The Santa Conspiracy
The deification of a flawed god.
Rom. 12:10 “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”
I. Creation by Faith vs. Salvation by Grace Exo. 20:1 “And God spake all these words, saying, 2 I [am] the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 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.”
A. We Deny Nicholas’s Humanity
Too many people have forgotten who good old Saint Nick was. Now, as I am not a Roman Catholic, I hesitate to call Nick “Saint.” We do not usually call people “Saint” because we believe that all that have been washed by the blood of the precious Lamb of God are saints. But I call him Saint Nick so that you will know to whom I refer and because we will assume that he did trust Christ for his salvation. Nick did some wonderful, charitable works of giving. That was commendable. But who today really even knows the story?
The St. Nick that we celebrate today in America is so removed from historical truth that I doubt that Nicholas would recognize himself from the caricature. The Santa today is more like Satan than Nicholas. That does sound extreme, but the Santa today is a god with a false doctrine which demands worship.
B. We Attribute deity to Nicholas
Today’s Santa is a god. He sees you when you're sleeping. He knows when you're awake. He knows if you've been bad or good. So be good for goodness sake! These are attributes of a deity. You will say, “This is ridiculous! It’s just fun. It’s just a game.” No it is not. The reason it is not is because you demand your children to believe it.
I grew up in a home where my parents told me the truth. “There was a historic Nicholas. This is what he did, and this is why he is remembered.” I grew up knowing the truth. Then when Christmas came around, it was just fun for us. We knew it was just a game. It did not take anything away from us. My wife grew up in a family with an opposite philosophy. She did believe the stories and thought that her parents were telling her the truth. When she found out, it crushed her.
Children have a natural naivete, gullibility? Right? No it is a child like faith. We should protect that faith instead of abusing it. When our kids find out that they have been lied to for how many years, it shakes their faith in their parents. I preached this sermon at my church on a Sunday Night. There happened to be a young man, about 12 years old at the time. He became angry that I said that Santa was not real. He would not believe that his father and mother had lied to him. So, I (the preacher) must have been lying to him. I was shocked that at his age, he did not know. This was a young man that was smart and intelligent. He was not developmentally challenged in any way. He just really believed that his parents told him the truth. They should have.
Our society makes Santa a god by giving him supernatural powers. They establish the terms of worship of this false god. Kids can write him letters with their Christmas wish list, Santa’s form of prayer requests. Kids must do good, or Santa will punish them with lumps of coal.
There is another false doctrine of this false god. Society poisons the Spiritual principle of a gift. We teach kids that if they want to get their presents, they have to do good. I have heard countless parents threaten their kids with a bad Christmas if they will not be good. This is a big problem. A gift cannot be paid for or earned. This is a false doctrine. If you can be good enough to earn a Christmas present, then maybe you can be good enough to get other gifts. That just happens to be the same damnable doctrine that says that if you are good enough you can get to Heaven. Quick question, if you could be good enough to get to Heaven, why would Jesus need to die?
If you could be good enough to get a gift, it is not really a gift. God’s salvation is a gift. You cannot earn it or pay for it. Christmas gifts that you give your kids should be gifts. They are not earned, if they are earned (by being good) then they are not really gifts at all. They are wages. If you teach your child that they get Christmas presents by being good, they will naturally think that if you want to get the gift of salvation, you have to be good too.
We tell our kids that they will not get presents if they are not good. Is it any wonder that they then grow up to think that they have to earn our love. No, parents. Love your Children freely like God loves you freely. Make them know they do not earn your love, nor Gods. Both are free gifts.
C. “If you just believe. . .”
There is more false doctrine associated with Santa Clause. That is the magical doctrine that if you just believe something hard enough, you can make it real. This false doctrine is one that many Christians get confused about. Luke 17:6 “And 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.” But this does not mean that your faith is just some kind of magical power that you can apply to whatever task you want and make it do things.
This idea that if you just believe something hard enough that you can make it happen is not Biblical. Real faith is faith in the promise of God. It is not faith in faith itself. I venture to suggest that Jesus statements in Luke 17:6 & Mat. 17:20 are actually prophecies. These are consistent with the prophecies that say that the valleys will be filled and the mountains will be brought low. The sea will be diminished. Biblical faith is walking and relying on the promises of God.
We do not make God real by believing in Him. He is real whether we believe in Him or not. We do not make the sky orange if we believe it enough. Nor do we make Santa Clause real by believing in him. But that is exactly what almost every story about Santa tells our kids. Then we chant the mantra in their ears over and over. Then we tell them that they can do anything that they want to do if they only believe they can. Well, that is not true and it is not the way that we should be training our children. I have taught my children that they can do more than they think they can. They can do anything that God wants them to do. But I will never tell my kids that they can do anything that they want to if they only believe it enough. If God does not want them to do it, they will not be able to do it. If they believe it hard enough, can they make God not exist. No. Our faith is not a magical power that can make anything happen. Thinking that you can do what ever you want if you only believe it hard enough is really the kind of thing that mentally unstable people practice.
II. Child’s Faith vs. Self-serving Guile Mat. 18:3 “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 6 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.” (Mk. 9:42; Mk. 10:14- 16; Lk. 17:2)
A. Lies for obedience (if you are not good, Santa won’t bring you . . .)
Every child has a child-like faith until we make him jaded by repetitious lying. Every kid when they are young just believes their parents. This is a precious trust of parenthood given to parents by God. We abuse that trust when we use that trust to lie to our kids.
When parents say, “You better be good or Santa won’t bring you any presents.” This parent is lying to his kids. And why? Because that parent wants his kids to obey him. Well, go ahead and lie to them about Santa and presents. Ten years from now, I will explain to you why your kids do not believe you about God. Just try and tell them the truth that God will chastise them if they do not obey Him. Why should they believe you when you say God will chastise them, when you lied to them on the subject with Santa.
B. Lies for greed II Peter 2:1 “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”
Our society is lying to children. “You better be good or no presents.” Why do parents do it? We already covered that. But why is it such a societal imperative? Why do we have to lie to our children? Our society pushes the idea because we push materialism. If Johnny is good, then he will get his presents. Well, parents, your kids have been good. . . You better get out there an buy them every imaginable present that we have pushed through your T.V. for the last year. If you do not meet their every whimsical Christmas fantasy, well, now what kind of parent are you? That push is all about greed and God condemns it.
C. Lies about God I Cor. 10:19 “What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? 20 But I [say], that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.”
You say, but it is all just fun. But it isn’t. If it was about fun, then tell them the truth. Let them know it is made up. But the moment you tell them to believe in this demigod Santa who has magical powers and that to make him real, they just have to believe.
