What the Angels Saw [30:46m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Luke 2:1-20 [+/-]Luke 2:1-20 [2:1]In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. [2]This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. [3]And all went to be registered, each to his own town. [4]And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, [5]to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. [6]And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. [7]And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. [8]And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9]And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. [10]And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. [11]For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. [12]And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." [13]And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, [14]"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" [15]When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." [16]And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. [17]And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. [18]And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. [19]But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. [20]And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (ESV)
is a unit. It forms one complete passage of Scripture. It can, however, be neatly divided into three units. Verses 1-5 give us the historical context for the central event that is announced in verses 6-7 with the first responses to that central event being declared in verses 8-20. And the first responders to this central event were the angels and the shepherds. We are beginning this morning the season of Advent. God laid it on my heart about a month ago that we needed to give our full attention to the Advent season. So, we are taking a few weeks off from Thessalonians and turning during these days to look at what were the responses of those who first saw Jesus. We want today to listen to the angels. Next Sunday we are going to join the shepherds abiding in the field keeping a watch over their flock by night. The next Sunday we are going to walk with the magi as they make their way to the Master. Then we will join Joseph and pay attention to what he did when he saw Jesus and last of all we will step alongside the aged Simeon and listen closely to what he said when he held the baby in his arms. But all of these various responses to Jesus find the fullness of their force in what is taking place as Luke opens the second chapter of his first book. So, look with me first at the historical context. If it does not hush the critics of inerrancy then there is no possibility of silencing them.

Learn more about this message by downloading the sermon notes here

All the slogans are right.  I get weary hearing them all the time, but they are right.  One is that we should not be about thanksgiving but about “thanksliving.”  Another is that Thanksgiving should be not just one day out of the year but every day of the year.  Another is the cry heard round the country this time of year that we are in such a hurry to get to Christmas that we ignore Thanksgiving.  Still another is the call for us to remember this fourth Thursday in November as something other than “turkey day.”  And you add some more that you have heard.  They are endlessly repetitiuous and are most often spoken most by people who complain about everything else too; but they are right.  Developing an “attitude of gratitude” (another slogan and popular sermon title in this country on the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving) is both a gift of grace and an effort of discipline.  We have much for which to be thankful and we have to decide to be devoted to living this way.

So, count your blessings; name them one by one.  What is it really that you are thankful for?  I am thankful for the blessing of a great wife.  We will soon celebrate thirty-six years of marriage and we are now having the time of our lives.  It is more fun now than it has ever been.  We have discovred that AC is better than BC or for those who need translations of acronymns:  After Children is better than Before Children.  I am thankful for a delightful daughter and special son-in-law and a very super son and delightful soon to be daughter-in law.  How blessed I am!  I give thanks for two splendid grandchildren.  Grayson and Jaelynn are like everybody’s grandchildren–they are the best.  I am grateful that they both are in my life.  I am thankful for a fabulous family of faith.  I love FBC Waynesboro.  I have told others that even though I don’t like personal criticism, it is necessary at times and I try to learn from it; but whenever somebody criticizes this church in my presence, I get my hackles up really fast.  I have never loved a church family like I love this one.  What a great staff that God has given be to be a part of.  I am thankful for each one.  And for this community.  Whenver someone talks down about small town life in the south, I want to punch them in the mouth.  I am grateful that I haven’t done that!  Then I would not get to be the pastor of this church:  PASTOR ARRESTED FOR ACCOSTING CITIZEN ON THE STREETS!!  Oh, I could go on and on.  Why not make your own list?

But at the top let’s all put what the Bible always puts as first.  Most of all I am grateful to the God who for His own glory chose to save me from His wrath and to deliver me from fully deserved judgment and set me among His people among whom He has called me to serve as a pastor.  Oh the marvel and the majesty of this great God; oh the beauty and bountiful blessing that comes from His hand.  He is worthy to be thanked and praised; He alone is worthy to be thanked and praised.

