Sermon Nuggets Fri Aug 8
Theme- Principles from the Master
Verses John 12:35,36 Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
The Principle of LIGHT shines through DARKNESS.
The people who were searchers were getting their questions answered, and more. Indeed their understanding from the Scriptures was that the Messiah would not die, but live forever. How could he be killed? Who is the Son of Man? Those were their questions.
Jesus does not answer their questions directly, but points them to present. The Light is here now. This was no time to be discussing the fine points of theology! It was an hour of crisis and an hour of opportunity. Now was a time to trust in the Light who stood before them. There are some things one understands and there are some things one does not understand. Move on to that which you do understand. Believe now in that which you see. For there will be a time when it is too late to believe. You will never have all your questions answered. But there is one thing Jesus is telling them. He is the light who overcomes the darkness. He is calling them to commitment. They are to walk in the light by faith in Jesus and in so doing they move from darkness into light. The light was shining and they had better take advantage of their opportunity to be saved.
The Greeks were in the dark. They had seen the light. He asked them to follow Him now. We have all been in the darkness of sin and ignorance, in pride, and selfishness. There is one sent from above that is the light of the world. When we walk in the light we have the presence of the divine with us all the time. We will still have periods of ignorance, and times of not understanding, but we will be saved
I recently read an account of a believer in one of the Islamic countries who was beaten and tortured for his faith. Some of the guards did not understand how he could withstand the physical and psychological attacks and not give up his faith. During his incarceration some came to understand who the true light was that overcomes, even death. They did not understand a God who loves, only a God who rules with laws. To see and know someone changed by the power of the Spirit brought some from darkness into light as they came to faith in Christ Himself.
People need to see Jesus. Not only in good times, but notice in the context of the conversation in times of darkness, in times of suffering, in death, in service and faithfulness.
The Greeks came to hear the one every one was talking about. He gave them principles. It was far more than cute phrases to face problems. It was a call to commitment and renewal. It was a call to follow Jesus, but He told them it may lead us to death. It may lead us to suffering. It may lead us to do menial tasks, it may lead us to face difficult odds, but by His power within us we will be honored, see God's glory, know what true life is about, live in victory and walk in the Light. Indeed. It is not easy, but it is very much worth it.
Pastor Dale
Friday, August 8, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Victory through Suffering John 12:28-34
Sermon Nuggets Thurs Aug 7
Theme Principles from the Master.
Verses John 12:28-34 Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again."
29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30 Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine.
31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.
32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."
33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
34 The crowd spoke up, "We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever, so how can you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?"
The Principle of VICTORY through SUFFERING.
The voice came from heaven. Jesus recognized this voice was for the benefit of the hearers. The Greek seekers heard as well. There was an awareness of God's confirmation on the testimony of Jesus. It had been many centuries since God spoke directly to man. Here they heard the voice of God in answer to His Son's prayer.
Part of the reason for the voice is the reminder that God wins. We are in spiritual battle but we already know the end. Satan has lost! The cross was not judgment only from the decree of the high officials on a prisoner. Indeed, there was no justice. But God had a greater purpose in the suffering. It was judging sin. Jesus paid the price of sin: yours, mine, the worlds.
The death of Jesus Christ would seem like a victory for the wicked world, but it would really be a judgment of the world. On the cross, Jesus would defeat Satan and his world system. Even through he is permitted to go to and fro on the earth, Satan is a defeated enemy.
In contrast to Satan's power was the drawing power of Jesus on the cross. When he is lifted up he will draw all men to himself. The phrase "all men" does not suggest universal salvation. It means all people without distinction. Indeed all men are not just Jewish, but Jewish and Gentile, Black and White, Indian and Chinese. Jesus was lifted up that men might find the way know the truth and receive life. In the suffering of Jesus is the victory. It is the key of winning the war. Each communion service points us to the suffering of Jesus that won for us the victory for our salvation.
What about when we face suffering? Will we remain in God when we immersed in suffering?
