OUR FATHER WILL SEE US THROUGH

OUR FATHER WILL SEE US THROUGH

God is a very hands-on Father. He cares deeply about every creature of His creation, especially those who are the very image of His design in His likeness.

I miss the days when there were no cell phones. No computers. Limited three channels of black & white television or as it is known today "Satan's Panoramic Picture Window".

Today everything is instantaneous, precious little time is given to digest the barrage of information. To separate the "Wheat from the Chaff". To consider what it all means. If you let the shouting world steam roll over you, that pleases the devil just fine.

Just as I sat down to ponder the latest feeding frenzy on the news, I went to the Lord in prayer. I told Him about how depressed I get hearing a constant diet of doom. Precious Jesus then led me to the WORD.

It is here, on this fertile stand, the Bible, where the Lord comforts, speaks, teaches, and reaches us. Let me share with you where this journey took me;

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them.-Psa 34:7.

Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.-Psa 37:7.

He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.  You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day;  Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.   A thousand may fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, But it shall not approach you.   You will only look on with your eyes And see the recompense of the wicked.

-Psa 91:4-8

Lay your trust completely in Him. There is not a single incident that misses His attention. He knows fully every player in this tribulation. He knows the outcome.

"Yet not a hair of your head will perish.    "By your endurance you will gain your lives. -Luk 21:18-19.

What is happening here in the U.S. is not in isolation. Similar outbursts and violence is playing out all around the globe. The American Media has no horse in those races and thus we see no reporting of those actions.

Shane, a long time friend and a good and Godly man used to tell the story of a father who was teaching his son about the battle of good and evil. In the cool of the evening, the father explained that inside our bodies, in our souls a war is being raged between two animals. Evil being represented by the WOLF who only wants to destroy. The other animal, The Sheep Dog fights for goodness and the safety and security of his host. They battle night and day, day in and day out. It is violent, bloody, and painful to behold. Each one fighting to the death for what they each represent. When the father paused and the son pondered, the boy looked up into the great canopy of the heavens and spoke; "Father, who wins?" he asked. Placing his hand on the boy's shoulder, the father replied; " The One You FEED is the one that wins!" "The one you feed!"

Which one are you feeding?

I miss the old days when we were not bombarded by the play by play of a world that has gone nuts. I am comforted that JESUS has this! My trust is in Him and Him alone!   "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."- Joh 16:33.

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FOLLOW HIS FOOTPRINTS

AS YOU JOURNEY ON THE NARROW PATH--FOLLOW HIS FOOTPRINTS

 

Our Lord Jesus left behind a remarkable set of footprints for us to follow until His return. This set of impressions, a map of sorts, will lead us to victory in remaining on that narrow pathway. It requires that we pay attention, stay alert, avoid the distractions of the world that can lead us off of the path. Follow the footprints of Christ.

Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. -Heb 12:14 How do we do this? someone asked the Lord; Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." In that Kingdom, nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. -Rev 21:27

When you have been washed clean in the blood of our Master, through the CROSS, You are altogether beautiful, And there is no blemish in you. -Son 4:7

The Word of the Lord came, "Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, 'You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.-Lev 19:2

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,   but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;   because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."   If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;-1Pe 1:14-17- that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,   and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,   and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.-Eph 4:22-24

Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love  He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,  to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.-Eph 1:4-6

Wide is the highway that leads to hell. Narrow is the way to the Kingdom. Follow His footprints, Beloved. 

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ABIDE IN ME

Abide in Me, and I in you...

... As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. -Joh 15:4 Each morning the Lord delivers a gift to each of us. A wondrous gift of beauty, of promise, of hope, and of Love. This gift reminds us that we must be ONE with HIM.

The gift arrives on schedule as it has since the beginning of time. Always new, never repeating, ever moving, ever evolving in constant motion. It is a Heralding gift, proclaiming the start of a new day, another opportunity to share or demonstrate the majesty and beauty of our Lord.

This sunrise confirms in me that..  I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. -Gal 2:20 No human being can paint such a dynamic living scene on the canopy of heaven, nor blend such brilliant colors upon a moving Lapis Lazuli canvass. The beauty is so magnificient, so grand! Only GOD himself can create and deliver such an expression of love, eternal love for those whom He created.

