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February 1, 2004 Morning Service - Rev. Rucker Chunn
SUPER BOWL AGAINST SIN
Text: 1 Samuel 17:48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him
Introduction: In any great battle, the conditioning of the body is very important to the endurance required to win. David came against Goliath with a body that had been tried in the wilderness. He had fought the Lion and the Bear and had overcome them with the strength of his body as well as his mind. He had "Conditioned" himself for the battle and was "Always Ready" for the challenge at hand. As soldiers of God in the Super-Bowl against sin, we too must "Condition our Body." - (1 Corinthians 9:26-27 NIV)
- Paul knew that in order to win the victory, he had to Rule his own flesh, instead of being Ruled Buy His Flesh!
- The first thing that must occur in any athlete’s life in order to win, is a conquering of the flesh.
B. SUBMISSION TO THE COACH
- For any team to win, it must also be "subject" to the Direction of the coach! By heeding the instruction of the Coach, the team is led to victory. We also must be submitted to the Coach, Jesus Christ. He sees the obstacles we can't.
- MUST BELIEVE IN THE COACH
- The team must believe in and trust the coach. In order for the team to function as a machine, they must all be subject to the direction of their leader. They must act as One! 1 John 5:4-5
Trust God where you cannot trace him. Do not try to penetrate the cloud he brings over you; rather look to the bow that is on it. The mystery is God's; the promise is yours. John R. MacDuff (1818-1895)
C. COMMITMENT TO WIN
- COMMITMENT TO WIN! - After conditioning our body and trusting the coach, there must also be a Commitment to Win! 1 Samuel 17:48 ... David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. David was committed to the fight!
(Psalm 37:5 KJV)
- A WINNING ATTITUDE - Attitude plays an important part in the game of winning. (Romans 12:1-2 KJV) ... {2} And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
- MAINTAIN THE VISION - Having started in the game, we must be committed to endure to the end. There must be a vision of ME on the Other Side of the finish line in order for me to finish the course. (Matthew 24:12-13 KJV)
Can we win the War? How do we do it?
- Take Authority over your Flesh
- Submit to the Direction of God
- Commit yourself to the Victory!
February 1, 2004 Evening Service
Wasted Resources
Text: Luke 15: 11-14
Preface: The text we are studying today is really one basic parable with three illustrations. The entire Trinity is symbolized in this parable. The Son (the shepherd) is seen in the first, the Holy Spirit (the light) in the second, and the Father in the third. This account is not primarily a picture of the conversion of a sinner, but rather the restoration of a believer.
A. Get Me My Inheritance.
- The younger son was to receive the smallest portion of the estate.
- Often we feel that things look better on the other side of the fence.
- He soon wastes it all in sinful living and begins to suffer hunger.
- As Christians, we must have a hunger in order to receive our blessings.
B. Hired Out
- Instead of working for his father where he would receive a good part of the reward for his labor, he hires out to feed the swine (vr. 15).
- Our Heavenly Father owns this entire planet and all that it beholds.
C. Hired Servant Or Child Of God?
- It should not take us long to resolve that one will receive more as a child than a hired hand.
- We have access to;
- Salvation (John 3:16)
- Healing (James 5:13-16)
- Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4)
- A never ending supply of all your needs (Phil. 4:19).
- What more could we ask for?
February 8, 2004 Early Morning Service
Let Jesus Speak
Text: Luke 5:1-4
Preface: We find in our text Christ preaching to the people out of Peter’s ship because He had no better place. After toiling all night, the disciples were discouraged and whipped. However, when Christ speaks, things change. Even the seas obey, demons depart, and sick bodies recover. Let us see what we may have learned from this powerful text.
A. What Vast Crowds Attended Christ’s Preaching. (Romans 9:27)
- The people flocked about him. They showed respect to His preaching. See how the people relished good preaching, though under all external disadvantages: they pressed to hear the Word of God: they could perceive it to be the Word of God, by the divine power and evidence that went along with it, and therefore they coveted to hear it.
B. What Poor conveniences Christ Had for Preaching.
- He stood by the lake of Gennesareth upon a level with the crowd.
