2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Ephesians 4:22-24 says:

22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Salvation also comes by believing in your heart Romans 10:9-10 says:

9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Billy Graham had many people that came forward when he had an altar call. But after 6 months, less than 10% were in church. Why? Because it was not from the heart. It was just people getting caught up in the moment.

If we are truly saved, we start bearing fruit.
Matthew 7:15-23
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Some people believe that bearing fruit is possessions. If someone is prosperous in possessions, they are bearing good fruit. But I am here to tell you that bearing fruit is our conduct and how we react to things. Are we bearing the fruit of JESUS CHRIST? Are our lives changing from what we were, the old man, to reflect that we are, new creations in HIM?

Let’s see what some of the attributes of JESUS are.

He is:
Humble
Righteous
Worthy      Rev.5:9
Praying
Encouraging
Speaks the solution, not the problem
Obedient
Loving
Caring
Giving
Forgiving

It would take a whole series to discuss every single attribute, so today, we will just talk about forgiving, since unforgiveness is one of our greatest bondages.

Colossians 3:8-10 says:
8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,

We go on to verse 12 which says:
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

We have been forgiven of our sins by JESUS CHRIST, although, everything that HE went through (beatings, humiliation, crucification). HE had every right to hate us. But HIS love and forgiveness  was witnessed when HE hung on the cross and said: “Forgive them FATHER, for they know not what they do.”

There are so many of us that are in the bondage of unforgiveness. It keeps tearing away at us and as long as we are in unforgiveness, we give the enemy a foothold in our lives. Since unforgiveness is not of GOD, we allow darkness to enter.
JESUS said in Matthew 5:23-24
23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

If an offering is made with an unforgiving heart,  it is not worthy of being blessed. It’s tainted money.

James 3:6
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.

James 3:8-10
8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

James 3:13-18
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

1John 2:11
11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

What about people who do things to us over and over again. JESUS made it clear in Matthew 18:21-22 ;
21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

That’s 490 times. So that means that someone could do something to you for over a year and they are to be forgiven.

Luke 17:3-4 says:
3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins *against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns *to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

Now lets look at the word shall. The dictionary says that shall is used to express obligation and expectation. So JESUS is saying that forgiveness is an obligation and something that HE expects from us.

JESUS continues to teach us in Matthew 6:14-15
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

I sure would hate to know that JESUS died on that cross for me, but I turned my back on HIM because of my unforgiveness.

It’s ok for JESUS to forgive me, but it’s not ok for me to forgive others. They did me wrong. I deserve more respect. They can’t get away with what they did to me. ME, me, me. It’s all about me. What about HIM.

Most people love the scripture from Mark 11:23-24
23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

The problem is that most people don’t read beyond these verses. Verses 25 & 26 says
25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 *But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

IN CLOSING

Ephesians 4:31-32 says
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

I know, as I’ve been talking, some of you have been remembering people that you haven’t forgiven. Break free from this bondage, repent and make things right. The LORD GOD  is a loving GOD, and we are to fashion ourselves like him. Let us always be loving to others, regardless. Some of you are saying, but Carl, you don’t know what they’ve done to me or said to me. You’re right, I don’t know, but GOD does, and HE’s the one saying, FORGIVE.

HEAVENLY FATHER, I DON’T KNOW THE HURT THAT SOME HAVE IN THEIR HEARTS TODAY, BUT YOU DO. REPLACE THAT HURT AND UNFORGIVENESS WITH YOUR JOY AND LOVE. RELEASE THEM FROM THEIR BONDAGE THAT THEY MAY EXPERIENCE YOUR FULL LOVE FOR THEM. BRING PEACE AMONG YOUR FOLLOWERS, LORD. LET US SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE AND ONE HEART AS WE COME INTO UNITY WITH YOU, LORD. LET US WALK WORTHY OF THE CALLING WITH WHICH WE WERE CALLED. MAKE US MORE LIKE YOU LORD. WE GIVE YOU ALL THE GLORY AND ALL THE HONOR. WE LOVE YOU LORD. IN THE WORTHY NAME OF JESUS WE PRAY.
AMEN

