Doug Norman
We serve a loving and caring heavenly Father. He is touched by our pain and hurt. But He is also a King. He rules the universe with power and authority. So how do we come to God knowing these truths about Him? We bind Him to His own Word!
The church of Jesus Christ must be a place where people can come and find answers to their questions. The way God’s people conduct themselves have a major impact on the outsider. People should see the reality of our faith in a living Christ by the way we sing, pray, and fellowship.
Pastor has laid out for us, a vision, and what we should look for in the coming year. In Proverbs 29:18, the Word notes that when we turn away from divine guidance and do not accept it - we do foolish things. God uses the prophet, Habakkuk, to ask questions about the same economic struggles and worries that we have today. The answer found in Habakkuk 2:4, still stands true, "...the just shall live by his faith." We don't know the WHY for the things happening, but we know the WHO to go to for strength, and that is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
The Christmas Story is one of hope, joy, and peace. If we will allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to us the many wonders of the greatest story ever told - it might just be the best Christmas ever!
"O, taste and see that the Lord is good," Psalm 34:8. God wants you to know Him in a deeper way! However, in order to have this deeper encounter you must be willing to allow Him to put a passion in your heart for His work and be willing to make adjustments to your life.
It has always been the plan and will of God for His people to know Him and to experience His care and guidance. However, as we continue on our Christian journey (ofter not knowing what tomorrow holds) we are tempted to get discouraged. If we simply follow Jesus step by step, everything will work out!
In John 14:15, Jesus says, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." These words of Jesus speak directly to the heart of what it means to be a disciple. The simple command is the key to our lives "bearing much fruit!"
John chapter 15, verse 2, tells us that God is the husbandman which means vine dresser or gardener. As a loving, vine dresser, he will come and either “take away” the dead branches or prune the fruitful ones. Which will you be?
In John 15, verse one, Jesus declares himself to be the true vine. This means He alone is the source of strength, grace, and divine nourishment that believers need in order for our lives to produce spiritual fruit. The question is, "Are you being fruitful?"
In the face of coming storms there is no time for casual christianity. God desires to take each of us into a deeper relationship with Him where His heart is formed in us. We bind the works of the enemy by simply walking in obedience to God's Word.