- Another instance where our Lord had to borrow from someone else.
C. What a Particular Acquaintance.
- Christ fell into with these fishermen.
- They were with Him at Cana of Galilee (John. 2:2), and in Judea (John 4:3).
- When Christ had done preaching, He ordered Peter to apply himself to the business of his calling again; Launch out into the deep and let down our nets.
- Peter, having attended upon Christ in His preaching, Christ will accompany him in his fishing.
- Christ will go with us even the last mile of the way.
D. Christ Ordered Peter And His Ship’s Crew.
- Though they had been hard at it all night and had caught nothing (vs. 4, 5).
- When Jesus plans the pathos, the impossible becomes possible.
- Christ ordered them to cast the nets out again.
- How many times could we go back fishing for souls instead of always washing our nets?
February 8, 2004 Morning Service - Rev. Rucker Chunn
WE NEED A SHAKING!
Text: Acts 4:1-4 NIV
Preface: At a time when the church was thriving, and people were sharing and receiving the gospel, the enemy of God stirred the religious leaders against the church. Jesus had warned that difficult days would come... Now they were here!
A. THEY WERE UNDER ATTACK
Whenever people make a move for God, the enemy of God oppresses! (1 Peter 5:8 KJV)
This is normal if you are working for God! Be Aware! Be Expecting it! Be Ready for it! (1 Peter 4:12 KJV)
- ENEMY ATTACKS THE LEADERSHIP
The Devil will "always" strike at the leadership. If he can weaken the leaders, he can hinder the whole body! (Ephesians 6:12 KJV)
- HE OPPRESSES THE BODY
He will send sickness, Strife, Jealousy, Dispute, Financial Difficulty, Aggravation, Distraction and Disorganization of many kinds to prevent you from concentrating on the work of God!
- TEXT
B. THEY RESPONDED WITH PRAYER!
Acts 4:24.. they raised their voices together in prayer to God.
- They Connected with their Source!
- This is how they prayed! ... "Sovereign Lord," .. "YOU made the heaven and the earth and the sea, (v29-30 NIV) Now, Lord, ... Enable your servants
- When God’s People Pray
- Things Change when the people of God get serious in Prayer! Too often we address spiritual warfare with physical resistance instead of seeking the source. If you want things to change then you need to pray! (2 Chr 7:14 KJV).
C. THEY PRAYED FOR BOLDNESS;
Not Protection
- They prayed Enable your servants to speak your word with great Boldness. Send us forth to Do More!!! Strengthen Our Faith! Strengthen our Commitment!
- God doesn't always Deliver His servants from the Battle. But He ENABLES THEM TO STAY AND FIGHT!
- In essence they said "SEND US INTO THE BATTLE" "WE ARE READY TO PERSEVERE!"
D. THE PLACE WAS "SHAKEN"
- Acts 4:31 - And when they had prayed, the Place Was Shaken ...; and They Were All Filled with the Holy Ghost, and they Spake The Word Of God With Boldness.
- When they Touched God! When they forgot about themselves and Thought About God... The place was SHAKEN!
- Take Your Stand! (Ephesians 6:13-14 KJV) .
February 15, 2004 Morning Service
Water And Blood
Text: John 4:13-14
Preface: The Bible tells us in our text that Jesus Christ is the answer for our sin-filled generation. When you think of what is supposed to happen to a mortal human when one accepts Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, you must believe that we are changed to the uttermost. We are not the same when the precious blood of the Lamb of God cleanses us from our sin.
A. We Must Go To Our Samaria.
- Jesus left the disciples and journeyed out of His way to reach this miserable sin sick women (John 4:4).
- Just as our Savior needed to touch this woman, we also must touch the souls that He will send us after.
B. Just Sitting On The Well.
- Jesus knew exactly when this lost soul would visit Jacob’s well (vr. 6).
- Can you be glad that Christ waited upon you?
- This woman of Samaria approached the well at the sixth hour (not your usual time of drawing water - vr. 7).
C. Choice of Water.
- Christ explained to the woman that if she drank of the water from Jacob’s well, it would only be a temporary fix to her thirst (vr. 13).
- He also informed her if she would receive the Water of Life, she would never thirst again (vr. 14).
