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Post by Bro. Freddie on Apr 21, 2007 21:44:10 GMT 12.75
Ok I promised I wouls tell you my thoughts on this today.
Other than Adam I think the other two that the Holy Spirit could have used DNA from is Abraham and David. In Genesis we read that through Abrahams seed (son) all nations would be blessed. Through out the New Testament we read of Jesus being called the son of David. So I believe it could have been any one of those or none. God created DNA when He created Adam, so it would not be any big thing for Him t create anothe unique strand of DNA that was particular to Jesus and Jesus alone.
Please remember. the scriptures don't tell us for certain about this. While it is an interesting line of thought, we can not get too hung up on it because it is really not important. If it was important it would have been mentioned in the scriptures. But this has been an interesting thought.
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Post by Paws on Apr 22, 2007 3:02:54 GMT 12.75
Remember when Abraham got his name change? Doesn't the revsed name mean "Father of Many Nations?" See I told you that Son of David thing got stuck in my head! One thing bothers me about Adam. Adam fell to his sinful nature; that being born of sin since the Earth had been given unto Satan and Adam was made of earth. Still, to be the Father of Jesus, virtually God while God was Adam's Father is really a cool concept. It also kind of "close loops" the sacrificial forgiveness thing in spirit and physical carnal man at the same time. You see God told Adam that if he should eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that in that day he would surely die so how can He possibly take that back and grant Adam (mankind) eternal life? Since God is not a liar and does not repent of His gifts and callings only by forgiveness through a blood sacrifice of the most perfect lamb and by granting him (through his DNA) to become the perfect lamb. Just a theory you understand and a "wow what if gee whiz moment"; no divine revelation here. Then too, "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..." and I only see one man that God made and that was Adam. In any case you got to admit we sure are lucky to have a God that loves us so much that He'll not only forgive us but go way out of the way to do it!
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Post by Toby Benoit on Apr 22, 2007 10:55:16 GMT 12.75
"God created DNA when He created Adam, so it would not be any big thing for Him t create anothe unique strand of DNA that was particular to Jesus and Jesus alone.
Please remember. the scriptures don't tell us for certain about this. While it is an interesting line of thought, we can not get too hung up on it because it is really not important."
That's my feelings on it entirely!
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Post by Bro. Freddie on Apr 22, 2007 21:28:44 GMT 12.75
Romans 15:13-16 (King James Version)
13. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. 14. And i myself am also persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. 15. Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God. 16. That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the Gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
As usual, a short review is needed before we look at our passage for today. We have been studying the past several weeks about the way we should treat one another. We have learned that we should help those that are weaker in the faith than we are, like-minded one toward another, glorifying God in everything. As we think on these things we have learned, let's look at our passage.
As I sat and thought on this passage, I finally realized what Paul was doing. He is starting his farewell to the church at Rome. Other places in the Bible, especially in Acts, tell us that Paul finally made it to Rome, but it was as a prisoner in chains. Although Paul never got to visit the church as a free man, we can assume that he did get to visit with them while in prison. Paul desired to visit the church at Rome, but as someone that could minister unto them, not as a prisoner in chains. Paul begins his farewell in this letter to the Romans by saying that the God of hope fill them with all joy and peace. Brethren, God is a God of hope. Without God, there is no hope in anything. And when you have God in your life, you have joy and peace. When I was saved, I was filled with a peace that passes all understanding. I have a joy in my life that no matter what the situation I know that there is hope. But notice Paul said joy and peace in believing. I have a joy in my life today because I believe the word of God. When it says that if I follow His commandments, I will be blessed, I believe it. When it says that I will be punished for my sins, I believe it. Folks, the Word of God is true, and that gives me joy in my life. It also gives me peace. I know that I will see my Redeemer because the Scriptures tell me so. I know that there is a better life waiting for me when my time here on earth is ended. I know where I am going when I die. Folks, that is peace. Do you have that joy and peace in your life today? Paul goes on to state the reason why he desires God to fill them with joy and peace. That is so that they may abound in hope. Now, this is not the hope that I am saved. I know I am saved. This is a hope of what is to come. This is a desire to see the fulfillment of the promises made unto us by the Lord. This is a looking forward to something. And that something is fulfillment of the promise. What promise is this? Jesus said " I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, ye may be also." (John 14:3) Folks, that is not wishful thinking, that is a fact. Jesus will come again! Are you ready for His coming? We also see in verse 13 how this hope is to be given unto us. That is through the Holy Spirit. When I was saved, the Holy Spirit came and dwelt in my heart. The Spirit communes with my spirit, giving me hope for what lies ahead. Do you have this hope? Do you have the Spirit communing with your spirit?
