Notes From Sunday- 2/8/09

Last Sunday was the second message in current series "Exploring Faith" where we are looking at the book of Hebrews. The message was called Our Faith is in Jesus. Here are some of the highlights:
7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “ Today, if you will hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness, 9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years. 10 Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.’ 11 So I swore in My wrath, ‘ They shall not enter My rest.’” 12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 while it is said: “ Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” --Hebrews 3:7-15

• Ever since the Garden of Eden, God has been calling out to humanity. But just like in Eden, we have run from Him.
• It is SO INCREDIBLY FOOLISH to try to hide from God! But we do it all the time! Yes, even Christians!
• What do you mean even Christians? Read the above Scripture again... The nation of Israel followed God, or at least they claimed to. But they still ignored God. They were all about doing their own thing and only depending on God when they had their backs to the Red Sea or some other potential disaster.
• So many "Christians" claim to follow Jesus, but they are really ignoring Him and trying to be like Adam & Eve and hide behind the "trees" in their lives.
• People who pretend to follow Jesus are such a danger to themselves and to the Church of Jesus. They have deceived themselves and they so often lead others astray.
• It TICKS ME OFF when "Christians" thumb their noses at God. And if God is going to change the world, then WE NEED TO KNOCK IT OFF!
• But here's the kicker! Even when we reject God's call, He is still trying to connect! He's like the guy from the Verizon commercials asking, "Can you hear me now?"
• God is speaking to us that we need to listen to Him today
• To have a relationship with God we need to repent of our sins, and place our faith in Jesus. NOT JUST BELIEVE IN JESUS, but we need to place our faith and trust in Jesus like a skydiver places their trust in the parachute. We need to not just think about Jesus, but we need to put on the Lord Jesus and become new in Him.

On a few other notes:

• I am so proud of the folks at Eden UB Church for how they parked on Sunday. We have very limited parking right now. I asked Eden to make space for expected guests and they did! Awesome! If we're going to reach 200 people in the next 5 years, we need the parking.! Again, Awesome job Eden!
• We had people respond to an invitation. We had some acknowledge they needed Jesus as their Forgiver and Leader, and we also had many people who acknowledged they needed to start listening to God's will for their life.
• God is really working at Eden UB and I CAN'T wait until this Sunday! God is Awesome and He is going to show up BIG!
• If you haven't been to Eden for a while, you REALLY ought to come and be our guest!

God Bless,

Pastor Adam