Now, you have set up an idol in your home. It is no longer God in Heaven that the kids should obey, it is Santa in the North Pole. It is not Church that the kids should be visiting, it is the winter wonderland displays of department store Santas that our children should be attending. There are no gifts to the house of God, because all your money is blown at the mall. In fact you have gone into debt to the false god. So, God will not be honored with our check book for at least a couple months. We are singing less and less songs about Jesus and more and more songs about Santa. Your kids are not praying to God for their concerns, they are making wish-lists to santa. There is not a word spoken about believing that God is caring for you. We preach relentlessly the sermon, “You just have to believe. You just have to believe that Santa is going to give you what you asked for. ”
This is what I believe. We need to stop giving a made-up person the attributes and adoration of the true God. He is the one that truly loves us and provides for us.
III. Christian’s Fidelity and Saints Guidance
We need to follow the examples of the saints that have gone before us.
A. Sinners’ exercise
1. I Tim. 4:7 “But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself [rather] unto godliness.”
2. II Tim. 4:4 “And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
3. II Pet. 1:16 “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.”
Paul says we need to refuse the fables. This is not just fun. Our society goes too far. My kids know about the Santa conspiracy. Parents tell their kids that he is real, but he is not. They see the stories and enjoy them. But they know it is just made up stories. But we go too far and lie to our kids. We need to refuse this wickedness. Tell your kids the truth and go watch Miracle on 34th Street, if they can understand it truthfully. Stop lying to your kids please. There is no room in the Christian home for these fables. These cause parents to lie to their kids and kids to believe in a false god.
B. Saints Examples. Heb. 12:1 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Tell the truth about Nicholas. If he really was a saint of God, he would rebuke us for misusing his story to take away glory from the true God.
C. Saints’ edification. I Cor. 11:1 “Be ye followers of me, even as I also [am] of Christ.”
We need to follow Christ in how we deal with our children. We want them to follow in our footsteps, just like Paul wanted his followers to do. But if our kids are to follow us, we need to make sure we are on the right road. Christ would not lie to kids about a make believe god with magical powers who only gives “gifts” if you earn them by being good. No, my friend.
You say that this was what your parents did with you. It is a family tradition. Well, there are all kinds of family traditions that should be broken. We could talk about all kinds of barbaric things that uncivilized societies do because it is tradition. So, should they keep mutilating people and damaging their children just for tradition. We need to stop damaging the faith of our children with false stories of flawed gods.
By Andrew Grosjean
www.canaanbaptistchurch.net
Sunday, November 29, 2009
PICTURE OF PRAYER
Pastor Grosjean
Exo. 30:1-10“And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: [of] shittim wood shalt thou make it. 2 A cubit [shall be] the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof; foursquare shall it be: and two cubits [shall be] the height thereof: the horns thereof [shall be] of the same. 3 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about. 4 And two golden rings shalt thou make to it under the crown of it, by the two corners thereof, upon the two sides of it shalt thou make [it]; and they shall be for places for the staves to bear it withal. 5 And thou shalt make the staves [of] shittim wood, and overlay them with gold. 6 And thou shalt put it before the veil that [is] by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that [is] over the testimony, where I will meet with thee. 7 And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. 8 And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations. 9 Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon. 10 And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it [is] most holy unto the LORD.”Ps. 141:1-2l Luke 1:10
I. Its Parts (shittim wood, gold) show a picture of Prayer
A. The Wood used in the altar gave the physical altar strength. But it spiritually pictures: Strength for Perpetuity (perpetuation, perseverance, permanence) vs. 8-9; I Thes. 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”
B. The purity of the Gold pictures the Sincerity of Purpose that we need in Prayer James 4:1“From whence [come] wars and fightings among you? [come they] not hence, [even] of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts.”
C. Separation Purity (the pure gold also pictures separation from the unclean, unholy, and undesirable things of life) Gold speaks of divinity
II. Its Placement (before the ark of the covenant) shows Prayer as well
A. Before the holy of holies. It was placed in the Holy Place of the Temple. It was immediately preceeding the Holy of Holies. This shows the lofty beauty of prayer. In our prayers we reach into the Throne room of God, into the most holy and powerful place in all reality.
B. Before the throne of grace Heb. 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. This throne room is not only the Holiest place, but through Jesus, it is the place for us to find the strength and grace to help in out time of need.
III. Its Power
A. Symbolic Authority
1. Gold (shows divine power because gold is often linked with God)
2. Horns (physical strength) The Horns of the altar were a picture of the horns that adorn many of Gods cattle creations. Their greatest strength is in their horns. So, the power of Prayer is pictured in the horns of the altar.
3. Crown (shows government authority)
B. Sprinkling for Atonement vs. 10 You cannot come to God in prayer without the sprinkling of blood. So, many people wonder why their prayers have not been answered by God. But they have not yet trusted in the blood of THE Sacrifice for our sin, Jesus Messiah. We must come through the blood. But through the blood, we have access to God in prayer.
C. Speaking for Another (intercession)
1. Of the Son God the Son intercedes for us and speaks to the Father. Heb. 4:14 “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
2. Of the Spirit The Spirit of God intercedes for us. Rom. 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
3. Of the Saints We the saints need to intercede for each other. James 5:14 “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 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.”
March 2, 2006; November 29, 2009sn
Andrew Grosjean
www.canaanbaptistchurch.net
Exo. 30:1-10“And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: [of] shittim wood shalt thou make it. 2 A cubit [shall be] the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof; foursquare shall it be: and two cubits [shall be] the height thereof: the horns thereof [shall be] of the same. 3 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about. 4 And two golden rings shalt thou make to it under the crown of it, by the two corners thereof, upon the two sides of it shalt thou make [it]; and they shall be for places for the staves to bear it withal. 5 And thou shalt make the staves [of] shittim wood, and overlay them with gold. 6 And thou shalt put it before the veil that [is] by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that [is] over the testimony, where I will meet with thee. 7 And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. 8 And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations. 9 Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon. 10 And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it [is] most holy unto the LORD.”Ps. 141:1-2l Luke 1:10
I. Its Parts (shittim wood, gold) show a picture of Prayer
A. The Wood used in the altar gave the physical altar strength. But it spiritually pictures: Strength for Perpetuity (perpetuation, perseverance, permanence) vs. 8-9; I Thes. 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”
B. The purity of the Gold pictures the Sincerity of Purpose that we need in Prayer James 4:1“From whence [come] wars and fightings among you? [come they] not hence, [even] of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts.”
