Landmark Church

Today, we look to Acts chapter 1, verses 1b-11. We are looking at the teaching of Jesus about the Holy Spirit. What did Jesus say was the job of the Spirit of God in our lives as believers? How does the Holy Spirit help us? Why do we need the Holy Spirit in our lives? There is a lot of different teaching about the Spirit of God but let us begin with the lessons that Jesus taught before the Holy Spirit was sent. 

On the day of Pentecost Peter preached his first sermon after Jesus died, Rose again and Ascended back up into Heaven. What would that first sermon be about. What foundational truths can we glean from Peter's message? What does the Lord want us to know? This is what we will discuss this morning. 

In todays message we look at Jesus crossing the lake to go to the other side. What turned out to be a simple trip across the lake, suddenly took a turn for the worse. A massive storm came up and the wind and the waves nearly flooded the boat. The disciples went to wake Jesus who was asleep at the stern of the boat. What happened next frightened and amazed the disciples, Jesus spoke to the wind and the waves with these words, "Peace be still" and the storm did just that... Jesus just spoke the words--and nature submitted. This is a story of security. This is a story about control. Lastly, this is a story about faith and who God is. 

God knows us personally. He created us and has intimate knowledge of how we think and what motivates us and what brings us joy. Today, we look at Psalms 32. We identify four powers that are listed in this short Psalm. God's desire is that we would come to him honestly and in doing so that we would develop a relationship with Jesus that would take us to the very last day of our lives and into the next. 

Ever have trouble in your life? Where it becomes hard to just function? In the story of Joseph we see how a young man with a dream runs into a dream killer moment, after dream killer moment on his way to the top.  Before God could use Joseph, God tested Joseph. Though betrayed, framed and pushed back down over and over again. Joseph persevered. How was he able to accomplish this? In Genesis 29:5 it says, "...for God was with Joseph." That is what we will talking about today.  

On this Resurrection Sunday we begin to examine Luke's gospel in a very unusual place. The Roman soldiers are nailing a sign on the cross where Jesus has been crucified. The sign reads, "King of the Jews"  On either side of Jesus is crucified a criminal sentenced to die. It is here that we discover a microcosm of humanity. One criminal did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah. The other may not have started out believing Jesus was the Messiah, but as he neared death his heart softened. God is looking for those whose hearts can still soften. Lastly, we look at that first Resurrection Morning at a Vital Truth that each of us make a decision about--just as the two criminals that were crucified with Jesus.  

In the account of the good Samaritan we rarely hear the real reason Jesus replied the way he did to the expert in the Law. Jesus is trying to get us away from looking at our performance and to surrender to Him and the demonstration He would perform on a cruel cross. Researchers and Gallup polls all point to the fact that 90 percent of people believe that they are very loving people. However, what we discover from this narrative is that we do not love as well as we believe we do. This is the major point of this account. Jesus on the other hand wants us to begin to learn to love like  He loves. 

Today, we another look at being transformed by the renewing of our mind and heart. We examine some of C. S. Lewis's more iconic writings and implement them into this transformational process that all believers experience. God wants to transform us into the image of HIS Son. However, just as God had to transform the nation of Israel through the wilderness, so we see God doing the same to those who have accepted Him as Lord. Moses led former slaves to freedom; God must also lead us out of bondage as well and transform us from the mentality of former slaves to adopted sons and daughters of God.

The old song goes, "I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back." Colin & Cora  Dorsey are young Missionaries who are going to the European Country of Luxembourg. Colin shares his heart and a very good word of encouragement about faith and what God can do; If we will just say, "Yes" to Jesus. 

Today, we read from Romans 8:28-30. It is there that we see according to the New Century Version an overall view of what the Lord wants us to concentrate on, as we walk toward the Goal of our Faith. God knew them before he made the world, and he chose them to be like his Son so that Jesus would be the firstborn of many brothers and sisters. God planned for them to be like his Son; and those he planned to be like his Son, he also called; and those he called, he also made right with him..."  God chose them, God planned for them, he also called them and made them right with him. God has done much in the transformation process. We should give God enough time to transform us into the image of His Son.