Author: brotherjim1

Prepare for 2025

Ezra 7:10 – For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.

The end of December is often a time of preparation for the coming year. Resolutions are made. Closets are organized. Calendars are synced. The beginning of a new year is a natural time for putting life back in order after the busyness of the Christmas season.

During this day New Years Eve, It becomes a time when many decide to make changes in the New Year, for many it means to start over perhaps, change their ways and even for some they decide to get their spiritual life back on track as well.

Just as we need to prepare our homes, our lives and schedule for what’s ahead, we need to prepare our heart too. In this day before 2025 begins, take time not only to prepare your calendar but also to prepare your heart for what the New Year holds.

Our Lesson We Learn from This? Spend time reflecting on what God has done for you in 2024 and asking for wisdom as you begin 2025. Determine to spend more time in God’s Word each day, to obey Him, and to share the Good News with others. Follow the example of Ezra and prepare your heart to seek the Lord first!

There is nothing that will enrich our lives more than a deeper and clearer perception of God’s presence in the routine of daily living this day the last day of 2024 and the days ahead in 2025.

Amen

Repentance

Prayer: Father, today I praise You that the substance of my faith is measurable in tangible ways. While I know that works will never save me, I thank You that my salvation will by necessity change the way I live. Help me, on this day, to demonstrate the reality of true repentance, both in my attitudes and actions.

Protect me from bitterness over the consequences of my sins and give me the strength to honor You as a new creation in Christ. Thank You for giving me grace that is always sufficient. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Key word reading: “Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance.” Matthew 3:8

When I was reading the word of God and thinking over many things today. One thought came to mind of a day in church. I was giving thought to a lesson that I taught in church. Most of the wording was Jesus did this or Jesus did that and yet we see so many people saying such things as Jesus saved me or how I love God and what he did for me, or how he’s helped me.

What was sad, many of these folks who said Jesus saved me has truly never shown any changes outside of Church or have shown no changes in their lifestyles of how they live nor giving up the things in their live that should not be there. The reason for no real change is this, no true repentance of what they do, live or of things they say.

True Repentance is never easy. Flimsy excuses, self-righteous blame, and blind justification often minimize our behavior as anything but sin, leaving us negotiating with God to justify our actions, rather than pleading for His forgiveness.

Apparently, the Pharisees and Sadducees caught the eye of John the Baptist as he preached in the wilderness, evoking a sharp rebuke for the hypocrisy of their self-righteousness.

His words cut us as well, for they serve as a reminder that the evidence of repentance is not mere confession, grief, or adherence to religious standards that are often void of heart transformation.

To the contrary, life change, both inside and out, is the ultimate mark of a genuine abandonment of sin and turning toward God. The broken person knows he does not deserve forgiveness and will forsake his pride and sin in order to receive it.

Good deeds born out of humility are the fruit of repentance. Religious activity, extensive sacrifice, and even diligent prayer may or may not meet this criterion.

What Do We Learn from This? Ultimately, the key is not what people think about you, but what God knows about you. Is repentance something you do, or is it a reflection of who you are? True repentance comes from a sorrowful heart and the real change is on the inside, and not just on the outside.

Amen

With Little or NO Warning!

If you think about events that has taken place in our history more so in the last 20 years, we all have witnessed events of human tragedy and devastation that have come with little or no warning

Here was one event that came, Sept 11, 2001… People went about their daily lives just like any other day, but then suddenly “without warning” The First Jet Crashed into one of the Twin Towers, shockwaves were sent across the globe as we watched in horror as thousands died and our nation grieved….

Then came another event that many had never even heard of “a Tsunami?” “what’s that …a type of Pizza?” But in 2004 ….With Little or No Warning an earthquake occurred in the Indian Ocean With a magnitude of between 9.1 and 9.3, it is the second largest earthquake ever recorded on a seismo … triggered a Tsunami that ended up killing over 230,000 people in 14 countries

Then not near as large in its scope came the Hurricanes of the Gulf, most notable…Hurricane Katrina. Though there were warnings blared preceding this event..there were thousands who decided to “take on the storm” and found themselves at loss

Here was another, The People of Haiti ..dealing with the daily human struggle …found themselves in one of the worst earthquakes in modern history…With Little or NO WARNING!! (The January 12th earthquake in Haiti is the most lethal natural disaster of the past 20 years. On February 12th, the Associated Press reported that official Haitian government estimates of the dead had been revised upwards, now reaching 230,000 dead.)

