Sunday's Sermon - I want to know Christ MORE!

To listen to Sunday's sermon now, just click the play arrow here.


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For past sermons or podcasting options see the full size sermon player at the very bottom of this blog page OR you can always access my sermon player site (and countless other preachers) at http://sermon.net/The_Salvation_Army_Homer

God bless your study!
Live holy, preach Jesus!

A prayer thought for meditation this Sunday

I know I posted this once before, but it is still true today....

John Burton, Jr. (1803-77) writer of songbook #588 "I often say my prayers" penned these words to consider while you pray and seek God's face today...

I often say my prayers; but do I ever pray?
And do the wishes of my heart go with the words I say?

I may as well kneel down and worship gods of stone,
As offer to the living God a prayer of words alone.

For words without the heart the Lord will never hear;
Nor will he to those lips attend whose prayers are not sincere.

Lord, show me what I need, and teach me how to pray;
Nor let me ask thee for thy grace, not feeling what I say.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Set aside 35 minutes today where you will not be Interrupted and play this

This is David Platt at the SBC Pastors Conference 2009

This is more than "fine preaching" it is God's Word.

If you don't have time right now, or aren't willing to do whatever God tells you, skip this message and do something else. If you will listen with bible open, heart open, and a willilng spirit to what God asks of you - buckle up and be ready for the Spirit of God to Speak to your heart.

David Platt: SBC Pastors Conference 2009 from Todd Thomas on Vimeo.

Here is another article with links regarding his thoughts on the Word of God.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/augustweb-only/132-11.0.html

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How I explain Salvation

#1 ADMIT IT… You are a sinner

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)

Sin is our failing to perfectly live up to the perfect standard of God. If we all tried to throw a rock to the North-Pole, some of us would get closer than others, but we would all fall short. God sees hate the same as murder, lust as adultery of the heart, if we have lied, God sees us as a liar. No one will get into heaven by being good enough.

There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins (Ecclesiastes 7:20)

#2 The Wages (or penalty) for you sin is death

Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, (Hebrews 9:27)

For the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23a)

10 out of 10 people will someday die. Everyone will eventually die and stand before a holy God to be judged, and sentenced, to one of two places for eternity. Everyone failing to be perfect (according to God’s standard—not ours) will miss heaven and be sentenced to a place apart from Him to a prison (called hell) where we face a death sentence of dying forever.

#3 THE BAD NEWS is You can’t save yourself

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. (Isaiah 64:6)

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. (Eph 2:8-9)

The best we have to offer, as hard as we could ever work, doesn’t earn us a place in heaven, we just aren’t good enough. It is like telling a judge who has sentenced you to prison, that although you broke the law, you have done some good things too. A good judge would have to say that although you had done good works, that He as a good judge, must sentence people who broke the law. (We have all broken God’s moral law of the 10 commandments, many times, the bible says each offense would bring us the death sentence.)

#4 THE GOOD NEWS is God made a way to save you through Jesus Christ

God demonstrates His love toward us, in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. (1 Peter 3:18)

Imagine you had cancer, but a new procedure would let you transplant healthy cells for cancerous ones. Jesus made a way to take on your cancerous cells that would bring you death (cells called sin) and deposited on your behalf (when you accept Him) His righteousness in their place that will allow you to live forever in heaven, eternal life)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believe in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of god’s one and only son. (John 3:16-18)

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." (John 3:36)

If while sentenced to prison, having no way to “bail yourself out”, someone stepped in and paid your fine, the requirements of the law could be satisfied and you could go free. That is what Jesus did at the cross. He paid your fine and took your death sentence, so you could go free, but you must accept His gift, or choose punishment.

#5 How do you accept and claim your free gift of salvation

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23)

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." As the Scripture says, “anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame. (Romans 10:9-11)

To confess and believe in Jesus (to have faith), requires action. How do you accept the gift of God’s salvation? The step of faith God requires is called repentance.