Last night I watched a program on Cappadocia. The history showed how this early city was probably settled by the Hittites thousands of years ago. There were unusual caves chiseled out of rock formations that made cooler dwellings during the heat and warmer places during the winter. When persecution came upon the Christians, many went to that place which is now in Turkey. But archeological discoveries have shown massive and complex underground dwellings that range from a small room barely housing two, to a vast room where 10,000 could gather. 8 floors below the earth through a maze was a well defined church in the shape of a cross. The church flourished during the suffering years. Why is that so?
People in suffering are willing to give their lives for the cause of Jesus. Victory is assured in the resurrection of Christ. Eternal things become paramount when earthly things are no longer attractive. Then we see more clearly. God has special promises and rewards for those who give their lives in persecution. There is great victory.
Pastor Dale
Theme Principles from the Master.
Verses John 12:28-34 Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again."
29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30 Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine.
31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.
32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."
33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
34 The crowd spoke up, "We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever, so how can you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?"
The Principle of VICTORY through SUFFERING.
The voice came from heaven. Jesus recognized this voice was for the benefit of the hearers. The Greek seekers heard as well. There was an awareness of God's confirmation on the testimony of Jesus. It had been many centuries since God spoke directly to man. Here they heard the voice of God in answer to His Son's prayer.
Part of the reason for the voice is the reminder that God wins. We are in spiritual battle but we already know the end. Satan has lost! The cross was not judgment only from the decree of the high officials on a prisoner. Indeed, there was no justice. But God had a greater purpose in the suffering. It was judging sin. Jesus paid the price of sin: yours, mine, the worlds.
The death of Jesus Christ would seem like a victory for the wicked world, but it would really be a judgment of the world. On the cross, Jesus would defeat Satan and his world system. Even through he is permitted to go to and fro on the earth, Satan is a defeated enemy.
In contrast to Satan's power was the drawing power of Jesus on the cross. When he is lifted up he will draw all men to himself. The phrase "all men" does not suggest universal salvation. It means all people without distinction. Indeed all men are not just Jewish, but Jewish and Gentile, Black and White, Indian and Chinese. Jesus was lifted up that men might find the way know the truth and receive life. In the suffering of Jesus is the victory. It is the key of winning the war. Each communion service points us to the suffering of Jesus that won for us the victory for our salvation.
What about when we face suffering? Will we remain in God when we immersed in suffering?
Last night I watched a program on Cappadocia. The history showed how this early city was probably settled by the Hittites thousands of years ago. There were unusual caves chiseled out of rock formations that made cooler dwellings during the heat and warmer places during the winter. When persecution came upon the Christians, many went to that place which is now in Turkey. But archeological discoveries have shown massive and complex underground dwellings that range from a small room barely housing two, to a vast room where 10,000 could gather. 8 floors below the earth through a maze was a well defined church in the shape of a cross. The church flourished during the suffering years. Why is that so?
People in suffering are willing to give their lives for the cause of Jesus. Victory is assured in the resurrection of Christ. Eternal things become paramount when earthly things are no longer attractive. Then we see more clearly. God has special promises and rewards for those who give their lives in persecution. There is great victory.
Pastor Dale
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Glory through Faithfulness John 12:27-29
Sermon nuggets Weds Aug 6
Theme: Principles from the Master
Verses John 12:27-29 "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.
28 Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again."
29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.(NIV)
The Principle of GLORY through FAITHFULNESS
I am glad Jesus does not denying emotions. In fact, Jesus is admitting personal emotional turmoil as He thinks about going to the cross. Jesus says, "My heart is troubled." Do you ever have a troubled heart? You do if you’re human, or honest. All of us struggle at times with a troubled heart. It encourages me to know Jesus did also. Even the Apostle Paul, the apostle of Joy if you read Philippians,struggled with discouragement and troubled heart. But he kept going.
