October 17^th 2021

9:30 am ------------------------------- Past Life, Present Life – 1 Peter 4:1-8

10:00 am ------- The Power of Darkness & Power of God – Luke 22:47-53

Wednesday: 7:00 pm ----------------------------------------------

After His Kind

I have observed that animals are most comfortable when they are with their kind. Over the years, I have noticed the same in people. When people are in their comfort zone, it is when they are with people like themselves. The World enjoys the company of the world, because they are with their kind --- sons of darkness. Believers are in their comfort zone when they are with other Believers, the reason being, they are with their kind –sons of God. When the World and Believers are together, both are out of their comfort zone, why? Because they are not with their kind. John 3:6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

“And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good” (Gen.1:24-25).

When people see me, which kind do they see me the most comfortable with? ---- That’s who I am. -- John Chapman

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. – Psalm 119:9

What does God’s word say about me? Psalms 51:5 says Behold, I was shaped in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. In Romans 7 Paul says, For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing. If a man is honest with himself he cannot deny that statement. Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? We, like King Belshazzar, have been weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.

What does God’s word say about God? Genesis 1:1 says In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. God is Holy, he is everything that we are not. Psalm 115:3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. There is one God, he is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end of all things. God is that which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. God changeth not, Hebrews 13:8 says Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and forever. God hath mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. We have sinned against God and that sin must be punished. The wages of sin is death. Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

Does God’s word say if I have any hope? Ephesians 2:4-5 says this, But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ. Lamentations 3:22 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. The sinners hope is in Christ Jesus. Apart from his grace and mercy can no one be saved. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

How can I enter into this hope? Mathew 19:26 tells us With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. In Acts, Paul and Silas told the Phillipian jailor Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Consider those people who were bitten by the fiery serpents back in Numbers. They lay there dying, unable to do anything about their condition. Moses interceded for the people and made that serpent of brass and set it upon a pole. And it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. That’s how we enter into this hope, by God’s grace he enables us to look and live. The Lord makes us like old blind Bartimaeus and we cry Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me!

It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord (Lam.3:26). – Brady Floyd, (son of Eric)

The Character and Covenant of Christ Render Salvation Certain