Second Chances
Today we are going to cover the story of Jonah
Some background to know is that Jonah lived during a time of moral decay and worldly unrest
We could be talking about today just as easily
So God told Jonah to go and instead Jonah tried to run away from God
In today’s tumultuous world God is telling His people to go and tell but most are trying to hide instead
Why did Jonah do that?
Everything he had been taught in Israel was to hate those against Israel
He had been taught to be against people that were not Godly
God changed the narrative and said preach repentance to this people
Today American Christians also have these biases against lost people
We somehow believe that God only loves America and those who have already accepted Him
We would probably never say that but it is how we act
What happened to Jonah when he ran from God
Even when Jonah was disobedient God protected him
However Jonah was miserable in this situation
When a Christian is not doing what God calls them to do they can not have true Joy.
See even when we are disobedient if we call on the Lord He will answer
This was a second chance for Jonah
He did what God asked but he wasn’t happy about it
God even used this half hearted effort to open the hearts of the people of Nineveh
If we are honest we are just like this sometimes today.
God gives us chance after chance but we somehow feel others don’t deserve that
The story of Jonah ends without saying if Jonah ever had a change of heart
When we leave Jonah he is still miserable even after doing what God told him to do
God will give us second chances and He will use us despite ourselves
When we are begrudgingly serving God we will not receive the Joy that should be there
Today my question for you is are you running from God?
Are you serving Him but not happy about it?
Wouldn’t you like to have the Joy that God gives when we serve Him gladly?
Use your second chances joyfully!
WatchNotesDownloadDateTitle
- Aug 27, 2023Second Chances
Second ChancesToday we are going to cover the story of JonahSome background to know is that Jonah lived during a time of moral decay and worldly unrestWe could be talking about today just as easilySo God told Jonah to go and instead Jonah tried to run away from GodIn today’s tumultuous world God is telling His people to go and tell but most are trying to hide insteadWhy did Jonah do that?Everything he had been taught in Israel was to hate those against IsraelHe had been taught to be against people that were not GodlyGod changed the narrative and said preach repentance to this peopleToday American Christians also have these biases against lost peopleWe somehow believe that God only loves America and those who have already accepted HimWe would probably never say that but it is how we actWhat happened to Jonah when he ran from GodEven when Jonah was disobedient God protected himHowever Jonah was miserable in this situationWhen a Christian is not doing what God calls them to do they can not have true Joy.See even when we are disobedient if we call on the Lord He will answerThis was a second chance for JonahHe did what God asked but he wasn’t happy about itGod even used this half hearted effort to open the hearts of the people of NinevehIf we are honest we are just like this sometimes today.God gives us chance after chance but we somehow feel others don’t deserve thatThe story of Jonah ends without saying if Jonah ever had a change of heartWhen we leave Jonah he is still miserable even after doing what God told him to doGod will give us second chances and He will use us despite ourselvesWhen we are begrudgingly serving God we will not receive the Joy that should be thereToday my question for you is are you running from God?Are you serving Him but not happy about it?Wouldn’t you like to have the Joy that God gives when we serve Him gladly?Use your second chances joyfully!
- Aug 23, 2023Exodus 29 part3
Exodus 29 part3
- Aug 20, 2023Persistence In Prayer
Persistence In Prayer
Do you ever pray for something truly important and grow weary when you don’t see the answer?Many believers will pray diligently but after a couple weeks allow it to fade away.I want to read a story about George Mueller and prayer.Where did he get the idea that he had to be so persistent?In America today we have become an inpatient people."I want what I want and I want it now!" Also, "I am not willing to wait any time for it."Sometimes it just takes timeSmoked meat takes hours to be ready but it is so worth it when you taste itI believe the lack of persistent prayer is the greatest reason for church decline todayWe as a church need to be in persistent prayer for God to use us to reach peopleIf you want to see Orchard or any church grow persistent prayer is the keyWhen I say persistent prayer I mean you gotta PUSHPray
Until
Something
HappensSo when we pray for something we have to prepare to receive itOne of my favorite quotes from “Facing the Giants”If you are praying for rain, prepare your field to receive itGod’s people today, when they do pray, they are not preparing to receive what they pray forThis means that we have to pray and we have to prepareFor every believer, we have to pray persistently, believing God will deliverIf we are praying persistently we have to prepare persistentlyWe need to get out in our community and invite people to meet GodAs we saw in George Mueller’s story, God answers in His time but our job is to keep praying“Do your work heartily, as for the Lord”Christians, we must get to prayer and get to work for GodBeing satisfied with how things are is not doing things for the LordAre you ready to diligently pray and prepare today?If not, then why not? What is preventing you from that?Do you truly know God? - Aug 16, 2023Exodus 29 part2
Exodus 29 part2
- Aug 13, 2023Consecrate Yourselves
Consecrate Yourselves
- Aug 9, 2023Exodus 29 part1
Exodus 29 part1
- Aug 6, 2023She Perished Not
She Perished Not
- Aug 2, 2023Exodus 28
Exodus 28
- Jul 30, 2023In His Image
In His Image
- Jul 26, 2023Exodus 27
Exodus 27
- Jul 23, 2023The Walls Of Jericho
The Walls Of Jericho
- Jul 19, 2023Exodus 26 part2
Exodus 26 part2
- Jul 16, 2023Rainbow Promises
Rainbow Promises
God’s word begins with Genesis 1:1 God created the heavens and the EarthBy Genesis 8, man was so evil, God destroyed everyone except the family of NoahIn Genesis 9 God makes us a promise that includes a signThe Rainbow!!This weekend in VBS the theme has been Noah and the ArkWhat I want to focus on today in the Promise or the CovenantA covenant made by God to all living thingsA covenant that God wanted to remind us of often so He gave us a beautiful rainbowA rainbow is actually a full circle when seen from above but we only see half from the groundA circle also represents perfection and continuityGod destroyed the earth because of the evil of manThis covenant never says man won’t be punished for their evilHowever it is a promise that God loves us so much he won’t flood the whole world againThe first thing that Noah did when he stepped out of the ark was give an offering to GodGod says “the intent of a man’s heart is evil”The only thing that can change that is GodSome try to explain away the rainbow as simply a scientific explanationGod’s word clearly shows that a rainbow is from GodSome of the most beautiful rainbows seem to occur after the worst stormsGod reminding us that He will never leave us or forsake us even when times are bad.Have you ever seen a double rainbow?Have you ever noticed that the color pattern of the second rainbow is a reverse of the firstHow amazing! I like to think of that as a full picture from top to bottom and bottom to top.No matter what comes your way God is always thereA rainbow also causes me to think of another covenant from GodThe one in which Jesus gave His life to save yoursThis beauty makes a rainbow dim in comparisonHave you ever entered into that covenant with God? - Jul 12, 2023Exodus 26 part1
Exodus 26 part1
- Jul 9, 2023Forgivness Is Paramount
Forgivness Is Paramount
Everyone here is humanSince we all make mistakes, we all need forgivenessGod gave us the ultimate forgiveness, if we accept itIf we have been forgiven, what does that mean for us?When we need forgiveness, it is the greatest thing we can receiveForgiveness can repair relationships as nothing else canIn this passage a person was in the wrong but they asked for compassionThe compassion led to complete forgivenessThis was an incredible act of kindnessUnfortunately, many people receive forgiveness but don’t reciprocateForgiveness should be given as easily as it is receivedToday we hear many people say, I can never forgive themI’m talking about Christians right nowWhen we have been forgiven there are consequences if we don’t forgiveIf we are to have a relationship, forgiveness is paramountWhen we hold unforgiveness in our hearts, the person that hurts the most is usUnforgiveness creates a barrier to a relationship with people and with GodWhen we have hurt someone we need to go to them and apologizeThis gives us a chance to show our sorrow and them a chance to forgiveWe need to go to those we have hurt and make amendsThis can make both hearts right with GodSee we, as believers, must give others the same forgiveness that God gives usThe way to do this is be kind to everyoneIf we do something wrong to someone, apologizeWhen someone apologizes, forgive themHave you received the forgiveness that Jesus offers today? - Jul 5, 2023Exodus 25 part 2
Exodus 25 part 2
- Jul 2, 2023Excessive Heat Warning
Excessive Heat Warning
This week we will celebrate Independence day!As a country we are blessed to be free to live and worship as we chooseSo many people have fought and even died to make sure we have this freedomWhich brings me to today’s very pointed messageWe ALL have a choice of where we will spend eternityThis last week we spent under an Excessive Heat WarningIt has been so hot, peoples shoes were literally sticking to melting asphaltIf you choose to reject Jesus Christ…..you ain’t seen nothing yet.We don’t like to talk about Hell because it is scaryI personally don’t believe that our minds can even comprehend how horrifying it isAnd this horror and pain and suffering and heat will NEVER endAre you scared?All week long I heard about how bad the heat was and looking for when it will end.Praise God, this too will passAccording to what I just read in Revelation, Hell is no joke but it is real!People make jokes about hell. When God described it, He wasn’t jokingThink of the most horrifying awful thing you can think of and multiply by a billionSome say don’t use hell as a way to convince people to accept ChristI just want you to know the reality of your choiceNow, here is some good newsYou don’t have to spend an eternity in HellIn the beginning of the passage I read from Revelation, it mentioned a 2nd bookThe Book of LifeIf your name is found in that book, you will be spared the penalty for your sinsThis passage says “having believed you were sealed”That sealed, means you were written in the book of life and sealed in itYou can’t get scratched out of it.Those who were found in the book of life were not cast into the lake of fire.Those in the book of life are sealed in Him, meaning for all eternityThis means you will spend an eternity in Heaven with JesusToday, it all boils down to your choice. Only you can choose. - Jun 26, 2023Passing Through The Red Sea
Passing Through The Red Sea
- Jun 21, 2023Exodus 25 part 1
Exodus 25 part 1
- Jun 18, 2023Father’s Love
Father’s Love
Happy Father’s Day!If you can’t celebrate your earthly father today, you can celebrate our heavenly FatherLoveLove is one of the words that is interpreted differently by so many peopleSomeone who was abandoned, abused or flatly ignored, thinks of love differentlyMost of the time when love is talked about in the world, it is really lustMany father’s have a hard time showing lovePerhaps the biggest problem with all this, is no one shared love’s true meaning with youLove is defined about as thoroughly as it could be in this passageFor fathers, as well as everyone else, it is important that we truly feel this definitionI say feel, instead of know, because just having knowledge isn’t enough“People are very different, and some just can’t show love like this”You are correct! They can’t unless they have felt love like this.The good news is Father’s love is exactly like thisOur heavenly father shows us every one of these characteristics of loveThe world tries to say real men don’t show love like this because they are toughThe truth is, so many men don’t show love like this because they don’t know itThe most manly thing a man can do is accept Christ and His loveThe beginning of this passage says “love is patient, love is kind”If Fathers, and everyone else, would just grab onto thatJust think, if we were all truly patient and kind, how much better the world would be“Yes, but we can’t really be that way can we?”Yes we can, if we truly walk in the Fathers love.What we see here is the power of Father’s love.First the heavenly Father, then through Him, our earthly father’s loveAre you living that love today?Do you want to be?