In verse 14 we see that Paul was persuaded that they were full of goodness, filled with knowledge, able to admonish one another. Now the word "persuaded " means to have a firm conviction of. In other words, Paul knew without a doubt something. What did he know? That the Romans were full of goodness, knowledge, and able to admonish each other. Goodness is defined as that moral quality which is described by the adjective good. So they were filled with good. Folks, this is not a thought of " I hope I get into heaven because I'm of good moral quality." This is a goodness that is in you after you are saved. This is a thought of doing good things because you are saved. Folks, we should always, always do good to others to show the love of Jesus to them! Another thing that Paul had no doubt about was their knowledge. The Romans had a knowledge of the Scriptures that only those who have given their life to the Lord can have. The Romans also were able to admonish one another. Admonish simply means to instruct. They were able to teach others the things of the Word, be it church discipline, church ordnances, the plan of salvation, whatever. They were able to teach others. Can we? Do you know enough about the Scriptures to teach others? Could you lead a person to Christ without your Bible?
Paul states in verse 15 that he has written boldly to the Romans because of the grace of God to put them in mind of things. Simply put, the Romans, while able to teach others, needed to be reminded of a few things. Those things we have seen throughout our studies in this wonderful book. They needed to be reminded of how to treat others, to help a weaker brother, to give God the glory, among other things. Paul wrote boldly to them about these things. Have you ever had to have someone speak in a certain way to you to remind you of something? I have, and so have you if you'll be honest with yourself. This was the way Paul was writing to the Romans. He spoke (wrote) with authority unto them because they needed to be reminded of a few things. The reason Paul could do this was because of the grace given unto him. What grace was that? It was the grace of apostleship. Paul had the authority to write this letter because of his office, the office of apostle to the Gentiles. Because of grace, Paul was able to write this letter.
Also because of this grace, Paul was able to be a minister to the Gentiles. We have to remember, back in those days, the Jewish community looked down upon Gentiles as being unclean. But Paul was sent to the Gentiles to preach the Gospel unto them. Why? So that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable. Now offering here does not mean a sacrifice like in the Old Testament. Offering here means just what it says. It is something that is freely given. So, Paul ministered unto the Gentiles so that when they freely gave their life to the Lord, they might be found acceptable or sanctified (made holy). When a person gives their life to the Lord, they are made holy in the eyes of God. When God sees me, he sees the blood of Jesus covering my sins. I was made holy when I accepted Jesus as my Saviour. Have you been sanctified by the Holy Spirit today? Have you given you life to the One who gave His life for you? My prayer is that is you haven't, you will today.
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Post by Paws on Apr 23, 2007 3:19:15 GMT 12.75
LOL! ;D Pastor did you do that on purpose? That's terrific. Toby I don't care what you say now cause you and I both know it's a whole lot easier to make a whole man out of a pile of mud then to twist them two tiny little microscopic threads together with big old fingers! And that's all I have to say about that!
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Post by Toby Benoit on Apr 23, 2007 5:07:29 GMT 12.75
;D ;D ;D You bet! ;D ;D ;D Great job Freddie!
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Post by Bro. Freddie on Apr 23, 2007 5:31:53 GMT 12.75
Did I do what on purpose?? I looked back over the sermon and didn't see anything wrong with it, so what is so funny??
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Post by Paws on Apr 23, 2007 11:34:24 GMT 12.75
Well I thought it was funny cause Toby and I were getting after one another. Now in that context go back and read the first two or three paragraphs of the sermon and tell me that God doesn't have His hand in it. ;D
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Post by Toby Benoit on Apr 23, 2007 12:48:46 GMT 12.75
Ye, I could almost see his finger waggling at us while I read along!
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Post by Bro. Freddie on Apr 23, 2007 12:57:52 GMT 12.75
I am just the messenger. It is the message that changes us, not the messenger. So if ya'll are getting things out of the sermons then it is God that is in it. A quick example. When I was under conviction to answer the call to preach, everything I heard, from Sunday School class, to the morning devotional, to the sermon was about surrendering. I talked to my pastor afterwads and he said that it was not what he was preaching, but what the Holy Spirit was telling me. So if ya'll are getting something other than what the Word teaches then it is God that is in it.
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Post by Toby Benoit on Apr 23, 2007 13:37:10 GMT 12.75
Well then, thanks for bringing Him along!
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Post by Paws on Apr 23, 2007 22:00:20 GMT 12.75
We knew dat!
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Post by Bro. Freddie on Apr 24, 2007 10:37:39 GMT 12.75
We knew dat! I know you knew it, but knowing you two, there was a possiblity that you fogot you knew what you knew
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Post by Paws on Apr 24, 2007 12:08:03 GMT 12.75
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Post by Bro. Freddie on Apr 30, 2007 2:53:12 GMT 12.75
I would like to apologize to everyone who reads this thread, but there will not be a sermon posted for today. We traveled over 700 miles yesterday and got in late (about 1:45 Am this morning) then overslept, so due to time constraints I will not be able to post today's sermon (hopefully I can get around to it later in the week). But be warned, I will (if the Lord's willing) have a sermon next week.
May the Lord bless each and every one of you.
Bro. Freddie
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Post by Paws on Apr 30, 2007 3:15:20 GMT 12.75
Just kidding pastor. Take the day off, after all it is Sunday! God bless.
