Hello Everyone, 1

Non-Christian Religions do say some good things.

Some have high MORAL standards.

A few emphasize one true God.

Many present away of salvation of some kind.

Some even speak of resurrection.



BUT NONE OF THEM OFFER ANYTHING LIKE THE HOLY SPIRIT!!!!!



Non-Christian religions all leave people to do in their own strength the things they ask them to do.



In other words lift yourself out of the mire by your own boot straps.



IT WON’T WORK!!!!



Look at John 14:16



NIV And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—

Amp And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever--

Counselor: A person who comforts- consoles- reassures- hearten- cheer- gladden- soothes in grief- security.



Helper: Adviser- lawyer- gives guidance- direction- instruction- recommendation- exhortation- guide.



Intercessor: Support- assistance- relief- escape- cure- balm.



Advocate: Intervene or plead on behalf of another.



Strengthener: Reinforce- renew- endurance- willpower- persistence- stability.

Standby: Stand aside or along side- be or stand: A. Ready B. Available C. Accessible D. In Readiness.

That is the Holy Spirit!

Oh How HE Loves Us!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone, 4

FINDING THE SAFE SANCTUARY

Heb 11:28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

Proverbs 29:18 Where [there is] no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy [is] he.

Think about it…
God chose Moses as a baby but when Moses grew up, Moses has to choose God.

The first step to freedom is to stop trying to be somebody else. Just relax and be yourself.

It is better to be kicked out from the palace and live with the slaves than to be kicked out from God’s perfect plan in your life

God’s WILL has greater value than all the wealth of the world

Many people will say yes to God even without thinking, but few people are able to say no to the sinful nature and the offer of the world and this is what separates the authentic from counterfeit

Moses throws out popularity and fame in Egypt but God places him in the Hall of Faith

Happiness is determined by CHARACTER.

Character is determined by choices.

Choices are determined by values.

Values are determined by vision.

The best vision is a vision of Jesus the Messiah:

²⁶ He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

Oh How HE Loves Us!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone, 3

PURSUING THE LIFE OF INTEGRITY

Hebrews 11:27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.

Another translation says it this way: It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt. He was not afraid of the king. Moses kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.

The world’s offer:
Pleasure. "I want to feel good."
Possessions. "I want to have a lot."

Power. "I want to be famous. I want to be influential. I want to be popular. I want to have power, prestige, and position."

The right Choice:
God’s purpose is more valuable than power. V24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.
God’s people are more valuable than pleasures. V25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.
God’s peace is more valuable than possessions. V26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

James 1:8 A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways.
Oh How HE Loves Us!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone, 2

DISCOVERING TRUE IDENTITY
Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.

The Identity Crisis
• Shall I live as an Egyptian and become heir of Pharaoh
• Shall I live as a Jew and become Heir of an invisible but invincible God

Luke 12:15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT PRIORITY

Hebrews 11:25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.

Heb 11:26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

The Kings scepter or the shepherds staff.

The life of pleasure or God’s people.

The palace or the wilderness.

The approval of the world or the approval of God

Psalm 84:10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

Oh Hoe HE Loves Us!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone, 2

DISCOVERING TRUE IDENTITY
Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.

The Identity Crisis
• Shall I live as an Egyptian and become heir of Pharaoh
• Shall I live as a Jew and become Heir of an invisible but invincible God

Luke 12:15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT PRIORITY

Hebrews 11:25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.

Heb 11:26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

The Kings scepter or the shepherds staff.

The life of pleasure or God’s people.

The palace or the wilderness.

The approval of the world or the approval of God

Psalm 84:10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

Oh Hoe HE Loves Us!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone, 1

This week we are looking at the choices that Moses made and hopefully apply those same choices to our lives.

DISCOVERING YOUR LIFES SIGNIFICANCE

Hebrews 11:24-28 ²⁴ By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. ²⁵ He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. ²⁶ He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. ²⁷ By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. ²⁸ By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

Moses was one of the greatest men ever to live in the Old Testament if not the greatest.

• He received the Ten Commandments from God.
• He wrote the first five books of the Bible.
• He led the children of Israel out of captivity and slavery in Egypt.
• He was recorded in God’s Hall of Faith in Hebrews.

Moses was not perfect; he was just an ordinary man like us. He even failed many times. However, he made extra ordinary accomplishment in his life time.

He found the goal of his life, discovered his life significance and lived within his full potential.

Why was God able to use Moses so efficiently?

It was because Moses settled some fundamental questions in his life.

• Who am I? (The question of identity)
• What are my choices? (The question of priority)
• How should I live? (The question to integrity)
• How can I be safe? (The question of security)

Oh How HE Loves Us!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone, 5

God also Makes a NEW COMMAND.



John 13:34

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.



