The story of the birth of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ comes to us from several places in the New Testament, including Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2.
Mary was living in Nazareth, engaged to be married to a Jewish carpenter named Joseph. One night an angel came and informed her that conceive a son as a virgin by the Holy Spirit and name the child Jesus. At first Mary was afraid and asked, "How will this be?" The angel explained that the child would be God's own Son. Mary believed the angel and was pleased that she would carry the son of God as fulfillment of the prophesy of Isaiah.
While still engaged, Mary became pregnant through the Holy Spiritl. God sent an angel to Joseph in a dream to explain the plan with Mary and reassure him that their pending marriage was the will of God. When Joseph awoke from his dream, he obeyed God and took Mary as his wife.
Caesar Augustus called for a census, forcing everyone in the Roman Empire to go to their town of birth to register. Joseph, as a descendant of David, was required to take Mary to Bethlehem to register. While in Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to Jesus in a stable, wrapped Him in cloths, and placed him in a manger.
An angel appeared to the shepherds in the fields, announcing that Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ had been born in Bethlehem. They visited the young family to give praise to the newly born Messiah, and then began to spread the word throughout the neighboring towns. The three Magi from the east followed the brightest star ever seen in the sky, signifying the birth of the Savior, and brought with them gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh. Along the way, they came across King Herod and told him of the miracle birth. Herod told them that he wanted to worship the child as well, but actually began plotting the death of Jesus.
In the story of the birth of Jesus, the Creator used his almighty power to bring to life a plan to change the world - A plan that would become his greatest accomplishment - There were some ready to accept this life - To accept The Word in the form of this Creation - But there were also those who were far from ready - Those who would stop at nothing to thrwart the Creator's efforts at every turn - But as the story would play out over time the Creator's will would be done.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
David and Goliath
The story of David and Goliath, from the first book of Samuel, is a favorite of many.
The Philistine and Israelite armies faced each other in war on opposite sides of a steep valley. An armored Philistine giant named Goliath, who stood over nine feet tall, came out each day for forty days, mocking and challenging the Israelites to fight, but they were all terrified to meet his challenge.
One day a boy named David was sent to the battle front by his father to bring back news of his brothers. While there, David heard Goliath's boastful challenge and volunteered to fight him. The other Israelites tried to dissuade him, but he insisted on fighting the giant.
Dressed only in a tunic and carrying a shepherd's staff, David took only his slingshot and a pouch full of stones as a weapon against the giant. Goliath taunted him, but David called out, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied."
As Goliath approached, David slung a stone that smashed the giant's forehead, causing him to fall face-down on the ground. David then killed Goliath with his own sword and cut off his head. The Philistines saw the dead giant and fled. The Israelites pursued and conquered them.
David's faith allowed him to look at the giant from a unique perspective. Goliath was a mortal man defying God. When we are right in our cause when battling a formidable foe, God will fight for us. David took such action against Goliath, and had complete faith in God. He wished only to carry through the will of his Creator. He was obedient - willing to sacrifice everything that he had for the Lord. He knew that only the wishes of God were important - everything else shrunk to nothing in comparison.
The Philistine and Israelite armies faced each other in war on opposite sides of a steep valley. An armored Philistine giant named Goliath, who stood over nine feet tall, came out each day for forty days, mocking and challenging the Israelites to fight, but they were all terrified to meet his challenge.
One day a boy named David was sent to the battle front by his father to bring back news of his brothers. While there, David heard Goliath's boastful challenge and volunteered to fight him. The other Israelites tried to dissuade him, but he insisted on fighting the giant.
Dressed only in a tunic and carrying a shepherd's staff, David took only his slingshot and a pouch full of stones as a weapon against the giant. Goliath taunted him, but David called out, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied."
As Goliath approached, David slung a stone that smashed the giant's forehead, causing him to fall face-down on the ground. David then killed Goliath with his own sword and cut off his head. The Philistines saw the dead giant and fled. The Israelites pursued and conquered them.
David's faith allowed him to look at the giant from a unique perspective. Goliath was a mortal man defying God. When we are right in our cause when battling a formidable foe, God will fight for us. David took such action against Goliath, and had complete faith in God. He wished only to carry through the will of his Creator. He was obedient - willing to sacrifice everything that he had for the Lord. He knew that only the wishes of God were important - everything else shrunk to nothing in comparison.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Thou Shalt Not Kill
Today’s sermon is about the ultimate commandment: Thou Shalt Not Kill. The one that we are supposed to accept without reservation. Thou Shalt Not Kill. Of course not. To kill is to destroy God’s creation. To kill is to break the extreme commandment.
But then the Satin Strangler comes along . . .
