Tag: worry

Pathway to Peace

On By ForChristsSakeFellowshipIn Sermons

In Romans 3:23, it says that everyone has sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. Whether you think of yourself as a good person or not, none of us measures up to a Godly standard. There’s just no way to do enough good to help this fallen world.

The words ‘sin’ and ‘fallen’ don’t need to be what define us though. God has placed a remedy before us to bridge the gap between Him and us. That bridge is the cross of Jesus Christ.

Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection paid the penalty for your sins and mine. The Bible says that “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24).

However, just because the bridge is there doesn’t mean that we automatically get saved. We have to accept that saving grace. We have to cross the bridge and we do that when we accept and receive Christ through His personal invitation.

It’s much like taking an airplane. We are able to take that flight if we have a ticket, but it’s no good unless we get on the plane. It will leave without us if we don’t climb on board. To partake in the peace and abundant life of Jesus Christ, you must accept and receive it.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” – John 1:12

Romans 10:13 says, “Whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” That word “whosoever” means anyone. You and me.


To receive Christ you need to do four things:

  • ADMIT your spiritual need. “I am a sinner.” Just like in any problem, the first step is admitting you have one.
  • REPENT and be willing to turn from your sin. You have to pick a path. One leads to death, the other to eternal life. You at least have to be willing to turn down the correct path, but make no mistake, you can’t do it alone. You need Jesus’ help and that’s what He’s offering.
  • BELIEVE that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross. Romans 10:19 says that if you declare with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
  • RECEIVE, through prayer, Jesus Christ into your heart and life. Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in” (Revelation 3:20).

Whether you are a non-believer in search of peace in your life or even if you are a lifelong Christian who doesn’t feel like they have had that connection with Jesus, now is your chance to come to Him. He’s waiting for you.

Please pray this prayer with me:


“Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins and I want to turn from them now and forever. I want You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and Savior.”

Friends, if you prayed that prayer with me, I believe that you have just been saved, what the Bible calls being born again. If you didn’t ask Jesus into your heart, then what are you waiting for? The Bible says that today is the day of salvation; now is the accepted time.

I know that if I had a single doubt as to my eternal salvation, you couldn’t drag me away from here without accepting Jesus Christ.

Now, get into a good bible based local church, if you are physically able, and come to know more about the God who loves you and wants to be with you forever. You are now no longer at odds against Him, but instead you have returned to Him as His child who was once lost, but now is found. His arms are outstretched to welcome you home.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you always.

God’s blessings to you.

DH

Why Worry?

On By ForChristsSakeFellowshipIn Sermons

“Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” Matthew 6:27

I admit it, sometimes I worry. Sometimes I just can’t get things off of my mind. I know I’m supposed to be a good Christian and “let go and let God”, but I just can’t seem to do that all of the time. I want to, I really do, but I feel like I’m just wired to worry about some things.

The Bible says not to worry. Jesus Himself said, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” The answer is a resounding NO. God holds my life in His awesome hands, not me. I can’t add to it at all, but I can sure take it away through bad living, and that includes worrying. We can stress ourselves into a very early grave if we try hard enough, but that is not the life God wants for us.

If you are like this, I understand what you are going through. You are not alone in this struggle or any type of struggle for that matter. Life is full of difficult circumstances that our minds tend to dwell on. The really bad part is that most of the things we end up worrying about never come to pass anyway. Have you ever noticed that? How some circumstances you just can’t get off of your mind end up going a totally different direction when they actually occur? That’s God!

It’s not that we don’t trust Him to do good for us. It’s more about doubting ourselves. We feel as though we have made poor choices in our lives and we will reap what we sow. But there’s a catch to that. We do make bad decisions, but God loves you. Hear that again, GOD LOVES YOU.

The Bible says that God knows what we need before we even know we need it. The birds don’t need to plant crops or store away in barns, but their Heavenly Father gives them exactly what they need day by day. How much more important are you compared to birds? Your worth to God is beyond measure. He’s proven that through sending His Son Jesus to die for us on the cross. If that doesn’t prove that God loves you and wants the best for you, I don’t know what will.

Yesterday’s choices are done and over with. Tomorrow has its own problems. Don’t worry about those things. Today is the day you’ve been blessed with. God will sustain you and bring you through. He promised he will give you what you need for today. Even Jesus Christ prayed, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Today, you will be taken care of.

Leave yesterday to God’s mercy and tomorrow to God’s providence.

God forgives you of all wrongs once you put your faith into Jesus Christ. The Bible says that God will work all things for the good of those who love Him. That means absolutely all things. Even your bad decisions, or at least what you think are bad decisions, are in God’s hands and in His plan. Nothing is a surprise to God. Anything that happened yesterday will be taken care of.

God has forgiven you. Now please forgive yourself of what you believe are bad choices and just learn from them. Do all the good you can today. God promised to take care of the rest.

God’s blessings to you.

DH

Most Needed Verse

On By ForChristsSakeFellowshipIn Sermons

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” – Philippians 4:6

When I was growing up, my mom always had a Bible sitting on the coffee table in the living room. I liked picking it up and seeing all of her handwritten notes in there.  One thing in particular stood out to me.  She had Philippians 4:6 written down next to big, bold, underlined words saying, “MOST NEEDED VERSE.”

To anyone who knew my mom, you would understand just why she wrote this verse down with such importance. Mom was a worry-wart; in fact, she was the queen mother of worry-warts.  If she would have gotten paid for worrying, even my great-grandchildren would never have to worry about their next meal.  However, no matter how much she worried, most of the things she worried about never came to pass anyway.  The very few things that did happen, her worrying couldn’t have changed them at all.

Many of us spend our lives concerned for what the future holds. We sometimes “what if…” ourselves literally to death.  Worry doesn’t keep bad things from happening, it only wears us down and saps every bit of joy from today.  Jesus knows how prone to worry that we are, but He puts it plainly when He said, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?”  Almost the entire 12th chapter of Luke shows Jesus talking about worrying being a waste of time.  He is speaking right to each of us when He says to consider how God provides for animals who do not plant but are always fed; flowers of the field that do not labor or spin and yet they are arrayed in more beautiful clothing than King Solomon was in all of his glory.

This life is tough sometimes. Becoming a Christian doesn’t take away the pain and the problems, but it does help you to deal with them better.  By being close to Jesus, you are setting yourself up against an immovable pillar.  The weight of the world may come crashing down on you occasionally, but you are always supported.  You are not alone!

Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” How true that is.  His Holy Spirit is living in you and through you, helping you every step of the way.  We may not understand all of God’s plan and frankly it’s not for us to understand, but just know that our Heavenly Father is caring for us always.  Much like the old “Footprints in the Sand” poem, Jesus carries us through the trials and difficulties in life.  In short, if you walk with Jesus, you will never be alone.  God is bigger and stronger than any problem that you could ever have.

During the last conversation I ever had with my mom, she seemed more at peace than any other time that I knew her. Honestly, I was more concerned than she was.  Her cancer had eaten her away to nothing and we both knew there wasn’t much time left.  But, out of all of those heart-wrenching anxieties, this woman who would have normally worried about anything looked at me and said, “My darling baby boy, please don’t worry.  You and I love Jesus.  I promise, we’ll be together again.”  She taught me more at that single moment than she taught me throughout my entire life.  She taught me her most needed verse as well as the next one after that which states, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  At that moment, she showed me the true peace of God.

I miss my momma.

If there’s anything she’d like for me to tell you right now, it’s that you can’t worry yourself to Jesus. Instead, cast your worries upon His mighty cross of salvation.  He has you in His arms.  You’re safe now.

God’s blessings to you.

DH