Throughout my life, I’ve heard so many times, “As long as it doesn’t affect me, it’s alright”. The problem with that is that sooner of later, it will affect us. Whether it’s directly with us or our children or friends, it will affect us. Look at all the changes that have occurred in our schools in our lifetime (ie; pledge of allegiance, prayer in schools, etc.). Look at the changes that have occurred on television (language, nudity, sex, etc). All the things that we used to hold dear (the 10 commandments, GOD, our constitutional rights, etc.). All these things, when they started to change, many said “As long as it doesn’t affect me, it’s alright. The removal of GOD, gay rights, and so many things are being forced on us but yet, some still say, “As long as it doesn’t affect me, it’s alright”. Some people we elect into public office stand on issues that are against the Christian way but yet, “As long as it doesn’t affect me, it’s alright”. But Biblically, if we elect those people, we agree with what they stand for. Let’s look at this.

According to Websters New World Dictionary

Abide – To submit to and carry out
So this would mean we accept something

Accept – To receive favorably; approve

Approve – To give one’s consent to; sanction; confirm; endorse

So according to Webster, when we vote for someone, we endorse them which means that we approve, accept and abide by what they stand for. If we knowingly vote for someone who is pro-abortion or pro-gay marriage, etc., then we too approve of those things. Some may say, not necessarily, so lets go to the Bible for confirmation.

Rom 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
Rom 1:21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
Rom 1:24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
Rom 1:25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Rom 1:26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
Rom 1:27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
Rom 1:28 And 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;
Rom 1:29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
Rom 1:30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Rom 1:31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;

So according to verse 21, even though people knew GOD they didn’t glorify HIM with their thoughts. The believed themselves to be smart and wise, (verse 22) and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into things like a corruptible man, (verse 23), Some may say, “I didn’t do that!”. But by electing people that are known to be against those things that GOD holds in contempt, approves of those things. So in our supposedly great knowledge, we discarded what GOD said was wrong and decided, “As long as it doesn‘t affect me, it‘s alright“. Verses 26 and 27 deals explicitly with gay rights

But wait a minute, just because someone else hold to those views, I don’t do those things so how can GOD hold that against me? To find the answer, let’s go to the last verse of this chapter.

Rom 1:32 who, 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.

Ok, so we are suppose to know what the righteous judgment of GOD is, but it goes on to say that if we approve of those things (if we vote for people that are for things against GOD, we approve), it’s that same thing as doing it.

So whether it’s during an election or any other time, take a stand for GOD. Don’t say “As long as it doesn‘t affect me, it‘s alright“, it’s not alright. JESUS took a stand for us and died on the cross, let us not turn our backs on HIM by approving of those things that are not in accordance with HIS Word.

Imagine this scene: It’s evening, and you’ve just finished supper. You decide to sit in your recliner and relax for a few moments. You and your family turn on the TV for some comedy and humor. Suddenly, right in the midst of your laughter, you hear a voice from the news center saying, “we interrupt this program to bring you a very important announcement. TOMORROW HAS BEEN CANCELLED.”

Now you really start laughing. That’s ridiculous, but is it? That announcement comes to millions of people in the course of every day life.

This announcement could be for you and me today.

In the past year how many people do you know who have heard those same words, YOUR TOMORROW HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

For many of you, who are sitting here today and listening as I speak, this announcement has almost become a reality in your life. A near heart attack, a near fatal accident, brushing death with cancer or pneumonia – those things and others have almost brought the announcement – YOUR TOMORROW HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

Every one of us is only a breath away from this announcement, that our tomorrow has been cancelled.

James 4: 13 – 14
Jam 4:13　　 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will　 go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”;
Jam 4:14　　 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

James tells us that we should live our lives with the realization that our plans, our very lives, are not certain. What seems to us so stable and sure is what we have “in this present world.” Yet what we have in this “present world” may crumble and fall today.

