Sermons and Lectures

Big God, Small Me: Bigger Than My Past

February 19, 2012 By Richard M. Hartian 3 Comments

Pastor James MacDonald

Sermon on February 18-19, 2012

Intro:

God likes new stuff

God gives us a new heart, new self and new name. God will bring down a new heaven.

God says “behold I make all things new”

1) God is bigger than my past.

2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

God will not call your past or my past to mind.

2) In Christ, I have a new purpose. Acts 9:16 You have to come to the place where your eyes are open and you see Jesus for who He is. Once it happened to Paul he had a new purpose. He is now willing to suffer for His name.

3) In Christ, I have a new boss. Acts 9:17-18 If you don’t know Jesus Christ as Master, Lord or Boss you don’t know Him at all.

Paul was immediately baptized

Jesus only gave us two orders.

Remember me – communion
Go public – don’t hide me, tell everyone one – get baptized – the New Testament knows nothing of an unbaptized convert. Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9

Four things about baptism

Baptism is personal – you believe first, then you get baptized. Your parents baptizing you as a baby doesn’t count.
It’s a picture – when you stand in the water you you think of the death, burial and resurrection
It’s a public profession – it doesn’t save you, it’s just what saved people do
It’s a problem – if you haven’t done it get it done – now

4) In Christ, I have a new message. Acts 9:20-22 Paul had a new story – he immediately preached in the synagogue.

We all have a story to tell…that is where you start. When you speak out the message you feel and get strengthened.

5) In Christ, I have a new enemy. Acts 9:23-25 Even though are past is behind us, our enemies are still there.

Opposition does not mean failure. Being obedient to God can bring opposition.

6) In Christ, I have a new reputation. Acts 9:26-28

7) In Christ, I have a new fellowship. Acts 9:19 and Acts 9:29-30 Express hospitality – believers should be opening our home to each other. Paul’s brothers protected him and provided for him.

Provers 17:17 – A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Service ended with baptisms…

Filed Under: Politics, Sermons and Lectures Tagged With: 2 Corinthians 5:17, Acts 9, Apostle Paul, baptism, Big God, Pastor James MacDonald, Small Me:

Big God, Small Me: Bigger Than My Sin (part 1)

February 5, 2012 By Richard M. Hartian 2 Comments

Pastor James MacDonald

Sermon on February 4-5, 2012

Harvest showed a brief video that is shown to people that come looking for a church – The video is at the bottom of this post. A call was made to participate in the new believer’s classes.

Pastor James announced that the notes provided are incorrect. He changed the message Saturday morning.

1 Timothy 1:12-18, Genesis 3

12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 18 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, 20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Intro:

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Paul says that he was the top dog sinner, the CEO of sin, the chief.

1. Sin is not a trifle, it’s not a little oops; it’s a tragedy, it’s a cancer and it’s growing in the center of my life’s purpose. Apart from Christ it will take you down.

All natural disasters are because of sin (Rom 8 )
Political disaster – did you see what was happening in the streets of Damascus today?
Economic disaster – how many of the problems at wall street or with the housing industry would go away if you took away sin
Moral disaster – every moral disaster is because of sin.
Relational disaster -

It’s easy to see sin in others or in your family. It’s hard to see sin in yourself. What makes it so hard to see sin in the mirror? – my sin nature.

A. W. Tozer said “A man can believe in total depravity and never have any sense of it for himself at all”

Genesis chapter 3 has the fall of man.

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

2. We are sinners by choice.

Four ways sin comes to us:

It gets us to doubt God’s word – before you can sin you must doubt God’s word.
Distort God’s word – God never said they couldn’t touch the apple. We don’t know that it was an apple…it was some kind of fruit.
Deny God’s word – that’s not going to happen
Discredit God’s word – God is trying to keep something from you.

Chapter 6:5 – The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

3. We are sinners by nature

Romans 5:12 – Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned

The extent of sin

Ecclesiastes 7:20 – Everyone is a sinner, to claim otherwise is self-deceit

1 John:1 – We say we have no sin

Romans 7:18 – Just because you know someone who looks like they don’t sin – they are sinners

1 Timothy 5:24 – Everyone is a sinner

Pastor James asked us to jot down three sins we are still struggling with (do it in code he said so no one can see it).

