Philippians Series: "Paul's Prayer (pt. 1)" (Phil. 1.3-6)

Sunday at the ministry was another cold one. Of course cold to us was about 48ºF on Sunday. I know my dear friend and brother Rand in Canada thinks that is a heat wave, but we are not in Canada down here!


That said, I proceeded to take off my jacket before preaching. I have no idea why. Anyway, the group was smaller missing two families and a brother who usually walks to service (and everywhere else).

Below is the second message in our series on the book of Philippians.

---

Powered by Podbean.com

Click here to download this message

Philippians Series: "Servants, Saints & Salutations" (Phil. 1.1-2)

We had a good service Sunday. It was chilly again, but it did not bother me at all. I get excited to see people changing at this ministry.

A really great thing was that Antioch Fellowship Baptist Church (my home church) donated two cases of Spanish outreach Bibles to the ministry. They were well-received. I am so thankful for how supportive our home church has been.

Below is the message in streaming and downloadable formats:

Powered by Podbean.com

Click here to download this sermon

Jonah Series (pt.5): "Looking Back on Jonah" (Luke 11.29-32)

Sunday I preached "part five of my four part series on Jonah." Yes, I have an odd sense of humor. A couple of people in the congregation caught the jocularity of my statement. Maybe some who read this post will miss it until they go back. That is understandable.

Anyway, the ministry continues to be a major blessing. The Lord has been so good to me and my family. I have grown through this ministry experience. My heart has changed as well. More importantly, I notice a change in most of the people at the ministry. Obviously, I am more concerned with the growth of the people we are ministering to.

I am not putting in the sermon outline because I am hand writing my notes at this point. If anyone really wants the sermon outline, just email me and I will type them up. Otherwise, I will just offer this streaming or downloadable sermon.

Finally, I posted on Facebook (to be my FB friend look me up at facebook.com/pregador27) yesterday:

I am tired physically, but God is refreshing me this morning. Beginning a new message series at Emmanuel Ministries and "If I say, 'I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,' there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot." (Jeremiah 20.9 ESV)

Yes!!! Jeremiah's context was almost a frustration meeting a determination, mine is an excitement and a heart filled with gratitude. I am so thankful for the opportunity to minister at Emmanuel Ministries.

Sunday, I plan to preach on Philippians 1.1-2. It is developing nicely thus far. I am being personally enriched as I study. God is awesome!

---

Streaming audio below:

Powered by Podbean.com

Click here to download this sermon

Emmanuel Ministries Thoughts... (1/3/2010)

I think that I will occasionally share some of my thoughts concerning ministry here at Emmanuel in Dade City, FL. They will not be a regular feature, at least I do not think they will be. The "thoughts" posts will be reflections that may include subjects for prayer or just anything that crosses my mind.

Today I was thinking about how little one particular family has at this time. They are a husband and wife with a young child. They are literally one parking ticket away from total homelessness. They live in a converted bus. Their generator was stolen during the early Summer and they have had no A/C in the Summer and now no heat in the Winter. Their son was removed by the Department of Children and Families- apparently due to their inability to furnish heat in the winter. These people are struggling mightily. Right now I know they are in the bus under a couple of blankets hoping that they will find a way out of this situation. Jonah chapter two was a good place for them to be this morning. They said so as well. They profess to be Christians and I have no reason to doubt their word.

The husband has some severe health problems and the wife is not in shape to work at this time- although she may have been trying to find work, honestly I do not remember the situation fully. They are trying to work through the system to get a home, but it has been fruitless thus far. They have little money for gas and look for places to stay that will not be trouble (parking the bus can be problematic at times).

Whatever the reasons for their situation, it is serious and heartbreaking. My dear wife gave the wife a sweatshirt and they were given some money to help (although it was a very small amount, as the ministry does not give cash out and most of the people there have little means to be helpful with money). I wished we could do more. You cannot work at a place like Emmanuel Ministries without finding new levels of caring and compassion.

