Looking back as father I really regret the time; I was not following Christ. I was living for the world, and I was a bad example to my kids. I learned there was a big difference between being a Godly Father or just a father living for the world. One of the verses I loved when coming to Christ was in the Book of 1 Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. Be Watchful: Dad’s need to understand the devil has released a full-on assault to destroy the family and trap your kids in sin. Schools, Celebrities, Musicians and even some politicians are trying to indoctrinate your kids to the celebrate sin. If they do not, they get cancelled, called racist, bigot, bullied on social networks and they deal with it daily. You would think the church would be safe from this, but some American pastors and churches are pushing progressive Christianity. They dive into political, social, gender and world issues that go directly against the word of God with the intent to seem woke. Dad you to need tell them about the culture (the sin in it) and answer questions they may have. But answer it with God’s word. I can not even imagine how hard it is to be a kid today. 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Be vigilant, the devil will come to steal, kill, and destroy your family if your asleep on guard duty. Wake-up to the Word and lead them with the sword God’s word. Also do not just yell at them when you disagree. Remove the emotions and feelings, be a good listener and answers their questions, but with a biblical view and truth. One thing that breaks my heart when reading this verse in the Book of Colossians is I sinned, before Christ I would provoke my kids, destroy their self-esteem, and then discouraged them. Colossians 3:21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. It is so easy for a child to be discouraged today, so be watchful encourage them to use the bible to apply in their life. The Bible should be the lens that we use to see the world. They may have viewpoint or different way of seeing something in the world and they may have questions. Answer them, do not bend on the word of God, but give it to them with love and truth. Remember, rules without relationship lead to rebellion. Stand Firm in the Faith: I think many dads’ today are on shaky ground and having trouble standing. Why? Many have neglected their relationship with Christ. They are too busy to spend time in the word, prayer, or fellowship. Cannot stand firm. In the Book of Nehemiah we the Nation of Israel being revived and the Stand up and worship God. Nehemiah 9:5 Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. We also need to Stand in obedience to His word. Psalm 119:41-44 ESV Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise; [42] then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your word. [43] And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules. [44] I will keep your law continually, forever and ever. The world is coming not to just knock you down but knock you out. We can stand firm in His steadfast love and abiding in Him. We set the tone for the house. We need to be men of God that put our relationship with Christ first. Keeping the faith, persevere and be persistent understand it is God that keeps us standing. Act Like Men: You know I could write a devotional just on this one thing topic (Act Like Men). The media, Hollywood and even the politicians are doing everything to destroy masculinity. Throughout the Bible we see men that lead and are great warriors, but God is first in their life. Our example is Christ. Jesus was teacher and preacher. Jesus was dedicated to prayer, obedience, love, mercy and not a wimpy man. Jesus confronted injustice, hypocrites, and demons. Mark 1:13 And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him. Your wife and kids are looking to you to be the example of Christ, how is that going? Do they see Christ in you or more of the world? Godly Man need to love sacrificially. Be servants but stand upright and lead. Be strong, wash them with the word and be an example of Jesus Christ. Be Strong: Most dad’s think their strong physically, but we are talking spiritually. Be strong in your faith with Christ but is being made stronger continually. Be strong in worship, word, prayer and confessing sin. I love in the Book of Nehemiah we see a revival. We see men returning to Worship, Word, Prayer and Confession. Strong men desire the word. Nehemiah 8:13 ESV On the second day the heads of fathers' houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law. The men were revived. Revival is when God’s people are revived, and they return to God. Being strong is even dealing with our sin as well. Dad you are not perfect, guess what God knows. Your kids need to see being strong in your faith. Being a Godly Father is hard but so rewarding. Being strong will take spiritual exercise and it is continual journey. Let all that you do be done in love: Dad do not be afraid to tell your child “I Love You”, give a hug or pray with them at night. Love them and serve them. Love is also correction at times. 1 Corinthians 13:13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. Lord knows the world needs more love today. Agape love is sacrificial, and it is a love of sacrifice without expecting anything in return. We see such divide in country, schools and even in some churches. Be a father that expresses his love to his wife, family, and friends. When we do this the love of Christ overflows from the house, into the church, school, and beyond. I just want to encourage you dad to live for the Lord, God will empower you through the Holy Spirit and obedience to bless you to be the dad you have been called to be. Happy Father’s Day. Pastor Michael Petit
