Freedom River Church

The essence of the Christian life is to consistently become more of what we should be and less of what we used to be. The result of this life will be revealed at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

So many people want and need the power of God in their life, but they won't meet with other Believers. His presence is there, and, when His presence is there, His power is there. There's an old song that reflects the way many people feel about their relationship with God. Country artist Tom T. Hall shared this classic in 1972. The chorus says it all. "Well, me and Jesus got our own thing goin'. Me and Jesus got it all worked out. Me and Jesus got our own thing goin'. We don't need anybody to tell us what it's all about!" There's only one thing wrong with that way of thinking. God did not set it up that way.

Today's message asks you to consider the strength God provides for us through His Church. The Bible calls it His Body, His Bride, His Assembly, His Flock, His People, His House, His Sanctuary and maybe some others I may have overlooked. My effort today is not intended to discourage those of you who, for many reasons, may only be able to watch our media broadcasts. We have gone to great effort and expense to provide this wonderful tool, and I am glad you watch and trust that you are strengthened as you do.

The encouragement today is to stay in God's Word and allow it to shape your soul into submission to your redeemed spirit.

The second step to victory is the title of this week's message, Keep Believing the Truth. The encouragement today is to stay in God's Word and allow it to shape your soul. Why is this so difficult? Well, in order for this to occur, it is necessary for you to mature in Christ. The major roadblock to maturing in Christ is our natural inclination to follow the same tendencies we had before we came to Christ.

Pastor Keith responds to current events, including the assassination attempt of Donald Trump on 7/13/2024.

We open a door to the enemy when we believe his lies. Satan has been trying to gain access to our lives through lies since the beginning. The door to the enemy stays closed when our words and thoughts align with the truth of God's Word. The first step to sin is believing a lie!

As we all are keenly aware, life is complicated. You can't always uncomplicate your life, but I want to encourage you to simplify your approach to life. You can be complex without being complicated. What is it that unnecessarily complicates our life?

Married or unmarried, relationships are complicated. The juggling act of building healthy relationships with the people we love while maintaining Christ as the focus of our life can become very distressing. It seems that there is an almost built-in conflict of interest as we wrestle with commitments to our spouse, friends, and family, as well as our commitment to God.

According to mental health officials 80% Americans never feel "blessed" by both their mother and father. We Christian parents can be some of the worst offenders. Most often it is because we want so much for our children. We often keep "The Blessing" just out of reach! Statements like, "You did a good job...but...if you'd done it like this it would have been better." That's no "blessing!" That's a curse! What you're really saying is, "you didn't make it. You didn't measure up!"

It is so easy to focus on what your mate needs to work on in your relationship. Here's a thought – You focus on what you're supposed to be, and let God work on them. God can do more in a split second than you've been able to accomplish in years.

The Apostle Paul has taught us that marriage and singleness are both gifts from God that are intended to enhance our lives and move us toward our purpose. In this passage Paul moves us a step further by introducing the concept of marriage being considered as a "call" (special assignment) from God. This is certainly a radical departure for our quick-release culture. We seem to be captivated now-a-days with changing our situation. God wants us to realize that we can't always change our situation, but we can accept our assignment.

Everything in marriage is designed to promote the dynamic concept of two becoming one. There is no longer a his/her section in your life. It is not easy to merge your life with another. That's why Paul calls it a "gift." No room for selfishness here!

"For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness as well as in health, 'til death shall part you..." These are the vows we take when we get married. They reflect the covenant that has now been entered by the couple. Sadly, the depth of this covenant is not understood by our modern culture. In marriage, two are supposed to become one. So why do so many couples struggle to stay together?

The Fire of Passion The desire inside you is not dirty or defiled – it's pure. The trouble comes when passion gets displaced. The passion God put in you to help move you to your purpose can cause great pain if it's not managed correctly. In verse 9 many Bible translations say, "But if they CANNOT control themselves, they should marry...." A better translation would be, "But if they ARE NOT controlling themselves..." It's not that you CAN'T control it – it is that You WON'T control it.

Paul's conclusion for passion that is not being controlled is to simply get married. Boy, can we really oversimplify some struggles. The Church has two words of instruction for the singles. One is DON'T SETTLE. This is an encouragement to reject compromise and hold out for the right one. The second word is DON'T SIN. The inference here is unmistakable. Don't give in to the temptation to violate sexual boundaries. But what about THE STRUGGLE?!

Duty – is this the most unromantic sounding word ever? It is interesting that God doesn't say anything about fulfilling sexual DESIRE. Why? It's because desire is intended to be a by-product - not a goal. What's He saying? It's not about you! Desire can light a fire, but only duty can keep it burning. If you are single, your singleness is a gift from God. If you are married, your marriage is also a gift from God. Both relational positions are A gift, but THE greatest gift is grace. No matter which gift you have, you're gonna need grace.

The Corinthian Church put together a list of questions for the great Apostle Paul. Questions like: Is it ok to be single? What about widows remarrying? Are single people more spiritual than married people? Is it better to be celibate? ... and so on. Paul spends 6 chapters preaching to them BEFORE he begins to answer any of their sanitized concerns. Quite often, there is a huge difference between the questions we ask and the REAL issues we are dealing with. God is not nearly as concerned about answering our questions as He is in dealing with our issues.

Ezekiel 38-39 tells of a future invasion of Israel by a vast coalition of nations that surround it. As we watch the images in news reports and witness the conflict in the Middle East, it's not hard to imagine that this invasion prophesied over 2600 years ago could be fulfilled in our lifetime. IS THIS IT?!!!

Our Good Shepherd not only provides for us and protects us, but He also makes us three promises concerning our future with Him.

One of the major teachings of the Scripture is the protection of the shepherd for his sheep. In John 10 Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd that is the door of the sheepfold. Our Good Shepherd protects us with three outstanding methods as we confront the enemy in our battles of life.

Psalms 23 is a revelation of what our Good Shepherd does for us in the battles of life. "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...." This is a context of scary death stuff! This is not a walk through a field of dandelions. According to the Psalm, our Good Shepherd does three great things for us in the battles we face in life. The first benefit He supplies is Provision. The Good Shepherd provides three great benefits for us as we face the issues of life.

You are going to need to deal with your anger in marriage. You may have to take a few hours to cool off but when you return to dealing with the issue you must confront it in a loving and positive manner. Communication experts tell us that a conversation never rises above the level of the first three minutes. What you do in the first three minutes of a conversation sets that conversation up for success or failure. This message is about the process of reconciliation with your spouse.

God created marriage to be the most intimate relationship on earth. There can only be intimacy when there is total exposure and unhindered access. The nakedness that Adam and Eve had was total. It was physical, of course, but it was also psychological, emotional, and spiritual. The best understanding for "Intimacy" is an expansion of the word to say, "In-to-me-see." Any time you allow anyone to see into the real you; you are having an intimate moment.

The most enjoyable life in the world is a life that is based upon the Word of God and not upon feelings. The greatest life in the world is a life based upon the Word of God and not upon feelings. What are the decisions my spouse and I must make before we marry?