I heard an old, Old story
How a saviour came From glory
How he gave his life On calvary
To save a wretch like me
I heard about His groaning,
Of his precious blood's Atoning
Then I repented Of my sin
And won the victory

Oh, victory in jesus, My saviour forever
He sought me And he bought me
With his redeeming blood
He loved me Ere I knew him
And all my love Is due him
He plunged me to victory
Beneath the Cleansing flood

I heard about His healing, of His cleansing power revealing
How He made the lame to walk again and caused the blind to see
And then I cried, "Dear Jesus, come and heal my broken spirit"
I then obeyed His blest command and gained the victory

Oh, victory in jesus, My saviour forever
He sought me And he bought me
With his redeeming blood
He loved me Ere I knew him
And all my love Is due him
He plunged me to victory
Beneath the Cleansing flood

I heard about a mansion He has built for me in glory
And I heard about the street of gold beyond the crystal sea
About the angels singing and the old redemption story
Oh and some sweet day I'll sing up there the song of victory

Oh, victory in jesus, My saviour forever
He sought me And he bought me
With his redeeming blood
He loved me Ere I knew him
And all my love Is due him
He plunged me to victory
Beneath the Cleansing flood

Now, let's sing

There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!
None else could heal all our soul’s diseases,
No, not one! No, not one!

Refrain:
Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!

No friend like Him is so high and holy,
No, not one! No, not one!
And yet no friend is so meek and lowly,
No, not one! No, not one!

Refrain:
Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!

There’s not an hour that He is not near us,
No, not one! No, not one!
No night so dark but His love can cheer us,
No, not one! No, not one!

Refrain:
Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!

Did ever saint find this Friend forsake him?
No, not one! No, not one!
Or sinner find that He would not take him?
No, not one! No, not one!

Refrain:
Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!

Was e’er a gift like the Savior given?
No, not one! No, not one!
Will He refuse us a home in heaven?
No, not one! No, not one!

Refrain:
Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!

Now then, let's sing

On Jordan's stormy banks I stand,
and cast a wishful eye
to Canaan's fair and happy land,
where my possessions lie.

Refrain:
I am bound for the promised land,
I am bound for the promised land;
oh, who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.

O'er all those wide extended plains
shines one eternal day;
there God the Son forever reigns,
and scatters night away.

Refrain:
I am bound for the promised land,
I am bound for the promised land;
oh, who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.

No chilling winds or poisonous breath
can reach that healthful shore;
sickness and sorrow, pain and death,
are felt and feared no more.

Refrain:
I am bound for the promised land,
I am bound for the promised land;
oh, who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.

When I shall reach that happy place,
I'll be forever blest,
for I shall see my Father's face,
and in his bosom rest.

Refrain:
I am bound for the promised land,
I am bound for the promised land;
oh, who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.

THE SERMON IS BROUGHT TO YOU TODAY BY REV HAROLD HOWARD. OPEN YOUR HEARTS AND LET THE HOLY SPIRIT BRING THIS MESSAGE FROM GOD!

TEXTS:
2 Cor. 1:18-22;
2 Cor. 5:1-10;
Jude 24-25;
2 Pet. 3:1-16;
Rom. 13:11-14

Back in 1823 a man by the name of William Cushing was born in Hingham Massachusetts and was saved when only a young child. Later he went into the ministry and ministered many faithful years until some illness struck him and he lost part of his ability to speak. While for a preacher this was a great loss ... without bitterness he cried out to God in his heart to still be able to minister ... to serve the Loving God that had met him as a child.

God heard this servant and granted him the words to one of the best children's hymns over the last 100+ years! The name of the song, "JEWELS" found in many hymn books; a beautiful hymn that speaks about the joy of Christ's coming ... a promise which in his mind was “a sure promise!”

Another great hymn this former pastor wrote was "Hiding in Thee" ... for a preacher who had lost the ability to speak he managed to keep bitterness at bay ... and found a song in his heart, and the privilege of writing a wonderful children's song in thanksgiving to the God who had saved him as a young boy ... who now as always held to the SURE PROMISE OF CHRIST'S COMING AGAIN!

Eternal life is a sure thing, and there are 2 places we may choose to spend it! Why not accept the sure promise of Jesus Christ, He is coming again ... and only those who have accepted Him as Lord will be traveling up, the rest will find a path only downward! Today is the day of salvation AND know that one of the surest promises in the universe is that JESUS IS COMING AGAIN ... AND SOON!

• IT IS EXPLICIT!

  2 Cor. 1:18-20;
  Jude 24-25
  
  Absolute!
  2 Cor. 1:18-20 says:
  18. But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.”
  19. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.”
  20. For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.

  God is not a wavering God ... He is not one way today and tomorrow who knows! Paul and others had preached His promises! Not a single promise of God's has ever failed!