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Mark 2:17 ESV
And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” One question that came to me this week. Over my time being a follower of Christ has my relationships with unbelievers become less and my relationships with believers become more? Pretty simple question, but if we are honest in our answer many Christians have treated the church in two ways one a bomb shelter hiding from the world until the rapture or the church is my cruise ship ready to attend to my every need and entertain and serve me. Even before COVID hit the church many church goers treated the church as bomb shelter they only talked about Christ at the church. They were okay to just live a quiet secret agent life in Christ, never really sharing the gospel. They would talk about Jesus but only with other Christians. Now instead of the church becoming the bomb shelter it is the home that is shelter, due to COVID. Now some watch from the couch and have no desire to return to church anytime soon. They have gotten comfortable having coffee, eating breakfast and even scrolling through the phone as service is on the television not really fully engaged. Here in Texas you can go into pretty much any store with no mask and slowly things are returning to normal yet some are still not returned to church. How will you encourage one another when it is just you on the couch? How many neighbors have you invited for home online service? How will you share the gospel from the couch? Hebrews 10:25 ESV not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. We have many in the church that have same characteristics of the religious leaders during the time of Jesus. Religious leaders would never be caught with a tax collector or sinner. Jesus deals with the Religious leaders questioning him for having dinner with unbelievers. Yet it was the religious leaders that were in need of the a physician as well. They were outwardly religious but inwardly in need of a Savior. How many in the church have forgotten the call we have as believers to ambassadors for Christ? 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 ESV Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. [21] For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. When did we stop being ambassadors for Christ? Jesus did not just teach in the synagogues, but everyone looking for those in need of Him. You are a representation of Christ and Christ reclined with sinners for the purpose of sinner to being healed, to become righteous. Can not do that from the couch or the bomb shelter. We have to leave the walls of the church and get out talk with those who do not have a relationship with Christ. The other point is the church goers have neglected being the Salt & the Light because they treat the church as a cruise ship. What I mean by this is followers of Christ have bounced from one ship (church) to another. They look for the "Cruise Ship" to be served, entertained, look specialties ministries, celebrity pastors, worship leaders, concerts and even searching for a spouse. This is not what church is for, we have forgot the call and command (Matthew 28:19-20) to share the gospel and make disciples. Romans 1:16 ESV For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. In Mark 2:13, Jesus "He went Out." Doesn't seem like much is being said but in the verses before Jesus had booming ministry in the synagogue as he healed a demon possessed man, yet "He went out". Jesus had a booming ministry at Peter's house as the paralytic is lifted up and brought in through the roof, yet "He went Out". Jesus is doing ministry everywhere and trying to reach the lost. Why aren't you? Have you become to focused on what the cruise ship (church) is supposed to offer you? I remember we had someone leave the church because there wasn't enough singles in the church. The person was looking for a spouse and treating the church like a club a place to pick up women. It's unreal, but for many this is what the church has become. The church is actually a "Battleship" and your time on the battleship (church) is to strengthen, encourage, and even convict you. It is to prepare you to hit the missionary field. I love Calvary Chapel Houston they have a sign as you exit their parking lot that says "You are now entering the missionary field" it is so true. Every Sunday as you leave the doors of the church you are heading into the missionary field. Are you being the Salt and the Light in this dark world? Matthew 5:13-16 ESV “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. [14] “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. [15] Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. [16] In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Stop looking for the church to be your "Cruise Ship" stop looking to be served and entertained. Stop jumping from ship (church) to ship (church). Get involved serve and share Christ where you are at. It is time for the church to get back out and share the gospel. Who is a sinner? We all are and we all are in need of a physician, Jesus. You have the message to save them from an eternity in hell, why wouldn't you share it? It is time for the followers of Christ to come outside the walls of the church and off the cruise ship back into the missionary field, which right outside the doors of your church, house, work and stores. This why we as church want to be involved in the Cactus Fest coming November it is opportunity to love on community and share the love of Christ. Pastor Michael Petit Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."
