From The Pastor's Desk
The Monster Within
There Is None Righteous, No Not One
-Romans 3:10
I often hear people say that they have a temper. Duh, we all have the choice to become angry, some just contain it better than others.
We all have the sin nature, or as it is sometimes refer to as the flesh to contend with.
We are suprised at times when we hear of someone committing a sin as if we thought they were incapable of that.
As Christians, it is still there; this abilibity to sin. Through much prayer and restraint, sometimes we are able to subdue a particular sin to a point, but there are other sins that we deal with on a daily basis. God changes our want to but the struggle is still very much alive and well.
By the way, if you could lose your salvation through sin, then you have already lost it. Either Christ died for every sin; past, present and future, or He didn't. Then we are all men most miserable.
I am not a sinner saved by grace. I am a born again believer who lives in this body of sin. Classified sinners are doomed for Hell; Christians, yes, saved by grace are promised a home in Heaven.
As some know, I have been down in my back and it has been very frustrating to say the least. I cannot do what I would. Spititually, it is Romans 7, the ongoing struggle with sin.
We are very flawed creatures, but I have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. What about you?
Warsaw First Church Of The Nazarene
Good morning neighbor from Warsaw first Church of the Nazarene. Last week I shared how God has always sought to have commune or be in fellowship with us, every day, every moment, and every second. The most powerful being to ever be, the great I AM, wants to hang out with me. WOW! On the flip side, humans have the tendency to seek an audience with famous, powerful people just because. You can insert the reason for they are too numerous to list here. Something seems wacky to this approach of who is important to us. Fame lacks substance because it is extremely temporal while placing God first in our life is eternal because placing Him first in our life is obedience in perfect love. What does this have to do with knowing your neighbor?
Jesus was a respecter of everyone even the one who crucified him for they did not see Him as their neighbor but saw him as a threat to what ‘order’ they placed people in society. John 13:34-35 speaks directly to the manner that Jesus treated everyone. ‘I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.”’ Please note that it says “all people” to include church members, lawyers, drug dealers, and hate filled bitter individuals. I sometimes struggle with this as well but the solution is not found in you or me. My Savior, your Savior, did not leave us without the ability to overcome ourselves. Listen again to his words to us, the children of the Creator of the world, ‘ I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever; 17 the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.” -- John 14:16-18
The word ‘orphans’ seems rather strange in the last line of the above passage. Here is another verse to consider for our greater understanding “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” --James 1:7. In the time of ancient Israel and even when Jesus walked the earth, an orphan and widow were individuals without a name. In our time, we would call them outcasts—no family—lacking community—no neighbors. They had no name by which to do business or complete transactions in their culture. It is amazing how little we think about the power or relationship attached to a name. Can you tell me the name of your neighbors? There is something about knowing a person’s name that opens doors allowing another person into their success, celebrations as well as struggles and brokenness. Jesus made it clear that all people are our neighbors and there is a gift for all people that still needs carried into the neighborhoods. That gift is his name, for there is no name above the name of Jesus. Now, that’s a person I want to hang out with every minute of my life, so as he blesses me, I can bless my neighborhood with an abundant life.
Andy Lavender, Pastor
Warsaw First Church of the Nazarene
(660) 641-2947
Unity Of The Lakes
Reverend Sandra Duncan will be speaking on: A New Beginning: Embracing the Power of Renewal
Renewal is inevitable if we align with Spirit.
God promises renewal.
Revelation 21:5: "Behold, I am making all things new."
Let’s embrace the Power of Renewal, go through steps and practices and begin anew!
Reverend Sandra Duncan has been speaking regularly at Unity of the Lakes Church since 2016 and became an ordained Unity Minister in 2017.
She is a dynamic and inspirational speaker traveling to churches all over Missouri and Kansas!
Sandra works as a hospice chaplain in the Kansas City area and enjoys pickleball in her spare time.
Please join us this Sunday, February 2 at 11:00 AM!
We are located at 34948 Hwy 65 South in Warsaw MO.
Hopewell Baptist Church
1 Corinthians 1:1-9 where Paul planted churches in Corinth, moves on to plant other churches, then gets word there are problems in Corinth that are out of control. They struggle with leadership, the food they eat, and in their marriages. This is a weird letter, deeply encouraging and getting right with Jesus. Mostly people who are brand new Christians coming from other religions, bringing with them some of the horrible things that were part of their previous religions.
Paul sees the will of the people despite their behavior. Paul makes sure the people in Corinth know that Jesus still loves them. It’s easy when we see things inconsistent with the gospel to be judgmental and angry. You might be the only person getting it right, but where is the mercy and grace. We must do and say what is right in a way that is loving and kind. Share the truth in love. Paul is reforming the way he thinks about people in the image of Jesus Christ. We need to look at humans for what Jesus sees in them. Something worth dying for. They are not disposable.
Paul reframes all this stuff and doesn’t write the letter most of us would right. Perhaps our reaction when we see believers not acting according to the Bible, should first be to review and know what the Bible is all about. Some of us need to go back and read it. Blessed are the peacemakers. When we see something inconsistent with the gospel, maybe our first reaction should be, I thank God for you, despite their behavior. When Jesus gets ahold of our hearts, it changes the way we think about other people. The church in Corinth lost sight of this.
Neal’s challenge for us today – let’s thank God for those we see throughout the week. We’ve got to change the way we think about other people. It starts with our hearts. The gospel begins with us! We need to see the grace of Jesus when we see other people. Lord, let us see the world through Your eyes! Let’s start fresh and new this week, running headlong after Jesus all year!
Join us weekly for Sunday School at 10 a.m., Worship at 11 a.m., Children’s program and Bible study at 6 p.m., and midweek Bible Study Wednesdays at 6 p.m.
Lincoln First Baptist Church