If you are a Salvation Sermons member, then select READ MORE. If you are not a member, please visit our REGISTRATION PAGE to learn how you can contribute to our cause and share in the message of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
One of my first sermons as a young minister was about “coveting.” That is how far we had gotten as a God-fearing community. COVETING. But before I could catch up on coveting the wives of others, adultery was already rampant. Coveting became blasé. Why stop at coveting when you can go straight for the taking? Half of all marriages end in divorce – none of them because of coveting.
With our struggles over the nine other commandments, we rarely even turn to the big one. But today that is the topic – Thou Shalt Not Kill. The one that rears its ugly head with greater frequency and intensity everywhere we turn. The news is now filled with tales of murder – even right here in our backyard. We see it on television – we read it in the newspapers – we absorb it through the internet and download it onto our iPhones.
The Satin Strangler is the ultimate example – a woman who strangles men for her amusement. Some say she is insane – possessed by Satan himself. Others protest that she is a victim of society seeking an outlet for her suffering. I read with horror as the first news reports came out. Men were killed by this disciple of the devil – strangled and strewn asunder. Sons, brothers, and fathers. Family members and friends. MURDERED.
And how does society react? Do we rise up as one to shame this disciple of the devil? Take a look at the media’s response for your answer. You do not have to search for very long. She is everywhere – on all of our televisions, on every news stand – but as a villain? NO. The Satin Strangler is held up before us as a modern day superheroine.
Perhaps today’s sermon is too late. What should we do? First we have to look inside ourselves. We are the media consumers. We are the targets for such stories. We consume murder in mass quantities. The supply has to keep up with the demand, after all. When we turn on our televisions and browsers and podcasts, we say “yes” to what they represent. We say “yes” to the Satin Strangler – “yes” to strangling – “yes” to murder. We say “no” to the Commandments of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Have we come so far that we now say “no” even to the commandment that was once accepted without reservation? Thou Shalt Not Kill.
We have to take action as a community and say “no” to murder. Say “yes” to the Commandments. Tell yourselves. Then tell your family and friends. Then tell the world.
Readers of this article may also be interested in purchasing the following items:
t-shirt: “Say ‘Yes’ to the Commandments” – $12 plus shipping
t-shirt: “Say ‘No’ to the Satin Strangler” – $22 plus shipping
t-shirt: “No Salvation for Stranglers” – $22 plus shipping
Mouse pad: “Ask Me about Salvation Sermons” – $20 plus shipping
Mug: “Just Don’t Do It – SalvationSermons.blogspot.com” – $9 plus shipping
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This is post #24 in The Satin Strangler Blogs (TSSB).
But then the Satin Strangler comes along . . .
If you are a Salvation Sermons member, then select READ MORE. If you are not a member, please visit our REGISTRATION PAGE to learn how you can contribute to our cause and share in the message of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
One of my first sermons as a young minister was about “coveting.” That is how far we had gotten as a God-fearing community. COVETING. But before I could catch up on coveting the wives of others, adultery was already rampant. Coveting became blasé. Why stop at coveting when you can go straight for the taking? Half of all marriages end in divorce – none of them because of coveting.
With our struggles over the nine other commandments, we rarely even turn to the big one. But today that is the topic – Thou Shalt Not Kill. The one that rears its ugly head with greater frequency and intensity everywhere we turn. The news is now filled with tales of murder – even right here in our backyard. We see it on television – we read it in the newspapers – we absorb it through the internet and download it onto our iPhones.
The Satin Strangler is the ultimate example – a woman who strangles men for her amusement. Some say she is insane – possessed by Satan himself. Others protest that she is a victim of society seeking an outlet for her suffering. I read with horror as the first news reports came out. Men were killed by this disciple of the devil – strangled and strewn asunder. Sons, brothers, and fathers. Family members and friends. MURDERED.
And how does society react? Do we rise up as one to shame this disciple of the devil? Take a look at the media’s response for your answer. You do not have to search for very long. She is everywhere – on all of our televisions, on every news stand – but as a villain? NO. The Satin Strangler is held up before us as a modern day superheroine.
Perhaps today’s sermon is too late. What should we do? First we have to look inside ourselves. We are the media consumers. We are the targets for such stories. We consume murder in mass quantities. The supply has to keep up with the demand, after all. When we turn on our televisions and browsers and podcasts, we say “yes” to what they represent. We say “yes” to the Satin Strangler – “yes” to strangling – “yes” to murder. We say “no” to the Commandments of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Have we come so far that we now say “no” even to the commandment that was once accepted without reservation? Thou Shalt Not Kill.
We have to take action as a community and say “no” to murder. Say “yes” to the Commandments. Tell yourselves. Then tell your family and friends. Then tell the world.
Readers of this article may also be interested in purchasing the following items:
t-shirt: “Say ‘Yes’ to the Commandments” – $12 plus shipping
t-shirt: “Say ‘No’ to the Satin Strangler” – $22 plus shipping
t-shirt: “No Salvation for Stranglers” – $22 plus shipping
Mouse pad: “Ask Me about Salvation Sermons” – $20 plus shipping
Mug: “Just Don’t Do It – SalvationSermons.blogspot.com” – $9 plus shipping
-----
This is post #24 in The Satin Strangler Blogs (TSSB).
Start TSSB from the first blog post.
See links to all 105 posts in TSSB.
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Sunday, September 14, 2008
Samson and Delilah
Today’s bible passage is from the Book of Judges in the Old Testament.
Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your great strength.”
Samson finally conceded and told her, “If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.”
When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines, “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands. After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him.
– Judges 16
What motivated Delilah? Why did Samson agree to provide the information that would let his lover tie him up and dominate him? Today’s sermon takes us to their bedroom to find the answers.
If you are a Salvation Sermons member, then select READ MORE. If you are not a member, please visit our REGISTRATION PAGE to learn how you can contribute to our cause and share in the message of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Delilah was helping the Philistines conquer Samson. She knew that her actions would lead to his demise. Was it really for the money? Is that what Delilah wanted?
NO!
My friends, I say it was not the money at all. Delilah wanted to dominate Samson. This muscle bound mountain of a man. She wanted to feel the surge of power, the rush of excitement, from dominating him. She was a naughty girl – a dirty girl who could only achieve her goal by enticing Samson with her body.
We hear this story and wonder how Samson could be so beguiled. Was he paying attention at all? He tests her the first time – and she betrays him. He tests her two more times – and she betrays him again. By now we know she cannot be trusted. Samson must also. But when Delilah lures him in again, he finally yields. She has his head shaved, ties him up, and leaves him defenseless.
This is not only a story of the past. We see it happening again in the news today. Numerous men have been killed by the Satin Strangler. We wonder if the victims saw the danger coming. Were they like Samson? Did they see the unmistakable danger but hope that they could somehow get the prize without paying the price?
I suspect that the Satin Strangler’s victims were blinded to the danger right in front of them. I suspect that they were lured in by their own lustful desires.
We want to hear about the girl they are accusing of the murders. What is it about Destiny Blande that made the victims expose their vulnerability? This dainty girl – dainty dirty girl. So harmless in appearance – but so deadly in the end. How alluring was the promise of her body? Filthy pleasure must have blinded them – weakened them and made them vulnerable. She is today’s Delilah, and her victims are today’s Samsons.
The bible story of Samson and Delilah still tells us its message today. Giving in to the temptation of filthy pleasures will lead to demise. It will extract the strength of good, the gifts of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and leave us vulnerable to the will of Satan.
Readers of this article may also be interested in purchasing the following items:
t-shirt: “The Price of a Haircut - Judges 16” – $22 plus shipping
t-shirt: “No Salvation for Stranglers” – $22 plus shipping
Mouse pad: “Ask Me about Salvation Sermons” – $20 plus shipping
Mug: “This Cup Runneth Over” – $9 plus shipping
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This is post #14 in The Satin Strangler Blogs (TSSB).
The great hero Samson was in love with a woman named Delilah. The Philistines, Samson’s enemies, approached Delilah and offered silver in exchange for the secret of her lover’s strength. Samson lied to her three times, and each time she informed the Philistines. Delilah repeatedly prepared Samson for the Philistines’ attack, but they were no match for the hero’s prevailing strength.
Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your great strength.”
Samson finally conceded and told her, “If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.”
When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines, “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands. After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him.
– Judges 16
If you are a Salvation Sermons member, then select READ MORE. If you are not a member, please visit our REGISTRATION PAGE to learn how you can contribute to our cause and share in the message of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Delilah was helping the Philistines conquer Samson. She knew that her actions would lead to his demise. Was it really for the money? Is that what Delilah wanted?
NO!
My friends, I say it was not the money at all. Delilah wanted to dominate Samson. This muscle bound mountain of a man. She wanted to feel the surge of power, the rush of excitement, from dominating him. She was a naughty girl – a dirty girl who could only achieve her goal by enticing Samson with her body.
We hear this story and wonder how Samson could be so beguiled. Was he paying attention at all? He tests her the first time – and she betrays him. He tests her two more times – and she betrays him again. By now we know she cannot be trusted. Samson must also. But when Delilah lures him in again, he finally yields. She has his head shaved, ties him up, and leaves him defenseless.
