The Goal of Prayer

Tempered Gifts

10-22-17 Sermon

Simplify

Bring Forth Fruit

Matthew 3:10

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Are you producing fruit in your life? Is it good fruit, mediocre fruit, or poor fruit? Scripture tells us (in multiple places) that God will cut down any that does not bring forth good fruit.

How can we make sure we are producing good fruit?

First, we need to be fed. Just as fruit trees need water and sunlight to grow, we need the Living Water and the Sonlight to produce good fruit.

Fruit trees need to be planted firmly in good soil with a good root system.We need to have our firm foundation in the Rock. He is our root system as that is how we take up our nourishment.

Fruit trees that grow wild may still produce fruit, but they are small and not the best looking. Why? Because so much energy goes to the suckers on the tree. To help the tree produce bigger, better looking fruit, it needs to be trimmed. Let Christ trim off the suckers of your life. Pruning is not always pleasant and may create stress to the tree, but the tree is healthier in the long run and so will you be.

Is your root system in Christ? Are you feeding on the Living Water and Sonlight? Are you asking Christ to prune you?

Change

I read this quote on a friend's facebook page the other day. I can't stop thinking about it.

Your Gift is not Your Value

10-8-17 Sermon

Obedience Not Happiness

Genesis 16:8-9 KJV

8 And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai. 9 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.

God sees all things. He knew what kind of situation Hagar had run away from. He knew she had been dealt with harshly. Despite her hard situation, He told her to go back.

He told her to not only go back, but to submit herself to her harsh master. She wasn't supposed to go back and fight for better treatment. She was supposed to go back and submit.

Many Christians think that if they aren't happy, they aren't supposed to stay in a situation. They think God would want them to be happy. However, we see here that happiness isn't what God desires. Sometimes He allows us to go through difficult times. We must be obedient and follow Him wherever He sends us.

You Are Valuable

Evil Hearts

Mark 7:21-23 KJV

21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

We recently experienced the worst mass murder in the US (besides abortion, but that is for another day). The atrocity that that man did is great. Many people are talking about how evil he was. Some are talking about gun control because it must be because he had access to guns.

However, scripture explains that the evil didn't come from an outside thing such as a gun, but from within the man.

"For from within, out of the heart . . . "

Evil is in the heart and then manifests itself outwardly. Let's look at those outward manifestations: evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, coveting, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.

Do you see that listed right alongside murders, adulteries, and blasphemy is evil thoughts, coveting, foolishness, lying (deceit), and pride? All of those are considered evil in the sight of God.

I am praying for the people of Las Vegas, but I am also taking the time to examine my own heart. Do I have evil in my heart? I suggest we all consider that we may be just as evil in the sight of God. Repent if you find foolishness, covetousness, deceit, etc. in your heart and pray for others as well.

Wedding Cup

Here is the sermon for 10-1-17. Somehow the recording got paused so part of the scripture passage is not here, but it is 1 Corinthians 11:19-34.