Then came Chile, Seismologists estimate that the Chilean earthquake was so powerful that it may have shortened the length of the day by 1.26 microseconds and moved the Earth’s figure axis by 8 cm or 2.7 milliarcseconds.

Again, all of this happened With Little or No Warning! Then there was Japan,…..an Earthquake + Tsunami + Nuclear Disaster, …thousands died, again with “with little or No Warning”

How about Alabama Tornado’s, hundreds of people died “with little or no warning” ….”Joplin Missouri” “One of the deadliest tornado’s in US HISTORY ….With Little or No Warning!!

How about August 2023 the wildfire in Maui. The wildfire on the Hawaiian Island killed 102 people and destroyed more than 2,200 structures, causing more than $5 billion in damages. Came with no warning….. These were just a few that I have listed all came with Little or No Warning.

So now you’re thinking, where am I going with all this, The Word of God says “it’s appointed unto man once to die and THEN Judgement”

In just a few examples that I have listed above… hundreds of thousands of people were going through their daily routines…when suddenly “their appointed TIME” came …again… most with little or NO warning and every single one of those people who died without Christ.

Many of you will be taken to an eternal courtroom and stand before Almighty God as Judge of the life that they lived that had rejected every opportunity given to accept a Free Gift (eternal life), but instead now face eternal punishment with no hope for escape.

Will you please stop and take time to read this and think for real? I mean IF that was YOU, IF tonight a tornado goes up and heads toward your house, if an earthquake rumbles, if a car crosses a median….IF!!!!! ….IF!!!!! ….IF!!!!!

Now you might be here reading this and have this mindset THAT YOU are immune…that you are invincible…But YOU ARE NOT!!! NONE OF US ARE!!! You might say, I’m a fear mongerer …trying to manipulate you by using fear by saying all this…

Truth of the matter, I am not, as I read this morning in his words Our Lord told us to REPENT OR Perish, Repentance begins with a change of mind that leads to a change in direction in one’s life, in other words…to “Stop and Think” and then react to what You hear by believing the message and it’s NOT just the thought that counts…

What Lesson Do We Learn from This or better yet. What is the Heart of this message? It’s simple to make sure that when your “appointed time” comes…It hasn’t been “without warning” and that you would “stop and think” When is my time coming?

Don’t ask me why that God, has put on my heart to warn you to “Flee the Wrath” to come, yes, his words do say, He’s not willing that any should perish, He’s offering You a way of escape… Before you were even born, while You have Yet been living as if there is No God and there is No Judgement Day…

He has already sent His Son Jesus Christ to Die on the cross in Your Place ….2,000 years ago Jesus Died because of You and the laws that You have personally broken, all the sins you are now in, He was taking your place, he has paid the price and why?

Because He created You in Love and for a purpose of which was and is ..for you to Know Him by entering into an eternal covenant relationship …graced to You by The Heart of Almighty God.

Please Hear, Please Stop and think and Please Believe there is an EMPTY TOMB that Shouts to the Whole World That Jesus Christ Is the Way, The Truth and the Life and He’s Your Only REAL Hope for today, and for all eternity

Call Upon Jesus while You still have TIME!! Before IT’s Really Too Late, because when your time comes and you stand before God, don’t Yell these words at him and say “Well No One Has Warned Me”, if you made it to this point of my posting, then you have been warned just now by reading this. Think about it before it’s really too late will you.

Amen

Our Main Focus – Staying Focus on Jesus Christ

John 21:22 – Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” John 21:23 – Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”

Take Note here in these 2 verses back-to-back Jesus told Peter this key part > What is that to you? In other words, it’s none of our business what others do; our main focus should be on Jesus Christ and no one else.

Read the rest…….

When you see Our Lord’s words, “Follow me!” it must have brought new joy and love to Peter’s heart. Literally, Jesus said, “Keep on following me.” Immediately, Peter began to follow Jesus, just as he had done before his great denial. However, for a moment Peter took his eyes off the Lord Jesus, a mistake he had made at least two other times.

