"The Christian's Need For Reassurance"
Luke 7:19-30 (John the Baptist in prison, inquiring if Jesus is the one?)
Intro. All Christians, at times, need reassurance.
Ill. Movie "Hoosiers" (Coach, as his team entered a huge basketball arena for the state championship, had his players measure the heighth of the goal...10 feet, and the distance to the free throw line, 15 feet...he reassured them by saying, "I think you will find those same measurements back in our gym at Hickory.")
-In this text, John the Baptist needed reassuring. He was the forerunner of Jesus, he was the voice of one crying in the wilderness, he was filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother's womb, he had grown up knowing Jesus, and a short time before he had pinpointed the Messiah, "Behold, the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world."
-Yet now, in prison, after a short 6 month ministry, doubt was perhaps creeping in.
Luke 7:19 "And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?"
I.Who Needs Reassurance?
-In this case, John the Baptist...
-We often need reassurance in
A.the presence of God
B.the truths of God
C.the blessings of God
D.the promises of God
II.Why Do We Need Reassurance?
A.Because of Perilous Situations (John the Baptist was there...he had preached adultery in the palace and now his life hung in the balances)
-We live in a time of peril (II Tim.3:1-5) and we often need reassurance.
(Song: "Blessed Assurance")
B.Because of Periods of Doubt (great spiritual leaders have had times of doubt and discouragement)
1.Moses (Numbers 11:11,14,15)
2.Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:7-9)
3.Paul (II Cor.1:8)
C.Because God Is Not Acting or Doing As We Expect
-Did John feel rejected? Did he feel that no one cared about him anymore? Did he wonder if anyone would ever intercede for him? Was he perplexed?
-We can reach this point in our Christian lives as well.
III.Who Provided Reassurance?
Jesus, Luke 7:21-28
IV.The Results of Reassurance
Hebrews 10:22 "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith..."
The Sending Church (Mission?)
Can a mission sponsor a missionary?
Let's say that a mission has a member who feels led to go on the foreign mission field. They know him personally. They want to be the "sending church" or entity that sponsors him. Can that mission sponsor the missionary?
(Please be kind in your comments)
Let's say that a mission has a member who feels led to go on the foreign mission field. They know him personally. They want to be the "sending church" or entity that sponsors him. Can that mission sponsor the missionary?
(Please be kind in your comments)
Double Standard To Israel
Several months ago, Prime Minister Netanyahu came to the United States. Our President & his administration didn't agree with Israel building an apartment complex ON THEIR LAND. The Israeli P.M. and his staff were not even offered so much as a PB&J sandwich, were told to go back to the table & discuss issues. The P.M. promptly left. Not long after, the President of Mexico comes and rants against Arizona and its immigration law. Congress claps and the Mexican President is given a state dinner.
Fast forward...Israeli soldiers board "aid ships" which have been attempting to smuggle in rockets which are fired at Israel's citizens. The soldiers are attacked and take action. Europe condemns Israel for trying to protect itself and there are protests around the world against Israel. Israel, it seems, is held to a double standard.
It is easy to see how that one day that countries will unite against Israel. I know that everything that the Israeli government does is open to scrutiny, but is the Biblical principle still in place which says: "I will bless those that bless thee, and curse those that curse thee." ???
Fast forward...Israeli soldiers board "aid ships" which have been attempting to smuggle in rockets which are fired at Israel's citizens. The soldiers are attacked and take action. Europe condemns Israel for trying to protect itself and there are protests around the world against Israel. Israel, it seems, is held to a double standard.
It is easy to see how that one day that countries will unite against Israel. I know that everything that the Israeli government does is open to scrutiny, but is the Biblical principle still in place which says: "I will bless those that bless thee, and curse those that curse thee." ???
Ever Wonder?
Ever wonder....
Why you don't see the headline "Psychic Wins The Lottery?"
Why "abbreviated" is such a long word?
When dog food is "new and improved tasting," who tests it?
Why they call what doctors do "practice?"
Why they don't build airplanes out of those "little black boxes" they are always looking for?
Why they call where you drive a "parkway," and where you park a "driveway?"
Why in baseball the pitcher's mound is 6 ft. 6 inches from home plate?
Is there something special about those 6 inches?
Why on the bag of Fritos, it says "You could be a winner! No purchase necessary. Details inside. (Is this the shoplifter's special?)
Why on most Christmas lights it states: "For outdoor or indoor use only."
(As opposed to...what?)
