Grace for your spirit July 31, 2014

Grace for your spirit

These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.  II Thessalonians 1:9

There has always been much speculation about reward and punishment at the end of time. The Bible says there is reward for the faithful and punishment for those who don't know God and don't obey the gospel.  We may think we can tolerate any punishment, but that is a foolish thought.  Eternal punishment away from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His power is the worst of it all.  We all bask in the presence of the Lord now and enjoy the benefits whether we believe or not.  The future will be different.  We can insure His presence later with the lives we live now.

Grace for your spirit July 30, 2014

Grace for your spirit

My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you--Galatians 4:19

The apostle Paul soon recognized that the distance between our conversion and our Christian maturity can be a long road.  When we obey the gospel and our baptized into Christ, we are in Christ, but is Christ in us?  Although we are new creatures, many times much of our past remains in us.  As we mature in Christ, His nature continues to crowd out our nature until Christ is fully formed in us.  If this work and labor is ignored, growth can stop.  Let's labor, not only to win souls to Christ, but labor until Christ is formed in them and us.

Grace for your spirit July 29, 2014

Grace for your spirit

In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive'"   Acts 20:35

A pretty good sign of maturity is seen when we would rather give than receive.  Remember Christmas and birthday time when we were kids? It was all "gimme, gimme".  Then one day we found our joy in giving to others.  The same is a good sign of spiritual maturity as well, when we find ourselves not following Christ for what we can get, but rather what we can give to others.  When we find our blessings in giving and helping, we start to look more like Jesus every day.  Let's make that our goal.

Grace for your spirit July 28, 2014

Grace for your spirit

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago--whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows--such a man was caught up to the third heaven.  II Corinthians 12:2

The people in Biblical times recognized three heavens.  First, the sky, secondly, the sun, moon, stars, and thirdly, the dwelling place of God. They recognized that God and His blessings came from above, but had little knowledge about that eternal dwelling revealed to us in the New Covenant.  In Paul's preparation to be an apostle, that third heaven, the dwelling place of God, and the eternal home of the redeemed, was revealed to Paul. This revelation shaped his message and we can trust in Holy Spirit inspired words about the road to heaven.  The word of God should develop in all of us a desire to be residents of that third heaven.  I hope it does.

Grace for your spirit July 25, 2014

Grace for your spirit

There is no fear of God before their eyes.  Romans 3:18

God's Word draws a picture of what happens when we don't know God. When we create a righteousness of our own, nothing is wrong unless we want it to be wrong.  There is not shame in our eyes, and no restraints on our behavior, because there is no longer fear of God. This was the picture of the religious hypocrites at the time of Jesus. Unfortunately many who fill churches on Sunday today are the same. Let's seek a revival in our own lives and let begin with fearing God and keeping His commandments.

Grace for your spirit July 24, 2014

Grace for your spirit

Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened.  For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.  I Corinthians 5:7

As yeast shapes a lump of  dough, so we all have a spiritual leaven that shapes our soul.  Our old leaven leaves us with malice and wickedness.  When we become Christians, we clean out the old leaven, and allow Christ to be the new leaven that shapes our lives and behavior.  Trading our old leaven for Christ is apparent by our behavior. The way we think, walk, and talk spiritually, should show everyone we are shaped by Christ in us.

Grace for your spirit July 23, 2014

Grace for your spirit

Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.  II Corinthians 5:18

A corporate boss once told me that the best sign his employees loved the company and their jobs, was when they were recruiting people into the company.  Could that also be true in Christ's kingdom?  We have been reconciled to God through Christ, and given the ministry of reconciliation.  In short, when we love what we have, and we want others to love it too.  Everyone loves compliments about their church and worship, but the best compliment is the person you brought with you today.

Grace for your spirit July 22, 2014

Grace for your spirit

Even the darkness is not dark to You, and the night is as bright as the day.  Darkness and light are alike to You.  Psalms 139:12

How many people have thought they could hide from God in the darkness?  They think darkness covers God's view of their sinfulness and they think they can get away with anything.  Others might think that darkness will keep God from leading them to the right.  Darkness does not limit God's power, presence, or knowledge.  God can reach us in darkness and light.  Let's not be deceived either way.

Grace for your spirit July 21, 2014

Grace for your spirit

"Is it because there is no God is  Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron"  II Kings 1:3

The King of Israel wondered if he would recover from his illness, so he sent messenger to an agent of the devil.  Elijah intercepted them and sent this question back; where is God?  Why in the so-called Godly nation, would the king think of the devil before he thought of God? It shows his heart and his life were in the wrong places.  Who we select to put our trust in, shows our heart as well.  When we put our trust for today and tomorrow in the hands of God, we know He will take care of our future.  We will know He will meet us on our best days and our worst days.  In all our ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make our paths straight.

Grace for your spirit July 18, 2014

Grace for your spirit

But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.  Jeremiah 18:4

A view of a potter working at the wheel with a lump of clay is fascinating.  A lump becomes a beautiful vessel with a spinning wheel and skilled hands.  If the creation is flawed, it can easily be reshaped as the potter desires.  God is the potter on our wheel and we are the clay.  He can mold us and make us after His will.  Like clay on a wheel, we cannot speak to the potter to complain about the results.  If we will become the clay that God can work with, the results will be very nice.

Grace for your spirit July 17, 2014

Grace for your spirit

I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake and for My servant David's sake.  II Kings 20:6

Hezekiah had been a great king, and when he was told he would die, he begged God for more time.  God granted him fifteen extra years and gave him another great victory.  How did he do in that 15 years?He opened his house to the enemy, made Jerusalem vulnerable, and had a son who would reign at his death.  That son would be a horrible king.  Hezekiah did not make the most of his additional time.  God encourages all of us to make the most of our time and opportunities. He has granted all of us extra time to serve Him.  How are we doing with His time?  Let's remember.  It is His time, not ours.