Lately I have seen more Christian Youth and Young Adults fall away from faith or even choose a more progressive view of Christianity when they know it goes against God's word. I always tell parents, single moms and grandparents raising kids if you will not teach them, the devil surely will. How do we train up a child? First we need to live out our relationship with Jesus in front of them. To many kids have grown up with a bad witness of Christ in the home. Parents that party and drink all weekend but come into to church playing the holy Christian for that hour on Sunday is such hypocrisy. Kids can tell when a parent or adult is faking the funk when it comes to being Christ like. As a parent do they see you reading the word and applying it daily? Do you pray with them? Do you talk to them about God and living His word in this crazy world today? Aim to prepare a thirst, to start a hunger, and create an appetite for spiritual things in the lives of your children. Parents you have a great guide the word of God. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. Second, Parents we need to teach them while their under your roof. Teach them the word... If you will not teach them about God, then devil will teach them about the world draw them to sin. Trust me just look at two of the headlines this week. In the NY Times "Sexual Education Taught to First Graders." when you read deeper into this story you see them show a cartoon to the kids and talking about masturbation but teaching them it is okay. Actually it is a sin of sexual immorality in the Bible. The school is ready and will teach your first grader if you not engaged or in your own sin you will miss this as parent. Second headline popular Nickelodeon Kids Cartoon Blues Clues had very special episode for your pre-k age kids on LGBQT "Pride Month" with a Drag Queen and a Pride parade in the cartoon. The devil is trying earlier and earlier to indoctrinate your children that living a lifestyle of sexual immorality is okay and again it is clearly taught in 1 Timothy 1:10 that it is a sin. Deuteronomy 6:7-9 ESV You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. [8] You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. [9] You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Lastly, God gives us instructions on the importance of teaching them as children. That is why we actually teach scripture every Sunday to our children in children's ministry. God's word doesn't return void. If you lack zeal for Lord yourself how will you teach your children? When is the last time you just talk with them, listen to them. A listening ear is often what children need most. Spend time in the mornings and evenings to remind them of God’s love and presence, and offer them godly counsel. Engage them if not the devil will. My prayer for you is take your walk and relationship with the Lord seriously. Your children or grandchildren need to see it lived out in the home. Be engaged, active and become a great listener for your children. Point them to Christ by living it out. Pray for them and with them daily. The things these kids face is nothing like our generation. The devil's time is running out and he is throwing everything at these kids. They need to be trained up so they can see the lie and not fall for the temptations of the enemy, but walk with Jesus. God Bless Pastor Michael Petit
2 Corinthians 4:5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.
This past Wednesday we learned that revival begins with the Word of God. We will learn this Sunday Jesus is in the home preaching the Word of God. Is Christ in your Home? Bigger question is He in your personal life? Is He the center of your life? Judges 2:10 ESV And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel. Look how quickly they neglected the Word of God and impacts the next generation. Joshua told them "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night" in (Joshua 1:8) as they were entering the promise land. Sometime after Joshua's death the the fathers neglected their responsibilities and the next generation fell away from the the Lord. When Christ is no longer a priority it's just a matter of time before you fall away. Yet when we look a little further in Book of Jeremiah the fathers are scared of the judgement of God, they are so fearful they leave their children behind. Jeremiah 47:3 At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his stallions, at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of their wheels, the fathers look not back to their children, so feeble are their hands. By the time we get to Nehemiah we see the Word of God being read in Chapter Eight by Ezra. Ezra read the Word of God to all who could understand both Men and Women they put God back at the center of their lives and we a see revival breakout as they repent. Nehemiah 9:2 And the Israelites separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. "Christ is and should always be at the center of your life, center of your marriage and home. The human heart was designed for worship, and if it does not worship God, it will worship something else. If we are not Christ-centered, we will be centered on something else."(Got Questions.com) We have seen many from pulpit become the center of attention, meaning the pastor brings attention to himself and some that have neglected the word of God. We see full music concerts, lights, and people their to see the celebrity worship leader and to worship them, not God. Lately we also have seen the so-called tolerate "Progressive Christians" changing scripture on gender, marriage, abortion say the bible has errors and redefining morality to gather people to their churches. We have American Churches in need of a of a great revival. Christ has to be the center of the church and our lives. We need to ask the hard question "Is Christ at the center of our church leadership, ministries, worship and the pulpit?" Stop trying to bring attention to yourself. "God doesn't want to share his glory." Pastor Chuck Smith CC Distinctives Isaiah 43:6-7 ESV I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, [7] everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” What is at the center of your life? Jesus? Or the World? Hopefully you place a priority on the word of God. It impacts every area of our life. Remember revival begin with us the church not the world. Jesus should be at the center of it all and begins with His word being a priority in our lives and drawing us to Him. God Bless Pastor Michael Mark 1:35-45 "Time to Get Moving." with Pastor Michael Petit of Calvary Chapel Devine, Texas.5/22/2021 What happens to the body when it just sits? The combination of no exercise and a sedentary lifestyle significantly increases your risk of developing heart issues (high blood pressure and heart attack), cognitive brain issues (even alters the brain chemicals), kills the joints and muscles and finally gives you a higher risk of cancer. All from not moving and exercising. Our relationship with Jesus, requires movement as well. Faith is verb and requires action. In Mark 1:35-45 we see three areas of movement. One we Jesus moved to pray, Second Jesus moved to compassion and finally the healed leper moved to share Jesus.