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord (Acts 3:19)

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. (2 Cor. 7:10)

If while drowning in the ocean, the coast guard threw you a lifeline, belief alone is not enough. To be saved you must reach out and grab it. Repentance is our choosing to give up our sin, and the right to control of our lives, in order to turn to God and grab the lifeline that can save us.

Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21)

Salvation isn’t for those who know about lifelines, but for those will act in faith, to take hold of it.

And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. (2 Corinthians 5:15)

The response to a God who made a way to save our lives, is to live for Him, offering Him all we are, not to earn our way to heaven, but to thank him for a gift we could never get on our own (salvation from eternal hell, to eternal life in heaven). God offers us the free gift of salvation, but we have to accept it on his terms

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14;6)

If you realize you need a Savior, if you understand someday you will die and must face a righteous judge and must answer for your every sin against Him. If you realize you will either be sentenced to everlasting suffering, or that you can pass from death to life by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you need to act now.

Jesus says… Here I am! I stand at the door (of your heart) and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. (Rev. 3:20)

Are you ready to accept Jesus on His terms? If so repent, trust in Him, and live for Him.

Ask God to forgive your every sin (name the ones you know of) and commit to living your life for Him. Thank Jesus for His life, death, and resurrection to save you. Thank Him for saving you from hell for heaven and for now giving you His Holy Spirit and the Bible for daily guidance and instruction.

If you are unsure about where you will spend eternity, or if you have found salvaiton in Jesus Christ, let us know so we can pray with you. 907-235-2609

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Live holy, preach Jesus!

Forwarding an email newsletter

Hello soldiers, friends, and fellow followers of Jesus,

Check out this newsletter email from Mark Cahill.

http://www.markcahill.org/news/0809news.html

We must share our faith (the full gospel) verbally and then back it up with holy living that glorifies God.

If you never mention your need for salvation (because of your sin), the need to repent (to leave your sin and return to God), the requirement to live by faith (continually putting Jesus first in every area of your life and living by His standard and leading alone), in order to be saved from HELL for Heaven, and to be saved from SIN and SINNING for Holiness, people will never just guess all that because you "act nice".

Check out his newsletter,
Live holy, preach Jesus!

Salvationists & Nazarite Vows?

Check out this great article written by Captain Michael Ramsay (The Corps Officer in Swift Current, Canada and Bermuda Territory.) This article was just published in "The Officer" magazine.

Go to this link and check it out - It's just one page and totally worth the read.

http://www.sheepspeak.com/HabeusCorpusandCovenant.pdf

Are you staying true to all your vows made to God today? I pray you are. If you have failed, or forgotten, then ask forgiveness and press on toward the goal of Faithfulness. God is always faithful to us, we as believers and Salvationists must make it our life's aim to be faithful to Him.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

My Story - A boring testimony?

I mentioned in my sermon "my boring testimony". I wrote out part of my testimony "my story" about 4 years ago and printed it on a folded sheet of paper as my own person tract. I give this out to people all the time (along with one other I wrote explaining how I in The Salvation Army understand salvation).

For those of you who heard me mention it in my sermon yesterday, here is what it says...

The Story of one Salvation Army Pastor - “My Story” by Captain Mark Thielenhaus

Hello Friend,

My Story is not dramatic. I have had no life threatening illness, no battle with drugs or alcohol, and no problems with the law. I grew up in a Christian home with teaching from the bible and my parents were active in church. I have had a fairly sheltered life. I gave my life to Jesus at an early age, perhaps even before I knew what all that meant. Now I'm the pastor of The Salvation Army of Homer Alaska with a wonderful wife and two daughters. Although I have, of course, had hard times and painful trials, I am blessed in countless ways I don't deserve. What would make a story as simple as mine amazing enough to write about and worth telling others? What part of my story is worth devoting my whole life to telling others about? It is Jesus.