It’s important that we know the reality of sin.

5 things that sin will do:

Sin will pursue you – you need to stop and say I will not do that…do it now
Sin will disappoint you – misery will be waiting on the other side. Our Harvest saying is “choose to sin choose to suffer.” Sin will always lead you to a place you did not want to go
Sin will trip you up – you think you have it under control or resolved and before you know it, sin will trip you up
Sin will enslave you – sin is addictive. You are slaves of the one or thing you obey…either obedience to righteousness or sin to death
Sin will expose you – Satan hates you and will expose your sin at the worst possible time. Be sure your sin will find you out

Harmatology – the study of the nature of sin

4. Paul says he was the worst sinner

Pastor James said he does not want us to think we are better than others…we need to look at ourselves.

Paul enabled others to sin – ask yourself “do I do that?”

Acts chapter 7:51-53. Steven was doing some preaching.

51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53 you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”

Look at their response to Steven’s teaching:

54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

The only time in the New Testament after His ascension you see Jesus standing – A saying is – “you stand up for Jesus and He will stand up for you.”

Paul (at that time Saul) was holding their coats. Paul is helping them sin…he is enabling them.

Do you enable to people to sin? Do you look the other way? Do you cause them to sin by your bad example? Spouses can cause their spouse to sin. If this is happening talk to your small group leader or someone else at Harvest.

If they are sinning call the church. If they are breaking to law call the police.

Kathy MacDonald said ” I will never support what I know will hurt you”. When you find out you were wrong you will need someone to come back to. They will remember those that warned them…they will remember you for telling the truth and come back to you.

Paul pursued personal sin – Do I do that?

Acts chapter 8

1 And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Paul approved their sin. Sin was decking him and dragging him further into darkness. Galuations 1:13 – For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.

Paul persisted in sin chap 9:1

1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

1 Timothy 1:

12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

The reason God saves the worst sinners (recorded in the Bible for us to see) is so that people today who have gone far into sin and have done the worst can see that they can be saved.

Next week – Paul gets saved

Filed Under: Politics, Sermons and Lectures Tagged With: 1 Timothy, A. W. Tozer, Apostle Paul, Big God, Genesis 3, Pastor James MacDonald, Sin, Small Me:

Big God, Small Me: Bigger Than My Religion?

January 28, 2012 By Richard M. Hartian 3 Comments

Pastor James MacDonald

Intro

Today is the first part of a 10 week series on a person – Paul…I have never preached this way before. Pastor James talked about a trip to the Grand Canyon when he was a kid. How small he felt at how big the Grand Canyon was. This was the segway into how big our God is and how small we are.

Pastor James believes what the scripture says about Paul. Paul was Jewish born in Tarsus (modern day Turkey) and martyred in Rome. A great missionary raised in Jerusalem. He was a Roman citizen who likely came from a wealthy family. His family business was tent making (leather worker). He was able to support himself..born about 5AD, died 67AD at age 62. Birth name, Saul, educated as a Rabi, who sat under the best professors (teachers)…he joined the opposition to persecute the church. He was the one whom held the coats while they were stoning Steven. Paul was converted when Jesus Christ appeared personally to him on the way to Damascus.

Paul was a devout Bible man. A teacher of the scriptures. He was a “Bible Guy” a “Church Guy”…he was religious.

The word religion was used 5 times in the New Testament…the word itself is not necessarily a bad word. The problem with religion is not religious observance, but once you get outside of what Christ commanded you to do, you need to be careful and turn it [religion] down. Religion is prescribed pattern worship. It’s extra things added to the scripture that God does not require from us. Paul was drowning in Religion. Jesus pulled him out.

1A). Religious leaders can’t save me but Jesus can. Philippians 3:1-3

1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. 2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh

Repetition is a good thing. To go over and over some things is just safe. Beware of dogs – people who distort and/or add to the gospel.

Examples of this are:

Religious duty – you have to read the Bible to be saved. Go to church.
Moral responsibility – you have to quit smoking before you can be saved, stop living together if you’re not married
Flesh mutilators – you have to get circumcised

No one should be allowed to corrupt your mind about the simplicity of Christ and salvation

2A). Good behavior can’t save me but Jesus can. Philippians 3:4, 6b

4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

Paul was saying if anyone can get to heaven by works it was him. He was confident in the flesh.

