In case you did not read last Friday’s special posting of the Monday Morning Blog, it is my privilege to announce to you that we are now online. Last week’s message, “When God Waits,” can be seen on YouTube. Now, not only can you read the notes here, but you can see and hear the message as well. The easiest way of doing it is by copying his link, and putting it into your address bar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDo11DzK41I. You can also get it by going to: www.youtube.com. When it comes up, type Friendship Harmony Baptist Church into their address bar next to their name. You might have to scroll to find it as there are other Friendship Harmony Churches. It will take you right to the video. I hope it is a blessing to you, and that God might receive all the glory from it. The message from yesterday should be uploaded very soon.
What an awesome time we had at church yesterday. The attendance was terrific in spite of the fact that there some out with this “bug” that is going around. Our congregational singing was through the roof! Eleanor McDonell led the singing, and what a difference it made. She even led us without music. We sing to CD’s, but we did not have the player yesterday. It did not matter --- everybody sang beautifully. Eleanor drew the best out of each of us.
The message was titled, “Bearing The Cross of Christ.” Even though it is our duty to bear the cross, in reality it is an honor. What Christ carried was the cross piece; the main body of the cross was already in place. Our crosses come in many different shapes and sizes, but they are ready for us anyhow. Christ’s cross was very heavy, and so too are ours. Are you ready to bear the cross of Christ? The notes are below and will serve as a guide for your own cross bearing. The video from yesterday should be up later this week. To find it, type in your address bar: www.youtube.com. When it comes up, type Friendship Harmony Baptist Church into their address bar next to their name. Scroll to find the message, “Bearing The Cross of Christ.”
Bearing The Cross of Christ
Matthew 27:32
By Victor Cooper
1/1,4,5/13
Intro: On New Year’s Day, while watching the film The King of Kings, I paid particular attention to the man called upon to bear Christ’s cross when Jesus no longer could. I thought, “What an honor!” Today we can still bear Christ’s Cross, and it is still an honor to do so.
I. Bearing Christ’s cross requires desire.
A. Simon of Cyrene was given no choice. He was compelled,
i.e. forced into service.
1. Simon may have been honored, or he might have been aggravated. We do not know.
B. You are free to choose --- it’s a labor of love.
C. Abraham, Joseph, Moses, and David were referred to as servants.
1. These men were each called to service and accepted the call.
D. Paul called himself a servant in Romans 1:1.
E. God rewards servants. Matthew 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
II. Bearing Christ’s cross requires strength.
A. Simon had the strength to physically carry the cross, whereas Jesus did not due to the severity of the beating He’d received.
B. The cross is still heavy.
1. Christ’s cross, actually the crossbeam, weighed about 100 lbs.
2. The crosses you carry sometime seem to weigh in excess of 100 lbs.
C, The strength comes not from within, but from above.
Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
D. We are given strength due to Christ’s death.
Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
III. Bearing Christ’s cross requires determination.
A. We know Simon completed his mission by what the Bible does not say.
1. Never do you read of another being pressed into service; just Simon.
B. You can have the desire and the strength, but if you do not go ahead with a dogged determination that you’ll carry the cross no matter what, you’ll get nowhere.
C. The Bible calls it perseverance. Perseverance comes from a Greek word proskarteresis meaning persistence; not quitting.
Example: In the movie Chariots of Fire, young Harold Abrahams, a champion sprinter, had just suffered his first-ever defeat. After the race he sat alone, pouting in the bleachers. When his girlfriend tried to encourage him, he bellowed, “If I can’t win, I won’t run!”
To which she wisely replied, “If you don’t run, you can’t win.”
Abrahams went on to win the 1924 Olympic Gold Medal in the hundred-meter run.
IV. Bearing Christ’s cross requires sacrifice.
A. Simon sacrificed his comfort and his plans, albeit forced.
B. We are often called to sacrifice our comfort and plans too, along with other things.
1. time
2. abilities
3. money
C. We are called to offer ourselselves as a living sacrifice. Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
1. Radio teacher Steve Brown says, “The trouble with living sacrifices is they keep wanting to jump off the altar whenever the fire gets really hot.”
2. You might think God would not call you to be a sacrifice, but He called His Son to.
D. Sacrifice has another side to it --- the joyfull side.
Hebrews 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Conclusion: A great honor was bestowed on Simon of Cyrene. You too should feel just as honored to be able to bear the cross of Christ. You must desire it, be strengthened for it, have a focused determination, and be willing to be the sacrifice.
Again, I hope the notes are a blessing to you as you look into God’s word. If I might make a suggestion: why not make yourself a printed copy of the notes, then follow along with the video. For last weeks notes, simply scroll down to last Monday’s blog, then go to YouTube and follow along
For those of you who were wondering, my mom fell last Thursday and broke her right leg. She required surgery to repair the damage, but she is recovering nicely. If you’d like to send her a card, just contact me, and I’d be happy to give her address to you. Be sure you stay safe and healthy, I don’t want anything happening to you. I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic!!!