To many people this is the “real world.” To them there is no other world. To them this is all that life has to offer.

Most people say – “Yes, it’s the real world and you only go around once so you’d better grab all the gusto you can get.”

The tragic thing is, that we Christians often buy into this philosophy. But according to God’s Word, it’s a lie. This is not the real world; there is a world beyond this one, a world where there is no pain, sickness, or tears. A world with gates of pearl and streets of gold. A world where death is not allowed to exist.

Be careful how you get attached to this present world.

If we get too friendly, too attached – possessive of our possessions to the point that they possess us – then we become a friend to this world and an enemy of God.

I ask you, WHAT IF TOMORROW WAS CANCELLED?

Luke 12:16-21
Luk 12:16　　 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.
Luk 12:17　　 “And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’
Luk 12:18　　 “So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.
Luk 12:19　　 ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”‘
Luk 12:20　　 “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
Luk 12:21　　 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Tomorrow was cancelled for this rich man. This is a parable that Jesus is sharing but for many this parable has become a reality.

The world’s philosophy is “Take care of number one!” Notice the repeated word “my” which points to this man’s ingrained selfishness.

He was concerned only about himself and nobody else. He didn’t care to help the poor and needy. He wanted to get all he could in this life for himself so he could just sit back and enjoy it.

This man had success, satisfaction and security. What more could he possibly want. You could say that as far as this world was concerned he had it made, he was enjoying life.

We need to be careful about having a false confidence in things or in people.

Job 15:31 – “Let him not trust in futile things, deceiving himself, for futility will be his reward.”

Psalm 18:11 – “The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his own esteem.”

Obadiah 1:3 – “The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; you who say in your heart, ‘who will bring me down to the ground?’”

Jesus made it clear that life does not come from an abundance of things, nor does true success or security. This man had a false view of both life and death.

There are a lot of people that are like this rich man. In this world they feel secure, invincible, that they will live to be 100 years old. They refuse to think of death; they refuse to think of eternity; they refuse to think of judgment. As far as they are concerned this world is all that there is. But how foolish to think this way, death will come to all. All will face eternity either in the presence of God or expelled from his presence eternally. All will face the judgment one-day.

But this man’s tomorrow was cancelled with the words of verse 20 – “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you.”

Death caught this man when he least expected it.

We would be tempted to say, “Too bad this fellow dies just when he had everything going for him! How tragic that he could not finish his great plans.” But I tell you, the great tragedy of this story is not what this man left behind but what laid before him: eternity without God!

Death has no favorites. It doesn’t respect age, position, importance, prosperity or anything else. There may be some here today who would say, I’m a good person, I treat people fair so I should live a while yet but you could also hear those words, YOUR TOMORROW HAS BEEN CANCELLED!

This man lived without God and he died without God. What a tragedy.

But, what if you and I had a guarantee? Let’s say tomorrow is not cancelled. How are we going to live? Are we going to live as if this is the real world? Or as if there is something beyond this world?

John said: “This world and all its desires is passing away. But, they who do the will of God will abide forever” (1 John 2:15-17).

James said: “Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14).

Life is short. Listen to the Word of God:

Proverbs 27:1 – “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”

1 Peter 1:24 – “All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away.”

James could have easily said, “Today or tomorrow I’ll travel the world…I’ll buy that house…I’ll write that book…I’ll finish that project…I’ll…I’ll.” All of this presumes that tomorrow will not be cancelled.

We are a presumptuous people. We presume that we will have a tomorrow to deal with our sin or to do what we have been putting off for some time now.

But what if tomorrow was cancelled and you were not able to take care of that sin that you have been dealing with?

God’s favorite word is today. Now is the accepted time; Today is the day of salvation, not tomorrow.

Listen to Paul in 2 Corinthians 6:2 :
2Cr 6:2　　 For He says:
“In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”*
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

We Christians & sinners, presume that we have a tomorrow & will take care of that thing, but God says, “Don’t put it off, do it now, get help, open your heart to someone, spend time in prayer. Do it! Tomorrow might be cancelled. Don’t presume that you will have a tomorrow.”