I daily recognize that I am a sinner, unable to meet the perfect standard of God, and I’m regularly falling short of His perfection. I recognize that I deserve His righteous judgment of missing heaven, and although I hate to even use the word, I deserve hell. My story is that although I am a sinner, I have found salvation. Jesus suffered, died, and rose again, so that I could be free. Jesus stepped into the courtroom of my life, saw I was condemned to an eternity of suffering, and paid my fine so I could go free; justice could be served, because he died in my place. Is my life all easy now? Of course not. I still have crisis and struggles like everyone else, but I have a God who gives me daily strength and hope. Even if God never again gave me one good thing in this life, I have the hope of heaven.

What do you have to do to have this same hope in your story? Simply confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, believe Jesus died in your place and rose again to prove he was God, then repent and put your faith it Him. Faith is believing enough to act, and repentance is being willing to let go of everything else in order to put Jesus first.

God’s Word Says…
· all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
· the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord
· God demonstrates His love toward us, in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
· For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.
· If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
· Jesus says… Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

If you have any question about where you will spend eternity, any doubt at all if you are saved or not, please let me talk to you and pray with you. 907.235.2609

Captain Mark Thielenhaus
Pastor – The Salvation Army Homer Alaska

There’s nothing more important than where you will spend eternity. If you are ready to consider the things of God and search for the very meaning of life itself, contact your local Salvation Army Pastor.

WRITE AND SHARE YOUR TESTIMONY - or leave it here as a comment.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Sunday's Sermon - "The power of a boring testimony"

To listen to Sunday's sermon now, just click the play arrow here.

For a basic manuscript of this message, download, or sharing options, click the menu button at the right of this square and choose your option.

For past sermons or podcasting options see the full size sermon player at the very bottom of this blog page OR you can always access my sermon player site (and countless other preachers) at http://sermon.net/The_Salvation_Army_Homer

God bless your study!
Live holy, preach Jesus!

You must cultivate your soul.

1st let me admit that I borrowed (copy and pasted) this from another site I visit occasionally... The following was said to be from "The Pursuit of Holiness" by Jerry Bridges. I read the book quite some time ago and was blessed and challenged by it. ...

A Farmer plows his field, sows the seed, and fertilizes and cultivates—all the while knowing that in the final analysis he is utterly dependent on forces outside of himself. He knows he cannot cause the seed to germinate, nor can he produce the rain and sunshine for growing and harvesting the crop. For a successful harvest, he is dependent on these things from God.

Yet the farmer knows that unless he diligently pursues his responsibilities to plow, plant, fertilize, and cultivate, he can- not expect a harvest at the end of the season. In a sense he is in a partnership with God, and he will reap its benefits only when he has fulfilled his own responsibilities. Farming is a joint venture between God and the farmer. The farmer cannot do what God must do, and God will not do what the farmer should do.

We can say just as accurately that the pursuit of holiness is a joint venture between God and the Christian. No one can attain any degree of holiness without God working in his life, but just as surely no one will attain it without effort on his own part. God has made it possible for us to walk in holiness. But He has given to us the responsibility of doing the walking; He does not do that for us.

Anyway this just sounded very similar to many points from my last sermon on Philippians Chapter 2 - we must work out our salvation, with fear and trembling, while God works in us to will and act according to His purpose... If you didn't get a chance to listen or read my study, just check Monday's link. God bless.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Do you want God? - excerpts from Paul Washer

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Great song for meditation today.

Here's another great hymn we sang at WYI (with a contemporary beat!)

William Booth said, "why should the devil have all the good music"! - He doesn't... AMEN!

This song was written by Elvina Hall and appeared in a hymnal for the first time back in 1868, but the words are still as powerful and true today...

Jesus Paid It All

I hear the Savior say
Thy strength indeed is small
Child of weakness....watch and pray
Find in me....thine all in all

Chorus:
Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin hath left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

Lord, now indeed I find
Thy power and Thine alone
Can change the leper's spots
And melt the heart of stone

For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim
I'll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calvary's Lamb

And when before thy throne
I stand in Him complete
Jesus died my soul to save
My lips shall still repeat

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Great Salvation Army Song - from WYI

Hello soldiers, freinds, and fellow followers of Jesus,

We sang this song many times at WYI - good "rockin'" worship - good Salvationist lyrics.