After that first great catch of fish, Peter took his eyes off his Lord and looked at himself. “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8). When he was walking on the stormy sea with Jesus, Peter looked away from the Lord and began to look at the wind and waves, and immediately he began to sink (Matt. 14:30). It is dangerous to look at the circumstances instead of looking to the Lord.

Why did Peter look away from his Lord and start to look back? He heard somebody walking behind him. It was the apostle John, who was also following Jesus Christ. Peter did a foolish thing and asked Jesus, “What shall this man do?” In other words, “Lord, you just told me what will happen to me; now, what will happen to John?”

The Lord rebuked Peter and reminded him that his job was to follow, not to meddle into the lives of other believers. Beware when you get your eyes off the Lord and start to look at other Christians! “Looking unto Jesus” should be the aim and practice of every believer (Heb. 12:1–2).

To be distracted by ourselves, our circumstances, or by other Christians is to disobey the Lord and possibly get detoured out of the will of God. Keep your eyes of faith on Him and on Him alone.

This does not mean that we ignore others, don’t get me wrong, because we do have the responsibility of caring for one another, we should pray for one another (Phil. 2:1–4).

Rather, it means that we must not permit our curiosity about others to distract us from following the Lord. God has His plan for us; He also has plans for our Christian friends and associates. How He works in their lives is His business. Our business is to follow Him as He leads us (see Rom. 14:1–13).

I was just reminded of this fact in one point of my walk with the Lord when I went to examine myself in prayer and going through this period of worrying about other people’s business, when in fact my main focus should have been placed on Jesus Christ and him alone. We are to be shameful to worry about other people’s business or what they are doing or to even listen to such silly gossip about them or others.

Another fact is we should not bicker nor fight of such things or to hold grudges against one another, woe to us, woe to me. This really is a sad state if we believers fall into this trap and that pit, shame on us.

The main focus and our eyes should be place squarely on Jesus Christ and forget about the other things that pull our eyes away from Jesus. But the Lord tenderly rebuked me with, “What is that to thee? Follow thou me.” And what is that to you?

It was just the message I needed, and the rest of us should heed to this rebuke from our Lord Jesus Christ. Shame on us for such petty things and looking at others, yes, I am preaching to myself on this and other should do the same to themselves.

More problems are caused by confused saints than by lost sinners! Misinterpreting the Word of God only creates misunderstanding about God’s people and God’s plans for His people.

(Remember, witness is a key theme in the gospel of John. The word is used forty-seven times.) So, we should be doing the same instead of focusing on such petty things of what others do or what they should be doing, or what we say about each other. We should be putting our eyes on Jesus Christ himself and not what they are doing.

Our Lesson We Learn from This? Jesus Christ is transforming lives today. Wherever He finds a believer who is willing to yield to His will, listen to His Word, and follow His way, He begins to transform that believer and accomplish remarkable things in that life. He also begins to do wonderful things through that life.

Amen

Looking Up Are You In Over Your Head?

This was from my old blog post back in 2012

Looking Up Are You In Over Your Head?

PSALM 69:1-2 – Save me, 0 God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold.

Ever feel like you’re in over your head? David expressed that very sentiment in this passage. His accusers despised him solely because of his devotion to God (see 69:7). They actually plotted to kill him. Feeling the sting of scorn and shame, David saw no way out.

Like a person in quicksand, he sank rapidly into despair. Anyone who has ever been overwhelmed with fear and distress knows that a single step into the mire creates a vortex. Unless someone comes to our rescue, we’re destined to take a ride down a slippery slide. . . and it’s not a fun one, either.

Sin is a sucking force that pulls us into the depths of hopelessness. Whether it’s our own sin or the sins of others, iniquity provides no traction to gain our footing. But in his despair, David knew who to call.

He cried out to his Creator, the only One with the power to reverse sin’s deadly pull. Next time you get in over your head; learn from the psalmist who pleaded, “Save me, 0 God.” Then look up, because help is on its way.

Help is with him and not in the flesh if we allow ourselves to trust him and follow his path. When we let God be our pilot in our lives, he can never steer us wrong. So, no matter how bad things are, how deep they may be, always look up and he is there with his hand reaching out to pull you up.