At this point all we have left to do is to pray for them. Please, if the Lord leads you pray for the people who live in the bus. God knows their names and situation. My heart is overwhelmed for them and some other people from the ministry. However, my thoughts post is about them alone because they are who the Lord placed on my heart to pray for today.

Thank you, Lord, for choosing my family to minister at Emmanuel Ministries.

Jonah Series (pt.2): "The Repentant Prophet"

This is part two of the Jonah Series. It covers all of Jonah chapter two. I was recovering from being sick, but God was gracious and allowed me to have voice and strength enough to deliver His message. It was about 40 degrees (F) during the service and we have no heat at the ministry. It was a joy to have the opportunity to preach none-the-less.

If anyone would be interested in joining us in prayer for specific needs we collect during the service, please email me or let me know of interest in the "Comments" section. Thank you and God bless you!

---

Jonah Series (pt. 2): “The Rebellious Prophet”

Jonah Stayed (v.1)

• Three days could be partial, Jews counted partial as whole day


• Even Jonah's rebellion and dilemma God had His purpose


• Sign of Jonah a for foreshadowing of Jesus burial and resurrection

Jonah Prayed (v.2-9)

• The testimony (v.2-7)




1. saved from the sea and certain death


2. see a confidence he had in God that he will be safe


3. actively praying through the ordeal
   
   

• The thanksgiving (v.8-9)




1. prayer turns to thanksgiving


2. looks to the future when he will continue to serve God


3. declares that “Salvation belongs to the Lord”- it is a gift of God's grace

Jonah's Replay (v.10)

• He has a “do-over”- a second chance to follow God's direction


• Vomit is a sign of disgust: God may well been unhappy with his prejudice even now


• Picture of Christ differs from this point Jonah was prejudice, Jesus died for all who would receive despite their race

Closing: During Jonah's 3 days he was a good example of faith in God and actively praying through adverse situations. However, his attitude was still not right toward the Ninevites as we will see in the future.

Jonah's three days is a foreshadowing of the three days between Jesus' burial and resurrection.

We can learn, like Jonah, to pray and trust God during difficult times. We can also learn to put away prejudice and seek to share the Gospel to everyone- in love- no matter the differences.

---

Powered by Podbean.com

Click here to download this message

Jonah Series (pt.1): "The Rebellious Prophet"

This is from Sunday December 27, 2009.


The Sermon Outline is available in a previous post. If interested, just look under "Sermon Outline" in categories.

Powered by Podbean.com

---

Click here to download this message

"Finding Forgiveness in Christmas" (Ephesians 4.32)

Nicholas was born in the third century in Patara, a village in what is now Turkey. He was born into an affluent family, but his parents died tragically when he was quite young. His parents had raised him to be a devout Christian, which led him to spend his great inheritance on helping the poor, especially children. He was known to frequently give gifts to children, sometimes even hanging socks filled with treats and gifts.

Perhaps his most famous act of kindness was helping three sisters. Because their family was too poor to pay for their wedding dowry, three young Christian women were facing a life of prostitution until Nicholas paid their dowry, thereby saving them from a horrible life of sexual slavery.

Nicholas grew to be a well-loved Christian leader and was eventually voted the Bishop of Myra, a port city that the apostle Paul had previously visited (Acts 27:5–6). Nicholas reportedly also traveled to the legendary Council of Nicea, where he helped defend the deity of Jesus Christ in A.D. 325.

Following his death on December 6, 343, he was canonized as a saint. The anniversary of his death became the St. Nicholas holiday when gifts were given in his memory. He remained a very popular saint among Catholic and Orthodox Christians, with some two thousand churches named after him. The holiday in his honor eventually merged with Christmas as they were celebrated within weeks of one another.

During the Reformation, however, Nicholas fell out of favor with Protestants, who did not approve of canonizing certain people as saints and venerating them with holidays. His holiday was not celebrated in any Protestant country except Holland, where his legend as Sinterklass lived on. In Germany, Martin Luther replaced him with the Christ child as the object of holiday celebration, or, in German, Christkindl. Over time, the celebration of the Christ child was simply pronounced Kriss Kingle and oddly became just another name for Santa Claus.

