Sermons By A Word From The Lord with Archbishop Foley Beach
Episodes
Sunday Jan 12, 2020
Sunday Jan 12, 2020
I
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
In 2019, have you accomplished God’s will for your life? The will of God to us humans is both “active” and “passive” at the same time. God’s will to us is “passive” because God is going to accomplish His will on earth – God’s Sovereignty is universal. However, God’s will to us can be very “active”. We can know God’s will for us, but knowing His will requires our willingness and participation. The will of God is a choice for us. In John 7:17, the Apostille John quotes Jesus regarding God’s will: “If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.". Therefore, we can choose whether we will do God’s will. Too many of us make and execute our own plans from our own will and then we ask God to bless our actions.
What is God’s will for your life in 2020? God has several things that “He wills” for our lives, but we must cooperate: 1) to have a growing personal relationship with Him; 2) to be a disciple of Jesus the Christ; 3) to be an ambassador and vessel of God’s love; 4) to have minds that are constantly renewed so that we are transformed – we renew our minds by the Word of God, “we are what we think”; 5) not to be controlled by anything other than the Spirit of God; and 6) to become Sanctified – becoming God-centered in our lives.
Why “specific things in our lives” constitute God’s will for us? To answer this question regarding the specifics of God’s will in our lives, we: 1) should ask if we even should know the answer to this question regarding our knowing the specifics of God’s will in our lives – based on Romans 13, the answer is “yes”, we should ask; 2) can discern God’s will for us through praying, meditating, and fasting on the Word of God; 3) seek and obtain the Lord’s will as He speaks His will to us through our dreams, visions, and words of knowledge and wisdom; 4) can discern His will as God speaks His will to us by putting “desires” in our hearts; and 5) can know His will for us as God makes His will known to us by our personal reflections.
Questions we should ask and reflect upon in discerning God’s will for our lives include: 1) What have been my prevailing feelings in the past and what are these feelings now -- have my feelings been mostly of sadness or of joy? 2) What have been the blessings of God in my life – can I express praise and appreciation for these blessings? 3) Have things happened for which I need to accept responsibility and why did they happen? 4) Is there a possibility that I am living in denial of certain realities? 5) Is there ill will or resentments that remain unaddressed or unforgiven? 6) In the company of others, am I a pleasant person? 7) What is God trying to say into my life today? 8) What can I do or say in my life that will make others feel more loved and appreciated? 9) Am I mindful of the socially awkward, poor, and suffering – how do I respond to current events through a Biblical world view? 10) How am I spending my time and money – do I see them as God’s time and money that has been loaned to me? 11) How is my prayer life? 12) Am I growing and maturing as a follower of Jesus? and 13) Am I prepared to meet Jesus face-to-face today?
In the words of the Psalmist in Psalms 143:10: “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!”.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FORGIVEN. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 7:21; Matthew 6:7-15; John 7:17; 1 Timothy 2:3-4; Matthew 28:19; John 13:31; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Romans 12:2; Ephesians 5:17; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; Matthew 2:13-15; 1 Corinthians 12:7-8; Psalms 37:4; Psalms 139:23-24; Psalms 143:10-11.
WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S SERMON VIDEO – “Today, the World Needs to be Renewed With an Outpouring of the Holy Spirit - a Global Spiritual Awakening”: www.AWFTL.org/watch.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
Sunday Jan 05, 2020
Sunday Jan 05, 2020
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
We celebrate the life of Jesus the Christ because of what He did 2000 years ago, and what He does in our lives today -- the lives of people that turn from their Godless ways and follow Him. We celebrate Christmas, in the midst of our lives’ tumult, because we have found Jesus to be the Lord of the universe and the Lord of our lives. We know that He has given us eternal life – that’s why we really celebrate Christmas.
