Sunday Sermons – Page 4 – The Ranch (2024)

Our Weekly Sermons

September 23, 2018 by This Day's Thought

As a reminder: Starting this month, in addition to our regular Sunday sermons, we’re going to be featuring an online church service that you can watch live at 9 or 11 a.m. (Central Time) or on-demand throughout the week at this link: http://live.eastview.church.

Also, if you need prayer or someone to talk to, you can chat live with our online hosts between 9 and noon on Sunday mornings at the same link.Join us today for some rich worship, biblical teaching, and an online chat!

A FAMILY RESEMBLANCE

by Terry Sisney

Ge 1:26 Ge 5:1

We say we belong to the family of God, My question is can the world see the resemblance.

It’s interesting sometimes to go to a family reunion or family get together and to look around at the different people and try to determine whose children they are by their characteristics, or features.(Sometimes it’s very evident, unmistakable, undeniable) then other times it’s less evident.

As Believers we have been born again by the spirit of God into the family of God, We have a new blood line, We are the children of God.

I’m talking about a family resemblance:

Now are we the sons of God.

1Jo 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

1Jo 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

I know it’s hard to take it in, but by virtue of the new birth you and I are as much the sons of God as Jesus himself.

In fact he calls us his brethren, (his brothers, sisters, mothers)

Mt 12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

When you see a branch of an apple tree, loaded down with apples, you have no difficulty distinguishing it’s identity.

There is no wondering if perhaps it’s a grapefruit tree that it’s connected to, or an orange tree, (No the branch takes on the same character as the tree) It has a family resemblance.

Jesus said: I am the vine ye are the branches.

My concern is that in the hour that we live in, it’s getting harder and harder to distinguish what family we belong to.

The Church is becoming more worldly, more comfortable with sin, we laugh at the things that used to make us cry.

What used to break our hearts now gets passed off by saying ( it’s just the times we’re in).

My friends the truth is, you can dress it up anyway you want to and call it good.

But Jesus said the tree is known by it’s fruit.

If the fruit is rotten the tree is rotten, You can’t have a rotten tree and good fruit, (it may look good, and it may sound good) but look at the fruit.

Let me take it a step farther (There are only two families)

(#1) The family of God (#2) The family of the devil

Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

1Jo 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

In the natural many times people will attribute a certain characteristic or personality trait to their bloodline.

(Bad Temper)

(grudge holding, self pity, critical, prejudice, untrustworthy,) it’s in the blood, That’s the way his Grandpa was and his daddy – the poor kid didn’t have a chance.

Sometimes they will say the same thing about certain sicknesses or diseases, (well it’s in the blood line)

(Family Resemblance)

But as a new creature in Christ Jesus we have a new bloodline, and This bloodline doesn’t have any hom*osexuality in it, it doesn’t have any prejudice or self pity, or bad temper in it, It doesn’t have any sugar diabetes, or heart disease or cancer or any other disease in it.

(Are you following me? I’m talking about a family resemblance)

You won’t find adultery or fornication or Drug addiction, or wife abuse or child abuse.

In this bloodline.

Too many times Christians want to excuse wrong behavior by saying: I can’t help it it’s just my nature,

(No sir)

The Christian cannot use that excuse because he has got a new nature, and he has a new bloodline,

We cannot say: I really am a good tree, you just have to overlook my bad fruit,

(No sir) If the tree is good there will be a family resemblance, we are going to bring forth the fruits of righteousness, the fruit of the spirit,

We’re going to look like our daddy.

And we’re going to think like our daddy, and act like our daddy.

Eph 5:1 Be ye therefore followers = (Imitators) of God, as dear children;

There is a supernatural side to this family: We should be contending for everything that he gave us in this new birth.

Power, power to heal the sick, power to cast out devils, The gifts of the spirit.

(Talking about a family resemblance) Jesus said: The works that I do shall ye do also and greater works than these shall ye do.

I wonder does the world see a family resemblance in us?

When they look at us can they see Jesus, When we speak can they hear Jesus?

If I was on trial for being Wayne Sisney’s son, I would be convicted, the resemblance is undeniable, indisputable, in fact people who have known my dad for years will call me Wayne, because we look so much alike.

If we were on trial for being Sons of God, is there enough family resemblance to convict us?

The fact is: (We are) every day we are on trial before the world, do they see a family resemblance to your heavenly father and your brother Jesus Christ?

September 16, 2018 by This Day's Thought

HEALING

by Tim Zingale

Luke 8:26-39

“Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. And as he stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons; for a long time he had worn no clothes, and he lived not in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech you, do not torment me.” For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him; he was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters, but he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion”; for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside; and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them leave. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how he who had been possessed with demons was healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them; for they were seized with great fear; so he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but he sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.” Luke 8:26-39, RSV.

Grace and Peace to you from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus who is the Christ. Amen

Once there was a very wealthy young man who lived in a great, elaborate house with dozens of rooms. Each room was more comfortable and more beautiful than the one before it.

One day he decided to invite the Lord to come and stay with him.

When the Lord arrived, this young man offered Him the very best room in the house. The room was upstairs and at the end of the hall. “This room is yours, Jesus, stay as long as you like and you can do whatever you want to in this room. Remember Jesus, it’s all yours.”

“Thank you,” the Lord replied, and with that the man shut the door and went about his business.

That evening, after he had retired for the night, there came a loud knocking at the front door. The young man pulled on his robe and made his way downstairs. When he opened the door he found that the Devil had sent three of his demons to attack the man! He quickly tried to close the door but one of the demons kept sticking his foot in the door.

Sometime later, after a great struggle, he managed to slam the door shut and returned to his room totally exhausted. “Can you believe that?” the young man thought. “Jesus is upstairs in my very best room sleeping while I am down here battling demons. Oh well, maybe he just didn’t hear.”

The young man slept fitfully that night. The next day, things went along as normal and, being as tired as he was, the young man retired early that evening. Along about midnight, there came such a terrible ruckus at the front door that the young man was sure that whatever it was would tear the door down. He stumbled down the stairs once again and opened the door to find that there were dozens of demons now trying to get into his beautiful home.

For more than 3 hours he fought and struggled against the demons from

hell and finally overtook them enough to shut the door against their attack. All energy seemed to fail him. “I really don’t understand this at all. Why won’t the Lord come to my rescue? Why does he allow me to fight all by myself? I feel so alone.”

Troubled, he found his way to the sofa and fell into a restless sleep.

The next morning he decided to inquire of the Lord about the happenings of the last two evenings. Quietly, he made his way to the elegant bedroom where he had left Jesus. “Jesus,” he called as he tapped at the door. “Lord, I don’t understand what is happening. For the last two nights I have had to fight the demons away from my door while you were sleeping. Don’t you care about me? Did I not give you the very best room in my house?”

He could see the tears building in Jesus’ eyes but continued on. “I just don’t understand. I really thought that once I invited you in to live with me, that you would take care of me, and I gave you the best room in my house and everything. What more can I do?”

“My precious child,” Jesus spoke softly, “I do love and care for you. I protect all that you have released into my care. But when you invited me to come here and stay, you brought me to this lovely room and you shut the door to the rest of the house. I am Lord of this room but I am not Master of this house. I have protected this room and no demon may enter here.”

“Oh Lord, please forgive me. Take all of my house, it is yours! I am so sorry that I never offered you all to begin with. I want you to have control of everything! With this he flung open the bedroom door and knelt at Jesus’ feet. “Please forgive me. Lord. for being so selfish.”

Jesus smiled and told him that He had already forgiven him and that He would take care of things from now on.

Along about midnight the banging on the door was frightening. The young man slipped out of his room in time to see Jesus going down the stairs.

He watched in awe as Jesus swung open the door. Satan stood at the door demanding to be let in. “What do you want, Satan?” the Lord asked. The devil bowed low in the presence of the Lord. “So sorry, I seem to have gotten the wrong address.” With that, he and the demons all ran away.

Our opening story reminds us that Jesus wants control of our whole lives. And this is seen very dramatically in our gospel lesson.

A man had demons and Jesus came to him and demanded that those demons leave. This man surrendered to Jesus and the demons left.

