Where Do You Think You're Going?

This Sunday was our kick-off Sunday – a Sunday with the purpose to ignite our spiritual engines, a night designed to strike a match with the hopes of starting a spiritual fire, a night to say, with the summer coming to an end, “It’s time to get busy in the church again.” This was more for motivation then conviction for those in attendance. Since arriving, I have been overwhelmed by the love, the support, and the excitement to get involved in the church events.

From the book of Ephesians we were reminded that at the instant of our salvation, God gave us a spiritual gift. What is the purpose of that spiritual gift? Service! As we begin our Church ministries we need to be looked upon as a team that is headed in one direction and has one purpose. The title of the message was “Getting the Most Out of Your Church”, and how to accomplish this is being involved in the church.

The Marks of a solid Biblical Church…
Committed to Christ
Communication with other believers
Compassion for others
Contact with the unsaved world around us
Confidence to speak the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Now, if these marks are going to be found in the church you must realize that it is our responsibility as the body of Christ to put our spiritual gifts into practice.

In the book of Ephesians, the Apostle tells the church that…
We are equipped to carry out the work of the church
We are responsible to be using our spiritual gifts

I am reminded of the young boy who was trying out for a part in the school play. His mother knew that he had set his heart on it, though she was afraid that he would not be chosen. Soon the day arrived that the parts were going to be awarded, she drove to the school to pick him up. The young boy ran to her, shining as bright as a star, and full of pride. Then he said some words that should serve as a constant reminder to all of us; “I have been chosen to clap and to cheer”. In the same way our Heavenly Father has given us special and different tasks.

When we get actively involved in the church we begin to see the results of our involvement.
The results are simply this; you promote unity in the church, you produce usefulness in the church and finally you purge uselessness in the church.

At the moment of your salvation, God gave you the power and equipped you to be involved in His service. But only when you put that gift into practice do you really become an effective member of the body of Christ. What good is it to have an arm that you do not use?

When you put your spiritual gift into practice you are enabling the church to carry on effectively. You are then sharing your spiritual gift with the church and are supplying them with what they might otherwise be lacking.

Two ninety-year old men, Moe and Sam, have been friends all their lives.It seems that Sam is dying, so Moe comes to visit him. “Sam,” says Moe, “You know how we have both loved baseball all our lives. Sam, you gotta’ do me one favor. When you go, somehow you’ve got to tell me if there’s baseball in heaven.”Sam looks up at Moe from his deathbed and says, “Moe, you’ve been my friend many years. This favor I’ll do for you.” And with that, Sam passes on.It is midnight a couple nights later. Moe is sound asleep when a distant voice calls out to him, “Moe….Moe….”“Who is it?” says Moe sitting up suddenly. “Who is it?”“Moe, it’s Sam.”“Come on. You’re not Sam. Sam died.”“I’m telling you,” insists the voice. “It’s me, Sam!”“Sam? Is that you? Where are you?”“I’m in heaven,” says Sam, “and I’ve got to tell you, I’ve got some good news and some bad news.”“Tell me the good news first,” says Moe.“The good news,” says Sam “is that there is baseball in heaven.”“Really?” says Moe, “That’s wonderful! What’s the bad news?”“You’re pitching Tuesday!”

A lot of people will get offended and label me intolerant when I declare that the only way to Heaven is through the Person of Jesus Christ. But, when it comes to pointing people to the Saviour human opinion and judgment are things that I do not care about. How sad it would be to be standing face to face with Jesus Christ, and tell him that the reason that people are going to spend eternity in Hell is because I was afraid of how people labelled or thought about me. The longer you know me the more you realize I do not have all the answers or admit to having all the answers, but his one thing that I do know beyond all doubt is that without ever experiencing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ you are headed to a place of eternal damnation called Hell.

One day, talking to His disciples, Jesus Christ said, “I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE, NO MAN COMES TO THE FATHER BUT BY ME.”

God does not care how religious you are, how much time you spend in a church, how much money you give to missions, or how much you visit the orphans - if you are counting on those things to get you to Heaven, you are still headed to an eternity separated from the very presence of God. All across the world, people are trying to give you rules, regulations, and religion, but without ever experiencing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you are going to Hell.

It is amazing that Jesus Christ did not just leave us in our sinful hearts but He came to point the way from Hell to Heaven.

Man-made ways and rules are going to lead to eternal damnation, but His way IS the way to eternal life in Heaven. There is only one way to Heaven and that is through Jesus Christ.
If you are a child of God then one day you will live for eternity in Heaven. We can only begin to imagine such a time!

Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you" (John14:2). We do not enter the next life as strangers. We are expected and prepared for. We are eagerly desired.----C.L. Allen

If you are not a child of God, the Bible says “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”. It also declares that the wages of sin is death, which is speaking of eternal separation from God. As sinners, we deserve to die and go to Hell. The Scriptures say, “God demonstrated His love toward us in that while we were sill sinners Christ died for us”. At the cross, Jesus paid the penalty for your sin.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man, comes to the Father, except through me”. He is our only hope. The ball is now in your court - you can stop reading this and walk away unchanged and still in need of a Saviour; or you can say “Yes, I need Jesus Christ.”

To receive Jesus Christ you simply need to do the following;
Admit that you are a sinner in need of a Saviour
Be willing to turn from your sins and repent
Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose again from the grave
Through prayer invite Him to be your personal Lord and Saviour

After reading this blog, the worst thing you can do is shrug it off. We have no guarantee of the next five minutes, so won’t you ask Him to be your personal Lord and Saviour today?

In and of myself, I am nothing special. I am a sinner saved by His grace. My desire is to see people grow in their spiritual lives, and if you have prayed that prayer I ask you now to contact the church so we can help you with any questions that you may have. We would love to have you join us in our worship services and walk alongside you as you grow in your new life if Christ.

This Sunday is my installation service. I am very eager to be serving this church where Jesus Christ is the solid rock on which lives, families, and this church are founded. Stay connected as we will be posting our church events on this blog for your convenience.

We have been given the privilege and opportunity to worship our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in a free country. As the Psalmist said, “Let us worship His name together”. I invite you to come and worship the Lamb of God. Every Sunday morning we meet at 10:00 to have a time of prayer, followed by our Sunday morning service, beginning at 11:00. Come worship our Saviour with us! Like never before, the words of the book of Hebrews should be on the minds and hearts of all of those who belong to Jesus Christ: “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together; as in the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see that Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24, 25.

Pastor Paul

May God richly bless your life as you continue to serve and remain faithful to Him!