Easter Poster

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Jesus as...

Jesus as Priest represents man before God.
Jesus as Prophet represents God before man.

Jesus as man brings compassion, He can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities.
Jesus as God brings power, power to fix the brokenness!

Jesus as servant washed the disciple’s feet teaching us humility...

Jesus as King says all power is given unto me! Showing us authority.

Jesus as man hungered...

Jesus as God fed five thousand!


Jesus as Preacher said Repent!

Jesus as Savior made a way for us to repent!

Jesus as Lamb was killed for us...

Jesus as Lion will return to rule and reign!

Jesus as Son of Mary submitted Himself to His Parents...Jesus as Son of God submitted Himself to the Father and the death of the cross.

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The Faith Of A Friend

(Luk 5:20)  And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

Intro:  There was a sister in Hawaii whose baby got sick, listless, not even crying, but the mother realized something was seriously wrong and took the baby to the hospital.  The baby was so dehydrated, so sick, it couldn’t even cry.  Its whole life was bound up in the mother noticing the needs of that baby.  The baby was completely dependant on someone else’s compassion!

There are times in our life when we are so down, that we need someone else to help us up.  We are so wounded, so sick spiritually, so messed up in our brains that we can’t think straight, we become almost completely dependent upon someone else noticing our need and bringing us to God!

This was the case of the man in the story of the good Samaritan

a.       He came across some people who had the wrong attitude.

                                                               i.      The thieves said “What is your is mine and I am going to take it.”

                                                             ii.      The priest and the levite said “what’s mine is mine and I am am going to keep it!”

                                                            iii.      The Samaritan said “What is mine is yours and I am going to share it!”

b.      He had Compassion!

c.       If He would not have cared, that man would have died!

d.      He didn’t have an attitude that said

                                                               i.      “good enough for him, he was probably doing something wrong anyhow!” 

                                                             ii.      “If he wouldn’t be hanging around the wrong crowds he wouldn’t get into that mess.”

                                                            iii.      He believed this man is worth it.  He is worth Helping!

                                                           iv.      All men are worth helping!

                                                             v.      Who are we to determine that some just aren’t worth the time?

e.      A church is a hospital

                                                               i.      A hospital is not about the doctors and the nurses and the medical techs

                                                             ii.      The hospital is about the patients!

f.        He had to believe!

                                                               i.      If I can just get him to  a safe place

1.       Church ought to be a safe place

2.       Children ought not to fear other children

3.       Adults ought not to fear what others say etc..

                                                             ii.      A Place where he can be fed

                                                            iii.      A place where he can be nursed to health

                                                           iv.      A place where he can find rest (NOT Turmoil!)

                                                             v.      A place where he can be loved!

g.       He Risked!

Four friends who brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus

h.      In all of the gospel accounts it said Jesus saw THEIR faith.

i.         Sometimes God responds to the faith of our friends!!!

j.        Sometimes a broken body can lead to a handicapped faith

k.       A sickness can lead to a diseased attitude

l.         If the man wouldn’t believe, the friends would!

m.    If we can just get him to Jesus, Jesus can make a difference in his life!

                                                               i.      Interesting to note, the first thing Jesus did was forgive his sins.  Maybe that sin was one of the causes of his low or little faith

                                                             ii.      A broken body and a broken faith

                                                            iii.      We believe enough to stir up  the normal

                                                           iv.      To sacrifice our time

                                                             v.      Our pride, to take a risk to bring someone to Jesus!

Jesus Tells Peter

n.      I have prayed for you that your faith fail not

o.      Peter was still shaken

p.      Fear took hold

q.      He denied once, twice, three times

r.        The courage he once boasted of was gone

s.       He went out and wept bitterly

t.        But as he cried, maybe he remembered those words

u.      I have prayed for you!

v.        (Pro 27:10)  Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.

He was shaken but not taken!!!

Application:  We can’t stop believing that bringing someone to Jesus can change them.