Notice he did not have to ask Jesus to have the demons leave, Jesus acted on His own accord. The only request that was made was made by the demon itself, Legion asked that they not be put into the abyss, but to enter the swine and Jesus agreed. But the swine being filled with the demons rushed down the bank into the river and were drown.

The man, now free from the demons, sat at the feet of Jesus and we can just imagine that Jesus was explaining to him who he was, the Son of God.

Then the people from the city came and were afraid of Jesus because of the miracle he had performed and asked him to leave.

Isn’t that typical? If you don’t understand something, you become afraid and then blame not yourself, but the person responsible.

When I was in the senior year of college, I began applying for teaching jobs. It was later that In entered seminary, but I graduated from college with a BA in elementary education. I had an interview on campus with a superintendent of a school system. It was a good interview and at the end he offered me a job teaching 4th graders. But he said that the school board would have to approve, but thought that would be no problem.

I left feeling confident that I had a job. My wife and I were engaged at the time and we planning a wedding as soon as I graduated. I had told the superintendent that I was going to my wife’s family for the weekend and he could contact me there with the final approval.

The phone rang, I answered and the superintendent told me that I did not get the job. He said the school board did not want some one like me teaching their kids.

His exact words were: “We don’t want someone like that teaching our kids”

Someone like what?

For he explained to them that I wore a long leg brace and used a cane for walking and they were afraid of my disability and would not hire me.

I later found a teaching job and my disability did not matter one bit in the classroom.

But isn’t that typical, if we don’t understand something we blame the person not our selves for our ignorance or bigotry.

The people of Jesus day did not understand what He had done, did not understand that He was the Son of God, did not understand that Jesus had just made this man whole. What they saw they could not believe, so they became frighten and demanded that Jesus leave.

But the man, who was now whole, understood and wanted to go with Jesus. He had in his demon state surrendered to Jesus and now in his healed state he once again surrendered himself, his whole self to Jesus.

Jesus understood, but wanted the man to stay behind and convince the people to not be afraid of Jesus’ power but to surrender to it as he had.

Jesus wanted this man to help the people to begin to heal, to be delivered from their “demon” of fear and misunderstanding. He wanted the man to help the people to surrender their “whole house” to Jesus not just one room, but everything.

Healing comes to us in various ways. Some experience “a miracle”, some are given the power of courage and strength to endure their situation. Others are released from their personality traits that keep them from truly experiencing the healing power of Jesus.

When this post polio syndrome hit me and I had to leave the ministry because of being in a wheelchair, not being able to talk well enough to preach, and because I did not have the stamina to do more than every day activities, I was really angry. Angry at God, I guess for allowing this to happen, angry that I had to endure another “disability” in my life, angry that I had to give up something that I truly enjoyed and thought I was called to do.

Finally, after much screaming at God, soul searching, and finally being able to just surrender this whole situation to God, some peace and comfort came into my life.

I had to allow Jesus into everyone room even the room of anger and what I saw as the unfairness of live.

When He entered that room finally, I felt at peace with myself and this terrible situation. That peace allowed me to develop this Internet ministry to share my sermons with you even though I do not have a congregation of my own. I enjoy preaching and this is one way for me to continue that even though I am still experiencing all the manifestations of this post polio syndrome.

Healing comes when we open all the rooms in our “house” to Jesus and He can work his power in our lives.

Amen.

September 9, 2018 by This Day's Thought

Special Note from Eric: Starting this week, in addition to our regular Sunday sermons, we’re going to be featuring an online church service that you can watch live at 9 or 11 a.m. (Central Time) or on-demand throughout the week at this link: http://live.eastview.church.

PRAISE

by George Rennau

Isaiah 43:21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.

Psalm 107:8 “O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men.”

Rev. 3:15 “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold or hot, I would thou wert cold or hot”.

The Bible expresses that God has created us to praise the Lord, the scripture also tells us that God desires that we would recognize his works and that we would give him the credit for it in our life.

PRAISE IS NOT JUST SOME ASPECT OF CHURCH THAT MEN THOUGHT UP.

It is a divinely ordained unconditional expression on our part that if practiced by us

— will draw us closer to God

— and according to scripture it will draw God closer to us.

Ps 22:3

But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

The purpose of my message is to encourage us to praise the Lord that we might enjoy the benefits and pleasure of this aspect of our worship toward God.