Jesus knew that by following the will of His Father in heaven He was about to face to the cross. That troubled His heart. We see that portrayed so graphically in the garden of Gethsemane as He prays that this cup would pass from Him. “However, not my will by Thine be done.” Ultimately He does not want the Father to save him from the cross. No. It was for this very reason He came to the earth. “Father glorify you name." He prays.
There would have been no virtue in Jesus' obedience to God at all, if it had come easily and without cost. Real courage does not mean being fearless. There is no virtue in doing a thing if to do it is an easy thing. Real courage means to be terribly afraid, and yet to do the thing that ought to be done. Jesus is to be faithful to God's will.
In vs. 23 we see the cross not only brings glory to the Father, but to the Son of man Himself. We also see that when the Father receives glory, Jesus receives glory. The Jews looked at glory as conquest, the acquisition of power, the right to rule. Jesus looked on glory as a cross.
For Jesus, to die meant the salvation of many. By being faithful to His Father's plan He would be glorified in his death and so he was. His glory came through faithfulness to carry out the purpose that was God's plan, regardless of the circumstances.
I noticed that the word glory is used primarily in the NT in reference to the divine. There are very few times that it relates to humans. The English word relates to magnify, honor, revere, exalt. That our desire in faithfulness to so honor God. He is honored through our faithfulness. He is exalted in our carrying out obediently his plan. In seeing and honoring God we too are beneficiaries of God's good grace.
If we are looking for comfortable lives, then we will protect our plans and desires, save our lives, and never be planted. But if we yield our lives and let God plant us, we will never be alone but will have the joy of being fruitful to the glory of God. Mark 8: 36 tells us, "If any man serve Me, let him follow Me."
It was Charles Spurgeon that said, "When we cannot trace God's hand, we can trust God's heart!" God always works to a purpose. For Jesus these are not just words, but He illustrates it for us on Calvary. It is illustrated for us in the lives of the disciples in the years that follow. It is illustrated for us in the history of the church. In our service, God is glorified and we will be blessed.
Pastor Dale
Theme: Principles from the Master
Verses John 12:27-29 "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.
28 Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again."
29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.(NIV)
The Principle of GLORY through FAITHFULNESS
I am glad Jesus does not denying emotions. In fact, Jesus is admitting personal emotional turmoil as He thinks about going to the cross. Jesus says, "My heart is troubled." Do you ever have a troubled heart? You do if you’re human, or honest. All of us struggle at times with a troubled heart. It encourages me to know Jesus did also. Even the Apostle Paul, the apostle of Joy if you read Philippians,struggled with discouragement and troubled heart. But he kept going.
Jesus knew that by following the will of His Father in heaven He was about to face to the cross. That troubled His heart. We see that portrayed so graphically in the garden of Gethsemane as He prays that this cup would pass from Him. “However, not my will by Thine be done.” Ultimately He does not want the Father to save him from the cross. No. It was for this very reason He came to the earth. “Father glorify you name." He prays.
There would have been no virtue in Jesus' obedience to God at all, if it had come easily and without cost. Real courage does not mean being fearless. There is no virtue in doing a thing if to do it is an easy thing. Real courage means to be terribly afraid, and yet to do the thing that ought to be done. Jesus is to be faithful to God's will.
In vs. 23 we see the cross not only brings glory to the Father, but to the Son of man Himself. We also see that when the Father receives glory, Jesus receives glory. The Jews looked at glory as conquest, the acquisition of power, the right to rule. Jesus looked on glory as a cross.
For Jesus, to die meant the salvation of many. By being faithful to His Father's plan He would be glorified in his death and so he was. His glory came through faithfulness to carry out the purpose that was God's plan, regardless of the circumstances.
I noticed that the word glory is used primarily in the NT in reference to the divine. There are very few times that it relates to humans. The English word relates to magnify, honor, revere, exalt. That our desire in faithfulness to so honor God. He is honored through our faithfulness. He is exalted in our carrying out obediently his plan. In seeing and honoring God we too are beneficiaries of God's good grace.
