Continuing in the Discovering The King series through the Gospel of Matthew, we are learning to trust God's Word in defeating temptation. Click HERE to hear the message or click on the image to the left.
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God is with us!
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. I remember quite vividly the few times I have truly been afraid. There was this time at church camp when at 10 years old I found myself unknowingly swimming under a large floating dock in the middle of the pond. I had been under too long and my lungs were screaming at me for air. I had absolutely no idea as to my location in relation to the edge of the dock - scary! Another time at camp the director told all the boys that we were required to preach in chapel to all of the kids in camp. At the time I would have much rather been under that floating dock than have to stand in front of all 200 campers and preach. I survived and ended up being a preacher but that week was horrific as the thought of standing and speaking in front of 200 people weighed on me like a thick dark blanket. I didn’t enjoy much during that week. Yet as scary as those situations were, the scariest was the time in 2011 when I came face to face with the fact that I should have died shortly after my 34th birthday. Blood clots had passed through my heart and were lodged in my lungs. The doctors had never seen anything like it except in autopsies. They said it was a miracle I survived. That was the first time that the question “What would happen to you if you died tonight?” really made sense. It was the first time I really had no one else to trust in but the Lord. Isaiah 41:10 was a verse I began to cling to more and more that Winter and ever since. It is a key verse I turn to when I am scared, unsure, weak, and disillusioned. The prophet Isaiah was writing to a people who were on the verge of exile in Babylon. The people of Judah were going to be judged by God for their sin and their refusal to repent and turn to Him from the idolatrous ways they were living. They were scared that God would cast them off forever and that they would be without hope. This verse was God’s way of saying, “Don’t be afraid. I am right in the middle of all of this with you, I am your God, not like the other worthless idols of wood or stone.” “I will strengthen you”, He said. “I will uphold you with righteousness!” No matter what we go through, young or old, God is with us in the middle of it. Whatever scary, unknown, surprising, and awful situation you are in right now God is there too. If you trust in Him He will strengthen you and help. In Jesus He has rescued you from the worst of fears – death. Trust Him to be with you and guide you and help you. He loves you and wants to make His name great in and through you and in every situation you face. Pastor Andy The baptism of Jesus, the Son of God. In the latest message in the series Discovering The King we discover that obediently following Jesus pleases our Heavenly Father! Listen to "This Is My Son! The account of King David confessing and repenting of his sin is a great encouragement and exhortation for us today. Click on this link to hear the message: I have sinned! Made Alive! Our hope in Christ!
1 Corinthians 15:20-23 (NIV) 20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. As we begin the month of March we will begin to see signs of spring. Signs that the bitter cold and snowy winter is beginning to fade away. First we begin to see the birds come out or come back in larger numbers. Then we eventually see the grass greening and the flowers poking their little green heads out of the soil. It’s a time of reawakening and great anticipation of warmer weather and once again enjoying the great outdoors. This is the beauty of the seasons. Each one has its own features that we long to see develop and enjoy. So it is with our celebration of the Crucifixion and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus. The long cold winter of sin and death gives way to the newness of spring. That is the point of the resurrection, that death has been defeated. That is what we celebrate on Resurrection Sunday. We joyfully and filled with hope celebrate Jesus’ victory over sin and death. That Jesus who bore the sins of the world, who died in our place, rose to new life from the dead. Sin and death came to humanity through Adam but forgiveness of sins and new resurrection life come through Jesus the risen Lord. He is the first to come back from death and has opened the way for those who belong to Him to also rise to new life. Our immediate future may yet be one of sorrow at times, but our ultimate future is to rise to new and eternal life when Christ returns. Come quickly Lord Jesus! Join us for Good Friday Service on Friday, March 25th at 7pm and Resurrection Sunday Celebration Services Sunday, March 27th at 6:30am, Sunday School from 9am – 9:30am and Morning Worship at 10am. Invite family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers to join us as remember and celebrate victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ our Lord. Pastor Andrew Dear Here are the links to the sermon series for Back to The Rock. This is a series of messages heard at North Freedom Baptist from January through March about what the Bible teaches the church, church membership, the mission of the church, and how the church carries our its mission.
Back to The Rock, The Church on Mission Pt 1, The Church on Mission Pt 2, We Are The Body, The Greatest is Love, Walking in Unity, Gifted to Serve, Gifts of the Spirit, Genuine Devotion |
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