Amen

Living With Mistakes

Author:BrotherJim

The real question comes to mind, how does God relate to us when we make a mistake, and would he hold it against us? We all make them and what we do with them and how we learn from them is the key to living a Christian life. In this message we learn from our mistakes.

Title: Living With Mistakes

John 21:15-17

Is Our Hope Not In Vain

Author: Brother Jim

While it’s simple to forget that God is with us through hard times. And that’s where scripture comes in. All throughout his words he gives us assurance that he is there to help us and reminds us that whoever is a child of God he or she is protected and covered. This is why our hope is not in vain.

Title: Our Hope Is Not In Vain

Roman 8:18 – “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us”

Turning A Crisis Into A Turning Point

Author: BrotherJim

Your crisis can be the turning point in your life, while it is sad that many people never think about God until they have a crisis in their life. But there is help when they come. In this message we will see how God can turn a crisis into a turning point in your life.

Mark 10:46-52

Five Lies Satan Loves To Tell

Authror: BrotherJim

Lying is popular today. That’s because we have believed the devil’s lie that truth doesn’t really matter. In fact, Satan has convinced many people that there is no such thing as absolute truth, so there can be no absolute lie either. In this message we learn of the 5 lies Satan loves to tell us.

Genesis 3:1-5

Is Anything Too Hard For The Lord

Author: BrotherJim

Our reading verse comes in the midst of God’s promise to bring Abraham and Sarah a son even in their very old age, to the point where Sarah thought it laughable that God would give her a son in her old age. Both of them thought it was impossible.

The question, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”  – In this message we learn 5 points that nothing is too hard for God.

Genesis 18:14

What Happens Next

Author: BrotherJim

The fact remains, No one is born as a Christian, even if they are born into a Christian family, or going to church, that it does not make you a Christian no more than sitting at taco bell making you a taco. The word of God says the only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ. In this message we talk about what happens next when you say yes to Jesus.

Ephesians 1:13-14

Are You Giving God Your Very Best

Author: BrotherJim

Let me ask this question? Are you truly giving God your very best? Do you even think about giving him your best? Or do you say I just don’t have the time to do so or that I’ll catch you later. Now is this type of obedience acceptable to God? I would say NO it’s not. In this message we will look over what it is so important to give God our very best.

Jeremiah 48:10

Which Way Are You Going

Author: BrotherJim

Do you ever feel like you’re going in circles and not making any progress? At least the kind of progress you’re expecting. If you’re like me, you have hopes and dreams which you want to fulfill. But life can be so confusing at times. And most days you know which direction to go, but then you ask yourself is this the right way to go or which way should I go. In this message we will examine the right direction we should go.

Psalm 37:23

How To Live A Christian Life

Author: BrotherJim

Have you ever given any thoughts to how we as followers of Christ should live? Did you know that Paul gives three simple steps to how to live the Christian live — Seek Christ, Think Christ, and Live Christ!. In this message we will cover those 3 simple ways of living for Jesus.

Colossians 3:1-10

How To Defeat Negativity

Author: BrotherJim

Why are so many people just plain out right negative in life, especially those who says they have Jesus? One of the answers could be they have not learned what it really means to surrender their lives and all those negative feelings to the Lord and live the positive life he wants us to live, more so they refuse to change. In this message we cover many ways to defeat negativity before negativity defeats us.

Philippians 4:8

Reflections For 2022

Author: BrotherJim

What is a reputation? Have you ever thought about yours, how do people see you or what do they think of you. Have you shown them that you’re a person who can be trusted, a person who says I follow Jesus, do you show them you’re the real deal or does your reputation show or says something different than what you claim to be?. In this message we examine and reflect upon who we were in the year 2021 and what should we be in the year 2022.

No Time For God

Author: BrotherJim

When we have no time for God it should make us think, or consider what our circumstances would be if God had no time for us; no time to paint the sunsets, no time to send the warm sun’s rays or the refreshing showers, no time to make the crops and flowers grow. In this message we cover why we should give him all of our time.

