The Weekly Sermon » Soul Winning http://theweeklysermon.com KJV Sermon from Pastor David Miklas Sat, 19 May 2012 22:32:38 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 How to Treat Our Enemies http://theweeklysermon.com/arc/2011/02/20/ http://theweeklysermon.com/arc/2011/02/20/#comments Sun, 20 Feb 2011 19:16:14 +0000 Pastor David Miklas http://theweeklysermon.com/?p=1012 Continue reading →]]>

 

Sunday February 20, 2011   Phone: 570.829.5216
Pastor David Miklas e-mail pdmikBBM@aol.com
Message: Family of God # 5 Text: Matthew 5:43-47  

 

"How to Treat Our Enemies"
 
Let’s face it! We live in an enemy infested world. Nationally and internationally, we are fighting the enemies of our freedoms. Spiritually, we are fighting the enemies of our soul. All believers in Christ face three great enemies, the WORLD, the FLESH (our old human nature) and the DEVIL. The fundamental church has its enemies on the outside in the form of liberalism, modernism, socialism, secularism and compromising neo-evangelism. Also today the fundamental New Testament Church cannot escape the distasteful position of having ENEMIES from within. As we continue our study on how to treat one another in the family of God, let us examine from the Word of God "How to Treat Our ENEMIES.” Just how are you and I to TREAT those who oppose us, or who are unkind to us?
 
In the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5:43-48, our Lord spells out for us how we are to respond to our enemies:
 
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. (44) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (45) That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. (46) For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? (47) And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? (48) Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
 
Over the years, strained relationships have developed in Bible believing churches, including ours. They have developed among pastors, deacons, individual members and between groups within the ministry.
 
Good peoplehave become upset over sermons preached.
Good peoplehave become upset over decisions made by pastors or by the leadership of the church.
Good peoplehave misjudged the ATTITUDES, ACTIONS, REACTIONS, and even the DESIRES and DIRECTIONS of others.
Good peoplehave become upset oversituations caused knowingly or unknowingly by pastors, staff, or by individuals or ministry groups within the church.
 
Because of strained relationships that can and do develop within the church, I believe this message may help us gain a new perspective and therefore begin to resolve some long-held grievances or issues.
 
I have to be honest with you, over my 43 years in the ministry there have been some people who could be called my enemies.
 
Somebecame my enemies because they did not know me, yet they disliked me.
Somebecame my enemies because they heard about me through some GOSSIP.
Othersbecame my enemies because they disliked my preaching and my convictions on doctrinal issues.
Othersbecame my enemies because they did not understand my direction or vision for the ministry.
 
The ones over which I grieve the most are those I had the privilege to lead to Christ, to baptize and watch grow in the faith. Then through some bitterness or anger, or simply because they were caught in a web of someone else's attitude, they became an ENEMY of mine. Oh, how I long to see those who are estranged walk through the door of the church, so I can once again wrap my arms around them and love them as their pastor and preacher.
 
By nature, I am an easygoing person.
 
I do not like to fight over things. I do not like confrontation with people over issues. I hurt sometimes for days before, during and after a confrontation I had to encounter.
I hurtwhen others hurt physically, emotionally, or spiritually.
When I am their preacher, I hurt when someone whom I love in the Lord turns their back on me.
 
I hope you will not become my enemy. However, if you do, I will still be your friend. No, I do not enjoy having enemies. I know it is easier to thank God for my friends. Yet there is a treatment I must exercise toward my enemies. In this message let me share with youSeven principles on "How we ought to TREAT OUR ENEMIES within the family of God."
 
First: We are to LOVE those that hate us. Again in Matthew 5:43-44 we read, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies…” Our Lord certainly electrified the crowd standing around when He said, “Love your enemies.” Here He conveyed an unheard of concept to those who followed the Pharisees. They taught that it was the responsibility of a righteous man to love his neighbor.
 
In Leviticus 19:17-18 we read, “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart; thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.” But the law said nothing about their responsibility to those who were outside the commonwealth of Israel. It appears they taught that godliness required one to love those who are loveable and near and dear to you, but one is justified in hating everyone else.
 
Now our Lord says, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor and love thy enemy also.”
 
God’s love was not given only to those who responded; it was given to the whole world. In John 3:16 we read, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
When God ultimately provided the blessing of salvation for sinners, it was provided for all men, for Jesus Christ became as we read in I John 2:2, “the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only (who believe), but also for the sins of the whole world.” (
 
Here Jesus defines our ENEMIES as those who curse us, hate us and exploit us selfishly. Remember at our Lord’s crucifixion, he left us a perfect example when He said "to love our enemies."
 
He had been scourged thirty-nine times by the cat-of-nine tails.
His body had been beaten beyond recognition.
He had been wrongfully tried.
His hands and feet had been nailed to a cross.
He had been the object of jeers, profanity, hatred, malice and unbelievable persecution and suffering.
 
So what did our Lord do with all this hatful malice heaped against Him? Did He open His mouth from the cross and issue a curse against His enemies? Do you remember His first words? They were "FATHER, FORGIVE THEM; for they know not what they do." What a tremendous example of loving those who hated Him. In Ephesians 4:31-32 we read, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
 
Now since Christ’s love is an act of the will, and not simply an emotion, Jesus has the right to command us to LOVE OUR ENEMIES. Is there a way this is possible? YES, remember, God loves the wicked, but he does not love the wickedness of the wicked. Therefore,
 
It is possibleto love a person, hate that person's conduct and yet help that man if he is in trouble.
It is possibleto hate the bad language and wicked habits of an unsaved individual, and yet speak kindly of him and deal kindly with him. Thus, we return GOOD FOR EVIL.
Can we do good to our enemy even though he many have done evil to us? Yes, by rendering good for evil we might have an opportunity to win that man to Christ. Though we cannot avoid having enemies, we are to be no man's enemy.
 
To love a person who has abused, misused, and ill-treated us is the HIGHEST TEST OF TRUE CHRISTIANITY. It is not EASY, but by the grace of God it is POSSIBLE. Jesus said to the disciples in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one for another.” I believe this command is also for those in the family of God who in some way abused, misused, and ill-treated us.
 
Second: We are to BLESS those that curse us and do GOOD to those who do evil to us,Again in Matthew 5:44 we read, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you,” In other words, DEEDS, and ACTS of kindness should be showered upon those who hate us, abused us, misused us, and ill-treated us. It may be that such deeds and acts will have to be done anonymously. But we should never fight malice with malice. OUR WEAPONS ARE SPIRITUAL. We are to fight:
 
HATRED with LOVE
SELFISHNESS with UNSELFISHNESS,
CURSING with BLESSING,
GREED with GENEROSITY,
UNKINDNESS with KINDNESS,
CRITICISM with PRAYER,
BAD with GOOD.
 
We are to BLESS those that curse us and do GOOD to those who do evil to us, in words, deeds and actions. The Apostle Paul amplifies this for us in Romans 12:14-21 where we read,
 
“Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. (15) Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. (16) Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. (17) Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. (18) If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. (19) Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. (20) Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. (21) Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
 
Verse 14 “Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not” is simply a re-statement of Matthew 5:44. The key idea in this passage is found in verse 19, Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” WE ARE TO LEAVE VENGEANCE IN THE HANDS OF GOD. Revenge is not sweet, yet you have either said it or thought it as I have,
 
"I'll show him a thing or two, to let him know how it feels."
"I'll get revenge if it is the last thing I do."
"I'll never be caught dead in the same place with them."
 
My friend, it is NOT my job to seek to get even or to seek vengeance. And it is not your job either."VENGEANCE IS MINE, saith the Lord." It is God's business to see:
 
Who needs vengeance, and
When this vengeance should be performed, and
What form the vengeance should take.
 
It is not my job to fight the battles against those who fight me. Never is one more like the Lord Jesus Christ than when he takes an attack WITHOUT RISING TO DEFEND OR AVENGE HIMSELF.
“Stop right there, preacher. Are you saying that we are to act and react against our HUMAN NATURE AND NEVER AVENGE OURSELVES?" According to verse 19, there is no way around it.
 
It is a statement that has NO LOOPHOLES.
It does not say "Never avenge yourself except under such-and-such conditions.
No, it says NEVER AVENGE YOURSELF."
 
Pastor,
 
"Are we not to stand up for our rights?"
"Does it not stand to reason that we should defend ourselves?"
"Doesn't common sense tell you to take care of yourself?"
 
Someone said, "By now you should know that oftentimes common sense is not spiritual sense. That is our problem. We put our common sense to work where we ought to apply our heart to God's supernatural way, which makes perfect common sense because it is His way. He wants us to learn the value of substituting His way for our way."
 
In verse 19, notice the phrase, "give place unto wrath." The idea here is to "STAND BACK AND LET MAN'S WRATH WORK." If evil rushes towards us, we are TO LOVE THE EVILDOER AND STAND BACK WHILE HE STRIKES OUT IN BLIND SELFISHNESS.
 
Remember the little chant you said as a child, "Sticks and stones may break my _______ (bones), but _____ (names) will never hurt me.” Listen, our enemy make hurt us outwardly, but he cannot hurt us in the CITADEL of the heart where Jesus Christ holds us.
 
Vindication may not come until the Judgment seat of Christ for a Christian who has become my enemy, but it will be made manifest in the present of the universe.
 
Now in verse 20-21 we are instructed on how to act, “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” The principle by which a Christian is to love is that of OVERFLOWING LOVE which will ultimately be OVERCOMING LOVE. We are to return kindness for unkindness. IF YOU ARE THE VICTIM OF SELFISHNESS OR UNKINDNESS, YOU MUST STAND IN CHRIST AND LOVE THE EVILDOERS IN RETURN.
 
Third: We are to PRAY for those who despitefully use us. Once again, returning to Matthew 5:43-44 we read, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. (44) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you…” Now the word "despiteful" means to unintentionally harm someone. So what are we to do about being used or harmed by accident? PRAY FOR THEM.
 
Someone said, "When we pray for our enemies, we find it easier to love them. It takes the POISON out of our attitude." Oh, how I have had to do this over the years with those who have called themselves my enemies.
 
I guarantee it is not easy, but it is God's way.
I guarantee it is not easy, but it does work.
 
So what are we to do to our enemy? We are to LOVE those that hate us. We are to BLESS those that curse us. We are to do GOOD to those who do evil to us. We are to PRAY for those who despitefully use us.
 
Fourth: We are not to go to court with a Christian Brother or Sister.This was obviously a problem in the church at Corinth, for in I Corinthians 6:1-8 we read,
 
 
“Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? (2) Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? (3) Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? (4) If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. (5) I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?(6) But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. (7) Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? (8) Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.”
 
Our churches and Christian schools are plagued by people who at the drop of a hat are easily offended and will think nothing of going to court against another Christian. Yet the text tells us:
 
First: In matters between brethren the church should be the judge.
Second: There are times when you might be absolutely right, but it would be better to be wrong, (“defrauded”) and to lose then to continue to fight with your enemy.
 
Fifth: When our enemy strikes out, do not look at the criticism as being personal. Turning to Psalms 119:165 we read, “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” Here is a verse I would encourage you to underline in your Bible, to memorize, and certainly to practice. O' I am sure you have heard it said:
 
"You had better be careful how you treat her."
"You have to handle him with kid gloves lest you offend him."
 
This reference is saying "Don't have a wounded spirit." If you love the Word of God how much is there that will offend you? NOTHING SHOULD OFFEND YOU. This verse teaches us the more time you spend in the Word of God the more you take from the Word of God. The more you take and apply to your life, THE MORE YOU CAN HAVE VICTORY OVER ANY ENEMY.
 
Here is a little exercise that will help you as it has me over the years. Look at your enemy as BROKEN RATHER THAN BAD.
 
When my watch stops running, I do not fight back and throw it against the wall. I simply replace the battery.
 
When people harshly criticize me, I do not take offense or think that THEY ARE BAD. Rather, I look to see if perhaps they are broken in some way and NEED HELP TO BE FIXED. On the other hand, their criticism of me may be justified in order to show a character flaw in my life that needs to be fixed..
 
It has been said, “Behind every smile there is a broken heart. Behind the hardness of a heart there is a broken heart which made it hard.” People with hard, broken hearts are not bad; they are just broken. We must stop to ask ourselves: “If that person hurts, and they have hurt me, then why would I turn around and hurt them some more?"
 
Perhaps the most difficult step towards Christian maturity occurs when the Christian learns to LOVE those who HATE him, PRAY for those who despitefully use him, BLESS those who curse him and do GOOD to those who do evil to him.
 
Sixth: If our critics have not been privileged to learn what we know, don’t hold that against them. We are so constructed that:
 
A person could be mean to the rest of the world and GOOD to us, and we would think he is good, or
A person could be as mean as a snake to us, and yet GOOD to the rest of the world, and we would think him to be bad.
 
Not everyone is at the same level as you or I in our knowledge of life or the circumstances of life. Not everyone is at the same level as you or I in our knowledge of Biblical truth or Biblical practice. No one criticizes a baby because he cannot ride a bike or a child because he does not know trigonometry. THEN WHY SHOULD WE HAVE OUR FEELINGS HURT BY THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN PRIVILEGED TO LEARN WHAT YOU AND I ARE PRIVILEGED TO KNOW.
 
