Exalting Christ
Our gracious father how thankful we are that we can come and worship you for you are the mighty one the one that loves and cares for those who call upon your name and then we do so this morning we cry out to you as The God Who is the guy than light to our lives? So bless us in our time of worship that we would honor you in Jesus name. Amen. We will glorify the king of kings and then we'll sing. This is the day
We will glorify the king of kings.
murder hobo remove battery from Chevy Impala Is Lord & Taylor in Lord, Evan, Hansen?
Play Dru Hill.
Hallelujah, hallelujah.
Okay, I don't know what was up there. But let's do that last part again Hallelujah to the king of King and then go on into this is the day. Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.
This is the day the Lord has made that the Lord has made. I will rejoice I will rejoice and be glad.
Play the days of the Lord has made one more time, but that's kind of what we call. So this time we're going to do it and I want this place to start with this is the date and then decide be to Echo. This is the day, okay.
everybody
Nice, and I love to hear those younger voices joining in.
Sounding good and strong today, praise. The Lord are reading this morning is taken from Matthew chapter 5 verses 14 to 16.
Says you are the light of the world a town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl instead. They put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house in the same way. Let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your father in Heaven. That's a responsibility that you and I are as Believers in Jesus Christ have that are like needs to shine before the world. Couple of the prayer requests before we go to prayer Cambria is not going to be here today, which reminds me super Church unless somebody is volunteering to take it. She normally would handle that so super church will stay in the auditorium today, but we need to pray for the sick child. And then she has a nephew named Tatum who is in the hospital in Portland. He has a bacterial infection and an abscess in the spine created by an abscess in the spine and the doctors are uncertain how to really approach this because it's in a very sensitive area. And so we need to pray for that young man. He's eight years old and going through those problems. So let's go to prayer.
Are Grace's Father in Heaven how thankful we are that we have you as our guide in our strength for your the mighty one and you know, all things and all things are in your hands including each of the items that we pray for. Father we pray that you would be with the people of our community. We want to remember their lives and that each and every one of us have a need for a relationship with the Living God and Father. There are many in our community that do not have that relationship that are not seeking after you and yet father you have called us to be a witness and a testimony to your Grace & Mercy to be light to our community and so may you help us to be so and that that light would truly influence people to be brought before you and to seek you and know you as Lord and savior of their logs. We do want to also remember that the needs of those who? Are struggling through illnesses and we think of cambria's daughter and we pray for your healing on her life that you would be with her and strengthen her. We also pray for Tatum as he is going through this process. We know that you are the great healer in that no matter what the doctors choose to do. It's your hand is in that situation and we pray that you would touch that young man and that you would heal him. May your life touch the lives of those who are involved in all of this as well. Father we know that there are many unspoken request that are lifted up to you even today and we pray for those requests that your spirit would be there to give comfort and peace and guidance in the circumstances of the lives that are represented and we pray that your blessing would be there. And now father is we continue on in this service. May you be our guide and our strength and may we honor you with our voices and worship and it with our hearts as we praise you in Jesus name. Amen. All right, what we thought we try a new song today. So if you get the hang of it, please join in.
I am not skilled to understand.
What God has willed what God is playing?
I only do it is right.
Stands one who is my savior? I take him at his word and his salary.
and in my heart
Add ham to be my Saviour Mendham for sale.
You count it strange to lost it before I do my savior loves me.
Please go to the bus baby yesterday evening and let me do my string buy salt is from Denham Springs. Where do you live to be my king?
What day I do be my savior man? Who died?
My God, he was my God is my God my God. He's always going to be my God. He's always going to be
He is jealous for me loves like a hurricane. I am a tree. Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
All of a sudden I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed.