Why you don't see the headline "Psychic Wins The Lottery?"
Why "abbreviated" is such a long word?
When dog food is "new and improved tasting," who tests it?
Why they call what doctors do "practice?"
Why they don't build airplanes out of those "little black boxes" they are always looking for?
Why they call where you drive a "parkway," and where you park a "driveway?"
Why in baseball the pitcher's mound is 6 ft. 6 inches from home plate?
Is there something special about those 6 inches?
Why on the bag of Fritos, it says "You could be a winner! No purchase necessary. Details inside. (Is this the shoplifter's special?)
Why on most Christmas lights it states: "For outdoor or indoor use only."
(As opposed to...what?)
You might be a mountain climber
You might be a mountain climber if.....
You have more summit pictures than wedding pictures.
You've ever had icicles hanging from any part of your face.
You hear the name "Hillary" and think of Everest instead of Mrs. Clinton.
You've been arrested for climbing the county courthouse.
You introduce your girlfriend/wife as your belay partner.
Your first aid kit consists of Diamox, Dex and Morphine.
You have ever flipped a coin to see who slept in the trunk of the car.
You have ever been called down off a route by the sheriff.
You drop something at work and yell "Rock!"
You don't walk down stairs, your rappel them.
You have one of those "falling" dreams and on your way down you scope
out the cliff to see if it will go.
You have a secret journal of bagged peaks hiden somewhere in your
bedroom. Your wife calls it your “Peak Bagging List.” You call it a
“Climbing Log.”
You truly realize that the fall never killed anyone. It's that hitting the
ground part.
You have more summit pictures than wedding pictures.
You've ever had icicles hanging from any part of your face.
You hear the name "Hillary" and think of Everest instead of Mrs. Clinton.
You've been arrested for climbing the county courthouse.
You introduce your girlfriend/wife as your belay partner.
Your first aid kit consists of Diamox, Dex and Morphine.
You have ever flipped a coin to see who slept in the trunk of the car.
You have ever been called down off a route by the sheriff.
You drop something at work and yell "Rock!"
You don't walk down stairs, your rappel them.
You have one of those "falling" dreams and on your way down you scope
out the cliff to see if it will go.
You have a secret journal of bagged peaks hiden somewhere in your
bedroom. Your wife calls it your “Peak Bagging List.” You call it a
“Climbing Log.”
You truly realize that the fall never killed anyone. It's that hitting the
ground part.
Salvation
Are any of you seeing many people saved?
I realize that lost people simply don't "come to church" as they perhaps once did, either out of curiosity, church as a community event, or whatever other reason they might attend.
I'm not seeing nor am I hearing of that many professions of faith lately.
To be honest, it's discouraging.
I realize that lost people simply don't "come to church" as they perhaps once did, either out of curiosity, church as a community event, or whatever other reason they might attend.
I'm not seeing nor am I hearing of that many professions of faith lately.
To be honest, it's discouraging.
Masonic Funeral
This happened to a certain pastor and I'll relate it as briefly and accurately as possible. The pastor held a funeral service and there was to be a Masonic burial at the cemetary. While walking towards the tent at the cemetary, the pastor asked the "Master Mason" about the protocol (for instance, "Would he (the pastor) need to close with prayer?")
The "Master" said that, yes, he would call on him (the pastor) to close the service after they had performed the Masonic rituals. The pastor said that he usually made a few brief comments about the resurrection before dismissing in prayer. The "Master" simply stared him down and shook his head, indicating "No."
The pastor, of course, dismissed with one of the longest prayers of his ministry, incorporating the body as a seed, the last trump, the dead in Christ rising,etc. After saying "Amen," the pastor raised his head and looked over towards the "Master," who was definately not smiling. The Mason at the foot of the casket holding the outstretched sword wasn't smiling either.
Many people just don't realize the things that go on "behind the scenes"
in the ministry.
The "Master" said that, yes, he would call on him (the pastor) to close the service after they had performed the Masonic rituals. The pastor said that he usually made a few brief comments about the resurrection before dismissing in prayer. The "Master" simply stared him down and shook his head, indicating "No."
The pastor, of course, dismissed with one of the longest prayers of his ministry, incorporating the body as a seed, the last trump, the dead in Christ rising,etc. After saying "Amen," the pastor raised his head and looked over towards the "Master," who was definately not smiling. The Mason at the foot of the casket holding the outstretched sword wasn't smiling either.
Many people just don't realize the things that go on "behind the scenes"
in the ministry.
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