Greetings Saints in the Lord!
This week I have two praise reports: Last Sunday we raised over $2000 for the Youth Building! AWESOME! And if that isn’t awesome enough, this Wednesday we raised another $2400 for missions! We are just blown away at how God is moving, and the open heart of His people!
This Sunday we’ll be finishing up our three-part series on “judging”, from Matthew 7. It will be our last message on the section of Matthew “The Kingdom Principles” (or better known as the Sermon on the Mount!). After this Sunday we’ll be going into section three of Matthew, “The Manifestation of the King”, where Jesus begins His ministry on earth.
And don’t forget, this Sunday is the LAST SUNDAY to register for the “Clear and Present Danger” church conference! We’ll be gearing up for the conference, and please continue to pray for the speakers, worship team, workers, and those who will be attending!
Added bonus: This weeks worship article, found on the CCW Praise Team Blog.
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The Words of Worship
Think about what happens physically during worship – what we do. Sometimes we want to shout out, or say hallelujah, or worship with our instrument. Other times we have a desire to lift up our hands, or bow down before the Lord. Did you know that the bible gives us descriptions of these actions, contained in the Hebrew words for worship?
There are six Hebrew words which provide for us a description of the physical forms of worship that we engage in. In the Old Testament, and particularly in Psalms, we are repeatedly told to praise the Lord. However, within those commands to praise are words that provide different descriptions as to how we are to praise. In this week’s Worship Post, we’ll examine these words and their meaning!
Click here to go to this weeks post…
...till the whole world hears,
Pastor Clay
Wednesday night we began our last section in Judges, an account of a brutal attack and murder of a woman, which sparked a civil war in Israel that claimed 55,000 men. Next week we’ll conclude Judges, and on Wednesday November 5th well start a new and more uplifting account: The Book of Ruth.
Ruth’s story occurred during the time of the judges — a period of disobedience, idolatry, and violence. Yet in stark contrast to Judges, the book of Ruth shows us a community that did what was right in God’s eyes. It is "the story of God’s grace in the midst of difficult circumstances. Even in times of crisis and deepest despair, there are those who follow God and through whom God works. No matter how discouraging or antagonistic the world may seem, there are always people who follow God.
The account of Ruth has a parallel to our lives today: In the midst of difficult times, we as Christians can follow and obey God and do what is right, and God will work through us to accomplish His plan for this world.
...till the whole world hears,
Pastor Clay
Last week we talked on Matt 6:19-21, where Jesus encouraged us to store up treasures in heaven. But I am not sure that I was really clear on one thing: How can we lay up treasures in heaven? (admittedly, that would be an obvious thing to explain!)
So lets explore a few ways that we could "send our treasure ahead." I'll call them "Kingdom Investments."
Kingdom Investment #1 - LOVE
Jesus told His disciples:
"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:9-13
But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Luke 6:35 NKJV
To love is to be obedient, and obedience in loving and giving, and our reward will be "great" Jesus tells us!
Kingdom Investment #2 - LIVE
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 1 Cor 3:6-8 NKJV
As we live our lives, sharing the love of Christ with others, whether we are planter's, waterer's, or harvesters; the reality if God will give each one reward for being a light to the world.
Kingdom Investment #3 - GIVE
This one is obvious, that "God loves a cheerful giver", and we covered 1 Tim as well;
Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 1 Tim 6:17-19 NKJV
When we are willing to give and share, we are literally making deposits to our kingdom account. This is not just giving to the church, but being willing to give to another person when there is a need.
Kingdom Investment #4 - WORK
"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. Matt 16:24-27 NKJV
We don't always like the word, in that we know we cannot work our way into heaven, or earn our salvation. But the fact is, faith without works is dead! When we are "doing good works", Jesus told us that they will shine before other people, and they can see that Christians are different - they care about others! That communicates a beautiful truth: God cares about them too!
In these uncertain times, people can get very nervous, even frightened about our future. We as Christians have a hope to share: That God loves them, cares about them, and has a future and a hope prepared for them; If they will only come to Him for it!
I hope this helps!
Pastor Clay
The past several weeks our Sunday topics have centered on prayer and fasting. As usual, God never works in a “wow what a coincidence” mode, but He has a PLAN and a PURPOSE for what He brings into our lives!
This week we are rolling out our “Clear and Present Danger” conference, and guess what: I am going to challenge each of you to begin fasting and praying in preparation for this conference! I know that our adversary is going to come against this event, because he does NOT want Christians to know how to avoid the pitfalls that he wants to trip us up with! But God does, He clearly reveals our defensive strategies to us in His word!
I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday, as God will show us through His word how we can store up treasures in heaven!
...till the whole world hears,
Pastor Clay