We need to pray one for another when we have compassion and see the needs of one another.

Conclusion: Loved to Life!; (From Reader’s Digest) The two twins born…As her first baby, a little boy, was born, Ogg caught a glimpse of a floppy, white body. Was that what a preemie should look like? She had no idea. As the team rushed to insert a tube into his lungs, Ogg delivered her second baby, whom they would name Emily. The little girl let out a cry, and for the first time, Ogg realized something might be wrong with the silent boy they’d planned to call Jamie.

The staff worked frantically on Jamie, but he never drew a breath. Finally, one of the doctors turned to Ogg. “We’ve lost him.”

As they handed Kate her baby, she noticed him gasp as if trying to breathe. “It’s just a brain stem reflex,” the doctor told her before leaving the couple to mourn in private. Kate gently unwrapped the blanket that surrounded Jamie and placed his fragile body on the warm skin of her chest. She wanted to get to know him. His future had been snatched from her, and she ached to get him back. For a while, she sobbed. Suddenly, Ogg thought she felt Jamie startle. She looked down and saw his chest move.

“I think he might actually make it,” she said excitedly to David. Again they were told it was a reflex. Then the newborn opened his eyes and seemed to grab for his father’s finger. David hurried to find a doctor, who explained that they weren’t seeing what they thought they were. “But look!” said Ogg, who had moistened her finger with colostrum from her breast. “He’s licking my finger.”

Quickly, the doctor listened to the baby’s chest. By now, Jamie’s lungs were inflated, he was breathing unaided, and he had regained full color. The medical team rushed Jamie to intensive care.

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The Road To Bethlehem Part 5 "Salvation!"

(Mat 1:21)  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Luk 2:10  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

Luk 2:13  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Luk 2:14  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Luk 2:15  And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

Luk 2:16  And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

Luk 2:17  And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

Luk 2:18  And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

Luk 2:19  But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

Luk 2:20  And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Intro:  We began this series talking about the great joy the angels had announced at His coming…

Today, as we finish the series, we find we are not disappointed!  It seems that almost everyone in the bible account is rejoicing.

The angels rejoiced and sang

The shepherds

The Wisemen

Mat 2:10  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

I.                   Why were the Angels rejoicing?

a.       This wasn’t about them! 

b.      They had seen the havoc the devil and sin had brought upon mankind

c.       They knew how satan wanted to steal kill and destroy man

d.      They saw how he had lifted himself up and tried to overthrow God

e.       They knew that what God started, He is always able to finish

f.       To God begun, is as good as done…!!!

g.      (Php 1:6)  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

h.      If you started serving God, you can finish by His grace and His help. 

i.        They knew the truth that Nahum had said

j.        (Nah 1:3)  The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

k.      Like Elijah praying, when he saw the cloud as a man’s hand, He knew He was on the way!

II.                Why The Shepherds?

a.       Usually when you send out birth announcement of a king you send them to the heads of state, silver engraved announcements to dignitaries

b.      But God announces the birth of His Son, not to dignitaries, but shepherds.

c.       He did send out a star !!!

                                                              i.      To them that look for Him shall He appear!

                                                            ii.      It is still the same today. 

1.      He is here

2.      He is coming

d.      Why?  Maybe because God wanted the shepherds, the ordinary everyday man to know that this is good news for them.  They can be forgiven! They are not forgotten about.

                                                              i.      Sometimes that is how we feel, especially around the holidays

                                                            ii.      Did someone forget you?  NOT GOD!

e.       What did they think when they came in contact with Jesus?

                                                              i.      Questions…I am sure…

                                                            ii.      A king…but in a stable?  A feeding trough for animals? The Savior?  God still confounds the wisdom of the wise.  Sometimes the power of God is in the little crowd, not the big multitude but the faithful few!

III.             Herod….He Got Mad, Not Glad

a.       Wisemen announced the coming of Christ

b.      Where is He that is born king of the Jews?

                                                              i.      Herod inquired and this is what he found out

                                                            ii.      (Mat 2:6)  And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

                                                          iii.      Herod didn’t want to give up the leadership, the rulership of the kingdom.

                                                          iv.      Christ is never Co-regent of your life!

                                                            v.      He is never co ruler…He is Lord of All or Not Lord at all

                                                          vi.      Same today…many come in contact with Christ, what should be joyful announcement is a terror to them.

                                                        vii.      They see it as a threat to them and losing control of their life

                                                      viii.      They get mad that someone would tell them what to do and what they have to give up etc and therefore never experience the joy that God intended for them to have!

                                                          ix.      If you love me…Obey my commandments

IV.             Wisemen

a.       They came looking for the king

b.      They came ready to worship

c.       They came ready to give (offer)

d.      They weren’t put off by the humble surroundings!

e.       We have got to meet the king

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The Road To Bethlehem Part 1 "Recovery"

Luk 2:15

(15)    And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

Intro to Series:  Thanksgiving anticipation and then 30 minutes of eating, and then the next 30 days trying to get it off our body!  Anticipation…We are leading up to the celebration of the birth of our Savior.  When the day comes and the presents are opened and the food is eaten and the family is called or hugged, we want there to be something more left over then just torn wrapping paper, empty boxes and broken toys.  That is why we are taking these five weeks and focusing on just what Christ’s coming means to us.  So there will be more meaning, more substance in our celebration.

The angels announced His coming, telling us that they brought good tidings of great joy to all people.  Presents under a tree, grandma’s ham, sis Martha’s sweet potato pie, may all be good, but not sufficient to announce GREAT Joy to all people. So why is there such a celebration?  Let’s see.

We start today with Recovery, regaining the things that we lost when man sinned.

Intro: Mike Webster… http://bit.ly/sHgKAX

Kmart…(Filed bankruptcy)

Circuit City…( Filed bankruptcy)

America…(Dire financial straits)

How? We all say: "If it were me, it would never happen like that!"
If I had the money, or if I was the politician, or if I was the businessman, things would have been different.
It is the same attitude people have today!

Then the finger pointing begins

            The democrats say the republicans are too greedy, they don’t care about the poor people.

            The republicans say the democrats are too entitled, giving away money to folks who won’t work.

            The independents are ready to cast stones at both sides.

Fingers are pointing

Blame is being fixed on others

No one takes responsibility for the problem and does something about it.

Mature people want to do something about the problem, others just want to point to the problem and complain about it.

The problem is a discipline problem

We want what we want and we don’t want to wait for it, so we reach into the future and put it on credit…we refuse to wait,  we refuse to discipline ourselves and when the train wreck hits us, we point to the government, the preacher, the church, the boss, and even God to blame.

But there is something we usually don’t do.

We don’t say “I’m sorry,”  I am to blame, I did it.

I.                   Garden of Eden..

a.       God told man

b.      Eve wasn’t born yet

                                                              i.      Men we have to do a better job of leading our families and reinforcing the truths we know are necessary.  Otherwise, the rappers, the gossipers, the talk show hosts will have a stronger hold on your family then you do!

c.       They lost the garden

                                                              i.      They lost the beauty

                                                            ii.      They lost the ease

                                                          iii.      They lost eternal life

                                                          iv.      They lost peace

                                                            v.      They lost divine health

                                                          vi.      They lost their joy

                                                        vii.      They lost their freedom

                                                       viii.      But the one thing that was most important was they lost their relationship with God!

d.      God comes down and the finger pointing begins

                                                              i.      Adams says Eve made me do it

                                                            ii.      Eve says the serpent made me do it

                                                          iii.      Serpent doesn’t have any fingers so he can point to anyone else.

                                                          iv.      One thing Adam never says though

                                                            v.      I am sorry.

                                                          vi.      What would have happened if he would have claimed responsibility for his sin and just confessed?

