Today I’m going to do some bragging. I will not brag on myself because I have no reason, but I have to brag on a truck driver I have never met and likely never will. My middle son, Kevin, is an over the road trucker, and he met this man somewhere out west. Many truck drivers take a pet along with them for company. Our dog, Bubba, goes with him often, so when Kevin meets a driver with a dog, he pets their dog and tells them about his. This particular man had two dogs, which is somewhat rare. The inside of a semi is really not that big, so a driver and two dogs is a bit cramped. The driver introduced his dogs to Kevin and explained that one of his dogs had just become his. The driver told Kevin that he had found this dog alone, scared, and walking around in a rest area. The man asked the attendant whose dog it was, and was told that hours earlier a car pulled into the rest area, let the dog out of the car, then drove off. The driver put the dog in his truck and told the attendant he would take care of the dog and wait to see if the people returned. He thought maybe a child had let the dog out and the parents drove off without knowing. After several hours it was certain no one was coming for the dog, so the driver told the attendant that from that time on, the dog was his. The attendant agreed. Kevin was outraged when he heard how the dog had been abandoned, but thanked the other driver for rescuing that scared dog.
As a minister I understand the depravity of man. Let’s face it --- sinners sin! Sometime, however, they take it to a lower level of iniquity. With all my theological degrees, and years of experience, I still cannot fathom how anybody could be so cruel to a helpless, defenseless little animal. A dog will love you unconditionally. They are love with four legs wrapped in fur. To repay their love with cruelty in unconscionable. If you have a pet, love it and take good care of it. If you no longer can, help that pet find someone who will. God created the animals first, then charged His final creation, man, with the responsibility of their care. That has never changed. Treat them with all the love they will show you.
Yesterday was an excellent day at Friendship Harmony. Attendance was very good, and we were blessed with lots of visitors. The presence of the Holy Spirit was very evident in the service, and it was so good to be in the house of the LORD. I preached a message titled, “We Would See Jesus.” The sermon notes are below, and the video will be available by Tuesday Morning. The video, which we try to keep to about ten minutes in length, can be found at www.facebook.com/friendshipharmony. Remember, you do not need a Facebook account to view the video. After you watch it, let me know what you think. You can contact us at fhbcsjc@gmail.com. All replies will be answered. If you have any questions about something you have read in the Bible, or have heard, use that same e-mail address. Again, all replies will be answered.
We Would See Jesus
John 12:21
By Victor Cooper
03/15,16/14
Intro: Greeks were wanderers and seekers of truth.
Greeks would have been drawn to Philip due to his Greek name.
The Greeks coming to Christ was symbolic of the coming of the Gentiles to worship God through Christ.
I. They had heard of His fame.
Mark 1:28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.
A. His crowd appeal.
B. His miracles.
1. The Jews (Eastern Civilization) understood God by what He did.
2. The Greeks (Western Civilization) understood God by what He said.
C. His conduct.
1. The Jews were arrogant toward Gentiles.
2. Christ was loving and welcoming toward Gentiles. Example: Christ healing the daughter of the Gentile woman.
II. They had heard of His aim.
Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
A. That included both Jew and Gentile.
III. They had heard of His claim.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
A. He was claiming exclusivity; a foreign concept to the Greeks.
1. The Greeks believed there were many avenues to truth.
B. To the Jews this was blasphemy.
IV. They had heard of His name.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Conclusion: Are you a seeker of truth? Are you willing to accept Jesus not only as the source of truth, but truth itself? Do you want to see Jesus?
May the Lord Jesus bless your upcoming week and I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic!!!
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