John 15:4-8

Struggling But Still Winning

Author: BrotherJim

For some, in the Christian walk it seems to be more like one step forward and two steps back — a real struggle at times. Others it seem to keep losing their balance and often fall — a life filled with ups and downs. Sometimes in the mist of our struggles, to some anyway, the question comes to mind. Why would a loving God, allow you to face such problems in your life? In this message we learn in our struggles, even though we may think were losing, we’re still winning.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Busy Bee

Author: BrotherJim

How about this, do many of us do fall into this category?  We wind down at the end of the day in front of the TV or with our mobile phones. We sleep and again get up the next morning and get back to the same routine as the day before. So the question is this. Have we become so busy in our lives, we do not take time out for God?

In this message we find out have we become Busy Bee’s

Luke 10:38-42

A Rotten Christian

Author: BrotherJim

You can look good on the outside, pretending to act right, dressing really nice, give out the right impression that you got it all together and everyone is impressed by what they see. But really what is on inside? Does your outside match your inside, when you claim to be a Christian?

In this message we cover what it means to be a Real or a Rotten Christian.

Matthew 23:28

God’s Way Is The Best Way

Author: BrotherJim

If we think were controlling our emotions our and doing things our way and not God’s way, then that forum of control my friends is nothing more than a illusion and were only kidding ourselves. In this message we learn why doing things God’s way is the best way for us.

Psalms 37:5

What Is Prayer

Author: BrotherJim

Prayers, what does it mean, How should you pray, are all prayers answered, and does God hear all of them. When should you pray, how often should you pray?. In this message we learn the real meaning of prayer.

Philippians 4:6 – Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Jesus Is Sending You A Call

Authro: BrotherJim

Friends, God knows He place a call into you; And you do know that you received a call from Him. God’s call, His invitation, goes out to all, every human being good or bad, and we know this because the bible says that Jesus died for all sinners. In this message we learn and understand the calling of Jesus.

Matthew 22:14

Christian Behavior

Author: BrotherJim

When we talk about “Christian” behavior, we are talking about the behavior of those who have accepted, by faith, Jesus Christ as their Savior and thus are indwelt with His Holy Spirit making it possible for them to serve God. In this message we ask ourselves 4 questions about our Behavior to see if it’s what we claim.

1 John 2:6

The Power Of Attitude

Author: BrotherJim

As Christians the attitudes which we display towards their fellow man will have a great bearing on our relationship to God. Next to knowing Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, nothing is more important than having a good positive attitude. In this message we learn how our Attitudes can make a difference in our lives and the lives of others around us.

Micah 6:8

Learning To Presevere

Author: BrotherJim

Most despairing Christians think only of giving up on themselves. You hear it so often now, “I just can’t go on anymore. I can’t make it, I can’t take this anymore, even though I try so hard, It’s hopeless! Why should I bother to try?” In this message we will learn how to Persevere in what we face in life, with God.

Philippians 3:14

Spiritual Discipline

The spiritual disciplines are those practices found in Scripture that promote spiritual growth among believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are habits of devotion, habits of experiential Christianity that have been practiced by God’s people since biblical times. In tonight’s message were going to learn some Spiritual Disciplines we can put to use in our Christian walk with the Lord.

Hebrews 13:9

Wasting What God Has Given You

Author: BrotherJim

As Christians today we must live in eternity or have you really given this any thought of how we should be living. Now with that out of the way. What about the time we have here on earth. Folks time is something you will never get back. So are you wasting it? Are you telling folks about Jesus Christ? or are you wasting what he has given you?

Psalms 39:4-5

It Hurts So Bad

Author: BrotherJim

Many people’s lives are full of suffering. So how do we make sense of this suffering? Why does God allow suffering? Why does he allow the innocent and righteous to suffer? Where is God when I’m hurting? In our message we learn how hurts and pains in our lives makes us who we are as Christians.

Romans 5:3-5

The Lord’s Supper

Author: BrotherJim

To properly observe the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper, we need a spirit of seriousness and at the same time an attitude of joyful celebration. In tonight’s message we will cover 4 reasons why we should proclaim the death of our Lord as a great redemptive act that has significance for all people.

Luke 22:19 and Matthew 26:27-28

When Life’s Burdens Get’s Heavy

Author: BrotherJim

To anyone who has experienced grief or desolation, hardships and pains, trials and tribulations, constant attacks, we are told and commanded to cast one’s burden on the Lord and this should be refreshing to know were told to do this. In this message were told how to deal with life when burden’s gets heavy for us.

