Happy Labor Day!!!

Good Monday Morning To You.

Happy Labor Day!!! Do you have any plans? Many people like to have that one last pic-nic before fall and winter arrives. In my hometown of Cincinnati, there is a huge fireworks display down on the banks of the Ohio River. This impressive show has been an annual event for nearly 30 years. I might be off on its length, but it is a fantastic show with the fireworks timed to music. You can tune on your radio to a certain station and hear the music while you watch the fireworks. Even if you are not there, their selection of music is first rate. It is one of the biggest fireworks shows in America, second to only New York City. I remember one year when the kids were younger, taking them downtown to the show. I knew driving and parking would be tough, so we boarded a city bus, dedicated for the purpose, and it took us to the main deck of Riverfront Stadium. As I recall the fare was a dollar per person round trip. I gladly paid it in order not to have to fight the traffic.

Yesterday was a great day at Friendship Harmony. The attendance was right on target for this time of year, and we had a good, Spirit filled service. We sang the song, “Count Your Blessings.” We stopped at the end of each verse, and I randomly chose someone l recount a blessing. It is always good to hear the testimonies of God’s people. After the final verse I opened it up to anyone who wanted to share. What a blessing --- I wish you could have been there to experience it.

Although most of you could not be with us in person, you can view the message as it was delivered yesterday at Friendship Harmony. I preached part two of a series of messages titled, “Why Suffering?” To see the video, go to www.facebook.com/friendshipharmony. This video is about 30 minutes in length, and in it I examined “rebellion” as we search for the answer to, “How could a good God allow suffering?” Next week we will explore, “The Nature Of God” as we zero in on our answer

The notes are below for yesterday’s message, and as always you are free to use them for your personal, or group Bible Study.
Why Suffering? (C)
Various verses
Suffering Series 2 of ? 8/12-30/14
By Victor Cooper

Intro: The other day I was asked, “Why does God allow suffering? Why does He allow someone to hurt an innocent person?” This is the age old question which was probably asked by Eve when she buried her son, Abel.

Review: Last week we discovered that sin originated with Lucifer; it did not originate with God. We learned that the reason for suffering is sin. Sin means, “to miss the mark.”
The question is not, “Why is their suffering?” The question is, “Why does God allow suffering? To continue our quest for an answer, we must look at the results of sin.

I. Sin is rebellion.
A. It might be rebellion against nature. Example:. Intentionally setting a forest fire.
B. It might be a sin against mankind. Example:
Adolph Hitler
C. It might be a sin against an individual. Example:
Stealing from someone.
D. Ultimately, all rebellion is against God.
God gave the 10 commandments with His own finger, and with His own mouth.

II. The divisions of law. The Jewish law is divided into three separate and distinct parts.
A. The civil law. These were laws pertaining to the citizens of ancient Israel. They have passed away as that society has passed away. Example:
The laws of Jamestown, Virginia in 1609 are different from the laws in Jamestown, Virginia in 2014.
B. The religious law. These laws pertained to the worship services of ancient Israel. When the veil in the Temple was torn in two at the crucifixion of Christ, the religious laws were fulfilled, thereby rendering them non-binding on believers today.
C. The moral laws are as binding on us today as they were upon Israel in the wilderness when God introduced them.
D. A moral law suggests a moral law Giver. Therefore rebellion against any part of the law is rebellion against Him.

III. Rebel rousers often try to enlist the aid of others in their cause.
A. Lucifer enlisting the aid of a group of angels rebels against God. This rebellion is squashed by God Himself. For the fallen angels there is no redemption.
B. Lucifer next enlists the aid of God’s most special creation: man.
1. Man is not special because of his intellect, man is special because he is the only created being of God, angel or animal who God said, “Let us make man in our own image. Gen 1:26
C. At the point of sin man became under sin’s penalty:
Death. Death means separation from God.
1. The curse. Genesis 3:14-19 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: [15] And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. [16] Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. [17] And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; [18] Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; [19] In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
2. The continued line of sin. The Apocryphal Book of 2 Esdras says, “For the first Adam bearing a wicked heart transgressed, and was overcome; and all they that be born of him.” 2 Esdras 3:21
3. David the Psalmist would agree when he wrote, “ Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Psalm 51:5
4. Why is there suffering? Because all mankind is fallen and cursed. All of us are capable of horrible acts
5. The antidote is Jesus. Jesus erased the
penalty of sin, the Holy Spirit assists with dealing with the power of sin, and the Father will one day remove the presence of sin.

Whatever your plans for Labor Day, stay safe, and have a good time. If you’re grilling burgers, be sure to throw one on the fire for me. Don’t forget the cheese when it’s done! I’ll see you tomorrow on the video at www.facebook.com/friendshipharmony, and back here next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic!!!