Beautiful you are and how sprayed your factions off for me. Oh How He Loves Us
Oh How He Loves Us Oh How He Loves Us
He is jealous for me. Love's like a hurricane. I am a tree bending beneath the weight of his wind all of a sudden. I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory and beautiful you are and how great your affections out for me. Let me go He loves us so. Oh How He Loves Us How He Loves Us or
Yeah, he loves us Oh How He Loves Us. Oh How He Loves Us Oh How He Loves
Alright. Well, let's say I have a word of prayer. We're going to take a look at the word today and we're going to be looking at the light. So let's pray and ask God rich blessing on our time together our gracious Father in Heaven how we thank you that we can come before you the mighty one who is above all things for your the great Creator God the one who carries Our Lives the one who gives us the strength and energy to live life in your power and your mic and so we pray that it being our life and our strength you would be here in Mighty power. May your spirit be touching each heart your this day moving our hearts to draw near to you. And father if there is one who does not know you we pray that they would come to know you this day pray that your spirit would be upon me that as I open my mouth the words come for that they would be guided to directed by your spirit alone and that you would be this power in the strength this day. May you guide and bless in this time o mighty one in Jesus name. Amen today just to give you a sense of life and how it affects people little story I am. I went out for a track in the in the 11th grade and you know, and I wanted I wanted to run before 40. My father has been a 4 40-yard dash man. Now it's meters but back then it was yards and Selway. Anyway, we all went to talk to the coach before the season started to give have him give us directions and he asked me why what do you want to do? And so I told him I wanted to be at 4:40, and he said well, we have enough 440 Runners and I don't want you to do that. I want you to do something that you did help make us successful said I want you to be a high jumper. so I I started working on the high jump. We didn't have a coach for it. So I was pretty much on my own and the high jump was into a sawdust pit. I don't know if any of you have been around long enough to know that but you had the kind of fluff up the sawdust each time because when you landed it was pretty hard surface to land on but I work hard at it. I was the guy that took the standards in every night. I came out on Saturdays when nobody else was there and I work really hard and you know what I was a terrible high jumper I was just terrible. You know, I just didn't get any encouragement from the coach at all. And what I was doing or what I could possibly do the next year. We moved from Los Angeles where I have been competing we moved up to Bellevue Washington and I went in to see the counselor there and she was setting up my schedule so that I would graduate with the fine and so I went through that and then she looks at me and she smiled he says are you going out for three months giving up on Sports? But you know she was so exciting and energetic about it. I said, okay, I'll go out for track one more time. And so I thought well that's a real positive thinking maybe it'll work and so I went out for track coach asked me what I'd like to do. I said I want to run to 4:40 and Tried me out on it the first day and he said well, I don't think you will have you move up to the 880. So at least they gave me an opportunity to run a little bit. And so I worked out with all those distance Runners for quite a bit of the season and finally came to me and he said would you like to try the 400 and so I did I ended up running fast enough that I was over three seconds faster than any of the runners that were in the California school.
If the California coaches, let me go I probably would have been f***** been successful. But you know, there was a negative note from the coach and California but a positive light filling note from not only the the counselor that I had but also the secretary and what a difference it makes in your life when people look at you in a positive sense rather than negative since when the light of their life shines out to you and makes a difference what we're going to take a look today at the light of the one who is the true and powerful and we're going to do that from the book of First John. So if you wanted to go with me to 1st John, Go through that that section 1st John 1:5 says this. This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you. God is light in him. There is no Darkness. Think about that. There's nothing negative about the Living God. It's all positive. God is Holy. He is righteous. He is totally unblemished by synth. He is the god of truth of honesty of nobility. He is the god of love and faithfulness in him is absolutely no character blemish whatsoever.
He is totally trustworthy. In other words when the light is there and we seek to go after it we can trust that God truly is the guide for our lives that we can go after him and know him.
Jesus claims to be the light on multiple occasions in John 8-12. He says this when it says this when Jesus spoke to the people, he said I am the light of the world whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. You know when we choose to follow Jesus and to respond to who he is to the character traits that he displayed through his life and try to emulate those traits. Then we begin to shine as Jesus was telling the people is in our reading this morning from Matthew that we are the light of the world. If you know Jesus Christ as your lord and savior, you are lie. And the question is are we hiding that light are we displaying that light through all the things we say? the things we think about the things we do those are the ways that we truly can display the character of the Living God to our world and therefore be that fine that God has called us to be
God is life and Jesus came to show that life to us through his son. John 1:4 says in him was life and that life was the light of all mankind. The passage shows us the truth of God that there is nothing to be hidden about God for everything is perfect and wonderful him. He is righteous and truthful in all he does. As far as truth goes John 3:21 says but whoever lives by the truth comes into the light so that it may be seen plainly what they have done and has been done in the sight of God.
You and I have an opportunity to make a difference in our world. If the live life that is Jesus Christ. And we can shine as life and feed the truth that this world desperately needs more and more. It needs our life to shine to a world that is in desperate need. Because we represent the one who is righteous and holy we represent the Living God and he wants to change our lives. Hebrews 1:8 says but about the son. He says your throne o God will last forever and ever a scepter of Justice will be a scepter of your kingdom in other words. God brings Justice the world.
