Freedom

Galations 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

“Every human has four endowments- self awareness, conscience, independent will and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom; the power to choose, to respond, to change. ~ Stephen Covey

Independence Day is just around the corner. The Fourth of July commemorates the Continental Congress adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Regarded as the birthday of the United States of America, the day is typically celebrated with parades, fireworks, ceremonies, barbecues and family gatherings. Our society loves freedom. Not just the freedom from but the freedom to.

We live in a free country where our civil rights and freedoms are protected by law. We are given enormous latitude to participate in a variety of different behaviors protected under the constitution. Civil liberties exist for good reasons, usually to protect those who cannot protect themselves. But our freedom in Christ goes much deeper than do our civil liberties as citizens of this nation. The believer’s freedom is different from the freedom of citizens living in a free, democratic society. A lot of what people call freedom isn’t really freedom at all. For the believer, liberation and freedom go hand in hand. Biblical freedom can never be divorced from the idea of liberation from bondage. A dictionary definition for the word freedom is, “exemption from the control of some other person or some arbitrary power.”

Without being set free from the Law we would be trapped in an endless and destructive cycle of religious performance as a means of proving our devotion and sincerity. We would be stuck trying to prove our worth to a God who already loves us and never experience the freedom we have to rest in his love and rejoice in his grace.

Today let us stand in the liberty where Christ has made us free:

• I am free from failure: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil.4:13

• I am free from weakness, "for the Lord is the strength of my life." Ps.27:1

• I am free from doubt for "God hath given to every man the measure of faith." Rom. 12:3

• I am free from worry for I am...to cast all my cares upon Him." 1Pet.5:7

• I am free from bondage "for where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." 2 Cor.3:17

• I am... free from fear for "God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2Tim1:7

Unlike our society personal freedom to do whatever you like is not what Paul means when he says that Christ has set us free. But, it is easy in our society to forget this and live our Christian lives as if personal freedom to do what we like is the be all and end all. One part of freedom that is really attractive to me is not living my life tied to others expectations

Unlike our society personal freedom to do whatever you like is not what Paul means when he says that Christ has set us free. But, it is easy in our society to forget this and live our Christian lives as if personal freedom to do what we like is the be all and end all. One part of freedom that is really attractive to me is not living my life tied to others expectations. God Loves You and so do I……. Pastor Tammy

Am I My Brothers Keeper

Gen 4:9 Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

A charitable concern for our brethren, as their keepers, is a great duty, which is strictly required of us, but is generally neglected by us. In light of the recent earthquake that devastated Port-Au-Prince in Haiti; a question arises are we our brother’s keeper. Do we have a responsibility to look out and care for one another? Yes we do. It brought great joy to my heart to see so many people reach out to help Haiti in their time of need.

Most of us have heard the story, in the book of Genesis about Cain & Abel. It was time for Cain & Abel to bring their sacrifices and present them to God. Cain brought fruit from the ground and Abel brought the firstlings of his flock. God had respect unto Abel’s offering; but not Cain’s offering. Hebrews 9:22 states that there must be the shedding of blood before there can be the remission of sin, but Cain brought a bloodless offering from the cursed earth. His offering may have been sincere, but it was not accepted. He had no faith in God’s Word or dependence on the sacrifice of a substitute. Cain killed his brother because God had respect unto Abel’s offering. In verse 9 God asked Cain where is Abel, your brother. Cain’s response was am I my brother’s keeper?

Cain’s response was one of calloused indifference. Am I my brother’s keeper?” People say, “I’ve got enough to do to look after myself.” On the other hand, many times we quickly say, “Yes, I am my brother’s keeper,” but it turns out to be more of “a duty required; but also a duty generally neglected because of our own selfishness.” Matthew Henry said, “When a person is unconcerned in the affairs of others and takes no care when they have opportunity to prevent hurt--especially in their souls,--that person in effect speaks Cain’s language.” Who is my brother? Anyone and everyone is my brother, my family, my friends, my coworkers and yes even my enemies.

So what are some our responsibilities towards our brothers?

