The Weekly Sermon » Special Days

Occupy Until HE Comes

Pastor David Miklas — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 13:46:24 +0000

Sunday December 25, 2011	Phone: 570.829.5216
Pastor David Miklas	e-mail pdmikBBM@aol.com
Message: Occupy Until HE Comes	Text: Psalm 121:1-8

"Occupy Until HE Comes"

In Psalm 121:1-8 we read, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. (2) My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. (3) He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. (4) Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. (5) The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. (6) The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. (7) The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. (8) The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore."

It's hard to believe that another year has become history. What awaits us during this coming year of 2012, in our personal lives, in our families, in our church, in our nation as well as on the international scene, only God knows. However it is good that we take heed to His instructions "To occupy until he comes." Therefore, I do pray that the Lord will be at the center of all you do.

Whether your feet be mired in the mud of some unexpected valley or scaling the precipitous heights of some great mountain, whether you are in the brightness of noonday or in the darkness of midnight, whether in sickness or in health, whether you have much or little, my prayer for you is to stay true, stay on track, stay excited, and stay at the task God has given to you. Honor Him, walk with Him, and serve Him every day.

As usual, for the first week of the NEW year, we set aside the Weekly SERMON to give you a challenge for the coming year. For the next few minutes would you please put aside what you are doing, pull up a chair, and focus on these TWELVE New Year's suggestions:

First: Search the Scriptures daily. Read them systematically and devotionally.

In Acts 17:11 , we read of the people at Thessalonica that they "…received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily whether those things were so."

In Psalm 119:105 we read, "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." The Word of God provides a guide to our daily walk of life. The Word of God stabilizes our walk though life .

In Psalm 119:11 we read, "Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee." One can not live victoriously in the Christian life without reading the Word of God. You must read it, study it, search it, and memorize it to keep you from sin. If you choose to neglect those activities, then sin will keep you from the Word of God.

Throughout 2012, the challenge is to read your Bible daily and then get down on your knees and search your heart. I remind you of Psalms 119:165, "Great peace have they which love thy law, and nothing shall offend thee." Jesus said in John 5:39, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me."

Second: Pray a lot! Pray and expect to get answers from God.

Jeremiah 33:3 is perhaps one of the most challenging verses in the Bible on the subject of prayer, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knoweth not."

Then in Ephesians 3:20 we read, "Now unto Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think…"

Finally in I Thessalonians 5:17 we read, "Pray without ceasing."

There ought to be DAILY prayer on the part of each and every believer. Praying is a full time job. We ought to pray, and in our prayers expect to get answers from God. May I challenge you during 2012 to have a daily prayer life! There is so much to pray for – yourself, your family, your church, lost souls, missionaries and the ministry.

Third: Witness every day and try to win the ones to whom you witness. You can win souls if you work at it.

In Mark 15:16 Jesus commanded us to "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Soul winning is every Christian's responsibility, every day, in every situation. It is also the primary responsibility of the church.

For in Acts 2:47 we read, "And the Lord added to the church DAILY such as should be saved."

Then in Acts 5:42 the principle of visitation is established, "And DAILY in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."

Oh, we must witness as never before. We must reach out and win souls. There are literally thousands of people who are dying and going to hell without any gospel witness.

Fourth: Make church the hub of your life. Have your family in church every Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night and allow nothing and nobody to discourage you from doing so. In Hebrews 10:24-25 we read, "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: (25) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

Fifth: Tithe! Give the Lord His portion of your income! You cannot out give Him. So be obedient in your stewardship. In I Corinthians 16:1-2 we read, "Now concerning the collection for the saints…. (2) Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come."

Six: Believe God about everything. Have faith in Him; trust Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

Seven: Keep a good spirit in you. Rejoice! Let the joy of the Lord dominate your countenance. In Philippians 4:4 we read,"Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say REJOICE." Spend a little time each day rejoicing in the Lord. Praise the Lord for the BIG things, and even the little blessings in life, that He so graciously gives to you.

Eight: Serve! Find a place to plug your talent into the Lord's work. Do something in which you invest yourself in the Lord's work.

Nine: Keep short accounts with God. Stay in good relationship with Him. Use I John 1:5-10 as often as necessary, but keep things right. "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (6) If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: (7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (10) If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."

Ten: Build strong relationships with strong Christians. Run with the right crowd and learn from them. Don't imitate weakness; let strength be your model.

Eleven: Find a mentor. Find someone to whom you can be accountable and who will help you grow in your walk with the Lord. I'm not talking about hero worship, but a mentor of stature whose track record is well established, clean, and obviously faithful.

Twelve: Keep looking expectantly to the sky. Maranatha! Indeed, the Lord is coming. When, we do not know, but it could be sometime soon! With both hands on the plow (at work), keep one eye glancing upward in anticipation of His promised coming. Even though the following passages about the second coming of Jesus are in the revelation for Israel at the end of the tribulation, they can also apply to us.

In Matthew 24:26 we read, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no not the angels of heaven, but my Father only."

And then in Matthew 24:44 Jesus says, "Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh." Live every day, literally live every hour, as if Jesus would come at that moment.

May these suggestions become a full agenda and a fruitful plan for all of us in 2012. Having challenged you with the above, allow me to share with you the vision for the Bible Baptist Ministry and the Weekly SERMON for 2012.

We are humbled by the 1100 Weekly SERMON messages going out by e-mail. This number includes over 830 missionaries receiving them. Since we began this ministry, we have e-mailed nearly 250,000.

We are grateful for those who helped us meet all the financial obligations in 2011. Praise the Lord!

We are grateful for the server system that has significantly reduced the time needed to send the Weekly SERMON.

We are grateful for those who have helped us this past year, our proof readers and 3 Web Sites and server.

I am thankful for you! Your prayers and financial support allowed us to continue to do what God has opened the door for us to do. Without your prayers and support the BBM would not be possible.

Lord willing during 2012, we will focus our Weekly SERMON messages on the rest of the Book of James, our next series along with other topical messages. In addition to the Weekly SERMON messages, we plan to produce two SERMON notebooks.

The first notebook will be the 14 sermons on the names of God, which will contain handout outlines as well as power point suggestions.

The second notebook will contain the contents from the Weekly Letters along with the church bulletin backs I do every week.

Once these are ready, you will be notified. They will be available on CD as will as in print form.

If possible during 2012 would you consider helping us in this faith ministry? Even though we do not charge for the ministry, there are expenses. Your donation will help us continue to "stand in the gap" in "teaching others also." After you have given your tithes to your church and taken care of your pastor, perhaps you would consider giving a one time yearly gift, or a monthly offering? For the purpose of financial accountability, we have placed this ministry under the Green Street Baptist Chapel of Edwardsville, PA. 18704. Checks made out to Green Street Baptist Chapel, memo to Bible Baptist Ministry and mailed to Bible Baptist Ministry 48 Alexie Road, Hanover Township, PA 18706 will be given to our ministry; or phone me at 570.829.5216 ..

Again this year, from the Bible Baptist Ministry, we thank you for your prayers and financial support as we seek to get the message out around the world. We trust you will have a very BLESSED NEW YEAR in the Lord during 2012 .

In His Amazing Grace,

David Miklas" src="http://theweeklysermon.com/images/Pastor_David_Miklas.gif" />

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://BibleBaptistMinistry.org/……/MMXI/52/

No Room in the INN

Pastor David Miklas — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 01:27:27 +0000

Sunday December 11, 2011	Phone: 570.829.5216
Pastor David Miklas	e-mail pdmikBBM@aol.com
Message: Christmas – No Room in the INN	Text: mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">Luke 2:1-7

"No Room in the INN"

Luke 2:1-7

As hectic as it's become, we savor the joy of the season. As our world keeps roaring toward an uncertain future, Christmas is a kind of security blanket that connects us to the past. The sounds and sights and smells of the sacred time of the year bring back old memories, and they remind us of a Savior who entered human history through a virgin's womb in a Bethlehem barn.

Many of us haven't visited a barn for quite a while. The aroma is anything but holy, hay makes us sneeze, and insects abound. How strange that the Son of God came to earth in the presence, not of world leaders, but of animals.

He arrived, not in a palace, but in a stable.

He came in simplicity, not extravagance.

He demanded none of the world's comforts or protections.

From His first moment, Jesus came exposed to all the dangers the world could offer.

Peering through the dimness of that cave or stable, Joseph and Mary probably had to admit, that at first glance, their baby seemed like any other newborn child.

He cried in the middle of the night.

He hungered for milk.

He needed fresh "swaddling clothes" every now and then.

Understand, Jesus is like no other, for He was fully human and fully divine simultaneously.

Nothing about His humanity could detract from His godliness.

Nothing about His godliness could detract from His humanity.

Only because this is true can He reconcile the Father in heaven with His children on earth.

He is the Man of both worlds; He is the bridge by which God comes to earth and people come to heaven.

In that regard, the Virgin Birth is the sign of His divinity.

He came to the earth from outside, pure and clean, and was in no way a product of this world.

His mother, Mary, had not known a man, but the Holy Spirit had overshadowed her and the power of the Most High had come upon her; therefore the Holy One born to her would be God himself.

In the same way, the infancy of the Child is the sign of His humanity.

He had ten fingers, ten toes, a nose, and a good set of lungs. He was one of us in every way.

He arrived from heaven with perfection and godliness, yet He was fully human.

It was a deliberate equation. In Matthew 1:21 the angel said to Joseph, “And She (Mary) shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sin.” Jesus is the bridge by which God comes to earth and people come to heaven. Jesus said in Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to SAVE that which is lost.” There is the key reason for Christ’s coming, “to seek and to SAVE that which is lost.”

Now having said all that, please turn your attention to Luke 2 where we have recorded for us the birth of Jesus. Follow along as we read verses 1-7,

“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

In this message, let me focus your attention on THREE thoughts:

Number 1: There was no one at home during the first Christmas. Every twelve months people feel the need to “be home for Christmas.” But everyone who participated in the very first Christmas was away from home so that you and I could find our way to our eternal home in heaven and celebrate forever the Christ of Christmas!

When the first group of worshippers and participants gathered in Bethlehem, they had no idea that their gathering would be immortalized and celebrated every year for the next 2,000 years.

First: There were Mary and Joseph. When Caesar Augustus declared that a census should be taken in Palestine, the expectant parents were forced to leave their home in Nazareth of Galilee, north of Israel, and make the slow, difficult journey to Bethlehem, the home of Joseph's ancestors. The arduous fifty mile journey probably took most of a week. The young couple was probably one of the last to arrive in the City of David. The stable where they took shelter was not their home, but it was where the prophet Micah had predicted they'd be on the world-changing night of the first Christmas.