Good Monday Morning To You!
In case you did not read last Friday’s special posting of the Monday Morning Blog, it is my privilege to announce to you that we are now online. Last week’s message, “When God Waits,” can be seen on YouTube. Now, not only can you read the notes here, but you can see and hear the message as well. The easiest way of doing it is by clicking on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDo11DzK41I. You can also get it by going to: www.youtube.com. When it comes up, type Friendship Harmony Baptist Church into their address bar next to their name. You might have to scroll to find it as there are other Friendship Harmony Churches. It will take you right to the video. I hope it is a blessing to you, and that God might receive all the glory from it. The message from yesterday should be uploaded very soon.
What an awesome time we had at church yesterday. The attendance was terrific in spite of the fact that there some out with this “bug” that is going around. Our congregational singing was through the roof! Eleanor McDonell led the singing, and what a difference it made. She even led us without music. We sing to CD’s, but we did not have the player yesterday. It did not matter --- everybody sang beautifully. Eleanor drew the best out of each of us.
The message was titled, “Bearing The Cross of Christ.” Even though it is our duty to bear the cross, in reality it is an honor. What Christ carried was the cross piece; the main body of the cross was already in place. Our crosses come in many different shapes and sizes, but they are ready for us anyhow. Christ’s cross was very heavy, and so too are ours. Are you ready to bear the cross of Christ? The notes are below and will serve as a guide for your own cross bearing. The video from yesterday should be up later this week. To find it, type in your address bar: www.youtube.com. When it comes up, type Friendship Harmony Baptist Church into their address bar next to their name. Scroll to find the message, “Bearing The Cross of Christ.”
Bearing The Cross of Christ
Matthew 27:32
By Victor Cooper
1/1,4,5/13
Intro: On New Year’s Day, while watching the film The King of Kings, I paid particular attention to the man called upon to bear Christ’s cross when Jesus no longer could. I thought, “What an honor!” Today we can still bear Christ’s Cross, and it is still an honor to do so.
I. Bearing Christ’s cross requires desire.
A. Simon of Cyrene was given no choice. He was compelled,
i.e. forced into service.
1. Simon may have been honored, or he might have been aggravated. We do not know.
B. You are free to choose --- it’s a labor of love.
C. Abraham, Joseph, Moses, and David were referred to as servants.
1. These men were each called to service and accepted the call.
D. Paul called himself a servant in Romans 1:1.
E. God rewards servants. Matthew 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
II. Bearing Christ’s cross requires strength.
A. Simon had the strength to physically carry the cross, whereas Jesus did not due to the severity of the beating He’d received.
B. The cross is still heavy.
1. Christ’s cross, actually the crossbeam, weighed about 100 lbs.
2. The crosses you carry sometime seem to weigh in excess of 100 lbs.
C, The strength comes not from within, but from above.
Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
D. We are given strength due to Christ’s death.
Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
III. Bearing Christ’s cross requires determination.
A. We know Simon completed his mission by what the Bible does not say.
1. Never do you read of another being pressed into service; just Simon.
B. You can have the desire and the strength, but if you do not go ahead with a dogged determination that you’ll carry the cross no matter what, you’ll get nowhere.
C. The Bible calls it perseverance. Perseverance comes from a Greek word proskarteresis meaning persistence; not quitting.
Example: In the movie Chariots of Fire, young Harold Abrahams, a champion sprinter, had just suffered his first-ever defeat. After the race he sat alone, pouting in the bleachers. When his girlfriend tried to encourage him, he bellowed, “If I can’t win, I won’t run!”
To which she wisely replied, “If you don’t run, you can’t win.”
Abrahams went on to win the 1924 Olympic Gold Medal in the hundred-meter run.
IV. Bearing Christ’s cross requires sacrifice.
A. Simon sacrificed his comfort and his plans, albeit forced.
B. We are often called to sacrifice our comfort and plans too, along with other things.
1. time
2. abilities
3. money
C. We are called to offer ourselselves as a living sacrifice. Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
1. Radio teacher Steve Brown says, “The trouble with living sacrifices is they keep wanting to jump off the altar whenever the fire gets really hot.”
2. You might think God would not call you to be a sacrifice, but He called His Son to.
D. Sacrifice has another side to it --- the joyfull side.
Hebrews 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Conclusion: A great honor was bestowed on Simon of Cyrene. You too should feel just as honored to be able to bear the cross of Christ. You must desire it, be strengthened for it, have a focused determination, and be willing to be the sacrifice.
Again, I hope the notes are a blessing to you as you look into God’s word. If I might make a suggestion: why not make yourself a printed copy of the notes, then follow along with the video. For last weeks notes, simply scroll down to last Monday’s blog, then go to YouTube and follow along
For those of you who were wondering, my mom fell last Thursday and broke her right leg. She required surgery to repair the damage, but she is recovering nicely. If you’d like to send her a card, just contact me, and I’d be happy to give her address to you. Be sure you stay safe and healthy, I don’t want anything happening to you. I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic!!!
