It seems to me that when we gather to worship the living God and to fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ we ought to be energized and encouraged on Monday.
So what was so Awesome about yesterday?
Well, we had 115 gather for Bible Study at 10:00AM. Our adult classes were reminded of the importance of prayer through a study of Nehemiah. I am also confident our children and youth heard the Word of God taught in a clear and practical way as well.
At 11:00 our choir led us in worship with some wonderful songs. I began my series on "New" with the most important new thing that God can do for us - give us a "New Heart." It has been said that at the heart of every problem is the problem of the heart. The Bible paints a bleak picture of our heart.
Without Christ our heart is....
1. Deceitful (Jer. 17:9)
2. Darkened (Rom. 1:21)
3. Distant (Matt. 15:8)
4. Dead (Eph. 2:1-5)
5. Depraved (Gen 6:5) We are ALL sinners through and through.
Thanks be unto God that He can give us a New Heart!
Ezekiel 36:25-26 (ESV)
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
So how do we get a new heart?
1. It begins with GOD! (John 3:16, 1 Peter 1:3)
It is God who gives us a New Heart! A dead man can't give himself life. A drowning man can't rescue himself. A sinner can never save himself. But thanks be unto God "we ought ALWAYS to give thanks to God... because God chose (us) as the firstfruits to be saved." (2 Thess. 2:13-14) As the song says, "I am saved and I KNOW that I am." I am saved because God is the one has given me a new heart.
2. The GOSPEL is vital to imparting a new heart.
I must hear the good news of Christ's death, burial and resurrection (1 Cor. 15:1-4) and respond to that message in faith. No wonder the Apostle Paul proclaimed "I am not ashamed of the GOSPEL of Christ; for it is the power of GOD unto salvation..." (Rom. 1:16). Notice that both God and the Gospel are vital aspects of one's salvation.
3. Finally we must never forget that salvation is all of GRACE (Eph 2:8-9)
As I type a wonderful hymn comes to mind.
Let these words bless your heart.
Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it,
Where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden,
Setting my spirit free;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.
Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Wonderful grace, all sufficient for me, for even me.
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame,
O magnify the precious Name of Jesus.
Praise His Name!
His Grace is overwhelming!
As a believer, one who has put their faith in Christ, you have a New Heart. Your new heart is not based upon anything you have done, who you are, who you know, what you have or anything else that may seem to be important. You are saved because GOD has seen fit for you to hear the GOSPEL so that you may be saved by GRACE.
Now that is a wonderful thought that will carry you through whatever the day may bring.
We should also be motivated to pray for others and share the Gospel with others because God's wonderful Grace can impart a new heart to others as well.
Whew, that's more than enough for a Sunday Summary and yet I am not done. But I will stop for now and invite you to stop back by tomorrow for an interesting thought and a little highlight from Sunday evening.
Praising God for His Grace!
Pastor Mike
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