January 10, 2011

"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."

Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters, and before I move forward today I want to go backward for just a minute and do some reviewing on John The Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus, before moving ahead with our walk to the cross and beyond with Jesus. OUCH!!! WOW, excuse me, I just got a couple of beard hairs stuck in my watch band.

Monday and the day we pray for our leaders and today please pray for the families of those who were shot in Arizona on Saturday and also pray for those who are shot and fighting for their lives. A moment of silence will happen today at 11.00 AM. Come on, folks, after hearing all the speeches and hearing people say "they will be in our thoughts and prayers", someone needs to just say this... Let's pray for them right now. And please remember to pray for the shooter and his family. Can you even think what the parents of the shooter are going through? Let's pray.

Dear Father in Heaven, we just want to stop and pray for all those who were shot in Arizona the other day. Lord, we do not know why some people must be like this, but I do know this, those people cannot love you and do this to others. Lord, I pray today for the healings to begin, and not just the healing of those shot and wounded, but the healing of the hate toward the shooter. I pray for all those wounded, and their families and that they all lean on you, I pray for the families of those who lost their lives that You will comfort them. I also pray for the family of the shooter and pray that they will find comfort this day in You. I pray also that before this your man who did this hated crime comes to judgment before man, he will come to You and asked to be forgiven. Lord, I never did anything like this, but I have sinned and You went to the cross for me. Teach all people that even this hated crime can be washed away in Your eyes. Help us to all see Roman's 8:28 in this... In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Today we are going to have a review.

Matthew 3:1 - In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the desert of Judea 2 and saying, "repent for the kingdom of Heaven is near. 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.'" (NIV)

"Who was that bearded man that some called wild?" If you recall one of the very first things we heard about John was when he jumped for joy in the womb of his mother when she was in her sixth month and Mary, the mother of Jesus, came and told John's mother about being with child and the child was to save us all from our sins. This child, of course, was Jesus. Maybe if we really think about it, John was giving a big kick maybe wanting out so he could get to work for Jesus. John was the forerunner for our Lord Jesus, walking around telling people to be ready for the Kingdom of God is near. He was telling that to everyone who would listen. Now let's fast forward to today! Should we not all be like John The Baptist, should we not all be telling the GOOD NEWS, of our Lord Jesus coming back? Should we not all be telling everyone who will listen and even finding ways to get the message to those who will not listen? Should that message sound something like this -- Prepare yourself for the Lord will be returning soon. Make way for Him, for He is coming back for His church, His people. Prepare the way for Him, as He made us all a promise and that promise has not been filled yet, and we do not even know when it will be filled. And as a fact, Jesus does not know when He will get the call to return for us, but I am sure it will be soon... REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS COMING SOON, BEHOLD JESUS IS COMING BACK, COMING BACK FOR HIS CHURCH. Prepare the way of your heart, and invite Jesus in. Prepare yourself for Jesus and then announce to others this same message... Prepare your hearts for Jesus, repent of your sins for time is running out. Prepare by confessing with your mouth and believing in your hearts that Jesus is Lord. Prepare the way.

Brothers and sisters, John The Baptist did the job he was sent to do, and it cost him his head. Yes, old John was beheaded, and now I ask you this... It is a very hard question to ask and one that requires some thinking about the answer. Are you willing to go out as John The Baptist did and make those statements? Most would say "yes" until I add in this part. Are you willing to go out as John The Baptist did and make those statements, even if you knew it was going to cost you, well, cost you your head? Your life? Folks, John The Baptist is not the only one that lost his life for our Lord Jesus, there have been many since then, and it is still going on. When we speak out for Jesus, we are really putting our life on the line for Him, but that is ok, for after all, did He not lay His life down for us? So we know that Jesus laid down His life for us to get into heaven, should we not be willing to put our life on the line for Him? I am ready, willing and able. I love Jesus and want to make this statement today as I close.

PREPARE THE WAY FOR JESUS, FOR HE IS COMING BACK SOON FOR HIS PEOPLE, FOR HIS CHURCH. PREPARE THE WAY FOR JESUS FOR HE MIGHT JUST COME BACK BEFORE I GET TO FINISH THIS MESSAGE. Prepare the way for the Lord, for He will be returning to fullfill a promise that He made to us. Be ready, and brothers and sisters, please tell others...


Matthew 3:10 - The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. (NIV)

Let me put that scripture into my words today... The ax is already at the root of the trees. To me that means God The Father is getting nearer and nearer to sending His Son Jesus back for we who are saved and that Judgment is just around the corner. Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. To me that means if we are not producing for our Lord Jesus, hear me on this, if we are not producing for our Lord Jesus, we are in danger of being cut down, and tossed into the lake of fire... Meaning we, if we are not producing for Jesus, will be cut down and sent to hell.

Brothers and sisters, we cannot work our way into heaven, we must go to Jesus and confess and believe, and we must work for Him. Brothers and sisters, the way I read my Bible is you just cannot go to church once a week, maybe plow the snow for the church, or work the bake sale, you must work for the Lord, meaning you must be saved and you must work telling others about Jesus... Yes, those other things need done, but you cannot work your way into heaven that way, you must, again according to the Bible, go to the corners of the world and tell the good news. Someone say Amen.

I mean it is ok to work that bake sale, but those coming to purchase your baked goods need to hear the word. Which is the most important part of the ministry of the church, raising money at the bake sale or telling people about the free gift of Salvation through Jesus. But you need the money you make to keep the church running, and yes, you do, but you must work it together. Yes, we must clear the parking lot at the churches but if when people come to church and don't hear about salvation through our Lord Jesus, please tell me, what good it did for the lot to be plowed? If in the summer the grounds around the church are mowed and looking great, but the word inside was not about salvation or was not the COMPLETE truth about our Lord Jesus, tell me, did it do anyone any good to get into heaven because the lawn was nice but the pastor was absent the word, or the flock at the church did not walk in the light of the Lord? Are you getting my point here, you cannot work your way into heaven, you must seek out the Lord, and then, and then, and then go to work for Him. Mow the grass, but when people come to that beautiful church because the lawn looks so nice, tell them about how nice heaven is going to be. Show them around the church, show them that pretty lawn, and show them the blacktop on the parking lot, and then remind them how the paving on the streets of heaven is made of Gold. When Jesus went to the cross for us, He did it out of Love. He had already worked feeding people food, and feeding their minds, He worked healing them from broken hearts, broken homes and even raised the dead. But His love went farther than that, His love for us was death on the cross to take our sins away... And folks, it is only going to get better WHEN WE ALL GET TO HEAVEN, and I do pray you are in the ALL of that line. Is the ax at your roots, are you heading for the old brush pile? Cheer up, spark up some love for Jesus and get humping for Him. Plow the snow, cut the lawn, trim the trees, and tell people about the Love of Jesus... and not just about your love of plowing or your love of a nice lawn. A choice needs to be made, and you are the one who must make it. Are you going up, or going down? Are you going to going to have a seat at the feet of Jesus or are you going to go stoke the fires of hell... again, your choice.

Matthew 3:11 - "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." (NIV)

Tomorrow we are going to go with Jesus and watch as John baptizes Jesus.

Now folks, I must run for I have an early morning doctor's appointment. Please pray for Dolores, who is still in the hospital... Go forth and share your blessings. Love ya, Pastor Dan.