And I want to deal with this subject by asking the question What is Praise?

Prayer

I. What is Praise?

1. Praise by definition is: “an expression of approval or commendation; applause”

it is getting hilariously excited

I will never forget being at the high school football game. We had decided to go to the last game of the season, and in the fourth quarter there was a 70 yard conversion for a touch down.

Do you know what happened

We are a people formed to give praise,

We know how to give praise.

And people including me went wild

-we use words
-clap
-we smile
-cheer
-we even become FANATICAL.

OH THAT WE COULD GET AS EXCITED ABOUT GOD AS WE DO ABOUT FOOTBALL

2. The Bible tells us the manner in which we should show our praise to God!

None of these ways include reserved silence. There is a times for silent meditation. Meditation is a different aspect of our life with God, Meditation is not praise…

EXPRESSING YOUR PRAISE INCLUDES

Clapping — Psalm 47:1 Clap your hands all ye people, shout unto God with a voice of triumph”.

Lifting up your hands — Psalm 134:2 “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord”. (That doesn’t sound like a suggestion.)

Singing – Psalm 100:2 — “come before him with Joyful song”

Ephesians 5:18-20 “Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord”

Verbal Praise – Psalm 100 “Shout for Joy all the earth, worship the Lord with gladness.

Praise is an expression of approval, commendation, and applause to God.

Isaiah 43:21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.

Psalm 107:8 “O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men”

II. Thanksgiving to God for blessings received and the reporting of those blessings to others

The testimony of God’s goodness toward you should be an unceasing proclamation.

Isaiah 62:6 “I have posted watchmen on the walls., o Jerusalem they will never be silent day or night, You who call on the Lord give yourselves no rest”.

When my father in law pastored in Nebraska. There was an old fellow — who had been kicked in the head by a mule as a small boy. One day he received Christ.

His regular testimony was “we just can’t thank him enough” And he was right also

b. Praise for What God is doing in your life should be shared in the home.

Mark 5:19 (demon possessed man) “go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” Our faith and testimony needs to go beyond, Sunday morning.

c. Our testimony and Thanksgiving to God should be proclaimed in the assembly.

Ephesians 5:19 “Speak to one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.

Thirdly praise is…a response of faith toward his precious promises.

I believe in positive confession.

• If his promise to heal you is true then you need to thank and praise him for it.

• If you believe his promise to deliver you is true then you need to thank and praise him for it.

If you trust him to guide you then you need to thank and praise him for it.
If you believe he can perform a miracle in your finances -then you need to thank and praise him for it.

Rather then praising God for the answer even before it comes What many Christians do when faced with one of God’s promises is togrow discouraged, start to doubt, they begin to disbelieve — and miss the blessing.

A poet wrote…
We mutter and sputter
We fume and we spurt
We mumble and Grumble
Our feelings get hurt
We can’t understand things
Our vision grows dim
When all that we need
Is a moment with him

Hebrew 11 says: that with out faith it is impossible to please God and he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Praise is an expression of your faith and without that in your life it is impossible to please God. But when you praise him and trust him, and believe him he will reward you.

In order to begin experiencing the blessing God has for you in this discipline of Praise you have to climb the mountain for we are in the position of travelers who after surveying a great mountain and after traveling around it and observing how it dominates the landscape, and observing its features and the landscape around it, now must approach it directly, for the intention of climbing it.

In other words, if we are ever going to fulfill the purpose for which we were created.

Isaiah 43:21 “This people have I formed for myself; that they may proclaim my praise”

We just have to go for it.

Rev. 3:15 “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold or hot, I would thou wert cold or hot”.

This verse speaks of our life toward God. God desires that we would be on fire for him and a people who are praising Jesus all the time. Not cold and dismal and lifeless, but expressive and reverent toward Him. for he is the focus of our praise

There was an elderly Christian whose advancing years had taken their toll on her memory. As her health faded the time came that she could recite but a single verse (2 Timothy 1:12) “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto HIM against that day”.

Even these words slowly slipped away from her memory until only a few days of he life remained and friends would hear her repeat just seven words: ”that which I’ve committed unto him.”