 

 Church People [35:50m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

1Thessalonians 2:17‐20

Gather a group of preachers together anywhere at any time and you will hear a conversation like this one:  “hey man, how’s your church going?”  “Oh, it would be just wonderful if it wasn’t for the church people?”  Jerry Vines who is one of our finest expositors of the Word of God said recently that during his years at First Baptist Jacksonville that he wrote out his resignation almost one hundred times on Monday mornings because of church people.  He would pray and prepare all week, stand and preach with power and passion only to stand at the door and hear complaints about everything from the temperature in the sanctuary to the length of the sermon to the quality of the music.  And then do the same thing over on Sunday night.  Church people.   Someone once asked the wonderful and godly Warren Wiersbe if he ever took Monday as his day off, and Wiersbe’s reply was, “no man; why would I take a day off when I feel that bad. Preach my heart out on Sunday and people are paying more attention to getting home for kick‐off than they are their response to the Word of God.”  Church People.

Learn more about this message by downloading the sermon notes here!

 

 Measuring Sticks [42:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

1 Thessalonians 2:13-16 [+/-]1 Thessalonians 2:13-16 [13]And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. [14]For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, [15]who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind [16]by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved--so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But God's wrath has come upon them at last! (ESV)

We have seen the goal.  Paul makes it as plain for us here as he does elsewhere.  The goal that is given us as the people of God both in bearing witness to the Gospel and being witnesses of the Gospel is that we would live lives worthy of the God who is calling us into His glorious Kingdom.  The goal that we have for those to whom we are commanded to give the Gospel and the goal for ourselves as those who are seeking to live the Gospel is the same.  We want to see in our lives and in the lives of others the kind of conduct that is the result of the kind of change in character that emerges out of a clear commitment to pursue passionately the call and claim of God upon our lives.  Put simply, we want to please God.

Learn more about this message by downloading the sermon notes here!

What a wonderful weekend in Rome.  I have never been to Rome, Italy.  I am sure that it is a beautiful city.  I would love to see it some day.  But the Rome in Italy could not have been better than the Rome in Georgia this past weekend.  The fifteen couples who were there at our marriage retreat had a great experience.  We were able to worship God together and then to gather under the Word of God for a close look at what a truly biblical marriage looks like.  We were able to eat together and play together.  We had adequate time for being together as a group and spending privat time as couples.  We even had time on Saturday if we chose it to take a nap.  The facilities were wonderful and the environment was very engaging.  I hope that when we schedule another retreat like this one that many of you in our church family will want to invest in your marriage this way.  It is a very fun and very fruitful way to say to God and to each other that your marriage matters.

I have spent time in recent days looking at what a truly biblical marriage is.  I have talked about marriage as a creation ordinance and as a covenant commitment.  Marriage is brought into being by God so that the man and the woman can live in relationship to Him in order to bring Him glory.  Marriage is not first and foremost about us and our needs or about us and our happiness; it is first and foremost about God and His glory.  God creates marriage for the purpose of the husband and wife fulfilling His purposes upon the earth which includes procreation for the population of the earth.  God invented sex.  It is a good thing because it is a God thing.  It exists even to bring God glory by being the physical means of the “one flesh” union which is simply the expression of this spiritual “one flesh” union.  Sex is the celebration of the goodness of God in bringing the man and the woman together.  It is an act in which we exult in part because of the way God created us.  Sexual pleasure for both the man and the woman is a part of God’s plan for marriage.  John Piper is right to remind us, however, that everytime we engage in sex and experience its delight, we are to remember that it is just a minute manifestation of the thrill that will be ours when we enjoy the glory of God in all of its fullness.  This is in part what I mean when I say that God created sex for His glory.  The thrill of the sexual encounter points us beyond itself to the greater joy that is ours together in God and will be ours forever in His presence.

So, why is it that so many couples who confess Jesus Christ as Lord struggle with the sexual relationship?  Why is pornography among professing Christians such a powerful addiction?  Why do women become dissatisfied with their husbands and seek to seduce men who are not their husbands?  Why does a forty year old woman seek to engage the attention of a high school student?  Why does a fifty year old man become infatuated with a thirty year old woman who is not his wife?  Well, the short answer is sin.  But it is sin manifest in this way:  we have created a culture in which we are looking for something from the sexual relationship that it cannot produce.  Many men model what sex is to be with their wives on the latest sex scene they have seen in a movie or on the most recent porn site that they visited.  Or they simply fantasize about sex and expect their spouses to fulfill their fantasies.  This is idolatry.  It makes sex our “god” rather than it being what it is:  a wonderful and beautiful channel in which and through which we do experience temporal fulfillment physically that is the outcome of our eternal fulfillment that comes only from God through Jesus as Lord who indwells us in the power of His Holy Spirit.  Any lesser view of sex is not just short-sighted; it is sinful.  It is appropriated for pagans who do not know any better; it is not appropriate for the people of God.

