SPIRITUAL SATURATIOIN

NOVEMBER 28, 2011

When someone becomes fanatical about something, he saturates himself with that culture.

Sports enthusiasts study players, teams, stats, history, plays.

Music enthusiasts memorize lyrics, tunes, singers/musicians, tours, backstage info.

Movie enthusiasts crave info on stars, productions, behind the scenes gossip, showbiz trivia.

Business enthusiasts learns markets, trends, costs, connections, captains of industry, tax loopholes.

My observation is, those who are truly enthused with Christ and salvation focus on spiritual things constantly, make spiritual choices consistently, praise Christ continuously. Check your vitals.

They do this by inwardly singing spiritual songs, quoting Bible verses, praying without ceasing, observing everything through the mind of Christ. This is the life that leads to growth in grace and knowledge of Christ.


Launch Out and Hold Fast,
Pastor David L. Gould

JOB 1

NOVEMBER 28, 2011
Concerning God's salvation and Christian ministry, Job 1 is Believer's Perfection.

PASSAGES...

Titus 2:11-14

11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.

12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Ephesians 4:11-13

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Colossians 1:28-29

28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Job 1:1
1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.


Launch Out and Hold Fast,
Pastor David L. Gould

LOYALTY ALERT

NOVEMBER 25, 2011
There are people who confuse being a Christian with being an American. Yes, you can be both, but you must not confuse the two. Likewise there are those who think that Christians should not question the actions of the US Government and Military, and Christians must follow the laws, rules, codes and directives of the  US Government and Military. WRONG.

Obey God Rather Than Men
When any government or authority figure takes action against the message of Christ, the Christian must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). Also, when a government misuses or abuses it power/authority by attacking or oppressing Christians or the Christian message, it is time for Christians to stand against such entities, even if it is the US government or military. I am not speaking of violent resistance but non violent resistance. Though we should not take arms against our government, we must never follow those who resist or attack the gospel.

US Attack On Christianity (the beginning)
The US government and military has made it illegal for men/women in uniform to obey Christ in fulfilling the Great Commission (make disciples of all nations, Matthew 28:18-20), the US government and military has ordered that Holy Bibles not be distributed by men and women in the military. The US government and military has ordered the burning of Holy Bibles. The US government and military has forbade the message of Christmas to be openly displayed on some ( if not all) military properties. NOW, The US government and military has ordered that a cross be removed from a chapel in Afghanistan.

Only One Way To God
The cross in an offence (Romans 9:33), but it should not be the target of the American government or military. Christ and the Bible are despised and rejected (Isaiah 53:3), but they should not be attacked by the American government or military. The Christian message is not one of many ways to God or the best of a few ways to God. Christ is the only way, the only truth and the only life and no man comes to the Father but by Him (John 14:6). Whether in our own country or on foreign shore, the faith of our fathers should not be cast off or cast down in order to appease any other religion or any other nation.

Time To Choose
I realize some people have no problem accommodating the anti-Bible, anti-Christ, anti-Christian in our society, but for those who want to be true Christians, choose ye this day whom you will serve (Joshua 24:15).

Call To Spiritual Warfare
This is not a protest against government or military, since those are the worldly tools God uses to punish wicked and protect the righteous (1 Peter 2:13-14; Romans 13:1-4). Remember, our weapons are not carnal, swords of steel, but spiritual (2 Corinthians 10:3-4). We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but spiritual powers (Ephesians 6:12-17). This is a call to consistent loyalty to Christ, whether people are in uniform or not. The State has the right to lead the people, provided they do not lead the people against God and His word. Christians have an obligation to obey the State, provided the State does not usurp the authority of God. The State has a responsibility to obey God (Romans 13:4) or it becomes the anarchist.


Launch Out and Hold Fast,
Pastor David L. Gould

GOD AIN'T GOT NO GRANDCHILDREN

NOVEMBER 22, 2011

SS CLASS... An Underlying Message of Deuteronomy is, "God Ain't Got No Grandchildren."

The Hebrews that fled Egyptian bondage failed to follow and obey God, His word and His leading in the wilderness, and they were denied access to the Promised Land. Their children, who were born during the 40 year wilderness journey, were not qualified to enter the Promised Land until they had been circumcised, celebrated passover and learned the laws of God.

Being born into a Christian family does not qualify a person for eternal life. We must be born again. Those who are born again come apart from the world, trust Christ's blood fully and walk in obedience to God.


Launch Out and Hold Fast,
Pastor David L. Gould

NO HEALING, NO HELP, NO HOPE

NOVEMBER 22, 2011
Like some sicknesses, sin's ravages are sometimes evident to others, while the afflicted one is in denial. Though the answer is sure and available, the sinner refuses, and slips deeper into Satan's deadly embrace. Though the sinner wants deliverance from suffering, he is not willing to turn from sin. Eventually there is no healing, no help, no hope. The soul is lost and the loved ones are left with broken hearts. Call Upon The Lord While He Is Near.

Isaiah 55:6-7
(6) Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
(7) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.


Launch Out and Hold Fast,
Pastor David L. Gould

THREE WAYS TO "TAKE" THE GREAT COMMISSION

NOVEMBER 20, 2011
As I reflected on old notes today, I thought of this outline for a message or study.
There are 3 ways to TAKE the Great Commission. After grasping the meaning of the Great Commission, we should,

1- TAKE IT Seriously (believe its Divine authority, and the scope of human need).

2- TAKE IT Personally (realize God has called, equipped and mandated you individually).

3- TAKE IT To The Lost (go, proclaim and teach the gospel to the lost).


Launch Out and Hold Fast,
Pastor David L. Gould

ROBBING GOD AND CHILDREN

NOVEMBER 20, 2011

ROBBING GOD AND CHILDREN

When a person denies God His rightful Lordship over His purchased possession (2 Pe. 2:1), the person robs God and other people too. When a parent fails to follow God, he/she robs the child of the blessings and opportunities, which God gives through godly parents. God will not hold those parents guiltless. TURN NOW.

PASSAGES... I hope you take the time to read and meditate on these verses, asking for wisdom, humility, courage, faith.

2 Peter 2:1-2
(1) But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
(2) And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

Matthew 18:6-14
(6) But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
(7) Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
(8) Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
(9) And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
(10) Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
(11) For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
(12) How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
(13) And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
(14) Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

TWO NOTICES...
Notice that the Matthew passage begins and ends with a focus on "little ones." Notice also, especially the penalty for offending little ones. This is because God has provided for their salvation and parents are in the position to either turn the toward faith in Christ or to be a stumbling block to their young faith.

LAUNCH OUT AND HOLD FAST,

PASTOR DAVID

NOVEMBER 20, 2011
Though I have failed to post on this site, I will try to be more consistent. As you can see, I have added a new blog with articles from 2009. Soon I will compile postings from 2010 and 2011 in two other blogs. I will try to post to this site on a regular basis.

Launch Out and Hold Fast,
Pastor David