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.

O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?   I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. -Rom 7:18,24,25

And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. -Rom 8:10 In the quiet splendor of the sunrise, I know, that I know, that I know, that Jesus has blessed and planned my day. All I am to do is follow His lead.

Our Lord is coming. I pray that He come soon. As we stay seperate ourselves as much as possible from the WORLD and its violent and repulsive evil, Jesus will grant us that which we need to overcome and remain prepared and alert to His arrival. And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. -1Jn 2:28 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. -1Jn 2:6

Maran'athah, Come Quickly Lord!

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GOD WITH US

  "THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US."

- Mat 1:23

A dear pastor and friend of mine and I were talking about daily miracles that we each witness over the course of a week. So many of them would hardly be noticed were it not for those who earnestly look for them. We were surprised how few serious minded and devoted Christians witnessed any miracles at all. Especially not daily! There was agreement amongst us that few, if any, of the daily witnessed miracles measured up to what Hollywood would have us believe. These were not in CinemaScope, nor contained lightning, or smoke. Not even a mild earthquake. Unmistakeably, what we witness frequently comes directly by divine fiat allowing us to actually see the physical effect of the very hand of God.

Through our faith and belief in God, innocent as a child, we see His presence and influence in every thing we view. We listen. We ponder. We wait. We witness.  ...and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" - 1Ki 19:9

Prayers being answered are divine confirmations that the Lord Jesus is active; interceding for His blood purchased beneficiaries. The Kingdom of God is a very, very active place but you must look. You must pray. You must listen. You must wait; wait on the Lord. Those who do are rewarded through opportunity to witness the result of the movement of His hand, His will.   Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. - Rev 8:3

Often times, the noise of this world drowns out the quiet voice of our Lord. Especially now. The pestilence, protests, killings, great violence and riot on a global scale, all become Satan's distractions away from God. With reliable FOUR and FIVE "G" cellular service the devil hardly has to break a sweat to organize chaos from one continent to another.   "Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!- Mat 18:7 Don't be a player. Don't be that man!

Although very difficult in this day of instant communication, do your best to avoid the constant barrage of blather being spewed forth from millions of Twitter or Facebook postings, or, tainted and malignant media sources by the thousands. Open your Bible. Read the TRUTH. Prepare for Your eternity just as you would prepare for an approaching hurricane. The world is on the way out. JESUS is the only constant.  'I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. - Rev 3:11

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SERMON: DAY OF PENTECOST

20200531su- DAY OF PENTECOST / Anchor: ACTS Chaps 1 & 2

CALL TO WORSHIP

SERMON SYNOPSIS It has now been 50 days since the Lord was resurrected from the dead and appeared on a Sunday evening behind locked doors to the eleven. Just 10 days before Jesus was witnessed ascending upwards, through the clouds into heaven. Jerusalem is packed with thousands of men who are gathered as required three times a year, this being the First Fruits gathering, Part of the Festival of Weeks. High on the agenda today is to select the replacement to Judas Escariot, the one who betrayed the Lord. The Apostles are eagar to learn and share of the promise to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

OPENING PRAYER Lord God Almighty, Author of the Universe, in the name of Your Son, Jesus, we gather on this Lord's day to worship and to receive the Word of Truth through the Holy Spirit that in-dwells us, by way of Holy Scripture. Open our ears to hear, open our hearts to receive as we nourish our Souls in Your very presence. On this day in Jerusalem, thousands were received into Salvation through Jesus the Christ, and the promised Holy Spirit filled these precious disciples with power and boldness. A by-product of which is LOVE from on high. O Holy Spirit, let us feel Your presence in us this day. Grant us great courage to step out and share that which we have received with others so that they too can be filled and glorify You our Creator, Amen and AMEN.

SERMON Through Biblical history, PENTECOST was the FIRST FRUITS of HARVEST, one of three annual required gatherings at the temple in Jerusalem that every of-age male must attend to present themselves before the Lord.