  Both the Old and New Testaments are filled with promises of the second coming of Christ. Someone has reported that there are 1,845 references in the Old Testament alone and a total of 17 books that give it prominence. Of the 260 chapters in the entire New Testament, there are 318 references to Christ's second coming. That averages one out of every 30 verses. Furthermore, 23 of the 27 New Testament books refer to this great event. That leaves only four books that do not refer directly to the Second Coming. Interestingly, three of these four books are single-chapter letters which were written to specific persons on a particular subject. -- Source Unknown

  Those promises that have not yet happened therefore can be counted on! The message of Christ's salvation and His coming again is simply a YES, YES, deal! Jesus is the "AMEN" to these promises! This means He is the living proof of God's existence and His promises! Since Christ died for us we can count on His Word! Jesus promised that where He went, we will someday go also! To this sure promise Paul said "AMEN!" (This simply means: "so be it!") There has never been a promise of God that ended with NO, only YES! Meaning: “YES IT IS TRUE!” It is therefore an absolute fact that Jesus is coming again!

• There is Assurance! Jude 24-25
  Jude is the "postcard epistle" ... short, but with a hallmark finish! Notice the end of this short letter: "God is able to keep us from:"
  

  a. "FALLING"
  b. "FAULT"
  c. "FEAR!"
  Note the last line: God, "before all ages, now and forevermore! AMEN!" There is simply no doubt about it ... and if you do have some doubt then we should all read VERSE 22 where we are to "snatch others from the fire and save them." Fortunately, it is God who "is ABLE TO keep us..."

• There must Be ENDURANCE! READ
  

  2 Pet. 3:1-16; Jude 20-21
  There will be Arrogance Let's read 2 Pet. 3:1-7:
  1. Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.
  2. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
  3. Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
  4. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”
  5. But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.
  6. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.
  7. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
  
  The last day’s mentality will include great scoffing at this surest promise of God! The arrogance of man's heart is to think only of the here and now and ignore the huge future we all will face and live in!

  The mentality of the last days will include the arrogance of man's selfishness, only thinking of the moment, what more can I get, what more can I do, what more will I accomplish ... NOW, NOW, NOW, NOW! What about eternity!? What about tomorrow, it will come! You cannot ignore this reality ... and you may not have the chance later to decide! There are no guarantees in this life ... except ONE SURE PROMISE! To those who receive Jesus Christ TOMORROW IS FOREVER WONDERFUL! For the sinner his past is always going to be catching up with him! For the saint his future is always going to be catching up with him! What a wonderful difference for the SAINT! Arrogantly, men forget about the past when God shouted the need to think about eternal life...Remember the flood? Remember Sodom & Gomorrah? Remember God's promise of the future ... everything will one day be destroyed with fire ... and hell will be real ... but so will heaven!

• THERE WILL BE AN ACHE!
  

  2 Pet. 3:8-9 8. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a daY.
  9. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. Yes, it has been a long time ... it could still be longer, or it might be today!

  Yes, while we wait we ache! But, God is trying to wait as long as possible so that many will be saved! However, a time will come when His promised return will happen: DO NOT choose to perish ... God desires NO ONE TO PERISH, which is why He has waited...Like all things in this material universe we will eventually run out of everything, including time! (Einstein's 2nd Law of Thermodynamics actually teaches this, also called the "Law of Entropy" ... all systems are running down! Don't be caught short!

  There will need to be proper Attitudes!
  2 Pet. 3:10-16;
  Jude 20-21
  God has something to say to believers too while God is patiently waiting for all to come in repentance to Him! We are to frame our minds with certain attitudes and actions!We are to live "Holy" ... live UP to God's expectations, not see how much we can get away with and still make heaven! Rather than fearing what is to come, we are to be faithful till Christ returns. Instead of fearing the dark, we're to be lights as we watch and wait.

  We are to be a peace even during times of travail such as the last times will be ... indeed they are now! We are to take this patient waiting of God's and use it to reach as many as possible while it is still possible ... this is not just a time for believers to sit back in comfort and await the 2nd coming so they can escape while their neighbors or friends go to hell! We are to "BUILD ourselves up in the most Holy faith" (Jude 20) ... this is not a time to attack each other in the church, or to live sloppy lives! We are to pray in the Holy Spirit ... more than just repetitious prayers! "KEEP ourselves in God's love" (Jude 21) ... as we wait for the surest promise to become reality! "Be merciful to those who do doubt" (Jude 22) ... this concept of Christ's return isn't an easy one for people to swallow ... and there are times we may struggle with doubts too!

  There will be engagement and Agreement: Let's READ 2 Cor. 5:1-10--“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5 NIV Though we now "groan in this tent" (our bodies as frail as they are!) we have this promise ... groaning will come to an end and a wonderful groan-free body will be given us!

• How can we be sure?
  

  BECAUSE "GOD HAS GIVEN US A DEPOSIT," GUARANTEEING THE PAYOFF ONE DAY OF THE ENTIRE LOAN!

  
  The idea here is like an engagement ring! What is the idea behind an engagement ring? It is the deposit that guarantees
  

  THE FUTURE UNION ... OR IN OUR CASE AS THE CHURCH AND BRIDE OF CHRIST ... MARRIAGE!

  This means heaven folks! The Spirit of God in your heart NOW is the deposit of what is to come!
  

  FULL PAYMENT OF A BODY THAT CAN BEAR THE HOLY SPIRIT OF A REDEEMED HUMANITY!

  God Himself made this agreement with all those who accepted Christ as their Lord!

  READ 2 Cor. 1:21-22
  21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
  His seal of ownership upon us is the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives as we accept Christ! This will guarantee that we will be joined with Him in His own home one day, when He comes to give full payment of what He started, our
  

  FULL AND COMPLETE RESTORATION

  and full benefits of perfect sinlessness ... HEAVEN! This is going to happen ... it is a sure promise of God's!

  A farmer had an old hound dog that he cherished. One day the dog disappeared, and several weeks passed without his return. In spite of this, the farmer continued to set out fresh food for the dog every day. Finally, in curiosity, one of the farmer's neighbors asked why he continued to set out food for the dog when he obviously was not returning. "He will be back," replied the farmer. "Because he knows I am here waiting for him. And when he gets here I want him to know he is welcome back." Today we wait for Christ's return with great expectancy. We do not know the day nor the hour of His return, but we are confident that He is coming back. As we wait for Christ's return, we prepare ourselves each day to meet Him. -- Source Unknown

• THERE SHOULD BE EXPECTATION EXPECTATION! READ Rom. 13:11-14
  "WE must not slumber in these days" ... even though night is coming; we are not children of NIGHT, we are children of the DAY … many people need our light!

  There are "rumblings" in our world: warfare, earthquakes, the nuclear threat, economic woes, breakdown of the family and moral standards. While not exactly new, these things do point to a coming day of Judgment (Matt. 24). People need not be caught unprepared. God warns and provides an escape to those who will heed the rumblings.

  No matter how long it has been since you were saved, it is now nearer to the coming of Christ than when you first believed ... it can only be closer! This world is getting darker ... even though they are saying this is a time of a
  

  "NEW WORLD ORDER"

  ... and a time when many nations are joined together in peace ...
  

  IN TRUTH THEY ARE JOINED TOGETHER FOR WAR!

  It won't be long and night will end ... it always does! This is true spiritually as well, while we live in dark days, Christ Jesus' coming will usher in the
  

  FULL LIGHT ...

  and then it will be the
  

  CHILDREN OF LIGHT WHO WILL RULE!

  You too can be a child of God's family ... and if you are BRIGHT you will be! Our activity should increase towards those who are still without the benefit of salvation!

  Adornment! Rom. 13:14 This is a time to
  

  "CLOTHE OURSELVES WITH JESUS CHRIST!"

  This is not the time to just gratify our flesh ... to ignore eternal values while fulfilling all our temporal ones!

  A little girl had been listening while her mother's friends were speaking about the imminent return of the Lord. After some time she was missed, so her mother went in search of her. She found her looking out a window at the top of the house. Asked what she was doing she said, "Oh, Mother, I heard you say Jesus might come today, and I wanted to be the first to see Him. See, I washed myself and put on a clean dress." -- Source Unknown

  This doesn't mean live like a monk ... but it does mean to think seriously of the need to win the lost! It does mean to have clear spiritual priorities in one's life. It does mean to value spiritual things above material things. It does mean to do everything we can to build up the body of Christ! It does mean to preach the gospel in every nation! It does mean to be alert to the enemy's tricks and schemes that would sidetrack our walk with God! We are going to be adorned with a crown of righteousness
  

  ... WE SHOULD LIVE THAT RIGHTEOUSNESS NOW,

  not just later!

  AND IN CONCLUSION: One of God's sure promises is the guarantee of heaven to all who have received Christ as Lord! The day is going to come when we really will be able to use the term "SAVED" in its fullest sense. Since "saved" is past tense, meaning it is already finished, the use then of this term really means we are declaring the surest promise of Christ's finished work in our life, as though it is done NOW! Praise God we are "SAVED" ... and what a "sure promise it is!"

NOW, LET'S SING

Who can cheer the heart like Jesus,
By His presence all divine?
True and tender, pure and precious,
O how blest to call Him mine!

All that thrills my soul is Jesus,
He is more than life to me;
And the fairest of ten thousand
In my blessed Lord I see.