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Post by Bro. Freddie on Apr 30, 2007 3:22:55 GMT 12.75
No time off. Just no time to write a sermon. Usually it takes me about 2 hrs. to write my sermons out (30 minutes to preach) so today I just didn't have time. The reason we didn't have time will be told later and in another thread. Keep an eye out for a new post about 4-H and kids
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Post by Toby Benoit on Apr 30, 2007 5:25:41 GMT 12.75
If yer too busy, yer too busy! We just got more time to study ahead to be with you next week! I'mm looking forward to the next thread on 4-h. I love 4-h and what it does for kids. Hurry up and post!
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Post by Bro. Freddie on May 6, 2007 23:27:06 GMT 12.75
Romans 15:17-19 (King James Version)
17. I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God. 18. For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed. 19. Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
Before we start looking at our passage, a short review is needed, especially since I wasn't able to post a message last week due to the weakness of the flesh. In other words, my fleshly body was give out and I needed some sleep. Anyway, we have been looking at Paul's farewell address to the church at Rome. We have learned that Paul was convinced in his mind that the church at Rome was able to instruct each other in the things of God that they needed to be instructed in. We learned that Paul wrote boldly unto them, to call them to remembrance of they things they should know, and Paul was able to do this through the grace of God.
In verse 17 we see that Paul wrote that he had things is his life where he was able to glory in the things of God because of Jesus Christ. Think about Paul's life for a moment. He was beaten, stoned and left for dead, shipwrecked, bitten by a poisonous snake and several other things. Paul went through a lot for the Lord. Do we? We think it is so hard to get up, get ready, drive a few miles to church once a week to worship the Lord. Folks, the early Christians walked where they went. They had no car to ride in, they had no air conditioned building to worship in. But they gathered together and worshiped the Lord. Why do we, who live in the most blessed nation in history, think it is so hard to serve the Lord when we have all the modern conveniences of life? Paul could have bragged about his trials and tribulations, but didn't. But we, who think it is too hard to worship the Lord more than once a week, and that is usually on Sunday morning, brag about how we have suffered for the Lord. Brethren, we have suffered nothing compared to the early church! So why do we not worship Him like we should?
In the first part of verse 18 we see that Paul says he will not even speak of those things which Christ had not done in him. What does this mean? Simple. Paul is giving Jesus the glory for everything. Paul says he will not even speak of things that Christ did not work out through him. In other words, Paul was going to preach what he knew was the truth. Do we have that attitude today? Do we have the attitude of speaking only the things we know are true? Sure, Paul could have spoke of the sufferings he went through, but what good would it have done? It would have only served to lift Paul up and not to glorify Christ. Jesus was Paul's central focus in life. Do we have that same focus today? Do we desire to lift up Jesus while we are brought down? I'm afraid that most of the people have a desire to do the things of the world more that to lift up the Lord. What is your attitude today? Do you desire to lift up the Lord in every aspect of your life? If so, why do you not do what He says? In the last part of verse 18 we see that Paul walked his talk in front of the Gentiles so that they would see Jesus through him. Paul lived so that Jesus would be glorified in every aspect of his life so that others could see Jesus through him. Do we? Do we live so that. no matter the situation, others see Jesus through us?
In verse 19 we see that through many signs and wonders, through the Holy Spirit, Paul was able to preach the Gospel. Now, I know there are some that believe that we still have miracles today. Before we go any further, let me clarify one thing. The age of miracles is over. These signs and wonders that Paul speaks of were given to the early church to show the world that the church was approved of God. When that which was full and complete, the Bible, was finished, these things were done away with. So why does Paul tell us that he worked many signs and wonders through the Holy Spirit? Because he was giving glory to God. Only through the power of the Holy Spirit could Paul have ever worked these signs and wonders. Do we give God glory for everything that He does in our life? God gives us each heartbeat, each breath we take. Do we give Him the glory He deserves for these? If not, why not? Paul goes on to say in verse 19 that he fully preached the Gospel in Jerusalem and round about unto Illyricum. Illyricum was the coastal region of the Adriatic Sea and is know know as Yugoslavia. Paul preached the Gospel everywhere he went. No matter who it was or where it was Paul preached the Gospel. Do we? Do we preach the Gospel to every person we meet? I have said time and time again that others are watching your life. When they look at you, do they see Jesus, or do they see a hypocrite?
In conclusion we have learned that Paul gave Jesus the glory for everything in his life. And he preached the Gospel everywhere he went. Can we say we are like Paul? Or do we act like we love the world more than we love the Lord? You have a choice to make today. You can choose to love the world or love the Lord. No man can serve two masters. He will love the one and hate the other or hate the one and love the other. Which is it? Do you love the Lord enough to do what He says?
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Post by Paws on May 7, 2007 4:17:44 GMT 12.75
Pastor I'm not sure where your conviction that miracles are over comes from because if they are then there probably isn't any cause for a whole lot of prayer. Will you please elaborate. You see, I have seen miracles which I can site unless they are dilusions or manisfestations of false light then I must contradict your assertion. You know as I reflected while reading this sermon there were two things that came to mind. First of all not a whole lot has improved in the midle east when compared to Paul's day and age. Still pretty primitive there. Secondly, remember the Korean kid who shot up the college? Well, while I was listening to his video taped verbage I suddenly wondered; "What if God is sending a message through this kid and his act?" His words could rightfully accuse if taken to heart and lessons could be learned. Great sermon!
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