Friday 8/2/13 Trials and Temptations 5

Please keep praying for Patsy Emig, Eleanor Saylor, and please add Robert Campbell to your prayer list.  Since we have two Robert Campbells on line, this gentleman goes by the name of "Bob" and is from Lemoyne and the other is "Rob" and is from Newport.  I am sure, knowing Rob, he would welcome prayers anytime.  Please also pray for Jendi Sansoni and for Bob Coburn.  Pray for my buddy Dave and his mother Beverly.  Also pray for sinners and for God to forgive them.  I need on this list, how about you?

Dear Father in Heaven, let me start by thanking You for sending Jesus to save me from my sins, to save me from self-destruction.  So, please, Lord, forgive me of my sins and Lord, please hear the call of others needing sins to be washed away.  Lord Jesus, please be with those on our prayer list and heal them according to Your will.  Lord Jesus, be with all those who will be going out in the fields of harvest to spread the Good News.  And Lord, our dear friends Dave, Duane and Neil will soon be going on a final tour of Canada and I pray You keep them safe and fill each place where they sing and that people come to You through their witness for You.  Watch over their families also.  Now, Lord, please bless me with a message for today and then dispatch it for me, please.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Good Evening, brothers and sisters.  I pray that your day was as good as mine and your week as good as mine.  I sure have been blessed.  We were blessed yesterday when some new-found friends gave us a rooster, and he loves to crow.  He is really happy to be in the chicken house with my four girls, Dolores, Pam, Wanda, and Sally.  This guy is beautiful, and we have named him "Sir Charles Chicken."  Times to get to the message.

1 Peter 4:1 - Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourself because he who has suffered within his body is done with sin.  2 As a result he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.  (NIV)

As we round out a week of talking about our trials and temptations, I came upon this scripture in 1 Peter.  Jesus came to earth and walked among us, and He suffered while in His body here on earth.  As followers of Jesus, we are told many places in the Bible to expect to be persecuted because of our love of Jesus.  I know as one who has a lot of pain in my body, and I know of others who have pain in their bodies, this scripture helps me understand just why we do have this pain.  Have you taken notice how much nearer you get to Jesus and how you really work hard to get away from evil when you have pain, when you suffer you get nearer to God?  The Bible tells us that when we suffer in our body, we are done with sin.  I have noticed that the nearer I get to Jesus, the more I suffer in pain, the more the earthly part of my life is changing.  How about you?  As we have more trials and more temptations, more pain and more suffering, we come nearer to our Lord Jesus.  Let's look at another scripture.

1 Peter 4:12 - Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering as though something strange were happening to you.  13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.  (NIV)

The Bible tells us not to be surprised at the painful trials we are suffering.  We have been warned that this would happen to us just because we have followed Jesus.  Brothers and sisters, regardless of the trials that come my way, regardless of the painful things that happen, I AM NOT TURNING BACK, and I pray that you will not either.  Hang in there, my dear brothers and sisters.  I want to leave you with a couple of scriptures that should lift you when you are suffering.  Remember these please.

Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.  (NIV)

Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  (NIV)

So brothers and sisters, REJOICE, Jesus is still the same, and REJOICE for when we love Him, he will always work things out for the good, according to His will for us.  And brothers and sisters, REJOICE, for God's will for us is always better than what we try and do on our own.

Now brothers and sisters, REJOICE and LOVE one another, and please go and share those blessings of the Good News, and share your blessings that God has entrusted to you.  And REJOICE for Jesus loves you.  Love ya.  Pass it on.

Pastor Dan

Please remember our short work day, Saturday, August 10th, from 9 to noon.  Let me know if you are coming ...