My Promise To God

Good Monday Morning To You! I told you last week that we failed at our dry run video test, but that we would try again. Yesterday, I believe we had a success. My colleague and good friend, Rabbi Jim Pickens, came and helped us with the camera. Rabbi Pickens, who accepts Jesus as the Messiah, had a successful career with Technicolor, the maker of motion pictures. He was able to teach us about lighting, and proper camera angles. He also had understanding about how the camera actually operated. Rabbi Pickens, along with Jim Cook, a member of our church who has been working with and learning our camera, worked the camera yesterday. Bro. Cook has not yet called me to let me know what our end result was, but as soon as I know, I’ll let you know. If we are able to get it onto “Youtube,” I’ll send out a special edition of this blog to inform you.

Last week I told you about my call to the ministry, so today I’ll take it one step further by telling you why I preach like I do. When I first started preaching, I was a “hell fire and brimstone, pulpit banging, spit slinging, stomping, snorting fireball” who was all over the place. I was like a pistol firing blanks -- plenty of noise with nothing being shot. I was preaching in Midland, Ohio one Sunday night and I hit the pulpit so hard I split it. I preached that way for a few years and boy could I ever stir up a crowd. The problem was I stirred the crowd, not the Holy Spirit. It was all emotionalism; all noise and no substance.

One weekend I was visiting family in Louisville, Kentucky, and two Mormon Missionaries stopped by for a visit. We had a lively discussion for about an hour. The Mormons finally concluded that the young preacher they were trying to convert was not going to join them. As they were preparing to leave, one of them turned to me and said, “We get most of our converts from the Baptist Church. Most Baptists know just enough about their own religion to be confused.” I made God a promise that night. I told Him that maybe they did get their converts from the Baptist Church, but they weren’t going to get them from mine, at least not from a lack of teaching. I have endeavored to keep that promise over the years, and I have learned that the power is in the message, not the messenger. I have settled down so that the attention is on Christ, not on me. I use many Scriptures when I preach because I want the people to know what God said, not Vic Cooper. Whether you hear a live message from me, hear it over the internet, (hopefully soon) or read the sermon notes, I want you to learn something so that you can grow in your Christian faith. I believe this is what I was put on this earth to do. Please don’t think me arrogant or pompous, but I believe that not only was I called to preach, but I was born to preach. This is certainly Biblical. God told Jeremiah, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5) I also believe pastors should be teachers. Ephesians 4:11 says, “And He gave some… pastors and teachers. This is not two distinct offices, but two aspects of the same office.

Yesterday was a great day at Friendship Harmony. We had several families out of town for Christmas, but the attendance was still good and we had visitors. As good as that is, of even greater news, one of our members was able to lead a husband and wife in the community to a saving faith in Christ. Reports like this always make a preacher’s day! Below are the sermon notes from the third in a four part series called “The Advent Contrast.” Yesterday we learned that at Christ’s first coming, Christmas, He came for the lowest. At His second coming, the rapture, He will come for the highest. Who are these people? Read and study the sermon notes; the answers are there. Hopefully, by mid week, you will be able to open our page in Youtube and hear the message as it was delivered yesterday, December 16, 2012.

The Advent Contrast ©
Various Scripture
12/12-15/12
Advent Series 3 of 4 By Victor Cooper

Intro: Occasionally you will hear the word “advent” used as a synonym of the birth of Christ. This is known as Christ’s first advent. Likewise, His second coming is sometime called the second advent. During each, Christ’s coming is for a specific group. Christ’s first advent was for the least, the last, the lowest, and the lost. By contrast, at His second advent He is coming for the greatest, the first, the highest, and the found,

I. Man was created in an exalted state.
Genesis 2:7-9 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. [8] And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. [9] And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
A. Adam’s sin caused him to plunge mankind into the lowest state possible Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

II. The lowest are called “afflicted.” Psalm 18:27a For thou wilt save the afflicted people……
A. “Afflicted --- from a Hebrew word meaning depressed in mind or circumstances; lowly, needy, poor.
B. Afflicted by whom?
1. The tempter
2. Man’s own self will
3. The curse

III. It was God who stripped man of his high estate, and made him low. Psalm 55:23a But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction…
A. Low is good, because in his lowest state, man can be helped. Psalm 116:6 The Lord preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.
1. Remember, at His first coming, Christ came for those in a low state.
B. God is a good and merciful God.
Psalm 136:1;23 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. [23] Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:

IV. Christ’s first coming was for the “low.”
1 Cor. 1:28a And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen…:

V. At His second coming, Christ is coming for those of high estate.
Psalm 18:33 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.
A. Psalm 69:29 says God’s salvation sets us on high.
B. Psalm 91 teaches that God’s love was placed upon us to deliver us, and set us on high.

As always, I hope the notes are a blessing to you as you study God’s word. Have a good and a safe week, and contrary to what the Mayan calendar says, I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic!!!