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Sunday Scripture

I have returned home from vacation up north. In one of my longest vacations ever (14 days) I visited my mom, brother, sister-in-law, two nieces, and dog up north of Cincinnati Ohio. I flew up there on Saturday November 10TH (Veterans Day holiday weekend), and I flew back home to South Florida on (Black) Friday November 23RD. It was probably my final trip to Ohio for awhile, as in about 5 months my family will very likely move SW back to north of Dallas Texas – where they lived previously from 2006 to 2013.

The weather up in Ohio was mostly cloudy, wet, and miserable with 20s, 30s, and some 40s. On my 9TH day there we actually crawled up above 50°F for the only time. I returned home with dry, flaky, cracked, white skin with isolated spots of blood. The healing process began immediately as I stepped foot in our moist tropical air. It was almost 80°F with relative humidity near 70%. No more cold weather for me aside from perhaps a dozen mornings between now and the end of March. We’ve actually got a powerful cold front in the forecast for this Tuesday. We’ll have a rather chilly 48 hours from Wednesday morning to Friday morning with afternoon highs in the low-70s and morning lows in the mid-50s. No complaints here. I survived 14 days of winter up north !

My last two Sundays felt a bit empty, as I was without my church family. I was definitely looking forward to this day – the day the LORD has made. We rejoiced, and we were glad in it. It was great to be back home with my church family celebrating our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. Our Lead Pastor Bob spoke on “Knowing God ” – our Creator. He began with this Scripture:

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display His craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak. Night after night they make Him known. They speak without a sound or word. Their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race. The sun rises at one end of the heavens, and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat. (Psalm 19:1-6 NLT)

All rights reserved (c) 2018 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries

   

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Bible Christian Church God Ministry Scripture

Sunday Scripture

From our Lead Pastor Bob’s sermon today:

“The gates of hell shall not prevail against the church.”

“The devil may oppress you, but he will not possess you.”

Today we observed and celebrated our Thanksgiving edition of Communion with the 100TH Psalm:

Shout with joy to the LORD – all the earth !  Worship the LORD with gladness. Come before Him – singing with joy. Acknowledge that the LORD is God !  He made us, and we are His. We are His people – the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with Thanksgiving. Go into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, and praise His name. For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and His faithfulness continues to each generation.

“Sunday Scripture” returns in 3 weeks on Sunday November 25TH 2018.

All rights reserved (c) 2018 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries.

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Bible Christian Church God Ministry Scripture

Sunday Scripture

Yesterday (Saturday) afternoon at 3:37 PM EDT I got the call to preach today at 11 AM. I wasn’t scheduled to preach, but when I get the call to preach I accept it, I stop everything I’m doing, and I immediately prepare my sermon for God. I look at it this way. I’m preaching a sermon to my brothers and sisters of my church family, but my sermon is for God – just as our praise and our worship is for God.

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I preached from the Book of James – Chapter 4 – Verses 1 to 10. My sermon was titled “War & Peace”. Here’s an excerpt:

The more personal time you spend with the Lord – the less likely the devil will be able to get to you. When you pray. When you read the Bible. When you read “The Upper Room”. When you watch a preacher on TBN. When you listen to a program on 90.9 Life-FM Miami. When you sing out loud – in your car – in a traffic jam – through a school zone – at 15 MPH – to music – on Positive & Encouraging K-LOVE. When you participate in a bible study with a small group. When you come here on Sunday mornings to sing and dance and celebrate. When you perform a song for God with your guitar or your voice or both. When you write a sermon for God. When you preach God’s Good News to all who will listen. When you share your testimony with the world out there. All of that – draws you closer to God – and further away from Satan.

I sang a portion of Chris Tomlin’s “At The Cross” as part of my sermon. (I used to sing fairly regularly in my early sermons.) After I sang to God I concluded with this:

Don’t be afraid to sing out to the Lord – in here. He’s listening. And don’t be afraid to praise and worship the Lord – out there. And don’t be afraid to speak of the Lord – no matter where you are. Get closer to the Lord – closer than you were yesterday – closer than you were when you walked in here today. May the Lord be with you in everything you do and everywhere you go.

All rights reserved (c) 2018 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries.

Categories
Bible Christian Church God Ministry Scripture

Sunday Scripture

This morning I preached a sermon on Cain & Abel titled “Wander & Create”. Here are 33 highlights:

  • Today I preached mostly out of the Old Testament – all the way back – to Genesis.
  • Cain was the oldest son to Adam & Eve. Abel was the second born son.
  • When Cain & Abel grew up Cain became a farmer, and Abel became a shepherd.
  • Cain & Abel both loved God. They worshipped Him.
  • Cain was a proud farmer – maybe too proud. He thought all of his crops were great.
  • Cain proudly brought forth some of his self-proclaimed great crops to God.
  • God was not enthused. He was not impressed.
  • Abel was more independent than his older brother Cain.
  • Abel did his own thing. He was the quiet one. He was the shy guy.
  • Abel didn’t seem to have a relationship with his mom like Cain did.
  • Abel had a closer relationship to God. He knew what would impress God.
  • Abel brought forth the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock.
  • Abel – the second born – brought forth the best portions of the firstborn.
  • Abel got it right. The LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering.
  • Cain was shocked and stunned. He was dejected and felt rejected. He got angry.
  • Cain produced the first temper-tantrum in the Creation.
  • Cain was like a modern-day sassy and rebellious backtalking teenager.
  • Cain was warned by God to do what is right, and subdue his sin.
  • Cain didn’t listen to God. He was manipulated by Satan – just like his mom.
  • The rage within intensified. It soon controlled and consumed Cain.
  • Cain murdered Abel. It was the first act of violence – the first murder scene.
  • God confronted a guilty and defiant Cain.
  • God banished Cain from Eden forever – making him a homeless wanderer.
  • God gave Cain grace. He marked Cain. He vowed to protect Cain.
  • Anyone who kills Cain will be avenged sevenfold and feel the wrath of God.
  • God gave Cain a second chance at life.
  • God wanted Cain to realize his deadly sins of the past, and repent.
  • God wanted Cain to rely on Him for guidance and direction in a new life.
  • God wanted Cain to see his full potential in a new land.
  • God wanted the same for each of us while we were slaves to the world.
  • The God of the Old Testament is the same as the God of the New Testament.
  • He’s the same God today. He’s loving. He’s forgiving. He’s compassionate.
  • Receive God’s grace today. It’s abundant. It’s everlasting. His grace is sufficient.

All rights reserved (c) 2018 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries.