MY DIARY DEVOTIONS
"BROKEN CHAINS"
BY PASTOR JOE
IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING DIFFERENT HAPPENS EACH TIME I TAKE MY PUPPY FOR A WALK. LAST WEEK SHE WAS CONFUSED WHEN SHE WAS CALLED AWESOME IN A SARCASTIC TONE. WELL THIS WEEK SHE GOT INTO ANOTHER TANGLE OF SORTS. WE WERE JUST ABOUT TO CONCLUDE OUR WALK WHEN WE PASSED BY A HOME. WHAT WE DID NOT REALIZE WAS THAT A PUPPY DOG WAS TIED ON THE PORCH. WELL, WHEN HE
SAW BELLA SHE BROKE LOOSE FROM HIS CHAIN AND RAN TOWARDS US ,WELL NOT REALLY ME, BUT BELLA. IT WAS A BUSY STREET WE WERE ON, BUT WE HAD NOTHING, AS IT TURNED OUT, TO FEAR FROM THIS DOGGY GETTING RUN OVER BY ONE OF THE MANY CARS THAT WERE GOING BY. THE REASON WAS THIS DOG WAS NOT INTERESTED IN RUNNING AWAY, NOR WAS HE INTERESTED IN SAYING HELLO TO ME HE HAD ONLY ONE GOAL, AND THAT WAS TO SAY HELLO TO BELLA. THIS PUPPY WENT NOSE TO NOSE WITH BELLA, AND WAS SO EXCITED TO BE NEAR HER. THIS GAVE ME TIME TO SECURE HER AND GIVE HER BACK TO HER MASTER. AS WE WENT ON OUR WAY I LOOKED BACK AT THIS FRENCH POODLE AND SAW THE SADNESS IN HER EYES. NOW WHAT IS THE SPIRITUAL LESSON IN ALL THIS THAT I RECEIVED? IT IS THIS. THIS DOGGY WAS FOR A MOMENT FREED FROM HER CHAINS TO DEMONSTRATE A LOVE FOR ANOTHER MEMBER OF HER SPECIES. WELL, IN A REAL SENSE WE AS BELIEVERS ALSO HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM OUR BONDS TO LOVE OTHERS. NO LONGER ARE WE CHAINED TO HATRED, BUT RATHER THAT OLD NATURE OF OURS WAS CHAINED TO THE CROSS WITH CHRIST, AND WE ARE FREE IN HIM TO LOVE OTHERS. I ASK IS OUR FOCUS ON JESUS? IF SO WE WILL LOVE OTHERS WHO DO NOT DESERVE IT, AS WE DID NOT DESERVE IT. THAT LITTLE POODLE HAD HER EYES ON BELLA. IS OUR EYES ON JESUS, AND WHO HE BRINGS INTO OUR LIVES? ARE THEY EYES OF LOVE. OH LET US NOT RETURN TO THE CHAINS OF HATRED, AS THAT LITTLE DOG WAS RETURNED TO HIS CHAINS ,BUT IN HIS CASE, FOR A GOOD PURPOSE WHICH WAS TO KEEP HIM SAFE. OUR CHAINS ARE SEEN IN THE BLESSED HANDS OF JESUS WHO HOLDS US FIRM IN HIS HANDS AND SENDS US OUT TO LOVE OTHERS. WHEN WE DO WE WILL NOT HAVE TO FEAR ANYTHING. WE CAN BE SURE THAT AS I PROTECTED THAT LITTLE DOG FROM INJURY ON THAT CROWED STREET HE WILL PROTECT US IN ALL THE ENEMIES THAT WILL COME AGAINST US, AND FREE US TO LOVE THE UNLOVELY, TO LOVE THOSE WHO DO NOT DESERVE OUR LOVE. IN JUST THE SAME WAY WE DID NOT DESERVE IT. FOR BELOVED IN CHRIST WE ARE CHAINED TO JESUS AND THE LOVE HE HAS FOR US IS NOT RESTRICTED AT ALL FOR WE ARE FREED TO LOVE TO SERVE AND FOLLOW HIM.
"NOT A WALK IN THE PARK"
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
I WAS WALKING MY PUPPY DOG AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD THE OTHER DAY. FIRST I NEED TO TELL YOU MY DOG IS ABOUT 8 POUNDS. WHY I NEEDED TO TELL YOU THAT IS BECAUSE AS I WAS WALKING HER A COUPLE OF TEENS COMING FROM SCHOOL THOUGHT SHE WAS NOT MUCH OF A DOG, AND THEY SAID HAS MUCH, WHEN THEY SHOUTED TO ME AND BELLA IN A SARCASTIC TONE THESE WORDS." BOY MISTER YOU SURE HAVE AN AWESOME DOG THERE. AND THEY LAUGHED AND WENT ON THEIR WAY. WELL, WHAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WAS THAT ALTHOUGH BELLA IS A SMALL DOG IN HER MIND'S EYE SHE IS THE TOUGHEST PIT BULL ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH. WELL. NOW HOW CAN I MAKE ANY SPIRITUAL APPLICATIONS TO THIS ONE EVENT IN MY LIFE, AS I TRY TO DO IN THESE WEEKLY MESSAGES. THE APPLICATION IS REAL EASY. THESE YOUNGSTERS FELT THAT MY DOG WAS WEAK BECAUSE THEY LOOKED ONLY ON THE OUTSIDE, AND IT IS TRUE IF YOU LOOK ONLY ON THE OUTSIDE OF ANY INDIVIDUAL OR DOG YOU CAN COME TO THE WRONG CONCLUSION. TAKE A BELIEVER WE MAY BE ELDERLY, OR MAY BE CRIPPLED, OR SICK. BUT NO MATTER WHAT THE OUTSIDE APPEARANCE IS THAT BELIEVER IS INDEED VERY, VERY STRONG. AND WHY, YOU MAY ASK .WELL YOU KNOW THE ANSWER .ALL BELIEVERS ARE INDWELLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND AS THE SCRIPTURE BEARS OUT, ALTHOUGH THE OUTWARD MAN IS PERISHING THE INWARD MAN IS BEING RENEWED DAY BY DAY. IN OTHER WORDS THE CLOSER WE GET TO REACHING GLORY THE STRONGER WE ARE BECOMING, THAT IS SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING OF COURSE. PERHAPS, IF MY DOG COULD OF UNDERSTOOD THE RIDICULE DIRECTED AT HER SHE COULD OF MADE IT CLEAR VERBALLY THAT SHE WAS NO WEAKLING. BUT WE, HAS BELIEVERS, HAVE NO NEED TO DEFEND OURSELVES FOR WE HAVE THE POWER OF GOD LIVING IN US, AND SINCE WE DO WE NEVER HAVE TO FEEL THAT GOD HAS SHORTCHANGED US. WE MAY BE GETTING ON IN YEARS. WE MAY BE DIM OF SIGHT, OR HEARING. BUT IF WE ARE A CHILD OF GOD WE HAVE OUR LORD JESUS LIVING IN US. AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO POWER GREATER THEN HIS POWER. WE CAN STAND STRONG IN THE POWER GRANTED TO US BY FAITH. AND WHAT A STRONG COMMODITY INDEED WE HAVE. IT IS ALL WE NEED TO LIVE A LIFE CHARACTERIZED BY SPIRITUAL STRENGTH, AND IF I SEE THOSE BOYS AGAIN I WILL TELL THEM IT IS AN AWESOME POWER INDEED SOMETHING THEY NEED. FOR IT IS GIFT THAT WILL MAKE THEM MORE THEN CONQUERORS. IT IS A GIFT NO ONE CAN OR WILL FIND UNDER THEIR CHRISTMAS TREES FOR THE GIFT IS FREE AND IT GIVEN SOLELY BY GOD'S MAGNIFICENT GRACE
"THE VOICE OF THE HYMNS"
BY PASTOR JOE
I WAS SEARCHING THIS WEEK FOR HYMNS OUR CONGREGATION COULD SING FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON. AS I READ ONE OF THESE FAMILIAR HYMNS I WAS TOUCHED BY THE WORDS WE ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH WHICH GOES, O COME LET US ADORE HIM. YOU KNOW THIS IS A DEEP COMMAND GOD MAKES US AND WE NEED TO ASK OURSELVES DO WE COME AND ADORE HIM? LET ME JUST SPEAK OF WHAT IS INVOLVED IN ADORING OUR LORD. FIRST, WE MUST ASK OURSELVES THIS ,IS HE WORTH ADORING? IF SO IT WILL BE EVIDENT, NOT SIMPLY BY OUR AFFIRMATION OF SAYING WE ADORE HIM, IT INCLUDES THAT, BUT IT MUST GO DEEPER, MUCH DEEPER. IT MUST BE SEEN IN OUR LIVES, LIVES OF OBEDIENCE.
WHEN MOSES CAME TO GOD AT THE BURNING BUSH HE WAS COMMANDED TO TAKE HIS SHOES OFF BECAUSE THE GROUND MOSES WAS ON WAS HOLY GROUND. DO WE REALIZE BELOVED THAT WE COME BEFORE HIM IN ALL THE THINGS WE DO. IT IS INCLUDED IN OUR COMING TO ADORE HIM IN CORPORATE WORSHIP, ALSO AS WE COME TO HIM IN OUR PRAYER LIFE, AND IN OUR TIME SPENT IN GROWING IN THE KNOWLEDGE AND GRACE OF JESUS CHRIST. IT IS SEEN IN EVERY DETAIL OF OUR LIVES. HE TELLS US TO COME AND TO ADORE HIM BY OUR OBEDIENCE TO HIM. WE MUST REMEMBER ONLY HIM FOR WE CANNOT ADORE HIM AND RELISH THIS WORLD OR OUR FLESH. WE ARE TO WALK ONE PATHWAY, THE NARROW ONE THE ONE OUR LORD AND SAVIOR WALKS. WILL IT BE FOR US A PATHWAY OF SUFFERING FOR HIM ,OR EVEN DYING FOR HIM. I SAY IF SO THEN GREAT. OR BETTER SAID LET ME USE THE WORDS OF OUR LORD WHO CALLS THOSE WHO SUFFER FOR HIM TO BE BLESSED. SO LET US STOP THE COMPROMISES LET US RATHER COME AND ADORE HIM IN THE VERY WAY, TO THE MINUTEST DETAIL HE NOT ONLY COMMANDED US BUT IN REALITY HAS SEALED US WITH HIS POWER TO LIVE THAT VERY LIFE. WILL YOU ,WILL I ,COME ALWAYS BEFORE HIM AND ADORE HIM, I ASK DOES HE NOT DESERVE IT. IF YOU AGREE THEN MAY YOUR WHOLE FOCUS AND MINE BE WITH ONE SOLITARY GOAL AND THAT IS MY BELOVED A DESIRE TO ALWAYS BRING GLORY TO HIM. HE DESERVES NO LESS THEN ALL THE ADORATION WE CAN GIVE TO HIM ON CHRISTMAS AND ALL THE YEAR LONG.
"WORKING TOGETHER AS GOD'S SERVANTS"
BY PASTOR JOE
I THINK OFTEN ABOUT MY BELOVED PETS HEIDI AND CASEY WHO DIED THIS PAST YEAR. I THINK HOW THEY WORKED TOGETHER TO PROTECT OUR HOME. IF SOMEONE CAME TO OUR DOOR THEY WOULD BOTH BARK SO AS IF TO PROTECT US. WHEN WE WALKED THE PARK WITH THEM THEY WOULD STAY CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER CASEY WOULD TAKE THE LEAD AND HEIDI WOULD BE CLOSE BEHIND HIM. WHEN HEIDI DIED IN MAY CASEY WOULD SEARCH OUT THE BACK YARD FOR HER SCENT. HE BECAME SAD AND IN TWO MONTHS HE WOULD DIE. I TAUGHT ABOUT THE LOVE OF DOGS WHEN MICHELE GAVE ME A DOG'S DEVOTIONAL BOOK. I GUESS WHAT I TOOK FROM THIS IS THAT WE ARE TO WORK FOR THE GOOD OF THE WHOLE. GOD HAS MADE US ONE IN CHRIST. WE ARE MANY MEMBERS, BUT ONE BODY, AND WE ARE TO ENSURE THAT THE ENTIRE BODY FUNCTIONS WELL AS A WHOLE. GOD HAS GIVEN US GIFT, OR GIFTS, TO ENABLE THIS. YES DOGS GIVE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE TO THEIR MASTERS. THEY ALL HAVE THIS GOAL IN MIND ,AND IT IS WHAT MOTIVATES THEIR ACTIONS. BUT THE LOVE WE HAVE, AS THE TRUE CHURCH, IS A DIVINE LOVE THAT IS SHED ABROAD IN OUR HEARTS BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.THIS LOVE GIFT IS GIVEN TO EACH OF US SO WE CAN HELP ONE ANOTHER. IN IST CORINTHIANS 12:21, SPEAKING OF THE BODY OF BELIEVERS, IT TELLS US THERE THAT THE EYE CANNOT SAY TO THE HAND I DON'T NEED YOU, AND THE HEAD CANNOT SAY TO THE FEET I DON'T NEED YOU. WE NEED EACH OTHER BELOVED HERE IN OUR CHURCH ,AS WE WORK TOGETHER WITH THE GIFTS WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM GOD. THE ENEMY IS AT OUR DOOR AND WE BETTER HEAR HIS KNOCK, BUT UNLIKE CASEY AND HEIDI, WHO TOOK CARE OF THINGS IN THEIR OWN STRENGTH WE BETTER MAKE SURE WE ARE FOLLOWING OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. YES IN A WAY SIMILAR TO THE WAY MY TWO PETS FOLLOWED ME ALL THE DAYS GOD GAVE THEM TO ME. THEY SURE SHOWED ME UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. WILL WE SHOW THIS TO ONE ANOTHER, AND OF COURSE TO OUR BLESSED LORD. I PRAY SO.
