A MOTHER’S DAY SERMON – FOR EVERY DAY USE!!

FOR MOTHERS

Proverbs 31:10-28
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

1. Let the Peace of God rule in your hearts—Peace
Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

2. Let the Word of God dwell in you—Strength
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

3. Let His Mind be in you—Conformity
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (Obedience)

4. Let Your Moderation be known unto all—Character
Philippians 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

5. Let your conversation be without covetousness—Conduct
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

6. Let your light so shine before men—Testimony
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

7. Let your eyes always be Watchfulness
Luke 12:36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.

God is Calling You!! Are You Going to Answer???

Three Calls of God!
Psalm 8:3-4
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

God is Calling to us! We Must Listen!!

1. A Call to the Careless
Isaiah 1:16-20 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Luke 16:19-31 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

2. An Invitation to the Weary
Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as
eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

I Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Galatians 6:1-9 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

3. A Call to the Thirsty
John 7:37-38 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

John 4:3-14 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. And he must needs go through Samaria. Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

PERFECTLY JOINED TOGETHER IN THE SAME MIND!!!!!!

“TOGETHER IN CHRIST” For All Servants of Jesus Christ!
I Corinthians 1:10-17
1. We Must Be Praying together – We MUST HAVE BE OF LIKE MIND!!
Acts 3:1
Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
Romans 15:5-6
Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
II Corinthians 13:11
Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
Philippians 2:2
Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
I Peter 3:8-11
Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

2. Me Must Be Working Together – We MUST BE A TEAM!!
II Corinthians 6:1
We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
II Corinthians 6:14
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

3. We Must Be Striving Together – We MUST HAVE ONE AIM!!
Philippians 1:27
Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Philippians 3:14
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

10 Outrageous Goals!

   As Pastor of Lighthouse Baptist Church, God has given me the desire to see people come to Jesus Christ, and to live a life that is glorifying to Him.  In my years of leading, I have found when people come to Christ they have an immediate desire to glorify the Lord but they just don’t know what to do.  Christian leaders often tell them, “read your Bible”;  “pray everyday” and “be faithful”, and I agree!   Reading your Bible will give you the knowhow;  praying will give you a strong relationship with God;  being faithful will allow you to be used by God.  But God has also put in us a need to accomplish.  A desire to see “fruit that remains.”   Most Christians want to see their lives count for something , so, I’ve put together 10 Outrageous (Biblical) Goals that we as a church can work on, together!  These Goals are a way for us to produce “fruit” that will remain long after our time on earth has expired!  God tells us in Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”  Also read John 15:15-17.

Pastor Barnes’ 10 Outrageous Goals for Lighthouse’s 15th Anniversary Celebration, they are as follows:

1.  120 People Saved and Baptized between March 3, 2011 &  March 3, 2012.  This will only happen is God’s people allow God to work through them to win people to Jesus Christ. 

2.  Share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with 12000 People.  There are thousands of people in our area and we are going to witness to at least 12,000 of them in the next year!

3.  Increase our church attendance by 25%.   That means every class, every service, every senior group, every bus route, every soulwinning group, every group in the church has to increase by 25%. 

4.  Develop at least 1 more Adult Sunday School class.  At least 1!  Our prayer is for more!   (Note: I presented this to the people of Lighthouse and many adults have come and ask if they could teach a class).

5.  Two Sundays with 800 or more in attendance.   This is a big deal!  We’ve had just one Sunday with more than 800 people in attendance in the whole history of Lighthouse!  For us to have two Sundays in one year…wow!  This one’s going to take a lot of wisdom and prayer, and a lot of inviting!!!  We’ve set Easter Sunday, April 24, as our first attempt!

6.  Start at least 1 More Bus Route.

7.  Visit Two Missionaries and their works on the Mission field.

8.  Raise-up 2 Full-Time Christian Workers.

9.  Have TWO Events that are for our Community.  These are church sponsered events (besides church services) that our community is invited to attend. 

10.  Start a Bible Education Class on Sunday Afternoon.

Why Aren’t Christians Making A Bigger Difference??

Why aren’t Christians making a bigger difference?? It seems that everyone is claiming to believe in God, even calling themselves, a Christian. If that is so, why is society getting worse? Why is the Bible and prayer getting pushed out of every school, business, social event, etc.??? I believe it is because, many Christians have not made Jesus Christ, Lord of their lives. The things of God are not important to them.

It’s time for Christians to “wake-up” and put Jesus Christ and the things of God first, again!! It’s time to have a conversion and strengthen the brethren!

HAVING A CONVERSION – A New Attitude Toward God. An Outward Change in Your Life!

If your are gong to have a Conversion, that means you now have a Direct Objective:

a) to turn to

1) to the worship of the true God

b) to cause to return, to bring back

1) to the love and obedience of God

2) to the love for the children

3) to love wisdom and righteousness

Luke 22:31-34 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

God is looking for not just simply works of charity and deeds of mercy upon which He insists, but inward spiritual character. This much is demanded, and nothing short of it, will suffice.

1. One of the Christian’s greatest needs!

Matthew 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all

2. Christians Must Open Their Eyes!

I Thessalonians 1:9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

I Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

3. If Christians Will Turn Their Eyes Upon Jesus, Sinners will be Saved!

Acts 11:21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.

Hosea 14:8 Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.

Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

4. What’s Stopping us?!!

Acts 28:27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Acts 13:8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Men Becoming Real Men of God

Band of Brothers (Men of the Word) is to help maximize the God-given potential of each man through spiritual growth, fellowship and community outreach. We understand that the path to spiritual maturity is a life long journey that is developed through fellowship, followship, mentorship & leadership. This path must be build on:

1. BEING RIGHT WITH GOD – God’s man MUST walk with God:

Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”

Psalm 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou will not despise.”

Micah 6:8 “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”

2. WE ARE ALWAYS IN TRAINING – God’s man studies the Bible:

1 Thessalonians 2:13 “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”

3. WE ARE TO BE UNITING – God’s man makes it a priority to connect with others. This is for the purpose of reaching others, having accountability, confession, and prayer.

Galatians 6:1-3 “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.”

James 5:16 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

Hebrews 10:23-24 “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:”

4. WE MUST BE SURVIVORS – God’s man must overcome. He must endure temptation and remain faithful to God.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a three-fold-cord is not quickly broken.”

James 1:12 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive
the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

5. WE MUST BE SHARING THE GOSPEL – God’s man MUST be a winner of souls for the Lord Jesus Christ. We must be seeking and sharing our faith.

Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear”

Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things what soever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

6. WE MUST BE PRACTICING – God’s man learns how to apply God’s Word to all areas of his life. God’s man must live as a “doer of the word.”

James 1:22-25 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

Ezekiel 33:30-32 “Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD. And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.”

7. WE MUST BE USING OUR GIFTS & TALENTS – A man of God that is not a giving person is going to fail!!

1 Peter 4:10-11 “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to
another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

Ephesians 4:11-13 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ”

8. WE MUST BE IMPACTING OTHERS – God’s man lives to invest in others for the Kingdom of God.

2 Timothy 2:22 “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”

Mark 3:13-14 “And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would:
and they came unto him. And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach”

adapted: from unknown author