Category: Sermons

by Emily Wooten

Jesus left us this message and it is recorded in John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
God left instructions through his servant Paul and it is recorded in Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful (or anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
We can say with the Psalmist as in Psalms 23:1 & 4 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
That whole psalm is a proclamation of God’s unfailing love to his children. We can take his words as our own and declare as in verse 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Every family faces challenges, times of disappointment and distress. Many times it is how we act and react to the challenges that determines the outcome. Deuteronomy 28:1-14 and Psalms 91 are packed with words of encouragement as to what God’s intentions are toward us. He isn’t bashful when he says in Matthew 11:28 & 29 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Would you like to find rest and peace for your soul? God our father has promised us he would be with us, comfort us and keep us. Through every storm, those in the atmosphere and those in our life, God is with us.
He says we have not because we ask not. Let’s not fail to ask God for his peace. Let’s not fail to seek his wisdom. When we need shelter from the storms of life he has encouraged us to knock and the door of refuge will be opened to us. In Mark 4:39 our savior spoke the words peace be still and there was a great calm. We can access that calm even in the midst of the storm.

by Emily Wooten

Psalm 100:4-5 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. Fellowship with God and other Christians positions us to receive from God. We see in Acts 2:1 the chapter begins with everyone being in one location with one accord. The chapter ends with people being added to the church daily as they continued daily with one accord in the temple.Acts 2: 1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.Acts 2:46-47 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.When we come together in church, we have the opportunity to share our hope in God and encourage one another. We can all reflect on the times when God has moved on our behalf. We can say with King David, God has forgiven our sins, healed our bodies, delivered us from destruction and crowned our lives with tender mercies and loving kindness. It is God who fills our mouth with good things so our youth is renewed as the eagles.Let’s consider all that God has done for us as we enter into his house to praise him.What God has done for others, we can expect him to do for us. We see time and time again in Jesus’ ministry where people were healed, the lame walked and blind people received their sight.Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

This week we can remember to pray for our leaders in government, schools, church and at home.
We can pray with confidence, knowing our Father hears us and is resolving situations as we pray.
Luke 11:2-4 When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

We can be strong because greater is God who is in us than the devil who is in the world.
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

God has warned us about holding a grudge. It is our responsibility to forgive those that mistreat us. Forgiving doesn’t ignore bad conduct. Forgiving refuses to hold unforgiveness. God can give us wisdom in every situation letting love do its work in us and others.
Luke 17:3-4 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
Mark 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

God tells us to be strong and of a good courage. Our battle is not with flesh and blood, dispite what some might think. Every human has, at one time or another, chosen to have faith in something. It is our privilege and right as children of the Living God to choose to do things the way God does.
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

In Luke 15 it is recorded where Jesus was teaching his disciples about the value of all humans to God. Jesus told them a shepherd would leave 99 sheep in the sheepfold, to go look for one lost lamb. He explained that a woman would search high and low for that one coin she had lost. Jesus taught them the parable of the prodigal son. He said the father told the other son he should be rejoicing because his brother who had been lost, had come home.
Jesus didn’t stop there. He continued the series in chapter 16:19-31 the chapter concludes with the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Two humans die. One has been a rich man who enjoyed the finer things in life. The other, Lazarus, barely had enough to stay alive. In his earthly life Lazarus suffered much. Every day the rich man, who might have eased Lazarus’ suffering passed by unconcerned. The rich man and the beggar were both of Abraham’s lineage. It wasn’t Lazarus’ poverty that bought him a place in paradise. It wasn’t the rich man’s wealth that kept him out. We learn from reading about these two men that God cares for all humans.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
The rich man was not sorry for his sins until he found himself in hell. He didn’t show mercy. In his life he lived to please himself.
In Acts 3:1-8 we see where another poor man sitting in the gate, begging. Peter noticed him and reached out to him. He said, ” Look on us.” The man looked at Peter and John expecting something. Then Peter said, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” He took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. The man went into the temple leaping and praising God.
We can learn from these stories. God loves all humans and wants to help them. It is necessary for humans to see their need and humble themselves before God.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
The crippled man looked to Peter and John expecting. We have to acknowledge God, give him our attention and look for his instruction.
Luke 17:5-6 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. The Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
Let’s listen for instructions, be willing to do what he says and expect a miracle. God loves us, has given us his word and with faith in him we can move mountains!