The first sheaf offered at the Passoverand the two leavened loaves at Pentecostmarked the beginning and ending of the grain harvest, and sanctified the interval between as the whole harvest or Pentecostal season. Psa 147:14  He makes peace in your borders; He satisfies you with the finest of the wheat. Thus God brings about a healthy harvest to satisfy the Souls of His people.

Some Theologians would argue that Pentecost marked the birth of the Church. With great respect I would submit that although the PENTECOST allowed for the Formal Public Presentation, in a GRAND manner, The miracle of the Promise that the HOLY SPIRIT is poured into all who confess CHRIST as their savior, the CHURCH had already exsisted before this day.

The Church of Jesus Christ rose to life the very moment that the 12th Disciple was anointed and pressed into service by Jesus. It was at this moment that the Master began to teach, to Disciple, His chosen core, the first congregation of His flock. With tenderness, love and with authority. Jesus began to nurture and guide these tender hearts; preparing them for this magnificient debut before thousands and thousands in Jerusalem.

A vital part of this day was to select a replacement to take the place of JUDAS ESCARIOT, the man who betrayed Jesus. Following prayer and the casting of LOTs, the 12th Disciple slot was filled; Act 1:24-26  And they prayed and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen  (25)  to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place."  (26)  And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles. The eleven laid hands on their new brother and prayed commissioning him to the ministry of Almighty God.

Act 2:1-4  When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. { there were about 120 of them gathered with Peter} (2)  And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.  (3)  And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.  (4)  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

NOW, my dear beloved friends, I ask you to be patient with me as I try to clearly explain how much of a REALLY BIG DEAL this speaking in TONGUES was. Not only were the impowered disciples, who having just received the Holy Spirit, SPEAKING in tongues that they had previously not known, The People HEARING them were HEARING their own language being spoken even though the speaker was not speaking in that tongue. CONFUSED? Allow me to explain:

You may not have had this amplified in this manner before, so , bear-with-me...

Lets say that YOU and another friend is standing next to me and we three are listening to a fellow speak to us. All three are hearing his speech at the very same time. Here is where it starts to get good: The fellow speaking to us is speaking in, lets say, ARAMAIC. None of us understands that language but I am hearing him speak in perfect ENGLISH. My FRENCH friend on my LEFT is hearing him speak, at the same time in perfect FRENCH. The friend to my RIGHT a HUNGARIAN and while the speaker talks in ARAMAIC, the HUNGARIAN hears in perfect HUNGARIAN. WOW!

THIS, BELOVED, SHOWS THE MAJESTY OF THE MIRACLE OF TONGUES delivered to THOUSANDS of those gathered in Jerusalem from many lands on this day of Pentecost. This was a VERY, VERY BIG DEAL! Not only were those Holy Spirit Filled speaking in foreign tongues, THE masses were Hearing them in THEIR OWN TONGUES!! AT the SAME TIME!!! Can I Get an AMEN??

Act 2:7-11  They were amazed and astonished, saying, "Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans?  (8)  "And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born?  (9)  "Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,  (10)  Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,  (11)  Cretans and Arabs—we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God."

Peter, also filled to the brim with the Spirit of God delivered a most eloquent sermon to the masses explaining point by point the Gospel of Christ Jesus and pointed to their connection to His death and now the Resurrection. He laid the blame for His crucifixion at their feet.

Act 2:37-41  Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?"  (38)  Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  (39)  "For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself."  (40)  And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation!"  (41)  So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.

SUMMARY From the very first verse in Genesis, all the way to the last AMEN of Revelation JESUS is there. Thousands of years of "New Beginnings" always bringing those who stray back in correct alignment with the promise of Everlasting Life of Joy and Peace. Jesus is that common silver rope that extends from one end to the other, from the Beginning to the End, never drooping, ever straight, never listing but always being our absolute guide to eternal bliss. Three Thousand Souls were welcomed into the kingdom of God on that Pentecost day. Just before our Lord ascended into the heavens from that mountain top, He asked Peter THREE times Do you love me? Unlike that day in the Temple courtyard where Peter denied JESUS THREE TIMES, He was now whole and leading others to know the Savior in the most intimate way possible, through the Gift of Salvation. ARE YOU SAVED?

CLOSING PRAYER Father God, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, thank-you for the blessing of sharing Your Word with us on this, Your Day. As Holy Scriputre reveals in the book of John; Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Your eternity and unchanging ways brings wonder and awe to us in unspeakable ways. As much and we know about You, O Lord, the more we know that we don't know. Our thirst for knowledge thus grows and grows. Light our paths for us, Father, as we go our way this week. Brings us back safely to gather next Sunday, on Your Day and open our souls to know Your attributes. Let us feed the hunger we have to know you more. In the Name above all names, Jesus the Christ, AMEN.

DOXOLOGY

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, Ye heav'n-ly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Amen

BENEDICTION AND CLOSE Rom 1:7 {Modified} to all who are beloved of God within the sound of my voice, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen

SUPPORTING SCRIPTURE Psa 147:14, Act 1: 24-26, 2:1-4, 2: 7-11, 2: 37-41, Jon 1:1, Rom 1:7

UPDATE: Summer Schedule; Tomorrow is June 1st, and with the start of a new month, we will also begin a new series of study that prayerfully will extend well into October. The title is THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD. Each Sunday we will pull from several theological sources a well rounded examination of those characteristics that only our Creator can display. I think you will find it a wonderful and edifying study and bring you ever closer to a greater understanding of how Awesome and Majestic He truly is. We will get it started next Sunday, June 7th, I hope you will all be here. Finally, I'm trying to find a way to administer Holy Communion {The Lord's Supper} to you on that day as well. Pray that the Lord will open that door for us so that this Ordinance and Expression can return to our service.

Until we meet again, God go with you, AMEN.

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MEMORIAL DAY -- 2020

OPENING PRAYER

MIGHTY CREATOR, COMMANDER OF THE UNIVERSE, MAJESTY ON HIGH, WE "FALL-IN" TO FORMATION BEFORE YOU ON THIS LORD'S DAY, IN THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND OUR LORD JESUS. IT IS OUR PASSION TO HAVE RECEIVED YOUR SPIRIT INTO US SO THAT YOU MIGHT BE REFLECTED THROUGH US TO OTHERS. AS THE SUN PROVIDES LIGHT TO THE EARTH, THE MOON REFLECTS THAT SAME LIGHT TO THOSE WE MEET. LET US THIS DAY BE MINDFUL OF OUR GALLANT SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN, COAST GUARD AND MARINES WHO FINISHED THIER TOURS OF DUTY, OFTEN IN FOREIGN LANDS, FIGHTING THE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, WHO FAILED TO RETURN FROM WHENCE THEY CAME. GRANT US YOUR PRESENCE AS WE OPEN THE PAGES OF HOLY SCRIPTURE FINDING PEACE AND HARMONY AND LOVE THEREIN, AMEN.

Jos 5:13-15Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us or for our adversaries?" He said, "No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the LORD." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, "What has my lord to say to his servant?" The captain of the LORD'S host said to Joshua, "Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.

In 1942, during the battle of Bataan, a Chaplain named William Cummings reportedly uttered the words "There are no Atheists in foxholes", this during a field sermon. An aphorism pointing to those horrible moments in a battle to the death, every man pleads for a higher power to come to his aid. Little did they know that in less than 30 days, the Bataan Death march would begin, costing the lives of 18,000 Filipino and nearly 650 American prisoners of war would die a horrid death.

The Prayers were frequent and plenty from the Lord's elect, His Saints in uniform all through the Revolutionary, Spanish American, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and into Iraq and Afghanistan; Not counting all the wars preceding. War is a terrible thing, as it should be. Violent conflict should always be the manner of last resort. The Bible teaches us the great patience of God. His patience, however, God does have a threshold, and His wrath, when unleashed, is Horrible and all consuming. Sodom and Gomorrah can attest to that!

Gen 19:24-25Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven, (25) and He overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.

War finds many opportunities for our LORD to flex His mighty arm, and today we reflect on memories and compelling stories spoken about SALVATION, about FORGIVENESS, about BLESSING and of COURAGE, and of REDEMPTION.