If we are looking for comfortable lives, then we will protect our plans and desires, save our lives, and never be planted. But if we yield our lives and let God plant us, we will never be alone but will have the joy of being fruitful to the glory of God. Mark 8: 36 tells us, "If any man serve Me, let him follow Me."
It was Charles Spurgeon that said, "When we cannot trace God's hand, we can trust God's heart!" God always works to a purpose. For Jesus these are not just words, but He illustrates it for us on Calvary. It is illustrated for us in the lives of the disciples in the years that follow. It is illustrated for us in the history of the church. In our service, God is glorified and we will be blessed.
Pastor Dale
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Honor through Service John 12:26
Sermon nuggets Tues Aug 5
Theme- Principles from the Master
Verse:John 12:26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
The Principle of HONOR through SERVICE
When Greeks become seekers Jesus does something unlike many seeker sensitive churches today. Instead of adapting the message to appeal to the comfort of the crowd, Jesus gives principles that seem almost to repel them from their comfort to commitment. Yesterday he talked about giving up their lives. Today he talks about obedience.
He is telling the Greek hearers that if they want to serve him they must follow him. Following Jesus has implications of obedience as well as threat to comforts of the present life. We cannot serve Jesus without following Jesus. I do not know how people get the idea that they can be a Christian without following the teachings and the ways of Jesus. You do not get that from the Bible. You get that from the world that wants us to be deluded into thinking, "I can be a Christian and not change a thing in my life." There are things that we do not want to do, but if it is following Jesus then we do them. There are things that you will want to do, but by following and serving Jesus you do not do them. Where Jesus is, His followers are there too.
In that commitment of service there is honor given by God. I look at the Rev. 7 passage and talk about the people who have literally followed
Jesus to death, they are honored in eternity. I have seen in Hebrews 11 the horrible illustration of people who have suffered and bled and died for their faith and the world is not worthy, but they will be honored for eternity. In the parable of the talents it didn't make any difference whether the Master gave the servant 10 talents or 5 talents they were honored for their faithfulness to the task of stewardship, service.
Christmas Evans was always on the move serving Christ. he said, "It is better to burn out than to rust out." When Joan of Arc knew that her enemies were strong and her time was short she prayed to God,. "I shall only last a year, use me as you can" Jesus is teaching that only by spending our life of service do we receive honor.
The problem with most people is they are short sighted, looking only to this life and not having the hope of the faith in the truth of God's word. He will honor those who serve him.
The question comes, "will we still serve Him even when people forsake us?" God knows that we cannot live the Christian life by ourselves. We need the encouragement of others. But what happens when friends forsake us? Will a student still serve God in school if he or she must stand alone and be the only one who turns down particular invitations and no one else is there to comfort and encourage? Will a business man serve Jesus when he knows that he boss will get on him if he doesn't make a sale, if it meant misrepresenting the product? Will the lady serve Jesus when she's the only one not participating on the community gossip and even defending the one who is being discussed?
Jesus goes much farther than that. He teaches us, "Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake will receive a hundredfold and inherit eternal life.
God will honor His faithful servants.
Pastor Dale
Theme- Principles from the Master
Verse:John 12:26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
The Principle of HONOR through SERVICE
When Greeks become seekers Jesus does something unlike many seeker sensitive churches today. Instead of adapting the message to appeal to the comfort of the crowd, Jesus gives principles that seem almost to repel them from their comfort to commitment. Yesterday he talked about giving up their lives. Today he talks about obedience.
He is telling the Greek hearers that if they want to serve him they must follow him. Following Jesus has implications of obedience as well as threat to comforts of the present life. We cannot serve Jesus without following Jesus. I do not know how people get the idea that they can be a Christian without following the teachings and the ways of Jesus. You do not get that from the Bible. You get that from the world that wants us to be deluded into thinking, "I can be a Christian and not change a thing in my life." There are things that we do not want to do, but if it is following Jesus then we do them. There are things that you will want to do, but by following and serving Jesus you do not do them. Where Jesus is, His followers are there too.