Second: There were the angels. They left their heavenly home to come to the sky above Bethlehem to announce the birth of Jesus to the shepherds. How different earth must have seemed to them! And how they must have wondered about the way the King of heaven and earth was being introduced to His future earthly subjects – being born in a stable, cushioned on straw, swaddled in rough linen, and attended by humble shepherds.

Third: There were the shepherds who were also not-at-home even though they were the closest to home, being from Bethlehem or nearby. For the first Christmas, they rushed into town to find the birthplace of Israel's new king.

Fourth: Speaking of kings, it was some years later when a group of magi (probably astronomers from Persia) made their way to the house where the young family was then staying. The magi were the farthest from their earthly home, perhaps hundreds of miles. But they still came out of a sincere desire to acknowledge the birth of the new king that the Hebrew Scriptures had foretold and the star had pointed out.

Fifth: The last person of note, who was far, far from His home, was Jesus Christ Himself. His absence from His heavenly home and presence in a stable in Bethlehem is history's greatest mystery, and the cause of the first and all subsequent Christmases. He gave up the pleasures of home in order to secure a home for us for all eternity.

Number 2: I don't know about you, but each and every time I read the story of the birth of Christ in Luke 2, and each and every time I see either a play or a performance that gives accent to the part where there was "No Room" in the Inn for the birth of Christ, and as a result He had to be born in a stinking, livery stable, I get very sad.

The story of the life of Christ on earth is summed up in this brief verse of Luke 2:7, "And she (that is the virgin Mary) brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was NO ROOM IN THE INN." What a sad, sad commentary. Here is the Son of God, the savior of the world, yet there was “No Room” for Him.

In Bethlehem they begrudged the Son of God even a place to be born. And then in life there was no permanent room for Him anywhere as He wandered up and down this earth. In Matthew 8:20 we read, "the foxes have holes, and the birds of the air nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head."

They begrudged a room for Him even in His mother's and brother's home, for "either did his brethren believe in Him." John 5:5.

Nazareth begrudged Him His fame and asked, in Matthew 13:55-57, "Is not this the carpenter's son? …whence then, hath this man all these things? … and they were offended in him."

The Pharisees begrudged Him His power and declared in Matthew 12:24, "This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils."

They begrudged His right in His own Father's house and asked in Matthew 21:23, "By what authority doeth thou these things? …" when He cleansed the Temple of worldliness and thieves.

The chief priests begrudged Him the Sabbath of which He was Lord, because He therein healed the sick and made whole the man with the withered hand.

They begrudged even the homage of harlots and publicans and murmured, in Luke 15:2 where we read, "This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them."

Simon the Pharisee begrudged Him even the tears and kisses upon His feet, dried with the hair of a forgiven streetwalker, the woman who was a sinner. Simon swore therefore that Jesus was not a prophet.

Judas Iscariot begrudged the perfume in the alabaster box of ointment which was broken for Him by the love of Mary.

They begrudged Him even an hour of prayer when He sweat drops of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane. They broke into it with their torches, swords and staves, to kiss Him with a traitor's kiss, to bind Him and lead Him away to trial and murder. Even in His death, the senseless malice of a wicked race of men had no room for Jesus.

The rulers begrudged His name, "The king of the Jews," nailed above His cross, and begged Pilate to change it.

They begrudged Him even His clothes in the hour of His shame and stripped Him naked, seamless garment and all.

They begrudged Him even a drink of water when in His dying agony He said, "I thirst." Instead of water, they gave Him vinegar and gall.

They begrudged His poor, tired body even the peace that death brought. After He had given up the ghost, they pierced a spear deep into His side, and there came out water and blood.

They begrudged even the testimony of their sin and His love that His hanging body gave to the world. They hastened to take the body down before sunset. They had no room for Jesus even then.

And when He rose from the dead, they begrudged Him even this proof that He was the son of God. "They gave large sums of money unto the soldiers, Saying ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him way while we slept. And if this come to be, we will persuade him and secure you."

Even today, men

Begrudge Him, His miracles,

Begrudge His Virgin Birth,

Begrudge His bodily resurrection,

Begrudge even the inspiration of his words,

Begrudge Him His deity, and still

Begrudge His hold on the hearts of men!

No room, no room for Jesus. Sad, indeed, isn't it? The world continues to celebrate Christmas without the Christ. However,

When we look at the sweet baby Jesus in the CRADLE of the Bethlehem stable, and

When we go to the CROSS of Calvary and see the Son of God hanging there for our sins, and

When one day we'll see the Son of David wearing the CROWN that will be placed upon Him as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, He will reign victorious!

Number 3: We should not have to ask the question, “What was the purpose of His coming?” However, let me briefly remind you of three, all important, purposes for His coming.

One: In I John 3:8 we read, "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil." This is every bit of good news. What are the works of the Devil? Aren’t they not murder, lying, lust, oppression, and everything else born in Hell? The word SIN is a very frightful word indeed. No man ever played with sin, that sin didn't get the better of him.

Maybe you have played with your sin so long that your case seems hopeless. But, thanks be to God! Sin never took anyone so low; it never bound anyone so tightly, that Christ Jesus couldn't reach down and set them free. That is why He came, to destroy the works of the Devil. And so I come to you with this message,

no matter what your past has been,

no matter what you have done,

no matter where you have gone,

if you will turn to Him, Jesus will set you free, destroy the works of the Devil in you, and give you victory.

Two: In I John 3:5 we read, "Ye know that He (referring to the Lord Jesus) was manifested to take away our sins." Jesus put himself on the cross in order to take away your sins.

Perhaps you say, "My thoughts have been dirty and impure." To which God says "It's all taken away." In Psalm 103:12 we read, "I will remove thine iniquities from them as far as the east is from the west."

Perhaps you say, "I've cursed and blasphemed and profaned." Yet the word rings back, "It's all taken away." For in Isaiah 38:17 we read, "I will cast all thy sins behind my back.".

Perhaps you say, "I have led a double life, I am one thing in Church, but another thing at home." But the glad news leaps out from the pages of God's word, "It's all taken away." "I will cast all thy sins into the depths of the sea." Micah 7:19.

Perhaps you say, "I've been a crook and a liar and a thief." God answers, "It's all taken away." He says, "I will blot out thine iniquities as a thick cloud." Isaiah 44:22

God says, "It's all taken away." Jesus was manifested to take away sins. Therefore, "I will remember thine iniquity against thee no more forever." Jeremiah 31:34.

Three: In John 14:9 Jesus says, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father." Jesus was manifested in order to show us who God is.

The only perfect revelation God ever made of Himself, He made in Jesus Christ. If you will look at Him through Jesus Christ, you will know what kind of God He is. "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father."

Thinking through the thoughts shared with you, let me ask my friends here today:

Have you ROOM for Jesus?

Have you crowded Him out of your heart?

Have you time to serve Him, time for His Word, time to pray?

Or, will you go to Hell because you have NO ROOM in your heart for the Son of God?

Oh, dear friends, let Him in today so Christ can bring into your soul a sweet peace. You can never have peace without Him. He brings salvation. Christ gives everlasting life.

Most of the world has NO ROOM for Jesus. "The world will take the Christmas of Christ, but not the Christ of Christmas." Those few who receive Him, how happy they are and how blessed! We read in John 1:11-12 these words, "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."

At this glorious season, let me urge you to claim Jesus Christ today. It's because God himself was invading human history on a search-and-rescue mission for you and me. That's why Jesus had to come. And that's why we have to receive Him into our hearts, as I hope you have. If you haven't, you can do so right now, saying, in the words of the old carol:

Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,

When Thou camest to earth for me;

But in Bethlehem home was there found no room

For Thy holy nativity.

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,

There is room in my heart for Thee.

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

If God has spoken to your heart after reading the sermon “No Room in the INN” 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,

David Miklas" src="http://theweeklysermon.com/images/Pastor_David_Miklas.gif" />
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://BibleBaptistMinistry.org/……/MMXI/50/

Need a hug from The LORD?

Pastor David Miklas — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 04:28:51 +0000

Volume No. 2011 Issue No. 34 Date: October 2, 2011

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

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

In Psalm 139:1-6 we read, “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. (2) Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. (3) Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. (4) For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. (5) Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. (6) Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.”

We are human. Sometimes we get down, discouraged, overwhelmed, or just extra busy. Sometimes we feel backslidden, away from God, unlovable, and useless. There are days when we simply wake up on the wrong side of the bed and nothing seems right with the world. I admit that sometimes I go to the Bible just needing a hug from God. Can you relate? When I feel like I need a hug from the Lord, one of the places to which I run is Psalm 139. This is such a beautiful and personal chapter. I almost don't like to write about it because I feel that it is God's "private" love letter to me. Why? Well, let me explain what I have discovered about the Lord in these verses.

Verse 1, “O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Jehovah God, ruler of the universe, has taken the time to know me!” He studied me until He knew every minute detail about me, even more than I know about myself!

Verse 2, “Thou knowest my down sitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.” He watches me all night long. He knows when I fall asleep and when I awake. He knows my best day and my worst day. And (I love this!) He understands every thought I think! Wow! I don't even understand myself over half the time. I have wild, emotional thoughts and sometimes irrational thoughts. He understands each one.

Verse 3, “Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways." I think of God in this verse like a bodyguard who clears the way and makes sure it is safe for me. God always goes before me and knows what is ahead in my life. I am completely safe in His care. Also, He knows all my habits, all my quirky idiosyncrasies. He knows every detail of what makes me unique. He thoroughly understands me, inside and out.

Verse 4, “For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.” In my mind, I picture Jesus Christ, sitting next to me in my home office lazy-boy, focusing on me to say, "Tell me everything." He knows every word I say. His attention never leaves me. He is "dialed in' to my conversation and feels that what I have to say is interesting and important. He does not want me to stop talking until I have shared my entire heart. That's how I visualize this verse.

Verse 5, “Thou hast beset me behind and before and hast laid thine hand upon me.” I liken this verse to a father walking down a path with his child. He walks next to them, his hand on their shoulder, gently guiding them. The Lord never takes His hand off my shoulder. He is always guiding my path, even when I feel that I might be going astray, His hand is still there.

I think the greatest verses in this chapter are verses 17-18, “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.” His thoughts toward me are precious, priceless. He thinks about me so much that I cannot even count the number of thoughts He has about me! He loves me!!! As I awake in the morning, He's there to say, "Good morning. I've been watching you sleep all night."

Take a few moments today to let these thoughts sink in! God is not mad at you. He is not disappointed in you. He loves you so personally it is indescribable! Let's hold our heads high today with the knowledge of being loved so greatly by such a wonderful God! He's thinking about you right now — and He is smiling.

