Sunday's Sermon....Acts 4:32-37

Sunday's sermon didn't go quite like I had planned, but I believe it went exactly like the Holy Spirit planned. In the message I spoke of how the early church grew. They grew because of their actions toward each other and the lost, and at the heart of their behavior was the transforming love of Christ. Their lives had been forever altered because of this love, altered inwardly and outwardly. They were generous just like their Heavenly Father is generous. They prayed for each other and the lost. They were compassionate toward all. They placed others selflessly in a position of priority. The text highlights Barnabas as a model church member.

I used several passages as I spoke about this transforming love. I John 2:3-5, 9-11, 15-17; I John 4:7-21. I hope you will wrestle with these verses just like Jacob wrestled with The Lord, and I pray you will overcome. Jesus said in John 13:34-35, "A new command I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." That's a big "IF!" I pray the whole world beginning outside our front door knows we are disciples of Jesus because we love them like Jesus.

Moments of Truth

I am still meditating on the service this past Sunday, and the message the Lord led me to preach. The text was Acts 4:13-22. The title of the sermon was Moments of Truth. You can go to our website, www.hbcfamily.org, and watch the sermon if you wish. I am haunted by the statement, "The key to your Moments of Truth is the abundance or absence of the presence of the Lord Jesus in an intimate, personal way." I have to ask myself this morning as I sit in my office, "Is there an abundance of the presence of the Lord Jesus in me today?" Have I done all that I need to do to cultivate his presence and fragrance in my life? Have I talked with Him? Have I allowed, been patient enough to let Him talk to me? As Peter and John and the once lame man stood before the Sanhedrin that day, with life and death hanging in the balance, it was OBVIOUS to them that they had been with Jesus. I pray that as I live my life today, and I pray that as you live your life today, that it will be obvious that you and I have been with Jesus. May our world be filled with the fragrance of Christ today. Life is a mission trip; TAKE IT!

December 14, 2012

Friday, December 14, 2012 started out as a wonderful and beautiful day. I stood in Brinkley Chapel on the campus of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary to be hooded and receive my doctoral diploma. Almost all my family was there, it was a great day. It was not until on our way home that my family and I learned of the tragic events in Newtown, Connecticut as 20+ people lost their lives to unspeakable evil.

There are such a range of emotions experience when hearing news like this. The emotions felt were similar to those felt when I first heard the news on 9/11. And the emotion I settled on was grief and sorrow. My heart continues to go out to the victims and their families. My heart aches for the parents of the children who have slipped into eternity. The only comfort to be found is in knowing that our Heavenly Father knows what it's like to lose a child. He, though, gave His Son. He gave Jesus Christ to die so that we, through Him, might live. I pray that those facing these dark days will find comfort and peace in Christ and Christ alone. I pray the Holy Spirit is even now comforting and mending broken hearts and shattered lives. May the peace of Jesus Christ guard our hearts and lives, and may we like Jesus, go to them and be instruments of peace in the Redeemers hands.

Oswald Chambers writes...

Undaunted radiance

Nay, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. Romans 8:37.

Paul is speaking of the things that might seem likely to separate or wedge in between the saint and the love of God; but the remarkable thing is that nothing can wedge in between the love of God and the saint. These things can and do come in between the devotional exercises of the soul and God and separate individual life from God; but none of them is able to wedge in between the love of God and the soul of the saint. The bedrock of our Christian faith is the unmerited, fathomless marvel of the love of God exhibited on the Cross of Calvary, a love we never can and never shall merit. Paul says this is the reason we are more than conquerors in all these things, super-victors, with a joy we would not have but for the very things which look as if they are going to overwhelm us.

The surf that distresses the ordinary swimmer produces in the surf-rider the super joy of going clean through it. Apply that to our own circumstances, these very things—tribulation, distress, persecution, produce in us the super joy; they are not things to fight. We are more than conquerors through Him in all these things, not in spite of them, but in the midst of them. The saint never knows the joy of the Lord in spite of tribulation, but because of it. “I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation,” says Paul.

Undaunted radiance is not built on anything passing, but on the love of God that nothing can alter. The experiences of life, terrible or monotonous, are impotent to touch the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Skip Bayless defends Tim Tebow's faith

Video about Islam and Jihad that every American should watch.

We must take a stand.
http://bcove.me/07uefz8c

Exciting Opportunity: "Walk Through the Bible"

Below is an email I received today about a fantastic opportunity for any bible student to take advantage of, especially if you are in or near Albemarle, NC. I think it would be awesome to have a great showing from Highland present. You can't beat the price!

Serving Him,

Pastor Mike

Hi Pastor,
 This is a Quick reminder of the
 OT-AreYouReady.jpg
 */Walk thru the Old Testament/*
 www.walkthru.org/list-of-events/old-testament
<http://www.walkthru.org/list-of-events/old-testament>
 Lakeview Baptist Church

 32496 Pennington Rd

 Albemarle, NC 28001

Saturday 2/25/12

9 am to 4 pm

 8:30 registration

3^rd Grade and up

 This is an event for all the Churches of our County.
 As we, the Body of Christ, come together, I believe we can bless many
with:
  * The foundation of how the Old Testament fits together presented in
     a fun, energetic approach that has been loved for over 35 years!
   * A heart-felt desire to study the Word of God on their own
 

Because this will be a multi-church event that I am personally
hosting, I can offer this at an extremely affordable price.

The cost is 17.00 per person.

 For more information or to register, call 704-591-0031.
 In Christ,
 Terry Seamon
 National Ministry Consultan