In years past, our celebration of Christmas began, with anticipation, on Christmas Eve and ended twelve days later on Epiphany – the historical arrival of the three Magi {Wise Men} (Mathew 2:1-12). Now days, we can see Christmas decorations marketed on Halloween, with ensuing greetings of “Happy Holidays” and a declining use of “Merry Christmas” as a greeting. However, we are gathered, as a part of a long line of believers, to celebrate the birth of a Savior, the Messiah – Jesus the Christ. This baby would grow up to change the course of humanity for eternity like no other man because Jesus was both God and man – the Incarnate Son of God, who because of God’s love of us, became human without sin and sacrificed Himself for our sins so that, if we believe and follow Jesus, would have eternal life. Jesus’ birth and death were the only way that God could give us a path to have our sins forgiven and to have a personal relationship with Him. Have you taken the time to consider the true message of Christmas and to examine the words of Jesus?
As we consider the message of Christmas consider its profound implications for us: 1) Jesus is our Savior, and because of our sins we really do need a savior – sooner or later we realize that we have a void that can only be filled by God; 2) the Messiah is for us to and not just for the Jews, as prophesied; and 3) this baby, this Messiah, was and is the Lord – Devine and God’s Son – God Himself was entering the human race, the Incarnation.
It is hard for some of you to believe in the miraculous birth of Jesus that we celebrate on this Christmas day today. Ok, just start where you are in what you believe. Can you believe that you are a sinner? Can you believe that you are not perfect? Can you believe that you have violated God’s laws? Despite this life background, can you believe that God loves you just as you are now? Can you believe that God sent His only Son, Jesus, to save all that believe in Him so that we would not perish but have eternal life? Maybe this is where you start in believing in the miraculous birth of Jesus; you need to start where you are. You’ve got to believe; but until you get your thinking right, your life will not change – you’ve got to believe.
Today’s Affirmation: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (John 1:12f).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Isaiah 7:2-14; Mathew 1:18-25; Mathew 2:1-12; Luke 1:30-35; John 1:1-18; John 3:16.
WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S SERMON VIDEO – “Today, the World Needs to be Renewed With an Outpouring of the Holy Spirit - a Global Spiritual Awakening”: www.AWFTL.org/watch.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
Saturday Dec 28, 2019
Saturday Dec 28, 2019
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
The real meaning of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus the Christ – the Messiah, who is the Savior of the World. Christians emphasize Christmas and Jesus’ birth because His birth: 1) fulfills many Biblical prophesies, especially in terms of the time and location of Jesus’ birth; 2) points the fact that Jesus was more than just a man; 3) and in His life. we saw Jesus claim the right to forgive sins; 4) led Jesus to call God His “Father”, which indicated that Jesus was God; 5) resulted in Jesus’ Resurrection”, which validated Jesus’ claims and made Him different; and 6) was God, through Jesus’ birth, still trying to get our attention.
God, through His Grace and through the birth of Jesus, did for us what we could not do for ourselves – save ourselves from our sins and our death that would result from our sins. God, through the birth of Jesus -- the God-Man, entered into our earthly mess to save us because, after God’s Grace and Jesus’ birth, all our sin now resides on Jesus. God’s Grace through the birth of Jesus, demonstrates God’s love for us.
God wants us to know that Jesus was born for us out of His love for us. Therefore, we need to consider that God, the Creator of the Universe, entered the world, through the baby Jesus for us so that we might have a personal relationship with Him.
Have you yielded to God so that your mind’s consideration of God’s Grace, love, and Jesus’ birth can move from your mind into a commitment of both your mind and your heart to your faith in Jesus as your Savior and into God’s service? Until we yield to God’s lordship over our lives, we are saying to God that “we don’t need your love”.
Is Jesus your Lord and, therefore, your Savior? God has given you the greatest Christmas gift that you will ever receive. Have you accepted His Gift and opened His gift into your life? If not, then why not? With your hands open, you can accept God’s Christmas gift by saying: “I am sorry; thank you; and please”!
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM RIGHTEOUS IN GOD’S EYES. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Luke 2:9-11; Matthew 1:21; Isaiah 53:4-6; Colossians 1:15-19; Hebrews 1-3; John 1:4; John10:30; John 14:8-11; John 3:16-17; Psalms 70a:1-12.
WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S SERMON VIDEO – “Today, the World Needs to be Renewed With an Outpouring of the Holy Spirit - a Global Spiritual Awakening”: www.AWFTL.org/watch.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
Monday Dec 23, 2019
Monday Dec 23, 2019
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
Whether looking at last year or this year, recent news often leaves us overwhelmed and fearful; but anxieties fade away when we consider that Jesus, the Creator of the Universe and the Light, came into the world. We celebrate Christmas, in the midst of our lives’ tumult, because we have found Jesus to be the Lord of the universe and the Lord of our lives. The Apostle John tells us, in John 1:1-5, about Jesus coming to earth as both a man and as God, the Creator of the Universe: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.". As John says, there has been “darkness” in the world attempting to overcome the light of His Gospel; but “the darkness has not overcome it”. On this Christmas day, we celebrate the “light” first coming into our world; and, on the last day of Advent, we anticipate and wait for Jesus’ return. We know that He has given us eternal life– that’s why we really celebrate Christmas!
In Luke 2:6-12, the Apostle Luke describes the events of the first Christmas: “And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.’”.
Like Simeon said, in Luke 2:30-31, this Christmas: “. . . my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,". The baby Jesus, born on Christmas about two thousand years ago, was no ordinary baby. This baby was “the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”; this baby “was life, and the life was the light of men”. Our “Salvation”, that Simeon saw in the baby Jesus, was paid for on the cross by Jesus; and our Salvation was delivered to us through Jesus Resurrection. This baby Jesus was no ordinary baby that was born on Christmas!
We celebrate the birth of Jesus this Christmas because He was the Incarnate God-Man, in whom God humbled Himself to be born as a human baby, to be our “Salvation”, as His very name expresses – Jesus: “Yahweh is Salvation” (Matthew 1:21).
This baby Jesus, born on Christmas, has given us the opportunity for the forgiveness of our sins and for eternal life; and He is still with us in a personal relationship if we will only confess our sins to Him and have our faith in Him as the Son of God and the Creator and Savior of the Universe.
The real meaning of Christmas was summarized by the Apostle John in John 3:16-17: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.".
This baby Jesus was no ordinary baby that was born on Christmas! Merry Christmas!!
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, I can do what He asks of me. (Philippians 4:13). “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”. (Philippians 4:14).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): John 1:1-18; Luke 2:1-52; Micah 5:1-6; John 10:30-39; Matthew 1:21.
WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S SERMON VIDEO – “Today, the World Needs to be Renewed With an Outpouring of the Holy Spirit - a Global Spiritual Awakening”: www.AWFTL.org/watch.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
Sunday Dec 22, 2019
Sunday Dec 22, 2019
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
From the Gospel of Matthew (1:18-25): “Advent, Part 4: Prelude to Jesus’ Birth”
In Matthew 1:1-17, the Apostle Matthew presents Jesus’ genealogy from the lineage of Joseph even though Joseph was not Jesus’ natural father. Whereas, Luke’s Gospel presents Jesus’ genealogy from Mary’s lineage. As was prophesied by Isaiah more than five hundred years before the birth of Jesus, both Joseph and Mary were of the lineage of King David.
This fourth Sunday in Advent points us to the first coming of Jesus and His birth as a human child. Jesus birth was His Incarnation as both God and human. The coming of Jesus was a real event in the history of mankind. Often, things and events. in our lives, take unanticipated courses; and God intervenes in our lives just as God intervened in Joseph’s life, through the Angel, when Joseph found out about Mary’s Devine pregnancy: “Do not be afraid because this {pregnancy} is of the Holy Spirit.”
The message, in Matthew 1:21-23, from God’s intervening Angel, in Joseph’s dream, was simple; however, it changed the world for eternity: “’She {Mary}will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet {Isaiah 7:14}: ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us).".
In Matthew 1:24-25, Joseph responds without question and with faith and obedience to God’s intervention: “When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.".
