Dear Father in Heaven: Thank You for rolling away a few stones for me today. I love You and I ask forgiveness of my sins. Please, dear Lord, watch over family and friends and also, dear Lord, watch over our enemies also and please, Lord, help us to reach those enemies so they can become saved through You. Please, Lord, keep Andrew in Your hands. Father, be with the mother who lost two sons yesterday and with all the others in that family. Please, Lord, help me now with the message and please help me get it dispatched. In Jesus' Name I give thanks and pray. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters, the people who lost two sons yesterday - a 15-year old shot his 18-year old brother to death, so one is dead and the other life in jail. So sad. All is well here, and the only reason I put out an email that said "File Update" is every now and then people for one reason or another want off the list. People moving from place to place, etc. As long as I get updated email addresses, I can go where you go. (I am not talking bathrooms here.) I am so bad sometimes!!! Tomorrow is April 1, or April Fools Day. I do want to write on this day and hope to get that done. As for the Big Trip, well let's get started today.
Thursday: March 31, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Fifty-eight)
John 20: 19-23 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
John 20:19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 20 After He said this, He showed them His hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
"Peace be with you!" Here we find Jesus appearing to the disciples, more than likely eleven of them. Was there anyone else in the room? The scripture does not tell us. How did He get into the locked room? He just appeared not walking through a wall like we see on picture shows of old, He just appeared, able to come and go as He pleased. Remember, He is God!! Notice how he showed them His hands and side. The disciples were happy when they saw the Lord. However, Jesus had to show them His hands and side.
My question to you today is this. Is your faith strong enough to believe in Jesus without seeing those nail-scarred hands and the hole in His side? This is why our religions is called "faith-based!"
21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you." 22 And with that He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit."
Now we see Jesus making that same statement again. Peace be with you! More than likely the first time He said that they all looked up, so then He stated it again. Now here is an order that stands today. As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you. So please remember we are the disciples of today and He is sending us out.
Then He breathed on them and had them receive the Holy Spirit. I want to call your attention way back in the beginning of time when God first made man. How did He get life into him? Let us look!
Genesis 2:7 - The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (NIV)
He is breathing the Holy Spirit on them and brothers and sisters, when we RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT, it is then we receive Jesus and are "Born Again." AMEN.
John 20:23 If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."
What might this mean today? If you have been to the altar at church and have prayed the sinners' prayer and have done it in faith, then you are forgiven and most pastors at that point will tell you that. In fact, I have told you that on this line over and over again. And it does not need to be a pastor or minister or priest or an other church official, for if you lead someone to the Lord and they pray with you to be forgiven, you as a disciple of God can then tell them that according to God's Holy Word, they are indeed forgiven. Always, I said always, give God the glory. In doing this you must remember we can only lead them to Jesus. Jesus will know their heart and will do the saving.
Please go forth now working for Jesus and trying to lead others to Him. He has given those who love Him a lot of power. Use it for good, please, and help others come to Christ. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
And since we are talking about the Holy Spirit, we will sing this one again.
Holy Spirit, Thou Art Welcome (Dottie Rambo, David Huntsinger)
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Omnipotent Father of Mercy and Grace,
Thou art welcome in this place.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Omnipotent Father of Mercy and Grace,
Thou art welcome in this place.
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Salvation Wednesday 3/30/16 The Big Trip (57)
Dear Father in Heaven: I love You. Please forgive me of my sins. Thanks for a great day and a beautiful day. Thanks for watching over family and friends and all who use and read this line. Please, Lord, on this Salvation Wednesday, help us to lead others to You. Lord, we are placing Andrew in Your hands for You to take care of him. Please, Lord, help me to write the message and Lord, please then help me to get it dispatched. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters, a beautiful day here at the Southern Location of the North Pole. Please keep praying for Andrew as he is still missing. Praise report: Our son Matthew is back attending church and sounding much, much better and has even helped me research some scriptures. Praise God and thanks for your prayers for Matthew. Salvation Wednesday and the day we work even harder to lead others to Christ.
I am going to try and keep the messages shorter; however, sometimes that depends on what the subject is. With that said:
Salvation Wednesday: March 30, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Fifty-seven): The Stone
John 20:1 New International Version (NIV)
The Empty Tomb
20:1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.
Picture yourself walking along in the dark, with just the light of the night guiding your footsteps. You are heading to the tomb and wondering just how you might remove the stone to put spices on the body of Jesus. When you arrive at the tomb that stone is already moved!!! It had been rolled away!!!
PRAISE GOD, PRAISE GOD, PRAISE GOD! Our Lord Jesus is still in the stone-rolling business. If you have a problem regardless of what it might be, talk it over with Jesus and let Him roll the stone away that is blocking what you need to do.
Sometimes the answer does not come overnight, sometimes you might think He is just not going to roll away the stone that is blocking you. There are times you can go to bed with a problem praying to God to awake and find the problem gone, that stone rolled away. More often than not, when you have a stone blocking you, after you pray to God The Father through Jesus The Son, you may need to start the project on your own.
Let me try and give you just a few examples. You lost your job and it was a good one and you really need a job. So you sit down and really pray for God to roll this stone away. Two months later you have not heard one thing about a job so you go back to prayer and pray even harder. Still no results. So you decide I will need to get off my couch (I could have used another word here) and go put in some applications. You need to help God help you!
Dear brothers and sisters, our Lord Jesus still rolls the stones away. He can help you in whatever your problem is, but you need to ask first and most of the time you must get out and start leaning on that rock to get it rolled away. Sometimes you need to ask God to just give you an idea of how to get it done. I want to give you this example.
You have heard me talk often of our "Rock of Hope" in our front yard. It is big and it is heavy. It came out of the ground when "Hope" Church was adding to their building a lot of years ago. A big backhoe had trouble picking it up, but when that operator got it, he placed it on my flatbed trailer and pushed it to the center so it would be riding over the dual wheels in the center of the trailer. I closed the back of the trailer and slowly brought it home. I pulled up in my front yard and said, now I need to get it off the trailer. Well, my yard is on a slant, so God gave me enough brains to know it would slide better downhill than up. So I got the trailer near where I wanted the rock and I tried pushing it off the trailer. That did not work. "Lord I need some help here." I jacked up the front of the trailer. That did not work. Got out pry bar and tried pushing it off. No good. "Lord, please help me, please, Lord." I sat down and the answer came from God. So I went and got some oil and put it on the trailer and left that run under the rock. I was sitting on the tailgate of my pickup truck when I noticed the rock starting to move. I picked up the wrecking bar, put it under the rock, gave it one push and God slid it right off the trailer to the place it sits today. Yes, a true story of how Jesus "Rolled Away this Stone!"
Brothers and sisters, whatever the problem, you can for sure work it out better with God than by yourself. Remember, four heads are better than one. Four heads? Yes, God The Father, God The Son, and God The Holy Ghost and you. Amen!!
Now please go forth sharing your love of Jesus and telling some others how He might have "Rolled Away a Stone" for you. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
Isn't He Wonderful
Isn't He wonderful, wonderful, wonderful?
Isn't Jesus, my Lord, wonderful!
Eyes have seen, ears have heard:
'Tis recorded in God's Word.
Isn't Jesus, my Lord, wonderful!
Isn't He wonderful, wonderful, wonderful?
Isn't Jesus, my Lord, wonderful!
Eyes have seen, ears have heard:
'Tis recorded in God's Word.
Isn't Jesus, my Lord, wonderful!
Dear brothers and sisters, a beautiful day here at the Southern Location of the North Pole. Please keep praying for Andrew as he is still missing. Praise report: Our son Matthew is back attending church and sounding much, much better and has even helped me research some scriptures. Praise God and thanks for your prayers for Matthew. Salvation Wednesday and the day we work even harder to lead others to Christ.
I am going to try and keep the messages shorter; however, sometimes that depends on what the subject is. With that said:
Salvation Wednesday: March 30, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Fifty-seven): The Stone
John 20:1 New International Version (NIV)
The Empty Tomb
20:1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.
Picture yourself walking along in the dark, with just the light of the night guiding your footsteps. You are heading to the tomb and wondering just how you might remove the stone to put spices on the body of Jesus. When you arrive at the tomb that stone is already moved!!! It had been rolled away!!!
PRAISE GOD, PRAISE GOD, PRAISE GOD! Our Lord Jesus is still in the stone-rolling business. If you have a problem regardless of what it might be, talk it over with Jesus and let Him roll the stone away that is blocking what you need to do.
Sometimes the answer does not come overnight, sometimes you might think He is just not going to roll away the stone that is blocking you. There are times you can go to bed with a problem praying to God to awake and find the problem gone, that stone rolled away. More often than not, when you have a stone blocking you, after you pray to God The Father through Jesus The Son, you may need to start the project on your own.
Let me try and give you just a few examples. You lost your job and it was a good one and you really need a job. So you sit down and really pray for God to roll this stone away. Two months later you have not heard one thing about a job so you go back to prayer and pray even harder. Still no results. So you decide I will need to get off my couch (I could have used another word here) and go put in some applications. You need to help God help you!
Dear brothers and sisters, our Lord Jesus still rolls the stones away. He can help you in whatever your problem is, but you need to ask first and most of the time you must get out and start leaning on that rock to get it rolled away. Sometimes you need to ask God to just give you an idea of how to get it done. I want to give you this example.
You have heard me talk often of our "Rock of Hope" in our front yard. It is big and it is heavy. It came out of the ground when "Hope" Church was adding to their building a lot of years ago. A big backhoe had trouble picking it up, but when that operator got it, he placed it on my flatbed trailer and pushed it to the center so it would be riding over the dual wheels in the center of the trailer. I closed the back of the trailer and slowly brought it home. I pulled up in my front yard and said, now I need to get it off the trailer. Well, my yard is on a slant, so God gave me enough brains to know it would slide better downhill than up. So I got the trailer near where I wanted the rock and I tried pushing it off the trailer. That did not work. "Lord I need some help here." I jacked up the front of the trailer. That did not work. Got out pry bar and tried pushing it off. No good. "Lord, please help me, please, Lord." I sat down and the answer came from God. So I went and got some oil and put it on the trailer and left that run under the rock. I was sitting on the tailgate of my pickup truck when I noticed the rock starting to move. I picked up the wrecking bar, put it under the rock, gave it one push and God slid it right off the trailer to the place it sits today. Yes, a true story of how Jesus "Rolled Away this Stone!"
Brothers and sisters, whatever the problem, you can for sure work it out better with God than by yourself. Remember, four heads are better than one. Four heads? Yes, God The Father, God The Son, and God The Holy Ghost and you. Amen!!
Now please go forth sharing your love of Jesus and telling some others how He might have "Rolled Away a Stone" for you. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
Isn't He Wonderful
Isn't He wonderful, wonderful, wonderful?
Isn't Jesus, my Lord, wonderful!
Eyes have seen, ears have heard:
'Tis recorded in God's Word.
Isn't Jesus, my Lord, wonderful!
Isn't He wonderful, wonderful, wonderful?
Isn't Jesus, my Lord, wonderful!
Eyes have seen, ears have heard:
'Tis recorded in God's Word.
Isn't Jesus, my Lord, wonderful!
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Easter Sunday 3/27/16 The Big Trip (56)
He's Alive!!! Jesus is Alive!!!
Dear Father in Heaven: I love You. Please forgive me of my sins and please help me with the message and to get it dispatched. Please keep watch over Andrew Hall and bring him home. Please also watch over John Leib and heal his knee. Also be with Glenn and Marie. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Easter Sunday: March 23, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Fifty-six) Christ Arose
Low in the grave He lay:
Jesus, my Saviour!
Waiting the coming day,
Jesus my Lord!
Up from the grave He arose
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes.
He arose a victor from the dark domain
And He lives forever with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!
Vainly they watch His bed.
Jesus, my Saviour!
Vainly they seal the dead,
Jesus, my Lord!
Up from the grave He arose
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes.
He arose a victor from the dark domain
And He lives forever with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!
Death cannot keep his pray,
Jesus, my Savior!
He tore the bars away,
Jesus, my Lord!
Up from the grave He arose
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes.
He arose a victor from the dark domain
And He lives forever with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!
The Resurrection taken from the book of Luke (NIV)
Luke 24:1 - On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee: 7 'The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'" 8 Then they remembered His words.
Brothers and sisters, please try and picture yourself as someone who watched as Jesus was crucified on the Cross. You saw Him die, you witnessed it. You saw Him placed in the borrowed tomb and you saw it sealed. You loved Him and your heart is broken. You go home. Two days later you come back and the tomb is broken open and He is gone. To top that off two men in clothes that gleamed so bright you bowed down. Then you are reminded of His words from before. Startled? Scared?
Now let me bring that to now. You go to the funeral of a loved one. You go to the gravesite, you watch as the casket is there. A couple of days later you go back to that gravesite to check on how it was finished off. AND THE GRAVE IS OPEN and the body is gone. You are standing there shaking your head. What happened? What happened was the one who was buried was saved and Jesus came back as promised and you are there because you are not saved!! THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN!!! It is time to come to Christ Jesus.
Luke 24:9 - When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others.
Only Eleven disciples! One less because he turned on Jesus. Now knowing Jesus as we know Him today, if Judas had not taken his own life and had then gone to Jesus and asked to be forgiven, you know what I am going to say. Yes, if he had asked Jesus to forgive him, Jesus would have done it. And this we do not know and will learn someday. Maybe Judas did pray to be forgiven after he did what he did and if that would be the case, Judas would be saved.
Luke 24:10 - It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
I am sure a lot of the people back then wondered what had happened. We have an advantage because we have The Word of God and we have faith. Still so many do not believe.
Up from the grave He arose
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes.
He arose a victor from the dark domain
And He lives forever with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!
John 20:1-18 (NIV)
Yes, I am showing two versions of the same scripture. Some folks question why they are somewhat different. I can only put it to you this way. Four people standing at the same corner and witness an accident. All will agree on the fact that there was an accident but each witness will tell it a little different as the remember it later. The main fact: there was an accident. As with Jesus, we know the events happened, all agree on that fact, He was crucified on the Cross, He was buried, and God The Father raised Him from the dead. Each reported it a little different. Bibles have been translated and worded differently. We just need to believe and have faith. Someone please say Amen.
The Empty Tomb
John 20:1 - Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"
The disciple Jesus loved. Jesus loved all of them, as He loves all of us. John was most likely the one referred to in the scripture. Also notice that Peter, even though he denied knowing Jesus, is still very, very concerned and even a leader. Although John could outrun him.
John 20:3 - So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus' head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.
Peter wasted no time going into the tomb, the clothes laid neatly which would show people the grave was not robbed. You don't think of it much but I guess they had grave robbers back then. We hear about them once in awhile now.