Finally as the hour of the women’s death neared and her memory was all but gone. She voiced a single word repeatedly, it was all she could remember. HIM HIM HIM

Here is the key to our praise, when we come together to worship, when we are giving thanks in the presence of others, or when we are expressing our faith through praise let it all focus upon HIM.

September 2, 2018 by This Day's Thought

REPUTATION

by Shawn Drake

Colossians 1:1-8

I was watching a T.V. program while on vacation called “Rescue 911”. This program has different scenarios of emergencies that occur and then it tells of the rescue. A particular scene caught my attention.

A family was in a boat that got to spinning out of control and everyone was thrown from the boat except a 3 year old child. As the boat continued to spin round and round, people were gathered just watching the boat go in circles. There were a couple of feeble attempts to get into the boat and there was several people that was offering up suggestions; but no one could rescue the child.

As the boat continued to spin word began to spread all over the pier about the little child trapped in the boat. At this news a man yelled at his son to come help him get the boat so they could go help. As he was yelling, he noticed his 16 year old son driving on a jet-ski towards the boat. The teenager went around the boat and dangerous motor 2 times and then all of a sudden drove right up against the boat and dove into the boat. He then drove the child to shore where he brought him together with his family.

Since the beginning of humanity when Adam and Eve sinned, mankind has been spinning around in sin and no one could do anything about it. Sure there has been some who thought they had the answers; but these were just feeble attempts. When it seemed that there was nothing that could be done, God the Father sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to this earth to die on a cross so that we could be rescued from the grips of sin.

Colossians 1:13-14 (NIV)

[13]For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, [14] in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Through His victory over sin, death, and Satan; Jesus has snatched us out of the grips of sin. When no one else could do anything, Jesus Christ saved us.

I want to tell you the rest of the story about the rescued 3 year old. The family of the child welcomed the 16 year boy into their home. They treat him with great respect and honor. They never forget his birthday, they stay in communication with him, they tell other people what he did, and they never take him for granted.

Jesus died so that we could be rescued. Jesus is now at the right hand of God the Father; but He has sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in all believers which make up the church. Every member of the Body of Christ is a part of the rescued.

In the Book of Colossians, Paul was writing to a group of Christians that made up the local Church of Colosse. This Church was under attack of the Gnostics who believed that they had “the market” on God. These Gnostics were extremely arrogant and legalistic. They were also trying to shut down the local church so that their “garbage doctrine” would not be contested. How did the Church of Colosse hold up and continue on? As we answer this question we must ask ourselves the same question.

We live in a time when the church is known for being a place of fighting, lying, cheating, stealing, gossiping, etc… Because of this, lost people are not drawn to the church; many saved people don’t want to be a part of the church; and the church seems to just be spinning in circles. Our reputation as a church matters to the cause of Christ.

Colossians 1:3-8

[3]We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, [4] because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints– [5] the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel [6] that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth. [7] You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, [8] and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

Look at what was noticed about the Colossian Church…

Their Faith, Hope, And Love

Their faith in Jesus Christ was apparent by the way they loved.

1 John 4:7-12

[7]Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. [8] Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. [9] This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. [10] This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. [11] Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. [12] No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Do you see the correlation? If we show love to one another, our faith in Jesus Christ is obvious. This must mean that the opposite holds true. If we are constantly tearing each other down and not showing love to one another then our faith in Christ is in question.

How was this church able to stay faithful and love one another during such hard times? Verse 5 says that their faith and love sprung up from their hope of Heaven. When they were told that the Word of God says that all believers in Jesus Christ would some day go to Heaven, they believed it. This hope is what pushed them daily to faithfully serve Jesus Christ. Their motive was Jesus Christ.

May be the reason that the church of the 21st century does not see faith and love evident is because they have lost that burning hope of Heaven in their lives. Sometimes it seems that Christians are about as excited about leaving this earth and going to Heaven as they are about going to the dentist. Christians, we need to let go of the things of the world that are hold us down.

Unfortunately, sometimes it takes something bad happening in our lives to get our attention. Sometimes it even takes a near death experience to cause us to remember why we are here.

Not only did Paul point out the evidence of their faith, hope, and love; but he also pointed out why it was evident.

Their Hearing And Doing

When they heard the Word of God, they didn’t just hear it with their ears, they heard it with their heart; and when they heard it they put it into action and because of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ spread like “wildfire”.

James 1:22-25 (NIV)

[22]Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. [23] Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror [24] and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. [25] But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does.

In a world where evil seems to be growing; Christians need to stop just Amening the sermon and then go home and not change anything. Myself and many other preachers are growing tired of preaching about something and then watching the opposite happen during the week. We seem to think that if we heard it then it will automatically happen. No! Just because you know what is right doesn’t mean you will do it. Christians, stop walking in the flesh and walk in the Spirit.

Let me give you an example. This week something happened that caught my attention. Generally when something is wrong at our church, I hear about it. I usually am told that I need to fix whatever the problem is; but this week things were different.

It was noticed on Wednesday night that the hymnals and Bibles in the pew were not organized. Normally this would end up into me being in trouble because something didn’t get done; but instead this person came up on her own time Thursday and went in and checked things out. Christians, if we would all spend our time doing God’s will instead of griping about who is at fault we would see a change.

It is like the people who are suing McDonald’s because they got fat. Let me give those people a little hint, if you would stop eating 2 Big Macs, 2 hot fudge Sundays, and 2 lbs. of French fries; may be you wouldn’t gain so much weight. Christians we need to be hearers and doers of the Word.

Paul pointed out why there was evidence of faith, hope, and love. He then finishes this section by saying a word about the pastor of the Colossian Church, Epaphras.

Their Faithful Minister

Paul points out why Epaphras was a faithful minister. He preached the Word. He taught them the truths of God with love. He wasn’t out playing referee for a bunch of fighting Christians. He wasn’t out mowing the grass, watching the nursery, etc…; he was studying the Word, praying, and preaching the Word.

Epaphras could lead the church. He had time to do those things that God called him to do and when he lead, the people followed.

I have heard numerous stories about how sorry preachers are doing leading their congregations; but may be its not the pastor’s leadership that is the problem. Maybe the problem is the congregation’s fellowship.

I have preached for almost 6 years 2 main themes: 1) Let’s get along and act like Christians; and 2) Start doing what God is calling you to do.

The bottom line is this: certain churches have had the reputation for fighting and bickering amongst each other. I don’t know about you; but I and God are not pleased. I don’t want this kind of reputation for our Church.

We can say things such as, “All churches have these kind of problems, this is normal”. Or we can say, “I’m not the problem, it is someone else”. You can say, “It’s not my fault”.

You know what I say, “Enough!” Either we are going to lay stagnant as individuals or we are going to stand together and watch God work. We are going to settle our disputes, we are going to get our lives right with God, and we are going to start being a vibrant Church; or we are going to sit here and devour one another and be a waste of space to the Kingdom of God.

What is it going to be?

August 26, 2018 by This Day's Thought

GOD’S LOVE

by Jeffery Anselmi

A man was lured into a busy florist shop by a large sign in the window that read, “Say It With Flowers.” “Wrap up one rose for me, please” he told the florist. “Just one?” the florist asked. “Just one,” the customer replied. “I’m a man of few words.”

A husband was told by the marriage counselor to try and be nice to his wife. One day he comes home from work. He does the dishes, vacuums the house, and does all of the dusting and laundry. He’s dressed up in a suit, he has cologne on, and he has a bouquet of flowers and a box of candy in his hands. He’s trying to make a good impression. The wife says, “Oh, I can’t believe it! Little Johnny has been throwing up; the dishwasher just broke; your parents are coming to visit this weekend and to top it all off, you come home drunk!

Sometimes we have a hard time expressing love don’t we?

What is love? The word conjures up all kinds of different pictures. Is love a feeling or an action? For some love is flowers, candy and gifts. To some love is getting what you want from people when you give them something. For some love is an inanimate object such as a car, a house. This object will give them pleasure.

Where did love come from? Did it evolve?

What does it mean to tell someone that you love them? When we tell someone that we love them, we can mean anything from “I really like you a lot”, to “I really like what you do for me” to “I want to commit my life to you.”