C. Separation Purity (the pure gold also pictures separation from the unclean, unholy, and undesirable things of life) Gold speaks of divinity
II. Its Placement (before the ark of the covenant) shows Prayer as well
A. Before the holy of holies. It was placed in the Holy Place of the Temple. It was immediately preceeding the Holy of Holies. This shows the lofty beauty of prayer. In our prayers we reach into the Throne room of God, into the most holy and powerful place in all reality.
B. Before the throne of grace Heb. 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. This throne room is not only the Holiest place, but through Jesus, it is the place for us to find the strength and grace to help in out time of need.
III. Its Power
A. Symbolic Authority
1. Gold (shows divine power because gold is often linked with God)
2. Horns (physical strength) The Horns of the altar were a picture of the horns that adorn many of Gods cattle creations. Their greatest strength is in their horns. So, the power of Prayer is pictured in the horns of the altar.
3. Crown (shows government authority)
B. Sprinkling for Atonement vs. 10 You cannot come to God in prayer without the sprinkling of blood. So, many people wonder why their prayers have not been answered by God. But they have not yet trusted in the blood of THE Sacrifice for our sin, Jesus Messiah. We must come through the blood. But through the blood, we have access to God in prayer.
C. Speaking for Another (intercession)
1. Of the Son God the Son intercedes for us and speaks to the Father. Heb. 4:14 “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
2. Of the Spirit The Spirit of God intercedes for us. Rom. 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
3. Of the Saints We the saints need to intercede for each other. James 5:14 “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 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.”
March 2, 2006; November 29, 2009sn
Andrew Grosjean
www.canaanbaptistchurch.net
Friday, November 27, 2009
Sermon: God's Plan for Building Church 11-29-09
Gods Plan to Build a Church
Luke 14:16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 18 And they all with one [consent] began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. 21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. 22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel [them] to come in, that my house may be filled.
I. Find the People
A. Poor: Wealth
B. Maimed: Work
C. Halt: Walk
D. Blind: Wisdom
II. Fill the Pew Acts 2:46 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, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
A. Faithful Saints
B. Fellowship with Savior Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
C. Filling Servants Luke 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel [them] to come in, that my house may be filled.
III. Flood the Pool Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.
A. Sovereign Father Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
B. Son John 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh 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. This commandment have I received of my Father.
C. Spirit Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
IV. Fire in the Pulpit
A. Flaming Speech Jeremiah 20:9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But [his word] was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not [stay].
B. Forcefully Sent Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
C. Filling Spirit Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
by Andrew Grosjean
November 27, 2009sm
www.canaanbaptistchurch.net
Luke 14:16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 18 And they all with one [consent] began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. 21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. 22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel [them] to come in, that my house may be filled.
I. Find the People
A. Poor: Wealth
B. Maimed: Work
C. Halt: Walk
D. Blind: Wisdom
II. Fill the Pew Acts 2:46 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, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
A. Faithful Saints
B. Fellowship with Savior Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
C. Filling Servants Luke 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel [them] to come in, that my house may be filled.
III. Flood the Pool Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.
A. Sovereign Father Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
B. Son John 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh 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. This commandment have I received of my Father.
C. Spirit Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
IV. Fire in the Pulpit
A. Flaming Speech Jeremiah 20:9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But [his word] was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not [stay].
B. Forcefully Sent Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
C. Filling Spirit Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
by Andrew Grosjean
November 27, 2009sm
www.canaanbaptistchurch.net
Thursday, November 26, 2009
The True Story from 1994
“I wish God was real, mommy.”
Precious Wishes from a Tender Heart
There we were, in the large dark room. We were gathered to watch actors play out imaginary roles of an unreal story. Scores of us, strangers all; all come to have our eyes, ears, and humors entertained.
It was here in this unreal place that I was to hear one of the saddest statements of all my life. It was in this season of make believe men in red and white costumes, of green trees, of supposed giving, of glitz and buying and selling. . . It was then that I heard the most profound wish of all, spoken by an innocent and naive child.
As I watched these actors play out their ridiculous roles, I heard a sincere and gentle child say, “I wish God was real, mommy.”
What was that? What had I heard? I snapped around in the darkness and saw a child of no more than three years cuddled in this mother’s arms.
“I wish God was real.” My heart broke within me. In that moment I could see it all. This young sophisticated mother surely explained to her impressionable child the myths of childhood. She certainly explained about Santa Clause, the tooth fairy, the Easter bunny. And in the list of nice stories made up to make children feel good was included the myth about God. This mother wanted her child to know the truth about these childrens’ tales. Commendable. She did not want her precious child to be disappointed when the truth was discovered. She wanted to disarm the alarm of disappointment that most children feel when they find out the truth of Santa Clause and other child hood lies. Of course, to her, God was just as ridiculous as all the other fairy tales.
Matthew 18:6 “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.”
As the garish actors played out their imaginary roles, I sat there and cried and prayed. For this was not only the saddest wish I had ever heard, but it was even more. It was also the most hopeful wish that I had ever heard. For God showed me in this child a heart tender to know God. Here was a child-like faith that he needed God. And I knew that with a little help, here was a child whose life could be changed by the Gospel. Yes, even children need to be rescued by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I was when I was five. This child’s curiosity and genuine faith would one day show to his disbelieving family the truth. Yes, God is real.
But that child needs the spiritual help of the Gospel. He is like millions of others just like him or her. I do not even know whether the child was boy or girl. The child still whispers in the dark out there. She cries in her bed to sleep tonight. Or he wanders in the street in dark alleys looking for food. Perhaps, even now the child in need of the gospel suffers a violent beating at the cruel hands on an unbelieving parent that is all too real.
They all secretly cry in their hearts, “I wish that God was real.” Are we ready to break through our laziness and apathy to “suffer the little ones to come unto” the gentle Jesus?
Mark 10:14 “But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.”
by Andrew Grosjean
www.pastorandrew.ws
Precious Wishes from a Tender Heart
There we were, in the large dark room. We were gathered to watch actors play out imaginary roles of an unreal story. Scores of us, strangers all; all come to have our eyes, ears, and humors entertained.
It was here in this unreal place that I was to hear one of the saddest statements of all my life. It was in this season of make believe men in red and white costumes, of green trees, of supposed giving, of glitz and buying and selling. . . It was then that I heard the most profound wish of all, spoken by an innocent and naive child.
As I watched these actors play out their ridiculous roles, I heard a sincere and gentle child say, “I wish God was real, mommy.”
What was that? What had I heard? I snapped around in the darkness and saw a child of no more than three years cuddled in this mother’s arms.