Psalms 55:22

Your Legacy Of Who You Are

Author: BrotherJim

Have you and I really done all that we could have done this year? or Did we even make a difference at all or Should I have done more? Better yet did we do enough to tell others about Jesus Christ? In our message we will cover Your Legacy of Who You Are!..

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Faith Not Tested Is Not Faith At All

Author: BrotherJim

Our faith is based upon and what Jesus did for us, our Faith in him gives you and I hope. Our faith is how we live for him. In our message here we will understand learn why at times when our faith is tested there are reasons why it’s being tested.

Hebrews 11:1 and 11:6

Do You Have Joy, If Not Then Who Stole It

Author: BrotherJim

Many Christians this day and age wonder why they are not experiencing Joy. But yet they seem to have every-thing figured out, except how to be joyful. Did you know that Joy is suppose to be a fruit of the Spirit, something we should be developing or experiencing. In this message were going to examine the common reasons why so many Christians do not have Joy they seek.

Galatians 5:22-23

Understanding The Trials You Face

Author: BrotherJim

In this message we going to understand and examine why God would allow you to go through the trials? Then learn that your trial doesn’t have to devastate you—you can experience God’s awesome presence and power when you respond in the right way to your troubles.

In our message tonight were going to look at several reason for these trails we face.

James 1:2-4

The Trials Of Your Faith

Author: BrotherJim

Trials are allowed by God not to destroy our faith but instead, to prove that our faith is genuine. Trials are a part of the Christian life. It doesn’t matter how good a Christian you are, life is going to be one trial after another. In this message we learn why Christians has Trials in their lives.

1 Peter 1:6-7

Taking Control Of Negative Thoughts

Author: BrotherJim

God has provided a way to overcome unhealthy thoughts and behaviors, and gain the self-control you seek. It’s a matter of taking charge of your life – His way. In our message here, we learn how to let God help us in bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Seeking After God

Author: BrotherJim

To me one of the most difficult challenges in being a preacher, is not sermon preparation, leading a church, or appointments; it’s witnessing the tragic results of spiritual dehydration—watching people die spiritually with living water just steps away. Sadly, we are too are busy and too self-absorbed to truly seeking Him with all our strength. In our message were going to discover what it means to seek after God.

Jeremiah 29:13

Everything Precious Has It’s Price

Author: BrotherJim

Has anyone else experienced a terrible onslaught from the enemy lately, even in the past several days, past weeks, months or years? Many times for me It’s been very difficult. Yet when I am feeling despair about those situations, in those times, the Lord shows me that He is actually working out refinement, pruning and forming the Character of Christ in me.

Many times as I think it over when going through or have gone through this process of those trials and testing’s, that the character of Christ is formed within me. In our message tonight, we learn Everything Precious Has It’s Price.

1 Corinthians 15:58

What Christians Have Pt. 4

Author: BrotherJim

So far in these messages my attempts were to challenge all of us ponder upon those questions and give them some real and serious thoughts. Now let us think, when someone says I am a Christian what does it really mean? Or what are we really saying to them and to the world when we do say that were a Christian and what we really do have?

Ephesians 2:7

What We Have As Christians Pt. 3

Author: BrotherJim

So far in these messages my attempts were to challenge all of us ponder upon those questions and give them some real and serious thoughts. Now let us think, when someone says I am a Christian what does it really mean? Or what are we really saying to them and to the world when we do say that were a Christian and what we really do have?

Romans 8:15

What We Have As Christians Pt. 2

Author: BrotherJim

In our first part of the series messages I asked each of you a question and it was like this, If someone were to ask you what do you have, what would your response be to them? What would you tell them? Would you tell them about the stuff you have? Would you tell them I have life? Or would you tell them I have Jesus? What would the answer be?

Now when we say were a Christian what does it really mean? In a series preaching of What Christians Have and this is part 2 many messages that were going to cover in the next few weeks, of What Christians Have. Pt. 2.

Ephesians 2:13

What Does The Bible Means To A Christian

Author: BrotherJim

What is the Bible and what’s it for? Until we are able to answer that question, it is not going to be all that useful to us until we understand what it really means to us as a Christian and why it’s so important for us in our walk with the Lord.

In our message, we talk about what the bible means to us as a Christian.

