Thursday, May 29, 2008

The Limits of God's Grace (Sermon: Acts 9:19-22)

Saul was a murderer and persecutor of Christians. Yet, God not only saved him and transformed him into a new man, He also used him to do a great missionary work. Saul is one more example of the limitless grace of God. To all who will come and receive, He is willing to give.

Many people are buried under a pile of shame and guilt. They feel that God could never forgive them or use them. Although you may feel differently at times, the Bible promises that: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

Better yet, the grace of God exceeds mere forgiveness. God also wants to bless us and use us for His glory. Jesus said: "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). Do you realize that every person that God ever called to service was a sinner?

If you have been hindered by guilt or shame, let me encourage you to accept God's forgiveness and allow Him to use you. And as you look to the future be encouraged by this verse: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jer 29:11). And be certain, for everyone who will call upon the Lord and seek His forgiveness, His grace has no limits.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Talking Back to God

When the Lord called Ananias to go and meet with Saul of Tarsus, he had some reservations, but in the end he trusted the Lord and faithfully went to Saul as the Lord asked. Unfortunately, Ananias' obedience was not shared by everyone in the Bible. Talking back to God seems to be quite popular both in the Bible and in the church today. Moses was called to go and speak to Pharaoh. He talked to Pharaoh, but not until after he had made multiple excuses to God why he couldn't go. Jonah was called to go Nineveh and preach. He went to Nineveh and preached, but not until after some intense (or should I say intestinal) persuasion. Jesus told Peter of the crucifixion He must suffer and Peter rebuked Him. Yet, Jesus went to the cross, just as God planned.

Do you notice a pattern? God calls someone to do something. They respond with "no, not there," or "no, not me," or maybe even "no, not now." Then what happens? The Lord's will is accomplished, irregardless of their resistance and protests. The only apparent variance in these stories is the amount of persuasion and/or discipline the individual had to endure before they surrendered to the Lord's will.

What a great example Ananias serves for us. Yes, he had some reservations about going, but when God reassured him, he went. We could all save ourselves from God's persuasive measures, if only we could learn to say "yes" the first time we hear Him call.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Parental Wisdom (Sermon: 1 Kings 3:16-28)

The story in 1 Kings 3:16-28 shows the love of a mother and the wisdom of a king, but in addition to love, mothers (and fathers) need wisdom as well. Ask any parent with a few years experience and they will tell you that parenting involves countless situations for which no one has ever coached you. There is no book or website that provides the magical solution to this minute's new dilemma. Instead, you--the parent--must use wisdom.


Solomon was incredibly wise. In fact, he was the wisest person on the earth during his time (1 Kings 4:29-34). What parent would not love to have his wisdom? Well, you can! Maybe not to the extent that Solomon had, but you can have wisdom that surpasses human intellect. Solomon's wisdom came from the Lord (1 Kings 3:6-9). All wisdom comes from the Lord and in His Word He has promised that He will give wisdom to anyone who comes in faith and asks: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him" (James 1:5).

There is another verse in James that may explain why some of us can be so unwise at times: "You do not have, because you do not ask" (James 4:2). The choir at Dorsett Shoals often sings a song entitled, "All Your Promises Are True." If we believe the title of that song, then why don't we claim the promises of God more in our lives. God has promised to give us wisdom, if only we would ask. Whether you are a parent or not, why not ask the Lord today to give you the wisdom you need to be faithful in every situation in which He has placed you?

Monday, May 5, 2008

Baptism in the New Testament (Sermon: Acts 8:26-40)

Do we follow the New Testament model of baptism in our churches today? It's a question we should all ask ourselves if we desire to be obedient to God. In Acts 8, two separate instances of baptism are recorded. First, Philip preaches to a group of Samaritans who believe and are baptized. Second, He leads an Ethiopian to the Lord and baptizes him. Of course, there are other baptisms recorded in the New Testament and when they are all compared, one factor in particular stands out--only believers were baptized.

Acts 8:12 reads: "But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women" (Acts 8:12). Why are only believers baptized? Baptism is a picture and a symbol of the change that has already taken place in our life (Romans 6:4). Being baptized before you are saved makes as much sense as wearing a wedding band before you are married. Why would you use a symbol of something that has happened in your life, if it had not yet happened?

Now some will concede that although the proper way to be baptized is as a believer, they were baptized as an infant. And so since they have already been baptized, isn't that good enough? The apostle Paul wouldn't think so. Look at what happened when he encountered some believers who had previously been baptized. "And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. 2 And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." 3 And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They said, "Into John's baptism." 4 And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus." 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 19:1-5). Although these disciples had been baptized by John the baptist in expectation and preparation for the Messiah, they had not been baptized after believing in Jesus and so Paul rebaptized them in the name of Jesus. I believe this passage demonstrates that if we have not been baptized correctly, we should be rebaptized.

We are all commanded to be baptized. If as a believer, you have never been baptized, you are living your life in disobedience to the Lord. Why not go to your pastor today and express your desire to be obedient to the Lord and to follow Jesus in believer's baptism?

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