• First and foremost we are to love one another - John 14:34

• We are to "receive one another" - Ro 15:7

• We are to "edify another" - Ro 14:19

• We are to "serve one another" - Ga 5:13

• We are to "bear one another's burdens" - Ga 6:1-2

• We are to be "forgiving one another" - Ep 4:32

• We are to be "submitting to one another" - Ep 5:21

• We are to "exhort one another" - He 3:12-13

• We are to "consider one another" - He 10:24-25

• We are to be "hospitable to one another" - 1Pe 4:8-10

Cain’s name means possession while Abel’s name means weakness or vanity. There are some that belief; I have mine, now you get yours. I want to encourage you today to lay aside the hindrances that are keeping you from fulfilling your obligation towards one another. Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President said: - “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” …… God loves you and so do I….. Pastor Tammy

Beyond My Expectations

What are your expectations for 2010?

Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Many people at the beginning of a New Year like to make New Year’s resolutions. I must admit that I was one of those people a while back. Somehow, I just could not seem to stick to those resolutions. I had expectations but I really did not know if my expectations would actually be fulfilled. This is not so with God.

How limited we often are in our asking, thinking that God will not do some particular thing for us. The apostle Paul encourages us to pray and to trust God for the answer. God not only is able to do what we have asked but he is able to do exceeding; to surpass to go beyond any request to overcome and do anything. He is able to do abundantly; to overflow and to do more than enough. He is able to go above: to go over and beyond, surpassing any need, in all that we ask, or can even think. Imagine for a moment an answer from God that goes beyond what we can ask or think!

What are your expectations for 2010? That just when you think things are starting to look up the rug gets snatched from underneath you? Do you feel that nothing good is going to happen for you because it never does? Do you feel that this year will be worse than last year? Do you feel that you will never find someone to love you with no strings attached? Maybe you have a health concern and don’t feel that you can be healed or get any better because it’s something that has run in the family?

God stands ready to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think. That’s only part one. Part two says according to the power that worketh in us. What power? That is, the strength of his Spirit. The power that still worketh for the saints is according to that power that hath produced in them. Wherever God gives of his fullness he gives to experience his power. This power can be seen in the life of a believer who has been transformed from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. When we come to ask for grace from God, we ought to give glory to God. Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus. The purpose of God answering prayer and in doing all this for us: that He might be glorified in the church through Jesus Christ.

All God's gifts come from his to us through the hand of Christ; and all our praises pass from us to him through the same hand. And God should and will be praised throughout all ages, world without end; for he will ever have a church to praise him, and he will ever have his tribute of praise from his church. Amen. So be it; and so it will certainly be.

Place your expectations into the Master’s hand. God can take a little and turn it into a lot… God Loves You and so do I…

First Things First

Thought: How to live free from worry

Matt 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Our first priority is to seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness means to turn to him first for help, to fill your thoughts with his desires, to take his character for your pattern, and to serve and obey him in everything. What is really important to you? People, objects, goals and other desires all compete for priority. Any of these can quickly bump God out of first place if you don’t actively choose to give him first place in your life.

“Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.” ~Leo Buscaglia

Matthew 6:25-33 Jesus contrasted heavenly values with earthly values when he explained that our first loyalty should be to those things that do not fade, cannot be stolen or used up, and never wear out.

Because of the ill effects of worry, Jesus tells us to take no thought about those needs that God promises to supply. Worry may damage your health, cause the object of your worry to consume your thoughts, disrupt your productivity, negatively affect the way we treat others and reduce our ability to trust God.

The words ”take no thought” mean do not worry; do not be anxious; do not be overly concerned and caring. The Lord is not suggesting that a man NOT prepare for life; be lazy or take a I don’t care attitude. He is talking about being preoccupied with the material possessions of life; being so entangled with the affairs of this earth that we forget eternity. The charge is clear we are not to worry.

The basic problem of man is setting priorities and determining what is to be first in his life. Why do we seek things that only sustain and adorn our physical body for a brief time and then fade away? Why not seek first that which can sustain and adorn our life forever? That which sustains us for eternity is a relationship with our Heavenly Father.

Even the most inspired Christians from time to time, can find themselves running on empty. The demands of daily life can drain us of our strength; and rob us of the joy that is rightfully ours in Christ. When we find ourselves tired, discouraged, or worried, there is a source from which we can draw the power needed to recharge our spiritual batteries. That source is God.

God intends that His children lead joyous lives filled with abundance and peace. But sometimes, abundance and peace seem very far away. It’s no secret turmoil is in the government, the schools and our homes. It is then that we must turn to God for renewal, and when we do, He will restore us. If you are tired or troubled today turn your heart toward God in prayer.

Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow. ~Swedish Proverb. As we begin this New Year, let’s get our priorities in order, and put first things first. God Loves you and so do I. Pastor Tammy