institutions and taught them there is no God. Does that sound familiar? James Colby today said that he got some information and I thought that while I was putting this together what a time for him to call and share this with me this I believe he got off the Internet. Is that right? The article begins what have Web and saying has now happened. And apparently they have been warning concerning things coming. You cannot quote what the Bible has to say about homosexuality in public or you'll be charged with a hate crime. Philadelphia is only the beginning if we fail to take a stand here at this crime will still be applied across America. In the 27 years of this ministry I've never once witnessed a more outrageous miscarriage of justice than what is happening in Philadelphia. For question Christians are facing up to 40 years in prison and $90,000 in fines for preaching the gospel on a public sidewalk right fully protected by the First Amendment. On October 10, 2004 just a short while ago before Christians were arrested in Philadelphia along with founder Michael A. cabbage members of repent America with police approval were preaching near a homosexual event handing out gospel literature and carrying banners with Bible messages. When they tried to speak there is a lot of by a group of homosexual activist of the pink angels. A videotape of the incident shows that the pink angels interfering with the Christians movement on the street holding up a large pink symbols of angels to cover up the Christian message and blowing high-pitched whistles to drown out their preaching they're there with police permission. Instead of arresting a homosexual police arrested the Christians their charge for eight crimes ------- missed what he said get from the tape.----- this is an America that nation once found and once called to a Christian nation. Can we see a trend? The Bible makes it very plain what is going to happen to Russia. Now, Russia's intent has always been to rule the world. How many know that? That is their basic philosophy to rule the whole world. I ask your question tonight will Russia rule the world? Ezekiel 38 and verse eight says and after many days thou shalt be visited in the latter days a show, to the land that is brought back from the sword and I scattered out on many people consume mountains of this row which have always been leased but is brought forth out of the nations and they shall dwell safely all of them. God is for wanting only the nation of Russia but also the nations that will be in league with them coming out of the northern parts making attack against Israel and God is a them when that time comes and these things began to take place it will soon be the destruction of Russia. Noticed there are some indications of where we are. After many days. Over 2500 years ago he Ezekiel prophesied this in a says after many days in the latter days in office as number 16 he says in the latter days it shall be in the latter days. Where are we? In the latter days. First. Now he makes it plain and verse eight where they were all there going to attack. A plain enough rusher will attack Israel. Some of you remember the chain division that God gave me when they said communism is dead and will shortly after that that I received and night vision. It was as real as if I was awake. A voice spoke to me after they had planned such victory communism is dead and the Lord said the bear is not dead it is only wounded. And it will arise and it will attack Israel and America. I trust are listening. Verse nine says and not shall be like a cloud. It couldn't happen and some could it have interpreted this that this could have happened many years ago they going to come as a cloud the only possible way he will go To be in the time when airplanes were present. When did the right by the strikeout with first airplane? 1912. So it couldn't have happened before. Gotta come as a cloud to cover the land. How and in all my bands and many people with me. How many remember reading something about the second world war? Earning the old enough to remember seeing those planes? Those big B-29's I remember being out in the Falmouth home in those big bombers came out have to say that must've been 75 or 80 bombers in formation came and do you realize that when I came over the land it was like a cloud.? Take 75 or 80 big bombers will it were a kid they're making. It would put the fear in you. Now Russia has many more airplanes than we do. While we were in the process of dismantling a lot of our, meant Russia was in the process of building manners. A lot of are respected Democrat senators forced stopped for a thoughtful or concessions with the Russia that we would disarm if they would disarm. You can always trust your enemy to do what you want to do? Style and all of the thy bands that many people would see. Russia right now has had warships in the Mediterranean for many years and they say now that there is a buildup of Russian warships in the Mediterranean just off the coast of Ezra along with a lot of the Chinese warships. What is going on? To arch enemies getting together to gain to attack this little spot of ground.? No wonder blanks head when you see Jerusalem compass with armies like. Russia could well rule the world with its league of Nations but she won't because God is going to fight against terror. Dunham first 13 the says she burned deed and is a list of whole group of nations and all take time of those that is going to be in league with Russia but now he's speaking of those that are going to be on Israel's side she burned deed and nations along the Red Sea so there are some all that Ezekiel spoke about Antar sheesh most Bible prophecy teachers students believed harsh is has to do with England and speaks about she burned deed and end the merchants of parishes with only young lines. England has always been referred to its national symbol is the line and out of England is going to come some blind ropes when all of her young lions and who those young lions? Where did we come from? Where did candidate come from? Now I questioned if Canada will have a whole lot to do with fighting against Russia but there are things that developed very fast at times so there has to be more than just want the young lions plural not singular. Australia is another nation that resulted from England. And they shall say moved there in first 13 shall say and to be in Tuesday? Russia shall say and to be art thou common to take a spoil? Our thought that a company to take up ready to care voiceover and told to take away cattle includes to take away a great spoil? Two things I think that we need to understand that Russia is concerned about well as much as any nation in the world. And also both finances. You know that the Dead Sea has a wealth of this untold Ltd.. And they want to destroy the planet purpose of God is it because of the Russian people that want to do that now is the demons of hell that inspire people against everything that is in this book. Hell hates God hates this book. They'll say to Russia you've come for that purpose. Understand were approaching the Third World war and when these nations rise up in defense of Israel will be in the Third World war in the Third World war on has to come to usher in the tribulation hour. Don't get mixed up with Armageddon to third wall work comes before the seven years to jubilation Armageddon comes at the close of the seven-year tribulation. They are two different wars. The Third World war will face the nation said Art league with Russia against the nations that will stand with Israel and there is going to be a a lot of devastation. Verse 14 to $.16 and howled during there for some Amman prophesy in Santa got thus saith the Lord God in that day when my people of Israel definite go safely when they're back into their land. With or be a time of peace? Seemingly there will be a short time of peace here because they dwell safely on the safe right now? There's a lot of conflict going on right now on both sides a lot of them losing their lives the Palestinians and Israel and shall not not know it? And thou shall come the north parts and then people would be an old embarking on horses critics will laugh at that to riding on horses. Going to have Calvary three in this modern day. Russia has thousands of forces that have been trained to handle the rising and falling temperatures because there's a great variation of temperature there in the land is fashion so that it would be very difficult to move troops by land of the then by horses. Hunt all how many know the Bible is always true? A great company and the mighty Army and thou shalt come against my people Israel has the clout to Cumberland show the latter days and I'll bring the against my diet and that the heathen may know me. Ask an Arab ask these Muslims to know God did know Jesus? They'll almost the in-your-face. All is archived. All all I've is no God! bBut God is gone to teach donations to lessen their phone to know him. Bring me against my land that the heathen may know me when I shall be sanctified in the old thought before thy spirit thus saith the Lord god Art thou he over whom I've spoken an old-time but my servants the prophets of Israel which prophesy in those days many years that I'll bring the against them? Almost like a news report gods and the prophets spoke about what is going to happen want you gave you for warning. And God says I'm going to bring it down and going to printed against my people. Something blood against Russia something were assured and Scott. I may ask you where the heathens? Why are the heathens that got his court to teach a lesson? Anyone that rejects the God of heaven and denies Jesus Christ. There he. And he says I'm going to teach them a lesson they're going to know me God is going to severely Judge Russia and the nations that are with them. And that may just answer this in a nation that forgets God as Russia has will meet the same judgment. Are you listening? Ezekiel, God is to ended this real saith the Lord God that my fury when they make their advance at the same time my fury show, but my face for in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken surely in that day they shall be of great shaking in the land of Israel. I understand that they even have suitcases that carry atomic bombs. I understand also that there are a Russian submarines that have atomic warfare now only in the Mediterranean but we have some right out on the coast here. And there are friends quote" don't believe in their communists. They're against God. The against Christianity. In my wrath surely in that day they shall be a great shaking the land of Israel and would you understand a great shake and he it's going to be much greater in the earthquake. Take a bunch of those atomic bombs. So that the fishes of the sea and the files of heaven and the beast of the field and all creeping things that creep upon the earth. And all of them had better upon the face of the earth shall shake at my presence there. God is going to do something. In the mountains have gone to fall down the steep place is in every wall show fall to the ground. The land is going to know tremendous judgment. And he says I will call for sword against him to well all my mountains saith the Lord our God. Every man's sword shall be against his brother. What does that sound like to you? They're going to turn on each other. How many know God is able to confuse people to the point where they will turn on each other.? Is that what is saying. Every man's sword shall be against his brother. And I'll plead against him with pestilence you haven't seen anything yet. Now we've seen some pestilence and they're still trying to figure out some serum are some means of cure for it but God is going to send some pestilence and with blood and it seems like the pestilence issues connected with the blood there going to be diseases that are infecting the blood. Even greater than what we already know now ready in upon him and upon his bands I will dilute and upon the many people better up with him fall upon a brain in great hailstones fire and brimstone does seek God is then put them in this generation. How they know that? How many know that God is a mountain last that only by the Russians and Communists but across the landed around the world the God of the Bible has been put down and cheeses has been bought he is nothing more than just another man he was not resurrected." Nothing more than just a profit? Backspace" tell he is God Almighty dusts well I've magnify and sanctify myself and I'll be known in the eyes of many nations and they shall all that I am the Lord revival at least for a period of time will take the land. But only after God brings great devastation. No Russia of the world? That's his intent but God says when they make their advance against Israel I'm going to be angry. In the UK got angry you are in trouble. But I've set a lot of that to say this, America has not done much better at it and what Russia has done. And I think that we are going to see a load of devastation. I can't help what is on condition extent of liberty cost ha ha ha ha ha ha some of you remember when I told to that right after that happened you told us on March 4 yes that is exactly right. But now what I'm saying is it wasn't just wants or place but three times and I mostly to was for but I'm not sure I should have written it down as soon as it happened but I didn't. But I have heard others say the first wasn't too bad that for second will be for worse in the third is going to be great devastation. So what is it a mobile? Should it frighten us should cause us to be fearful? No it should only be a spur to get asked to yourself and seek God like you have never sought him before. There are some the would-be film worthy and makes no difference what all decent groups that are saying the church is going to go all the way through all the churches going to go all the way through the jubilation our know there is going to be some that will become a worthy to escape all these things now please don't have the IQ Hastert is afraid of what people of men of war could do. I'm not afraid of that clear-cut. But I see in this boat there is something better than going into it to IC that there is that hope of the believer to escape. And it is not for all. As sharing with a first-year class today you know who they are saying and hear this on the radio they're saying there are two groups of people that are those that believe everybody is going to go into jubilation and those that believe everybody's going out before tribulation and the use trip should like this God is not a pointed us to wrath and so therefore God is not pointed us to wrath and so were going to be taken it is God's desire for you not to go through but that does not mean if you don't live right you see God has appointed us not to wrath but if we desire to go all way into our own think we've moved east police police that a new in the world bull number that comes out of great tribulation if there are no Christians gotta be here? Should we pray? Should we seek a period and I trust that all of these things are happening will only be an encouragement to us to get a little closer to Jesus. To walk with him. He see that was his intent even of every time God warned Israel what was out wanting? To get a little closer. When God brought judgment what was in for? To get them a little closer. What was that that happened in New York? God could have stopped that. But it was an opportunity for people to get close to God and they did seemingly for couple of weeks but got in his wealth and in his grace brings judgment to get people to himself. Can we seek him? Can we seek in? Keep can we seek him like we've never? Young people, get serious. Kit series. Remember God is not mocked and would we say and could we say honestly that our generation is mocking God? Remember God is not mocked. Whatever nation show solos that shall reap. Let's stand together. - - - - - - Our government and police department so willing to fight a against that and stand up against the Christians pared away my watch a course and was here? Check courts and came to the city and it was advertised something like this America and God. And he went it City Hall there was a large body of people that came but there was also a large body of homosexuals as Spain's. Now check courts and has paid to rent that City Hall. Use up their time to preach one after another sometimes they went in groups went down and start the signs read up in his face while he's trying to preach the building was lined with police officers as all those hippies long-haired homosexual square came down one bite right by me I had everything I could do to keep my seat I could live Chile see myself grab in that long hair and running for the door. Words and finally said which you please sit down high paid to rent this City Hall. But they carried on. Finally I taken enough and so I ran up to the lieutenant who is standing in the front with all these other officers and I said to them sort serve a node should do something and he grins I said if I was out there on the street preacher the gospel you wouldn't arrest hesitate to a breast me because I have been doing that and they knew that at that time they were still hauling us in off the street they stood there until the group and just before words and close to probably 50 a quiet minutes before the close to they all went out to notably Sanchez did? Everyone of them followed the amount they would then not to protect the Christians not to protect the man that paid for the City Hall they were there to protect those queers. And we went outside and finally came to the clothes that are outside standing outside hand inhalant sing and we shall overcome. They won't overcome! Because a god in heaven heats that sin. And still God will judge. Someone close in prayer.# God's Love Revealed Deliverance Center — Portland, Maine Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. Sunday Am, July 10, 2011 Title: God's Love Revealed Text: Romans 5:5-10 1. **The Divinity of Christ** Jesus is the son of God! He is coequal with the Father! Matthew 3:17 *And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.* Even the devils knew who Jesus was: Mark 1:24—*Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.* 2. **The Love of Christ** I John 3:16 *Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.* 1Pe 1:19 *But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:* 2 Corinthians 5:19,21—2Co 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 3. **The Gift of Christ** Romans 8:32—*He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?* 4. **The Divine Agency Employed in Christ's Death** God did not spare His own son. We are accepted because Christ is accepted. Isaiah 53:10,11—*Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.* The sacrifice of life is the highest expression of love. Joh 15:13 *Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.* 5. **The Character of Those for Which Christ Died — Why Christ Died** It was for His enemies. We are sinners against the very person who died for us. The cross of Christ is the measure of God's love. Christ died for sinners. Colossians 1:21 *And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled* 6. **The Voluntary Nature of Christ's Suferings** John 10:17 *Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.*# God's Promises 20091129A He promises that He wold be there with us< \[This is a machine transcription from part of a recording. It needs heavy editing to be useful\] ## 1. God’s Promises are unfailing He had something it just come from the upper room you get I didn't know what or that Jesus promised Silverbell by none but such as I pass Laurelwood church wake up what it had us what it's already been in him in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth on in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth that's the name that frightens him that's the name that the devil trembles the name of Jesus every sickness every disease has the Baba for the name and Peter simply said silver and gold have I none but such as I have give IV in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth 30 some years but will anyone dare say it in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise and while any late top descriptors is that NA went walking leaving and praising God home is a time is the time church needs to come to the place where he can say we have here three for illustration of the personal this was when I was first converted that I haven't been that long already somebody going to sleep wake up when I first was say down that I was a young one time libidinal but going out of the church one morning just shortly after I got say Saddam was so good to me he would understand that what he said in his Word was true and I believe that I still believe that I was going out of morning one of the ladies of the church shorthand for the preacher were going by she reached her down as she shorthand she said: I have a terrible terrible pain I don't know of that I can't remember now some years ago what she said was her hit her with water was what there was some part of her body that was hurting he reached into his pocket and use it and this is what I take and I looked at that and remember now I'm just a new convert and I looked at the man you walked giving her something of a little box this is what I take this is what I take and nurse is given unto me well I field away by your God it's a crazy call me anything you want but I believe his word on what is a church going arise in claim 1S Jesus said I gave when the churches we have resolved misunderstand what I'm saying why do I believe this were I believe that it signed sealed settled in heaven no power present the world and in the world to come that can change to pull this word but laymen is a picture of the church of the spiritual cripples at the gate of the church you must understand that there is cripples all school this city and many of them went to church as spiritual gulps and they're waiting for someone that will come by and say such as I have give IV in the name of Jesus of Nazareth rise up and walk I make sense to have the word of God makes all this so many sitting at the gate hope the looking longing of the promises of power and authority must be relieved that where the breakdown come garbage given us great and precious promises but the sad thing is I hear people say yeah I know that it says that but in a again this is a personal testimony not so much for me but for my mother she was telling me she went to church as a Sunday school added to the Sunday school teacher was the pastor's wife and the end she will my mother Billy I never knew whether Wallace go to a doctor in the living room had mumps publicly a hand on me by chickenpox militia had me no matter what we have and I thought it was published in until I got saved and alleged there was something in her that was real and made the difference but I never never was taken to a doctor and only time I went to the doctor was out when I got out of the Marine Corps I made a little mom and I believe it got a believe it going back to my molar and her experience she was there in the Sunday school and their preacher's wife knew that she believed her what she believed in the my mother and her younger life because she was very happy she picked up this name happy and I'm the Sunday school teacher called by name happy while you're supposed God gave doctors mother said almost momentarily spurted God spoke to said what were the world do without doctors what would the world with the greatest physician is not in the practice is in the performance I guarantee you if you're a law when you going to the doctor's office and the time lookup on the wall and it really just like this Dr. Saltonstall licensed by the state of Maine to practice and when anybody practicing on me I don't even take my car to somebody that's practicing mountain I want to find somebody that knows what they're doing see it to believe it got a believe that yes he got into a gray and precious promises but I will March 1670 Mrs. MVA steins shall follow them that no one would church regularly don't miss it on prayer meeting I and these signs shall follow them that believe them that believe them that believe through and I know I had somebody come to me not long... when nothing happens seemingly when I pray I'll expect it to happen if you believe James put it like this since it when you pray belief and always believe that way for us questions Dallas did not waver the microwave of the state on the wind and tossed and lacked not Batman link don't even think them receive anything you believe Lee Bailey my sister said to me several face in the world that's great gave the Rangers a roller I just have all the faith in the world until such as turbo Volvo Sinclair who was a teacher design buttons until he came down with cancer and I pray the law which he may die and she said to me I lost all my face that she was a lot older than I was so not respect for her I felt like saying naughty you didn't lose your faith your feelings get hurt could you thought he ought to do it just because he said it but he's not going to do it is to believe it to believe that several say there is ever a favorite remember this if there's ever failures on our partner is the signs shall follow shall follow a positive it's a guarantee from God shall follow them that believe my name shall they cast out devils I've had once been ready at the altar when one woman came stood right there and screamed at me that devil in her screen that insists you care in ICU and Devil you know I can in the name of Jesus come out and she went green and throwing herself on the floor got up and walked out to you you don't know what you got and I don't know what you've got they will they will mind you my name shall they cast out devils they shall speak with new tongues that ought to give us a clue who is talking to they shall speak with one time this is not talking to everybody he's not talking about the run-of-the-mill he's not talking about those that claim to be a Christian and follow Jesus he's talking about those that have been filled with the Holy Ghost don't have to be filled with all illustrate the new tongues I'll barely everyman in our time speaking for the people listen to Holy Ghost overshadowed them and they began to speak in a language they never learn from the Jewish scholarships shelves peak new come and they shall lay hands on the sick and they might recover we hope to recover geisha Michelle a shout, preacher said when I pray I hope to get better I'm telling you this morning when I pray I expect them to get their I would be more shocked if they didn't then they do sometimes hopefully what I get chopped of God the we should begin shocked if they didn't do something wrong somewhere on your he's true to his word are faith must rise above the merely asking for things I'll face must rise up golf merely asking for things you must believe a lot of times I hear people down to if you do that please are not after anybody try to help but oftentimes our prayers alike bigger go leafs go is it is no will on our he's already got us going have to beg off believe in him believe him at 40.sub believe in him but he cannot do anything deliberately than what is true to his promises the church needs to you as the power that God has given it against the enemy was underway there at the humans that hinder revival there are demons that hinder revival and caught to not say he was going to remove them but what he did say was I've given unto you power over all the power of the enemy will call will do so with a couple he said I have given you and authority over all the demons churches time that we begin to exercise our face and believe for revival little sweeps of the city the city is in trouble and who has the answer City Hall doesn't have the answer but selectmen doesn't have the onset those folks in Washington don't have the answer this church right here has the answer because we been taught the truth we know what God has promised and he said I have given you power over all the power of the enemy and if the church refuses to exercise that power the church becomes the VM that God gave power to overcome say that again if the church refuses to exercise that power the church becomes victim to that but they should be conqueror I remember some time ago I pray for Lady God performed a great miracle and I asked much of it coming did you test them all I wouldn't dare to do that because the devil may hit me if I just know you've heard this before but I think it feels fits in here very very well where young man that worked with us in here been here probably a year and even more don't know how long the timeless weekend on one morning came in to the office on is a general Reynolds and I got up this morning I heard the devil say he's at the local troop I like that he wasn't worried about what the devil was doing the devil was worried about him he's up we're in trouble I like that time that the church began to realize what God has put into the hour of the church and all that we requires of us is to believe out 10 listener which is a massive 16 and 19 whatsoever thou shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven whatsoever shall loose on earth's shall be raised in heaven it does not say gobble illicit abundant what it does say God has given us our over the enemy to buying and pollution given the church that power in the church seems to be running off hiding fearful of what the devil. We should be afraid we should be like that young man is up from his upper zone to your word about what the devil to an OU cause in the devil's in trouble in his word about what you would do if the church was in the place it needs to be would be the devil wondering worrying what's going I powers not our power chairs power working through the believer weblog.minted bloggerborn of god and we been taught of God for the purpose of Christ to live in this boy into the family of God that Christ may live in is my will but Christ lives in that that individual believes we are more than conquerors as they would a bundle when the devil comes in a well-run hide and put in his place which I often have to do this because I'm a preacher that is amended -- and comply doesn't mean that the devil doesn't attack but we have to attack back then God had to say that many times wake up some morning and the sole body just doesn't seem to want to work and I have to take authority in the name of Jesus to those sheets back find a place to pray you I have authority I have authority I'm not boasting I'm simply telling you the truth is I have authority over all the powers of go Christ lives in and he said I have given it's time for us it's time for the church to say I have faced in action makes a man a warrior and days in action makes a man a warrior Vega will need to beg and plead you speak faces bold and acts of God's promises Faith is a bowl with several rounds where did you learn that I learned by experience and I'm about to go into a lot of detail but some of you heard my personal but it needs to be spoken to help some but haven't heard listen either God is true of his promises of the eyelid and the postwar right there helmeted home but me up alternate form the foundation of the garage remember that brought me home up in bed I laid there for three days and heard Hugo Hossain and I told you this before developing short push against the wall and I could put my foot against the pressure would release that pay and I laid there third day of her by her and the Lord spoke to me as clear as I'm speaking to you and said don't you believe my word of if you were then get up and get dressed and important of a three-day 700 and ago just get up and get is I didn't just jump up so they'll hold those pants all my own my home on the edge of the bed and curtain call on me and I finally got them on the shirt on when to stand up when I understand the UK said that's what he said but you believe my word get dressed I got dressed as a believed his work over and cool for us and I could go through so many experiences tell me what the Lord spoke to me that car accident said the same thing here I am in bid strap was shoulder hurting hurting it hurt my testimony how I hurt just the baroque breeds and a lot of Marie's because of her and again the Lord says don't you believe my word she got allowed me to go through some things to help you not just for me but to help you to understand that you've got to take God at his word that I am hurting I mean I was hurting and the Lord said Ray Shira I won't get into the old detail of that because you've heard it before but costs in raise your I raised it to her a racist again or a raise to begin and heard it raised it again six times in this NI I know somebody would say that all well about going to do what you do it wasn't God's fault I had to come to the place where I believed it in the seventh time when I went to raise it there was no pain and I got up and I preached that Sunday God is true to his word we must believe him say this old faces bold acts on God's promises God said it I believe it and it might happen God said it if we believe it it will happen today takes command phase will defeat the devil loose both of our set the captives free open the eyes of the blind is way up there at Pittsburgh New Hampshire they brought along into the tent and she came for prior chief blind been blind for liver 17 years hadn't been able to see the difference between daylight and not share the line that went from Herndon from reports show to the mailbox and she went out there to get her mail by sliding along the line that she's I was just a young man at the time to sell Bibles to one up in Pittsburgh to people at church and at a minestrone on reset the tendo my uncle jumped in his car argosy get somebody driving when around so all of his friends and the fact that placed the end in the midst of it they brought this woman in that was blind prayer time, I never pray for anybody and saw them see the light I prayed for people before some of you folks in the Bible screw you heard me tell about how I went uptown at one time and I was so excited when I first say God has been called everything they promised and I saw this man out there playing his accordion and is blind as a bat at go by car over the side jumped up and ran back to my handle is the name of Jesus receive your eyesight I run back to my car and the law but they came up time and the Lord came to me with an eye to third in the morning with hands raised after 21 days of fasting and prayer and I heard the Lord say I believe lay hands on the sick blind will see deaf will hear lame walk of seeing that over and over again after that night of prayer I raised my hands to her blind eye's says in the name of Jesus Christ eyes be opened and she said screaming and saying I see at your go is as great a Tory promise that we go to believe to believe that for the church is doing all kinds of gimmicks trying to bring them back no we've got the greatest thing we just need to believe what he's already given to the greatest thing the world needs set the captives free open the eyes of the blind make the deaf to say listen to me now faith is destroyed your faith of my faith faith is destroyed when you bake don't they believe in when you believe in when you are believe what you and it shall be granted to you all over the somebody says in mock up father has brought his son to the disciples and is complaining because he brought his son in the disciples did nothing to help the return to Jesus and said if thou canst do anything help us a mercy on us if thou can't Jesus Condit run around on the images if thou canst believe all things are possible to him that he is if thou can't believe my pray for somebody I believe that I've had him also come back the next time the print why because I didn't believe what they did it so well blaming them know I'm just telling you that if a person gets a hold of something big up hold on to it lay hold with that fight for what is ours and God has given us some great promises and we need that laid hold of him and not let them go man came to the tent where Mills Lane collects reinsurerle my job to believench sort of token set him up with his legs up side by side has said in the name of Jesus Christ led to be linked and it would just like to remember a show at next night is back in the line and is saying can you pray for me again g three i isn't everything was fine also than I next morning somebody did something provoked me I got angry grabs cigarette stub smoke in a set while I smoke like a comedy who believed that God in his grace but listen we need to believe the and don't have a bully will never blame the that nothing happens because it's your fault not his key is true to his where all heaven stands and back of his promises all the promises of God are you a name in that the church will ever get to that place where it can begin to believe again to see the things that God has promised I don't know about you but it bothers me when I see even preachers saying while this is a doctor that I don't this is what I take this as well help if thou can't believe all things are possible with them to me by prayer Lord Jesus is given to us great and precious promises that by these we might become part takers of the divine nature and Lanier Word declares that you went about doing good and healing all that were suppressed at the Lord use it that we become part takers of the divine nature and you given to us power and authority over all works so therefore we can go for performing that which you promise Lord raise up which are raised in the church raised to believe that will come out where they are stand for truth's love tools hold to the troops believes the troops glorify the son of God stand with their daily I know why I can't NA NA and that I'm a aimed at my don is an IF she Jesus said it, it cannot fail. His Word is true. Bro. Wadsowrth would you close in prayer. # God's Ultimate Purpose TEXT: Romans 11:36 A sermon outline by Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr.# Healing is For All \[machine auto-transcript from 20090322P Healing is for All needs editing to be very useful.\] Never been there before I didn't know why they even invited me to come in what I believed I walked in on the Sunday morning and look over the congregation is with them so we run out of time this week is always saved I'm in and they had more jewelry and more long hair on them in the normal women I preached about five minutes and they're all shouting to the world is going on here as soon as excited about the Gospel only came to the end of the week I could not feel in my spirit that I could walk away and leave these people know Sunday night was the last night of the meetings that I just didn't feel in my heart how will the world am I believe these people go back home and feel right in my spirit and I told the Lord what I The don't know what will happen like you do on Sunday night when their term of service over Connecticut up and I said you might not agree with what I've got the save of him will tell you what I believe is in the word of God and do what God requires of us and I started in at the top and I worked on my way down to the top to the bottom down the is only one doorless move this church was set in amongst other buildings of the building in back of building on both sides was only one way out in the virtual front door down when I go through I decided this is your last night the human you've told his people what they need to know that you doubt I'm talking to myself it on the I have normal finish preaching and those least 30 maybe more dirty women that one over on the car and that they were talking and I figure boy this is my chance I'm going to domicile a modified that middle door and I'm out of here I started down the line and hit a cone will want to down the long validity she was very shocked that she come right up into my face and I figured it on talking to myself because the rises in common laid it on pretty hard in the so I'm telling myself now you've told him let them tell you and don't be upset she stood up into my face and looked up at me and she said Brother Reynolds we want you to know that when we started doing these things we felt they were wrong but our pastor kept telling us it's all right it's all right it's all was I so glad that I told him what I believe the word of God teaches us that he meant what he said come out from among them be separately meant that and it seems like this doesn't encouragement today for moles in amongst them for this new church age this merging church age putting it all together Muslims this is what I say the Muslims or Catholics or Protestants were all God people know we're not born of a devil CAM ruled in our hearts wasn't until we accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior then we'll tell me they're going children know I really have a hard time with these Catholics but it's on the radio they keep saying repeatedly I tried to call one I couldn't get through I was the least tell them what I believe but I couldn't get through to them but he says repeatedly over and over I'm a Catholic, Christian, Catholic, Christian you can't be both if you're Christian you are not a Catholic if you're Catholic you're not a Christian say what you will but you cannot have anyone between you and the Savior man will nurture Scripture with your doctor to see that healing is all today and a little buffalo people as servant in the house of God that is sick man I like to sing this song before we look at the word only believe only really work if we could grasp only the only believe so many people use this in all I believe whether I believe that the first thing that happens they have to run what happened 1231 happened to the promises what happened to go is not not true is his word not true it's signed and sealed settled in heaven knows no power present the world with him that can change to alter that were not were so quick to give up the word was believe in what you are saying that out of the only really know singing will will leave you you you only will be all over or loss only will he really will you and will do a little long and he will learn and who will be all the on a little longer to and he rules in will he will pay you rule is a believer as we did in the mountains in the lead this is what he is going to be looking for is that when it comes we find he would be hard pressed that I cross the land around the world find people that really believe the local doctor or Jesus commissioned his disciples the word did he get a piece never change what it called his disciples to do is still calling his disciples do matter to a number of sources and when he had called me on his 12 disciples very bundled them our against unclean spirits to cast them out and reveal all manner of sick and all manner gave them power has he changed as his word changed as his promises changed in the Percy said Allison this is as much a commission to the followers of Christ as it wants to Versace says he'll sick P.-year-old etymologist parading here was sick claimant selectors raise the dead cast out devils freely you have received freely give a we could only grasp truths goats were were so quick to trust people were so slow to believe the I want to and honesty in the face doesn't come by somebody else's testimony faith doesn't come across somebody else got some unwanted press that on you face comes by one thing and one thing alone face comes by the word of God the word that is revealed to you as an individual the word is used then I've told you this so many times but I felt like I wanted to help somebody tonight to grasp the whole world the word the revealed word around gawked Hasso word from his word that will inspire a few delay hold on the provisions that he's made for you a man Romans 1017 says faith cometh by hearing and hearing by testable states, by hearing and hearing by the word the revealed word around of God's work publishes logos but there's times when God will speak to an individual and give them the word man you're looking at a very strange but I wanted him to stay in the dog is warning people to trust him trust him we sing that song I am trust the new Roland I am trusting you you been so faithful and true Ben was so true and then we turn around and we deny us learned start.it comes by faith hating does not come by the way this and I've been around this long enough to try to help you understand something I've had people say to me while I felt like I was healed but when I got home I still have the problem you don't get healed because of feeling you get killed because of the word of God is alive and his word Jesus said the word that I speak unto you his life and its beer not failing does not produce you but faith will produce a better domain you snap your fingers and you got the upper believe in going up a hold on some times when it seems like it's gone too far and most of you understand that at one time I went source trouble with my heart that thing just gave me fits here I'm preaching to others I'm saying blind eyes pop open my children know what I'm saying they would there be so deaf ears open momentarily the dumb begun to speak but was unable to speak in the hair I waltz dying with a heart condition but I believe God I had the wallet time on a technical hospital I remember my cell up there in Waterville and so I took the time to drive from here all away up to Waterville not score ways for 80 miles came into the motor home and looked down at me and one thing that they want us me is the brother Reynolds did you think about going to the hospital and I looked out a moment and I said not until you just said never even crossed my mind to listen all that I'm trying to do is to inspire you to believe all and you can't hold his promises and he is true Ya I struggled out of 710 ratings up there in Smyrna Mills and God was working mightily and in those days I had to be a very powerful that I maneuvered my childless testimony before but I wanted to somebody tonight to grasp a hold of the promise of God but I had a big castle in those days that I didn't make the motion for if I got excited and I made motion toward the thing would just take it in and at times I'd have to back up and get a hold of the pulpit and whole loan let it come down to even get my breasts with that one night night after night we been seeing God work miracles one minute Tom delay that was in absentia shortly other momentarily 2 is live the leg takedown came back the next night in the leg with pullback to but is asking me to pray for them again and he said to me brother Reynolds Accu prayed last night my leg was all right it was good also than I visited the next morning somebody did something may be aggravated I grabbed a cigarette and I started spoken in the scissors I smoke that cigarette my leg director but during those meetings people getting saved in fact they started this over an island falls and push behind some buildings so nobody could see those are actually it's a mud puddle down the but God begins to move with up to 10 down from there took it over right in that church law was set up outside the church and for five solid weeks we went on and so ago and they had to build a new church because it was big enough to hold the crown God work miracles but in the midst of all of that one night I was I was just excited about the word and I would like to announce the name felt good nose someplace around ugly 1976 and I've been doing it ever since sharia trio MAF to hold on but is true to his word faith will produce fact sailings will produce disappointment but face will produce what God said he would do worry if some Scripture healing is for all massive gates dropped from 16 verse Vietnam was commonly brought on to him many that were possessed with devils they cast out the spirits with his word and this is what I want you to get and healed some of the sick healed all law of the sick payola all the sick Matthew 12 verse 15 but when Jesus knew it he wrote her a missile from defense and great multitudes followed him and he hailed some of them I took the time to go through the Scripture of Jesus ministry alone and I found that there are 10 places was says over and over and over the healed all the healed all he healed all he healed all you getting the message what he did is still doing Matthew 14 verse 14 Jesus windfalls and sorrow great multitude and was moved with compassion told them any healed their sick after 15 verse 30 great multitudes came on them having with them those that were laying by Dom Main and many others and cast them down at Jesus they and he healed them why is it that we have such a hot job trust him is a true can he be trusted as a 19 verse two great multitudes I have no idea what that might encompass great multitudes followed him any healed them there mastered 21 verse 14 the by then the laying came to him in the temple and he sent them away this is God's word the word that he said is signed and sealed and settled in heaven and who can change it I realize sometimes this is just leaning on the arm of flesh but I've never seen anyone really live in victory Lane on the arm of the flash loops for verse 40 now on the sun was setting all they met in a sick with diverse diseases brought them on a.m. and he laid his hands on every one of them and did what you over and over Luke 619 and the whole mall... saw the couch there was a reason why they wanted a touching for their Web virtue out of him and healed them all everyone say all healed them locate Luke nine 911 and the people when they knew it followed him and he received them and spake unto them of the kingdom of God and healed them that had need of healing how many did he heal these healed all of that had indeed appealing over and over and over the Scripture says he healed them he healed all of them he never disappointed in the we need to learn to trust him believe him and at constructor verse 38 God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power cooler about doing good here laying some healing molds pay all that world press all the downfall (although Devil who is oppressing them will bring the I've even had preachers they need to be Will you don't pray against dogs will it might be going to willful them to be sick we set NA church service I was having tent meetings but the Sunday morning service they had in the church and they had invited this evangelist before we ever got to have that meeting down the some of you remember it and Katie Seelye and this man began to preach that morning that sometimes God wants you to be sick and somehow that word soul disturbed Katie she was in such this date that as soon as the service was over I went over tour and I had to pray and read the devil she grasp what this guy was saying that she was suffering for Jesus not listen the Lord doesn't mean also suffered by him is doing alright it's us help you save none to draw anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and power who went about doing it all by is it wrong for people to be well is it wrong for people to be whole when about doing good healing all that with the press of the devil for God was with him or to delete go does any of you here tonight that haven't needed your body and you've struggled with their listen this power in this word if you can grasp ahold faith cometh by hearing and hearing by walk hearing the word of God is not brother Reynolds for this is God's word if you get a holder that holds the bat of to when about doing doing is still going about doing good healing all their jaundiced second versus his beloved I wish above all things about mesh prosper and be in God's word is God's promise is God's will and will for you could be well it's the devil's desire to attack you (shoe brings sickness and disease upon you when you stop and consider Job God didn't do their I've even heard preachers say what God did that Joe know we didn't God simply took his hands off and sit devil July jolt will serve me God knew what you would do that Joe's founder Denis had some problems and especially with his so-called friends know about them that's where a lot of our problem comes right from our friends remember one time my mother said to me doing up an institute because I was skipping Simi's I didn't but I got to the throne no sooner had to go on presale I have seen I have to say this is not something that would just say I have seen the eyes of the blind Poppel missing the deft ears open just like I've seen the dumb to speak as clear as anyone never having learned to speak the word I've seen the cripple him ever forget one were down in Springfield payroll this minute on a wheelchair that elevated than 20 years I walked down and I felt in the spirit tell them to get up and walk will you doubt it didn't get up and walk to get up and ran and he ran so fast up of the tripped over some trip details and the kids went flying and he went flying with God worked as nothing but only believe some things are possible use it all things are possible to them that believe the record saying that again is rescinded if there's anyone here tonight you have a need in your body you want God to do something for you, I spend together and sing it only really all things are possible# Hell A sermon outline of Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. *Luke 16:23 — in hell he lifted up his eyes.