Pastor James mentioned that he wanted to become a Police Chaplin and told a story about his first call and how hopeless the people were; they had no pastor. No church, no one…he said to us that people just don’t know how to be saved. There are people all around us who just don’t know. They have never had a caring person or arm around them. There are people dying without Christ. Good behavior can’t save you.

3A). My family can’t save me but Jesus can. Philippians 3:5a

5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;

Four things about Paul:

Circumcised on the 8th day – Paul was born a Jew…he has this by birth
Of the people of Israel – he was from Jacob, the tribe of Benjamin
A Hebrew of the Hebrews – he spoke Hebrew…
He was orthodox

None of that helped with Paul’s salvation…it counts as zero

4A). My knowledge can’t save me but Jesus can. Philippians 5b

5b as to the law, a Pharisee;

Three signs that you are leaning to hard on your learning:

When you know the Word but you are not a loving person. You have to be growing in love. It is the truest test of your conversion.
When nothing is minor to you – everything is a war, a fight to the death.
If you freak when people believe differently

5A). My passion can’t save me but Jesus can. Philippians 6a

6a as to zeal,

6A) How to be saved?

1b) Surrender religious standing. Philippians 3:7-8

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

2b) Submit by faith – to Christ as Savior. Philippians 3:9-11

9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

The service was closed by a video titled “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus || Spoken Word”

Filed Under: Politics, Sermons and Lectures Tagged With: Big God, Pastor James MacDonald, Philippians 3, Small Me:

Living In the Reality of Forgiveness

January 22, 2012 By Richard M. Hartian 4 Comments

Pastor Rick Donald

Psalm 32

Today was the end of an incredible three part series by Pastor Rick Donald – I will post the other two sermons later this week. The following are my notes taken from the service. He opened with a reminder about the men’s conference next weekend.

Context – the Psalms were written out of David’s own personal experience. Many believe that Psalm 32 was written out of David’s great sin with Bathsheba (the sin was adultery, deceit, and murder).

David’s trying to tell us with Psalm 32 – “learn from me”.

1) My forgiveness from God is available through confession. (vv. 1-2)

1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

David used three verses to communicate where he was at (words that describe our hearts):

Transgression – means rebellion against God…stepping over the boundary with God.
Sin – to miss the mark…the mark is Jesus…perfect character.
Iniquity – means distorted, twisted. It reflects the crookedness of our nature. Our heart is sinful by nature.

“Whose sin is covered” means that which God finds offensive He removes from or puts out of his sight. God chooses to treat me as if I’ve never sinned. He replaces my sin with Christ’s righteousness.

If sin is what I am, and God offers such forgiveness for sin, how do I get it? Verse 2 says “in whose spirit there is no deceit.”. The solution to my sin problem is God’s own Son, who hung on the cross. If I believe that Jesus was the payment for my sin and confess it with my mouth I will be saved.

Pastor Rick shared his salvation story from when he was age 12.

2) My fellowship with God is broken through sin. (vv. 3-4)

3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah

For when I kept silent – David kept his sin with Bathsheba silent. He did not confess it (his sin) to God. David did what you and I do, he hid his sin and his heart got hardened. When David kept silent his bones wasted away (a picture of aging, weak bones and sickness). When we choose to not confess our sins, to hold them in our heart, it makes us spiritually dead.

Groaning – the sound of a wounded animal crying out. David used this picture to show how he felt.

Your hand was heavy upon me – conviction. Because he would not turn from his sin, God was convicting him to bring him to a place of brokenness and repentance.

Pastor Rick told the story of something in his youth. He could have been in an accident, but because he stopped just for a moment, another car passed him and was hit by a drunk driver. God used this to convict him. God eventually broke him. In tears he repented and confessed his sins. For the very first time he understood repentance. He had to make choices to change things in his life.

5 reasons we don’t confess our sin:

Because we love our sin
I rationalize my sin – it’s no big deal…it’s not hurting anyone, yet
I don’t see my sin – pride is blinding me
We think we deserve our sin – example a husband that embraces pornography because his wife is not meeting his needs
I don’t want to deal with the consequences – we don’t want to trust God with the outcome of confession

We forget the joy and fruitfulness of forgiveness.

