GOD IS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE CARNAL CHRISTIAN.  WHY?  BECAUSE THAT CHRSTIAN HAS FAILED TO APPLY THE WORD OF GOD TO HIS LIFE EFFECTIVELY AND CONSEQUENTLY CANNOT BE USED BY GOD AS GOD DESIRES.

Today we are going to focus on the scriptures that remind us that TRUE BELIEVERS have an INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP with THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT.  So, for the next few minutes, let’s take our minds off of those “GREAT AND TERRIBLE CIRCUMSTANCES” and focus on God, WHO CAN HANDLE EACH ONE OF THEM FOR US WITHOUT ANY TROUBLE AT ALL!

Many times when someone goes to do something in which he or she is very nervous, another may say to them, "JUST BE NATURAL." Now that sounds fine and is good in many aspects of life because it is important that we be ourselves rather than attempting to be someone else, but THERE IS A TIME WHEN IT IS WRONG TO BE NATURAL!  When is that?  Consider 1 Corinthians 2:14.

One thing that FBC stands upon very firmly and without apology is that THE BIBLE IS THE INSPIRED, INFALLIBLE, INERRANT WORD OF GOD AS PRESENTED IN THE KJV OF SCRIPTURE.  Today we will study this subject with the intent of strengthening our faith through a greater commitment to the EVERLASTING WORD OF GOD!

WHAT IS THE CHURCH?  I am sure the answer to that question would vary quite a bit, based upon a person’s understanding of scripture, as well as on one’s personal opinion.  Later on in our series, I will give a complete definition of the church from the biblical perspective, but at this point, as we begin the series, let me share with you some of the elements that make up the CHURCH OF GOD AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST:

One of the seven churches of Revelation, PERGAMOS, had a major problem with COMPROMISING WITH THE WORLD and because such was the case, the Lord Jesus gave them quite a rebuke.

In our last few studies, we have been considering the command by WALK IN THE SPIRIT as is given in Galatians 5:16.  This involves SAYING NO TO SELF AND SIN AND YES TO THE WORD OF GOD.  Romans 6 teaches us how and why we can say NO TO SIN!  It teaches that in Christ, we have died to sin and through His power do not have to yield to sin!  Let’s continue to study!

“BACK TO THE BIBLE: READ, STUDY, AND OBEY.”  WHAT A THEME!  PSALM 119:11 – “THY WORD HAVE I HID IN MINE HEART, THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST THEE.”  WHAT A TEXT!  In my opinion the combination of this theme and this text for this convention is  TIMELY, PRACTICAL AND VERY MUCH NEEDED!  Psalm 119:11 is a verse I learned as a child in Sunday School over 50 years ago at the Indian Creek Baptist Church in Mill Run and HAVE NEVER FORGOTTEN IT!  Perhaps many of you could share a similar story. And yet, there are many children and young people in PA who do not even know that verse exists.  As we consider this theme and this text this evening let’s commit ourselves to the truth both convey without hesitation or compromise. In doing so we will not only benefit our lives for the glory of God, but also be a spiritual blessing to others in our communities, our churches and our Sunday Schools.

INTRO:  THIS WORLD WOULD BE IN TROUBLE WITHOUT GOOD WOMEN!  In fact, I can think of some great women who have influenced me for the good during my time on earth.  Of course, my mother and wife have influenced me greatly.  But, beyond them I can think of others: Mum Hood, Nana, Sara Etta, Shirley.  It has often been said that “BEHIND EVERY GOOD MAN IS A BETTER WOMAN.”  In a lot of cases that is true.  But WOMEN HAVE A GREAT PART TO PLAY IN SOCIETY AS WELL AS IN THE CHURCH.  TRULY, GOD HAS CREATED WOMEN WITH A PURPOSE.  On the “MOTHERS DAY,” let’s see what God has to tell us about THE WOMAN from the WORD OF GOD!

JESUS IS COMING AGAIN!  WHEN?  WE DO NOT KNOW!   From the time that I was small, I can remember preachers setting the date of the second coming of Christ.  The first time was in about 1964 when an evangelist set the date for 1967.  Prior to that time, and since that time, many predictions have been given concerning the date of the second coming of Christ, but HE HAS NOT YET COME!  THAT DOES NOT MEAN JESUS WILL NOT RETURN, BECAUSE HE HAS PROMISED THAT HE WILL, BUT IT WILL BE ACCORDING TO HIS OWN TIME.  (NOTE 2 PETER 3:4-12). Recently, Mr. Harold Camping of Family Radio in Oakland, California has been predicting the RETURN OF CHRIST AND JUDGMENT DAY FOR MAY 21^ST, 2011.  This is the second time he has predicted a date.  He was wrong the first time, and he is wrong this time as well.  HOW DO WE KNOW?  Let’s examine the matter from our authority, THE BIBLE!

The words of the angel to the women who came to visit the tomb of Jesus in Matthew 28:6, “HE IS NOT HERE: FOR HE IS RISEN AS HE SAID,” are TEN WORDS that must have rung in the ears of those ladies for the rest of their lives, and certainly they have rung in the lives of BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS for 1,981 years!  Those TEN WORDS and the truth they proclaim have not only been remembered by MILLIONS OF CHRISTIANS down through the years, but they have CHANGED THE COURSE OF HISTORY!  The recognized calendar of the world and the “religious” belief of the majority of the people in the world stem back to those TEN WORDS!  In addition, those TEN WORDS have CHANGED THE LIVES OF PEOPLE FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS WHO HAVE TRUSTED CHRIST AS THEIR PERSONAL SAVIOR!  Because of those TEN WORDS believers in Christ have hope, peace, joy, encouragement and the assurance of eternal life in Heaven with God!  BUT HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THOSE WORDS ARE TRUE?  HOW DO WE KNOW THAT CHRIST REALLY ROSE FROM THE GRAVE?  ACTS 1:3 GIVES THE ANSWER.   JESUS CHRIST “SHOWED HIMSELF ALIVE AFTER HIS PASSION BY MANY INFALLIBLE PROOFS.”  WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE INFALLIBLE PROOFS?

WHAT A DAY IT WAS FOR JESUS!  He had been on earth for over 33 years by now, and had been preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom for over 3 years at this point in time. During those years, it was not always easy for Him.  The Bible tells us that Jesus had no place to call home.  He had very few possessions.  Many people hated Him.  The leaders of Israel had rejected Him.  He gained very few committed followers.  And now, He was on His way to Jerusalem to go to the cross and die!  But as He entered Jerusalem, on what is called THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY that probably took place on SUNDAY, THE 9^TH OF NISAN (APRIL), 30 AD, things changed, at least for the moment! 

INTRO:  The Bible teaches us that as Christians we should be as dedicated to our biblical mission as a soldier is committed to his military mission.  Let’s observe from 2 Timothy 2:3,4 how that is to be accomplished

INTRO:  What is LOVE?  That answer to that question would really vary depending upon who you asked.  In many ways in modern culture, the word “LOVE” has been cheapened to the point that in certain situations it practically means nothing!  The Bible tells us that GOD IS LOVE  and many of us can remember singing a little chorus with that title from the time we were children in Sunday School.  Even though love may have been cheapened in the ways of the world, it certainly has not been cheapened in the eyes of God and it never will be!  BUT WHAT IS THE LOVE OF GOD ALL ABOUT? 

INTRO: Recently we all heard on the news about a fellow who was mauled by a bear while hunting.  In that story, the fellow, whose nick name was Skinny, was about 15 feet high in a tree when a bear cub climbed up to him.  Upon shewing the cub away, the mother bear climbed the tree, knocked Skinny out of the tree and literally tore him apart.  That is a sorrowful thing to consider.  But there is also a story behind the story.  It is a story of how BAD THINGS SEEM TO BE HAPPENING TO A GOOD FAMILY.