In His Amazing Grace,

PS: As we have repeatedly said, we will not charge for sending the Weekly SERMON. However there are expenses associated with doing what we do. If possible during 2011, would you please consider helping us in this faith ministry? Your donation will help us to continue to “stand in the gap” in “teaching others also.” After you have given your tithes to your church and taken care of your pastor, would you consider giving either a yearly gift, or a monthly offering? Remember, for the purposes of financial accountability, we have placed this ministry under the Green Street Baptist Chapel of Edwardsville, PA. Checks made out to Green Street Baptist Chapel, memo to the Bible Baptist ministry and mailed to Bible Baptist Ministry 48 Alexie Rd, Hanover Township, PA 18706 will be applied to this ministry.

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://BibleBaptistMinistry.org/../MMXI/40/

Spiritual Anemia

Pastor David Miklas — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 04:13:57 +0000

Volume No. 2011 Issue No. 28 Date: August 14, 2011

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

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

Major portions of the world seem to be imploding. Danger lurks all about us in a world that has turned its face away from God. Without God, the moral compass of society is lost. Without spiritual and moral guidance, catastrophe becomes a daily occurrence. The burdens facing our leaders are greater than they can bear. With the spiritual underpinnings displaced, they cannot fund financially, and they cannot defend militarily the things that are important to us. At the moment, fear is strong. Uncertainty has people glancing right and left, scanning the horizon, looking for solutions and hoping for an answer. The hour may be late, but it is a ripe moment. Trouble may be thrust in our faces with such force that we cannot ignore it, but it also affords opportunity. It is not the time to run and hide! It is not the time to whine and cry! No, this is the day when responsibility must rise to meet opportunity!

If even a few thousand churches would draw a circle twenty miles in every direction around their churches, they would find that inside that circle, there are people – lots of people. We need to get the Gospel and the full counsel of God into the hearts and hands of those people. Here are some thoughts for propelling us forward:

1. The truth is more powerful than the trouble! "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32.

2. The Word of God is a powerful tool! "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4: 12.

3. The power of God is the great equalizer! "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." I John 4:4.

4. The task of God has been entrusted to our care! "According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust…" I Timothy 1: 11. "But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts." I Thessalonians 2:4.

5. Troubled times are not an excuse for our inaction! "And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. (41)And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. (42) And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." Acts 5:40-42

6. Spiritual Anemia Has No Place in the Pulpit! "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." II Timothy 4:2

7. There is no help and there is no hope apart from the Lord Jesus Christ! "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12

The next time you are going through TROUBLE or TRIAL or AFFLICTION reflect on Psalm 66: 19-20, "But verily God hath heard me, he hath attended to the voice of my prayer, Blessed be God, who hath not turned away my prayer or His mercy from me." In the hymn, "The Eternal God is Thy Refuge," the author wrote:

Are the waves of trouble overwhelming? Is the sky with tempest overcast?
Flee to God a never failing refuge, He will shield thee till the storm is past.

He will hear and heed thy cry appealing, He will turn no burdened soul away;
Whatsoever thy trouble, He can help thee, Wilt thou trust His mighty arm today?

May God's blessing be upon you this week as you read and meditate on "In the Day of My Trouble," taken from Psalm 77!

In His Amazing Grace,

http://BibleBaptistMinistry.org/../MMXI/33/

Joyful

Pastor David Miklas — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 04:44:50 +0000

Volume No. 2011 Issue No. 27 Date: August 7, 2011

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

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

Have you ever noticed how often the word “Joyful” occurs in the Word of God? By count it occurs 25 times in the scriptures. Let me call your attention to a few of them.

Psalm 35:9,"And my soul shall be “joyful” in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation."

Psalms 66:1-4, "Make a “joyful” noise unto God, all ye lands: (2) Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious. (3) Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! Through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee. (4) All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah."

Psalm 89:15, "Blessed are the people that know the “joyful” sound: they shall walk, 0 LORD, in the light of thy countenance."

Psalm 95:1-3a, "O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a “joyful” noise to the rock of our salvation. (2) Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a “joyful” noise unto him with psalms. (3) For the LORD is a great God…"

Psalm 98:4-8, "Make a “joyful” noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. (5) Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. (6) With trumpets and sound of comet make a “joyful” noise before the LORD, the King. (7) Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. (8) Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be “joyful” together."

Psalm 100:1, "Make a “joyful” noise unto the LORD, all ye lands."

Have you ever noticed how often the word “Joyful” occurs in great hymns of the faith? At Christians time we sing, "0 Come, All Ye Faithful, Joyful and Triumphant." Fanny Crosby taught us to, "Praise Him, Praise Him, Ever in Joyful Song." Another old favorite proclaims, "We have Heard the Joyful Sound, Jesus Saves! Jesus Saves!"

Perhaps the most “Joyful” hymn of all is by Henry van Dyke. One day in 1907, he was fulfilling a speaking engagement at Williams College in Massachusetts. At breakfast, he handed his host a piece of paper with the words, "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee." He said, "Here is a hymn for you; your mountains (the Berkshires) were my inspiration. It must be sung to the music of Beethoven's “Hymn to Joy."

The great thing about this hymn is you don't even have to sing it. It's a prayer to be offered. Perhaps it's one you will appreciate and use today or even sometime this week. Here are the words to stanzas 1, 2, 3:

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, Praising Thee their sun above.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness, Fill us with the light of day!"

All Thy works with joy surround Thee, Earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,

Stars and angels sing around Thee, Center of unbroken praise:

Fields and forest, vale and mountain, Blooming meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain, Call us to rejoice in Thee.

Thou art giving and forgiving, Ever blessing, ever blest,
Well-spring of the joy of living, Ocean depth of happy rest!

Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, – All who live in love are thine:

Teach us how to love each other, Lift us to the joy divine.

In His Amazing Grace,

http://BibleBaptistMinistry.org/../MMXI/27/

A Psalm for Youth to Old Age

Pastor David Miklas — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 11:46:56 +0000

Sunday August 7, 2011	Phone: 570.829.5216
Pastor David Miklas	e-mail pdmikBBM@aol.com
Message: A Psalm for Youth to Old Age	Text: mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">Psalm 71:1-8

Introduction: Today, we have within our church people in various stages of life to whom we are ministering.

There are the INFANTS just starting on life's journey.

There are the TODDLERS full of life, always moving, always exploring.

There are the ADOLESCENTS in Junior church that are being taught about life as they are reaching out in simple, child-like faith.

There are the TEENAGERS sitting here who have reached that stage where they are neither a child nor an adult, but somewhere in between. They are now questioning life, making decisions and looking forward to what life holds.

There are the YOUNG and MIDDLE-AGED ADULTS who have now reached that stage in life where they are involved in just about everything, carving out a career, raising a family, and struggling to make ends meet.

There are also those who have reached what we call OLD AGE who sit and look back at a life that has passed ever so quickly. In some cases they are regretting what they have done, and in other cases they are sitting here singing praises and joy to the Lord.

Since we are all headed towards being older adults, have you given much thought to just how will you feel when you look back at your life? Will it be with joy and praises unto God or will it be with regret? Believe it or not, your view of life will be established, not in your old age but in your youth. Here are two examples of differing life views found in the Scriptures:

There is KING SOLOMON, the richest, wisest man who ever lived, who looked back on his life in absolute regret for having forsaken the God of His youth, as he cried, "…vanity of vanities; all is vanity…"

The other is KING DAVID, Solomon’s father. Even though there were times in David’s life during which he sinned, as in all our lives, he is found looking back from old age to his youth always in the joy and praise of the Lord.

This morning, let’s examine these two lives in hope that you will make a conscious choice for more joy in your future, or perhaps change the direction of your present life in order to have a more praiseworthy old age.

First: KING SOLOMON, Ecclesiastes 12 Looking at Solomon's life, particularly in his books of the Song of Solomon, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes, you will find him seeking fulfillment in a number of areas. Before we turn to Ecclesiastes 12, follow me as I read Ecclesiastes 1:1-4, “The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. (2) Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. (3) What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? (4) One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.”

Please understand that the word “Vanity” means “emptiness.”Solomon had it all, but in the end he had nothing, because he left God out of the picture.

He sought fulfillment through the pursuit of PLEASURE. With reckless abandon, he indulged in every sensual pleasure known to man. However, he soon discovered that the dizzying succession of women, wine and parties, brought with it unexpected heartaches, turmoil, and pressure.

He sought fulfillment through the accumulation of POSSESSIONS. No price was too great to pay. Anything he liked, he bought. But gradually he grew bored with all his "toys." And he couldn't help wondering what would happen to it all when he was gone.

He sought fulfillment through the study of PHILOSOPHY. But even in the pursuit of knowledge, he realized that he could spend the rest of his life expanding his mind, and still be empty in his soul.

Wearied by his search for meaning, in verse 2 the disillusioned Solomon cries out in utter frustration, "Vanity of vanities…all is vanity." To put it another way, "What is life, but emptiness and meaningless?" The man who "has it all," the man who makes it to the top, looks down on his vast empire and says, "If this is all there is, I might as well be dead!"

Content for the first time in his life, after having wasted so much time grasping for meaning, we now turn to chapter 12 in which SOLOMON writes a solemn admonition for those of us who will follow after him. In verse 1 he says, "Remember NOW thy Creator in the days of thy youth." An explanation point could follow that first word, “Remember!” God wants you and me to remember HIM.

During your youthful years, the sky is bright, but the time will come when there will be darkness and difficult days and one storm after another and you will begin to wonder, where is the God I knew in my youth? Solomon warns: "Watch out! Keep the Lord in full focus! Why? Because there is that tendency in later years to look back and say we have no delight in days past. Having forgotten God, the older Solomon grew, the more he realized the emptiness and the joylessness of life.

In verses 3-7 Solomon gives one of the most imaginative descriptions of old age and subsequent death found anywhere. The possible meanings follow each phrase:

The keepers of the house shall tremble, meaning your arms and hands tremble.

The strong men shall bow themselves, meaning your legs will bend under the weight of the years.

The grinders cease because they are few, meaning you start to have gums instead of teeth. Old age robs you of your ivories!

Those that look out of the windows be darkened, meaning your eyes no longer see clearly.

The doors shall be shut in the streets, meaning your ears will no longer pick up familiar sounds. Your pet phrase becomes, "please repeat that."

He shall rise up at the voice of the bird, meaning you have insomnia because you wake-up early with the birds each morning, and wish you could sleep longer.

They shall be afraid of that which is high, meaning you develop phobias as you grow older and become afraid of falling from high places.