First, are moved to Prayer? We see two distinct things in Mark 1:35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. Jesus was served in ministry the day before until late into the evening as he poured out Jesus knew how to be refilled for the next day. Jesus wakes early in the morning and prays. Jesus was not too busy to spend time with God the father. Remember Jesus Fully God and Fully Man would get tired and hungry just like you. Yet Jesus set time in the early morning meaning sometime between 3am to 6am to pray. Do you have a busy life? A life too busy for pray. Do you tell people I will pray for you and never pray? Sadly, we will find time for the things we think are important and priority in our day. Maybe binge watching a series on Netflix, getting up early to hit the coast to go fish, or even ministry has you to busy. If it was important for Jesus to pray and hear from the father, it should be important to us. Jesus also went to desolate place so turn-off the phone or the music and have a two-way conversation with the Lord. Try listening more than talking. “Don’t pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it. A man is powerful on his knees.” Corrie Ten Boom Second, we see Jesus moved to compassion by a man that was in the advanced stage of leprosy. I was reading the law during the time would require a leper to sleep outside the camp or city. If he came near people he would have to cry out “unclean, unclean”. It was said they had to cover their mouth and kept six feet from people. Sounds familiar, right. Unfortunately, we see a form of this today with COVID but that is another thing altogether. Jesus was moved with compassion. Mark 1:41 NKJV Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Jesus just did not just heal this man but touched him. The leper could not receive a hug or a kiss cause of the law. Jesus moved with compassion touched him. It still breaks my heart today to know we loss family, friends, and co-workers to COVID and the family member never got that last touch. Getting to hold the hand of loved one or one last kiss goodbye. As a Pastor we wanted to come listen, hold a hand and pray with our church family, yet the government would not allow it. It still breaks my heart. We should be moved to compassion just like Christ. We have so many people that may feel like outcast of society, maybe struggling fear to go out into public, or those still sick needing help. We should be moved to compassion to bring a meal or just an ear to listen, bring comfort and pray with them. Would you be moved to compassion to help, bring a meal or to hold a hand and pray? And lastly, we read about the healed leper moved to share Jesus with everyone. Jesus gives the healed leper strict instructions to show himself to the priest and offer those things Moses Commanded. Mark 1:43-44 And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, [44] and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” You can imagine the priest freaking out as they are looking at this healed leper. It was not common. You can imagine them thinking I remember the story of Naaman the Syrian, but what is healing offering for this? It just was not common, this was big. Luke 4:27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian." Yet the healed leper could not contain the joy of being touched and healed by Jesus. He wants to tell everyone, and he does. Mark 1:45 However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction. This man was touched and healed by Jesus and he is moved to share Jesus with everyone. Yet we are commanded to share Jesus and we do not. Why? Are excited about sharing Christ like the healed leper? I know when I reflect on January 11, 2009 when Jesus saved me, it brings tears to my eyes. I was broken yet Jesus loved me, forgave me and now I am child of God and an ambassador of Christ. That still excites me. Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. "The Lord told him not to tell anybody and he told everybody. He tells us to tell everybody, and we tell nobody." J. Vernon McGee Do you remember the excitement of what Jesus did in your life, what did Jesus’ touch in your life and heal? Maybe Jesus healed you of an illness like Cancer, Covid or Autoimmune disease. Do you tell people about Jesus? Maybe Jesus touched your life and freed and healed you of Pornography, Alcohol, Drugs, Unforgiveness, Anger or others. Do you share that with people? We need to see the church moved to share Jesus with everyone. It was not a suggestion but a command. So, have you become stagnant and stopped moving in your walk with the Lord? Our relationship with Jesus requires movement daily. We need to spiritually exercise being moved to prayer and be in the word daily, being moved to compassion to help others and moved to share Jesus with everyone. God Bless Pastor Michael One thing we know in our society today is we have a problem with authority. Could be with a boss, a policeman giving a ticket, or even listening to a father or mother. So, who is the authority of your life? Maybe you make your decisions based on the authority of science especially in the age of Covid-19. Maybe your authority is governed by the latest political or social views. Maybe your authority is based a new age spiritualism, or maybe you are the authority of your life and you do the things that only bring you happiness.
