Pastor's Points

I trust your Thanksgiving Day was a blessing to you and your family as you paused to express your gratitude to God for His infinite blessings. God has indeed blessed our nation and us as individuals. Soon Christmas will be upon us and we'll celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus! Of all the gifts and blessings God has bestowed upon us; this is His crowning achievement! In the ensuing days, let's not lose our focus on why Christmas is such an important time for Christians. Let us share with those who've never met the Lord the joy of our personal salvation and how they too may be saved. This year, for the sake of the lost, "...be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 2:1 (NKJV)

“Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; The upright shall dwell in Your presence.”  Psalm 140:13 (NKJV) “Thanksgiving” is a pro-active position born out of a deep sense of gratitude. Believe it or not, it’s a learned behavior which one can adopt. Expressing gratitude to our fellowman results in good or even improved relationships. Be they friends, family or strangers all people respond favorably when treated favorably. Expressing sincere gratitude to God should not be viewed a responsibility or a duty. It is more of a privilege! Let’s not however; believe that all one has to do is say “thanks”. True gratitude is expressed in actions, deeds, you know, “works”! Submitting our will to God in response to His goodness will result in a closer relationship with Him and a deeper, richer more meaningful life for you. How’s your list of “Gratitudes & Blessings” look today?

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." James 1:17 (NKJV) The Bible, God's Word, is full of reasons why we should be grateful to God at all times. Mankind are finite creatures; that is we have a beginning and eventual end to our existence. It's perhaps vain of us to think we're solely responsible for all the blessings we call ours. To live in a land of freedom and liberty, to live in a land of which it can be said it "flows with milk and honey" all these things we as individuals did not gain on our own. Our benefits today are the result of those that came before us and yes, above all from and through the hand of God. How's your list of "Gratitudes & Blessings" coming?

"... in everything give thanks ; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV) Later this month Americans, if not most people will celebrate Thanksgiving, that national holiday set aside by congressional action and presidential approval as a day to express gratitude to Almighty God for freedoms and liberties that are ours. I challenge one and all, to each day write down something you are now, have been or just discovered should be thankful for until Thanksgiving Day. Before saying grace at your families Thanksgiving meal this year, share your list with family and friends. "Count your blessings" says an old hymn, "count them one by one" AND before long "it will surprise you what God has done." Will you start your list of "Gratitudes And Blessings" today?

Today is Lord's Supper Sunday at Primera Iglesia Bautista and preparation must be made. The Deacons have prepared, the Pastor has prepared and I trust you have prepared. This Ordinance of Jesus comes with instruction that it be observed in remembrance of Him but also a warning that we not take it "unworthily". "Unworthy" observance is to participate in the ordinance while harboring unconfessed sin in our lives. Doing so is to invite God's punishment for our insolence. Take time now to review your life, confess your sins before God, repent of your sin and ask for forgiveness. Done? Now you're ready. 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who drinks and eats in unworthy manner eats and drinks judgement to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For...

It has long been my observation that we struggle with sin in our lives because of it's carnal appeal most of the time without considering the spiritual consequences of sin.. Why? Because Sin; looks good, feels good, tastes good and smells good. Our carnal senses are simply overwhelmed by these traits of sin but sin has its consequences and we need to consider them. It's been said that "all the glitters is not gold" and "if it seems to good to be true, it probably is" and God Words states it this way: "There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death." Proverbs 16:25 (NKJV)

How will I know I'm saved? I long ago lost count of the number of persons who've asked this in earnest, concerned about their salvation. Jesus said He would not leave us orphans (john 14:18) but would send His Spirit. At salvation God's Holy Spirit comes to dwell or live in the new believer (1 Cor. 6:19) marking us a property of God. The Holy Spirit's work then is to confirm a believer's faith and guide them in the path of righteousness. It is He who testifies to you regarding your personal salvation. Can you say, "HALLELUJAH!!"? 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: Romans 8:14-16 (KJV)