1 John 4:8 says, “The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

1 John 4:7 tells us that love is from God. How has God displayed His love for us? Why does God love us? Does God love us because of what we give to Him? This is t he type of love that the world has, the type of love that says, “I will love you if..”

What is different about God’s love? What can we learn about love from God?

I want us to take a look at another attribute of our awesome God, love.

I want us to see three things about the love that God has for us. The type of love that God has for you is a true love; it is not a selfish love that only loves you because you have something to offer. God’s love is a deep love, it is a love that we can look to as an example of the type of love that we are to have for the people around us.

GOD’S LOVE IS:

SACRIFICIAL (1 JOHN 3:16, PHILIPPIANS 2:7-FF)

God’s love is a different kind of love than what the world teaches us. God’s love is agape love. This type of love means to do what is spiritually best for another because the one doing the loving sees something of value in that person.

The world’s system of love tells you that if do not get what YOU want out of a relationship that you need to move on to the next one. In our wedding vows we talk about for better or worse for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part. What this part of the vow means is that I am going to love you sacrificially. I may have to give something up to love you.

God loved us so much that He sacrificed a lot to show us His love for us.

1 John 3:16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

What did God have to gain by sending His son for us? Would you intentionally allow your son or daughter die for someone else? It reminds me of the story of a young boy and his sister.

A little boy was told by his doctor that he could save his sister’s life by giving her some blood. The six-year-old girl was near death, a victim of disease from which the boy had made a marvelous recovery two years earlier. Her only chance for restoration was a blood transfusion from someone who had previously conquered the illness. Since the two children had the same rare blood type, the boy was the ideal donor.

“Johnny, would you like to give your blood for Mary?” the doctor asked.

The boy hesitated. His lower lip started to tremble. Then he smiled, and said, “Sure, Doc. I’ll give my blood for my sister.”

Soon the two children were wheeled into the operating room–Mary, pale and thin; Johnny, robust and the picture of health. Neither spoke, but when their eyes met, Johnny grinned.

As his blood siphoned into Mary’s veins, one could almost see new life come into her tired body. The ordeal was almost over when Johnny’s brave little voice broke the silence, “Say Doc, when do I die?”

It was only then that the doctor realized what the moment of hesitation, the trembling of the lip, had meant earlier. Little Johnny actually thought that in giving his blood to his sister he was giving up his life! And in that brief moment, he had made his great decision!

Jesus said in JOHN 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. This little boy actually was willing to lay his life down for his sister.

Jesus sacrificed His life for ours. God could have turned His back on you when you decided not to live you life that way that God wants you to live, but He didn’t.

As we look at the scriptures not only do we find that God sacrificed His son for us but in Philippians 2:4-8 we see that Jesus gave up the glory of Heaven to come here so that we could have the opportunity to receive eternal life.

The world tells you that you should have it all, God tells you that true love requires sacrifice. I am not just speaking of love within marriage, but love for people in general.

There will be times that our love for others will cost us something, your love for your children will cost you time and money. If your children cause you some embarrassment, will you still love them? We have embarrassed God, but He still loves us. In the story of the prodigal son, you know the father must have suffered some embarrassment over his son leaving to live the wild life, but when the son returned, the father accepted him.

Some young men and women need to realize that when they get married, they are sacrificing their days of running wild or running with the boys. The husband’s love for his wife should make him want to settle down and spend time with his family instead of running and boozing with the boys.

Some people feel that you can love with no strings attached, but God’s true love has the string of sacrifice attached to it.

GOD’S LOVE IS:

II. UNCONDITIONAL (ROMANS 5:5-8)

Hettie Green was a famous millionaire. She lived in seclusion and became a virtual recluse. She had only a few friends and an ugly mongrel dog that kept biting the few friends she did have. One of them said, “You’ve got to get rid of that dog.” Hettie refused. She said, “That dog loves me and he doesn’t even know how rich I am.”

Let’s look at Romans 5:5-8 together for a moment.

Verse 5 tells us that God’s love has been poured out to us through the Holy Spirit.

Verse six tells us that while we were still helpless, Christ died for us. The word helpless means that we had NOTHING to offer to God, but God’s love was such that even though we had nothing to give to Him, He still send His son to die for us.

