Greeting Brethren and Friends,

Without faith it is impossible to please God - Hebrews 11.6.  So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God - Romans 10.17.  Christians are commanded to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior - 2. Peter 3.18.  Knowledge is one of the Christian graces we are to add to our faith - 2 Peter 1.5-7.  Eternal life is knowing God and Jesus the Christ, whom He has sent - John 3.17, and is only possible through our knowledge of God's word - 2 Peter 1.2-3.  It is our duty to learn and to teach all that Christ has commanded us - Matthew 28.20.  Jesus said: "If you continue in My word, then you are My disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free" - John 8.31-32.  In prayer to the Father, Jesus said: "Your word is truth" - John 17.17.  God's word is that truth which sets us free.  God's word can be understood, so do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is - Ephesians 5.17.

Greetings Brethren and Friends,

Before the foundation of the world, God had a plan to redeem us from our sins for the purpose of glorifying Him.  He put all things under His feet, and gave Christ to be to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all-Ephesisan 1.22,23. He chose us to be with Him before the foundation of the world-Ephesians 1.4.  This was the plan of the soverign, all knowing, all powerful God.  God has always wanted us to be holy and without blame in a relationship with Him.  He loved us and sent His Son Jesus, that through Him, by His grace we might be saved.  But it is really not about us, it's all for God's glory.  We should be at the center of God's world, not He at the center of our world.  Through Jesus we are redeemed and accepted into fellowship with Him and In Him we obtain an eternal inheritance and He gives us the Holy Spirit to seal our inheritance.  We are beneficiaries of God glorifying Himself and we should be grateful and thankful.  But it's not about us.  It's all about Him.

Greetings Brethren and Friends,

Jesus taught His disciples (and us) to pray-Matthew 6,9.  His model prayer was to our Father in heaven and included the words, HALLOWED (holy) be thy name, to show that we should honor our God and to speak to Him with all humility and respect.  Our prayers should express our weaknesses and our dependance on Him for His strength and His forgiveness for our confessed and repented sins.  Pray earnestly, pray often for our families, for the spread of the Kingdom, for our Elders, our ministers, our enemies and those who are outside of Christ.  The avenue of prayer is a gift given us by God and we should give daily thanks to Him for His love, His mercy and His kindness.  Jesus frequently prayed to the Father before speaking, acting or making decisions and we would be wise to follow His example.  Ere you left your room this morning, did you think to pray?

Father, humbly and respectfully we come to You on bended knee to thank You for your love, mercy and kindness that brought us Jesus, our Savior and redeemer.  We thank You for gifting us with the avenue of prayer, our Only means to talk to You and express our thanks and our need for Your help and guidance as we face the trials, tribulations and temptations in this lost and dying world.  We pray for our ministers who are spreading Your gospel both here and abroad.  Bless them and strengthen them as they do their work. Bless and help our Elders who are keeping watch for our souls.  We pray for the lost and for our enemies that their hearts might be softened and they would turn back to You.

Thank You for the kindness You show us each day; praise and bless Your holy name.  This prayer we offer in Jesus name, AMEN

Greetings Brethren and Friends,

Jesus said: "If anyone hears My words and does not keep them, I do not judge Him for I did not come to judge the world but to save it.  The one who rejects Me and does not receive My words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge Him on the last day."

Jesus Christ is the righteous judge whom we all will stand in front of on that last day to give account for things done on earth, whether good or bad.  Jesus does not want to condemn man, and there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.  If we repent, we will stand before Him forgiven and justified, not because of our greatness, but because of His love, grace and actions He took on our behalf.  True, all have sinned, but it is also true that all can be justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Him.

It sounds frightening to say we must all stand before the judgement seat of Christ, but Judgement for the obedient means salvation, not condemnation.  We have a choice, step into the light of Christ, or learn what staying in darkness means.

Christ will make no mistakes at judgement, for He knows the hearts of all.  God be thanked for sending us His beloved Son in whom is redemption and eternal life and for His inspired word by which we will be judged.

RE: John 12.47-48; 2 Corinthians 5.10; Romans 8.1;3.23; 2 Corinthians 4.3-6.

Greetings Brethren and friends,

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge-Proverbs 1.7.  The beginning of wisdom-Proverbs 9.10.  Leads to life-Proberbs 19.23.  Prolongs days-Proverbs 10.27.  Hates evil-Proverbs 8.13.  By the fear of the Lord one departs from evil-Proverbs 16.6.  So fear the Lord and depart from evil, it will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones-Proverbs 3.7.

AMEN