This is not only a story of the past. We see it happening again in the news today. Numerous men have been killed by the Satin Strangler. We wonder if the victims saw the danger coming. Were they like Samson? Did they see the unmistakable danger but hope that they could somehow get the prize without paying the price?
I suspect that the Satin Strangler’s victims were blinded to the danger right in front of them. I suspect that they were lured in by their own lustful desires.
We want to hear about the girl they are accusing of the murders. What is it about Destiny Blande that made the victims expose their vulnerability? This dainty girl – dainty dirty girl. So harmless in appearance – but so deadly in the end. How alluring was the promise of her body? Filthy pleasure must have blinded them – weakened them and made them vulnerable. She is today’s Delilah, and her victims are today’s Samsons.
The bible story of Samson and Delilah still tells us its message today. Giving in to the temptation of filthy pleasures will lead to demise. It will extract the strength of good, the gifts of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and leave us vulnerable to the will of Satan.
Readers of this article may also be interested in purchasing the following items:
t-shirt: “The Price of a Haircut - Judges 16” – $22 plus shipping
t-shirt: “No Salvation for Stranglers” – $22 plus shipping
Mouse pad: “Ask Me about Salvation Sermons” – $20 plus shipping
Mug: “This Cup Runneth Over” – $9 plus shipping
-----
This is post #14 in The Satin Strangler Blogs (TSSB).
“Like” TSSB on Facebook.
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Saturday, September 6, 2008
Sowing Seeds
ABOUT SALVATION SERMONS
Thank you for coming to worship with us at Salvation Sermons, site of the weekly sermon blog. This website is dedicated to people just like you who share the values taught to us by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – values too often forgotten by our peers and family members who have lost their way from the righteous path to heaven.
Receive the messages of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ delivered to you from your extended internet family. Take the Word of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to heart. Carry them with you for they are the keys to the door of redemption. Only through heeding His call can we succeed in finding eternal salvation and enter into His kingdom.
TODAY’S SERMON: SOWING SEEDS
Today’s New Testament reading is a parable from the Scripture of Luke:
And when a great crowd came together and people from town after town came to Him, He said in a parable: "A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold."
– Luke 8
What does this mean for all of us today? What is the Word – the message at play? And how is it spreading?Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the sower in this parable, and we are the soil. He spreads the Word among us. We must be prepared for the Word. Without the Word in our hearts we will burn forever in the fiery pits of hell. But after we receive the Word, we too become the sower of seeds. It becomes our responsibility to convey the message of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to others.
What will we do with the false Word of Satan – the temptation that comes at us from all directions? Stories of sexual promiscuity. Drugs and alcohol. Poisonous song lyrics and media blitzes. Deceit and murder. We are exposed to them every second of every day. We must resist. We must not spread the false Word.
The Satin Strangler that has been in the news so much is the personification of the devil’s false Word. She lures men in. She seduces them . . .
If you are a Salvation Sermons member, then select READ MORE. If you are not a member, please visit our REGISTRATION PAGE to learn how you can contribute to our cause and share in the message of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
. . . for her filthy lustful pleasure. She offers them her body. Then she kills them. Strangles them. How many men? The count rises every day. We see the stories on television. We read about her in our newspapers and our magazines. We download news feeds and blog entries and chat room gossip about her through our computers. We receive emails and tweets on our hand held devices. The false Word of this she-devil’s work on this earth is everywhere.
How do we respond? What do we say about a woman who seduces men and then kills them? Do we put a stop to the false Word of Satan?
Picture our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ telling the parable about sowing seeds. One voice in a group of people. One voice against the wind. Imagine if He had the opportunities we have today to reach out to others.
Today the Word has so much more fire power than a single voice in the wind. Sermons such as this are accessible to everyone around the world. Every square foot of this planet. Every single day. In the form of our blogs for you to read. 100 million blog readers in these United States. 400 million around the world. All receiving the transmissions of our electronic voice. Imagine the seed you could sow through the internet alone. Imagine the strength and the reach and the power – the almighty power – of the Word.
We have the ability not just to receive the Word – not just to stand there passively – not just to wait and see if it finds us. But also the ability to speak the Word to others. To be the voice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The Word has to find its way through all the other voices out there. The cacophony of Babel. The tongues of Satan. The false Word is everywhere. Nearly 200 million blogs and feeds and tweets each day. The Word of Satan spreads like wildfire on a hot windy day. The Satin Strangler story is one of many flames in that wildfire, friends.
In Galatians we read that “whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” We must become the sowers of the Word of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, or we will become the Word of Satan.
Readers of this article may also be interested in purchasing the following items:
t-shirt: “Help Me Spread the Word” – $12 plus shipping
t-shirt: “Sow What? Let Me Tell You” – $22 plus shipping
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Mug: “This Cup Runneth Over” – $9 plus shipping
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This is post #7 in The Satin Strangler Blogs (TSSB).
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Saturday, August 2, 2008
The Battle of Jericho
The battle of Jericho featured one of the most astounding miracles in the Bible, proving that God stood with the Israelites. The story is from Joshua 1.
After the death of Moses, God chose Joshua to be the leader of the Israelites. He led them as they set out to conquer the land of Canaan.
Israelites snuck into the walled city of Jericho and stayed at the home of a prostitute names Rahab. Rahab had faith in God, and hid the spies from the king's soldiers, then helped them escape out a window and down a rope along the city wall. Rahab promised not to reveal their plans to attack the city in exchange for them sparing her family when the battle began.
God told Joshua to have the priests carry the ark of the covenant into the the Jordan River. As soon as they stepped into the river, the water parted, similar to the parting of the Red Sea for Moses, so the people could cross on dry ground.
God told Joshua to have armed men march around Jericho daily for six days. The priests carried the ark and blew trumpets, but the soldiers remained quiet. On the seventh day, they marched around the walls of Jericho seven times. At Joshua's command, the men shouted furiously, and the city walls fell down. The army rushed in and conquered the city, sparing only Rahab and her family.
Joshua often wanted to question the plans of God, his Creator, but knew to obey. Following the Lord Our Savior Jesus Christ blindly is the only way to demonstrate unconditional faith in the Creator.
After the death of Moses, God chose Joshua to be the leader of the Israelites. He led them as they set out to conquer the land of Canaan.
Israelites snuck into the walled city of Jericho and stayed at the home of a prostitute names Rahab. Rahab had faith in God, and hid the spies from the king's soldiers, then helped them escape out a window and down a rope along the city wall. Rahab promised not to reveal their plans to attack the city in exchange for them sparing her family when the battle began.
God told Joshua to have the priests carry the ark of the covenant into the the Jordan River. As soon as they stepped into the river, the water parted, similar to the parting of the Red Sea for Moses, so the people could cross on dry ground.
God told Joshua to have armed men march around Jericho daily for six days. The priests carried the ark and blew trumpets, but the soldiers remained quiet. On the seventh day, they marched around the walls of Jericho seven times. At Joshua's command, the men shouted furiously, and the city walls fell down. The army rushed in and conquered the city, sparing only Rahab and her family.
Joshua often wanted to question the plans of God, his Creator, but knew to obey. Following the Lord Our Savior Jesus Christ blindly is the only way to demonstrate unconditional faith in the Creator.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
The Ten Commandments
Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 give us the story of the Ten Commandments.
After God freed the Israelites from their bondage in Egypt, they traveled through the desert and camped in front of Mount Horeb, where God had spoken with Moses through the burning bush. God called Moses to the mountain for forty days and forty nights. He gave Moses instructions for the tabernacle and the offerings. On the final day He gave him two stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments, the highest and most holy laws of God.
While Moses was on the mountain, the Israelites had become impatient. They gave up on him and asked Moses' brother Aaron to build them an altar so they could worship. Aaron collected gold from all the people and built an idol in the shape of a calf. They held a feast, during which they bowed down to worship their new idol. When Moses returned from the mountain with the Ten Commandments, he became furious over their idol worship. He crushed the tablets to pieces at the foot of the mountain and then destroyed the golden calf by burning it.
Once the people learned from their sins, Moses chiseled two new stone tablets identical to the originals.
Similar to the Israelites who became impatient and untrusting of the Lord, so do we today stray from the guidance provided by the Ten Commandments. We sin with reckless abandon. We lie and steal and commit adultry without even second guessing our actions. Sometimes it takes actions of unparalleled righteous anger, such as Moses' crushing of the tablets, to teach the sinners their wrongdoing. When I see the sins of pornography and sexual deviance, or I see the false gains of those underserving of acclaim, I must call for such an act of righteous anger. Join me in making a statement against such wrongdoing.
After God freed the Israelites from their bondage in Egypt, they traveled through the desert and camped in front of Mount Horeb, where God had spoken with Moses through the burning bush. God called Moses to the mountain for forty days and forty nights. He gave Moses instructions for the tabernacle and the offerings. On the final day He gave him two stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments, the highest and most holy laws of God.
While Moses was on the mountain, the Israelites had become impatient. They gave up on him and asked Moses' brother Aaron to build them an altar so they could worship. Aaron collected gold from all the people and built an idol in the shape of a calf. They held a feast, during which they bowed down to worship their new idol. When Moses returned from the mountain with the Ten Commandments, he became furious over their idol worship. He crushed the tablets to pieces at the foot of the mountain and then destroyed the golden calf by burning it.
Once the people learned from their sins, Moses chiseled two new stone tablets identical to the originals.
