Comprehending the Light.

Comprehending the Light. 

“And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” John 1:5 

Sometimes we get so hung up or busy that we don’t see the light of Christ. We even give credit to things such as luck or karma to the things Christ has laid before us.

Just like the Israelites of the time of Jesus’ first coming I believe we today don’t see the light thru the darkness in our lives. 

Israel knew “the Messiah” (Jesus) was coming and while some sought diligently for his coming others couldn’t concern themselves with it. It’s not that they were unaware of this possibility because they were being taught this since birth. They chose to occupy their time with what they believed to be more important things.

We today are following after the same path as the Israelites. We know that “the Messiah” (Jesus) is coming again. We hear this from multiple sources on a daily basis. We even see it in the signs of the times. Like the Israelites do we take time to comprehend or understand these facts? 

Our context verse says “the light shines in the darkness and the darkness understood it not”. (Paraphrase mine) the word shines here is a present tense verb meaning it is currently happening. It’s not a past tense verb like “shone” where it happened and has ended nor is it a future tense verb as in “will shine” pointing to something to come.  The light is shinning now as it shone then and will shine tomorrow. 

The light here isn’t just any light. According to verse 1:1 this light is the Word of God. Look at Psalms 119:105 “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” This light is life as seen in verse 1:4. Jesus himself proclaims this in John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:”. And this light is the Son of God as seen in verse 1:14. Compare “For God so loved the world the he gave his only begotten Son.” John 3:16

The word darkness here refers to the unrighteousness, the fleshly, and the unrepented sinner. It refers to those individuals who don’t have a relationship with God through Christ. It also refers to those who are walking out of fellowship with God and Christ.  1John 1:5-7 "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

“And the darkness comprehended it not”

Those who didn’t / don’t have a relationship with God through Christ understood it not. They cant grasp the light or the meaning of having the light because they are are so full of darkness. Another way of describing this darkness is that they are o full of pridefulness, selfishness, and self-centeredness that they didn’t want to acknowledge the light. 

In our world today we have become so full of pride and self that we no longer seek Christ (the Light). There are a lot of individuals that claim the title of Christian without comprehending the meaning of the term. 1John 1:6 says “if we say we have fellowship (that we are christian) with him, and walk in darkness (our pride, selfishness, etc), we lie, and do not the truth.”

You see you can not claim to be a christian because you live in a Christian country (there is no such thing – this country was founded on christian principles but is far from a christian lifestyle), because your parents or grandparents were christian, because you attend a church service, or because you try to live a good life. The only way of truly claiming to being a Christian is by having a true blood bought saving relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Read 1John 1:7  "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."  

To comprehend the light you must be born again and in a saving relationship with God. "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."  Rom 8:8-11

The Bible instructs us on how to be saved today. "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."  Rom 10:8-10

The greatest promise is this Salvation is for all, including you and me! "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."  (Rom 10:13) 

4/29/2019

My heart breaks for the pastor that knowingly and willfully allows sin to run rampant within his church and especially among his leadership team. "My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation."  James 3:1

What are you worth?

What are you worth?

To the world you worth is measured by your assets. You worth is based on the possessions you own, the money in the bank, the credit you have, etc... If you had money, a car, and a home you would be considered to be valuable or rich. If you were homeless without even a change of clothes you would be deemed worthless. 

To God, you are worth everything because that’s what he has given for you. When you and I were unlovable and enemies with God He gave his son to die so that we could have life. "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” Romans 5:8-9 

So I ask again, “What are you worth”. You are priceless!

With much love and prayers, 

Pastor Anthony 

Be the Change

Today I ask, “Do you want to turn a good group into a great one”? To change a group you must bring words of love, encouragement, and affirmation.

"Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." Proverbs 16:24

“Would you like to change a great group into an awesome one”? Become part of that group and not just in it. Being in a group and being a part of the group is different. Being “in” the group means you are there, but being a “part” of the group means you are actively participating with the group. A group becomes better when all parties are participating together.

These principles work not only with groups but also with individuals. Do you want a great relationship with someone then speak words of love, encouragement, and affirmation with them. Experience firsthand how that relationship will turn from good to great.

You want that relationship to go from great to awesome then try being a part of their life instead of just being in it.

I feel that part of the problem with the world today is that to many people are satisfied with just having a good life or relationship, we (society) have failed to achieve a great status because we have forgotten how to speak words of “Love, Encouragement, and Affirmation” (there are times I fail miserably here).

Society has gotten to be so self-centered that it’s all we can do to be “in” someone’s life much less be a “part” of it. You see this in work places, churches, and even in families.