The almond tree shall flourish, meaning the hair on your head will turn gray just as the pink almond flower turns white as it ages.

The grasshopper shall be a burden, meaning the least little thing becomes a burden.

The desire shall fail, meaning you will lose your appetite for a number of things.

Man goeth to his long home, meaning he goes to the grave.

The silver cord be loosed, meaning the cord of life is snapped and the light of life goes out.

The golden bowel be broken, meaning the brain slows down and you incur the loss of memory. You forget names, places, and where you are or what you are doing.

The pitcher be broken at the fountain or the wheel broken at the cistern, meaning the machinery of life stops working, and the water of life stops flowing. Your heart and arteries stop circulating blood through your body so you die.

And in verse 7 we have the end, death, “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” Now for the last time in his discourse, Solomon said in verse 8, "Vanity of vanities…all is vanity." The book closes where it began in chapter 1:2, emphasizing the emptiness of life without God. When you look at life "under the sun" everything does seem vain; but when you know Jesus Christ as your Saviour, according to I Corinthians 15:58, "Your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

Solomon lived throughout his youth having everything life could hold, but he forgot the God of His youth. Then in old age he cried out, "life is empty!" Friends you don't' have to live that way and face the end of life with regret.

Someone has said, "Few things are more heart-rending than a hopeless old age. There isn't anything worse than to see a bitter, sad, hopeless old person." The worst thing you could do with all you have gained through life would be to carve out a cave and crawl into it, to wait until you die.

Another said, The greatest delight of your life as you grow older would be to continually invest yourselves in the younger generation, praying, teaching, praising and laughing.

As we age as Christians we should be capable of singing, “Sweeter as the years go by. Richer, fuller, deeper, Jesus’ love is sweeter.” As someone said, "Don't get older, just get better."

Now, turning from King Solomon to his father King David, we see in Psalm 71 that there was a joy and a confidence in David's life as He sang the praises of God from His youth onward.

Second: KING DAVID, PSALM 71, David has written this Psalm in the sunset years of his life. In verse 15 notice he says, "for I know not the numbers …" That is, he doesn’t know how many more days he has to live. Remember: “None of us knows how long we have to live, nor what tomorrow will bring.”

In Psalm 71 David begins to reflect on the goodness and mercy of God, what God has done for him and what God was continuing to do for him. Here David speaks of his youth as well as his old age.

Verse 5 "…Thou art my trust from my youth."

Verse 9 "Cast me not off in the time of old age …"

Verse 17 "O God, thou has taught me from my youth …"

Verse 18 "Now also when I am old and greyheaded…"

Let me for a moment call your attention to the end of verse 18, "O, God, forsake me not, until I have shown thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to everyone that is to come." To you folks we call our Senior Saints, Let me challenge you with an obligation you have. That is to show US the generation behind you that is your children and to the generation behind us that is our children your grandchildren “Not only the testimony power of God's works but also the testimony of the grace and mercy of God.”

This is not a time to sit back and retire. This is a time to keep showing us that Christ is still on the throne and your Christianity is genuine, for real, and it still works! You may be retired from employment, or no longer have the day by day responsibility of children under your feet, but folks let me challenge you to never, please never, retire from:

WALKING WITH THE LORD, and

WORKING FOR THE LORD, and

SINGING PRAISES TO THE LORD THROUGH TESTIMONY.

In Psalm 71 as David reflects back to his youth in his old age; notice he is full of continual praise. This was not just praise he sang on Sunday morning, or praise testimony he gave on Wednesday evening, but it was praise all the day long.

Verse 6, "…my PRAISE shall be CONTINUALLY of thee."

Verse 8, "Let my mouth be filled with thy PRAISE and with thy honor ALL THE DAY."

Verse 14, "But I will hope CONTINUALLY, and will yet PRAISE thee MORE AND MORE."

Verse 15, "My mouth shall show forth thy righteousness and thy salvation ALL THE DAY…"

Verse 22, "I will also PRAISE THEE…"

Verse 23, "My lips shall greatly REJOICE when I sing unto thee.."

Verse 24, "My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness ALL THE DAY LONG…"

In verses 1-2 David seems to exhibit some apprehension, fear and confusion in his sunset years of Life. He amplifies this feeling in verses 9 and 18 where he cries out "cast me not off, forsake me not."

In verses 1-2 we read, “In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion. (2) Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.” Here the Psalmist is asking God to DO something for him. That is to deliver him from a state of worry to a state of confidence.

In verses 3-8 we read, “Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress. (4) Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. (5) For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth. (6) By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee. (7) I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge. (8) Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.” Here the Psalmist is asking God to BE something toward him. God is not only our CREATOR, REDEEMER and SUSTAINER, but He is also the ANCHOR and PROTECTOR of our Soul.

Beginning with verse 3 on to verse 8, we find a number of areas all beginning with the word "MY" that show us why the Psalmist’s confidence was in the Lord. These are some very strong words showing what God is to us. It is on this basis that he could continually praise the Lord all the day long.

Verse 3, "Be Thou MY strong habitation…" This implies a strong SECURITY. There is a song that contains that word "habitation." It's entitled "Blessed Quietness" and the last stanza and chorus goes:

What a wonderful salvation,

Where we always see His face!

What a perfect habitation,

What a quiet resting place!

Blessed quietness, holy quietness,

What assurance in my soul!

On the stormy sea He speaks peace to me,

How the billows cease to roll!

Verse 3, "Thou art MY rock…" When we look in the New Testament, we find that the rock is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. The song writer said, and we sing, "On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand." Here we find our FOUNDATION secured.

Verse 3, "MY fortress…" In this word we find our lives are PROTECTED as a fortress is a place of protection. We sing that song, "A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing…"

Verse 5, "Thou art MY hope…" Here is a word of CONFIDENCE. David's confidence was in the Lord. We don't have to worry about tomorrow. We don't have to worry about our eternal redemption. Our hope is in the Lord. Amen

Verse 5, "Thou art MY trust…" Here David's TRUST is not only from his youth but all the days of his life. Again in verse 6 he says, "…my praise shall be continually of thee." Do you know what is so marvelous? It is for some boy or girl, or your son, daughter or grandchild to receive salvation at a very early age in life, and then experience the power of God keeping them from the sins of life from childhood through old age. David is saying that, "…thou has been my trust from my youth." What a tremendous trophy that is to see a son or a daughter grow up in the things of God.

Verse 7 "Thou art MY strong refuge…" In Psalm 46:1 we read, "God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble." Here David is saying God is our SAFETY.

In reviewing these 6 areas we find David's confidence was in God. His praise is for God's righteousness and His Salvation. David may now be old and greyheaded, but from his youth he is saying my confidence and my trust has been in God's comfort, in God's security, in God's strength. I sincerely believe that if David was alive today, one of his favorite songs would be:

O for a thousand tongues to sing,

My great Redeemer's praise,

The glories of my God and King,

The triumphs of his grace.

My gracious Master and my God, assist me to proclaim,

To spread through all the earth abroad,

The honors of Thy name.

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,

That bids our sorrows cease;

‘Tis music in the sinner's ears,

'Tis life, and health, and peace.

There you have it: two men, two choices, and two outcomes as they moved from their youth to old age.

For the one, DAVID, his trust and confidence and reliance was in God. He remembered the God of His youth even into old age. God's praise was continually in His mouth.

The other was SOLOMON who had forgotten the God of his youth and as a result he was a man full of bitterness as he cried at the end of life, "Vanity of Vanities…all is vanity. What is life, but emptiness! Life is meaningless!" Solomon had it all, but in reality, he had nothing,

Now youth, you have a choice to make. The choice you make today to praise God or ignore Him will determine what kind of life you will have when you become old and greyheaded.

To those of you who are in your 40's and 50's, moving toward old age and to those of you who are already there, it is possible to change the pattern of your life, if you would only let the Lord take firm control of your heart.

Time is short. Eternity is long. And Jesus is coming again!

When you stand before Him and all that is earthy and temporal has vanished away, what riches of eternal value will you have to cast at His feet?

Solomon had eternity in view when he wrote, "There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches."

David in summary in Psalm 71:16 says, "I will go in the strength of the Lord God…"

Let me ask you, "Is life worth living? My answer would be, Yes it is, if you are truly alive through faith in Jesus Christ. We read in I John 5:12, "he that hath the Son (that is Jesus Christ) hath LIFE. And he that hath not the Son of God hath NOT LIFE."

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If God has spoken to your heart, after reading the sermon “A Psalm for Youth to Old Age” 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.”

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

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,

http://BibleBaptistMinistry.org/…/MMXI/27/

America, The Rest of The Story

Pastor David Miklas — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 07:37:02 +0000

Sunday June 26, 2011	Phone: 570.829.5216
Pastor David Miklas	e-mail pdmikBBM@aol.com
Message: Patriotic	Text: mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">: Psalm 33, II Timothy 3:1-17

The author of the well-known hymn, "Abide With Me" sounds like a contemporary poet although he lived more than a century ago. Here are his words from the second stanza, "Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away; change and decay in all around I see, O Thou who changest not, abide with me!"

By now you should recognize we live in an atmosphere of change. Today, more than ever before, it appears almost everything is in a state of flux. Very little seems to endure. Many well-established foundations are being shaken, religiously, socially, politically and economically. The world, you might say, is "on the move." As a result, this generation is restless, insecure, and uncertain of where they have come from, who they are, why they are here, and where they are going. In such a day we should be thankful there are some things that abide.

First: We are fortunate to know a Person who never changes, One in whom we can place our trust and believe with all our hearts. We serve a God who is immutable, meaning He is unchangeable.

In Malachi 3:6 God said, "I am the Lord, I change not …"

In Hebrews 13:8 we read, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever."

In Psalm 102:24-27 we read, "I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations. (25) Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. (26) They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: (27) But thou ART THE SAME, and thy years shall have no end."
In James 1: 17 we read of God, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

Second: In the Word of God, there are the absolutes, principles, and abiding truths to guide and comfort us. Every believer can be completely assured that the Bible is the eternal, unchanging revelation from God.

Psalm 119:89 reads, "Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven."

Isaiah 40:8 reads, "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."
Matthew 24:35 Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."

Everything around us may change and decay, but the Word of God given to us by an immutable God will remain forever. Thank God for the Bible, His unchanging Word in a changing world. "Wonderful Words of Life" was written by Philip P. Bliss in 1874, for the first issue of a Sunday school paper, Words of Life. These words still speak of the importance of God's Word in our daily lives.

Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life:

Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life.

Words of life and beauty, teach me faith and duty:

Christ, the blessed one, gives to all wonderful words of life:

Sinner, list to the loving call, wonderful words of life. All so freely given, wooing us to heaven:

Sweetly echo the gospel call, wonderful words of life; Offer pardon and peace to all, wonderful words of life.