- It did not matter where this woman had been in the past, Jesus was and still is today, concerned with the future (vr. 18).
D. Nothing But The Blood.
- We are cleansed from our sin because of God giving His only begotten son as a sacrifice (John 3:16).
- It was His blood that He was talking about to this woman at the well, He knew that in a few short months, He would become the Sacrificial Lamb.
- If we are to let the Holy Ghost anointing flow from our temple, we must:
- Not keep our container (Body) closed to the continuous anointing by the Holy Ghost.
- Allow the anointing (Blood) to fill our temple in order that our bodies will spill over in testimony.
- Receive the "Dunamis or Power", for His service (Acts 1:8).
Thought: His blood is still the cleanser and will flow from us as a witness of what He has done in our lives.
February 15, 2004 Evening Service - Rev. Rucker Chunn
GOD’S LIMITATIONS
Text: Ephesians 3:20-21 KJV - Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, {21} Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen
Introduction: Knowing that God is able is not always enough. The scripture says "according to the power that works IN US"
How much do I limit God, because I don't let Him work in me?
A. LIMITED BY MY COLDNESS
- God Is Speaking; I'm Not Listening -
- I limit what He will do, based on my connection to Him!
- It is easy to become distracted with our own living that we Do Not hear the voice of God when He speaks!
- Since He didn't speak in the form I am expecting, I don't hear him!.
- Called But Not Willing -
- You feel the urgency of God’s motivation in your life for a certain task, BUT it will take you out of your “comfort zone.”
- The variable is whether we are willing to fill it!
B. LIMITED BY MY REACTION
- Reaction to Tough Times/Adversity
- In times of God’s anointing, the enemy will fight against m
- I need the presence of mind and of spirit to say "Greater is HE that is IN ME than he that is in the world!"
- Reaction to Indirect Instruction and Advice
- We limit the work of God by our Pride and Stubbornness! (Prov 16:18).
C. LIMITED BY MY FAITH
(or lack of it)
- BELIEF vs FAITH!
- There are times I can know what God’s plan is, and then fail to do it because I don't trust Him! (Mat 17:20-21)
- Faith is Belief in Action. It is Knowledge on the Move.
- Mere faith is useless,...HOWEVER Faith in the One True God results in miracles!!!
D. GOD IS NOT LIMITED;
(Only I am by what I permit)
- I serve a Great God who can do Great things when I am In Him and He In ME!
- The only limitation to God’s work in me, Is Me
- If I move me out of the way and make way for God, He will overcome!
- Eph 3:21... Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus!
- AMEN - So Be It!
February 22, 2004 Early Morning Service
The Cowardly Armor Bearer
Text: I Samuel 17:7
Preface: The story of David and Goliath was probably one of the first Bible stories you were taught. We know how brave and gallant David was to face a much more experienced and tough opponent. Today we as Christians also face the enemy and sometimes feel that he is more combat ready then we are. Let us look this morning at some of the facts about this story and allow the Holy Spirit to use us as He did David.
A. Our Valley Of Elah (vr. 2)
- Saul and his army were pinned in this valley, Israel on one side and the Philistines army on the other (vr. 3).
- Our Valley of Elah can be any place in which we have some against sin and oppose the devil.
B. The So-Called Champion (vr. 4)
- Goliath was six cubits tall and armor laden for mortal combat.
- Satan is also armor ready to do battle with every Christian on the face of this earth.
- Goliath made fun of his enemies and coaxed them into battle.
C. The So-Called Armor Bearer (vr. 7).
- Goliath was to be defeated by his shield carrying armor bearer.
- However, evidently the ARMOR BEARER was a COWARD and ran from combat, leaving Goliath to face this little shepherd boy carrying nothing but a sling and five stones (vr. 40).
- We all know that David had the ARMOR OF GOD with him and killed Goliath and scared the Philistines army away (vr. 45).
D. The Real Armor.
- Saul tried to outfit David with all his personal armor.
- Today, satan is trying to outfit you with his personal armor.
- David replied to Goliath that he only needed the NAME OF THE LORD (vr. 45).