John 20:8 - Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
We see here that the disciples still did not understand all of this. Again we have the advantage of knowing how it all turned out. Please take advantage of that by being "Born Again."
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
John 20:11 - Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13 They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" "They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put Him." 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15 He asked her, "Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?"
Thinking He was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him."
16 Jesus said to her, "Mary."
Now this would shake you up. You're looking in the grave and the one you are looking for is standing behind you.
She turned toward Him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means "Teacher").
17 Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"
Jesus brings out really neat things right here. Jesus is telling us today that we are His brothers and sisters. He also said we have the same Father in Heaven. All this, brothers and sisters, is ours, yours and mine, if we are saved. Can it get any better than having Jesus for a Brother and God The Father as our Heavenly Father? NO!!!
John 20:18 - Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her.
Dear Father in Heaven: It is plain to see that You love us as You gave us Your Son, and Jesus, it is plain to see that You love us because You gave Your life for us and then You gave us The Holy Ghost. I love You, Lord, and I give thanks in the name of Jesus. Amen.
So many things happened during these events, so much to cover in a short time. I will be talking to you more on this. I do want to close with this short story. A few years back, I was honored to preach at Bethel United Methodist Church at 6:00 AM Son Rise service. Now this is where Grant and Wanda attended and I filled in for Pastor Larry Hale who was under the weather. (Pastor Larry is pastor of Glenvale Church of God.)
Anyway, most who know me know I have a loud mouth (be nice). I never used a mike to preach at The Bridges. I was at the mike at Bethel and had asked Grant to put the volume up. And he put it up, way up. My first words that morning were "He's Alive." Well, that brought some folks to attention, all awake now. Right now I want to close and I must do this. I must. You know our religion is all about "The Cross of Jesus" and accepting Him as your Savior. Please, if you are not saved, pray this with me. If you are not sure, pray this with me. If you want to renew, please pray this with me. I cannot do this one for you. Please.
Dear Father in Heaven, I confess today that I am a sinner. I also confess that I believe in Jesus and I believe He did die on the cross for me. Today I invite You, Jesus, into my heart. Clean me, Lord, please, and save me, please. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Happy Easter, sisters and brothers. Please go forth and share Jesus with others, and remember Jesus will clear your sins. All of them. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
Up from the grave He arose
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes.
He arose a victor from the dark domain
And He lives forever with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!
Up from the grave He arose
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes.
He arose a victor from the dark domain
And He lives forever with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!
Dear Father in Heaven: I love You. Please forgive me of my sins and please help me with the message and to get it dispatched. Please keep watch over Andrew Hall and bring him home. Please also watch over John Leib and heal his knee. Also be with Glenn and Marie. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Easter Sunday: March 23, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Fifty-six) Christ Arose
Low in the grave He lay:
Jesus, my Saviour!
Waiting the coming day,
Jesus my Lord!
Up from the grave He arose
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes.
He arose a victor from the dark domain
And He lives forever with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!
Vainly they watch His bed.
Jesus, my Saviour!
Vainly they seal the dead,
Jesus, my Lord!
Up from the grave He arose
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes.
He arose a victor from the dark domain
And He lives forever with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!
Death cannot keep his pray,
Jesus, my Savior!
He tore the bars away,
Jesus, my Lord!
Up from the grave He arose
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes.
He arose a victor from the dark domain
And He lives forever with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!
The Resurrection taken from the book of Luke (NIV)
Luke 24:1 - On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee: 7 'The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'" 8 Then they remembered His words.
Brothers and sisters, please try and picture yourself as someone who watched as Jesus was crucified on the Cross. You saw Him die, you witnessed it. You saw Him placed in the borrowed tomb and you saw it sealed. You loved Him and your heart is broken. You go home. Two days later you come back and the tomb is broken open and He is gone. To top that off two men in clothes that gleamed so bright you bowed down. Then you are reminded of His words from before. Startled? Scared?
Now let me bring that to now. You go to the funeral of a loved one. You go to the gravesite, you watch as the casket is there. A couple of days later you go back to that gravesite to check on how it was finished off. AND THE GRAVE IS OPEN and the body is gone. You are standing there shaking your head. What happened? What happened was the one who was buried was saved and Jesus came back as promised and you are there because you are not saved!! THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN!!! It is time to come to Christ Jesus.
Luke 24:9 - When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others.
Only Eleven disciples! One less because he turned on Jesus. Now knowing Jesus as we know Him today, if Judas had not taken his own life and had then gone to Jesus and asked to be forgiven, you know what I am going to say. Yes, if he had asked Jesus to forgive him, Jesus would have done it. And this we do not know and will learn someday. Maybe Judas did pray to be forgiven after he did what he did and if that would be the case, Judas would be saved.
Luke 24:10 - It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
I am sure a lot of the people back then wondered what had happened. We have an advantage because we have The Word of God and we have faith. Still so many do not believe.
Up from the grave He arose
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes.
He arose a victor from the dark domain
And He lives forever with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!
John 20:1-18 (NIV)
Yes, I am showing two versions of the same scripture. Some folks question why they are somewhat different. I can only put it to you this way. Four people standing at the same corner and witness an accident. All will agree on the fact that there was an accident but each witness will tell it a little different as the remember it later. The main fact: there was an accident. As with Jesus, we know the events happened, all agree on that fact, He was crucified on the Cross, He was buried, and God The Father raised Him from the dead. Each reported it a little different. Bibles have been translated and worded differently. We just need to believe and have faith. Someone please say Amen.
The Empty Tomb
John 20:1 - Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"
The disciple Jesus loved. Jesus loved all of them, as He loves all of us. John was most likely the one referred to in the scripture. Also notice that Peter, even though he denied knowing Jesus, is still very, very concerned and even a leader. Although John could outrun him.
John 20:3 - So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus' head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.
Peter wasted no time going into the tomb, the clothes laid neatly which would show people the grave was not robbed. You don't think of it much but I guess they had grave robbers back then. We hear about them once in awhile now.
John 20:8 - Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
We see here that the disciples still did not understand all of this. Again we have the advantage of knowing how it all turned out. Please take advantage of that by being "Born Again."
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
John 20:11 - Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13 They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" "They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put Him." 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15 He asked her, "Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?"
Thinking He was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him."
16 Jesus said to her, "Mary."
Now this would shake you up. You're looking in the grave and the one you are looking for is standing behind you.
She turned toward Him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means "Teacher").
17 Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"
Jesus brings out really neat things right here. Jesus is telling us today that we are His brothers and sisters. He also said we have the same Father in Heaven. All this, brothers and sisters, is ours, yours and mine, if we are saved. Can it get any better than having Jesus for a Brother and God The Father as our Heavenly Father? NO!!!
John 20:18 - Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her.
Dear Father in Heaven: It is plain to see that You love us as You gave us Your Son, and Jesus, it is plain to see that You love us because You gave Your life for us and then You gave us The Holy Ghost. I love You, Lord, and I give thanks in the name of Jesus. Amen.
So many things happened during these events, so much to cover in a short time. I will be talking to you more on this. I do want to close with this short story. A few years back, I was honored to preach at Bethel United Methodist Church at 6:00 AM Son Rise service. Now this is where Grant and Wanda attended and I filled in for Pastor Larry Hale who was under the weather. (Pastor Larry is pastor of Glenvale Church of God.)
Anyway, most who know me know I have a loud mouth (be nice). I never used a mike to preach at The Bridges. I was at the mike at Bethel and had asked Grant to put the volume up. And he put it up, way up. My first words that morning were "He's Alive." Well, that brought some folks to attention, all awake now. Right now I want to close and I must do this. I must. You know our religion is all about "The Cross of Jesus" and accepting Him as your Savior. Please, if you are not saved, pray this with me. If you are not sure, pray this with me. If you want to renew, please pray this with me. I cannot do this one for you. Please.
Dear Father in Heaven, I confess today that I am a sinner. I also confess that I believe in Jesus and I believe He did die on the cross for me. Today I invite You, Jesus, into my heart. Clean me, Lord, please, and save me, please. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Happy Easter, sisters and brothers. Please go forth and share Jesus with others, and remember Jesus will clear your sins. All of them. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
Up from the grave He arose
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes.
He arose a victor from the dark domain
And He lives forever with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!
Up from the grave He arose
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes.
He arose a victor from the dark domain
And He lives forever with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!
Friday, March 25, 2016
Good Friday 3/25/16 The Big Trip (55)
Dear Father in Heaven: All praise and honor and glory today for God The Father, God The Son, and God The Holy Spirit. We just cannot thank You enough for what You did for us years ago on this day, the one we call Good Friday. While this day was very good for us, Lord Jesus, it was not good for You. Thanks for saving us and thanks for helping me write. Please now bless me with the message of Good Friday and then to get it dispatched. In Jesus' Name, I give thanks. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters, it was nice to hear from some of you that I have not heard from in awhile. To those who said it was nice to relax and take communion at home, I just want to add amen to that. Today's message will be long again and I need to get started. However, I must share this. I had to go to the food store today. Upon coming out, a young man and woman with a baby in the mother's arms asked me, "could I use some help loading?" I said "please" and also said "I have a gift for the baby in my car." At first they did not want a gift for helping until they saw the "Read-N-Grow children's Bible I handed to them. Long story short, my car was loaded, the baby with these great big blue eyes was then anointed with oil and prayed for right at the Giant. I am clouding up right now. GOD IS SO GOOD, to put people in front of us to witness to. Thanks, Jesus, for doing that for me, and all honor and glory goes to Jesus Christ. Now to the message, and my writing will be in italics.
Luke 22:54-71 New International Version (NIV)
Peter Disowns Jesus
54 Then seizing Him, they led Him away and took Him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with Him."
57 But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know Him," he said.
58 A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them." "Man, I am not!" Peter replied.
59 About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with Him, for he is a Galilean."
60 Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
This will come up again later in a message, but today I want to ask you, have you ever denied Jesus Christ? Peter will get a chance to be reinstated showing to me that if you have denied Christ in the past, get on your knees and ask to be forgiven before it is too late you surely can be reinstated.
The Guards Mock Jesus
63 The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating Him. 64 They blindfolded Him and demanded, "Prophesy! Who hit you?" 65 And they said man other insulting things to Him.
Remember these things happened before Jesus was given a trial. Can you believe this? I want you to think about this. Last week on the TV news it showed how one person was down and others were standing around kicking the one down. It is going on even as we speak.
Jesus Before Pilate and Herod
66 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together,and Jesus was led before them. 67 "If you are the Messiah," they said, "tell us." Jesus answered, "If I tell you, you will not believe me, 68 and if I asked you, you would not answer. 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God."
70 They all asked, "Are You then the Son of God?" He replied, "You say that I am."
71 Then they said, "Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from His own lips."
While Jesus answered right up front that He was and of course still is the Son of God, of course it would be blasphemy to claim to be the Son of God, unless, unless you really were the Son of God. So you know what will be happening to those coming claiming to be Him.
Luke 23 New International Version (NIV)
1 Then the whole assembly rose and led Him off to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a King."
3 So Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "You have said so," Jesus replied.
Notice since Jesus has been taken prisoner He is not talking a lot. Notice He is telling them really what they want to hear. "Are you the king of the Jews?" could have been answered just "Yes."
4 Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no basis for a charge against this Man."
5 But they insisted, "He stirs up the people all over Judea by His teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here."
6 On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. 7 When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.
8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see Him. From what he had heard about Him, he hoped to see Him perform a sign of some sort. 9 He plied Him with many questions,but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing Him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked Him. Dressing Him in an elegant robe, they sent Him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends -- before this they had been enemies.
13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined Him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against Him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish Him and then release Him."
18 But the whole crowd shouted, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!" 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)
20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!"
22 For the third time he spoke to them: "Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in Him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have Him punished and then release Him."
23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that He be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.
As we look above Pilate and Herod, once enemies, were now friends, but neither wanted to issue the "death warrant." Both wanted to wash their hands of it but after pressure they gave in and turned Jesus over to be crucified. Sort of like our modern-day politicians who stand up but don't stand for anything. How many of them have given in to murder? We see it all around today, none of our leaders want to stand up for Jesus even today. Oh, don't get me started. They support abortion, gay marriage. Do we have any politicians with a "BACKBONE?"
The Crucifixion of Jesus
26 As the soldiers led Him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large number of people followed Him, including women who mourned and wailed for Him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the time will come when you will say, 'Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!' 30 Then "they will say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!"'
31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
People were weeping for Jesus and He told them not to cry for Him, but for what is coming ahead. You see Jesus knew, knew what was ahead. You think about all the things that have happened just in our lifetime. The wars, the murder of all the Jews in Germany, the killing of Christians by the bad Muslims. Black on black crime, people raping others. People overdosing on drugs and dying, babies put in the trash, I could go on. Today, folks, we must look at the death of Jesus on the cross as a victory for us. We must indeed HOLD ONTO JESUS. HE DIED FOR US.
32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with Him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals -- one on His right, the other on His left. 34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
I must write here. Jesus is calling out as they are putting Jesus to death on the Cross for His Father in heaven to forgive them. This teaching us a real lesson about forgiving. Do you remember back sometime ago a young white man was attending a church with most of those attending being African-American? This man shot up the church and killed many. Do you remember how one lady of color was interviewed and said, "I will never forget this, but I do forgive you"? How hard that must have been, and still she was following what Jesus wants.
35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at Him. They said, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is God's Messiah, the Chosen One."
36 The soldiers also came up and mocked Him. They offered Him wine vinegar 37 and said, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself."
38 There was a written notice above Him, which read" THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 One of the criminals who hung thee hurled insults at Him: "Aren't you the Messiah? Save Yourself and us!"
40 But the other criminal rebuked Him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
43 Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."
Brothers and sisters, I have stood beside a few people in hospitals that were sick and led them to the cross. That is known as a bedside conversion or deathbed conversion. I was told by one pastor that there is no such thing as a bedside conversion and to show him that in scripture. I referred him to Luke 23:39-43. Please, if you know someone in the hospital and you are not sure if they know the Lord, get someone to their bedside, or better yet, do it yourself. Lead them to Jesus!
The Death of Jesus
44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit My spirit." When He had said this, He breathed His last.
Stop right now, not for a moment of silence, but to SHOUT OUT PRAISE THE LORD, for when this happened our victory was won. Praise god, Praise God, Praise God.
47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man." 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew Him, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
The Burial of Jesus
50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But the rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
Dear brothers and sisters, today to me, there is only one song to close with and it is one of my most loved hymns. Please travel now with Jesus, love and hug on Him. And God willing, I will be having Son Rise service here on Sunday Morning. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
The Old Rugged Cross
On a hill far away stood an Old Rugged Cross,
The emblem of suff'ring and shame;
And I love that Old Cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
So I'll cherish the Old Rugged Cross
'Til my trophies at last I lay down.