The Command Imparted. V. 34a
"A new commandment I give to you, that ye love one another…"

The Command Illustrated. V. 34b
". . . even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. "



Lastly God Makes a NEW KINGDOM.



2 Pet 3:13

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.



We are Looking for that New Heaven.

We are Longing for that New Heaven.

Because it’s the perfect place of righteousness.



The glories that await the Believer defy our comprehension. What we can take hold of about them, however, fills us with great anticipation. We look longingly to that day when we shall enjoy heaven in all its fullness.



In many ways God has made the Freedom Center a new church. Thank God for many new people, and also for those who have been here for a long time and their willingness to try new things in new ways to reach out to a new generation.



Like the Apostle Paul, we should strive to ‘by all means save some’.



Let’s not get stuck in a rut…let’s go out of here as the new creation that we are, with that new song on our lips!



Oh How HE Loves Us!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone, 4

God also Makes a NEW COVENANT.

The New Covenant is a Blood Covenant. Like in the OT, there had to be a blood sacrifice…

Luke 22:20

Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament [covenant] in my blood, which is shed for you.

1 Cor. 11:25

After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

A Blood Covenant…

The New Covenant is a Better Covenant.
Is Better because of the Spirit.

2 Cor. 3:6

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

Is Better because of the Savior. (Mediator)

Hebrews 9:15

And for this cause he (Jesus) is the mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

We have the privilege of participating in this new covenant. In fact, a covenant requires the involvement of at least two parties. We have the opportunity of entering into a new covenant with God.

A new creation, and a new covenant…

Oh How HE Loves Us!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone, 3

To have a personal relationship with God is to have a new song in your heart. You see, salvation and song are inseparable because the joy of the Lord generates music in the soul.

When a person is in fellowship with the Lord through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, that person has a new song to praise the Lord.

Psalm 33:3 says to, “Sing unto him a new song: play skillfully with a loud noise.”

Psalm 96:1 says, “O sing unto the Lord a new song; sing unto the Lord all the earth.”

Psalm 98:1 says, “O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvelous things: his right hand,, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.

Psalm 144:9 says, “I will sing a new song unto thee O God; upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.”

Psalm 149:1 says, “Praise ye the Lord, sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praises in the congregation of saints.”

Isaiah 42:10 says, “Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea and all that is therein; the isle and the inhabitants thereof.”

We don’t want to get stuck in a rut in our singing, and so we are always learning some new songs…and in much the same way, we never want to get into a spiritual rut, but keep things fresh and new…mix it up a little…change the routine around, make improvements, etc.

The balance: The same Bible that commands us to sing a new song tells us not to forsake the old paths and landmarks, and so we strive to keep alive the faith of those who have gone on before, and to learn from the past, and allow it to help keep the future in check!

Stuart Hamblin wrote country and western songs. Before he got saved he wrote a song titled "I won't go hunting with you Jake but I'll go chasing women"

Stuart got saved and John Wayne made a bet that Stuart wouldn't last six months. Sometime after the six months Stuart saw Wayne who said "you cost me some money, Stuart--I bet you wouldn't last six months". Stuart said "It’s no secret what God can do". John Wayne said, that sounds like a good song title and so Stuart went home that night and wrote the song "It is no secret what God can do."

You see his life was changed and made new by the power of God.

We can have a new song every day because …

Lament. 3:22-23

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. [23] They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

God makes a new creation…our new self and our new song…

Oh How HE Loves Us!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone, 2

God Makes a NEW CREATION. 2 Cor 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

New Creation with a new Self.
Ephes. 4:24

And to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Col. 3:10

And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

New Creation with a new Song.

Rev 14:3 And they sang a new song before the throne…

That’s in heaven. And so is…

Rev. 5:9

And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.

But the Bible says much more about our new song on earth…

In the OT David was a musician, and loved to sing songs, and comforted the heart of Saul as he did. But times were not always that rosy…God sent David thru some major heartaches and storms to prepare Him to be His man one day.

King David says in Psalm 40:1-3, “I waited patiently for the Lord and he inclined unto me and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God; many shall see it and fear and shall trust in the Lord.”

Oh How HE Loves Us!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone, 1

The Word of God says that He Makes All Things New.

II Cor. 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

The concept of reincarnation imagines the dead being born again as someone else or something else, making a new start from a new perspective.

Poem by Wallace McRae:

"What does reincarnation mean?"

A cowpoke asked his friend.

His pal replied, "It happens when

yer life has reached its end.

They comb yer hair, and warsh yer neck,

And clean yer fingernails,

And lay you in a padded box

Away from life's travails.

The box and you goes in a hole,

That's dug into the ground.

Reincarnation starts in when

Yore planted 'neath a mound.

Them clods melt down, just like yer box,

and you who is inside.

And then yore just beginnin' on

Yer transformation ride.

In a while the grass'll grow

Upon yer rendered mound.