Jeremiah 15:16

When God Makes A Promise

Author: BrotherJim

For us Christians or Born Again believers we know the Bible is filled with the promises of God. From Genesis to Revelation we read of normal people that received the promises of God. In this message we learn that God keeps his promise because he is a God that is a promise maker and a promise keeper.

Isaiah 43:2

What Kind Of People Are Christians

Author: BrotherJim

So when we are asked who are you, are you a real Christian or are you one who will change with the world and blend in with them. See my brothers and sisters we as Christians people are suppose to be a different kind of people than what the world thinks. In this message we learn what type of Christians we should be.

1 Corinthians 1:1-3

Dealing With Past Hurts And Pains

Author: BrotherJim

Hurts, pain, betrayal, broken trust, busted relationships, heavy hearts. All of us here has experienced this in the past or some has experienced it not long ago and some are going through it now. In this message we learn 5 ways of Dealing with Past Hurts or Pains we experienced.

Jeremiah 17:14

Cry Babies Who Complain

Author: BrotherJim

Sometimes it seems we would have nothing to say if we didn’t have something to complain about. In this message tonight we learn from Israel’s mistakes, is one of which was complaining. Then we see and examine the reasons why they complained and see how it costed them of God’s potential blessings and folks if were not careful the same could happen to us..

1 Corinthians 10:1-11

Walking The Walk

Author: BrotherJim

You probably heard or read this somewhere before now: “walk with God,” or “walking with/in the Spirit.” There are plenty of resources that thoroughly describe what this means. Even more, there is an abundance of steps on how to do this in your own life.

In this message tonight, we are going to look at some steps to walking with God. My hope is not only to shed light on how each one leads us further into attaining more of God, I hope you can see where God has you right now.

Philippians 3:1-21

Perilous Times

Author: BrotherJim

If you are like me what I am seeing now, more so in these last few years, We are living in a day and time when people are more concerned about themselves rather than others.

Bottom line the root cause of every sin, at lest the ones I can think of, is being lovers of ourselves! We want to do, what makes us happy, what satisfies us, what pleases us! In this message we find out we are in Perilous Times and how we as Christians should be living in these times.

2 Timothy 3:1-5

How God Speaks

Author: BrotherJim

Does God still speak to us today? If so, how? When? Where? Often when people ask these questions, are they talking about an audible voice. And yes God can do that. He can do anything He wants. He’s God. Ok why then, can’t I hear God speaking to me audibly, someone might ask?

In this message we learn 3 ways How God Speaks

Matthew 10:20

Who Does The Leading

Author: BrotherJim

A real conversion only comes when we are born again and if we are for real, then the Father will send us his Holy Spirit, the helper, the guide, the teacher, and if needed a corrector. The fact here if we change it must be under his authority and not of ourselves and the main fact must be, he must be the one who is leading, not the other way around.

In this message we learn some faulty assumptions about the Holy Spirit and how this world has it wrong of who he really is.

John 14:16-17

What It Means To Be A Christian

Author: BrotherJim

What does it really mean to be a Christian? It seems to me that this term is used too loosely in this day and age. If you are like me I’ve had enough conversations with various people in and outside the U.S. in the chat ministry, and in real life to know that there is not a universal definition of “Christian.”

In this message were going to see what it means when we say we are a Christian

Acts 11:26

When Mercy Walked In

Author: BrotherJim

Now Imagine for a moment you are in a court room. It’s a well known scene isn’t it. We often think about God’s final judgment as being like a court room scene, and that is often the way it is described in the Bible. Now, imagine you are trying to argue your case for acceptance by God and entry into his new kingdom.

What would you say, how would you plead your case, would the court find you not Guilty? Knowing perfectly well that you are Guilty and deserving death. Then all of sudden, mercy walks in. In this message we will cover what God’s mercy means to us.

Ephesians 2:4-7

Why Will God Not Stop This

Author: BrotherJim

One of the most common questions believers and unbelievers alike ask is why would a all loving and all-powerful God would allow bad things to happen. In other words, why does God let bad things happen?

It’s an age-old question, and among the most difficult to answer, in this message we will learn the answer to that question.

Romans 8:18

Our Main Focus

Author: BrotherJim

Many Christian today are focused on something else or someone else or their focus has been on what other people in the past has done to them, many are engrossed into the hurts, the pain or the harm or wrong that was done to them and many are refusing to let it go, all they do is keep focusing on something that has happen years and years ago.

Bottom line they are refusing to let it go and are only concerned or better yet focus on what they did rather than seeking Peace they need in their lives. In this message we take a lesson Peter learn from Jesus om having our focus upon him, rather than people of this world.

John 21:20–23

Walking Through Dark Valleys

Author: BrotherJim

Why is God allowing this virus thing to happen and why would he allow us to go through this dark times, rather than protecting us. The answer is God has a reason and God has a plan and in all things and we must accept that plan. In tonight message we will learn how to walk through those dark valleys we face in our lives.

1 Kings 8:57-58 and Hebrews 13:5-6

Don’t Give Into Fear

Author: BrotherJim

In light of this from what I have been reading, watching and seeing on the news, fear and panic is now running rampant and I was thinking why, well the number one reason is fear.

FEAR – If the truth be told we have all feared something at one point in our lives. I believe it is safe to say that we all have a fear of something. In this message we will learn not to give into Fear.

1 John 4:18

A Christian Character

Author: BrotherJim

When we think of a person who has good character, we often describe them with terms like integrity, honesty, strong moral fiber, care and concern for others. Character is demonstrated in actions but true Christian character resides in the Christians heart.

A Christian character begins with faith in Christ. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith is what separates Christian character from mere civility or secular morality, in this message we will discuss what it means to have true Christian character.

Matthew 23:27-28

Gods Will Or Ours

Author: BrotherJim

To many times in many conversations with fellow Christians the topic of knowing God’s will usually pops up. You may have heard certain questions such as How do I know his will for me?, I wished I knew his will in my Life?, I cannot seam to understand his will for me or the greatest classic. I wished God would show me his will on what to do.

Why all these questions, why all the confusions of knowing God’s will which seams to scatter brain us. In tonights message we will covering the ways of knowing the Will of God for us.

Eph 5:17

How Is Your Relationship With God

Author: BrotherJim

Do Christians sin? Yes We do and have you ever heard that when you sin, you are no longer in fellowship with God? It is a very common misconception among Christians.

The picture painted is that your sin puts up a barrier between you and God so that He couldn’t be close to you or bless you. In fact, He might even punish you by making bad things happen in your life until you got right with Him again.

This is not so and in this message tonight we will see why our relationship with God cannot be broken due to our sins.

Deuteronomy 28:1-9 and Verse 15

Making A Decision

Author: BrotherJim

Every once in a while, we’re faced with making a decision… and we know what we should decide. We know what the right choice should be. BUT we realize that – if we make that choice – it could ultimately cost us something we hold dear. When faced with a Decision, will you make the right one or the wrong one?

Matthew 19:16-22

FBC Don’t Give Up Now

Author: BrotherJim

I had the honor to preach this message at First Baptist Church where I attend on 2/9/20.

Everywhere you look today it seems we here more reports of churches in decline, more people walking away from faith, and more people giving up on God. Why this is happening?

Sadly many folks do quit and they do walk away and they do give up on God and the most reasons I think is, we think it’s to hard to follow him and do as he asked us to do. In this message we look at 3 Reasons why we should not give up or quit.

John 6:66-69

Trials We Face In A Christian Life

Author: BrotherJim

When we face trials in our walk, what do we do? How do we handle it and who will lead us through it. We must remember that we as Christians endure trials in our lives, the title of this messages says it all. We must understand the most important thing of all,  you and Me will have to understand that we will experience many of these trials for the Good of God.

In this message we will look to the author and finisher of our faith and who will help us in our trials and do not count it strange that we face them.

1 Peter 4:12-13

What Does It Mean To Be Walking With God

Author: BrotherJim

When we say that were walking what God, what are we really saying here? What are we really telling others? Do people really see the Lord in your Christian walk, or do they see something else.

In tonight’s message we will cover what it means to be walking with God.

James 3:13-4:10

A Turning Point In Your Walk With The Lord

Author: BrotherJim

A Crisis of belief is a turning point where we must make some decisions that will determine whether we go on to be involved with God and stand strong in our faith and beliefs in him or become tempted to walk away from it and go into the world and stay away from everyone.

Luke 16:1-3