Augustine made this statement: “God has promised us forgiveness for our repentance, but God has not promised us a tomorrow in which to repent.”

Today is the only time you have. Don’t put God off anymore. Your tomorrow may be cancelled before the close of this service.

Then look at the other side of the coin. Think of all the good and right and loving things you intend to do. All the loving acts of justice, mercy, kindness and mission. Good intentions. There are many in the church who have intentions to work for the Lord but never do. We presume that we’ll have a tomorrow in which to do those things. But what if tomorrow is cancelled?

What if all the things you intended to do or say to your spouse never get done or said?

What about all the loving actions you intended towards your neighbors and friends?

What about all the great things you intended to do for the church?

WHAT IF TOMORROW WAS CANCELLED?

How easy to forget that this is not the real world. It’s not going to last forever.

I want to close with these few thoughts.

Each one of our lives hangs by a thread.

Anyone of us could be called upon at any time to stand before God and give an account of himself. What if tomorrow were cancelled for you? For me?

The bad news is that if tomorrow is cancelled and you aren’t ready to meet God then you will have to spend eternity in hell, banished from the presence of God. Don’t put off what you must do today, now.

The good news is this – that if tomorrow is cancelled, and you are in Christ – don’t worry about it. Because the day after tomorrow has already been planned for you. You will spend eternity in heaven before the Lord. The choice is yours and you must make it before tomorrow is cancelled.

Wait a minute! GOD has priorities for us?
Yes HE does and HIS priorities for us are in the following order.

1. GOD

Exd 20:1 And God spoke all these words, saying:
Exd 20:2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Exd 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.
Exd 20:4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image–any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;
Exd 20:5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
Exd 20:6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
Exd 20:7 “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
GOD wants us to make HIM the top of our priorities as HE states in the first 3 of HIS commandments. GOD should be placed above everything else. Now this doesn’t mean ministry, that comes later. By putting GOD as our top priority means having HIM in all our decisions, in all our actions, in all our thoughts, in all that we do. This means that in all you do, are you bringing glory and honor to your FATHER in Heaven? Are you doing what GOD wants you to do even though it may not be what your spouse wants you to do or what your boss wants you to do or what your friends want you to do?

So many times we may be tossed because we hear GOD telling us something and the world telling us something else. The answer to this is, if you don’t know which way to turn, go GOD’s way. HIS way is always the right way. Will we always feel great about going the way GOD wants us to? Our spirit will always feel great about it but sometimes we may not because sometimes HIS way is not the worlds way. This may mean that HE would have us do something that doesn’t sit good with our friends or co-workers and sometimes even our spouses. But by doing what GOD tells you to do, you can rest assured that it is the right thing to do and by doing it, you will be honoring and obeying HIM and putting HIM first in your life.

2. Family

Family is very important in GOD’s eyes. Next to HIM our family should be our top priority.

Exd 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.

Commandment 5 tells us how important family is to GOD. After all, GOD is our FATHER in Heaven and the FATHER of JESUS so HE too is a parent. But even though parents are very important, the number one priority in our family is our spouse.

Mar 10:7 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,
Mar 10:8 and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one.
Mar 10:9 Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”

So in the priority of family, our spouse is number one in GOD’s eyes. As we are united with our spouse, we are made one with GOD. Just as GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON and GOD the HOLY SPIRIT are one, so is GOD, our spouse and us united as one. We may be married by a Minister or Justice of the Peace, but what ever way we are married, it is GOD that joins us together.

But if we get married and have children, now our children become the second priority in the family because they came from a unity of one with GOD.

Sorry parents, but now you have been moved to the third priority in family. Don’t feel bad, now you have grandchildren to enjoy. GOD knows what HE’s doing.

So the second priority of family has priorities of it’s own.

A. Spouse
B. Children
C. Parents
D. Rest of family

These two top priorities, GOD and family, are very important to GOD and should never be lessened in priorities and never be interchanged with each other. By this I mean, never put family ahead of GOD. Always keep GOD as your number one priority, no matter what.