Good Monday Morning To You!
In case you did not read last Friday’s special posting of the Monday Morning Blog, it is my privilege to announce to you that we are now online. Last week’s message, “When God Waits,” can be seen on YouTube. Now, not only can you read the notes here, but you can see and hear the message as well. The easiest way of doing it is by clicking on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDo11DzK41I. You can also get it by going to: www.youtube.com. When it comes up, type Friendship Harmony Baptist Church into their address bar next to their name. You might have to scroll to find it as there are other Friendship Harmony Churches. It will take you right to the video. I hope it is a blessing to you, and that God might receive all the glory from it. The message from yesterday should be uploaded very soon.
What an awesome time we had at church yesterday. The attendance was terrific in spite of the fact that there some out with this “bug” that is going around. Our congregational singing was through the roof! Eleanor McDonell led the singing, and what a difference it made. She even led us without music. We sing to CD’s, but we did not have the player yesterday. It did not matter --- everybody sang beautifully. Eleanor drew the best out of each of us.
The message was titled, “Bearing The Cross of Christ.” Even though it is our duty to bear the cross, in reality it is an honor. What Christ carried was the cross piece; the main body of the cross was already in place. Our crosses come in many different shapes and sizes, but they are ready for us anyhow. Christ’s cross was very heavy, and so too are ours. Are you ready to bear the cross of Christ? The notes are below and will serve as a guide for your own cross bearing. The video from yesterday should be up later this week. To find it, type in your address bar: www.youtube.com. When it comes up, type Friendship Harmony Baptist Church into their address bar next to their name. Scroll to find the message, “Bearing The Cross of Christ.”
Bearing The Cross of Christ
Matthew 27:32
By Victor Cooper
1/1,4,5/13
Intro: On New Year’s Day, while watching the film The King of Kings, I paid particular attention to the man called upon to bear Christ’s cross when Jesus no longer could. I thought, “What an honor!” Today we can still bear Christ’s Cross, and it is still an honor to do so.
I. Bearing Christ’s cross requires desire.
A. Simon of Cyrene was given no choice. He was compelled,
i.e. forced into service.
1. Simon may have been honored, or he might have been aggravated. We do not know.
B. You are free to choose --- it’s a labor of love.
C. Abraham, Joseph, Moses, and David were referred to as servants.
1. These men were each called to service and accepted the call.
D. Paul called himself a servant in Romans 1:1.
E. God rewards servants. Matthew 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
II. Bearing Christ’s cross requires strength.
A. Simon had the strength to physically carry the cross, whereas Jesus did not due to the severity of the beating He’d received.
B. The cross is still heavy.
1. Christ’s cross, actually the crossbeam, weighed about 100 lbs.
2. The crosses you carry sometime seem to weigh in excess of 100 lbs.
C, The strength comes not from within, but from above.
Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
D. We are given strength due to Christ’s death.
Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
III. Bearing Christ’s cross requires determination.
A. We know Simon completed his mission by what the Bible does not say.
1. Never do you read of another being pressed into service; just Simon.
B. You can have the desire and the strength, but if you do not go ahead with a dogged determination that you’ll carry the cross no matter what, you’ll get nowhere.
C. The Bible calls it perseverance. Perseverance comes from a Greek word proskarteresis meaning persistence; not quitting.
Example: In the movie Chariots of Fire, young Harold Abrahams, a champion sprinter, had just suffered his first-ever defeat. After the race he sat alone, pouting in the bleachers. When his girlfriend tried to encourage him, he bellowed, “If I can’t win, I won’t run!”
To which she wisely replied, “If you don’t run, you can’t win.”
Abrahams went on to win the 1924 Olympic Gold Medal in the hundred-meter run.
IV. Bearing Christ’s cross requires sacrifice.
A. Simon sacrificed his comfort and his plans, albeit forced.
B. We are often called to sacrifice our comfort and plans too, along with other things.
1. time
2. abilities
3. money
C. We are called to offer ourselselves as a living sacrifice. Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
1. Radio teacher Steve Brown says, “The trouble with living sacrifices is they keep wanting to jump off the altar whenever the fire gets really hot.”
2. You might think God would not call you to be a sacrifice, but He called His Son to.
D. Sacrifice has another side to it --- the joyfull side.
Hebrews 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Conclusion: A great honor was bestowed on Simon of Cyrene. You too should feel just as honored to be able to bear the cross of Christ. You must desire it, be strengthened for it, have a focused determination, and be willing to be the sacrifice.
Again, I hope the notes are a blessing to you as you look into God’s word. If I might make a suggestion: why not make yourself a printed copy of the notes, then follow along with the video. For last weeks notes, simply scroll down to last Monday’s blog, then go to YouTube and follow along
For those of you who were wondering, my mom fell last Thursday and broke her right leg. She required surgery to repair the damage, but she is recovering nicely. If you’d like to send her a card, just contact me, and I’d be happy to give her address to you. Be sure you stay safe and healthy, I don’t want anything happening to you. I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic!!!
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