Jesus is the only authority that matters. As a follower of Christ if He is Lord of your heart and life then He is your authority. Jesus is the authority of our marriages, homes, churches, work place and government. We have the guide and direction for our life in His word the Bible. It's time for the church to come back to the authority of the Word of God. We submit to His authority by being obedient to His word. James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. "His own Son set the example, obeying His Father in His daily life. God gives us new freedom when we are saved in Christ, but this is not freedom to become our own authority. It is freedom from the slavery of sin, from the dominion of Satan, to be a slave of Christ and to humbly serve God’s delegated authorities." Don Landis (https://answersingenesis.org) We serve Jesus not man, we submit to the authority over us everyday (government, parent, police, boss, church elder etc...) as long as it does not contradict the Bible. Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. There’s no need to fear those who have temporary power in history. Jesus is the final authority. We need to live with that freedom that we are his children and by submitting to the authority of Jesus it brings life and brings it abundantly. God Bless, Pastor Michael First, I would like to say Happy Mother’s Day. I think one of the great memories of I have of my mother is her always being upbeat no matter the storms we went through in life as kids. I can always remember my wife on Mother’s Day always just wanted her kids in church with her. Father’s want to be on the golf course or fishing away from the family but not mom. Why is it? Moms are the best, just don’t use one day out of the year to share that with them. Celebrate them every day.
On Sunday we see Jesus begin calling disciples to “follow him” and for us this message is important to all. We have to decide are we just a fan or follower of Christ? Have you allowed the world, flesh or sin to create space between you and Jesus? Stop being on the fence with your relationship with Christ, because the devil owns the fence. Sadly over the past year I have seen more people being recruited for "Antifa" than the church in America sharing the Gospel of Jesus. We need to get outside the walls of the church and be bold. God will us the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. Jesus discipled these young fishermen Peter, James and John and they turned the world upside down. Book of Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. Be bold share Christ. God Bless, Pastor Michael This Sunday April 25, 2021 we will spend some time talking about the beginning of the ministry of Jesus. We will look at the baptism of Jesus and the temptation of Jesus. We will also answer the question why Jesus got baptized. Jesus was sinless. John the Baptist, baptism was one of repentance. In the Book of 1 John 3:5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.
So, we know Jesus was sinless. But in His baptism, He associated with us sinners & placed Himself among the guilty. 1. Not for His own salvation but for ours. 2. Not for His own guilt but for ours. 3. Not because He feared the wrath to come, but to save us from it. So, should we be baptized? We know it is not required for salvation. Just look at the thief on the cross in the Book of Luke 23:43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”, He was not baptized but with Jesus to paradise. When I am asked, I always say sure cause Jesus did it. I remember when I was going start radio ministry Pastor Louie asked me if I would get baptized first. I said sure, but the week leading up to that Sunday baptism was a real battle between the flesh and the Spirit. I am so glad I did do it. Remember baptism is an outward sign of inward change. You are letting everyone know publicly you belong to Jesus. In the early church a false gnostic teaching of ‘reincarnation” was taught based upon Malachi 4:5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.” The teachers name was Origen. He taught about reincarnation and that Elijah was reincarnated through John the Baptist. It was a false teaching. Jesus says this promise was fulfilled in John the Baptist (Matt 11:14). Origen’s teaching was finally officially condemned in the Second Council of Constantinople in 553, but we see many false religions teaching reincarnation like Mormons, Buddhism and Hinduism still today.
Now we see “Progressive Christianity or Woke Christianity” worldviews teachings trying to come into the church today. A push of social justice and also nontraditional view of scripture on many topics (sex, gender and sin). They have even come up with eight points of belief. Members of this movement do not believe that the Bible is the literal Word of God. They also emphasize what is known as “collective salvation” over the biblical concept of personal salvation. The Bible is clear that God redeems those individuals who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and rescues them from an eternity of being separated from Him in torment. John the Baptist was rough looking and rough in his teaching, but he had only one chord he knew to play “repent, repent repent” and he kept playing that one chord till Jesus came to him. Be alert many false teachers will come during the last days. 2 Timothy 4:3-5 ESV For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, [4] and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. [5] As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. God Bless Pastor Michael This week we have the privilege to start the Book of Mark. The Book of Mark is one of the synoptic gospels (Luke & Matthew are the other two).
This Book was written to a Roman audience, and so it is fast pace and straight to the point. Apparently, Romans did not like a lot of beaten around the bush just wanted you to hurry up and get to the point, sounds like New Yorkers. It also is a lot like our culture today most of us bounce from Twitter, Instagram or Facebook just looking for that next big topic or thing to occupy our time. If you get anything from this gospel, please remember Jesus came to serve not be served. So, we are called to do the same as followers of Jesus. We are to serve in our marriages, families, church, and communities. I am really looking forward to just simply going through this book verse by verse and learn about Jesus the suffering servant. Blessings-Pastor Michael |
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