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

The Love of God Dispels Fear

The mortal man may quite disown
And speak in bold derision
Against my labors and my name;
Yet blest is my condition.
The love of God dispels the fear
And makes my faith in Him more dear.
--Zion's Harp #113 vs. 8

Must I Not Stem the Flood?

Am I a soldier of the cross,
A follower of the Lamb,
And shall I fear to own His cause,
Or blush to speak His Name?

Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?

Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?

Sure I must fight if I would reign;
Increase my courage, Lord.
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.

--Tabernacle Hymns #321

The Lord is My Light and My Salvation

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.

For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
--Psalm 27

God Will Never Fail

Oh that there might be more Calebs and Joshuas in our midst that are willing to come forward and say what the Lord tells them! You can do it. Fear not.

... that there might be more Jairuses that bring their children to the Lord. Believe.

... that there might be more that would touch the hem of the garment of Jesus Christ.

... that there might be more that will take the surety of the Word of God.

Fear not, little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you His kingdom.

Like God said to Abraham, "I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward."

And don't forget, brother and sister, when you made a covenant with God, He made a covenant with you. He upholds the other end without fail. He has spared nothing in His offering to us anew each day.

God has not failed ... cannot fail ... will never fail.

May it be encouraging to us as we see the clouds gathering ... and let it not be strange if we see the powers of Heaven shaken (Luke 21:26) in your day yet and in mine.
--Sermon Excerpt: Bro. M.B.

If We Would Christ's Disciples Be

Gethsemane, O woeful place,
Where Jesus sought the Father's face!
O take the cup of death from me,
Its awful pain and agony!
Yet not my will, but Thine be done;
This was the plea of God's own Son.
None other could for sin atone;
In anguish deep He prayed alone.

If we would Christ's disciples be
Our will with His must blended be;
Our very self must be overcome
That we may say, "Thy will be done."
As Jesus in Gethsemane
By prayer attained the victory,
So shall we, when we seek His face,
Still find in Him abundant grace.

--Hymns of Zion #63 vs. 2 & 4

A Way of Escape

In I Samuel 20, the love between Jonathan and David was expressed here. They loved one another even as they loved their own souls. We know the story ... how Saul, in his anger, even proclaimed this regarding his own son, Jonathan, and, certainly, against David, who he considered a threat to the throne. But through it all, there are many lessons. But one lesson we can rest upon and apply to our own lives today is that, no matter what evil is determined upon one another by perhaps the hand of man, if we put our trust and confidence in God, He will take care of us and provide a way of escape. We know it was so with David. Remember how he came into the presence of Jonathan and the presence of Saul and Saul, in his anger, cast his spear at David? But the Lord delivered him out of (Saul's) hand. Because the Lord had a purpose and a work for David to accomplish. So it will be with you and I. May we trust in the one true and living God. --Bro. G.R.