What to expect at Northwest Church of Christ

The church building is located on U.S 41 North at Florida Avenue. Just 1/2 mile north of the 41/63 interchange in Terre Haute, Indiana

Sunday Bible Classes: 9:30 AM
Sunday Worship 10:30 AM:
Sunday Evening 6:00 PM:
Wednesday Study 7:00 PM:

Radio Programs
93.7 FM the Sunday morning sermon is aired on Wednesday at 7:00 AM & 3.:00 P.M.
Also, hear our Christ through the Bible series on Tuesday at the same times.
You may also download archived radio programs at Wordpower.us

BELIEF STATEMENT
We are a fellowship of believers in Christ who believe in one all powerful, all knowing, ever present God. We believe the Bible is God's inspired word, and provides our only standard of right and wrong.

We believe that Jesus Christ, God's Son, died for our sins all the cross, was buried, and rose from the dead for our justification. We believe that mankind is lost without the saving blood of Jesus and that He is the only way to the Father

We believe that saving faith includes repentance, and baptism for the forgiveness of our sins. We believe the baptized believer is a member of the Lord's church and the kingdom of God.

We believe that the Christians should worship properly and share the good news of Jesus until He returns with out heavenly reward

At worship you may expect joyous acappella singing,prayers,communion services, and a lesson from the Bible every Sunday Expect our worship to be warm, uplifting, and orderly, praising the Lord.

Everyone is always welcome. We hope you will be spiritually enriched by your worship visit

Grace for your spirit July 16, 2014

Grace for your spirit

Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just to please ourselves  Romans 15:1

Earlier in Romans when discussing those who are weak in faith, we all want to be the strong ones.  Here when the strong ones are directed to help the weak, we don 't want to be the strong ones anymore.  If we have the attitude that we are strong in faith but weak in strength, it puts in a position of complete inactivity.  The Christian walk should never be just to please ourselves.  We should always welcome the challenge to grow our faith, and bear the weaknesses of others.  This is he way to please Him. Let's step up.

Grace for your spirit July 15, 2014

Grace for your spirit

Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have ransomed me, O Lord, God of truth.  Psalm 31:5

This was David's conviction as he faced his mountain of challenges. The Lord Jesus quoted this very Psalm as He died on the cross. They tell me "You're in good hands with Allstate", but there are limitations. Wouldn't we far prefer to be in good hands with God?   Long before David and Jesus faced their ultimate challenges, they lived a life that reflected this confidence.  Not only are we in good hands with God, He also paid the ransom for our sins and declares us "Not Guilty."  Let's commit our spirit into His hands today, and enjoy the ride.

Grace for your spirit July 14, 2014

Grace for your spirit

For My people have committed two evils;  They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water.  Jeremiah 2:13

Civilization requires water.  From pioneers to giant cities,everything will fail without water.  Spiritual civilization requires spiritual water.  Without the living water of His Word and His Spirit, we will certainly die or wander elsewhere.  To depend on a container that won't hold water, will never do.  Judah had turned away from the living waters of God, and their plan to survive and thrive were failing.  What's is our plan? Shall we walk away from the living waters of God to count on our own water supply?  Let's stay close to the living waters that He has provided.

Grace for your spirit July 11, 2014

Grace for your spirit

But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?  Romans 2;3

Is it windy up in our ivory tower?  Have found a great spot to look down on everyone with judgment with a double standard?  Sometimes people start to believe that in an elevated state, the judgment of God will be different for us that those below us.  The Jews certainly thought that about the Gentiles.  Do we ever arrive at that conclusion about others?  God judgment will fall upon all of us when we reject His leading.    Let's not seek an "ivory tower", rather a humble spot to lead others to Jesus.

Grace for your spirit July 10, 2014

Grace for your spirit

Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Hush, be still."  Mark 4:38-39

The apostles and Jesus were in a storm in the middle of the Sea of Galilee.  Their fear was high, and their faith was low.  Jesus could have rebuked them for their failures, but instead He rebuked the wind and the waves. With the calm that followed, they were able to embrace His questions about their high fear and low faith.  With these experiences and lessons, their faith would strengthen to meet the challenges ahead.  Let's set some goals about life experiences and lessons to strengthen our faith too.

Grace for your spirit July 9, 2014

Grace for your spirit

I say to you that many will come from the east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons of the kingdom will be cast into outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Matthew 8:11

Jesus was searching for faith among His people, but finding little. He found faith in a centurion. Many were seeking future security through trust in the law and great men of the law.  They thought if they are in the right associations, they will find their way to heaven.  The only table we should seek, and the only company to keep, is the company of Christ and His followers.  Our only way to eternal security is through Jesus Christ and faith in Him.

Grace for your spirit July 3, 2014

Grace for your spirit

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age.  Titus 2:11-12

Justice is getting what we deserve.  Mercy is not getting what we deserve.  Grace is better than jusstice or mercy, because grace is much more than not getting what we deserve.  Grace also brings the gift of salvation, plus it instructs and equips us to escape the corruption in the world and live godly lives.  Grace is our friend for constant renewal and regeneration.  Let's not leave it behind.

Grace for your spirit July 2, 2014

Grace for your spirit

Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the persons which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan.   Genesis 12:5

God told Abram to go forth from his country, his relatives, his father's house, to a land He would show him. Like most of us, he got most of God's command right, but not all of it.  The first mistake Abram made was he took Lot, and the people he had acquired.  Did that error cost Abram anything?  YES.  That partial disobedience amounted to disobedience, and Abram paid the consequences many times over.  Let's listen and read carefully when the Lord is instructing us on our next move.  What we don't hear, or don't want to hear, could cause of lots of trouble later.