It’s time to break this descending cycle!

I encourage you to become someone who speaks words of love, encouragement, and affirmation while becoming apart of a life or group.

Who is the Church

Who is the Church?

I ask upfront that you forgive me for venting in this post.

Who is the church? The answer may surprise you. The church isn’t the nice brick and mortar building you meet in for corporate worship. Many people believe that this is the church and their understanding would be wrong. The “Church” is the body of Christ where he is the head (Colossians 1:18). Therefore if you are a blood bought born-again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ you are a member of the church.

 Unfortunately many believe that if you don’t sit in the same building with them that you aren’t a member of the church. Being a member of these different buildings or congregations doesn’t mean that a your not a member of the church. What membership to these different places mean is that you choose to gather with them for corporate worship and also enjoy their fellowship.  I have been a member of many brick and mortar buildings and congregations such as Faith Baptist, Gilbert Street Baptist, Fairview Baptist, New Beginnings Baptist, and now Riverview Baptist as I have followed the Lord directing my life in service to him. Being members of these different places doesn’t mean that I don’t want to associate or fellowship with you. What it means is that God has another place for me to better serve him for the purpose of growing the kingdom and reaching lost souls.

This is a matter that is very personal to me and it really chaps my backside the way people act if you aren’t a member of their congregation. I have been unfriended on facebook and even shunned in public because I chose to move membership to another corporate body for worship. I’ve had “brothers” and “sisters” that have been at my house every other week for years, whose children were best friends with my children, whom we were always doing stuff together as a big family,  just walk away when we decided to change our building of corporate worship. While talking to one individual about their family and mine getting together for breaking bread and fellowship they informed me that “we no longer have anything in common since we no longer attended the same building for worship”. My family have been out in public and been ostracized by other members of these other buildings. They would turn and go another direction to avoid communication and fellowship. After a while we began to believe that we may have done something wrong and began to seek forgiveness for whatever we may have done to find out there wasn’t anything. We also began watching as others were being ostracized by people for the exact reasons we were.

This post is not for you to feel sympathy for me or anger for others. I am stating this because it is so wrong for supposed children of God to act like this. Again I say that if you are a blood bought born-again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ you are a member of the church; His Church. We should begin to act like the church, a body, and a family of God and Christ.

The Bible tells us in  1 Corinthians 12 that there is but one body having many members making up only one body. According to this if we all profess to be worshipping Christ and him alone the we are one body. Just as there are many parts to the body that make up the body and causes it to function as a body there will be many different buildings or congregations that form to do their part in the building and functioning of the body.

1 Corinthians 12 goes on to say that we are all to be different (not everyone is a foot or a hand) while at the same time unified in performing their specific functions for the body. The only way the body is going to truly fulfill its purpose is to begin living and acting like the body Christ intended.

In my humble opinion it is past time for those that claim to be of the body of Christ (the church) to grow up, humble themselves, repent, and seek the guidance and will of God. We need to being living by the commandments that Christ have given us starting with John 13:34 “A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another”! The Bible also tells us that if a man (person) says they love God but hate their brother they are a liar because if they don’t love their brother then they cant / don’t love God (my paraphrase of 1 John 4:20). If you aren’t loving (having fellowship and communion) your brothers and sisters in Christ then your aren’t living according to the Word and therefore may need to examine yourself to see if you be of the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5).

I love you and I’m praying you’ll receive this with the same heart of humility and love as I’m hoping to send it.

Handling Burdens

Everyone has stuff or junk (Burdens, struggles, cares, concerns, worries, etc...) of some sort. It’s what we do with this stuff that is important. Some people are ashamed of their stuff and put it in a bag faithfully dragging it behind them. Others see their stuff while putting it on a cart proudly and boastfully pushing it before them everywhere they go. Then there are still others who has stuff, pausing only long enough to acknowledge it before releasing it to the Lord (the only one who can truly carry the weight of it).

Which one are you?

The Bible says that if you are the first person that you should cast your cares and troubles upon the Lord.

(Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Philippians 4:6-7 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.)

It also says if you are the second person to stop being proud and lay it down at the feet of the cross.

(Proverbs 3:34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. James 4:6-7 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 1 Peter 5:5-7 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.)

And if you find yourself as the third person praise God that you’ve laid it at His feet and found the peace and joy that comes by allowing Christ to carry our loads.

(Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. Isaiah 41:13 For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you. Matthew 11:28-29 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.)

I pray that you find JOY today. I pray that you’ll lay you stuff at the foot of the cross and leave it there for Christ to carry the burden.  I love you all and will be praying for you.