These stories of Santa Claus were first brought to America by Dutch immigrants. In the early twentieth century, stores began having Santa Claus present for children during the Christmas season. Children also began sending letters to the North Pole as the legends surrounding an otherwise simple Christian man grew.

At Emmanuel Ministries, we keep the center of our holiday focused on Jesus; it’s probably what Nicholas would have wanted. (this introduction is based on a post by Pastor Mark Driscoll, pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA)

Jesus had a purpose (Luke 2.1-14)

• importance is realizing Jesus was born with a purpose, a mission
• to bring forgiveness
• to offer salvation through trusting in Him

Jesus had a message of how to be forgiven by God (Luke 24.45-48)

• Jesus preached repentance and forgiveness
• a salvation based on grace through faith (Ephesians 2.8-9)

Jesus paid the price

• in His own blood for our forgiveness (Ephesians 1.7; Hebrews 9.22)
  
• We are redeemed by His blood (sacrifice on our behalf)

We have a responsibility…

• we are to forgive (Ephesians 4.32)
• with Christ’s sacrifice, we have no right to be unforgiving (Luke 23.34)
• Benefits of forgiveness

**obedience to God
**brings healing

---

Powered by Podbean.com

Click Here To Download This Message

Emmanuel Ministries Notes 11/01/09

Sunday was the final message in the worship series. The time of ministry was good and the people were attentive.

The outline below is followed by the streaming message and a link to download if you wish. The message was cut short due to some type of technical difficulties.

---

¹¹ Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

¹² Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, ¹³ bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. ¹⁵And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3.11-17 ESV)

BACKGROUND (v.11)-

(Previous to verse 11, Paul outlines past behaviors [negatives] that need to be put away)

In Christ we have no divisions:

• 1 Corinthians 1.10, “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” (ESV)
• National: not Greek or Jew (American, Mexican, Honduran, Russian, Chinese, etc), but Christian
• Religious: religious rituals do not define us, our place in Christ does
• Cultural: (barbarian- anyone foreign to Greek culture; Scythian- considered wild, savage nomads)
• Economic/Social: whether wealthy or in poverty, Christ unites Christians
• Galatians 3.28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Christ is all and in all:

• As Christians we share the same Spirit: Ephesians 4.4-6, “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (ESV)
• Christ broke down all divisions between Christians through His sacrifice

All this opens up the next section, a part of Scripture encouraging Christians to be Christlike…

GOD’S CHOSEN (v.12-15)

As His Chosen Ones:

• Paul calls Christians “holy and beloved”- this language ties in God’s description of Israel as His possession in the Old Testament and of Jesus in the New Testament

- meaning Christians are His possession, His people

- we’re to be reflections of Christ & our relationship with God a reflection of the Father with Christ

- as such, we should display the fruit of our place in Christ

Acting as His Chosen Ones:

• Paul outlines several positive characteristics (the fruit)

- compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, patience

- all in line with Galatians 5.22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (ESV)

• Paul emphasizes forgiveness and love

- Reflecting the character of Christ (Luke 23.34, from the cross says, “Father forgive them…”)

- Based on God’s forgiveness of us- being forgiven, forgive.

- Peter asked how many times to forgive; Jesus answered “seventy times seven times” literally meaning be always ready to forgive. No limits.

- Love is what is most important, (1 Corinthians 13.13, “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”)

- Some make a case that Galatians 5.22 is all really about love; everything that follows is a fruit of love: the fruit of the spirit. 1 Corinthians 13. 4-7 actually compares very well with Galatians 5.22

- This will bring the peace of Christ- the closer we are to Christ, the closer we are to each other

- Thankfulness should be the result of this place in Christ

CHRIST’S WORD (v.16-17)

• As the Word of Christ is part of our lives (studying, praying) we become grateful and thankful to God
• We express this with worship-

- in teaching and wisdom/in song (psalms, hymns, spiritual songs)/with thankfulness

- doing everything in the name of the Lord

Closing: As we find our place in Christ we find our reason to worship Him. God is worthy of our worship. He is the object of our “worth-ship.”