I must give leeway to those who are my critics, lest I become like them. Nobody needs my wounded spirit to turn into vengeance against them. I know from experience that God can give victory over a wounded spirit, or hurt feelings.
 
Listen, if my brother or sister in Christ is not doing what I think is right I HOPE HE CHANGES. I ought to PRAY for him. I ought to HELP him.
 
Listen carefully to this quote, "A lot of people are convinced that if we could get people cleaned up, we'd have a perfect church. I suppose that is possible. But one thing we have failed to realize is that WE CAN NOT CLEAN ANYBODY UP. ONLY THE SPIRIT OF GOD CAN CLEANSE AND PURIFY."
 
Seventh: As we go through life, we would do well to practice saying these words over and over again: "I am sorry, please forgive me. I am sorry, please forgive me." Then just as often, learn to say these words: “No problem, I forgive you, I forgive you."
 
Forgivenessis learning to close the case.
Forgivenessis learning to put the matter behind you and never again open up the issue.
Forgivenessis learning to realize Colossians 3:13, "Forbearing one another, and FORGIVING one another, if any man have a QUARREL against any; even as Christ FORGAVE you, so also do ye."
 
Through this message, may God encourage you to avoid retaliation against those who offend you, or those who are unkind to you? Isn’t it time that we stop tearing down the positions of others in order to elevate our own positions within this ministry? Isn’t it time for us to take responsibility for our attitudes and reactions towards all of God’s people?
 
Let me close with a poem entitled "Could we not love Each Other?"
 
Could we not love Each Other?
The place prepared for me Is near the one for thee.
Hence, neighbors we will be. Come, be my brother.
 
Could we not love Each Other?
The hand that gives thee bread Is the One that keeps me fed.
Let harsh words be unsaid. You are my brother.
 
Could we not love Each Other?
The load your heart doth bear Is the one that we could share.
We both dwell 'neath His care, Beloved brother.
 
Could we not love Each Other?
I have stood in your place, And you my path oft traced,
So let us offer grace Befitting brothers.
 
Could we not love Each Other?
The one Who died for you Is my dear Saviour too.
Is it too much to do To love our brother?
 
Could we not love Each Other?
That selfsame throne of grace Where thou dost seek His face
Is my abiding place beside you, brother?
Could we not love Each Other
 
Are you thinking of someone who perhaps is your enemy or maybe your worse critic? Do not seek retaliation. Don't become offended. May you be challenged and encouraged to apply Matthew 5:44 to LOVE them, BLESS them, DO GOOD to them, and PRAY for them.
 
********************************************************************
If God has spoken to your heart after reading the sermon "How to Treat Our Enemies" then right now talk to God about what He has spoken to you.
 
Do you have the assurance that one day you will go to heaven? If you have no assurance that you know Jesus Christ, then I trust you will decide to accept Him as your personal Savior. The Bible tells us in
 
Acts 16:31, “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”
Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
 
This prayer is here for those who need to ask Jesus to be their personal Savior: “I do want to go to Heaven. I know I am a sinner, and I do believe Jesus Christ died for me. I realize I cannot buy this great salvation, nor can I earn it. Knowing Jesus died on the cross and arose from the grave to pay my sin debt and to purchase my salvation, I do now trust Him as my Savior, and from this moment on I am completely depending on Him for my salvation.”
 
If you made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior would you let me know? Please send an e-mail to: pdmikBBM@aol.com and I will send you some literature that will help you in your Christian life.
 
The “Weekly SERMON” was sent as a ministry of Bible Baptist Ministry, 48 Alexie Rd., Hanover Township, PA 18706. Privacy policy: your e-mail address will not be sold, or shared with any third party.
 
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In His Amazing Grace,
Pastor<br /> David Miklas
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]]> http://theweeklysermon.com/arc/2011/02/20/feed/ 0 What is Man? http://theweeklysermon.com/arc/2011/01/10/ http://theweeklysermon.com/arc/2011/01/10/#comments Mon, 10 Jan 2011 18:08:34 +0000 Pastor David Miklas http://theweeklysermon.com/?p=995 Continue reading →]]>

 

Sunday January 9, 2011   Phone: 570.829.5216
Pastor David Miklas e-mail pdmikBBM@aol.com
Message: Soul Winning  Text: Psalm 8:1-9  

 

“What is Man?”
Psalm 8:1-9
 
Introduction: Several thousand years ago, David looked up one night and saw the heavens and the stars.
 
Perhaps he did not know that the earth was 8,000 miles in diameter, containing 198,980,000 square miles.
Perhaps he did not know that even though the earth is that size, Saturn is 995 times as large, and Jupiter is 1,281 times in size.
Perhaps he did not know that even though the earth is so big in all its immensity, the sun could contain 1,384, 462 earths.
 
Nevertheless, David looked up at the stars and from that night’s observation he wrote Psalms 8:1-8:
 
“O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. (2) Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. (3) When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; (4) What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? (5) For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. (6) Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: (7) All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; (8) The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. (9) O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!”
 
Now please notice again verses 3-4, “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; (4) What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?”
 
"What think ye of Christ?" is probably life's most important question, for a wrong answer means eternal condemnation, as in John 8:24 we read, "…for if you believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins."
 
But Psalm 8:4 poses life's second most important question, "What is man?" Now, what man thinks of man may be important, but most important of all is what God thinks of man.
 
Here in Psalm 8 is a picture of the crown of God's creation, man. What is man? Please follow me carefully as I lay before you five truths from verses 5-8.
 
First: Man was created by God, verse 5, “For thou hast made him…”  You and I share the same mineral matter as the dust of the ground, but you and I are more than matter. Man is the climax of creation, the creature FOR WHICH EVERYTHING ELSE WAS CREATED. Psalm 100:3 tells us, "It is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves."
 
Second: Man was created in God’s Image. In verse 5 the term for angels is the Hebrew word "Elohim," one of the Old Testament names for God. "For thou hast made him a little lower than God" is an acceptable translation for the term "in God's image." In Genesis 1:26-27 we read, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (27) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Man is a spiritual being. His body at death will return to dust, but the spirit will live on.
Third: Man was known by God in the mother’s womb and as such God has carefully made him. Please turn with me to Psalm 139:13-15 where we read, “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. (14) I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (15) My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.”
 
Verse 13 could be understood this way, "For God alone, none other, originated my vital organs. You knitted my inner being together in the womb of my mother.
 
Verse 14 burst forth with praise, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”  No one would argue that the human body is a phenomenal combination of strength, beauty, coordination, grace and balance.
         
Verse 15 could be understood this way, "My skeleton and bones were not hidden from You when I was made in the concealed place of protection, when my veins and arteries were skillfully embroidered together in various color like fine needlepoint."
 
Verse 16-18 adds the capstone, “Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. (17) How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! (18) If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.”
 
These verses tell us that in the womb God was at work in our design. These verses show us that life began at conception.
 
Fourth: Man was created For God's Glory. When David contemplated the greatness of man, he wrote Psalm 8 to give glory to God. Twice David sang in verse 1 and verse 9, "How excellent is thy name in all the earth." Over in Isaiah 43:7 we read God speaking of man, "I have created him for my Glory; I have formed him; yea, I have made him."
 
Fifth: Man was created as God's ruler. Notice again in Psalm 8:6-8, “Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: (7) All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; (8) The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.”  God crowned man and gave him dominion! It was this fact that so amazed David as he contemplated the place of man in God’s vast universe.
 
What is man? In the eyes of God, man is the crown of His creation. Man is somebody. Let me give a simple yet, I trust, graphic illustration of God's interest in man.
(Here I have used on the platform standing with me a young child either a boy or girl as the example.)
 
This is _____; he could be Tom, Dick or Harry. Or we could have here Betty, Ruth, Shirley, Alice or Grace. But this is _____.
 
I want to tell you something about _____.
Before there was ever a world, God knew there would be _____.
God also had a purpose for _____ to accomplish in life as well as a job to do.
This makes _____ somebody that is special and unique.
 
Do you realize _____ is a designer model? There has never been one just like _____ before, and there will never be one like _____ again. Just like there are:
 
no two snowflakes alike,
no two blades of grass alike, and
no two fingerprints alike, so there are
no two of God’s human creations alike.
 
In other words, ______ is the only one you will see exactly like this. And since _____ is God's creation, a unique creation, a special creation, a creation that God is mindful of, then:
 
God made the mountains in Colorado like pyramids for _____.
God made the pines in North Carolina as steeples for _____.
God dotted Minnesota with lakes like heavenly teardrops for _____.
God make the plains of the mid-west for _____.
God made the beaches of Florida for ______.
God made the birds that fly and sing through the heavens for_____.
God made the beasts of the field for the enjoyment of _____.
God even made all the fishes of the sea and rivers for _____.
God painted the rainbow in the sky for _____.
God put the stars and moon in the sky by night, and the sun in the sky by day for ____.
 
All of God's creation was for one person, and he is standing here before you this morning. "When I consider the heavens, the work of Thy fingers the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained, WHAT IS MAN, THAT THOU ART MINDFUL OF HIM…"
 
Here is somebody. Here is _____ , made in the image of God as an object of God's love.
 
Not only did Jesus create the world for _____,
Not only did Jesus leave the glory of Heaven to come down to the shame of the earth for _____,
Not only did Jesus live thirty-three, poverty stricken, years on earth for _____, but Jesus also went to Calvary for _____.
 
Why did Jesus take the cat of nine tails before the cross?
                Why did Jesus take the spittle of Calvary?
                Why the nails in His hands and His feet, and the spear in His side?
                Why the mocking of the crowd?
                Why the mock wreathe and the mock robe?
                Why the tomb, that became empty because of His resurrection three days after His death?
 
Why, all the dreaded moments of Calvary?
 
Was it to improve society?
Was it to bring in the kingdom by human effort?
 
No, all this was accomplished so that people who have fallen away from Christ because of sin might find redemption and salvation through the precious blood of our Saviour who died for _______.
 
Yes, _____ is somebody. Jesus died for _____. This is _____, made in the image of God almighty, and if _____ receives Jesus as His Saviour, He will live in eternity forever and forever.
 
Now, for a moment, let me pause and challenge you. I sincerely believe if we are going to reach this community, which is our Jerusalem for the cause of Christ, we need to concentrate on little ones just like ________.
 
Please turn to Matthew 18 and follow me as I read verses 10-11, “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. (11) For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.” Jesus said, "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones…" My friend, please do not sell Child Evangelism short. The younger a child comes to Christ, the longer he or she has to live for Jesus, and the less time the Devil has of their lives.
 
Here, Jesus was speaking in context especially of the children. Praise God! Heaven will be populated by these children. It’s God’s will that they be saved. Jesus also died for them.
 
 
We tend to think that children need to grow older before they can be saved or develop spiritual character in their lives.
 
O' my friends, don't sell out their young lives, for their life can also be short.
O' don't be like some in the past who have bickered and feuded over petty things and quit serving the Lord in the ministry or lived a two-faced life. As such, they have despised the children.
 
Instead, win them to Christ and love the fire out of them. Who cares about the children? Jesus cares, and so should we.
 
Please turn to Matthew 21 and follow me as I read verses 12-13, “And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, (13) And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”
 
Jesus was at it again. Out went the fundraisers, and praise God, in walked those in need. Notice verse 14-15, “And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. (15) And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased…” It was the children, not the stuck-up religious leaders, who lifted their voices to God.
 
Now we come to verse 16, “And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?” Oh, blessed God, how true these words have proved to be in real life: "Out of the mouth of children…" They shall lead their parents. Many a child has been instrumental in leading their parents to Jesus Christ.
 
Don't sell child evangelism short. God takes a great deal of interest in children, so much so that Jesus died for them just as He also died for older folks.
 
Please turn to Mark 10 and follow me as I read verses 13-16, “And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. (14) But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. (15) Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. (16) And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.” Notice who rebuked the adults for bringing the children to Jesus, it was the disciples. Look at the response of the Lord. I believe that He was mad when He said, "Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not." The word "suffer" means "permit them" or "don't turn them away" or "don't hinder them from coming to me."
 
May I challenge you to make your life and this ministry count for the glory of God by reaching little children! Right here in this area, we have 1000's of _____.
 
Every one is the unique apple of God's eye.
Everyone is created in God's image.
Everyone had his sins paid for at Calvary.
 
May I challenge you on this first Sunday of 2011, to go home and fall on your knees before God, to commit yourself to this ministry by going forth and loving the FIRE out of kids like _____. I challenge you to lose yourselves for Christ's sake to win children and moms and dads to the Saviour.
 
By the way, we have not forgotten the needs of adults because you are also somebody.
 
You might be a single lady or man.
You might be a grandparent living only for your grandkids.
You might be a widow lady, or today
You might be a hard working father or mother.
Never the less, you and I are somebody. We are the objects of His creation and His redemption. We are the object of God's love from eternity to eternity, from the making of man in Eden until that day when we will sing, "All Hail the power of Jesus' name."
 
There is something that happens to us. It can easily happen to any of us, your pastor included. Here it is.
 
We lose sight of the fact that God has called us to preach to men.
We forget that the purpose of our ministry is to reach men.
We become socialized instead of Gospelized!
We become a fellowship instead of a soul-winning institution.
We get to criticizing and complaining and become involved in all the pity little things.
We lose sight of the purpose for which we are here, REACHING PEOPLE WITH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.
 
Our job is not to improve society. Our job is not to improve one another, although that usually occurs as we get ourselves right with the Lord. Our job is preaching the Gospel.
 
Preaching the Gospel will coincidentally save more kids from drugs than all the social and government programs put together.
 
Preaching the Gospel will coincidentally save more families than all the psychologists will do on purpose.
 
The need of this hour is for us to be consumed by the great task of reaching men and women and boys and girls with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Luke 19:10 says, "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost." Jesus reached out to men and women.
 
At midnight it was Nicodemus.
At noonday it was one woman at a well.
On the cross it was one dying thief.
Up a tree there was one Zacchaeus.
On the road was one blind Bartimaeus.
 
Our Lord preached His greatest sermons to one person. Ah, my friend, keep your sights on men. Our job is not that of changing society, our job is reaching men and women, and boys and girls for Jesus Christ.
 
May we never get beyond reaching people for Christ.
May we never get to the place where we lose our passion for those like _______!
 
Dr. George W. Truett, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas for 40 years, gave this illustration, and I think it is nearly what I am trying to say.
 
One day, Dr. Truett had his five-year-old granddaughter come to the office with him. He was trying to study, and those of you who have children know how it is. Just as he was trying to concentrate, his little granddaughter said, "Granddaddy, I want a drink of water." Dr. Truett said, "All right, all right, I'll get you a drink of water." After he gave her the drink he said, "Now honey, I'm trying to study. Would you be quiet and leave me alone?" "Yes, Granddaddy, I will."
 
Five minutes later, "Granddaddy, could I have a drink please?" After getting another drink of water and thinking it would pacify her, he said, "Now, leave me alone, I'm busy." Finally a thought hit him. There was a jigsaw puzzle on his desk, a map of the world. He thought, she's only five, it will take her all day to put this puzzle together. How would she know where to put all the nations of the world? He said, "Sweetheart, would you like to put a jigsaw puzzle together?" He put her on the floor in the outer office and scrambled the puzzle up real good, and then said to her "When you get through, show it to me."
 
Five minutes later: "Granddaddy, it's all together." "You mean you put the world together in the last five minutes?" "Yes, Granddaddy, it's all together." He thought she was exaggerating, and so he walked into the room. To his amazement there it was, all put together. He said, "Sweetheart, where did you learn all this? Did you do it all by yourself?" "Yes, by myself." "How did you know where to put the countries?" "I didn't know where to put the countries." "How did you do it?" She said, "Granddaddy, on the back of the map there was a picture of a man, and I just got the man right, and the world took care of itself!"
 
If we'll go after man, the world will take care of itself. And when one little girl, or one little boy, or one mom, or one dad, or one stumbling, sinner comes down the aisle to accept Christ, the Bible tells us: "Heaven's joy is over one sinner that repents."
 
In Acts 1:8 Jesus gave this final word before he ascended back to heaven, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
 
Today, I have brought all of this to mind in order to remind us of our commitment to the DIVINE MISSION OF THE CHURCH which is to win souls! What then are we to do next?
 
First of all, on our part we need to HAVE A PROPER ATTITUDE. We must decide to view our church as a body of believers ordained by God for a purpose – to win souls to Christ.
 
The next step is to BE INVOLVED AS A CHURCH MEMBER. Church membership allows a commitment to an area of ministry. Don’t be a bystander or content to sit on the sidelines. Official membership is Biblical.
 
Third, we need to DEVELOP LOYALTY to the ministry. Please do not sow seeds of discontent, nor above all, don't run when trouble and difficulties develop. They always do, so determine now to be a part of the solution.
 
Finally, we need to PROJECT MAGNETISM. I believe God wants to draw people to Himself through us, and the Holy Spirit wants to use us as living magnets to attract people through the open doors of our churches.
 
If we start to reach people for Christ, we are going to have to look at men, women, boys, and girls as God sees them.
 
I saw God wash the world last night
With His sweet showers on high;
And then when morning came I saw
Him hang it out to dry.
 
He washed each tiny blade of grass
And every trembling tree;
He flung His showers against the hills
And swept the billowy sea.
 
The white rose is a cleaner white,
The red rose is more red;
Since God washed every fragrant face
And put them all to bed.
 
There's not a bird, there's not a bee,
That wings along the way,
But is a cleaner bird and bee
Than it was yesterday.
 
I saw God wash the world last night,
And I would He had washed ME
As clean of all MY dust and dirt,
As that old white birch tree.
 
May God wash us and help us to reach people house to house, knocking on doors, preaching to men, witnessing to men! May God help us always to say with the Psalmist as we read it together from Psalm 8:3-4, “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; (4) What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?”
 
***********************************************
If God has spoken to your heart after reading the sermon “What is Man?” then right now talk to God about what He has spoken to you.
 
Do you have the assurance that one day you will go to heaven? If you have no assurance that you know Jesus Christ, then I trust you will decide to accept Him as your personal Savior. The Bible tells us in
 
Acts 16:31, “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”
Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
This prayer is here for those who need to ask Jesus to be their personal Savior: “I do want to go to Heaven. I know I am a sinner, and I do believe Jesus Christ died for me. I realize I cannot buy this great salvation, nor can I earn it. Knowing Jesus died on the cross and arose from the grave to pay my sin debt and to purchase my salvation, I do now trust Him as my Savior, and from this moment on I am completely depending on Him for my salvation.”
If you made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, let me know. Please send an e-mail to pdmikBBM@aol.com and I will send you some literature that will help you in your Christian life.
The “Weekly SERMON” was sent as a ministry of Bible Baptist Ministry, 48 Alexie Rd., Hanover Township, PA 18706. Privacy policy: your e-mail address will not be sold, or shared with any third party.
 
Copy write permission: Because the “Weekly SERMON” will be reproduced into other formats, PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING: The “Weekly SERMON” in its original form, without any changes, may be copied and re-transmitted by electronic mail, and copies may be printed for individual or ministry purposes, provided that such copying, re-transmission, printing, or other use is not for profit or other commercial purpose. Any copying, re-transmission, distribution, printing, or other use of the “Weekly SERMON” must set forth in full the heading that is given before each “Weekly SERMON.”

In His Amazing Grace,
Pastor<br /> David Miklas
PS: In order to access the Weekly SERMON, please click the link to Weekly Sermon Library, where you will be able to choose: Plain Text (TXT), Microsoft Word document (DOC), Microsoft Word 2007 document (DOCX), Rich Text (RTF), Web Page (HTML) or PDF (Portable Document Format), any of the format(s) you desire. After you decide on the appropriate format(s) you may then print a copy of the Weekly SERMON, save it to a file on your computer, or download it and save it to a disk for future use. Your use of this material is meant to be flexible.

 

 

]]> http://theweeklysermon.com/arc/2011/01/10/feed/ 0 Ingredients of a Great Church http://theweeklysermon.com/arc/2010/05/16/ http://theweeklysermon.com/arc/2010/05/16/#comments Sun, 16 May 2010 20:01:13 +0000 Pastor David Miklas http://theweeklysermon.com/?p=736 Continue reading →]]>

 

Sunday May 16, 2010   Phone: 570.829.5216
Pastor David Miklas e-mail pdmikBBM@aol.com
Message: Power & Glory in the Church #5 Text: Acts 11:19-30; Acts 13:1-5  

 

“The Ingredients of a Great Church”
 
Introduction: Would you turn with me to Acts 11 and follow as I read from verse 19-26,
 
“Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. (20) And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. (21) And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. (22) Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. (23) Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. (24) For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. (25) Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: (26) And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”
 
When we think of the great institution of the Church:
 
We must understand from Psalm 127:1, “Except the LORD builds the house, they labour in vain that build it…” With one change of a word in reference to the church we could read it this way, “Unless the Lord builds the Church they labor in vain who build it.”
 
We must understand that the primary purpose of the church as seen in Ephesians 3:21 is the place of the "Glory of Almighty God."
 
We must understand that the church of the Living God was FOUNDED by the Lord Jesus Christ. In Matthew 16:18 Jesus said, "Upon this rock (referring to Himself) I will build My church." When our Lord said those words, He did not have in mind either a building or a name, only a group of people. The term "church" comes from the Greek word "Eklesia," meaning, "called out ones." Jesus would reach into the rank of humanity and "call out" for Himself a people, who by faith trusted Him for eternal redemption.
 
We must understand that the church of the Living God is an empty shell unless it is EMPOWERED and ENERGIZED by the Holy Spirit of the Living God. Someone put it this way,
 
The model for ministry is Jesus Christ.
The power of ministry is the Holy Spirit.
The foundation of ministry is character.
The nature of ministry is service.
The motive for ministry is love
The measure of ministry is sacrifice.
The purpose of ministry is the glory of God.
The tools of ministry are the Word of God and prayer.
The privilege of ministry is growth.
 
In Acts 1:8 just before Jesus went back to Heaven, He said to His disciples, "But ye shall receive power after the Holy Spirit is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth." For several weeks we have looked at the first church established by Christ in Jerusalem. This was primarily a Jewish Church, led by the Apostle to the Jews, Peter. There we saw from Acts 2:41-48 whatever we do as a church ought to fall within the parameters of 4 objectives. They are WORSHIP, INSTRUCTION, FELLOWSHIP, and EXPRESSION (or evangelism). After establishing the church there in Jerusalem, the next area penetrated by the Gospel was the area of Judea. Then the Gospel moved into the area of Samaria where the second great church at Antioch is mentioned in Acts 11. This is the first Gentile Church and the central evangelistic figure changes from Peter (the Apostle to the Jews) to Paul (the Apostle to the Gentiles).
 
Again in Acts 11:19 we read "Now they who were scattered abroad upon the persecution…" Who were these scattered? They were believers who had come from Jerusalem because of the persecution. In Acts 8:1, 3 we read, "…And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad…except the apostles. Therefore, they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word." The church members themselves went everywhere preaching the gospel.
 
The road was their pulpit, the market place was their pulpit, and the backyard of humble homes was their pulpit.
 
Scattered by tribulation, they traveled throughout, talking about the Word of God, telling others of the wonderful, good news of the gospel. You know,
 
It's good to know there are many Christians in the public arena openly preaching the gospel and living for Christ. It's good to know that in every community you find born-again Christians seeking to carry on a gospel witness.
 
God still has His witnesses everywhere. At present, believing Christians might not be in the majority in America, but I am thankful that we do have many Christians scattered around. Notice that His witnesses in the ancient world went as far as Antioch.
 
There were at least 16 locations known as Antioch in the ancient world, but this one was the greatest. This "Antioch" was the third greatest city in the world in the days of the early church. Rome was considered first, then Alexandria, then Antioch. It was a wealthy city, but it was also a wicked city.
 
One Bible historian has said, "If any city in the first century was worthy to be called the heathen queen of the east, that city was Antioch." It was in this city that the Gospel was preached so effectively that many received the gospel and were born-again. Here in our text I want to call your attention to 5 ingredients of "that great church at Antioch."
 
First: Antioch was a PREACHING Church: There was an emphasis upon preaching.
 
In Acts 11:19 we read they were "preaching the Word."
In Acts 11:20 we read they were “preaching the Lord Jesus."
In Acts 14:25 we read, "And when they had preached the word…"
 
God put a great deal of emphasis upon PREACHING. The emphasis at Antioch was on preaching the Word. In order to have a great Bible-believing church, it must first be a preaching church.
 
In Mark 16:15 Jesus said, "Go ye into all the world and PREACH the gospel to every creature."
In I Corinthians 1:21 we read, "It pleased God by the foolishness of PREACHING to save them that believe."
In Luke 4:43 Jesus Christ called Himself a preacher, for he said, "I must preach the Kingdom of God…for therefore am I sent…"
 
Now in the church:
 
There ought to be great music.
                There ought to be adequate facilities.
                There ought to be organization and planned activities.
                There ought to be friendliness.
But the main ingredient should be PREACHING. I am reminded of the challenge of the Apostle Paul to Timothy in II Timothy 4:2 that he was to "Preach the Word; be instant (diligent) in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering, and doctrine." The emphasis in the church should be to preach the whole counsel of the Word of God. Part of that emphasis was to be about the person of Jesus Christ. Remember Jesus gave the great commission in Acts 1:8, "ye shall be witnesses unto me." The preaching of the resurrection of Christ was as prominent as the death of Christ. It would have been useless for the apostle to preach about the death of Christ unless they also learned that He had risen from the dead.
 
Peter's first sermon at Pentecost in Acts 2:32 centered on the resurrection of Christ, "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witness."
 
Christ’s resurrection was the theme of Peter's second message in Acts 3:26, "Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you."
 
Christ was the theme of Peter's defense before the Jewish Sanhedrin in Acts 4:8,10, "Be it known…by the name of Jesus…of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead…Neither is there salvation in any other for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
 
In Peter’s second defense he said in Acts 5:30-31, "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be …a Saviour…"
 
Christ was the theme of Stephen’s preaching as he lay dying in Acts 7:56, "…behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God."
 
Christ was ever the theme of Paul's defense before the Roman government and the theme of His preaching, where he wrote in I Corinthians 2:2, "For I determine not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ crucified. "
 
In I Corinthians 15:3-4, Paul declared "For I delivered unto you…that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he rose again the third day, according to the scriptures."
 
