Born for a Purpose

Wicked Sons Read 1 Samuel 2:12-26 Now Eli was very old, but he was aware of what his sons were doing to the people of Israel. He knew, for instance, that his sons were seducing the young women who assisted at the entrance of the Tabernacle. Eli said to them, “I have been hearing reports from all the people about the wicked things you are doing. Why do you keep sinning? You must stop, my sons! The reports I hear among the Lord’s people are not good. If someone sins against another person, God can mediate for the guilty party. But if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede?” But Eli’s sons wouldn’t listen to their father, for the Lord was already planning to put them to death. (1 Samuel 2:22-25) Reflect Does a loving God really will or want to put people to death? Consider the situation in the Tabernacle. A person made an offering in order to have his sins forgiven, and Eli’s sons stole the offering and made a sham of the person’s repentant attitude. God, in his love ...

Fellowship: Acts 2:44-47 INTRODUCTION :    Some times familiar words lose their intended meaning. Such a word is "Fellowship" We use it a lot, but most times not in its biblical meaning. In our day the word is used to describe gathering ranging from coffee and donuts to worship services. Most times it is associated with gathering where there is eating. Now, there is nothing wrong with calling these fellowships. They are important and give us opportunity to be with one another to better get to know our church family. They are design to promote fellowship with each other. What I want to do today is look at the biblical use of the word and its use in Scripture and let it teach us what is true fellowship that God would have us to experience. The word used in Early Church, went far beyond occasional or regular gatherings, even though they met because of their common bond in Christ, and met at the same place and time, for a unified purpose. We learn in God...

Saving Faith I want to make sure we are on the same page when it comes to a genuine relationship with God.  A faith that works begins with saving faith.  Let’s use the acronym “KAT” (Knowledge, Agreement, Trust) to help us understand what saving faith is all about. Knowledge:  Saving faith begins with an understanding of what the Bible says regarding my sinful state and God’s gracious remedy. Scripture says that I am a sinner and cannot save myself. My best effort on my best day falls short of God’s holy standard. Because of my sin, I will be separated from God for eternity. So God did for me what I couldn’t do for myself. He sent his Son to die on the cross as a perfect sacrifice for my sin. The Bible says that I can trust in Jesus as the One who paid the penalty of sin for me and enter into a relationship with the living God. But this knowledge alone is not saving faith. Agreement:  Not only must I know what the Bible says about my condition and God’s reme...

Using MATE for Your Future Mate I believe far too many young men and women enter the dating game with no real plan. This leaves them open to move forward in a relationship based on immediate emotions. Too often they find themselves involved before they take a hard look at the person with whom they have fallen “in love.” “Love is blind” as the saying goes. Deep emotion can keep us from seeing another person’s true character. Young people (and old people for that matter) move through dating, to engagement, to marriage without a thorough assessment of the person they are getting ready to look in the eyes and say “for better or worse.” Even when the relationship gets out of hand many feel it is too late to adjust or jettison. Therefore, it’s important to make decisions before you get involved in a relationship.   Below is a process I call MATE. This is an evaluation process parents can use with their children to talk to them about the type of person they want to date. This is...

“  Growing People Change  ” Do you want to know how to take your life to the next level? Want everything in your life to change? Want to experience a closer relationship with God? Let me introduce you to what I think is the most dangerous prayer in Scripture: Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. ( Psalm 139  23:24) Listen to God and Do What He says WARNING: This prayer might change your life forever! God might ask you to start doing something new, something that you think is impossible. God might ask you stop doing something that has been stealing your joy for a long time. Whatever God tells you to do; He will empower you to obey. I dare you to commit one week to asking God what He wants for your life and do exactly what He says. Meeting Jesus is just the beginning, and no one who meets Him ever stays the same ( John 10:10 ). Every day is an opportuni...

Unstaggering faith ‘And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.’  Romans 4:19–20 Suggested Further Reading:  Exodus 5:22–6:13 If your heart has been set upon any special object in prayer, if you have an express promise for it, you must not be staggered if the object of your desire be farther off now than when you first began to pray. If even after months of supplication the thing should seem more difficult now of attainment than ever it was, wait at the mercy seat in the full persuasion that although God may take his time, and that time may not be your time, yet he must and will redeem his promise when the fulness of time has come. If you have prayed for the salvation of your child, or husband, or friend, and that person has grown worse instead of better, do not...

Mom, Jesus' ultimate Earthly servant Mark 10:45—“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” The selfless, sacrificial, loving service that mothers give their children is a fulfillment of God’s intention that they bear the express image of His Son. After all, in scripture, Jesus even likens himself to a caring, protective mother who loves her children unconditionally: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings…”(Matt. 23:37).  Thank you, mom for relentlessly serving your children…especially when it is taken for granted and not deserved (which is more often than not). There is no better earthly example of our Ultimate Servant than a mother! Jesus, the Ultimate Servant Why did Jesus Christ come to earth? To serve—not to grab the spotlight or to make...