3) My growth in God is advanced through repentance. (v. 5)

5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

David makes it really clear here that the way to forgiveness comes through repentance.

Two parts to repentance:

Confession – I acknowledge my sin to you…we are agreeing with God, God, you are right, what I did was wrong
Repentance – this gets us out of the cycle. To rethink or change your mind toward sin. I’m changing the way I think about the sin, which will lead to different choices in my life as it relates to that sin

Three important parts to repentance:

It starts in the mind – a change in the way I think about it
Emotions – it needs to grieve me
Will – now I begin to make different choices in my life

4) The promises of God are experienced through humility. (vv. 6-9)

6 Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.
7 You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.

Pastor Rick shared a story about horses.

Three promises from these verses:

Found – God promises his presence. Don’t take it in your own hands…it only gets worse
Protection – God is a hiding place for us. God protects us in the midst of our sin by reminding us of our position in Christ. Satan wants you to forget this. God reminds you who He is.
Path – God will instruct you in the way you should go. God’s Word leads us in the right way. It keeps us from things that will be painful.

5) My thankfulness to God is expressed through worship. (vv. 10-11)

10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD.
11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Pastor Rick said he was going to let the verses speak for themselves.

My thankfulness to God for my great forgiveness that I find first in Christ Jesus that causes me to come to full repentance.

Do you have you salvation story?

Filed Under: Politics, Sermons and Lectures Tagged With: Forgiveness, Harvest Bible Chapel, Pastor Rick Donald, Psalm 32, Repentance

The Way of Happiness

January 14, 2012 By Richard M. Hartian Leave a Comment

Pastor Rick Donald

Psalm 1

The worship leader made an announcement that Lindsay McCaul’s new album would go on sale Tuesday. It would be available after service.

These are my sermon notes; I hope you find them a blessing. I have to say that I have found this message series by Pastor Rick a true blessing to me. This man packs so much into a sermon it can be overwhelming to take good notes…
1) When I have a passion for the truth. (v. 1-2)

1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

People are looking for what will make them happy…they will never find it apart from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Blessed means happy and joyful

Advice – there are some things I need to avoid when I seek counsel. The wicked. A person who is not apart of God. Pastor Rick said he has a concern for our church when it comes to who we are listening to for advice. He asked the question, who do you go to for advise? Oprah?

Four false teachings that Dr. Higbee hears:

Pursue happiness at all cost; God wants you to be happy
Go with your heart; look out for number one
You are the product of your dysfunctional past; you have little or no responsibility for your action or past
You need a professional to treat your real issues; God is irrelevant he’s only for spiritual issues

Sinner – nor stands in the way of sinners – key word sinner

Avoid the person who chooses sin. Also, avoid the Internet and reality TV; if you don’t, you’re still hanging out with that sinful influence

Attitude – nor sits in the seats of the scoffer (to ridicule or mock the things of God and His Word)

God’s Word will:

Change and transform
Wants to tell me right from wrong
It will make you wise
It gives me a clear picture of who God is

The truly happy man is delighting in God’s word and meditating on it (meditate literally means repeat, repeat and repeat)

If you want to know God’s joy and happiness then:

Ask – if you want, ask, God will do it
Act – you have to get God’s word out. Pick it up every day!

2) When I am a picture of stability. (v. 3-4)

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Can you see the picture? Stable and well grounded with deep roots.

The key word is planted (means like a tree that has been transplanted). The psalmist is saying that we need to make choices everyday, that causes me to be fruitful and bear much fruit in my life.

How do we do this?

Commit to a weekend service where you are going to be fed God’s Word
Have a personal Bible study, where you are studying yourself about how your life should be
Get into a small group
Listen to good Bible teaching – turn off your music and talk radio

If I asked you, how can you tell if a tree is healthy – the answer would be, by the fruit.

How can you tell if a Christian is healthy and strong and if the Spirit of God is active in his life – by the fruit

What does that fruit look like?