I will cling to the Old Rugged Cross
And exchange it someday for a crown.
To the Old Rugged Cross I will ever be true,
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He'll call me someday to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I'll share.
So I'll cherish the Old Rugged Cross
'Til my trophies at last I lay down.
I will cling to the Old Rugged Cross
And exchange it someday for a crown.
So I'll cherish the Old Rugged Cross
'Til my trophies at last I lay down.
I will cling to the Old Rugged Cross
And exchange it someday for a crown.
Dear brothers and sisters, it was nice to hear from some of you that I have not heard from in awhile. To those who said it was nice to relax and take communion at home, I just want to add amen to that. Today's message will be long again and I need to get started. However, I must share this. I had to go to the food store today. Upon coming out, a young man and woman with a baby in the mother's arms asked me, "could I use some help loading?" I said "please" and also said "I have a gift for the baby in my car." At first they did not want a gift for helping until they saw the "Read-N-Grow children's Bible I handed to them. Long story short, my car was loaded, the baby with these great big blue eyes was then anointed with oil and prayed for right at the Giant. I am clouding up right now. GOD IS SO GOOD, to put people in front of us to witness to. Thanks, Jesus, for doing that for me, and all honor and glory goes to Jesus Christ. Now to the message, and my writing will be in italics.
Luke 22:54-71 New International Version (NIV)
Peter Disowns Jesus
54 Then seizing Him, they led Him away and took Him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with Him."
57 But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know Him," he said.
58 A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them." "Man, I am not!" Peter replied.
59 About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with Him, for he is a Galilean."
60 Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
This will come up again later in a message, but today I want to ask you, have you ever denied Jesus Christ? Peter will get a chance to be reinstated showing to me that if you have denied Christ in the past, get on your knees and ask to be forgiven before it is too late you surely can be reinstated.
The Guards Mock Jesus
63 The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating Him. 64 They blindfolded Him and demanded, "Prophesy! Who hit you?" 65 And they said man other insulting things to Him.
Remember these things happened before Jesus was given a trial. Can you believe this? I want you to think about this. Last week on the TV news it showed how one person was down and others were standing around kicking the one down. It is going on even as we speak.
Jesus Before Pilate and Herod
66 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together,and Jesus was led before them. 67 "If you are the Messiah," they said, "tell us." Jesus answered, "If I tell you, you will not believe me, 68 and if I asked you, you would not answer. 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God."
70 They all asked, "Are You then the Son of God?" He replied, "You say that I am."
71 Then they said, "Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from His own lips."
While Jesus answered right up front that He was and of course still is the Son of God, of course it would be blasphemy to claim to be the Son of God, unless, unless you really were the Son of God. So you know what will be happening to those coming claiming to be Him.
Luke 23 New International Version (NIV)
1 Then the whole assembly rose and led Him off to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a King."
3 So Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "You have said so," Jesus replied.
Notice since Jesus has been taken prisoner He is not talking a lot. Notice He is telling them really what they want to hear. "Are you the king of the Jews?" could have been answered just "Yes."
4 Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no basis for a charge against this Man."
5 But they insisted, "He stirs up the people all over Judea by His teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here."
6 On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. 7 When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.
8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see Him. From what he had heard about Him, he hoped to see Him perform a sign of some sort. 9 He plied Him with many questions,but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing Him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked Him. Dressing Him in an elegant robe, they sent Him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends -- before this they had been enemies.
13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined Him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against Him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish Him and then release Him."
18 But the whole crowd shouted, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!" 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)
20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!"
22 For the third time he spoke to them: "Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in Him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have Him punished and then release Him."
23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that He be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.
As we look above Pilate and Herod, once enemies, were now friends, but neither wanted to issue the "death warrant." Both wanted to wash their hands of it but after pressure they gave in and turned Jesus over to be crucified. Sort of like our modern-day politicians who stand up but don't stand for anything. How many of them have given in to murder? We see it all around today, none of our leaders want to stand up for Jesus even today. Oh, don't get me started. They support abortion, gay marriage. Do we have any politicians with a "BACKBONE?"
The Crucifixion of Jesus
26 As the soldiers led Him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large number of people followed Him, including women who mourned and wailed for Him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the time will come when you will say, 'Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!' 30 Then "they will say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!"'
31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
People were weeping for Jesus and He told them not to cry for Him, but for what is coming ahead. You see Jesus knew, knew what was ahead. You think about all the things that have happened just in our lifetime. The wars, the murder of all the Jews in Germany, the killing of Christians by the bad Muslims. Black on black crime, people raping others. People overdosing on drugs and dying, babies put in the trash, I could go on. Today, folks, we must look at the death of Jesus on the cross as a victory for us. We must indeed HOLD ONTO JESUS. HE DIED FOR US.
32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with Him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals -- one on His right, the other on His left. 34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
I must write here. Jesus is calling out as they are putting Jesus to death on the Cross for His Father in heaven to forgive them. This teaching us a real lesson about forgiving. Do you remember back sometime ago a young white man was attending a church with most of those attending being African-American? This man shot up the church and killed many. Do you remember how one lady of color was interviewed and said, "I will never forget this, but I do forgive you"? How hard that must have been, and still she was following what Jesus wants.
35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at Him. They said, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is God's Messiah, the Chosen One."
36 The soldiers also came up and mocked Him. They offered Him wine vinegar 37 and said, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself."
38 There was a written notice above Him, which read" THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 One of the criminals who hung thee hurled insults at Him: "Aren't you the Messiah? Save Yourself and us!"
40 But the other criminal rebuked Him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
43 Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."
Brothers and sisters, I have stood beside a few people in hospitals that were sick and led them to the cross. That is known as a bedside conversion or deathbed conversion. I was told by one pastor that there is no such thing as a bedside conversion and to show him that in scripture. I referred him to Luke 23:39-43. Please, if you know someone in the hospital and you are not sure if they know the Lord, get someone to their bedside, or better yet, do it yourself. Lead them to Jesus!
The Death of Jesus
44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit My spirit." When He had said this, He breathed His last.
Stop right now, not for a moment of silence, but to SHOUT OUT PRAISE THE LORD, for when this happened our victory was won. Praise god, Praise God, Praise God.
47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man." 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew Him, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
The Burial of Jesus
50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But the rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
Dear brothers and sisters, today to me, there is only one song to close with and it is one of my most loved hymns. Please travel now with Jesus, love and hug on Him. And God willing, I will be having Son Rise service here on Sunday Morning. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
The Old Rugged Cross
On a hill far away stood an Old Rugged Cross,
The emblem of suff'ring and shame;
And I love that Old Cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
So I'll cherish the Old Rugged Cross
'Til my trophies at last I lay down.
I will cling to the Old Rugged Cross
And exchange it someday for a crown.
To the Old Rugged Cross I will ever be true,
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He'll call me someday to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I'll share.
So I'll cherish the Old Rugged Cross
'Til my trophies at last I lay down.
I will cling to the Old Rugged Cross
And exchange it someday for a crown.
So I'll cherish the Old Rugged Cross
'Til my trophies at last I lay down.
I will cling to the Old Rugged Cross
And exchange it someday for a crown.
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Maundy Thursday 3/24/16 The Big Trip (54)
Dear Father in Heaven: I love You! Thanks for Jesus. And Jesus, thanks for dying for all of us, and thanks for forgiving all who ask to be forgiven. I am honored to be serving You this day, dear Lord, and I appreciate You putting trust in me to work for You bringing in the lost to be saved by You. Lord, I really need Your help in the messages of the next few days. No, I need Your help in all my messages, for I cannot do them without You. Please help me now and please, when I am finished, help me to get them dispatched. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters, the messages of the next couple days might be long. I would suggest that you get your Bible out and start with Luke 22 and read through chapter 24 which gives you pretty much of the events of Maundy Thursday through Easter Sunday. Please keep me in prayer as I do these messages and keep both Dolores and me in prayer for us to be able to keep carrying the increasing pain in our bodies. Our scriptures tell us that God will not give us more than we can handle and we both believe that as we believe in our Lord God. Please remember this done in parts will have communion so you will need bread or a cracker and some juice. Let me get going with the Big Trip 55.
Maundy Thursday: March 24, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Fifty-four)
My words will be italicized today as I insert them between the verses.
Luke 22:7-20 New International Version (NIV)
The Last Supper
7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover."
I want you to think about this, before Jesus a lamb was sacrificed on the altar for the cleansing of sins. Do you think for one minute that the blood of a dear sweet little lamb is going to clear you of your sins? No, and that is why Jesus was sent and why He is referred to as The "Lamb of God." You can fact-check me in.
John 1:29 - "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him and saith, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
Luke 22:9 - "Where do you want us to prepare for it?" they asked.
10 He replied, "As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?' 12 He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there."
13 They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
Once again we see Jesus sending two of His disciples ahead to get things ready. He said you will find a man carrying a jar of water, and that in itself is unusual as back in those days carrying the water was considered in the most part woman's work. Years ago Dolores and I traveled by motorcycle to Heritage USA which was the place at the time that Pastor Jim Bakker was building. They had a building there that modeled after the Upper Room and it was a nice feeling just going up there and while we were there communion was served. I look at all the pictures of Jesus at the table with His disciples and wonder were they really seated like that or was this set on canvas so all were pictured not seeing the backs of heads. However, that is not one bit important, what is important is THE EVENT HAPPENED!! It also shows once again how Jesus knew exactly what was going on all the time.
Luke 22:14 - When the hour came, Jesus and His apostles reclined at the table. 15 And He said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God."
Okay, please get your communion ready, I am going to pray for that right now.
Please, Lord, bless the bread and the fruit of the vine as we have communion with You and for You. In Jesus' Name, I give thanks for Your dying on the Cross for us and I pray we never, ever forget the real message of the Cross. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
I want you to note also that each time we sit down to eat together we should say grace. For are we not "breaking bread together?"
Luke 22:17 - After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."
Please let me note here that the fruit of the vine is not always wine. Grape juice is also fruit of the vine. In some churches where real wine is used, some of those serving it have become addicted. Also, churches and pastors need to watch when serving real wine that a dried-out addict does not go off the wagon because of communion.
Luke 22:19 - And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
Please eat the body now and giving thanks and praising God as you do it.
Luke 22:20 - In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."
Please now drink of the cup and please remember this is the blood that clears us of our sins. Do this all in remembrance of Jesus.
Luke 22:39-53 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives
39 - Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and His disciples followed Him. 40 On reaching the place, He said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." 41 He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 "Father, if You are willing take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done."
A lot of important things listed above. Jesus went to the Mount of Olives, also called Gethsemane. If you read from the book of Matthew you will find that Jesus took Peter, James, and John along with Him (Matthew 26:37). Most important thing we can learn from these verses is this from the prayer of Jesus: "Not My will but Yours be done." Of course that is also found in The Lord's Prayer. He also told His disciples that they should pray that they should not fall into temptation. Let me tell you right now, we should all be praying that. However, FALLING INTO TEMPTATION IS NOT A SIN, GIVING INTO IT IS!!!
Luke 22:43 - An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. 44 And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
45 When He rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 "Why are you sleeping?" He asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."
Have you ever prayed so hard that you broke out in a sweat? I do not remember a time that I did that, except when praying outside when it was hot. Sometimes it was what I was praying about that brought out the sweat!!! Once again Jesus told them to pray that they will not be tempted. He was also upset because they were sleeping.
Jesus Arrested
Luke 22:47 - While He was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked Him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"
This kiss was a prearranged signal by Judas, and the ones he was bringing so as to show which one Jesus was.
49 - When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
51 But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him.
Please note, even when Jesus was down to those last hours He was still healing the sick or those hurt. You would think that when people saw Jesus reattach that ear they would have yelled out PRAISE THE LORD. I know when I got my cancer numbers back I was shouting out about being healed, and I still believe that God can and even will heal my back and knees so I keep praying. What I am telling you here is whatever is wrong with you this day, DO NOT LOSE YOUR FAITH IN JESUS BEING ABLE TO HEAL.
52 - Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for Him, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour -- when darkness reigns."
Notice here please that evil comes out in the darkness. Tonight at 8:00 PM Pastor Gabriel Swaggart will be preaching at Camp Meeting 2016 and it will be live on channel 297 Verizon. Check your cable company for your channel number. He is preaching on healing and he is good.
If I were to ask you which of the events are most important, The Virgin Birth, The events listed above, the death of Jesus on The Cross, or The Resurrection, which would you say? I will give you my answer Sunday.
Dear Father in Heaven: Thanks for the message and thanks for us being able to share communion over this computer. Your love for us is appreciated. In Jesus' Name, I pray.
Now go forth and love on Jesus and keep on praying. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
Our song today,
Softly and Tenderly, Jesus is Calling
Softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me.
See, on the portals He's waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.
Come home, come home.
Ye who are weary, come home.
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling;
Calling, 'O, sinner, come home!"
Oh! For the wonderful love He has promised,
Promised for you and for me!
Tho' we have sinned He has mercy and pardon,
Pardon for you and for me.
Come home, come home.
Ye who are weary, come home.
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling;
Calling, 'O, sinner, come home!"
Come home, come home.
Ye who are weary, come home.
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling;
Calling, 'O, sinner, come home!"
Dear brothers and sisters, the messages of the next couple days might be long. I would suggest that you get your Bible out and start with Luke 22 and read through chapter 24 which gives you pretty much of the events of Maundy Thursday through Easter Sunday. Please keep me in prayer as I do these messages and keep both Dolores and me in prayer for us to be able to keep carrying the increasing pain in our bodies. Our scriptures tell us that God will not give us more than we can handle and we both believe that as we believe in our Lord God. Please remember this done in parts will have communion so you will need bread or a cracker and some juice. Let me get going with the Big Trip 55.
Maundy Thursday: March 24, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Fifty-four)
My words will be italicized today as I insert them between the verses.
Luke 22:7-20 New International Version (NIV)
The Last Supper
7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover."
I want you to think about this, before Jesus a lamb was sacrificed on the altar for the cleansing of sins. Do you think for one minute that the blood of a dear sweet little lamb is going to clear you of your sins? No, and that is why Jesus was sent and why He is referred to as The "Lamb of God." You can fact-check me in.
John 1:29 - "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him and saith, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
Luke 22:9 - "Where do you want us to prepare for it?" they asked.
10 He replied, "As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?' 12 He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there."