                                                        vii.      Before there can be a recovery, there must be a discovery

                                                      viii.      I am the culprit

e.       We have been given a story to tell

                                                              i.      Sometimes we make it up ourselves

                                                            ii.      Sometimes our parents gave it to us

                                                          iii.      The doctor

                                                          iv.      It usually starts with “If it wasn’t for….” And ends with “ I never would have done….”

                                                            v.      The problem with this is, it never delivers us from the guilt.

                                                          vi.      Excuses can’t be forgiven.

                                                        vii.      The story may help us get away with it but it can’t help us get over it!

                                                      viii.      Everytime we feel the shame, we start telling our story.

                                                          ix.      You never recover, blaming!

II.                The problem with finger pointing

a.       Luk 6:41-42

b.      (41)  And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

c.       (42)  Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.

d.      When you see something that really bothers you in someone else, we need to take a good long look at ourselves first.

e.       How do we know if we have a beam?  If we are consumed with the speck in someone else’s eye!

f.       NOTE Beholdest not….You don’t know you have it!

g.      Like greed…the assumption that everything that is given to us is for our consumption.

h.      The more we have, statistically, the less we give, as a percentage.

i.        We spend 98% of what we get on ourselves.

III.             What Jesus Did

a.       He owned the sin

b.      In the OT it was always Thou Shalt

c.       In the NT He says I Will…!!!

d.      When God laid on Jesus the sin of all mankind, in effect, He owned it, took the penalty, didn’t make excuses for it, but suffered for us, in our place.

e.       We don’t hear Him saying, but I didn’t do it!  There were extenuating circumstances!  He bowed His head and died, and then went to hell to pay for our sins.

f.       So when we look ahead to Christmas, and hear the prophecy saying His name shall be Immanuel, meaning God with us!  We can shout!  Christmas has a meaning, because we know, His coming means, we recover what we lost, the most important thing, our relationship with God.

g.      I am His son.  He is my God.

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28th Anniversary Photo

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Why Did Joseph Weep?

The story of Joseph is a moving reminder of God's love.  He went from favored son and hated brother, to successful slave, prime prisoner, to prime minister!

There is one particularly poignant portion. Joseph had been in Egypt over 20 years and his brethren came to buy food.  They didn't realize that this hard "Egyptian" leader was actually their brother.  When Joseph mentions "I fear God" it seems to jog their conscience.  Their dirty deed of 20 years ago comes bubbling up from their guilty consciences.  They had ignored the pitiful (pit-full :-) ) cries of their brother and sold him into slavery.  As they are conversing among themselves, Reuben says

(Gen 42:22) And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.

Through the years, I imagine that Joseph lamented the fact that ALL of his brethren had so turned against him and that no one had cared about him.  Now, as he hears Reuben, he understands that at least one had cared and tried to help him!  He is overcome with emotion and leaves their presence to weep.

Knowing that someone cares is a powerful incentive to continue on in our journey for God.

Yet even if you feel you are all alone, we are never alone. He will never leave us nor forsake us.

(Exo 34:5) And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.

God will stand with us, if we stand for Him! Follow @ddevonshire

27 Year Church Anniversary

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A Mother's Love

I was reading some Mother's day sermons and came across this illustration:

The story is told - out of WW 2 & the holocaust that took the lives of millions of people - of Solomon Rosenberg & his family. It is a true story.

Solomon Rosenberg & his wife & their 2 sons & his mother & father were arrested & placed in a Nazi concentration camp. It was a labor camp, & the rules were simple. "As long as you can do your work, you are permitted to live. When you become too weak to do your work, then you are exterminated."

Rosenberg watched his mother & father marched off to their deaths, & he knew that next would be his youngest son, David, because David had always been a frail child.

Every evening Rosenberg came back into the barracks after his hours of labor & searched for the faces of his family. When he found them they would huddle together, embrace one another, & thank God for another day of life.