Galatians 5:22-23

Love – God’s unconditional Love – it’s a choice I make to put the needs and interest of others ahead of myself with no strings attached
Joy – super natural delight (something God produces in my life) in the person of God and the purposes of God (always at work for his glory and your good even when we don’t see it or enjoy it)
Peace – the calm assurance of what God is doing is best
Patience – when you’re exercising restraint instead of revenge
Kindness – acting for the good of the person, regardless of what they do to you
Goodness – the desire and ability to show generosity to another person that doesn’t deserve it
Faithfulness – A resolve not to wander away from commitments even when it costs me
Gentleness
Self control – restraining my passion and appetites

When does a leaf wither? Answer – when it is not nourished. If you have God at work in your life, you can go through tough times without withering. You can still have joy in the midst of what you are going through.

The wicked (those that do not know God) are not anything like that. The wicked are like chaff (that blow away in the wind).

3) When I have the promise of eternity. (v. 5-6)

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Knowledge I will be with God for eternity

The destination for the wicked will be Hell. They will be separated from God for all eternity.

Which one are you? Which picture are you? The happy, righteous, joyful person regardless of what’s happening in your life or the person destined for separation from God for eternity.

You don’t have to be separated from God for eternity….all you have to do is accept, believe and confess.

Filed Under: Politics, Sermons and Lectures Tagged With: Harvest Bible Chapel, Pastor Rick Donald, Psalm 1, Psalms

Revealed – Seeing The Invisible God

January 8, 2012 By Richard M. Hartian Leave a Comment

Pastor Rick Donald

What Are You Looking At? Pastor Rick Changed the title to “Revealed…Seeing The Invisible God”

Psalm 19

Communion was done this morning

Pastor Rick announced that they were celebrating the birth of their new beautiful granddaughter – Kylie Ann

1) When I look into the sky I see your presence. (v. 1-6)

1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

We have a risen Savior! You cannot miss that message at our Easter service. In Psalm 19, he is comparing the creation of God to a choir singing His praises. God is our Creator and Designer, we are put here in this place to manifest His glory.

Creation is singing it – there is a Creator, a Designer and He is awesome.

Creation’s message is visual, it is so clear, it is so great, you only need to open your heart to see it.

It’s available – no matter who you are or where you are, we all see the same creation of God and it’s available to us all.

The sun is amazing – Stats:

Size much bigger then earth 864,000 miles wide
A million earths can fit inside it
93 million miles away from the earth
10,000 degrees at surface ??? Degrees at it’s core

God spoke it and the sun was there

Pastor made a parallel to his son Jordan’s marriage

The sun has a very specific course – rises in the east and sets in the west. God is in control.

There is nothing that escapes the light and heat of the sun.

What am I suppose to get from this? The psalmist wants us to walk away with the heavens declare the glory of God…it’s Who God is. The creation reminds us of Who God is.

Four things God’s creation reminds us:

God is faithful. You can count on Him Hebrews 10:22
God is powerful. If God can speak creation into existence…there is nothing that can come into your life (which He allows) that He can’t handle Jeremiah 17:32
God is personal. Luke 12:6-8
Praise. God’s creation continually sings out to God of His Glory. My life should bring God glory.

Question…which of those 4 things is God reminding you that you needed to hear?

2) When I look into the Word I see your promises. (v. 7-11)

7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Pastor Rick made an analogy about the promises he made 30 years ago this May at the alter when he married Lynn. He noted that he has not been perfect over the 30 years with his promises.

God never falls short on his promises.

Six specific promises God makes:

The law of the Lord is perfect – it revives the soul. It warns us. God’s Word is reliable. It makes wise the simple (openness)…you can take the truth of God’s Word and apply it to your everyday life
God’s Word always directs and orders our path. Keeps us from bringing harm to ourselves.
The commandment of the Lord is pure. It is without blemish. It gives me a clear accurate picture of who God is…joy, mercy righteous, judge
The rules of the Lord are true and righteous all together. God’s Word is very specific on right and wrong
God is a God who is consistent. He never changes.
The psalmist wants us to have an insatiable hunger toward God’s Word and living it out in God’s world

When I look into my heart I see your purposes. (v. 12-14)

12 Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

There is a very clear procession

Observation and creation

Information and promises

Transformation and change

God’s Word is not just informational…It is not just to be memorized or learned… it is to be transformational. He wants the Word to change us into His likeness.

