Death is Life

by Bro. McIntire
2/17/08 - Sunday PM
Psalm 116:1-19 with a focus on vs 15

*Tonight our Pastor was not at church. He had called Bro. McIntire earlier in the evening to see if he would be able to preach, as he felt his dad only had a few hours of life left on this earth and needed to be with him. I am pretty sure this topic is a result from it, but I was glad to hear it. It's a comforting message.*

Faith is not only believing what God has taught/given us, but seeing things as God sees them.

Death is precious in the eyes of God. It is precious because {when} we are looking at it through the eyes of God. Through His eyes we have no death.

John 5:24
death - a haven, a place of rest [He used the analogy of playing a game of Monopoly, where towards the beginning of the game you don't want to go to jail, but one the properties are built up, the jail is a place of rest or reprieve.]
John 10:27-28 , John 10:10

vs 15 - His saints
God is kept eternaly preserved by His Word.
Who knows us best?
Matthew 10:29-31

Philippians 1:20-24
Death of the saints glorify God
The resurrection is our hope (but death must come first)
To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord
God got glory from Lazarus' death & resurrection

John 11:35 - there will be hurt / sorrow
John 16:16-20

*The Pastor's wife called me on 2-18-08 when I was on the way to pick up Brian. She told me that Pastor's dad had passed away during the night. Please pray for them. After we hung up, I heard a song on the radio. I had never heard it before, but the timing couldn't have been more perfect. I wrote down the chorus (yes, while driving), and here is what it says:
"I'll see you again
I'll see you again
I'll see you in Glory someday
For now it's goodbye
Don't sorrow or sigh
I'll see you in Glory someday"

What a blessed thought that one day we'll be able to see our loved ones in Christ up in that Gloryland. I know I can't wait ... Can you?*

Humility

by Bro. McIntire
2/10/08 - Sunday School
James 4:1-10 , focusing on the last part of vs 9 and all of vs 10

The Lord delights in a contrite heart

As an example for our laughter being turned to mourning, he uses Eli & his sons. When they brought the Ark of the Covenant out to battle they all rejoiced because the Lord was with them - so they thought. Because of how Eli's sons had been behaving in the temple, the Lord was not with them and they lost the battle. Both of Eli's sons were killed, and then Eli fell off the wall when he heard of it. Their laughter turned to mourning.

Humility is our responsibility; it is a way of thinking

Isaiah 40:12-23 - This passage of scripture is really amazing. He expounded on the first few verses and it really just makes you go "Wow!" and really realize where you stand.
It talks about God measuring the waters of the earth in the palm of His hand. All the water on this earth ... in His hand.
He "meted out heaven with the span" ... with hand stretched out, thumb to pinky, that's how big our heavens / universe is in comparison to Him.
He "comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance". How big are the mountains to us? And He can just pick it up and put it on a scale.
When you think about all of this, really, we are nothing in comparison. Yet He sent His Son to come and die ... for us.

Grace = unmerited favor James 4:6,10

We don't desrve God's grace, yet He will bestow it upon us as we are humble before Him.


Who am I?

Our Sin

by Bro. McIntire
2/3/08 - Sunday School
James 4:1-10

Do you understand the magnitude of the God you serve?

Stop and see what your sins are doing to you.

This lesson is about what we need to do in order to draw nigh to God, focusing on James 4:9.

1. Affliction of the Soul
Leviticus 16:29-31 , Numbers 29:7 , Isaiah 58:1-5 , Psalm 6:1-3 , Psalm 13:1-6 , Revelation 3:17, 20

2. Mourning
Matthew 5:4 , I Corinthians 5:1-5 , I Thessalonians 4:13

3. Weeping
Luke 7:38, 47-48

Draw Nigh to God

by Bro. McIntire
1/27/08 - Sunday School
James 4:4-10

From what I gathered, this was a continuation from the week before, which I was not at. There really didn't seem to be an outline, but there were several verses referenced. He used a great analogy for us drawing nigh to God - the Parable of the Prodigal Son. With the son being us, and the father being God, if we go to Him, He will come to meet us.

I John 1:6-10
Isaiah 59:1-2
Psalm 66:18
Hosea 5:6
Acts 3:18-19
Hebrews 11:6
Psalm 73:24-25, 28
Hebrews 13:5
Exodus 33 - God removed Himself from the Israelites because of their murmurings

What do you expect from God?