Verses 7-8 makes the case that normally a person would not even allow themselves to die for even a righteous person, but God sent His son to die for us while we were still sinners.

You need to realize that God despises sin, but He loves us unconditionally. Our world tells us that you should be able to receive something for the love that you give. The worlds love us conditional.

In 1995, Christopher Reeve, the “Superman” actor, fell from a horse in a riding accident that severed his spinal cord and paralyzed him from the shoulders down. In the days which followed both he and his mother considered pulling the plug on his life support system.

In his new memoir Still Me, which recounts how he battled back from the accident, Reeve said he first shared his thoughts with his wife, Dana. “I mouthed my first lucid words to her: ’Maybe we should let me go,’ ” he recalled.

But his wife, through tears, persuaded him to fight back, saying, “I want you to know that I will be with you for the long haul, no matter what. You’re still you, and I love you.”

Think about the life that Mrs. Reeves was in for, yet she sacrificially and unconditionally loved her husband.

God’s love goes way beyond all that man would do or conceive and commends His love to us as deeper, stronger and purer than the human hearts can know.

It is easy for those of us who are saved to know that God loves us because we are trying to live for and please Him, but we need to understand is that God loves all people unconditionally. The person who is getting tanked up on the barstool last night is still loved by God.

This love does not mean that God likes what the person is doing or that love equals heaven, but the Bible tells us in 1 Timothy 2:4 that God desires all to come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved, despite what we have been done.

Sometimes love will require us to be tough. When a husband or wife abandons, abuses or commits adultery, your love for them at some point my require you to leave so that they will wake up and change. God loves us enough that He will not force you into heaven, if you do not want to go, He will not make you go.

The opportunity for salvation is an example of God’s unconditional love for you.

The worlds love has conditional strings attached. As long as you give me what I want, I will love you. As long as you look young and thin, I will love you.

LUKE 6:32-33 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. “If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

God’s love is unconditional. He loves you no matter what you have done. You do not have to clean up your act before you experience His love for you.

Living for Jesus in one sense is tough because you start thinking about how your actions reflect upon Jesus, but on the other hand it is easy when you can allow yourself to experience God’s love for you and turn your life over to Him.

I have heard a statement that I have always liked, LET GO AND LET GOD.

God always has your best interests in mind, let Him love you, let Him work on your heart.

GOD’S LOVE IS:

III. PERMANENT (ROMANS 8:38-39)

In Romans 8:35-39 we find that God’s love is permanent. Let’s look at the depth of this passage.

VERSE 35-.

No condition of existence (LIFE OF DEATH)

No beings (ANGELS OR PRINCIPALITIES) (Demonic or Angelic)

Nothing in time (PRESENT, FUTURE, THINGS TO COME)

Nothing in the way of powers. (earthly rulers)

Nothing in space (HEIGHTS OR DEPTHS)

Nothing in creation (ANY CREATED THING)

But God, I have lived a terrible life! God still loves you.

But God, I have allowed the devil to run my life! God still loves you.

But God, I have worshipped the creation instead of you! God still loves you.

But God, in the future I do not know if I can follow you! God still loves you.

Here is the point. Quit making up excuses as to why you will not allow God to love you. God loves you no matter what, God loved you so much that He provided a way through Jesus so that you can be with Him for eternity.

Let God love you. His love NEVER ends. God will love you if you decide to reject Him. God will always love you, but do not mistake that love for a ticket to heaven.

You can reject God’s love, but God will still love you. God loved you enough to give you a free will. God was willing to let you decide if you are going to love Him back.

The love of the world is a self-centered love; it is a love that basically says that if you can deliver for me, I will love you. God says, I love you sacrificially, (in other words, God’s love for you cost Him something).

God says that He loves you unconditionally. That is that God loves you no matter what you have or will do.

God says that His love for you transcends time. God will always love you.

I am so glad that we can look to God to see how we are to love each other.

In Ephesians husbands are told to love their wives as Christ loved the church.

Jesus gave His all for the church; He did what was best for the church.

God’s type of love, agape, always does what is spiritually best for someone.

If a person loves you the way that God loves you, they will not use you and they will always be looking out for what s best for you.

Sunday Sermons – Page 4 – The Ranch (2024)

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