HEAVEN THE PLACE FOR BELIEVERS
Child Training: Do we need it?
By Pastor Joe Santos
I RECALL AS A CHILD GROWING UP IN A HOME THAT WAS VERY DISCIPLINED. I DIDN'T LIKE THE DISCIPLINE BUT THE REASON I WAS DISCIPLINED AND WHY I NEEDED TO DO THE SAME TO MY CHILDREN WAS BECAUSE CHILDREN DO NOT HAVE TO BE TRAINED TO BE BAD ,BUT RATHER TO BE GOOD. SIN WAS THE PROBLEM WITH OUR CHILDREN ,AND IT IS SO WITH YOU AND I WHO ARE GOD'S CHILDREN. WE NEED TO LEARN TO STAY ON THE PATHWAY GOD HAS GIVEN FOR US TO WALKM AND THAT IS A PATH OF HOLINESS. GOD'S WORD COMMANDS US TO BE HOLY, AS HE IS HOLY. WHEN WE SIN GOD THE FATHER CORRECTS US. HIS CORRECTION THOUGH IT MAY BE GRIEVOUS YET IT HAS GOD'S PURPOSE, WHICH IS ALWAYS FOR OUR SPIRITUAL WELL BEING. HE TELLS US IN JAMES THAT GOD'S GOAL IN OUR DISCIPLINE IS TO BRING OUT THE FRUITS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. WE OFTEN STRAY OFF THIS PATHWAY OF HOLINESS, BUT THE FACT IS GOD HAS GIVEN US POWER TO OVERCOME THE SIN IN OUR LIFE THIS POWER RESIDES IN THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT. GOD HAS GIVEN HIS BELOVED CHILDREN WHAT IS CALLED MORAL SPIRITUAL ABILITY TO OVER COME THE TEMPTATIONS TO SIN. OH YES WE WILL NOT BECOME SINLESS IN THESE, AS YET TO BE GLORIFIED BODIES, BUT WE CAN AND SHOULD GROW IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST, AND AS WE SUBMIT TO THIS COMMAND OF GODS TO GROW WE WILL SEE MORE OF THE IMAGE OF CHRIST REFLECTING OUT FROM US AND THAT IMAGE IS A IMAGE OF HOLINESS. THIS IS WHAT PLEASES GOD. YET HE WILL BRING US THROUGH THE FIERY TRIALS AS HE TAKES AWAY THE DROSS OF SIN AND MOLDS US MORE INTO THIS IMAGE THAT WILL PLEASE HIM. OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS CHILDREN OF THE MOST HIGH IS TO OBEY HIM. IF NOT THEN WE MUST BE PREPARED TO PAY THE COST OF HIS DISCIPLINE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS WE CAN LEARN THE LESSON OF DRAWING NEAR TO GOD AND HAVE HIM DRAW NEAR TO US AND IN THIS POWER AS WE READ IN THE EPISTLE OF JAMES WE CAN STAND UP TO SATAN'S ATTACKS IN A WAY THAT HE WILL FLEE FROM US. OBEDIENCE TO GOD IS THE KEY TO ALL THIS AND IF WE TRULY LOVE HIM WE WILL OBEY HIM IN ALL WAYS. BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY YOU AND I WILL NOT BE SHORT CHANGED FOR FAITH IS THE VICTORY. IT MAKES US MORE THEN CONQUERORS. WHAT MORE, I ASK, DO WE NEED?
WORSHIPING IN SPIRIT & TRUTH
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
A WISE BROTHER ONCE SAID," LOVE THAT STOOPS DOWN IS GRACE AND LOVE THAT GOES UP IS WORSHIP.". HOW VERY TRUE. IF OUR LOVE FOR GOD IS RISING UP IT WILL BE A LOVE OF SERVICE TO HIM; OF HONORING AND OBEYING HIM. CHRISTIAN WORSHIP INVOLVES OUR WILL, AND WORSHIP IS ONE THAT SHOULD BE IN JOY. NOW THERE IS A DISTINCTION BETWEEN CORPORATE AND PRIVATE WORSHIP. I WOULD LIKE TO DIRECT US TODAY TO CORPORATE WORSHIP.. THIS IS TO BE DONE IN PRAYER, IN READING GOD'S WORD, IN PREACHING, AND BAPTISM, AND GATHERING FOR THE LORD'S SUPPER. PUBLIC WORSHIP IS A COMMAND FROM OUR GOD. (HEB. 10:25). FOR A BELIEVER TO SUBSTITUTE ANYTHING OTHER IS SIN.. IN PUBLIC WORSHIP THE WORSHIP SERVICE SHOULD EDIFY THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST. THIS EDIFICATION PROCEEDS, NOT ON ANY CERTAIN MUSICAL STYLE FOR MUSIC IS A TOOL TO REFLECT THE GLORY OF GOD.. DOCTRINE TAUGHT AT THE WORSHIP IS TO REFLECT THE TRUTHS OF GOD'S WORD. THE PASTOR IS TO BE A TEACHER OF THIS TRUTH. HE SPEAKS TO THE EARS OF HIS CONGREGATION, AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT TAKES GODS TRUTH AND SPEAKS TO OUR HEARTS SO THAT WE WILL BE GUIDED INTO HIS TRUTH. PASSIVENESS IN A CHURCH SERVICE IS ALWAYS INAPPROPRIATE BECAUSE IT DOES NOT GLORY OUR LORD. WE HERE AT BETHEL MUST PRAY THAT WE TAKE WORSHIP TOGETHER VERY SERIOUS. WE FIND ENCOURAGEMENT FROM ONE ANOTHER AS THE LOVE OF CHRIST IS REFLECTED OUT FROM OUR HEARTS WHERE THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS PLACED HIS LOVE IN. DO WE? WELL WE CAN'T IF WE DON'T COME TO OUR PUBLIC WORSHIP. PLEASE PRAY FOR THIS NEED FOR IF WE ARE NOT SERIOUS ABOUT IT GOD WILL NOT BLESS OUR CHURCH, OR OUR WITNESS TO OTHERS,. AND WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO THE BOTTOM LINE THE QUESTION THAT MUST BE ANSWERED IS, AM I DOING WHAT GOD COMMANDS ME TO DO. IS HE NOT WORTH IT? FOR AS THE QUOTE SAID LOVE IS ONE THAT GOES UP TO HIM. TO THE ONE WHO STOOPED DOWN TO US IN GRACE. LET US THEN WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH FOR THIS IS WHAT HE DESIRES.
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QUOTES FROM SERMON 2/21/2010
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
1, THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH BELIEVERS IS SELF, AND WHEN SELF TAKES CONTROL IN A BELIEVER THE RESULT IS THE REFLECTED LIGHT OF CHRIST DOES NOT SHINE OUT AS IT SHOULD IF GOD IS TO BE GLORIFIED. GOSSIP, STRIFE, JEALOUSIES, WHICH ARE THE BANNERS OF THIS GODLESS THEN MARK THE PEOPLE OF GOD, AND BRING REPROACH TO OUR HOLY GOD.
2, THE DELIVERANCE OF EVERY TRUE BELIEVER IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN FREED FROM SIN'S DOMINATION IN US BECAUSE OF THE REGENERATION WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN US. WE ARE NOW FREE TO SERVE OUR LORD IN HOLY LIVING. THE QUESTION WE MUST ASK OURSELVES IS DO WE HATE THE SIN THAT HAD US IN BONDAGE TO THE VERY SINS THAT DIED ON THE CROSS WITH JESUS CHRIST.
3 GOD HAS GIVEN US THE BELIEVER EVERLASTING LIFE, AND WE ARE TO LIVE AS THOSE WHO WERE REDEEMED BY THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF THE LAMB. HE HAS EMBRACED US WITH HIS LOVE WHICH IS TO EDIFY OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST. DO WE BEAR EACH OTHERS BURDENS, OR ARE WE SO MOTIVATED BY OUR SELF THAT WE FAIL TO TOUCH OTHERS WITH THE LOVE GOD HAS SHED ABROAD IN OUR HEARTS BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
4, OUR STRENGTH WILL NOT BE FOUND IN THE KITCHENS OF OUR CHURCHES, BUT ONLY AS WE ABIDE IN CHRIST JESUS, AS WE FELLOWSHIP IN PRAYER, AND BIBLE STUDY BY OUR DEVOTIONAL LIFE OF SEEKING HIS FACE DAILY
5, SOME BELIEVERS SAY THEY FEEL AWKWARD TO WITNESS TO OTHERS, TOO SHY, BUT GOD HAS CHOSEN THE WEAK THINGS TO CONFOUND THE WISE, AND THE THINGS WHICH ARE NOTHING TO BRING TO NAUGHT THE THINGS THAT ARE. THIS IS A PICTURE OF A SERVANT OF GOD. THE ONE WHO REALIZES THAT OUTSIDE OF THE POWER, AND PRESENCE OF GOD WE CAN NOT DO THE THINGS WHICH WILL HONOR HIM ,BUT IF WE WOULD BE EMPTIED OF SELF ,AND DEVOTED TO SERVING HIM THEN OTHERS WILL SEE OUR GOD GIVEN FAITH, ONE DEMONSTRATED IN PURITY, AND BY THIS KNOW JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. HE IS SOVEREIGN GOD, AND SEE THAT GOD ALONE WILL GEY ALL THE GLORY, HONOR ,AND PRAISE. (1 COR. 1:29-31)
QUOTES FROM SERMON 1/24/2010
BY Pastor Joe Santos
1, IN ACTS CHAPTER 4 WE SEE THE AMAZEMENT BY THE RULERS IN JERUSALEM AT PETER AND JOHN'S BOLDNESS IN SPEECH. THESE WERE UNLEARNED UNEDUCATED MEN HOW COULD THEY THEN ARTICULATE SO WELL. THE ANSWER FOR THEM, AS WELL AS FOR ALL BELIEVERS ,IS FOUND IN THE FACT THAT THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS. WE TOO CAN BE LIKE HIM WHEN WE STAND UP FOR HIS TRUTH, FOR AS WE GROW IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST JESUS WE HAVE ACCESS TO THIS LEARNING POWER IN THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
2, IN ACTS 4:16 THE RULERS ACKNOWLEDGE THE MIRACLE OF HEALING PETER DID IN THE NAME OF JESUS. DID THEY THEN AND PROCLAIM AN AWARDS DAY FOR PETER AND JOHN ?NO THEY DID NOT. POLITICAL LEADERS DO NOT WANT CHANGES WHICH THREATENED THEIR POWER. AND WHEN CHRISTIANS STAND UP AGAINST DECISIONS OR LAWS WHICH GO CONTRARY TO GOD'S TRUTH THEY WILL RESPOND SOMETIMES, AS THEY DID TO PETER AND JOHN. READ ACTS 4:17.
3, SO WHAT WILL BE YOUR RESPONSE OR MINE? WILL WE LISTEN TO GOD, OR TO GOVERNMENT LEADERS WHOSE LAWS ARE AN AFFRONT TO THE HOLINESS OF OUR GOD. DO WE STAND WITH THE MOTTO LET GOD BE TRUE AND EVERY MAN A LIAR, OR DO WE CAVE IN? PETER SAID TO THESE RULERS, YOU DECIDE WHO YOU FOLLOW, AS FOR ME I CAN DO NOTHING ELSE BUT OBEY MY GOD..
4, OVER THE CENTURIES OF THE CHURCH SO MANY CIVILIZATIONS HAVE TRIED TO KILL OFF THE SPOKESMEN OF GOD'S TRUTH BUT THEY HAVE FAILED. THE CHURCH HAS CONTINUED ON BECAUSE GOD'S SOVEREIGN POWER AND PURPOSES WILL NOT AND CAN NOT BE SQUELCHED BY PUNY MANKIND. GOD WILL LAUGH THEM TO NOTHINGNESS. (PSALM 2)
5, REMEMBER THIS: TO BE BOLD AND FORTHRIGHT IN THE BATTLE FOR TRUTH WE DO NOT NEED TO BE FORMALLY EDUCATED. FORMAL EDUCATION CAN BE VALUABLE BUT NOT NECESSARY. ALL WE NEED TO DO IS TO BE WITH JESUS. (ACT 4:13). SPENDING TIME WITH JESUS BEGINS IN OUR INTELLECT, AS WE ABSORB HIS TEACHINGS. TRUTHS WHICH WILL JUSTIFY OUR HEARTS TO DO THOSE THINGS WHICH HONOR HIM.
6, HOW DARE OUR COUNTRY ALLOW THE KILLING OF THE UNBORN. BABIES ARE PERSONS ALONGSIDE THEIR MOTHERS WHO ARE BEING EXTERMINATED. THEY ARE HANDIWORKS OF GOD ALMIGHTY. WILL BE STAND UP FOR THEIR RIGHTS ?WILL WE OBEY GOD OR MAN? YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION BUT THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE ANSWER. STAND BOLDLY; STAND FORTHRIGHT; YOU WHO ARE WITH CHRIST JESUS.