Therefore, God intervened in both the lives of Joseph and Mary, to fulfill His promise of more than five hundred years previously -- to enter the world as the vulnerable baby. Jesus, who was the Incarnate God and man, would save the world from its sins. We know that we can be saved from our sins and the effect of our sins. Through God’s Grace, we are saved by coming to God in repentance of our sins and in true faith that Jesus is God and by walking with Jesus, in our lives, as our Savior. Also, God has given us the Holy Spirit to facilitate our walk and to provide a personal relationship with Him.
In this time of Advent, why do we have such a difficult time of sharing this good news that was given to Joseph and to us in God’s intervention: “and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us)”? We can break out of this reluctance, to share the good news of Jesus, by bringing someone to church during Christmas and by living our lives to reflect God’s Grace when: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." (John 3:16-17).
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (John 1:12f).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 1:18-25; Isaiah 7:11-25; Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17; Psalms 70a:1-12.
WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S SERMON VIDEO – “Today, the World Needs to be Renewed With an Outpouring of the Holy Spirit - a Global Spiritual Awakening”: www.AWFTL.org/watch.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
Sunday Dec 15, 2019
Sunday Dec 15, 2019
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
From the Gospel of Luke (21:25-36): “Advent, Part 3: A Time of Expectation and Preparation”
Introduction -- Generosity: An appropriate prayer for you in this season of Advent would include: “Lord, give me a spirit of generosity in this season of Advent and Christmas just as Jesus instructed us in Luke 6:38: ‘{You}give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.’. Lord, help me to live into this model of generosity that you have given us.”.
Today’s Message -- A Time of Expectation and Preparation: Advent reminds us that Jesus is coming back! The season of Advent focuses on our preparation for Jesus coming -- Jesus second coming. Paul, in 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13, alerts us to Jesus’ second coming and our need to prepare our hearts: “Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.".
Jesus, in Luke 21:25-26, describes His second coming into a world situation very much like our world of today: “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.". Jesus’ second coming is defined by: 1) violence all over the world; 2) climatic and weather uncertainty; 3) disruptions of food supplies; 4) periods of significant economic uncertainty; and 5) end-of-times rumors and speculations.
Given Jesus’ second coming, we are told of some signs of Jesus’ second coming. However, the Bible’s focus is on having us to always be ready for Jesus’ return. Jesus, in Luke 21:34-36, gives us instructions for being prepared for His return: “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”. To this end, watch your hearts, pay attention and pray in your preparation and always be ready. Also, keep on working and doing those things God has asked you to do. God confirms that we are to prepare for Jesus’ second coming while continuing to work to fulfill his will for us in our lives. Prior to Jesus’ second coming, God will walk with us and support us – don’t stop and give up in the face of an uncertain world and issues in our lives.
Advent is here!
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (John 1:12f).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Luke 6:38; John 16:33; 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13; Luke 21:25-36; Matthew 25:1-30; John16:33; Psalms 70a:1-12.
WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S SERMON VIDEO – “Today, the World Needs to be Renewed With an Outpouring of the Holy Spirit - a Global Spiritual Awakening”: www.AWFTL.org/watch.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
Sunday Dec 08, 2019
Sunday Dec 08, 2019
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
From the Gospel of Matthew (3:1-17): “Advent, Part 2: Remembering and Preparing for the First Coming of Jesus the Christ”
Advent, Part 2: Remembering and preparing for the first coming of Jesus the Christ through understanding "in those days from the Holey Spirit’s notice of the impending birth of John the Baptist to the miraculous birth of Jesus the Christ."
Continuing the study of what Advent is all about. "In those days" – Mathew (Mathew 3:1) is transitioning between the miraculous birth of Jesus the Christ; His escape from King Herod; His return to Nazareth; and the miraculous birth of John the Baptist. John the Baptist preached: "make ready people prepared for the Lord" and "Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is near". Repentance is the changing of one's mind to reflect God's Grace in the first coming of Jesus. Everything is transformed when we repent -- we view and understand things with a new mind: "Make ready a people prepared for the Lord"; "Give people the knowledge of Salvation through the forgiveness of sins"; and "And bear good fruit in the spirit of repentance."
The primary message of Advent is to keep serving and watching. We must keep doing what the Lord has given us to do while we are serving Him, watching, and keeping ready.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (John 1:12f).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 3:1-17; Psalms 70a:1-12.
WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S SERMON VIDEO – “Today, the World Needs to be Renewed With an Outpouring of the Holy Spirit - a Global Spiritual Awakening”: www.AWFTL.org/watch.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
Sunday Dec 01, 2019
Sunday Dec 01, 2019
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
From the Gospel of Matthew (24:1-51): “Jesus is Coming”
The belief in Jesus’ return is what the season of Advent is about. We say it every week when we say the Nicene Creed: “I believe that he will come again to judge the living and the dead.”. If you've been a follower of Jesus Christ for any period time, you've been exposed to the Christian belief in the return of Jesus Christ to planet Earth. We learn that He is going to prepare a place for us; and He will return to take us to be where He is -- at the right hand of the Father.
Christmas music is now playing on the radio; however, it is not Christmas. It is Advent. Advent is the time that the Church is celebrating the return of Jesus. Advent is a season of anticipation -- anticipating the Second Coming of Jesus Christ while, also, anticipating the Christmas celebration of Jesus’ birth. Also, Advent is a season of warning – a warning of the coming judgment. We are warned to be ready and to prepare for the coming of the King of Kings. In Genesis 6:5-6, God is so disturbed with the sins of humans that He wishes that He had never created mankind: “The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.". To this end, God destroyed the earn with floods. Only Noah and his family survived.
In Matthew 24:1-2, Jesus tells His disciples of God’s displeasure, again, with mankind’s sinful ways: “Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, ‘You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.’”. Jesus’ Disciples, not understanding His pronouncements, asked Jesus the meaning of his prophecy in Matthew 24:3-6: “As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?’ And Jesus answered them, ‘See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.’”.
In the days before the flood, in Genesis 6:5-6, the people were eating, drinking and, and giving in marriage up to the very day Noah entered the ark. The people knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. This uncertainty of Jesus’ return is how it will be at the second coming of the Son of Man. Jesus compares his return to the days of Noah -- unbelievers will be oblivious to what's going on; Jesus says they'll know nothing. Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:3: “While people are saying, ‘There is peace and security,’ then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.". In the remainder of 1 Thessalonians 5:4-11, Paul is telling us that the un-Godly will be taken away to their judgment and the righteous will be left to enter the Kingdom.
The primary message of Advent is to keep serving and watching. We must keep doing what the Lord has given us to do while we are serving Him, watching, and keeping ready.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM RIGHTEOUS IN GOD’S EYES. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 24:1-51; Genesis 6:5-6; Revelation 9:21; 1 Thessalonians 5:3-11; Psalms 79:1-13.
WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S SERMON VIDEO – “Today, the World Needs to be Renewed With an Outpouring of the Holy Spirit - a Global Spiritual Awakening”: www.AWFTL.org/watch.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
Sunday Nov 24, 2019
Sunday Nov 24, 2019
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
Series Overview: This Series has been looking at Paul’s letter to the Ephesians to point out “Turkeyisms” – things by which have duped us into believing or behaving in ways which are not what Christianity is all about. This Series has pointed out some changes in our thinking needed so that we can be like “Eagles” -- to be the people that God wants and intended for us to be. This Sermon will focus on Ephesians 6.
Today’s Sermon: Turkey Thinking: “There is no real devil; the devil is just a concept to explain evil.” (The devil’s best trick is to get us to believe there is no devil!); Eagle Thinking: “The devil and his cohorts never sleep.” Ephesians 6:10 – “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”. How does one know if they are being tempted by the enemy? We know we are being tempted by the enemy when we are influenced to do something against Jesus -- the enemy wants to make us a weak Christian. However, we can’t blame the temptations of our flesh on the devil. We need to always be clothed in the full armor of God to be full-time soldiers of Jesus against the devil.
Turkey Thinking: “There is no spiritual warfare; Christianity is love, joy, and peace. Christianity is not about war.”; Eagle Thinking: “If I am serving the Lord, then I am always engaged in a spiritual battle.”. In this battle, we are not battling our fellow humans but evil. One of the enemy’s best strategies is to get us fighting each other, especially in the church. The devil wants us to divide and conquer. We must put on the full armor of God so that we can stand firm against the devil. The “full armor” means we are to both seek and speak God’s truth while establishing a relationship with God. We are to live a righteous life in the full awareness that God has forgiven us. In standing firm and trusting our relationship with God, we are to share the Gospel. We are to “take up the shield of faith” by trusting in God for our warfare with the devil. The evil one wants us to doubt our Salvation from God’s Grace and our faith that ensure eternal life with Jesus.
Finally, we are to “take up the sword of the Spirit” – the Word of God. In Ephesians 6, the sword is the only element, of God’s full armor, that is for both offense as well as defense. Paul then tells us “to pray in the Holy Spirit” – praying while fully focused on the Lord. Prayer is the most powerful weapon we have in our fight against the devil. God wants us to be strong in Him” and not wimpy Christians in our warfare with the evil one.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (Luke 11:13).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Ephesians 6:10-20; Matthew 13:19-21; 1 Peter 5:8-10; Ephesians 4:12; Psalms 77b:11-20.
WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S SERMON VIDEO – “Today, the World Needs to be Renewed With an Outpouring of the Holy Spirit - a Global Spiritual Awakening”: www.AWFTL.org/watch.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
Saturday Nov 16, 2019
Saturday Nov 16, 2019
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
Series Overview: This Series has been looking at Paul’s letter to the Ephesians to point out “Turkeyisms” – those things of our culture and some worldviews by which we may have been duped into beliefs inconsistent with the Gospel of Jesus or behaving in a manner that is not what Christianity is all about. This Series has pointed out some changes in our thinking needed to be like “Eagles” so that we can be the people that God wants and expects us to be.
Today's Sermon: A look into Ephesians 5 provides a perspective on many “Turkeyisms”; however, the focus today is just on one: Turkey Thinking – “My Christianity has no effect on my family relationships, but my upbringing does”; but Eagle Thinking – My Christianity places me in the Kingdom of God with a radically different view of family relationships”. Being in the Kingdom of God Changes everything for those that follow Jesus.
Marriage in America is having a rough time, and we can’t say that Christian marriage is different. Too many of us, who say that we follow Jesus today, don’t let Christianity follow us through the front door as we live our secular lives. In the First Century of the Ephesians, both Jewish and Greek laws greatly diminished the roles, respect for, and value of women. In the Roman world, of the same period, women and children were just passed around – women had many husbands. It was into this world of Judaism and Greco Roman culture that Jesus walked in; and we found Jesus respecting and honoring women. Jesus raised the status of women – Jesus brought a whole new way of thinking about family, marriage, children, and divorce into First Century culture that has provided an ethical context for two thousand years.
In the same period and culture, Paul came along; and he set up churches. He wrote letters, which were written in the culture of this period, to the Christians in churches like the church in Ephesus. These early Christians were a part of the Kingdom of God – the blessed followers of Jesus – they were called to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to be imitators of Jesus. Therefore, followers of Jesus were to be vessels of His light to the world. Followers of Jesus were to be different from this culture of the period. By being different in their families, followers of Jesus would transform the culture (which, eventually, they did!!!).
From Ephesians 5:21, we are to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ”. “Submitting” is treating others like you wish to be treated. In Ephesians 5, Paul applies this principle of Christianity to the family (i.e. wives, husbands, and children) and to the workplace (i.e. employees). The Kingdom of God calls us to loving family relationships; therefore we, as followers of Jesus, are called to be different and not a part of the culture.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FORGIVEN. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Ephesians 5:21-33, 6:1-4; John 4:25-28; Mark 10:6-10; Proverbs 31:10-31; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.; Psalms 73a:1-14.
WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S SERMON VIDEO – “Today, the World Needs to be Renewed With an Outpouring of the Holy Spirit - a Global Spiritual Awakening”: www.AWFTL.org/watch.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB