Come, let us through Him continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name.
Hebrews 13:15
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God calls us to see his redemptive acts
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:15-16
And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.
Exodus 13:21-22
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God calls us to live by faith
Therefore, let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
1 Corinthians 10:12-13
You think your relationship with God is solid? You think you can ignore it? You think you stand in grace and nothing can happen to you? Take heed lest you fall. Don’t think that because you have a relationship with God, that you can become lazy in it. That’s how you fall.
Paul then encourages the Corinthians. “No temptation overtakes you except such as is common to man.” In the Greek, it says, “Faithful is God.” It’s heightened–Paul wants you to get it. . . . He tells them they are not alone. . . .
Your temptation is not super special. Sorry. You’re not a victim. But God is faithful. God can be trusted. You can look to God in faith, putting your hope in Him. You may not be able to endure in your own strength. You can’t. In God’s strength, in His faithfulness to you, He will strengthen you to resist temptation. He will bring you through it, giving you an exit. He will help you to endure it.
So the question is, do you go and sin because you only have one choice? Or do you look to God to help you through the temptation you are facing? Because God is faithful, He says he will take you through it. He’ll bring an end to it. He’ll help you endure it. Which choice are you going to make . . . to turn from God and go after sin? Is the sin which tempts you better than God? . . . Will you be presumptuous in sinning, or will you be obedient and live by faith?
morning sermon, 2/5/23, Reverend Tim Rackley
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God calls us to worship only Him
You cannot drink the cup of the LORD and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the LORD’s table and of the table of demons. Or do we provoke the LORD to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?
1 Corinthians 10:21-22
Do you want to make God jealous? Do you think you’re stronger than He is?
I don’t think so.
What is the sin that you think is okay to play around with? You think, “I can always ask for forgiveness. This will just take a minute.” You think God is amused, or do you think you are making Him jealous?
We can’t serve God and self. We can’t serve God and the world. Which is it going to be? He calls us to worship Him exclusively. Remember He bought us with a price. We are His. . . . We can easily think it’s ok to incorporate the sins of the world into our lives and put God in a nice little box over in the corner of our lives. God is not okay with that. He’s not okay with being over in the corner. He is to BE our lives.
We were bought with a price. We belong exclusively to Him. Is He worthy of our lives?
morning sermon, 2/5/23, Reverend Tim Rackley