Making Changes In 2012

"Everything is permissible for me"---but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"---but I will not be mastered by anything." (1 Corinthians 6:12)
As we enter 2012, we are again challenged to make changes in our lives. What changes will you make this year? In our text the Apostle Paul makes a statement that applies to all of us.
Everything (especially in America) is available to us to pursue, whether it is food, drink, or pleasure. But not everything is good for us. There are things that we cannot handle. Things that in time will destroy us. In this section of 1 Corinthians 6, Paul instructs concerning sexual immorality. He says to flee from it (v.18) Our bodies were not meant for sexual immorality, they were meant for the Lord." The many sexual transmitted diseases will destroy the body which is to be the temple of the Holy Spirit (v.19)
Paul says that, I could live my life indulging in sexual immorality, but I will not be mastered by anything. And the only way that he could make that statement is that he had already surrendered his life to the divine master: Jesus Christ. Everything he said and did was in accordance with the word of the Lord. And the Lord was helping him to overcome the challenges of temptation and trial.
Are you allowing the world to eat away at your joy, at your peace and happiness? Why not choose Jesus Christ to be the master of your life? Yes everything may be permissible, but the Lord will show us what things will truly bring us joy and happiness. In 2012, why not give Him a chance?

New Resource Links Added:

We are adding four new resource links to our list of
resource websites. The list of links we have availabe
cover areas of help in: Bible teaching, Bible preaching,
Christian education, entertainment, retail, business,
news, and weather.
Although I don't agree with the doctrine of salvation,
that some of the websites present; I do feel that the
websites offer a good amount of information that can
be used, in the area of Christian teaching, preaching,
and spiritual encouragement.
I am just going to mention the websites here. They will
be added to the list of website links on the right hand side
of our site. You can access them, and explore what they have to offer.

Pulpit Helps
Pulpit Today
Sermon Illustrations
Crossroads College

Our purpose is to provide access to Christian resources that will
help fellow Christians find the tools for spiritual growth, and ministry.

People Need The Lord

My sermon this week is entitled:
"People Need The Lord"
This message is based on the words of a song recorded some years back by Steve Green. The idea for this message was prompted by a senseless shooting that took place, in a town not too far, from where we live.
If people who commit such crimes would have known the Lord Jesus Christ, they would have never been in a situation like this to start with. Even though I read that crime has decreased from prior years, it still is so sad to see people destroying their lives, by taking the lives of others.
In this message I mention. not only the problem of crime, but of drug and alcohol abuse, marriage problems, and the break up of the home.
For these problems, and much more, Jesus has the answers. He said that "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes unto to the Father but by Me."(John 14:6)
Jesus is the light of life in this dark world.
He can be the light you need in your dark world. The artist paints a scene of a house in the midst of a snow storm. The house is covered with snow, and the scene looks very sad and lonely. But with just a stroke of a yellow crayon, the artist places a light in one of the front windows. With just one stroke, the scene is transformed from one of sadness, to one of comfort and cheer.
That's what Jesus can do for people in the darkness of their lives.
People need the Lord! And We need to be like that artist, showing the light of Jesus, to all who are walking in despair in this life.
If you would like a copy of this message, email me at: garydpatterson@yahoo.com