GETTING BACK TO THE BASICS

WE NEED TO GET BACK TO THE BASICS & THE BASICS ARE AS AS EASY TO REMEMBER AS A, B, C, D, AND E

THE “A” STANDS FOR “AMEN” AMEN COMES AT THE END OF EVERY PRAYER AND PRAYER IS OUR PRIMARILY WAY OF COMMUNICATING WITH GOD.

THE “B” STANDS FOR “BIBLE” - THE BIBLE IS GOD’S PRIMARILY WAY OF COMMUNICATING WITH US.

THE “C”STANDS FOR “CHURCH” - SCRIPTURE IS CLEAR, DO NOT NEGLECT THE GATHERING OF YOURSELVES TOGETHER, AS IS THE CUSTOM OF SOME.

THE “D” STANDS FOR THE “DEFENSE” OF THE FAITH, NOW MORE THAN EVER, EACH ONE OF US NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO DEFEND THE FAITH “ONCE FOR ALL, DELIVERED TO THE SAINTS” AND FINALLY

THE “E” STANDS FOR AN A “ETERNAL” PERSPECTIVE

THE “A” AMEN - JESUS CHRIST YOU KNOW IS CALLED THE AMEN, THE FAITHFUL AND TRUE WITNESS, THE RULER OF GOD’S CREATION. AND CHRIST TAUGHT HIS APOSTLES (& US) ON HOW TO PRAY. IN Matthew 6:5–14 “5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,” CHRIST TAUGHT US TO PRAY “OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME - WHEN WE COME INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD WITH THANKSGIVING AND ADORATION, RECOGNIZING WHO HE IS - HE’S THE GOD WHO HOLDS ALL THINGS IN HIS HANDS. WE COME BEFORE HIM WITH ADORATION AND WE THANK HIM, AS WE COME INTO HIS COURTS WITH PRAISE -

NOT ONLY DO WE COME INTO HIS COURTS WITH PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING, BUT WE COME INTO HIS COURTS WITH THE PRAYER OF FAITH. THE PRAYER OF FAITH IS NOT MY WILL BE DONE, BUT THY WILL BE DONE.

WE OFTEN SEE THE IMMEDIATE CONCERN, WHILE GOD SEES THE BIG PICTURE OF OUR LIVES, THEREFORE IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE ASK GOD TO GIVE US HIS WILL AND NOT OUR OWN.

GOD NEEDS TO BE THE OBJECT OF OUR PRAYER AND PRAYER IS NOT IS NOT SO MUCH TO GET GOD TO DO OUR BIDDING, IT IS FOR US TO COME INTO CONFORMITY WITH HIS WILL AND THE ONLY WAY YOU TRULY KNOW HIS WILL IS THRU HIS WORD. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE PRAY “THY WILL BE DONE”

CHRIST ALSO TAUGHT US TO BRING OUR NEEDS OR SUPPLICATIONS BEFORE HIM, GIVE US THIS DAY , OUR DAILY BREAD, WE DON’T WANT MORE THAN WE NEED, IF WE HAVE MORE THEN WE NEED, WE TEND TO LEAN MORE HEAVILY ON OURSELVES AND LESS HEAVILY UPON GOD.

WE DON’T WANT LESS THEN WE NEED, BECAUSE THEN WE SOMEHOW WE FALL INTO THE SIN OF TRYING TO STRIVE. SO WE ASK GOD “GIVE US THIS DAY, OUR DAILY BREAD” - GIVE US WHAT WE NEED! - OFTEN WE COME TO GOD WITH OUR SUPPLICATIONS , WHICH BECOME THE SOLE PART OF WHAT WE TALK TO HIM ABOUT. WE NEED TO COME BEFORE THE LORD FIRST WITH ADORATION, PRAYING THE PRAYER OF FAITH, WE THANK HIM , WE BRING OUR SUPPLICATIONS,

BUT WE ALSO AS WE PRAY, WE NEED TO LEARN TO CONFESS OUR SINS, “ FOR HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE OUR SINS & CLEANSE US FROM ALL UN-RIGHTEOUSNESS” TONIGHT AS YOU SIT HERE, THERE IS NOT ONE SINGLE THING THAT YOU COULD HAVE DONE THAT WOULD BREAK YOUR UNION WITH GOD.

