Egg Hunt #2

Joey's Grandma and Pa had a hamburger cookout after church today and an egg hunt for the great-grandkids. It was chilly, but it didn't deter the kids from having fun. Libby was running around saying, "More...more."

Unity Through the Spirit

Let me first start off by saying that Joey and I feel that expository preaching (preaching through the Bible verse by verse) is the best/most Biblical way to preach most of the time. While we have enjoyed topical studies, we always come back to expository teaching. The Bible COMMANDS pastors/teachers to preach the WHOLE counsel of God, not just topics they are passionate about or touchy feel good messages. Many Biblical portions of Scripture get skipped or left out because topical sermons are preached. When expository teaching is the majority, controversial Scriptures and the like can't be overlooked.

With that in mind Bro. Mike has been teaching through the book of Ephesians and by God's will he taught from Ephesians 4:1-6 on Sunday. He focused in mainly on verse 3, but I will quote two and three for clarification. "...with all lowliness and gentleness, with long suffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

The only way to have true unity or peace in the church is for everyone to be on the same page doctrinally. There are those in one camp that say doctrine divides and we all just need to love each other and forget about our differences, but God's Word teaches otherwise. "Preach the Word! Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables." 2 Tim. 4:2-4. There is unity in doctrine. It's what holds people together. Can you imagine if the leadership in your church were all on different pages doctrinally? It happens and sad to say, churches are being divided because the body is going in different directions.

Amos 3:3 says, "Can two walk together unless they be agreed?" No. There will be minor differences of course, but all should agree on the facts of the gospel. Yes, we are called to love another, but we are also called to stand firm on the Truth of God's Word. Sometimes that calls for loving rebuke, exhortation, and correction. "ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness..." 2 Tim. 3:16

You know we are in detrimental times when people flock to hear Joel Osteen "preach" God's Word. I definitely say that lightly because you can't even call it preaching. He said himself that he just wants people to feel good about themselves so he doesn't preach on sin or hell, just touchy feel good messages to tickle the ears of the people. They have all turned aside. See why doctrine is so important? It is the foundation of what we believe and we can't just toss it aside to get along and not rock the boat.

I urge you if you are not in a church that preaches the whole counsel of God consider what you are being fed weekly. I know that good solid Bible churches are very hard to find so you might be in an area where it's not possible to hear good teaching. Consider supplementing with sermons during the week from John Piper, John MacArthur, Tom Nelson, David Jeremiah. I know for a fact that www.gracetoyou.org has free sermons for your MP3 or Ipod. They no longer cost you anything to download and all of John MacArthur's sermons that he has ever taught is available. There is too much good stuff available not to take advantage of it.

On a last note, I love what Bro. Mike said that when two believers are at odds or disagreement with one another, one of them is not walking close to Jesus. If two believers are walking close to Jesus there is no room for bickering. That is my own version of what he said and it's true.

Sorry for the long post, but he echoed what Joey and I have believed for years, that doctrine is what holds people together; not music preferences, not common convictions, not your children, but solid doctrine.

4 Steps to Discovering God's Will

" I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with my eye."Psalm 32:8

Bro. Mike preached this sermon almost a year ago and as I was pulling my notes on this one out of my Bible the other day, I got to reading them again and wanted to share them with you. Sounds so simple, but if you're like me and feel like you lack discernment in this area, I pray that the Lord will give us that wisdom and discernment to know His plan for us and the courage to walk out what He shows us.

1. Depend on your relationship with God
John 8:47-"He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."

2. Tune into God's way of thinking
Isaiah 55:8-9- "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Romans 12:1-2-"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice-the kind He will accept. When you think of what He has done for you is this too much to ask? Don't copy the customs and behaviors of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect His will really is." (NLT)
Presentation+Transformation=Revelation
A yielded life+A reprogrammed mind=Revelation

3. Gather Information

• a. From the Bible-"Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105
• b. In Prayer-"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask of God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." James 1:5
• c. By seeking advice-"Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise." Proverbs 19:20
• d. By listening to your heart-"Delight (or saturate or yield) yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this." Psalm 37:4-5
• e. By examining the circumstances-"Now when they had gone to Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the Word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them." Acts 16:6-10

The way will be open if the Holy Spirit is leading. If not the door will be closed

4. Take a step in the direction you think God is leading.

"Then the Lord said to Moses, "Why are crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on." Exodus 14:15

If you drive in the light you've been given you will get there.

Be faithful to do what you know God's will is (the black and white issues from God's Word) and then He will show you clarity in other areas that aren't specific in Scripture.