Resisting heresy and false professions

Church growth should never be about numbers! It should be about the quality of the souls in its members!

In my opinion the more quantity of numbers the less quality of discipleship. Build the members of the church before you build the membership!

Disciple the babes in Christ with the Word of God that they may be able to grow in grace and be able to recognize and reject the heresy that runs so prevalent in the world today.

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:21-23

Not everyone that makes a profession of Faith is saved (I speak from personal past experience).

Proverbs 3:1-2 “Peace”

"My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee." Proverbs 3:1-2 

We read here in this passage that if we forget not the law of the Lord and if we keep his commandments within our hearts that we will prosper with length of days and long life. I believe the length of days may refer to a happier healthier life or a better way of saying it is that days will be happier and full of joy so they seem to last longer. You may ask how I can come to this thought process. The answer is found in the very next word, “Peace”. When we live in peace we experience a fuller life. This peace is not the absence of troubles. The peace I’m talking about is the peace found when you are in the presence of Christ while in the midst of those troubles. Peace can only be achieved when you are in a right relationship with God and one another. 

May you find peace this week. 

With much love and prayers,

Pastor Anthony

What is Truth?

 Jesus tells us in John 14:6 that he is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one can come to the Father, but through him.”

What is truth?

Here’s a simple definition drawn from what the Bible teaches: Truth is that which is consistent with the mind, will, character, glory, and being of God. Even more to the point: Truth is the self-expression of God. That is the biblical meaning of truth. Because the definition of truth flows from God, truth is theological.

Therefore God is the author, source, determiner, governor, arbiter, ultimate standard, and final judge of all truth.

Jesus also said that the written Word of God is truth. It does not merely contain nuggets of truth; it is pure, unchangeable, and inviolable truth that (according to Jesus) “cannot be broken” (John 10:35). 

With much love and prayers, 

Pastor Anthony Kennedy

A New Man For The New Year

A New Man for the New Year!
Good morning family!
Today, I am going to talk with you about being a new man in this New Year.  Now I feel it important to at this time to express that when the term man is used in this message it is to represent both man and woman.
Just 5 days ago we entered a new year; the year 2019. While the world was out celebrating on New Year’s Eve there were many resolutions made. These resolutions include that of losing weight, quit smoking, going to church more, spending more time with the family, and many more. Many of these resolutions while expressed from a sincere heart will unfortunately be forgotten within the next few weeks. Some of these resolutions will last longer than others but eventually most will be forgotten.
Today I propose a resolution, also known as a commitment, to you that shouldn’t be easily broken or forgot. The commitment I am talking about is your relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ and God.
My Prayer is that beginning today you will make the commitment to live your live in the Lord Jesus and allow the Lord to live life through you. Turn in your bibles to the book of James chapter 4 verses 7 & 8. In these verses we find some awesome promises from God.
• Submit yourself – make a commitment to God not to yourself
• Resist - fight the temptation to quit
• Draw – get closer to God
• Cleanse – confess and repent
• Purify – make right
You may be here this morning saying I have committed to become more religious in the past or even to attend church more and haven’t seen much for your efforts. Well my question is, have you applied the previous 5 steps to your decision?
I suggest that if you apply theses five steps to your life you will be closer to God and Christ.
Submit yourself
You must know Christ as your savior.
• Unless you are a born again believer in Christ the following cannot be obtained. (John 15:5 “for without me you can do nothing”)
You must make a commitment.
• I believe the world uses the word resolution because it isn’t as harsh of a word like Commitment.
Resist
• You have to fight the temptation that you will face. Remember 1Corintians 10:13
• Put on the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:11)
Draw near
You must make a concerted effort to seek God out.
• Jeremiah 29:13 “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
• Luke 11:9 “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”
Cleanse
• 1John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Purify
Stop trying to live for the world and for God. Choose one or the other!
Matthew 6:24 says “no man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You can not serve God and mammon.”
How can you do this?
• The first step is to realize that once you are born again you are a new creature.  (2Corinthians 5:17)
• The second step is to receive the new heart God has given you. (Eze 11:19, 36:26)
Where do you stand this morning?  Are you one of those who made resolutions that will eventually fade away? Or are you one that is going to make a commitment today to God to live your life for him?
If you are one who would like to make a commitment, I want to pray with you that God will fulfill his promise to us.
Now I don’t want to forget the ones who may be here today who have never taken the first step in submitting to God. I want to offer you an opportunity to make that commitment. This begins with a simple prayer, a confessing of your sins, and then a public declaration of your change in heart and your faith in Christ.

Lets us pray!!!!!