* 1. ## Introduction The rich man — the beggar, Lazarus — God is my help. Some believed this would to be the only hell they shall know. Some don't believe in a hell. Some believe it to be the place of the dead. 2. ## There is a place called hell. ### The Bible says there is. ### Hell is a place. It is more than a word, it is a place. And really it does not make too much difference what you call it, it still is a place. The young woman dying, said to her father, "father, why did you not tell me there was such a place?" "What place?" "A hell!" He said, "Jenny, there is no such place. God is merciful. There'll be no future suffering!" She said, "I know better! My feet are slipping into it at this moment. I am lost. Why did you not tell me there was such a place?" A young man who had been raised as a Jehovah's Witness, he said, "all of my life I was taught that there was no Hell." However, he murdered a man and he said, "when I pulled the trigger I knew there was a place called hell." ### Hell is a prepared place. Hell is a place prepared for the devil and his Angels. Matthew 25:41 Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people. However, Hell is a prepared place for an unprepared people. ### Hell is not death or the grave. *Revelation 20:14 — death and hell were cast into the Lake of fire.* The body goes to the grave, the spirit and soul into hell.# How to Get To Heaven - Tent Revival Crusades – Cumberland, Maine - Sunday Pm, July 11, 2010 - Rev. James Reynolds, Sr. - Title: What to do to Get to Heaven - Text: John 3:3 The world knows nothing about what it needs to do to get to heaven. The best you can do will split hell wide open. 3 Things About Nicodemus: ## A Man of the Pharisees – Religious He had religion. The world has religion and was dying with religion. ## A Man of the Sanhedrin – Respected. ## A Man of Righteousness – Righteous but Lost Ignorant of God’s righteousness created there own righteousness. He came to Jesus by night. Many are harsh on Nicodemus. Saying He was a coward This was the time of the Passover. At this time the moon always shined its brightest. It was night but a very bright night. It doesn’t matter the time you come, just come. Night or day. “No man can the miracles that thou doest except God be with you.” He is still doing miracles today. Jesus answered His need and not his question: “Verily, verily, except a man be born again, He cannot see the kingdom of God.” 1 ptr 1 23 jesus said born not baptized. 1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 1 cor 5:17 new creature# Jewish Messiah A sermon outline of Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. ## Introduction THEME: According to the Scriptures Jesus is the Messiah; the Son of God manifested in the flesh. > Proverbs 18:13 — He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him. ## 2. God is One — When Scripture says "one" it is speaking of a compound unity. It cannot be anything less. > Genesis 1:1 — In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. "God" *Elohiym* (a plural noun) Gods "Create" *Bara* (a singular verb) Genesis 1:26 "And God said, Let **Us** make man in **Our**image, after **Our** likeness…" (The Chumash) Deuteronomy 6:4 "Hear, O Israel: Hashem is our God, Hashem is the One and Only." (The Chumash) "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD." (KJV) "LORD" Yehovah self-existent - eternal "God" Elohiym (a plural noun) "Yehovah" is God's covenant name. God is one, but Three in One — God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. ## 4. Scripture References to the Messiah Genesis 3:15 "…heshall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." This is the promise that the Messiah would come and destroy the devil's power. Psalm 2:7 "…Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee." Psalm 45:6-7 "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." Psalm 110:1 "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." "The LORD" Yehovah self-existent — eternal "Said unto my Lord" Adown sovereign — Lord Isaiah 42:1 "Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles." Isaiah 49:7 "Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, andHis Holy One, to Him Whom man despiseth, to Him Whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and He shall choose thee." Jeremiah 23:5-6 "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is His name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OURRIGHTEOUSNESS." Daniel 7:13-14 "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." Zechariah 9:9 "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." Malachi 3:1 "Behold, I will send My messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me: and the Lord, Whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts." ## 5. The Birth of the Messiah The Time of His Birth Daniel 9:25 "Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times." Ezra 1:1-2 "Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and He hath charged me to build Him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah." 1. The starting time to reckon from as stated by Daniel the prophet from the "Going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem." 2. The King of Persia, Cyrus, in 457 B.C. issued the command in writing to build God a house in Jerusalem. 3. (Subtracting the 69 weeks of years) 483 years would bring you to the year 26 A.D. which was around the year that the Messiah would be anointed. 2. The Place of His Birth Micah 5:2 "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." 3. The Nature of His Birth Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a **virgin shall conceive**, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel." "Im"- with "Anu" *-* us "El" - God God incarnated — God born of a virgin — God born of flesh. Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. "The mighty" *Gibbowr* Powerful — Mighty "God" El The Almighty God The Messiah, born of a virgin, incarnated in flesh, and dwelt amongst us as a man. 4. The Purpose of His Birth 1. To destroy the devil's power. Genesis 3:15 "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring.He will pound your head, and you will bite his heel."(The Chumash) 2. To be a Saviour from sin — Isaiah 53:2-12 ## 6. The Death of the Messiah - a. The Nature of His Death - By Crucifixion > Psalm 22:14 "I Am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels." For all His bones to be out of joint it could … - b. The Action of People at His Death ## 7. The Messiah will be Resurrected # Justification By Faith # Justification By Faith A sermon outline of Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. Romans 3:26-31 ``` ## I. Declares God's Righteousness—v.26 How is God Justified in Justifying the Ungodly? ``` —Through Substitution— Isaiah 53:5; Galatians 3:13; Hebrews; 2:9; 1 Peter 3:18 ## II. Excludes Boasting—v.27 ### 1. The Jews Boasted in God—Romans 2:17 ### 2. They Boasted in the Law—Romans 2:23 The Law was designed to teach sin. It became a means of self-righteousness. ### 3. The Perversion of Religion has made man boastful. All boasting is excluded—Ephesians 2:8,9 ## III. Harmonizes Law and Faith—vv.28-31 The dispensations cannot disagree they must harmonize. ### 1. Law was to reveal man's sin and humble him. ### 2. Faith was to reach out and receive the gift. Faith does not make void the Law—it supports/ establishes the Law. v.31 "Establish," histemi to cause to stand: — abide, continue, covenant, hold up —Matthew 5:17 ``` Views that appear contradictory can both be right. Truth is many-sided. ``` ### 3. Apparent Contradiction— v.28 "A man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law." James 2:24 "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." To many faith is everything, the practice is nothing. To believe certain doctrines is not true faith, if the life is not changed. Faith that does not produce works is dead. This faith cannot save a man. Paul is dealing with Christians of a Jewish origin. He is emphasizing the necessity of faith in Christ. Romans 4:3 "Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." But remember Abraham's faith included ACTION. He believed and offered Isaac. James 2:21 Paul believed in faith that justifies—results in good works. Romans 6:18; Romans 8:1; Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:11,12 Good works is the evidence and fruit of faith. James was dealing with the inconsistency that prevailed in his day, which still prevails today. Faith and works harmonize. "By works was faith made perfect," James 2:22. teleioo, to complete, consummate:— finish, make perfect. Paul shows the uselessness of works without faith. James shows the uselessness of faith without works. Both are equally insisting upon the uselessness of profession without practice. The two sides of this great truth need to be emphasized in our day. On one side a living faith in Jesus Christ alone, in opposition to forms and ceremonies. On the other side, the necessity for a life of practical godliness.# Justification by Faith September 25, 2002 SERVICE: 20020925 Justification By Faith TEXT: Romans 3:26-31 # I. Declares God’s Righteousness—v.26 ``` 1. How is God Justified in Justifying the Ungodly? ``` —Through Substitution— # Isaiah 53:5; Galatians 3:13; Hebrews; 2:9; 1 Peter 3:18 # II. Excludes Boasting—v. 1. The Jews Boasted in God—Romans 2:17 2. They Boasted in the Law—Romans 2:23 ``` The Law was designed to teach sin. It became a means of self-righteousness. ``` 3. The Perversion of Religion has made man boastful. ## All boasting is excluded—Ephesians 2:8,9 1. Harmonizes Law and Faith—vv.28-31 ``` The dispensations cannot disagree they must harmonize. ``` 2. Law was to reveal man’s sin and humble him. 3. Faith was to reach out and receive the gift. ``` Faith does not make void the Law—it supports/ establishes the Law. v.31 “Establish,” _histemi_ to cause to stand: — abide, continue, covenant, hold up —Matthew 5:17 Views that appear contradictory can both be right. Truth is many-sided. ``` 4. Apparent Contradiction— ``` v.28 “A man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law.” James 2:24 “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” To many faith is everything, the practice is nothing. To believe certain doctrines is not true faith, if the life is not changed. Faith that does not produce works is dead. This faith cannot save a man. Paul is dealing with Christians of a Jewish origin. He is emphasizing the necessity of faith in Christ. Romans 4:3 “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” But remember Abraham’s faith included ACTION. He believed and offered Isaac. James 2:21 Paul believed in faith that justifies—results in good works. ``` ### Romans 6:18; Romans 8:1; Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:11,12 ``` Good works is the evidence and fruit of faith. James was dealing with the inconsistency that prevailed in his day, which still prevails today. Faith and works harmonize. “By works was faith made perfect,” James 2:22. _teleioo_, to complete, consummate:— finish, make perfect. _ _Paul shows the uselessness of works without faith. James shows the uselessness of faith without works. Both are equally insisting upon the uselessness of profession without practice. The two sides of this great truth need to be emphasized in our day. On one side a living faith in Jesus Christ alone, in opposition to forms and ceremonies. On the other side, the necessity for a life of practical godliness. ```# Living Epistles TITLE: Living Epistles SERVICE:20110410A DATE: April 10, 2011, Sunday Morning TEXT: 2Co 3:2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Every true Christian is an epistle of Christ. He is the writer. 1. The Power of It – NO CONDEMNATION Blotted out my guilt and shame and my reproach and wrote in where there had been guilt and shame and rejection. NO CONDEMNATION. Someday this world will quit their laughing The rich man lifted his eyes in hell being in torment. - He remembered🡨 missed opportunities in hell. Ro 8:1 ¶ *There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.* 2. The Design of it – To Convey the Mind of Christ Many refused the Gospel. We must live in such a way they see a difference. A letter is written is for the purpose of being seen\*\*. The Christian must let his Christianity to be visible\*\*. Live in such a way that Christ is seen in us. Those Christian in NAME only are in no sense a LIVING EPISTLE. They have a church they attend but they are lost. IN NAME ONLY a Christian. ``` 2Co 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are **manifestly declared** to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. Christ lives by a power that conquered death. WHY seek you the living among the dead?!?!?! Always keep in mind that the testimony of Jesus is related to His resurrection from the dead. He lives by a power that has conquered death. Only a true Christian can express the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Ga 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Christ manifested IN us. Php 1:21 ¶ For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 2 Cor. 3:2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Why are letters misunderstood??? ``` - OMISSIONS Something missing! - CONTRADICTIONS – Life and words don’t LINE UP! Live one way before the church and live another way before the world. Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: ``` Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Who Writes? The Spirit of the Living God. No writing on the human spirit is durable, except that which is written by the Holy Spirit for that is ETERNAL. 2Co 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ **ministered by us,** written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. This gospel must be preached. Matthew 24 2Co 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. Christ stands with the Believer. ```# Long Hair, Bald Head Short Study There are 2 extremes – long hair – or shaven baldness – a sign of judgment – Isaiah 3:17, 24 baldness produced by shaving the head was done as a mark of mourning for the dead. Isaiah 15:2; 22:12; Micah 1:16 shaven head is a sacrifice to idols was the custom of the people in the land. The Israelites were strictly for bit into practice. Leviticus 21:5; Deuteronomy 14:1 the custom among neighboring nations of shaving all but a small patch in the center of the head was also forbidden. Leviticus 19:27 baldness was assigned a broken files. Number 6:6 – 12 Ezekiel 44:20 shaving for bidding – polling required polling – to shear – cut – poll # Loving Thy Neighbor Matthew 22:37-40Preached Sunday Morning, December 18, 2011, by Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr.## INTRODUCTION > Matthew 22:3 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment.39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. For our sermon, I am using the thought in the Scripture: loving they neighbor. Strange that I hear an awful lot of words said to people and some are not good. They speak as if they want to hurt somebody. But if we knew what the Word of God says, **we would love them**. The Bible speaks very plainly to us that we need to love our neighbor. A few weeks ago we spent time on *God’s Love for Us*. And last week on, Our Love for God, but today we will talk about *Our Love for Our Neighbor*. Does God say for us to love our neighbor as we desire to? As we want to? Or as we think we ought to? No, God says to love our neighbor *as thyself*. And nobody every hated himself. We need to love our neighbor as ourselves. Amen? ## I. Loving Thy Neighbor According to the Old Testament The O.T. has a lot to say about our neighbors and I am not going to reiterate all that is said throughout all of the scripture but I am going to touch on a few of them. Exodus 20:16 *Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.* If you have been reading your papers this week, then you know A lot of people are bearing false witness against their neighbors. We need to love our neighbor. If we love our neighbor we wouldn’t bear false witness. Leviticus 6:2 *If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour;* If a person lies to his neighbor he is committing a trespass against the lord! Leviticus 19:15 *Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.* Deuteronomy 5:20 *Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.* Now that may not take in all of us, but the devil has a tendency to get into us and we speak wrongly concerning our neighbor. Psalm 101:5 *Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.* The Lord has a lot to say about what goes on with a person and his neighbor. Pr 14:21 ¶ *He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.* That is pretty rough talk. “*Well, they are no good.”* Well, be careful what you say about your neighbor! Proverbs 25:18 ¶ *A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.* That world *maul* has to do with something that is able to *break things up*. The false witness can break things up and destroy his neighbor and others around him. Habakkuk 2:15 *Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!* That doesn’t mean juice or water. It has to do with strong drink (alchohol). You don’t have to look far to find people that give strong drink to their neighbors. I was out back here and I saw a guy come across and I knew what he was doing. He was giving his neighbor strong drink. Will he be judged? Yes, God says it! Zechariah 8:16 *These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:* Now there is a lot more in the OT, but we want to turn to the NT and see what God has to say there about loving your neighbor. ## II. Loving Thy Neighbor According to the New Testament > Romans 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Does that speak to us or remind us of anything that maybe we ought to do differently? How do we treat our neighbor? Do we understand how our neighbors depend on us to show them the light and truth? They might never find the truth without us. If it wasn’t for my brother I would not be here. That makes me understand there are people out there that must see reality. I saw reality . I saw the real thing in my brother. How is the world going to see that? Let them see Christ in you! Romans 15:2 *Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.* *Please your neighbor*. “Ah, they’re no good!” Be careful. God loves them. God loves everyone. How many know that God loves everyone? John 15:13 *Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.* God showed us the greatest love in His son on the cross. Ga 5:14 *For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.* James 2:8 *If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:* Isn’t it so important that we go according to the Scripture!?!Maybe your neighbor might not be so far from God if they could find God in you? Amen? This is very important. Whether you understand or not. God wants us to be good to our neighbors. How will they very know and find the truth? Will they see it in you? Fulfill the royal law, love thy neighbor as thyself! Love is proof of discipleship. You say you are disciple of the Lord, but are you really? John 13:15 *For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you*. Now, Christ’s love is the standard. We don’t love just because we decide to, but because and as He as loved us. John 15:12 *This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.* Love one another. Love your neighbor as I have loved you! It might be that guy is not as mean that you think he is if you loved him as Jesus loved you. Don’t squirm. Just look at the Word and let the Word find a place in your heart and when you go out among your neighbors, let them see the reality of Christ in you. Somebody was telling me and I forget now who it was, but they were telling me they went to this one store and they said Christians come in here to buy cigarettes and liquor. NOT CHRSTIANS! That soul needs to see the truth. SEE IT. Not just hear it. Not enough to say I am a Christian, but let them SEE it. See reality. Dear God, help us. Christ is the standard… as I have loved you. Love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Matthew 22:39 And *the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.* You might not like what I am saying but this is the Word of God. How many love yourself? No man ever hated himself, the Bible says. And the Scripture also says, love your neighbor *as thyself.* Love will not lie to his neighbor. Ephesians 4:25 *Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.* Maybe you need to go back and correct some things. And when you love, you need to love fervently. 1 Peter 1:22 *Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:* The world does not need a put on. How many know the world knows the difference when you put it on or if it is real? They might not know how to be real themselves, but they can sure tell if you are pretending. Love fervently and love sincerely. Romans 12:9 *Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.* Turn away from evil and hold onto that which is good. Romans 12:10 *Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;* Jesus told a story in Luke about our neighbor. Luke 10:29 *But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?* “You tell me to be good to my neighbor, but who his neighbor?” Luke 10:30 *And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.* In the first place, what was he doing going from Jerusalem to Jericho? Whenever you go from Jesus it is always down and never up. And he fell among thieves. He was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho on what they call the bloody road. Why was it called the bloody road? Many people lost their lives on that road, because it was infested with robbers, crooks and thieves. Isn’t that the same old story? When you fall from the Lord, you fall among thieves. The devil comes to steal rob and destroy you. The Lord is saying a lot when he says this: *stripped him of his raiment*. When we came to the Lord, we had nothing to clothe ourselves with. We had no raiment. He had something to cover himself with, that is, raiment or godly character and goodness. That is what the devil is after. He is after your raiment—godly character. Thieves not only stripped him of his raiment but wounded him. Oh my. No wonder it is so necessary to come to the Christ that is able not only to save us but heal us and make us well! The devil comes to steal, kill, destroy but Jesus came that we might have life and that more abundantly. There is abundant life, peace, and joy in Christ. He has it all. Amen! The thieves stripped, wounded him, and departed leaving him half dead. Then Christ tells us the saddest part of the story. Luke 10:31 *And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.* With his nice pressed uniform, what did he do? When he saw him did he run to him? No, he didn’t! Here the man is wounded, robbed, and stripped and the priest wanders to the other side of the road. He didn’t want to touch hat filthy man on the road. He passed by on the other side. Luke 10:32 *And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.* I am sure he looked. Not getting too close, he looked and then he passed by on the other side. Luke 10:33 *But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,* This is what the whole lesson is about: Loving our neighbor and even loving those we wouldn’t event want to know. *When he saw him he had compassion.* Dear God, when I was reading that and studying that I thought, “What is wrong with some of the people here at the Deliverance Center?” We should have compassion on those that are out there robbed, lost, and left to die in their sin Lord help us to be moved with compassion! You say, “That is not my job.” Let me tell you something. When we started the Deliverance Center back years ago, we spent more time in the street than in the church. I was reminded today when I was dealing with this part of the message that I never had trouble with my young people as long as I took them out on the street night after night. We went to the parks and yeah sometimes they came and arrested me. They wouldn’t bother anyone else, but they would haul me off. I told you about the captain who lost his composure and his lieutenant grabbed him shouting, “Get a hold of yourself, Captain.” The captain was grabbing for his gun right in the room full of police officers. But, I never had trouble with the young people when I was bringing them out night after night preaching and singing about Jesus. When I got busied about with other things, I saw my young peole drifting. That is sad. That hurt. I had one young lady who came with her mom and dad and she would leave every morning to go up town to Portland schools with her Bible. She went to school with her bible every morning. She carried her bible with her on the street and testified about Jesus. Slowly, things began to develop and she drifted and got away. I won’t tell you her name, but you need to pray because she is far from God today. She carried her Bible unashamed of Christ to grammar school and high school but then slowly drifted. This was one particular girl that really trouble me because she had a real experience with God. God give us compassion. I went up the other night on the street and you know as well as I do I can’t stand long on my leg. Wish I could, but as I sat in the car my heart was broken. I think there was that man right there and I believe that there was one other one out there in the dark filled with compassion. They were out there because they don’t want people to be lost and go to that awful place called hell. How many know that hell is forever and ever and ever? God, give us compassion. Are you trying to encourage us to go on the street? Yes. I did it all those years even when they arrested. In fact, one night when they arrested me, we were set up across from McDonalds. McDonalds had a loud speaker that announced across their parking lot. They arrested me saying we were” loud and obnoxious.” They even got the McDonald’s manager to say we were” loud and obnoxious.” I said to the judge, “Can you tell us what loud and obnoxious is? The judge said, “Preacher, if the hearer doesn’t want to hear what is said, it is loud and obnoxious. Even a whisper can be loud and obnoxious to those not wanting to hear it.” The next night, we went back to the Yudy’s parking lot for a street meeting and it wasn’t too long before the police came running at us. One suddenly stopped and stopped the other one with his hand.” Hey, I don’t even think they had it on (the loud speaker).” I did that to prove to them, it wasn’t loud and obnoxious, but they just didn’t like what was being said. Let us have compassion. *He had compassion and went to him.* What is their trouble? Some are drunks. Some are addicts. Some are sex fiends. You have no idea what comes down that street. One guy came down and said, “You want a blow job.” I told him, “You will burn in hell.” He sarcastically responded, “At least I will be warm.” They are sick! God help us to have mercy upon them. Luke 10:34 *And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.* Not from that which comes from a bottle but that which comes from heaven. He set him on his own beast and took care of him. He ends this all with verse 36. Luke 10:36 *Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?* The priest walked on the other side. Yes they come by, but they couldn’t care less for those on the street. But I also see these men go out there and lift up their voice and tell the people, “God loves you. God sent his son for you. Calvary is for you. He died that you might live.” The priest and Levite had nothing to offer. The Levite speaks about the law and the law could not help. There are a lot of people in our state that go to state agencies for help but end back up where they started. The law cannot help them. ## CONCLUSION – GO and DO thou likewise > Luke 10:37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. Reach out to them because your neighbor needs you. You say, “Oh but they are a rotten mess.” Everyone without Jesus is a rotten mess, but everybody that knows Christ can be changed. No wonder he says go and do thou likewise. Don’t just sit, GO and do thou likewise. If you need to come to this altar this morning and repent then do that . Ask Jesus to help you to be more compassionate. You can’t produce it yourself. He can give it to you. You can love the souls of men like Christ did going to that cross. He knew what he was facing but when to that cross because some were robbed, beaten and left along the bloody road, the road of evil and wickedness. Jesus said, *Go and do thou likewise*. Do we need to reach our neighbors for Christ? Does anybody have any neighbors that are lost? I see a few hands. Are there neighbors all around us without hope and without God? Go and do likewise. Be like the Samaritan that went and had compassion and did something for that one and dying on the road to hell. *Oh I want to see him look upon his face*. As we sing that, Did something touch your heart from the Word of God and you want to go and do likewise? You want to reach them, you want to help them, pour in some oil and wine? Tell them there is a savior that can help them. Tell them that there is a better life. Church can’t do it. Religion can’t do it. Only Christ can do it. John 3:36 *He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.*# Making Diamonds out of Black Coal October 30, 2005 Sunday Morning Rev. James R. Reynolds Sr. # "**Making Diamonds out of Black Coal**"

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We will be reading from the epistle of Paul to the Ephesian believers, the second chapter. I'll be reading from verse one and I'll conclude my reading in verse 10. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Making diamonds out of black coal. Grace is so abused today. Grace is an unlimited power because it is God's power. Grace is God's power manifested for humanity. We understand that Grace is unmerited: unmerited favor, unmerited kindness, and unmerited mercy. You don't deserve it. I don't deserve it, but God shows grace and made the provision. Now, the Bible says here that God takes the ungodly and makes them godly. God doesn't take that which is godly and just blesses it, but God takes that which is ungodly, evil, and wicked. Notice what he says in verses one through three: *And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world*. You were a part of the social activities of the world. You must understand that this world is wicked. *Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air.* He is referring here to lucifer, known as the god of this world. He controls men's minds and thoughts ultimately trying to control their actions with the final intent to destroy them. *According to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.* How many realize that we have a disobedient generation on our hands? Most don't realize how effective the Bible has been in the minds and lives of children. Even though they never committed their lives to Christ they lived differently. But, our intellectual government men decided in the courts that the Bible should not be read in our public schools. You say, "That's too simple." No. That's the reason why you have so many hellions and so much rebellion and murder. Crime is at a high rate today because they pushed God out of society along with the truth that could've changed the lives of men and women. *Among whom also we all had our conversation,* or manner of living. The word *conversation* in that verse comes from the Greek and also from the old English. Conversation is not a matter of verbal expression, but a life lived. *Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath*. This is the product that God chose to transform. You hear people say, "Well, I wasn't too bad." You were filthy, dirty, ungodly, and wicked. Preachers will stand and tell sinners that they are all right, but I don't see how a preacher can go to heaven with blood on his hands. Looking at the background here, and seeing the product that God chooses. Paul says in verse four, *But God, Who is rich in mercy*. God takes that which is ungodly, uncouth, evil, and wicked and shows mercy. In verse five, he says, *When we were dead*. Now, most people don't like to think that they are dead, but you were dead to God, dead to spiritual life. We were all that way. I was that way. I didn't even understand it. I had no comprehension of what being a Christian meant. I thought my Christian mother just wanted to go to church, and that it was her choice and that I simply wasn't a churchgoer. I didn't realize that God makes a difference in a person's life. You were dead. I was dead. When I walked into the church January 14th, 1952, (that was a couple years ago.) I was dead. I had no comprehension of what this life was all about, but I saw something real in my brother's life and I wanted that. When I got to that altar and asked God to forgive me of my sins and wash them away in the blood that was spilt on Calvary's cross, I got up from that altar a different man. I was no longer dead; I was alive to God. Somebody turned the lights on. Verse eight says, *For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.* Did we earn it? Did we merit it? God paid a tremendous price to ransom our souls. *For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast*. We are not saved by works; we are saved to work. That is why I want you to understand that it is a perverted grace that is being preached today across our pulpits, over the television, over the radio, and in the magazines that are sent out. There is a lot of perverted grace today that says a man can live as he wants and still make heaven. God saves us for a reason. God saves us to be different: to walk different, to talk different, and to look different. How many know a person looks different when they are saved? They do not have that crazy gleam in their eyes. Go down the street and watch some of those people. Looked at the expression on their face. They look like they hate everybody; they hate the world and themselves. Take that same person and watch them be touched by the grace of God and their eyes sparkle. Life comes. Their countenance changes. Everything about them and their life is changed. I remember as my daughter stood when we prayed for her and she looked out the door and said, "Momma, things look different." Why certainly things look different; that is because we are different. Finally, verse ten says, *For we are his workmanship.* God doesn't make any mistakes. God doesn't make any bad products. *We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works*. The only works we could perform before that were evil. Paul made it very plain that before his conversion his works were only evil. He said, "When I wanted to do right, evil was present." *We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we.* Who are the we? We that are saved. We that have been washed in the blood. We that have been changed. You cannot expect a sinner to live like a Christian. You might dress him up. You might put him in the choir. You might put a robe on him, but he is still lost unless Jesus comes into his heart. *Except a man is born again he can not see the kingdom of God.* How many know that that is the Word of God? *That we should walk in them*. Now, go back to verse seven. (I think that is so beautiful.) *That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus*. He's going to put on display those that have been changed by His grace. How is he going to show the exceeding riches of His grace? He's going to show the grace of God that has worked. Remember how Barnabas came into a city and saw the grace of God? How did he see the grace of God? Can you see the grace of God flying through the air? No, you see the grace of God working in someone's heart. God is going to display the riches of His grace in the lives of His people. What a day that will be when God shows what He can produce out of a product that is evil, wicked, and ungodly! He is making diamonds out of black, ugly coal. It is generally understood that coal and diamonds consist of the same basic carbon compounds. The difference is said to be that diamonds are formed under conditions of extreme heat and pressure for some period of time. Coal has significant impurities, decayed organic material, clay minerals. Coal also contains water with impurities. Coal is made by the compacting of dead vegetation near the surface of the earth. That is where a lot of our trouble is: we live so close to the surface. Diamonds are formed at least 100 miles (some say even more) beneath the surface by extreme heat and pressure. If coal that it is near the surface was transported to the earth's mantel, some of it may be transformed to diamonds. I thought about Zechariah speaking about the high priest before God and the devils standing accusing him. Zechariah the third chapter in the second verse God says, *a brand plucked out of the fire*. We are headed towards fire, but we were headed towards fire in fire. Sin was already consuming us; sin was destroyin. Some of you don't realize how horrible and how terrible sin is. I've had people say, "Oh! That's just a little sin." A little sin will split hell wide open. God took this brand and made a diamond. Verse four says, *Take away the filthy garments from him*. He was arrayed in filthy garments (this was seen in the spirit.) Were the garments of the high priest dirty? No. He's talking about the sinful condition of a man without Christ. You say, "My clothes aren't dirty." Well, you don't know how filthy dirty you are. You are a stench in the nostrils of God without Christ. He says, *Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.* I turned in my old tattered garments, and He gave me a robe of pure white! How many are glad for that? Not only changed as far as a garment, but He changed our whole being. We are dealing with the thought of God making diamonds out of black coal. As I said before, coal has the same basic ingredients as diamonds, but coal has a lot of mixture. They say it even has mud, and decayed organic things: vegetables and animals. Coal has a lot of impurities. We had a lot of impurities when God found us, and by His grace He takes that which is ugly, black, and dirty as coal and transforms it into something beautiful. God can do that. You say, "I've asked God to make me something and I have not changed." It takes a surrender of your will. God is not going to make you something against your will. He gave you a will, and He will never force you. You have to come to the point where you say, "God, I surrender. I want You to take me as I am and make me what You can make of me. To make a diamond out of coal it takes extreme heat. Hello. Do you want to be made a diamond? I was teaching in the Adirondacks back several years ago on a different subject, but pretty much the same thing--.transforming a life. I was preaching how that God made in the kingdom around us and life itself. a lot of illustrations. I was talking about the little caterpillar that is a ugly looking worm.. I mentioned how a caterpillar wraps itself in a cocoon and eventually, it breaks forth out of that cocoon after a period of time spreading its wings as a butterfly. One of the gentlemen that was in the congregation jumped out and hollered, "Make me a butterfly!" God can do it. *Thou worm Jacob.*He can take you, as you are, if you are willing and if you can stand the heat. Most throw up their hands in frustration. They want God to do something with them and for them, but when God turns up the extreme heat and extreme pressure they are confused. I say to you today, if you can stand the heat and you can stand the pressure He'll make a diamond out of you. I can remember one of our faculty members at the Zion Bible Institute used to say, "Students, if you can stand the pull, God will pull you through." Sometimes the hole gets awfully small because God wants to get out of you all of the impurities. How many know that even when you were saved, you didn't leave all behind? Yes, He put life into us, but there was a lot of mixture and to get those impurities and that mixture out it takes extreme heat and extreme pressure. Diamonds are produced under temperatures ranging someplace between 900°C and 1300°C (1652°F to 2372°F.) That's pretty hot stuff! You say, "Well, I can't take it!" Then do not expect to be a diamond. You were nothing but a piece of cold, dirty, black, filthy coal, but God can take that, if you're willing, and He'll form something beautiful. They say it takes pressure someplace around 45 to 60 k-bars. Now, 45 to 60 k-bars doesn't mean a whole lot to most people but translating that into pounds, which we understand, is about 1,500 pounds per square inch. I have no idea how much pressure I can put on, but I can make you feel uncomfortable. How would you like to have God put you into a vice 1,500 pounds per square inch? What is He doing? He is making something beautiful out of you. We have a hard enough time with the heat; how are we going to stand the pressure? I remember one time when I was going through a trial back in the early part of the 60s. I had no idea what God was trying to do in my life. I didn't understand a lot of things I didn't understand what was happening around me and to me. I knew what it was to eat salty tears. I knew what it was to hurt, and I know what it was to be in confusion. I thought I knew God, but I didn't know Him, and I didn't understand His ways. I recall, at that time, laying on the floor and weeping like a baby for hours and hours and hours. I laid in bed for three days, and I wasn't able to close my eyes and sleep. Have you ever found yourself in bed trying to get comfortable and you pull at the sheet this way and pull that way? I remember one time I was overtired, and I was trying to get comfortable, and I'm rolling back and forth and my wife asks, "What is the matter?" I say, "I can't get to sleep." She says, "If you would just quiet down, you would go to sleep." It's a whole lot easier to tell somebody to do it. Things were going through my mind, my mind was racing, and I needed rest. I needed to rest because my body was so tired , but for three days I went through that. I felt just like somebody had turned the heat up. I remember sitting up in bed that third day morning and I looked up to God, and I said, "God, I can't take it anymore!" When I said that to Him, it was just exactly as if there were valves to a gas stove and God reached down and turned them off. And I sat up in bed, and I said what was that all about? He shut the fire down, but I lived to regret it because I had to go back through it again. And the next time, I said, "God, don't look at my tears. Don't look at my crying. Let the fire consume what needs to be consumed. Let it burn." God took a man called Abram and made him Abraham. Taking him from Abram to Abraham, there were some hard experiences that Abram had to go through. Talk about heat and pressure. How would you like to have God ask you to take your child, your only child, and go to a mount and offer him driving a dagger through his body? Talk about heat. Talk about pressure. But God made a diamond out of Abram and made him Abraham. That is why God will fight for Israel. Because He made a covenant with Abraham, Israel will not be driven into the Mediterranean Sea as the Arabs like to say and will not be driven off the map as the Iranians say. God will stand for Israel. No one else owns that land; it belonged to God and God gave it to Abraham and to his seed not to Ishmael, and not to Esau. They will learn a hard lesson. \[Editor's note: complete the editing of the this document below.\] In the New Testament, we find a man by the name of Peter, Peter's first meeting with the Lord was signed. He didn't have to have a formal introduction, they brought Peter to the Lord in the Lord looked at him and said to him. Our excitement Simon, thou shalt be called sequence. Your like to read you below whichever way the wind blows, whichever way society is going. You remember Peter fled just like the rest of the more they drew swords to Christ and apprehended him arrested him to come to the courtroom. Peter left when faced with the question. Are you one of his? Not me, I don't even know them and respondent for the third time he cursed and swore I don't know them and. But remember Jesus said, thou Art Simon the like are we going I get through it you how make you a rock and make a gem the view is that what they called diamonds rocks? Yes he faced extreme heat he faced extreme pressure. Oh got to and who is called solid cars is closer to who lived in the strict observance of the law in touch with the law he said was outwardly blameless. He could throw shoulders back and say I'm a Jew of the juice as heresy of the Pharisees from from Benjamin try, what more can you get it then to be Jewish, but he was a blasphemer. He was a persecuted, he was an ungodly man by his own testimony, and got stopped them on the road to Damascus in 61. If you'll let me I'll make something beautiful out of you. You and you find in him in the second book of pins in the 12 chapter saying Ford removed this thing from me. I can't stand the pressure I can't stand the heat. And God says, now, my grace is sufficient for you. I am going to make something beautiful, and he out of you, don't tell God Ito listened to what he says in the first Corinthians 1522 by the grace of God, I am and I am, what are you Paul? He says, whatever I am, I am by the grace of God. God is made me what I am till he was a blasphemer, though he was responsible for killing the Christians. Yet God took a need something beautiful. Is anyone listening? God can, I don't care where you come from. I'm tried to tie you that God can take you and me something beautiful, if you surrender some bed and you come amid all to him. Yes there may be some fire, and maybe some heat, because he wants to make you like himself. God's original intent was to let us make man in our image in our likeness in Sindh destroyed that a look at those first few verses in Ephesians walked according to the course of this world. The last of the flash and controlled by the God of this world. The spirit of the world. Oh yeah, by the grace of God in one day, can you imagine the Lord brings out all of his diamonds and say, look at this will he wasn't a solitary raised idolatrous home. You see Abraham came from a land of idolatry, and God took Ken changed and transformed him yes to used a lot of pressure used a lot of heat, but can you see it or we stand at their realm the throne got displays a what a diamond are we worthy to be amongst them? Oh. It is not a matter of what Abraham didn't know what God does. We are not worthy by what man does we worthy, the God did. He John and that was known the Scriptures as a son one to to a town and he said God shall be called on fire and consume this bunch. They won't listen to us? Can we call down fire me to get rid of this crazy bunch, disobedient and Jesus said hey John. I didn't come to destroy life. I came to save it. But when you see the end results. God took that son of thunder, and made him one of the most loving kind tenderhearted individuals. He is known as the son of love, God can take you not against your will for by grace to ardently saved through faith, faith has to do with understanding God's purpose in a submitting to that believing in, how many want God to make a diamond out of you? He can do it now. I have people say to me all but a Reynolds, gods not to do that he here. He'll do that later in the read just one passage of Scripture before we close Titus the second chapter verse 11 says for by the grace of God that bring us salvation hath appeared on to all men, why don't all men receive it? Teaching us that denying a godliness and world the less we should live soberly righteously and godly in the world to come. What's that? Oh that's not until we get to heaven. The grace of God working in our lives, changing us into that which he wants us to be teaching us that denying a godliness and world a less we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world. Don't expect to be there, if you don't live it here. Yes we are saved by grace, but is gone to take a whole lot of grace to help you to limit, because Goddess will put on some pressure on hill to the heat because he wants to make something beautiful out of you press enter percent or If you've never begun the race, if you've ever gotten into the Christian life. This would be a good time is right your life is a Jesus. I don't want to be lost to want go to hell. I want to make evident. You can only do that friend, as you of Christ in your life can go to the center all your life and still go to hell. As he set a while ago hell is filled with good people, and that is the attitude of a lot of people, all, I don't do this. I don't do that surely I'll go to heaven no on my cement is born again. He can now he cannot, that is the Word of God. Jesus said, I am the way the truth in the life no man comes under the Father but by me. You cannot come by religion. You can come by a church. You cannot come by a ministry to come to God to Jesus Christ. Find a place to pray in you that want God to make something beautiful out of your life want him to take your life that has a lot of impurities in you want God to make a diamond out of you surrender your life completely totally on to him # Neglect # NEGLECT TEXT: Hebrews 2:4 Preached by James R. Reynolds, Sr. on May 22, 2011 Sunday Morning. Heb 2:4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? 1. **NEGELECT CAUSES DESTRUCTION** If a man neglects himself, he becomes a worse person than what he was. Ps 51:5—*Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.* Experience alone teaches a man that he traveling a downward path. The gravitation of sin pulls him him further and further down and away from God. Ezekiel 18:4Eze 18:24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die. Galatians 6:7 The nature of sin is in a man blinding his reason, searing his conscience and paralyzing his will. Lay hold of the power of salvation. How shall we escape if we neglect Romans 6:23 —wage of sin is death. To be carnally minded is death… James 1:15 sin when it is finished bringeth forth death. 