3. Ministry

Ministry is also very important in GOD’s eyes. But what is ministry? I hear some say “How can I do ministry, I can’t preach”. Ministry is not about preaching, ministry is about serving. As a matter of fact, the definition of a minister is a servant. After all, isn’t that what JESUS called himself?

Mar 10:44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.
Mar 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

The KING of kings and LORD of lords did not come to be served but to serve. No matter what position we hold, we should remember that we are here to serve not to be served.

Eph 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
Eph 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

You mean we are the saints and we are to do the work of the ministry? We are all called to ministry. But again, we should not place ministry above GOD and family. If we do that, we will be going against what GOD has determined to be a perfect order.

I myself have fallen to this by placing ministry ahead of my family and GOD has revealed to me how wrong I was. I kept adding more and more to my plate as it related to ministry (serving), that it was taking away time from being with family. Remember, our spouse is one with GOD and us and should never be moved back in priorities. Children grow up and leave the nest and those early years can never be recovered. Even as adults, our children still need mom and dad. Our parents are not going to be on this earth forever and also need our attention. Don’t get caught up so much with ministry that it takes you away from your family. Ministry (serving) is for all of life including your family and not only serving in a church or a physical ministry. JESUS served people in everyday life and not only in temples. Not saying that we shouldn’t serve in churches, we should. Churches need people to step up and serve, but don’t take on so much that it takes away from ministry in your own family.

4. Work

There goes that nasty four letter word. We all have to work, whether it’s at a job that we get paid 40 hours or more a week or just working around the house. Even though work is important, as you see in GOD’s priorities, work is not ranked on top. As a matter of fact, work is talked about in the fourth commandment.

Exd 20:8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exd 20:9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
Exd 20:10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.
Exd 20:11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

A job that I used to have started giving me more and more overtime which was taking me away from my wife and things I was doing at church. I got upset one day when I was told I had to work overtime and I had somethings to do at church. I told my supervisor about my priorities being GOD, family and ministry and that work was not my top priority. This took him back a little bit and he didn’t know what to say. But when we do as GOD wants us to do, HE rewards. A couple of weeks later, my supervisor came to me and offered me a job that was straight 40 hours Monday thru Friday and to top it off, there was a raise with this job.

Yes, work is important but not as important as GOD and family or even ministry.

So now you have the top four priorities of GOD for us. If we follow these priorities in order as GOD intended, we will find our lives will be more fulfilled. When we move these priorities around is when we start having problems. Remember, GOD knows what’s best for us more than we know.

FATHER, we thank you for Your Word as we struggle through this earthly life. You love us so much that you sent Your only SON to save us. We know that you want the best for us and Your Word gives us guidance on how to do that. I pray that these words on Your priorities bring enlightment to peoples lives that they may begin to enjoy there lives as You would have them do. May our hearts continued to be focused on You and I pray that You will continue to guide us until that day that we come face to face with You and enjoy all your glory. I pray these things in JESUS worthy name. Amen

We know that in the story of Joseph, many things were done to him. He was cast in a pit, he was sold as a slave all by his own brothers.

Gen 37:28
Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.

If this wasn’t bad enough, Joseph was sold again.

Gen 37:36
Now the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.

Even when Joseph was thrown in prison, GOD was still with him.

Gen 39:20
Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison.
Gen 39:21
But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
Gen 39:22
And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing.
Gen 39:23
The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper.

Then after Joseph went through all those things without faltering in his faith, GOD rewarded Joseph.

Gen 41:39
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you.
Gen 41:40
“You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”

Had GOD deserted Joseph? I think not, for the Word says that HE will never depart from us nor forsake us.

Deu 31:8
“And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”

How can we forget Job. All the things that he went through. Even his friends were saying that he must have sinned real bad for GOD to punish him like that. But we know that wasn’t a punishment but a trial. It was also another slap in the face for Satan. Satan thought for sure that Job would curse GOD. Even Job’s wife told Job to curse GOD and die.