- The Word of God tells us that:
- We are to put on the ARMOR OF LIGHT (Rom. 13:12).
- We are to put on the ARMOR OF RIGHTEOUSNESS on the right and the left hand (II Cor. 6:7).
- We are to put on the WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD so we may be able to resist the devil (Eph. 6:11).
- THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD in order that we may withstand the evil day we live in (Eph. 6:13).
February 22, 2004 Morning Service
The Cowardly Armor Bearer
Text: I Samuel 17:7
Preface: The story of David and Goliath was probably one of the first Bible stories you were taught. We know how brave and gallant David was to face a much more experienced and tough opponent. Today we as Christians also face the enemy and sometimes feel that he is more combat ready then we are. Let us look this morning at some of the facts about this story and allow the Holy Spirit to use us as He did David.
A. Our Valley Of Elah (vr. 2)
- Saul and his army were pinned in this valley, Israel on one side and the Philistines army on the other (vr. 3).
- Our Valley of Elah can be any place in which we have some against sin and oppose the devil.
B. The So-Called Champion (vr. 4)
- Goliath was six cubits tall and armor laden for mortal combat.
- Satan is also armor ready to do battle with every Christian on the face of this earth.
- Goliath made fun of his enemies and coaxed them into battle.
C. The So-Called Armor Bearer (vr. 7).
- Goliath was to be defeated by his shield carrying armor bearer.
- However, evidently the ARMOR BEARER was a COWARD and ran from combat, leaving Goliath to face this little shepherd boy carrying nothing but a sling and five stones (vr. 40).
- We all know that David had the ARMOR OF GOD with him and killed Goliath and scared the Philistines army away (vr. 45).
D. The Real Armor.
- Saul tried to outfit David with all his personal armor.
- Today, satan is trying to outfit you with his personal armor.
- David replied to Goliath that he only needed the NAME OF THE LORD (vr. 45).
- The Word of God tells us that:
- We are to put on the ARMOR OF LIGHT (Rom. 13:12).
- We are to put on the ARMOR OF RIGHTEOUSNESS on the right and the left hand (II Cor. 6:7).
- We are to put on the WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD so we may be able to resist the devil (Eph. 6:11).
- THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD in order that we may withstand the evil day we live in (Eph. 6:13).
February 29, 2004 Morning Service
The Cowardly Armor Bearer
Text: I Samuel 17:7
Preface: The story of David and Goliath was probably one of the first Bible stories you were taught. We know how brave and gallant David was to face a much more experienced and tough opponent. Today we as Christians also face the enemy and sometimes feel that he is more combat ready then we are. Let us look this morning at some of the facts about this story and allow the Holy Spirit to use us as He did David.
A. Our Valley Of Elah (vr. 2)
- Saul and his army were pinned in this valley, Israel on one side and the Philistines army on the other (vr. 3).
- Our Valley of Elah can be any place in which we have some against sin and oppose the devil.
B. The So-Called Champion (vr. 4)
- Goliath was six cubits tall and armor laden for mortal combat.
- Satan is also armor ready to do battle with every Christian on the face of this earth.
- Goliath made fun of his enemies and coaxed them into battle.
C. The So-Called Armor Bearer (vr. 7).
- Goliath was to be defeated by his shield carrying armor bearer.
- However, evidently the ARMOR BEARER was a COWARD and ran from combat, leaving Goliath to face this little shepherd boy carrying nothing but a sling and five stones (vr. 40).
- We all know that David had the ARMOR OF GOD with him and killed Goliath and scared the Philistines army away (vr. 45).
D. The Real Armor.
- Saul tried to outfit David with all his personal armor.
- Today, satan is trying to outfit you with his personal armor.
- David replied to Goliath that he only needed the NAME OF THE LORD (vr. 45).
- The Word of God tells us that:
- We are to put on the ARMOR OF LIGHT (Rom. 13:12).
- We are to put on the ARMOR OF RIGHTEOUSNESS on the right and the left hand (II Cor. 6:7).
- We are to put on the WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD so we may be able to resist the devil (Eph. 6:11).
- THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD in order that we may withstand the evil day we live in (Eph. 6:13).
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