13 They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
Once again we see Jesus sending two of His disciples ahead to get things ready. He said you will find a man carrying a jar of water, and that in itself is unusual as back in those days carrying the water was considered in the most part woman's work. Years ago Dolores and I traveled by motorcycle to Heritage USA which was the place at the time that Pastor Jim Bakker was building. They had a building there that modeled after the Upper Room and it was a nice feeling just going up there and while we were there communion was served. I look at all the pictures of Jesus at the table with His disciples and wonder were they really seated like that or was this set on canvas so all were pictured not seeing the backs of heads. However, that is not one bit important, what is important is THE EVENT HAPPENED!! It also shows once again how Jesus knew exactly what was going on all the time.
Luke 22:14 - When the hour came, Jesus and His apostles reclined at the table. 15 And He said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God."
Okay, please get your communion ready, I am going to pray for that right now.
Please, Lord, bless the bread and the fruit of the vine as we have communion with You and for You. In Jesus' Name, I give thanks for Your dying on the Cross for us and I pray we never, ever forget the real message of the Cross. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
I want you to note also that each time we sit down to eat together we should say grace. For are we not "breaking bread together?"
Luke 22:17 - After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."
Please let me note here that the fruit of the vine is not always wine. Grape juice is also fruit of the vine. In some churches where real wine is used, some of those serving it have become addicted. Also, churches and pastors need to watch when serving real wine that a dried-out addict does not go off the wagon because of communion.
Luke 22:19 - And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
Please eat the body now and giving thanks and praising God as you do it.
Luke 22:20 - In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."
Please now drink of the cup and please remember this is the blood that clears us of our sins. Do this all in remembrance of Jesus.
Luke 22:39-53 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives
39 - Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and His disciples followed Him. 40 On reaching the place, He said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." 41 He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 "Father, if You are willing take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done."
A lot of important things listed above. Jesus went to the Mount of Olives, also called Gethsemane. If you read from the book of Matthew you will find that Jesus took Peter, James, and John along with Him (Matthew 26:37). Most important thing we can learn from these verses is this from the prayer of Jesus: "Not My will but Yours be done." Of course that is also found in The Lord's Prayer. He also told His disciples that they should pray that they should not fall into temptation. Let me tell you right now, we should all be praying that. However, FALLING INTO TEMPTATION IS NOT A SIN, GIVING INTO IT IS!!!
Luke 22:43 - An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. 44 And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
45 When He rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 "Why are you sleeping?" He asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."
Have you ever prayed so hard that you broke out in a sweat? I do not remember a time that I did that, except when praying outside when it was hot. Sometimes it was what I was praying about that brought out the sweat!!! Once again Jesus told them to pray that they will not be tempted. He was also upset because they were sleeping.
Jesus Arrested
Luke 22:47 - While He was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked Him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"
This kiss was a prearranged signal by Judas, and the ones he was bringing so as to show which one Jesus was.
49 - When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
51 But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him.
Please note, even when Jesus was down to those last hours He was still healing the sick or those hurt. You would think that when people saw Jesus reattach that ear they would have yelled out PRAISE THE LORD. I know when I got my cancer numbers back I was shouting out about being healed, and I still believe that God can and even will heal my back and knees so I keep praying. What I am telling you here is whatever is wrong with you this day, DO NOT LOSE YOUR FAITH IN JESUS BEING ABLE TO HEAL.
52 - Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for Him, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour -- when darkness reigns."
Notice here please that evil comes out in the darkness. Tonight at 8:00 PM Pastor Gabriel Swaggart will be preaching at Camp Meeting 2016 and it will be live on channel 297 Verizon. Check your cable company for your channel number. He is preaching on healing and he is good.
If I were to ask you which of the events are most important, The Virgin Birth, The events listed above, the death of Jesus on The Cross, or The Resurrection, which would you say? I will give you my answer Sunday.
Dear Father in Heaven: Thanks for the message and thanks for us being able to share communion over this computer. Your love for us is appreciated. In Jesus' Name, I pray.
Now go forth and love on Jesus and keep on praying. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
Our song today,
Softly and Tenderly, Jesus is Calling
Softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me.
See, on the portals He's waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.
Come home, come home.
Ye who are weary, come home.
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling;
Calling, 'O, sinner, come home!"
Oh! For the wonderful love He has promised,
Promised for you and for me!
Tho' we have sinned He has mercy and pardon,
Pardon for you and for me.
Come home, come home.
Ye who are weary, come home.
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling;
Calling, 'O, sinner, come home!"
Come home, come home.
Ye who are weary, come home.
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling;
Calling, 'O, sinner, come home!"
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Salvation Wednesday 3/23/16 The Big Trip (53)
Dear Father in Heaven: Thanks for the messages of this day, and now, Lord, on this day we call Salvation Wednesday on this line, help me bring out in the message about Salvation and also, Lord, help this message reach all who need it and may the message lead some to You to be saved. I want to work for You, Lord Jesus, and I know my job is to lead people to You to be saved. I want to be clear always that I cannot save a person, only try with Your help to lead them in. Please help me now with a message and to get it into the hands who need it. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Brothers and sisters, I just remembered that I forgot to mention one other person who passed away from this earth. Please pray for the family of Darlene Stone. Darlene prayed to be saved while here picking up food, and she followed up on that with us. Darlene was only 50 years old. I am so happy that when God gave us the chance to feed people through Carry The Light Ministries food pantry He also gave us the knowledge to pray with ALL who came in and talk to them about Salvation through Jesus Christ and also anoint them with oil and pray for healing. Let me get right to the message. REMINDER: Tomorrow we will be serving communion online. Please, if you want to joint us, have a cracker and some juice.
Salvation Wednesday: March 23, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Fifty-three)
John 14:1-7 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Comforts His Disciples
1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me. 2 My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going."
Jesus the Way to the Father
5 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we don't know where You are going, so how can we know the way?"
6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7 If you really know Me, you will know My Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him."
Brothers and sisters, Jesus has been traveling with His disciples for years now and He knows it is time when he must go to the cross and save all of us sinners. Before this time arrives He is trying to comfort them. "Do not let your hearts be troubled," Jesus told them. "Trust in God," Jesus told them. Jesus also told them to trust also in Him, and I want to bring that out right now. Please trust in Jesus. Jesus also told them and us that in His Father's house there are many mansions or many rooms, depending in which version of the Bible you read. So some people think of it like this. What is "His Father's House?" Let me tell you what God's house really is. God's house, The Father's House, is HEAVEN. No ifs, ands, or buts about it, folks, our Father's House is Heaven, and in Heaven there are many mansions or rooms if you please. Also, please picture this if you can. Picture going to heaven and seeing all the mansions and seeing the streets leading up to them being pure gold. Not gold-plated, but pure gold. And think of this also: When you get there you will cry no more, it will be all joy. And when we sit down to eat, Jesus will be sitting at the table with us. After He graces the table, we can all enjoy our liver and onions and talk to each other. (Okay, you can order what you want to eat.)
Brothers and sisters, I love this verse and I want to bring it out so we can all look at it again.
John 14:3 - And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. (NIV)
Please read this verse over and over. And if I go, and we know that Jesus did go and we will study that after Easter. The neat thing is He made this promise that HE WILL COME BACK AND TAKE US TO BE WITH HIM. What a great promise and we know, we just know through our faith in Jesus, He never breaks a promise. Brothers and sisters, Jesus is indeed coming back, and it could happen even before I get to finish this writing. If I would ask all of you where do you want to spend your life after here, I would think all of you would say heaven. If that is not the case, boy, do I have work to do to get to you. In fact, if there is any doubt in your mind about getting into heaven, please call me: 717 991 0754 is my personal cell phone number and if you have any doubts, PLEASE CALL.
This scripture is also really important. So let us look at it again.
John 14:6 - Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7 If you really know Me, you will know My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.
Here once more we see that God The Father and Jesus The Son are indeed one. He also tells us that He, Jesus, is indeed the one and only way to get into heaven. Let me point this out. I, as a pastor, cannot get you into heaven, and I want to point out that no pastor, no priest, no minister, no evangelist, no pope or other church leader, no deacon, no one other than Jesus can get you into heaven. The same goes for the forgiving of your sins. This is between each of you and Jesus Christ. You also need to know that just praying a sinner's prayer is just the start of living for Jesus and accepting Him as your Savior will be just getting you started. Will you sin again after you are saved? Yes!!! Will that prevent you from getting into heaven? No!!! But we must try and repent, for that is brought out in scripture. Repent for the Kingdom of God is Near.
So again today I want to invite you to confess your sins unto Jesus, and you can do that right now. You don't need to name them all. (Praise God for that one! Right?) Then you tell Jesus you love Him, and you do, right? And then you do your best to live for Him. WARNING!!! When you take on Jesus, your life will change. Will you pray with me today, asking Jesus into your hearts? I cannot pray it for you, only lead you.
Dear Father in Heaven, I confess to You this day that I am a sinner and I am asking right now for You to forgive me of my sins and come into my heart. I want to repent and I know that will take a lot of help from You to keep me on track. Please help me with that, Jesus. Jesus, thanks for dying on Your Cross to save me from my sinful self. Please place my name in the Lamb's Book of Life so that someday I will be in Heaven with You. Until then, help me to work for You in some way. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth and love on Jesus for He is indeed loving on You. And to go out singing this time we will sing another one of my favorite hymns, Mansion Over the Hilltop.
I'm satisfied with just a cottage below,
A little silver and a little gold.
But in that city where the ransomed will shine
I want a gold one that's silver lined.
I've got a mansion just over the hilltop
In that bright land where we'll never grow old.
And someday yonder we will nevermore wander
But walk on streets that are purest gold.
Don't think me poor or deserted or lonely;
I'm not discouraged: I'm heaven-bound.
I'm just a pilgrim in search of that city.
I want a mansion, a harp and a crown.
I've got a mansion just over the hilltop
In that bright land where we'll never grow old.
And someday yonder we will nevermore wander
But walk on streets that are purest gold.
I've got a mansion just over the hilltop
In that bright land where we'll never grow old.
And someday yonder we will nevermore wander
But walk on streets that are purest gold.
Brothers and sisters, I just remembered that I forgot to mention one other person who passed away from this earth. Please pray for the family of Darlene Stone. Darlene prayed to be saved while here picking up food, and she followed up on that with us. Darlene was only 50 years old. I am so happy that when God gave us the chance to feed people through Carry The Light Ministries food pantry He also gave us the knowledge to pray with ALL who came in and talk to them about Salvation through Jesus Christ and also anoint them with oil and pray for healing. Let me get right to the message. REMINDER: Tomorrow we will be serving communion online. Please, if you want to joint us, have a cracker and some juice.
Salvation Wednesday: March 23, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Fifty-three)
John 14:1-7 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Comforts His Disciples
1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me. 2 My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going."
Jesus the Way to the Father
5 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we don't know where You are going, so how can we know the way?"
6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7 If you really know Me, you will know My Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him."
Brothers and sisters, Jesus has been traveling with His disciples for years now and He knows it is time when he must go to the cross and save all of us sinners. Before this time arrives He is trying to comfort them. "Do not let your hearts be troubled," Jesus told them. "Trust in God," Jesus told them. Jesus also told them to trust also in Him, and I want to bring that out right now. Please trust in Jesus. Jesus also told them and us that in His Father's house there are many mansions or many rooms, depending in which version of the Bible you read. So some people think of it like this. What is "His Father's House?" Let me tell you what God's house really is. God's house, The Father's House, is HEAVEN. No ifs, ands, or buts about it, folks, our Father's House is Heaven, and in Heaven there are many mansions or rooms if you please. Also, please picture this if you can. Picture going to heaven and seeing all the mansions and seeing the streets leading up to them being pure gold. Not gold-plated, but pure gold. And think of this also: When you get there you will cry no more, it will be all joy. And when we sit down to eat, Jesus will be sitting at the table with us. After He graces the table, we can all enjoy our liver and onions and talk to each other. (Okay, you can order what you want to eat.)
Brothers and sisters, I love this verse and I want to bring it out so we can all look at it again.
John 14:3 - And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. (NIV)
Please read this verse over and over. And if I go, and we know that Jesus did go and we will study that after Easter. The neat thing is He made this promise that HE WILL COME BACK AND TAKE US TO BE WITH HIM. What a great promise and we know, we just know through our faith in Jesus, He never breaks a promise. Brothers and sisters, Jesus is indeed coming back, and it could happen even before I get to finish this writing. If I would ask all of you where do you want to spend your life after here, I would think all of you would say heaven. If that is not the case, boy, do I have work to do to get to you. In fact, if there is any doubt in your mind about getting into heaven, please call me: 717 991 0754 is my personal cell phone number and if you have any doubts, PLEASE CALL.
This scripture is also really important. So let us look at it again.
John 14:6 - Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7 If you really know Me, you will know My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.
Here once more we see that God The Father and Jesus The Son are indeed one. He also tells us that He, Jesus, is indeed the one and only way to get into heaven. Let me point this out. I, as a pastor, cannot get you into heaven, and I want to point out that no pastor, no priest, no minister, no evangelist, no pope or other church leader, no deacon, no one other than Jesus can get you into heaven. The same goes for the forgiving of your sins. This is between each of you and Jesus Christ. You also need to know that just praying a sinner's prayer is just the start of living for Jesus and accepting Him as your Savior will be just getting you started. Will you sin again after you are saved? Yes!!! Will that prevent you from getting into heaven? No!!! But we must try and repent, for that is brought out in scripture. Repent for the Kingdom of God is Near.
So again today I want to invite you to confess your sins unto Jesus, and you can do that right now. You don't need to name them all. (Praise God for that one! Right?) Then you tell Jesus you love Him, and you do, right? And then you do your best to live for Him. WARNING!!! When you take on Jesus, your life will change. Will you pray with me today, asking Jesus into your hearts? I cannot pray it for you, only lead you.
Dear Father in Heaven, I confess to You this day that I am a sinner and I am asking right now for You to forgive me of my sins and come into my heart. I want to repent and I know that will take a lot of help from You to keep me on track. Please help me with that, Jesus. Jesus, thanks for dying on Your Cross to save me from my sinful self. Please place my name in the Lamb's Book of Life so that someday I will be in Heaven with You. Until then, help me to work for You in some way. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth and love on Jesus for He is indeed loving on You. And to go out singing this time we will sing another one of my favorite hymns, Mansion Over the Hilltop.
I'm satisfied with just a cottage below,
A little silver and a little gold.
But in that city where the ransomed will shine
I want a gold one that's silver lined.
I've got a mansion just over the hilltop
In that bright land where we'll never grow old.
And someday yonder we will nevermore wander
But walk on streets that are purest gold.
Don't think me poor or deserted or lonely;
I'm not discouraged: I'm heaven-bound.
