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Against both adults and children (this is not just for the other nations). Jeremiah 6:11 But I am full of the wrath of the LORD, and I cannot hold it in. "Pour it out on the children in the street and on the young men gathered together; both husband and wife will be caught in it, and the old, those weighed down with years.  Read less

"...Those who believe are the children of Abraham." "Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? you see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works, that the scripture might be fulfilled which says, 'Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness?'" James 2 Some see these verses as a contradiction. I see them as a whole picture. Just as James goes on to say, "faith without works is dead," one would also have to say, "works without faith is dead." Faith causes action. faith can not be separated from works. The key is the motivation for the works. If the work is done for the sake of work, or to exalt yourself, it is empty and dead. If the work is the result of faith, it validates the faith and it shows that the faith is there in the first place. So each one needs to check his heart. Those with faith are children of Abraham.  Read less

The Israelites worshipped the sun and moon: Jeremiah 8:2 They will be exposed to the sun and the moon and all the stars of the heavens, which they have loved and served and which they have followed and consulted and worshiped.  Read less

Matthew 16:13 - 20; Interesting reading in John Gill's exposition of the bible. Binding is - passing laws that forbid, and loosing is - passing laws that permit something. The apostles were given the authority to grant and forbid within the church. An example of binding was restricting believers from circumcision and honoring certain days. An example of loosing was granting permission to eat any foods. Read Gills exposition for further insight.  Read less

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Read less

In the secularization of our country we can hold on to this promise: Psalm 46:10 says HE will be honored in every nation and throughout the world!

April 28, 2013 9:45 a.m. Service Rev. Shane Stanford Senior Minister Isaiah 6:1-8 COMMUNITY CELEBRATION Call to Worship Forever Reign - Ingram/Morgan From the Inside out - Houston OFFERTORY - "Everyone Worships Something" The Heart of Worship - Redman PASTORAL ADDRESS Pastoral Prayer Message - Be Salt & Light: WORSHIP Rev. Shane Stanford - Senior Minister Our goal is not to build a church, it's to build the Body of Christ. Isaiah sees the heavens open up & is enveloped by power of God. God has made us worthy through Christ to hear His word. He wants to touch us with His fire & power. Worship is a powerful experience that is more than one hour on Sunday; it's an encounter with the God of the Universe. Isaiah is overwhelmed with God's power; He gets a glimpse into real worship. 3 things from this passage that worship does for us: 1. Real worship fosters an upward look. Doorway God gives us to meet Him. Read Psalm 145 - the writer has come to worship and is overwhelmed & begins to praise God. Isaiah saw heaven open up; when we worship, we're in the presence of a Holy God- we cannot understand or imagine. Often we go thru the motion of worship and miss the point; we need to stop & be in God's presence. Kneel to what God is saying to us- we're better when we're on our knees in front of Him. Worship: we have the opportunity to call our Father. God has given us something much more than our earthly lives in His Son Jesus. Meet His presence and worship, 2. The more Isaiah points upward, the more he realizes he's not worthy, not enough. But God made him worthy thru Jesus. God came that we are transformed int His likeness; something better than the world can know on its own. As we look upward, we look inward and are reminded that we are nothing without God; that He has so much more in store for us. We've been given a chance to be in real relationship with God; experience the power & privilege of worship & of relationship. Give God the space & the opportunity to do His work through you; we can't do it on our own; greatest strength is in humility. God wants to put His arms around you and remind you that you're not alone and you're not enough. We can only love each other because of the way He first loved us. Worship points us to that great love. 3. Isaiah hears God ask "Whom shall I send?" and answers "send me." Worship makes us look outward to others. Being touched by the hand of God makes us want to go & share; the world needs to hear a new story. "Shane", I took a count and found out that 70% of our news stories are negative; the world needs Jesus, we must go outward and remind people that there is something more. Shane quoted, "They're gonna know you belong to Me by the way you love each other". Are we a people who still crave awe and wonder? Do we still expect to see something awesome & life-changing? We're not enough; but through the life of #Jesus He makes us enough. Today we celebrate Communion which we do in remembrance of the New Covenant of forgiveness. TIME OF RESPONSE Communion Holy, Holy, Holy - Herber/Dykes Benediction - Ways to Plug into Worship  Read less

Meditation: Converting My Soul To the UtMost! Psalm 1 (King James Version) 1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful . 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither ; and whatsoever he doethshall prosper . 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away . 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish . http://www.biblestudytools.com/kjv/psalms/1.html Target Verse: 2b) ; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. Topic: MEDITATE Definition of MEDITATE intransitive verb (having no object) 1: to engage in contemplation or reflection 2: to engage in mental exercise (as concentration on one's breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness transitive verb (having an object) WE ARE HERE SINCE WE HAVE AN OBJECT! 1: to focus one's thoughts on : reflect on or ponder over 2: to plan or project in the mind : intend, purpose The object of meditation=God’s Law BASIC INFO... When: Day & Night Why: It is his delight, he likes it. Who (does this): The man that is not walking in the ungodly counsel What (comes out of this): He is stable. He is productive. He WILL prosper. Caveat One: There is strange thing about the meditation of/on God's will. It will convert your soul. (Psalm 19:7-11) Convert means to bring over from one belief, view, or party to another. Conversion of the soul does not happen at salvation, but it does begin the process. The soul contains your, mind, will and emotions. You mind, will and emotions will take time to convert and discipline to the new way of believing. Soul conversion does not take place in a once in a while, Sunday morning experience. Two hours on Sunday morning is no match for the other 166 hours in the week if you use them to fill your mind with the world. What you’ve heard on Sunday, regardless of how good it is, will be choked out and your harvest forfeited. My Pastor (R.A. Cranford, The Community Church of Christ, theccoc.org) delivers enough Word to set us free every Sunday...if our soul is prepared to cooperate with the seed he is sowing into us. We prepare our soul through meditaion on the Law of the Lord, and making our mind up to follow it. As we commit to sow the seed of God’s word into our lives on a consistent basis we will begin to see God work in our lives in a way we have always hoped He would. But we must be committed to having the soil ready to receive and embrace the scriptures. This is done through a discipline lifestyle of daily devotions, prayer, meditaion, and praise to God. It takes work but as it is working the scriptures in Psalms 19:7-11 become a song in your heart that you can relate to. (see: The Law of the Lord Is Perfect (Psalm 19:7-11) - as sung by Jack Marti http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_35pl3CrGY) This is why the meditation on the "Law of the Lord" is essential to your soul being converted or to say it differently to ...to bring your mind, will, and emotions over from your former belief to this new way of believing. The "Law of the Lord" is His word, His will, and of course in found throughout the bible. Caveat Two: Never believe that your soul is finished being converted. The process will not stop until you have reach your goal. So like Apostle Paul says," 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended : but this one thing I do, forgetting thosethings which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press towardthe mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14 (King James Version) Always apply patience to yourself during this life process, and as conversion is happening in you, strenghthen the brothren. Luke 22:32 (King James Version) " But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted , strengthen thy brethren." Be Forever Blessed, Missionary Banks  Read less