Salvation Army Song book #724
Have we not known it, have we not heard it
by Albert Orsborn

1. Have we not known it, have we not heard it?
Power unto God belongs.
Yet do we daily find in his mercy
Themes for the sweetest songs;
Healing the wounded, raising the fallen,
Making the blind to see,
Saying to all who seek his face
These precious words of redeeming grace:

No more! No more! He remembers sins no more,
They are pardoned for ever, And he will never
Bring them up against me any more.
I'll hear no more Of the evil days of yore;
I'm a pardoned offender, And God will remember them no more.

2. Joy-bursts of singing gaily are springing
With every day that starts;
If we were silent then would the stones cry
Shame on our fainting hearts.
O banish sadness, sing now for gladness
Glory in Christ, the Lord!
Who is a God like unto thee,
One who can pardon iniquity?

3. Safe in the dark day; safe in the bright day;
Safe till my latest breath;
There is endurance in this assurance,
Stronger than fear of death.
When the accuser comes to the judgment,
Seeking my soul to claim,
I have a token in the blood.
I have the word of a pardoning God.


Live holy, preach Jesus!

Check out this link for a few pictures from WYI 2009

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thqyouth/sets/72157621954304527/

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Best part of WYI for me?

The Salvation Army should soon be posting things from the Western Youth Institute events like pictures, video clips, etc. (I'll post a link when they do).

Until it does let me just give one of my best WYI moments. There was great prayer time with other believers, testimonies all week were fantastic (ranging from victory over sexual abuse, depression, even people who God rescued from witchcraft). Worship was awesome. Teaching and Preaching was top-notch, God honoring, and aggressive Christianity at it's finest. The day of service and outreach was a blessing.

One of the moments that most blessed me was during and evening of testimonies. At one point a blind young lady came up to give her testimony of the week (her first testimony in a big crowd - like many that night). She gave a great testimony and after she asked if she could sing a song, of course the place went crazy in encouragement. Had she started singing 'poorly' it would still have been fantastic, but she burst out with the voice of an angel and the confident assurance of a child of God singing "He knows my name".

Needless to say the congregation of about 200 young people either burst out in applause or into tears being deeply moved by her voice and the working of the Holy Spirit (I'll admit I was of the crying group).

The whole week was a blessing, but her testimony in song was the best part of WYI for me.

Still trying to get back on track with work and family schedule, Captain Michelle and the girls come home tonight (Praise God for my family). Thank you all for your ongoing thoughts and prayers.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Back in town - almost blogging

Hello Soldiers & fellow followers of Jesus,

I returned safely from WYI (Western Youth Institute) and I was excited to see young salvationists serious about serving Jesus and Saving the World!

I will start blogging again shortly, but I'm still catching up with things after being gone (and my wife out of town).

Until I can start up again (Lord willing tomorrow) here is a great article from one of the blogs I follow and highly recommend.

Check it out.

http://always-burning.blogspot.com/2009/08/whos-afraid-of-big-bad-wolf.html

Hopefully I'll be blogging regularly again tomorrow.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Sunday's Sermon - Work it out and shine

To listen to Sunday's sermon now, just click the play arrow here.

For a basic manuscript of this message, download, or sharing options, click the menu button at the right, and choose your option.

For past sermons or podcasting options see the full size sermon player at the very bottom of this blog page. Choose a message by title OR click the podcasting icon at the bottom of the sermon player.

You can also access my sermon player (and countless other preachers) at http://sermon.net/The_Salvation_Army_Homer

God bless your study!
Live holy, preach Jesus!

Gone to WYI - Western Youth Institute

Hello Soldiers, Freinds, and Fellow followers of Jesus Christ,

I prefer to post something every day, but I am leaving today for The Salvation Army's Western Youth Institude in Washington. Please keep me and the event in your prayers - I am expecting God to do great things!