In that commitment of service there is honor given by God. I look at the Rev. 7 passage and talk about the people who have literally followed
Jesus to death, they are honored in eternity. I have seen in Hebrews 11 the horrible illustration of people who have suffered and bled and died for their faith and the world is not worthy, but they will be honored for eternity. In the parable of the talents it didn't make any difference whether the Master gave the servant 10 talents or 5 talents they were honored for their faithfulness to the task of stewardship, service.
Christmas Evans was always on the move serving Christ. he said, "It is better to burn out than to rust out." When Joan of Arc knew that her enemies were strong and her time was short she prayed to God,. "I shall only last a year, use me as you can" Jesus is teaching that only by spending our life of service do we receive honor.
The problem with most people is they are short sighted, looking only to this life and not having the hope of the faith in the truth of God's word. He will honor those who serve him.
The question comes, "will we still serve Him even when people forsake us?" God knows that we cannot live the Christian life by ourselves. We need the encouragement of others. But what happens when friends forsake us? Will a student still serve God in school if he or she must stand alone and be the only one who turns down particular invitations and no one else is there to comfort and encourage? Will a business man serve Jesus when he knows that he boss will get on him if he doesn't make a sale, if it meant misrepresenting the product? Will the lady serve Jesus when she's the only one not participating on the community gossip and even defending the one who is being discussed?
Jesus goes much farther than that. He teaches us, "Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake will receive a hundredfold and inherit eternal life.
God will honor His faithful servants.
Pastor Dale
Monday, August 4, 2008
Principle of Life Through Death John 12:20-25
Sermon Nuggets Mon Aug 4
Theme- Principles from the Master.
Verses John 12:20-30
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast.
21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus."
22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23 Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.24 Itell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
Principle of Life Through Death
In the teaching of Jesus there are some tough things to hear. It is easy in the comfort of a congregation of padded pews to discuss them, but in the reality of the daily living we not only need to know what to do, we also need the power to do it. Jesus practices what he preaches.
Maybe that is why the Greeks came to find out more. They had heard of the power of Jesus. Some of the God fearers sincere in their worship wanted to know all they could about God. If Jesus was from God they wanted to meet him and hear from him. They approached Philip first, perhaps because he had a Greek name. Philip, not sure if he should really take them to Jesus or not discusses the matter with Andrew and Andrew brings them to Jesus.
What we see is a good caution on the part of Philip. How does he know whether they will turn Jesus into the officials for arrest? Or perhaps his hesitation came from the fact they were Greeks, and Greeks were not Jews, part of the chosen people of God. Perhaps there was still the racial prejudice that caused Philip to be reluctant. But not so with
Andrew. If they wanted to see Jesus out of a desire to know more, he brought them to him. Jesus tells them important principles that challenge us to follow him, not out of convenience but out of conviction.
Jesus acknowledges that this is close to the time that he will die. He tells the disciples, and I believe in the hearing of the Greek guests, that he will be glorified-but in a different manner than they think. He uses an illustration of a seed that will be buried into the ground.
“Unless it dies it will not bear fruit.” This principle of life through death is seen in the plant world. The kernel must perish as a kernel if there is to be a plant. A seed must either germinate or terminate - one or the other. In order to produce life it must be sacrificed.
Jesus is going to his death, and through his burial and resurrection there will be faith that will grow in a greater way that even in his life without death. He not only calls them to commitment even if that meant death, he follows that for Himself and then through the supernatural power rises from the dead and tells us this power can be ours as well.
This principle is not reserved only for Jesus. The man who loves his life in this world will lose it, but the one who is willing to lose his life will keep it for eternal life. This is a principle we see in the spread of God's Kingdom. We are well familiar with the famous phrase:"The blood of the martyrs was the seed of the Church." It was because of the violent deaths of many believers that the church became alive and spread like wildfire. It is always because men have been prepared to die that the great things have lived.
