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“Family Matters”

26 Jan

How are you using your influence in the lives of the children that God has placed in your life?  When we decide that we are going to influence another generation to live for God, we are making an impact on a world that we may not even be alive to see.

In the midst of one of the great stories of the Bible, the story of David and Goliath, we have an example of some things that we need to teach the children in our lives so that they can be used in a great way for the Lord.  I am glad that Jesse taught his son these truths and pray that we would learn from his example.

What lessons did he teach young David?

I. To have faith in God-I Samuel 17:34-37, 45-46

1.  Faith saves:

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Romans 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2.  Faith supplies-We must teach our children that they can depend on God to supply their needs.  We will not succeed according to our fortune, friends, fame, feelings, etc.  But according to our faith.

Psalm 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

Proverbs 28:20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.

Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Psalm 34:10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

II. To fight for the truth-I Samuel 17:33-36

Jude 1:3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

The fights of life must be met head on.  There is no safe area when fighting the Giants that we must face!

Do our kids know what it is that we value highly enough to fight for?

-Our Savior (Our relationship to Him)

-Our Families (Their spiritual condition, etc.)

III. To finish the race -I Samuel 17:49-51

2Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Let’s determine to use our influence to teach the necessary lessons of faith, fighting and finishing to the children that will one day change the world for the glory of God.

If you would like to hear the audio of this message please visit the media page of Bay Area Baptist Church.

“Where is Your Heart?”

17 Jan

I am thankful that if we will honestly and diligently seek Lord and His purposes, that He will place within us the vision and direction for our lives that He has uniquely equipped each one of us to accomplish.  There are things that we all must do but there are also those things that God desires for us as individuals to accomplish.

It is my firm belief that when God places a vision or direction into the heart of a person a family or a church, that he accompanies that vision with the necessary resources to accomplish it.  The problem with many is that although there may be a vision, the resources are not invested as God intends and are therefore wasted on things that will have little if any eternal value.

Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

How we use our God given resources, our treasure, is a good indication of where our heart truly is.  How do we invest the resources of time, opportunity, ability and finances in a way that supports a vision received from God and keeps our heart in His work?

I. Recognize the purpose

Everything that we do should be for the Glory of God:

1Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

II. Understand the priorities

1. God’s Glory

Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

2. Accomplishing God’s purpose in your life

a. Those things given for everyone to do

b. Those things specific to you and your particular gifting

Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

3. Being a blessing to others

Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

*As he accomplished His purpose given to Him by God, the promise was that he would be a blessing.

4. Personal enjoyment

1Timothy 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

This is a list of priorities, but if we are doing these things the way that we should, we will accomplish all of them and they will work together for His Glory.

III. Avoid the pitfalls

Proverbs 13:7  There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

1. Getting the priorities out of order

2. Self-centerdness (Drives misplaced prioraties)

3. Good intentions-Pull from others

Will you live to invest the resources that God has given in the vision that He has provided?  Where is your heart?

To hear the rest of this message please visit: http://bayareabaptist.org

“One Thing”

10 Jan

While there are things that every Christian is called to do, as members of the body of Christ, we have each been equipped in a different way to fulfill a necessary function within the Body.  It is necessary if we are ever going to live the life that Christ has saved us to live, to determine the one thing above all others that we have been equipped to do.

The Apostle Paul explains that He lived for one thing in Philippians 3:13;

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,”

How do we determine our “One Thing” and live in light of our particular gifting?

I. Understand that everything is for the glory of God

Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Mt 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Our purpose in a big sense, the purpose of every purpose on this earth whether they know it or not is to give honor and glory to our creator.

II. Live in light of your unique purpose

You are unique!!

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us….

God has made each of us different so that collectively we can accomplish the task of glorifying Him.

But how do I determine that “One thing?”

1. Do the things that the Word of God outlines as common to us all; a relationship with Christ, sharing the gospel, serving through the local church.

Genesis 24:27  I being in the way, the LORD led me..

2. Live to fulfill the big purpose of glorifying God.

3. Understand, accept and appreciate your particular equipping.

4. Follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

5. Embrace the opportunities that the Lord provides.

6. Don’t discount your abilities or covet that of someone else.

Make a commitment as we start a new year to let the Lord show you how he wants to use you to glorify Him. Get in the way and do the things that you know you should so that He can lead you in the path that is specific to your life.

Hear this message at http://bayareabaptist.org/a_media.html

Our Emmanuel our Joy

23 Dec

“Our Emmanuel Our Joy” was the Christmas musical performed by the choir and music team of Bay Area Baptist church last Sunday.  A great deal of work went into this production and I am thankful for everyone that invested so that Christ could be honored in word and song.  It was a privileged for me as the Pastor to meet several guests and know that everything that they would hear and enjoy would be about God’s great gift to His creation.  What an honor to celebrate the birth of our Redeemer!

“I Am”

6 Dec

This week we began a series of messages for entitled “I Am” that deal specifically with the deity of Jesus Christ. The first message was an introduction to simply answer the question, “Why is the deity of Christ important and why do we celebrate His birth?”

“The Reason that we Celebrate”

I. Only God can forgive your sin

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

II. Only God can establish an eternal purpose for your life

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

This commission came after he had revealed to them that he was God by His resurrection.

Romans 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

When Jesus died the purpose of His disciples went away, but when He was declared to be God by His resurrection they were able to live a dynamic life for Him turning the World upside down, many experiencing martyrdom for their faith.

A man cannot provide this eternal purpose.  Only God can provide a purpose that is eternal.

III. Only God can provide an example worth following

Philippians 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Men will fail you.  Their example is fallible.  There are good men but the best that they are is men and the best that their example can provide is from man.

The example of Jesus Christ is the example of God and is infallible, unchangeable, and eternal.

1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

Follow Christ.

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