I'm just a pilgrim in search of that city.
I want a mansion, a harp and a crown.
I've got a mansion just over the hilltop
In that bright land where we'll never grow old.
And someday yonder we will nevermore wander
But walk on streets that are purest gold.
I've got a mansion just over the hilltop
In that bright land where we'll never grow old.
And someday yonder we will nevermore wander
But walk on streets that are purest gold.
Tuesday 3/22/16 The Big Trip (52)
Dear Father in Heaven: Thanks for the beautiful weather. I love You. Please forgive me of my sins. Thanks for watching over family and friends and also those who use this line. Please protect this line from computer viruses and other trash that goes on in these computers. Please help me get caught up now with daily messages. Please also help me to get them dispatched. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Good morning, brothers and sisters. A note to Central Dauphin School Bus drivers who follow the line. Former Superintendent Dr. Richard Brothers and also former bus driver turned school teacher Joanne Cleck have both passed from this earth. Please pray for their families. As we keep working on this Holy Week, today I want to show you how we know Jesus walked this earth and where that is found in the scripture. So let me have at it.
Tuesday: March 22, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Fifty-two)
John 1:1-5 New International Version (NIV)
The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In Him was life, and that life was the Light of all mankind. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Brothers and sisters, I would invite all of you to go to the beginning of your Bibles and read the creation story. Just so you understand that in John 1:1, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God" is referring to the start of creation, for God really had no beginning. And we will come to know, if we really love our Lord God, that God has no ending either. For we indeed will seek and have eternal life with Him. God Himself was not made, He just ALWAYS WAS! As you can see, our relationship and understanding of our Lord God does require all of us to have a deep faith. Please do not try and understand the Trinity by thinking of God the Father as the first God, and God the Son as the second God, and the Holy Ghost as the third God. It is God, manifesting into three parts. All were present before creation.
When I look at verse three it tells us "Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made." Oh, now let me put that one in "Lehman's language." (Don't you just love it?) Since I am a car guy, you might say to me, "Dan, are you telling me God made the automobile and Henry Ford got credit for it?" Well, let me answer your question with a question. Who gave those early inventors the brains to invent things? Who put the iron in the ground and gave man, and that means woman also, the brains to get the iron out of the ground? Who gave man the brains to build and harness fire for good? Our Lord God, before He made man way back in creation, had everything that man would need to not just survive but to also multiply in numbers ready in advance for Him. Before Adam was placed in the garden He had it all laid out. God even made Adam a wife who was named Eve. A life partner so that they could multiply. God maybe only made one mistake in all of creation, and no, it was not giving Adam a wife. It was giving man "free will." God, right from the start, trusted us. It is HIGH TIME WE START TRUSTING HIM. Someone should scream out AMEN!
In verse five it talks about God being the Light, "The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." The darkness, meaning the forces of evil, do not understand God. Have you noticed that most crimes happen in the dark? To understand our Lord God we must come out of the darkness, meaning come away from Satan and put our full trust in Jesus. Note, please, I said "FULL TRUST." Those who don't fully trust in God are then being a fool. Jesus died on the cross to have us come out of the darkness, in fact He took away our dark side and all of us at one time or another had some dark things in our lives. Once you give them to Jesus they are gone, and you do not need to EVER tell another soul. SO DON'T!!!
Now let me go back to John 1 and see how we prove that Jesus is our Lord God.
John 1:14 New International Version (NIV)
14 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Brothers and sisters, when we started the big trip it was back before Christmas and what we learned back then was about the day when "The Word became Flesh." That is history and no one can say that did not happen. The Bible in this verse also tells us that Jesus was, and that means He still is, full of "Grace and Truth." Yes, Jesus is the same. See Hebrews 13:8.
Okay, that is enough on this writing. I am going to dispatch this one and get started on the message for Salvation Wednesday. Please go forth serving Jesus and working hard for Him. And please take time to read the creation story again.
Love ya. Pastor Dan
Now if you really want to take care of your thirst, sing this awhile.
Fill my cup, Lord. I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of Heaven, feed me 'till I want no more.
Fill my cup, fill it up and make it whole.
Fill my cup, Lord. I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of Heaven, feed me 'till I want no more.
Fill my cup, fill it up and make it whole.
Good morning, brothers and sisters. A note to Central Dauphin School Bus drivers who follow the line. Former Superintendent Dr. Richard Brothers and also former bus driver turned school teacher Joanne Cleck have both passed from this earth. Please pray for their families. As we keep working on this Holy Week, today I want to show you how we know Jesus walked this earth and where that is found in the scripture. So let me have at it.
Tuesday: March 22, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Fifty-two)
John 1:1-5 New International Version (NIV)
The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In Him was life, and that life was the Light of all mankind. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Brothers and sisters, I would invite all of you to go to the beginning of your Bibles and read the creation story. Just so you understand that in John 1:1, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God" is referring to the start of creation, for God really had no beginning. And we will come to know, if we really love our Lord God, that God has no ending either. For we indeed will seek and have eternal life with Him. God Himself was not made, He just ALWAYS WAS! As you can see, our relationship and understanding of our Lord God does require all of us to have a deep faith. Please do not try and understand the Trinity by thinking of God the Father as the first God, and God the Son as the second God, and the Holy Ghost as the third God. It is God, manifesting into three parts. All were present before creation.
When I look at verse three it tells us "Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made." Oh, now let me put that one in "Lehman's language." (Don't you just love it?) Since I am a car guy, you might say to me, "Dan, are you telling me God made the automobile and Henry Ford got credit for it?" Well, let me answer your question with a question. Who gave those early inventors the brains to invent things? Who put the iron in the ground and gave man, and that means woman also, the brains to get the iron out of the ground? Who gave man the brains to build and harness fire for good? Our Lord God, before He made man way back in creation, had everything that man would need to not just survive but to also multiply in numbers ready in advance for Him. Before Adam was placed in the garden He had it all laid out. God even made Adam a wife who was named Eve. A life partner so that they could multiply. God maybe only made one mistake in all of creation, and no, it was not giving Adam a wife. It was giving man "free will." God, right from the start, trusted us. It is HIGH TIME WE START TRUSTING HIM. Someone should scream out AMEN!
In verse five it talks about God being the Light, "The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." The darkness, meaning the forces of evil, do not understand God. Have you noticed that most crimes happen in the dark? To understand our Lord God we must come out of the darkness, meaning come away from Satan and put our full trust in Jesus. Note, please, I said "FULL TRUST." Those who don't fully trust in God are then being a fool. Jesus died on the cross to have us come out of the darkness, in fact He took away our dark side and all of us at one time or another had some dark things in our lives. Once you give them to Jesus they are gone, and you do not need to EVER tell another soul. SO DON'T!!!
Now let me go back to John 1 and see how we prove that Jesus is our Lord God.
John 1:14 New International Version (NIV)
14 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Brothers and sisters, when we started the big trip it was back before Christmas and what we learned back then was about the day when "The Word became Flesh." That is history and no one can say that did not happen. The Bible in this verse also tells us that Jesus was, and that means He still is, full of "Grace and Truth." Yes, Jesus is the same. See Hebrews 13:8.
Okay, that is enough on this writing. I am going to dispatch this one and get started on the message for Salvation Wednesday. Please go forth serving Jesus and working hard for Him. And please take time to read the creation story again.
Love ya. Pastor Dan
Now if you really want to take care of your thirst, sing this awhile.
Fill my cup, Lord. I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of Heaven, feed me 'till I want no more.
Fill my cup, fill it up and make it whole.
Fill my cup, Lord. I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of Heaven, feed me 'till I want no more.
Fill my cup, fill it up and make it whole.
Monday, March 21, 2016
Monday 3/21/16 The Big Trip (51)
Dear Father in Heaven: I love You very much. Please always help me write for You and about Your grace, salvation and love as You have shown us always, from the beginning of time until right now. Help me always write what You want me to write and in the way You want it done. I really do want to be Your servant, dear Lord. Help me please now with the daily message and then please help me again to dispatch the message. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters, is your church a house of prayer? A house of worship? Are the messages ALL based on God's Word as found in the Bible? And how about your heart? Is your heart a heart of prayer? Is it a heart of worship and praise to God? And do you listen only to messages that come from the Word of God found in the Bible? Brothers and sisters, even what I write, I welcome you to fact-check me against your Bible. Please be sure to do that!!! Now this will be a busy week so let me get moving.
Monday: March 21, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Fifty-one): Trouble at the Temple
Luke 19:45-48 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus at the Temple
45 When Jesus entered the temple courts, He began to drive out those who were selling. 46 "It is written," He said to them, "'My house will be a house of prayer'; but you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"
47 Every day He was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill Him. 48 Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on His words.
Matthew 21:12-17 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus at the Temple
12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 "It is written," He said to them, "'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it 'a den of robbers.'"
14 The blind and the lame came to Him at the temple, and He healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things He did and the children shouting in the temple courts, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant.
16 "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked Him.
"Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, "'From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise'? 17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where He spent the night.
Dear brothers and sisters: Today I want to bring out a few things about the temple and maybe it is even going on at the church you attend. One thing I want to bring out is just how upset Jesus got when He saw what was going on in His house, and yes, a church building should be God's house everyday, not just on Sunday. When Jesus arrived at the temple and saw what was going on, He got upset and upset tables and told those "money changers", gamblers, and others making profit for themselves inside God's house were pout out. Some of the chief priests questioned Jesus and were upset for He was healing the sick, preaching the good news and causing the lame to walk among other things, and people were loving it. I want you to look at a few things that can really wreck a church. One is a feud between members of the body of Christ going to that church. Maybe sort of like the Hatfields and McCoys from the hill country long ago. They fight because one family or the other wants to be in charge of things. So at the church you attend, who is in charge? If you say anything other than Jesus, pack up and find another church and find one where Jesus is in charge and His Word is preached and taught. Also look around you, does everyone look about the same? Maybe all older people who are white! You should be able to look around seeing from young to old and all colors and blends of colors. You should see different looks on people's faces as in the shape of their face. Slanted eyes, high cheek bones, etc. You should also be able to see people dressed in really nice clothes to those wearing clean but worn hard clothes as they do not have money to purchase high-end clothes. One thing you should be able to see on each person is "the Face of Jesus" and if you cannot see that, chances are you also will not see the blend of people that I already talked about. So many of those big churches in the city have closed up. Nobody left to run them, because they did not go out and talk to new people in the neighborhoods as the, well, the color of that neighborhood changed. When the funds of the older folks ran out, the churches were sold. Some sat empty and after years of roof leaks, the buildings fell down. Others were sold off to new congregations and started to grow again as young people reached across the color line and invited in everyone and also TAUGHT THE WORD OF GOD FROM THE BIBLE!!!
Yes, over the years, with my own eyes I have seen some of these things happen. Here are a few ways to keep your church going. Put God first and keep Him there. Hire a pastor or pastors that preach and teach the true Word of God and are not afraid to preach about the BLOOD OF JESUS, The Cross of Jesus and what happens if you are not "Born Again" and if no one has ever told you what happens to you when you pass from this earth and are not "Born Again," let me tell you. YOU WILL GO TO HELL!!!
It is good to see a pastor pound on the pulpit and tell it like it is. Take Jesus into your heart and have a relationship with Him or you will surely GO TO HELL!!! Now there you heard it from me, for I am not afraid to tell you the GOOD NEWS. Yes, the Good News is that you do not need to go to hell. God has given you a way out and His name is Jesus. And right now I want to lead you in a prayer, a sinner's prayer, asking you to pray it in faith and take Jesus into your heart or renew with Him this day. I can only lead you. Yes, I am a Born Again, Washed in The Blood Believer of Jesus Christ and I believe He died on the Cross for us and that He was risen from the dead. Do you believe that today? Then please confess it with me now.
Dear Father in Heaven: I believe in God The Father, God The Son, and God The Holy Ghost, and I believe in the Virgin Birth of Jesus and I believe He walked this earth and later was put to death on The Cross and that He was risen by God The Father. I also believe that He sits in judgment over all of us. Today I ask Jesus into my heart to stay. I love You, Jesus, and I confess that I am a sinner and ask to be cleaned of my sin debt by You. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen. And thanks for saving me. Help me now live each minute for You. Amen.
Now go forth loving Jesus and sharing His love with others. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
Now please sing this chorus over and over, first sing it about your church, then about your house to make it a home, and then please sing it about your heart. Please sing it all day.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Omnipotent Father of mercy and grace,
Thou art welcome in this place.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this church.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this church.
Omnipotent Father of mercy and grace,
Thou art welcome in this church.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this house.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this house.
Omnipotent Father of mercy and grace,
Thou art welcome in this house.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in my heart.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in my heart.
Omnipotent Father of mercy and grace,
Thou art welcome in my heart.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in my heart.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in my heart.
Omnipotent Father of mercy and grace,
Thou art welcome in my heart.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Omnipotent Father of mercy and grace,
Thou art welcome in this place.
Dear brothers and sisters, is your church a house of prayer? A house of worship? Are the messages ALL based on God's Word as found in the Bible? And how about your heart? Is your heart a heart of prayer? Is it a heart of worship and praise to God? And do you listen only to messages that come from the Word of God found in the Bible? Brothers and sisters, even what I write, I welcome you to fact-check me against your Bible. Please be sure to do that!!! Now this will be a busy week so let me get moving.
Monday: March 21, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Fifty-one): Trouble at the Temple
Luke 19:45-48 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus at the Temple
45 When Jesus entered the temple courts, He began to drive out those who were selling. 46 "It is written," He said to them, "'My house will be a house of prayer'; but you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"
47 Every day He was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill Him. 48 Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on His words.
Matthew 21:12-17 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus at the Temple
12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 "It is written," He said to them, "'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it 'a den of robbers.'"
14 The blind and the lame came to Him at the temple, and He healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things He did and the children shouting in the temple courts, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant.
16 "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked Him.
"Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, "'From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise'? 17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where He spent the night.