Till some day on yer moldered grave

A lonely flower is found.

And say a hoss should wander by

And graze upon this flower

That once wuz you, but now's yer in

Yer vegatative hour.

The posey that the hoss done ate

Up, with his other feed,

Makes bone, and fat, and muscle

Essential to the steed.

But some is left that he can't use

And so it passes through,

And finally lays upon the ground.

This thing that once wuz you.

Then say, by chance, I wanders by

And sees this on the ground,

And I ponders and I wonders at

This object that I found.

I thinks of reincarnation,

Of life, and death, and such,

And come away concludin': Slim,

You ain't changed, all that much."

We all hope for a better new start than that someday, but it won’t be in this world, unless you're talking about the new start God gives us at salvation. It's a clean slate, and things have changed radically!

Read 2 Cor. 6:14-17a -¹⁴ For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. ¹⁵ 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.

¹⁶ So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

What a huge change has happened on the inside, and we should let it work its way out!

Someday we’ll have a new home, a new body, and a new start, but our text says we don’t have to wait…that all things are become new for the Believer who has been ‘born again’!

We can be made new through the work of God in our life.

Oh How HE Loves Us!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone,

Some have a hard time releasing others because you won’t release yourself…accepting God’s forgiveness makes it easier to grant it to others even if they aren’t worthy...either!

-- A pastor finished his message early one Sunday, (ok, so, you know it wasn’t me!) and he wanted to check his congregation’s understanding. So he asked, "Can anyone tell me what you must do before you can obtain forgiveness of sin?"
There was a long pause and then, from the back of the room, a small boy spoke up, "You have to sin."

I have a feeling we don’t have a problem fulfilling that prerequisite.

But Jesus reveals that another prerequisite for God to forgive is our willingness to forgive others. Now is the time to step out of that spirit of unforgiveness, confess it to God, repent of it, and forgive those who have wronged you.

Back to the story we started with on Monday. It would not have done the woman on the plane any good at all if all 67 doctors offered their help and assistance...if she refused to accept their help.
- “I don’t need it.”
- “I’ll be OK.”
- “I think I know what to do.”

- "I'll deal with it later."
- “This heart attack really isn’t that bad. It’s not that serious.”
She had to accept their help. She had to surrender herself to their knowledge and expertise. She had to humble herself to admit that she needed help! Most of all, she had to TRUST them.

The sinful woman placed her faith and trust in Jesus. That moved Jesus to forgive her sins and set her free to go in peace.
- There is great peace when we know we are forgiven and when we have forgiven others.

Simon could have had the same forgiveness. But his faith was in himself. What about you?

Oh How HE Loves Us!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone,

You now have the ability to follow after God instead of fleeing from Him. You now have the ability to flee from sin and run to the Lord.

What does this mean? What are the implications for us today? To know that your sins are forgiven means:

- There exists the possibility of a personal relationship with God. To have a “right relationship” we must be right with God. [just like your spouse…when fussing, you have a relationship, but it’s not right until it’s made right…forgiveness must be obtained thru some means!]

- Jesus’ death on the cross makes your forgiveness possible. He paid the price. He was the perfect sacrifice, the perfect Lamb that was slain for my sins and yours.

- Jesus’ resurrection from the grave makes a relationship with God possible. If He had stayed in the grave, we would have no Savior, no eternal life, and no place in heaven.

- There exists the possibility of a restored relationship with God.
- There exists the possibility of restored relationships with others.

-- There was a widow who had “Rest In Peace” inscribed on her husband’s tombstone. When she found out that he left her out of his will, she had the words added, “TILL I GET THERE!”

- Because we are forgiven, we are called to be forgivers. Until we do, our relationship with God will continue to be hindered.

Oh How HE Loves Us!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone,

How much sin must a person commit to be a sinner? Simon and the woman were both sinners. Simon was guilty of hidden sins of the spirit, especially pride, while the woman was guilty of sins of the flesh. Her sins were known, while Simon’s sins were hidden from everyone...except God.

THE POINT IS THAT BOTH OF THEM WERE SPIRITUALLY BANKRUPT & COULD NOT PAY THEIR DEBT TO GOD!

There we are! All sinners…All spiritually bankrupt…All unable to pay our debt to God…All in desperate need…And all in the presence of the One who can forgive our sin and set us free.

What an incredible moment when Jesus said those 4 life-changing words – “Your sins are forgiven” – v. 48. Listen to those words again. Say them with me. Take the statement apart:

“Your” –indicating the person being addressed.

In other words, He’s talking to YOU. He’s addressing YOU. He’s addressing ME. He’s addressing US. This is not some cold, impersonal, or flippant comment. He’s not talking about someone else’s sins. He’s talking to YOU. You can’t do anything about anyone else’s sin, so quit worrying about them, and start dealing with your own. Jesus is addressing YOU today.

“sins” – Those times in your life when you have missed the mark; erred; offended someone; wronged someone; made a mistake; had sinful desires; not believed; had no faith; did not trust God; were lewd in words or actions; habitually messed up; deviated from God’s plan for your life; failed in the performance of your duties; broken an OT commandment; broken a NT commandment; fallen short.

[a friend of mine use to always say, 'God forgive us for our falling shorts!']

The Bible says we all have sinned and fall short, no matter who we are.

-- A little boy had just gotten saved and sat on a bench next to an old man who looked upset. The little boy said to the man, "Sir, do you need to get saved?"
The man, startled, said abruptly, "I’ll have you know I’ve been a Deacon in this church for over 30 years and Chairman of Deacons for 15 years."
The little boy responded, "Sir, it don’t matter what you’ve done, Jesus can still save you!"

“are” – a simple verb declaring this truth right now. “Your sins are _____________” what? Fill in the blank...
- Obvious? Hidden? Fun?
- Heavy? Weighing you down?
- Killing you? Destroying you? Destroying others?
- Waking you up at night?

So it is with people who dwell too long on their sin and refuse to release it to God.

“forgiven” – What a word! It means that you have been pardoned; your sins have been canceled. You have been loosed, and set free. Your sins have been released from you. You have been freed from the slavery to sin to become a servant of God your Creator.

Oh How HE Loves Us!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone,

Take time to read Luke 7:36-50 it is attached.

Where are you in this story? Who are you in this story?

Are you the woman? – In those days women were not invited to nor accepted at banquets. They were 2nd class citizens. Jewish rabbis did not speak to women in public. They did not eat with them in public.

A woman of this type would not have been invited to the house of Simon the Pharisee. Though her sins are not named, we get the impression that she was a woman of the streets with a bad reputation. She was from the “red torch” district!

- She sensed a desperate need in her life.
- She knew she was a sinner.
- She was deeply convicted about her sin.
- She approached Jesus in spite of all the strikes against her.
- She gave her most highly valued possession – perfume…that which she used to wear to attract men to herself she now used to anoint Jesus.

- Her hair, a woman’s glory, she humbly used it to dry His feet.
- She surrendered herself in total humility.

Are you the woman?

If you are not the Woman then are you the host? –Simon, the wealthy Pharisee, was the host of this banquet. The homes of the wealthy always had an open courtyard, usually in the center of the house. Sometimes the host would allow the public to stand around the outside of the courtyard and listen to the discussions, especially when the guest was a great teacher or some celebrity.

- He, too, was a sinner in great need. But he did not realize it because his chief problem was blindness – spiritual blindness.

At the end of v. 39 - It was easy for him to say, “She is a sinner!” but impossible for him to say, “I am a sinner!” Both phrases have 4 words, but only one is life changing.

- He was considerate, but self-righteous.
- He considered himself better than the woman.
- He sensed no need for forgiveness in his own life.
- He was a good moral person – good in religion; good in outward behavior.

And sadly, the Bible says that many good people are lost and on their way to hell, because they don't realize you can't get to heaven by being good, only by being saved.

Which person are you? All of us are in one category or another – either we sense our great need for salvation or we don’t. Look at Jesus’ words in v. 41-43. The parable that Jesus told does not deal with the amount of sin in a person’s life, but the awareness of the sin in his heart.

Oh How HE Loves Us!

Pastor Phil

Hello Everyone,

Can four words really change your life? Sure they can!

Here are some Examples:

I'm sorry, it's cancer. Yes, you are pregnant. You owe one thousand. Please take a number. The baby needs changed. You are being audited!

Jesus changes lives, and did so in our text with just four words. [Luke 7: 36-43]

³⁶ Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. ³⁷ When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, ³⁸ and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

³⁹ When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

⁴⁰ Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

⁴¹ “Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ⁴² Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

⁴³ Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

True story--there was a woman who was on an overseas flight. She called flight attendant over to her and told her she was having a heart attack. Flight attendant asked, “Is there a doctor on board?” At that point, 67 people stood up. Obviously, they were doctors. "Which of you is a heart doctor?" They all remained standing. They were headed to a convention for cardiac surgeons.

Imagine her joy when she saw the doctors. They were ready, willing, and able to diagnose her problem and prescribe the right treatment.

They had the knowledge, the expertise, and the desire to take care of her and meet her needs.

I want to tell you that Jesus Christ stands ready, willing, and able to help you today. He is the Great Physician and you reading this is not by accident, it is by Divine Appointment!

- He has already diagnosed your problems.
- He has already prescribed the correct treatment through His Word.

- He has the knowledge He needs about you because He knows everything about you, even the things you haven’t told Him or anyone else.

- He has the expertise and the ability to take care of you.
- The greatest thing of all is that He has a deep desire to take care of you and see you made whole again.

Oh How He Loves Us!

Pastor Phil