WORSHIP SCHEDULE

                          Outline of Sermons 

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                 Sunday Morning Lesson: 03/01/26, Col 3:1-3

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We are readers of the letters. Col 3:1--What it means to be raised with Christ, being buried and raised with Christ because we understand who Christ is. Some don’t teach Christ like we teach him. Raised is an action to pull one from where he is to where he should be in relationship to Christ. If you’ve not been baptized, you haven’t been raised with him. With the preaching of baptism for the remission of sin, you should be willing to obey the very analogy of his coming. Jesus came, died, and rose again. Jesus is now a sitting Lord on God’s right hand – our sitting Lord who we are supposed to seek.

Sitting means -- a Lord who undergoes daily activities because of the need and the necessity of the need for baptism (the washing away of sin). The Spirit and Lord work together so that the actions by the Holy Spirit and the heavenly Father are carried out by the highest man in our salvation, the highest of all man. Don’t use this high name in low places of the earth. He is the highest of the high who made himself of no reputation. He is the holiest man. He is most hidden of men. You are not hidden if you’re not in him. Only the highest can be hidden, manifesting himself / yourself by being hidden. Christ is the highest and the holiest; Christ is the hope of glory. The highest man got up three days later. So we are blessed to be in the Church of Christ. No one is right up there with Jesus Christ. He didn’t come from here. He is the highest, giving us the highest mindset. Col 3:1-2 states, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above . . . Set your affections on things above . . . ”

Start living the holy and surrendered life that belongs to Christ. As in the story of Lazarus and the rich man who lived the high life.               In Heb 11:25, Moses refused the pleasures of sin, choosing instead to suffer with God’s people “than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.” The children of God live beyond this world, setting our minds on things above. Set our treasures in heaven where there’s a home for us in that other realm. Set your affections on things above. Christ is the holiest man that you could ever surrender to. When you manifest Christ, you’re dead. If risen with Christ you are dead right now. You, the old man, is dead (dead to you) – the doctrine of death. The doctrine is about dying to what needs to die. The world doesn’t want us to die to you / yourself.

This is the Church of Christ – the highest of the highest – the highest place, the highest man-set, the highest man, and the highest mystery. The mystery is by faith and not by sight. You don’t see it – it’s hidden, but open your heart to the faith of Jesus Christ. Then, you are ready to receive Christ Jesus. Christ cared as a sitting Lord, distributing salvation to those who believe. Everyone gets the same in relation to him, the salvation which saves all mankind, which becomes a living seed. Our new lineage is living a victorious live. He hides the mystery in us, the fullest way to display the mystery in him.   

We’re in the Church of Christ because there’s nowhere else to go. In this land, we do not have the regard / respect for Christ. They don’t know and see him. Live a surrendered life, the highest life, with the highest mindset. It’s time to show the hidden man that Christ put in all of us -- the fruit of the Spirit. We are the hidden secret holders, following Christ. In Acts 2:36, He’s Lord and Christ. We work for Jesus and him along.      Church of Christ, keep the difference.

 

 

 

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         Sunday Morning Lesson: 03/08/26, Acts 12 

            Persecution versus the Power of Prayer

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Persecution is not necessarily a bad thing. In Acts 8, Saul had Stephen stoned, and also he was responsible for dragging Christians into prison. Later, Saul is converted and immediately, he began to evangelize.

In Acts 11:21, “the hand of the Lord was with them.” They sent Barnabas, gifted in exhortation, to Antioch who finds Saul, brings Saul with him, and converts many. Disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.  

1. Power of Persecution

2. Power of Prayer

3. Power of Praise

1--Power of Persecution:  In AD 44, King Herod Agrippa I inflicted intense persecution on the church.  In Acts 12, Peter and James were preaching the word, but trouble found them anyway while preaching the good news. Agrippa laid hands on some of the church, executing James the brother of John, and imprisoning Peter.

The devil is not concerned about everyone in church. Some are here to be entertained and to see a fashion show. If you’re here for Christ, he (the devil) wants to sift you like wheat. Sometimes, the closer you are to God, the more you suffer persecution (II Tim 3:12).  Herod kills James the brother of John with a sword. The apostles were willing to die for the cause of Christ. Disciples are now suffering and becoming martyrs for the cause of Christ. Persecution reveals how strong you are. Sometimes, persecution comes from even our own spouse. Even our children can persecute us. Our co-workers can push our buttons, such as racial and sexual discrimination, disrespecting you. Persecution tests our strength and faith, separating true conviction from superficial relief. It strengthens our reliance and faith in God  (Matt 5).  

2--Power of Prayer:  In Acts 12:4-9, Herod the king takes Peter, imprisons him, and intends to execute him after the Passover. In verse 6, Peter is taken by soldiers, bound by chains, and put in jail. In Acts 5:17-18, they laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. An angel opened the prison door, and Peter and his companions were freed. This time, Peter is shackled in prison under guard (Acts 12). Peter sleeps between two soldiers, knowing this battle was over. The church prayed fervently to God. He watched his enemy become his footstool, sleeping peacefully. Your deliverance will come from God while He listens to the prayers of the church.

Peter had the prayers of the church. II Cor 4:9 states “ . . . we are persecuted but not forsaken . . . ”  In Acts 12:7, “the angel of the Lord appears and wakes him.”  There is a peace that comes from knowing God. Peter thought he was seeing a vision when the angel led him out of prison. In vs 10-11, “the iron gate opens on its own” and “the angels departed.”  The power of God had delivered him from the hand of Herod. Angels are intermediary between God and man. But the power of prayer shows strength with God and enables the right decision.

 

3--Power of Praise (Acts 12:12)   When Peter is freed by angels, he goes to Mary’s house and knocks on the door of the gate. Rhoda, the servant girl, answers and runs back to the group to let them know that Peter is at the gate. The people are there praying for Peter. They say that it must be Peter’s angel. They doubted the answer to their own prayers. They all get up and find that it is unbelievably Peter at the door. God had miraculously delivered him from prison. Herod is upset; and being humiliated, he kills the guards. Then, Herod travels to Caesarea, raises himself, and sits on a throne. The crowd says, “It is the voice of a god and not a man.” But an angel smote Herod because he did not deny himself as being a god.  

There are church members who won’t praise God. God will take drug dealers, murderers, etc, and change them into a gospel preacher. God ensures his praise is evident and is mandatory (Psa 150:6). Acts 12 showcases God’s divine sovereignty and necessity of consistent / persistent prayer. Herod, the persecutor, was removed; and the church enjoyed peace.  

Prayer is our most powerful weapon, divinely powerful to bring down strongholds as hate and vengeance. Allow God to help you bring down your strongholds today by hearing the gospel.

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​               Psalm/Hymn/Edification of the week:

 

 

 

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. (Eph 5:19)

 

Psa 37:16  A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

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                         'Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus

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                           'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,

                           Just to take Him at his word;

                           Just to rest upon his promise,

                           Just to know, thus saith the Lord.

 

                           Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him

                           How I've proved Him o'er and o'er;

                           Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!

                           O for grace to trust Him more!

 

                          'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,

                          Just to know he is the Way

                          Just to lean upon his mercies,

                          Just to trust and to him pray.

 

                          Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him

                          How I've proved Him o'er and o'er;

                          Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!

                          O for grace to trust Him more!

                         

 

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