Dear brothers and sisters: Today I want to bring out a few things about the temple and maybe it is even going on at the church you attend. One thing I want to bring out is just how upset Jesus got when He saw what was going on in His house, and yes, a church building should be God's house everyday, not just on Sunday. When Jesus arrived at the temple and saw what was going on, He got upset and upset tables and told those "money changers", gamblers, and others making profit for themselves inside God's house were pout out. Some of the chief priests questioned Jesus and were upset for He was healing the sick, preaching the good news and causing the lame to walk among other things, and people were loving it. I want you to look at a few things that can really wreck a church. One is a feud between members of the body of Christ going to that church. Maybe sort of like the Hatfields and McCoys from the hill country long ago. They fight because one family or the other wants to be in charge of things. So at the church you attend, who is in charge? If you say anything other than Jesus, pack up and find another church and find one where Jesus is in charge and His Word is preached and taught. Also look around you, does everyone look about the same? Maybe all older people who are white! You should be able to look around seeing from young to old and all colors and blends of colors. You should see different looks on people's faces as in the shape of their face. Slanted eyes, high cheek bones, etc. You should also be able to see people dressed in really nice clothes to those wearing clean but worn hard clothes as they do not have money to purchase high-end clothes. One thing you should be able to see on each person is "the Face of Jesus" and if you cannot see that, chances are you also will not see the blend of people that I already talked about. So many of those big churches in the city have closed up. Nobody left to run them, because they did not go out and talk to new people in the neighborhoods as the, well, the color of that neighborhood changed. When the funds of the older folks ran out, the churches were sold. Some sat empty and after years of roof leaks, the buildings fell down. Others were sold off to new congregations and started to grow again as young people reached across the color line and invited in everyone and also TAUGHT THE WORD OF GOD FROM THE BIBLE!!!
Yes, over the years, with my own eyes I have seen some of these things happen. Here are a few ways to keep your church going. Put God first and keep Him there. Hire a pastor or pastors that preach and teach the true Word of God and are not afraid to preach about the BLOOD OF JESUS, The Cross of Jesus and what happens if you are not "Born Again" and if no one has ever told you what happens to you when you pass from this earth and are not "Born Again," let me tell you. YOU WILL GO TO HELL!!!
It is good to see a pastor pound on the pulpit and tell it like it is. Take Jesus into your heart and have a relationship with Him or you will surely GO TO HELL!!! Now there you heard it from me, for I am not afraid to tell you the GOOD NEWS. Yes, the Good News is that you do not need to go to hell. God has given you a way out and His name is Jesus. And right now I want to lead you in a prayer, a sinner's prayer, asking you to pray it in faith and take Jesus into your heart or renew with Him this day. I can only lead you. Yes, I am a Born Again, Washed in The Blood Believer of Jesus Christ and I believe He died on the Cross for us and that He was risen from the dead. Do you believe that today? Then please confess it with me now.
Dear Father in Heaven: I believe in God The Father, God The Son, and God The Holy Ghost, and I believe in the Virgin Birth of Jesus and I believe He walked this earth and later was put to death on The Cross and that He was risen by God The Father. I also believe that He sits in judgment over all of us. Today I ask Jesus into my heart to stay. I love You, Jesus, and I confess that I am a sinner and ask to be cleaned of my sin debt by You. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen. And thanks for saving me. Help me now live each minute for You. Amen.
Now go forth loving Jesus and sharing His love with others. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
Now please sing this chorus over and over, first sing it about your church, then about your house to make it a home, and then please sing it about your heart. Please sing it all day.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Omnipotent Father of mercy and grace,
Thou art welcome in this place.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this church.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this church.
Omnipotent Father of mercy and grace,
Thou art welcome in this church.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this house.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this house.
Omnipotent Father of mercy and grace,
Thou art welcome in this house.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in my heart.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in my heart.
Omnipotent Father of mercy and grace,
Thou art welcome in my heart.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in my heart.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in my heart.
Omnipotent Father of mercy and grace,
Thou art welcome in my heart.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place.
Omnipotent Father of mercy and grace,
Thou art welcome in this place.
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Palm Sunday 3/20/16 The Big Trip (50)
Dear Father in Heaven: I give You praise, honor, and glory today as it was given to You here on earth years ago. This, the beginning of Holy Week, and I first give thanks to you for all the events that Jesus went through this week and mostly the gift of giving us His blood to wash us clean of sin. Please clear me of sins today. Please be with the family of Diane Downs Staub as she has come to You. Please help me with the message today and the messages of this week, this very busy week, in the hearts and minds of we who love and follow Jesus. Please, after the message, help me to get it dispatched. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters, please pray for the family of Diane Downs Staub as she passed away yesterday. Diane and I go way back. She lived on my paper route. She was in our class of 1959 at John Harris High School, and in later years I was her pastor for awhile as she resided at The Bridges of Bent Creek. It was while we were at The Bridges when Diane prayed the sinners' prayer with me. And she did it in faith. She might have been saved before that, but on that day she either became saved or renewed in Jesus. Either way, all honor and glory to Him for His gift of Salvation to all of us who ask. God is so good. Do you love Jesus today? Please, don't let it go another day. Let me get to the message, with the same scripture I used last week.
Palm Sunday: March 20, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Fifty) Also the first day of spring
Luke 19:28-44 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
28 After Jesus had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As He approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples, saying to them, 30 "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' say, 'The Lord needs it.'"
32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as He had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?"
34 They replied, "The Lord needs it."
35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
37 When He came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
38 "Blessed is the king who come in the name of the Lord!"
"Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"
40 "I tell you," He replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."
41 As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it 42 and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace -- but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."
Brothers and sisters, we talked the other day how Jesus sent two of His disciples ahead of Him to bring back a small donkey colt for Jesus to use and how everything was just as He said it would be when they would see the donkey. After the disciples brought the burro back to Jesus they took off their cloaks on it and placed Jesus upon the animal. Please remember that the colt was never ridden, meaning it could have been hard to ride. As they gathered and started their descent down from the Mount of Olives, where Jesus had been showing the other disciples how to put those red things in the olives ... no, no, that did not happen I want to keep you honest on this. The Bible in verse 37 talks about "The whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen. I want to point out here that He had a whole crowd of disciples. Are you a disciple for Jesus today? If not, you should be. Being a disciple for Jesus is one job that is assigned to all of us. You can check Mark 16:15 for that assignment. Also notice that the disciples were joyfully giving praise to Jesus. Have you ever been to a church where nobody smiles or they are afraid to lift their hands to God and shout out GLORY TO GOD, PRAISE YOU, JESUS, THANK YOU, JESUS? If that is your church, I dare you to stand up some Sunday while singing and give a big old shout-out of praise.
One other thing I want you to notice is how often Jesus tells His disciples something like how they would find the donkey colt and it happens. That is why I am so excited about heaven, for He also told us some things about that and it is all good, and it will be as Jesus said. In verse 38 these joyful disciples are shouting and singing "Blessed is the King who comes in the Name of the Lord!" "Peace in Heaven and glory in the highest!" Then as we see in verse 39 some of the Pharisees told Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" Tell them to be quiet. I would bet you that in some churches today if you were to stand up and shout out for Jesus and sing and dance a minute or two some of the "goody two-shoe people" would either stare at you, talk to you about your behavior after church, or just plain have an usher come over and tell you to sit down and shut up or you will be removed. WELL, GLORY, THROWN OUT OF CHURCH FOR PRAISING GOD. What an honor that could be because for sure you would have been in a dead church. I want you to know and understand this. Jesus is alive and when it comes to you and me, He wants us to be alive also. So come alive today, sing and shout that victory. Do like the people did on that first day of Holy Week back then and wave those palm branches around. A lot of churches give out palm branches as people leave church, maybe they should be handed out on the way in so people can wave them and shout as the preacher talks about Jesus and His Triumphal Entry.
Brothers and sisters, please enjoy this Holy Day and I will be writing each day as we go through this Holy Week. Please note now we will have communion on Thursday.
Dear Father in Heaven: Today we want to sing and shout our victory that we have with You. Please help us know that You love to hear us sing and shout, that You love for us to make that joyful noise unto You. Help us sing it out. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Brothers and sisters, go forth now singing and shouting for Jesus and bring a good disciple for Him. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
Sing the wondrous love of Jesus;
Sing His mercy and His grace.
In the mansions bright and blessed
He'll prepare for us a place.
When we all get to Heaven
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus
We'll sing and shout the victory!
While we walk the pilgrim pathway,
Clouds will overspread the sky;
But when traveling days are over
Not a shadow, not a sigh.
When we all get to Heaven
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus
We'll sing and shout the victory!
Let us then be true and faithful,
Trusting, serving every day.
Just one glimpse of Him in glory
Will the toils of life repay.
When we all get to Heaven
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus
We'll sing and shout the victory!
Onward to the prize before us!
Soon His beauty we'll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open;
We shall tread the streets of gold.
When we all get to Heaven
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus
We'll sing and shout the victory!
When we all get to Heaven
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus
We'll sing and shout the victory!
Dear brothers and sisters, please pray for the family of Diane Downs Staub as she passed away yesterday. Diane and I go way back. She lived on my paper route. She was in our class of 1959 at John Harris High School, and in later years I was her pastor for awhile as she resided at The Bridges of Bent Creek. It was while we were at The Bridges when Diane prayed the sinners' prayer with me. And she did it in faith. She might have been saved before that, but on that day she either became saved or renewed in Jesus. Either way, all honor and glory to Him for His gift of Salvation to all of us who ask. God is so good. Do you love Jesus today? Please, don't let it go another day. Let me get to the message, with the same scripture I used last week.
Palm Sunday: March 20, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Fifty) Also the first day of spring
Luke 19:28-44 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
28 After Jesus had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As He approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples, saying to them, 30 "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' say, 'The Lord needs it.'"
32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as He had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?"
34 They replied, "The Lord needs it."
35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
37 When He came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
38 "Blessed is the king who come in the name of the Lord!"
"Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"
40 "I tell you," He replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."
41 As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it 42 and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace -- but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."
Brothers and sisters, we talked the other day how Jesus sent two of His disciples ahead of Him to bring back a small donkey colt for Jesus to use and how everything was just as He said it would be when they would see the donkey. After the disciples brought the burro back to Jesus they took off their cloaks on it and placed Jesus upon the animal. Please remember that the colt was never ridden, meaning it could have been hard to ride. As they gathered and started their descent down from the Mount of Olives, where Jesus had been showing the other disciples how to put those red things in the olives ... no, no, that did not happen I want to keep you honest on this. The Bible in verse 37 talks about "The whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen. I want to point out here that He had a whole crowd of disciples. Are you a disciple for Jesus today? If not, you should be. Being a disciple for Jesus is one job that is assigned to all of us. You can check Mark 16:15 for that assignment. Also notice that the disciples were joyfully giving praise to Jesus. Have you ever been to a church where nobody smiles or they are afraid to lift their hands to God and shout out GLORY TO GOD, PRAISE YOU, JESUS, THANK YOU, JESUS? If that is your church, I dare you to stand up some Sunday while singing and give a big old shout-out of praise.
One other thing I want you to notice is how often Jesus tells His disciples something like how they would find the donkey colt and it happens. That is why I am so excited about heaven, for He also told us some things about that and it is all good, and it will be as Jesus said. In verse 38 these joyful disciples are shouting and singing "Blessed is the King who comes in the Name of the Lord!" "Peace in Heaven and glory in the highest!" Then as we see in verse 39 some of the Pharisees told Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" Tell them to be quiet. I would bet you that in some churches today if you were to stand up and shout out for Jesus and sing and dance a minute or two some of the "goody two-shoe people" would either stare at you, talk to you about your behavior after church, or just plain have an usher come over and tell you to sit down and shut up or you will be removed. WELL, GLORY, THROWN OUT OF CHURCH FOR PRAISING GOD. What an honor that could be because for sure you would have been in a dead church. I want you to know and understand this. Jesus is alive and when it comes to you and me, He wants us to be alive also. So come alive today, sing and shout that victory. Do like the people did on that first day of Holy Week back then and wave those palm branches around. A lot of churches give out palm branches as people leave church, maybe they should be handed out on the way in so people can wave them and shout as the preacher talks about Jesus and His Triumphal Entry.
Brothers and sisters, please enjoy this Holy Day and I will be writing each day as we go through this Holy Week. Please note now we will have communion on Thursday.
Dear Father in Heaven: Today we want to sing and shout our victory that we have with You. Please help us know that You love to hear us sing and shout, that You love for us to make that joyful noise unto You. Help us sing it out. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Brothers and sisters, go forth now singing and shouting for Jesus and bring a good disciple for Him. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
Sing the wondrous love of Jesus;
Sing His mercy and His grace.
In the mansions bright and blessed
He'll prepare for us a place.
When we all get to Heaven
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus
We'll sing and shout the victory!
While we walk the pilgrim pathway,
Clouds will overspread the sky;
But when traveling days are over
Not a shadow, not a sigh.
When we all get to Heaven
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus
We'll sing and shout the victory!
Let us then be true and faithful,
Trusting, serving every day.
Just one glimpse of Him in glory
Will the toils of life repay.
When we all get to Heaven
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus
We'll sing and shout the victory!
Onward to the prize before us!
Soon His beauty we'll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open;
We shall tread the streets of gold.
When we all get to Heaven
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus
We'll sing and shout the victory!
When we all get to Heaven
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus
We'll sing and shout the victory!
Friday, March 18, 2016
Friday 3/18/16 The Big Trip (49)
Dear Father in Heaven: What a beautiful day You have given unto us again. Please forgive me of my sins and those of others who are also asking right now on their own. I want You to know, dear Lord, that although I do not always show it, I do love You very, very much and give all honor to You for loving all of us so much that You gave us Jesus and He gave us His life. Thank You, thank You, thank You. Please be with the family of Nancy Shannon in her homegoing. Please be with others on our prayer list. Your healing hand on Patsy and Burt will be appreciated and welcomed. Also on Glenn and Marie. Please also keep Your hand on my dear friend and brother Grant. Please help Hope United Methodist Church with their outreach dinners. Please help me now with the message and also to get it dispatched where You want it to go. In Jesus' Name, I pray and also give Praise. Amen.
Well, my dear brothers and sisters, this Sunday is Palm Sunday, the first day of spring and the weather folks are calling for snow. Okay, so we need that onion snow, which comes after St. Patrick's Day so I am praying for very small onions, meaning a dusting of snow. I saw in the obituaries that one of my former bus drivers has crossed over to be with Jesus. Please pray for the family of Nancy Shannon. After all these years I just found out that her brother was Donald Smith, a former police officer and security teacher at Dauphin County Tech School and he just went home to Jesus not long ago. Please live each day for Jesus and enjoy each day with Him until you are home with Him. And take a tip from my daughters, you can really catch a lot of friends with big smiles of love on your face. Now to the message, The Big Trip -- The Triumphal Entry.
Friday: March 18, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Forty-nine): The Triumphal Entry
Luke 19:28-44 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
28 After Jesus had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As He approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples, saying to them, 30 "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' say, 'The Lord needs it.'"
32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as He had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?"
34 They replied, "The Lord needs it."
35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As He went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
37 When He came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
38 "Blessed is the King who comes in the Name of the Lord!"
"Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples!"
40 "I tell you," He replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."