WE DON'T HAVE TO WIN GOD WILL GET THE VICTORY BUT WE MUST STAND AND BE OBEDIENT SERVANTS OF OUR LORD.
NOW BEAR WITH ME I PROMISE WE WILL HAVE A SPIRITUAL APPLICATION TO WHAT HAPPENED TO ME THIS PAST WEEK. FIRST LET ME ASK YOU IF YOU REMEMBER THE FAIRY TAIL ABOUT HUMPTY DUMPTY WHO HAD A GREAT FALL? WELL, I HAD ONE THIS WEEK ( NO NEED TO SEND ME GET WELL CARDS:-)). ANYWAY, AS I CAME DOWN MY FRONT STEPS MY FEET SOME HOW GOT TANGLED, AND DOWN I WENT. MY WIFE AND MY SON ASKED ME IF I WAS ALL RIGHT. I REPLIED I AM OKAY I LIKE LAYING ON THE CONCRETE. IT IS SO INVITING. I DON'T THINK THEY HEARD ME. AT LEAST I DIDN'T NOTICE ANY OF THE KINGS MEN COMING TO PUT ME TOGETHER AGAIN. SO WHAT SPIRITUAL LESSON WAS THIS FOR ME, AND LORD WILLING FOR ALL OF US. IT IS JUST THIS, HE KEPT ME FROM HARM .OH, YES, I GOT A FEW SCRAPS, AND I WAS A LITTLE SORE, BUT NO DAMAGE. GOD SET ME ON THAT PAVEMENT IN A GENTLE WAY. OUR LORD'S HANDS TRULY ARE PROTECTED OF HIS CHILDREN. WE NEED TO REMEMBER THIS ALWAYS. DO YOU RECALL THOMAS THE DOUBTING DISCIPLE WHO DID NOT BELIEVE HIS LORD HAD RESURRECTED. HE SAID HE WOULD NOT BELIEVE UNLESS HE SAW THE NAIL PRINTS ON HIS HANDS. WELL, NEEDLESS TO SAY, AS WE KNOW JESUS DID APPEAR BEFORE THOMAS ,AND TOLD HIM TO LOOK AT HIS HANDS, HIS SIDE, AND HIS FEET TO SEE THE NAIL PRINTS. WHEN THOMAS SAW THEM HE FELL ON HIS FACE .AND WORSHIPPED HIS LORD JESUS. JESUS THEN SAID SOMETHING ABOUT HIS HANDS HE SAID YOU HAVE SEEN MY HANDS THOMAS , BUT BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN, AND YET BELIEVE. THOSE PEOPLE ARE WE WHO CAME AFTER THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD INTO HEAVEN. I FELT HIS HAND OF PROTECTION WHEN I FELL HE MADE SURE I WOULD NOT SUFFER ANY INJURY, BUT HE DID SUFFER FOR ME. HE FELT THE FULL BRUNT OF MEN'S HATRED, AND VIOLENCE TOWARDS HIM, AND HE DID IT FOR ME, AND YOU WHO ARE IN CHRIST. WE ARE SAFE IN THE HANDS OF JESUS. HE TELLS US NO POWER WILL EVER TAKE US FROM HIS BLESSED HANDS. EVEN THOUGH THE ENEMIES ARE NUMEROUS THEY CAN NEVER TOUCH US FOR HE IS WITH US. HE PROTECTS US, HE COMFORTS, HE SUSTAINS US, AND ONE DAY WE WILL FEEL THE EMBRACE OF HIS HANDS. WE WILL GAZE INTO THE FACE OF JESUS AND WE WILL BE WITH HIM IN THAT PLACE WHERE HE WENT TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR US. THAT PLACE WILL BE IN HIS PRESENCE WHERE THOSE NAILS PRINTS ARE IN HIS HANDS. SO, BELOVED, WHEN WE GO THROUGH TRIALS, BE THAT A FALL, OR A ILLNESS, OR SOME OTHER DISCOURAGEMENT REMEMBER AS HE TELL US IN ISAIAH. HE HAS US ENGRAVED ON HIS HANDS. BOY AM I GLAD HE IS MY GENTLE CHIEF AND GOOD SHEPHERD. YES I NEED TO BE MORE CAREFUL GETTING AROUND AND STOP TRYING TO IMITATE HUMPTY DUMPTY BUT I WILL TRY AND WHAT EVER HAPPENS WE CAN REJOICE IN THE CAPTAIN OF OUR SOULS. WE CAN FEEL EACH MORNING HIS COMPASSIONS AND MERCIES. OH HOW GOOD IS HIS HAND OF GRACE AND UNLIKE HUMPTY DUMPTY WE DO NOT NEED ALL THE KINGS MEN TO REVIVE US .WE ONLY NEED THE KING OF KINGS AND THE LORD OF LORDS.
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"LOVE IS THE GREATEST"
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS 
THE WORLD HAS MANY DEFINITIONS FOR LOVE AND MOST OF THEM HAVE A SELFISH QUALITY TO IT BUT THIS IS NOT TRUE FOR THE LOVE GOD HAS SHED ABROAD IN OUR HEARTS BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. THIS AGAPE LOVE IS A PRINCIPLE OF ACTION RATHER THEN MERE EMOTION. IT INVOLVES WHOLE HEARTED OBEDIENCE, AND IT EXPRESSES OUR GRATITUDE FOR GODS GRACIOUS LOVE TO US. THIS IS TO BE OUR MODEL WE IMITATE. (EPH. 4:32-5:2) . WE DO THINGS FOR OTHERS OUT OF A COMPASSION FOR THEM, AND NOT NECESSARILY WITH PERSONAL AFFECTION, BUT IT IS A LOVE OF THE WILL IN OBEDIENCE TO JESUS CHRIST AS HIS DISCIPLES. (JOHN 13:34,35). WHAT GREAT LOVE OUR LORD HAS DONE FOR US WHO ARE HIS CHILDREN. AT THE CROSS HE PASSED THROUGH IT ENDURING THE WRATH OF GOD THE FATHER TO TAKE US FROM THE FATHER'S ANGER. THIS IS WHY THE FATHER SENT HIS SON TO DIE FOR US. AND HE HAS PREPARED A PLACE FOR US A PLACE WHERE WE WILL BE GLORIFIED, MADE PERFECT, IN OTHER WORDS WE WILL BE GLORIFIED. OH WHAT GLORY IT WILL BE TO ON THAT DAY TO SEE THE GLORY OF HEAVEN OUR BLESSED LORD JESUS. I KNOW YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT DAY BUT TODAY WE CONTINUE TO WORK IN THIS SIN CURSED WORLD, IN THESE TEMPORARY BODIES THAT AWAIT THAT GLORY. BUT WE SERVE HIM TODAY IN HIS POWER. THE VERY POWER IN US AND TRULY GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN US THEN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD.
By Pastor Joe Santos
1, EVERY REVIVAL WHICH OCCURRED DOWN THROUGH THE CHURCH AGE AND WILL PRECEDE ALL FUTURE REVIVALS IS PRAYER. I DO NOT MEAN SUPERFICIAL, HALF HEARTED PRAYER, BUT FAITHFUL EFFECTUAL, AND FERVENT PRAYER . THIS IS THE PERSON WHO WIll BE ENGAGED IN EFFECTUAL PRAYER ACCORDING TO JAMES 5:16
2, THIS CHURCH, OR ANY BIBLE BELIEVING CHURCH WILL NEVER HAVE SPIRITUAL SUCCESS. IT WILL NEVER BE A VITAL SOURCE FOR OUR GOD UNTIL WE ARE CLEANSED OF OUR SINS AND THEN IN THIS ACTION OF REPENTANCE COME BEFORE GOD'S THRONE OF GRACE MAKING OUR PETITIONS, WHICH WE DESIRE, TO BE FULFILLED SOLELY AND ACCORDING TO HIS WILL.
3, WE ARE TOLD IN MATTHEW 9:36 THAT JESUS WAS MOVED WITH COMPASSION ON THE PEOPLE. HE IS ALSO MOVED WITH COMPASSION FOR YOU. HE CARES DEEPLY FOR THE SHEEP OF HIS SACRED SHEEPFOLD. HIS LOVE FOR YOU IS WITH A DIVINE LOVE. THE VERY LOVE HE HAS SHED ABROAD BY THE HOLY SPIRIT INTO OUR HEARTS. IT IS THIS LOVE, AS WE SURRENDER TO IT,WHICH WILL BE EVIDENT BY THE EMPTYING OF SELF, AND THEN TUNED TO GOD IN A FERVENT PRAYER LIFE AND WILL THEN SEE US GO TO A WORLD WHO NEEDS TO SEE AND BE BLESSED BY THIS LOVE AND HIS COMPASSIONS. WE ARE HIS TOOLS HE USES TO BRING THOSE LOST IN THEIR SIN INTO HIS SACRED SHEEPFOLD.
4, GOD TELLS ALL OF HIS ELECT TO GO INTO THE WORLD WITH THE GOSPEL MESSAGE. WE MAY BE SHY OR AWKWARD IN OUR SPEECH. WE MAY BE AFRAID OF PERSECUTION. BUT GOD TELLS US IN THE GREAT COMMISSION THAT HE WILL BE WITH US TO THE END OF THE AGE.
5, OUR BLESSED LORD CAME TO THIS SIN CURSED WORLD, NOT TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE, AND TO GIVE HIS LIFE A RANSOM FOR MANY. HE WAS A SERVANT, AND HE WANTS US TO SERVE OTHERS IN THEIR GREAT NEEDS. WE MAY WRONGLY FEEL THAT WE WANT TO BE SERVED, BUT GOD SAID THE GREATEST WILL BE THE SERVANT OF ALL. THIS IS THE ATTITUDE WHICH WILL BE USED OF GOD TO BRING HONOR TO HIM, AND BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS IT WILL BE EVIDENT BY A HEART OF COMPASSION FOR HURTING MEN WOMAN AND CHILDREN, FOR THAT IS THE WAY THE LOVE OF CHRIST IS REFLECTED IN PEOPLE WHO ARE PRAYER WARRIORS. THESE ARE THE VERY ONES WHO WILL BUILD OUR CHURCH, AND THIS REVIVAL WILL BEGIN FIRST IN MY HEART AND IN YOUR HEART.
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
1, LOVE IS TO BE THE ACTION OF ALL BELIEVERS. ACTIONS NOT ONLY IN WORDS, BUT IN DEEDS. HOW VERY IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE ALWAYS SEPARATE THE SINFUL ACTION FROM THE BELIEVER THEMSELVES. WE MUST DO WHAT WE CAN TO HELP OUR BROTHER OR SISTER TO FIND VICTORY OVER THE TENSION THAT IS CAUSING A PROBLEM IN OUR RELATIONSHIP.
2, TO MINISTER TO ONE WE MAY BE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH IS FOR US TO PUT THEIR INTERESTS OVER OUR OWN. IT WILL TAKE ON OUR PART AN EXERTION OF OUR WILL, AND NOT NECESSARILY OF OUR EMOTIONS ., WHEN WE ARE TREATED UNFAIRLY OUR DUTY IS TO LOVE THEM WITH OUR WILLS, AS WE SURRENDER OUR WILLS TO WHAT IS GOD'S WILL FOR US . WE CAN DO THIS BECAUSE OUR WILLS HAVE BEEN MADE ALIVE BY THE POWER OF THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT, AND HIS WORK OF REGENERATION ON OUR PART.
3,ROMANS 8:14 MEANS WE, AS GOD'S CHILDREN ,ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD. EACH BELIEVER IS BEING LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO LIVES IN US, AND WE ARE BEING SEPARATED FROM SIN AND INTO THE IMAGE OF JESUS CHRIST, AND THIS IMAGE IS A HOLY IMAGE.
4, ROMANS 8:13 ,14 TELLS US: W, BECAUSE OF THE DIRECTION THE HOLY SPIRIT IS TAKING US, WILL MORTIFY, OR REALLY, PUT TO DEATH THE MISDEEDS OF THE BODY. WE WILL DISPLAY THE FRUITS TO THE EXTENT WE ARE SUBMITTED TO THE HOLY SPIRIT IN US. IF THERE ARE NO ACTIONS ON THIS PART THEN THE FAITH EXPRESSED IS A DEAD FAITH. .
5 GOD, HAS WE SEE IN ROMANS 8:15, IS THE BELIEVERS ABBA, OR DADDY . READ ISAIAH 49:15,16. HE HAS THEM ENGRAVED ON THE PALMS OF HIS HANDS. THESE SCARS ARE THE BIRTHMARKS OF THE BELIEVER. THEY ALONE HAVE THE INNER ASSURANCE OF A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FATHER AS SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE MOST HIGH. HE. IT IS, WHO GIVES US ,IN THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, NEW GENES TO LIVE LIVES WHICH CAN GIVE US THE MORAL SPIRITUAL ABILITY TO LIVE LIVES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
6, OUR EARTHLY MOTHERS AND FATHERS LIVED ALONG SIDE US, AS WE GREW UP BUT OUR HEAVENLY FATHER LIVES WITHIN US ,AND NOT JUST TO TAKE UP SPACE BUT TO DO THREE THINGS .MARK THEM WELL. 1, TO RENEW OUR MINDS, 2ND TO STIR OUR HEARTS TO LOVE HIM AND OTHERS AND TO SERVE HIM. 3, HE HAS BAPTIZED US INTO ONE BODY, THE BODY OF CHRIST. WE ARE ALL ONE FAMILY NOW MADE UP OF DIFFERENT RACES ,DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS , INTELLECT AND ECONOMIC DIFFERENCES ,BUT THE SAME FAMILY ,THE SAME BODY, THE SAME FAITH, WHICH IS TO BE, AND WILL BE DEMONSTRATED IN LOVE FOR GOD, AND FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST, AND FOR THE LOST WHO DESPERATELY NEED CHRIST AS THEIR LORD AND SAVIOR.
7, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE LEAD BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD (GALATIANS 4:6)? IT MEANS A LOVE FOR GOD. A LOVE SEEN IN ACTION, OF SPEAKING TO HIM IN PRAYER, OF LISTENING TO HIS WORD,AND SEEKING EARNESTLY AND TRUTHFULLY HOW HE WOULD HAVE US OBEY HIM. THIS MY FRIEND IS HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT CONVICTS OUR HEARTS .HOW HE LEADS US IN THAT DIRECTION OF LOVE FOR OUR BLESSED GOD. IT IS THIS LOVE THAT WILL NOT BE SEEN IN SPLITS AMIDST THE BRETHREN OF OUR LORD, AND DIVISIONS IN THE CHURCH. LOVE DOES NOT DIVIDE FOR THE LOVE WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN IS A LOVE THAT SEES THAT BROTHER OR SISTER AS A CHILD OF GOD WHO IS LOVED BY JESUS CHRIST AND WHO OUR LORD TOLD US TO LOVE HIM OR HER, AS WE LOVE HIM.
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
1, THE GOOD WORKS BELIEVERS DO AS A PROOF OF THEIR SALVATION IS NOT SOMETHING WHICH FOLLOWS AFTER THE FAITH GOD GIVES THEM BUT IT IS PART AND PARCEL OF WHAT FAITH IS ALL ABOUT. IT IS THE EVIDENCE OF A TRUE GOD GIVEN FAITH IN THE BELIEVER.
2, SIN IS SLAVERY. IT IS FOOLISHNESS FOR ANY BELIEVER TO BE DELIVERED FROM SLAVERY TO IT AND THEN TO RETURN TO IT AGAIN. SIN, HOWEVER DOES NOT PRESENT ITSELF AS SLAVERY, BUT IT PROMOTES ITSELF AS THE VERY ACME OF FREEDOM. SIN IS HARMFUL EVEN THOUGH IT APPEARS TO BE VERY DESIRABLE. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A LITTLE SIN: DRUGS,, ALCOHOL, PORNOGRAPHY, CAN BE EXCUSED INTELLECTUALLY, EMOTIONALLY ,OR MORALLY. BUT SIN AT ANY LEVEL IS FATAL. THIS IS WHY WE MUST PRESENT THE GOSPEL AS A COMMAND FROM GOD AND NOT AS A PLEA, OR SOME TYPE OF ALTERNATIVE.
3, BELIEVERS ARE A SPECIAL PEOPLE IN GOD'S EYE. THEY ARE A REDEEMED PEOPLE; A NEW CREATION ;MEMBERS OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH WHICH MAKES THEM TRULY FREE. CHRIST GAINED OUR FREEDOM AT A GREAT PRIC,E AS HE DIED ON THAT CROSS TO PURCHASE US ,AND IN THE PROCESS HE HAS MADE US HIS SERVANTS OR SLAVES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS..
4 THE FREEDOM WE HAVE IN CHRIST IS UNLIKE ANY FREEDOM WE COULD RECEIVE FROM OUR GOVERNMENT, OR OUR RELIGION .THEY CAN NEVER SATISFY US, OR DELIVER TO US WHAT THEY PROMISE. TRUE FREEDOM YOU SEE IS FOUND ONLY IN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP IN A PERSON WHO IS JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. THE ONLY REAL FREEDOM THE BELIEVER COULD EVER KNOW IS THE FREEDOM OF SERVING JESUS CHRIST, AND THIS MEANS IN A LIFE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. ANYTHING ELSE IS SLAVERY REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE WORLD PROMISES YOU.
5 BELIEVERS HAVE BEEN MADE SERVANTS OF CHRIST, AND AS HIS SLAVES WE WILL OBEY HIM. THIS OBEDIENCE IS NOT SOMETHING ARBITRARY ON OUR PART, AND OBEDIENCE IS A NECESSARY ELEMENT OF IT. FAITH IS A GIFT WE ARE FREED FROM OUR BONDAGE TO OUR SIN MASTER, AND GIVEN OVER TO BEING SERVANTS OF GOD. THIS WAS HIS GIFT TO US ,AND OBEDIENCE IS THE ONE ESSENCE OF OUR LIVES WHICH WILL PROVE IF WE ARE TRULY SAVED.
6, THERE ARE ONLY TWO KINDS OF PEOPLE THAT INHABIT ATE GOD'S GREEN EARTH. THOSE WHO OBEY SIN ,WHICH LEADS TO DEATH AND ARE ENSLAVED BY ITM OR THOSE WHO ARE SET FREE FROM SIN TO SERVE THE LIVING GOD. THERE JUST ARE NO OTHER OPTIONS ,AND THIS IS THE MESSAGE BELIEVERS ARE TO PRESENT, AS THEY OBEY GOD'S GREAT COMMISSION TO THE LOST.
QUOTES FROM SERMON OF 12/27/2009
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
1,TO KNOW JESUS IS MUCH MORE THEN A HEAD KNOWLEDGE BUT IT INVOLVES OUR WHOLE BEING WHICH INCLUDES OUR INTELLECT OUR WILLS AND OUR HEARTS AND HE IS WORTH KNOWING IN THAT WAY BY THE COMPLETENESS OF OUR BEINGS FOR YOU CAN BE SURE JESUS WILL NEVER DISAPPOINT US.
2, THE APOSTLE PAUL KNEW THE POWER AND PRESENCE OF SIN IN HIS LIFE AND NEITHER MUST WE FOR SIN HAS A FATALISTIC QUALITY TO IT ONE THAT REEKS OF DEATH AND OUR FIGHT IS A FIGHT TO THE DEATH. WE MUST REMEMBER OUR SIN HAS BEEN KILLED AT THE CROSS AS OUR LORD DIED TO SIN SO THAT WE SHOULD NO LONGER LIVE TO IT ANY LONGER. OUR RENEWED PURPOSE FOR LIVING MUST BE SO THAT WE ARE TO RECKON OURSELVES DEAD TO SIN OUR OLD MAN IS DEAD AND OUR LIFE IS A LIFE IN THE RESURRECTED LIVING POWER AND PRESENCE OF THE GOD WHO LIVES IN US IN THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
3, IF WE ARE REALLY TO KNOW OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST THEN THERE MUST NOT BE ANY COMPROMISE NO WAVERING ON OUR PART BUT RATHER THERE MUST BE EVIDENT IN OUR LIVES A TOTAL UNCOMPROMISING AND COMPLETE OBEDIENCE TO OUR LORD.
4, IS YOUR DESIRE AND MINE TO BE SO LIVING FOR CHRIST THAT WE WOULD REFLECT HIS LIGHT? WILL OTHERS SEE IN US A RESURRECTED PERSON? WOULD THEY KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN WITH CHRIST AND ARE IN CLOSE COMMUNION WITH HIM? THIS IS GOD'S DESIRE FOR US HE CAN BRING THIS CHANGE IN US. HE IS THE ONE WHO TURNED SAUL THE GREAT PERSECUTOR OF THE CHURCH INTO THE APOSTLE PAUL. HE TURNED SIMON PETER THE DENIER INTO PETER THE ROCK HE TURNED JOHN THE HOT TEMPERED YOUTHFUL DISCIPLE WHO HE ONCE CALLED THE SON OF THUNDER INTO JOHN THE DISCIPLE OF LOVE AND HE CAN CHANGE OUR CHARACTER IN WHOM CHRIST HOLY AND LOVING CHARACTER MAY BE SEEN.
QUOTES FROM SERMON OF 12/20/2009
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
1, BELIEVERS HAVE RECEIVED THE GREATEST OF GIFTS, A SUPREME ONE WHICH WAS HANDED TO US. WE DID NOT DESERVE IT, NOR DID WE EARN IT, IT WAS GIVEN TO US TOTALLY BY HIS GRACE. BUT SAYING THIS I WONDER IF WE HAVE CAREFULLY OPENED THIS GIFT AND DISCOVERED FULLY WHAT THIS MARVELOUS GIFT INCLUDES. WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN FORGIVENESS FOR OUR SINS, BUT WE HAVE NOT FULLY SEARCHED OUT THE MANY BLESSINGS WHICH COME ALONG AND ARE INCLUDED IN THIS GIFT OF JESUS CHRIST. GOD HAS GIVEN US A QUANTITY OF ETERNAL LIFE BUT ALSO A QUALITY OF THIS LIFE ETERNAL
2, JESUS EXPERIENCED THE POWER OF SIN FROM WITHOUT HIMSELF. HE ALSO EXPERIENCED WITHIN HUNGER, THIRST, HEAT, FATIGUE, AND PAIN SO HE CAN EMPATHIZE WITH OUR PAIN, OUR SORROWS, AND GRIEF'S. HE UNDERSTANDS IT FULLY FOR HE SUFFERED IT AND HE IS ABLE, AS OUR GOD, TO COMFORT US, AND BRING US PEACE IN THE MIDST OF OUR TURMOIL'S . SO OFTEN THOUGH WE DO NOT MAKE USE OF HIS GIFT TO US WHEN OUR CHIEF AND GREAT SHEPHERD IS ALWAYS THERE FOR US.
3, OUR GOD IS NOT AN INDIAN GIVER. THE GIFT OF HIS SON IS OURS FOR ETERNITY. AS WE READ IN JOHN 10:29, GOD THE FATHER STANDS BEHIND HIS PROMISE OF OUR SECURITY. NO ONE COULD EVER SNATCH US AWAY FROM THE GOD WHO IS IN SOVEREIGN CONTROL OF ALL THINGS. (ROMANS 8:31-39).
4, DO WE FORGET THAT WE ARE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF HIS FAMILY? THEN WHY DO SO MANY OF HIS CHILDREN ACT AS IF THEY ARE ORPHANS? WE ARE HIS BOND SLAVES. HOW DARE ANY BELIEVER DICTATE TO GOD OR DISMISS THIS GREATEST OF GIFTS. HE, JESUS, IS OUR LORD, AND WHEN HE COMMANDS US TO PRAY, OR OBEY HIM, DO WE? WHEN HE TELLS US TO GATHER TOGETHER FOR WORSHIP DO WE OBEY? IF THIS WAS SO THEN WHY DO WE FIND SO MANY CHURCHES SHUTTING DOWN. JESUS IS NOT A GIFT WE CAN PUT IN A PRETTY BOX, AND TIE IT WITH A YELLOW RIBBON, AND PLACE IT IN THE CLOSETS OF OUR LIVES TO BE TAKEN OUT AT OUR OWN WHIMS. THE CHURCH OF OUR BLESSED LORD HAS BECOME SHALLOW BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT ADHERE TO WHAT THEIR LORD JESUS COMMANDS. HOW DARE WE HANDLE THIS GREATEST OF GIFTS IN A MANNER WHICH DOES NOT HONOR HIM. THE ONE WHO DIED FOR OUR SINS.
5, TODAY WE MAY FEEL WE ARE LACKING SOMETHING IN OUR LIVES. WE MAY FEEL EMPTY OF SOME IMAGINED NEED. THE PROBLEM IS NOT OF ANY LACK ON GOD'S PROVISION BUT IT IS RATHER IN OUR FOCUS. WE ARE TOLD TO SEEK THOSE TREASURES ABOVE, THE PLACE WHERE RUST, OR ROT CAN NOT COME IT, OR THIEVES STEAL. OUR FOCUS MUST BE VERTICAL ON OUR FRIEND JESUS CHRIST. HE IS ALWAYS NEAR AND AVAILABLE IN TIMES OF OUR NEEDS, OR HEARTACHE, AND IN OUR REJOICING AND CELEBRATIONS. HE NEVER LEAVES, OR FORSAKES US. NEVER
6, SO MANY BELIEVERS COMMIT THEMSELVES TO SERVE THEIR LORD, BUT THEY FAIL TO SURRENDER THEMSELVES TO THIS SERVICE, AND WHEN SURRENDER IS NOT THERE WE SEE MANY BELIEVERS LEAVE THEIR SERVICE. IT CAN BE SOMETHING TRIVIAL LIKE PERSONALITY CLASHES, OR SOMETHING ELSE, AND ALL THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT SURRENDERED THEMSELVES TO THE GOD WHO HAS GIVEN THEM THIS GREATEST OF GIFTS, JESUS CHRIST. GOD WANTS US TO BE EMPTIED OF SELF, AND THEN WE WILL BE FILLED WITH HIS SPIRIT AND ENABLED, AND DESIROUS TO DO GOD'S WILL DESPITE WHAT COMES AGAINST OUR SERVICE FOR OUR LORD. LET US ACT LIKE SOLDIERS WHO ARE TO BE OBEDIENT TO OUR COMMANDER IN CHIEF, FOR WE ARE IN A SPIRITUAL WAR, AND WE ARE TO DISCIPLINED SOLDIERS OF CHRIST JESUS.
