April 15 Seven Powerful Words that Will Change Your Life Romans 1:16
** Please Pray for the Nation of Israel! Hatred is STILL a part of the reality of their existence. **
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Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” (Romans 1:16)
There is a story told, of a lady that was out hitting all the local yard sales, when she came across an old needlepoint picture that read, “PRAYER CHANGES LIVES.” She purchased it, took it home and began to look for just the appropriate place to hang the new picture message. Finally, she decided that it went well in the dining room over the dining room table. With great pride she admired her garage sale discovery and could hardly wait to show it to her husband. That evening when her husband arrived home from work, she proudly showed the picture to him, but he made no indication one way or the other of his likes or dislikes of this new addition to their dining room. The nest day as the lady was cleaning the house, she discovered that the new picture was gone. As she continued to clean the house, she discovered the picture behind the bookcase. She thought, “That’s strange,” and re-hung the picture in its original location. The next day, to her dismay, she discovers the picture gone again and again she discovers it behind the bookcase. When the husband arrives home, she confronts him and asks him if he is displeased with the art of the needlepoint, to which he responds, “No, not at all, it is aa great work of art.” She continues, “Is it the place? Do you not like the place it is hung?” He says, “No, not at all, it is in a great location.” She concludes that it must be the message and asks him if it’s the message that he doesn’t like. He says, “No, not at all, the message is great.” Finally, she says, “then what’s the problem?” He says, "I JUST DON’T LIKE CHANGE!” I believe that the story reveals more of a truth about us all than we might be willing to admit! The reality is, you cannot become or be a Christian without CHANGE! From the moment that we accept the Grace of God through Jesus Christ, we begin a beautiful process of change – we become New Creatures in Christ Jesus! The Good News is that it is Christ that gives us the ability to change! We are HIS Workmanship, HIS Creation, Created for HIS Purpose! This morning, I want to share with you an avenue of change! Simply said, I want to share with you Seven Words that will Change Your Life! They are in our scripture passage for this morning! They are found in Romans 1:16. Did you see them? The Seven Words are: “I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL!” Our World is rapidly becoming so Evil and the Anti-God, anti-Christian attitudes and actions are growing every single day! If we are to survive, and thrive, we must have the Mindset and Commitment and the Determination to Represent Christ in EVERY Area of our Lives! Just so that we know, it is impossible to please God with a personal belief in God, that is practiced only when convenient and a public, political belief that is contrary to God’s Holy Word! We MUST be Consistent, and We MUST be Surrendered, and We MUST be the Same in Private as We are in Public! “Surely your sins will find you out,” Mama used to tell me, and she was so correct! Our Goal, Our Desire, Our Vision, Our Lives MUST be Focused on Serving God, Through HIS Son, Jesus Christ, and the indwelling of the Blessed Holy Spirit, and being BOLD in Our Witness and to be STRONG in our Proclamation of His GOOD NEWS to this Evil and Depraved World. The Apostle Paul declared that He was “NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL!” How about you? Does Your Life, every aspect of it, reflect the attitude of total commitment? Do your public actions and thoughts match your private thoughts? Are you consistent in your public and private actions? Are you 20% or 50% or fluctuate between 15% and 70%, depending on the circumstances? WE MUST BE 100% SOLD OUT, COMMITTED TO GOD, AND THAT HAPPENS WHEN WE HAVE THE ATTITUDE AND CONVICTION OF… “I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL!” It is up to you …Stay Strong, Stay Focused … Remember, THE BEST IS YET TO BE!