---

Powered by Podbean.com

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS MESSAGE

Worship Series (pt.2): "In Spirit and Truth"

Sunday we had a good time worshiping God at the Ministry. We sang worship songs without my guitar again (I still need to replace my string). That went well. However, I long to preach more each week. I was excited to begin my second message on worship.

After the message, a lady named Sandra came up to rededicate her life to Christ. She had been there before. Anyway, I preached the message "Worship: In Spirit and Truth." You can listen to it in the streaming player below or download it by clicking the link below the player.

Powered by Podbean.com

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS MESSAGE

Emmanuel Ministries Notes 10/18/09

Yesterday was a good day at the Ministry. We had a larger group than normal, including one gentleman who came with his wife (she is there most of the time). He was just released from jail and he had been a subject of our prayer for some time.

I preached the message I posted yesterday morning. Márcia's husband, my friend Joe, was also there. It was nice and cool (the temperature was about 55º or 60º).

You can listen below in the streaming player or download it at the link below the player.

Powered by Podbean.com

Click Here To Download This Message

Emmanuel Ministries Notes 10/11/09

Yesterday we were locked out of our normal meeting place. Due to the circumstances, flexibility was once again in order. We combined the English and Spanish services and I put together a message based on some devotions I had done on the book of Ecclesiastes. My wife interpreted for me and it went well. I will post the sermon shortly. There will be a very basic outline to go with it.

Later on that evening, Loiana and I were talking and I told her I thought that we should combine the services from now on and she should interpret. If we follow through with this plan, I will go over the outline with her before Sunday. I will also have the Spanish and English Scripture and main points for my notes. Then she will only have to translate my elaborations.

We will see if this is the way to go. For right now we are praying that it will work out well.

Emmanuel Ministries Notes 10/04/09

Today there was no one to interpret or to preach in Spanish. My wife, Loiana, has been sick this week, so I had to proceed on my own. Well, that is not entirely true. God was with me.

Anyway, I prepared a simple outline in Spanish and English in the event there was, indeed, no one to interpret. When all was said and done, I did need to minister to the Spanish and English speaking groups together sans interpretation.

While most of the Spanish speaking people in attendance were able to understand some English, there were a couple who did not. I explained that I would preach directly from my notes for Spanish, any elaboration would be in English, as I could not elaborate in Spanish.

The message outline is below and the Sermon is available streaming under the outline and as a download under that. It was the shortest message I have ever preached and the shortest service I have ever been a part of. Yes, my guitar string broke again as I was practicing in the morning. Ah well. It's all about flexibility.

JESUS: The Only Way/JESÚS: Lo Uníco Camino

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4.12 ESV)

“Y en ningún otro hay salvación, porque no hay otro nombre bajo el cielo, dado a los hombres, en que podamos ser salvos.” (Hechos 4.12 RVR 1995)

· There is only one Way to God: Jesus. Salvation is only in Him. We can only become Christians by confessing the name of Jesus. No other name will work.

· Sólo hay una manera de llegar a Dios: Jesús. Sólo se puede encontrar la salvación en Él. Sólo podemos ser cristianos por confesar el nombre de Jesús. Ningún otro nombre es suficiente.

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14.6 ESV)

Jesús le dijo:

--Yo soy el camino, la verdad y la vida; nadie viene al Padre sino por mí. (Juan 14.6 RVR1995)

· All roads do not lead to God. Mohammed and Buddha did not lead to God. They lead to hell. Our hearts lead to hell. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17.9 ESV)

· Todos los caminos no conducen a Dios. Mahoma y Buda no conducen a Dios. Conducen al infierno. Nuestros corazones nos llevan al infierno. “Engañoso es el corazón más que todas las cosas, y perverso; ¿quién lo conocerá?” (Jeremías 17:9 RVR1995)

“…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved… ¹³For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10.9-10, 13 ESV)

Si confiesas con tu boca que Jesús es el Señor y crees en tu corazón que Dios lo levantó de entre los muertos, serás salvo, ¹⁰ porque con el corazón se cree para justicia, pero con la boca se confiesa para salvación. ¹³ ya que todo aquel que invoque el nombre del Señor, será salvo. (Romanos 10.9-10, 13 RVR1995

· We can be saved by coming to God through Jesus, repenting of our sin and trusting in Him for salvation.

· Podemos ser salvado por llegar a Dios a través de Jesús. Si nos arrepentimos: pedir perdón por nuestros pecados y confiar en Él para la salvación.

Powered by Podbean.com

DOWNLOAD MESSAGE BY CLICKING HERE

Emmanuel Ministries Notes 9/27/09

Well today the rains came and the attendance was a bit lower. Márcia decided we should combine the services and use interpretation. After worship, I was going to need to preach to both Spanish and English speaking people.

Since my sermon series on Jonah was just too much to get across with interpretation, I had to choose a simpler message. So my Jonah series will hopefully begin next week. I decided to add an impromptu fourth "Becoming" series message. So below you can listen to the message "Becoming More Like Jesus" from Ephesians 4.29-32. I was not prepared for this, so you can hear my "out of season" type of message.

Somewhere during the message Márcia asked a gentleman to translate the message, because she felt he was better for the task.



Powered by Podbean.com

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD "BECOMING MORE LIKE JESUS"

Emmanuel Ministries Notes 9/20/09

The ministry went well, except for me neglecting to bring my guitar for worship. Márcia had to lead worship today. It was not bad at all. Flexibility is a key at Emmanuel Ministries- much like my missions experiences.

I was immersed in developing the message even into this (Sunday) morning. Never a comfortable way to complete a message, but I know it was the right message for the right time. I am working toward messages that are useful for discipleship and evangelism.

Today's message is streaming in the player below or available for download at the link below the player...

Powered by Podbean.com

DOWNLOAD THE MP3 VERSION OF "BECOMING GOD'S GOOD SERVANT" HERE

“Becoming God’s Good Servants” 2 Timothy 2.1-7

“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, ²and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. ³ Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. ⁵ An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. ⁷Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” (2 Timothy 2.1-4 ESV)

Entrust the Message v. 1-2

· It was common practice of the time to emphasize the passing of sacred traditions

· Paul encouraged Timothy in a similar way to pass on what he had been taught

· Teaching “faithful men” who would then pass on the teaching as well

· Preserving the Gospel for future generations

Example of the Soldier v. 3-4

· Share in suffering: do not be surprised or slowed, suffering comes with following Jesus

· As a good soldier: Christian life compared to being a soldier

· Civilian pursuits: anything that would distract from following Christ fully

- a call to focusing on one purpose- serious dedication

- requires unswerving obedience (as a soldier)

~ Gettysburg, D-Day: soldiers rushed to their deaths at command

- requires devoted discipline (not like my work-out routine)

- John Piper: “The world is no longer our treasure. It’s not the source of our life or our satisfaction or our joy. Christ is.” (Don’t Waste Your Life p. 57)

Example of the Athlete v. 5

• Olympic athletes required at least 10 months of serious preparation by oath
• They had to follow the rules or be disqualified
• They strived to win a simple prize of garland
• We strive to win the prize of salvation through Christ

- I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 3.14 ESV)

- Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ²looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12.1 ESV)

Example of the Farmer v. 6

• There is an emphasis on hard work and a reward to come
• The farmer puts forth the hard work and is rewarded in time with a harvest
• We are to work hard to serve Christ

- though salvation is not based on works

- works are the fruit of salvation

• The reward for a Christian comes in salvation as we are judged innocent based on Christ’s sacrifice

Endeavor to Gain Understanding v. 7

• Paul encourages Timothy to consider what he has said
• The Lord will give understanding
• If we seek God, we will find Him

- Jeremiah 29.13, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” (ESV)

- Isaiah 55.6, “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near…” (ESV)

Closing: To become God’s good servants, we must be disciplined like a soldier (avoiding things that distract), dedicated like an athlete (devoting ourselves to the race) and determined like a farmer (who works hard for a future reward). Consider this, “for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.”