Army Sergeant First Class John T. Anderson, born in Buffalo, NY, was about to complete his combat tour in Vietnam when his team was overrun by the Vietcong. When all the dust settled, John, who was badly wounded, was taken prisoner of war and held and tortured for five and one-half years. John would suffer the horror of his seemingly unending days at the hands of his captors. Eventually he was released, promoted to Master Sergeant then retired to continue serving as a civilian employee of the Army. One of John's many fellow prisoners was former US Senator John McCain, captured after his navy aircraft was shot down. These men well acquainted with the stench of war, that iron like smell of blood, the sound of death rattles as fellow soldiers breathe their last.

On this day, this Memorial Day observance, falling on the Lord's day, permit me to share the names of those I had the great honor of serving alongside or associating with during my 23 years wearing the uniform of the U.S. Army. Each one a precious soul, extraordinary in their own right, each of them having transferred from this life to eternal life, each one MY HERO!

My LORD and SAVIOR Jesus the Christ

First Sergeant Walter Smithson

Sgt David Darnell

LTC Harold Roeder

LTC Arthur Jones

COL Fred Odom

Sgt Dennis Hannon

A1C Michael Sutton

SP4 Bruce Scott

LT Deeann Ray

Sergeant Major Hal Fielding

Sergeant Major Larry Law

Sergeant Major John West

LTC Gus Eric Jowers

Senior Master Sergeant Johnny McDowell

Army Sgt John Henry Daniels {Doc}

Sergeant Major Clay Lacy

Army Sgt David Thompson

Airforce Sgt Michael Webster

Navy CPO Ron Hester

Sergeant Major Pappy Clark

Airforce Senior Master Sergeant Emery Frank Mortensen

LET US PRAY Especially for those who wore and still wear the uniform. Those who served and died. Those still serving, serving this great people, this great nation, and most of all our Great and Merciful GOD.

Father God, Almighty creator, We rejoice in all who have faithfully served and triumphantly died. We give thanks for all blessed memories and all enduring hopes; for the ties that bind us to the unseen world; for all the heroic dead who encompass us like a cloud of witnesses. We pray that we who have entered into the heritage of their heroism and self sacrifice may so honor their memory and so preserve and further their high purposes that the nation which they defended may stand in all coming years for righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ their Lord and ours, AMEN

DOXOLOGY

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, Ye heav'n-ly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Amen

BENEDICTION

Psa 19:14 Let the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, our rock and our Redeemer.

MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS THEM FOR ALL ETERNITY, AMEN

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SERMON -- THE ASCENSION

THE LORD'S ASCENSION CESM SERMON Sunday May 17, 2020

WELCOME NOTES Hello everyone on this Lord's day. Thank-you for permitting this tiny ministry to bring the GLORY of the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ to you as citizens of the SENIOR COMMUNITY. Before we begin our service today, here are a few admin notes pointing the direction we plan on taking as summer approaches. This is Ascension week and will be the topic of today's sermon. Next week, Lord Willing, we will do a special service for Memorial Day. Please don't miss this as we honor all the soldiers, sailors, airmen, coastguards men and Marines who paid the ultimate price in defense of this wonderful nation. The last sermon of May will be devoted to the Pentecost. Starting in June, if the Lord so blesses, we will begin a sixteen week study of the Attributes of God! That will take us to October unless the Lord directs us otherwise. SO! There you have the plan. Of course, it is the Lord's place to edit or change should He desire. Praise You Father, Praise You Jesus, Praise You Holy Spirit!

CALL TO WORSHIP On this Lord's day welcome all of those who have ears to hear our humble worship of the The Father of all creation, The Son of Salvation and the Holy Spirit of promise! We read in Pro 16:1-3  The plans of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.  (2)  All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, But the LORD weighs the motives.  (3)  Commit your works to the LORD And your plans will be established. JOIN US NOW as we lift our voices in songs of PRAISE: [CROWN HIM WITH MANY CROWNS and ROCK OF AGES]: {Q}

Thank-you Lord God for receiving our voices in Your praise and in Your glory. Search our hearts and find the deep love and Awe we have for the FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, Amen.

