Author: Pastor Howie

09 15 Genesis 12-15.6 After his call to a life of faith we sometimes see a faith that falters and sometimes a faith that follows.  Abram provides us with a great example of someone who learned from his lessons and grew in his faith.  Along the way we see how God provided for him as he walked by faith.  God kept His promises with Abram and will keep His promises with us.  A walk of faith is always into the unknown in order to learn complete trust and dependence on God.  God’s promises were conditioned on Abram’s obedience, for faith and obedience always go together.  From Abram’s initial call to faith, we see a crisis of faith but in the end there is a change in his faith.  Journey with him into a life of faith for as Hebrews 11:6 says, “without faith it is impossible to please God.”

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Mr. Don Freeze spoke on Jeremiah’s call from Jeremiah 29 and the challenge that when it comes to God’s provisions, God has a plan for us.  (Only audio is available for this message)

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09 01 II Kings 4.1-7 What is your faith measured by?  If you were told to go and get as many empty jars as possible from your friends, how many would you get?  This widow and her sons demonstrate God’s provision through something she already had – a little oil.  What a great reminder to us that God knows all about our need, He intimately cares about us and He has a plan for us.  She not only had to have faith that God would provide for a debt beyond her ability to repay, but she was also required to do something in obedience.   God not only met her need, He gave her more than she expected.  What are you facing today that requires more faith and obedience from you?

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08 18 Revelation 2-3 The conclusion to our series on the seven churches of Revelation is a reminder that we are overcomers.  We are overcomers through faith and have rewards that await us in heaven.  While we wait we can be overcomers here and now.  Scripture provides some keys.

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08 11 Revelation 3.14-22 Laodicea is the church that thought it was okay.  It had everything money could buy.  Their affluence pushed Christ out and they nauseated Him.  Yet His words offer hope to even this type of church or person – there is still hope if they repent.  Have you replaced God with things that have caused you to neglect Christ?  Christ is patiently knocking, waing, wanting to have an intimate relationship with you, but it won’t happen if you continue to put other things before Him.

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08 04 Revelation 3.7-13 How would you like to attend a perfect church?  There really aren’t any, but the church in Philadelphai must have been pretty close.  Christ found nothing that He wanted to condemn them for but He had a number of things to commend them about.  It encourages us to keep working toward Christlikeness in our character.  Jesus says to hold on and there are wonderful rewards that await, rewards that reflect His ownership of us.  I can’t wait.

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07 28 Revelation 3.1-6 Sardis was a decaying city with a church that was decaying as well.  Oh, the church appeared to be vibrant and community minded.  It was a THE church to attend.  Yet, Jesus, the all-seeing judge looked on their heart and saw only a facade, a beautiful shell that was really dead on the inside.  It gave all the appearance of a church that was alive, but it was just going through the motions.  Are we truly alive or do we just give the impression of being alive?  Discover in this passage what it takes to become an overcomer and the blessings received from Jesus Himself.

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07 21 Revelation 2.18-29 The smallest city receives the longest letter from Christ.  What He has to same to them should at the same time encourage us and challenge.  It should encourage us to practice the godly qualities they were noted for and to consider whether our efforts are greater now than when we first entered this spiritual journey.  Christ’s words should also encourage us to hold fast to our faith and doctrine.  It should challenge us to ensure that we do not allow the spirit of Jezebel to come in and deceive us by accepting doctrine contrary to God’s Word just to fit in to culture.

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07 14 Revelation 2.12-17 Pergamum is the church that compromised.  It had stood tall during persecution, even when one of their own had been martyred, yet they tolerated sin within the assembly.  They allowed worldliness and idolatrous practices to enter and continue without dealing with it.  Jesus had a word of condemnation, yet He also offered forgiveness through repentance.  It’s all too prevelant in the American church.  Have we allowed idolatry and immorality to slip in either in the church or in our individual lives?  Jesus calls us to repent.

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07 07 Revelation 2.8-11 – Smyrna, a wealthy city, yet the Christians there were poor.  They were poor from persecution, yet Christ says they were rich.  They may not have had the material pleasures of earth, but they would receive the eternal pleasures of heaven.  They were experiencing persecution for their faith and Christ encourages them not to be afraid, but to be faithful.  They are comforting words to us for when we may encounter persecution for our faith that in the end we will not experience the second death, but instead be given the crown of eternal life.  The city that produced the fragrant spice myrrh, was also producing a the gragrant aroma of godly Christians who were being pressed by persecution, that aroma was pleasing to the Lord.

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