Ultimately that Justice will be complete. And see all the struggles and the difficulties in this life and it needs desperately the life that we have living within us. that Spirit wants to display that through the things we do and say and think it becomes a part of the light that shines out to a world that is in desperate need and we need to stand as people that are righteous and holy before him. In a cup with the whole idea of our fellowship our willingness to walk as Jesus has called us to walk. We need that desperately. Carrying on the passage in 1st John verses 6 & 7 it says if we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in darkness we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his son purifies us from all sin.
You know that desire to have fellowship with him being so that we have made a commitment when you went before the Lord. And said and prayed to him and asked him to forgive your sins and become your lord and your savior what you were saying is I'm ready to follow you and live as you called me the live.
And what God does. As he calls us the lives he wants us to live in obedience to who he is, you know, if he is love and joy and happiness, those are part of who he wants us to be and we need to follow in those footsteps. God is a one who is faithful to walk with us, you know, when we choose to have a relationship with him to accept him as our Lord and savior. It's a free gift and it's a desire on his part to have us be United with him. But there is a cost to there is a desire that he has for each of Our Lives to be following him and he calls us to that commitment. Hope Fellowship now God is always faithful to it. My favorite him is greatest I faithfulness because I recognize that God. Is always there always faithful always true to my life and to your life as you trust in him as you desire to walk with him. He is there and he is faithful 1st Corinthians. 1:9 says God is faithful. Who has called you into fellowship with his son Jesus Christ Our Lord? And Jesus Christ desires our life. He is the author of your face, you know that you don't come to him and believe in him if he hasn't been the guiding like them did you that way it really is the author of your face but he is also the one who perfect you and that means that you have to be willing to trust him to take you through life and that means although joyful things and all the difficult things those struggles that we Face day by day. They are from him because he wants to mold you and I into His Image into his up desire.
If we love him we walk with him first John 3:18 says Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with action and Truth. You know the big question do I really love God? Do I really want him to be a part of my life? As I said when I asked him to be my Lord and Savior? Then that goes along with my desire to honor him in who he is the great and almighty God to come before him and praise and glory and the desire to walk with him through all of it. He wants us to be children of faith and follow the truth of who he is. The light and so God damn it straight sets and then we find that call on our lives in a Paul. He went through a lot of struggles a lot of trials in his life, but he always kept his focus on the Living. God made that his desire. I want to know Jesus Christ. Until he writes the Ephesian Church a lot of wonderful things but in chapter 5 verses 1 and 2. He says follow God's example, therefore as dearly loved children. Loved by God and walk in the way of love just as Christ loved us and gave himself up as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. You know, what is calling you and I as Believers in Christ to is to set aside some of those desires that we have in this life and really live the desire he has for a lot to help us except that he is the one that wants to mold us and changes in His image. It's just like, you know coaching, you know, one of those coaches wanted me to be his image in in high jump what he didn't realize is that I wasn't a very good high jumper.
But he has to be able to look at the heart deep it the hard to know what he can bring out of a person. Coach couldn't do that. But eventually it happened. Now God is a one that can look deep into your heart too deep and your desires and know what you're able to give to him. And so he's not going to ask you to give something that you're incapable of giving but he's going to ask you to give your life in the way that other people are going to respond in the positive attitude. When you reflect the glory of the God was working inside of you to the world.
Be like Christ. That's what he's calling who is giving his life for us. Remember the Christ didn't hold back. You know. When he knew in glory that he was going to be the only way and it had to be his wife or nothing. He didn't hesitate he gave his life for you. And the big question for each of us is a my willing to give all that I have to him. Give what I have. You know, he's the one that is purified us and made us write Hebrews. 9:14 says how much more then will the blood of Christ who through the eternal spirit offered himself unblemish to God cleanse our consciences from accident death so that we may serve the Living God you see God took you and I in our sinful state. When we came to him and said Lord, I'm a sinner and I need help. I need to know you as my savior and my Lord and I want to give my locks over to you. He took that life and he cleansed it you even if you know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour you have been cleansed and purified you stand before the Living God is righteous and holy.
And he wants to use that Holiness that righteousness in a way that shows others in this world the truth of who he is. Because he doesn't want anybody to die. And go to hell. He wants each and everyone didn't know him so that they might know eternal life and so he calls us to those things. Let's finish em off that little sexy will read verses 8 through 10. of a 1st John says if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in US. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in US.