“I wish God was real.” My heart broke within me. In that moment I could see it all. This young sophisticated mother surely explained to her impressionable child the myths of childhood. She certainly explained about Santa Clause, the tooth fairy, the Easter bunny. And in the list of nice stories made up to make children feel good was included the myth about God. This mother wanted her child to know the truth about these childrens’ tales. Commendable. She did not want her precious child to be disappointed when the truth was discovered. She wanted to disarm the alarm of disappointment that most children feel when they find out the truth of Santa Clause and other child hood lies. Of course, to her, God was just as ridiculous as all the other fairy tales.
Matthew 18:6 “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.”
As the garish actors played out their imaginary roles, I sat there and cried and prayed. For this was not only the saddest wish I had ever heard, but it was even more. It was also the most hopeful wish that I had ever heard. For God showed me in this child a heart tender to know God. Here was a child-like faith that he needed God. And I knew that with a little help, here was a child whose life could be changed by the Gospel. Yes, even children need to be rescued by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I was when I was five. This child’s curiosity and genuine faith would one day show to his disbelieving family the truth. Yes, God is real.
But that child needs the spiritual help of the Gospel. He is like millions of others just like him or her. I do not even know whether the child was boy or girl. The child still whispers in the dark out there. She cries in her bed to sleep tonight. Or he wanders in the street in dark alleys looking for food. Perhaps, even now the child in need of the gospel suffers a violent beating at the cruel hands on an unbelieving parent that is all too real.
They all secretly cry in their hearts, “I wish that God was real.” Are we ready to break through our laziness and apathy to “suffer the little ones to come unto” the gentle Jesus?
Mark 10:14 “But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.”
by Andrew Grosjean
www.pastorandrew.ws
Monday, November 23, 2009
What is in a Name?
What is in a Name?
Names have always been of great fascination to me. As a young child, I was engrossed in the fact that almost all names mean something. As I grew, I began mentally collecting name meanings to the point that it has been a slight obsession of mine.
Through the years, I have had some interesting experiences with names. There were the two twins that I met. They were both in their sixties. (Imagine that, twins being of the same age.) While I entertained in restaurants, I have come up with all kinds of stupid questions to pass the time as I made balloons for people. As I made these two ladies their balloons, I asked, “What’s your name?” They answered. “How do you know?” Usually, I only ask kids that question, but on occasion. . .
So, these two ladies proceeded to tell me the story about when they found out what their own names were. They said that they had been calling each other by their own name for about the first 40 years of their lives. I thought they were joking, of course. But they were adamant. They said that it was the deep dark secret of their aunt. She was too afraid to tell what happened until the end of the aunt’s life. The aunt finally confessed that when the two twin girls were babies, the aunt had actually switched them somehow. So, they had been calling their twin sister their own name until their adult life.
Then of course, I must mention the first phone call to one of my friends. As a teen ager, I met a young lady who would become a good friend. But I was at camp and wanted to call her. So, I called information and asked for the Culp residence in Brown City, MI. This was still when you could drive for three hours and still be in the same area code for the phone company.
So, I called the number and asked, “Is this Cheri?” The young lady on the phone said, “No, I’m her sister.”
“This is Andy.”
She said, “Oh, Hi. I’ll go get her for you.”
So the young lady came to the phone and we had a short conversation. But after about five minutes or so, it became apparent that something did not add up. She said, “This is Andy right?” And I said, “Yeah, and your Cheri, right?”
She said yes. But she was not “Cheri.” She was “Sherry.” And her last name was “Kulp,” not “Culp.”
I said, “But I asked for the ‘Culps’ in Brown City.” But she lived in Brownstown. To drive between Brown City and Brownstown was approximately three or four hours drive. Of course, we had a big laugh.
What are the chances that there is a Sherry Kulp living in Brownstown and a Cheri Culp living in Brown City? And they both had a sister. And they both knew an Andy.
Then there was a very recent occurrence. I have just recently started using Facebook on the Internet. My name is, of course, Andrew Grosjean. So, a couple of weeks ago, I did a search for a whole bunch of “Grosjeans.” Most of them were in France. But I sent a friend request of a ton of them, hoping to learn something about distant relatives.
My mom's last name was a German name. It is not a common name, in my experience. So I did a face book search for this name. I saw a lady named Charlene with my mother’s last name. But Facebook said Charlene and I had a mutual friend. So I hit the tab, and it was a man named Grosjean. That really freaked me out, because my last name is Grosjean. I mean, in my experience, those two names are not very common. What are the chances of that kind of thing happening. I mean, there was only one friend in common, not five or ten. It just seems like quite a coincidence. I do not know either of these people and I sent both a letter to find out more. I have not yet heard anything. For all I know they are in Europe somewhere and do not even speak English.
Then there is the man named Daemon that I met. I was making balloons again at the same restaurant as the twins (though on a different occasion). I often speak to people about what their names mean. So, I was going around the table telling each what their name meant. So, Daemon asked the meaning of his name.
The only meaning I had heard for Daemon at that time was that it meant demon. But I did not want to tell him that. So, I tried to avoid. “What’s your middle name?” Christopher. So, I said, “Oh, well Christopher means “Christ bearer.”
He said, “But what’s Daemon mean?”
I did not know how to avoid the question any more. So, I told him, “Demon.”
He asked, “So. . . What does THAT mean?”
I believe that God gave me the answer in that instant. I said without missing a beat, “It means that you have a choice of who you are going to serve.”
I do not understand people that name their children without knowing what the names mean. What are kids named Daemon supposed to aspire to. People that name their daughter Mackenzie are calling their daughter “son of the hero.” And what in the world would possess someone to name their son Brendan which means “stinky hair.” Why would you name your child “crooked nose” (Cameron)? Of course, I know that names are often associated with other connotations that make them desirable. But how do you explain naming a son after a demon?
In the Bible we see that God put a great deal of importance on names. We see that He cared so much about name that, at key times, He changed the names of different people. Abram (father) was changed to Abraham (father of many). Sarai (contentious) became Sarah (princess). Jacob (the deceiver) became Israel (prince with God). And we can mention so many more examples.
There are other people that God called rightly named because their name fit their character. Nabal was a fool because he rejected God’s ways. That was exactly what his name meant. Nabal means fool, and the Bible says that he was correctly named. Hebrew and Christian scholars have each said that Jacob was called Jacob even after the name change when he was living like his old self. God called him Israel when he was living God’s way.
The Bible tells us that one day God will give us a new name. Revelation 2:17 “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it].”
God makes it clear that He is concerned with the meaning of names. He does not give non-sense or meaningless names. So, if God is going to give each of His saints a new name, He will give us each a name that reflects who we are. What name are you preparing for? What will your new name be? Lazy? Apathetic? Honest? Sacrificial? What do you want your new name to be? Perhaps that should affect how we live.