SERMON SYNOPSIS Out of sight, out of mind. This is sometimes a very problematic expression for Christians or those who wish to be Christians. As long as Jesus was visible and in the flesh and walked amongst us here on the earth, it was far easier to believe. Once the badly beaten and naked body of Jesus was removed from the cross, having died just as the two who hung with Him did, His body was buried and no longer seen. Humans were quick to forget. The Resurrection and the subsequent ascension into heaven 40 days later is a vital part of the continuing miracle of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, Son of God. The Ascension is, dearly beloved, is....."The REST OF THE STORY"!

OPENING PRAYER Father, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, on this Lord's day, I pray thee to empty this vessel called my body. Empty me of me, and fill this vessel to the brim with Your TRUTH through YOUR WORD in Holy Scripture. Just as You spoke to Thomas when he doubted that You were truly alive, Your words comforted him, and blessings for others who believe WITHOUT SEEING YOU. Open our eyes and souls to knowing that You are actively interceding for us from Your throne at the Right had of the Father, and that soon, You will physically return to establish Your Kingdom on Earth. O Come quickly, Mighty Lord, Come quickly, Amen and AMEN!

SERMON The birth of Jesus was miraculous. So too was His ministry, fully man, fully GOD! Healing the blind, the deaf, raising the dead, all AWE inspiring. The ressurrection on that Sunday morning, the FIRST day of the week long ago, and His appearing to hundreds and hundreds over the next 40 days. Then came the ascension; being bodily raised up into the sky to the Kingdom of His father and our Father in Heaven, taking His seat on the throne to the right hand of God. All authority in heaven and on earth now resting in His power.

Act 1:6-12  So when they {the disciples} had come together, they were asking Him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?"  (7)  He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;  (8)  but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."  (9)  And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.  (10)  And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them.  (11)  They also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven."  (12)  Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away.

As the eleven walked along on their return, they recalled that Sunday evening when the RISEN Christ called on them behind locked and bolted doors:

Joh 20:19-22  So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and *said to them, "Peace be with you."  (20)  And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord.  (21)  So Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you."  (22)  And when He had said this, He breathed on them and *said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. Thomas, called Didymus was not with the ten this night and was not witness to this first appearance to the group. He would later have opportunity to not only see the resurrected Jesus, but lay hands on Him Joh 20:27-28  Then He *said to Thomas, "Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing."  (28)  Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" The Lord Jesus responded in Joh 20:29  ... "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed."

This remarkable exchange between Thomas and His savior would mirror similiar responses over the course of the next 2,000 PLUS years! Precious souls coming to the realization that JESUS IS --IN FACT--THE LORD, and despite not seeing Him in person, in the FLESH, they believe totally and completely in the Promise uttered by the very Son of GOD! Rom 10:9  that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

In the moments before Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples and He gathered on the mountain top. Mat 28:18-20  And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  (19)  "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,  (20)  teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

The ascension of Christ to the right hand of God in heaven places Jesus on His throne interceding for His church. We are His church. He is preparing for His return and to establish His kingdom and eventually to Judge those who will appear before the Great White Throne in the final judgement. His promise to those left behind on earth, to deliver to them the Holy Spirit, that Spirit to reside in them for the balance of their days would come to them at the Pentecost, now days away. He instructed them to return to Jerusalem, waiting on the Lord to fulfill this promise. We will likewise be prepared to share with you here gathered, the delivery of the Holy Spirit the last Sunday of this month, May 31st.

SUMMARY Through out the 66 books of the Holy Bible, the unmistakable cable of Jesus is ever present from the very first verse of Genesis to the last AMEN that ends the Revelation of Jesus Christ. That cable runs absolutely true, never drooping or listing to the left or the right, but traveling absolutey straight without deviation or compromise. This ascension into heaven is yet a stepping stone to our eternity in the presence of He who created us.

CLOSING PRAYER O Lord God, Almighty Sovereign, thank-You for blessing us with Your truth, Your encouragement in the promise of that which is unfolding right before our very eyes. We LOVE YOU, Jesus, the more we learn of You, the greater the hunger we have to know even more. Give us, O Father, the needed patience and stamina to weather all storms that may come our way, and to rest on You as we come through this Covid-19 pestilence. We LOVE You because You first loved us, and continue this very day. Praise You, AMEN

BENEDICTION AND CLOSE Eph 6:23-24  Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  (24)  Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

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