But it is not just men who are fallilng short of the glory of God in their understanding of what sex is; it is women too.  Our culture fills women with the idolatrous notion that a certain body style is the only one that is appropriate for a good self image.  The fashion model who may well be anorexic and suffering from depression or worse, becomes the template for who the woman is to be.  She works to be that kind of woman but then comes that time in life when hormonal changes happen and body shape may not be the way it used to be.  Self image plummets.  Pain sets in.  The woman is crashing at the altar of self image.  Sexual seduction of someone younger becomes albeit a false way to find fulfillment at least a temporary relief from the pain internal pain of the falling and failing self image.  Just as the man who struggles with sexual issues because of the fantasies or false images of the computer screen must “put off” these relaties as sin, so must the woman whose body is changing “put off” the cultural calls that self image is tied to body shape or style.  God does not love us because of the shape of our bodies; He looks at the shape of our hearts.  It is not how your body looks; it is how your heart is shaped.  Is it turned toward yourself and what you want to see or toward Him and what He sees about you?

 

 Basic Biblical Beliefs - November 9, 2008 - the Doctrine of God - Pt 2 [+/-]ERROR: No passage found for your query.
[45:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Psalm 19 [+/-]Psalm 19 [19:1]The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. [2]Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. [3]There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. [4]Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, [5]which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. [6]Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. [7]The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; [8]the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; [9]the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. [10]More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. [11]Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. [12]Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. [13]Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. [14]Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
& Psalm 53 [+/-]Psalm 53 [53:1]The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good. [2]God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. [3]They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. [4]Have those who work evil no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God? [5]There they are, in great terror, where there is no terror! For God scatters the bones of him who encamps against you; you put them to shame, for God has rejected them. [6]Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

Pastor Al continues the Basic Biblical Beliefs learning series, looking again at the Doctrine of God this evening message. This is an in-depth look at the ways in which God makes himself known.

 

 Be Anxious for Nothing... [38:26m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Philippians 4:1-20 [+/-]Philippians 4:1-20 [4:1]Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. [2]I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. [3]Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. [4]Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. [5]Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; [6]do not be anxious about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus. [8]Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. [9]What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. [10]I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. [11]Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. [12]I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. [13]I can do all things through him who strengthens me. [14]Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. [15]And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. [16]Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. [17]Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. [18]I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. [19]And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. [20]To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. (ESV)

Brad Hambrick from Crossroads Counseling shared an encouraging message on Anxiety, concentraing on the reasons that the Philipians were Anxious, and the reason Paul had this powerful message for them.

 

 Wednesday Evening Message - November 5, 2008 [18:04m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

John 6:27 [+/-]John 6:27 [27]Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal." (ESV)

Listen in as Pastor Al continues an ongoing study of John…

Marriage is a creation ordinance.  Marriage is a covenant.  Marriage as a covenant is rooted in the covenant commitment of God to His people and the covenant commitment of His people to God.  Marriage as a covenant requires not only that we understand the very clear distinction between marriage as a civil union and marriage as a Christian union but also that we understand the definitive difference between marriage as a covenant and marriage as a contract.  It is here more than any other place that the distinctive of biblically defined marriage is found.  And it is here that we see more than any other place that marriages among Christians are just like marriages in the culture.  No wonder that the divorce rate among conservative evangelicals is as high and in some sectors even higher than the divorce rate among the general population.  The reason is found in our failure to understand marriage as a covenant.

