PastorBobMVCC

Any building that is built without a solid foundation will crumble and fall. A Building needs to be solidly anchored to the ground so it will stand in stormy weather. A shaky foundation will not last and in time it will be destroyed. You obviously know the illustration for your life as a Christian, not foundation in your life leads to destruction, a solid foundation in your life you will be able to stand in life’s storms.

The first chapter of Daniel is a beautifully written, brief and concise description of Babylonian captivity. How difficult would it be to live in a culture that had been conquered and taken away into a culture that was pagan. How difficult would it be to be brought into a new culture and re-educated for the culture? This is basically what had happened and as you will see, men are selected to serve the king, learn their language, and be instructed to learn the culture. In our day we would call them re-education camps. Daniel and in Friends didn’t respond in a negative way but they also would not defile themselves against God. The Lord honored their commitment to Him and He protected them when they faced tremendous difficulties. God used Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azeriah in the kingdom of Babylon. Though they were carried off into a foreign land they honored God and God blessed them and protected them.

Paul has already explained that there are two types of people in this world, there are those who believe in Christ and those who do not 1st Cor 2:14-3:4. Paul then moves on the describe two different types of Christians, spiritual Christians and Carnal Christians. A Spiritual Christian desires to feed on the things of God, always desiring more, a student of the bible, and active participant in His kingdom. A Carnal Christian is a person that still lives for the things that the flesh desires, carnal means “Flesh.”

It's important to establish the authority of the Bible, especially when we depend on it for our life. In this introduction, Pastor Bob gives a brief description of the book of James and we dive into the book itself. Who was James, is the book authoritative, and what it will cover.

Don't dance with the Harlot. The World wants to take you away from God, God wants to take you away from the world. The world had prostituted itself, indulging in every kind of sin and if a sin doesn't exist they will make up another one: Romans 1:28 (NKJV) 28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; Romans 1:32 (NKJV) 32who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

What does a corrupt evil government look like? When government violates the very laws it creates for protect its citizens and violates the laws in place for their own purposes, it is a corrupt government. I compare the trial of Jesus to the Trial of Trump and how law were violated by the government for their own purposes.

How long will God wait while humanity struggles with the soul? People looking for fullness in life but only find emptiness, people looking for purpose only to wonder around never understand where they belong, people looking for direction but walk around lost. Anyone who comes to Jesus is first called by God, how you respond to God is up to you, but God calls to everyone, some hear, listen, and obey, and some don’t. Scripture is clear that you cannot come to God unless you are called:

What in the world is going on? Everything seems to be falling down around us, corruption seems to be running rampant, Justice is perverted, where are we headed? These are good questions, but perhaps not the right ones. the question should be, how long Lord? Even though the world is in chaos, God is still in control, He is coming, all things must be before the end. Are you Ready for His coming? I will discuss this and things you can do to be prepared.

What in the world is going on? Everything seems to be falling down around us, corruption seems to be running rampant, Justice is perverted, where are we headed? These are good questions, but perhaps not the right ones. the question should be, how long Lord? Even though the world is in chaos, God is still in control, He is coming, all things must be before the end. Are you Ready for His coming? I will discuss this and things you can do to be prepared.

Special Message from Andy Cox

Last week I laid out the foundation of a Sanhedrin trial and process in order to convict someone of a crime. How merciful the system was and how it focused on innocence not guilt. I explained who Annas was in John’s account, and former high priest with a lot of muscle and still highly influential in the high court of the Sanhedrin. Caiaphas the son in law to Annas is high priest at this time so Jesus was set up from the beginning. It is also worthy of noting that Annas and Caiaphas were Sadducees which means that they didn’t believe in the resurrection, anything to do with the spirit world, the authority of the scripture with the exception of the Pentateuch. They may have plotted and were the master minds behind this, but it was God’s plan for it to happen this way. Let me summarize four points from last week: a) The illegal arrest of Jesus – The arrest of Jesus was illegal according to Hebrew law for four reasons: b) The Hebrew law forbade any trial or arrest to happen at night, especially for those that were to be tried for capital punishment. It was probably around midnight that in the gospel accounts we see that they came with lanterns and torches: John 18:3 (NIV) 3 So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. c) If Judas was deliberately placed among the disciples, this too would be illegal because it was forbidden to use a traitor or an accomplice to aid and abet. d) The arrest of Jesus was not legal because there was not legal summons to do so. e) It was also illegal according to Hebrew law to bind an un-condemned man. In John’s account, Jesus was bound and taken away: John 18:12 (NIV) 12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him

Serving God isn’t easy, most of the time it isn’t popular, and much of the time comes with sacrifice. It isn’t pleasant at times, the cost can be high, it separates those who believe with those who don’t. When Jesus started His ministry, from the very onset He wasn’t popular. Sure crowds would gather around Him want to hear Him, see Him, touch Him, but to follow, well, that becomes a different story. The things we spoke, the charges He made, the truth He told, wasn’t popular, In fact they hated Him from the very beginning of His ministry.

Proclaiming the message of the cross to the unbelieving world is foolish to them. To you who believe it is the ultimate wisdom. For you who believe in the cross and the promise that is given to you, the cross is the beginning of wisdom. Paul draws a distinct contrast between wisdom and foolishness as it relates to the cross of Christ and God.

Mothers are essential for a good family. They are often under-appreciated, rarely recognized, but are important to God and the family. Lets honor the mothers this Sunday and not take them for granted.

Islam vs Christianity vs Christianity, are they the same or different?

A. Yes, Jesus! The Church, no! 1. This was the slogan in the 60s during the time of the Jesus Revolution. People were looking for purpose and the meaning of life. Those of us who lived through those days remember events like Woodstock, protests of the Vietnam war, Sex, Drugs, and Rock n Roll. Are things really that much different today? People in the world are still seeking the same thing, trying to find all the answers in all the wrong places and it leads to more emptiness. Jesus, Yes! The Church, no! Why is that? Is the church that messed up? Some will believe that because the church says no to sin, some might say that because they see Christians are not different from the world, some might say that because Christians look down at them and judge them, not by God’s standards, but by their standards in a faulty human condition. The human heart cannot judge another human being, each person has their own eternal battle with the flesh and sin, but as Christians, we are to communicate God’s expectations for living knowing that we are flawed even as Christians. That’s why we are told to take the log out of our own eye first:

When God gives you a detour in life, think of it as an opportunity not as a difficulty with no purpose. God has a reason for all things, don't let your circumstances conquer you, conquer your circumstances

Unless a Nation longs for God and lives in His Light, it is doomed for destruction. Nations rise and fall from within.

If people follow anyone else except Christ then that is a worthless religion. You might strongly agree with the denomination or the person, but it is Christ who is to be lifted up and His words are the words we follow.