Are You Dead to Sin?

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." -Col. 3:1-2.

It seems to me that the Lord has a message for us today, that the things of this life are temporal and are going to pass away. But the things that are eternal are going to last. We should set our affections on things above, not on things on the earth.

Loved ones, it says if we are risen with Christ, we are to do that, seek those things that are above. What does it mean to be risen with Christ? We must be born again. We remember when that time came in our lives, dear brothers and sisters, when we stood in those baptismal waters and we made that covenant before that cloud of witnesses, that we would be true and faithful to God until life's end. That wasn't just for today. It wasn't just for tomorrow. We said we would be true and faithful until life's end. Then we were buried in those baptismal waters.

I will never forget it, loved ones. I will never forget it; in my proving, the elder asked me, "Are you dead to sin? Are you tempted?"
"Yes, I was tempted."
"But do you yield?"
"No, I don't yield."
"Then you must be dead to sin."
Loved ones, he went on to comment, we wouldn't think of burying something that was not dead.

I have often thought about that. Even in a natural way, many of you have loved ones in a rest home and they linger and lay, maybe not even aware that you are there. You wonder ... what for? Why do they still live? But, loved ones, think about it in a natural way. We wouldn't think of taking that loved one and burying them, because they are still living.

It is not different than that for a child of God. When we come to God in true repentance, we have to humble ourselves.
--Sermon Excerpt: Bro. R.I.

Jesus Answers Our Questions

... faith really does not always have the answers.

But faith really consists of a reliance upon God and believing, because of past experiences, that the end result will come to pass.

Now they (the disciples) had a question.

Isn’t that so much like us, beloved? When we receive the counsel and the direction of the Lord, sometimes we have questions. But Jesus gave answers to them – and He gives answers to us. And how many times have we found that to be so beautiful – when He gives answers to our questions.

--Bro. S.M.

Jesus - My Strength in Weakness

Jesus! what a Friend for sinners!
Jesus! Lover of my soul;
Friends may fail me, foes assail me,
He, my Savior, makes me whole.

Jesus! what a Strength in weakness!
Let me hide myself in Him.
Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing,
He, my Strength, my victory wins.

Jesus! what a Help in sorrow!
While the billows over me roll,
Even when my heart is breaking,
He, my Comfort, helps my soul.

Jesus! what a Guide and Keeper!
While the tempest still is high,
Storms about me, night overtakes me,
He, my Pilot, hears my cry.

Jesus! I do now adore Him,
More than all in Him I find.
He hath granted me forgiveness,
I am His, and He is mine.

REFRAIN:
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.

My Heart With Thanks Overflows

Morning hours are ever lovely
When my heart with thanks overflows,
And my voice in hymns so gladly
Soaring up to God's throne goes,
Soaring up to God's throne goes.

Dwelling in the Spirit's splendor,
Gladly I'll devote this day
To my good and gracious Master,
Thankful tributes to Him pay,
Thankful tributes to Him pay.
--Zion's Melodies #49 vs. 3&4