41 As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it 42 and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace -- but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."
Brothers and sisters, it is hard to believe the love that was shown toward Jesus and in less than a week, He was captured, put in prison, beaten, robbed, spit on, called names, whipped and then put to death on the cross. However, as the new week started, all those who hated Jesus found out that they COULD NOT KEEP A GOOD MAN DOWN. For He was indeed risen from the dead. Today let us look at some of the events that happened on that day we call Palm Sunday.
As Jesus and His disciples were approaching Bethphage and Bethany at the place called the Mount of Olives, He called upon two of His disciples to go ahead and fetch Him a donkey colt which had never been used or ridden. So Jesus told the disciples where to find the colt and if they were seen taking the animal to tell them The Lord needed it. So they followed the instructions of Jesus and did what He told them to do. Now this leads me to a question. How long has it been since Jesus gave you some instructions and you followed them out to the letter of what He wanted done? Just answer that one to yourself. If we are honest with ourselves, we know there are a lot of commandments given to us by our Lord Jesus and we fail Him or fail Him in part. I always like to tell people about the donkey for I think it is the Lord's most loved animal for it is the only one which He put a cross on. And face it, brothers and sisters, our faith, and relationship with Jesus, is ALL ABOUT THE CROSS!!! The other day I was watching a rerun of "Leave it to Beaver" and it was the one about the "burro" or the donkey colt and it was so plain to see the cross on the animal's back. Jesus rode a donkey at least twice as recorded in the Bible and it might have been more. Remember Mary, the mother of Jesus, rode a donkey when she was carrying Jesus in her womb. Anyway, the disciples set out and retrieved the animal for Jesus. When they arrived back with the animal the disciples placed their cloaks upon the colt and then put Jesus up on it.Tomorrow we will be looking at what happened as Jesus went riding in to Jerusalem. So please come back. We will be very busy from now to Easter and even on Thursday this coming week we will have online communion with Jesus and His disciples in the Upper Room before we head out to pray.
Please, dear Lord, help me work harder to carry out Your plans for me in full, not in part but in full, for You have forgiven me of my sins, not in part but in the whole. And I give thanks to You for that. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Now go forth loving each other, loving Jesus and sharing Him with others. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
Speaking of not in part but the whole, here it is in song.
It is Well With My Soul (H.G. Spafford and P.P. Bliss)
When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say
"It is well, it is well with my soul."
It is well with my soul.
It is well, it is well with my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, NOT IN PART, BUT THE WHOLE,
Is nailed to His cross and I bear it no more!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
It is well with my soul.
It is well, it is well with my soul.
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll.
The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend.
"Even so" it is well with my soul.
It is well with my soul.
It is well, it is well with my soul.
It is well with my soul.
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Well, my dear brothers and sisters, this Sunday is Palm Sunday, the first day of spring and the weather folks are calling for snow. Okay, so we need that onion snow, which comes after St. Patrick's Day so I am praying for very small onions, meaning a dusting of snow. I saw in the obituaries that one of my former bus drivers has crossed over to be with Jesus. Please pray for the family of Nancy Shannon. After all these years I just found out that her brother was Donald Smith, a former police officer and security teacher at Dauphin County Tech School and he just went home to Jesus not long ago. Please live each day for Jesus and enjoy each day with Him until you are home with Him. And take a tip from my daughters, you can really catch a lot of friends with big smiles of love on your face. Now to the message, The Big Trip -- The Triumphal Entry.
Friday: March 18, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Forty-nine): The Triumphal Entry
Luke 19:28-44 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
28 After Jesus had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As He approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples, saying to them, 30 "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' say, 'The Lord needs it.'"
32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as He had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?"
34 They replied, "The Lord needs it."
35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As He went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
37 When He came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
38 "Blessed is the King who comes in the Name of the Lord!"
"Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples!"
40 "I tell you," He replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."
41 As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it 42 and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace -- but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."
Brothers and sisters, it is hard to believe the love that was shown toward Jesus and in less than a week, He was captured, put in prison, beaten, robbed, spit on, called names, whipped and then put to death on the cross. However, as the new week started, all those who hated Jesus found out that they COULD NOT KEEP A GOOD MAN DOWN. For He was indeed risen from the dead. Today let us look at some of the events that happened on that day we call Palm Sunday.
As Jesus and His disciples were approaching Bethphage and Bethany at the place called the Mount of Olives, He called upon two of His disciples to go ahead and fetch Him a donkey colt which had never been used or ridden. So Jesus told the disciples where to find the colt and if they were seen taking the animal to tell them The Lord needed it. So they followed the instructions of Jesus and did what He told them to do. Now this leads me to a question. How long has it been since Jesus gave you some instructions and you followed them out to the letter of what He wanted done? Just answer that one to yourself. If we are honest with ourselves, we know there are a lot of commandments given to us by our Lord Jesus and we fail Him or fail Him in part. I always like to tell people about the donkey for I think it is the Lord's most loved animal for it is the only one which He put a cross on. And face it, brothers and sisters, our faith, and relationship with Jesus, is ALL ABOUT THE CROSS!!! The other day I was watching a rerun of "Leave it to Beaver" and it was the one about the "burro" or the donkey colt and it was so plain to see the cross on the animal's back. Jesus rode a donkey at least twice as recorded in the Bible and it might have been more. Remember Mary, the mother of Jesus, rode a donkey when she was carrying Jesus in her womb. Anyway, the disciples set out and retrieved the animal for Jesus. When they arrived back with the animal the disciples placed their cloaks upon the colt and then put Jesus up on it.Tomorrow we will be looking at what happened as Jesus went riding in to Jerusalem. So please come back. We will be very busy from now to Easter and even on Thursday this coming week we will have online communion with Jesus and His disciples in the Upper Room before we head out to pray.
Please, dear Lord, help me work harder to carry out Your plans for me in full, not in part but in full, for You have forgiven me of my sins, not in part but in the whole. And I give thanks to You for that. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Now go forth loving each other, loving Jesus and sharing Him with others. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
Speaking of not in part but the whole, here it is in song.
It is Well With My Soul (H.G. Spafford and P.P. Bliss)
When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say
"It is well, it is well with my soul."
It is well with my soul.
It is well, it is well with my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, NOT IN PART, BUT THE WHOLE,
Is nailed to His cross and I bear it no more!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
It is well with my soul.
It is well, it is well with my soul.
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll.
The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend.
"Even so" it is well with my soul.
It is well with my soul.
It is well, it is well with my soul.
It is well with my soul.
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Salvation Wednesday 3/16/16 The Big Trip (48)
Dear Father in Heaven: Please forgive me of my sins, and please help me a tad with my memory. Lord, please watch over and place Your healing hand upon Diane (Dee Dee) Downs Straub as she is in failing health. Please also place Your healing hand on Glenn and Marie Gamber. Lord, I love You dearly and I know You also love all of us and for me, Lord, I know I am unworthy. Please help me get back into the daily messages again by helping me better deal with pain. Please help me now with the daily message and also to get it dispatched. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Brothers and sisters, please forgive me. I forgot to list a few people for prayer last week. Please pray for Donna "Gabby" and her family and also please pray for Diane, Glenn, and Marie. All need prayers for failing health. Today I want to talk to you about faith, prayer and direct healing by God. So please let me get to the message.
Salvation Wednesday: March 16, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Forty-eight): Prayer of Faith
James 5:13-16 New International Version (NIV)
The Prayer of Faith
13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Brothers and sisters, as for me, I know I need to be spending more time in prayer each day. Lately I have opened email where I have received prayer requests and then forgot to post them. I am so sorry. Today I want to take a look at "The Prayer of Faith" as written in the book of James in our Bibles. In James 5:13 it starts with a question. "Is anyone among you in trouble?" Maybe I should change that question to is there anyone of you who is NOT in trouble? Now being in trouble does not mean you have had a run-in with the law or like back when I was in high school if a girl said she was in trouble it would mean she was going to have a baby and was not married. However, how it is worded in the Bible, "Is anyone among you in trouble" It is just asking a whole lot of questions that would fit today. Are you short on money and behind in your bills? Are you short on money and do not have enough food in your house? Or it might mean your hands are full or your plate is full with all the things that you need to get done. I often would say it seems there were just not enough hours in a day. Or have we committed some sins that you need to get off your mind, or are you just sick, maybe with a bad cold or flu or something else? Maybe you just were told you have cancer. So what is good for all these things? PRAYER, TALKING IT OVER WITH JESUS. Sometimes we just get overwhelmed with all the things we have to do. If you have children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, your concern is with them daily. We do have a threesome that is standing by to help us through anything we can throw at them. Yes, it is The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost. Let me make a suggestion like this. First, go to someplace quiet and have a one-on-one with Jesus. Talk to Him and plead out your case, whatever it might be. Also, and here is why you need a really good friend or a good church. Call on that good friend and ask them to pray for you. If the friend is really close and loves you they will pray for you and even if you do not want to share what you need prayer for they will understand. I also want to suggest that whenever you sit down with Jesus for that chat, you start by asking Him to please clear you of all your sins, known and unknown. Then lay it out to Him. Remember this and this comes from one of my favorite scriptures.
Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever. (NIV)
So our Bibles were written long ago, the advice is as fresh as a loaf of bread just coming out of the oven. Also, and this is important, if you are feeling good, if you are happy, please get together with Jesus for that one-on-one and give Him some praise and glory as it also tells us to do in the Prayer of Faith. Also, please remember this, if you go to a really good church and you need prayer, head to the front of the church after the service is over. If you do go to a good church you will often find your pastor there praying with people. I know a lot of pastors go to the rear of the church and greet people as they leave, and while that is nice, some will remain up front for prayer while others will return to the front to pray with people. And please do not be afraid to be anointed with oil, or if it is you praying for others, please take time and anoint them with oil in the name of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost. Please, do not pass up a chance to pray with people. That is why I am a tad upset with myself for missing some very important prayer requests. Please also remember to pray for all those who work so hard to keep us safe. Prayer is so important, it is your direct way of talking to God in Heaven. And you can talk as long as you want, God will not send you a bill that "you used up all your minutes." I have mentioned this a lot of times, I talk to God often when I am sitting on the pot.
When writing I am really enjoying posting a song of praise at the end. That request came in from a dear friend, and I believe a lot of you enjoy it. If you have a favorite song, let me know. Maybe we can all do a sing-along.
Dear Father in Heaven. Please help me, help all of us to come to You in prayer more often. Please help us understand that You are never too busy to hear from us and in fact really want to hear from us. Teach us, dear Lord, to also be able land willing to pray for and with others. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth with Jesus and talking to Him and sharing His love with others. I love ya.
Pastor Dan
P.S. Dolores and I have received a new supply of Children's Read-N-Grow Bibles. Please let us know if you would like one for those little ones. We furnish them to you as part of Carry The Light Ministries new outreaches. Also if you do not have a Bible please let us know and we will get one in your hands right away. Here is a song I love to sing when I head out to our Rock of Hope to pray.
I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses.
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.
And He walks with me and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
He speaks and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.
And He walks with me and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
And He walks with me and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
Brothers and sisters, please forgive me. I forgot to list a few people for prayer last week. Please pray for Donna "Gabby" and her family and also please pray for Diane, Glenn, and Marie. All need prayers for failing health. Today I want to talk to you about faith, prayer and direct healing by God. So please let me get to the message.
Salvation Wednesday: March 16, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Forty-eight): Prayer of Faith
James 5:13-16 New International Version (NIV)
The Prayer of Faith
13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Brothers and sisters, as for me, I know I need to be spending more time in prayer each day. Lately I have opened email where I have received prayer requests and then forgot to post them. I am so sorry. Today I want to take a look at "The Prayer of Faith" as written in the book of James in our Bibles. In James 5:13 it starts with a question. "Is anyone among you in trouble?" Maybe I should change that question to is there anyone of you who is NOT in trouble? Now being in trouble does not mean you have had a run-in with the law or like back when I was in high school if a girl said she was in trouble it would mean she was going to have a baby and was not married. However, how it is worded in the Bible, "Is anyone among you in trouble" It is just asking a whole lot of questions that would fit today. Are you short on money and behind in your bills? Are you short on money and do not have enough food in your house? Or it might mean your hands are full or your plate is full with all the things that you need to get done. I often would say it seems there were just not enough hours in a day. Or have we committed some sins that you need to get off your mind, or are you just sick, maybe with a bad cold or flu or something else? Maybe you just were told you have cancer. So what is good for all these things? PRAYER, TALKING IT OVER WITH JESUS. Sometimes we just get overwhelmed with all the things we have to do. If you have children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, your concern is with them daily. We do have a threesome that is standing by to help us through anything we can throw at them. Yes, it is The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost. Let me make a suggestion like this. First, go to someplace quiet and have a one-on-one with Jesus. Talk to Him and plead out your case, whatever it might be. Also, and here is why you need a really good friend or a good church. Call on that good friend and ask them to pray for you. If the friend is really close and loves you they will pray for you and even if you do not want to share what you need prayer for they will understand. I also want to suggest that whenever you sit down with Jesus for that chat, you start by asking Him to please clear you of all your sins, known and unknown. Then lay it out to Him. Remember this and this comes from one of my favorite scriptures.
Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever. (NIV)
So our Bibles were written long ago, the advice is as fresh as a loaf of bread just coming out of the oven. Also, and this is important, if you are feeling good, if you are happy, please get together with Jesus for that one-on-one and give Him some praise and glory as it also tells us to do in the Prayer of Faith. Also, please remember this, if you go to a really good church and you need prayer, head to the front of the church after the service is over. If you do go to a good church you will often find your pastor there praying with people. I know a lot of pastors go to the rear of the church and greet people as they leave, and while that is nice, some will remain up front for prayer while others will return to the front to pray with people. And please do not be afraid to be anointed with oil, or if it is you praying for others, please take time and anoint them with oil in the name of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost. Please, do not pass up a chance to pray with people. That is why I am a tad upset with myself for missing some very important prayer requests. Please also remember to pray for all those who work so hard to keep us safe. Prayer is so important, it is your direct way of talking to God in Heaven. And you can talk as long as you want, God will not send you a bill that "you used up all your minutes." I have mentioned this a lot of times, I talk to God often when I am sitting on the pot.
When writing I am really enjoying posting a song of praise at the end. That request came in from a dear friend, and I believe a lot of you enjoy it. If you have a favorite song, let me know. Maybe we can all do a sing-along.
Dear Father in Heaven. Please help me, help all of us to come to You in prayer more often. Please help us understand that You are never too busy to hear from us and in fact really want to hear from us. Teach us, dear Lord, to also be able land willing to pray for and with others. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Now go forth with Jesus and talking to Him and sharing His love with others. I love ya.