You know, even though we have been made pure and holy through the precious blood of Jesus Christ. We still have that sin nature within us it abides there and will be with us through this life and fortunately when God takes us home to Glory we get rid of this ugly sinful life and we get a new one that is pure and absolutely holy but every once in awhile, we do falter and we do fall. and God recognizes that and he doesn't want us to live in that sin, but he wants us to confess that sin and come before him and profess. Arnie to be pure and holy before him. James 3:2 says we all stumble in many ways anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect able to keep their whole body and check. And if you're perfect. Are you able to keep your whole body and check all the time, you know, probably not probably not because we have that nature within us and yet even though we may stumble God is there to bring us back into keep us going in the right direction, you know, the spirit is isn't into condemnation law that will take effect, but he's into renewal and Restoration in his desire is to bring us back and restore that relationship and we do so as we come before him and confess the sins that might be in her lots.
There is a truth that is made clear in scripture. And that truth is that we were Sinners we were dying. We were going to hell. But God has given us an opportunity to be redeemed through Jesus Christ Romans, 3:23 and four says for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God at each and every one of us. We've all sinned we fallen short. We're lost. We're condemned. We're Bound for hell. for all eternity and yet the second part is also true and all are Justified freely by his grace through the Redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Jesus Christ came to the Earth he live that perfect life that we we should desire for our lives because he is truly the like of life he live that perfect life for you and for me. And then he was nailed to a cross and he bled and died. And that blood is the blood that was shed to cover our sins. And so when we come to him recognizing that we are sinful and there's nothing that we can do ourselves.
the game the kingdom of the Living God We yoga Alliance over to him confess our sins and seek. His Blessing is fellowship his presence in our lives. And he comes into US it never says no, I'm not going to help you. If we come before him and asked he is always there to receive our lives in his hands. He washes us. through that precious block Hebrews 10:22, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with a full assurance that faith that phrase face brings having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed your water. cleansed from all sin You know, so we don't have to look back on the past live and say boy. I was really horrible there. Yeah, you were but you don't have to go back there because it's been washed away. You are clean You Are Holy in Jesus Christ, and you have a wonderful future and not only does he do all that. But he gives us the holy spirit that lives in and is willing to guide us that Holy Spirit is the pure water. That he gives to us. The purity of his life and his spirit is a willing guide for on and all that we do in this we trust in him. We make the choices that lead to the light of life. The world as he desires the testimony of the truth is this 1st John 5 10, whoever believes in the Son of God accepts his testimony. Whoever does not believe in God has made him out to be a liar because they have not believed in the testimony. God has given about his son. What was the testimony? This is my son and he is come to bring you lie. He goes on to read in in a couple of verses later. If you have the son you have life if you don't have the son you don't have lie. And that's it in this world. if there's any decision that the human person needs to make in this lie. Is a decision about Jesus Christ for those who say I want the Sun and receive his gift of Salvation. They have life not only in this world, but for all eternity For those who have chosen not to receive Jesus Christ is Lord. There is no hope. There's only an eternity of pain and suffering in hell. It's the only choice that hasn't Eternal value. And we are Eternal creatures whether you believe that you're going to end in this life or not. It doesn't really matter because you are going to live for any ternatea. It's where you live that makes all the difference in the life you live on this Earth.
If you hear this message and you've never received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior today is his day to make that decision to know Jesus Christ as your lord and savior. Why because it makes all the difference in the life you live in this world and then for all eternity.
And if the spirit of God is working on your heart today, and I know the spirit of God is working on each of your hearts today. Then he is drawing you make that decision and I pray that you would make it today. If you desire to do that come see me or see someone, you know, who is a True Believer in Christ and they can help, you know, Jesus Christ as your lord and savior and change your life here on this Earth and your life for eternity.
If you've been walking.
without relying upon the Living God But you know him. It's time to change your life around and become the light that God wants you to live God is the light of the world and you are recipients of that light. Display to the world where there are many here. In this world that are in desperate need of knowing who that light is and the difference he can make for all eternity. Let's pray.
Our gracious Father in Heaven how thankful. We are that. You are giving people an opportunity.
To have a difference in this life a difference here and for all eternity through the precious gift that Jesus gave when he died on that cross. Oh Father, may you touch hearts and lives here today to change direction? And to live a new life a new life found in you it gives strength and energy and all its ways O Father touch hearts and turn them in Jesus name. Amen. a Samsung
The Rock and let the god
I will call her blessed be the Rock.
The Rock
my gracious father Yar that we have a living God who is the power and the line for our lives and so is we go out father may you be lifted up in our lives that we would display your glory to a world in desperate need bless us in this. Oh mighty God in Jesus name. Amen. Praise God from whom all.