The birth of our country was built on those willing to die for freedom.
It is a principle from the Bible. For those in Jesus there is a far greater dimension of spiritual truth. If we live for ourselves and our own wants in this world we will lose our eternal life in the presence of God. If we are willing to commit our lives to Jesus Christ regardless of the cost we ultimately will not be disappointed, we will find life everlasting.
This is also true in a personal way. It is when a man buries his personal aims and ambitions that he begins to be of real use to God. Then he understands that abundant life that the Bible talks about. People that seek security by hoarding all kinds of things and building for themselves fame and fortune alone will lose it and have lost everything.
The only way to have a fruitful life is to follow Jesus Christ in death, burial, and resurrection. Remember the quote on the poster. "What's done for me on earth will pass. What's done for Jesus, alone will last."
Pastor Dale
Theme- Principles from the Master.
Verses John 12:20-30
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast.
21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus."
22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23 Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.24 Itell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
Principle of Life Through Death
In the teaching of Jesus there are some tough things to hear. It is easy in the comfort of a congregation of padded pews to discuss them, but in the reality of the daily living we not only need to know what to do, we also need the power to do it. Jesus practices what he preaches.
Maybe that is why the Greeks came to find out more. They had heard of the power of Jesus. Some of the God fearers sincere in their worship wanted to know all they could about God. If Jesus was from God they wanted to meet him and hear from him. They approached Philip first, perhaps because he had a Greek name. Philip, not sure if he should really take them to Jesus or not discusses the matter with Andrew and Andrew brings them to Jesus.
What we see is a good caution on the part of Philip. How does he know whether they will turn Jesus into the officials for arrest? Or perhaps his hesitation came from the fact they were Greeks, and Greeks were not Jews, part of the chosen people of God. Perhaps there was still the racial prejudice that caused Philip to be reluctant. But not so with
Andrew. If they wanted to see Jesus out of a desire to know more, he brought them to him. Jesus tells them important principles that challenge us to follow him, not out of convenience but out of conviction.
Jesus acknowledges that this is close to the time that he will die. He tells the disciples, and I believe in the hearing of the Greek guests, that he will be glorified-but in a different manner than they think. He uses an illustration of a seed that will be buried into the ground.
“Unless it dies it will not bear fruit.” This principle of life through death is seen in the plant world. The kernel must perish as a kernel if there is to be a plant. A seed must either germinate or terminate - one or the other. In order to produce life it must be sacrificed.
Jesus is going to his death, and through his burial and resurrection there will be faith that will grow in a greater way that even in his life without death. He not only calls them to commitment even if that meant death, he follows that for Himself and then through the supernatural power rises from the dead and tells us this power can be ours as well.
This principle is not reserved only for Jesus. The man who loves his life in this world will lose it, but the one who is willing to lose his life will keep it for eternal life. This is a principle we see in the spread of God's Kingdom. We are well familiar with the famous phrase:"The blood of the martyrs was the seed of the Church." It was because of the violent deaths of many believers that the church became alive and spread like wildfire. It is always because men have been prepared to die that the great things have lived.
The birth of our country was built on those willing to die for freedom.
It is a principle from the Bible. For those in Jesus there is a far greater dimension of spiritual truth. If we live for ourselves and our own wants in this world we will lose our eternal life in the presence of God. If we are willing to commit our lives to Jesus Christ regardless of the cost we ultimately will not be disappointed, we will find life everlasting.
This is also true in a personal way. It is when a man buries his personal aims and ambitions that he begins to be of real use to God. Then he understands that abundant life that the Bible talks about. People that seek security by hoarding all kinds of things and building for themselves fame and fortune alone will lose it and have lost everything.
The only way to have a fruitful life is to follow Jesus Christ in death, burial, and resurrection. Remember the quote on the poster. "What's done for me on earth will pass. What's done for Jesus, alone will last."
Pastor Dale
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