The contractural view of marriage sees marriage as an agreement between two people for their mutual benefit and blessing.  This is a perfectly acceptable view of marriage for unredeemed humanity.  It is foreign to the faithful of God.  This view requires the man to do certain things for the woman with the result that he gets his needs met from her and it requires the woman to do certain things for the man with the result that she gets her needs met from him.  It is a “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” kind of relationship.  It is a “you do this for me, and I’ll do this for you” kind of partnership.  Here is the problem.  Couples get conflicted over who goes first, who takes the lead, who is to direct the need meeting plan of operation.  Sinful males think that it is the woman and so they spend a lot of time waiting on the woman to do her part before they will do theirs; sinful women find this approach to marriage distasteful if not disgusting spending a lot of time saying, “you only do this for me because I did that for you,” or worse!  Best case scenarios of this relationship are found among men and women who have been open about their obligations to each other and fulfill those obligations simply because it brings benefit to both parties.  This is why there are some secular marriages that appear from the outside to be far better than marriages among the saints!  They work well so long as both parties can give to the other what the other deems right and fitting as a need.  For example, a woman can give to a husband what he needs so long is he is providing for her the kind of income she needs to live the lifestyle she desires.  But what if this man loses his job?  What if the woman has the develops the kind of physical malady that militates against her being able to meet the man’s sexual needs?  What then?  Well, confusion comes and chaos follows in a relationship that is contractual, but not in a relationship that is covenantal.

Here a man takes the initiative in giving to his wife what she needs not based on what she deserves or on what she gives to him, but based on what God has done for the man.  God gives to us as His children what we do not deserve and He gives it to us when we have absolutely nothing to give back to Him.  What can I give to God that shows that I am worthy of His grace?  And what is it in me that is worthy of His grace?  The answer to both questions is, “not one single thing.”  God chooses to come to me and to give me the good gift of His grace even though there is nothing in me that deserves His grace, and God chooses to save me from judgment and hell knowing that I cannot repay Him.  That is covenant love.  And this is the kind of love that a redeemed man gives to his wife.  It evokes from her a desire to do for her husband that which will show him her gratitude for this kind of love.  So, what does a man who loves Jesus do for His wife when she has done those things that would disappoint him?  He loves her.  He cares for her.  He forgives her.  Wow!  Only Jesus would do that, or Jesus in and through the man.  The world cannot construct or conduct this kind of marriage.  Only the people of God can have this kind of marriage.  It is distinctive.  It is different.  It comes from God and gives glory and honor to Him alone.

A Prayer Prior to the Election

Yours, O Lord, is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever.  You alone are the Lord God Almighty who rules and reigns over all the earth so that we can say with the Psalmist, Our God Reigns.  We trust you fully and follow you faithfully as the God who is who you say you are:  you are God and beside you there is none other.  You are the God who creates the darkness and the light; you are the God who brings both prosperity and calamity.  You are the Sovereign God who rules and reigns over all.  We join our voices with that of the pagan King who long ago having seen your power would pray these words, “Your dominion is an eternal dominion; Your Kingdom endures from generation to generation.  All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing.  You do whatever You please with the powers of heaven and with the peoples of the earth. No one can keep Your hand from its work and no one can question your work asking, ‘what have you done.’ We praise and exalt and glorify you, God; as the King of heaven because everything you do is right and all your ways are just.  And you do indeed humble those who walk about in pride.”

We confess to you tonight O God whom we adore with our whole heart that we have walked about in pride.  We have made too much out of what is so little and too little out of what is so ultimately and infinitely important.  We have spent far too much time talking about candidates for president as if the man in the White House has any impact at all on the Holy One in the Throne Room.  We have acted as if our fate and future hinges on this election without recognizing that our days are numbered by you even down to your knowing the number of hairs upon our head.  O God, give us conviction to live out what we say that we do not trust in chariots or horses, our hope is neither in the Pentagon or the President.  We have put our hope in the One who has made the heavens and the earth and rules over them for the glory of His Name, the advancing of His glorious Kingdom, and the full completion of His perfect will which includes the salvation by grace of sinners and the vindication of Your Name in the punishment of the wicked.  O Lord, forgive us; we have sinned.  Lift our eyes from this earthly plain and fix our gaze on the One and only One who does rule and reign forever.

