November 12, 2010 Salvation Week (Day 5)

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works so that no one can boast.

Good Morning, my dear "born Again" brothers and sisters, and I do pray that by now all of you have been saved by the grace of God. Today we find out what we must do next. There are a few prayer requests today. Last night in Adams county a game warden was shot to death in the fields. Please pray that the one who shot him/her that they will be caught. Please pray for the family. No other details are in at this point. Please pray for Norma, mother of Jim Orner, who was rushed to the hospital yesterday thinking she had a stroke. Found out it was wrong medication that caused her blood sugars to drop. Prayers also for Patsy. Today we also pray for those working the fields of Harvest for our Lord Jesus. And working for Jesus after we are saved is our subject for today as we wrap up Salvation Week.

Salvation Week (Day 5): Ephesians 2:8/10 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, 9 not by works so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (NIV)

James 2:14 - What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes or daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action is dead. (NIV)

My dear brothers and sisters, I pray you are saved and now we see that it is by the grace of God, a gift for us from God. Now folks, we need to learn this... All gifts need both a giver and a receiver. You go shopping for a dear friend or a family member and you really really like this person so you want to get something special for them... You shop till you drop and you find this really nice thing and you wrap it all up and you give it to this friend... Now the friend looks at it and you can tell by their face they could care less, maybe not even saying thank you. The receiver did not want the gift and maybe even tossed it in the trash after you left. I am sure you would feel bad, maybe you forgot something in the house where you gave the gift or a diner or someplace and you go back in to see this gift you saved for and spent your time laying in the trash. You are hurt, you are really hurt.

We hit some of this with our mission to help others. Last year we were requested to go to a big boys and girls club in Harrisburg, Pa., and help with food and gifts for over fifty families. We, along with a lot of help from others, gathered more and more food and kids at Saint Joseph School in Mechanicsburg, gathered food and families gathered gifts. We loaded a bus with a lot of hard workers and went and gave it out. Some families did say thanks, most kids had to be asked, did you say thanks for the toys, and while some said thank you, most did not, but said they did. Some families never showed up for the food, which we even left for them with the staff at the place we went. And the ones who asked us to go, have never said even thank you. Yes, we did this for God, and yes, it still hurts when you do it and it seems to be just taken for granted.

So now I wonder, how does our Lord Jesus feel after going to the cross for us and so many, so many spitting on Him, or throwing things at Him or beating on Him... oh, and not just the day while He was on the cross but still today. Jesus gave us a gift, a gift of life, His life, and over the years how many have hurt Him by cursing Him or using His name to curse others? Remember, Jesus was human, He had feelings. He died for us, He gave it all up for us and some turned and walked away from the gift. Others of us, and I am one of these, walked away for a while and have come back. Brothers and sisters, this is called the "Gift of Salvation" for it is indeed a gift, paid in full by our Lord Jesus. Paid in full, 100%, and just waiting for you to take the gift. I again pray that you all did that yesterday and now just a few things we must do to secure this gift... God needs to know we accept it in faith, and our faith is shown to Him by helping others.

In our scriptures today we find out that it is indeed a gift. In Ephesians we see about how it is a gift and how God planned it in advance for us. Let's look at it again...

Ephesians 2:8/10 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, 9 not by works so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (NIV)

We see that it is the gift of God and we also see that after we are saved He has prepared things in advance for us to do... Do we pray for the assignment and then listen to God to give an assignment to us? We might be like my friend Tim, who gave his life to God when a child and found that His assignments over the years have changed. From being one of the best baritone singers in the world (my opinion and a lot of others also) to being called to preach. If you were just saved, just came to God, you need to pray and listen for God will give you an assignment. Your assignment could be about anything, and it could be something you already had been doing... But you might have been doing it before for your own satisfaction but now you are doing it for God, meaning you are going to be more satisfied. Now why must we work if the gift was free? Well, folks, that is what God wants us to do... If you are not working for God you indeed are not following His commands..

Let's look at the passages from James...

James 2:14 - What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes or daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action is dead. (NIV)

An example I like to use is this... If you know a family that is having trouble putting food on the table, which works best for them... You hold their hand and pray for them and remind them that God will provide their needs and send them off. Then knowing that God provides needs through the loving hands of others, you go to the store and purchase some burger, some rolls, maybe some hot dogs and a 10 pound bag of potatoes and you drop them off, maybe just setting them on the porch and ringing the door bell and then going back to your car you watch as they come out and get the food from the porch. Brothers and sisters, God died for us, and He also told us, commanded us to work for Him... What if farmers decided not to farm (many of them have sold the farm)? What if the fine family at Mason/Dixon farms decided to stop milking cows and just take care of their family? What if the truck drivers who take the food from place to place all decided to stop working (and that has happened in the past)? What would happen if all those people who are working for God to help Him supply our needs would stop working for Him? Things would change, I am sure, we might be all eating Manna from heaven. But wait, those who are TRULY BORN AGAIN will not stop working for God, they will not. Notice I said truly born again.

Yesterday I went to the place where I get my glasses made, Hampton Optic in Hampton Township. I went to pay for my new glasses, the ones I need to help me read the fine print in my Bible notes. She told me they were on her, and she enjoyed the messages and appreciated what Carry The Light Ministries does and wants to be a part of it. She has helped us for many years. Instead of a bill for my glasses I left with the new glasses and a check to purchase food. The owner, by the way, is born again, she loves God and is working for Him by helping others. This, my friends, is called Sharing Your Blessings. You have heard that before on this line.

You are born again, and if you have not asked in the past about your work for God, let's do it now. I know of no better way to close this series than to get our assignments for God. Let's do it now... I love this week, God is good and Lord willing, I am preaching this same message this week. 10:00 AM Sunday Morning at the Bridges and you are welcome. Come see it come to life, and pray for me as I call on God to anoint me to preach and teach it for Him. Address of the Bridges will follow the message.

Dear Father in Heaven, thanks for sending Jesus to us, and Jesus, thanks for going to the cross for me. I love You, Jesus. Now, Lord, I ask You look over our prayer requests and work on them according to Your will. And Lord, I ask now for my assignment for You and Lord, I ask You to help others as they seek out working for You, maybe some of them for the first time. Help us to walk in the light of Jesus each day so as to please You. Help us to do our very best to be like Jesus. And I ask this in Jesus' name, and Lord, thanks for the messages of this week and every week. How faithful You have been to me, and I am so unworthy, Lord. Forgive me when I fail You... In Jesus' name, Amen.

Go Forth sharing your blessings and if you want to come to church at The Bridges Sunday, you are welcome... Love ya, Pastor Dan.

The Bridges at Bent Creek
2100 Bent Creek Blvd.
Mechanicsburg, Pa. 17050

Carry The Light Ministries Inc.
16 Dewalt Drive
Mechanicsburg, Pa. 17050
Phones 717 691 8200 Pastor Dan's Cell phone 717 991 0754