Sunday, April 26, 2015

GOD WANTS US IN HIS PRESENCE, AND HE WANTS HIS PRESENCE IN US!


THE GLORY OF HIS PRESENCE VIDEO:
 
GOD not only wants us to come into HIS Presence, HE wants HIS Presence to come into us.

GOD WILLS TO BE PRESENT

It was sin that separated the first couple from the presence of GOD placing them under sentence of death.

It was God’s amazing grace that preserved them from immediate death and offered them eternal life.

It was disobedience that divided Adam and Eve from that intimate knowledge of God.

It was God’s boundless mercy that opened the way for Adam, and the sons of Adam, to again know Him. 

It was willful unrighteousness that led them away from God—driving them from the Garden of Eden.

It was God’s holiness that paved the way back to Him—Isaiah 35:8  And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein
It was their love for the world—the desire of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—that drove them from God.
It was God’s infinite love that drew them back to Him, that sacrificed for them, and finally restored them to fellowship--And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:16
GOD not only wants us to come into HIS Presence, HE wants HIS Presence to come into us.

GOD INVITES US INTO HIS PRESENCE

God’s invitation was universal but it was not without requirement.

God’s invitation was personal but it was not informal—it was formal.  With form—with specific instruction.

His invitation was to bring infinite potential to finite men, but it required limitless--infinite if you will--consecration. 

--Come with Respect, Awe, and Reverence

--Come without Carnal, Fleshly, Worldliness

--Come without Agenda, or Bias, or Demand

GOD NOT ONLY WANTS US IN HIS PRESENCE,
HE WANTS HIS PRESENCE IN US.

      Jesus encouraged His disciples to anticipate the day when He would ascend into heaven to intercede for them.  “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” John 16:7. 

      He said, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”  John 16:16-18

      God not only wants us to come into His presence, He wants His presence to come into us.  He longs to fill the heart of every lost person with Himself--the Spirit of Holiness.

THE END OF THE ROAD – ROMANS 8
        Someone asked me yesterday how they would know that they were truly saved.  It was a refreshing question. 

      I took them down the Roman Road--Scriptures from the Book of Romans that we often use to lead people to Christ.  Romans 3:23  All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Romans 10:9 if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 

      But I wanted them see that the end of that road is “There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1, and that God’s Spirit floods the heart with love--”the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost who is given unto us.” Romans 5:4. 

 

Saturday, April 18, 2015

GOD LEADS US ALONG

IT'S SATURDAY NIGHT

GOD LEADS US ALONG

Dedicated to Dr. Gene Hood

https://youtu.be/wrJ0XeBV8Os

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

FCC WEEKEND - APRIL 12, 2015

WEEKEND OF APRIL 12, 2015

Dear Friends of Faith,
 
Here are a few resources from last weekend that we hope may be an encouragement to your faith.  We have attached our Sunday Bulletin, and links to 3 other resources. 
Our PENTECOST DEVOTIONALS will soon be appearing on our www.nationofthecross.blogspot.com site.  Pentecost Sunday is May 24, 2015.
 
ANYTHING WE HAVE THAT MIGHT HELP YOU, OR YOUR MINISTRY IS YOURS.  FREELY WE HAVE RECEIVED.  FREELY WE GIVE. 
 
The Lord willing we will see some of you in DAYTON, OHIO for the INTERCHURCH HOLINESS CONVENTION next week.
 
FCC IS LOOKING FOR SUMMER INTERNS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN FRONT-LINE EVANGELISM.  Email or call us at (314) 607-1424.
________________________________________________________
 
LOOK WHO'S ASKING? An encouraging message you will want to read.
 
To be sure that the denier knew he was invited, the Lord had the angel invite him personally to meet up.  "Tell the disciples and Peter that Jesus wants to meet them in Galilee."   (Mark 16:7). 
While seated around a warm fire on that cool Spring morning, as the light of the rising sun flashed on the sea of Galilee, Jesus gave Peter another chance.  "Do you love me Peter?" He asks.  "Sure, I love you!" Peter quickly replied.  Again, and then again Jesus asks, "Do you love me?" 

Before you answer the question Peter, look who's asking... 
 
TO CONTINUE READING CLICK HERE:  http://pastorrickjones.blogspot.com/2015/04/peter-do-you-love-me-look-whos-asking.html _______________________________________________
 
A NEW WHO!  Video excerpt from Sunday Morning's Message, April 12, 2015.
 
We hear people saying, "I am the way I am because I was born that way"  Certainly!  But the message of the Gospel is that Christ came to change the WHO WE ARE into the WHO GOD MADE US TO BE.  The grace of the LORD JESUS is not only able to deliver us from guilt and condemnation, it is able to change us into new people.  Our old "Who" dies and we rise again, Alive Unto God!  Hallelujah what a Savior! 
 
TO SEE THE MESSAGE CLICK HERE:  http://youtu.be/UfqS16V9wdQ
_________________________________________________________
 
THE NEXT TIME HE COMES - IT'S SATURDAY NIGHT
To hear last Saturday's message in song, CLICK HERE:
ONWARD! If you have a prayer request be sure to let us know.
Pastor Rick Jones
FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH + A CRUSADERS USA CONGREGATION

2969 N. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Ann, MO 63074   Cell Phone (314) 607-1424; Fax (314) 298-7442
BLOG: www.PastorRickJones.blogspot.com ; WEB: www.FCCStLouis.org


PREACHING SERVICES SUNDAYS 11AM & 6:30 PM



Monday, April 13, 2015

PETER, DO YOU LOVE ME? LOOK WHO'S ASKING...

From A Message Preached Sunday Evening, April 12, 2015
FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH  - A Crusaders Church of America
______________________________________________________

"Peter, Do you love me?"
LOOK WHO'S ASKING...

To be sure that the denier knew he was invited, the Lord had the angel invite him personally to meet up.  "Tell the disciples and Peter that Jesus wants to meet them in Galilee."   (Mark 16:7). 

While seated around a warm fire on that cool Spring morning, as the light of the rising sun danced on the placid sea of Galilee, Jesus gave Peter another chance.  "Do you love me Peter?" He asks.  "Sure, I love you!" Peter quickly replied.  Again, and then again Jesus asks, "Do you love me?" 

Before you answer the question Peter, look who's asking.

The Word who is One with the Father is asking, "Do you love me?" (John 1:1)
The Word who became flesh is asking, "Do you love me?"  (John 1:14)
The Word who created everything, and everywhere, and every life is asking, "Do you love me?" (John 1:3)

Before you say another word Peter, look who's asking if you love Him.

The Christ, the Son of the living God is asking, "Do you love me?" (John 6:69)
The Messiah is asking, Do you love me?"  (John 4:46)
The Bread of Life (John 6:35), The Light of the World (John 9:5), The Door of the Sheep (John 10:7), The Good Shepherd who gives his life for the sheep (John 10:11) is asking you Peter, "Do you love me?"

Peter, look who's asking if you love Him.

"The Vine" is asking you Peter, "Do you love me?"
Peter, look who's asking! The Great I AM is asking (John 8:58), "Do you love me?"
The Resurrection and the Life is asking. "Peter do you love me?"  (John 11:25).

Look who's asking if you love Him.

The One who healed your dreadfully ill mother in law is asking, "Do you love me?"
Your rescuer--(remember when you began to sink beneath the tide of the Galilee?)--is asking, "Peter, do you love me?"
Your suffering, bleeding, and dying Savior is asking you Peter, "Do you love me?"

Peter, look!

The Savior who called you to be a fisher of men is asking, "Do you love me?"
The Jesus who called you out of darkness into His glorious light is asking, "Do you love me?"
The One who called you to be holy is asking, "Do you love me?"

Peter, look who's asking if you love Him.

Your best friend is asking you Peter, "Do you love me?"
Your intercessor is asking you, "Do you love me?"
Your coming again Lord is asking, "Do you love me?"

And amazing as all that was, this same Jesus is asking you, and He is asking me, "Do YOU love me?"

The fact that Christ loves us is settled. He loves every son and daughter of Adam's helpless race.  What remains for us, is what remained to be settled on that fateful day.  "Do we love Him?"  "Rick do you love me?" "Jon do you love me?" "Nicole do you love me?" "Ruth do you love me?"

Sure we must believe that Christ is who He is.
Sure we must confess that He is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.
Sure we must trust in His Word and His saving blood.

But unless we fervently love Him with a pure heart we cannot see Him.  May we give our Lord a straight, and unequivocal answer-- "I love you!"















THE NEXT TIME HE COMES - A VIDEO RECORDING

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izlopUn3M_o

IT'S SATURDAY NIGHT - THE NEXT TIME HE COMES!

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

WHY I'M GLAD I'M A CHRISTIAN - VIDEO

(W)HERE (SHOULD) I STAND

After reading "Who Will Stand" (http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2015/04/who-will-stand) by Robert George I determined to stand.

I called my Pastor friends and they were "all in."  Yes, they too would stand.
I huddled with leaders in my local church.  Yes, they thought the time had come to stand.
I talked to some of my Christian friends.  Yes, they too were ready to stand.

All fired up. 
All determined.
All ready.

Now what?

Does standing mean we call for a march on Washington?
Does standing mean we write letters and inundate our leaders with phone calls?
Does standing mean we organize political action committees?
Does standing mean we set up new para-church ministries?
Does standing mean we build Christian schools?

Does standing mean we fill stadiums with concerned Christians?
Does standing mean we begin new web-pages, twitter accounts, and social media outlets?
Does standing mean we produce Christian TV, Christian Radio, Christian Papers, and innovative Christian films?

Certainly all of these ideas have merit, but haven't we been trying these tactics? Millions of dollars have poured into these efforts but an honest cost/benefit analysis would prove brutal.

Looking at the moral landscape of our nation, who would argue that we are better off than we were say 50 years ago? 40 years ago? Even 20 years ago?

Not only have Biblical virtues been rejected by the broader culture, professing Christians, fearing the dreadful "intolerant" label, have relaxed their grip on what used to be settled doctrine and practice. 

Yes we will stand!  Yes we want to stand!  But how?









 

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Saturday, April 4, 2015

THE ADDED SIGNIFICANCE OF EASTER 2015

This year’s Easter Celebration takes on added significance as we are witnessing the rise of Christian persecution around the globe. 
 
In the past few weeks 21 Egyptians were beheaded on the shores of Libya, 15 believers were killed by church bombings in Pakistan, and 140 Christian students were brutally executed in Kenya. Today the Church of Jesus Christ finds herself increasingly in the crosshairs of zealous jihadists, athiestic communists, and manaical tyrants.

Not only are Christians lives at risk, so also is their livelihood. In Europe and America, Bible believing Christians are being forced to choose between allegiance to Christ or submission to Government edicts. "We ought to obey God rather than men!" we insist.

As the culture clashes with the Christ we are watching the meltdown of civility, the loss of morality, and an infectuous despair that has left millions without direction or hope.

AND THAT'S WHY IT'S GOOD TO BE IN A BIBLE PREACHING CHRISTIAN CHURCH ON EASTER SUNDAY! 

By coming today you are joining with the Church of Jesus Christ around the globe to acknowledge HIS TRUTH IS MARCHING ON! We are the Resurrection People!

By coming today you are standing to be counted among those who are loyal to THE WORD INCARNATE (God in the flesh-Jesus Christ) and WRITTEN! We are the nation of the Cross!

By coming today you are expressing your LOVE FOR THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD--YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOR--THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. We are the redeemed children of God.

By coming today you are declaring CHRIST IS ALIVE, HE IS INTERCEDING AT THE THRONE OF GRACE IN HEAVEN, AND HE IS COMING AGAIN--SOON!  We are the eternal optimists--literally! 

We are thrilled that you appreciate and love this Church family. We are grateful for your love and kindness to this pastor. But it is CHRIST THAT IS THE CENTER OF OUR ATTENTION TODAY! We serve a risen Savior.

Hallelujah What a Savior!
 
 

SUNRISE TRUTH



 

THEN CAME THE MORNING

IF JESUS was actually crucified on April 3, AD (AD stands for Anno Domini, which is Latin for "In the Year of our Lord") 33, then His literal resurrection was April 5, AD 33.  Tomorrow is April 5!


WHAT A MOMENT!

WE ARE THE RESURRECTION PEOPLE!  Hope to see the Nation of the Cross gathering at FCC tomorrow.  SONRISE at 7am, WORSHIP 11am and 6:30pm.  Call if you need a ride (314) 607-1424

 

Friday, April 3, 2015

APRIL 3, AD 33 AND BLOOD MOONS

What's so good about GOOD FRIDAY?  It seemed poetic that this morning the sky is weeping here in our city. 
 