Love of Christ so freely given,
Grace of God beyond degree,
Mercy higher than the heaven,
Deeper than the deepest sea!

All that thrills my soul is Jesus,
He is more than life to me;
And the fairest of ten thousand
In my blessed Lord I see.

What a wonderful redemption!
Never can a mortal know
How my sin, tho red like crimson,
Can be whiter than the snow.

All that thrills my soul is Jesus,
He is more than life to me;
And the fairest of ten thousand
In my blessed Lord I see.

Every need His hand supplying,
Every good in Him I see;
On His strength divine relying,
He is all in all to me.

All that thrills my soul is Jesus,
He is more than life to me;
And the fairest of ten thousand
In my blessed Lord I see.

By the crystal flowing river
With the ransomed I will sing
And forever and forever
Praise and glorify the King

All that thrills my soul is Jesus,
He is more than life to me;
And the fairest of ten thousand
In my blessed Lord I see.

I never like to close a service without knowing that everyone has had a chance to accept Jesus into their heart and become a Christian. If you are one of those today, don't go away without finding the greatest joy in the world. It doesn't matter what your age is (I was 50 yrs old when I found Jesus). He is reaching out to you. Try reaching out to him. I ask you, if you were to die today, would you know positively that you would go to heaven? You can know. If you have or will receive Jesus into your heart and make him the Lord and Savior of your life He will take you with him just as quickly as he did the thief on the cross. It says in Luke 23:43 He told him

"...I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, TODAY YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE."

All you need do is pray a little prayer from the heart. He'll know you are sincere.If you pray that prayer let us know and we can rejoice with you and help you all we can. If you have any questions we'll try to help you. Feel free to contact us. We would be happy to hear from you. Our email address is near the end of this page and on our prayer page.

NOW LET'S SING

I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses,
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

Refrain:
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

Refrain:
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

I’d stay in the garden with Him,
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.

Refrain:
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

TO CLOSE OUT THE SERVICE LET'S SING THAT HYMN

Have faith in God when your pathway is lonely.
He sees and knows all the way you have trod;
Never alone are the least of His children;
Have faith in God, have faith in God.

Chorus
Have faith in God, Hes on His throne
Have faith in God, He watches oer his own
He cannont fail, He must prevail
Have faith in God, have faith in God

Have faith in God when your prayers are unanswered,
Your earnest plea He will never forget;
Wait on the lord, trust His word and be patient,
Have faith in God. He'll answer yet.

Chorus
Have faith in God, Hes on His throne
Have faith in God, He watches oer his own
He cannont fail, He must prevail
Have faith in God, have faith in God

Have faith in God in your pain and your sorrow,
His heart is touched with your grief and despair;
Cast all your cares and your burdens upon Him,
And leave them there, oh, leave them there.

Chorus
Have faith in God, Hes on His throne
Have faith in God, He watches oer his own
He cannont fail, He must prevail
Have faith in God, have faith in God

Have faith in God though all else fall about you;
Have faith in God, He provides for His own:
He cannot fail though all kingdoms shall perish.
He rules. He reigns upon His throne.

WE HOPE AND PRAY THAT YOU HAD A GOOD SERVICE TODAY AND THAT YOU LEAVE THIS PLACE WITH YOUR HEART AND SOUL LIFTED TO THE HEAVENS

LET'S JUST RAISE OUR HANDS AND WORSHIP HIM WITH OUR EYES TURNED ON HIM AS WE CAN FEEL HIS PRESENCE HERE. O, GLORY TO GOD! THANK YOU, JESUS.!

Let us close in prayer: "Gracious, wonderful Heavenly Father--As we leave this sanctuary, we ask that you would make us aware of your presence every hour of every day and help us to have the strength to continue to serve you and live for you. Help us to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in everything we do and we'll return again at the next appointed service, the Lord willing. In the name of Jesus, AMEN!

WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR VISITING AND WORSHIPPING WITH US TODAY. WE INVITE YOU TO COME AGAIN TO OUR SERVICE NEXT SUNDAY. WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOUR SUGGESTIONS. FEEL FREE TO EMAIL US WITH YOUR COMMENTS. YOUR EMAIL IS ALWAYS WELCOME. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. WE LOVE YOU.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE PLACED ON OUR MAILING LIST TO RECEIVE THE TITLE OF EACH WEEK'S SERMON, ONE EACH SAT., JUST EMAIL US (CLICK EMAIL LINK BELOW). ALSO, WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ALL OUR FRIENDS WHO ATTEND OUR SERVICE. IF YOU WILL GIVE US YOUR FIRST NAME AND LET US KNOW WHERE YOU ARE VIEWING THE SERVICE, IT WOULD MAKE US HAPPY AND WE THANK YOU SO MUCH.

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