1, THE SUPREME ATTITUDE OF CHRISTMAS IS TO BE WORSHIP. A WORSHIP FROM OUR HEARTS. A HEART FILLED WITH BOTH WONDER AND GRATITUDE BECAUSE OF WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US WHICH GIVES US NEVER A THOUGHT OF ANY PERSONAL NEEDS OR BLESSINGS. IT IS NOT: WHAT MORE WE CAN GET FROM HIM FOR WE HAVE RECEIVED IT ALL. IT IS RATHER ASKING OURSELVES, WHAT CAN WE GIVE HIM IN PRAISE, ADORATION, AND SERVICE? AND ALL THIS BECAUSE HE IS SIMPLY WORTH IT ALL.
2, COMING TO CHURCH, SINGING HYMNS, READING THE WORDS OF SCRIPTURE, HEARING A SERMON, GIVING IN THE OFFERING PLATE, ARE THE EFFECTS OF A WORSHIPPING HEART, BUT THEY ARE NOT THE SOURCE OR THE CAUSE OF IT. TRUE WORSHIP IS OF THE HEART, ONE THAT ADORES GOD, WHICH PRAISES HIM, AND DESIRES TO ONLY GIVE OF ONESELF IN TOTAL DEDICATION TO HIM.
3, HOW TRUE IT IS THAT OUR LIVES ARE IN CONSTANT CHANGE. EVENTS, CIRCUMSTANCES ,ENTER INTO OUR LIVES AND GO OUT OF IT BUT NOT WORSHIP FOR GOD THIS NEVER CHANGES. HE IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, FOREVER, AND TODAY, AND IN ALL THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES.. CHRIST NEVER CHANGES, OUR SALVATION NEVER CHANGES, HIS PROMISES NEVER CHANGES, OUR FUTURE NEVER CHANGES, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT IN US NEVER WILL LEAVE US. SO WHY THEN SHOULD OUR WORSHIP RISE AND FALL. TRUE WORSHIP WILL NOT.
4, JESUS SAID IN LUKE 4:8 .IT IS WRITTEN YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD AND SERVE HIM ONLY. ONLY HIM, JESUS SAID, ONLY GOD IS TO BE OUR FOCUS OF WORSHIP AND SERVICE. THINK OF IT IF YOU ARE SAVED FROM THE FIRES OF TORMENT ETERNAL TORMENT. HE TRULY DESERVES YOUR WORSHIP. MARY WAS TOLD THAT YOU SHALL CALL HIS NAME JESUS FOR HE SHALL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS.
5, YOUR REDEEMER HAS COME, AND WE WHO ARE HIS ARE GIFT WRAPPED. THE WRAP IS THE BLESSED HANDS OF JESUS. WE ARE ENCLOSED IN HIS NAIL SCARRED HANDS. SAFE FOREVER MORE, AND HE HOLDS US SECURELY IN HIS HAND OF GRACE AND MERCY. WE BELONG TO HIM, AND TAKE NOTE HE BELONGS TO US ALSO. WHAT A GIFT WHAT A GIFT INDEED.
"THE PAIN OF CHRISTMAS"
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
1, WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD? JESUS WAS BORN TO SUFFER AS HE TOOK THE PENALTY FOR OUR SINS, AND TO PAY IT IN FULL TO RECONCILE US TO GOD.
2, NOTE CHRISTIAN THE SCARS ON THE HANDS OF YOUR LORD. THESE ARE THE SCARS JESUS KEEPS. THESE MAN MADE SCARS ON HIS HANDS, ON HIS FEET, AND IN HIS SIDE ARE THE ONLY MAN MADE THINGS WHICH ARE IN HEAVEN. BUT HOW PRECIOUS THESE SCARS OF SUFFERING ARE FOR THEY WERE SUFFERED, NOT FOR HIM, BUT FOR YOU IF YOU ARE HIS CHILD.
3, THE QUESTION THAT IS RAISED TOO OFTEN IS WHY DOES GOD ALLOW SUFFERING? BUT THE GREATER QUESTION WHICH IS SELDOM ASKED IS WHY DOES GOD SUFFER? GOD SUFFERS TODAY WHEN WE GRIEVE HIM BY OUR SINS. GOD IS GRIEVED WHEN HIS CHILD IS ATTACKED. WHEN THEY ARE PERSECUTED, HE IS PERSECUTED. THIS IS WHY HE TOLD SAUL ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS : WHY ARE YOU PERSECUTING ME. HE TRULY UNDERSTANDS THE PAIN OF HIS CHILDREN (HEBREWS 2:17,18 /HEBREWS 4:15)
4, PAIN HAS A UNIFYING PURPOSE. THE CHURCH IN AMERICA IS FILLED WITH APATHY BECAUSE MATERIALISM FUELS IT IN THE CONGREGATIONS. THE CHURCH HAS NEVER FLOURISHED EXCEPT WHEN IT IS TESTED, AND GOD TESTS IT, NOT WITH EASE, OR COMFORT BUT IN TRIALS AND TESTING, AND HE DOES IT BECAUSE PRIDE IS THE VERY THING THAT WILL CAUSE SPLITS AND CONFLICTS AMID THE PEOPLE OF GOD. BUT MORE SO THIS OFFENDS OUR GOD. TO MANY CHURCHES IN OUR COUNTRY ARE LIKE THE CHURCH AT LAODICEA. READ IT IN REV. 3:15-22
5, JESUS IS KNOCKING AT THE DOOR OF OUR CHURCH. HE WANTS TO ENTER IN BUT HE WILL ONLY ENTER IN AS WE RECOGNIZE OUR SPIRITUAL BANKRUPTCY AND RESPOND TO HIM IN SAVING FAITH. GODLY HUMILITY WILL DEMAND A COST FROM US, BUT IT WILL BE DONE FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE. JESUS HAS SHOWN US THE EXAMPLE OF SUFFERING ,AND FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE IT IS A COST THAT IS WORTH IT.
6, THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON LET US LOOK AT CHRISTMAS THROUGH GOD'S PERSPECTIVE. TAKE OUR LORD'S BIRTH. FORGET ABOUT THE NEAT, CLEAN, MANGER SCENES YOU SEE DISPLAYED. THE MANGER OUR LORD LAID IN WAS A PLACE WHERE ANIMALS WHERE HOUSED. HE WAS FORCED TO GO TO THAT BARN BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ROOM IN THE INN FOR HIM. SO HOW ABOUT YOU AND I? DO WE TELL HIM LORD ,"GO LIVE IN THE UNCLEAN PLACES IN OUR LIVES. FOR WE HAVE NO ROOM FOR YOU IN THE INNS OF OUR HEART:. JESUS HAD NO PLACE TO LAY HIS HEAD. THE ONLY CLOTHES HE HAD WHERE STRIPPED FROM HIM JUST BEFORE HIS CRUCIFIXION. LO0K AT HIS SCARS NOW AND KNOW ONCE AND FOR ALL IN YOUR VERY SOULS THAT THE PAIN OF CHRISTMAS WAS A PAIN YOUR LORD CHOSE TO SUFFER IN YOUR PLACE. (JOHN 10:17-18)
7, WHEN YOU GET TO HEAVEN YOU WILL FIND THE SCARS ON YOUR LORD, BUT THERE WILL NOT BE ANY NAILS UP THERE. WHY NO NAILS? WELL BECAUSE IT WASN'T NAILS THAT HELD JESUS FAST TO HIS CROSS, BUT IT WAS HIS LOVE FOR YOU THAT DID THIS. LET US NEVER FORGET TO REMEMBER HIS GREAT LOVE FOR US (HEBREWS 2:9-10)
8, THE PAIN WE MUST ENDURE AS BELIEVERS IS NOT WITHOUT IT'S BLESSINGS. GOD BRINGS IT TO US SO THAT WE CAN COMFORT OTHERS WITH THE COMFORT WE HAVE RECEIVED FRO M GOD. READ 2 COR. 1:3-5
QUOTE FROM SERMON :" A POLITICAL CRISIS IN AMERICA"
By Pastor Joe Santos 11/22/2009
1, 1, DO WE THINK AS A NATION THAT WE CAN MOVE AWAY FROM OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO GOD AND THINK FOR ONE MOMENT THERE WILL NOT BE A PRICE TO PAY. NO NATION CAN BUILD ON A FOUNDATION OF SINKING SAND WHICH IS A LACK OF JUSTICE. GOD IS NOT SOME DISINTERESTED BYSTANDER TWIDDLING HIS THUMBS WHILE WE CONTINUE IN OUR GODLESS WAYS. THERE IS A PRICE TO PAY MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT THAT.
2, WHAT IS NEEDED BY OUR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. THE ANSWER IS THAT THEY ARE TO DO PRECISELY WHAT GOD HAS COMMANDED THEM AND THIS INVOLVES FULFILLING THEIR GOD GIVEN ROLE AS GOD'S MINISTER. (ROMANS 13:4)
3, WHAT IS NEEDED BY OUR LEADERS ARE THE FOLLOWING TRAITS. JUST A COUPLE OF THEM.
1, WISDOM: THIS IS TO HATE WHAT GOD HATES IT DOES NOT INCLUDE OUR LEADERS HAVING THEIR OWN AGENDAS. SADLY THIS IS WHAT THEY HAVE MANY TIMES FUELED BY SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS AND
SOME HAVE EVEN COMMITTED CRIMES AGAINST THE ONE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT.
2, HONESTY: INSTEAD OF TELLING THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR THEY ARE TOLD LIES. GOD HATES LIARS. JESUS TOLD THIS TO THE LEADERSHIP IN ISRAEL IN JOHN 8:44 AND THAT MESSAGE HAS NOT CHANGED HERE IN OUR NATION. IF WE WILL NOT STAND FOR TRUTH WE WILL FALL FOR ANYTHING.
4, THE NATIONS OF THIS PLANET SO CAREFULLY CRAFTS OUT THEIR POLITICAL PLANS AND TAKE PLEASURE IN SEEING THEM COME TO PASS. HOW FOOLISH THEY ARE TO THINK THEIR GODLESS LAWS COULD OVERRULE THE TRUTHS OF GOD. GOD WILL HAVE NONE OF THIS FOOLISHNESS HE WILL IN HIS SET TIME DO WHAT HE TELLS US IN PSALM 33:10-12. THEY WILL FALL AND HE WILL SET UP HIS RULE HERE ON EARTH.
5, WE ARE TO SUBMIT AND RESPECT OUR GOVERNMENT BUT SUBMISSION IS NOT THE SAME AS OBEDIENCE. OUR GREATEST PRIORITY IS THE OBEDIENCE WE HAVE TO GOD. THIS WILL ALWAYS TAKE PRIORITY OVER THE LESSER PRINCIPLE OF OBEDIENCE TO MEN. AS PETER TOLD THE RULERS IN JERUSALEM WE OUGHT TO OBEY GOD RATHER THEN MAN.(ACTS 5:27-29)
6, GOD DOES NOT WANT US TO BE REBELLIOUS TO OUR GOVERNMENT AS LONG AS THEY DO NOT TRY TO FORCE US TO DO WHAT IS AGAINST HIS WORD ONLY IN THAT SCENARIO DO WE REFUSE TO SUBMIT. THE REASON WE ARE NOT TO BE REBELLIOUS IS BECAUSE OUR GOD IS IN SOVEREIGN CONTROL SO WHEN OUR RULERS ARE NOT DEMANDING WE ARE TO DISOBEY HIS WORD THEN WE ARE COMMANDED IN ROMANS 13 TO BE RESPECTABLE OBEDIENT SERVANTS OF THE POWERS THAT GOD HAS PLACED OVER US IN THE SOCIETY WE ARE LIVING IN.
7, OUR PRESIDENTS MAKE IT A POINT TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE RULERS OF NATIONS. THIS IS GOOD BUT WHAT WOULD BE SO MUCH GREATER IS THAT THEY WOULD KEEP IN TOUCH WITH GOD. THE GREATEST LEADERS OUR NATION HAVE KNOWN ARE THOSE WHO COMMUNED WITH GOD . HOW LONG WILL GOD BE PATIENT WITH A SOCIETY THAT FORGETS HIM AS WE SEE A GOVERNMENT NOT FOR THE PEOPLE BUT RATHER IN PLACE OF THE PEOPLE.
QUOTES FROM SERMON OF1, JUDE 20 TELLS US TO PRAY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. THIS MEANS OUR PRAYERS ARE A CALL TO PRAY CONSISTENTLY IN THE WILL AND POWER OF THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT: IN THE VERY SAME WAY AS IT MEANS PRAYING IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. WHEN WE PRAY THIS WAY, IT WILL NOT BE OUR SETTING THE AGENDAS OR DETER MING OUR PERSONAL WISHES TO OUR PRAYER REQUESTS, BUT ALLOWING HIS WILL TO BE DONE IN OUR LIVES. IT WILL BE THEN WE WILL REALIZE THAT HIS WAY AND HIS WILL FOR OUR LIVES IS FAR BETTER AS EPHESIANS 3:20 STATES.