NOW IF YOU DO NOT CONFESS YOUR SINS WITH GOD, YOU BREAK COMMUNION WITH GOD. THAT IS WHY WE MUST CONFESS OUR SINS DAILY! KEEP A SHORT ACCOUNT WITH GOD

DAVID IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF A MAN WHO HAD MUCH TO CONFESS - HE COMMITTED ADULTERY, HE THEN COVERED UP HIS SIN WITH MURDER, HAVING URIAH KILLED ON THE BATTLEFRONT AND YET AFTER HIS SIN WAS EXPOSED BY THE PROPHET NATHAN, DAVID CONTRITELY CONFESSED HIS SIN AND GOD FORGAVE HIM.

NOW WE MUST NEVER CONSIDER THAT WE CAN SIN WITHOUT PUNISHMENT / DISCIPLINE BECAUSE THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN FOLLOWS US LIKE NIGHT FOLLOWS DAY. IN THE CASE OF DAVID, THE SWORD NEVER LEFT HIS HOME, HIS CHILD CONCEIVED BY BATHSHEBA, DIED - DAVID WAS BROKEN BEFORE GOD, HE CONFESSED & ASKED FOR MERCY.

IN Psalm 51:1–4

“1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.”

GOD CLEANSED DAVID AND HE CAN CLEANSE YOU. THERE’S IS NO SIN GREAT OR SMALL THAT CAN SEPARATE YOU FROM THE LOVE OF GOD. CHRIST CAME FOR SINNERS, WE MUST AS BELIEVERS, GET BACK TO THE FUNDAMENTALS OF PRAYER, YOU WANT A REAL EXPERIENCE, LEARN TO COMMUNICATE AND COMMUNE WITH THE ONE SPOKE THE UNIVERSE INTO EXISTENCE. EVERY MORNING HE WAITS FOR YOU / FOR ME, SO OFTEN WE ARE TO BUSY TO SPEND THE TIME THAT REALLY COUNTS!!!

GETTING BACK TO BASICS ALSO MEANS GETTING INTO THE WORD OF GOD - THAT IS THE “B” , THE BIBLE - WE OUGHT TO BECOME SO KNOWLEDGEABLE WHEN COMES TO HIS WORD, THAT WE CAN NEVER BE DECEIVED BY THE WINDS AND WAVES THAT COME THRU THE CHURCH. WE MUST HAVE HIS WORD INSCRIBED ON OUR HEARTS. YOU SEE EACH ONE OF US WILL FACE DIFFICULTY, AS LONG AS YOU LIVE , WE WILL FACE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS, WHEN ONE TRIAL LEAVES US, ANOTHER ONE COMES, RICH OR POOR / YOUNG OR OLD WE FACE CHALLENGES. AS A MATTER OF DEALING WITH THOSE CHALLENGES EFFECTIVELY, THE ONLY WAY WE CAN DO IT IS THRU KNOWING GOD’S WORD. WE MUST KNOW HIS WORD. OFTEN WHEN WE FACE TRIALS WITHOUT THE WORD OF GOD , WE BECOME DISCOURAGED ( BY THE WAY SATAN LOVES TO USE DISCOURAGEMENT IN THE BELIEVER’S LIFE). WE NEED THE WORD OF GOD ON OUR HEARTS, BEFORE WE FACE THE CHALLENGES , THEN WE CAN FACE THEM WITH POWER, NOT POWER FROM WITHIN, BUT POWER FROM THE LIVING LORD OF THE UNIVERSE. I LOVE WHAT SOLOMON SAYS IN Proverbs 1:20–31

“20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; 21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: 22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? 23 If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. 24 Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, 25 because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, 27 when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. 28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, 30 would have none of my counsel…”

WHAT A WARNING FOR BELIEVERS, AS WISDOM CALLS OUT FOR US TO EMBRACE HER, WE’RE OFTEN TO BUSY- INVOLVE IN ALL KINDS OF OTHER THINGS. THE REAL SOLUTION IS FOUND IN THE WORD OF GOD, WE NEED TO LEARN TO MEDITATE ON THE WORD OF GOD, TO MEMORIZE THE WORD OF GOD, TO EXAMINE THE WORD OF GOD, TO APPLY THE WORD OF GOD

WISDOM IS THE APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE, REMEMBER WHAT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST SAID IN

Matthew 7:24–27 “24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.””