In conclusion, what is in a name? Everything. It is a reflection of who you are and where you have been and what you have done. At least our new heavenly names will be. Our names are the stories of our lives. These are the things that matter. So, I guess if your parents named you “dweller at the place where the oxen cross the river,” (Buford) at least we know that our Heavenly Father will get it right when He renames us in Heaven.
by Andrew Grosjean 11-23-09
www.canaanbaptistchurch.net
Names have always been of great fascination to me. As a young child, I was engrossed in the fact that almost all names mean something. As I grew, I began mentally collecting name meanings to the point that it has been a slight obsession of mine.
Through the years, I have had some interesting experiences with names. There were the two twins that I met. They were both in their sixties. (Imagine that, twins being of the same age.) While I entertained in restaurants, I have come up with all kinds of stupid questions to pass the time as I made balloons for people. As I made these two ladies their balloons, I asked, “What’s your name?” They answered. “How do you know?” Usually, I only ask kids that question, but on occasion. . .
So, these two ladies proceeded to tell me the story about when they found out what their own names were. They said that they had been calling each other by their own name for about the first 40 years of their lives. I thought they were joking, of course. But they were adamant. They said that it was the deep dark secret of their aunt. She was too afraid to tell what happened until the end of the aunt’s life. The aunt finally confessed that when the two twin girls were babies, the aunt had actually switched them somehow. So, they had been calling their twin sister their own name until their adult life.
Then of course, I must mention the first phone call to one of my friends. As a teen ager, I met a young lady who would become a good friend. But I was at camp and wanted to call her. So, I called information and asked for the Culp residence in Brown City, MI. This was still when you could drive for three hours and still be in the same area code for the phone company.
So, I called the number and asked, “Is this Cheri?” The young lady on the phone said, “No, I’m her sister.”
“This is Andy.”
She said, “Oh, Hi. I’ll go get her for you.”
So the young lady came to the phone and we had a short conversation. But after about five minutes or so, it became apparent that something did not add up. She said, “This is Andy right?” And I said, “Yeah, and your Cheri, right?”
She said yes. But she was not “Cheri.” She was “Sherry.” And her last name was “Kulp,” not “Culp.”
I said, “But I asked for the ‘Culps’ in Brown City.” But she lived in Brownstown. To drive between Brown City and Brownstown was approximately three or four hours drive. Of course, we had a big laugh.
What are the chances that there is a Sherry Kulp living in Brownstown and a Cheri Culp living in Brown City? And they both had a sister. And they both knew an Andy.
Then there was a very recent occurrence. I have just recently started using Facebook on the Internet. My name is, of course, Andrew Grosjean. So, a couple of weeks ago, I did a search for a whole bunch of “Grosjeans.” Most of them were in France. But I sent a friend request of a ton of them, hoping to learn something about distant relatives.
My mom's last name was a German name. It is not a common name, in my experience. So I did a face book search for this name. I saw a lady named Charlene with my mother’s last name. But Facebook said Charlene and I had a mutual friend. So I hit the tab, and it was a man named Grosjean. That really freaked me out, because my last name is Grosjean. I mean, in my experience, those two names are not very common. What are the chances of that kind of thing happening. I mean, there was only one friend in common, not five or ten. It just seems like quite a coincidence. I do not know either of these people and I sent both a letter to find out more. I have not yet heard anything. For all I know they are in Europe somewhere and do not even speak English.
Then there is the man named Daemon that I met. I was making balloons again at the same restaurant as the twins (though on a different occasion). I often speak to people about what their names mean. So, I was going around the table telling each what their name meant. So, Daemon asked the meaning of his name.
The only meaning I had heard for Daemon at that time was that it meant demon. But I did not want to tell him that. So, I tried to avoid. “What’s your middle name?” Christopher. So, I said, “Oh, well Christopher means “Christ bearer.”
He said, “But what’s Daemon mean?”
I did not know how to avoid the question any more. So, I told him, “Demon.”
He asked, “So. . . What does THAT mean?”
I believe that God gave me the answer in that instant. I said without missing a beat, “It means that you have a choice of who you are going to serve.”
I do not understand people that name their children without knowing what the names mean. What are kids named Daemon supposed to aspire to. People that name their daughter Mackenzie are calling their daughter “son of the hero.” And what in the world would possess someone to name their son Brendan which means “stinky hair.” Why would you name your child “crooked nose” (Cameron)? Of course, I know that names are often associated with other connotations that make them desirable. But how do you explain naming a son after a demon?
In the Bible we see that God put a great deal of importance on names. We see that He cared so much about name that, at key times, He changed the names of different people. Abram (father) was changed to Abraham (father of many). Sarai (contentious) became Sarah (princess). Jacob (the deceiver) became Israel (prince with God). And we can mention so many more examples.
There are other people that God called rightly named because their name fit their character. Nabal was a fool because he rejected God’s ways. That was exactly what his name meant. Nabal means fool, and the Bible says that he was correctly named. Hebrew and Christian scholars have each said that Jacob was called Jacob even after the name change when he was living like his old self. God called him Israel when he was living God’s way.
The Bible tells us that one day God will give us a new name. Revelation 2:17 “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it].”
God makes it clear that He is concerned with the meaning of names. He does not give non-sense or meaningless names. So, if God is going to give each of His saints a new name, He will give us each a name that reflects who we are. What name are you preparing for? What will your new name be? Lazy? Apathetic? Honest? Sacrificial? What do you want your new name to be? Perhaps that should affect how we live.
In conclusion, what is in a name? Everything. It is a reflection of who you are and where you have been and what you have done. At least our new heavenly names will be. Our names are the stories of our lives. These are the things that matter. So, I guess if your parents named you “dweller at the place where the oxen cross the river,” (Buford) at least we know that our Heavenly Father will get it right when He renames us in Heaven.
by Andrew Grosjean 11-23-09
www.canaanbaptistchurch.net
Friday, November 20, 2009
Sunday Night Sermon for 11-22-09
Lot’s Road to Destruction
Genesis 13:8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we [be] brethren. 9 [Is] not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if [thou wilt take] the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if [thou depart] to the right hand, then I will go to the left. 10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it [was] well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, [even] as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. 12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched [his] tent toward Sodom. 13 But the men of Sodom [were] wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.
I. Lot started out by Looking toward Sodom (Gen. 13:10) Daniel 9:3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
A. No Altars: The Bible does not record Lot to use a single altar while he was in Sodom. We know he was a believer because Peter calls him a just or a righteous man. But he got into trouble because he did not worship God out there on his own.
B. No Accountability After he left Abraham, Lot had no accountability to help him stay on the right path. So, it was easy to fall into foolishness in Sodom. Too many young people leave their homes before they should and get out there alone. They don't even realize that that is exactly where Satan wants them, outside the protection of their family. The Bible says that the time to leave home is when you get married. Too many leave too soon.
II. Leaned toward Sodom. When you look in a certain direction, you will lean that way. (Gen. 13:12) Romans 13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof].
A. Fortify (put on the armor) God's answer in Rom. 13:14 is to put on Jesus Christ. The only way to win against fleshly temptation is to clothe ourselves with the character of Jesus.
B. Flee (run away) You are not strong enough to fight fleshly temptations. You must run. That is how you fight them. . . run!
C. Fulfill God’s desires (not fleshly desires) But it is not enough to only run from temptation. You need to run to God in His service. When you are serving God, there is a lot less temptation that when you are just sitting around. "Idle hands are the Devil's playground."
III. Living in Sodom You look, then you lean, you will eventually live there. (Gen. 14:12) Genesis 14:11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. 12 And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
A. Real Practicalities in the World The fact is that we live in the World. We cannot change that. But we must not live like the World. We are in the World but not of the World. John 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
B. Reliance on Power of the World. Lot began to rely on Sodom. This drew him closer and closer to sin and farther and farther from the Savior. Genesis 14:11-12
C. Reluctant Punishment of the Worldly Christian God punished the people of Sodom for their wickedness. He was trying to warn them before the final destruction came. Even though Lot was not like them in his sin, he was so close to them that he got in trouble with the Sodomites. They were all taken hostage by the war.
D. Repentance and Purity from Worldliness God called Lot out of Sodom, because he was not like them. He was a believer. True believers in God really do not mix with the unbelievers. But Lot did not realize that God had been calling Lot out of Sodom long before the fire fell. Today and in the future, the call of God is still the same to the carnal Christian. Come out from her and be ye separate saith the Lord. Revelation 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
IV. Leading Sinners Lot thought he could influence Sodom for good by leading them. But that did not work.
A. Expected Leadership Lot was in the Gate because he was acting like a judge. This was where the judges of the day sat. Genesis 19:1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing [them] rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;
B. Rejected Leadership When it came down to it, the world always rejects the child of God. Genesis 19:9 And they said, Stand back. And they said [again], This one [fellow] came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, [even] Lot, and came near to break the door.
He was trying to lead the wrong people.
Instead of leading the family that God gave him, he was trying to lead the world’s fools.
November 20, 2009sn
by Pastor Andrew Grosjean
Sermon Outline for 11-22-09
My Boss is a Jewish Carpenter
Mark 6:1 And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. 2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing [him] were astonished, saying, From whence hath this [man] these things? and what wisdom [is] this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. 4 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. 5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed [them]. 6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.
I. He made Creation
A. He Planned it (what is His plan for your life) Proverbs 3:19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. 20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
B. He Produced it. (He has the right to rule) Heb. 1:10 Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
C. He Preserves is. Colossians 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
D. He Paid for it. Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
II. He is making the Church Matthew 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
A. Built on the Foundation (cornerstone) I Peter 2:4 To whom coming, [as unto] a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, [and] precious,
B. Bishops: Footing (Apostles and prophets) Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone];
C. Bricks: the Fellowship (the members) I Peter 2: 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
III. He is making Celestial Kingdom John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also.
A. He is Presently building it
B. We are Pillars in New Jerusalem Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.
C. We will Populate it for ever. Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5-94open door; November 20, 2009 sm
The Perversion of a Self-Defense Mechanism
Humans have an incredible self defense mechanism. It is seen when a person is forced to live through circumstances that seem unbearable. Some tragedies seem too terrible to endure. We, in the horror of the moment think that there is no way we will get to the end of the current trial. We as humans feel this when experiencing physical pain, but also in enduring psychological and spiritual pain. We are so engrossed in the moment that we will not allow the moment to pass. Why do we hold on to the present so tenaciously when it is hurting us. If we would allow it, the moment can pass sooner. But we concentrate and focus on nothing else than our suffering.
We do this as children wanting to become teens, then teens to adults. And over and over again, something happens when we get to the end of our waiting. Then in general terms, we look back at life’s challenges and it does not seem to have taken as long to get through as it did when it was happening.
We do make it through. The pain does subside. The torment does end. The torturers go away. And we recover. How is it that a person that has been a POW can go on and continue? How did the concentration camp survivor go on to have a family. Because God has built us with the ability to just keep living. The rape victim takes another breath. The abused child sees another day. We adapt. We keep walking. Yes, there are scars. But we are victorious because we are still here.
This is the self defense mechanism. We somehow set aside that horror and go on. I am not belittling the crime that the victim has endured. I am just saying that humans are amazing in that they can continue and recover and find a way to be fruitful people again. The terrible things that they have gone through do not have to chain them from living the rest of their lives.
However, there is a perversion of this mechanism. This happens when someone commits a great crime. It is when the one who endures a tragedy is the one that has caused it by his own sin. The victim’s defense mechanism becomes a curse from God. The victimizer continues and lives with himself even when, in the worst cases, his very life is forfeit. The murderer has no right to continue living. For God has said that if a man murders a man, the government has a responsibility to judge that man with capital punishment. Genesis 9:6 “Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” Yet, so many murderers continue and live.
When a murderer lives through his crime, they have cursed themselves by going through their own actions. But they have also cursed themselves by continuing to live with themselves after the crime. We could recall the horrendous atrocities parents in history that because they were besieged and without food resorted to eating their own children. That injustice cannot be overstated. But the horror of the victim, in one aspect, is less than the horror of the murderer. For the murderer is cursed with the knowledge of what he has done. It is an unspeakable horror that such a person should continue and be able to live with themselves and what they have become.
It is no wonder why God says that we pollute our world when we do not judge the murderer. God says that the ground cries out when a murderer still roams this world. God will not allow the murderer to continue forever. In this present life, they will be pursued with the knowledge of their evil, even if they deny the guilt. This is why in most cases, though a murderer can be forgiven, he should still receive the justice of capital punishment. In the final judgment, God will punish every man that has not received the forgiveness of the blood of Jesus Christ. Matthew 16:27 “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”
We do this as children wanting to become teens, then teens to adults. And over and over again, something happens when we get to the end of our waiting. Then in general terms, we look back at life’s challenges and it does not seem to have taken as long to get through as it did when it was happening.
We do make it through. The pain does subside. The torment does end. The torturers go away. And we recover. How is it that a person that has been a POW can go on and continue? How did the concentration camp survivor go on to have a family. Because God has built us with the ability to just keep living. The rape victim takes another breath. The abused child sees another day. We adapt. We keep walking. Yes, there are scars. But we are victorious because we are still here.
This is the self defense mechanism. We somehow set aside that horror and go on. I am not belittling the crime that the victim has endured. I am just saying that humans are amazing in that they can continue and recover and find a way to be fruitful people again. The terrible things that they have gone through do not have to chain them from living the rest of their lives.
However, there is a perversion of this mechanism. This happens when someone commits a great crime. It is when the one who endures a tragedy is the one that has caused it by his own sin. The victim’s defense mechanism becomes a curse from God. The victimizer continues and lives with himself even when, in the worst cases, his very life is forfeit. The murderer has no right to continue living. For God has said that if a man murders a man, the government has a responsibility to judge that man with capital punishment. Genesis 9:6 “Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” Yet, so many murderers continue and live.
When a murderer lives through his crime, they have cursed themselves by going through their own actions. But they have also cursed themselves by continuing to live with themselves after the crime. We could recall the horrendous atrocities parents in history that because they were besieged and without food resorted to eating their own children. That injustice cannot be overstated. But the horror of the victim, in one aspect, is less than the horror of the murderer. For the murderer is cursed with the knowledge of what he has done. It is an unspeakable horror that such a person should continue and be able to live with themselves and what they have become.
It is no wonder why God says that we pollute our world when we do not judge the murderer. God says that the ground cries out when a murderer still roams this world. God will not allow the murderer to continue forever. In this present life, they will be pursued with the knowledge of their evil, even if they deny the guilt. This is why in most cases, though a murderer can be forgiven, he should still receive the justice of capital punishment. In the final judgment, God will punish every man that has not received the forgiveness of the blood of Jesus Christ. Matthew 16:27 “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”
What about the Mind and Memory?
I believe the physical mind stores memories by the neurological linking of cell structure in the mind. Some people talk about suppressed memories and blocked out thoughts. Laying aside the question of validity of the research done on that subject, there seems to be people that do do these things. Thus if there is a block in your mind, it might be necessary to approach the memory from another avenue of thought. Perhaps, thought patterns are also stored in physical neurological patterns that your consciousness follows. Certainly, many neurological pathways fire at once and so numerous pathways of thought are possible at once.
Now, when discussing memory, we need to preface any discussion with the fact that there are many different ways of learning and memorizing. There are kinesthetic, oral, audio, and visual learners just to name a few different styles. Then there are those that remember a conversation based on the emotion that they felt at the time they were having the discussion. These people remember, not the exact words that were used, but the impression of those words on their emotions. For others, it is all about spatial relationships. They have to remember where they physically were to remember what the conversation was.
Perhaps one of the best ways to learn/remember is to link everything you learn or experience with other things you know. Then you have several ways to access the information. Repetition is supremely vital, but even if you go over something a million times, it will still be forgotten if it is not linked to other things. You must have an access to that neurological pattern to access the memory. The more paths you have established to a certain idea, the longer the memory will persist. Information constantly used is remembered not only because of the repetition, but also because it is accessed from a variety of states of mind and in different surrounding circumstances. This is especially true of memorizing something, for instance a passage of Scripture. If you only say the passage at a certain time of day or in a certain place, sometimes it is unexplainably more difficult to recite the same passage in a different situation. This is also true in martial arts training. Often times, the student will be so used to doing a pattern or kata in a certain place or direction. But if the instructor changes the orientation of the student by making him face a different wall, for instance, the student often finds himself tripped up mentally. So, the only way to really learn the Scripture passage or the physical form of a martial arts pattern is to do it in as many ways, circumstances, and places as possible.
Formulas, postulates, laws, and equations are vital to initial learning in each of their academic fields. But if one only memorizes one formula for whatever algebra problem and only uses that one formula, it is easily forgotten after a period of misuse. But if you use your mind to understand the principle behind the formula it is easier to retain. Find out why an algebra formula works and even work out other ways to solve the same problem. You will remember it much longer. This is because you have more than one hold on the principles behind the formula.
When I was in algebra, I had a terrible time understanding and remembering the formulae. That was until I realized that there were other ways to come to the right answer. Once I understood the formula from more than one view point, then I remembered the entire issue. The original formula was easy to remember. Of course, this was no end of frustration to my algebra teacher. He knew how the formulas worked from the book. That was enough for him. He could not understand why I needed more. I have a feeling that he thought I was just being disruptive. But no, honestly, I just needed a little something more to get it.
Thus, you can learn something better by relating one bit of information or fact to a multitude of other ideas. Do not just accept a statement from you teacher. Ask why it is true. Use your critical thinking and it will help you retain the information. How does this fact relate to all the other facts you have on the subject? What implications would this new information propose? This is also true in spiritual things. Do not just believe what you are told. Go to the source, the Bible, and find out if it is true. If it is true, why is it true? Only when you find out why you believe something do you really understand what you believe.
Now, when discussing memory, we need to preface any discussion with the fact that there are many different ways of learning and memorizing. There are kinesthetic, oral, audio, and visual learners just to name a few different styles. Then there are those that remember a conversation based on the emotion that they felt at the time they were having the discussion. These people remember, not the exact words that were used, but the impression of those words on their emotions. For others, it is all about spatial relationships. They have to remember where they physically were to remember what the conversation was.
Perhaps one of the best ways to learn/remember is to link everything you learn or experience with other things you know. Then you have several ways to access the information. Repetition is supremely vital, but even if you go over something a million times, it will still be forgotten if it is not linked to other things. You must have an access to that neurological pattern to access the memory. The more paths you have established to a certain idea, the longer the memory will persist. Information constantly used is remembered not only because of the repetition, but also because it is accessed from a variety of states of mind and in different surrounding circumstances. This is especially true of memorizing something, for instance a passage of Scripture. If you only say the passage at a certain time of day or in a certain place, sometimes it is unexplainably more difficult to recite the same passage in a different situation. This is also true in martial arts training. Often times, the student will be so used to doing a pattern or kata in a certain place or direction. But if the instructor changes the orientation of the student by making him face a different wall, for instance, the student often finds himself tripped up mentally. So, the only way to really learn the Scripture passage or the physical form of a martial arts pattern is to do it in as many ways, circumstances, and places as possible.
Formulas, postulates, laws, and equations are vital to initial learning in each of their academic fields. But if one only memorizes one formula for whatever algebra problem and only uses that one formula, it is easily forgotten after a period of misuse. But if you use your mind to understand the principle behind the formula it is easier to retain. Find out why an algebra formula works and even work out other ways to solve the same problem. You will remember it much longer. This is because you have more than one hold on the principles behind the formula.
When I was in algebra, I had a terrible time understanding and remembering the formulae. That was until I realized that there were other ways to come to the right answer. Once I understood the formula from more than one view point, then I remembered the entire issue. The original formula was easy to remember. Of course, this was no end of frustration to my algebra teacher. He knew how the formulas worked from the book. That was enough for him. He could not understand why I needed more. I have a feeling that he thought I was just being disruptive. But no, honestly, I just needed a little something more to get it.
Thus, you can learn something better by relating one bit of information or fact to a multitude of other ideas. Do not just accept a statement from you teacher. Ask why it is true. Use your critical thinking and it will help you retain the information. How does this fact relate to all the other facts you have on the subject? What implications would this new information propose? This is also true in spiritual things. Do not just believe what you are told. Go to the source, the Bible, and find out if it is true. If it is true, why is it true? Only when you find out why you believe something do you really understand what you believe.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Power of the Gospel
The Sermon Outline and Explanation
Pastor Grosjean
Rom. 1:13-16 “Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. 14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
I. Forgive Sins Rom. 3:24 “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”
A. Scope - Jesus can give remission of all sins. That means His blood washes them all away.
B. Source - faith in blood. It is not your works or your wealth or your worthiness that washes away sin. It is a simple beggar's faith.
C. Security - Redemption (the purchase of Christ) What God does is forever. If He saves you, you are saved. He will not un-adopt you as His child.
II. Fortify and Secure
A. Though Faith, Sanctified & justified .Rom 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
1. We have peace with God.
2. We have access to God's throne
3. We have rejoicing with the presence of the Spirit of Joy
B. Though Failing, Strength. Rom. 5:6 “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” II Cor. 12:9 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
C. Through Fear of death, Secured by life Rom. 5:17 “For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.”
III. Fix for ServiceRom. 6:18 “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”
Baptism does not save anyone. But it is an act of obedience that God will bless. How can you do the greater things that God wants you to do as a disciple of Jesus if you will not do the first and most simple thing. Be Baptized.
A. It identifies with Death Rom. 6:3 “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?”
B. It identifies with Dirt of Burial Rom. 6:4 “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
C. It identifies with Deliverance of Resurrection Rom. 6:5 “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of [his] resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.”
IV. Free from Satan
A. Because of Who is for us. Rom. 8:31 “What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?”
B. Because of Who fills us I John 4:4 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.
March 24, 2006; November 14, 2009sm
Sermon for Sunday Night 11-15-09
Answers for Apostasy. Internet version
II Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
What is an apostate? What are their characteristics and attributes? How can we identify them? An apostate is more than just a sinful person. They are more than just a heretic. This is a very special type of sinner. The are reprobate from the faith. They have closed the door to salvation forever. They are committed to sin and committed to turning others that same way as well.
I. Apostate II Timothy 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
These are the characteristics of the Apostate.
A. Hypocrite (They have a form of Godliness, but there is no reality to it. There is no power behind it.)
B. Hedonistic ( They are committed to sensual and sexual sins. The apostate is a sensualist, libertine, profligate, pleasure-lover.)
C. High Minded (ever learning) They always know better than everyone else. No one can teach them anything. Yet they do not really care about the truth. They prefer to show how much they know, even if they do not believe it themselves. They can tell you everything about the Bible, but the Bible makes no difference in their life.
D. Hell Bound II Timothy 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all [men], as theirs also was.
They are on their way to Hell. They resist God. So, God will resist them.
II. Apologist II Timothy 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of [them] all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
The Apologist is the righteous spiritual warrior that fights against the false doctrine that we are awash in. He explains the Bible to millions in a way that is balanced, logical, and Spirit filled. He shows the Apostate to be the fool that he is, not with insult and mockery as much as a skillful handling of reason and the Scripture.
A. Pure Doctrine He must understand what pure doctrine and the truth of God's Word is.
B. Persecution and Deliverance While the apologist will be persecuted some times, God will deliver him. Sometimes God will use miraculous means to rescue the apologist. But sometimes the apologist will stand up to the mockery of the malicious and will take the persecution for the purpose of showing the disbelieving world that there is a God that is worth believing in.
C. Perversion of the Damned (understand that the righteous will be more righteous and the wicked will get more wicked) Daniel 12:8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what [shall be] the end of these [things]? 9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words [are] closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
Some people have a defeatist attitude that acts like Christians should just go and hide themselves away from the "bad, bad world." Well the world is bad and is going to get worse. But the Righteous should not be hiding. We need to charge the gates of hell and rescue those led by their lust and sin to destruction. The wicked will become more and more wicked. But the Righteous will be more righteous.
III. Answer II Timothy 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned [them]; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
These are the things that we are going to need to stand up and answer the charge of God's Word, and the challenge of facing the World. We need.
A. Continuing SteadfastnessWe need to get up and go for God. Stop giving up at the slightest bit of harship. It's time to do what we say we believe.
B. Childhood Salvation We need to get our children to Jesus. "Suffer the children. . ."
C. Complete Study II Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
We need to study the complete Word, not just the New Testament, not just our favorites, the whole thing. We need to be ready with an answer for those that ask a reason for the hope that lies within us.
By Pastor Grosjean 11-14-09
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Get People to Jesus
Mark 2:1 And again he entered into Capernaum after [some] days; and it was noised that he was in the house. 2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive [them], no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. 3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken [it] up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 7 Why doth this [man] thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? 8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? 9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, [Thy] sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? 10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. 12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.
I. Get Savior in the House
A. Spiritual Promise of Jesus 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. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
B. Short-sited People who keep Jesus out. John 20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: [then] came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace [be] unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust [it] into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed [are] they that have not seen, and [yet] have believed.
C. Churches that Snuff-out the Power Revelation 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. I Samuel 4:21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.
II. Get the Sinner in the House
A. It takes Serious Friends they uncovered the roof where he was
B. It takes Sincere Faith When Jesus saw their faith
C. It takes Spiritual Forgiveness Son, thy sins be forgiven thee
III. Give Space for Him was no room to receive [them]
A. It takes Carrying
B. It takes Creativity
C. It takes Commitment
IV. Get another Soul to Heaven. Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.
A. Deliver the Message. You need to give out the Gospel
B. Dunk the Man. You need to baptize the man
C. Disciple the Members
D. Duplicate the Method
Roger Henson Parkview tent meeting 7/21/08; apg November 7, 2009sn
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