|
Message from Bishop
December 2000
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Matthew 28:18-20 (NAS)
|
|
What Is Keeping You From The Lord?
There are three things that can keep you from the fellowship
of the Lord:
Money
Knowledge
Sin
Money
In Luke 18:18-25, Jesus is approached by a rich young ruler
about how he can inherit eternal life. Jesus knows what keeps the rich
young ruler from Him and tells him to sell all that he has and follow Him.
This sadden the rich young ruler and departed from the group.
The Lord showed that your love of money keeps you from
Him. Matthew 6:24 states, "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and
love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You
cannot serve both God and Money. (NIV)"
Additionally, 1 Timothy 6:10 states, "For the love of money is the
root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the
faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
(KJV)"
This
does not imply that the Lord does not want you to prosper. Luke 6:38
states, "Give, and it will be given to you; good
measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your
lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.
(NAS)" Additionally, 3 John 1:2 states, "Beloved, I wish
above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul
prospereth. (KJV)"
The Lord wants you to prosper but understand who gives the prosperity: Keep therefore the
words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.
Deuteronomy 29:9 (KJV)
Knowledge
In
John 3:1-12, Jesus is approached by the Pharisee, Nicodemus. During the
discussion, the Lord instructs that "...unless one is born again, he cannot
see the kingdom of God." (v.3) Nicodemus' worldly knowledge kept him
from understanding Jesus.
Trusting
in your worldly knowledge alone keeps you form the Lord. Proverbs 3:5
entreats us to, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own
understanding. (KJV)"
Also, Isaiah 5:21 warn us, "Woe unto them that are wise in their own
eyes, and prudent in their own sight! (KJV)"
Spiritual
knowledge draws you closer to the Lord! Psalms 119:169 states, "Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding
according to thy word. (KJV)",
while Proverbs 9:10 instructs us, "The fear of the LORD is the
beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
(KJV)".
Sin
In
John 4:3-19, Jesus talks to the woman at the well. In their discussion,
the Lord exposes her sin. She repents and accepts salvation.
You
are separated from the Lord by sin. Numbers 32:22 exposes our sin, "But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD:
and be sure your sin will find you out. (KJV)"
1 Samuel 15:23 and Romans 6:23 warns us of the consequences of sin: "For
rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and
idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected
thee from being king. 1 Samuel
15:23 (KJV)" and "For the wages of sin is death; but the
gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23 (KJV)"
You
can be cleansed of sin! Psalms 32:5 and 1 John 1:9 instructs and
encourages us: "I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I
said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the
iniquity of my sin. Selah. Psalms
32:5 (KJV)" and "If we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness. 1
John 1:9 (KJV)"
Return
To The Fellowship of The LORD!
You
can return to the fellowship of the Lord. He declares and instructs us in
the following:
Jeremiah
9:23-24
Thus says the LORD, "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and
let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his
riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me,
that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on
earth; for I delight in these things," declares the LORD.
(NAS)
Acts 3:19
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that
times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord
(NKJ)
I invite you to send us your comments,
inquires and prayer requests. You can contact us at 713-645-1474 or write
to us at:
Houston Christian United People's Center
149 Winkler Drive
Houston, Texas 77087
or
click on the following links to the following forms:
Comments and Inquires
Prayer Requests
If you are in the Houston area, the doors to
The CUP are open to you. You may click on the following links for our
worship schedules and directions to The CUP
Worship Schedule
Directions to The CUP
Thank you for visiting our
Website. God Bless You.
Bishop Vernice Seriale, Sr.
Founder and Senior Pastor
Click here to read past messages from Bishop Seriale
Printer Friendly
Version