2. **NEGLECT CAUSES DELAY** 2 Timothy 4:1 Joh 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 3. **As believers we are neglectful** 1. We Neglect Prayer Men ought always to pray. 2. We Neglect the Bible 3. We Neglect our Witness John 5:39—*Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.*# Newness of Life Deliverance Center – Portland, Maine Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. October 17, 2010, Sunday Am Title: Newness of Life Text: Romans 6:4 ``` Romans 6:4—_Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life._ ``` 1. **New Life** Life we never had before, we never knew what it was to have this life before. We were dead before conversion, having no life in us. Ephesians 2:1—*And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;* ``` Colossians 2:13—_And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;_ ``` Everything that was recorded against us was TAKEN AWAY. ``` Titus 3:5—_Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;_ ``` We are alive because of His mercy. ``` 2Co 5:17—_Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new._ I Peter 1:23—_Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever._ ``` How were we brought from death o life? Into this new Life? By the Word of God! Eternal Life is a gift. It is not something that you earn. A gift must be received. IT is not something that you earn. God gives to u ertnal life as a gift. ``` Rom 6::23—_For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord._ Ephesians 2:8— _For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:_ ``` 2. **NEW PRINCIPLES** - Moved by gratitude. Not by fear, anxiety. And a faith that works by love. Romans 6:17—*But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.* Galatians 5:6—*For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.* Ephesians 5:2—*And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.* Galatians 2:20—*I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.* I John 4:19\_—We love him, because he first loved us.\_ 3. **New Motives** We live to please God. In sin, we live to please self and watched out or ‘number one.’ 1. **The aim of the true believer should be to please God.** God knows all about us. ``` 1Th 2:4—_But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts._ ``` **B. The duty of the true believer is to please God.** ``` I Thess. 4:1—_Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more._ ``` 4. **New Hope** Heb 6:19—*Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;* 5. **New Possessions** Romans 8:32—*He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?* 6. **PEACE LIKE A RIVER** Isaiah 48:13—*Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.* 7. **JOY** Psalm 16:11—*Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.* 8. **A WELL THAT NEVER RUNS DRY** Isaiah 12:3—*Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.* John 4:14—*But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.* John 7:38\_—He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.\_ 9. **BREAD THE WORLD KNOWS NOTHING OF** s—*I have bread* P—*The natural mind receiveth not the things of God* “eat of this bread, he will live forever.” That is why as a Believer you can read this book, again and again, and again.# Opening Heaven # Heaven Opened A sermon outline of Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. > Revelation 19:11—And **I saw heaven opened**, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. > Joh 1:51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see **heaven open**, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. ## I. What is Heaven? ### A. A Place to Go > John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. Heaven is a wonderful place. ### B. A Treasure House to Share God opening up and sharing those thing which are His with us. > 1 Corinthians 2:9-10—But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 **But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit**: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. > ILLUSTRATION: "**Feared for His soul and was born again**. > The afternoon after he was saved. Finney and a friend were engaged in removing the books and furniture to another office. We were very busy in this, and had but little conversation all the afternoon. He was at peace and everything appeared to be going right. … **as soon as I was left alone in the new office, I would try to pray again**-- … **although I no longer had any concern about my soul**, still, I would continue to pray. Just at dark his friend went to his home. Finney accompanied him to the door; and as I closed the door and turned around, **my heart seemed to be liquid** within me. **I want to pour my whole soul out to God**.' The rising of my soul was so great that I rushed into the room back of the front office, to pray. "There was no fire, and no light, in the room; nevertheless it appeared to me as if it were perfectly light. As I went in and shut the door after me, it seemed as if I met the Lord Jesus Christ face to face. I fell down at His feet and poured out my soul to Him. I wept aloud like a child, and made such confession as I could with my choked utterance. It seemed to me that I bathed His feet with my tears; and yet I had no distinct impression that I touched Him, that I recollect. "I must have continued in this state for a good while; As soon as my mind became calm enough to break off from the interview, I returned to the front office, and found that the fire that I had made of large wood was nearly burned out. But as I turned and was about to take a seat by the fire, **I received a mighty baptism of the Holy Ghost**. Without any expectation of it, without ever having the thought in my mind that there was any such thing for me, without any recollection that I had ever heard the thing mentioned by any person in the world, the Holy Ghost descended on me in a manner that seemed to go through me, body and soul. I could feel the impression, like a wave of electricity, going through and through me. Indeed it seemed to come in waves and waves of liquid love; for I could not express it in any other way. It seemed like the very breath of God. I can recollect distinctly that it seemed to fan me, like immense wings. "No words can express the wonderful love that was shed abroad in my heart. I wept aloud with joy and love; and I do not know but I should say, I literally bellowed out the unutterable gushings of my heart. The waves came over me, and over me, one after the other, until I recollect I cried out, 'I shall die if these waves continue to pass over me.' I said, 'Lord, I cannot bear any more;' yet I had no fear of death." ## II. What Will Open Heaven? ### A. Sin Will Open Up Heaven in Judgment (our text) #### The Great Flood > Genesis 7:11—In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. #### Sodom and Gomorrah > Genesis 19:24 Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; ### B. Obedience Jesus being baptized by John > Matthew 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to **fulfil all righteousness**. Then he suffered him. 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. The heavens had been closed for 400 years. No open vision or revelation from God, no manifestations of God-- 400 silent years. \--FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS-- God promised a blessing if in the new land they continued to hearken diligently unto God's voice, God would open up his good treasure! > Deuteronomy 28:1,12— And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God 12—The LORD shall **open unto thee his good treasure**, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. ### C.Prayer Peter went up upon the housetop to pray. > Acts 10:9-11—On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, **he fell into a trance**, 11 And **saw heaven opened**, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: God help us to pray until Heaven opens. ### D. Being Filled with the Holy Ghost > Acts 7:55 But he, **being full of the Holy Ghost**, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, **I see the heavens opened**, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. We need to go higher in God. As we do, we will hear and see things in the spiritual realm. > Revelation 4:1—After this I looked, and, behold, a **door was opened in heaven**: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, **Come up hither**, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. God help me to become complacent, but **HUNGRY** for spiritual growth. ### E. Giving > Malachi 3:10—Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not **open you the windows of heaven**, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall **not be room enough to receive it**.# Praying Until the Answer Comes Deliverance Center – Portland, Maine Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. Sunday Am, November 7, 2010 TITLE: “Praying Until the Answer Comes” TEXT: Luke 18:1 Lu 18:1 ¶ And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 1. **Pray Until the Answer Comes**Prayer Reaches the Heart of God ``` FAINT –greek → to lose; release; grow weary; to quit; losing heart; As an archer who stretches back his bow string but loses up just before he fires. ``` “I prayed and nothing happened” – Did you believe when you prayed? When you pray, believe. Do not quit. ``` Galatians 6:9—_And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not._ ``` You don’t pray until you get tired, but until you get an answer. ``` Ephesians 6:18—_Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;_ I Thessalonians 5:17—_Pray without ceasing._ ``` 2. **Prayer is a Weapon** ``` Ephesians 6:18—_Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;_ Joshua 10:12_—Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon._ ``` What a weapon! Do not neglect it anymore! As a young boy coming home from school. I would witness my mother in the living room with her hands waving and speaking a strange language. She knew how to touch Heaven. ``` Matthew 17:15—_Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water._ Lu 22:44 _And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground._ ``` It is not always so ‘**relaxing’** to pray. It is one thing to say, “I have got to have an answer.” And another thing altogether to pray until the answer comes! Elijah at Mount Carmel after he had called down fire from heaven, slew all the false prophets and priests and THEN he went to the mountain to pray. He put his head between his knees. “Go seven times” The seventh time there was a cloud the size of a man’s hand. The enemy can be defeated, if we return to the altar and pray.# Revival # REVIVAL preached by Rev. James Reynolds, Sr. on March 23, 2005 at Deliverance Center Wednesday Bible Study Text: Habakkuk 3:1-2 ## INTRODUCTION Habakkuk is offering a prayer, "upon Shigonoth" = (Psalm 70 Introduction) in Habakkuk's prayer he is singing a song--this is a beautiful happening, a beautiful prayer. "Oh, Lord, I have heard thy speech…" He had heard the sentence of judgment on Israel for her wickedness. "Revive Thy Work!" Before judgment came the prophet is crying for revival. We live in a parallel time; JUDGMENT IS COMING! There ought to be a cry in our hearts for REVIVAL! REVIVE, RESTORE. God wants us to have revival more than we want it. God's Word challenges us to promote, live, and teach revival. Where has the stirring that we have seen lately come from? Just because God wants to send revival? No. He responds to the cry in our hearts. God is looking for a people that are hungry. Just before a rain storm the leaves turn upside down. Farmers would say, "They are calling for rain." If God responds to leaves how much more will he respond to "knees?" What is revival? Webster's--revival means to bring back to use, restoration, to vigour, life, vitality, and activity. (there is a lot of motion and emotion today, but there is more to it than that) It is going to take the pure Word of God to make you what you ought to be. ## I. Revival Brings Conviction of Sin We need a move of God bringing conviction of sin. There must be a person bold and brave enough to proclaim TRUTH. The Holy Spirit does not confirm men's ideas, but will confirm the WORD. Job 42:5 The presence of God was manifested to Job Psalm 51:6-13 Hyssop is an applicator--FAITH John 16:8 (HE is the Reviver!) People may get by with man, but when God gets to moving the sinner cannot hide. Evidences of revival are a deep searching of heart and a deep conviction of the wickedness of sin. Until the Holy Ghost makes us to know how horrible sin really is, there will be no revival. They see their sin in a light that drives them to repentance. True repentance is to STOP DOING IT. ## II. Revival is a New Beginning of Obedience to God 1. The first step is sincere repentance. Acts 3:19 A change must take place Rev. 3:19 2. The second step is deep humiliation. (If we fail we need to be DEEPLY HUMBLE.) Job 42:6 "in dust and ashes" Humility in admitting error is the hardest thing for the carnal man to do. We need a move that is not worked out by man, but a move of God will change lives and shake our city. 3. The third step is a forsaking of sin. Isaiah 55:7 Hebrews 12:1 There are people that are watching: people that have gone on before us and those that are now. Besetting sin? UNBELIEF. ## III. Revival is the Renewing of the Believer's First Love We once were always anxious for church. We were always anticipating opportunities to tell people about Jesus. We couldn't read the Bible enough. We prayed often and fervently. Rev. 2:1- They did not lose their love, but left it. An earmark of true revival is a renewed interest in loving God and people. You cannot produce and an ALIVE prayer life, but if you reach out to God, HE will reach out to you. > ILLUSTRATION: Father and daughter walked together often for years. One day she refused his request and it happened day after day from then. He was troubled. "Is she losing her feeling for me?" Finally, after sometime the father's birthday came around, and she came to him smiling bearing a gift. "I have not been walking with you because I have been making this gift for you." The father responded, "Next time, just buy me something and keep walking with me." God wants US. 1. Revival Produces a Grief in You that Others Do not Love God as You Do 2. Revival Produces a Love for Others 3. Revival Produces a Change in Your Prayer Life: Burden and Tears Do we weep for the lost? Our prayers will change from just, "Give me, Give me." Hebrews 5:7 Christ cried tears for the lost ## IV. Revival is a Removing of the Blindness Sin has Brought The Holy Ghost comes by and opens our eyes so that we can see how vain sin is, and how WONDERFUL God is. 2 Cor. 4:4 Sin is glamourized by satan, and it takes the Holy Ghost to strip away its facade. ## V. Revival is the Awakening of the Church When the Church is awakened the salvation of sinners will follow. Acts 4:# Rivers of Living Water Deliverance Center – Portland, Maine Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. September 19, 2010, Sunday TITLE: Rivers of Living Water TEXT: John 7:37-39 ``` Joh 7:37-39—_In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)_ ``` IF there was ever a need in the church, it is the need for living waters. There is dryness and deadness all around us. 1. The Source of this River ``` v.37 -39 –This spake he of the spirit that they which believe on Him should receive. ``` Every Believer has an obligation to seek for the Holy Ghost. It is not an option, it is an absolute need.# Ruled Over Handwritten sermon notes. "If we are going to be rulers we first must be ruled over." Ephesians 5:24 - page 1 [![https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1FGBIL3-zg3XXiM1CNg89H0YHgf-xrZ3f](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1FGBIL3-zg3XXiM1CNg89H0YHgf-xrZ3f)](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1FGBIL3-zg3XXiM1CNg89H0YHgf-xrZ3f) - page 2 [![https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=125eps5m3syx5oYW1XA0TF1NGwcszl0pK](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=125eps5m3syx5oYW1XA0TF1NGwcszl0pK)](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=125eps5m3syx5oYW1XA0TF1NGwcszl0pK) - page 3 [![https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=146LgZnEDZSweS0sz9pPXJbwo5KGRUU6_](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=146LgZnEDZSweS0sz9pPXJbwo5KGRUU6_)](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=146LgZnEDZSweS0sz9pPXJbwo5KGRUU6_) - page 4 [![https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1OE1IhWiY9IIpP8qssSCRDxW2KJWKj5NO](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1OE1IhWiY9IIpP8qssSCRDxW2KJWKj5NO)](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1OE1IhWiY9IIpP8qssSCRDxW2KJWKj5NO)# Satan Attacks the Church # Satan Attacks the Church Deliverance Center - Portland, Maine Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. Sunday am, March 20, 2011 Text: Matthew 16:18-19 Most people do not understand what is going on. The devil is busy! He goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devor. He wants to destroy. That is his main objective to jestory Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; **and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it**. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.\\\\ There are all kinds of interpretation. Some say Jsus beuilt hs church on Peter. What a poor foundation to build on! Before it was over he cursed swore I don't even know Him. The rock is nothing else than the Christ. He is the rock. God wants to talk to us today. He has been with us, Taking out of these Scrptures, the subject I want to deal with this morning, Satan attacks the church. **and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it** The reasons behind satan's attack: HE HATES THE CHRIST. Yet now because of his position, he cannot touch the Christ. Jesus said to his disciples: John 14:30 Joh 14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. He can't find a thing! Christ laid it all down, he gave itall. Satan was defeated as far as Christ was concerned at the cross. The devil may have thought and I have heard eveangelists saying hell was having a great time that day because crhist was on the Christ bu little did they realize that the cros was part of God's plan. Christ defeated the devil at the cross and brought live and victory for us. God hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness… You might sa, You aren't too trighteous! But I have no rightness of of my own , but it is His , My rghtousness is as filthy rags. Heb. 7:26 Heb 7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; I Peter 2:22 Who did NO sin. Who can stand and say, I have done no sin?!? Yo uhav eheard my testimony enough to know, I was a sinner. All have sinned and come short of the glory, but Christ never did any sin never did anything wrong. Heb 7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Is that the Christ you serve? High and holy No Sin I Peter 2:22 no sin…no guile Pure, spotless, lamb of God. One man said, My blood could save you too, but he is deluted! My blood, your blood, his blood is contaminated by Adam's sin. When Adam sinned all the world fell in the condemnation of sin, but Christ never sinned I John 3:5 He was manifested to take way our sin..in Him no sin. Satan Hates the Christ and he hates the Church. Why does satan hate the church? Because Christ lives in the church! The Scripture says, he turned his vengueance on Christ's spiritual body the church and the only way he can affect the head, who is Christ is to attach the church Christ's body. The church is a people and the building. Ephesians 2:22 for an habitation of God…. We are built together for a habitation . God come sin this building but only because YOU ARE IN HERE! Galatians 6:7,8—7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting What a difference! Sow to the spirit reap life, sow to flesh reap death. Must be born again, John 3:3 born of the flesh is flesh, born of the spirit. sAtian is a spoiler, He knows that any attempt to produce the spiritual life through carnal effort is an abomination to God. the devil wants you to exercise the flesh which is an abomination to God. God hates the flesh. You can't work the work of God through the flesh. So satan knows that any attempt to produce the spiritual work thorugh the flesh is an abomination so satan does everything in his power to cause the flesh to so called, "glorify God. " We see all kinds of it. They are on the radio and television what is so called 'the church' but in reality that church could go on without EVETR seeing the spirit move. It is moving in the flesh and God's hates the flesh. Looking at the church. Much of what is being produced is in the flesh. God rejects that which is done in the flesh. Satin is a deceiver he has always been a deceiver from the beginning when he deceived Eve. I t is amazing traveling to the universities to and seeing young people preparing themselves to carry 'garbage.' They re so filled with this evolution! I didn't come form a monkey and yo udidn't either. WE came from Adam and Eve and had Adam and Eve not failed we would be different. But now because of Christ, we ahv ea chance. Much of what the devil has done has been done from the flesh. The devil told eve, eat the flruit and you will be lIKE GOD. The same thing He is dong to the church, God is lieing to you, keeping something from you, the devil is lieing, deceiving. God accepts only that which is done by the Spirit. If you want to follow the devil, this is where he ends up…. Rev. 20:10 IN the lake of fire…hwere the BEAST and the FALSE PROPHET are… What company! You will have no friends in hell. Satan is a liar John 8:44 Ya are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father, you will do, when he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it. Do not loan your vocal cords to the devil. If you have faound yhourself telling something untran ue quickly say Jesus forgive me! He is a liar and a father of it! Where do lies come form? From the devil. H is lieing to the church today. One man stood behind the microfphone on the television, " I am no trhying to tell you that I ma lIKE God. What I am trhying to tell you is, I AM GOD." He is a devil and a liar inspired of hell. You never will be God, never was. You can be like God, conromed to his character and nature, but onlyh HIe is God. AT Calvary Christ laid down His physical body. "If you be the Christ, save yourself and save us." He could have saved himself, but doing so would not have saved them or us. The only proviosn was in Christ laying down His life for us. On the day of Pentecost He took another body. The church has become the meeting place of God and mans. If yo have been born of God, He is in you. Christ of God, went to the Cross and laid down his physical body, but on the day of Pentecost by the Spirit of God He came into the Body His church. We are the meeting place of God. A steeple does not make a church, the poepl eof God are the church and the church is to be HOLY. The Church is to be Holy even as "I am holy." Ephesians 2:21 This is why He gave these ministries for the perfecting of the church. Prophets, Evangelists, Apostles, Teaching Pastors. I had an opportunity when we are back many ears ago and the evangelist that we had, was teaching you things that were not in the Scripture. I didn't wait till he was done, I walk ed right up to him and said sit down, I will finish it. It is the job of the Pastor to teach. We are God's temple, and because of that he attachs the church. Why doesn't he attch these others? He already has them! He I going to attach the born of God, the church. The first thing he tries to do and is prevail against the church. PREVAIL—to be strong against Christ wanted the Church to be strong and the devil wants to PREVAIL against it. But the devil cannot be strong agains the church,bc Christ has promised to be with it and protect it. He was defated and he will yet be defeated. Upon this rock, I WILL BUILD THIS CHURCH, and the gates of hell will not prevail They will try to deceive, prevail, inspire with false docgtrien, but we have a promise, the gatest of hell SHALL NOT PREVAIL. The church will still PREVAIL. It is a fortress strong against all the enemies attacks. The seond reason the devil attacks the church, The Church has been given great power to destroy satan's works. v.19 *And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven..bound/bound…loosed/loosed…* Who is he talking to? Not just Peter, but His church. The church excercises its power through faith and not through flesh, feeling. Without faith it is impossible to please God… It is not altogether the voice, sincerity, real, Holy Ghost, experience genuine. A manifestation of the Holy Ghost. Mark 11:24 It wasn't their talent and ability bu tit was the Christ. When he was here, he lived in a body, but on the day of Pentecost he came into His body. Whatsoever things he desire, pray and believe. Matthew 28:19,20 All power is given unto me in Heaven and in earth.. and lo I am with you always even unto the end of the world. The same Christ that dwelt in that physical body, dwells in his spiritual body, the church. Becareful what you listen to and give yourself to. Remember, If Christ is in us we should do the same works that He did. Is He in us? More than our Savior, He is the Lord of glory and takes up resident in us. He dwells in His body What Christ did the church should be doing. Acts 10:38 God anointed Jesus. The church should be going about healing the sick, casting out devils and working the works of Christ. AT the university and lady stood next too me with crutches and I had a an urge " lady do you want to be healed" but I said nothing. We left and wen tot monument square and up there a lady came by on crutches all bandaged up. The church must believe God for the power that He has invested in the church. The devil tries every way he can to stope the church from the doing the works Christ has called it to do. I have determined by the grace of God when someone walks by no matter what it is to Belive God. Jesus asked the man at Bethesda, Wilt thou be made whole? "there is a Christ that is still dwelling in His people and doing the same things that He did way back then." We were down in New Bedford and a woman with her young child born deaf and now 7-8 never hear d a sound in her life. I reached out my hands and put my fingers in her ears. " I curse you deaf spirit, come out. " As my wife played softely on the orgain, the little girl grabbed her mother terrified of hearing sound for the first time. Christ still opens the ears of the deaf and the eyes of the blind. All power in heaven and earth has been given to Christ. Is Christ in you? Then His power is in you. Your part is to act in faith on God's word. God is true to his Word. I remember rthe first tiem I prayed for a man after getting out of Bible school. There was a blind man on the street singing and playing his according. I thought I had what it takes, after 3 years of bible school . I got out of my car and said in the name o fJeus yees be open and nothing happened and a turned an ran back to my car and left. But one day God laid his ahdns on me and gave me power to cast out devil s, heal the blind, deaf and lame. The devil is out to deceive and devour and estory. That is why we have r eligious world that filled with entertainment instead of a religious world filled with the power of God. God manifesting his power in the lives of people and Christ is glorified, the sick healed, and the devil defeated. And I will give unto thee KEYS..what keys?…Power over all the power of the enemy. What is it going to be? Fast testimony, great singing, choirs, no **FAITH IN GOD.**# Sovereignty of God \[recording transcript\] This day and consider it in by our not the Lord he is God in heaven above and upon the earth denies there is none else read that again no therefore this day and consider it in buying our not the Lord he is our in heaven above and upon the earth beneath their ears none of I can tell you when I overheard a message preached on the sovereignty of God is what I want to talk to you this morning about the sovereignty of God he is so no therefore this day and consider him by our Lord he is call in heaven above and upon the earth beneath there is not now gawkers solver and by creation God is solver and by creation he wasn't voted in a cannot be voted out none will take his place there is none greater than he God is solver and solver and by creation blossoms one and 16 says fall by him were all things created that are in heaven and on her nerves visible and has an invisible whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers all things were created by him and all you created all things and they were all created for him you're listening Dennis is one and one says in the beginning God when there was nothing out blog will still today man used his words to desecrate the character and nature of God but one day as he said through Solomon even to the young go-ahead to your saying go Iran wager your own thing but remember this God one day will bring you to do on your world can go their own way but one day God because he is God will bring them judgment in the beginning God in the Hebrew reads Elohim the plural go dropped the father God the son God the holy they always lost always will be there no in assessing the beginning God created the heavens and the earth's by him and for him and some idiots ruin anything that says that men may know that thou whose name alone is Jehovah are the most high over all the earth and talking to this morning about the sovereignty go Khrushchev made a stupid statement when he said one day we'll succeed sending out spacecrafts and well thought of God and will tear him from his throne and will cast him down quick off his integrative as far as the body but his soul is inhaled burning and God is still on his throne you're so streptomycin very plain that God does as he pleases God does as he pleases what they please but deleted in Sima hundred and 35 and six assists whatsoever Lord please that it be in heaven and earth's in this 80 and all the places he got any dust what he wanted to and it pleased him whatever God did it pleased him out of a lot of things that God may change their direction that displays but as far as what he may get all please whatever you decide to do a bit and it pleased him whatsoever Lord pleased that it be heaven and earth and sea all the places it takes it all in Scripture says this he controls all things why doesn't Al Gore read the Bible this one verse of Scripture alone would help them to understand how foolish it changes times and seasons he sets up games and even removes King's his wisdom and knowledge Daniel the second chapter in the 21st versus as of this week he changes the times and the season wiped out with men that was changing but I embassies and I have some of these folks on the radio and they get darker and all while global warming and some are so foolish in their rendition all of what was going on when made the statement the other day well is because of global warming that we gotten cold and this is what they came up with why we have a cold spell and we had the coldest month for new some and surely it had to be global warming causing coal gave changes the times and the seasons he rewrote with chains and sets up being a give of wisdom unto the wise and knowledge to them that no understanding every invention that man has ever made a train by the knowledge and wisdom of God and other thing that I heard about Al Gore is that he be made via invented the Internet of the word is eminently computer through wasn't imminent while doesn't matter even make a long of silly people are make statements as they do go on he changes the times and the seasons he removes King's is setup Y. do we have then if God is in control why do we have such an evil man you stop and consider we have an evil wicked nation I remember way back before Bill Clinton hardly anybody of the new about I knew very little about them myself when I was in prayer when they and God spoke to me and said your next president will be William Clinton William Jefferson Clinton I came to this pulpit and I told months before he was ever inaugurated that Bill Clinton would be in express and the reason why God spoke to me whilst he said because we have such an evil nation we cannot sacrifice and slaughter 15 million babies and not just please go we cannot support bills or Wallace that allowing men to marry men and not just please go God said if a man lay weatherman has he done for the woman is abomination it's against God I called one of the senators here in the state and I told him what the Scripture says in and they were dumbfounded in the does the Scripture say that I said that's exactly what the Scripture says that the man lays with a man as he dazzled the woman is an abomination to God God has the right to tell us how we can conduct our life we can make choices with we can make choices God is solver in saving on your code into his own will listen to what he says and Daniel Forbes 35 and all the inhabitants of the earth are you. As nothing and he was according to his own lives Wale in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth and not in 10 states and will send him what it was a enough according to his will whatever he desires to do your fine blog picking up the thought that I dropped concerning God lifting up games and putting things down again I remember before this and I have to be very chocolate idol anger somebody but I don't like this idea that this man is in our wife he has no reason to be there it has never showed up versus to that he was born in this country in fact he made the statement the other day on the radio he said I'm just like you I'm an American African that's where he came from Kenya again the flaw and the inauguration and therefore he was even accepted as a presidential nominee God spoke to me and said if the Christians fail next president will be Obama and I believe God spoke to me for a reason up to the Christian and because the Christians say there is nothing but will in the world but Christian is the only one that has knowledge of tools knowledge of what is right and what is wrong and the hapless man loves abortion and loves queers even while eliminating what Bill Clinton's don't tell a don't pass he wants them to openly exercise their so-called rights it's not a right for a man to love another man is not all right for a woman to love another woman owned to God's word and is solver in and day well bring them all and judgment they may get by for a while but God will bring them the judgment he is solver in a duo according to his will among the inhabitants of the earth and none can stay his hand close to what were you doing our God they smartly make statements but one day I'll haul them into the courtroom and he'll say to them depart from me you accursed in everlasting destruction say what you will about the word of God now he processes this right sovereignty by virtue of absolute ownership even get it any other way he simply owns all things and he is solver all things were created by him and for him the Lord is God Israel had to learn that as a way for between who is God is God daughter is available in the profit came in such a long while he between two opinions is it going to be that you think they list all while God might be God how long is this going to go all finally have a showdown is that you will be well under God now oh my God and the says analysis by five leading make our and the fire of God fell upon the sacrifice and could sacrifice in the welder and looked up the dust and dirt and the people follow their faces and I don't on years ago below is all would to God that this world would rise and will wake up and come to realize that it realizes that he is go GSM control Gates says what he wants to say and he does what he wants to do a non-insight into them were you doing now with relievers whenever responsibility computers will we have a responsibility here is my so often look across the congregation knew my not understand but he sees you I don't see everyone by every once in a while I'll see what somebody playing around with their fingernails of the summons of the Bible I remember when I was up and not what is that place we "know Wale of the Gauguin says dental down the where they are having techniques and on a Sunday morning we went in for the Sunday morning service of the Gauguin was preaching his own shows in the morning we were having kept meetings at night and the lady that was setting just in front of me just a moment by the Gauguin to read the Bible down autosomal and she's going to the phonebook and she kept going to the songbook until he was finished she really got a lot out of that service we have a responsibility to hear what God has to say to us we are near and he the spirit house with your daughter has something to say to you today is why I just come to fill in place no whatever reason you came God has a reason for you, and he wants to talk to you he wants to speak to you that has the word for you today in Newsday man whenever responsibility here as well John 1027 Jesus himself said my she my she here my voice my she model announced it is so important that we develop that we grow up my sheet there is a difference between sheep and lambs meadowlands don't even know who their shepherdess but he said my she know my voice God has something to say to you today but wants to speak to you but wants to inform you that he loves you and that is concerned about you that he watches over he'll are my sheep hear my dollars and I knows him I know will be a consolation to you when you stand before his throne and says welcome I know you what it said that it's going to be worth some veterans say depart from me I don't even know you never knew you it was very and 15 assists today if you will hear his voice hard not to you now that we're living in a time when the devil is doing everything he can on your car toward God puts truce towards righteousness to that which is your idea or not different ones that listen to the television I care enough from the to know all that some of the stuff that they've been preached who is not from the word of God be very careful today to hear his voice high on nor your not have people say to a wealth of so-and-so doesn't believe that so-and-so doesn't believe this yet and that's man's ideas and that's man's interpretation and you've heard me say this a lot at times this was a personal experience myself with a preacher I looked him in the eyes and he had a conflict of what I what I was teaching what I preach them that I turned to him and I quoted a verse of Scripture from the word of God I quoted were a word I didn't add anything to it I didn't take anything away from it I simply quoted the word or word and he looked at me and he said well that's your interpretation is to what they're doing today if you will hear his voice hard on not your car's he was 12 and 25 says that this would say that you refuse not him say that your refusal was not him that's because I today we live in law being sold as an absolute right of it has an absolute right to the content you what's right what's wrong he can demand if you could do this all to do with their install Samba hundred and verse versus no way that the Lord is God is he that made us and not we ourselves we are his people and that she is pasture being solver and he makes the rules being solver and he makes the rule you have a problem with a rule as I've often said that although it was been preached dockable's initial we have a responsibility prey are listening we have a responsibility part I don't feel he doesn't ask us if you feel like there is a responsibility laid upon every believer will put it like this is that you need to always pray that you are not into temptation what is the what is the Lord say he was saying that if you don't pray you would end up in trouble flow is telling us that we need bright we was possibility to go to pray Conseil Chronicles 714 he said it like this if my people talking about his people people that know if my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and Ray shall humble themselves and pray talking about his people and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land I will be familiar to us pray wasn't just a demand in the old times it's still a demand today that we pray you will find that all your problems and a lot of furor difficulties that you face if you spend some time in prayer all those problems will be dissipated God will work for you don't expect God to take care of your problem if you are amid times you've heard me tell about the one of the teachers design your lawyer and I know that he was very busy and that he said to us one day and one of the classes is that I don't have the time I have to do my prayer rug will it show he never had to tell me that just to hear him as he stood up to them tried to indoctrinate the class it was something missing do you know there's something missing in a persons life that doesn't spend time in the presence of God in him and aged pray you responsibility to pray also as a responsibility of divine command locating and one says men are sometime troy men all once in a while men are when they feel like it now this was sent to us some time ago a young couple was coming here and that they said to me after I got through preaching the morning Lola has to so-and-so when they named NI one value or is he was on the radio and he was saying to the people the only time you pray is when you feel please please somebody jump up and tell me how often do you feel like pray is there more times you don't feel like pray but you know you need to pray right and he was telling the people all a pray when you feel like and if they only pray when they feel like it is a pervert who do and then he went on to say all a Ranger Bob Gephardt only different to make it a hardship on you to read your Bible is a lot of times you won't feel like reading your Bible I guarantee it other things will try to crowd in and crowd out the time of reading reading your Bible but if you make up your mind and you put your foot down and say read the Bible that he was to teaching the people only read the Bible when you figure it now we need to know what to say praying sometimes men always to pray and not to say I responsibility of divine command God commands us Ephesians 6 of agents is praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit blossoms for abuses continue in prayer and wants in the same with Thanksgiving but more than that is a responsibility of the divine chrome or your God commands us but God also gives us a promise listen to this Jeremiah 29 and 12 innings shall you call upon me and you shall go pray unto me N. my Wale harken on you I Wale pocket you call your way NI well here I was amid times God has answered your prayers and probably some of you even question if God wanted to go we need to have a confidence when we pray that's what Jesus said when you prayed to what relief when you pray believe and believe why pray that the answer will come and this is what they say call on me and pray I will talk unto you than that he does little for the Jeremiah 33 recall unto me then I will than I like to I like to call out to me N. my Wale and silly where you can put that in your pocket and take a I will call you for I believe I will absolutely and Shelby great and mighty things which thou knows no. Listen to it refused to turn away don't turn away from the law but has something to say to you by this and there are many ways refusing to hear him he stands even at the door of the church behold I stand at the door and no hook if any man would does that say to you the whole church will not listen but individuals throughout the church around the world if any man hear my voice if any individuals here Michael he's calling some will respawn and if you hear his voice do not refuse to hear her many refused to hear audio refused to hear about dual-mode if somebody asks you and I don't know what was somebody just the other day as what he preached on one fellow said he preached on the platform of the would-be preacher will in on the plot we hear that we don't listen we hear a sound just like those that we would pull he heard the boy's they may have heard a sound and the Greek word has it that they heard a sound but they couldn't understand what was being said and does a lot of people sitting right here this morning I couldn't say a lot but there is some sitting here this morning you haven't even heard a word that I've seen some thought about your roast beef nine or people like ghostly but I don't miscellany okay but we don't listen it has been a leading key thing here please folks listen you don't have to listen to me but you do have to listen to him and if I stand behind his pulpit under the anointing of God and I speak things out of this word you should be listening to what you should be hearing what is said listening and another thing refusing to hear fusion to believe I don't believe that I don't believe that and I hear this I don't believe that I don't believe there is a sin this book God requires us to believe that then another thing people refuse to hear some you should straighten up and do what's right and I wanted to the tunnel and he knows me but some get offended when they hear the word that tells him to straighten flying right incentives they all sang to preacher for telling the truth's thank you that you have enough concern about my soul to be concerned about me but they get angry we are say it happened too long ago when local administrations you expect me to come and sit and listen to you and all I was trying to do is to wait until they got offended a lot of people get offended at God's word meant and whether there will things you can't swear if it cuts and it gets close just remember that I don't know about you but\\par }# Tested for the Throne TITLE: Tested for the Throne DATE: December 14, 2008, Sunday Morning TEXT: Psalm 105:15-19 IT is another thing altogether for the message to be a part of me. If I envision throne rights, God will put me to the test. ## **Psalm 37:5-10** Just becuae you have been put to the test. Don’t think that God has left you. ## **I Peter 1:7** That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: ## **I Peter 4:12,13** Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.# The Conditions of Discipleship The Conditions of Discipleship # The Conditions of Discipleship A sermon outline of Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. Text: > Matthew 16:24 -- Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. ## INTRODUCTION The conditions of discipleship are not easy. It is going to cost you to be the disciple of Jesus Christ. Often in the preaching of the Gospel the conditions of discipleship are neglected. The Gospel is presented in such a way the hearer must only name the name of Christ and they are assured that they are all set. The fact remains not only is there more required of us as His disciples but no leader throughout history has ever proposed such things for his followers. And He requires them to be done willingly--"If any man will.". Following Christ implies three things: ## Imitating Christ > John 13:15 -- For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you ### Having the Feelings of Christ > Matthew 9:36 -- But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. > > Lamentations 1:12 -- Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?… If you pass by knowing a soul is lost and you have the answer, is it nothing to you? ### Obeying Christ > Matthew 7:21 -- Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. ## Self Denial ### Christ himself set down self-denial as a condition for discipleship. > Luke 14:33 -- So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. ### We can have nothing between Him and us. > Mark 10:28 -- Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. Self is the root, the tree and the branches of all the evil of our fallen nature. We are so quick to say we gave it all to Christ, but like Peter there is often much we have not denied. Until man denies self, he will deny God. ### Obedience to Christ's Words is an important part of self-denial. Our self-denial must also be out of love. > John 14:21 -- He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Christ was a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3). How can we continually desire pleasure? ### Difficult The duty of self-denial is not easy but is like rowing against the tide. There will be a struggle against the violent emotions of our affections and will. > Titus 2:12 -- Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Self-indulgence shows that we lack genuine interest in God and His Word. What we deny is nothing compared with what we get. ## Cross Bearing > Matthew 10:38 -- And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. ### Self-denial for Christ leads to bearing our cross. It is our cross that we must bear and not another. > Galatians 5:24 -- And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Alfred H. Ackley wrote: > (chorus) Take up thy cross and follow Me, I hear the blessed Savior call; How can I make a lesser sacrifice, When Jesus gave His all. > > (verse 1) I walked one day along a country road, And there a stranger journeyed, too, Bent low beneath the burden of His load: It was a cross, a cross I knew. > > (verse 3) Oh, let me bear Thy cross, dear Lord," I cried, And, lo, a cross for me appeared, The one, forgotten, I had cast aside, The one, so long, that I had feared. ### Christ Gave Us the Example > Matthew 10:38 -- And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. Salvation is a free gift, but as His disciples there are requirements. > John 13:15 -- For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you When you see someone having a hard time, do not add to their burden. Christ was always reaching out and is still reaching out today to those who are under a burden. Christ gave us the example we are to follow. > I Timothy 4:12 -- Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. It is a much stricter rule to follow in order to be an example to believers than it is to be an example to the sinner. > I Peter 2:21 -- For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: > > Revelation 14:4 -- …These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth… ## CONCLUSION Lord, give us the vision and compassion that Christ has for the lost.