2, ANOTHER WAY GOD RESPONDS TO OUR PRAYERS IS THAT THESE REQUESTS OF OURS WILL BE DELAYED. WE TEND TO WANT AN ANSWER FROM HIM, AND TO WANT IT NOW, OR VERY SOON, BUT GOD DOES NOT MARCH TO ANYONE'S DRUM BEAT. FOR HE IS NOT CONNECTED TO SECONDS, MINUTES, HOURS, OR TIME ITSELF. GOD IS ETERNAL AND SO WHEN WE THINK HE IS SLOW ACTING IN REGARD TO OUR PRAYERS WE ARE OFF BASE, FOR GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR THAT TIME WE FALSELY CLASSIFY AS DELAYED PRAYERS. READ ISAIAH 30:18
3, GOD WILL TAKE AWAY ALL PHYSICAL ENTITIES IN OUR LIFE, IF HE DEEMS IT NECESSARY TO PROFIT US SPIRITUALLY. HE TELLS US TO LOOK FOR THE TREASURES WE HAVE IN HEAVEN, AND THESE ARE ETERNAL TREASURES. THE PHYSICAL ONES WE HAVE ON EARTH ARE TEMPORAL. HE IS CONFORMING US TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST, AND THIS IS IN THE PURIFYING POT OF HIS SANCTIFYING GRACE. IT CAN BE GRIEVOUS, BUT IN THE END IT WILL DEVELOP IN ALL OF HIS CHILDREN THE HOLY PURE IMAGE OF JESUS.
4, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO PRAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS? WELL, IT MEANS THAT ONLY THROUGH HIM, WHO IS THE ONLY WAY TO THE FATHER, CAN WE FIND THE ONE WAY TO RECEIVE THE APPROVAL OF GOD THE FATHER. TO PRAY IN HIS NAME ALSO MEANS TO SEEK HIS WAY FOR OUR LIVES AND HIS WAY IS TRULY BEST FOR US. (JOHN 14:6-14)
5, WE WILL BRING OUR PRAYERS, AS WE SEE IN THE PASSAGE OF JOHN 14:13 THAT GOD WILL GET ALL THE GLORY. SO WE NEED TO ASK, DO WE PURSUE HIS GLORY DESPITE WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR LIVES? GOD HAS SHED HIS LOVE IN OUR HEARTS AND WE ARE TO REFLECT IT IN OUR PRAYER LIFE FOR OTHERS, AND IT IS AN UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.
6, PRAYER IS NOT SOME METHOD BY WHICH MAN ON EARTH GETS HIS WILL DONE IN HEAVEN, BUT PRAYER RATHER IS A METHOD BY WHICH GOD IN HEAVEN GETS HIS WILL DONE ON EARTH.
7, FOR US TO PRAY IN THE WILL OF GOD. IT MEANS THAT ON OUR PART COMPLETE SURRENDER TO HIS WILL. IT IS FINDING A DESIRE IN THE HEART OF OUR FATHER, AND PUTTING THAT DESIRE INTO OUR HEARTS. JESUS SAID, WHERE YOUR HEART IS THERE IS YOU’RE TREASURES. (READ AND MEMORIZE PSALM 34:4)QUOTES FROM SERMON OF NOV. 1, 2009
What is the Christian Life?
By Pastor Joe Santos
1 THE SOURCE OF JOY FOR THE BELIEVER IS IN US. YOU DO NOT NEED TO SEARCH FOR THE POWER TO LIVE THE VICTORIOUS, JOYOUS, LIFE HE IS IN US, HE LIVES IN US, AND HE OPERATES IN US. HE, OF COURSE, IS THE HOLY SPIRIT.
2, WHEN PAUL IN EPHESIANS TELLS US TO BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT. THE GREEK MEANING OF THAT WORD IS TO BE KEPT FILLED. IT IS NOT A SECOND WORK OF GRACE, BUT IT IS A ONE TIME EXPERIENCE, AND IT IS A CONTINUAL, ONGOING EXPERIENCE OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. TO BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT MEANS THAT YOU ARE CONTINUALLY SURRENDERING YOUR WILL, MIND, BODY, YOUR TIME, TALENTS, AND TREASURES, EVERY SINGLE SOLITARY AREA OF YOUR LIFE TO HIS CONTROL.
3, AS WE STUDY GOD'S WORD OUR THOUGHTS BECOME SATURATED WITH CHRIST. THEN WE BECOME CHRIST CENTERED, CHRIST CONSCIOUS, AT ALL TIMES. THIS IS WHAT IT IS TO BE SPIRIT FILLED.
4, GOD HAS GIVEN US, HIS CHILDREN, SPIRITUAL GIFT OR GIFTS. FOR CARRYING OUT OUR ASSIGNMENTS, AND WE NEED THE WORD OF GOD TO DWELL IN US RICHLY. TO LEARN IT, TO STUDY IT, AND TO OBEY IT, AND THEN TO SEE CLEARLY WHERE WE STAND. THE PROBLEM WITH MANY BELIEVERS IS THEY DO NOT KNOW THEIR POSITION IN THE BODY OF CHRIST, AND SO THEY ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE. THEY ARE ACTING AS IF THEY HAVE NO DIRECTION WHILE DENYING THAT THEY ARE DIFFERENT MEMBERS, BUT YET ALL ONE IN THE SAME BODY WHICH IS CHRIST JESUS.
5, WE WHO HAVE BEEN REGENERATED, ADOPTED, SANCTIFIED, BROUGHT INTO GOD'S FAMILY, INDWELLED BY HIM ARE TO ACT LIKE ONE OF HIS CHILDREN. WE ARE TO REFLECT HIS LIGHT. WE ARE TO BE HIS LIVING EPISTLES, BOTH IN WORD AND DEED. FOR WE BELONG TO HIM, WE BELONG TO CHRIST JESUS. WE ARE HIS POSSESSION, AND WE ARE TO YIELD OUR MEMBERS AS INSTRUMENTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO GOD.
6, HIS LOVE SHOULD STIR US TO UNDERSTAND, AND TO FULLY APPLY OUR SPIRITUAL RESOURCES. THIS IS WHAT GOD'S WORD URGES US TO DO.? WE ARE TO BE CONTINUALLY FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT, AND BY THIS ACTION THEN MATURE IN CHRIST. TO GROW IN HIS GRACE AND IN HIS KNOWLEDGE. IT WILL BE THEN WE WILL BE MOVED TO RELY MORE CONSISTENTLY ON THE RESOURCES GOD HAS GIVEN US, AND WHICH WILL BE UNLEASHED IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AS WE ARE FILLED CONTINUALLY BY HIM
QUOTES TAKEN FROM SERMON 10/25/2009
"TO GOD BE THE GLORY"
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
1, TRUE WORSHIP IS OBTAINED INWARDLY IN OUR SPIRIT AND IN HIS TRUTH. IT IS TO BE IN A PROPER GOD HONORING HEART ATTITUDE ON CONSISTENT WITH REVEALED SCRIPTURE AND CENTERED ON THE WORD MADE FLESH WHO IS JESUS CHRIST.
2, TO WORSHIP GOD IN ANY WAY BESIDES IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH IS IDOLATRY. WE WORSHIP IN OUR SPIRIT (PHIL. 3:3) WE REJOICE IN CHRIST JESUS AND HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE FLESH. JESUS IS OUR JOY. NOT OUR DENOMINATIONS OR OUR RELIGIOUS PRACTICES BUT IN HIM ALONE IN CHRIST JESUS ALONE.
3, BELIEVERS ARE WALKING TALKING SANCTUARIES IT IS WHERE GOD DWELLS AND NOT IN TEMPLES OR SANCTUARIES MADE BY THE HANDS OF MEN. GOD LIVES IN THE BELIEVER IN THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. (ACTS 17:24-25)
4, OUR BODIES ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. IT IS THIS BECAUSE WE WERE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE. OUR BODIES NOW NO LONGER BELONG TO US IT BELONGS TO OUR LORD AND WE BETTER TREAT IT VERY CAREFULLY FOR IT IS A HOLY RESIDENCE. (1 COR. 6;19-20)
5, WORSHIP ALSO INCLUDES OUR GATHERING TOGETHER (HEBREWS 10:24, 25). WE COME TO GATHER TOGETHER FOR TWO REASONS: 1, TO SHOW TO OTHERS THAT GOD IS IMPORTANT AND 2, TO SHOW THAT PEOPLE ARE IMPORTANT IT IS NOT THAT WE SIMPLY COME TO CHURCH TO WORSHIP BUT THAT WE BRING OUR WORSHIP TO CHURCH.
6, TRUE WORSHIP IS EVIDENT IN OUR PRAISE TO OUR GOD FOR ALL HE DOES FOR US. DO WE PRAISE HIM WELL IF WE COMPLAIN WE ARE SAYING GOD IS WITHHOLDING HIS BLESSINGS FROM US AND TO DO THIS IS NOT WORSHIPPING HIM IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.
7, REAL WORSHIP IS IN OUR SPIRIT AND ALSO IN HIS WORD. REAL WORSHIP IS BASED UPON THE WORD OF GOD. IT IS NOT ACCOMPLISHED BY A LARGE GROUP OF CLERGY OR THEOLOGIANS SITTING AROUND A TABLE DECIDING WHAT SHOULD BE DONE IN THE CHURCHES THEY LEAD BUT IT IS BASED ON THE IMMUTABLE DIVINE WORD OF GOD. HOW WE NEED TO OBEY IT MEDITATE ON IT AND THE EXCELLENCY OF HIS WORD. (PSALM 119:1-5)
QUOTES FORM SERMON 10/18/2009
"THE CHURCH CHRIST BUILDS"
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
1, THE CHURCH THAT WILL HONOR GOD IS THE CHURCH THAT DOES NOT DEPEND ON PEOPLE OR GIMMICKS OR PROGRAMS. NONE OF THESE. BUT RATHER IT IS THE CHURCH WHERE THE LORD IS THE ONLY BUILDER.
2, THE CHURCH WILL NEVER FAIL AND IT CAN NOT FAIL BECAUSE JESUS SAID," I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH." I ASK IS BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH A CHURCH BUILT BY JESUS CHRIST? WELL WE CAN ANSWER THIS QUESTION BY OUR LIVING IN OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD OF GOD. JESUS SAID," IF YOU LOVE ME YOU WILL KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS". IN OTHER WORDS CHRIST IS CERTAIN TO BUILD HIS CHURCH WHEREVER BELIEVERS LIVE IN RIGHTEOUS OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD OF GOD.
3, WE DO NOT KNOW WHO GOD'S ELECT ARE BUT WE KNOW THAT ALL WHO GOD HAS DRAWN TO SALVATION WILL COME THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. WE WHO ARE HIS ARE HIS MEANS, HIS TOOLS, HE USES TO FULFILL HIS PURPOSE WHICH IS TO BUILD HIS CHURCH, AND REMEMBER HIS WORD WILL NOT FAIL FOR IT DOES NOT DEPEND ON OUR ABILITIES ,OR INABILITIES BUT SOLELY ON HIS SOVEREIGN GRACE.
4, IN THE ACCOUNT OF LUKE 10:38-42 JESUS TOLD MARTHA THAT HER SISTER MARY HAS CHOSEN THE GOOD PART AND IT SHALL NOT BE TAKEN FROM HER. SHE FOUND THIS SITTING AT THE FEET OF JESUS. ARE YOU SITTING AT THE FEET OF JESUS? DO YOU DO IT OFTEN SPEAKING TO HIM IN PRAYER AND LISTENING TO HIM AS HE SPEAKS TO YOU THROUGH HIS WORD? THIS BELOVED IS WHERE INTIMACY IS DISCOVERED WITH JESUS CHRIST.
5, JESUS SAID," I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH" IT MEANS THE CALLED OUT ONES THE CALLED OUT ASSEMBLY. IT IS A CONGREGATION, OR A COMMUNITY OF REDEEMED PEOPLE. PEOPLE WHO ARE GATHERED TO GOD. HE IS NOT SPEAKING OF DENOMINATIONS. HE IS SPEAKING OF SAVED INDIVIDUALS. THOSE WHO WERE, AND ARE DRAWN TO FAITH IN HIS SON.
6, PEOPLE, MANY OF THEM, SAY WE LIVE IN A POST CHRISTIAN ERA. THAT AMERICA IS ON THE VERGE OF DIVESTING ITSELF OF ANY AND ALL OF WHAT OUR COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED UPON, AND THE CHURCH WILL FALL WITH OUR CIVILIZATION AS WE KNOW IT. BUT THEY ARE WRONG, AND I SAY THIS BECAUSE THE CHURCH DOES NOT DEPEND ON THE RISE AND FALL OF AMERICA BECAUSE AS JESUS TOLD US, AND HE CANNOT FAIL, HE IS BUILDING HIS CHURCH, AND HE WILL COMPLETE THAT WORK OF GRACE.
7, LOCAL CHURCHES WHO ARE THE GATHERING PLACES OF TRUE BELIEVERS, THE BODY OF CHRIST, WILL REMAIN A VITAL FORCE FOR CHRIST. NOT AS THEY SIMPLY GROW NUMERICALLY, BUT ONLY AS THE PEOPLE IN THE CHURCHES LIVE RIGHTEOUS LIVES. JESUS WILL NOT BLESS, OR BUILD WHERE HE DOES NOT FIND RIGHTEOUSNESS. IT MUST BE BUILT UPON JESUS, AND THIS IS DONE AS WE ARE COMMITTED TO HIS WORD, AND THIS WILL ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO CHANGE OUR LIVES. THIS BELOVED IS THE ONLY WAY WE WILL THEN MANIFEST HIS GLORY IN THE CHURCH
QUOTES FROM SERMON OF 10/11/2009
"A Time to Grow Up"
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
1, WE WHO HAVE BEEN REGENERATED HAVE NO EXCUSE NOT TO GROW UP SPIRITUALLY. FOR THROUGH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WORD OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT PROVIDES TO ALL HIS SAINTS THE CAPACITY TO DISCERN DIVINE TRUTH. (SEE 1 CORINTHIANS 2:10-12)
2, WE ARE TOLD IN 2 TIM. 2; 15 TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD OF GOD. THIS MEANS WE ARE TO BE PRECISE AND ACCURATE IN OUR INTERPRETATION OF THE BIBLE BECAUSE THIS WISDOM WE HAVE ACCESS TO ARE NOT MERELY FACTS WE HARBOR IN OUR INTELLECTS BUT WE ARE TO OBEY IT, WE ARE TO LIVE IT. IT IS IN ESSENCE PUTTING WISDOM WE GET FROM GOD AND AS WE UNDERSTAND IT THIS IN UNISON WILL RESULT IN SPIRITUAL MATURITY.