Let me quickly summarize this thought.For us personally:
 
We must preach Christ, the only Saviour.     
We must give the message in a simple, straight-forward style.
We must tell people that Christ alone is able to save.
 
Our church must always have a preaching ministry in order to preach the whole counsel of the Word of God. Let’s not ever let this pulpit be used for anything other than "PREACHING THE WORD."
 
Second: Antioch was a SOUL WINNING Church. According to verse 21, in spite of the wicked conditions there were people being saved in this city. When you preach the gospel, regardless of how wicked a city or person is, the gospel is "the power of God unto salvation," and people are going to be saved. People need to hear that the gospel is:
 
the power of God unto Salvation,
the power of God to change lives, and
the power of God to solve problems.
 
Just give them the gospel. Notice the results in Antioch:
 
Verse 21, "And the hand of the Lord was with them; and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord."
Verse 24, "…and much people was added unto the Lord."
 
 
Here in this wicked city people were being converted because Jesus Christ was being proclaimed, the Word of God was being preached. The hand of God was with them, to bless them, and people were getting saved. God teaches that the ingredients of a great church are first of all preaching, and second is soul winning.
 
Third: Antioch was a TEACHING church.
 
Verse 26, "And it came to pass that for a whole year they assembled themselves… and taught much people…"
Acts 13:1, "And there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers…"
 
Five of the prophets and teachers, who concentrated on teaching these people the Word God, were named:
 
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS TEACH THE WORD,
WORKERS IN OUR YOUTH PROGRAMS TEACH THE WORD,
MEN WHO TEACH, TEACH THE WORD,
LADIES WHO TEACH, TEACH THE WORD.
 
In my opinion, we have too much modern day “how you do this and how you handle that” going on in our Sunday Schools and Bible classes. This new approach is found in most of our Christian literature. But in reality, all we need is here in this one Book, the Bible. What it needs to be is RE-TAUGHT, not RE-THOUGHT!
 
Many people in many churches are coming to be fed the word of God, but all they are getting is the dessert and not the meat.
Too many people are going to DAIRY BAR Churches and not to churches that serve the SOLID MEAT OF THE WORD OF GOD.
 
In Acts 20:28, Paul challenged the Pastor to "FEED THE CHURCH OF GOD."
 
Fourth: Antioch was a MISSIONARY Church. You recall again from Acts 1:8 Jesus said, "But ye shall receive power after the Holy Spirit is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the earth." In this verse, Jesus tells us to begin at home (that is your Jerusalem) and then spread out even unto the whole world. Notice in Acts 13:1-4a that this was a missionary church.
 
“Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. (2) As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. (3) And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. (4) So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost…”
 
This church waited upon God. So many churches are finely organized, so many committees, so many boards, so many programs, that the Holy Spirit never gets to say anything. In verse 2, we see that the Holy Spirit could communicate with this church. Again I remind you that the work of the ministry is empty and useless without the power of the Holy Spirit.
 
The church at Antioch was a missionary church sending people out to other nations, to other cities, to other people. A church starts at home, that is your Jerusalem. But if you stop in Jerusalem, in practice you are not a New Testament church. I wonder if we understand the force and focus of real, genuine, missions work.
 
One of the ingredients of the church missions program is:
 
Not just hearing about missionaries,
Not just funding missionaries,
Not just praying for missionaries,
 
but you being touched by the hand of God here in this place and saying yes, Lord send me. I don't mean just to your family and neighbors, but perhaps it would be to the far reaches of this world, to carry the gospel.
 
Fifth: Antioch was a PRAYING church. Notice would you
 
Acts 13:2, "And when they had fasted and prayed…"
Acts 14:23 "And when they had ordained the elders in every church and had prayed with fasting…"
 
This was a praying church that waited upon God. By the way, praying was emphasized even in the Church at Jerusalem.
 
Prayer created a Spirit of unity in the church, Acts 1:14, "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication…"
 
Prayer created a spirit of power in the church, Acts 2:42, "And they continued steadfastly in the apostle's doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."
 
Prayer created a spirit of boldness within the church, Acts 4:31, "And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with BOLDNESS."
 
For a church to be blessed of God, it must be a praying church, individually as well as collectively. The people were of one mind and one heart, and God was pleased to answer their requests.
 
No wonder many people were saved at this church at Antioch.
No wonder missionaries were sent out.
No wonder God wrought miracles in this church.
 
Every time we read of the church at Antioch, we read that they were fasting and praying, praying and fasting. God honored and blessed them for that.
 
As we think about the Green Street Baptist Chapel, and our part in this church, can we truly say it has the ingredients of this great church at Antioch?
 
Is ours a preaching church?
Are we focused on preaching the whole counsel of God's Word?
Do we emphasize the preaching of Christ, Him crucified, buried, risen and coming again?
Is our church a soul winning church?
Is our church a teaching church?
Can it be said that we are truly a missionary church?
Are we really a praying church?
 
As you think upon these FIVE ingredients, let me call your attention to the last phrase of verse 26, "And the Disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." It was at Antioch that the name "Christian" was first applied to the disciples of Jesus Christ.
 
Today the word Christian is a very loosely used word. Many people who have never been born again consider themselves "Christians" simply because they say they are not "pagans." After all, they may belong to a church, attend services somewhat regularly, and even occasionally give to the work of the church! But it takes more than that for a sinner to become a child of God. It takes faith in Jesus Christ. Actually the word “Christian” is mentioned only three times in the entire Bible. Here in
 
Acts 1:26, "And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch."
Acts 26:28 "Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian."
I Peter 4:16 "Yet, if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on this behalf."
 
I would say it's a wonderful blessing to be called a Christian, meaning one who is "Christ-like." I would say it is a wonderful blessing to be a part of the Family of God:
 
to know that God is our Heavenly Father,
to know that Christ is our Redeemer and Sustainer,
to know that the Holy Spirit lives inside us to comfort and guide us.
 
It's a wonderful blessing to be called a Christian, AMEN! You and I ought to be PROUD of that NAME.
 
I am so glad that I am a part of the family of God.
I am so glad that I can be called a Christian.
 
I believe the Holy Spirit of God teaches us that we ought to be careful not to hurt the Lord's name. The biggest blight on Christianity today is the hypocrisy of so many Christians. It ought to matter how we live. We represent the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and GLORIFY your Father, who is in Heaven." I understand the word "Glory" here means a "Good Name" and we ought to so live that we give our Heavenly Father a good name.
 
My friends, we live in a very Anti-Christian society. Humanism has so invaded our society that it has over-taken us and we are simply reaping what we have been sowing for these past 30 years. Therefore, it seems like the Bible believing, Christ honoring people are discriminated against more than anybody in America.
 
People are laughing at our God.
People are criticizing our Bible.
People are denouncing our Christianity.
 
We will not quiet them through our preaching, or through our beautiful music, or the way we conduct our service. But they sure will notice how we live on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. It ought to mean something to be a Christian.
 
As we close this service let me ask you,
 
Can you say this evening that you have the assurance of Heaven, if you would die this very moment?
 
Have you by faith put your trust in the finished Work of Christ who died at Calvary to save your soul?
 
***********************************************
If God has spoken to your heart after reading the sermon “The Ingredients of a Great Church”then right now talk to God about what He has spoken to you.
 
Do you have the assurance that one day you will go to heaven? If you have no assurance that you know Jesus Christ, then I trust you will decide to accept Him as your personal Savior. The Bible tells us in
 
Acts 16:31, “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”
Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
This prayer is here for those who need to ask Jesus to be their personal Savior: “I do want to go to Heaven. I know I am a sinner, and I do believe Jesus Christ died for me. I realize I cannot buy this great salvation, nor can I earn it. Knowing Jesus died on the cross and arose from the grave to pay my sin debt and to purchase my salvation, I do now trust Him as my Savior, and from this moment on I am completely depending on Him for my salvation.”
 
If you made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior let me know? Please send an e-mail to, pdmikBBM@aol.com and I will send you some literature that will help you in your Christian life.
The “Weekly SERMON” was sent as a ministry of Bible Baptist Ministry, 48 Alexie Rd., Hanover Township, PA 18706. Privacy policy: your e-mail address will not be sold, or shared with any third party.
 

Copy write permission: Because the “Weekly SERMONS” will be reproduced into other formats, PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING: The “Weekly SERMON” in it’s original form, without any changes, may be copied and re-transmitted by electronic mail, and copies may be printed for individual or ministry purposes, provided that such copying, re-transmission, printing, or other use is not for profit or other commercial purpose. Any copying, re-transmission, distribution, printing, or other use of the “Weekly SERMON” must set forth in full the heading that is given before each “Weekly SERMON.” Any other request for use, please contact Bible Baptist Ministries at pdmikBBM@aol.com or by phone at 570.829.5216.

In His Amazing Grace,
Pastor<br /> David Miklas
PS: In order to access the Weekly SERMON, please click the link to Weekly Sermon Library, where you will be able to choose: Plain Text (TXT), Microsoft Word document (DOC), Microsoft Word 2007 document (DOCX), Rich Text (RTF), Web Page (HTML) or PDF (Portable Document Format), any of the format(s) you desire. After you decide on the appropriate format(s) you may then print a copy of the Weekly SERMON, save it to a file on your computer, or download it and save it to a disk for future use. Your use of this material is meant to be flexible.

 

 

]]> http://theweeklysermon.com/arc/2010/05/16/feed/ 0 GOD: Loves, Gives, Saves http://theweeklysermon.com/arc/2010/04/21/ http://theweeklysermon.com/arc/2010/04/21/#comments Wed, 21 Apr 2010 08:02:03 +0000 Pastor David Miklas http://theweeklysermon.com/?p=705 Continue reading →]]>

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Volume No. 2010 Issue No. 13 Date: April 18, 2010

Publication of the BIBLE BAPTIST MINISTRY, 48 Alexie Rd, Hanover Township, PA 18706

Phone: 570.829.5216 pdmikBBM@aol.com pastormiklas@aol.com

 

In John 3:16 we read again that familiar verse "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” It has been said what London, the great metropolis, is to the British Empire, John 3:16 is to the Scriptures. London was the hub of the wheel known to the world as Great Britain. John 3:16 is the hub of the wheel known as God's eternal love which turns this universe. Even those who have not appreciated nor personally appropriated to themselves the provisions of God's love readily recognize that the outstanding characteristic of God is giving.

 

He gave His head … to wear a curse for me. "And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head." (John 19:2)

He gave His cheek … to be smitten for me. "He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him."
(Lamentations 3:30)

He gave His eyes … to shed tears over sin. "And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it." (Luke 19:41)

He gave His tongue … to pray for cruel enemies. "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)

He gave His back … to be beaten for sinners. "The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows." (Psalm 129:3)

He gave His side … to be speared for rebellious unbelievers. "But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water." (John 19:34)

He gave His hands and feet … to be nailed for undeserving sinful mankind. "They pierced my hands and my feet." (Psalm 22:16)

He gave His blood … to redeem hopelessly condemned, corrupt criminals. ''…ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold … But with the precious blood of Christ…" (I Peter. 1:18, 19)

He gave His life … to all believing sinners. "The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

 

The Old Testament is God's love concealed, and the New Testament is God's love revealed. Every great truth of the Old Testament points toward John 3:16, while every great doctrine of the New Testament emerges from it. What the sun is to our solar system, John 3:16 is in its relation to of the Christian message. In a similar fashion to the way the planets range in their ceaseless rotation around that vast central magnet and flaming quasar we call the sun, the hope of all believers revolves around John 3:16. As the planets receive their illumination from the sun, so do all the distinctive life-giving truths of redemption come from John 3:16.

 

The unspeakable riches of divine grace; the eternal forgiveness of all sins; the propitiation, reconciliation, justification, sanctification and eventual glorification of redeemed humanity are all included in the declaration of John 3:16. The hope of all the ages for all hopeless humanity becomes as bright as a flaming meteor across the inky black skies of fallen mankind when they lay hold of the love of God expressed in this verse. Someone wrote:

 

"For God" gives the source of love.

"So loved" gives the fact of love.

"The world" gives the object of Gods' love.

"He gave" describes the act of His love.

"His only begotten Son" presents the gift of His love.

"That whosoever believeth in him" gives the message of His love.

"Should not perish, but have everlasting life" defines the fruit of God's love.

 

Perhaps John 3:16 could also, with good reason, be compared to a radio broadcasting station. The messages being sent out by God's messenger boys, called ether waves, emitting from His tower of mercy are: "God loves." "God gives." "God saves."

 

May the Lord bless you this week as you prayerfully read and meditate on the attached Weekly SERMON in the series on the Power and Glory in the Church, “Let the Church catch FIRE.”

 

 
In His Amazing Grace,
Pastor David Miklas
PS: In order to access the Weekly SERMON, please click the link to Weekly Sermon Library, where you will be able to choose: Plain Text (TXT), Microsoft Word document (DOC), Rich Text (RTF), Web Page (HTML) or PDF (Portable Document Format), any of the format(s) you desire. After you decide on the appropriate format(s) you may then print a copy of the Weekly SERMON, save it to a file on your computer, or download it and save it to a disk for future use. Your use of this material is meant to be flexible.

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

]]> http://theweeklysermon.com/arc/2010/04/21/feed/ 0 Easter – If Christ Be Not Risen http://theweeklysermon.com/arc/2010/03/28/ http://theweeklysermon.com/arc/2010/03/28/#comments Sun, 28 Mar 2010 17:41:03 +0000 Pastor David Miklas http://theweeklysermon.com/?p=688 Continue reading →]]>

 

Sunday March 28, 2010   Phone: 570.829.5216
Pastor David Miklas e-mail pdmikBBM@aol.com
Message Easter 2010 Text: I Corinthians 15:12-20 


"If Christ Be Not Risen"

 

Introduction: From I Corinthians 15:3-4, the Apostle Paul gives these immortal words "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel…For I deliver unto you first of all that which I also received, that Christ DIED for our sins according to the scripture; And that he was BURIED, and that he ROSE again the third day. This Easter Sunday morning, as well as every Sunday morning, is the anniversary of the fulfillment of these words, when Jesus bodily arose from the dead.

 

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is by far the unique hallmark of our Christian faith. It is said that the resurrection of Christ from the dead is mentioned at least 104 times in the 260 chapters of the New Testament. Thus, its denial threatens the very foundations of our Fundamental faith.

 

By the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I do not mean that Jesus went into some kind of "Faint" in the tomb and came forth after He revived a few hours later.

By the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I do not mean that His disciples came and revived His teaching and began to spread it over the earth.

By the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I do not mean that the Spirit of Jesus came forth and permeated the earth in some mysterious way.

 

The resurrection literally means "standing up again." When we speak of the resurrection we mean that Jesus Christ literally, physically, visibly, bodily rose from the grave after the third day, in the same body that hung on the cross and that was laid in the tomb.

 

We believe that He CAME FORTH from the grave.

We believe that He WALKED upon the earth for forty days.

We believe that He ASCENDED into heaven.

 

My friends, one reason we know that He is literally coming back is that He arose from the grave literally. Those two angels that day in Acts 1:11 said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into Heaven? For this same Jesus, shall come again in like manner even as He went away." In that He rose from the grave bodily, in that He ascended bodily into Glory, I say to you that He is coming back again literally, physically, visibly and bodily.

 

Hold it! I wonder if you have thought through the terrible alternative? WHAT IF CHRIST HAD NOT RISEN FROM THE DEAD? That awful alternative is presented to us in I Corinthians 15:12-20 where we read,

 

“Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? (13) But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: (14) And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. (15) Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. (16) For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: (17) And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. (18) Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. (19) If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. (20) But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” 

 

Again in verse 13 we read, "But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen."

 

First: "IF Christ be not risen, "THEN" the resurrection of Jesus Christ would be a fallacy, verses 13, 16.

 

If there had been no resurrection, the redemptive work of Jesus would have been proven to be a fallacy. For the Bible says in Romans 4:25, Jesus "…was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification." If Jesus didn't arise on the third day, how then could I believe that he died for my sins? The two go together. His resurrection is God's "AMEN" to His death on the cross.

 

If Jesus didn't arise on the third day, He is the world's greatest impostor.  All of His words become meaningless and fraudulent. While He was alive, Jesus said in Matthew 12:40, "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." Did he mean that? Is that true? "But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen."

 

A philosopher once said, "You Christians live on the fragrance of an empty tomb" and so we do. Oh thank God it is not "If Christ be risen” but according to verse 20, "But now is Christ risen from the dead."

 

Second: "IF Christ be not risen, "THEN" our preaching is vain, verse 14. The word vain means empty, void of reality.

 

If Christ is still in the tomb then all Gospel preaching is nothing more than a pathetic fiasco.

If Christ is not risen then all the preaching of all the ages from Noah till this hour is age-long famine with no spiritual food.

If Christ is still in His shroud then guilty are all the preachers, poets, pastors, evangelists and hymn-writers whose preaching is no more than the monotonous tom-tom at a madding barbaric dance in the jungle.

If Christ is not resurrected, vain is all preaching, empty and void.

 

Vain is all the preaching that has pointed men to Christ.

Empty is all the preaching that has lead men from sin's path.

Void is all the preaching that has comforted men in time of need.

 

Stop and think for a moment of the last words of Christ in Mark 16:15, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." If there is no resurrection from the dead, of the Lord Jesus Christ, of what value are those words?

 

Stop and think for a moment of the words of the apostle Paul in I Corinthians 1:18 "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." If there is no resurrection from the dead, of the Lord Jesus Christ, then of what value is that statement to preach?

 

Praise God, it’s not "If Christ be not raised,' but "Now is Christ risen from the dead." We do have:

 

a message of HOPE, a message of LOVE, a message of FAITH,   and a message of LIFE.

 

Because of the resurrection, we have a message. God said it. Jesus accomplished it. The Bible records it. I believe it. That settles it. AMEN!

 

Third: "IF Christ be not risen, "THEN" your faith is also vain, verse 14. If there is no resurrection, then there is nothing to believe in. "Vain," in this instance, means absolute meaningless. Think about that fact and apply this to your soul:

 

If Christ be not risen, your faith becomes an empty dream.

If Christ be not risen, your faith is a foundation laid in fiction.

If Christ be not risen, your faith has nothing about it of eternal reality.

If Christ be not risen, you walk with aimless feet, without God to guide you, with no rod and staff to comfort you.

Moreover, go back to the book of Hebrews chapter 11 on Faith, "If Christ be not risen,"

 

Then Abel's offering of a more excellent sacrifice is all a myth.

Then Enoch was not translated that he should not see death.

Then Noah’s efforts to prepare the ark was just in vain.

Then Abraham was a fool when "he went out knowing not where he went."

Then Moses chose foolishly when he chose "rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season…"

 

Stop and think about this,

 

The Bible tells us in Ephesians 2:8 we have to have faith to be saved "For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves…"

The Bible tells us in Matthew 9:29, we have to have faith to pray, "According to your faith be it unto you."

The Bible tells us, we have to have faith to please God. In Hebrews 11:6 we read, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him."

 

It takes faith to be saved. It takes faith to get answers to our prayers. It takes faith to please God. Paul says, "If there is no resurrection of the dead, your faith is all in vain." But thank God for verse 20 "But now is Christ raised from the dead." Thank God our faith is alive and we have something to hang on to.

 

Fourth: "IF Christ be not risen, "THEN" we are giving false witness of God, verse 15. If there be no resurrection of the dead, all Christians are giving false witness, not mistaken witness but false witness.

 

Think what that would mean to the Apostle Paul who said in verse 8, "And last of all he was seen of me also…" He declared, "I saw Him alive." He spoke to me on the Damascus road. Paul said "I saw Him, I heard Him." Paul was used of God to write 14 books of the New Testament. If he didn't see Jesus, then Paul was a false witness and more than half of the New Testament is immediately gone.

 

Just think what that would mean to the Apostle John on the Isle of Patmos who heard Jesus say Revelation 1:8, "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and , behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen…"

 

Just think what that would mean to the Apostle Peter who said in I Peter 1:3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…which hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

 

Just think what that would mean to Stephen, the first martyr of the church, in Acts 7:55-56 as he was being stoned to death, looking up into heaven he saw, "the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God…"

 

Paul said "I saw Him."              

John said, "I saw Him."

Peter said, "I saw Him."           

Stephen said, "I saw Him."

 

Now, if there is no resurrection…all these gave false witness. If there is no resurrection of the dead, then all of us are false witnesses in the sight of man.

 

However, since that June day in 1950, I believed, and I KNOW with all my soul THAT MY REDEEMER LIVETH, and because He lives, I too shall live forever. AMEN!

 

Fifth: "IF Christ be not risen, "THEN" you are yet in your sins, verse 17. What a bleak assumption this is. "IF Christ be not risen, "THEN…"

 In Isaiah 55:7 we read, "Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." What a lie, "If Christ be not risen."

 

In John 6:37 we read, "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." What a lie, "If Christ be not risen."

 

Here in I Corinthians we read that if Jesus did not rise from the dead, you and I are still in our sins. But praise God we read in Romans 10:9, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart THAT GOD HATH RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, thou shalt be saved."

 

Thank God for the resurrection of Christ. "Now is Christ risen from the dead." We, who by faith have believed, are no longer in our sins and under the penalty of those sins.

 

Sixth: "IF Christ be not risen, "THEN." your loved ones are perished, verse 18-19. If there is no resurrection, forget about your loved ones who preceded you to glory.

 

Forget about your precious husband or dad who loved the Lord.

Forget about your sweet wife or mother who read her Bible and  prayed with you.

Forget about the sweet little child who one day was plucked from your home. If there is no resurrection, you will never see that one again.

 

If there be no resurrection for all the millions who have marched on toward eternity, all have perished. There is no beauty in their death, no light of hope, no prophecy of heaven.

 

"If Christ be not risen," there is no corruption putting on incorruption.

"If Christ be not risen," there is no mortal putting on immortality.

"If Christ be not risen," there is no natural body raised a spiritual body.

"If Christ be not risen," there is no body planted in dishonor, raised in glory.

"If Christ be not risen," death is never swallowed up in victory.

 

"If Christ be not risen" Then, as verse 19 says, we are of all men most miserable. Thank God, because Jesus arose our loved ones have not perished. I thank God for the sweet and wonderful hope of a reunion in Glory with all those who have died with faith in Christ. Because He lives, someday the trumpet shall sound and the dead in Christ shall rise.  We which are alive and remain, at His coming again, together we will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and SO SHALL WE EVER BE WITH THE LORD." Amen!

 

"But now is Christ raised from the dead and become the first fruits of them that sleep", verse 20. Now Christ is raised from the dead.

               

And because He lives I Corinthian 15:51-57 gives us this powerful assurance,

 

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (54) So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (55) O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (56) The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. (57) But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

 

Because HE LIVES, I CAN face tomorrow

Because HE LIVES ALL fear is gone

Because I know He HOLDS the future

And life is worth the living BECAUSE HE LIVES.

 

"But now is Christ risen from the dead."

 

Historical facts are AGAINST His being yet dead.

Spiritual experience is AGAINST His being yet in the grave.

Regenerated lives are AGAINST His being yet wrapped in a shroud.

The testimony of the saints is AGAINST His being yet in the tomb.

The instincts of immortality in our souls are AGAINST His being yet in Death's dreary dominion.

 

One day a man stood looking at a large painting on display in a store window, a painting of Jesus on the cross with the soldiers standing by. A little lad, who attended Sunday School and had learned something about the crucifixion, stood behind the man.

 

After a few moments the boy said, "Mister, Mister, that's Jesus on   the cross."

The man didn't say a word but keep staring at the picture. In a minute the boy said, "Mister, Mister, them soldiers there, they killed Him!

The man still didn't say anything, he just kept looking at the picture. The boy spoke again, "Mister, Mister, them disciples there, they buried Him.

Without a word the man walked away. When he was nearly a block down the street, the little lad ran as fast as he could to catch him.  Again the lad said, "Mister, Mister, I forgot to tell you, He came out of the grave on the third day!"

 

My dear friends that is what Easter is all about!

 

It is not a day of cute little bunnies and Easter candy and Easter eggs.

It's not a day to dress up in a new Spring outfit and parade into church saying, it's nice we are all here on Easter Sunday.

 

My friends every Sunday morning is a commemoration to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, a reminder of our guarantee that because HE came out of the grave alive, so shall we one day.

 

As we read again verse 20, "But now is Christ risen from the dead." we realize that

 

Our preaching is NOT in vain! It is infused with the very life of the risen Lord.

Our faith is NOT in vain! It gives us vital connections with the living Lord.

As believers, we are NOT in our sins. We are emancipated children of grace.

They who have fallen asleep in Christ have NOT perished, rather they have opened their eyes in the Saviour's presence.

 

Since these things are true, then if you truly know the reality of the resurrection because of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, today you can sing:

 

I serve a risen Saviour, He's in the world today

I know that He is living, WHATEVER MEN MAY SAY;

I see His HAND of mercy, I hear His VOICE of cheer

And just the time I need Him, he's always near.

 

Rejoice, Rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing,

Eternal Hallelujah to Jesus Christ the King.

The HOPE of all who seek Him, the HELP of all who find,

No other is so loving, so good and kind.

 

Unto Martha at the grave of Lazarus Jesus said in John 11:25-26, "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believeth thou this?"

 

Unto us Paul wrote in Romans 10:9, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, thou shalt be saved."

 

**********************************************************************

 

If God has spoken to your heart after reading the sermon "If Christ Be Not Risen" then right now talk to God about what He has spoken to you.

 

Do you have the assurance that one day you will go to heaven? If you have no assurance that you know Jesus Christ, then I trust you will decide to accept Him as your personal Savior. The Bible tells us in

 

Acts 16:31, “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”

Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

This prayer is here for those who need to ask Jesus to be their personal Savior: “I do want to go to Heaven. I know I am a sinner, and I do believe Jesus Christ died for me. I realize I cannot buy this great salvation, nor can I earn it. Knowing Jesus died on the cross and arose from the grave to pay my sin debt and to purchase my salvation, I do now trust Him as my Savior, and from this moment on I am completely depending on Him for my salvation.”

If you made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior let me know. Please send an e-mail to, pdmikBBM@aol.com and I will send you some literature that will help you in your Christian life.

The “Weekly SERMON” was sent as a ministry of Bible Baptist Ministry, 48 Alexie Rd., Hanover Township, PA 18706. Privacy policy: your e-mail address will not be sold, or shared with any third party.

