It's Here! It's Here!!

Good Monday Morning To You!

At long last it is here again. We’ve patiently waited and endured the long cold winter. I can’t believe its here --- I’m like a kid at a carnival. I’m overwhelmed, overjoyed, and possibly overacting. What is here? Daylight Savings Time! O.K. Maybe its not worth all the hype I just gave it, but actually I do like it. I like having all those daylight hours. I’m not a morning person. During the morning hours I essentially function on auto-pilot. I’m at my best between the hours of 3:00pm and 10:00pm, so having that extra daylight time makes life a bit sweeter.

I remember as a kid, though, when DST first came out, it kept my Dad’s sleeping cycle really messed up. I don’t know whether it was the extra daylight, or what it was, but it messed with him big time. As the years progressed, I do not know whether Howard Cooper got used to it, or just quit complaining, but he sure hated it. I like it, so I guess that is one place where we differed.

Yesterday was another super day at Friendship Harmony. I hope you do not get tired of me saying that all the time, but I’ve got to report the truth to you. Our day started with another fine class with Bro. Burt Nelson. He is teaching obscure verses of Scripture. The morning service was very uplifting. Our pianist, Sister Birdsong, sang the song “When They Ring Those Golden Bells” as well as I have ever heard it sung. Her husband Ken is our music director. He typically leads us in the first verse of a song, then while we sing verse two, he plays his trumpet. Wow! Today he did something a little different. He accompanied us by playing the melody on verse 2, then on verse 3, he harmonized. I wish you could be here for a Friendship Harmony Baptist service. Tremendous!!! After the service we performed the most sacred of all Baptist religious acts --- the carry in meal. Our ladies (and some of the men) out did themselves. We’ve got cooks that would make Mr. Food sit up and drool. The meal was good and the fellowship was awesome. After the meal, we were not finished. We caravanned to the home of two of our members for a baptismal service. We congratulate Sister Gert on her baptism, and thank Gwen and Jim for the use of their pool. They made sure the water temperature was perfect. It was a fine service. Of all the things I do as a Pastor serving in an official capacity, baptizing someone is my favorite. It would suit me just fine if the LORD would allow me to baptize every week. There are still four more awaiting their baptism. Both gentlemen have had recent surgeries and are not yet cleared by their doctors. Their wives want to wait and be baptized with their husbands. What a blessing!

Yesterday I preached the concluding message in my “What If”… series. The title was, “What If … There Really Is A Devil?” I confessed to my group that while prepping for this message, I suffered a bout of horrible depression. Each time the LORD calls upon me to talk about that slimy ol’ serpent, it depresses me. Some of it is fighting a spiritual battle with him as I’m sure he’d rather I just say nothing. Some of it likely stems from concentrating on his evil schemes and watching people fall victim to his prey every day. I hope if you were there, the sermon was an encouragement to you. If you were or were not, below are the notes. Feel free to use them for your personal Bible study. Call me if you have any questions or send an E-mail; I’ll assist you wherever I can. Do keep in mind this is not an exhaustive study on this topic. If you want to study deeper, contact me and I can recommend some useful material to you.

What If… There Really Is A Devil?
Various Scripture
What If Series ABy Victor Cooper
3/10-12/11

If there really is a devil, then…

I. you have an enemy. 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
A. adversary = opponent, one who opposes; his very name means adversary
B. The enemy is out to destroy.
C. Job was opposed. Read Job 1:6-11
D. Paul was opposed. 2 Corinthians 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

II. You have a formidable opponent. Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
A. You must be properly outfitted in order to fight satan.
B. You must be trained in order to fight the devil.
C. You must realize who he really is. John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
D. You are in a wrestling match, want it or not!
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
E. Some theologians believe that satan wrecked God’s
original creation.
Quote: Genesis 1:2 the earth was without form and void -- or in "confusion and emptiness," as the words are rendered in
Isa 34:11. This globe, at some undescribed period, having been convulsed and broken up, was a dark and watery waste for ages perhaps, till out of this chaotic state, the present fabric of the world was made to arise
— Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary


III. you have a champion. 1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

A. Jesus is the over comer. John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
B. Be cautious not cocky. Though believers should place their confidence in God, they should not be careless. Christians in conflict are to be on the alert, made strong and steadfast by Christ Himself.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty.

IV. You clearly see a defeated foe. Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
A. Are you a born again, forgiven child of God?
1. If not Jesus says you are, “… of your father the devil.”
John 8:44a

Remember: If Satan is not your enemy, he is your father. If Jesus is not your Savior, He is your enemy. Please do not take that with you to your grave! Turn your life over to Christ today. It will make satan your enemy, but his days are numbered and he is destined to lose. Do not lose with him!

Have a terrific week. Be sure to enjoy the extra daylight tacked on to the end of our days. Stay well and happy. I look forward to seeing you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic!

What if... Jesus Is...?

Good Tuesday Morning To You!!

Thanks again for understanding about my not being able to visit with you yesterday. Since last Tuesday, I have had lots of irons in the fire. I won’t go into it --- it’s mostly preacher stuff. I love it, but it has kept me hopping like Peter Cottontail. You do remember Peter Cottontail, I’m sure. If not, Google him; I’ll bet he turns up somewhere on the net. I enjoy being busy with ministry duties. I enjoy meeting people and promoting our Church. I love promoting it because in turn it promotes the Lord Jesus Christ.

Speaking of promoting Jesus, did you get to read the two chapters in the Gospel of John that I suggested? If you did not, take your Bible and read John chapters 10 and 14 before you proceed. I’ll wait for you. They speak of Him, with most of it listening to Him speak. My Sunday message was “What If Jesus Is Who He Says He Is?” The Sermon notes are enclosed:

What If… Jesus Is Who He Says He Is?©
Various
What If Series By Victor Cooper
02/17,18,19/11

I. What did He claim? Jesus made many claims, but here are three.
A. John 10:30 I and my Father are one.
B. 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.
C. John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

II. What does it mean?
A. John 10:30
1 For Jesus to be one with the Father (albeit distinct from him) is tantamount to a claim to deity — Bible Background Commentary
2. The Jews understood His claim.
John 10:31-33 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
3. It means Jesus said He was God!
B. John 14:6
1. The Bible Knowledge Commentary:
Jesus is the “Way” because He is the “Truth” and the “Life.” As the Father is Truth and Life, Jesus is the embodiment of God so people can come to the Father. By His words, No one comes to the Father except through Me, Jesus stressed that salvation, contrary to what many people think, is not obtainable through many ways. Only one Way exists (cf. Acts 4:12; 1 Tim. 2:5). Jesus is the only access to the Father because He is the only One from the Father
(cf. John 1:1-2, 51; 3:13).
2. ---Hard Sayings of the Bible
John 14:6 is one of those verses that are difficult not because we do not understand them but because we understand them all too well.
The issue, then, is not whether or not we like this claim, but whether or not it is true. The usual smokescreen is to say, "What about those who have never heard of Jesus?" The response to this is twofold: (1) there is a missionary imperative in the New Testament to minimize this problem (that is why, for example, Paul dedicates his life to preaching Jesus where he has not yet been preached) and (2) how God may choose to reveal himself or deal with those who have no human messenger is his business. If we know God's character, we can trust him to do his business well. Our problem is that we do know about Jesus and are living in a culture in which Jesus is all too well known. Furthermore, the missionary imperative falls to those of us who believe.
If, then, this claim is true, two conclusions follow. First, we are deceiving ourselves if we think that we can come to God any other way than through Jesus. What is more, no other way will supplement or add to Jesus as the way. Second, if we are already following Jesus, we are called, in John's terms, to be witnesses to the truth and life found in Jesus.
3. The OT announced it. Isaiah 59:16 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
4. The NT affirmed it. 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.
5. It means Jesus is the only means of salvation; all others are bogus and counterfeit.
C. John 10:11
1. The Good Shepherd provides
A. Security
B. Nourishment/Refreshment
C. Hope
D. Abundant life/Joy, Contentment
E. Eternal Life

Conclusion:

III. If it is true, then…
A. … John 10:30 is correct in telling you that Jesus is God. You had better heed His warning.
B. … the exclusivity of John 14:6 is a fact taught by God Himself. If God tells you Jesus is the only way, you’d better quit trying to come up with others.
C. … John 10:11 is correct in reporting to you that you have a Shepherd (who just happens to be Almighty God); you’d better follow Him.


{Preached 2/20/11/10:00a.m. @ Friendship Harmony Baptist Church}

If Jesus is who He says He is, how will that affect your relationship with Him? Do you even have a relationship with Him? Jesus stands ready to forgive your sin and to receive you unto Himself. If Jesus is who He says He is, you had better trust Him, believe Him, and receive Him. Scriptures teach that today is the accepted day to do that very thing. Feel free to E-mail me or call if you’d like to trust Christ completely.

Hopefully we’ll get back on track and be back to our Monday morning visits next week. As any Pastor can tell you, we can plan our time, but one phone call can change it all. We don’t mind, though. We want to hear from you. Pastors worry when people STOP calling. I’m glad to be a part of the lives of my congregation, and glad they are a part of mine. Miss Bessie feels the same as do I. Take care of yourself this week. I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic!