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Sermon

Sunday morning, November 23, 2008
As I sit and think about prayer and its significance in our lives, I wonder how many of us can actually reach the throne of heaven with our prayers. For instance, last week or so, I have found myself praying fervently on behalf of my father who has had a tumor removed and is making slow progress. That was pretty scary for me since I am not in a position to bargain with God. I feel I am doing what God desires for me to do right now. Now, don't take this as saying that I am anywhere near perfect. I am not. I just=, as the rest of us actually are, not a position for bargaining for another's life in trade off for something else. As I read the scriptures for today, I wondered how on earth the Apostle Paul could be that comfortable in his skin. I think it probably is because He knew Jesus Christ very personally. He knew him in ways that we may never know. It is up to us to make sure that we know and follow Christ. We shouldn't just pray when we run into trouble, because every day we have on this earth is a gift from God. We should thank and praise him for that wonderful gift. Everyday is another day that we can win others to Jesus Christ, which should be our main goal in life. The recent events surrounding the election are harbingers of things to come. It is not because Barack Obama is a black man. It has nothing to do with that. It has to do with everything that the evangelical right has been working for for the past thirty years or so. It has everything to do with the fallen sinful nature of human beings. It has to do with the fact that people can't see the deeper cancer that is rotting out the heart and soul of our beloved country. They can't see or don't know about sin. It has become so ingrained in our national life that it seems normal. For instance, I know people who go to church on Sunday and Wednesday, and sound like sailors. I know people who praise the Lord every time the door of the church opens, but their choices of music to listen to are atrocious. I know people who play evil games on the internet under the guise of witnessing to people, and yet, never consider what playing that game is doing to their soul. As a counselor intern, I get to listen to and view personally the cancer that is eating the soul and heart of America, and no one really understands the problem. Prayer and action from Christians will take care of it all. We must first clean out our own house by confessing to God all the filth we participate in and say and watch and do. Then, We need to find new ways to reach our folks we know who are Christians. Today, I will leave you with the above, plus the scriptures for today which come out of Ephesians 1:15-23, which tell us: "15. Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints," "16. Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;" "17. The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:" "18. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints," "19. And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power," "20. Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in heavenly places," "21. Far above all principality , and power, and might, and dominnion, and every name that is named, not only in this world,, but also in that which is to come:" "22. And hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the church," "23. Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." Today if you would like to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior go to the home page and click the link entitled salvation. If you accept Jesus email us at calvarybap@a4isp.com and let us know about your decision. We will pray with, encourage and help you in any way we can.

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