3, DO WE HAVE STRIFE AND DIVISIONS IN OUR CHURCH? WELL UNLESS WE BIND TOGETHER IN TRUTH AND LOVE WE WILL NOT FIND THE ANSWER TO THIS CARNALITY. LOVE AND TRUTH IS HERE IN US IN THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE HOLY SPIRIT TEACHES US GOD'S TRUTH AND AS ROMANS 5:5 STATES IT IS HE THAT HAS GIVEN US HIS DIVINE LOVE. WITHOUT THE WILL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WE ARE MERE MEN AND NOT SPIRITUAL MEN AND WOMAN. (1 COR 3:1-3)
4. TO LIVE IN THE SPIRIT MEANS WILL BE EVIDENT IN RIGHTEOUS ACTIONS, OUR ACTIONS WHICH WILL HONOR OUR GOD AND BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS. TO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST AND A LOVE AND BURDEN FOR THE LOST.
5, TO LIVE BY THE SPIRIT MEANS WE LEARN FROM HIM FOE HERE IS WHERE REAL FREEDOM IS DISCOVERED. NOT THE FREEDOM THIS WORLD PROMISES US BUT NEVER DELIVERS BUT IT IS A FREEDOM FROM SELF. SELF SATISFACTION, SELF PRIDE, SELF PRIDE AND BEING FREE FROM THESE HUMAN LIMITATIONS WE ARE THEN FREE TO SERVE OUR CHRIST, FREE TO LOVE HIS CREATURES FREE THEN TO HONOR AND GLORIFY OUR LORD AS OUR SOVEREIGN LORD AND SAVIOR GOD.
6, GOD HATES HUMAN WISDOM WHICH MOVES OUR WORLD, ITS PHILOSOPHIES, ITS STANDARDS ITS GOALS. WORLDLY WISDOM IS DANGEROUS IT IS DECEPTIVE AND IT IS DEMONIC. WE DARE NOT MAKE THESE WORLDLY OBJECTIVE EVIDENCES OUR SUBJECTIVE RATIONAL CONCLUSIONS. FOR WE HAVE A GREATER DEVINE WISDOM ONE THAT GOD REVEALS TO US BY REVELATION BY INSPIRATION AS HE OPENS OUR MINDS TO HIS DIVINE TRUTH THE VERY TRUTH WE ARE TO LIVE OUT IN OUR LIVES TO HIS HONOR AND FOR HIS GLORY ALONE
9, MY PRAYER FOR US IS THAT HIS PEACE WILL RULE HERE IN OUR CHURCH. FOR YOU BELONG TO HIM AND BECAUSE YOUR LIFE IS HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD. YOU AND I CAN BE TRULY MORE THEN CONQUERORS. THIS MEANS NO POWER NO STORM CAN TAKE AWAY FROM US THE PEACE WE HAVE IN CHRIST. IT IS A PEACE THAT WILL ALLOW US TO LIVE IN PEACE WITH ONE ANOTHER HAS ONE BODY IN CHRIST JESUS.
QUOTES FROM THIS SERMON 10/04/2009
PASTOR JOE SANTOS
1, GOD HAS MADE US A SEPARATED PEOPLE. PEOPLE WITH A VALUE SYSTEM THAT IS NOT ONE WHICH IS MOTIVATED OR DICTATED BY THIS WORLD. BUT ONE ENERGIZED, EMPOWERED AND MANUFACTURED BY THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT.
2, WHEN WE BECOME SO PREOCCUPIED BY THIS godless WORLD BY OUR WANTS OUR NEEDS OUR RIGHTS WE WILL NOT SEE THEN THE MATCHLESS WORTH OF JESUS CHRIST.
3, BETHEL'S STRENGTH OUR WEALTH MUST NEVER BE FOUND IN OUR BANK ACCOUNTS BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ATTEND OUR CHURCH OR BY THE LACK OF NUMBERS. IT IS NOT IN WHAT WE KNOW INTELLECTUALLY BUT OUR SUFFICIENCY IS FOUND IN JESUS CHRIST ALONE.
4, IT IS INWARDLY IN THE RESIDENCE OF OUR SOUL HERE IS WERE WE WILL FIND THE SATISFACTION BREAD CANNOT FILL UP AND CAN NEVER SATISFY US IT WILL BE DISCOVERED AS WE ARE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF OUR MINDS SO THAT WE WILL THEN BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD AND IT'S STANDARDS.
5, THE KEY TO LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE WILL BE FILLED AND GO ON TO HONOR OUR GOD IS SOMETHING WHICH CANNOT BE FOUND IN THROUGH OR IN OUR OWN RESOURCES OR STRENGTH. TRUE HAPPINESS IS IN ONLY ONE WAY AND THAT IS THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHICH INDWELLS US AND IN OUR SURRENDER TO HIM WE WILL KNOW A DEPENDENCY ON JESUS CHRIST ONE THAT WILL RESULT IN OBEDIENCE TO HIM AND THEN WE WILL HAVE THE KEY TO TRUE BLESSED HAPPINESS.
6 JESUS IN MATT. 5:3 SAYS TO US THIS," OURS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN". JESUS IS SPEAKING IN THE PRESENT TENSE. WE ARE CITIZENS OF HIS KINGDOM NOW. IT IS NOT A GIFT WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR WE CAN EXPERIENCE THIS BLESSEDNESS NOW IT BELONGS TO US NOW AND IN ALL THE TODAY'S OF ETERNITY. WE HAVE THE GRACE OF HIS KINGDOM NOW AND WE WILL HAVE THE GLORY LATER WHEN WE SEE HIM AS HE IS. (1 JOHN 3:2)
7, WE WHO FOLLOW JESUS NEED TO KNOW WHAT OUR TRUE REFLECTION IS IN LIGHT OF HIS WORD THAT IS IN OUR OWN RESOURCES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT THEY ARE WORTHLESS FOR THE FEEDING OF OUR SOULS. WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT IN OUR UTTER DEPENDENCY ON GOD ONLY THIS WILL CAUSE US TO SEEK TO STARVE THE PRIDE OF OUR FLESH.
8, REMEMBER THIS WE HAVE CHRIST HE BELONGS TO US. AND SO DO WE POSSESS HIS KINGDOM NOW. I ASK YOU IS NOT THIS GRACE SOMETHING YOU AND I CAN INDEED THANK HIM FROM THE DEPTHS OF OUR HEARTS?
QUOTES FROM MY SERMON 9/27/2009
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
"THE LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST"
1, THE TITLE GIVEN TO OUR LORD JESUS MEANS ONE WHO HAS ABSOLUTE POWER, AUTHORITY AND CONTROL THE ONE WHO IS THE OWNER AND MASTER OF YOU AND I. HE BELOVED IS THE ONE WE ARE TO SURRENDER TO. WE OFTEN WRONGLY CONFUSE COMMITMENT WITH SURRENDER. COMMITMENT MAKES YOU IN CONTROL WHEN YOU SURRENDER YOU ARE NO LONGER IN CONTROL. YOU'RE LORD JESUS IS.
2, OUR BODY BELONGS TO CHRIST OUR LORD AND NOT TO ANY OTHER POWER. WE ARE CITIZENS OF HEAVEN AND WE SERVE HIM HERE IN THE PLACE HE HAS PUT US TO GLORIFY HIM.
3 CHRIST OUR LORD OWNS US AND HE MAKES IT CLEAR IN HIS COMMANDMENT TO US THAT AS WE LOVE OUR BROTHER WE ABIDE IN HIS LIGHT AND WE WILL NOT STUMBLE ON THE NARROW PATH HE HAS PLACED US ON. (1 JOHN 2:9-10)
4, HE IS OUR AUTHORITY IT IS HE WHO EMPOWERS US THROUGH HIS GIFT TO US OF SEALING US WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. THIS GIFT WILL REFLECT ITSELF IN LOVE FOR ALL HIS CHILDREN AND ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CREATED IN HIS IMAGE.
5 IT IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO GIVE LIP SERVICE TO CHRIST'S LORDSHIP. WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN A GENUINE FAITH WHICH PRODUCES OBEDIENCE. THE FAITH THAT SAYS BUT DOES NOT DO IS REALLY UNBELIEF.
6 ALL WILL ONE DAY IN RESPONSE TO THE LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST WILL ACKNOWLEDGE HIS LORDSHIP. SOME WILL DO IT WILLINGLY AND BLESSEDLY OTHERS WILL DO IT UNWILLINGLY AND PAINFULLY.
7, THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB HAS CLEANSED YOU OF ALL YOUR SINS AND NO ACCUSATION CAN EVER STAND AGAINST YOU. WE CAN REJOICE IN HIS LORDSHIP. WE CAN TAKE COMFORT IN IT WE CAN BE BOLD IN OUR WITNESS BECAUSE HE HAS MADE US MORE THEN CONQUERORS OVER ALL OF OUR ENEMIES.
Quotes from sermon of 9/20/09
Treasuring the Truth
By Pastor Joe Santos
1, IF YOU'RE GOVERNMENT, YOUR CHURCH, YOUR SCHOOL, And YOUR FLESH WOULD DARE TO HAVE YOU COMPROMISE GOD'S TRUTH THEN YOU MUST NOT GO ALONG WITH THEM. FORGET ABOUT GETTING CALLED NARROW MINDED. YOU ARE IN GOD'S EYES LIVING EPISTLES OR TRUTH BEARERS. WE ARE TO PROCLAIM HIS TRUTH WITHOUT SHAME.
2, JESUS PRAYED IN JOHN 17:17 TO HIS FATHER TO SANCTIFY THE BELIEVERS BY TRUTH. YOU WERE SET APART FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE. WE BELIEVERS ARE SET APART FOR GOD AND FOR HIS PURPOSES ALONE SO THAT THE BELIEVER WILL DO ONLY WHAT GOD WANTS US TO DO AND HATE ALL THAT GOD HATES.
3, PONTIUS PILATE ANSWERED JESUS WITH THIS QUESTION. "WHAT IS TRUTH? HOW DO WE STAND ON THE DEFINITION OF GOD'S TRUTH. GOD'S TRUTH STANDS THE TEST OF TIME AND WE HAVE ACCESS TO HIS DIVINE TRUTH. IT IS A TRUTH THAT CHANGES ONE FROM THE INSIDE OUT WHERE THE WORLD'S DOES SO FROM THE OUTSIDE IN.
4, JESUS TOLD US TO ABIDE IN HIS TRUTH. ABIDE MEANS TO PERSEVERE IN HIM. IN CHRIST JESUS WHO IS THE TRUTH. IT IS A FREEDOM TO SERVE HIM WHO IS TRUTH. WE ARE HIS SLAVES BUT IT IS NOT A PHYSICAL SLAVERY IT IS A FREEDOM FROM THE SLAVERY TO SIN.
5, 1 TIMOTHY 4:12-13 TELLS US THAT WE ARE TO GIVE ATTENTION TO READING DOCTRINE TO EXHORT TRUTH AND TO APPLY THE WORD TO OUR LIVES. THIS WILL INVOLVE REBUKE, WARNINGS, ENCOURAGEMENT, OR COMFORT. THIS IS THE COST AND WHEN WE PAY THIS DISCIPLINE WE RECEIVE ENLIGHTMENT, ENJOYMENT, ENRICHMENT AND ENABLEMENT.
6, IN JAMES 1:21,22 WE ARE TOLD TO BE DOERS OF THE WORD AND NOT SIMPLY TO DO THE WORD, BEING A DOER OF GOD'S WORD INVOLVES OUR WHOLE PERSONALITY ONE CHARACTERIZED BY BEING CONSISTENT DOERS OF HIS TRUTH.
7, IN THE BATTLE FOR TRUTH WE MUST NOT BATTLE AGAINST OUR FELLOW BELIEVERS FOR THEY ARE OUR FELLOW SOLDIERS IN THIS BATTLE FOR TRUTH WE ARE ENGAGED IN. THE ENEMY CREEPS INTO OUR CHURCHES TO DIVIDE AND DESTROY OUR TESTIMONY. WE MUST BE BURDEN BEARERS, THEIR INTEREST MUST SUPERSEDE OURS. JESUS SAID THE WORLD WILL KNOW WE ARE HIS DISCIPLES BY OUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER IF WE WILL NOT BE UNITED IN LOVE HERE AT BETHEL WE WILL NOT BE UNITED IN TRUTH.