For Homer Corps members - please remember that our Wednesday Night Bible study is still going to happen at 7:00 Wednesday night - Ben will lead in my place.

I will surely write about my expereince when I get back on August 17th.

Until my return, if nothing else, check out the Scripture for the day in the left column next to this post.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

William Booths 6 resolutions for "daily rations"

At age 20 William Booth wrote down these 6 resolutions for his "devotional time".

1. That I will rise every morning sufficiently early to wash, dress, and have a few minutes, not less than 5, in private prayer.

2. That I will, as much as possible, avoid all that babbling and idle talk in which I have lately so sinfully indulged.

3. That I will endeavor in my conduct and deportment before the world and my fellow servants especially to conduct myself as a humble, meek and zealous follower of Christ, and be serious conversation and warning endeavor to lead them to think of their immortal souls.

4. That I will read no less than for chapters in God's Word every day.

5. That I will strive to live closer to God, and to seek after holiness of heart and leave providential events with God.

6. That I will read over this every day or at least twice a week.

"God help me, enable me to cultivate a spirit of self-denial and to yield myself a prisoner of love tot he redeemer of the world." ... ... " I feel my own weakness, and without God's help I shall not keep these resolutions. The Lord have mercy upon my guilty soul."
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Make sure you spend time with God today.

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Familiy Camp teaching - improving your "devotions" & "daily rations"

To listen to this men's class (suitable for all believers!) from our recent family camp, just click the play arrow here for audio or download options OR for past sermons or podcasting see the full size sermon player at the very bottom of this blog page. Choose a message by title OR click the podcasting icon at the bottom of the sermon player.

You can also access my sermon player (and countless other preachers) at http://sermon.net/The_Salvation_Army_Homer

God bless your study!

Live holy, preach Jesus!

11 Questions for weekly self-examination of the soul

These 11 Questions came from William Booth - the material is from "Chosen to be a soldier" Orders and Regulations for Soldiers of The Salvation Army 1977 (p17-18)

1. Am I habitually guilty of any known sin? Do I practice or allow myself any thought, word, or deed that I know to be wrong?

2. Am I so the master of my bodily appetites as to have no condemnation? Do I allow myself any indulgence that is injurious to my holiness, growth in knowledge, obedience, or usefulness?

3. Are my thoughts and feelings such that I should not be ashamed to hear them published before God?

4. Does the influence of the world cause me to do or say things that are unlike Christ?

5. Do my tempters cause me to act, or feel, or say things that I see afterward are contrary to that love that I ought to (show) always to those about me?

6. Am I doing all in my power for the salvation of sinners? Do I feel concern about their danger and pray and work for their salvation as if they were my children?

7. Am I fulfilling the vows I have made to God in my acts of consecration or at the penitent-form?

8. Is my example in harmony with my profession?

9. Am I conscious of any pride or haughtiness in my manner or bearing?

10. Do I conform to the fashions and customs of the world, or do I show that I despise them?

11. Am I in danger of being carried away with worldly desire to be rich or admired?

Ask yourself some hard questions today....

Live holy, preach Jesus!

Back from Family Camp

Hello Soldiers, friends, and fellow followers of Jesus,

Just a quick update on a great family camp. To update all Homer Corps soldiers and adherents, please remember that today is our commodities feeding program and we could use your help from 2-4 pm. I also want to remind all of you that Captain Michelle and the girls will be leaving late tonight to visit her mom in Wyoming, please keep her (and me) in your prayers.

There was great teaching at camp this week and the Holy Spirit moved in a special way on Sunday morning. God is Great!

One last update - I should start posting again daily (Lord willing) beginning tomorrow and will probably have an emphasis on "devotions / daily rations" and "self-examination" topics since I just taught on it this weekend and it's fresh on my heart.

SO... keep checking back, keep us in your prayers, and it's good to be home.

Spend some time alone with God today in prayer, study, and worship.

Live holy, preach Jesus!