Monday, April 30, 2018

“ARE YOU ANCHORED IN THE STORM”?


TEXT: Acts 27:13-15, 20  And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.  But not long after, there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.  And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her driveVerse 20:  And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.

The Author:  Luke (a personal secretary – helper) accompanying Paul on his missionary journey.

A storm is a disturbance of the normal condition of the atmosphere by winds of unusual force or direction.  Can we agree that “storms” are a fact of life?  I’m sure many of you have experienced many different types of storms.  You may have lived through rain storms, snow storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, and so forth.  Some more severe than others, but each had its own unique features.

There’s a storm that comes from the forces of nature or when other people exert their power in your life and wreak havoc in the atmosphere around you.  The name of these storms are called the “storms of life”.  The thing about this storm is the severity which will create dangerous and life threatening conditions.  At that time, it’s hard to understand the ways of God when the battle is raging, and you are surrounded by the enemy.

When you’re going through a painful trial and heartache, it can bring one down to an all-time low.  It can seem almost unbearable and crushing, especially when you don’t understand why God would allow this struggle in your life.  Ask yourself, how can this torment you’re experiencing be part of God’s perfect plan for you?  It just doesn’t make sense.

I want you to know that each struggle brings an opportunity for God to manifest His power in you.

Monday, April 9, 2018

THE LIGHT


The Gospel of St. John is the forty-third book of the Bible, and John depicts Jesus as the “Son of God”.  Love is the dominant theme of all his teachings and writings.
John recorded seven statements of Jesus declaring His Deity – that He was One with His Father:
       St. John 6:35  I am the Bread of Life
       St. John 8:12  I am the Light of the world
       St. John 10:9  I am the Door
       St. John 10:11  I am the Good Shepherd
       St. John 11:25  I am the Resurrection
       St. John 14:6  I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life
       St. John 15:1  I am the True Vine

“I AM” is God’s name in “man”.  It is Jehovah”, the “indwelling Christ”, the true Spiritual man whom God made in His image and after His likeness. (Genesis 1:26-27).
In Exodus 3, God is ready to send Moses into Egypt to deliver the Israelites, and Moses wanted to know how he would address “the God of their fathers, who was sending him, when they asked:
       Exodus 3:13-14  What is His name? what shall I say unto them?
14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM:  and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

As we go, “I AM” is sending us! 
       1 John 4:17  As he is, so are we, in this world!

From these seven sayings of the “I AM GOD”, we’re going to look at the second one from which I’ll take my topic:  “I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD”!  “WE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD”.  (KJV)
       St. John 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world:  he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.