Similar to the Israelites who became impatient and untrusting of the Lord, so do we today stray from the guidance provided by the Ten Commandments. We sin with reckless abandon. We lie and steal and commit adultry without even second guessing our actions. Sometimes it takes actions of unparalleled righteous anger, such as Moses' crushing of the tablets, to teach the sinners their wrongdoing. When I see the sins of pornography and sexual deviance, or I see the false gains of those underserving of acclaim, I must call for such an act of righteous anger. Join me in making a statement against such wrongdoing.
Friday, June 13, 2008
The Burning Bush
The story of the burning bush is from Exodus 3 and 4.
While tending sheep in Midian, Moses saw a buriing bush on Mount Horeb. The bush was on fire, but was not consumed. Moses went over to the burning bush, and the voice of God called out to him. God had seen His chosen people in Egypt, where they were being held as slaves, and had come down from heaven to rescue them. Moses would be the one to lead them to freedom.
Moses was afraid and said he was not worthy of the task. God assured Moses He would be with him. God then said, "Say to the Israelites, 'The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation." (Exodus 3:14-15)
God said that he would perform miracles to force the Pharoah of Egypt to let the enslaved Israelites free. As proof of this promise, He turned Moses' staff into a snake, and back into a staff, and ravaged his hand with leprosy, then healed it. God instructed Moses to use those signs to prove to the Hebrews that God had appeared to him.
The Creator promised Moses while speaking from the burning bush that he would be with him at all times. The Creator is always with his creation, even at times when the creation seems alone. Believing in the power of the Word will lead the creation down the proper path.
While tending sheep in Midian, Moses saw a buriing bush on Mount Horeb. The bush was on fire, but was not consumed. Moses went over to the burning bush, and the voice of God called out to him. God had seen His chosen people in Egypt, where they were being held as slaves, and had come down from heaven to rescue them. Moses would be the one to lead them to freedom.
Moses was afraid and said he was not worthy of the task. God assured Moses He would be with him. God then said, "Say to the Israelites, 'The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation." (Exodus 3:14-15)
God said that he would perform miracles to force the Pharoah of Egypt to let the enslaved Israelites free. As proof of this promise, He turned Moses' staff into a snake, and back into a staff, and ravaged his hand with leprosy, then healed it. God instructed Moses to use those signs to prove to the Hebrews that God had appeared to him.
The Creator promised Moses while speaking from the burning bush that he would be with him at all times. The Creator is always with his creation, even at times when the creation seems alone. Believing in the power of the Word will lead the creation down the proper path.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Jacob's Ladder
Genesis 28 brings us the story of Jacob, who was the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham.
Jacob stole his twin brother Esau’s birthright, his claim to inheritance and blessing, by pretending to be Esau before his ailing and blind father. As a result, Esau vowed to kill Jacob, who then fled from him.
While fleeing, Jacob was exhausted and lay down to sleep. He dreamed of the vision of a ladder between heaven and earth. Angels were ascending and descending the ladder. God stood at the top of the ladder, repeating the promise he had made to Abraham and Isaac, telling Jacob that his offspring would be many and would be blessed. When Jacob awoke, he took the stone where he had rested his head, poured oil on it, and consecrated it while making a vow to follow God for the rest of his life.
The Lord Our Savior Jesus Christ would later refer to this story from the Old Testament, referring to Himself as the ladder for men to climb from earth to heaven. He tells us, “Truly I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (John 1:51)
Jacob’s ladder is quite different from the Tower of Babel, isn’t it my friends? The Tower of Babel was a man-made structure constructed from the limited earthly parts and climbed with arrogance and defiance. In contrast, the way to the Kingdom of God is through the ladder of salvation formed by Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Jacob stole his twin brother Esau’s birthright, his claim to inheritance and blessing, by pretending to be Esau before his ailing and blind father. As a result, Esau vowed to kill Jacob, who then fled from him.
While fleeing, Jacob was exhausted and lay down to sleep. He dreamed of the vision of a ladder between heaven and earth. Angels were ascending and descending the ladder. God stood at the top of the ladder, repeating the promise he had made to Abraham and Isaac, telling Jacob that his offspring would be many and would be blessed. When Jacob awoke, he took the stone where he had rested his head, poured oil on it, and consecrated it while making a vow to follow God for the rest of his life.
The Lord Our Savior Jesus Christ would later refer to this story from the Old Testament, referring to Himself as the ladder for men to climb from earth to heaven. He tells us, “Truly I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (John 1:51)
Jacob’s ladder is quite different from the Tower of Babel, isn’t it my friends? The Tower of Babel was a man-made structure constructed from the limited earthly parts and climbed with arrogance and defiance. In contrast, the way to the Kingdom of God is through the ladder of salvation formed by Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Sodom and Gomorrah
Today’s sermon is about the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, which comes to us from Genesis 18.
God looked down and saw the wickedness taking place in these two ancient cities. He told Abraham that He was going to destroy the cities, and Abraham pleaded with Him, asking him to spare the cities if there were righteous people in them. God sent angels in to have a closer look, but they found that everyone there was depraved.
Only the relatives of Abraham, living among the sinners, were worthy of surviving, and God feared that they would be influenced by them. While the angels were staying at the home of Lot, Abraham’s nephew, rioters came to the home. The angels struck the rioters blind and then led Lot, his wife, and their daughters out of the city, telling them not to turn back. Together they fled to a village named Zoar while God rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah, destroying all of the buildings and the people left behind. While this happened, Lot’s wife turned back to see the destruction, disobeying the angels, and was turned into a pillar of salt.
This is another story used by many to prove the wrath of God, but once again the sinners brought destruction upon themselves through their evil actions. Even those, such as Lot’s wife, who are being led down the right path by the Goodness of the Lord our Savior Jesus Christ must heed the Word. We live in cesspools of evil, surrounded by lewd sexual acts and pornography and bestiality, but we must separate ourselves from such sins and follow the light along the path to heaven. Are you ready, friends? Are you ready to leave your devious sexual acts and ride with me toward the promised land?
God looked down and saw the wickedness taking place in these two ancient cities. He told Abraham that He was going to destroy the cities, and Abraham pleaded with Him, asking him to spare the cities if there were righteous people in them. God sent angels in to have a closer look, but they found that everyone there was depraved.
Only the relatives of Abraham, living among the sinners, were worthy of surviving, and God feared that they would be influenced by them. While the angels were staying at the home of Lot, Abraham’s nephew, rioters came to the home. The angels struck the rioters blind and then led Lot, his wife, and their daughters out of the city, telling them not to turn back. Together they fled to a village named Zoar while God rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah, destroying all of the buildings and the people left behind. While this happened, Lot’s wife turned back to see the destruction, disobeying the angels, and was turned into a pillar of salt.
This is another story used by many to prove the wrath of God, but once again the sinners brought destruction upon themselves through their evil actions. Even those, such as Lot’s wife, who are being led down the right path by the Goodness of the Lord our Savior Jesus Christ must heed the Word. We live in cesspools of evil, surrounded by lewd sexual acts and pornography and bestiality, but we must separate ourselves from such sins and follow the light along the path to heaven. Are you ready, friends? Are you ready to leave your devious sexual acts and ride with me toward the promised land?
Saturday, March 8, 2008
The Tower of Babel
The story of the Tower of Babel is one of my own favorites from the Old Testament. The story comes from Genesis 11.
Everything was going pretty well in this story until the people decided to build a tower in their city that could reach heaven. Imagine the insolence of man, to assume the ability to reach the height of their Creator, to encroach upon God Himself, to blur the distinction between Creator and creation. The creation must know its place. The creation must pay respect to the Creator. With this balance intact, the world is right. Without it all harmony is disrupted.
God saw the people building the tower and realized immediately that by trying to get closer to God, they were actually moving further away. In order to prevent them from working together to achieve this unholy goal, and to forever punish them for their arrogance, He caused them to begin speaking different languages. In order to further separate the people, he scattered them all over the face of the earth, never to share such plans again.
Together we must take the positive message of this story, that collaboration can achieve great heights, and learn equally from the warning that arrogance when it comes to our relationship with God will only lead to our demise. The creation must adhere to the will and submit to the power of the Creator.
Everything was going pretty well in this story until the people decided to build a tower in their city that could reach heaven. Imagine the insolence of man, to assume the ability to reach the height of their Creator, to encroach upon God Himself, to blur the distinction between Creator and creation. The creation must know its place. The creation must pay respect to the Creator. With this balance intact, the world is right. Without it all harmony is disrupted.
God saw the people building the tower and realized immediately that by trying to get closer to God, they were actually moving further away. In order to prevent them from working together to achieve this unholy goal, and to forever punish them for their arrogance, He caused them to begin speaking different languages. In order to further separate the people, he scattered them all over the face of the earth, never to share such plans again.
Together we must take the positive message of this story, that collaboration can achieve great heights, and learn equally from the warning that arrogance when it comes to our relationship with God will only lead to our demise. The creation must adhere to the will and submit to the power of the Creator.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Noah's Ark and the Flood
Today we will discuss the story of Noah’s Ark and the great flood, which comes to us from the Genesis 6.
God looked upon the earth and saw the wickedness displayed by man and decided to wipe out his most cherished creation. It is with that motive that he created the great flood. God was ready to eliminate His creation all together, but then had a change of heart. He spotted one righteous one among His flock. It was Noah who inspired God to save His creation.
With a change of heart, God told Noah to build an ark to save his family. Then He told Noah to gather a male and female of all living creatures and save them on the ark as well. Noah finished the ark just as the rain started – a rain that lasted forty days and forty nights. Other than those saved on the ark, every living creature was destroyed in the flood. Finally the rain stopped and the waters receded, allowing the ark to come to rest safely on Mount Ararat.
When Noah disembarked from the ark, he immediately built an altar and worshiped his Creator. He asked God’s forgiveness for his sins, and for the sins of all disobedient mankind. God was pleased by this act of pure obedience and promised never to destroy all living creatures again.
Imagine the fury that it must have taken for God to decide to destroy all of mankind, His greatest creation. Imagine the sinful defiance of man necessary to drive God to that decision. It is with this fury in kind that many have mistakenly spoken of the wrath of God. But who brought this decision about? Not God, my friends. It was His own creation acting out against Him. God was merely trying to destroy the disobedience. To regain control over His greatest creation.
God looked upon the earth and saw the wickedness displayed by man and decided to wipe out his most cherished creation. It is with that motive that he created the great flood. God was ready to eliminate His creation all together, but then had a change of heart. He spotted one righteous one among His flock. It was Noah who inspired God to save His creation.
With a change of heart, God told Noah to build an ark to save his family. Then He told Noah to gather a male and female of all living creatures and save them on the ark as well. Noah finished the ark just as the rain started – a rain that lasted forty days and forty nights. Other than those saved on the ark, every living creature was destroyed in the flood. Finally the rain stopped and the waters receded, allowing the ark to come to rest safely on Mount Ararat.
When Noah disembarked from the ark, he immediately built an altar and worshiped his Creator. He asked God’s forgiveness for his sins, and for the sins of all disobedient mankind. God was pleased by this act of pure obedience and promised never to destroy all living creatures again.
Imagine the fury that it must have taken for God to decide to destroy all of mankind, His greatest creation. Imagine the sinful defiance of man necessary to drive God to that decision. It is with this fury in kind that many have mistakenly spoken of the wrath of God. But who brought this decision about? Not God, my friends. It was His own creation acting out against Him. God was merely trying to destroy the disobedience. To regain control over His greatest creation.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
The Creation
Today we will be discussing the very first chapter of Genesis in the Old Testament.
The first pages of the bible establish God as the ultimate Creator. Before the Creator there was nothing but formless emptiness. Before the Creator there was nothing but darkness. But then God created the heavens and earth. His spirit moved over this expanse as He prepared the creation of all that we know today.
On the first day God created light and separated darkness from light, establishing night and day. Next came the sky, and the land and the seas, and the sun, moon, and stars. On the fifth day He created every living creature of the seas and skies and gave them the ability to multiply. On the sixth day He created the animals.
But His favorite creation of all, the one that would give Him the most joy but also disappoint Him the most in times to come, was the creation of man. For on the sixth day God also created Adam and Eve. He molded Adam from clay and blew breath into him. He created Adam in His own image, from His own essence. He gave them everything – the whole earth – to rule over, care for, and cultivate.
Man was the ultimate creation for God – the culmination of all of His efforts. Man, too, has the ability to create. We take the gifts that God has given us and turn them toward our own creations.
On the seventh day God rested. We should also take a day of rest, a day to share with our fellow believers of the Lord Our Savior Jesus Christ, and look back upon the results of our work and say “It is very good.”
The first pages of the bible establish God as the ultimate Creator. Before the Creator there was nothing but formless emptiness. Before the Creator there was nothing but darkness. But then God created the heavens and earth. His spirit moved over this expanse as He prepared the creation of all that we know today.
On the first day God created light and separated darkness from light, establishing night and day. Next came the sky, and the land and the seas, and the sun, moon, and stars. On the fifth day He created every living creature of the seas and skies and gave them the ability to multiply. On the sixth day He created the animals.
But His favorite creation of all, the one that would give Him the most joy but also disappoint Him the most in times to come, was the creation of man. For on the sixth day God also created Adam and Eve. He molded Adam from clay and blew breath into him. He created Adam in His own image, from His own essence. He gave them everything – the whole earth – to rule over, care for, and cultivate.
Man was the ultimate creation for God – the culmination of all of His efforts. Man, too, has the ability to create. We take the gifts that God has given us and turn them toward our own creations.
On the seventh day God rested. We should also take a day of rest, a day to share with our fellow believers of the Lord Our Savior Jesus Christ, and look back upon the results of our work and say “It is very good.”
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