Jesus, only Savior, sanctify forever:

Beautiful words, wonderful words of life.

In His Amazing Grace,

http://BibleBaptistMinistry.org/links/archives/MMXI/26/

Wanted: MEN of CONVICTION

Pastor David Miklas — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 07:13:08 +0000

Sunday June 12, 2011	Phone: 570.829.5216
Pastor David Miklas	e-mail pdmikBBM@aol.com
Message: Father's Day – 2011	Text: mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">Exodus 20:2-17; Ezekiel 22:30

"Wanted: MEN with CONVICTIONS"

Introduction: God was describing for us the sins of the people and leaders of Israel in these words from Ezekiel 22:23-31:

“And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, (24) Son of man, say unto her, Thou art the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation. (25) There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof. (26) Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. (27) Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain. (28) And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken. (29) The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. (30) And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. (31) Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.”

Now again notice what God sought for in verse 30. "I sought for a man, but I found none.” Throughout history, God has been seeking men that He could trust,

men thoroughly saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,

men filled with the Holy Spirit of God in Love, Wisdom, Power, and

men through whom He could accomplish His purpose.

This Sunday being FATHERS DAY, I welcome the opportunity to speak to the men of our church. Even though I will direct all my attention, remarks, and scripture to our men, the application of each point is applicable to all of us.

Before we begin, let me voice a word of caution to the women and wives of our church. Please, don't use this message as a whip over your husband’s head. Remember as men we desperately need your PRAYERS, your ENCOURAGEMENT and your SUPPORT. Your influence in our lives is incalculable, for better or for worse! While we must begin to take full responsibility for our lives, there is so much you can do to help. Please go home and pray for your husband, love him and turn him over to God, allowing God to place convictions and principles in his life to become a man for whom God is looking.

God is looking for men of PURPOSE and men of CONVICTION. You ask, what is a conviction? "A conviction is a basic spiritual principle which we purpose to follow, WHATEVER THE COST."God is looking for:

Men who live under the control of the Holy Spirit.

Men who make their days count for the things of Christ.

Men who have disciplined minds, focused on, sensitive to, and energized by the Word of God.

Men who are more concerned about building God's reputation than their own.

Men who are more concerned about building God's kingdom than their own financial empire.

Men whose focus is to one day hear the Master say to them, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

As just mentioned, a CONVICTION is a basic spiritual principle which we purpose to follow, WHATEVER THE COST. We have a strange thing happening in our American society, and it has invaded our churches.

We appear to be living by our preferences instead of our convictions.

We are living by the winds of change, and circumstances rather than convictions govern our desire and our actions.

Now every belief you have, your way of life, your faith is either a preference or a conviction.

A PREFERENCE is a belief you hold on to very, very strongly. But it is a belief that you might change, you just prefer it. For example, you believe Sunday is the Lord's Day and you ought to be in the Lord's house. However, there may be times you plan to do other things, rather than being in the house of God.

The court of our land calls that kind of belief suspect.

The world calls that kind of belief hypocritical.

If you might change your belief from day to day, what value is it?

A CONVICTION on the other hand is a belief you hold with such intensity in the fabric of your soul that you will not change or discard it, no matter what the cost. You accept this belief is steadfast, because God demands it of you.

Convictions give us purpose in life. I know what I am living for. I have a purpose, and that purpose is to live to give God the Glory.

Convictions give us direction for making decisions. When you have definite defined convictions, you know where you are headed. Therefore every decision you make will be guided by your convictions.

Convictions give us protection from sin. You will not have to question Right or Wrong, whether an action is moral or immoral. Your convictions will guide you to say this is sin, and I need to stay away from it.

I sincerely believe that a lack of convictions on the part of men is the cause of the increase of SIN in our Nation and the decrease of Holy living on the part of men in our churches. I remind you it is still a SIN to lie, to cheat, to commit adultery, to gossip, to murder and to disobey God's divine laws.

I sincerely believe that the lack of spiritual convictions on the part of fathers is causing rebellion in the lives of their children.

A father with inconsistent standards will cause his children to despise him.

A father with no personal convictions will cause his children to accept situation-ethics and exercise in excess what the father allowed in moderation.

In Proverbs 22:28 we read, "Remove not the ancient landmarks which thy fathers have set." Now a landmark was a boundary line set to mark off property. In the Old Testament it became a phrase used by the Patriarchs to warn people about straying from the ways, laws and precepts of God.

Perhaps the greatest of all the ancient landmarks are the Ten Commandments given first in Exodus 5 then repeated in Deuteronomy 20 and repeated 109 times in the New Testament. These scriptural commandments ought to be ancient landmarks in our lives. They ought to be spiritual convictions by which we live, whatever the cost.

There has been and still is a movement today in our courts, communities and schools to disregard and discredit the importance of the Ten Commandments. However,

If we are going to turn this nation around,

If we are going to see again the power and the Glory of God in our churches, and

If we are going to lead our sons and daughters into holy and righteous living,

WE MUST HAVE MEN WHO HOLD TO THESE ANCIENT LANDMARKS, the Ten Commandments.

Please turn with me to Exodus 20:3-17 and notice again as I read God’s Moral Commandments that He gave to us.

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me. (4) Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: (5) Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; (6) And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. (7) Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. (8) Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. (9) Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: (10) But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: (11) For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. (12) Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. (13) Thou shalt not kill. (14) Thou shalt not commit adultery. (15) Thou shalt not steal. (16) Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. (17) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.”

This FATHER'S DAY I would like to share with you TEN SCRIPTURAL CONVICTIONS gleaned from these TEN COMMANDMENTS.

Every man must hold these in the fabric of his soul to live by.

Every man must teach these to his family by word and practice, in order to protect them from the destructive influences of wrong desires, false philosophies, and Satanic temptations.

CONVICTION #1 God alone is sovereign, and the Bible is His inspired, infallible word and final authority for my life. This is from the FIRST Commandment found in Exodus 20:3, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." It must be understood that the rejection of the inspiration of the Word of God will make a god out of your intellect.

David said in Psalm 138:2, "…Thou hast magnified Thy word above Thy name."

Jesus said, in Matthew 4:4, "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

Let me ask you, as I must ask myself, how firm is your conviction about the Word of God you are holding in your hands?

Is it your conviction that it is the inerrant and infallible Word of God?

Is it your conviction that the Bible is the absolute and final authority for your life?

Or, do you by life and practice DISPUTE its claims, ARGUE its principles, and DISOBEY its commands?

Is this commandment a conviction or preference in your life as you live it before your family? Before you answer, let me ask you:

How often do you read the Bible in private and before your family?

How often do you go to your Bible for answers in life?

Do you carry your Bible to church?

In this past year, how much on your own did you study the Word of God?

CONVICTION #2: My purpose in life is to seek God with my whole heart and to build my goals around His purposes. This is from the SECOND commandment found in Exodus 20:4-5, “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: (5) Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God…”

David said in Psalm 119:2, "Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart."

Jesus said, in Matthew 6:33, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you."

The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:8, "… I count all things but lost for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ …"

Men with this conviction have set their WILLS, MINDS, and AFFECTIONS on one supreme objective, "To know, love, obey, and serve God with all their heart." Such wholehearted love for God:

will not flirt with the love of money;

will not flirt with the love of self;

will not flirt with the love of this present world;

will not flirt with the love of pleasure;

will not flirt with the love of the praise of men.

Charles Wesley expressed a longing for God when he wrote:

Oh, for a heart to praise God, A heart from sin set free,

A heart that always feels thy blood, so freely shed for me.

A heart resigned, submissive, meek, My redeemer's throne;

Where only Christ is heard to speak, Where Jesus reigns alone.

A heart in every thought renewed, and full of love divine;

Perfect, and right, and pure and good, a copy, Lord, of Thine!

CONVICTION #3: My body is the living temple of God and must not be defiled by the lust of the world. This is expressed in the THIRD Commandment found in Exodus 20:7, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain…" Here it must be understood you can damage His name by your immorality.

Jesus said in Mark 7:21-23, "… from within out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornication…and defile a man."

Paul said in I Corinthians 3:16-17, "Know ye not that you are the temple of God … if any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy …"

God is looking for men of purity, men whose lives are blameless, men who are beyond reproach. Men of conviction take seriously the commands of God's Word from II Corinthians 7:1, to "Cleanse ourselves of all filthiness of the flesh and spirit." Oh, my prayer for my life as well as my sons is that we will be holy men of God.

It is important to remember purity begins in the heart, and in the thoughts. The man who has a conviction to maintain purity will flee from every impure influence. The man of convictions will flee from TV movies and prime time shows that flaunt immorality, you will not surf the internet for pornography in the secret of your room. Rather:

You will vow to follow Psalm 101:3, "I will set no wicked thing before my eyes."

You will obey the Word of I Timothy 5:22 "keep thyself pure."

Gentlemen, we must never forget, you and I will never arrive at a point during which we can afford to let down our spiritual guard or indulge in our flesh for even a moment.

CONVICTION #4: My church must teach the foundational truths of scripture and reinforce my basic convictions. This is expressed in the FOURTH Commandment of Exodus 20:8 "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."

David said this in Psalms 29:2, "Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness."

Paul said in Hebrews, and Peter said in Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: (25) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another…”

I Peter 4:17, "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God…"

Is recognition of the Lord's Day profound conviction within your soul, or just a preference to you? Is it important that you and your family be in the house of God starting with Sunday School and ending with the evening service? Or, if something else comes along, will you will forsake the house of God and participate in that?

CONVICTION #5: My children and grandchildren belong to God, and it is my responsibility to teach them scriptural principles, Godly character and basic convictions from the Word of God. This is given to us in the FIFTH Commandment of Exodus 20:12 "Honor thy father and thy mother…"

God's instruction in Deuteronomy 6:6-7 reads, "And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children…"

Jesus taught us in Matthew 19:14, "…suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

Paul reminded us in Ephesians 6:4, "And, ye father, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture (discipline) and admonition (teaching or instruction) of the Lord."

If you believe those verses in the very fabric of your soul, if that is your conviction, then

Do you teach your children the Word of God in your home?

Do you see to it that your children are in the house of God even for Sunday School, and you attend with them?

Do you see that your children's activities are Christ-centered and do you support them?

Do you encourage your grandchildren in the things of Christ?

CONVICTION #6: My activities must never weaken the scriptural convictions of another Christian. This is expressed in the SIXTH Commandment found in Exodus 20:13, "Thou shalt not kill." Literally, "thou shalt not premeditate murder." Remember, Jesus said in the New Testament even if you hate your brother in your mind it is the same as murder by your hand. This can also be applied in a spiritual sense.

Jesus warned in Matthew 18:6 about us weakening the lives of children by our actions, "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."

The Apostle Paul warned us in Romans 14:13 "…But judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way."

CONVICTION #7: My marriage is a life-long commitment to God and to my marriage partner. This is reflected in the SEVENTH Commandment of Exodus 20:14, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

God's purpose for one man-one woman relationships is found in Genesis 2:24, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."

In Proverbs 6:32 we read, "Whoso committed adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul."

Jesus taught in Matthew 19:6, "…What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."

Based upon this conviction, God is looking for men who are committed to their wives in a life-long marriage. The word divorce should not be in your vocabulary, and this ought to be conveyed by word and action to each other and to your children.

CONVICTION #8: My money is a trust from God and must be earned and managed according to Scriptural principle. This is found in the EIGHTH Commandment of Exodus 20:15, “Thou shalt not steal.”

Jesus said in Luke 16:11, "If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous riches, who will commit to your trust the true riches?"

The Apostle Paul said, in I Timothy 6:10, "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

CONVICTION #9: My words must be in harmony with scripture especially when rejoicing and restoring a Christian brother. We see this from the NINTH Commandment in Exodus 20:16 which reads, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”

Jesus said in Matthew 12:27, "For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."

Then in Matthew 18:15 Jesus said, "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone."

CONVICTION #10: My affection must be set on things above not on things on the earth. Herein is the TENTH Commandment from Exodus 20:17, God said, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.”

Jesus taught us in Matthew 6:20-21, "But lay up for yourself treasures in heaven … or where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

The Apostle Paul said in Colossians 3:2, "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."

If a man is going to build convictions into the fiber of his spiritual life to become the man God wants for him to be, he must hold these truths as absolutes within his very soul.

In a speech given to the Press Club of Washington, former Senator Frank Carlson of Kansas spoke on "Wanted: a man, a man who will stand." On a number of occasions, this speech was printed as an editorial page in the US News and World Report Magazine. Using the text of Ezekiel 22:30, Senator Carlson said in conclusion, God is looking for:

Men who are not “For Sale;”

Men who are honest, sound from center to circumference, true to the heart's core;

Men who will stand for the right even if the earth reels;

Men who will tell the truth and look the world right in the eye;

Men who will neither brag, nor run away, nor flinch;

Men in whom the courage of everlasting life still runs deep and strong;

Men who know their place and fill it;

Men who are not too lazy to work nor too proud to be poor;

Men who are willing to eat what they have earned and wear what they have paid for;

God is looking for men, who have come to the kingdom for such a time as this. God give us men.

From our Ezekiel passage, God is looking for men of principle, whose lives are governed not by preferences but by convictions.

God is looking for men who do not do what comes naturally or what is expedient or easiest for the flesh, but who live by “Godly Righteousness.”

God is looking for men who deny themselves and there fleshly appetites to take up the cross and follow Jesus Christ.

God is looking for men whose conscience is sensitive and knows how to distinguish between right and wrong. They, "Abhor that which is evil, and cleave to that which is good." Romans 12:9

God is looking for men who are willing to risk their reputation and what others may think of them, in order to take a stand for what they know is right.

God is looking for men whose principles commit them to build their homes on a Godly foundation, and to take responsibility for maintaining a climate of holiness in their homes.

God is looking for men whose priorities are spiritual and whose values are eternal.

These men are willing to say "NO" to many things that may be GOOD, so that they can say "YES" to those things that are BEST! “Will YOU be such a man of CONVICTIONS?

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

If God has spoken to your heart after reading the sermon "Wanted: MEN with CONVICTIONS," then right now talk to God about what He has spoken to you.

Do you have the assurance 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 you 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 your 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 you personal Savior would you let me know. Fill out the information below and e-mail me, pdmikBBM@aol.com. I will send you some literature that will help you in your Christian life.

Date: _________________ Name: __________________, Address: _______________

The “Weekly SERMON” was sent as a ministry of Bible Baptist Ministry, P.O. Box 1425, Kingston, 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,

http://BibleBaptistMinistry.org/…/MMXI/24/

A Women’s Power

Pastor David Miklas — Sun, 01 May 2011 15:29:52 +0000

Sunday May 1, 2011	Phone: 570.829.5216
Pastor David Miklas	e-mail pdmikBBM@aol.com
Message: Mother's Day – 2011	Text: Gen 2:18-3:13; 1Tim 2:11-15

“A Women's Power”

Introduction: The Book of Proverbs, in a positive way, has much to say about wives and mothers. For example:

“My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.” 1:8

“A gracious woman retaineth honour…” 11:16

“A gracious woman is a crown to her husband…” 12:4

“Every wise woman buildeth her house…” 14:1

“Who can find a virtuous woman, for her price is far above rubies.” 31:1

"A woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised." 31:30

When we were growing up, everything seemed all right in our home when her majesty, MAMA, was on her throne. Really, we all agreed that she was the GREATEST MAMA in the world.

The STOVE was hot and the SMELL and SOUND of breakfast was coming from the kitchen. Mama was in the kitchen and everything in the world seemed all right. We didn't care about the problems of the world outside. The most important thing to us was getting to breakfast, being at our place around the dining room table. We could bounce into the room singing "Everything is all right in my father's house." And everything was all right, because her majesty, MAMA, was on her throne.

She was not a QUEEN like Easter.

She was not ROYALTY like Queen Sheba.

She had no DIAMOND studded crown.

She wore no ROBE of velvet.

She had no THRONE of marble.

She had no ROYAL carriage.

A NEEDLE was her Scepter.

PURITY was her Robe.

HOLINESS was her Crown, and we, her young, were her subjects.

Really, we all agreed that she was the GREATEST MAMA in the world. To us, she was more than a Queen.

She was a CHEF at meal time.

She was a NURSE when we came home hurt.

She was a SURGEON when we got a splinter.

She was a DOCTOR when we were very sick.

She was a PSYCHOLOGIST when we had a problem.

She was a DENTIST for our loose tooth.

She was a FARMER out in the garden.

She was a SEAMSTRESS when we tore our clothes.

She was a JUDGE before the fight and the EXECUTIONER after the squabble.

She was a THEOLOGIAN when she taught the Bible.

She was an EVANGELIST when she lead us to Christ.

Your mother and mine had:

the COMPASSION of Florence Nightingale,

the PRAYER LIFE of Hannah,

the PURITY of Mary,

the FAITH of Lois and Eunice,

the ZEAL of Deborah, and

the COURAGE of Esther.

This being mother's day, we want to honor the mothers and ladies of our Green Street Baptist Chapel. Our mothers, yours and mine, are wonderful ladies and mothers. However, they have been blamed for something that was not their fault. For that, I would like to rise in their defense this MOTHER'S DAY.

What I am going to say this morning applies to all women. You use something you have inside of you to encourage and influence actions that are not for the right, but for the wrong.

For the background we need to read a rather long passage from Genesis 2:18-25, which focuses on the creation of women and the first marriage. “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. (19) And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. (20) And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. (21) And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; (22) And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. (23) And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. (24) Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. (25) And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.”

Now in Genesis 3:1-13 we read of the sin and fall of man. “Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? (2) And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: (3) But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. (4) And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: (5) For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. (6) And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. (7) And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. (8) And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. (9) And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? (10) And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. (11) And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? (12) And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. (13) And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.”

Our God in heaven created the universe and the world in which we live. For our pleasure, He created all the beauty which we see and the vegetation for us to eat along with the animals. But God longed for someone with whom to fellowship, so one day He made a man. And then from man, he made a woman, who according to verse 18 became man’s “helpmeet,” meaning a completer. Man in and of himself is not complete without the woman, for she is his completer. A woman's purpose is to complete a man. Woman was taken from man:

not out of his HEAD to rule over him,

nor out of his FEET to be trampled upon by him,

but out of his SIDE to be loved by him.

Now according to Genesis 3 it appears God had a daily time fellowship with Adam and Eve. Every morning God would come and call “ADAM, ADAM” and ADAM would run to meet and fellowship with God. No doubt, what a sweet time of fellowship that was. Adam felt as the song says "And He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own." By the way, this is the kind of sweet fellowship God still desires to have with us. We can easily fellowship with God through prayer.

God would come every morning and leave every evening. The next morning, God would come again and He would call, “ADAM, ADAM.” ADAM would come with Eve for their daily fellowship. It seems every day was like that in the Garden of Eden.

But one morning, God came and He called “ADAM, ADAM, oh, ADAM where are you?” But there was no answer, there was no joy coming from ADAM, as he tried to hide behind a bush. “ADAM, ADAM oh, ADAM where are you?”

This part of the story we know to be true. Satan did come and tempt Eve. He could have said, "Eve, here is some fruit I want you to eat" And Eve could have said, "OK serpent, you look trustworthy, why not?"

Notice again Genesis 3:6, “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. Did you notice where Adam was in this verse? "He was WITH her." And did you notice ADAM, who was beside the woman, ate the fruit he was given?

From this verse we might think that Eve was the first sinner. Wasn’t she the first one to eat the fruit? However upon further investigation, we will realize that EVE DID NOT COMMIT THE FIRST SIN, for

In Romans 5:12 we read, "Wherefore, as by ONE MAN sin entered into the world, and death by sin and so death passed upon all men, for all have sinned."

And in I Corinthians 15:22 we read, "For as in Adam all die …"

Now if it wasn’t EVE who committed the first SIN, even though she ate the forbidden fruit first, then what really happened that caused ADAM to be responsible for the first SIN? To understand this point we need to read I Timothy 2: 9-15,

“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; (10) But (that which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. (11) Let the women learn in silence with all subjection. (12) But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. (13) For Adam was first formed, then Eve. (14) And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. (15) Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.”

Notice please in verse 14 it does not say that the "WOMAN COMMITTED THE TRANSGRESSION." The word transgression means sin. Rather it says she was "IN THE TRANSGRESSION." That little preposition means "IN, AT, WITH." Thus we could read:

The woman was AT the transgression.

The woman was WITH the transgression..

The woman was IN the transgression.

Notice again in verse 13 we have the priority of the creation. Who was first formed? ADAM was. Here we are speaking of priority, not superiority. The issue is one of AUTHORITY. Man was created first. Notice again in verse 14, ADAM was not deceived. I believe the Devil came to ADAM first with the TEMPTATION TO EAT THE FORBIDDEN FRUIT. However ADAM was not deceived by the temptations of Satan. He did not eat of the forbidden fruit when it was offered by Satan directly.

ADAM was first given a choice.

Satan came to ADAM first.

But he was not fooled.

He was not tricked.

He couldn't be bought.

ADAM was not deceived.

Perhaps Satan came to ADAM again and again. "ADAM here is this fruit that will make you wise as God is wise. There is nothing wrong with eating it." And ADAM would say, "I will not eat it. Satan I see right on through you. I not only know it is wrong, but I also know what you are up to."

So what does the devil do? He goes to EVE and tricks her into doing what he couldn't get ADAM to do. Now EVE is deceived. In II Corinthians 11:3 we read "the serpent beguiled Eve through his suability or craftiness." What this verse really says is Eve was really deceived. She was subjected to a first-class sales job. She was talked into eating produce that was harmful.

EVE took the fruit first, but ADAM was offered it first. Remember in Genesis 3:6, where was Adam when this was taking place? “He was "WITH HER." ADAM KNEW it was wrong to eat the forbidden fruit. On the other hand, Eve was deceived or tricked into eating it.

Here is my point. What Satan could not get ADAM to do, EVE got ADAM to do. EVE did not know she was doing wrong. ADAM KNEW he was doing wrong. He ate the fruit with his eyes open wide. ADAM, being the head of the woman, became the guilty one.

Now, here is the question. Listen carefully. WHY DID ADAM RESIST SATAN AND YET HE YIELDED TO EVE WHEN SHE GAVE THE FORBIDDEN FRUIT TO HIM?

The devil came to Adam and said, "Why don't you eat the fruit, it will make you wise?"

And ADAM said, "Satan you can't fool me, I know it is wrong."

However, EVE said, "ADAM, eat the fruit," and ADAM, who knew it was wrong ate it any way.

WHY? BECAUSE, WOMEN HAVE MORE POWER OVER MAN THAN SATAN DOES. WHAT THE DEVIL COULD NOT GET ADAM TO EAT, EVE GOT ADAM TO EAT. Remember this:

The serpent deceived the woman.

The woman did not deceive the man. SHE INFLUENCED HIM.

EVE CONVINCED ADAM in Genesis 3 to eat the forbidden fruit. By this transgression, sin entered into the world, and death passed upon all men. This is an illustration of a woman INFLUENCING THE MOST INNOCENT PERSON WHO EVER LIVED TO DO EVIL.

DELILAH CONVINCED SAMSON in Judges 16 to reveal the secret of his strength. As a consequence, he was taken captive by his enemies and his eyes were put out. Here is an illustration of a woman INFLUENCING THE STRONGEST MAN WHO EVER LIVED.

THE WIVES OF SOLOMON in I Kings 11 convinced him to worship idols. The wrath of God came upon him, and the kingdom he had established was destroyed in the hands of his son. This is an illustration of women INFLUENCING THE WISEST MAN WHO EVER LIVED TO DO EVIL.

Ladies, do you see the power you possess? Do you understand the POWER of the INFLUENCE you have over man? No, you did not sin first, but your influence and the power of that influence over the man caused the man to sin and the WHOLE HUMAN RACE TO FALL.

THE INFLUENCE of a WOMAN caused ADAM to do what he full well KNEW was WRONG TO DO. WHAT THE DEVIL COULD NOT GET HIM TO DO, EVE GOT HIM TO DO. In other words:

EVE had more power over ADAM than the god of this world.

EVE had more power over ADAM than the prince of the power of the air.

Ladies, do you realize the power of your influence? Do you realize the power you have over your husbands and over your children and in determining the atmosphere in your home, whether it be for good or evil? You have far more influence than the man does. Likewise, do you realize the power you have to determine the atmosphere of your church? Again, follow me in the book of Proverbs.

Proverbs 14:1, “Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.”

Proverbs 19:13-14, “A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping. (14) House and riches are the inheritance of fathers and a prudent wife is from the LORD.”

Proverbs 31:10-11, “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. (11) The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.”

Proverbs 31:25-26, 30, “Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. (26) She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. (30) Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.”

Ladies, do you understand how the spirit of a place is determined by you? Do you understand how much INFLUENCE you have? Ladies, it is your spirit that determines the attitudes, disposition, and delightfulness of a place.

The attitude of the office is determined by the secretaries more than the bosses.

The spirit of the home is determined by the mother and the wife more than by the father and the children.

The spirit of the church, I believe, is INFLUENCED by the attitude and composure of the women of the church.

Any number of gossiping, complaining church women can ruin a church in a matter of days. On the other hand, a church filled with Spirit-controlled, godly, submissive, and worshipping women will see things happen for the Glory of God.

Ladies, you have the power to recreate the perfection of the Garden of Eden, or the willingness to let the Serpent beguile you.

Many a man knew he should not have gone into debt. He knew he could not afford certain purchases. The temptation was to buy them. He said, “We can't afford them.". But the sweet wife came along, and said, "Honey I sure would like to have them. Haven't I told you how handsome you are?" He didn't want to destroy His image or male ego before his wife so he bought them.. THE POWER OF INFLUENCE A WOMAN HAS OVER A MAN IS BEYOND COMPARE!

Many a man has felt the call of God to do something for the Lord. He knows it is right. But along comes the devil and tempts Him not to do it. But he says, "The Lord has put it upon my heart to do it." Then comes the wife who says, "Honey don't you think that you are going a little over-board with this thing of service at church?" And before long, he backs off a little here, and a little there. What the devil could not make him do, the wife got him to do.

Now in most cases I am not talking about a NAGGING wife.

I am not talking about a MEAN wife.

In some cases, I am talking about a GOOD, SWEET wife.

You have unbelievable power to make or break your husband.

You have unbelievable power to make or break your children.

Many husbands and children have felt the power of a wife’s and a mother’s godly influence through words and suggestions. She exhibits godliness in a very, very positive way; in her prayer life, in her behavior, in righteous living, in her Bible reading, in her simple example, in her beliefs and teachings, in her dress, and in her actions and reactions. By her life and the power of her words and suggestions, she has burned a lasting present for God in your soul. Your godliness encourages you to rise up and praise her. Amen!

Oh, how important your role is as a mother. Remember ladies, your off-spring take on a bit of your likeness. Your children will be a lot like you. Sobering thought, isn’t it?

In Ezekiel 16:44 we read, "As is the mother, so is her daughter." You don't beget what you want, you beget what you are! That is why Proverbs 14:1 says "Every wise woman buildeth her house."

I believe the greatest gift any Mother can give is the gift of her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The testimony of a godly mother will remain hidden in a child's heart for a lifetime. A godly foundation is hard to erase, and in time will yield its rewards.

It is my firm conviction that many a mother will occupy a higher position in God's kingdom than many prominent Christian leaders, whom we might expect to find in places of greatness. Their names may never have lit the pages of history had it not been for the blessed INFLUENCE of their godly mothers.

Paul, writing to Timothy at the end of the great apostle's life, transferred the mantle of his ministry to his young apprentice. He knew Timothy had received a solid foundation of faith from his mother and grandmother. That testimony is given to us in II Timothy 2:5, "When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also."

You see ladies, you have a tremendous INFLUENCE on us men. We need your help. I encourage you to exercise your POWER OF INFLUENCE IN A POSITIVE WAY FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.

The greatest thing that could be said about your home is that it is a Christian home. My friends, do you know you are saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and on your way to heaven? If you are unsaved, come to Jesus now, and He will save you. Life is fruitless and empty and vain without the Lord Jesus Christ. Whoever you are, I appeal to you in the name of Jesus to come to him. He died for you to save your soul from Hell, and to make you fit for heaven. At this moment as you ask Him to save you, he will not only make you fit for heaven, but give you a new life to live for Him. Amen!

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If God has spoken to your heart after reading the sermon on "A Woman’s Power," then right now talk to God about what He has spoken to you.

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.”

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.

In His Amazing Grace,

http://BibleBaptistMinistry.org/…/MMXI/18/

I Serve a Risen Saviour

Pastor David Miklas — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 21:59:44 +0000

Sunday April 24, 2011	Phone: 570.829.5216
Pastor David Miklas	e-mail pdmikBBM@aol.com
Message: Easter Message	Text: mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">I Peter 1:3-9

"I Serve a Risen Saviour"

Introduction: Please turn with me in your Bible to the First Epistle of Peter chapter 1 and follow me as I read verses 1-9, "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, (2) Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. (3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (4) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (5) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (6) Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: (7) That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (8) Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (9) Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." Notice again the last part of verse 3, "hath begotten us again unto a lively (or living) hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is more than a beautiful thought. It is more than a religious concept. It is a historical fact. It is a fact so persuasive that many who have sought to disprove it have been converted to Christ by the truth they have discovered.

Many years ago in England there were two men, one named Lyttleton and the other named West. They got together and one of them said, "If we could disprove two things, the conversion of the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus and the resurrection of Jesus, we could destroy Christianity."

So Lyttleton set out to disprove the conversion of the Apostle Paul. West set out during that year to disprove the resurrection of Jesus.

A year later they meet and Lyttleton said to West, "After a year of investigation, I am convinced that the Bible story of the conversion of the Apostle Paul is true and I have been converted to Jesus Christ."

Then West said to Lyttleton, "I have been investigating the resurrection of Jesus for a year, and I too have discovered that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a fact. And it may surprise you to know that I have received Him as my Saviour."

From the very first resurrection morning until now, our faith has moved forward based on the fact that Jesus Christ did rise from the dead and that He is alive and changing lives.

Praise God, the Saviour's suffering, found its COMPLEMENT in the empty tomb, where:

Jesus "tore the bars away."

"He arose the victor from the dark domain."

"Up from the grave He arose with a mighty triumph over His foes.

He arose the Victor from the dark domain,

And He lives forever with His saints to reign.

He arose! He arose, Hallelujah, Christ arose!"

Just as the heart pumps life-giving blood to the body, so the resurrection is the very heart of the gospel, pumping life into every area of our soul. The resurrection is the fulcrum on which all of Christianity turns. Take away the resurrection, and Christianity becomes just another useless human philosophy.

Destroy the Resurrection of Christ and you render the Bible ineffective. If Jesus Christ was not risen from the dead, as the Bible teaches us, then the Bible is not the VERBALLY, INSPIRED, INERRENT, INFALLIBLE Word of God. The resurrection is mentioned in the New Testament 104 times in 260 chapters. No one can read the last chapters of the Gospels, the book of Acts and the letters of the Apostles Peter, Paul and John, without a profound conviction that the resurrection of Jesus was a confirmed fact. IT WAS GOD'S "AMEN" TO THE CROSS!

Destroy the Resurrection of Christ and you discredit Jesus' own testimony. Five times before His death, Jesus said, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will rise it up." (John 2:19) One time he said in John 10:17-18, "I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again."