One day Rosenberg came back & didn’t see those familiar faces. He finally discovered his oldest son, Joshua, in a corner, huddled, weeping, & praying. He said, "Josh, tell me it’s not true." Joshua turned & said, "It is true, poppa. Today David was not strong enough to do his work. So they came for him."

"But where is your mother?" asked Mr. Rosenberg. "Oh poppa," he said, "When they came for David, he was afraid & he cried. Momma said, `There is nothing to be afraid of, David,’ & she took his hand & went with him."

That is motherhood. Mothers, this is your day. May God bless you in it. And I pray that if there is someone here who has never experienced the love of God that is so close to the love of a mother, that this will be your time of decision.

I pray that if you have felt that you have had to walk through that valley alone so many times, that you will recognize that there is a hand reaching out to you, saying, "There is nothing to be afraid of. I’ll go with you." Follow @ddevonshire

Him? or His help?

I heard a man recently who was remarking about America directly after 9/11/01.  He said when America came together to pray after the horrible tragedy, you could find many who prayed for God's help, but no one praying for Him.

I think we can see the same today when many are concerned about getting His blessings, but not Him.  I have often heard the scripture quoted: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you."  Usually when I heard someone saying that, they are focusing on the second part....all these things shall be added unto you, and not the first part, seeking the kingdom of God and seeking Him.  He is a far better blessing then anything material.  He is not a means to an end, nor the  requirement before you get the goods, He is the center of life, in His presence is fullness of joy!

His presence in itself is a blessing!  He satisfies!

(Psa 73:25) Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. Follow @ddevonshire

What God is doing? or Who He is?

Oswald Chambers, was the author of "My Utmost For His Highest". Once, when his wife had asked  him "I wonder what God is doing?" he answered her:  "I don't care what God is doing, I am more concerned about who He is."  His wife understood his tender heart and that this was not meant to be a callous reply, but rather sometimes God's actions can be confusing, while the Lord Himself, never was.
(From the book "Abandoned to God")

Yes! much better to know Him, and to know He is unchangeable, then to try to understand with our finite minds the actions of God born out of  His infinite one.  His ways are higher than our ways, His thoughts higher than ours. Follow @ddevonshire

To Whom Belongest Thou?

The Amalekites had invaded Ziklag.  The families of David and his soldiers had been taken captive.  David and his army were pursuing them and came across a young man.  David asks the question "To whom belongest thou?"  The young man answered that he was an Egyptian and was a servant to one of the Amalekites, but had gotten sick and they had left him behind. There are thousands of soldiers and servants, what is just one?  He is sick now, he can't help us, just leave him behind.

Sounds just like the world and the devil's crowd!

When you get to the place that you are no good to them they leave you behind.  When the lights are bright and the music is playing, when the glow of youth is on your cheek, and your wallet is full then everything is fine.  But when you can't offer them anything, when you have a problem, when you are sick, or become a burden to them, then they leave you behind. They will forsake you.  Sooner or later, the devil and his crowd will forsake their weak.  They have no compassion, no mercy, no time for a wounded one. Their question is always "What have you done for me recently?"

Jesus and His people are always seeking the wounded, the sick, the forgotten, so that He may restore them.  Revive them.  Reconcile them.  There are no throw aways with God.

"The Lord doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds."—Ps. 147:2,3.

Clyde Box shared: During the Vietnam War, a certain nurse was the subject of much discussion. After a battle she would wander away from the medical camp onto the battlefield itself. Sometimes she would personally drag in a soldier who was in desperate need of medical attention. More than once she was reprimanded by the doctors. They told her she had no business on the battlefield. Not only that, she brought in Viet Cong soldiers along with the Americans. One day after a big battle an officer saw her on the battlefield amid all the suffering and dying and death. He began to rebuke her: "What are you doing on that battlefield?" She said without hesitation, "I’m looking for the wounded. That’s what I am here for."

And that is what we are here for...

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