Pastor Dan
P.S. Dolores and I have received a new supply of Children's Read-N-Grow Bibles. Please let us know if you would like one for those little ones. We furnish them to you as part of Carry The Light Ministries new outreaches. Also if you do not have a Bible please let us know and we will get one in your hands right away. Here is a song I love to sing when I head out to our Rock of Hope to pray.
I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses.
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.
And He walks with me and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
He speaks and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.
And He walks with me and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
And He walks with me and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
Monday, March 14, 2016
Monday 3/14/16 The Big Trip (47)
Dear Father in Heaven: I love You. Please forgive me of my sins this day. Thanks for waking me and letting me walk alongside of You this day. Thanks for protecting Dolores last evening, Lord. Please help me with the messages and to walk even nearer to You each day. Please help me now with the message and then please help me to get it dispatched. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters, please keep us in your daily prayers as we work to get our pain level down to where my mind works better. Please keep the family of William Gruver in your prayers as he has been called home to Jesus. Bill was in our class of 1959 from John Harris High School and a very gifted musician. If you have been watching the candidates for election like I have, you must be getting disappointed. Hillary Clinton screams when she talks and is also not very honest. Bernie Sanders is one who thinks government should take all the money people make working and give it to those who will not work. Donald Trump is a flat-out disgrace and is stirring the pot so bad he is causing fights. If we are ever going to get our country back on track again, we must turn back to Jesus. AMEN!!! So today's message will be called Turning Back.
Monday: March 14, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Forty-seven) Turning Back
2 Chronicles 7:14 New International Version (NIV)
If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
The Bible is very clear as is the Lord, that if we want our country to prosper and to grow, then we need to come back to Jesus. WE NEED TO COME BACK TO GOD. I ask a question today, where is the group "Black Lies Matter" today as a great police officer was gunned down, ambushed at the police station. This officer was black. His life made a difference, and I want to state that all lives should matter, all lives should be cherished from the time they enter the womb, until God Himself calls them home.
Over the years we have thrown God out of everything, we have changed rules to get married, we are in worse shape now than before the days of Noah. Donald Trump is a disgrace. He tells those following him to punch out those who might be protesting and he would even pay their legal bills. He calls Ted Cruz a liar and just keeps on firing up people but really never tells anything about how he would run the country.
Brothers and sisters, we need to read this scripture. We need to humble ourselves and turn to God and pray and go from our wicked land to one of love and understanding. And if we do this God tells us then and only then will He forgive our nation's sin and will heal our land. As Christians we need to get together and pray for our nation, pray for our leaders and to pray for God to have a good leader step forward to run this country UNDER HIM and be a leader of our country and more so a strong believer in faith in God. And brothers and sisters, if we are going to turn back as a nation it must start with us, for it is we who form the country. Amen.
God Bless America, land that I love. Stand beside her and guide her through the night with a light from above. From the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white with foam ... God Bless America, my home sweet home, GOD PLEASE BLESS AMERICA, MY HOME SWEET HOME.
One more time.
God Bless America, land that I love. Stand beside her and guide her through the night with a light from above. From the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white with foam ... God Bless America, my home sweet home, GOD PLEASE BLESS AMERICA, MY HOME SWEET HOME.
Dear Father in Heaven: I am sorry for the way our nation is and is heading. I am turning back to You starting today. In the Name of Jesus, I make this promise. Amen.
Now go forth and share Jesus and love Him. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
Dear brothers and sisters, please keep us in your daily prayers as we work to get our pain level down to where my mind works better. Please keep the family of William Gruver in your prayers as he has been called home to Jesus. Bill was in our class of 1959 from John Harris High School and a very gifted musician. If you have been watching the candidates for election like I have, you must be getting disappointed. Hillary Clinton screams when she talks and is also not very honest. Bernie Sanders is one who thinks government should take all the money people make working and give it to those who will not work. Donald Trump is a flat-out disgrace and is stirring the pot so bad he is causing fights. If we are ever going to get our country back on track again, we must turn back to Jesus. AMEN!!! So today's message will be called Turning Back.
Monday: March 14, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Forty-seven) Turning Back
2 Chronicles 7:14 New International Version (NIV)
If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
The Bible is very clear as is the Lord, that if we want our country to prosper and to grow, then we need to come back to Jesus. WE NEED TO COME BACK TO GOD. I ask a question today, where is the group "Black Lies Matter" today as a great police officer was gunned down, ambushed at the police station. This officer was black. His life made a difference, and I want to state that all lives should matter, all lives should be cherished from the time they enter the womb, until God Himself calls them home.
Over the years we have thrown God out of everything, we have changed rules to get married, we are in worse shape now than before the days of Noah. Donald Trump is a disgrace. He tells those following him to punch out those who might be protesting and he would even pay their legal bills. He calls Ted Cruz a liar and just keeps on firing up people but really never tells anything about how he would run the country.
Brothers and sisters, we need to read this scripture. We need to humble ourselves and turn to God and pray and go from our wicked land to one of love and understanding. And if we do this God tells us then and only then will He forgive our nation's sin and will heal our land. As Christians we need to get together and pray for our nation, pray for our leaders and to pray for God to have a good leader step forward to run this country UNDER HIM and be a leader of our country and more so a strong believer in faith in God. And brothers and sisters, if we are going to turn back as a nation it must start with us, for it is we who form the country. Amen.
God Bless America, land that I love. Stand beside her and guide her through the night with a light from above. From the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white with foam ... God Bless America, my home sweet home, GOD PLEASE BLESS AMERICA, MY HOME SWEET HOME.
One more time.
God Bless America, land that I love. Stand beside her and guide her through the night with a light from above. From the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white with foam ... God Bless America, my home sweet home, GOD PLEASE BLESS AMERICA, MY HOME SWEET HOME.
Dear Father in Heaven: I am sorry for the way our nation is and is heading. I am turning back to You starting today. In the Name of Jesus, I make this promise. Amen.
Now go forth and share Jesus and love Him. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
Monday, March 7, 2016
Monday 3/7/16 The Big Trip (46)
Dear Father in Heaven: Thank You for having Your healing hand upon me and taking care of me. I love You, Lord! Please forgive me of my sins. Please be with the family and friends of Nancy Reagan who has come on to heaven. Please be with all those who are serving this country in one way or another and please keep Your hand upon them. Please be with those running for President of the United States and I pray that a Christian leader will step forth and be elected. Please watch over President Obama and his family and protect them, Lord. Please help me now with the message and then please help me to get it dispatched. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters, I am still in recovery mode from what seems to have been a virus of some type. In my terms or in Lehman's language, I have had the "runs" for two weeks. Thanks for your prayers. I have gone through a ton of Imodium and about a "dozen corks!" Anyway, time to get back to writing for our Lord Jesus. I miss it when I am not at the keyboard, but when I am not feeling well, it seems God does not give me a message to write, and I write for Him and nobody else. So let me have at it.
Monday: March 7, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Forty-six)
Luke 18:15 - People were also bringing babies to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called the children to Him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (NIV)
Dear brothers and sisters, one thing I was asked a lot when back in high school at John Harris in Harrisburg, Pa., was "What did I want to be when I grew up?" Not what did I want to be after school, but when I grew up. Some people wondered back then if I ever would grow up, and I guess there are some still in doubt if I will ever grow up. Yes, it seems that I clowned around a lot, or "carried on a lot," but still I would go to work each day and get it done for whomever I was working for.
One of the things I did not do enough of was to see that I took my children when they were little to learn more about Jesus. I mean they got to church and Sunday School, but not always, seems other things would often get in the way. A lot of that problem was that I was not fully saved back in those days. Now what do I mean by not fully saved? Well, I was flirting with being saved but never came fully to Jesus and remained with Him back in those days. I was a lost son, in other words I would come to Jesus and then drift away and come back. Yes, I was back and forth a few times before I came home to stay. AND PRAISE GOD I AM HOME TO STAY!!! AMEN!!!
In today's scripture Jesus is telling His disciples about the little children. The adults were there to hear and be healed by Jesus and also wanted their children touched by Jesus, but the disciples of Jesus were turning the little children back like Jesus might not have time for them. However, Jesus wanted the children to come to Him and in fact He wanted and still wants all of us, all of us adults, or big kids, to come to Him as if a little child. Why might Jesus have wanted people, all people, to come to Him as if they were children? Because children, little children, HAVE FAITH. If we adults had the faith of little children when it comes to Jesus and also a lot of other things, we would be so much better off.
As we look at the scripture we can see first that Jesus gives a warning about preventing the little children from coming unto Him. Jesus said "Do not hinder them." Then He issues this warning to all of us, "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And what do you think that means? It is simple, we must have the faith of a child. Have you ever seen faith in a child? Let me give you a few examples. Number one, watch a child as Christmas nears and watch the faith they have that someone is going to give them toys. Also watch as a child learns to walk, you hold out your hands and they walk towards you, having faith in you that if they stumble you will be there to catch them. Oh, and who can forget the first time on that two-wheel bicycle? Oh, how I thought my daddy had a hold on the back of that seat to hold me up. These little ones have faith you as a parent are going to feed them and change their pants, etc. And oh how I wish we had those picture Bibles when I was a child. Those Read-N-Grow Bibles are just wonderful. So brothers and sisters, I want you to think about this, as I stroll you back to your days of childhood today and introduce you once again to my dear friend Jesus. He is the one and only one who will never let us down, never, ever let us down. If we walk in His light, grow up with Him and do the very best we can, He will never let go of the back of our bike seat, He will indeed hold us up.
One last thing on this and it goes for all of us and most of all to pastors and others who work directly for God. Do not steer these children in the wrong direction, even if that child is 50-plus or minus a bunch of years. Jesus said "Do not hinder a child seeking me." And a person who has never come to Jesus or who has slipped away and is coming back is truly just a "Child of God" and in fact once we were saved, once we are "Born Again," are we not then fully a "Child of God?" I rest my case.
Dear Father, help us bring in the lost and those who are lost are indeed a child. Help us to help them seek out Jesus. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Brothers and sisters, go forth now living for Jesus, loving Jesus and sharing His love, and maybe you remember this song and could sing it also. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
Jesus loves me! This I know
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong.
They are weak and He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
The Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves me! He who died,
Heaven's gates to open wide.
He will wash away my sin.
Let His little child come in.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
The Bible tells me so.
Jesus take this heart of mine;
Make it pure and wholly Thine.
Thou has bled and died for me:
I will henceforth live for Thee.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
The Bible tells me so.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
The Bible tells me so.
Dear brothers and sisters, I am still in recovery mode from what seems to have been a virus of some type. In my terms or in Lehman's language, I have had the "runs" for two weeks. Thanks for your prayers. I have gone through a ton of Imodium and about a "dozen corks!" Anyway, time to get back to writing for our Lord Jesus. I miss it when I am not at the keyboard, but when I am not feeling well, it seems God does not give me a message to write, and I write for Him and nobody else. So let me have at it.
Monday: March 7, 2016: The Big Trip (Day Forty-six)
Luke 18:15 - People were also bringing babies to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called the children to Him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (NIV)
Dear brothers and sisters, one thing I was asked a lot when back in high school at John Harris in Harrisburg, Pa., was "What did I want to be when I grew up?" Not what did I want to be after school, but when I grew up. Some people wondered back then if I ever would grow up, and I guess there are some still in doubt if I will ever grow up. Yes, it seems that I clowned around a lot, or "carried on a lot," but still I would go to work each day and get it done for whomever I was working for.
One of the things I did not do enough of was to see that I took my children when they were little to learn more about Jesus. I mean they got to church and Sunday School, but not always, seems other things would often get in the way. A lot of that problem was that I was not fully saved back in those days. Now what do I mean by not fully saved? Well, I was flirting with being saved but never came fully to Jesus and remained with Him back in those days. I was a lost son, in other words I would come to Jesus and then drift away and come back. Yes, I was back and forth a few times before I came home to stay. AND PRAISE GOD I AM HOME TO STAY!!! AMEN!!!
In today's scripture Jesus is telling His disciples about the little children. The adults were there to hear and be healed by Jesus and also wanted their children touched by Jesus, but the disciples of Jesus were turning the little children back like Jesus might not have time for them. However, Jesus wanted the children to come to Him and in fact He wanted and still wants all of us, all of us adults, or big kids, to come to Him as if a little child. Why might Jesus have wanted people, all people, to come to Him as if they were children? Because children, little children, HAVE FAITH. If we adults had the faith of little children when it comes to Jesus and also a lot of other things, we would be so much better off.
As we look at the scripture we can see first that Jesus gives a warning about preventing the little children from coming unto Him. Jesus said "Do not hinder them." Then He issues this warning to all of us, "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And what do you think that means? It is simple, we must have the faith of a child. Have you ever seen faith in a child? Let me give you a few examples. Number one, watch a child as Christmas nears and watch the faith they have that someone is going to give them toys. Also watch as a child learns to walk, you hold out your hands and they walk towards you, having faith in you that if they stumble you will be there to catch them. Oh, and who can forget the first time on that two-wheel bicycle? Oh, how I thought my daddy had a hold on the back of that seat to hold me up. These little ones have faith you as a parent are going to feed them and change their pants, etc. And oh how I wish we had those picture Bibles when I was a child. Those Read-N-Grow Bibles are just wonderful. So brothers and sisters, I want you to think about this, as I stroll you back to your days of childhood today and introduce you once again to my dear friend Jesus. He is the one and only one who will never let us down, never, ever let us down. If we walk in His light, grow up with Him and do the very best we can, He will never let go of the back of our bike seat, He will indeed hold us up.
One last thing on this and it goes for all of us and most of all to pastors and others who work directly for God. Do not steer these children in the wrong direction, even if that child is 50-plus or minus a bunch of years. Jesus said "Do not hinder a child seeking me." And a person who has never come to Jesus or who has slipped away and is coming back is truly just a "Child of God" and in fact once we were saved, once we are "Born Again," are we not then fully a "Child of God?" I rest my case.
Dear Father, help us bring in the lost and those who are lost are indeed a child. Help us to help them seek out Jesus. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Brothers and sisters, go forth now living for Jesus, loving Jesus and sharing His love, and maybe you remember this song and could sing it also. Love ya.
Pastor Dan
Jesus loves me! This I know
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong.
They are weak and He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
The Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves me! He who died,
Heaven's gates to open wide.
He will wash away my sin.
Let His little child come in.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
The Bible tells me so.
Jesus take this heart of mine;
Make it pure and wholly Thine.
Thou has bled and died for me:
I will henceforth live for Thee.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
The Bible tells me so.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
The Bible tells me so.
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