We do ask you tonight to bless our Land, but we do not ask your blessings in the way that we too often make that request.  Could it be that our concern about the man in the White House has more to do with our concern about happen at our house so that we may not have the monetary and material abundance that we once had?  Forgive us Lord when we think of “Your blessings” that way because those blessings are more about us than about You.  God we ask you tonight with candor and with courage to bless us with whatever we need to bring us to repentance before You.  Give us God what we need even if it is what we do not desire to break our pride and to shatter our prestige so that we would plead with you for mercy and grace.  Bring us at last to that place where we are so emptied of things that do not matter that we are left to run from You or to run to You.  We have so much and we confess to you that so much of what we have has kept us far from you.  Not only do we ask that you bless by giving us what we need to break us before you; we ask you to bless us by taking away from us that which has gotten in the way of living for You and You alone.

And we ask you tonight O Lord to show us once again as wonderful as in this land we love and as much as we love this land, this nation nor any other is Your people.  Your people are made up of peoples from every nation across the globe that have heard the call of the Gospel and have surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus so that those of us who are Your children here tonight have more in common with a child of yours in North Korea or Bangladesh or the Sudan than we do with our neighbors who do not belong to you.  Our neighbors who do not belong to you if they do not repent and show the fruit of repentance will face eternal judgment but that boy or girl in North Korea; that man or woman in Japan who is Your child will dwell with us for all eternity in Your presence. God we do not want to taste Your Judgment.  It is not our desire.  We want a real awakening in this land not of emotion, not of ecstasy, not of signs and wonders; we want to see you move O God to bring people to You with an unquenchable hunger and thirst for Your Word.  God, give us Pauls and Augustines in our day; raise up Calvins and Luthers and with them bring people who would rather gather to hear the Word of God than to gather to eat.  Rid our churches we pray of that which is worldly.  Deliver us from programs that lift our eyes no higher than to gaze upon the good deeds of people.  Fix our focus so on you that we would not satisfied with anything less or any other thing.

God, we need you every hour.  And we particularly need you in this hour. Thank you for the privilege of being a part of a country in which we can participate in the electoral process.  Give us wisdom as we vote but deliver us from falling into the fatal trap that our future and the future of the world hangs on this or any other election.  You are on your Throne O God.  We can worship with Joy and we can rest in peace.  Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

 

 Basic Biblical Beliefs - the Doctrine of God [27:17m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Psalm 14:1 [+/-]Psalm 14:1 [14:1]The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.
& Psalm 19 [+/-]Psalm 19 [19:1]The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. [2]Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. [3]There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. [4]Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, [5]which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. [6]Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. [7]The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; [8]the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; [9]the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. [10]More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. [11]Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. [12]Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. [13]Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. [14]Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

Pastor Al jumps back into the Basic Biblical Beliefs learning series, looking at the Doctrine of God this evening message. This is an in-depth look at the ways in which God makes himself known.

 

 Getting to the Goal [36:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

1 Thessalonians 2:9-16 [+/-]1 Thessalonians 2:9-16 [9]For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. [10]You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. [11]For you know how, like a father with his children, [12]we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. [13]And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. [14]For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, [15]who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind [16]by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved--so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But God's wrath has come upon them at last! (ESV)

The goal is given to us in verse 12. It is to lives worthy of God who is the one who calls us into His Kingdom which is glorious. As we stated it and examined it last week it is to have the kind of conduct that emerges out of the kind of character that is the result of God’s call and claim upon our lives that has produced for us a core commitment in life which is simply to honor Him by being obedient to Him as He reveals Himself to us in His Holy Word. This is our goal as believers. This is our goal for those to whom we bear witness as we give the Gospel to others. We are not declaring the Gospel to get momentary decisions. We are proclaiming the Good News of Jesus to others to get professions of faith. We are not bearing witness to Jesus in order to see people baptized. We want what the Word of God wants and that is to see people’s lives changed by the Gospel We want to see God do in others what He is doing in us. But we will not have that as the goal for others unless and until God is at work in our lives as He has called us and we have committed to His call so that He has changing our character and our conduct. That is the goal. It is the goal for every believer in Jesus. But how do we move forward in accomplishing the goal and how do we assess the accomplishment of the goal?

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