Like the sun in verses 4-6

God’s Word wants to expose sin:

Hidden sins
Unintentional sins
Sins of ignorance
Secret hidden sins that we are aware of that nobody else knows…the ones we are hanging onto.

God’s Word wants to expose those.

Presumptuous sins…I know what God’s Word says but I want what I want. As we expose ourself to God’s Word, God will change us.

God’s Word wants to expose our sins…

Why?

Because there needs to be a change…I need to take some things off and put some new things on.

He wants my life to reflect Him and His glory and greatness but I can’t do that until I deal with my sin.

Filed Under: Politics, Sermons and Lectures Tagged With: Harvest Bible Chapel, Pastor Rick Donald, Psalm, Psalm 19

Lord Change Me: The Power of Biblical Friendship

December 7, 2011 By Richard M. Hartian Leave a Comment

Intro: Last message in this series (Lord Change Me).

1A) Lasting change requires Biblical friendship.

Proverbs 12:26
People who change are surrounded by Biblical caring friends.

26 One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

Abraham had Sarah and Lot
Moses had Aaron and Jethro
Joshua had Caleb
Ruth had Naomi and Boaz
Ester had Mordecai
Paul had Barnabas, Silas, Timothy
Jesus had 70, 12 and 3
Peter had John

Jesus sent them out two by two.

We are not supposed to be doing this alone. We need our Christian family.

How many of our friends are friends of the flesh cultivating in you things that are against God.

2A) A Biblical friend holds you up when you stumble.

1 Samuel 23:16-18 ESV
16 And Jonathan, Saul’s son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God. 17 And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Saul my father also knows this.” 18 And the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home.

1b) Notice presence. v. 16a – Jonathan, Saul’s son, rose and went to David.

Jonathan had everything to lose. He was risking his own position…if his father killed David Jonathan would be king. There was no way Jonathan was going to let his friend down. If you don’t know what to do, know that presence is never wrong…

2b) Notice prayer. v. 16b – and strengthened his hand in God.

Presence has to be more than just being there. Jonathan helped to strengthen David’s hand in God. Pastor James believes Jonathan prayed for David. Don’t just make small talk. You have to pray for the person – right now!

3b) Notice protection. v. 17 – And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Saul my father also knows this.” Do not “counsel to the flesh”. Don’t flame the issue with worldly advice and insight the issue.

Loyalty – when we stumble we need friends that protect us with fierce loyalty. Are you a loyal friend? Focus on being a loyal friend to someone – not do I have a loyal friend.

4b) Notice promise. v. 18 – And the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. Be committed to the person, not to the person that you think they are. Don’t be committed to what a person does for you.

Friendships should be verbalized

ATC (Absolute Total Commitment) You will never suffer by my hand. I will never say or do anything, knowingly, against you.

Key ingredient: Love Proverbs 17:17 – A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

3A) A Biblical friend holds you down when you stray.

Just when David got comfortable he got in trouble. That’s what the enemy does; he gets you alone where you can be tempted.

(2 Samuel 12: 1-15)
1 And the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds, 3 but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. 4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” 5 Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.” 7 Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. 8 And I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. 9 Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 11 Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’” 13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child who is born to you shall die.” 15 Then Nathan went to his house. David’s Child Dies And the LORD afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he became sick.

Verse 7 is the moment of Biblical friendship. Nathan risked it all to confront the king. That is what a true friend does. Psalm 51 flowed from a Biblical friend that was willing to hold David down

Everyone needs someone who will look into your eyes and say you are neglecting you own wife. You want to be xxxxx but you can’t even xxxx.

Key Ingredient: Truth – all love but no truth is hypocrisy and all truth but no love is brutality. The power is in the Balance

4A) Change that lasts:

Choose a friend committed to change – stop picking friends that want to play. Stop picking friends on infinities but choose friends on a passion for the same priorities. Forge a friendship with someone of the same sex that can help you become a better person.
Review Biblical pattern for change
Commit to mutual accountability for change – how are you doing with _________?

God wants to work through us to help each other live Biblically.

Filed Under: Politics, Sermons and Lectures, Spiritual Development Tagged With: 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, Lord Change Me, Pastor James MacDonald, Proverbs