 

Copy write permission: Because the “Weekly SERMONS” will be reproduced into other formats, PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING: The “Weekly SERMON” in its original form, without any changes, may be copied and re-transmitted by electronic mail, and copies may be printed for individual or ministry purposes, provided that such copying, re-transmission, printing, or other use is not for profit or other commercial purpose.  Any copying, re-transmission, distribution, printing, or other use of the “Weekly SERMON” must set forth in full the heading that is given before each “Weekly SERMON.” Any other request for use, please contact Bible Baptist Ministries at pdmikBBM@aol.com or by phone at 570.829.5216.


In His Amazing Grace,
Pastor David Miklas
PS: In order to access the Weekly SERMON, please click the link to Weekly Sermon Library, where you will be able to choose: Plain Text (TXT), Microsoft Word document (DOC), Microsoft Word 2007 document (DOCX), Rich Text (RTF), Web Page (HTML) or PDF (Portable Document Format), any of the format(s) you desire. After you decide on the appropriate format(s) you may then print a copy of the Weekly SERMON, save it to a file on your computer, or download it and save it to a disk for future use. Your use of this material is meant to be flexible.

 

 

]]> http://theweeklysermon.com/arc/2010/03/28/feed/ 0 Paid in Full http://theweeklysermon.com/arc/2010/03/10/ http://theweeklysermon.com/arc/2010/03/10/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:18:20 +0000 Pastor David Miklas http://theweeklysermon.com/?p=674 Continue reading →]]>

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Volume No. 2010 Issue No. 09 Date: March 7, 2010

Publication of the BIBLE BAPTIST MINISTRY, 48 Alexie Rd, Hanover Township, PA 18706

Phone: 570.829.5216 pdmikBBM@aol.com pastormiklas@aol.com

 

This week in our Weekly SERMON of the “Seven Words of Christ at Calvary,” we come to the sixth statement, the words of VICTORY, "It is finished.” These words come from John 19:30, “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished; and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” The purpose for which our Lord came into the world, “to seek and to save that which was lost,” reached its climax when He bowed His head on the cross and gave up His spirit. In the original language of the text, the apostle John recorded Jesus’ expression in those final moments with the Greek word “Tetelestai” which is translated “It is finished.” Here in John 19, please notice the word "accomplish" in verse 28 and the words, "It is finished" in verse 30. Both words come from the same Greek word "TETELESTAI"

 

In Matthew 11:1 the word is translated "When Jesus MADE AN END of commanding His disciples."

In Matthew 17:24 the word is translated "…Doth not the Master PAY tribute?."

In Luke 2:39 the word is rendered "And when they had PERFORMED all things…"

In Luke 18:31 the word is translated, "All things that are written…concerning the Son shall be ACCOMPLISHED."

 

By including all four of these translations when Jesus cried, "TETELESTAI," on the cross He was actually saying, "It is made an end of," "It is paid," "It is performed:" "It is accomplished." Perhaps the phrase in John 19:30 could be rendered, "IT STANDS FINISHED FOREVER." Another way of saying this would be, "THE DEBT OF SIN IS PAID, IN FULL, FOREVER." Our Lord viewed His work on Calvary as a FOREVER, FINISHED WORK.

 

The story is told of a young man who came forward in a Gospel meeting, earnestly asking, “What can I do to be saved?” Knowing the man thought he had to accomplish something by his own efforts to gain redemption, the Christian worker responded to the anxious inquirer, “You’re too late!” “Oh, don’t say that,” exclaimed the distressed seeker, “I really want salvation; I’d do anything or go anywhere to obtain it.” “I’m sorry,” replied the other, “you’re too late for that. Your salvation was completed many hundreds of years ago at Calvary. IT’S A FINISHED WORK! All you have to do is simply receive Christ. Then the blessed gift He offers will become yours through HIS MERITS.” Realizing his great debt was paid, the seeking soul found peace by looking to the Savior and resting his all upon the grace of God. Someone wrote, “Believing Christ died, that is HISTORY; believing Christ died for me, that is SALVATION!”

 

One to the most blessed hymns of our faith, sung throughout the year and especially in the weeks leading up to Easter, is “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.”  While preparing for a communion service in 1707, Isaac Watts wrote this deeply moving and very personal expression of gratitude for the amazing love that the death of Christ on the cross revealed. As you meditate upon this hymn, consider saying with Isaac Watts: “my soul, my life, my ALL!”

 

When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ, my God;

All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.

See, from His head, He hands, His feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down;

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small;

Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.

 

May again your heart be enraptured at the cross of Calvary, where our eternal redemption was forever paid by the Lord Jesus Christ. Again I trust over these weeks leading up to the RESURRECTION, you will slow down and ponder our so great salvation, at the cross of Christ.

 
In His Amazing Grace,

Pastor David Miklas

PS: All the Weekly SERMONS in this series on the “Seven Words of Christ at Calvary” will be a part of the next book of sermons on the Journey to Calvary to be ready by the end of 2010. Each sermon will have five added features along with church and student outlines and power point suggestions.

PPS: In order to access the Weekly SERMON, please click the link to Weekly Sermon Library, where you will be able to choose: Plain Text (TXT), Microsoft Word document (DOC), Rich Text (RTF), Web Page (HTML) or PDF (Portable Document Format), any of the format(s) you desire. After you decide on the appropriate format(s) you may then print a copy of the Weekly SERMON, save it to a file on your computer, or download it and save it to a disk for future use. Your use of this material is meant to be flexible.

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

]]> http://theweeklysermon.com/arc/2010/03/10/feed/ 0 Wounded for YOU http://theweeklysermon.com/arc/2010/03/03/ http://theweeklysermon.com/arc/2010/03/03/#comments Wed, 03 Mar 2010 01:18:21 +0000 Pastor David Miklas http://theweeklysermon.com/?p=665 Continue reading →]]>

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Volume No. 2010 Issue No. 08 Date: February 28, 2010

Publication of the BIBLE BAPTIST MINISTRY, 48 Alexie Rd, Hanover Township, PA 18706

Phone: 570.829.5216 pdmikBBM@aol.com pastormiklas@aol.com

 

One of the most profound and powerful Old Testament prophetic passages on the vicarious sacrifice of Christ is found in Isaiah 53. Here are the words of verses 3-6:

 

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (4) Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. (5) But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (6) All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

 

The story is told of a man who was deeply troubled by his sins, had a vivid dream in which he saw Jesus being savagely whipped by a soldier. As the cruel scourge came down upon Christ’s back, the dreamer shuddered, for the terrible instrument left ugly, gaping wounds upon the bleeding, swollen body of the Savior. When the soldier raised his arm to strike the Lord again, the dreamer rushed forward, intent on stopping him. As he did so the one who wielded the lash turned, and the startled dreamer recognized himself! He awoke in a cold sweat, realizing that his sin had brought this grievous punishment upon the Savior.

 

As the man thought of Christ’s scourging and the agony He endured on the cross of Calvary, the Holy Spirit sweetly brought to his remembrance the words of  Isaiah 53:5,  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Suddenly the light broke upon his darkened soul. He realized Jesus had been slain that through His blessed sacrifice sinners like himself might go free. At that moment the troubled dreamer became a new creature by grace.

 

Perhaps the best hymn to amplify this passage and story is “Wounded For Me.” The five stanzas of this thoughtful hymn cover the whole story of redemption from the Savior’s SUFFERING to His SECOND COMING. When this hymn is sung, all of the verses must be used; none can be deleted. Start softly and slowly and gradually build to a thrilling climax, “O how I praise Him, He’s coming for me!”

 

Wounded for me, wounded for me, there on the cross He was wounded for me;

Gone my transgressions, and now I am free, all because Jesus was wounded for me.

 

Dying for me, dying for me, there on the cross He was dying for me;

Now in His death my redemption I see, all because Jesus has risen for me.

 

Risen for me, risen for me, up from the grave He has risen for me;

Now evermore from death’s sting I am free, all because Jesus has risen for me.

 

Living for me, living for me, up in the skies He is living for me;

Daily He’s pleading and praying for me, all because Jesus is living for me.

 

Coming for me, coming for me, one day to earth He is coming for me;

Then with what joy His dear face I shall see; O how I praise Him, He’s coming for me.

 

May again your heart be enraptured at the cross of Calvary, where our eternal redemption was forever paid for by the Lord Jesus Christ! This week in our Weekly SERMON of the “Seven Words of Christ at Calvary” we will examine the fifth words, the words of SUFFERING, "I Thirst” taken from John 19:28. Again I trust over these weeks leading up to the RESURRECTION, you will slow down and ponder our so great salvation, at the cross of Christ.

 

 

 
In His Amazing Grace,
Pastor David Miklas

 

PS: All the Weekly SERMONS in this series on the Words of Christ at Calvary will be a part of the next book of sermons on the Journey to Calvary to be ready by the end of 2010. Each sermon will have five added features along with church and student outlines and power point suggestions.

PPS: In order to access the Weekly SERMON, please click the link to Weekly Sermon Library, where you will be able to choose: Plain Text (TXT), Microsoft Word document (DOC), Rich Text (RTF), Web Page (HTML) or PDF (Portable Document Format), any of the format(s) you desire. After you decide on the appropriate format(s) you may then print a copy of the Weekly SERMON, save it to a file on your computer, or download it and save it to a disk for future use. Your use of this material is meant to be flexible.

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

]]> http://theweeklysermon.com/arc/2010/03/03/feed/ 0 The Fields White Unto Harvest http://theweeklysermon.com/arc/2010/01/10/ http://theweeklysermon.com/arc/2010/01/10/#comments Sun, 10 Jan 2010 15:59:10 +0000 Pastor David Miklas http://theweeklysermon.com/?p=609 Continue reading →]]>  

Sunday January 10, 2010   Phone: 570.829.5216
Pastor David Miklas e-mail pdmikBBM@aol.com
Message Soul Winning Text: Matthew 9:36-38; John 4:35 

“Fields WHITE Unto Harvest”

 

Introduction: For the most part we would agree that we are living in the last days just before the return of the Lord Jesus Christ and the rapture of the church. In these days we find that the hearts of men and women are failing as they search for the answers not only to the purpose of their life, but also to their destiny after life.

 

Just before our Lord Jesus Christ returned to heaven, He gave to us INDIVIDUALLY as believers what we call the GREAT COMMISSION. This is the Lord’s last COMMAND and as such should be our first and greatest CONCERN. Four times in the Gospels and one time in the book of Acts this commission is stated.

 

The GREAT COMMISSION in Mark 16:15 is simply, "Go ye into all the World, and preach the gospel to every creature."

 

Concerning this command, someone has well said, “The vast majority of Christians have never dreamed that this is a personal, individual command to every child of God, to go into HIS OWN PERSONAL WORLD and to do soul winning to every creature in it.”

 

The GREAT COMMISSION chorus could be:

 

Lord, lay some soul upon my heart, and love that soul through me,

And may I humbly do my part to win that soul for thee.

 

The GREAT COMMISSION was not given to an institution but to individuals. It is not a church responsibility, but every Christian's responsibility to win souls to Christ. No church will stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ and be rewarded for soul winning. That reward will go to individuals.

 

In Matthew 28:19 Jesus said, "Go YE, therefore, and teach (literally make disciples of) all nations…"

In John 20:21 Jesus said after His resurrection, "…As my Father hath sent Me, even so send I YOU."

 

The most important job for Christians is to lead the lost to faith in Jesus Christ. There is NOTHING more important! The Lord Jesus Christ has said that we "are to be the salt of the earth" and we are to be "the light of the world." Yet somewhere along the line the church has lost its passion for soul winning. Listen to these thought provoking statements:

 

One of the big problems we have is that too many Christians have become isolationists and have no clue what is going on in this world we live in. Do you realize that better than TWO FULL GENERATIONS LIVING TODAY were not raised in a Christian home, and have no spiritual foundation to their lives.  The fact is,

 

The vast majority of people do not go to church.

The vast majority of people will never watch Christian television, listen to Christian radio or music, or read a Christian publication.

The vast majority of people do not have marriages or homes that honor God, and are not raising their children in the admonition of the Lord.

The vast majority of people, today, are living a life void of God without the true joy, peace, and abundance this life can offer, because they have rejected Christ, and are without hope.

 

An even bigger problem that needs to be addressed is the large percentage of parents of those under 18 who do not go to church and choose to live their lives void of God. Let us never lose sight of the big picture. There is a very real enemy out there whose stated mission is to use Hollywood and sports idols as tools to lead people into lifestyles of rebellion to God that will damage them.  In that damaged state, they often move further from God. Since this is a spiritual battle for the eternal souls of people, you and I simply cannot ignore this world that we live in.

 

Therefore let me state this as clearly as possible, if we are going to reach the 18 and under generation and influence future generations for the Kingdom of God, we have to get serious about reaching them with the Gospel so that as they mature and have children, their children are raised in Godly homes. 

 

No wonder another said, "Christianity has its back to the wall and we are losing the human race generation by generation. It is said that:

 

50% never give a dime to support the Church, and those that do, give just give a tip.

75% never give a penny to support missions.

95% of all church members, born again believers, NEVER on any occasion, for any reason, do anything to win a soul to Jesus Christ.