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.
Paul and men like him left behind writings of encouragement. He was confident that he could do anything if Christ was in it. We can have that confidence too.
Our time on earth is subject to conditions and situations beyond our domain.
Moses told Joshua and the children of Israel in Deuteronomy 31:6-8 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the Lord hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it. And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
They sung songs like the one in Exodus 15:2 The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
Did you know that singing praises to God for the great things he has done strengthens us? When we join together today to sing praise and worship songs, we aren’t just singing a cute peppy diddy. The words we sing together are a war cry. We are taking God’s word to the enemy’s camp and exalting God above every situation.
We learn from scripture that men like David encouraged themselves with songs, psalms and spiritual songs. It could be that if we give ourself, surrendering to Holy Spirit, he will lead us in words to sing that will remind us of all that God has promised to those who love him and keep his commandments.
We need to learn to talk like David talked. It was common for him to stand before all of Israel and declare. Look at 1 Chronicles 29:11-12 Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reigns over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.
David knew our God was powerful and his strength can be ours. Whatever temptation we face this week, it is not stronger than Holy Spirit in us. Paul gave us an example of the things we can expect from God in Colossians 1:9-16.
We can be filled with knowledge with wisdom and understanding, Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power and that is just the beginning! Call yourself strong in the Lord and in the power of his might!

By Emily Wooten

There is a war in progress now. We can join the labor to reach as many humans as possible with the good news that Jesus came to save, heal and deliver or we can sit by and be beaten. We can let those we love be beaten or we can declare God’s word over them and ask God to send laborers to them.
Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
Praise God, thanks to Jesus, we have a choice. We can choose to believe what God says about us, submit to his will and take his word as our own.
Words form in our mind before we speak. That is when we can judge them and choose what we will say.
The devil and familiar spirits clamor false doctrines and lies about God constantly. They try to cause humans to doubt God’s faithfulness. Music, blogs, books, movies, and social media are just a few of the mediums that can be used to confuse and distract. They can also be used to train and encourage.
If any thought argues a human cannot be born again, that thought is a lie. It is opposed to God’s will and should be cast down and rejected.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
When a human speaks the truth out loud, that puts the human in agreement with God.
Matthew 18:19 Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he has made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Submitting to God’s will includes believing and acting like God’s word is true.
Adam and Eve were warned and still chose to disobey. We’ve been warned repeatedly in many scriptures: attend to my words; hide them in you heart; acknowledge God in all your ways. These are just a few of the things God said to humans about putting his word first. We arrest our thoughts by speaking the truth in love, reject deceitful and disobedient thoughts and choose to say what God says.
Solomon instructed his children to write God’s word on the doorpost, keep them around their neck and meditate on them day and night.
When we ask Jesus to forgive our sins and be our Lord we are submitting to his authority and his truth. Submitting to his authority also means accepting our role as his ambassadors in this earth.
Ephesians 4:14-15 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

By Emily Wooten

Humans were positioned by God, in authority over the earth and other living creatures to manage and nurture God’s creation.
Genesis 1:26-28 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
The relationship established between humans and all living creatures was for humans to manage and care for the earth and all living creatures. God gave specific instructions to humans as to what they should and should not do.
Human was warned that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was prohibited. Eating that fruit results in separation from God, who is the source of life. Separation from the source of life and light results in eternal death and darkness.
Genesis 2:15-17 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.
God created humans male and female. He placed humans named Adam and Eve in a beautiful garden called Eden. Adam named the animals and cared for the garden.
Genesis 3:1-7 (Paraphrased) There was a sly creature in the garden called the serpent. Serpent asked the human Eve, “Did God say you shall not eat of every tree in the garden? Eve replied, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” The serpent lied to Eve and challenged what God said. He told Eve she would not die. Instead, she would become like God, knowing good and evil. Eve took the fruit and gave it to her husband. They ate the fruit and that was when separation from eternal life happened to all humans. Because of the first human’s disobedience, all humans inherited separation from God.
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Humans are born into sin because the grandfather of all humans, Adam sinned and gave dominion of the earth to the serpent who was Satan.
Later when God came to the garden in the cool of the day, Adam and Eve heard his voice and hid from him. Sin or disobedience entered and death began working on humans. The human Adam gave his authority in this earth to Satan when he chose to disobey God. Thank God for Jesus!
John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.