Centuries before the great and notable day that the Lamb of God was slain, the prophet Joel prophesied:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.  JOEL 2:31,32
 
Luke tells us that on the day Jesus died, "And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst."  Luke 23:45
 

My good friend, Dr. Rodger Young (his daughters Heather and Natasha attend FCC), a brilliant Bible scholar and scientific mind, reveals in a recent publication (http://www.academia.edu/4042597/How_Lunar_and_Solar_Eclipses_Shed_Light_on_Biblical_Events) that, based on the evidence of scripture and astronomy, JESUS DIED ON APRIL 3, 33.  It seems amazing TODAY IS APRIL 3!
 
Furthermore, Dr. Young observes that the BLOOD MOON was seen over Jerusalem on that wonderfully horrible evening.  AND THIS EVENING WE TOO WILL BE WITNESS TO A BLOOD MOON.
 
On the day of Pentecost, Peter preached that Jerusalem had witnessed the fulfillment of Joel's Prophecy!  They had seen the sun darkened--as there was an eclipse.  They had seen the moon turned to blood.  And they were witness to the sons and daughters prophesying and the amazing conversion of the thousands of "WHOSOEVERS" CALLING UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD.
 
YOU MAY HAVE READ OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BLOOD MOONS AND THEIR CONVERGENCE WITH SIGNIFICANT WORLD CHANGING EVENTS.
 
YOU MAY HAVE REALIZED THAT 14 YEARS AGO IN SEPTEMBER JUST AS THE JEWS WERE ABOUT TO REMEMBER THE DAY OF ATONEMENT OUR NATION WAS ATTACKED.
 
YOU MAY HAVE BEEN INTRIGUED THAT 7 YEARS AGO IN OCTOBER  JUST AS THE JEWS WERE ABOUT TO REMEMBER THE DAY OF ATONEMENT THE WORLD'S FINANCIAL MARKETS CRASHED.
 
YOU MAY BE WONDERING,

GIVEN THAT ISRAEL HAS RETURNED AS A NATION IN OUR GENERATION,

GIVEN THE RISE OF ANCIENT PERSIAN EMPIRE (IRAN) WHOSE LEADERS ARE SHOUTING "DEATH TO ISRAEL",

GIVEN THE INTENSIFYING JIHAD OF ISLAM AGAINSTTHE  INFIDELS--JEWS & CHRISTIANS, AND

GIVEN THE MORAL FREE-FALL OF A WORLD UNHINGED FROM TRUTH...
 
COULD THIS BE THE SECOND "GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD!" THAT WE EXPECT?
 
So far there has been a CHRISTIAN FULFILLMENT that coincided with THESE JEWISH FEAST DAYS:
 
FEAST OF PASSOVER - THE LAMB OF GOD WAS SLAIN
FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD - THE BREAD OF LIFE was BURIED. 
FEAST OF FIRST FRUITS - THE SAVIOR WAS RESURRECTED
FEAST OF PENTECOST (when the Jews remember the giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai) - PENTECOST (when the Holy Spirit wrote the law of God in the hearts of the believers)
 
Here are the three feasts for which have yet to see CHRISTIAN fulfilment:
 
FEAST OF TRUMPETS - Doesn't the New Testament say, "THE TRUMP OF THE LORD WILL SOUND" at Christ's return?
FEAST OF ATONEMENT - Doesn't the New Testament say that when Christ returns "SO SHALL WE EVER BE WITH THE LORD!" Sounds like AT-ONE-MENT to me!
FEAST OF TABERNACLES - Doesn't the New Testament say that John heard God saying" Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God."  (Revelation 21:3)
 
(To read some interesting ideas on this check out http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Introduction/introduction.html)
 
I'm wondering too.  Jesus said no man would know the day nor the hour.  But He said we could tell summer was coming when the fig leaves started to bud. 
 
WOULDN'T IT BE SOMETHING IF THIS WAS THE LAST GOOD FRIDAY BEFORE OUR LORD'S RETURN?
 
OH FRIEND, IF YOU'RE WALKING BEHIND LIGHT, IT'S TIME TO STEP UP INTO THE LIGHT!
IF YOU'RE WALKING AWAY FROM THE LIGHT, IT'S URGENT THAT TURN AND FACE THE LIGHT!
IF YOU'RE WALING IN THE LIGHT, IT'S VITAL THAT YOU KEEP WALKING--STEPPING IN THE LIGHT!
 
HOPE TO SEE YOU THIS EVENING!