Job 2:9
Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!”

But Job’s response was:

Job 2:10
But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

After Job lost everything, including his children, GOD restored everything, plus more. Yes, GOD doesn’t just restore, HE adds more.

There was the story of 3 Jewish boys, Meshach, Shadrach and Abed-Nego. They were the ones that refused to bow before the gold idol that King Nebuchadnezzar decreed everyone must do.

Dan 3:14
Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up?
Dan 3:15
“Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”

What a situation. Either they bow down to this idol or be cast into a fiery furnace. But the 3 boys did not give in.

Dan 3:16
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
Dan 3:17
“If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.
Dan 3:18
“But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

I have to admire these boys. In the face of death they told the king that even if our GOD doesn’t deliver us from the fire, we will not worship your idol.

The king was enraged and had the fire in the furnace increased. So much so that the guards at the door to the furnace perished. The boys were thrown in. But to the kings amazement;

Dan 3:24
Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”
Dan 3:25
“Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”
Dan 3:26
Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire.
Dan 3:27
And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.
Dan 3:28
Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!
Dan 3:29
“Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.”
Dan 3:30
Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.

So even faced with death, these boys never stopped walking GOD’s way, and they were rewarded with even more than what they had before.

Regardless of the situations around us, they too shall pass. Love the LORD with all you heart, with all your soul, with all your mind.

Mat 22:37
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”

Let us not become as the world during adversities. We are not of this world, but of the Kingdom of GOD. Let our words and our actions reflect that, no matter what. GOD is worthy of our praise. Regardless of the circumstances, never cease to praise HIM. Even when you think there is no hope, praise HIM. I think of it this way, what it the worse that can happen to me, I die? But if that was to happen, then I would be with JESUS face to face. If I don’t die, HE will bring me through all things, so I win there too. GOD never loses and if HE is in us, we never lose either.

I will close with this Psalm;

Psa 23:1
THE LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psa 23:2
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
Psa 23:3
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Psa 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Psa 23:5
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Psa 23:6
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
Forever.

GOD bless

Most of us go to church regularly and some of us even pastor our own churches. But even so, sometimes we have to get back to the basics and go back to the instruction book, the Bible. This study is being written, not to say that any of us are doing church the wrong way, but to bring a biblical concept of what a church is and how it grows.

First of all, we need to get that idea of, “I am the Pastor and this is my church” out of our heads. If the church is yours than you do not have a biblical church. JESUS said:
Mat 16:18
“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

JESUS is the only one that can say it is His church. We are shepherds of His church. We manage His church. We take care of His church. In His church, there are no denominations and the only doctrines we follow are His. There are no Calvinists nor any Armenians. In JESUS church, there are followers of Him and nobody else. Somewhere along the line, all this got confused and we started taking on the concept that we make the rules. We started putting in different points of views and eliminating some of JESUS’ views to accommodate ourselves. We started having different denominations and different doctrines and everybody believes what they want to believe. Is it any wonder that the Church is falling apart?
So let us get back to the basics of JESUS’ church.

GETTING STARTED

Ok, what is the Biblical church?
Mat 18:20
“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

So by this verse, all we need are two or three gathering together in His name and we have church. Of course from that point, it can grow. It is a proven fact that most people prefer small, quaint churches, where Pastors know everybody and there is a bonding intimacy among the congregation, like days gone by where you invite the Pastor over for dinner. Now you have mega-churches where there are 5,000 – 10,000 – 20,000 and more people in a church. All of a sudden, the intimacy is gone. Now we start becoming more of a social club than a church. Don’t get me wrong, I am part of a church with over 4,500 members, but I also know that the Pastor of that church will tell you very quickly, that is not his church. It is JESUS’ church.

You might be saying right now, aren’t we suppose to grow? Yes, of course you are. GOD wants His Kingdom to grow. That is why JESUS said:
Mat 28:19
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mat 28:20
“teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

JESUS trained the first disciples and they trained the next and they trained the next and so on and so on. That is something we have been instructed to do. But, just like I’ve heard sometimes,
“This is my church and I will not train anybody to do what I do or they might steal my limelight.”
Know anybody like that?
“I built this church and look at how I’ve grown this church to be what it is today.”

Eph 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, Eph 2:9
not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Gal 6:14
But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

GOD is not very keen on boasting. We must understand that it isn’t about us, it’s about advancing the Kingdom. I know of someone in another country, (I cannot reveal his name nor country because of what that government might do), that shepherds over one million people in that underground church. Yes, you read that right, over one million people. Although threatened with arrest and possibly death, he still does it. Why? It surely isn’t because he can boast about how big his church is. So how can you have over one million people in a congregation and it being underground? We’ll start getting into that now.

Starting a Biblical church is not that hard. The first thing that needs to happen is for us to have a calling from GOD to be a Pastor. If we decide, on our own, to be a Pastor, I guarantee you that your church will fail. To have a successful church, it must be a calling from GOD. This holds true for any leadership position in the church.

Then as in Matthew 18:20, we have to have two or three gather together in HIS name. Now I’m sure that we all know two or three people. Gather those people and start having weekly meetings at home. It can be one day a week or as many days as you would like.

Act 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Act 2:47 Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

My, my. The LORD added to the church daily. Could this be the secret of a growing church? If we do as GOD instructs, HE will do as HE says He will do.

As you have your church meetings, identify one to two people that are leaders and that GOD has called to ministry. Begin training them and make them disciples.

2Ti 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

When they are ready, send them out to start their own home churches. They in turn will do the same as you and identify one to two leaders and train them to go out. You will not just be the Pastor of the original church, but now, you will also be the overseer of two other churches too. If you have twelve people in your church and you sent out two new Pastors and they each have twelve in their church, well now there are 36 people. Now, if the two new pastors do the same, they each will be teaching and sending out two other Pastors which now, based on twelve people in each church, you now will be overseeing 84 people. Now those four new Pastors will do the same and the count is up to 180 people. Get the idea? All these started with the original church that you started. And just because you sent out the first two doesn’t mean that you can’t send out more. Remember, JESUS started with twelve and those twelve taught others and they went out.

If we get back to the Biblical church, there is no telling how large it can grow. Look at how large Christianity has grown from just twelve. But the important thing is not to be selfish. Don’t keep people just to have numbers in your church. Send them out. Let them be reflections of you. Let them be reflections of JESUS. Don’t hinder the growth of the Church because you want all the limelight. Remember, all the glory should be going to the rightful person, JESUS CHRIST.

As the church grows, you can establish Elders to help you oversee them. You can appoint Local Elders for a small area and as the church grows, you can appoint Regional Elders too, and they will be over the Local Elders. You in turn will be over both of them.

So lets recap and see how the church that you originally started can look. From the first twelve members, you sent out two, they each sent out two, they each sent out two, etc. If this happens just six times, you will be overseeing 64 churches and 1524 members. Remember, this is just based on 12 people in each church, I’m sure the numbers will probably be greater. 1524 members, that’s greater than the majority of the churches in the US. If those 64 each sent out two to start churches, now it’s become 128 churches and 3060 members. Now you’re starting to become a mega-church.

You may be thinking that this looks good on paper, and it does. But this is exactly how the first churches started and how they grew. The Pastor that I spoke about that has over one million members, that’s how he is doing it. The local church that I go to that has over 4500 members?
We have Sunday services, but that isn’t what’s making it grow. We have over 250 cell groups that meet at least once a week. Most of your big mega-churches are doing the same thing with cell groups, (also known as small groups).

So now you know the secret of a growing Biblical church. You don’t need big expensive buildings, all you need is an open home and the vision of what the Biblical church consists of. You need to be committed and be willing to teach and send those out that are ready to follow your example. To follow the example of JESUS CHRIST. As the Biblical church grows, so does the Kingdom. As the Kingdom grows, there will be even greater glory given to GOD.

Mat 28:19
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mat 28:20
“teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen