The Gift of Jesus

The Whole Armor of God This Week: The Breastplate Click image to enlarge. Sunday, September 30, 2012 Led by Eric Gintert Ephesians 6:10-18 The Whole Armor of God Isaiah 59:16-17 This is what God wants us to be clothed with... the very thing He clothed His Son with! Ephesians 6:14 The breastplate protects the heart and desires. 1 Thessalonians 5:4-9 Your heart represents your desires. Are you desiring your own righteousness or His righteousness? Jude 3 says, "...   ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" yet we're doing the same things as the world. We say that we have our armor on, but really, we're sleeping. William Booth's Breastplate of Righteousness William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, was not concerned with thrift stores, food lines, and raising money (while all this is a good work and nothing is wrong with the cause). He guarded his heart by having a conc...

The Whole Armor of God This Week: The Helmet Sunday, September 23, 2012 Led by Eric Gintert What is Clothing? Genesis 3:21-22 God clothed Adam and Eve because they sinned. They tried to clothe themselves with leaves, but God had to shed blood for them to be clothed. This was natural/physical clothing. 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 This is a spiritual birth... babes in Christ must be clothed in the Word, Jesus. 1 Peter 2:1-3 Babes in Christ want and desire the Word to grow by. If you're not drinking it, how will you grow? We need to be clothed with the sincere milk of the Word. 2 Corinthians 5:1-4 We want His spiritual clothing now on this earth. Be clothed with the heavenly Word, Spirit, etc. and don't be naked! What is the Wardrobe that He has given us?  Ephesians 6:10-18 The Whole Armor of God! Purpose: That we may be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. God saved us from sin but that doesn't mean that we still can...

Sunday, September 16, 2012 Led by Eric Gintert The Sheriff never carried a gun... He carried a Sword An analogy of the Judge and the Sheriff A town is made up of people and the first people in the town was Adam and Eve. They had children and as the town became bigger, the people became more wicked ( Genesis 6 ). Only one family in the town was spared from the devastation and they became fruitful and multiplied and the town increase once again. Then, a group of people formed known as the Israelites. The Judge of the town is higher in authority then the Sheriff. The Sheriff's duty is to guard and protect the townspeople. However, the sheriff isn't liked by everyone... the bad guys don't like the sheriff. The Judge gives rules or laws for the people to live by ( Exodus 20:1-17 ). The Judge imputes consequences on those who do not keep His laws. Those who love the Judge want what He wants for them. However, there is not one person who has kept the whole law....

Sunday, September 9, 2012 Led by Eric Gintert Luke 19:11-13 Occupy = to do business The day of rest is set aside as a day to rest from all the worldly stuff... work six days and rest on the seventh. It's a day to gather with like-minded believers, be encouraged, and be edified in the Word of God. Jesus went to a far country and until He returns He's given us what is necessary to be equipped to work. And, He's given us one day to rest and reflect on the week and prepare for the next. There is work to be done until Jesus comes back... we can't be idle. Our hearts should want to increase the gift that God has given us.  We go through trial and see hard things and we need to be uplifted by brethren. Titus 2:1, 12-14 This is sound doctrine to teach a congregation. God wants us to increase in growth that we would be a peculiar people set apart for God. Growing in denying ungodliness, worldly lust, etc. Romans 5:6-8 Do we realize the va...

Sunday, September 2, 2012 Led by Eric Gintert Matthew 9:35-38 They began to faint in heart... become weak and weary. Jesus had compassion on them. What kind of "employer" wants employees who have pity parties all day long... how can he use that person? When we're in pity parties, we aren't focused on the task at hand, we're not laborers.  We need to be like this just man... " For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again..." Proverbs 24:16 Matthew 10:1-14 Freely ye have received, freely give! Jesus gives power... we don't tell Him to "give me"... He comes to us and blesses us with a gift. Jesus will equip His servants to accomplish His will and do what is necessary. Come just as you are. He doesn't require any additional expense... He takes us as we are and equips and qualifies us for the job. We say "Go out..." to raise money for missions, etc, but Jesus says "I will eq...