WE MUST GROUND OUR LIVES ON THE WORD OF GOD - WISDOM IS THE APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE

THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE - FOOLS DESPISE WISDOM!!

3. GETTING BACK TO BASICS MEANS “CHURCH” AS WELL WHEN WE BECAME BELIEVERS - WE BECAME PART OF THE CHURCH UNIVERSAL, A CHURCH OF

ALL AGES , PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE. WE MUST BE INVOLVED IN THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE SAINTS, MIXING OUR LIVES WITH OTHERS AND SHARING OUR GIFTS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN TO EACH. SOMETIMES WE COME TO CHURCH WITH AN INWARDLY FOCUS, HOW OUR LIVES WOULD CHANGE IF THE FOCUS CHANGED FROM INWARDLY TO OUTWARD.

WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT GIFTS, WE MUST BE KNIT TOGETHER AS A FELLOWSHIP OF BELIEVERS, SO THAT WHEN THE WORLD LOOKS IN AND SAYS - SEE HOW THEY LOVE ONE ANOTHER, IT’S REAL.

THE APOSTLE PAUL GIVES US INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW WE LIVE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS, TURN TO

Romans 12:1–16 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

PAUL HERE GIVES INSTRUCTION FOR HOLY LIVING, DIFFICULT TO FOLLOW AT TIMES, BUT IF YOU WANT YOUR PROBLEMS TO GROW STRANGELY DIM, TRY MEETING THE NEEDS OF OTHERS. LETS USE ARE GIFTS AND BE KNIT TOGETHER IN THE FAITH, ONCE FOR ALL DELIVERED TO THE SAINTS !

THE CHURCH IS NOT ONLY FOR WORSHIP & FELLOWSHIP, BUT ALSO FOR EQUIPPING GOD’S PEOPLE FOR WORKS OF SERVICE, THAT THE BODY OF CHRIST MIGHT BE BUILT UP.

THIS LEADS ME TO THE “D” IN GETTING BACK TO THE BASICS, “THE DEFENSE OF THE FAITH”,

DO YOU KNOW WE LIVE IN A POST CHRISTIAN NATION. WE ARE NO LONGER A CHRISTIAN NATION. WE ARE BEING CONFORMED TO THE SECULARISM OF OUR DAY. NOWADAYS , THE CHURCH HAS FORGOTTEN IT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO BE SALT AND LIGHT - TURN TO

Matthew 5:13–15

““13 You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.”

THAT IS WHAT WE ARE CALLED TO DO AS WE DEFEND THE FAITH, GIVING REASON FOR THE HOPE THAT LIES WITHIN US. TODAY MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE IN UNIVERSALISM, MANY ROADS LEADING HOME

BUT CHRIST SAID - THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY, I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE, NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME - THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY - THAT WAY IS CHRIST

WE AS BELIEVERS NEED TO DEMONSTRATE OUR FAITH IS NOT A BLIND FAITH, BUT A FAITH FOUNDED ON FACT

WE NEED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE WERE CREATED (SOME BELIEVE THAT WE EVOLVED) AND THAT IS THE FIRST THING THAT EACH ONE OF US NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO DO SO

OVER IN Psalm 19:1–4

“1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,”

GOD CREATED THE UNIVERSE AND THERE’S PLENTY OF EVIDENCE WHICH WE CAN COMMUNICATE.

WE CAN HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT GOD, A GOD THAT DESIRES TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH US.

HARD TO IMAGINE, THAT ONE SO GREAT, SO MAGNIFICENT, THAT WHEN ISAIAH CAME INTO HIS PRESENCE, THE HOLIEST MAN OF ISRAEL, HE WAS UNDONE!! (FOR I AM RUINED! ISAIAH 6:5) GOD DESIRES FELLOWSHIP WITH US, THAT HE SENT CHRIST IN HUMAN FLESH TO LIVE AND MOVE AMONG US, TO GIVE US FELLOWSHIP FOR NOW AND ETERNITY

EVERYONE OF US NEEDS TO DEMONSTRATE THAT CHRIST ROSE FROM THE DEAD.

THE RESURRECTION IS THE SINGLE DOCTRINE THAT SEPARATES US FROM ALL OTHER PAGAN RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD. THROUGH HIS RESURRECTION, CHRIST GAVE US HOPE !, HE DEFEATED DEATH! THAT'S THE HOPE OF THE BELIEVER!, AS HE ROSE, WE TOO SHALL RISE.

WE SHALL OVERCOME DEATH AND THE GRAVE AS DID CHRIST! - THIS HOPE IS WHAT WE NEED TO SHARE TO THE UNBELIEVING WORLD

THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD, NOT THE WORD OF MEN “WE MUST BE EQUIPPED TO GIVE A DEFENSE FOR THE FAITH”

FINALLY, GETTING BACK TO BASICS MEANS HAVING A “ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE” WE NEED TO HAVE EYES THAT LOOK BEYOND TIME AND SPACE INTO ETERNITY

I LIKE WHAT SOLOMON SAID IN

Proverbs 27:24–25

“24 for riches do not last forever; and does a crown endure to all generations? 25 When the grass is gone and the new growth appears and the vegetation of the mountains is gathered,”

LIFE IS SUCH A VAPOR, WE ARE HERE FOR A FLEETING MOMENT, THEN WE ARE GONE. HOW DIFFERENT OUR LIVES WOULD BE IF WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE TEMPORAL BEINGS. THAT WE ARE HERE FOR A SHORT TIME IN OUR EARTHLY BODIES, BUT THAT WE ARE ETERNAL BEINGS - THAT WE WILL RULE WITH CHRIST THROUGHOUT ETERNITY.

REMEMBER PETER, HE WAS ONCE AFRAID OF THE SERVANT GIRL BEFORE THE RESURRECTION, BUT THEN AFTER THE RESURRECTION HE BECAME A LION OF THE FAITH - HIS FOCUS BECAME ETERNAL AND WAS NO LONGER AFRAID AND WE TOO NEED NOT TO BE AFRAID.

PETER WAS BOLD AND HE TURN THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN FOR GOD

WE TOO CAN BE LIKE PETER, IF WE HAVE AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE. WE NEED TO LEAN UPON GOD - AS DID PETER AFTER THE RESURRECTION AND NOT LEAN ON OUR FLESH, AS PETER BEFORE THE RESURRECTION.

IF ONLY WE COULD RAISE OUR SIGHTS AND RECOGNIZE THAT THE ONLY THING THAT IS IMPORTANT IS NOT THE PRAISE OF MEN, BUT THAT ONE DAY WHEN CHRIST LOOKS AT YOU & ME AND SAYS “WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT, YOU HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL OVER A FEW THINGS, I GIVE YOU MANY THINGS, ENTER NOW INTO THE “JOY OF THE LORD”

WE ARE ON ARE WAY TO ANOTHER KINGDOM AND ONE DAY WE WILL BE WITH CHRIST - DRESSED IN FINE LINEN, WHITE AND CLEAN.

WE NEED TO HEED THE WORDS OF CHRIST IN

Matthew 6:19–21 ESV

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

YOU SEE IF WE SHOOT FOR EARTH ARE LIVES WILL BE IMPOVERISHED, BUT IF WE RAISE OURS SIGHTS FOR ETERNITY, EARTH WILL BE THROWN IN THE BALANCE.

THE APOSTLE JOHN ON THE ISLAND OF PATMOS, HAD THAT ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE,

IN Revelation 22:1–7

“1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. 6 And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.” 7 “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.””

JESUS CHRIST IS COMING SOON!

IT MAY BE 20 YEARS OR 200 YEARS, NO ONE KNOWS THE DAY OR THE HOUR, BUT WE ARE ONE HEARTBEAT AWAY FROM HIS RETURN!

ASK YOURSELF, IS YOUR HOPE FIXED ON THE ETERNAL THINGS, IT WILL CHANGE EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR LIVES.

WE WERE NOT CREATED FOR THINGS BELOW, BUT TO WALK IN THE COOL OF THE DAY AS ADAM AND EVE ONCE WALKED WITH GOD!