# The Demands of Doctrine # The Demands of Doctrine A sermon outline of Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. TEXT: Romans 12:2 > Romans 12:2&mash; 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. ## 1. BESEECH "parakaleo" \[GREEK\] — call near ("I beg of you") ## 2. THEREFORE Reaches back into the previous chapters. In Chapters 1 through 8, CONDEMNATION – JUSTIFICATION – SANCTIFICATION – GLORIFICATION (the Believers's exalted position). In Chapters 12-16, Paul exhorts the Believer to a life conformed to the exalted position. - Doctrine shows the exalted position. - Exhortation urges to live in this exalted position. Doctrine also informs of the resources of grace that enables the Believer to obey the exhortation. ## 3. BRETHREN Believer. ## 4. MERCIES "by the mercies of God" — by God's grace ## 5. PRESENT "paristemi" \[GREEK\] — to place beside; like presenting the Levitical victim. ## 6. BODIES ## 7. LIVING "zao" \[GREEK\] —life ## 8. SACRIFICE Your eyes, your hands, your ears, your mind, etc. ## 9. HOLY "hagios" \[GREEK\] — set apart for God PURITY — freedom from sinful practices. ## 10. ACCEPTABLE "euarestos" \[GREEK\] —well-pleasing - approved - passed the test ## 11. REASONABLE rational; agreeable to reason ## 12. SERVICE "latreia" \[GREEK\] — to worship; to serve ## 13. CONFORMED "suschematizo" \[GREEK\] — to fashion or shape one thing like another; assuming an outward expression that does not come from within. - **Stop** assuming an outward expression which is patterned after the world. - **Stop** masquerading or acting like the world. - **Stop** looking like the world. ## 14. TRANSFORMED "metamorphoo" \[GREEK\] — to change into another form# The God of Miracles - [Page 1 Scan](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1PaZp6CqWYyxU2IwTQiftT89EvuONAegE) - [Page 2 Scan](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1NPrP0mnx3_WBOCZFNJQKCJjy81L0AxXp) TEXT: Psalm 105:36-45 ## Introduction 1. What He's Done for Other's He'll Do For You. 2. God is a God of miracles: - The Bible is a Miracle - Christ is a Miracle - The world we live in is a miracle - The Resurrection was a miracle - Salvation is a miracle. (The Lord Turned the Page) ## I. The Miracle of Deliverance The miracle of Israel out of Egypt. ### A. First born spared by blood ### B. First born in Egypt died. vs. 36 ## II. The Miracle of Prosperity (v. 37) ## III. The Miracle of Health ## IV. The Miracle of Protection ## V. The Miracle of Food ## VI. The Miracle of Water ## VII. The Miracle of Clothing# The Impossible Made Possible Text: Mark 9:23 preacher: Rev. James Reynolds, Sr. August 14, 2009 preached under the Gospel tent# The Key to Victorious Living ![jrrsr-preaching.png](https://bible.exchange/uploads/images/gallery/2021-09/scaled-1680-/jrrsr-preaching.png)A Sermon by Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. Preached Sunday Morning January 9, 2000 text: Ephesians 5:14-18 ## INTRODUCTION If you would like to follow in the reading of the Word of God, look in Ephesians, the letter of the Apostle Paul to the Church at Ephesus, the fifth chapter and verse fourteen: > "Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise. Redeeming the time because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; — (Ephesians 5:14-18) In this last verse, Paul is commanding us by the Spirit two things: (1) Be not drunk with wine, (2) but be filled with Spirit. We will be using the title, "The Key to Victorious Living". Let me ask you, "How many of you have struggled?" For a few moments think about your relationship with God, and your experience with Him. Have you tried and struggled and labored to be what you felt you should be for Him, but have found yourself losing? I want to try with the help of the Lord to help you. I felt as I prayed this week and waited on the Lord that there is a key here to victorious living. You can be victorious ! You can live above your flesh. You can live above that which drives and pulls and tries to destroy. Be filled with the Spirit. ## AWAKE > ***" Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."*** (Ephesians 5:14) To awake spiritually takes something more than just your effort. I have watched people struggle. I have even had them say to me, "Brother Reynolds, I'm so tired. I've tried, but I'm not making it." But, the key is in in the last phrase of verse eighteen. ***"But, be filled with the Spirit."*** I cannot awaken myself. I didn't awaken myself. I was going my own way; doing my own thing when something very supernatural happened. There came an awakening, first, of my need, and then of the fact that He had a provision for my need. I could not resurrect myself. I was dead in trespasses and sins. You were too. It took the Spirit of God to put life into you. Amen? I can remember way back when I first started serving the Lord. I tried so desperately hard to understand the Word of God. I wanted to understand, but it was a slow process. I began to realize that if I'm going to understand this then I am going to need His help. It takes the Spirit of God to awaken us, to give us resurrected life, and to give us light, truth and understanding. ## WALK > ***"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise."*** (Ephesians 5:15) How are you going to do that? You will do that only by the help of God. I've watched people that were never filled with the Spirit and they struggled to keep saved. You need to be filled with the Holy Ghost. ## REDEEM > "Redeeming the time because the days are evil." (5:16) Redeem the time because surely the days are evil. We don't have to go into a long exegesis explaining to you how evil the days are. That's a fact. We're living in very corrupt, evil, wicked days. In order for you to redeem the time it takes the Spirit of God. ## UNDERSTAND ***"Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is."*** (Ephesians 5:17) I cannot understand His will unless I have His Spirit. ## BE NOT DRUNK Paul gives us an extreme contrast here where he says: > ***"And be ye not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit."*** (Ephesians 5:18) Paul is drawing a contrast between the Spirit and the flesh. There was and is and always will be a warfare between the Spirit and the flesh. The flesh is always trying to bring you down and the Spirit is all the time trying to lift you up. Paul uses the term here: **"Be not drunk with wine…"** and, also, he says **"…wherein is excess…"** I have heard preachers over the years using this Scripture or this phrase in this Scripture to say it's all right to drink a little as long as you don't go to an excess. That is not what Paul was saying at all. The word excess comes from the word *asotia*. Actually, it is two words in one—"*a*" which is a negative and *sotia* or *sozo*> salvation, being saved; therefore, *asotia* means "no salvation." "**Be not drunk with wine wherein** <is no salvation>." This verse has a whole lot more meaning than just saying we should not drink wine excessively. ## Synonyms of *Asotia* One synonym is "*unsavedness*" that is "*totally lost*." In Titus, the first chapter and the sixth verse, it is translated "riot". ***"They riot."*** It is the same identical word. Also, in I Peter 4 and 4, again, Peter uses the same word and he uses the term as the translators uses it here, ***"riot".***Now, there's an adverb that comes from this noun *asotia*that is used over in Luke fifteen and thirteen. It speaks about the Prodigal Son. He wasted his substance with riotous living. He wasted his substance in drunkenness. His elder brother said later on not only in drunkenness but with harlots. What Paul is doing here is balancing that which they had been doing with that which they should be doing. He is not making room to drink socially. It's the social drink that has destroyed many lives. It takes the first one to get you to take the second one. Which is like what Jesus said, "*If you drink of this water, you will thirst again*", and "*you will thirst again*." There is no satisfaction. There is no consummation to it. Those that drink wine will always be looking for more. "*But*", Jesus said, "… *if you drink of the water that I give you it shall be in you a well springing up*…" "…*Springing up*…" Thank God! You don't need the other! Can you say Amen? ***"Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess;"*** What is Paul saying? If you feed the flesh it has an awaited and ultimate destruction, but you need to be filled with the Spirit. A synonym of *asotia* having much of the same meaning is the word lasciviousness: *outrageous conduct; wanton violence;* that is*, loose in morals, careless, reckless, malicious; without self-control.* ## THE CITY OF EPHESUS In order to understand what Paul was saying, you must know about the day in which he was saying this. These folks were riotous/drunken. Ephesus was a commercial town and a busy seaport. It's wealth, just like today, caused them say, "We're a very prosperous nation." America has been prosperous, but our prosperity came from God Almighty. God has blessed and has been good to this nation, but just like this nation, Ephesus, with its riches, became excessive in their lifestyle—they lived in luxury. Bakus was the god of wine and was their rival against Diana. Diana was the goddess of the moon, while Bakus was the god of wine and drunkenness. They say drunkenness was an epidemic in those times. And this is what Paul is helping them to see. Here are the people in Ephesus drinking, getting drunk, and destroying everything they had. Riotous living and drunkenness always lead to trouble and poverty. There was a man who came to the Tent Revival Crusade. He lived three quarters of a mile away from where we had set the tent. He didn't even know we were there. He told me afterward, "I used to make as much as seven thousand dollars a day buying and selling wood lots." He said, "I had two new cars. I had a new home. Had a bank account. I ended up in a little cottage," he said, "over on this other road." And he said, " I had come to the point where I was so degraded that I used to bring booze home and put it in a container under my bed and suck the booze through a hose." He heard the music coming from the tent, but he had no idea the tent was there. He said, "When I heard the singing, I thought it was the angels singing that judgment was coming." And he said, "I jumped out of bed and got on my knees and begged God to forgive me and save me." Well, God heard his prayer even if it was only in desperation, and then he heard me preaching. He came to the meeting and turned his life over to the Lord. Drunkenness will bring you down just as it did there in Ephesus. Alexander the Great, they tell us, died as a sacrifice to Bakus. He died as a drunkard at, I believe, thirty-two years of age. He was just beginning to live and booze took him out. Before Alexander died he offered a prize to whoever could drink the most wine. Thirty of those men that were rivals died in the act of competition. ## A LIMITLESS COMFORTER I want to talk to you this morning about the key to victorious living. It is not in the world. It is not in what sin has to offer. Sin will leave you empty and hurting. Even as a Believer you need something more than what you can produce. You need the infilling of the Spirit. Jesus felt that this was so necessary for His disciples that He told them, "I'm going away, but I'm going to send another Comforter because you need Him. It's expedient that I go away for He'll not come if I do not go away. Right now I can be with you to some degree, but He's going to be with you all." How many know there are no limitations in God? Somebody asked me once, " Brother Reynolds, where did God come from? or, where did God live before He created the Heaves and the earth?" Like God needed something. It doesn't take a mathematician to understand that God was, God is, and always will be, and there is nothing without Him. God doesn't live in something; everything lives in Him. He didn't just speak like one of these so-called evangelists preached "standing on the balcony of Heaven \[Where was Heaven before God created it?\], and with a boisterous voice He said, 'Let there be…'" NO! In Him! You can't and I can't with these finite minds of ours really grasp the greatness of God. Eternity is in Him. Everything is in Him. Paul said**, "*In Him we live and move and have our being*."** \[Acts 17:28\] What a big God we serve! Amen. Jesus said to His disciples when He was getting ready to leave them, "I'm going to send you another Comforter because I can't be with you all the time, but He can. He'll not only be with you, but He'll be in you." How many know that's the Word of God? ## TARRY UNTIL Jesus said, as He was getting ready to leave His disciples, "Now, gentlemen I want you to do something for me before you do anything else. I do want you to go preach. I do want you to carry the message, but before you do any of that," He said, " I want you to go to Jerusalem and I want you to tarry until." Until you get tired of tarrying? Until you get tired with yourself? How many times I've had people say, "Well, I've tarried and tarried." You didn't tarry until! ## NOT AN OPTION The message of the early disciples was, " Have you received The Holy Ghost?" Why was it so necessary for them to encourage the Believers to be filled with the Spirit? It is because the Believers NEEDED Him that the disciples encouraged the Believers so strongly. YOU NEED the Holy Ghost. This is not an option. This is a command, **"…*be filled with the Spirit*." "…*Be filled with the Spirit*."** Amen. Listen, there's no mountain too big for Him. Do we have any mountain climbers here this morning? Have you found your feet slipping sometimes as you're trying to get over that mountain? He can take you over the highest mountain. He can take you through the deepest sea. He can take you through the hottest fire. And you can come out with not even the smell of smoke on you. But you can't do it in yourself. We need to be filled with the Spirit. ## HOW? 1. PRAY You say, " Well, how then am I going to be filled? Is there something very special that I have to do?" Jesus said, " Pray." Turn with me into Luke the eleventh chapter and in verse nine he says, ***"And I say unto you ask and it shall be given you…" "Ask…"*** That word "ask" in the Greek has a continuation of thought, that is, you ask and you keep on asking. You say, " how long do you ask." You keep on asking until you receive. ***"Ask and it shall be given you, seek*** (, and keep on seeking) ***and ye shall find, knock and it shall be open unto you for everyone that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son should ask bread of any of you that is a father shall he give him a stone or if he ask a fish will he for a fish give him a serpent or if he shall ask an egg will he offer him a scorpion if ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask."*** Well, you say, " I've asked, Brother Reynolds". Well, keep on asking. You have got to keep on asking. He will come. Tarry until. Tarry until. Keep seeking. Keep searching. 2. BE THIRSTY The reason why I think a lot of times we don't keep on asking and keep on seeking and we don't keep on knocking is because we don't really feel the need. You need to pray and, secondly, you need to be thirsty. You need a hunger. A hunger that will drive you to your knees and will not let you be satisfied until you have received. I'm sure God did not do anything more miraculous for me than He wants to do for you. I can recall when they told me about the Holy Spirit. I used to watch many nights and the sun would come up as I sought for God. I knew I needed to be filled and there was something in me that wasn't satisfied. That doesn't mean I wasn't saved and that I wasn't glad that I was saved. I knew I was saved. I knew I had been born-again. I knew there was something missing, and I just couldn't seem to leave it alone. I was hungry. I was thirsty. John seven thirty-seven says, "***If any man thirst…"*** He didn't say, "Now, if you would like to be filled with the spirit come;" or, "If it's your desire to be filled with the Spirit come." He said, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink and from his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water." This He spake of the Holy Ghost. HOW THIRSTY? You say, "Well, how thirsty do you have to be?" The word that is used there is the same word that Jesus used when He was on the cross in John Nineteen. Jesus cries out and says, **"I thirst."** They tell us that in crucifixion the body temperature goes crazy—just sky high. Every part of the body is fighting against that temperature, and so the mouth becomes dry, the whole body is burning up with fever, and the tongue gets thick. There in that place where He said," I thirst" is what He is saying to us. You need to have that kind of a thirst. Not being satisfied with anything less. Are you hearing me? I THIRST! I've seen people come down to this altar and pray, "God fill me with the Holy Ghost" for maybe two or three times and then they are up and gone. He wants you to be filled. Listen, if anything stirs this city it's going to be people with the Holy Ghost. Hey, I'm your friend. We're both on the same side. I know that you need to be filled with the Spirit. Your whole life will change. There will be struggles, mountains, valleys, rivers, and fires, but you'll find that He'll be there with you and you can make it with Him. In your own strength you might not make it. The devils are determined on you not making it, but if you'll let the Holy Ghost come in, He'll help you to make it. The Psalmist, I think, caught a truth way back there in the Psalms. He said, *"**My soul thirsteth for the living God."*** What are you saying? I'm not satisfied with riches. You talk about a rich man and a man that had authority? All David had to do was speak and a man's head came off. He controlled. He had everything at his fingertips, yet, he cries out in the midst of it all "my soul thirsteth for God." When you get to that point there's something that will happen to you. When you say, "Nothing else satisfies; I have got to have Him. I have got to have all that He has for me. I want it. I need it. I have got to have it." Again, Jesus said, "They that hunger and thirst *might* be filled?" Shall be! SHALL be! 3. OBEY To be filled with the Spirit requires obedience. In John 14:15-17, Jesus says, ***"If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.."*** "If you do what I tell you to do, I'll pray the Father, and He'll send you the Holy Spirit and He'll be in you." Acts 5:32 says, ***"And we are His witnesses of these things; and so also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him."*** Now, I'm not gong to try to tell you that if you haven't received the Holy Spirit it's because you've been disobedient, but it could be. You have to be obedient. 4. MAKE ROOM Fourthly, you have to make room for Him. I think this is what Paul had in mind when he said…***"and be not drunk with wine."*** Wine is destructive. That will destroy you. "***But be filled with the Spirit***." You need to make room. People still criticize the innkeeper when retelling how Christ came as an unborn baby in Mary and there was no room for Him. Preachers preach this Gospel and don't have room for the Spirit. They have the mechanics. They have the oratorical ability. They can get up and spin words and make them sound good, but it is dead. The Scripture says that the letter kills and it is the Spirit that gives life. \[2 Cor. 3:6\] Again, before I even came into this pulpit this morning, I was saying, "Lord, if I go in that pulpit, and just say words my words are empty. I'm depending on you. I'm depending on the Holy Ghost to take the Word and let it come alive and encourage somebody and strengthen somebody and minister to somebody." The Holy Spirit is the only One that can minister to you. I think the songwriter put it so good when he said: "Bring your empty vessels cleaned through Jesus' precious blood. Come ye needy one and all, And in human consecration wait before the throne of God, 'Till the Holy Ghost shall fall. He will fill your heart today to overflowing. As the Lord commanded you, bring your vessels not a few He will fill your heart today to overflowing With the Holy Ghost and power." He'll do it. He wants to do it. He made provision for it. I'm telling you this morning that it will make a difference in your life with the trials and the temptations you face. He will make a difference in your life. 5. YIELD Fifthly, you need to yield to Him. You say how do I yield? I went through that. I had people shake me, shake my arms, and shake my head. They would shout at me and say, "Yield! Yield! Yield!" Well, I was trying, but I learned that in the same way that you have yielded your members servants to sin and to thoughts or something that came in your head, and you say "Oh, that's what I want to do." (No! That's what the devil wanted you to do, and you yielded your members to that sin.) is the same manner that you yield your members to the Spirit. I'm not going to stand up here this morning and tell you to just say "Bananas, bananas, bananas!'' Because that's all you will have when you get through—Bananas. You can get lost in the Spirit. My experience was He did not make me say something I didn't want to, but He gave me something to say. Do you understand what I'm saying? When I was out there in sin I was a good servant. The devil would say do *this,* and I would do it. I didn't know it was the devil. I'd probably hesitated if I'd known that, but I thought it was something I wanted to do, so, I did it. I yielded myself to those thoughts. I borrowed peoples' cars without asking. Now, that's not kosher; I'm not proud of that. I yielded myself and Paul is saying as ye yielded yourself servants to that yield yourself, give yourself over, to God. You don't have to flop on the floor like a fish that is dying. I have seen them thrash and kick around and knock things over. I have even seen them run into posts, and split their heads open. Now, that's not God. It can be one of two things: 1. It can be your own soulish spirit, or 2. it can be an evil spirit. How many know that the devil likes to mimic God? Yield yourself. Yield your members as servants to Him. He made it easy; we make it hard. Amen. 6. BELIEVE The last thing in connection with receiving the infilling of the Holy Ghost is that you need to believe. You are not going to be filled with the Spirit unless you believe. You have got to believe and keep on believing to the very end. I've had people say to me, "It must not be for me." It is! It is for you! Peter said way back there on the day of Pentecost, "It's for you and for your children and to all that are far off even as many as the Lord our God shall call." Have you been called? It is for you. You need to believe that is for you. Ephesians one and thirteen says, ***": in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise."*** You must believe. ## THE FIRE ### THE NEED The reason we need to be filled is that we need the fire. If you come here week after week and service after service, and nothing happens inside you, there is no fire lit, and there is nothing going on, eventually you are going to get tired and you will be absent. You need to GET the fire and then you need to KEEP the fire burning. John said, "I baptize you with water unto repentance, but He that cometh after me is greater than I. He shall baptize you not with water, but with the Holy Ghost, **AND** **WITH FIRE**!" I wonder if fire broke out in the pulpits across our land if maybe our country will have a quick conversion. But you see we've come to the point where we compromise to keep people coming. We entertain them, and we make them feel good. You See, I am no dummy. People have said to me, "Brother Reynolds, you need to accept them where they are." He never called me to preach something that would make them feel good. He called me to preach truth. I'm telling you this morning that this is a key to a victorious life. ***"Be filled with the Spirit."*** God never changes, and His power never wanes. It's the same. It always energizes you. My wife often says to me, "I don't know how you do it. (Get up every morning at five o'clock to pray.)" I don't know either except that when the clock goes around He wakes me up. He not only wakes ME up (because my Irish man has just as hard a time as yours, but I don't let the Irish man talk. I jump up. I beat him out before he gets the chance to open his mouth.) He'll wake you up, too. Do you understand what I'm saying? He does that. The other night, I think it was Tuesday night, I just felt like I wanted to spend the night with the Lord. So, I prayed till early Wednesday morning and stayed up all day and had my classes and got ready for the service Wednesday night. Man, I felt like I was on fire! "What are you trying to say, Brother Reynolds?" I'm trying to tell you that you can't do it in yourself, but He can! I'm not trying to tell you that you need to stay up all night, but sometimes when He comes knocking you do. Would it not be a shame if He came knocking and you say, "No, Jesus, I don't have the time; I have to go to bed?" Remember when He came to the little a lady in the Song of Solomon? She said, "I can't get up; I'm in bed. I've washed my feet, and laid aside my garments. I don't want to defile my feet again." Jump out of bed! Answer the call! For He may be soon gone. Do we need the fire in our pulpits? ### THE GENUINE A lot of times people think the fire of the Holy Ghost is somebody with a lot of energy and gets real loud. That has nothing to do with it at all. William Branham, a little sawed-off-shrimp, never spoke all the time I ever heard him like a lot of evangelists, but was quite quiet, but when he said, "thus saith the Lord" it was like a flame of fire. I mean it would strike you. Witnesses have said that Jonathan Edwards' message *Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God* was written word for word. He was so blind that he had to almost have his face on his manuscripts just to read, but people cried out as he read, "Jonathan, we're sliding into Hell!" Was what the congregation experiencing Jonathan Edwards' message? That was the Holy Ghost that convicted. Do we need it? ## THE TRUTH We need to know truth. In John 14:26, Jesus said, "…the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you *some* things? —**All** things." I look back in my experience and I can tell you that not everything that I have learned was from the Holy Spirit, but there are a lot of things I have learned and people have rejected because it wasn't the normal run of teaching. I can remember the very first time it ever happened to me. I had my Bible opened. I was a first year student at Zion Bible Institute, and I had Larkin's Diagrams, which my mother gave me. I figured Mother would never give me anything but what was good. And, I'm devouring all that I can find in these pages trying to make a comparison with the Scripture, and all to once the Holy Ghost came on me and said, "What your reading is wrong." Then, He began to show me what was right. From that time back in 1953 to this day, I have never found anything wrong in what He said. I compared it with the Scripture. Just like we should. Are you listening? We are in darkness. Don't tell me you can understand this Book in yourself. The natural man, the carnal mind, cannot understand this Book. "*The Natural man understandeth not the things of God. For they are spiritually discerned*." \[I Cor. 2:14\] I'm trying to tell you this morning that you need the Holy Spirit in your life helping you to know truth and let the fire burn. He will help you to know truth. ## HELP AND STRENGTH He will help your weaknesses and help your infirmities. In Romans 8 and 26, He said, "*Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:*" Ephesians 3 and 16 he said, "*That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;*" What is going to make you strong? What is it that is gonna make you what you should be? Hope only? Somebody said to me one time, "Well, you were more fortunate. You went off to Bible school and all that teaching helped you." I've watched more kids backslide in Bible school than I ever did in the church. You know why? It's because it's hard going. The devil can knock your legs out from under you before you can get established. He'll do that. I watched some fine young men. We started out with a hundred and twenty in my class. There were forty-three of us, I think, that graduated—finally made it to the end, and He said that if you endured to the end, you will graduate. Out of those 43 graduates, I believe there were two of us that made it into the ministry. Now that's a pretty poor percentage. I'm saying that the devil will make it as difficult as he possibly can for you, and so you need to be filled with the Spirit. If you are filled with the Spirit, the Spirit will help you in the times of temptation. He will help you in the times when you feel like, "I just can't go on. I can't take another step. I've been hit from both sides and just can't go on. I can't make it." The Spirit will be there to help you and hold you. I know what I am talking about. Sad to say but I fell asleep driving and I had my three boys with me: Jimmy, David, and Stephen. I evidently was knocked unconscious. When I came to, I could hear Jimmy hollering for help. He was on the back of the car. I don't know how he got there, but he was on the back of the bumper and the car was upside down. He was holding onto the bumper. Jimmy and I were in the water. I ran and helped him get up onto the bank. I could hear Stevie as he was running around, but I didn't know where David was. My thoughts were, "He must be in the waters here somewhere. I was going through the water looking for my boy. I thought that he might be unconscious. Pretty quick a crowd began to gather, and I heard them say when they saw me down there in the water, "He's up here on the bank." My heart sank. Just one year prior to that one year I stood by a casket and I said, "I'll never preach Your Gospel again. Never will I preach It again." I took my ministerial card and my ordination card, and put it in the casket, and closed the lid. I walked up to the crowd of people and saw my little boy with the side of his head torn right open, and it was just like hands reached inside of me, and held me. I'm telling you that I couldn't make it by myself. I've had others say, "How did you do it?" I didn't. He held me. You say, "Didn't you care?" Care? I'd rather die and have him live. Oh, yeah, I cared. I cried many tears. I used to sit at the table and see Jimmy pull his chair up, see Stevie pull his chair up, and I could picture in my mind little David running across the floor pulling his chair up, but he wasn't there. What I'm trying to tell you is the Hoy Ghost will come to you, hold you, keep you, stay you in the storm, and make you strong. He helps our infirmities. Can He do it? Hey, I'm not telling you something I read in a book. I'm telling you about something that happened to me. He did it. And, Yeah, I'm sure there were tears I can't recall altogether, but while I was looking at my little boy, I just know the feeling was it was just like someone reached inside of me and was holding me. I looked down and I said, "Jesus, I will preach your Gospel as long as there's breath in these lungs." I was foolish telling Him that I wouldn't. I paid a tremendous price that I didn't need to pay. The Holy Spirit can be to you what you can't be to yourself or anyone else. You need to be filled with the Spirit. Religion will drive you crazy, but the Spirit will cause you to live. The letter kills; the Spirit gives life. ## POWER TO WITNESS One last thing that doesn't really even need to be said: it gives us power. Power not just to endure. Power to not just sit. Power not just to show, but power to witness. He said, "*After that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, ye shall receive power to be witnesses unto Me*." \[Acts 1:8\] Say, "Why do I need to be filled?" You need that power. I'll tell you the reason why—It takes the Holy Spirit to touch hearts. I can recall when I first started preaching that I didn't know the first thing about preaching, and I couldn't carry a tune. My own brother-in-law used to turn around and look right at my face and I'm there singing with all my heart and he would laugh right at me. I was trying to do the best I could. I went out with a tent with no piano player and no organ player. I had a piano, but I did not have anybody to play it, and I would sing a cappella. I probably sang somewhere in-between the keys, but every once in a while I'd hit it. I did my best, and I would preach. My own cousin came up to me and said, "You know, Cousin Jimmy, all you do is read a story and you tell a story from the story." I said, "Doing the best I can." What I wanted you to see is that up in Northern New Hampshire, in Pittsburgh. It's a town that when you go through if you blinked your eyes you had gone through it. There were two people going to church—the preacher and the piano player. We set the tent up on a Tuesday morning; Tuesday night I started services. The only advertisement I had was my uncle. He went out in a car and invited his old logging friends, lumbermen, to come. The finest sermons couldn't produce what I see there in that little town. Now, I spend a lot of time on my sermons. I know they're homiletical; I don't have to ask you. I know they are because I work at it, but I have never seen anything comparable to that revival. You know, these old lumbermen, they used to come and sit right on the front row, and get right out on the edge of the chair, and they'd stare right at me. It doesn't take much when a man's mouth is wide open to just drop in a little something. When I gave the altar call thirty-five people, I mean big, rugged lumbermen, came rushing down to the altar; they were literally running. They would come down and throw themselves on the altar and cry, "Oh, God, save me!" ## CONCLUSION ![How-To-Start-A-Fire-With-Sticks.jpg](https://bible.exchange/uploads/images/gallery/2021-09/scaled-1680-/how-to-start-a-fire-with-sticks.jpg)Hey, it worked so great I thought it was going to be like that everywhere, but I learned something. He can do it; I can't. That is what I'm looking for. We need, you need, I need His power. I'm looking for that. I'm looking for one of these nights when those from the street meeting will report, "Hey, they dropped to their knees and began to cry out to God." I saw it in South America. There is no reason we can't see it here. Yes, I know it's hard. People have been turned against the Gospel, and everything this generation is doing is trying to put Christianity down. "Christianity is the problem." They say that you, the Christian, is the problem." No, the devil and sin are the problem. The Christian is the answer. The church is the answer. We need the power of the Holy Ghost in the Believer. We need to be filled. You can set one stick on fire and stand there and watch it and it doesn't even make any noise. It just burns. Once in a while it might pop. Boy, you know what happens when you get a little fire here and a little fire there? If you get a whole bunch of sticks together then you'll hear it go…PHOOM! PHOOM! PHOOM! If EVERYBODY had fire you would see the Spirit of God move and work mightily! Do you want it? Do you want all you can get? It's for you. He doesn't command you to do something that He doesn't provide. Your life can be different. It's the key to your victory. What you can't do He can.# The Lifeblood of Fellowship # The Lifeblood of Fellowship (IMPORTANCE - BASIS - STANDARD - SURETY) A sermon outline of Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. ## INTRODUCTION An indispensable or vital part of fellowship with one another, is our fellowship with God: > 1 John 1:7— But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Our Common bond is Christ. ## The Importance of our Fellowship ### Divided Fellowship with God is vital to fellowship with man. The story of man's first quarrel with God (Gen. 3), is followed by man's quarrel with his fellow (Gen. 4). > Isaiah 53:6—All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. ### Made One The cross of Jesus was to bring us back into fellowship with God and, by effect, with one another. > Romans 5:11—And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. ### Fellowship is an Indicator The more closely we fellowship with one another indicates our fellowship with God. Like the spokes of a wheel **the nearer the hub the closer the spokes**. Our fellowship with one another is closely connected with our fellowship with God. What is a barrier between men becomes a barrier between us and God. The Scripture teaches us not to allow anything to remain between us. > Matthew 5:23,24—Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. > 1 Corinthians 7:15—But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. I AM NOT TAKEN HOSTAGE BY ANOTHER'S UNWILLINGNESS TO RECONCILE. I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO DO MY PART TO BRING PEACE --not 'you have to talk to me about this' / not a continual jarring and discord. Be careful that I have not CAUSED the discord and if I have, **make way for healing**. A break in our fellowship within the household if faith, should cause us to carefully investigate ourselves. ## The Basis of our Fellowship > "If we walk in the light…" What does it mean to walk in the light or darkness? Light reveals/discovers and darkness hides. 1. Light reveals/discovers > Ephesians 5:13—But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 2. Darkness Hides When Adam and Eve sinned, they hid themselves. Sin and its Darkness makes a person UNREAL: - **Disingenuous**. ----> not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that he knows less about something than he really does. - **Pretending** - **Window Dressing** If something is done to pretend to be dealing with an issue or problem, rather than actually dealing with it, it is window dressing. 'perform a deed only for the sake of appearance'. - **Excusing Ourselves While Blaming Others** This is WALKING IN DARKNESS. > 1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, **we lie**, and do not the truth: Walking in the light is the opposite of walking in the darkness. ## The Standard of our Fellowship > "…as He is in the light.." > 1 John 1:5—…God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. *God is the standard of our fellowship and NOT ONE ANOTHER.* If we are walking in DARKNESS yet say we have fellowship with God, **we LIE**. > **ILLUSTRATION**: English evangelist George Whitefield (1714-1770) learned that it was more important to please God than to please men. Knowing that he was doing what was honoring to the Lord kept him from discouragement when he was falsely accused by his enemies. At one point in his ministry, Whitefield received a vicious letter accusing him of wrongdoing. His reply was brief and courteous: "I thank you heartily for your letter. As for what you and my other enemies are saying against me, **I know worse things about myself than you will ever say about me.** With love in Christ, George Whitefield." He didn't try to defend himself. He was much more concerned about **pleasing the Lord**. > **ILLUSTRATION**: Grace Coolidge, the wife of President Calvin Coolidge, tried to surprise her husband by having his portrait painted. When it was finished, she hung it in the library of the White House. Later the same morning the President happened to walk into the library accompanied by a senator. They stared at the picture together in silence. Finally Coolidge commented quietly: **"I think so, too."** ## The Surety of our Fellowship SURETY: a person who takes responsibility for another's performance of an undertaking, for example their appearing in court or the payment of a debt. No matter how badly we have failed in the past … > "…and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." ### The Light Reveals the Problem; the Blood Cleanses the Problem. ### Don't Run and Hide Because you have a problem, confess and be cleansed. > 1 John 1:9—If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. - The More the Light Reveals - The More we Confess - The More the Blood Cleanses - The More our Fellowship# The Ministry of the Believer Deliverance Center – Portland, Maine Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr TITLE: The Ministry of the Believer TEXT: Acts 13:1,2 Ac 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, The insitryof the beiver Ourfirst duy ought to be to the Lord. People have needs. The home, church, our town has needs. But the first duty of the Believer is to minister to the Lord. They ministered to the Lord and fasted In the Ot the priesthood is a type of Christ and the Beliver the priesthood was a distinct separate body. There is a difference from them that are saved and them that are filled with the Spirit. Tehre is a difference between the church and the saved. Acts 13:1 Now there was in the CHURCH ----in the church How do you get into the church? For by one Spirit are we baptized in to the Body. # **Exodus 18:1** Ex 28:1 ¶ And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons. Ex 28:41 And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office. {consecrate...: Heb. fill their hand} (KJV) You can’t minister to God until you be filled with the Spirit. Witht the anointin we don’t even know how to pray. Incense was a type of prayer. Minister to the Lord in Prayer – take time to pray. If you want God to minister to you, you must minister to Him. Men ought always to pray and not faint.# The Pattern Church # The Pattern Church A sermon outline of Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. TEXT: Acts 2:41-47 > **Acts 2:41** Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. The early church is our model and they key to our effectiveness if bound up in truth and how we handle it. ## Love for Truth > vs. 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: ### In Word Doctrinal Aspect of it. "received HIS Word". ### In Deed In practice of it. "they were baptized" ### In Spirit Their emotions were involved. "They GLADLY received His Word." Asmenos -- gladly, delightedly, with pleasure > Luke 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. > James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. ## Perseverance In Truth > vs. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. ### In Substance #### Apostles' Doctrine #### Fellowship #### Breaking Bread #### Prayers #### Praise (vs. 47) ### In Practice #### In the Temple vs. 46 #### House to House vs. 46 Acts 8:3; 10:22; 12:12; 16:15; 20:20; 21:8; 28:30-31 #### In the Streets > Luke 14:21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. ## Reverence for Truth > v. 43 And fear came upon every soul: ### The Evidence #### Fear - terror - dread #### Reverential Fear ##### Of His Person ##### Of His Power ##### Of His Pleasure They did not want to displease Him. ### The Cause > vs. 43 …and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. #### Many Wonders - "Tevas" Something strange; Causing the beholder to marvel. #### Many Signs Wonders appeal to imagination, but signs appeal to the understanding. ## Unified by Truth > vs. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; ### In Faith > …that believed… ### In Spirit > …were together… ### In Charity > …had all things common; ## Results of Truth > vs. 47 …And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. ### It is Confirmed > "The Lord added Mark 16:20 ### It is Successful > "added to the church daily" increase ### It is Dynamic > "Such as should be saved." > John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. SAVED - SOZO … heal, preserve, make whole# The Price of Knowing God' Perfect Will # The Price of Knowing God's Perfect Will A sermon outline of Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. TEXT: Romans 12:1,2 > Romans 12:1,2—I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. - "BESEECH" — parakaleo — exhort, pray, implore - "THEREFORE" Chapter 12 relates directly to what has been said in the previous chapters ## I. The Price is Beyond Man's Natural Ability > Romans 11:33—O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! ### 1. "O the depth" — bathus — deep, profound, mystery ### 2. "the riches" — "both of the wisdom and knowledge of God" > 1 Corinthians 2:9-10—But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. ### 3. "how unsearchable" — "ichnos" &mdsah; footprint, track: impossible to follow or find out ### 4. "are His judgments" ### 5."and His ways past finding out" This is true of the carnal or natural mind that is confused by too many voices. ## II. The Price of Knowing > …therefore…present your bodies… ### 1. "a living " – "zao": "live" sacrifice a living death ### 2. "which is your reasonable service" rational In Matthew 16:22, Peter said to Jesus in one translation "spare thyself" "Be merciful to thyself, spare thyself, or, Let God, or God shall, be merciful unto thee." ### 3. "be not conformed to this world" shape one thing like another ### 4. "be ye transformed" The first is outward, but this is inward. The inward change must come first. ### 5. "by the renewing of your mind" — "renovation" ## III. The Perfect Will of God ### 1. " that ye may prove" discern, know: "what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God"# The Renovation of the Mind # The Renovation of the Mind A sermon outline of Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. TEXT: Romans 12:2 > Romans 12:2—And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Remember that the subconscious mind does not reason between what is good or bad. It works on information that it receives. What you think is often what you speak. - You talk defeat - You talk failure - You talk fear People say: - "I am a failure." - "I don't have a chance" - " Things are going wrong for me." - "I've always been like this." - "What is the use of trying?" - "It is just too difficult to try." The subconscious works hard for you to bring to pass what you think. ## I. The Mind is a Storehouse The mind is somewhat like a computer. As a computer is programed with lists of commands to produce specific actions. - Command Lists for a Word Processor - Command lists for a Spread Sheet - Command Lists for a Data Manager What you put in, you can expect to get out. Garbage in, garbage out. Matthew 15:16-20— And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? 17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. ## II. To Get Information into the Mind ### A. Must Know How Pray in the Spirit by the revelation of the truth by the Spirit of God. ### B. Must Have Right Information ### C. The Devil Put Wrong Information in > 2 Corinthians 4:4—In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. "tuphloo" to make blind, obscure like smoke ## III. to Get Information Out of the Mind Wrong, negative, bad information needs to be taken out. > Romans 12:2—And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. ### A. The Need of Renewing the Mind Our minds are cluttered with: fear, worries, disappointments. "renewing the mind" – "metamorphoo" change into another form. Undergo a complete change which under the power of God will find expression in character and conduct. To make new restore, renovate, begin afresh ### B. The Process of Renewing the Mind > 2 Corinthians 3:18—But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. It is not easily formulated. In the natural, it is even impossible. - Look to the Word of God - Look to the Spirit of God (seek the glory of God)# The Responsibilities of Mothers Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. May 8, 2005 Mother's Day Sunday Morning Service Title: **The Responsibilities of Mothers** Text: **Proverbs 4:3** ``` "For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother." ``` I.. Educate their Children ``` To Bring their Children to the Temple Gate. Mothers have an awesome responsibility. The children they give birth to are deformed. Every child born into this world is deformed. "In sin did my mother conceive me." It is the responsibility of the mother to find hope for that deformed child. Acts 3:2 No greater way to help your child than to bring them to the gate where they can meet God. A. The Sacrifice of the Education Mother's have a great responsibility to educate their children. Proverbs 1:8 Forsake not the law of thy mother. Intermingled with the wisdom that God gave Solomon was the wisdom and counsel of a godly mother. B. The Manner of the Education Bathsheba was the queen. She could have had the best educate Solomon, but she did not shirk her responsibility. The government today in their "education" only makes our children dumb and poor. Mother's should not only have such a responsibility to educate their children, but they need to feel this responsibility today. 1. More than anything else in life a child needs to have knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:6 "Son God can give you wisdom, and out of his mouth cometh knowledge."--Solomon's mom, perhaps 2. Mother's prophesy over your children. Pr 31:1 "The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him." My mother brought me to the preacher as a baby and asked him to pray to make me a preacher. You say, "Their too little." GOD HEARS! 3. The fear of God. Prov. 1:7 4. The Love of God. Solomon you must fear God, but you can ENJOY GOD! "The joy of the Lord is your strength." Not just obliging themselves to God, but instruct your children in that they can enjoy God. That they may know what Paul spoke about in Galatians 2:20 5. That in the center of the storms of life there is a calm and peace to be found. C. The Motive of the Education "...tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother." Love does a whole lot more than the rod, but if you love your child you will not spare correction. Solomon appreciated his mother for her correction. George Washington said, "Al that I am my angel mother made me." John Adams, Abraham Lincoln, D.L. Moody, President McKinley all assessed their success in great part to their mothers. ``` II. Pray for their Children ``` Do not give up on your children when everyone else does. The influence of a mother's prayers can make the difference of success or failure in a child's life. John Newton the drunkard sailor became John Newton the Preacher and author of Amazing Grace through the prayers of his mother. John Newton won John Scott to Christ. Mr. Culper was wont to Christ by John Scott who wrote, "There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins. Susannah Wesley had 17 children. Mothers today with 2 or 3 say, "I am just so busy!" She found herself a place of prayer everyday to pray for each one of those 17 children by name. John and Charles Wesley spurred revival in their country while France was bloodied by revolution. This was the result of a mother's prayers. ``` ## John 19:25- Mothers have a great influence on their children. John 19:25—Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. The kings of Judah had both good and bad kings. Much of the kings’ influence was from their mothers. 2 Chronicles 13:1,2—Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah. 2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. Michaiah who is like God? 2 Chronicles 22:3,4—3 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly. 4 Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellors after the death of his father to his destruction. 2 Chronicles 24:1—1 Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 2Ch 25:1—Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. 2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart. Jehoaddan—delight in God You have to have a personal relationship with God. Amaziah was fine as long as he had his mother. 2 Chr. 26:1—Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah. 3 Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.4 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did. JECOLIAH: Jehovah will enable# The Second Coming of Christ # The Second Coming of Christ Text: Matthew 25:1-13 Preached by James R. Reynods, Sr. April 3, 2011 Sunday Morning. Mt 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. \["stupid"\] 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. He is coming again. He came first to redeem us from our lost condition. He paid a tremendaous price. But when he returns he is coming as lord of ords and king of kings. 1. The Second Coming of Christ is Foretold We have no reason to not believe Christ will return. Jesus saith nto him, hereater shall ye see the son o fman…conming in the clouds of power Acts Ac 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. You will see him come back the same way he went. The same Christ, but not to suffer but to rule. 2. The Second Coming of Christ is Unknown He knows, but know one else does. We don't know the day, but we know it is near. Heb 10:37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. James 5:8 2Pe 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is going to come. 3. The Purpose of His Second Coming The Bible says very plainly… Matthew 16:27—*For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.* 2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 4. The Time of His Second Coming Luke 12:35,36 Lu 12:35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; 36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. **He won't come before the wedding** 2 Thessalonians 2:3,4—*Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.* 2 Things: 1. **The Apostasy** **2Ti 4:3** *For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.* **Heb 3:12** *Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.* **2 Peter 3:17** *Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.* 2. **The Man of Sin** 1. Coming 2. But also SITTING IN THE TEMPLE (is the temple rebuilt?) 5. Coming with His Bride# The Secret of Pleasing God The Sercret to Pleasing God Hebrews 11:5 Rev. James Re. Reynolds, Sr. Sunday Morning, January 2, 2005 - - - - - - \[Get beginning from tape.\] - - - - - - Scripture says. Just the head was immense pressure from God he and his testimony that he plays God what was it that please God. By faith he was translated that he should not see dad. And was not found because God to translate him before his translation before his translation he had this testimony that he please God. To understand how he please God you go back into genesis of this chapter 22nd verse says and a unique walk with God after he beat out Methuselah 300 years intake walked to with God this is not a mixed record this was God testify of intake and evening walk with God. Before his translation he had this testimony what was his testimony? He walked with God! And then walking with God he please God. And I'm not so concerned with what he addicted but I'm concerned with where we are and where we are going. And if we are going to be counted worthy to escape. We are going to have to also please God. And how are we going to please God? By walking with God. Not on the surface. But in a heart relationship. Another Bible has a lot to say and it doesn't give us all about how a unique walk with God but the Bible has a love to say about walking with God. We have the tendency to look at only one side to God is concerned with is walking to please him. Romans six chapter in the 14th first he talks about walking into this of life. Walking in newness of life. The Greek brings out the fact that it's a life of a different quality. It is altogether different from the life of the flesh. That which is one of the flesh is flash that which is born of spirit is spirit marvel not that I said unto you you must be born again. Spiritual life. The life of Jesus being made manifest in the heart of the believer. A new creation. Born of God. You don't become a member of the family of God by attending church. You become a member of the family of Cannes by birth. Again I wonder where the minds of some of these preachers are. I picked up a pamphlet I'm not sure just what it was a member reading this week and the man said thank God I've been born again I've been adopted into the family of God. You would not adopted into the family of God. God does not take wayward sinners and just make a legal document. They must be born of God. God does not use the term we use the adoption has no meaning whatsoever of taking a simple person in a document into the family adoption has to do his son said a berth into the family and our legal age of put into a position of adoption -placed as sons- with the same authority as the father or it you were not going to go to haven't just because Jesus made provision. Because he paid a tremendous price. I saw a little girl in the newspaper the other day if somehow we could reach her I would adopt her but she would always be an adopted child. Seven years of age left without no family over there at terrible tragedy that destroyed 130,000. 150,000 he keeps going up and up. There's really no end to it. But what I saw that little girl in a sad look in her face and very pretty little girl such a sad look somehow if we could reach her how would adopt her but she would be an adopted child. She would never be one that is a part of the family other than by a legal document. God does not just have legal children he has birth children you must be born again. I recall that accuse ago when my daughter Lori was very small I cannot be really the but she asked me one day that he and my adopted I said Laurie if you was an adopted child I would have taking you back on a new creation if the quality of life ago. Born of God walk in newness of life second Corinthians 517 if any man be in Christ he is a new creature old things are passed away behold all things are become due. There are three very important mosques in the Bibl there are three that are most important. One of them being Jesus said to John to reimburse seven you must be born again marvel not that I said I'm to you you must be born ag again you cannot walk with God without being born of God. You can walk with Christians. It's walk with the church. He can one concern religions, but to walk with God he must be born of 10. Marvel not this and he even must be born again. You must worship him in spirit and in truth. John four and 24. There's only one way to worship God. You can sit here singsong split if it is not coming from the Spirit part of you it is all for and ritual. The only way that you can worship God is my spirit. Must worship in spirit and in truth for God is the spirit. How many are listening? Must be born of God must worship him in spirit and truth. And you must believe. Hebrews 11 and verse six without faith it is impossible to please him for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is the border of them that diligently seek him. Though the Bible doesn't say this or emphasize it by saying modest but there is any command that goes along with these 3 miles the command is to be filled with spear. How many know it's a command? There is a vast difference between being born in the spirit mean baptize by despair. Somebody was saying just the other day on the radio that every Christian that has been born of God is filled with the spirit. That is not scriptural. The early disciples wherever they went or always encouraging believers to receive the infilling of the spirit. Peter stood on the day of Pentecost preaching to the multitudes and Peter gave them a lesson that it is not just a matter of having since fermented and been born of God but should need to be filled with despair and it wasn't just for them. And I hear people say all that was all done. No ex measure marked that is not all done because God is still pouring out his spirit upon the ground that is Thursday the ground that is dry. He ever wonder why people don't receive the Holy Ghost? It is because they get don to shout me down'et much of the world. But we need to be filled with us. However we to walk with God? They that walk in the flesh cannot please count. You need to be filled. So walking in this of life means having the life of God manifested in you. Now I realize that this message is not just for the run-of-the-mill I'm talking about a people and get ready them to be in the bride. He was not. And the reason why he wasn't was because he walk with God and the police God and if there's going to be a body of equal to be a fulfillment of the that tie they had to walk with God and please God not according to what they think the court with the Bible says. While not after the flesh Romans eight and verse one. There is therefore now no condemnation to them that walk not after the flesh but after this. Perio a told you this before a lot of he didn't hear it 1-92 for one to it one of the trips that we are taking near his eye and and happened to be near the time of chapel service and I decided that I would go in and one of the faculty members was preaching that day. Any use at first a Scripture there is there for now no condemnation to them or Christ Jesus. And he made it very definite. And he began to go on that there is fornication going on among some of you but you don't have to worry about some of that because you're in Christ Jesus. There is now caught no condemnation to them or Christ Jesus. I set Sr. Brinkman knows sister can wonder why Sister Gibson didn't get up. Sister Gibson made a still maligned and it was good and it was right. You're not going to go on to haven't just because you mouse sometimes platitudes. Walk not after the flash. Verse eight since sold in Seoul than they that are in the flesh cannot want? Can not please God cannot please God. To see how important it is for us to have this bird of God and is not walking after the flesh to please God. I was the likely White House the other day in her demands that it was this raw flesh that causes us all the trouble. It is not this game. When he talks about flesh in the Bible he is not talking about the scan this can never gave me any trouble against can all eligible. It is a carnal nature that fleshly nature in the flesh the carnal man cannot please God! Flash cannot! God. It is not the body it is the man inside the soul. The soul in dozens of the body that since the soul that seems it shall die. Now for we come to know God we have about a way of the sole inhabitants. Period are you listening? You that were dead and trespass and sends what is he talking about? Is that time of the flesh being and he stunned about the spirit that which makes contact with the we were dead and trespass as incense and he put into less new life the life of Jesus. And that is what pleases God collations talks about walking in the spirit and you shall not fulfill the loss of the flesh. In the view have a problem to last? Have any problem with a carnal nature? Have you troubled flying off the handle and stick it in the walled vibrating? Walk to spirit! You shall not fulfill the last of the flesh thirdly walk honestly Romans 1313. The word honestly in the Greek has in the eye idea of becoming Lee walked becoming Lee walked recently want a brightly. For to the social life in the Gentile. Contrasted by the confusion that is going by end the churches or he said walked differently from the Gentiles walk differently from the run-of-the-mill in the church. Won't circumspectly. Walk honestly what a brightly. Titus two and 12 says we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world. All that doesn't mean 10. If you see. You are going to beat a lot of people that are saved as if I but there has to be a turnaround from where many of them are a use of the the same if I appeared in the times have wasted behind the status and told you to hold her church is not going to be translated out of here like. There's going to be a very small number. That will find that straight and narrow way. The church will go through any time persecution to cleanse it from the its worldly miss. From its flash cities. And then there's three and half years of tremendous judgment. The first half years of the tribulation is persecution given the church ready refined. The last 3 1/2 years is a time of the judgment of God poured out and is starring this time that a number that is who global John couldn't put a number to it and they came out those old Tommy there isn't going to be any saved artist time. He hear the consensus today everyone is going to go flying out of here. The book says that some of them be persecuted and there's some that I got a taste of the wrath of God and is only at that time they washed their robes and make them why in the blood at land. I I don't know about you I would rather listened to the word and straighten up. And be counted worthy walk by faith second credit whose five and seven cents fully walk by faith by the word we walk by faith and not my site. You don't measure yourself by someone else. This is a personal relationship with you and God. For one that your measure yourself why might not be making it. Walk by faith. The walk of faith. By faith we learned how to law. I do learn to please God? I safely receive revelation that helps us to understand the truth how we ought to walk. Are you listening? Probably someone appreciate this until after it's too late but you remember me saying this because we are near to the time when some people are going to be leaving here. Some are going to be leading. Not all. That is a total distortion of true they say everybody is going to go flying out of here. By faith we learned how we ought to walk by faith receives strength to hawk. We sang just a little while ago I can't even walk. I need him I'd need his strength to help me to walk to please him. Ready want to be in the pride? Is that a motivation? To help you to want to live to please him? Hey are you satisfied just to be saved and go ahead and hold on hanging around but if you want to become support to escape all these things get. Lord help someone to understand the truth of God's Word. Hey if I told you to today and goodbye everyone of you a Cadillac probably some of you would be underway right now to the dealership. I am putting this for you the promise of God that some of you are going to be in union with some of cannot. Isn't that a motivation enough to want to be a part of that? And we see that we understand that how? By faith. Walk by faith in Going back to our scripture that we read the whole thing is involved with faith. Hebrews 11 chapter and fourth first talks about able offering Pentagon more excellent sacrifice. How do you worship? By fee. By faith people offered. We worshiped on by faith and they says even a clump of God. How did he want to God! He walked by faith. And this has no looking warned of God prepared an art. No one worked there has to be a faith that has inspired us to worship God to walk with God and to work forgot. To tell me that it's all done. As far as his part what he said it is finished it was finished but as far as our pot we are in process until that day. The fifth and walk worthy. Ephesians 4 verse one rating down to verse three for this cause sorry verse one of Chapter 4. Therefore the prisoner of warned the siege you that you walk worthy of the vocation walk worthy of the vocation where the air called with all loneliness time is how to lock walk worthy with all leaders in the lease and long-suffering and every to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. But everybody else do it. Know if you are a believer and you're going to walk with God to please God you're going to have to do these things. When all loneliness and weakness and long-suffering for marijuana and other end of endeavoring to keep the unity of this period. One of the Greek words in his use concerned while is to walk a straight line you heard me a man's testimony. The way still straight the way still narrow and it still says only few will fight. Walk in a straight line. To be worthy. Walk by a rule. Now some say about coming to live at the delivered center who they read in the rule says in a still can't live my that. You know used to be in the homes when the children get a more live by the rule that dads would go to the door and say there's the doors on. If you live in this house is going to live by our rules is what got us immediately by his rules. If you can please add you to live by his rules. Isn't this good? Don't expect you to get all excited and jump out to them. Philippians 3/16 says let us walk by the same one? Let us walk by the same one? If you have it say it rules! Oh wait I want a new rules. If you're going to please and you want to walk according to his role. You can walk with God and he was not forgot to can and before his translation he had this test one that please cut under the please God he want with it. Ephesians 5 and $.15 walk circumspectly in the word in the Greek has to do with want accurately walk according to the rule want carefully locked diligently walk exactly want perfectly. These are all times a use concerned that term circumspectly. To expect the cushion to be an example of Christ? Will in the world looks at you to the sea Christ who they see the world. Servers the Greeks came shouting sirs we would see Jesus. Hey Phillip you should've been showing Christ. He should've been such an example to them that they would have meant pleased to see Christ in him. But they realized he was I came in so they said we want to see Jesus. Camby show to the world. Is there need to show to the world especially in this hour. You know what the world is thinking? Anyone that goes to church today is considered a Christian. And they say those Christians they are played by homosexuals. Christiansen plagued by homosexuals. The Catholic Church may be. They're all kinds of things going on there may be crooks. Some say to me what about Jimmy Swaggart he was a Christian who I wonder where he was he simply got exposed for what he was in the world today still at tax the church who was it a kids playing. What we would now in Ohio right after he was exposed we went out Ohio we could hardly big people to come in the content a few Christians. Centers and outgoing to come hey this guy's just like Jimmy Swaggart. We get the team they played the game. And this is a sad thing for Bo Dole church today Christians are blamed for all the senators foolishness they're still a genuine they're still pure there's still a genuine that wants to live for God live a separate life with the please him more than anything else. And I'm if a walk in love of the Ephesians five says Lee therefore followers of God walk in love as Christ also has loved us and giving himself himself for us and offering and the sacrifice to God for suits really savor won't end of period love. The word followers there had degree carries the idea of imitating. In this be like him a fee shoes walk like he walked. I've spent a lot of time apparent to help you to make it. There's some better going to please count. And how are you going to please God? By walking according to the rule book. Walk in love as Christ also walked. He's our example. You might say to me, Brother Reynolds, and somebody said that he can't recall who was but we're all putting the 10 up and if you've ever been around the Tarantino that we have some big holes they go almost 35 feet into the air 6 inch steel and they are heavy if you don't think so come by next time that help resurrect it. And I don't recall altogether what happened but I raise my voice when I saw danger of sort into his brother announced you raise your voice. When you're working with a group of men and you realize that somebody could be hurt you might raise your voice. Not that you angry or upset but you're simply trying to save the situation. Anybody listening? Walk to love as Christ also has loved us. And hath given himself. Listen. Without love you can have all the faith in the world to still be nothing. Without love you to give your body to be barred get everything you have it will profit you have. This is what the word of God says. A combination of faith alone, hope to which is based on Grace in the greatest of these is love him. This is not soft spongy. Like to see walk a and all walk flat-footed? Ever see and walk on his toes. Get down your feet. It is all right for what that's why they make those big heels. Walk in love. Love as Christ loved. And it all up walked the please God. First Thessalonians the fourth chapter for the more we beseech you brother who that yet received of us how he ought to law. How you ought to walk. We've given you to teach youth the lessons to how to as you have received of us how you ought to want and to please God. How he can please God? Walking according to the truth. First-round ones that looses walk in the light first John 26 as a walk as Christ walked. Search on inverse forces walking truth. If we walk like this we will know the secret of please.. God. If you walk according to the truth you can please God. You see well if I go to church doesn't have please God? It all that pleases yourself. God is going to be God when you have go to church or not. What pleases God is when you leave church and you walk like Christ. Did. If you walked like you want if you walk according to the book you'll please God and if you please cut God. To understand what is saying to you? Dentist in the word is saying to you. If you want to please God you will be not for God is going to take you. It won't be warm and some ago and could be missing. For two milk are taken one is taken you the last. To earn a bed was taken in his left. It's not the social life is his spiritual life. The be a part of that number? Is it by the Reynolds I don't think it is necessary for us to do all those sings. Will wait for the tribulation to come to me that. If you wanna be a part. Remember when she said to get out of here to escape all of this to escape the whole tribulation our to be counted worthy he listed although sings undergone to happen to the tribulation and he ends it all up and saying watch and pray that you be counted worthy to escape all these things and to stand before the son of man. Let's pray.# The Way of the Eagle **The Way of the Eagle** Rev. James R. Reynolds. Sr. Proverbs 30 verse 18 says, ---read verses 18-19……. Using the phrase there in verse 19 the first part of that verse "the way of an eagle", "the way of an eagle." I ask my wife if she would stand and pray… The way of the eagle. In Deuteronomy 32 verses 11-12, Moses under divine inspiration is singing this song. This 32 chapter is a song and he has caught the inspiration of this great theme here and in this 11& 12 verse "as an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, bareth them on her wings, so the Lord." That is Moses under inspiration of the Spirit of God is comparing the great eagle and the care of the eagle for its young… in training…comparing it to God Himself. The eagle portrays God more than any other bird. There is no reference to birds in comparison to God throughout the book, but the Bible teaches us that the eagle is symbolic of God. Many things in connection with that, one of them being the beauty and majesty of the eagle. Now this is a handmade, and I'm sure some of you realize that this is not an exact replica…but it serves to us a little to us what the eagle is like. Now you have to really understand somewhat about the eagle. It's a beautiful bird. Not only in flight, but its a beauty bird in itself. And they tell us that if the bird didn't have certain elements it wouldn't look as majestic, but most eagles, and I see that the architect or whoever made this didn't really do justice, but it makes the eagle, because of that bone structure over the eye…it makes him look majestic. Has anyone ever seen an eagle? Now there are some folks that miss an eagle and they think sometimes that hawks are eagles. Reading one time of a man saying that the folks he was staying with…"oh…there's an eagle flying." And so excitedly, because he liked the eagle he said he went outside and all to once he seen this big bird flapping its wings, he said, "that's not an eagle that's a hawk."…Amen, there's something majestic about the eagle. Also there is the strength of the eagle in battle. This is why it is known as the "king of the birds." Like the lion is known as the "king of the beasts," the eagle is known as the "king of birds." The majesty or majesticness of the eagle in flight if you ever watched an eagle soar, and I've done that and watched them and I think its the most beautiful thing just watched them, they don't' flap, they just soar… The mastery of the awesome forces of the wind. No other bird does what the eagle does. Now these are all lessons as we get into it you'll see as we develop it that we come to this aspect, the compassion. There's no other bird that has such compassion upon its young as the eagle. Hawks and vultures even will hatch their young and go off and leave them, but not the eagle. Are you listening? And so we see here the All-Seeing Eye. The eyesight is also type of God, Himself and also these things have to do with the believer. The first thing is I have been saying to you as I have annouced this night after night. An eagle has to be born an eagle. They don't join the eagle family and you can't make a vulture…though it has somewhat of distinguishing aspects of the eagle…there is no comparison…you can't make a vulture an eagle. You can't make a hawk..though it has some aspects of an eagle…the eagle has to be born or hatched an eagle. I'm saying to you tonite you have to be born an eagle christian. You have to be born into this, you don't join it. You don't sign a log and become a member. You can take all of the things that Christians do and often times I think this a failure, because people say…"well I do all that the Christian does, why am I not a Christian" …It matters not what you try to do to be a Christian….you have to be "born again." You have to be born of God to have His nature…Can you say, "Amen?" So the eagle being the "King of Birds," shows to us some tremendous aspects of the Christian life. When the Scripture makes reference to the eagle, it is referring to the "golden eagle" or the "imperial eagle." Now…I won't take the time to go through all the different eagles, but there are many. I think here in our state they refer to the "bald eagle." But throughout Scripture, over and over again He is referring to these two types of eagles , the golden eagle. The reason why it is called the "golden eagle" because after a certian age , it develops a golden crown…dear God… And the "imperial eagle" has strength and that indicates of that imperial power, that which is in control. Now speaking of the "golden eagle," gold is always a type of Divinity. Hello? The Christian is a partaker of the Divine Nature and the more we partake the more we develop into what God wants us to be. How many of you know that just to be a Believer does not does not put you intot the category of a close realtionship with Him in Heaven? Now I hear this all the time, that anyone thats in the church is going to be married to Christ….You don't find that in Scripture, they read that in there. And in the eagle is a great example of this. And so the Believer becomes a partaker of the nature of God in new birth, but it doesn't stop there. Peter says that we become partakers of the nature of God the very characteristics of God by these great and precious promises, having escaped the corruption that is out there in the world …thank God!!! And ah you partook perhaps many years ago but how about tonite..but how about tonite? .amen….just like the eagle grows, so the believer has to grow and develop. When they first hatch, they are nothing but a fuzzy ball, very white, the feathers are very white, very fluffy. And they remain like that for several weeks, but finally they shed that fuziinees and begin to sprout soem real feathers…Are you lisitnening to me?….Aren't you glad that there is a changing and you are not always a babe and that you dont'have to have someone always bring you meat and tending to you….Amen, dear God… Now the "imperial" is that one that has power and authority. And the Scripture tells us that He has given us some power and authority over the Devil..All ..What's that? All. How many believe that? This is why I beleiver the reason God used these two eagles throughout Scripture, because of the golden nature. And also of the imperial nature, because He wants His Believers to be like Himslef, but also to have power over al the power of the Enemy. How many of you know that there is difference between "power" and "authority?" Now the Bible says that the Devil has "power", but He says He gave us "power" and "authority" over all the "powers" of the Enemy. I often use this illustration and probably some of you get tired of hearing it, but it illustrates what I want. You take an eighteen wheeler with 40 ton of steel on it going down the road, 60 mph…you would have to agree that's some "power." Right? Now if it passes through an area where it says 35 and he continues to go 60 and a liitle fellow standing the side of the road that has a little silve thing on his side, and he's got a whistle in his mouth. And this big eighteen wheeler with 40 ton of steel coming 60 mph down the road, thats alot of power. But this litlle guy he stands there and he "breeeeee" and you hear those big ol' air brakes come on and yuo hear the tires "screee..each," that's "authority." And He said He gave us all "power" and "authority" over the "power" of the Enemy…Amen!…dear God!!! Y'know we sometimes…I hear Christians say, "I'm afraid what the Devil is going to…," …Listen!!! I like what one fella said that was staying with me at the Center, he came downstairs one morning and he said, you know Brother Reynolds when I was praying this morning, when I first got up this morning I heard the devil said "he's up." …..Does Hell recognize when you get up? Does Hell get a little bit excited when you get up? Or do you get all excited, when the Devil comes around? He gave yu all "power" and "authority" over the "power" of the Enemy. …dear God…we need to undertand the goodness of God. Now the ealge in flight, solomon uses this and I m sure that probably many things that I won't be able to touch tonite, because you wouldn't last that long. but the eagle in flight and here Solomon said, it was so wonderful, too wonderful for him, there be three things to wonderful, then he said four things, beyond him, and he begins by saying "the way of an eagle in the air." And studying this , I found out the eagle never leaves it nest or the dwelling place, because a lot of times before a nest is ever built it finds a rock and thats his dwelling , he sits on a rock. And whne He takes a rock and never changes it. He chooses it for life…. dear God, would believers find the Rock and hold to it, and let the Rock hold them! "Amen? But in the morning hours, before the eagle ever takes it flight, it will spend one hour cleaning its wings and oiling them. It has a special gland that it secretes oil, for that one purpose. Now, in the morning, if you went around where an eagle is getting ready, you would see them taking each feather and running its beak down…its cleaning itself… I wonder how many believers that take an hour every morning to make sure their feathers are clean? Each feather that goes down and keeps working and cleaning itself. Thank God there is a fountain open in the house of David, where you can get your feathers clean. Amen? And then it begins to oil it feathers because often times eagles go after fish. And fish have a tendency to swim. Don't find too many out on the land jumping around. And so if the eagle would go down and get involved with that water, if it didn't oil itself, the water would make its feathers too heavy, so it couldn't carry its prey….Isn't God something? But I thougt as I was studying that through, the eagle cleaning itself and then oiling itself. Listen!!! We shold never leave home, we should never begin to face the day without fresh oil from the throne. Can you say "Amen?" We need the oil of the Holy Ghost. We need the power of God breathing in us and through us. Amen? Alot of folks get themselves in trouble, cause they dont' prepare for the day. Clean your feathers! Oil your feathers! The Devil would like to swamp you…keep you from being able to soar. Are you listening? Isaiah the Prophet said, we sang it just a little while ago, "they that wait upon the Lord, shall mount up…" Listen! An hour isn't long. I've found that an hour is too short. I like at least three hours in the morning to clean my feathers. And get them well oiled. And…I 've had people say… how can you pray that long?…dear God…there's time after two or three hours that I wish I had more time….so muhc demand upon your time. Well, I like to go on through to the Throne, hang on a little while…Is any one listening to me? Dear God…we get so busy…we get so rushed…Take an hour in the morning and clean your feathers and oil them up real good….because you'll find the Devil out there somewhere trying to water you down, wet you down, so you can't soar. Amen? The eagle becomes a master of the use of the wind. Utilizing currents, not available at altitudes of lower levels. The eagle finds currents of a high altitude that most birds never come near….oh dear God…you are not hearing me… Nothing to see an eagle almost out of sight. Up there, just gliding…Its caught and utilizing the wind. Jesus said "the wind bloweth were it listeth and thou hearest the sound, but cant tell which way it cometh or where its going, so is everyone that is born of the…" Hey, I can't soar, but if I can catch one of those currents in the Spirit…boy, I can go high! How many want to go high? How many really want to soar into the heavenlies? He said "He picked us up and made us sit together in heavenly places." There's a high place that God wants to bring us into. But we have to utilize the force of the wind, to master the force of the wind, sail… See, once an eagle gets in flight you will never see it flapping its wings. The eyes of the eagle. The eagle has the ability to focus on objects several miles away. We don't have that in the natural, but the eagle has. God put it into it an ability to focus, change the focus, so that its like a telescope. Anybody look through an telescope? And you turn it so you can focus in real well. God put something in the eye of the eagle, so that he can see several miles off, just as clear as if he was there. When I was up fishing with my brother, we were up there beyond Millnockett somewhere, up a little stream. I think Annebelle was there. Remember when we were out in the boat? I saw this eagle up there, you could hardly see it , it was up there so far, it was just a little speck , and it was kind of soaring around. I think it was my brother who called my attention to it and I saw, and the next thing I knew, my brother said, "look at that", and I looked up just to see this thing, it came from way out there down and hit that water and it came up out of there with a great big sucker, that thing must have been that (i.e very big) long. Right? And when he came up out of there, …and he was just skimming the water, I mean that thing was so big…it probably weighed more than he did. And he just skimming the water. But just as soon as he got up, so he got into that current….. But he saw that, he saw that, way up there. Bang, he had that thing. I mean he came down…it must have been a mile or more. Dear God…eyesight….Beautiful! He can see afar off. I'm not talking about an eagle…dear God… we are so nearsighted we trip over our own feet. Hey, how many of you remember reading about Abraham? Now that was a great, old eagle. He saw the place, he saw the place, he saw the place afar off. Calvary was a long way off, but it says he saw the place afar off. And Jesus latter on said, "Abraham looked to see my day and the Scribes and the Pharisees said, 'you are not 50 years old'" but He said, "Abraham looked to see my day"…but when did he see it? He saw it with those 'telescopic eyes', he could look down the pages of history and see into prophecy, see into the future, and God wants His believers to see things that the natural eye, the carnal eye cant see. Sometimes you read this Book and all to once you begin to get things out of there, the natural eye can not perceive….dear God… He cause yu to see afar off. Amen? Oh yea, there are alot of things happening right now, God is helping us to see and understand. Oh yea…getting us ready to get out of here. The eyes of the eagle not only can see afar off, but also God has put in there a fluid that is affected by a magnetic force. Isn't that… straight? And that magnetic force is always affected, or the eagle's eyes is always affected by the magnetic pull of the North Pole, just like a compass. You take it out, why do men use a compass? Because it always gives you exact place and God has put into the eagles eye, so no matter where he goes, he can always designate, find his way back. And more than that, it keeps him on course! God has given some eyes, so to keep us on course. And no wonder David said, "Your lamp, your lamp is a light unto my feet and a light to my path." Amen? Oh yea…dear God… oh yea…oh yea…Amen! It's a wonderful thing to know that God wants us to stay on course. I don't know about you, but there is something that God might not be in my eye, but He has put something in my spirit. Boy, when I see people veering off, I have no intentions of going that way. He keeps me on course. That doesnt mean we don't have any struggles and we dont have some storms and we don't have some winds, but it keeps us on course…Oh yea, I know where I'm going..and I know how I'm getting there…and I am determined, I 've made up my mind, I'm going through with Jesus all the way. Amen?! It matters not if the preachers don't go, and it matters not that the deacons don't go, it matters not that if the Church doesn't want to go, I'm going to keep focused. There is something pulling , something drawing….it's like that magnetic force…its pulling me…o' listen…dear God…I want you to know there is something in the heart of the Beleiver that God keeps pulling on. Amen! A young boy one time, he was out flying a kite and it was a real cloudy day. And the kite went way up above the clouds way out of sight and he is standing there. And a man came along and said, "son, what are you doing?" and he says, "I'm flying my kite." He says, "you are doing what?" He says, "I'm flying my kite." He says, "I don't see any kite. How do you know there's a kite up there?" He says, " I feel the tug on the line…. I feel the tug on the line."…dear God…Does anyone feel the tug on the line, tonight? The eagles eye is covered with two lenses. Two. All other birds have one, but the eagle, God gave them, two lenses. See God did something very special, because He knew it was going to be a type of Himself and of the Believer. Now the eagle will use one of his eyelids at all time when he is in flight. Or when he is searching for prey or food. But at times he wants to soar and soar right into the sun. He's the only bird that can look directly into the sun, because when he focuses in to fly right into the rays of the sun, he pulls that second eyelid down and he can look right into the sun. It's like sunglasses. Built in sunglasses. You must understand God is a great God. And all the world out there they can't see Him. They can't look at the sun. They can't focus in on Him, but God has given to us a special eyesight folks. If you can see Him tonight, you can focus in on Him , you ought to be thanking God. God you gave me the ability to look at the sun and to see Him in His fullness and enjoy His presence….Dear God. Another thing, about having this ability, sometimes a group of vultures will attack an eagle. And all he does, is pull that second set of eyelids down and soar right into the sun. And they have to leave him alone, they can't follow him….You get those vultures on your tail, head right into the sun. I know this blesses me more than it does you…dear God. The eagles diet is so much different from any other bird. The eagles diet is the source of its strength. How many of you have heard the expression, "you are what you eat?" Did you ever hear that…"you are what you eat?" And our strength depends upon what we eat. Now you can suck on a lollilop or eat icecream and it might taste good, but it won't do much work. An eagle needs alot of strength in those great pinions, so it has to have a good diet. Are you listening? Now the eagle does not eat like other birds. Hawks will find a rabbit that has been dead out in the sun…for maybe days. Do you know what happens to meat when it is out in the sun? It gots some of those little white crawly things. How many of you like that kind of meat? But a hawk, a vulture, will not attack something living. It will circle around it and wait. If it sees it is in trouble, it will wait its time until it is dead. It likes that which is dead. Not so with the eagle….dear God. Now it chooses its food. It doesn't just go flying out and see a fish down there and attack it or a rabbit. It decides before it ever leaves it rock. It knows what it needs. It knows what it has a hankering for. It might be a fish today. It might be a rabbit tomorrow. It might be a lamb the next day. It might be a deer. So he doesn't eat what he finds, he finds what he wants to eat. Boy there is some good things to find in here. Amen. What will make you strong…its not eating old meat, maggoty. See an eagle will not eat anything that is dead of itself, it has got to eat something that still has life in it. Fresh meat. Fresh revelation. I remember the first time I went down South and started to share something with the preachers, and they said, "Where did you get that from Brother Reynolds?" I got it by looking for it. I went looking for ….dear God….Aaamen! The Christian needs fresh meat. You need it! It will make you strong! When the Enemy comes against you….Outrun me, go by me , such force, gone, just gone, running, just gonna run the race, and win the race. And pretty quick you see them running back the other way just as fast as they were going this way. What happened? They lost their strength. What is it that keeps you going? Its getting hold of some food that will fill your soul and make you strong , so that you can face the currents of life, the rejection, all the things that come against you, the attacks of the vultures, and even the snakes. One of the things that Solomon spoke about here was, he said "that it was too much for me to see the Serpent on the rock." That's a message all in of itself. Boy, I want you to know that the slippery, slimey Serpent is on the rock today. He is using Truth to deceive and to destroy. Amen?!!! Dear God…. Gotta have some fresh meat. Over in Hebrews…and I like this good…real good…This is from the Amplified and he says in Hebrews 4 and verse 12: "FOR THE WORD THAT GOD SPEAKS"….now in the King James it says… "THE WORD OF GOD IS QUICK AND POWERFUL" …but I like this, now FOR THE WORD THAT GOD SPEAKS IS ALIVE AND FULL OF POWER." "THE WORD THAT GOD SPEAKS" The book says of itself, the letter killeth but the Spirit giveth life. God can cause this book to talk to you. And God can speak to your spirit. And here in this Amplified, catch this for a minute… "FOR THE WORD THAT GOD SPEAKS IS ALIVE AND FULL OF POWER;" making it active; operative, energizing, and effective. I dont know if this has ever happened to you, but it has happened to me so many times. My wife and I used to do a lot of evangelistic work before we started the Center.# Three Confessions August 18, 2007, Saturday Pm TITLE: Three Confessions TEXT: Philippians 2:5-11 (87 people) And that EVERY tongue Shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord JESUS Call His Name, Speak His Name, & He will save He has come to save you. Call His name and He will bring redemption to yoru soul He will also bring HEALLING to you CHRIST As Christ He is the BAPTIZER Matthew 3:11 It is expedient for you that I go away, I will send the HOLY GHOST ACTS 2:33 LORD As Lord He is Supreme Master, Ruler# Wedding Customs of the Jews in Relation to Christ Revelation 19:7-9 Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. ## The Bridegroom Makes the Choice In studying the betrothal and wedding customs, I have found tradition required that the groom make the arrangements and choice. It is He Who chose us and not the other way around. When the groom visited the house of the one he had chosen to be his bride, he was to bring three things with him: 1) a large sum of money to pay the price of the bride 2) a marriage contract or covenant and 3) a skin of wine. ## A Large Sum of Money was Paid for the Bride Jesus paid a large sum with His blood! > 1 Corinthians 6:20—For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. > 1 Peter 1:18-19—Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: ## A Marriage Contract was Made. The marriage contract Christ brought is the New Testament which is the New Covenant which superseded the old. > Matthew 26:28—For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. ## A Skin of Wine was Brought. > John 7:37,38—In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. ## The Contract would be Laid Out and Discussed. The Gospel message has been laid out and discussed for over 2000 years. ## The Daughter Signified her Approval by Drinking the Wine. On the Day of Pentecost they drank the wine that He sent. > Acts 2:15-18—Ac 2:15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: ## At this Point the Groom and Bride were officially betrothed. This union, though not a marriage yet, could only be dissolved by a decree of divorce. If the bride was found to be unfaithful in anyway, she was put away. Jesus said of the church in Revelation 3:16, "I will spue you out of My mouth". ## The Bridegroom would Depart and Begin Preparation of the Wedding Chamber. > John 14:2—In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ## The Bride would Spend a Year in Preparation. She would go through cleansing and purification rituals. Remember Esther? > Esther 2:12—Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;) > Psalm 45:9—Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir. ## The Bridegroom would Select Two to be Witnesses One witness would make sure the Bride would be accompanied to the wedding and the other would remain with the bridegroom. The Holy Ghost has come to prepare and escort the Bride to the Groom, as Abraham sent his servant (Genesis 24:4). Sometimes it in Jews custom it was even the father who would go the Bride. Samson sent his father to make his arrangements (Judges 14:3). ## The Marriage Contract Presented At the wedding ceremony the bridegroom would present a second contract that contained the promises the groom pledged to the Bride. ## The Wedding Chamber After the Ceremony the Bride and Bridegroom would stay for a period of time in the wedding chamber. ## The Marriage Supper When the Bridegroom and the Bride come out of the wedding chamber, the wedding feast would begin. The celebration and feast were for invited guests only. Anyone not invited would be cast out of the party.# What the Bible Says About Cutting the Body Taught by Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. on Wednesday, December 8, 1999 at the Deliverance Center ## INTRODUCTION **TEXT:** Leviticus 19:28 > You shall not make any **cuttings** in your flesh for the dead, nor **print** or **tattoo** any **marks** upon you; I AM the LORD. \[Amplified\] Leviticus 21:5—*They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they share off the corner of their beard, nor make any **cuttings** in their flesh*. \[King James Version\] Deuteronomy 14:1—*Ye are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not **cut** yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead*. \[KJV\] - "Cut" HEBREW "gadad" - meaning to cut as of by pressing into; to **pierce**

Most people do not realize that piercing and tattooing the body has its roots in witchcraft and false religions

## I. *Cutting* in Relation to the Body **READ Isaiah 3:16-24 \[Amplified\].** From verse 20**, "**The headbands, the short stepping — chains (attached from one foot to the other to insure a measured gait), the sashes, the perfume boxes, the amulets or charms (suspended from the ears or neck)." Wearing earrings and, therefore, piercing the lobes, is an ancient practice. Most parts of the body have been pierced and tattooed for various magical and religious reasons throughout the ages. ## II. *Cutting* in Relation to the Dead This dark rite mentioned in Leviticus 19:28 was performed to mourn or remember the dead. Cutting, piercing and tattooing have their origin in witchcraft practices of communicating with the dead. This is part of what makes this practice spiritually dangerous. ## III. *Cutting* in Relation to Satanic Invitation Ears may have been among the first, along with the nose, which is still pierced in India for protection of evil spirits. According to magical arts, evil spirits were thought to be able to enter the body through any of its openings and take control. **The first earrings were probably worn to bar the way to these spirits**. Satan is a liar and a deceiver instead of these items protecting an individual from evil spirits, they are actually attracting evil spirits. **Piercing the body opens the door and is an invitation for Satanic attack.** Hosea 2:13—\[Israel\] *decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgat Me, saith the LORD."* Who was her lover? It was essentially satan. She committed spiritually adultery and 'forgot' God. ## IV. *Cutting* in Relation to Witchcraft Folklore surrounds the practice of piercing the ears. In folklore, pierced ears and earrings in general are often recommended - to strengthen weak eyes. (If set with emeralds, they are particularly effective.) - Gold earrings are often worn by those wishing to cure headaches, though some say to wear one gold earring and one silver for this purpose. Concerning pierced ears, a former witch, David Meyer, reports, "I think it is interesting to note at this point that Hillary Clinton said that she did not allow Chelsea to have her ears pierced until she was 13. It is a known fact among occultists that when a girl is 13, she is taken into what is called the "outer court" of a coven, and the token of this child becoming a neophyte witch is the piercing of the ears." A former Hindu who knows only too well that body piercing and tattoos are a form of witchcraft stated, "I am from Malaysia…since I was formerly a Hindu, I know tattoo is from Hinduism and also witchcraft. Also, Hindus pierce their tongue with small spears and prick the entire body with little hooks and go in trances. I have witnessed this personally." ## V. *Cutting* in Relation to Bondage Earrings were also a symbol of slavery. A pierced ear is the sign of a slave who had earned freedom, but chose to remain enslaved. **READ** Exodus 21:1-6 and Deuteronomy 15:17. God told Jacob to go to Bethel and build an altar. In Genesis 35:1-4, when Jacob and his household were ready to seek God, got rid of all their earrings and idols. **READ** Exodus 33:1-6, I Timothy 2:9,10 and I Peter 3:1-6. ## VI. *Cutting* in Relation to Rebellion God says not to do it; therefore, if you do it then you are in **rebellion**to God. Today, this practice is widespread because of false religions and pagan influences infiltrating the Church. Christians tattooing and piercing their bodies is not an act of holy worship, but is actually the exact opposite. I Corinthians 6:19,20—*What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore* *glorify God in your body**, and in your spirit, which are God's.*\[KJV\] Many are getting piercings and tattoos in every part of the body out of a spirit of rebellion. Many males are also wearing earrings to make a statement of their rebellion by showing that they are "macho" or even "homosexual." ## CONCLUSION - God condemns two principles together in the very same verse: 1. The printing of marks upon your flesh (tattooing) and 2. The worldly customs of cutting the flesh (piercing). - The world itself puts pierced jewelry and tattoos in the exact same category. When a Christian walks around following the world's customs, does it not show that he/she is a slave to them? No godly woman ever got the idea to pierce her flesh for jewelry from the Bible. She got the idea from the world and the world got the idea from the witchcraft. > I John 2:15 — Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. # When Satan Attacks the Church # When Satan Attacks the Church Deliverance Center - Portland, Maine Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. Sunday am, March 20, 2011 Text: Matthew 16:18-19 Most people do not understand what is going on. The devil is busy! He goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devor. He wants to destroy. That is his main objective to jestory Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; **and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it**. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.\\\\ There are all kinds of interpretation. Some say Jsus beuilt hs church on Peter. What a poor foundation to build on! Before it was over he cursed swore I don't even know Him. The rock is nothing else than the Christ. He is the rock. God wants to talk to us today. He has been with us, Taking out of these Scrptures, the subject I want to deal with this morning, Satan attacks the church. **and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it** The reasons behind satan's attack: HE HATES THE CHRIST. Yet now because of his position, he cannot touch the Christ. Jesus said to his disciples: John 14:30 Joh 14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. He can't find a thing! Christ laid it all down, he gave itall. Satan was defeated as far as Christ was concerned at the cross. The devil may have thought and I have heard eveangelists saying hell was having a great time that day because crhist was on the Christ bu little did they realize that the cros was part of God's plan. Christ defeated the devil at the cross and brought live and victory for us. God hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness… You might sa, You aren't too trighteous! But I have no rightness of of my own , but it is His , My rghtousness is as filthy rags. Heb. 7:26 Heb 7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; I Peter 2:22 Who did NO sin. Who can stand and say, I have done no sin?!? Yo uhav eheard my testimony enough to know, I was a sinner. All have sinned and come short of the glory, but Christ never did any sin never did anything wrong. Heb 7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Is that the Christ you serve? High and holy No Sin I Peter 2:22 no sin…no guile Pure, spotless, lamb of God. One man said, My blood could save you too, but he is deluted! My blood, your blood, his blood is contaminated by Adam's sin. When Adam sinned all the world fell in the condemnation of sin, but Christ never sinned I John 3:5 He was manifested to take way our sin..in Him no sin. Satan Hates the Christ and he hates the Church. Why does satan hate the church? Because Christ lives in the church! The Scripture says, he turned his vengueance on Christ's spiritual body the church and the only way he can affect the head, who is Christ is to attach the church Christ's body. The church is a people and the building. Ephesians 2:22 for an habitation of God…. We are built together for a habitation . God come sin this building but only because YOU ARE IN HERE! Galatians 6:7,8—7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting What a difference! Sow to the spirit reap life, sow to flesh reap death. Must be born again, John 3:3 born of the flesh is flesh, born of the spirit. sAtian is a spoiler, He knows that any attempt to produce the spiritual life through carnal effort is an abomination to God. the devil wants you to exercise the flesh which is an abomination to God. God hates the flesh. You can't work the work of God through the flesh. So satan knows that any attempt to produce the spiritual work thorugh the flesh is an abomination so satan does everything in his power to cause the flesh to so called, "glorify God. " We see all kinds of it. They are on the radio and television what is so called 'the church' but in reality that church could go on without EVETR seeing the spirit move. It is moving in the flesh and God's hates the flesh. Looking at the church. Much of what is being produced is in the flesh. God rejects that which is done in the flesh. Satin is a deceiver he has always been a deceiver from the beginning when he deceived Eve. I t is amazing traveling to the universities to and seeing young people preparing themselves to carry 'garbage.' They re so filled with this evolution! I didn't come form a monkey and yo udidn't either. WE came from Adam and Eve and had Adam and Eve not failed we would be different. But now because of Christ, we ahv ea chance. Much of what the devil has done has been done from the flesh. The devil told eve, eat the flruit and you will be lIKE GOD. The same thing He is dong to the church, God is lieing to you, keeping something from you, the devil is lieing, deceiving. God accepts only that which is done by the Spirit. If you want to follow the devil, this is where he ends up…. Rev. 20:10 IN the lake of fire…hwere the BEAST and the FALSE PROPHET are… What company! You will have no friends in hell. Satan is a liar John 8:44 Ya are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father, you will do, when he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it. Do not loan your vocal cords to the devil. If you have faound yhourself telling something untran ue quickly say Jesus forgive me! He is a liar and a father of it! Where do lies come form? From the devil. H is lieing to the church today. One man stood behind the microfphone on the television, " I am no trhying to tell you that I ma lIKE God. What I am trhying to tell you is, I AM GOD." He is a devil and a liar inspired of hell. You never will be God, never was. You can be like God, conromed to his character and nature, but onlyh HIe is God. AT Calvary Christ laid down His physical body. "If you be the Christ, save yourself and save us." He could have saved himself, but doing so would not have saved them or us. The only proviosn was in Christ laying down His life for us. On the day of Pentecost He took another body. The church has become the meeting place of God and mans. If yo have been born of God, He is in you. Christ of God, went to the Cross and laid down his physical body, but on the day of Pentecost by the Spirit of God He came into the Body His church. We are the meeting place of God. A steeple does not make a church, the poepl eof God are the church and the church is to be HOLY. The Church is to be Holy even as "I am holy." Ephesians 2:21 This is why He gave these ministries for the perfecting of the church. Prophets, Evangelists, Apostles, Teaching Pastors. I had an opportunity when we are back many ears ago and the evangelist that we had, was teaching you things that were not in the Scripture. I didn't wait till he was done, I walk ed right up to him and said sit down, I will finish it. It is the job of the Pastor to teach. We are God's temple, and because of that he attachs the church. Why doesn't he attch these others? He already has them! He I going to attach the born of God, the church. The first thing he tries to do and is prevail against the church. PREVAIL—to be strong against Christ wanted the Church to be strong and the devil wants to PREVAIL against it. But the devil cannot be strong agains the church,bc Christ has promised to be with it and protect it. He was defated and he will yet be defeated. Upon this rock, I WILL BUILD THIS CHURCH, and the gates of hell will not prevail They will try to deceive, prevail, inspire with false docgtrien, but we have a promise, the gatest of hell SHALL NOT PREVAIL. The church will still PREVAIL. It is a fortress strong against all the enemies attacks. The seond reason the devil attacks the church, The Church has been given great power to destroy satan's works. v.19 *And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven..bound/bound…loosed/loosed…* Who is he talking to? Not just Peter, but His church. The church excercises its power through faith and not through flesh, feeling. Without faith it is impossible to please God… It is not altogether the voice, sincerity, real, Holy Ghost, experience genuine. A manifestation of the Holy Ghost. Mark 11:24 It wasn't their talent and ability bu tit was the Christ. When he was here, he lived in a body, but on the day of Pentecost he came into His body. Whatsoever things he desire, pray and believe. Matthew 28:19,20 All power is given unto me in Heaven and in earth.. and lo I am with you always even unto the end of the world. The same Christ that dwelt in that physical body, dwells in his spiritual body, the church. Becareful what you listen to and give yourself to. Remember, If Christ is in us we should do the same works that He did. Is He in us? More than our Savior, He is the Lord of glory and takes up resident in us. He dwells in His body What Christ did the church should be doing. Acts 10:38 God anointed Jesus. The church should be going about healing the sick, casting out devils and working the works of Christ. AT the university and lady stood next too me with crutches and I had a an urge " lady do you want to be healed" but I said nothing. We left and wen tot monument square and up there a lady came by on crutches all bandaged up. The church must believe God for the power that He has invested in the church. The devil tries every way he can to stope the church from the doing the works Christ has called it to do. I have determined by the grace of God when someone walks by no matter what it is to Belive God. Jesus asked the man at Bethesda, Wilt thou be made whole? "there is a Christ that is still dwelling in His people and doing the same things that He did way back then." We were down in New Bedford and a woman with her young child born deaf and now 7-8 never hear d a sound in her life. I reached out my hands and put my fingers in her ears. " I curse you deaf spirit, come out. " As my wife played softely on the orgain, the little girl grabbed her mother terrified of hearing sound for the first time. Christ still opens the ears of the deaf and the eyes of the blind. All power in heaven and earth has been given to Christ. Is Christ in you? Then His power is in you. Your part is to act in faith on God's word. God is true to his Word. I remember rthe first tiem I prayed for a man after getting out of Bible school. There was a blind man on the street singing and playing his according. I thought I had what it takes, after 3 years of bible school . I got out of my car and said in the name o fJeus yees be open and nothing happened and a turned an ran back to my car and left. But one day God laid his ahdns on me and gave me power to cast out devil s, heal the blind, deaf and lame. The devil is out to deceive and devour and estory. That is why we have r eligious world that filled with entertainment instead of a religious world filled with the power of God. God manifesting his power in the lives of people and Christ is glorified, the sick healed, and the devil defeated. And I will give unto thee KEYS..what keys?…Power over all the power of the enemy. What is it going to be? Fast testimony, great singing, choirs, no **FAITH IN GOD.**# Where are Your Ears? Text: Hebrews 12:25-28 Preached by James R. Reynolds, Sr. May 15, 2011 Sunday morning. Heb 12:25 ***See that ye refuse not him that speaketh**. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:* We loan our ears to everything. What are you listening to? It is amazing how people can sit for hours and listen to stuff that does not ehlp them a bit. But the opposite, it robs them. 1. ## ***See that ye refuse not him that speaketh.*** I direction comes from God. No where else but from God. As a believer, our direction comes from God. We should be well aware of the fact that this book gives us direction and as believers, our direction comes from God. That is a solemn warning. Our ears should be in-tune to Him. Hearing him, His voice, his word. It is the will of God that we so live that we bring joy to God. This genearion has the idea that everything is for me. AS believers we should be bringing joy to God. I wonder if we are bringing joy to Him. Nehemiah 8:10 "the joy of the lord is yhour strength. You get joy when you bring joy to Him. **The life that is acceptable to God comes from HEARING his Word**. He wants us to hear His Word. And obey what He says. There are multitudes that do not want to hear the Gospel in our time. If we seek Him He will speak to us. We need to seek the Lord. Isaiah 55:6 Isa 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. We have a responsibility to direct our life based on God's Word. There is no choice in the matter. We are the clay and He is the potter. The clay has to be soft, tender, submitted. There is no room for stubbornness. Hebrews 5:8—*Though he were a Son, yet **learned he obedience** by the things which he suffered;* Ro 16:19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. . 2. ## **There are many ways to refuse him that speaketh.** 1. **Not Willing To Hear — Refuse to Hear and Listen** Matthew 13:13-15—*Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are **dull of hearing**, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.* The ears are dull of hearing and their eyes the have closed. (Just because people pass by and mock and make fun. There will come a day when God himself will bring them to judgment and they will hear then.) Zechariah 7:11—*But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.* 2 Timothy 4:4*—And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.* 2. **Not Willing To Believe Him** Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. We must walk by faith. Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 3. ### **Listening to Devilish Doctrines** Devilish doctrines come from false prophets. Devilish doctrines encourage goals of self-weill. 1Ki 22:8 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so. 9 Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah. 10 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them. 11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them. 12 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the king's hand. 13 And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good. 14 And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak. 15 So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king. 16 And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD? 17 And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace. Colossians 3:2 Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: LONGING FOR WHAT IS FORBIDDEN—covetousness, idolatry Col 3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. IT IS NOT ALRIGHT TO BE ANGRY. DON't LET IT COME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Truth is what delivers us from that which is false. John 8:32—And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 1Jo 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. Jesus is God's absolute delight. God is pleased with His Son. Matthew 3:17—*And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.* Mt 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. # World War III A sermon outline of Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. TEXT: Ezekiel 38:1-8; Luke 21:20 ## INTRODUCTION We need to know where we are, where we are headed, and what the final analysis will be. We need to be busy getting ready to get out of here. There are signs that are screaming at us. If there was ever a day the church needed to pray, it is today. It is amazing that that little patch of land called Israel is so intriguing to the countries that all the countries would be focused on it. What currently is happening with Lebanon is only a getting ready for the final push. ## 1. The Combatants Engaged In This War 1. Gog and its Allies — vs. 1-6 *WHO ARE THESE NATIONS?* 1. "Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal" Magog was a son of Japheth, a son of Noah, that migrated into the land that is now called Russia. "Gog, … the chief prince of Meshech (Moscow) and Tubal (Tobolsk) cities in Russia. "Gog, … the chief prince of" Russia. 2. Persia (now called *Iran*) 3. Ethiopia 4. Libya These Arab nations are in full allegiance with the leaders of Russia. vs. 7 says Russia — "Be thou a guard unto them." 5. Gomer — Germany "and its hordes" 6. Togarmah — Turkey "and all his bands" 2. Israel and its Allies — vs. 8,11,13 1. Against the mountains of Israel — vs. 8 2. America — vs. 10 3. "Sheba" — vs. 13 4. "Dedan" — the seafaring Phoenicians — many migrated to Europe — the British Isles — Spain 5. "Tarshish" — "with all the young lions" Identified as America, Canada, Australia, and other Western democracies as the "cubs" of Great Britain. ## 2. The Preparation For This War Great preparations are underway today to fulfill the magnitude of this war that is described in Scripture. The two great superpowers and their vast alignment of nations are seemingly in a race to prepare for this war. Both the war and its results are graphically outlined in the Bible. It is prophesied just as graphically that the nations that God uses to fight against the Russian alliance shall be devastated in the war, as well as Russia and its league of nations. 1. Russia's Preparation 1. The Soviet Navy is undergoing spectacular growth. The number of ships rose from 1,000 in 1955 to 7,000 in 1970. 2. The Soviet Army boasts a strength of 4.4 million men. A report by the Pentagon claims the U.S. is outnumbered 2-to-1 in armed forces, 4-to-1 in artillery pieces, and 5-to-1 in tanks. The Soviet Army has B-gas that effects the nervous system. 3. The Soviet Air force has 8,653 combat aircraft, 1,500 transport planes, and 1,300 Aeroflot planes. 4. The Soviet's have nuclear weapons. 2. America's Preparation 1. The U.S. is prepared for war. It has been and it will be. 2. Nuclear antisubmarine rockets, torpedoes 3. Weapons stockpiled consist of tons of thousands of nuclear weapons. ## 3. The Order Of The War 1. The Time of the War 1. "In the latter days" Ezekiel 38:16 2. "At the time of the end" Daniel 11:40 2. Russia Attacks Israel — vs. 14 1. "Riding upon horses" vs. 15 Horses in a nuclear age  gas shortage 2. Attacked by Airplanes — vs. 16 "As a cloud to cover the land" 3. Also, attacked with ships — Daniel 11:40 "With chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships." 3. The Prophets Prophesied this to Happen — vs. 17 "The prophets of Israel which prophesied" 4. God will Use His Weapons — vs. 13:4-5 "Weapons of His indignation" "The Lord of hosts mustereth the host of the battle" ## 4. This War Is Not The Battle Of Armageddon 1. Armageddon is at the end of the Tribulation — Revelation 16:16 2. Armageddon is fought in the valley of Jehosaphat — Joel 3:2,12 3. Also referred to as the Valley of Megiddo — Zechariah 12:11 4. Blood will run in the valley bridle deep for over 200 miles. Revelation 14:11 5. The Third World War will be fought on the mountains of Israel. Ezekiel 38:8 ## 5. America Will Be Involved — Isaiah 18:1-6 1. Will be Judged — vs. 1 "Woe" 2. The land is described — "the land shadowing with wings" 3. America is overseas from Israel. vs. 2 "that sendeth ambassadors by the sea" America has sent ambassadors to virtually every country in the world. 4. This is a specific message to one specific nation. - vs. 2 "A nation scattered and peeled…" - "outspread and polished" — Broad and highly developed - United into a nation — Preamble to the Constitution. "We the people of the United States, in order to set forth a more perfect union." 5. "A people terrible from their beginning" The U.S. has never lost a declared war. 6. "A nation meted out and trodden down" The U.S. is completed surveyed and "meted out" 7. "Whose land the rivers have spoiled" Rivers formed with many forms of pollution. 8. "That liveth carelessly" — Isaiah 47:8; Ezekiel 39:6 9. America will be judged — Isaiah 18:5 10. But not destroyed — vs. 6 "cut" and "pruned" but not destroyed. "They shall be left together." ## 6. The Russian Army Will Be Destroyed 1. God is against Russia because Russia is against God. Ezekiel 38:3,18-23 Karl Marx, the father of communism, said, "Let us drive God out from heaven." (Karl Marx was raised in a God-fearing family.) Gus Hall, a top U.S. Communist who ran fro president said, "Slit the throats of Christian children and drag them over the mourner's bench…and allow them to drown in their own blood. Nikita Khrushchev said, "Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you." He also said, "We will find God and tear Him from His throne and cast Him down." *There are two reasons for God be against the leader of Russia:* 1. God is against Russia because Russia is in battle against the Promised Land of Israel. 2. God is against Russia because of Russia's policy and doctrine which propagate atheism and are diametrically opposed to Christianity. *This is documented by the Soviet Commissioner of Public Instruction:* "And you must always remember this, that we hate Christianity and the Christians. Even the best of them must be regarded as our worst enemies. They preach love to ones neighbor and pity which is contrary to our principles. Christian love is a hindrance to the development of the revolution. Down with love of one's neighbor! What we need is hatred. WE must know how to hate, for only at this price can we conquer the universe." *Jerry Rubin of the Students of Democratic Society at the Kent State University said:* "The first part of the Yippe program is to kill your parents. And I mean that quite literally; because until your prepared to kill your parents, you're not ready to change the country. Our parents are our first oppressors." Is it any wonder that God inspired His prophet to declare, "I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech (Moscow)."? 2. Five-sixth of Russia's army will be destroyed. Ezekiel 39:2 3. Russia will be seven years burning the weapons of war. Ezekiel 39:9 4. Russia will be seven months burying the dead. Ezekiel 39:12-13 ## CONCLUSION *Now, before all this, God says that there is hope for some:* Luke 21:36 "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." "to stand" — *histemi* - abide, continue, covenant "before" — *emprosthon* — in front of, in the presence of, as being presented to II Corinthians 11:2 "… present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." "chaste" — *hagnos* — pure from every fault, free from mixture, holy, free from defilement, pure as being tested/judged Song of Solomon 6:10 "…clear as the sun…" *bar* — pure, clean, clear, beloved # New Testament Sermons List Text: 2Pe 3:1 ¶ This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: THE GOSPELS (4): Matthew, Mark, Luke, John (Synoptic Gospels (3): Matthew, Mark, Luke) from the Greek meaning “together” Matthew14:22-27 , August 31 1980, "It is I Be Not Afraid", Tent Revival, JRRSR Matthew14:22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. Mark 11:23-24, August 13 1979,"The Characteristics of Mountain-Moving Faith", Tent Mark 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Luke 11:21-22, August 11 1990, "The Strong Man Overcome", JRRSR Luke 11:21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. John 1:12-14, August 7 1993, "Reaching God's High Standard", Tent Bridgewater, MA John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. History: Acts Acts 2:17-21, August 27, 1993, "Five Major Events", Rockland Tent JRRSR Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: 21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Pauline Epistles (14): Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonions, 1&2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews Romans 6:18, August 12, 2001,"Freedom from Sin", DC Sunday AM JRRSR Romans 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 1 Corinthians 2:1-4, August 18 1990, "Form Versus Force" DC Sunday Am-Lst night of Scar Tent 1 Corinthians 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 2 Cor 9:8, August 24, 2008, “His Grace is Sufficient” You don’t appreciate what you have until..8/21 2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: Galatians 5:11, August 17, 1994, “The Offense of the Cross”, Lewiston Tent, JRRSR Galatians 5:11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. Ephesians 3:20-21, August 13, 2002, “The Ability of God”, Lewiston Tent, JRRSR Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Philippians 3:10-14, August 6, 1993, “Secrets of Success”, Bridgewater, MA Tent Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Colossians 2:8, August 23, 1992, “Warning Against Man’s Philosophy”, JRRSR Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 1 Thessalonians 4:1, August 17, 2008 “Walking to Please God”, DC Sunday Am JRRSR 1 Thessalonians 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2 Thessalonians 2:3, August 13, 1997, “A Falling Away” 2 Thes. 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 1 Timothy 6:12, August 4, 2002, “The Christian’s Warfare”, DC Sunday Am, JRRSR 1Ti 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 2 Timothy 3:1-5, August 15, 1987, “Despisers of Those that are Good”, JRRSR 2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. Titus 2:11-14, August 5, 1990, “Grace that Brings Salvation”, DC Sunday Am, JRRSR Tit 2:11 ¶ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Philemon 10,11, August 11, 1995, “But God”, JRRSR Philemon 1:10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: 11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: Heb 10:7, Aug 11, 2003, “A Living Demonstration of the Will of God”, Rockland Tent Hebrews 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. General Epistles (7): James, 1&2 Peter, 1,2,&3 John, Jude James 1:14-15, August 15, 2000, “What Sin Does To You”, Rockland Tent, JRRSR James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 1 Peter 4:10, August 2, 1998, “Privileges and Responsibilities of Stewards”, Sun PM 1 Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 2 Peter 1:10,11, Aug 7, 2005, “The Guarantee of Success”, bbWhen He’s All that You Got, He’s All… 2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 1 John 5:8-12, August 19, 1994, “Are You Alive?”, Lewiston Tent 8^th Night, JRRSR 1Jo 5:8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 ¶ He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 2 John 4-12, April 16, 1993 “Harvest Time”, Biddeford, Maine, SGRSR 2Jo 1:4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. 5 ¶ And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. 7 ¶ For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 ¶ If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. 12 ¶ Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. 3 John 1-8, October 29, 2000 “Prospering”, greek= I’m praying for you that you have a good journey (no dollar signs), prosperity of the SOUL, JRRSR 3Jo 1:1 ¶ The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3 ¶ For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; 6 Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: 7 Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. 8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth. Jude 17-21, August 27, 2006, “Praying in the Holy Ghost”, JRRSR Jude 1:17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. 20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Prophecy (1): Revelation Revelation 3:1, August 6, 1995, “The Lord’s Message to Formalism”, JRRSR Revelation 3:1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. # How Do We Neglect So Great Salvation? TITLE: How Do We Neglect So Great Salvation? TEXT: Hebrews 2:1-3 PREACHER: James Reynolds, Sr. ## I. Neglecting the Assembling of Ourselves Together Hebrews 10:25 direct admonition to gather together and to an elevated frequency as we approach the end. If we are to maintain a relationship to God that is pleasing to him we must gather together. “I voted to close the church. I should have gone and could have gone but did not go last Sunday. I voted to close the church.” People are so faithful to their jobs and unfaithful to church. Billy Sunday ---“In this town a church burst on fire and this well known atheist was rushing to get to the church and a neighbor saw him and cried out to him. “My, this is strange. This is the first time I have ever seen you run to the church. Well, This is the first time I have ever seen a church on fire!” ## II. Neglecting the Bible God’s Word is a precious book. Over years I have watched people read for ours and ours the works of fiction and romance, but hardly ever see them reading their Bible. Deut. 8:3 Man does not live by bread only but by every word … How will you know every word except by reading, studying, memorizing. Do we have an obligation to read the Bible? YES. Because we have salvation there are requirements upon us and in order to maintain our relationship with God we must KNOW His Word and therefore MUST spend time in learning what He is saying. Sunday to Sunday, Wednesday to Wednesday is not enough. You need to spend time in the Word of God. This is so necessary. Try going from Sunday to Sunday without eating natural food. If you used the natural like you did the spiritual you would get awfully thin. Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. How do you hide God’s Word? Get it in my heart? Study it! Read it! Memorize it! His delight is in the law of the Lord! He delighted in it because he had gotten it in his heart! If we do not get the word into our heart we are NEGLECTING our salvation. \*\*Colossians 3:16 \*\* Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. RICHLY You can never get too much …RICHLY….but you can get too little! In All WISDOM-UNDERSTANDING THE WORD Seek, study, if you don’t understand find someone that does understand TEACHING-getting it in my heart to the extent that I am equipped to teach others. ADMONITION-Encouraging, strengthening, helping up, and even correction ## III. Neglecting Prayer How many prayed for one hour at least today? Matt. 26:41Mt 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Mt 26:45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Mt 26:46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me. This is no time for the church to be asleep. Prayer should not be a hard time for you. COMMUNION with Christ? Difficult? Not when you fall in love! Before marrying my wife I would work al day and travel 60-70 miles to see my wife. And so I would be able to see her in the morning, I would instead of driving home just go down the school parking lot and sleep in my car. Lu 18:1 ¶ And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; AlL PRAYER – intercession, walking, working, driving, kneeling, standing, praise, thanksgiving…. If neglect prayer, we are neglecting so great salvation. In Midway Maine a man testified about an angel visiting to him and giving him a message but said himself…”Well, I don’t’ know how much you would care to believe, I have prayed for 3 months.” 1Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing. When was the last time your prayed? When was the last time you should have been praying? Without CEASING ## IV. Neglecting to Witness How long has it been since you have witnessed for Christ. Is witnessing important? Isaiah 43:10 If we are not his witnesses, Who is? With all this controversial issues surrounding us, the Christians need to be His WITNESSES. The effort of the Jehovah Witnesses ought to be a spur to the Believer. IF we have the truth and the Christ and we have something to offer to people, how is it we are out worked by those who have nothing to offer to people of true value? You can neglect this great salvation by NOT WITNESSING. If we do not witness for Him, He will not witness for us. Matthew 10:33 Not witnessing for the Lord, is denying Him! We will not be accepted before the father if Jesus does not speak up for us. We cannot make it on our own merit. If Christ is in our heart, the mail man should know about him, the insurance man should know about him! Do you have insurance? No, but I do have ASSURANCE. Well what is that? …(Opportunity to witness!) Do not leave the knocking on doors exclusively to the JW’s and Mormans. Ac 22:15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. –those that want to hear, don’t want to hear, the rebellious, ALL ## V. Neglecting to Worship John 4:24 MUST WORSHIP We so often come and sing and NEVER even WORSHIP! God inhabits the praises of His people. WORSHIP & PRAISE HIM in the morning, in the noon time, when the sun goes down! MORNING --Happy, positive, optimistic times, new beginnings, hope filled NOONTIME -- heat of the day, testing, difficult NIGHT --tired time, dark, weary, unknown Psalm 150Ps 150:6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. Is anyone out of breath? Praise Him! Exalt Him! EVERYTHING THAT HATH BREATH. Well, I don’t feel like it. ??? Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. That is the time to offer the SACRIFICE of praise, God will honor that! ## VI. Neglecting to Pay Tithes I was on the Cape for a year and half and at the end of my tenure, I felt like preachcing on tithes. Just before the message one of the deacons stood of testifying he gave 150 dollars to missions. Every week they gave me exactly 25 dollars. One week they exceeded the usual amount and gave me 31 dollars and ------cents. Hear I am preaching on tithing, I never even got off the platform and they came to me. Bro Reynolds We can’t pay you our tithes, we are sending them to A.A. Allen, and we are sending them to missions. You cannot pay our tithes anywhere but into the storehouse where you are being fed.# Faith and Healing Sermons List - 060625A God's Plan for Health and Happiness James 5:16 - 060827A Praying in the Holy Ghost Jude 17-21 - 060830T Healing is for All Acts 10:38 - 061119A Faith that Moves Mountains Mark 11:22,23 - 070121A The Name of Jesus Matthew 1:21 - 070318A The Principles of Prevailing Prayer John 15:1-8 - MT0067 All Things are Possible to Them that Believe Mark 9:23 - 040321A Implicit Obedience Required John 8:23- 31 - 040404A Possessing that which God Promised Deuteronomy 1:21 - 050828A By Faith Enoch Hebrews 11:1- 6 - 050918A Faith Proved by Testing 1 Peter 1:7 - 060305A The Confession of Faith Hebrews 10:23 - 060625A God's Plan for Health and Happiness James 5:16 - 060811T The Power of Unbelief Mark 16:1- 14 - 060827A Praying in the Holy Ghost Jude 17- 21 - 060830T Healing is for All Acts 10:38 - 061108 The Power of God's Word Nehemiah 8:1- 12 - 061119A Faith that Moves Mountains Mark 11:22,23 - 061227 Claiming Our God- given Rights - 070107A The Perfecting of Faith John 11:14- 20 - 070121A The Name of Jesus Matthew 1:21 - 070218A The Power of Words James 3:1- 11 - 070221 A Covenant of Better Things Hebrews 12:18- 24 - 070318A The Principles of Prevailing Prayer John 15:1- 8 - 070606 God Responds to Faith Genesis 21:1- 12 - 070706T Faith John 4:45- 53 - 070712T The Law of Faith Romans 3:27 - 070811T The Action of Faith Mark 2:1- 12 - 070812A Claiming What God has Given Nehemiah 2:17- 20 - 070813T The Unlimited Limited Daniel 4:35 - 070814T Freed by Law Romans 8:1,2 - 070815T The Unchanging Christ Hebrews 13:8 - 070816T The Touch of Faith Mark 5:25# Various Sermon Notes **“The Secret of Pleasing God”** Hebrews 11:5 1. Walk in Newness of Life 2. Walk not After the Flesh – Romans 8:1 3. Walk Honestly 4. Walk by Faith 5. Walk Worthily 6. Walk in Love 7. Walk to Please God **“The Blood of Christ”** Hebrews 9:22 INTRODUCTION: Three Parts to the Blood: 1. The Red Corpuscles 2. The White Corpuscles 3. The Platelets 1. Shed Blood is Life Sacrificed 2. Shed Blood is Redemption’s Price 3. What the Shed Blood of Christ Has Done **“Fathers”** I Corinthians 4:15 1. Real Fathers 2. Examples of Devout Fathers **“The Life of Sin”** Romans 6:23 1. The Life of Sin 2. The Wage of Sin 3. The Gift of God **“Reversing the Verdict”** Isaiah 38:1-6 1. The Verdict 2. The Verdict Reversed 3. How He Reversed the Verdict **“A Man’s Life”** Luke 12:15,21 Introduction 1. A Warning for “ A Man’s Life” 2. What a Man’s Life Does not Consist In 3. What a Man’s Life Consisteth In **“A Man’s Life”** James 4:14 Introduction 1. The Scientist 2. The Materialist **REV. JAMES R. REYNOLDS, SR.** **1** “THE ANT-CHRIST” 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 I. “Except there come a falling way first…” vs. 3 –a time element ``` I Timothy 4:1 a falling away and an approval of those that are falling away (associated with this “Man of Sin” [II Thessalonians 2:3]). vs. 7 iniquity (_Greek) _= lawlessness (a sign of the “man of sin” coming) II Peter 2:1- ``` II. Character of the Anti-Christ ``` vs. 3 son of perdition –the embodiment of Satanic character. ``` “Signs without truth is Anti-God.” **2** .Deliverance Center August 12, 2001 Sun Am “FREEDOM FROM SIN” Text: Romans 6:1-18 (vs. 18) 1. The Problem ``` We were in bondage. We were created in the image of god with a free will, dominion over all to subdue all, and given only one restriction as a test—the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. A. Rebelling against the Maker brought man in a position of slavery to sin. God did not bring man into slavery. Romans 5:21 “sin hath reigned” because men subjected himself to it We sin by choice. Many don’t know they are in bondage. Adam was created without the nature of sin, but we are born with it; we aren’t taught to sin. “Man had dominion, but subjected himself to sin and gave it dominion.” 5:21; Genesis 1:26 ``` 1. Also, in bondage to the law ``` Ezekiel 18:4, 20; Romans 7:11—occasion-a base of operation in war Romans 7:14, 18 ``` 2. The Promise ``` Romans 6:14 1. ``` We have a new position—under Grace now, not the law. ``` 2. ``` We have a new life. Romans 6:11, 13 ``` 3. ``` We have Divine assistance. Romans 8:1 ``` Grace does not excuse how we live, but brings us above the law. The law being SATISFIED not BROKEN! The law of the Spirit and life offsets the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2 >>>>>>>If we let sin rule, we are in bondage<<<<<<< ``` 3. The Price ``` Freedom is not free. Christ paid the price so we could have opportunity to be free from the bondage of sin. It cost Christ all to free me; it will cost me all to keep free. Freedom requires obedience. vs. 17 We are in a new position. We don’t have to let sin rule. vs. 22 vs. 18 No longer in bondage to sin, but now a bondservant to righteousness. _He bought us to make us free not to bring us to bondage!_ ``` **3** “THE MASTER’S VISION” Matthew 9:35-38\*\* \*\*(v.36) saw-Greek-knowledge; perceiving; understanding He still reads hearts. The Lord’s heart has always been for the soul of man. Ps. 142:4 Sheep: a dumb animal! They are completely dependent on their shepherd. Christ SAW their real need! We need to look a little deeper (Ps 142:4) I Sam.16:7 ``` There is no redemption for the angels. But God saw fit to provide a means of redemption for mankind. ``` scattered-Greek-out loose (He saw them as sheep out loose with no shepherd. No direction. No restraint.) Isaiah 53:6 < Not necessarily by their own design, but there is an enemy of our soul. scattered abroad-Greek-(one word) cast down ``` This enemy has the power to do whatever to those caught on his property. They are gullible. Susceptible. They are lacking a covering. The only way sheep can get back on their feet after falling on their back is if the shepherd helps them. ``` We need the same vision as the Lord to see **BEYOND!** ``` Mark 8:24,25** **Touch me again Lord! Do I see men as valueless as trees? Give me Your vision. Let me see them as You do. Col. 3:12 People are hurting. We must exercise longsuffering. SEE BEYOND!!! ``` “Pray for me?” How do I respond to this? Sheep cast down with no shepherd. John 4:35 You can’t drive sheep into the kingdom. You must lead them. The song “Rescue the Perishing, Care for the Dying” “Sir, are you Jesus?” Could I be mistaken for Him? YOU are the finger of God. THEY ARE LOST!!! We must return to the ‘first things’. Prayer-witnessing-etc. Put feet to your faith. WORK. **4** “KNOWING AND BEING LED BY THE SPIRIT” Romans 12:1-8 1. Present body a living sacrifice 2. Be not conformed 3. Be transformed ``` Have good counsel—wise counsel Psalm 73:24 I Kings 19:9- Isaiah 30:21; 42:16 John 16:3 By His Spirit James 1:5 By prayer _Mistakes_ ``` 1. Thinking of guidance as essentially inward prompting of the Holy Spirit apart from the Written Word of God. ``` Stop and think. Does it makes sense? Is it contrary to the Word? Deuteronomy 32:29 ``` 2. Unwillingness to take advice Romans 12:15 3. Unwillingness to suspect myself ``` Psalm 139:23,24; 2 Cor. 13:15; Gal. 5; I Thess. 5:21 ``` 4. Unwillingness to wait Psalm 27:14 **5** “LIVELY STONES” I Peter 2:4,5 v. 5 1) Spiritual house (temple) ``` 2) Holy Priesthood (priest) 3) Sacrifices (sacrifices) Christ is the true priest we become priests through Him. Heb. 4:15,16;I Tim. 2:5,6 “An holy priesthood…” v. 5 The chief office of a priest is sacrifice. ``` We are not our own. I Cor. 6:19 Christ is the true sacrifice. We become acceptable sacrifices through Him. I Peter 2:5 1. Surrender Luke 22:41,42 2. Atonement How are we a sacrifice? 1. Sacrifice of witness 2. Sacrifice of prayer 3. Sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving ``` ALWAYS!!! ``` 4. Sacrifice our life and will to Him **6** “PURCHASED BY BLOOD” Matthew 27:33-52 Gall—wrath of God (Illustration: SS Teacher: What do we have to do to become eligible for God’s grace? ``` Little boy: Sin! ``` v.43 What crazy things men say. v.51 God was saying, “Okay, priests, you can go home now!” We can now enter into the holiest of holies. **7** “WHAT IS WRONG WITH MAN?” 2 Timothy 3:1-9 ``` Causes of Rebellion: ``` 1. Television a. They want the things they see. b. They want to do the things they see. c. They want to be like what they see. 2. New types of Education ``` Teaching that truth is whatever the individual finds in himself; everything is relative. There are no absolutes. ``` 3. The Churches failure to preach Truth. 2 Timothy 4:3,4; Psalm 11:3 4. The example of parents. 5. The human race is a rebel. Adam was a rebel. We are born with a nature of sin. What is the Cure? The cross is the cure. I Cor. 1:18; Ephesians 2:6; Colossians1:20; 2:14 There is healing at the cross There is forgiveness at the cross There is sanctification at the cross The cross is the “cure-all” for man’s needs ***What’s wrong with man? He rejected the Cross!*** **8** “JUSTIFICATION” Romans 5:1-10 ``` We came into this world with strikes against us. We had a bad record. ``` **9** “THE SILVER TONGUE” Proverbs 10:16-22 (v.20) ``` The tongue of the Just-Hebrew-righteous ``` If the tongue is right, the tongue will be right Silver speaks of Redemption. Words that help, heal, redeem. Also, silver speaks of something pure Psalm 12:6 By our words we bring 1. Death or 2. Life 1. Proverbs 18:21; Romans 3:13, 14\*; Proverbs 12:18 ``` *producing, revealing nothing but death ``` 2. John 6:63-life; Proverbs 25:11; Matthew 15:18 The tongue is the servant of the heart. James 3:2 The tongue has been the greatest instrument of the devil. Matthew 12:37 “If you ever lose your salvation it will run right out your mouth.” Words will make a man or harm him. Words can fill a home. Words can make the world a little bit like heaven or life like hell. Words can lead people to Christ. James 1:19 Speak fitting words with wisdom **10** “THE POSSIBILITY OF IMPLICIT TRUST” Proverbs 3:1-6 1. Object of trust 2. Nature of trust 3. Measure of trust 4. Warnings of trust 5. Condition of trust 6. Promise of trust Put your trust in Jehovah, the covenant keeping God. We can trust Him because he loves us. ``` 1. He is all wise. 2. He is all loving. 3. He is all mighty. ``` The Lord that healeth The Lord my banner- victory The Lord my peace The Lord Who provides The Lord my shepherd The Lord my righteousness The Lord my comfort HE IS TRUSTWORTHY! **11** “THE LIFE OF SACRIFICE JUSTIFIED” John 12:1-9 ``` Lazarus—sat at the table Martha—served Mary—worshipped ``` 1. A Costly Gift ``` v.3 Mary came with a gift of sacrifice (a costly gift) pence: a day’s wage v.5 300 pence –a life’s savings. It’s going to cost you something. The price is not too great The Alabaster box which the perfume was in had to be broken first. Symbolic of—there has to be a breaking before the worship. ``` 2. A Loving Gift ``` For her to let down her hair was a sign of surrender. She loved Him by surrendering her all ``` 3. An Effective Gift ``` What an affect a life of sacrifice has on the work of God! Mark 14:9 ``` 4. A Faith Gift v.7 “Against the day of my burial has she kept this.” ``` _The life of sacrifice is NEVER a waste of time, but is a life of worship._ ``` **12** Wed. Nov.15, 2000 “LIVING THE GODLY LIFE” Text: II Timothy 3:1-17 (v.12) ``` “If we don’t pray, we pay.” v.1 “Don’t stick your head in sand acting like everything is ok.” Liberty—not what you want, but what is right The world hated Him; therefore, they will hate us. God expects the believer to live Godly, righteously, above and apart from sin, not morally, not the best you can do, not even religiously, but _GODLY_. Be determined—make up your mind! COMMITMENT It’s a delight to live Godly. Make it your focus, focal point “If they turned all red Jesus would still be with us.” …shall suffer persecution. If God doesn’t give grace we won’t make it. I Peter 5:10 Romans 8:17 II Corinthians 1:17; 4:11 Philippians 1:29 II Timothy 2:12 ``` **13** Sun. A.M. Nov. 19, 2000 “THE CAUSES OF SEPARATION” Song of Solomon 5:2-6 ``` 1. A state of indifference. 2. Not seeing any need to improve. 3. A state of satisfaction and inaction. 4 She prepared to get comfortable. She took off her coat. ---Its her house. Things need to be cleansed, cared for, picked up.--- 5. A state of deception. James 1:22 ``` **14** Sun. A.M. Sept. 24, 2000 “ASHES ON A RUSTY ALTAR” Revelation 2:1-7 “ashes on a rusty altar” ``` Ashes—indicates prior use; once was something Rusty Altar—lack of use; left to itself Something had died out within them. No more revelation, insight, or Word from God. v.5 Lost and leaving are two different things. Leaving is a deliberate act. v.2 These works of faith and obedience, laboring, bearing up under the pressure—patience. Patience all grows in hard places. We don’t have to die out! It’s not inevitable. “You don’t love me like you use to.” When the fire goes out, the light goes out. “Love is not based on feeling, but it does have a lot of feeling.” Causes of decline: Love is hungry—be loved more, must be fed—spend more time Love needs to be developed—work at it—keep it alive. Failure of guarding our love. Matthew 24:12 v.5 Remember Repent Return v.7 ``` **15** Sun. P.M. Sept. 24, 2000 “A NEW COVENANT” Hebrews 8:3-10 ``` If there is a breakdown, the problem is with us.” v.8 new in contrast to the old because they were unable to keep the old. The old has been done away with. The New is an eternal covenant. Differences: Old New ``` Time: Before Christ After Christ’s death Manner: Shadows and Types 2 Cor. 3:13,14 Mediator: Moses Christ Offerings: Sealed by Blood of animals Sealed by Blood of Christ ``` The New Covenant reveals God’s condescension to man. God making a covenant with man. Psalm 22:6 He is the supreme sovereign. There is none higher you can go to. He had no reason to, no obligation, but He did! As Lord, whatever he wants to do he does with now help. He is dependant on no one. He is ,was, free. Unrestricted, and yet, He bound Himself to the covenant. What God expects of me is what is laid out in the “contract”. We must keep our own part or the covenant is no good. We must live right. (this covenant is not with sinners) Learn and know what’s in the covenant (requirements, blessings, promises, etc.) ``` **16** “OBEDIENCE REQUIRED FOR THE FULFILLMENT OF THE PROMISE” John 2:1-11 **17** “THE RESURRECTION” I Cor. 15:1-9 ``` Christ was declared to be the Son of God. (God declared Him so.) John 1:34 Angel declared him as God’s son. Peter declared Him as God’s son. In Matthew 6 x’s by men 3 x’s by demons In Mark 2 x’s by men 2 x’s by demons In Luke 1 x by men 4 x’s by demons In John 6 x’s by men 5 x’s by Himself John 10:36 Proven to be the Son of God by the resurrection. II Peter 1:16 1. ``` The Resurrection is a Revelation of His Person. ``` 2. ``` The Resurrection is Revelation of His Power. ``` 3. ``` The Resurrection is Revelation of His Provision. **18** DBI Convention Sun. A.M. Oct. 8, 2000 ”DIVINE DESTINY” Esther 4:1-14 ``` “Who knows why for this time?” Haman was an Amalekite (a Hebrew king was commanded to 100% destroy the Amalekites.) If you don’t completely destroy the enemy, He’ll gain strength and destroy you. God has placed me where I am for a reason. The church has grown too comfortable in the kings house. God has given each of us talents. The advantages He gives us are to be used only to promote His cause. Don’t separate religion and politics. ``` **19** “THE MYSTERIES OF THE MASTER’S PLAN” Romans 8:22-28-30 ``` v.30 Takes us away from the ash hill to the throne. I Sam. 2:8 We don’t always understand what He is doing. There is a long process between these two. Why? Only He knows why and what could’ve been. He works his purpose with those he answer the call. Illustration: Gordon Hall, a Bible school student, was invited to a country church to preach. He told a friend there might be a full time position for him at this church. Gordon was unable to make it because an emergency came up and so he asked this friend if he would take the service for him. The friend eventually took a lifetime position there. Gordon Hall was later called by the missionary board to go to a foreign land and he accomplished what now other man could have because he was God’s man. God has a plan. We need patience to let God work. He knows the end from the beginning. What is His purpose? 1. God is dealing with us for the purpose of purifying us from sin. To take sin from us. Mal. 3:3 He wants to work righteousness in us so we can offer sacrifice in righteousness. He will not force us in the fire to be righteous. We must be willing. 2. To promote growth. His purpose is not for us to remain as babes. Have you felt growing pains lately? We were saved by grace, and we need to grow in grace. II Peter 3:18 3. To be made in the likeness of His Son. v.29 He wants to change us. If I am willing to go through the process He has the power to cause us to be Christ-like. The mystery of the plan. v.28 “And we know” some of us don’t know (Peter had his feet washed by Jesus. “You know not.” We LEARN to know. We don’t from the first. We learn by: 1. Promise Hebrews 6:18 2. Revelation 3. Experience How do you know, Paul? I’ve been there! God’s plan will come to pass because He has the power to do it. Nothing happens by coincidence to the Believer. It is by design. The Believers life is not an unconnected series of events but each happening together forms a perfect pattern of design. Jer. 29:11 “an expected end” Expected—twisted like cords of a rope He wants us to get so close to Him you can’t tell which fiber is which. Always remember, “God is Good!” He has something in mind for beyond what my mind can fathom. God’s favors are infinite. His character is perfect. God’s purposes are good. Heb. 12:11 affliction ( as oak in a fire, sing!) Ps. 119:71 He’ll turn evil around: Mordecai, Daniel, etc. “For Good!” John Bunyan We see the process God sees both the purpose and the product. See God’s view! ``` **20** “THE TRIAL AND TRIUMPH OF OUR FAITH” Matthew 15:21-28 ``` There was much against her: ``` - She was a greek—a people most hated by the Jews She had received some truth. She knew He was the Son of David. ``` She came amongst those Jews. ``` - Christ gave her the “silent treatment”. It seems to her that He turns a deaf ear. He ALWAYS hears prayer, but not always does He just jump! God always heals, but he balances his action according to our faith. The trial of our faith purifies it. - The conduct of the disciples v.23 “send her away” - v.24 (sometime need takes you beyond theology) ``` We must first acknowledge the source of the problem. v.22 “the devil” It is blasphemous to name the work of satan as the work of God or as something good from God. Hate the works of the devil! Matthew 4:24; 12:15; 15:30; Luke 6:19; 19:11 Faith is strengthened by trial. Faith always agrees with the Lord. v.27 God owes no one anything. ``` **21** Dec. 20, 2000 “WINNING SOULS” or “CONVERSATIONAL SKILLS” John 4:3-29 ``` The Master’s plan for winning souls: ``` I. Look for common ground ``` v.4 “he must needs go through Samaria.” What did they have in common? A. They shared a common environment. v.5,7a (make a reference like “Nice place isn’t it?”) ``` 1. They shared a common atmosphere. v.6a ``` (“Nice day isn’t it?”) ``` 2. They shared a common time. ``` (“What time is it?”) ``` 3. They shared a common need. ``` (“Give me to drink.”) ``` II. Don’t do all the talking. 1. Conversation is two-way. Let them talk. v.9 2. Be a good listener. You have 2 ears and only 1 mouth ``` James 1:19 Eccl. 5:3 Psalm 39:1 ``` 3. A good listener shows genuine interest. Romans 12:15 4. Don’t get into an argument. You want to win a soul not an argument! Prov.11:30 III. Keep the conversation alive. ``` A. Ask questions v.10a Do you know the gift of God? B. Arouse curiosity v.10b , 11, 12 C. Focus on their spiritual need. vs.13-18 D. Use a lot of wisdom and kindness. Phil. 2:4 Find what they need. I Peter 3:8 ``` *He Won a Soul*! (v.28,29 “is not this the Christ?”) **22** Sun. A.M. January 2, 2000 “A BURNING AND A SHINING LIGHT” John 5:30-35 ``` The supreme task of the church is to win souls. ``` **23** ISAIAH 59:1-4 ``` Amos 3:7 Proverbs 1:24 “The only cry God will hear is repentance.” There was a breach of conract. They broke their part of the covenant and so God can’t bless them. Their sin separated them from God. Illustration: (We Thy 40 Wrestlers) ``` **24** Wed. Aug. 6, 2002 “SANCTIFICATION” Romans 3:23-31 ``` Many experiences lead us step by step to complete sanctification—character like God. There are no shortcuts. ``` 1. God’s universal charge. 2. God’s universal provision. 3. God’s universal meeting place. ``` v.23 ALL have sinned John 1:14; 2:11; 17:5; Hebrews 1:3 We are lacking, deficient of His glory. John 11:40; Romans 6:4; 2 Peter 1:17 ``` **25** Nov. 17, 1999 “BLOOD FOR BLOOD” Revelation 16:1-7 (v.6) ``` “7 terrible years are yet to come.” 3 ½ years of God’s judgment. 3 ½ years of God’s wrath. Innocent: Psalm 94:21 unborn; newborn; abortions Psalm 94:23 not only judgment but wrath Revenging of the blood of the saints, prophets, and innocent. Herod, after he slaughtered all the babies, lost his mind from an incurable disease. Herod, who killed Jesus, hung himself. ``` *God is righteous in His wrath.*# The God of Peace Sanctifies Wholly - TEXT: I Thessalonians 522,23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly and I pray God your whole spirit and whole body onto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ Paul said and I pray. And I pray he is praying that God would do in him and I in them his work. God is the one that sanctify saves delivers. We pray. **God sanctifies we pray will God** sanctified we don't pray? And I pray. And this is a continuation day after day after day. This part of God. His heart what the will of God. His heart what the will of God and all that God has promised and all that God has provided \-------------15 mins missing--- God is unlimited and what do we let God nonbelief limit God. In our weariness, we limit God. - It is sad to say in our lukewarmness we limit God. Lukewarmness is set into the church so that the messenger a man of God who come to them with a message to repent and they'll say to him they have need of nothing were rich or increase the goods we have need of nothing. But if you have to reach into your soul and your spirit and say God sanctify me holy I don't want discouragement I don't want doubts I don't want fear I don't what weakness in my faith I know why unbelief I don't want lukewarmness. I don't care if somebody came by and try to give me $1 million I want to believe God I want peace in my soul I want the peace of God that passes all understanding and my heart and in my spirit prayer must involve the whole behind being where David was seven to reach down and he didn't just prior prayer from off the top of his head he began to reach down and say bless the Lord a muscle bless the Lord, so and all that is within me bless your holy name when you begin to reach beneath the surface. The God of peace the sanctify your whole being. He sees them part of your reaching out your answer prayer your soul is not reaching out to God to bless him to obey him to need him to seek after him he will wait his providential care will work on new the Holy Ghost will convict you he is looking for that deepness and your soul need him want him cry cry aloud don't just sit there comfortably began to get your soul and tomb of the Lord Jesus I need to he is faithful to hear he is faithful to help her must involve the whole being prayer must be in faith and must be by faith look at the word of God is the God of peace peace should be in my heart he is a God that sanctifies me holy every part of me should want him my whole being if there is an affliction and my body or my mind or my soul or my spirit what's the difference between the soul of a man in the spirit of man every born-again Christian begins to understand for the first time the difference of the soul and the spirit when you are born again the life of God comes into your spirit and makes you now more than just a physical being they can use intellect and conscience but now your conscience inside of salvation experience. Prayer must be by faith in God. Prayer must be for peace. he is the God of peace we must believe him for that we must not just pray for peace but believe him for it. Cannot let a day go by that you do not senses piece and learned that the process of sanctification is according to my faith and not upon telling God gives around to doing something he is looking for us to believe him in every part of you will say God I need to and I want you and it's true sometimes we pray a prayer with words and five minutes later were doing something else. But if you want him you will seek him until you find him certain search for him with all your heart seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you both of the physical and of the spiritual. Prayer must be for peace prayer must be for sanctification continue that work complete that work prayer must be for preservation we have seen many people gain and it's two steps forward and three steps backwards the blessing the feeling of peace and joy and prosperity that Christ brings to a person's life and pride takes them right back further than ever people get to the point to where they get on cruise of a given to a spirit of coasting or get the feeling that they overlap arrived now Paul said he is a God of peace I pray what are you doing Paul? I'll pray for you tomorrow pray tomorrow the next day pray in the next day and pray in the next I pray it's going to be is preaching is going to depend upon the God of peace helping him while he prays and his face will develop as he prays and of her face shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up. Prayer must be unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. And if the Lord will put simple faith and commotion for us to believe him and he would continue to add to our faith as we exercise our faith how much more will he do that for the over,? Some think that is just go to church it is just testified just saying just witness just as certain things pass on a few tracks know it is going to take more than that. It is want to take the whole being sanctified by God our whole being sanctification is not only for your spirit but it is for your soul and for your body. The body is that physical the older I get the more I know I need him you that have gone a little older and charter reach for the bottom of your feet or even tried to stop her head some people very limited and the older you get it seems to get harder and I have to be very careful because I can go grab three bundles which shingles and run up a 40 foot ladder anymore I might look a little bit more exercise but it's fun to take some exercise what would happen is when you depend on your strength you when you are strong physically when your mind is attached in your heart you can do I will let you do God will let you do sometimes it is a liability for the strong physically. Sometimes it is a liability to the last of a lot of money were to be bless a lot of things we've been blessed with a lot of friends people get all wrapped up in things and people they do not know really how to pray to get away from that not only is their lukewarmness set into the church bears a prayer list next not just a lack of prayer what a prayer listeners something not pray at all. If the amount of people that smoke cigarettes every moment hath smote to everyday I don't smoke any and thank God I never got into that that is only because of the God of peace sanctifying not only my heart a daddy that cared enough not only for my physical body but you're not for my soul now some people they don't recognize a connection and if that's important in one area it to one person how important it is to us all that as parents we have responsibility to her children and as friends we have a responsibility to our friends if you prating God has sanctified you and you feel your whole being touched of God changed to God you have a responsibility to pray and to continue to pray for the goblet send you forth as a labor so that you can help somebody else this week let the strong bear the infirmities of the week some are stronger than others and some are very weak some of no strength some won't do but just a little bit son can't do anything you're going to have to do that for them trellis misses in the church the most born at doing certain things and doing it and doing it many times over how it is affected that and I know a lot of times you feel a change in and around the spirits of that the Holy Ghost is now bringing people to a level of praise and worship as you once are and you cannot have it give you the tendency to draw back to Google follow the Lord continue to pray he would bring trellis that's not only to the people but to the pulpit and that is what you have seen across America to the point where people have debated its not what it's used to be it's not like it used to be and they are quick to judge the past are not preaching like he wants preached and they changed the scenes they changed the atmosphere and they blame everybody else but we need to recognize that we are no different than them if we allow prayer listeners per listeners can get into it can bring you down what is prayer listeners it means you do not pray all I pray when? When? A pray all by myself while that's good but there has to be something unheard that is set not just for yourself not just by yourself out there for God to use shoe not just for people to see pray not like affairs is that Woodbury Long standing in the street corners reign for that one reason to be seen or heard were not interested in man saying hearing us pray alone but that we might be in a place that God can use us as a channel to help the needy amen? Sanctification as part of salvation that deals a progression it not only promises growth that produces it but the problem is people don't want to really believe the promise and do they begin to feel it habits affect. Want to see it affecting I believe people think that promises to bring them out of bed and put them in the altar no it is going to be the opposite of that event have all the feelings in the world like a ton of weight crushing an overview down while the promise of speaking to your soul get up and pray if you can find the grace of God to help you against the pressure of weariness tiredness selfishness whatever it is you get up out of that place of sleep and problems in Hindered says in prayer listeners and lukewarmness finder place at the altar and it won't be so weak and the service for you and the preacher won't be so dry and it won't be so difficult I've watched many people get revival and you think the whole church got revival they just got saved and not in contact with God and men want to have revival gets a if you want to have revival you know ye are saved if you're saved you know if the telling you that you're not save you can't take anything from you if you're safe now for one thing will find if your Savior live right to live by the word of God to live by the same principles found in the word of God if you're not living by the word of God you are lying to yourself you are fast to be saved and not be saved if you're living contrary to the word of God goddess slaveowning gives us the promises that he'll carry out its promises do our part. Pulses pound pray. There're going to be many hindrances to keep you from praying but if you pray what a God of peace sanctify you wholly and Paul? There's cars that are world many times over's blood and pus just as human as you and I will get what you heard me to cut its those problems led difficult day at heart they hurt just as much for you as the next one it's heart it's difficult of prayer must be made why? Because the God of peace will sanctify you wholly spirit soul mind-body and the good thing is when you let him help you in not only touch a junior spirit and the soul but he also touches you and your body many times you go to prayer week tired hurting and you and then you come out of her heels lie because the God of healing touch you and your body he hasn't changed he hasn't changed we have changed by he hasn't changed and that would be like show and tried in areas that we've never been tried in who have one thing above and we know there is a devil we know there is a Redeemer we know there is of her life to keep up it is more than just make and sacrifice for us and our children and saying prayers there is a life of faith when you are when you need healing you believe God for when you need deliverance to believe God for and God wants to get our attention on him this is not a matter of any one individual this is a matter of getting our attention on him love him serve him seek after him because not only need help not only I need strengthen my body and my soul my spirit I know there are a lot of bother other people that are very weak that are being destroyed by sin and Matt we are weak help them we won't help them second Corinthians the third chapter the 18th verse. But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. You can add one cubic your stature but he can change you he can grow you up and change them to the same image and stature as God is his son just like Jesus just like Jesus sanctify us our whole being sold spirit body sanctify me get your mind on him again change yourself but we have a responsibility we are not talking about just the Overcomer cannot talk about just the bride message were talking about if you want to see him if you want to be a part of him you need to have the God of peace sanctify you wholly spirit soul and body people live of the idea that they're going to heaven because of the greater her how shocking it will be for many would-be as they prayed a prayer you will be saved without praying but praying alone won't save you need to pray to keep saved because there is a devil there is hindrances is an adversary is trouble. We need to grow we need that process the sanctification process is so needed and I pray and I pray prayed till nothing happened what difference does that make God's promises of God's promises are good matter what we feel see feel no matter what we go through God's promises are good God is faithful way is promised he would do and I have a responsibility until I believe him because he'll do well once I believe him to the level that he is looking for some people forget that they think they have faith in a do your faith was not where he wanted it to be God wants you to exercise more fate today than you did yesterday God wants you to exercise more faith wise is trouble lingering? God wants more faith. God wants to exercise all the faith that you have. Can you imagine if we all exercise the faith all the faith that we have what a change that would make take place in our whole being and the whole atmosphere will change if we exercise the faith that we have he has been so good to us talk about how much faith you have take inventory examine yourself safety and efficacy if you have any faith see how much faith you have see how much faith in God would work mightily just believe, and times God would work just one what would he do for us all? Sanctifies fully is a time to pray? Is it time to pray and faith? Is it time to believe God fully completely with all our faith? Is it? Some will wait until the tribulation hour the Holy Ghost is faithful in times of heavy hard persecution to bring people down to conviction to teach them the need to pray in the times to pray that the disciples suffered of losing their life every day was very dangerous they had tried to stay alive. To be able to just be fed there was traveling was not as easy as we have it today. It was very difficult. Click save bad a burning desire and the heart to preach the gospel in Moscow would say words of the apostle Paul wall with me if I preach not the gospel they would feel that burning desire to do that burning desire in the heart of they must speak the word witness to truth reach out to the lost it is time to witness it is time to believe God it is time to worship God this time that you send it is time it is the last time it is the last time this generation will see the move of God to the level that God is promised we'd better things but we are going to experience if you believe God we pray like he wants us to pray will experience like no other generation has ever experienced that is what is promised he said in the last days Savior for all his spirit and he said not only the former rain and the former rain and the latter rains in in the same month with back together in the same month there is going to be a mighty outpouring of God's Spirit to sanctifies fully God is not on the sanctifies in our whole being with mercy jobs from heaven he won't do it that way that he is going to sanctifies fully with the spirit if we believe him we continue to pray we will see what no gender other generation some men in days gone by its and God move it was not meant to God God to move but it was holy men of God sanctified by God praying as God sanctified them God moved upon them and put them in a position put them into prayer put them into that place and God used them and many times they do not understand it fully and they got out about it and are viable to build a thank God for the faithful that stood all their life praying there was a few Noah Sima continued on some continued on continued on DL Moody spoke about if you people don't pray like these to pray but I am sensing that fear in my body that I need to pray if no one else praise I've got to be that man that is fully surrendered to the Lord of God to pray at DL Moody would have the church people that would continue to pray and not get warm and not get into a prayer list a what would've come of that time we don't know we don't know how he knows what was done we don't know what would've been done because God is only going to work for theirs people bring them where they believe God when they let's keep on praying let's not let up let's not let go was not let down keep praying keep trying he is truly his faithful healed of he'll do it in the field do it in your friend other than your mother your father you says that your brother your friend he will do it. He is faithful it is time to pray it is time to obey the Lord is time for the fire of heaven to fill us touch us with coals of fire for a blitz touch these bodies with unclean lips begin negative things Isaiah was not a curse of Isaiah was not a bad word be paired he simply did not operate by faith is what he knew and when it goes a fire came what was made I am a man of unclean lips why? Because I do not praise him like I should do not understand his glory like they see it now again understand his wonderful Majesty he is far more glorious than I ever imagined greater members on the floor.axis faith and he adds the faith it was not great men doing great things it was men like you and I praying a great God he will do it again he'll do it again for you to believe him healed do it again for everyone that believes in the server great God he is a God of peace shall preserve us he is sanctify our whole being to the heart of the hungry that will believe him now with coals from off the altar of what the fire of Heaven and our lips number souls are spared so that we can see him and we can praise him like we should appraise would come that would be more than just reach the next few that would breach have praise and worship the God? It is time for not just move upon us at home abode and Wallace be within us that like a Jeremiah that would give the scourge of the troublesome day it would burn inside of him that he had to go Jeremiah Jeremiah NA preach the gospel to those that would not hear and not just be on the lips of my body but on a soul and spirit it is time is time and pray in the spirit amen praying not only our hearts would receive a 500 pounds would just be as flaming swords as the son of God flaming swords praying and the Holy Ghost is so important in the developing of your experience in maintaining preservation but then there comes a time in ministry God is something better for us something better people of Prague themselves like different things and some go beyond being proud about that and they got out about something else some people will probably didn't speak in tongues and is causing division in Paulo saying it is not wise to be measuring yourselves some of the of the assembly doubt it is not wise in measuring yourselves when measured itself of the gifts God has given you he is a God of peace he is a God that sanctifies you only our whole spirits and body sanctified by the power of God Just to be obedient and the bat channel that God would speak for a thing for the level were at fire would come out of our fingertips if you would come on words on because I think we use our fingers user account for for user John Moores because we talked more and not because he prayed more let it be right let it be right how my data be let it be right does it have to sanctify me sanctify this time be so quick to just talk and have a conversation to let it be prayer let it not be a talk for hours and pray for minutes is her problem pray gobbles on the belief and spend that time and for a youth spent in complaining of Birmingham watched the difference a God of peace with it was horrible when there was trouble now the God of peace he has always been the God of peace but we haven't seen him do in the day when these iodide Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up and not saying that is hindering us a finger has our attention has our focus and has are mine and has our passions and nothing is gone God is in his rightful place and he is exalted he is lifted up I can exalt God and myself but God is given to us faith and as we lift them up and online do not spirit he will be lifted up and are become your be lifted up deal manifest themselves instead of God exalted inside by sending him to whom Ross and it was so much on the cross as coming up out of the grave of death experience the cross experience was very difficult and hard and you are going to face those sufferings but is the resurrection power seeing God glorifying hence time out of death his son see God glorifying himself in your life are you one suffered and suffered much because of the trouble of sin in this world that you did not go by that and by his promise what God glorify himself in the lives of the believer the obedient believer in man the God of peace in prayer he searches me he served as our heart doeth seed for God like God are you? Come see for God like being God for bombs to come to pass the search forever the devil would like to get you to think is their God? What are the promises? Are they true? The devil loves debates to keep going on the devil fill your mind with all kinds of Scripture to keep the debate God that if you settle in your heart there is a God he is a God of peace he is a God that sanctifies your whole being I will pray and I will believe him right now are watching work what a change takes place in your life to serve the Lord without debate no debate without argument we give ourselves to the truth amen? We do not only not understand fully God we don't fully understand the truth and we don't even fully understand what is missing inside of us and to pray like you should and he will reveal it to you and he'll give it to you and as he gives it to you and adds to your life that is missing that was what I was missing and cannot be proud about what you're receiving State joyful there is more is a whole lot more and they'll never be a time when there isn't more there will always be more and he revealed himself more TU don't get to the place where you're happy in the sense of God we need him anymore of him he is a God of peace and I'm going to post a bit nervous but he is not on the God of peace but he is a God of love and peace he is a God of love and peace in Romans 16 and 20 is a God of peace in 1533 he is a God of peace and first Corinthians 1327 he is a God of love and peace and Philippians 49 he is a God of peace and Hebrews 13 and 20 he is a God of peace in Romans 15 and five is about a patient's and he is a God of consolation and first Peter five and 10 he is a God of all grace in Ephesians 117 he is a God of our Lord Jesus Christ if you do not understand peace and you don't understand love and you don't understand patience and consolation genuine set Jesus Christ as your Savior you understand what he says and accept Jesus Christ the Lord Jesus Christ he is a God of our Lord Jesus Christ except him and you can know all these things you'll never be without these things these things can be in your life and abundance that stand together and pray that seek him fang God it was said the God of Abraham and got it was said the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob in fact you can see all three of these men named in one verse so it is not a matter of just Abraham and Isaac and Jacob but you'll see Abraham Isaac and Jacob he is a God of Abraham Isaac the God of Jacob is not the God of the dead is a God of the living and then you're fine where he is a God of the dead and in the sense of them have died in faith if he died in your same he is not diverse and he is not your God but when your body but if you know Jesus and you die in his body stops breathing and you know Jesus you know there is a hope of resurrection and the life we need to make sure now don't let another day go by don't let your experience or anyone else's expense he is your God is a living God he is present here to help you.# Why Believers Struggle Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. September 11, 2005 Sunday Morning **Title**: Why Believers Struggle **Text**: Ephesians 2:1-6 **I. They See Only from the carnl veiw**. ``` EVERYTHING revolves around them. Their wants, likes, and needs. We live in a world of our own even though we have been quickened and made alive we still think in terms of what I need, what I want, and what I like in order to satisfy the flesh. I Corinthians 3:1-3 We need to refocus and put God in the center. Romans 11:36 Sitting in heavenly places where everything is about Him and we begin to see things as God sees them. Col. 1:9 He quickened us and put life in us and RAISED us UP. in the Realm of the Spirit we see things from Gods' point up view we see what has happened and why what is happening now and what will come. We must see and live from God's point of view. ``` **II. They live after the flesh and claim to live after the Spirit.** ``` They try to make the carnal man spiritual which is the enemy of God. John 3:6,7; Romans 8:1 You can't live in sin and just get by. If they do not bother you then you are in big trouble. Life in the Spirit is only attained by the crucifixion of the flesh. Dead TO sin. Galatians 2:20 2 cor 5:15 gal 5:24 ```# By Faith Enoch Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. August 28, 2005 Sunday Morning **Title**: By Faith Enoch **Text**: Hebrews 11:1-6 v.5 Enoch *instruction; discipline dedication* This indicates he was a man that received instruction, applied instruction, and allowed the instructiomn he heard to bring discipline to his life. ENOCH'S DISCIPLINE If there is one thing needed in the church today it is discipline. Heeding instruction and applying that instructiomn to your life brings about discipline which in turn brings about dedication. People have so much dedication to life, but not to things of God and yet expect the same reward of Enoch. ENOCH'S DEDICATION Genesis 5:22 Enoch walked with God by faith. Scripture pinpoints a specific time in his life--after he begat Methuselah Enoch walked with God. Enoch had to have walked with the God prior to Methuselah's birth in order to recieve the revelation for His name, but after recieving this revelation he walked ever closer. Methuselah means \_when he is gone it will come. \_The signs of times are screaming at us, "You need to walk with God!" The happenings in the Middle East today are nothing foreign to the Bible. The Church today is lukewarm, indifferent, and unconcerned. Preachers will never inspire the Church to be fire, but it will take persecution to awaken the multitudes. Some will heed preaching, but many will not. God will not awaken the church until after the little Bride is taken. **I. BY FAITH ENOCHED WALKED WITH GOD** WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN TO WALK WITH GOD? In Genesis we have an account stating a fact, "Enoch walked with God." But, throughout the Bible we have instruction declaring how we ought to walk. Romamns 8:14 (not A spirit but THE Spirit.) There is a difference between lambs and sheep and a difference between babes and sons.(hulios\_ fully mature)\_; Romans 13:13; 2 Corinthians 5:7 (feelings are not faith. Faith might produce feelings, but faith is a product of the WORD.) Galatians 5:16 Ephesians 4:1; 5:2; 5:8; 5:15; There absolutely are rules, they are God made, and if we do not follow them we will not make it.; Colossians 4:5; I John 2:6 walk in the light; walk even as He walked. That ,brother, is a straight line.; I John 1:7 Walking indicates a progression. We do not understand it all in a moment. But we recieve line upon line as we walk in the light as He is in the light. John 7:17; 1. We need to grow in Faith Romans 1:17 2. We need to grow in Grace 2 Peter 3:18 3. We ned to grow in His Nature 2 Corinthians 3:18 We die that Christ may manifested in us. Sanctifiication is an ongoing and progressive work. **II. BY FAITH ENOCH PLEASED GOD** To walk with God requires agreement. Amos 3:3 We must agree with HIM on HIS rules, on HIS terms. By faith Enoch pleased God. Walking in itself indicates that he walked by faith. Faith is not something you, but something you do. How do we know that Enoch walked by faith? Because he PLEASED God. Faith without works stinks! Enoch's walking with God revelated his faith. Works do not save, but if Christ is living imn you there will be a definemnt pattern of Good works. James 2:22 Works indicate that faith is made perfect. How do we know our faith is faith? When it does work and reveals the life of God. **III. BY FAITH ENOCH WAS TRANSLATED** Enoch believed God. Death is an enemy. Death is the result of sin. Death is pictured in our churches as a wonderful thing. Psalm 116:15 Precious = Costly; valueable (v.8) "He delivered me from death because costly in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His saints." John 8:51 There is a vast difference between keeping God's Word and thinking we are all right. By faith the overcomer will be translated, sit with Him on His throne, wear white robes, and receive crowns. Let us walk with God in a deeper instruction, more disciplined, and greater dedicated way. Relevation, substance, meat are what makes the overcomer. Not everybody is going to escape, but you MUST BELIEVE IT. Must SEE IT, UNDERSTAND IT, And BELIVE IT. It takes REVELATION. Revelation 19:7,8 "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." God has no pets. Enoch was a type and every type must have a fulfilment.# The Abundant Life Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. May 22, 2005 Sunday Morning Title: "The Abundant Life" Text: John 10: 10 \--> One side on the tape, that is all he preached ## Intro: ``` The world knows nothing of life. The sinner is dead in tresspasses and sin. The Christian has life. Life is a gift of God. 1.) Natural life is a gift from God. Job Without the life of God we are nothing mor Psalm 103: Jer. 1:5 Acts 17:22 2.) God gives spiritual life Romans 6:23 Without the life of Jesus Christ you have no spiritual life. I Timothy 5:6 They that live in pleasure are dead in sin. People sit in the rain for many inings to watch someone hit a ball. They are dead. A) B) Life in the absalute, the life that is in God In him is life... not just breath, life a)he is creator of life b)he is the giver of life c)he is the restorer of life Eph 4:18 - a complete alien from the life of God Adam was alienated until God provided redemption to restore life to him Ezekiel 1:8 - The soul that sins, it shall die. The only way to have life is to have it to restored by Jesus Christ. What is the devil doing? Stealing, Killing, and Destroying The world always seems to use the lure of flashing lights to attracte you. I John 5:11 - That life is "zoe" the life of God You need the life of God in you. Truth is not a prrequisite to life, you must receive the life of christ, to have life. When Adam sinned, sinned entered into the world, he posined the human race so that all postatiry would be with sin. Every baby that is born is born with sin in him When Adam failed and sinned, he lost the life of God. Adam broght us to the graveyard. Christ came to the graveyard to save us, and bring us out. Stone typfies law, and when you put something to the stone, that represents breaking the law It takes God doing the best in you. It is more than you can do. The law was broken, they took Jesus to the grave, to the place that we were. Christ is more than our example, he was the Lord our Saviour. Ressurection life - to take us out of that terriable bondage ``` ## I. ## II. The Measure of that Life ``` Christ is a risen Saviour, the grave is empty. Adam took us to the graveyard, and Jesus took us out of that graveyard. He that believeth. You have got to believe. Some have life like a flickering candle, Some have life like a roaring furnace, Some have just enough life to be miserable A sick man may have life but it is very limited, just enough to make him hurting and miserable A prisoner may have life, but thier life is limited and confined. But when he is set free, he has life and more abundant. The sinner being set free, like the psalmist said, like a bird being set free. Just because you have been saved and even filled with the Holy Ghost does not mean you have it all. With Christ there is an overplue Psalm 27:11 Romans 5:17 I cor 8:22 - abundance of joy Some people have the conseption that if you are a christian that you have to be sober and queit. Ephesian 3:20 abundance I peter 1:3 The best pill that you can take is the Gos-pill Isaain 55:7 - abundance of power Abundantly pardon I Peter 1:3 Not just enough to have life in this life but you must have the life of Jesus Christ - LIFE Abundantly Something that will fan the fames of your experiance and help that fire to grow, go tell someone about Jesus. Sin is the problem, Christ is the cure If you want to find life, tell somebody about the life that is in you. ```# The Principal By Which Men Shall Be Judged Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. May 22, 2005 Sunday Evening Title: "The Principal By Which Men Shall Be Judged" Text: Matthew 7:12 ``` Divided we fall, and united we stand. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets This is not part of the cerimonal law but the ...... law The Rule of Life: Do to others as you would have them to do to you.. Sometimes we overrule the principles in our excitment. There is rule of that the Lord does judge us by. Matthew 22:36-39 Love the Lord with all your heart Love your neighbor as yourself The rule of life is love to the Lord and love to your neighbor. They say who is my neighbor? Everyone that needs love. The rule now is spiritual and both practical. Love is a spiritual law. Love your neighbor not out of a love for man but out of a love for God. As an act of obedience. Love is not all feeling, it is an act, it is obedience There is a measure to love. - Love your neighbor as yourself. (And every man loves himself, he may hate what he does, but he loves himself) As lot of times we spend so much time with ourself. We make sure we are taken care of. And the Lord said that is the measure we go by, Love your neighbor as yourself. And this is all based on the fact that we love him. (If we can't love our neighbor, than we can't truly love our neighbor. How we treat others is how we will be judged. Matthew 25:40 (...my brethern....done it unto me) How you treat your brothers is the way you are treating God. Jesus was much concerned with the lost but he was also very concerned with his brethern. He was concerned with Peter, saying Peter, Satan hath desired to sift you as wheat and when thou art converted - stregthen the brethern. Converted in the greek means a stronger condensation of - to be established To be stregthen means to be established. When thou get converted and strong, I want you to go out and stregthen the brethern. It is sad what people think, there is a grapevine in the church that is spreading lies about the brethern. One person says one thing and it goes down the line and it is a whole different thing when it finally gets back to the person. Let's not be caught supporting the devils cause. Galatians 6:1 What is the job of the spiritual (not those who think they are spiritual but are)? To restore such a one in meekness. Say I love you, I want to help, I'm here to pray with you. You can't help someone when you have your foot on their head. Treating people as you want to be treated. James 4:11 - speak not evil one of another brethern - (if you do) - you speak evil of the law James 5:19 God is angrey with sin. We can hate sin, but we need to love the person. He that convertetha a sinner from the error of his way saveth a soul from hell. Peter 3:8 - Be pitiful, Be courtous Why should I? Because you might be in that situation and need love. I John 2:9 I know the word is a sharp soward, it will cut what it needs to cut and help what it needs to help He that loveth his brother abideth in the light and there is no occasion of stumbling. I John 3:14 We know we have passed from death unto life, because we have loved the brethern. Not just words, it is action. Love one another even as I have loved you. Prayer: While I point this finger at this congregation to help them I know that I have three fingers pointing back at me. Follow me as I follow Christ. We need to stregthen one another and establish one another Don't be concerned that one person is climbing higher on the ladder, but help them to climb and grow closer to you. Help to stand and to grow closer to you. END It doesn't take much grace to fly off the handle and to stick in the wall, but it grace to really love your brethern. We need to go into this convention not with bittering and strife for our brethern but a love and unity and ... ```# A Perfect Man Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. July 10, 2005 Sunday Morning **Title**: A Perfect Man **Text**: Matthew 5:48 ``` God's Word needs to be preached in Its fulness. Luke 6:40; 2 Corinthians 13; Ephesians 4:13; Colossians 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16,17; Hebrews 6:1; James 1:4; 3:2; I Peter 5:10 In the begimnmnimng God made a perfect man. Genesis 1:26 "image and likeness" has nothing to do with what you look like on the outside. God is a spirit. John 4: What is the image of God? 1. God has emotions God is love I John 4:8 God is jealous Deut. 31:23 God is angry Deut. 4:25 God is mercy Psalm 136 2. God is intelligent God is omniscient Colossians 2:3 3. God has a will God acts Genesis 1:1 God is soveriegn God made man imnm his own image, a perfect man, emotionally, intellectually, and volitionally. These areas were violated imn the temptatiomn: Mind Genesis 3:6 (saw ra ah to consider; discern; to think) Emotions To desire; to lust; to covet; to love Will (actiomn; will) to take to recieve Hebrews 6:1 "Let us go on unto perfection." Ephesians 4:13 Man cannot redeem himself. **I. The Provision for Perfection** Does the fact that God provided perfection mean all are perfected? No. God provided redemption = Romans 3:24 A complete deliveramnce by a price paid. Ephesians 1:7 Proviision has been made and man is without excuse. **II. The Process of Perfection** Hebrews 6:1; Hebrews 4:13; I Timothy 3:16 What makes a perfect man? struggle? No, you will labor in vain. A complete man, whole man, surrendered completetly to God. = emotionally, intellectually, and volitionally. The Revelatiomn of the Knowledge of Truth is that which will make a perfect man. Some are far moved emotionally. Some are far moved intellectually. (By books and not the Word that is.) We are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. The soul has to do with the will. (The soul that sins, it shall die.) It takes the whole man to be a perfect man. Matthew 16:24 (denying= emotions, take up his cross = the mind, and take up his cross = will; actiomn) There must be a renewing and restoration of these areas that have been violated by sin. Ephesians 5:18 There must be a surrender for this to happen. God will not violate the will of a man. Be filled in these areas and surrender in these areas = emotions, intellect, and will. God only fills that which is surrendered. What He fills He controls, & what He controls He leads. John 16:13 We read the holy Bible, to get to a Holy Heaven, serving a Holy God who shed his holy blood, that we might live a holy life. **III. The Power of Perfection** Ephesians 1:19 We cannot save ourselves and we cannot perfect ourselves. God must do it. Philippians 2:13 But, He can't work in you unless you surrender Colossians 1:11,13 2:10; 2 Peter 1:3 **IV. The Purpose of Perfection** The Perfect mamn will be at the same measure as Christ. Talk, walk, and act like Christ. (Humble, etc.) A. To Escape Tribulation. Luke 21:36 B. To Sit with Christ on His Throne Rev. 3:21 C. To be the Bride of Christ (The Church is not the Bride, but it is people from out of the Church) Revelation 19:7 God has the power if we will surrender. ```# The Guarantee of Success Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. August 7, 2005 Sunday Morning **Title**: The Guarantee of Success **Text**: 2 Peter 1:10,11 You Can Be a Successful Christian. When people fall it is because they did not do what they were told to do. When people say they do not think they will make it are really saying that they are not sure if they want to make it. There is a guarantee that you can make it, but you need to read the 'fine print." It does really matter what the Believer does. DILIGENCE is Required. v.10 (Diligence is in the fine print.) ## **I.** Diligence is a work to be done. ``` 4704 spoudazo -to use speed, i.e. to make effort, be prompt or earnest:--do (give) diligence, be diligent (forward), endeavor, labor, study. straining every nerve Do not allow the grace that has touched your life make you lax and lazy. It is not time to just go along and coast. John 5:14 Go and SIN NO MORE. 2 Timothy 2:19 Diligence is a work and is "hard." ``` ## **II.** Diligence is vigilance-constant. I Peter 5:8 ``` Neglect anything in life for a little while and you will discover degradation. Leave your experience alone in God for a little while and you will see "nature" work its destruction. If you leave your experience unattended it is amazing the destruction the old man, carnal nature will work. It does not take a long while - just a little neglecting. You do not have to plant weeds, and it does not take long for weeds to grow in an uncultivated heart. You do not have to encourage your carnal nature to rise up, only neglect your spiritual experience. The measure of our diligence is the measure of our victory. We need diligence in cultivating Christian character. IF YOU DO THESE THINGS... You must take care of what God has given to you. What things are we to do? v. 5 Giving ALL diligence and constantly being diligent. We did not "arrive" at salvation, but it was a BEGINNING. **A. **We need to add to our Faith. 2 Peter 1:5-9 Our faith is very limited at the start. We gain faith by hearing His Word. **1**. Virtue - moral goodness It does matter if you are going to make it. He is a holy God. No unclean thing will enter into Heaven. **2**. Knowledge, Truth - You are going to have to spend time in the Bible learning for yourself what is THUS SAITH THE LORD. **3.** Temperance - self-control "Catch the rats and save the house." Temperance is following knowledge indicating what we learn is to be practiced. **4.** Patience - Am I ALWAYS patient? James 1:3,4 It works that which you NEED- patience. There are some things that are more important than others. If you do not have patience you are in trouble. **5**. Godliness - God-likeness **6**. Brotherly Kindness - God-likeness is joined to brotherly kindness. **7**. Charity - love Love is the DUTY of every Christian. Love is not an option. It is a requirement. It is in the fine print. Division is the devil's design for our destruction. Keep your lips and ears from gossip. v. 10 Diligence is the condition of success. If you do these things you shall never fall. Why do people fail? Because they fail to do these things. It is a guarantee for every individual you can make it, but you must do what He said. If you find yourself falling do not give up, but be big enough to be small enough to confess your faults. You do not need to fall or fail. It must be the individual's will. Mt 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. It must be the individual's commitment. As long as you want to be kept, God is able to and will keep you. When you see a person stray it is because they want to go that way and not that God lost His grip. v. 11 Some will be saved as by fire, but there is a promise of an abundant entrance. "I want my life to count for Him In service every day In all I do In all I say I want my life to count for Him" **These things MUST be in us if we are to have a successful entrance into Heaven.** ```# Why Believers Backslide Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. August 21, 2005 Sumnday Morning **Title**: Why Believers Backslide **Text**: Hebrews 7:5 If God isable to save to the uttermost why do some Belivers go back? Proverbs 14:14 Where is the problem? the HEART To understand about backsliding we must understand sin. Sin is in two forms: ACTUAL sin and ORIGINAL sin. ACTUAL being that which we commit and ORIGINAL being that which we inherited being born into this world. Both areas must be dealt with for a Beliver to make it. In order for the Beliver to make it there are two ways sin must be dealt with : The forgiveness of sin and the freedom from sin. Isaiah 1:18 God can make your soul innocent just as if you had never sinned. Acts 26:18; Psalm 103:12; Ephesians 1:7 He forgives us based on the riches of His grace which is based on the fact Christ died on the cross. Col. 1:14 SIN IS SIN and only God can remove sin. Sin when it is finished will destroy you. I John 1:9 CONFESS TO GOD. I John 2:12 When you ask He forgives your sins for His own name's sake. Multitudes come only to the point where they are excited there sins are forgiven but never see the need for the freedom sin. WE NEED TO BE FREE FROM SIN. God in His grace brought Israel out of Egypt, but all the miracles that God performed never got Egpyt out of Israel. God can take someone out of sin, but only God can take sin out of the heart. Luke 8:13; Mark 4:17 NO ROOT IN THEMSELVES. It didn't get down inside. He not only wants to forgive you of your sins, but He wants to give you a new nature. If He only forgives your sins then you will find yourself only tallying up more. Where is the problem? Matthew 15:19 The heart. It is one thing for God to say He forgives you, and it is another thing to live different. 2 Cor. 5:17; Jer. 17:9 There is great danger in not allowiing God to deal with your heart. GET THAT CONVICTION DEEP IN THE HEART TO WALK HOLY BEFORE GOD. People (Proffessing Christians) seem to be more in love with the world than they are with God. 2 Timothy 3:4 IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO BE FORGIVEN THERE MUST BE A CHANGED HEART. Acts 8:13,18-21; Acts15:8,9 I have a problem with people saying they have been filled with the Holy Ghost and are still struggling with alcohol. No, there had to be a purifying of their hearts and then were filled with the Holy Ghost. We have read over Scriptures and we have cast a lot of them aside. But God's promises are a guarantee that we can make it. Matthew 5:8 A changed heart reflects in a changed life. "blessed, happy, spiritually prosperous, one to be envied" is the pure in heart. James 4:8 Needed to purify their hearts because they were doubleminded. They wanted the benefits of Calvary, but did not want to walk righteously. Luke 16:13 We need to make up our mind who we are going to serve. There is a season for which you can fight the carnal nature, but eventually just like gravity that force undealt with will eventually bring the believer down. The old nature must be destroyed. Romans 6:6 body of sin-original sin, that sin in which you were born-Psalm 51:5; Romans 6:1 Reckon yourself dead-Give NO place unto the devil. Romans 6:18 FREE FROM SIN--'confilct is over'--the desires no longer at war with the will. Free rom sin so that the desires are the same as the will. Conflicts without remain, but no fightings WITHIN. (conflict i.e. , I want to do right, but I really want this...) "I want to do thy will oh Lord, I want to do thy will oh Lord, Take me,break me, mold me, and make me, I want to do they will oh Lord." When you can come to the place where you want God's will more than anything else the war is over. My testimony this morning is I don't have to fight when I walk by a bar room because God has changed my heart. HE IS ABLE to save us to the UTTERMOST. You do not have be dragged, drawn, pulled by sin, but sin can lose its hold on you so that you become free from sin. Romans 6:14 Let us not become entrenched in a shallow excitement over the forgiveness of sin when we need yet a change of heart and a freedom FROM sin.# The Completeness of Personality Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. September 25, 2005 Sunday Morning ``` **Title**: The Completeness of Personality (Christian Maturity) **Text**: Ephesians 4:13 INTRODUCTION God is saying to us why don't you grow up? v.13 It is goimng to take a mamnifestatiomn of God. "we" believers that have amn imnterest imn the deeper thimngs of God. Not all are going to come to the unity of the faith, but there are some. "of the knowledge of the Son of God." There needs to be an understanding of truth. Amplified Bible: "Until we all atain unto oneness of the faith and the comprehension of the full and accurate knowledg of the Son of God that we might arrive at fuly mature manhood the completeness of personality....the completeness found in him. Seen here: 1. Mature Manhood 2. Completeness of Personlaity 3. The Fullness of Christ. Hearing is not enough, we must see a demonstration of turth. We need to have the knowledg of God's Word to Inspire us and help us walk in God. The word "personality" indicates what a person is, who they are. Dictionary: the quality or fact of being a particiular person; personal identity; the person themselve. In the bible the personality is called the heart of man. 1Th 5:23 Man's spirit makes him God conscious.God is a Spirit and they that worship Him in Spirit and in truth. Man's soul makes him self-conscious. Man's body makes him world conscious. God wants us to mature, grow up, and go on unto PERFECTION. The heart or personality can be divided into three areas: Emotions, Intellect, and Will. Man was made in the image and likeness of God; God has emotions, intellect, and a will. 1. Emotion - Has to do with feelings. We should be emotional concerning Christ. 2. Intellect- involves knowledge 3. Will- what you do; strength Mark 12:30--includes all parts of the personality of man. Loving Him, Knowing Him, Obeying Him. Psalm 119:2 WHOLE heart, the complete personality is involved. God wants us to be steady even when tried and dry. Psalm 119:34; 58-I desire to please Him, I want to be in His favor to have God look upon me favorably. v. 69- I WILL, I WILL, I WILL--His desire is to be obedient. v.145- a depth of hunger for God God still wants our Whole heart. Love Him with our emotions. Know Him with our intellect. And obey Him with our will. It is a sad fact that most Christians today can be so easily inspirited with enthusiastic emotionalism. Emotionally stirred, but having no effect on their knowledge or will. Emotions alone is not enought. It is only a part of personality. God wants ALL. A lot of Christians can reason things through and designing a plan, but when it comes time for DOING what is right they tend to draw back. God must have full control of the will as well as the emotions and intellect. Until Christ fills and controls the will little of lasting value wiill be developed. It is amazing how so many things effect us in part, but fail to move us to OBEY. I love to feel God's presence and to know truth, but I must obey in order to mature. It turns reasons and emotions into REALITY. Is it any wonder that there are so many babes in the house of God? It is not because of the emotions or the understanding altogether, but because of what is being taught: "You don't have to do anything it is all grace and faith." The will has to be develped to be complete. Ephesians 4:13 The will has to be developed to the point of obedience. As far as the initial aspect of salvation we sinned and Christ made provision for that. But when I come I accept Him as LORD and SAVIOUR. With a new mind, new comittement, New demands. Matthew 7:21; John 14:23 LOVE = emotions, to love Him you must know Him= intellect, Obey Him= will. We should have the desire to love Him with all our heart, mind, and strength. "I haven't made it, but I want to." That is why God has given all these ministries: for the perfecting of the saints. Not just for emotinal stir or knowledge and information. John 14:24 If we do not obey Him then we do not love Him.; Romans 6:17 Ephesians 4:17 Our whole life should exemplify the declaration, "I belong to God." vv.18- Renewing of the Emotions, Mind, and Will. v. 27 We are under a new master v.28-32 If I want God to forgive me, then I must forgive. Allow our emotions to be consumed with Christ, Our intellect to hunger for truth and the knowledg of God, and our will to be to DO the will of God. Ephesuans 5:16 He cannot fill only but what we give Him. What He fills He controls. If he is not controlling our will, emtions, or intellect then we must yet GIVE THEM TO HIM. There has to be development if we are to have part in His Bride. Gaza was the southern border of Israel. What has happened in our southern states? We drove them from their homes. What has happened to the people in our southern states--driven from their homes. Let us see the signs about us and seek for greater development. Give God ALL. ```# The Ultimate Request Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. November 27, 2005 Sunday Morning **Title**: The Ultimate Request **Text**: Proverbs 23:26 My son give me thine heart. ## I. The Human heart is not by nature in God's possession. Man is in his unregenarate state is a sinner by nature. He is also a sinner by CHOICE. Isaiah 53:6 Born with a WARPED natue, but also made WRONG choices. ## II. God's Request is Founded on Legal Grounds We are God's by Creation, He made us. We are His by REDEMPTION. We are twice His. He made us and He bought us. ## III. God's Request is Founded on Filial Relation. "MY son" ## IV. God's Request is Founded on God's Love. ## V. God's Request is Based on Willingness. What God claims I yield; What I yield He accepts; What He accpets He fills: What He fills He uses; What He uses He blesses. The touch of the master's hand makes all the difference.# A Father Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. June 19, 2005 Sunday Morning Title: **"A Father"** Text: **I John 2:13,14** In knowing God brings a great responsibility upon us. A man can be a husband without being a father. You must have a child to be a father. The great responsibility is in imparting our knowledge of God to our children. ## **I. A father must teach his children.** This responsibility is great and grave to teach our children. Theodore Roosevelt said, "I can either be President of the United States of America or I can be a father to my 16 year old daughter. I cannot be both." Deut. 6:7 They will not retain it all, but they will retain a consciousness of and reverence for God. Genesis 18:9--"His house, his rules." Gypsy Smith said to his father when leaving for a campaign, "Dad, while I am away I want you to carry me to the throne of God every day." His father responded, "No, I won't Son, I placed you before the throne of God many years ago, but I will pray that God will keep you there." Genesis 35:2 If you want your children to meet with God, then, get the idols out of the home. If you are going to serve God you must have a clean house. Acts 19:19 (over 3 million dollars) Most often the best way to get rid of the devil is item and all and not just portions and parts. ## **II. A father must train his children.** Psalm 78:5; Proverbs 22:6 We must be examples. I Kings 2:2 "I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;" We teach greatest by our example. A father was teaching his son what a Christian was in detailed description and when he was done his son looked up at him and asked, "Dad, have I ever seen a Christian." ## **III. A father must discipline his children.** ``` Joshua 24:15 Discipline is necessary. A girl asked her dad what "suspension" meant at school. Her dad replied, "That is when you do your school work at home standing up because your seat will be too sore sit on." ``` ## **IV. A father must love his children.** In showing true love a father must discipline his children. Children need to know that they are loved. Tell them often as well as show them often. The father's example is the Heavenly Father Who gave His all. "I speak unto you, fathers, teach, train, discipline, and most of all love your children."# The Place of Power Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. June 26, 2005 Sunday Morning Title: **"The Place of Power"** Text: **Mattthew 18:19** ``` There is a place that the people of God can get into wherein they can receive answers that they have struggled for for a long time. There is no failure on God's part: the weakness is always on our part. Agreement is the place of power. **I. Divsion is the Devil's Device**. Division destroys. No good comes out of division. For the sake of unity, division does sometimes become necessary. Abraham amnd Lot's cattlemmen disputed with each other amnd for the sake of unity Abraham and Lot parted ways. Luke 11:17; I Corithians 1:10. If the devil can divide, he will conquer. In agreement, we have the same mind, same judgment. Division is often the result of poor judgment. Be sure the information you get is true before you publish it. I Corinthians 3:3 The word agreement is a compound greek word meaning: together like musical instruments in harmony. We must be in agreement: believe the same thing, hold to the same thing. Acts 2:1 One mind, one motive, and one purpose in veiw. Our vision and purpose should be to glorify God **II. There Must be Unity of Affection** We are to love one another. John 13:34 Is it not true that we make concessions for the ones we love?.Proverbs 10:12 What is it that will bring us into agreement? LOVE. Agreement is a condition of the Heart. **III. There Must be Unity of Action** We must labor together in the work of God. If two will agree, be in complete accord, be in harmony.... We put no effort in promoting that for which we pray for. If we are praying for god to do something, let us do something to promote what we pray for. We shoul d be putting some effort into winning souls. **IV. There Must be Unity of Purpose** If all the church exists for is to fill the seats, we have missed our purpose. The Church must be reaching the lost and rescuing the perishing. It is not church growth or individual exhortatoin for which we work. Souls should be our hearts cry. **V. There Must be Agreement in Prayer** Can we agree imnm prayer that souls need to be reached? **A. There Needs to be Agreememnt with the Whole heart** Psalm 119:2; Joel 2:12 How long has it been since we have agonized for a soul. Jeremiah 29:13 **B. Our Asking Needs to be Accordimng to the Word** I John 5:14 We can ask for souls and Know we ask according to His will. It makes a difference what we ask for. At the top of our ask list should be "souls." **C. We Need to Live Right** James 5:16; I John 3:22 God will bring forth the results when He sees the agreement amongst His people. ``` **CONCLUSION** ``` We need to find that place where God will answer a man for the sake of the lost. God's people must be united and in agreement. ```# Going Out that We Might Go In Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. June 29, 2005 Wednesday Night Bible Study Title: **"Going Out that We Might Go In"** Text: **Genesis 12:1-7** ``` **I. THERE MUST BE A GOING OUT BEFORE THERE WILL BE A GOING IN** What God spoke to Abram, He is speakimng to us. He had to go out, in order to come in. Omne of the problems people have today is not coming in because they are not going out. To reach fulmness there must be a change from where you are. God wamnmts us to move out from where we ahve been so lomng amnd move inmto what He has for us. Verse 5 "and they went forth." We need to make amn effort imn receivimng the promise. God required Abram before he could move imnto the Promised Land he had to move out of the Ur of the Chaldees. **II. What did the go forth from? What did he leave behind?** A. Was a Wicked Place B. Terah was a Seller of Idols There is a lot of sin that we do not like to call sin. There are a lot of lacks, failings, and false. Ur of the Chaldees represents the old life, worldly pleasures. We must move away from the things that hinder us in God. The Christian journey must be involved with God inm its beginning, progress, and end. If we do not go forward, we will go backward. **III. On What was He Moving On?** Abram left the Ur of the Chaldees based on the Word of God. God said, "Get out." and Abram got out. Genesis 11:31 Terah was in control, he led the band. They went aproximately 25 miles to Haran. They moved only a little and become satisfied long before they reached the goal God had in mind. Abramm was a young man when God first spoke to him, but when he finally made a brake he was 75. He was 60 years in Haran. "I'm not where I used to be." But, are you where you SHOULD be? This generatiomn needs more than words. It needs a demonstration of God's power. You will not get that in the Ur of the Chaldees or Haran. Terah died. The Old Man must die. He will hinder your progress and keep you in Haran. ```# Faith Proved by Testing Rev. James R. Reynolds, Sr. September 18, 2005 Sunday Morning **Title**: Faith Proved by Testing **Text**: I Peter 1:1-7 INTRODUCTION ``` Our faith will be tested. v.1 trial, testing, proving, putting to the test IT is one thing for God to give us examples of faith and it is another thing for us to have faith. God has given to every man among you (believers) a measure of faith. It is so exciting when God blesses us, but after the blessing comes the testing. ``` **I. Ways God tests our faith:** ``` 1. God requires at times from us a GREAT SACRIFICE. Genesis 22:1 (Moffat translation "after God these things God put Abraham to the test.") v.2 The very thing we say we won't do is usually that which God will require. 2. God leads in a DIFFICULT WAY. Deut. 8:2 Israel wandered a 40 year cycle facing the same enemies and problems and not gaining any victory. 3. God uses STRANGE PLANS for victory. Joshua 6:3-5; Romans 11:33 God knows how to make us successful if we follow His plan. Your walls will come down if you obey God. God might give you a strange plan which might be a humbling plan. I want to fight and use the sword, no, just obey God. 4. God REDUCES the natural MEANS for success. God never wants us to to say " I did it my way and was successful." God has a way of bringing us to place where only He can receive the glory. Judges 7:7 5. God can require a seemingly IMPOSSIBLE TASK. John 6:5-6 All that God does is to our benefit to make us better. 6. God PERMITS SUFFERING while doing God's will. Acts 16:23,24 7. God allows TEMPTATIONS. James 1:2-4 ``` **II. Tests are Blessings in Disguise** ``` The tiral of your faith being much more precious than gold that perisheth. Trials with a beneficial blessing in disguise. Job 23:10;42:12; Psalm 66:12 wealthly-running over Whatever God does He does in abundance. 2 Corinthians 4:17 Usually the tests lasts until you learn the lesson. LIGHT affliction ; Hebrews 12:11 You can make it, You can make it, This trial youre going through God's gonna show you just what to do, God won't let it last too long, your not in this thing alone, you can make it! I Ptr 1:7 God knows how to turn the heat up and He knows how much heat we can take. Isaiah 43:2,3 Diamonds are produced from coal that outlast the pressure placed on them. When the devil oppresses and the pressure gets high show him CALVARY and he must flee. ```# Sovereignty of God \[transcript\] This day and consider it in by our not the Lord he is God in heaven above and upon the earth denies there is none else read that again no therefore this day and consider it in buying our not the Lord he is our in heaven above and upon the earth beneath their ears none of I can tell you when I overheard a message preached on the sovereignty of God is what I want to talk to you this morning about the sovereignty of God he is so no therefore this day and consider him by our Lord he is call in heaven above and upon the earth beneath there is not now gawkers solver and by creation God is solver and by creation he wasn't voted in a cannot be voted out none will take his place there is none greater than he God is solver and solver and by creation blossoms one and 16 says fall by him were all things created that are in heaven and on her nerves visible and has an invisible whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers all things were created by him and all you created all things and they were all created for him you're listening Dennis is one and one says in the beginning God when there was nothing out blog will still today man used his words to desecrate the character and nature of God but one day as he said through Solomon even to the young go-ahead to your saying go Iran wager your own thing but remember this God one day will bring you to do on your world can go their own way but one day God because he is God will bring them judgment in the beginning God in the Hebrew reads Elohim the plural go dropped the father God the son God the holy they always lost always will be there no in assessing the beginning God created the heavens and the earth's by him and for him and some idiots ruin anything that says that men may know that thou whose name alone is Jehovah are the most high over all the earth and talking to this morning about the sovereignty go Khrushchev made a stupid statement when he said one day we'll succeed sending out spacecrafts and well thought of God and will tear him from his throne and will cast him down quick off his integrative as far as the body but his soul is inhaled burning and God is still on his throne you're so streptomycin very plain that God does as he pleases God does as he pleases what they please but deleted in Sima hundred and 35 and six assists whatsoever Lord please that it be in heaven and earth's in this 80 and all the places he got any dust what he wanted to and it pleased him whatever God did it pleased him out of a lot of things that God may change their direction that displays but as far as what he may get all please whatever you decide to do a bit and it pleased him whatsoever Lord pleased that it be heaven and earth and sea all the places it takes it all in Scripture says this he controls all things why doesn't Al Gore read the Bible this one verse of Scripture alone would help them to understand how foolish it changes times and seasons he sets up games and even removes King's his wisdom and knowledge Daniel the second chapter in the 21st versus as of this week he changes the times and the season wiped out with men that was changing but I embassies and I have some of these folks on the radio and they get darker and all while global warming and some are so foolish in their rendition all of what was going on when made the statement the other day well is because of global warming that we gotten cold and this is what they came up with why we have a cold spell and we had the coldest month for new some and surely it had to be global warming causing coal gave changes the times and the seasons he rewrote with chains and sets up being a give of wisdom unto the wise and knowledge to them that no understanding every invention that man has ever made a train by the knowledge and wisdom of God and other thing that I heard about Al Gore is that he be made via invented the Internet of the word is eminently computer through wasn't imminent while doesn't matter even make a long of silly people are make statements as they do go on he changes the times and the seasons he removes King's is setup Y. do we have then if God is in control why do we have such an evil man you stop and consider we have an evil wicked nation I remember way back before Bill Clinton hardly anybody of the new about I knew very little about them myself when I was in prayer when they and God spoke to me and said your next president will be William Clinton William Jefferson Clinton I came to this pulpit and I told months before he was ever inaugurated that Bill Clinton would be in express and the reason why God spoke to me whilst he said because we have such an evil nation we cannot sacrifice and slaughter 15 million babies and not just please go we cannot support bills or Wallace that allowing men to marry men and not just please go God said if a man lay weatherman has he done for the woman is abomination it's against God I called one of the senators here in the state and I told him what the Scripture says in and they were dumbfounded in the does the Scripture say that I said that's exactly what the Scripture says that the man lays with a man as he dazzled the woman is an abomination to God God has the right to tell us how we can conduct our life we can make choices with we can make choices God is solver in saving on your code into his own will listen to what he says and Daniel Forbes 35 and all the inhabitants of the earth are you. As nothing and he was according to his own lives Wale in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth and not in 10 states and will send him what it was a enough according to his will whatever he desires to do your fine blog picking up the thought that I dropped concerning God lifting up games and putting things down again I remember before this and I have to be very chocolate idol anger somebody but I don't like this idea that this man is in our wife he has no reason to be there it has never showed up versus to that he was born in this country in fact he made the statement the other day on the radio he said I'm just like you I'm an American African that's where he came from Kenya again the flaw and the inauguration and therefore he was even accepted as a presidential nominee God spoke to me and said if the Christians fail next president will be Obama and I believe God spoke to me for a reason up to the Christian and because the Christians say there is nothing but will in the world but Christian is the only one that has knowledge of tools knowledge of what is right and what is wrong and the hapless man loves abortion and loves queers even while eliminating what Bill Clinton's don't tell a don't pass he wants them to openly exercise their so-called rights it's not a right for a man to love another man is not all right for a woman to love another woman owned to God's word and is solver in and day well bring them all and judgment they may get by for a while but God will bring them the judgment he is solver in a duo according to his will among the inhabitants of the earth and none can stay his hand close to what were you doing our God they smartly make statements but one day I'll haul them into the courtroom and he'll say to them depart from me you accursed in everlasting destruction say what you will about the word of God now he processes this right sovereignty by virtue of absolute ownership even get it any other way he simply owns all things and he is solver all things were created by him and for him the Lord is God Israel had to learn that as a way for between who is God is God daughter is available in the profit came in such a long while he between two opinions is it going to be that you think they list all while God might be God how long is this going to go all finally have a showdown is that you will be well under God now oh my God and the says analysis by five leading make our and the fire of God fell upon the sacrifice and could sacrifice in the welder and looked up the dust and dirt and the people follow their faces and I don't on years ago below is all would to God that this world would rise and will wake up and come to realize that it realizes that he is go GSM control Gates says what he wants to say and he does what he wants to do a non-insight into them were you doing now with relievers whenever responsibility computers will we have a responsibility here is my so often look across the congregation knew my not understand but he sees you I don't see everyone by every once in a while I'll see what somebody playing around with their fingernails of the summons of the Bible I remember when I was up and not what is that place we "know Wale of the Gauguin says dental down the where they are having techniques and on a Sunday morning we went in for the Sunday morning service of the Gauguin was preaching his own shows in the morning we were having kept meetings at night and the lady that was setting just in front of me just a moment by the Gauguin to read the Bible down autosomal and she's going to the phonebook and she kept going to the songbook until he was finished she really got a lot out of that service we have a responsibility to hear what God has to say to us we are near and he the spirit house with your daughter has something to say to you today is why I just come to fill in place no whatever reason you came God has a reason for you, and he wants to talk to you he wants to speak to you that has the word for you today in Newsday man whenever responsibility here as well John 1027 Jesus himself said my she my she here my voice my she model announced it is so important that we develop that we grow up my sheet there is a difference between sheep and lambs meadowlands don't even know who their shepherdess but he said my she know my voice God has something to say to you today but wants to speak to you but wants to inform you that he loves you and that is concerned about you that he watches over he'll are my sheep hear my dollars and I knows him I know will be a consolation to you when you stand before his throne and says welcome I know you what it said that it's going to be worth some veterans say depart from me I don't even know you never knew you it was very and 15 assists today if you will hear his voice hard not to you now that we're living in a time when the devil is doing everything he can on your car toward God puts truce towards righteousness to that which is your idea or not different ones that listen to the television I care enough from the to know all that some of the stuff that they've been preached who is not from the word of God be very careful today to hear his voice high on nor your not have people say to a wealth of so-and-so doesn't believe that so-and-so doesn't believe this yet and that's man's ideas and that's man's interpretation and you've heard me say this a lot at times this was a personal experience myself with a preacher I looked him in the eyes and he had a conflict of what I what I was teaching what I preach them that I turned to him and I quoted a verse of Scripture from the word of God I quoted were a word I didn't add anything to it I didn't take anything away from it I simply quoted the word or word and he looked at me and he said well that's your interpretation is to what they're doing today if you will hear his voice hard on not your car's he was 12 and 25 says that this would say that you refuse not him say that your refusal was not him that's because I today we live in law being sold as an absolute right of it has an absolute right to the content you what's right what's wrong he can demand if you could do this all to do with their install Samba hundred and verse versus no way that the Lord is God is he that made us and not we ourselves we are his people and that she is pasture being solver and he makes the rules being solver and he makes the rule you have a problem with a rule as I've often said that although it was been preached dockable's initial we have a responsibility prey are listening we have a responsibility part I don't feel he doesn't ask us if you feel like there is a responsibility laid upon every believer will put it like this is that you need to always pray that you are not into temptation what is the what is the Lord say he was saying that if you don't pray you would end up in trouble flow is telling us that we need bright we was possibility to go to pray Conseil Chronicles 714 he said it like this if my people talking about his people people that know if my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and Ray shall humble themselves and pray talking about his people and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land I will be familiar to us pray wasn't just a demand in the old times it's still a demand today that we pray you will find that all your problems and a lot of furor difficulties that you face if you spend some time in prayer all those problems will be dissipated God will work for you don't expect God to take care of your problem if you are amid times you've heard me tell about the one of the teachers design your lawyer and I know that he was very busy and that he said to us one day and one of the classes is that I don't have the time I have to do my prayer rug will it show he never had to tell me that just to hear him as he stood up to them tried to indoctrinate the class it was something missing do you know there's something missing in a persons life that doesn't spend time in the presence of God in him and aged pray you responsibility to pray also as a responsibility of divine command locating and one says men are sometime troy men all once in a while men are when they feel like it now this was sent to us some time ago a young couple was coming here and that they said to me after I got through preaching the morning Lola has to so-and-so when they named NI one value or is he was on the radio and he was saying to the people the only time you pray is when you feel please please somebody jump up and tell me how often do you feel like pray is there more times you don't feel like pray but you know you need to pray right and he was telling the people all a pray when you feel like and if they only pray when they feel like it is a pervert who do and then he went on to say all a Ranger Bob Gephardt only different to make it a hardship on you to read your Bible is a lot of times you won't feel like reading your Bible I guarantee it other things will try to crowd in and crowd out the time of reading reading your Bible but if you make up your mind and you put your foot down and say read the Bible that he was to teaching the people only read the Bible when you figure it now we need to know what to say praying sometimes men always to pray and not to say I responsibility of divine command God commands us Ephesians 6 of agents is praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit blossoms for abuses continue in prayer and wants in the same with Thanksgiving but more than that is a responsibility of the divine chrome or your God commands us but God also gives us a promise listen to this Jeremiah 29 and 12 innings shall you call upon me and you shall go pray unto me N. my Wale harken on you I Wale pocket you call your way NI well here I was amid times God has answered your prayers and probably some of you even question if God wanted to go we need to have a confidence when we pray that's what Jesus said when you prayed to what relief when you pray believe and believe why pray that the answer will come and this is what they say call on me and pray I will talk unto you than that he does little for the Jeremiah 33 recall unto me then I will than I like to I like to call out to me N. my Wale and silly where you can put that in your pocket and take a I will call you for I believe I will absolutely and Shelby great and mighty things which thou knows no. Listen to it refused to turn away don't turn away from the law but has something to say to you by this and there are many ways refusing to hear him he stands even at the door of the church behold I stand at the door and no hook if any man would does that say to you the whole church will not listen but individuals throughout the church around the world if any man hear my voice if any individuals here Michael he's calling some will respawn and if you hear his voice do not refuse to hear her many refused to hear audio refused to hear about dual-mode if somebody asks you and I don't know what was somebody just the other day as what he preached on one fellow said he preached on the platform of the would-be preacher will in on the plot we hear that we don't listen we hear a sound just like those that we would pull he heard the boy's they may have heard a sound and the Greek word has it that they heard a sound but they couldn't understand what was being said and does a lot of people sitting right here this morning I couldn't say a lot but there is some sitting here this morning you haven't even heard a word that I've seen some thought about your roast beef nine or people like ghostly but I don't miscellany okay but we don't listen it has been a leading key thing here please folks listen you don't have to listen to me but you do have to listen to him and if I stand behind his pulpit under the anointing of God and I speak things out of this word you should be listening to what you should be hearing what is said listening and another thing refusing to hear fusion to believe I don't believe that I don't believe that and I hear this I don't believe that I don't believe there is a sin this book God requires us to believe that then another thing people refuse to hear some you should straighten up and do what's right and I wanted to the tunnel and he knows me but some get offended when they hear the word that tells him to straighten flying right incentives they all sang to preacher for telling the truth's thank you that you have enough concern about my soul to be concerned about me but they get angry we are say it happened too long ago when local administrations you expect me to come and sit and listen to you and all I was trying to do is to wait until they got offended a lot of people get offended at God's word meant and whether there will things you can't swear if it cuts and it gets close just remember that I don't know about you but\\par }# See that Ye Refuse not Him that Speaketh TEXT: Hebrews 12:25-29 > Heb 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire. ## Introduction - Paul is writing to challenge those who have or are about to slide back into the form of Judaism. > Hebrews 10:35-39 — Heb 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. - Hebrews has been described as "One long sermon". Every once in a while, Paul interjects and speaks personally and directly: "SEE THAT YE.." - The world has for long time has refused God and His messengers. (Noah, Jeremiah, John the Baptist) - But Paul is looking "straight into the eye of the BELIVER and saying "SEE THAT YE REFUSE NOT HIM THAT SPEAKETH" ## I. We Get Our Direction from God It is the will of God for us to so live that we bring joy to God. Nehemiah said, that the joy they he had was his strength. > Nehemiah 8:10 — ## II. There are Many Ways of Refusing Him that Speaketh ### 1. Not hearing ### 2. Refusing to Believe ### 3. Perverting His Words ## III. Truth is that Which Delivers Us from the False - Truth is a person John 14:6 Jesus is the Father's absolute delight: > This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased In matt 12:5 ... "HEAR YE HIM"# The Grace of God Titus 2:11-12 > Titus 2:11-12 — For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; - I. The Grace of God hath Appeared to All Men. , v.11 - II. The Grace of God bringeth Salvation - III. The Grace of God Teaches Us ## I. The Grace of God hath Appeared to All Men. , v.11 > Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, **in this present world**; > Acts 11:23 — Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. Wherever this Grace hath come in the demonstration of the Spirit and with power, it hath purified the polluted, t hath made the dhonest honest, the intemperate sober, the licentious chaste. It has converted the monster of depravity into the humble, correct, consistent temperate dsiciple of Christ. Like the recovered maniac, "clothed and in his right mind." ### A. Origin Grace has its origin in the Father, its manifestation in the Son and its end in the Holy Ghost.. - God's Riches at Christ's Expense ### B. The Grace of God is Freely Given The nature of the grace of God is that it is the free gift of god to mankind in the gospel of Christ. > Psalm 84:11 — For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. > Acts 11:23 — Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. > Acts 13:43 — ### C. Manifested in Self-Sacrifice > 2 Corinthians 8:9 — For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. ## II. The Grace of God bringeth Salvation, v. 11 - The Extent of Grace: Salvation, Christ in you - Salvation by Grace > Ac 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. > Romans 3:24 — Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: > Titus 2:11 — For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, > Titus 3:7 — That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. > Revelation 21:27 — And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. - Salvation: - From the Condemning Power of Sin - From the Defilement of Sin - From the Love of Sin - From the Punishment of sin - Freed From the wrath of God The proper significance of the word grace is 'favor' — unmerited goodness and mercy. God devised a plan for the restoration of ruined man. It promises pardon, reconciliation, peache; it unfolds the glories of the eternal world, and it invites and stimulates the sinner to strive, through grace, to become fit for the heavenly inheritance. The Person for whose benefit this grace of God hath appeared: > Tit 2:11 — For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, The Salvation which the Grace of God Bringeth is free. For all who will accept it. God excludes none: > 2 Pe 3:9 — The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. ## III. The Grace of God Teaches Us > Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; An EFFECT of the Grace of God is INSTRUCTION, teaching. > 2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. ### A. The Grace of God Empowers Men for Service > 1 Corinthians 3:10 — > 1 Corinthians 15:10 — > Ephesians 3:7 — Where I was > Hebrews 2:9 &mash; > James 4:6 — ## B. Not Given for Selfish Use > 1 Peter 4:10 — ## C. Promised to the Humble > 1 Peter 5:5 — ## Riches of Grace > Ephesians 1:7 > Philippians 4:12 > 2 Timothy 1:14 ## Sufficient for all Human Needs 2 Cor 12:9; ## The Source of Power > 2 Timothy 2:1 > Revelation 22:21 — ## ,,, > Romans 5:12 — > Genesis 1:26 — God created man a spirit being. ## Grace has Fruit: (Works) The EFFECTS of the Grace of God. > Grace - the unmerited love an dfavor of God toward man, Divine influence acting in man to make him pure and morally strong, a spcial virtue given to a person by God. 1 Cor. 16:23; Gal. 1:6 ### 1. What Good are Works? No work can be good unless it is commanded of God. ### 2. Where do Good works come from? From a real conversion. ### 3. What is the use of good works? God works are evidence of Grace. > 1 Jo 3:14 — We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. A sermon is not just what a man says, but what he does. ## Grace is a universal offer - Offer to all men "appeared to all men" Irrespective of their condition -- "all have sinned" ## Grace Doth All Election, vocation(mission) Jstification sanctification --- all is from Grace. Grace is the original cause of all that we expect and receive from God.# Possibility, Principle and Potential of Faith INCOMPLE TRANSCRIPTION FOLLOWING: - last edit: August 13, 2022 [Sermon Audio](https://ia904601.us.archive.org/27/items/dc-preaching/jrrsr-possibility-principal-and-potential-of-faith.mp3?cnt=0) \[poor quality of recording, peaks over often.\] ## Opening Remarks … Mark the ninth chapter. While you're finding that. I have a real tugging on my heart to share something. .... Probably only those who have preached can appreciate what I'm trying to say. ... And they (sigh). ... Not because there is anything wrong with the truth. ... But I trust that we can relate something to you tonight to encourage you to believe God. ... The song I was goign to ask her to sing, she sang. Mark the ninth chapter verse 23: Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, \[pause\] somethings are possible \[pause\] That is a blank check. Signed and endorsed by the Christ of Heaven. With one stipulation, that you believe. If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. ... I want to touch on the three points that I see there: ... The possiblity, principle and potential of faith. ... If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth Somebody stand and ask God to \[...\]. \[Prayer by Bruce Babbidge\] ## The Possibility of Faith The Lord has reserved all of His promises for those that believe and He has left none for those that don't believe. .... He probabily won't because he has not reserved anything for unbelief. ... > I'm trying to believe, but I can't seem to believe. ... You can believe if you want. ... Have compassion on us an help us. ... Jesus rebuking his desciples for unbelief. > O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. \[Matthew 17:17\] ... The Father said to Jesus ... If thou canst believe. He was saying "I can do something and you can believe." ... You can believe. ... God never puts something to us that we cannot do. ... It is not that you can't. The Possiblity of faith is there. It is because you won't. ... We can believe if we will meet the requirements. ... Now listen to me. Faith worketh by love. Jesus said, If you love me keep some of my commandments \[sic\]. ... Ten Commandments unconstitutional. ... No wonder the young people are so imbalanced. ... My daddy wasn't all that mean, but when we'd been sassy ... sassed mother ... she put the ... on your backsides ... and she told you ... You do it again and I will give you some more ... she was straightening us out ... Someebody said, You will warp their character. No she was trying to straighten us out. ... and Faith works by love. ... You can believe if you want to but you gotta ... help thou my unbelief. That is where we need to come. ... he will help you. He will give you faith. ... He will never base His promises on faith if you couldn't believe. ... ## The Principle of Faith (~16 min) ... Faith cometh by hearing. ... You need more word. ... I lost my faith. Is it because you lost the hearing of the Word of God. ... Unadultereated, unmixed, unhomogenized Word of God ... I believe God! ... The Spirit of God helps you and encourages you. ... Jesus by His Spirit comes by and enables you to believe God. ... God by His Spirit put faith in your heart to believe Him. .... Faith comes by hearing and fasting. And I didn't say praying fast. I said prayer and fasting. ... Everyone is rushing ... We have to get there fast. ... 21:06 left off ## The Potential of Faith# Prospering TEXT: 3 John 1-8 DATE: October 29, 2000, Sunday Night - MP3 - Youtube (audio only) # Manifesting the Life of God Preached by James R. Reynolds Sr. on February 1, 2004, Sunday Morning at the Deliverance Center at 1008 Congress Street Portland, Maine. TEXT: 2 Corinthians 4:5-11 > 2 Corinthians 4:5-11 — For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 ¶ We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. ## Similar Messages - February 9, 1995 'Manifestation of the Son of God', 'Romans 8:6-19', - October 10, 2001 'The Son of God was Manifested', '1 John 3:8', - Jun 29, 2003, Sunday Pm 'The Life of Jesus Manifested', '2 Corinthians 4:10-11', - January 26, 2004 Sunday Am 'Manifesting the Life of God', '2 Corinthians 4:6-11', '\*\*\*\*\*\*Was not physically able to finish sermon/he preaches the complete message on February 1, 2004, Sunday Morning' - February 1, 2004, Sunday Am 'Manifesting the Life of God', '2 Corinthians 4:5-11',# Paul's Change TEXT: Acts 9:1-25 ## The Exposition of the Text: Saul's ### 1. Saul, the Religious Zealot > Acts 9:1 ¶ And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. #### A. Saul was a religous man, trained and taught in the Jewish religion. > Ac 22:3 — I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city **at the feet of Gamaliel**, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. > Acts 23:6 — But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, **I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee:** of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. #### B. Saul followed his religious convictions. - He was TRUE believer. - CONTRAST HERODunlike, Herod, the Saducee - He was an Edomite, who were forced to merge with Judea and adopt Judaism under a Maccabaen leader. Herod's Grandfather would experience the first to convert to Judaism. (It was in the family.) John Hyrcanus had instituted forced conversions on the Edomites to Judaism. This was an unprecedented move for a Judean ruler; it was the first instance of forced conversion perpetrated by Jews in recorded history. - Most Jewish writers, doubt Herod's 'Jewishness' - Yet, The Second Temple period is well known for its severe and somewhat obsessive, **purity laws**. The need to be cleansed and pure enough to worship at the Temple dominated the lives of Jews in Judea. The abundant amount of mikvaot (ritual baths) spread throughout the country, most of which were found in Jerusalem. All of Herod's palaces contained these ritual baths. (compare: Matthew 23:25 ) Hasmoneans in Herods day understood **Exodus 10:4** as a prohibition to include any form of artwork depicting real objects in the world. All of Herods palaces (with 1 exception 10+) were ornately decorated with geometric shapes. Herod directed a 50 year building projectect of the temple at Jerusalem which never really was completed. Out of respect, Herod never entered the temple, but remained on the porch. Herod seems to have kept **Kosher**. After in paranoia murdering his two sons, August Caesar is quoted as remarking with a pun, 'It is better to be Herod’s pig (Greek: hua) than son (Greek: huia).' Herod had special (expensive) vessels for garum (fermented fish sauce), but Herod drank Gentile wine. Herod's greatest deviation from Judaism was his **loyalty to Rome**. Including placing a large Golde eagle on a gate leading to the temple. - — compare Matthew 18:6 & Mark 8:15 — Jesus infers the Saducee relationship - who said John the Baptist was resurrected.) > Philippians 3:5 — Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; **as touching the law, a Pharisee**; > Philippians 3:6 — Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the **law, blameless**. ``` - He believed in paying tithe (Mt 23:23) - He believed in attending synagogue (not a temple, but a smaller building with benches around, scripture was read and then discussed) - He believed in resurrection (not a Saducee) - He believed in the miracle working power of God - He believed in the commandments - He believed in fasting 2 times a week - Had a CONSCIENCE toward God (Deceived, but honest, sincere), but did not have proper DIRECTION: **HE WAS FAR FROM GOD** 1Ti 1:13 ``` #### C. Saul attempted to eliminate the enemies of God — they were law breakers. - Saul was determined to be God's **watch dog**. He was zealous for his religion. - Jesus warned his disciples of men like Saul of Tarsus. > John 16:2 — They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you **will think that he doeth God service**. - "Breathing Out (animated, bent on, panting, hostile, ENRAGED) Threatenings (a menace) and Slaughter (murder)" To Saul, These Christians were guilty of blasphemy. (read Leviticus 24:10-16) - "desired letters" , "sought accreditation form the high priest" implying a commission to bring them to Jerusalem for trial and punishment. - Any of this way, "of this way or mode of life, doctrine, sect, kind of opions and conduct" These had a religous "bounty" on their heads. (Paul is breathing murderous intent, though it is clear he does not directly kill any one.) ### 2. Saul, the Humbled Sinner > 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. #### Light from Heaven Acts 9:1-9 > Acts 9:3 — And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: ##### 1. The Purpose of the Light - Why did God ordain just a dramatic event? - a. This revealed God's nature. (1 John 1:5; Acts 9:5; Revelation 1:12-17) > 1 John 1:5 — This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that **God is light**, and in him is no darkness at all. > Isaiah 6:3 — And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. - b. This revealed the condition of Saul's Spiritual eyes. Paul was an expert in the Jewish religion, but did not really know God. - c. Revealed Truth (notice the **turn around** in Saul's/Paul's doctrine) > Titus 3:5 — Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; ##### 2. The Properties of the Light (Characteristics) > shined round about him a light from heaven: \[phos: revealing, exposing, uncovering\] - ILLUMINATING: Paul is steeped totally in religion. (Tribe of Benjamin, Son of a Pharisee, a Pharisee, Zealot, Fanatic) His religion was the **only one** that was right. THE LIGHT EXPOSED HIS SIN. (God grants repentance. You cannot repent without this GRACE. Heb. 12:16,17) - MYSTERIOUS: 'out of heaven'; BRIGHT; a half hour - DIVINE: James 1:17 ##### 3. The Power of the Light - Light is strengthening. - Light is healing. This light from heaven is powerful enough to knock a man down, blind him and to heal him! - Light is Life () > Ps 27:1 ¶ <> The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? > Ps 36:9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. > Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. > 2 Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: ### 3. Saul, the Chosen Vessel > 10 ¶ And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. ### 4. Saul, the Weakling Made Strong > 17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. 19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. 20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? 22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. 23 ¶ And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: 24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. 25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. ### 5. Saul, the Disciple > Ac 9:26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and **believed not that he was a disciple**. 27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. 29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. 30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. 31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.# Steps Back to God Outline written by James R. Reynolds, Sr. > Hosea 14:1-9 — O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. 2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. 3 Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy. 4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. 5 I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. 6 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. 7 They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. 8 Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found. 9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein. ## I. Return vs. 1 > Hosea 14:1 — O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. > Isaiah 55:7 — Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. ## II. Confess vs. 2a > Hosea 14:2a — Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity … You have to confess your sins, and not try to justify them or blame someone else. Today everybody is playing "The Blame Game". If you want to get right with God, confess your sins. > 1 John 1:9 — If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ## III. Praise vs. 2b > Hosea 14:2b — … so will we render the calves of our lips. The O.T worship consisted of burnt offering bullocks and sheep but true worship is the worship of the heart in praise to God. > John 4:24 — God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. > Psalm 40:2-3 — He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. > Proverbs 3:5,6 — Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. ## IV. Forsake vs. 8 > Hosea 14:8 — Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? … The sinner must do the forsaking. > Isaiah 55:7 — Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Cleanse the house of spiritual leprosy. Don't turn back! ## V. Follow (The Blessings of God to Follow 1. **Healing** v. 4, "I will heal their backslidings" 2. **Love** v.4, "I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him." 3. **Restoration** v.5, "I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily." 4. **Revival** v.7, "They shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine" 5. **Kept** v.9, "For the ways of the LORD are right, and the just ahll walk in them: but the transgressor shall fall therein" > Jude 24 — Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, You do the believing and God will do the keeping.