Destroy the Resurrection of Christ and you destroy the deity of Christ. For Romans 1:4 tells us He was, "declared to be the Son of God with power … by the resurrection from the dead."

Destroy the Resurrection of Christ and you destroy the witness of the Gospel. The preaching of the resurrection was the dominate theme of the Apostles preaching. In Acts 4:33 we read, "…And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.'

Destroy the Resurrection of Christ and you find the Christian faith is vain. We read in I Corinthians 15:14, 17, "If Christ be not risen, Then is our preaching in vain, and your faith is also vain. …ye are yet in your sins." What has been said is certainly true: THE RESURRECTION IS THE CORNERSTONE OF CHRISTIAN TRUTH AND IS IMPORTANT TO THE DESTINY OF EVERY HUMAN SOUL.

Now in view of the crucifixion and in view of the resurrection, the burning question that needs to be answered this Easter Sunday morning in 2008 is: WHAT IS GOD DOING RIGHT NOW?

Is the God we worship only to be identified with the PAST?

Is the God we worship and serve only to be identified with what is going to happen in the FUTURE?

What about the PRESENT? WHAT IS GOD DOING RIGHT NOW?

Again notice with me I Peter 1:3-5, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (4) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (5) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." Here in this long sentence, I believe we have the answer to the question, WHAT IS GOD DOING RIGHT NOW?

At the end of verse 2, we have a reference to the Blood of Jesus Christ that speaks of the CROSS and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. While at the end of verse 3, there is a reference to the RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ.

Please notice the statement that is sandwiched between the end of verse 2 and the end of verse 3. It reads, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

The blind songwriter, Fanny Crosby, wrote:

Tell of the CROSS where they nailed Him, writhing in anguish and pain.

Tell of the GRAVE where they laid Him, Tell how HE LIVETH again.

Now Peter is saying: In view of the crucifixion and in view of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we must do something about these events. What should we do? We should "Bless the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…"David said in Psalm 103:1, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy Name."

We are accustomed nowadays to say:

Lord bless this and Lord bless that.

Lord, we ask you to bless the offerings.

Lord, we ask you to bless me and my family.

Lord we ask you to bless the missionaries.

We are always asking for God's blessing upon us, and seldom do we find the need TO BLESS GOD! Now that's what this verse of scripture is telling is to do. It is telling us:

In light of what Christ has done for us on the cross of Calvary,

In light of what transpired at the empty tomb,

We are to "Bless the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…"

Well now, "How do you do that, How do you and I bless God?" The word "BLESSED" comes from the Greek word which is known by the English as "EULOGIZE." Peter is saying, in effect, to "EULOGIZE GOD." In other words, in view of the Cross of Calvary and in view of the Resurrection, we are to "EULOGIZE GOD." We are to "PRAISE GOD."

The word EULOGIZE is made up of two words meaning "to speak well."It means to speak well of someone. In our world, it is not uncommon to hear God's name taken in vain, "God ______ this or God _____ that." In fact, many of you may have heard these phrases this past week.

However, the Word of God is telling those of us who have experienced the New Birth, as a result of Christ's death and resurrection, that we are to speak OUT and to speak WELL of God.

Back in Matthew 28:5-7, the Angels' message to the women who came to the Empty tomb was simple. The angels said, "Come and see where the Lord laid…go and tell." Listen. Easter is not a day of decoration, during which we all parade into church for the service. It is a day of PROCLAMATION. Once you have received Christ as your Saviour, every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ has the responsibility "TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL" that Jesus died and is now alive!

Our gospel is not purely personal, to be selfish about, to hide the fact that we are Christians. It is to be PROCLAIMED!

The Bible tells us not only to PROCLAIM the gospel, but also to SPEAK WELL OF GOD. Is not this the reason we have this service this morning? For that matter, isn't that why we have church every first day of the week? We gather to speak well of God.

We praise His name through our Hymns.

We praise His name through the service we render.

We praise His name through our tithes and offerings.

We praise His name through the message.

We bless His Holy Name because of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ! We especially celebrate the results of this event.

The questions I ask are, What has,the DEATH and RESURRECTION of our Lord Jesus Christ come to mean in your life? Why should this event bring joy to your soul?

As Christians, we celebrate the resurrection of Christ because of something that has happened in our lives in a very personal way. However, if the resurrection hasn't affected your life in a personal way, or it hasn't touched you and changed your life through faith, then you really have nothing to celebrate as far as Easter is concerned.

Nevertheless, there are 3 things in verses 3-4 that tell us what the resurrection accomplished on our behalf.

First: In verse 3 notice the phrase,"Hath begotten us again." Here is what Easter is all about. Here is the reason Christ was crucified and arose again from the dead, so that we might be "begotten again."

Now someone who has been "begotten again" is someone who has been born twice. You not only have had a physical birth, but you have also had a spiritual birth. Did not Jesus say in John 3:5, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God"?

If I were to ask you to tell us the day, the year, and the place of your physical birthday, most of you would be able to give that to me without any doubt. But I wonder how many in this room can stand to their feet and say:

"Because of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection, I can truly say there was a DAY in my life when I was truly BORN AGAIN through a PERSONAL FAITH in the Lord Jesus Christ. I can tell you the PLACE, the DAY and what exactly TRANSPIRED at that moment."

Now, if you can't tell us that, then the resurrection, as far as you are concerned, means NOTHING. Jesus arose from the dead:

In order that we might be Begotten again,

In order that we might be Born again,

In order that we might be Born a second time!

Romans 10:9 reads, "… 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." I wonder if you can include your name in that verse.

You ask me, WHAT IS GOD DOING RIGHT NOW? I believe God, at this very moment, is causing men and women, boys and girls, to be born again, born a second time, through faith in the Lord Jesus. God is doing that, all over this world at this very moment, as a result of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Second: In verse 3 notice the phrase "A Living Hope." Here is the second result of the death and resurrection of Christ. We who have been begotten again have become recipients of what the Bible calls "a living Hope."

When we speak of HOPE, we usually speak of some kind of a wish. For example,

"I hope all of you will be here next Sunday." Now that is a wish. In all probability that will not come true, but none the less, I hope you will all be here next Lord's Day.

"I hope you are all listening to what I have to say in this message." Some of you are, but in all probability, there are some of you who are not. This is something I kind of wish would happen.

Here, the Bible is not saying that God has given us some kind of a day dream to live in and live through or some kind of a wish for life. Rather, I believe what God is saying here would be better represented by the word CONFIDENCE. God has given to those of us who have been Born Again a NEVER DYING and EVER LIVING CONFIDENCE that no matter what takes place in this life, IT IS THE WILL OF GOD. Along with that confidence is the absolute assurance that now and forever we have eternal life.

It must be a terrible thing to just MUDDLE through life.

You don't know why you are here.

You don't know why things are happening as they are to you.

You don't have any assurance of tomorrow.

Life is just passing by as you go through your same routine day after day. Listen. God intended for you and me to have CONFIDENCE every single day of our lives as we walk with God.

God will not forsake you as far as your salvation is concerned. I must say, there are times I get very exasperated when I hear people say that after you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, somewhere along the way you can lose your salvation. That, my friend, is a LIE FROM THE DEVIL OUT OF THE PIT OF HELL. God will not forsake you once you are saved. As far as Salvation is concerned, it is yours forever. Does not the last part of John 3:16 tell us, "that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Now, there may be times when you will forsake God, and in all probability you have done that, or maybe you are doing that right now in your life. BUT GOD WILL NEVER, NEVER FORSAKE YOU once you have received His Son as your Saviour.

In Deuteronomy 31:6 we read, "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not…for the Lord thy God, He it is who doth go with thee; He will not fail thee or forsake thee."

In Hebrews 13:5 we read, "…for He (Jesus) hath said, I will never leave thee, or forsake thee."

From the original text of Hebrew 13:5 with the double negative we read, "I will NEVER,NEVER leave thee … I will NEVER, NEVER forsake thee." What a promise of HOPE. What a promise of CONFIDENCE.

God will not forsake you even at death.

To Martha Jesus said in John 11:25-27, "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." Upon reading that verse a 5 year old boy said, "Dad, Jesus sure took the scariness out of dying didn't He."

Paul tells us in I Corinthians 5:8, "to be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord." For us who are born again by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, death does not end life. It is only the beginning.

Those of us who have this living hope, and those of us who have this ever living confidence in God, DO NOT have to worry about tomorrow, because our confidence is in God who will never forsake His own. That is why the composer of the hymn could write,

And then one day, I'll cross that river; I'll fight life's final war with pain.

And then as death gives way to victory, I'll see the light of Glory, and I'll know He lives.

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, Just because He lives.

Third: In verse 4, notice the phrase "An inheritance incorruptible" As a result of the resurrection, God not only provides us with a NEW BIRTH, and a LIVING HOPE or CONFIDENCE, but according to verse 4, he gives to us an "inheritance incorruptible."

In John 14:1-4 just before the crucifixion, Jesus said to His disciple "I am going to prepare a place for you." For almost 2000 years Jesus has been preparing a place for you and me. So at that moment of death, whenever it comes, we will be ushered into the presence of God. We will be in that place Jesus is preparing and reserving just for you and me. THAT IS OUR INHERITANCE INCORRUPTIBLE.

My friend, this is why we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Not just because it was a unique event, but because of what it has done in our lives individually.

Let me ask you this on Easter Sunday morning April 24, 2011: Because of the resurrection has God done something very personal in your life?

Easter is not just a day of decoration for new clothes.

Easter is not just a day to parade into church to satisfy your loved one, and to show yourself off to God.

Easter is a day to look inside and ask, WHERE IS CHRIST IN MY LIFE? Can you sing what many consider to be the NATIONAL ANTHEM of the RESURRECTION SONGS written by Alfred H. Ackley?

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

I know that He is LIVING, whatever men may say;

I see His hands of mercy; I hear His voice of cheer,

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

In all the world around me, I see His loving care.

And though my heart grows weary, I never will despair,

I know that He is leading, through all the stormy blast,

The day of His appearing will come at last.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.

He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives? He lives with in my heart.

Can you say, that today, "He lives within my heart"? My friend that is what makes the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ so precious. If you can't say that, I would encourage you right now to invite Jesus into your life as your LIVING SAVIOUR.

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Has God spoken to your heart after reading the sermon, "I Serve a Risen Saviour," then why not, right now, talk to God about what He has spoken to you?

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 please let me know? Fill out the information below and e-mail me, pdmikBBM@aol.com. I will send you some literature that will help you in your Christian life.

Date: _________________ Name: __________________, Address: _______________

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In His Amazing Grace,

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