8, WORSHIPPING GOD IS NOT SIMPLY COMING TO CHURCH OR PRAYING OR WITNESSING TO OTHERS. IT MUST BE RATHER A WORSHIP IN TRUTH AND IN SPIRIT WHICH MEANS WE ARE TO HAVE A MOMENT BY MOMENT AWARENESS OF GOD IN OUR INNER BEINGS. AND SEEKING TO GLORIFY HIM IN THESE MOMENTS. HIS LOVE FOR US IS THE MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR HIS LOVE FOR US IS ETERNAL AND OUR LOVE FOR HIM MUST BE THE SAME. TO TURN FROM HIS PRESENCE IN OUR LIVES WILL BE TO LIVE BY OUR HUMAN PRIDE AND THAT WILL NOT HONOR HIM IT WILL NOT BE A LIFE OF WORSHIPPING HIM IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH.
QUOTES FROM MY SERMON 9/13/2009
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
"THE TRASHING OF TRUTH IN OUR LAND"
1, ISRAEL WAS WARNED OF HAVING BLOODY HANDS IN ISAIAH 59:3. AMERICA ALSO HAS BLOODY HANDS. HOW? BY THE WHOLESALE KILLING OF PREBORN BABIES. WE SLAUGHTER 4000 A DAY SINCE ROE VS WADE IN 1973 AND IT IS PERFECTLY LEGAL ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF OUR LAND. WHAT A REPROACH THIS IS TO OUR HOLY GOD WHO HEARS THE CRIES OF THE UNBORN AND WILL HOLD OUR LAND ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS SIN.
2, LIES ARE A RESULT OF A DEPRAVED HEART IT IS CONCEIVED IN THE HEART OF MAN AND RESULTS IN INIQUITY OR TROUBLE DIRECTED AT THE WEAK AND THE HELPLESS OF OUR SOCIETY.
3, WE ARE TOLD THAT PRIVATE MORALITY CAN DE DISCONNECTED FROM PUBLIC SERVICE. SOME PUBLIC SERVANTS AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS FEEL THEY CAN SLAM THE DOOR IN THE FACE OF GOD BY THEIR IMMORAL BEHAVIOR AND THEY THINK BY THESE ACTIONS THEY CAN STILL EARN THE FAVOR OF GOD BUT READ ECCLESIASTICS 10:1 THEY ARE THE ODOR OF DEAD FLIES. THEY RAISE A STENCH IN THE NOSTRILS OF A HOLY GOD.
4, SO MUCH DECEPTION IS FED TO US THEY TAKE THE NAME OF MATERIALISM, HUMANISM, And NEW AGEISM AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST LIBERALISM. THE APOSTLE PAUL LEARNED CONTENTMENT AND SO MUST THE CHILD OF GOD. HE CAME TO THE GOD GIVEN CONCLUSION THAT EVERYTHING THE VERY BEST HE HAD OR WAS WERE HAS DUNG (FOOD FIT ONLY FOR DOGS) IN COMPARISON TO HAVING AN INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS LORD JESUS CHRIST.
5, HUMANISM IS THE GOD OF OUR COUNTRY. WE HAVE TRIED TO DISLODGE GOD FROM HIS THRONE AND PUT MAN ON IT. WE HAVE BY THIS PRACTICE EXCHANGED THE TRUTH FOR A LIE AND WORSHIPPED AND SERVED THE CREATURE RATHER THEN THE CREATOR. (ROMANS 1:25).
6 REMEMBER THIS CHILD OF GOD TRUTH IN AMERICA IS NOT DEAD BUT IT HAS FALLEN AND WE MUST STAND ALWAYS FOR TRUTH .FOR IT IS GOD'S TRUTH THAT WILL STRENGTHEN OUR LAND. WE THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD IS THE PILLAR AND FOUNDATION OF THE TRUTH (1 TIM. 3:15)
7, HOW IMPORTANT IS TRUTH ONE MAY ASK. FIRST IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF WHAT GOD TELLS US ABOUT IT. IT IS WHAT CLEANSES US AND EMPOWERS US FOR THE BATTLE WE ARE ENGAGED IN WHICH IS THE BATTLE FOR TRUTH.
8, DOES MY TALK OR YOURS MATCH OUR WALK IT WILL IF IT IS A WALK IN GOD'S TRUTH. AND THE WORD IN THE BIBLE USED FOR US WALKING IN TRUTH MEANS A CONTINUAL ONE. IT IS US GIVING OBEDIENCE TO IT OF MAKING GOD'S TRUTH A HABIT IN OUR LIVES. (READ PROVERBS 23:23)
9 EXALT TRUTH AND THE PROMISE OF PROVERBS 4:8 IS THAT TRUTH WILL LIFT. STAND EPHESIANS 6:14 TELLS US AND WE WILL BE STANDING FOR TRUTH IN THE SPIRITUAL WAR WE ARE IN.
QUOTES FROM MY SERMON 9/06/2009
FINDING PEACE IN THE STORMS OF OUR LIFE
1, DO WE TAKE OUR EYES OFF OF JESUS WHEN THE STORMS OF LIFE COME OUR WAY? ARE OUR EYES ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES RATHER THEN ON OUR SOVEREIGN LORD WHO WILL NOT FAIL US FOR HE IS THE SON OF GOD.
2, WE HAS HUMAN FATHERS AND MOTHERS HAVE IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER FAILED OUR CHILDREN SIMPLY BECAUSE WE ARE OF THE FLESH, BUT OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, THE FATHER OF OUR SPIRIT MAKES NO MISTAKES WHEN HE CORRECTS HIS CHILDREN.
3, JESUS CHRIST FINISHED WORK AT CALVARY IS FINISHED BUT WHAT IS NOT FINISHED IS HIS PRAYER MINISTRY. JESUS CONSTANTLY PRAYS FOR US AND HIS PRAYERS ARE ALWAYS ANSWERED.
4, WE CAN GIVE THANKS IN ALL THINGS FOR OUR LORD'S JESUS HE IS ALWAYS WITH US IN THE STORMS OF OUR LIVES. HE NEVER WILL LEAVE US NOR FORSAKE US NOT EVEN FOR A SECOND.
5, THE SHORTEST VERSE IN SCRIPTURE SAYS SO VERY MUCH TO US IT IS," JESUS WEPT". DO WE CAUSE HIM TO WEEP BY OUR SINFULNESS? WE, HIS CHILDREN CAN GRIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT. REMEMBER ALWAYS THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A PERSON, AND IN THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS JESUS CHRIST WHO WEEPS WHEN WE SIN. HE IS HOLY, HOLY, HOLY. THIS IS GOD'S CENTRAL ESSENCE. SIN ATTACKS HIS HOLY NATURE.
6 REMEMBER WE WILL NOT ALWAYS UNDERSTAND FULLY WHY WE MUST GO THROUGH THE STORMS OF LIFE BUT REMEMBER THIS, AS PAUL THE APOSTLE DID. HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR US. FOR HIS STRENGTH IS MADE KNOWN IN OUR WEAKNESS.
7, REMEMBER BELOVED YOU ARE NEVER ALONE FOR YOUR JESUS IS THE GREAT I AM, NOT THE GREAT I WAS, OR THE GREAT I WILL BE, BUT THE GREAT I AM. I AM WITH YOU IN YOUR STORMS I BRING TO PERFECT YOU AND TO PROTECT YOU.
WHAT IS THE REAL GOSPEL?
BY PASTOR JOE SANTOS
IN A WORLD OF RELIGIOSITY WE HAVE SO MANY WAYS OF PRESENTING THE GOSPEL.. SOME DENOMINATIONS WILL STATE THAT IF YOU WANT TO BE SAVED YOU MUST KEEP OUR RULES. OR SACRAMENTS. OTHERS WILL SAY OH YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE CERTAIN TRUTHS ABOUT JESUS. OTHER SAY IT IS AS SIMPLE AS FOLLOWING SOME 4 OR 5 STEP PROCEDURE. OTHERS SAY JUST SAY THIS PREFABRICATED PRAYER. BUT WHAT DOES JESUS SAY? HE SAID HE IS LORD AND HIS FOLLOWERS ARE HIS SHEEP; HIS BOND SLAVES. NOT SERVANTS. THAT IS NEVER THE MEANING THE VARIOUS TRANSLATORS OF OUR BIBLES HAVE FALSELY CONCLUDED. A SERVANT YOU SEE CAN DECIDE WHO HE WILL SERVE, OR NOT SERVE. BUT A SLAVE BELONGS TO ANOTHER. WE, WHO ARE SAVED, BELONG TO JESUS OUR LORD AND MASTER. I HAVE HEARD IT SAID, ONE CAN HAVE JESUS AS THEIR SAVIOUR BUT NOT THEIR LORD. THIS IS HOGWASH. IT IS GOD WHO DRAWS US TO JESUS CHRIST HAS HIS BOND SLAVE. SO WHEN WE PRESENT THE GOSPEL WE MUST MAKE SIN CLEAR TO THE ONE WE WITNESS TO ,AND ALSO THAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR FORGIVENESS FROM THEIR SINS BY ASKING JESUS CHRIST TO BE THEIR LORD AND SAVIOUR. ONE WHO COMES IN THIS WAY REPENTING OF THEIR SINS, AND TAKING JESUS AS LORD AND MASTER IS OBEYING THE ONLY GOSPEL THAT IS TRUE. REMEMBER MY FRIEND WHEN EVER YOU SEE THE WORD SERVANT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT,. AND YOU WILL SEE IT 130 TIMES IT IS NOT SERVANT. I REPEAT, NOT, NOT, NOT ,SERVANT BUT SLAVE, A BOND SLAVE. IF YOU ARE IN CHRIST I ASK COULD WE EVER WANT A GENTLER MORE LOVING LORD AND SAVIOUR? I SHOULD SAY NOT. I AM PERSONALLY GLAD I, AS HIS SLAVE, BELONG TO HIM. HE OWNS ME FOR HE PAID THE PRICE IN FULL FOR MY REDEMPTION, FOR MAKING ME HIS CHILD.
HAS HE DONE THIS FOR YOU?
Discovering Contentment
By Pastor Joe Santos
How can we find contentment in our Christian life? That is a question many have tried to discover. We have so many hardships, trials, and testing and sometimes we wonder how God can expect us to find contentment in these negatives.
Paul was a man who suffered, and suffered greatly but he discovered contentment despite them. He discovered them because he said," he learned in whatever situation he was in he could be and was content'.
Once Paul had a thorn in the flesh as we sometimes do. He asked God to remove it, again, as we often do. But did God simply take away Paul's pain? No he did not. What God did do was make clear to Paul that His grace was sufficient, and that His power is made evident in our weakness. What did our Lord mean when He said;" in our weakness his power is seen"? Well, what Paul learned in his contentment was that God was working, not in Paul's self sufficiency, but in his power and his power which will be evident when we are living a life of self denial and Christ dependency. God wants us to love him and if we truly love Him we will trust him. When we do this we will realize fully the greatness and the beauty of His love for us, and the reality of the blessed hope we have been given in Christ Jesus.
Job is another man who learned contentment despite the loss of his family, wealth, and health. Did he mourn the loss of his family 7 sons and 3 daughters? Of course he did, but he was content, not in the loss itself, but in the unwavering faith God gave him so Job could say "the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away blessed be the name of the Lord." Job didn't understand the whys and the wherefores of Gods purpose in all this, but he knew he was content, content in the fact that God would make it right. That his children, as he himself, belonged to the God who created them and who would take them to himself.
This is love dear friend. Jesus would say that his desire in going to prepare a place for us is so that where he is, we will be also. So we can take great satisfaction in His love for us. If we will we will have learned this great lesson of contentment.
- WHO DO WE SERVE?
BY PASTOR JOE
THIS IS A QUESTION THAT CAN BE ANSWERED CLEARLY BY OUR ACTIONS OF SERVICE. OUR LORD HAS MADE US HIS BOND SLAVE. THAT IS THE MEANING OF THE WORD SERVANT WHEN IT PERTAINS TO GOD'S ELECT. A SERVANT DOES NOT, OR SHOULD NOT, DICTATE TO HIS LORD AND MASTER HOW HE OR SHE IS TO OBEY HIM. THAT WOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS REBELLION. SO WE MUST ASK OURSELVES, IN ALLTHAT WE THINK AND DO, IS IT TO HIS GLORY OR NOT? IF WE LOVE HIM THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE ANSWER, AND THAT WILL BE EVIDENT IN OUR FAITHFUL SERVICE TO HIM, AND FOR HIM. SO LET US ASK OURSELVES, DO WE SERVE HIM, OR IS IT A PERSONAL AGENDA THAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT. DO WE, I ASK, SANCTIFY JESUS IN OUR HEARTS, AND ONLY HIM ,OR IS IT THAT WE WOULD SERVE OUR FLESH? GOD WANTS OUR IMPLICIT OBEDIENCE. ANYTHING ELSE IS REBELLION AGAINST THE ONE WHO IS OUR LORD BY PEOPLE WHO ARE HIS BOND SLAVES. LET US REMEMBER THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY. HIS.
Concerning Psalm 59:11 to 17 God is speaking here of those unbelievers who God would make an example of (vs 11). to the nation of Israel. their blind dead depraved hearts were reflected in their words (vs 12) Jesus said that every idle word will be accounted for.(matt 12:36. He goes on in vs 13 where he says "Let them know" that God rules and His justice will prevail over all who are a reproach to a holy God. Sin is a reproach and unless it is cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus the price is judgement. God's justice demands that the wages of sin be death. and so it will be for all people and all nations who will not bend the knee or bow the head and acknowledge their sin and seek forgiveness that is found in Christ Jesus shed blood.Only that relationship as we see in verses 16 & 17 will bring the mercy of God to those who deserve only His wrath only then will that heart seek to praise him who is our refuge our strength our defense our God of mercy.