99% of all the homes in America that is just in America will never have a soul winner come to their home and try to win them to Jesus Christ. Unless God breaks our hearts for the lost and He gives us a revival in personal soul-winning, all of these people will remain lost!

 

From those percentages an evangelist made this statement. "No other institution on God's earth could survive with that small of a percentage of input. Yet the only institution in the world that limps along and survives with that little bit of input out of its membership is the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. What a Shame."

 

Listen, this generation of saints is going to answer for this generation of sinners. I cannot answer to God for those who lived and died before I was born, nor can I answer to God totally for those who follow after I am gone. I personally may leave some sermons behind that may reach some. But your generation of saints must answer to God for your generation of sinners. As we answered for the generation of sinners in the 70’s and 80’s, today it is your responsibility to answer for your generation of sinners.

 

The last COMMAND of our Lord should be our first CONCERN and elicit our COMPASSION. Now from the GREAT COMMISSION passages in Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8 let me give you SIX TRUTHS all beginning with the letter “P”. For the first four truths we need to notice the Lord’s words of the GREAT COMMISSION found in Matthew 28:18-20.

 

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

 

First: HIS POWER Jesus emphasizes His power in verse 18. Notice how He phrased His words “…All power is given unto me … therefore go ye…” The implication is clear: As we go with His message, we’ll have His power. Jesus made this even clearer in Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me…”

 

This truth is a great comfort while witnessing, where we can flub up and think we’ve failed. But the power of the Holy Spirit has a way of using a word or verse that can change lives in spite of us. For God’s power isn’t in our PERSONALITY or INTELLECT, or in our SKILLS OF PERSUASION, rather it is in His SPIRIT-ANOINTED WORD. Even by something as simple as a soft-spoken word or a gospel tract, God’s power can change lives and establish a lifetime of ministry.

 

Second: HIS PURPOSE Having reminded us of His power, Jesus then stated His purpose for the church, “to teach them” or to say it another way “to make disciples of them.” Now listen carefully as I try to dispel some fears, frustration and confusion over the difference between witnessing and soul winning.

 

WITNESSING is to relate what God has done for me and is constantly doing through me. A witness tells what He has seen and what He has heard personally. Witnessing is telling the gospel story of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 

SOUL WINNING is to personally lead someone into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and see them drawn by the Spirit of God into the kingdom of God. Here is the difference:

 

WITNESSING is my responsibility before God.

SOUL WINNING is the responsibility of the Holy Spirit of God through me when I am yielded to him.

 

Now the question arises, “How do I know when I am to lead someone to Jesus Christ? HOW DO I KNOW WHEN TO GO DEEPER?” The answer to that question is simple.

 

If I have to COAX, BEG, PRESSURE or PUSH someone into accepting Christ, it is of the FLESH and not of the SPIRIT. On the other hand, if they readily respond to the invitation and desire to call upon the Lord to save them, that is of the SPIRIT.

 

Third: HIS PLAN Jesus gave us three steps to follow. “Go and Teach” that is bring them to Christ; “baptizing them” that is identifying them outwardly with the community of saints that they are saved, and “teaching them” that is to instruct them how to observe His command. Just as we wouldn’t leave newborn babies to feed themselves, we don’t withhold necessary instructions from new Christmas.

 

Fourth: HIS PRESENCE Jesus ends the Great Commission by assuring us of His presence. As we draw on His power, adopt His purpose, and implement His plan, we’ll enjoy His presence “and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world (literally to the end of the age.)”

 

Fifth: HIS PERSON In Acts 1:8 Jesus said, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Please notice we are to be witnesses unto “me” that is unto JESUS.

 

Now listen carefully, if we are going to make an impact upon this area for the cause of Christ, we need to be FOCUSED on the LORD JESUS CHRIST. A hymn-writer wrote:

 

Let's talk about the King of Kings is He

the Lord of Lords supreme through all eternity

The Great I am, the way, the truth and the life

Let's talk about Jesus more and more.

 

We come to church Sunday after Sunday, we hear the preaching, we attend the Sunday school, we participate in the various ministries, and we even enjoy the fellowship of God's people. But there is a danger. “If we don't watch it, we will be prone to forget the ONE WHO not only MADE THIS ALL POSSIBLE, but who we are to WITNESS FOR!”

 

It's easy to think of the CROSS and not the JESUS of the CROSS.

It's easy to think of the SECOND COMING and not the Christ who is COMING.

It's easy to think of the GOD OF LOVE and not the God who LOVES.

It's easy to think of the WORD of GOD and not the GOD OF THE WORD.

It's easy to think of the WORK of GOD and not the GOD of the WORK.

We need to be constantly reminded that JESUS is the CENTER of it ALL. Ladies and Gentleman, it is easy to become INFATUATED with the spirit of a ministry and yet forget JESUS, who made it all possible and who alone ought to be the object of all our worship and our witness.

 

Consider the 4th stanza of the Fanny Crosby hymn “Praise Him! Praise Him!”

 

Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus our blessed Redeemer!

Heavenly portals loud with hosannas ring!

Jesus, Saviour, reigneth forever and ever;

Crown Him! crown Him! Prophet, and Priest, and King!

Christ is coming! over the world victorious,

Power and glory unto the Lord belong.

 

If we are to keep focused upon Christ, and if that focus is going to challenge us to reach men, women and boys and girls for Christ “YOU AND I MUST HAVE A BURNING DESIRE TO KNOW MORE AND MORE ABOUT JESUS.”

 

MOSES had that desire in Exodus 33:13 where he said to God, “Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee…” Moses had a desire to go deeper into the Heart of God, not only to know Him in the mind, but that Moses’ heart would be in harmony with the heartbeat of God.

 

PAUL in Philippians 3:10 had a burning desire to know Christ, where he said, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” Paul’s desire was not just to know the facts, but to really know Him in a more deep and personal way.

 

The challenge is that we may have a burning desire not to know more of the facts about JESUS, but to know Him in a more intimate and personal way. That by knowing Him in this imitate and more personal way, we will have a greater desire to go into the Harvest fields of our area and seek to bring others to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Sixth: HIS PRAYER In Matthew 9:35-38 we read,

 

“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. (36) But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. (37) Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; (38) Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”

 

 There are several things I would have us to notice from theses verses:

 

First: The Harvest (speaking of the souls of men, women and children) is plenteous. Without a doubt, there are thousands that still need to be brought to Jesus in Edwardsville, as well as in surrounding areas.

Second: There is much work to be done, but the laborers are few in number. The ministry of the GOSPEL takes many hands to do the job of evangelization. There is a great need for each of us to be front line soldiers in getting the GOSPEL to every man, woman and child we meet.

Third: These verses instruct us to pray that God would send laborers into the Harvest fields. One of the greatest needs is to pray for the Lord to give us willing people to go into this area of ministry to win the Lost to Christ.

 

Now, my next comments come from my heart.

 

One of my deepest desires as your pastor is to see a steady flow of people coming forward at the invitation, to receive Christ as their personal Saviour. I trust that this is also the heart longing of the people of the Green Street Baptist Chapel. That is to see folks being moved by the Spirit of God to come forward week after week, sincerely wanting to accept Christ as their Saviour.

 

If that is not happening, perhaps our level of expectancy is too low. Maybe we are content to say, “What will be, will be. If someone comes forward, that's good, and if no one comes forward, well, that's the way it is.” Truthfully, how many of us really care?

 

Let me ask this. What do you as members of this church really want God to be doing in your midst?

 

I don't believe God has placed this church in this place to allow empty pews here and there. For far too long we have said to ourselves, “Who cares if any one fills them, as long as I am here and accounted for.” The problem with that line of thinking is the vast majority of us are not inviting people to church any more.

 

Listen, you can sit back and praise God for what he has done and how He has led in the past. But churches can't live and grow on past accomplishments. There is nothing worse in a church than a static, stagnant, “this is the way we have always done it” mentality. On the other hand, there is nothing more exciting than a church that is on the move, and striving for the glory of God.

 

I pray God would help you to understand this is a new day.

It demands a new vision.

It demands a renewed dedication.

It demands a renewed determination on the part of believers in today’s congregation.

 

America needs revival. If America sees revival, it will come through old fashioned Bible preaching and the work of winning souls to Christ! If God saves America it will be because of the revival of God’s people, who need a wake-up call! What are we to do?

 

First of all there needs to be on your part the proper ATTITUDE TO THE CHURCH. You must decide to view this church as a body ordained by God for the purpose of winning souls to Christ.

 

The next step is INVOLVEMENT. You need to be a part of a church, not just bystanders. Church membership means a commitment. It is Biblical. Get involved in an area of the ministry. Don't sit on the sideline.

 

There needs to be LOYALTY to the ministry. Do not sow seeds of discontent. Above all, don't run when trouble and difficulties develop. Be a part of the solution.

 

Finally, we need a Revival of MAGNETISM. I believe God wants to draw people to Himself through us, and the Holy Spirit wants to use us as living magnets to attract people through the open doors of our churches.

 

In the heart of historic Edinburgh, Scotland, is Charlotte Baptist Chapel, which has a history going back 200 years. It was established in 1808 by a contemporary of missionary William Carey; but after several decades, the church fell on hard times. Attendance dwindled to about 30 people. An offer was made for the property by a commercial developer, and some in the church were ready to accept it.

 

But the church secretary, Andrew Urquhart, had no hesitation in
rejecting the offer. He said:

 

“I, for one, am not going to believe that the light which has burned so long in this place is going to be put out; that the people who so long labored for the advancement of the Redeemer's cause are to retire from the work in despair; that the door of this dear old Chapel, hallowed by many blessed and holy memories, is to be closed, and the building itself turned into a music hall or a grocery store. No, brethren, I don't believe it, and in your hearts neither do you. I believe the crisis is of God, and He will bring us through it.”

Andrew was a man of unusual faith. As he walked to church, he would sometimes turn and say to his young son, "Look at the crowds waiting to get in!" The street would be empty, and the church nearly so. But in his mind's eye, he could see the people and he believed God still had a work for His church to do.

 

In October, 1901, the church called a new pastor named Joseph
Kemp. On his first Sunday in the pulpit, only 35 people came. But prayer meetings sprang up, open-air meetings were conducted, the building was renovated, the Gospel was proclaimed, and revival fell on the church and on the city, the effects of which endure to this day,"

 

This week, when you drive up to your church, say to yourself: “Look at the crowds waiting to get in!" Believe that God can send a revival of mission, of mercy, and of magnetism. Open the doors and see the people!

 

Jesus said in the parable of the Great Supper in Luke 14:21-23,

 

"Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor, and the maimed, and the halt (or lame), and the blind…and yet there is room. And the Lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, THAT MY HOUSE MAY BE FILLED."

 

I believe God wants his house filled, even THIS church house filled.

 

***********************************************

 

If God has spoken to your heart after reading the sermon “Fields White Unto Harvest” then right now talk to God about what He has spoken to you.

 

Do you have the assurance that one day you will go to heaven? If you have no assurance that you know Jesus Christ, then I trust you will decide to accept Him as your personal Savior. The Bible tells us in

 

Acts 16:31, “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”

Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

This prayer is here for those who need to ask Jesus to be their personal Savior: “I do want to go to Heaven. I know I am a sinner, and I do believe Jesus Christ died for me. I realize I cannot buy this great salvation, nor can I earn it. Knowing Jesus died on the cross and arose from the grave to pay my sin debt and to purchase my salvation, I do now trust Him as my Savior, and from this moment on I am completely depending on Him for my salvation.”

If you made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior let me know? Please send an e-mail to, pdmikBBM@aol.com and I will send you some literature that will help you in your Christian life.

The “Weekly SERMON” was sent as a ministry of Bible Baptist Ministry, 48 Alexie Rd., Hanover Township, PA 18706. Privacy policy: your e-mail address will not be sold, or shared with any third party.

 

Copy write permission: Because the “Weekly SERMONS” will be reproduced into other formats, PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING: The “Weekly SERMON” in it’s original form, without any changes, may be copied and re-transmitted by electronic mail, and copies may be printed for individual or ministry purposes, provided that such copying, re-transmission, printing, or other use is not for profit or other commercial purpose.  Any copying, re-transmission, distribution, printing, or other use of the “Weekly SERMON” must set forth in full the heading that is given before each “Weekly SERMON.” Any other request for use, please contact Bible Baptist Ministries at pdmikBBM@aol.com or by phone at 570.829.5216.

 

 

 
 

]]> http://theweeklysermon.com/arc/2010/01/10/feed/ 0 Christians, God’s Foot Soldiers http://theweeklysermon.com/arc/2009/09/20/ http://theweeklysermon.com/arc/2009/09/20/#comments Sun, 20 Sep 2009 16:09:07 +0000 Pastor David Miklas http://theweeklysermon.com/?p=487 Continue reading →]]>  

Sunday September 20, 2009   Phone: 570.829.5216
Pastor David Miklas e-mail: pdmikBBM@aol.com 
Message: Soul Winng Text: Ephesians 6:10-17; Romans 10:13-17

 

“Christians, God’s Foot Soldiers”
 
Introduction: I want to address an area of the Christian life that I believe is essential to the life and ministry of this church. Now before I get into the main thrust of the message, let me refer you to a number of scriptures.
 
Proverbs 11:30, "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise."
Psalm 126:6 "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shalt doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing the sheaves with Him."
Acts 1:8, "But ye shall receive power after the Holy Spirit is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me…"
 
Theses verses and many others like them are pressing upon us the ministry of soul winning. If we do not seek to obey this command, there are some dangers that we face.
 
We face the danger of churches dying and closing all over the country. I believe this is true, because we Christians have become so comfortable with WHAT WE HAVE and with WHAT WE HAVE BECOME that we have forgotten that it was WINNING THE LOST TO CHRIST THAT BUILT THEIR CHURCH. Churches that began as a result of soul winning often reach a point where they stop doing what made them what they have become. Consequently, they stop growing and then start to decline. The following quote came from a recent e-mail:
 
The writer wrote: “Evangelicalism as it is known in the West will soon collapse because many people who are identifying themselves as evangelicals are not at all sold on the evangelical version of personal discipleship and commitment to Jesus Christ. We Evangelicals have failed to pass on to our young people an orthodox form of faith that can take root and survive the secular onslaught. Ironically, the billions of dollars we’ve spent on youth ministers, Christian music, publishing, and media has produced a culture of young Christians who know next to nothing about their own faith except how they feel about it."
 
I remind you that soul winning is not just the spiritual responsibility of the Pastor. It is the responsibility of every born-again believer. The OUTREACH of the CHURCH REGARDING WINNING SOULS TO CHRIST IS BIBLE TRUTH. The only way we can maintain a church that is alive and growing is to do like the Bible says – win souls to Christ.
 
We face the danger of becoming a Sunday religion. Frequently after the service the attitude of many is: “Please don’t disturb me to do any spiritual things.Let me come and hear the Word and that’s all I need.” My friends, I believe it’s going to be a sad day at the Judgment Seat of Christ, when we see our comfort-ability go up in smoke before Almighty God.
 
We face the danger of hearing things so often that they cease to be effective or have little meaning to us. A wise man once said, "Some truths are so true that they lie bedridden in the dormitory of the soul and need to be awakened." I sincerely believe this to be true about the command of every man, woman, boy and girl, who names the name of Jesus Christ, to be a SOUL WINNER.
 
We have heard this message so often that we pay little attention to the CRY OF SOULS GOING TO HELL. Others before me have stood behind this pulpit and sounded forth the message that we are to be soul winners. Yet that message has fallen upon hard hearts and deaf ears.
 
We face the danger of going out without our “Spiritual clothes on” and therefore the Devil can get to us.
 
We become so PROUD of our ministries and accomplishments that we become SET IN OUR WAYS and say, “Don’t disturb what we have.”
We start to criticize and complain and the Devil uses that to get us off the front lines and then we just sit back and watch the show go on.
We gather for the entertainment ministry and not for the battlefield ministry. So when we run into some difficult times and find ourselves discouraged by it all, we just QUIT doing what God has command us to do and what will ultimately bless us – BEING SOUL WINNERS.
 
As we move into the message, let’s focus on two very familiar passages:
 
In Romans 10:13-16 we read, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (14) How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (15) And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (16) But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? (17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Notice again verses 15, "…How beautiful are the FEET of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things."
 
In Ephesians 6:10-18 we read, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (11) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (18) Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” Please notice again verse 15, "And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace."
 
From these two verses, here in Romans 10:15 and in Ephesians 6:15, we discover that you and I are God’s foot soldiers.
 
Now in Ephesians 6 God is reminding us to have on the whole armor of God to enable you and I to stand against the Wiles or strategies of the Devil. In order to be equipped for the battle we need the WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD. Please understand that armor is not for hiding in a bunker, armor is for hand to hand combat, out in the battlefield.
 
Don’t be mistaken. The Devil is showing himself strong in this day and age. He realizes his time is short, and he is giving us a living hell. We are experiencing a lot of casualties and fatalities and many folks are no longer serving God because they are not wearing the ARMOR GOD HAS GIVEN TO PROTECT THEM from the EVIL ONE.
 
The FIRST piece of ARMOR mentioned speaks of "gird about the loins with truth."Since the LOINS are the mid-section of the body, I believe God is talking about what will protect us morally and keep us pure.
 
We know that the Word of God is truth and we certainly want to know the truth. But I believe this also has to do with us being TRUTHFUL. No one has ever been immoral who was not first dishonest. Our honesty and purity are closely related. Therefore we must have on the ARMOR OF TRUTH ABOUT MY LOINS.
 
The SECOND piece of ARMOR mentioned is "…having on the breast plate of righteousness." This piece of armor covers the chest area. Now a MAIMING wound to the arm or the leg would take a man out of battle, but that type of wound would heal up and he could fight again another day. But a MORTAL wound to the chest would take his life and put him out of the battle forever.
 
The Bible says we are to have on the breast plate of righteousness. The righteousness Paul is talking about here is our PERSONAL righteousness or RIGHT LIVING. Living right will help us in the battle against the Devil. Oh, he may hurt us but he cannot defeat us if we have on this armor.
 
The THIRD piece of ARMOR mentioned is the “Helmet of Salvation."This is not a helmet to protect us from losing our salvation. This helmet has to do with protecting our heads. A head wound was considered a mortal, life-threatening wound.
 
We need the protection of right THINKING. That is to allow the principles of God’s Word to govern us through life. The helmet is there to protect us from filling our minds with harmful thoughts.
 
The Bible says "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." In this day in which the evil philosophy of situation ethics in both religious and worldly minds is dominant, there are a lot of Christians who have been knocked out of the spiritual battle.
 
They have a saved soul, but a lost mind.
They think like the world thinks; they make decisions on the same basis that the world decides, and it results in their destruction.
 
The FOURTH piece of ARMOR mentioned is the "the Shield of Faith." This is our defensive piece of armor against the fiery dart of Satan, who throws DOUBTS our way. Listen to this definition of faith that is so simple, yet so profound. "FAITH IS WHEN THE WORD OF GOD IS ENOUGH." God’s Word is enough to act upon.
 
            "God said it, the Bible records it, I believe it, and that’s settles it."
 
The FIFTH piece of ARMOR mentioned is the "the sword of the spirit."This is our offensive attack weapon. God never intended for soldiers of the cross to be just on the defense. He didn’t tell us to hide in the church and say to the Devil, "Na, Na, Na, Na, you can’t get me,." He promised that the gates of Hell could not withstand against the attack of a SPIRIT-FILLED, SOUL-WINNING, SIN-FIGHTING CHURCH.
 
The SIXTH piece of ARMOR mentioned is “your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace." The Lord said we must have our shoes on. The shoes are a part of the armor. For what do we need them?
 
Try fighting on the battlefield without them.
Try carrying a heavy load without good shoes on.
Try walking over rough ground without good shoes on your feet.
 
What type of shoes are these? They are our soul-winning shoes. Soul-winning is a part of the armor. If we are not soul-winners, then we are BARE-FOOTED SOLDIERS. Let me say this. If we are going to be victorious in the Christian life, then we had better have our spiritual shoes on.
 
 
 
We’ve a lot of Christians who are spiritual causalities, sitting on the sidelines, out of the will of God, who started well, but didn’t finish well.
We’ve a lot of Christians who are totally out of Church, who no longer serve the Lord.
 
These folks have been defeated by the Devil. They have dropped out of the battle. I believe one reason this has happened relates to Christians trying to make their journey in the Christian life without their spiritual shoes on.
 
If you or I think "we are too BUSY, or too IMPORTANT or have no desire to reach souls for Christ, we had better watch out." That thought will be our downfall. We will be a casualty unless we take Paul’s advice to "Put on or take the whole armor of God." That includes our feet being shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Without those shoes, we are bare-footed soldiers.
 
MY FRIENDS, SOUL-WINNING IS A VITALLY ESSENTIAL PART OF OUR SPIRITUAL ARMOR THAT WE MUST ENGAGE IN TO HAVE A VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN LIFE.
 
If the DEVIL can get us to take our spiritual shoes off, he’s got us whipped.
 
If we lay soul-winning aside for any reason, the DEVIL knows we will shortly be on the spiritual sideline.
 
If we try to operate without our feet being “shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, the DEVIL knows that we will become a defeated Christian.
 
Let me be very clear from this passage of scripture: We may have sound Christian convictions, good standards, attend church regularly, read our Bibles every day, memorize Bible verses, and even serve in several church ministries, but don’t bother to put on our soul-winning shoes.
 
We need more than just the Helmet of Salvation.
We need more than just the Shield of Faith.
We need more than just the Sword of the Spirit.
We need more than just the Breastplate of Righteousness.
We need more than just our Loins gird with Truth.
 
You and I need the WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD to be a spiritual survivor and a victor in spiritual warfare, and that includes the shoes in the ministry of soul-winning.
 
Over the years in my ministries, I’ve hit some rough stretches of road, and in some cases, SOUL-WINNING has allowed me to KEEP ON GOING. For encouragement, provision and strength, there is nothing like sharing the gospel with someone and then seeing them come to faith in Jesus Christ.
 
When that happens, it seems as though it takes the wind out of old smutty-face (the Devil) and puts life back into my Christian walk. Winning souls gives life to the ministry and a new desire to “keep on keeping on” in the battle for the souls of men and women, boys and girls. After all, we read in Luke 15:7, "Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance."
 
SUPPOSE we were to see a blind man unknowingly approach the brink of death, and we sat by without concern or any effort to warn or save him from that death. Would we not be as guilty of his death in God’s sight as though we had murdered him outright? Yes, we would, for in Ezekiel 3:17-21 we read, "If thou givest him not warning…his blood will I ( speaking of God ) require at thine hands."
 
SUPPOSE that "when the roll is called up yonder" we are there, but through the eternal ages we are unable to find a single person who is there because of our having led them to Christ. HOW MUCH WILL HEAVEN MEAN TO US? Daniel 12:3 tells us "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."
Realize that in the physical, material sense there is not one thing we can take with us in death? At the time of death we will leave everything behind. However, everyone that we have had a privilege to lead to Christi will be there with us in heaven. Over in I Thessalonians 2:19-20 we read, "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For you are our glory and joy." That’s why I again ask, “How much will heaven means to us, if there is no one there that we have had the privilege of bringing to the Saviour?”
 
May you and I not SUPPOSE, but HUMBLY DO as the Lord says in Luke 14:23, "Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled."
 
Listen my friends we may have most every piece of spiritual armor on and in place, but we also need to have on the shoes of soul-winning.
 
We might be busy in service of the Lord.
We might be living in purity.
We might be living with the sword of the Spirit sharpened and attacking the devil.
We might be living with the shield of faith in our hands, having faith to always trust God.
We might have on all the armor of God, but neglect to put our shoes on and therefore, we will be defeated.
 
The text tells us we are to have on the "WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD." My friends, that means we need to be SOUL-WINNERS if we are going to be victorious in this Christian life. This is not an option. This activity is not related to our spiritual gifts that we might or might not possess. IT IS PART OF THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD THAT WE ARE TO PUT ON.
 
I’m not talking about keeping track of NUMBERS, such as how many people we have won to Christ. Or about setting a goal of how many people a Christian should win or how many hours we should spend out soul-winning. Let God keep the statistics. I’m saying that we had better keep our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace so that we are:
 
always ready to share the gospel with a tract,
always ready with a word of testimony, and
always ready to share the gospel.
 
I am preaching because there are multitudes of sinners on their way to an eternal hell, and they don’t know the way of salvation unless someone tells them. I am preaching to challenge you to make an effort to win the lost to Christ. So, let’s bring this challenge to where the rubber meets the road.
 
If 5 Gospel tracts were placed in your hands each month throughout this year, how many of you would be willing to take them and just hand them out to 5 different people during the week?
 
How many of you would commit yourself to speaking to at least one person each week about their need of Christ?
 
How many, with one specific individual in mind, will go within the next two weeks to see that person, take a Bible, show him how to be saved, and ask him to trust Christ as Saviour?
 
If that one you are thinking of is too far away to visit, will you write them a letter and get it in the mail within the next two weeks? In the letter, will you tell them that you love them and want them to be saved by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ? Will you enclose a simple gospel tract and ask them to read it?
 
May God continually speak to our hearts about winning souls to Christ. Amen!
 
******************************************************************
 
If God has spoken to your heart after reading the sermon “Christians, God’s Foot Soldiers” then right now talk to God about what He has spoken to you.
Do you have the assurance that one day you will go to heaven? If you have no assurance that you know Jesus Christ, then I trust you will decide to accept Him as your personal Savior. The Bible tells us in
 
Acts 16:31, “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”
Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
 
This prayer is here for those who need to ask Jesus to be their personal Savior: “I do want to go to Heaven. I know I am a sinner, and I do believe Jesus Christ died for me. I realize I cannot buy this great salvation, nor can I earn it. Knowing Jesus died on the cross and arose from the grave to pay my sin debt and to purchase my salvation, I do now trust Him as my Savior, and from this moment on I am completely depending on Him for my salvation.”
If you made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior let me know? Please send an e-mail to, pdmikBBM@aol.com and I will send you some literature that will help you in your Christian life.
The “Weekly SERMON” was sent as a ministry of Bible Baptist Ministry, 48 Alexie Rd., Hanover Township, PA 18706. Privacy policy: your e-mail address will not be sold, or shared with any third party.
 
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In His Amazing Grace,

Pastor<br /> David Miklas

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