Wednesday Evening Service

Title: Embracing Emptiness!

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8; John 3:30
Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Luke 18:2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
Luke 18:3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
Luke 18:4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
Luke 18:5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
Luke 18:6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
Luke 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
Luke 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

Sermon Points:
-	Once we have decided to seek only God’s will and honor in our prayer life, we will not be so discouraged by delay!
01.	We must decide who is in control of our lives, ourselves or Jesus Christ.
-	James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
-	James 4:5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
-	James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
-	James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
-	James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
-	James 4:9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
-	James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
02.	Fasting is a choice to break the allure or pull the world has on us. It’s putting our flesh and all the world trappings under submission.
-	If there is darkness in our life it is not because God has turned away from us it is because we have turned away from him
-	1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
03.	There is a reason why prayer and fasting is so hard to make a habit in our lives
-	John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
-	John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
-	John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
-	John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
-	We tend to think of fasting as a way to get what we are after. But fasting has a way of exposing what our desires should be.
-	God told Noah to build while everyone else was focused on Getting married, and laughing, and drinking and eating, just having a good time while they mocked the man of God.
-	Fasting is not happy hour.  Fasting is a time you embrace emptiness!

Texas Baptist Church

20210728 PM - Embracing Emptiness

Title: “IF” IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY

Scripture: John 15:7
John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Sermon Points:
- Psalm 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
- John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
- John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
- John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
01. ABIDE = To remain in you.
- Let’s look at the different meanings God has for the word ABIDE.
02. ABIDE = Submitting
- Anybody can read God’s Word, but few will Submit to it.
- Is your will willing to submit to the will of your Saviour? 
- Tithing is a perfect example.
- Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
- Psalm 89:9 Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.
- Matthew 8:27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
- Job 38:11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
03. ABIDE = To put up with.
- Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
- Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
- Aren’t you glad Jesus listens to us even though we don’t do what He tells us to do?
- Psalm 66:20 Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.
- So, God’s word must abide in us, “remain”, we must abide or “submit” to his word, we must abide or “put up with” God’s Word in order for our prayers to be effective.
- God says, “I did not ask you to understand what I say to you; I ask you to put up with, or trust or abide with it and deal with it.”
04. ABIDE = To carry out.
- Psalm 119:27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
- Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
- Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
- Matthew 22:9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
- John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

20240508 PM - "IF" IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY

20180916 PM - Preacher Boys - Bro Bob Bruster

As Pastor of Texas Baptist Church, I would personally like to thank you ﻿for taking the time to listen and allowing us a few minutes to introduce our ministry to you.

Maybe we knocked on your door, you saw one of our gospel tracts, or a friend personally invited you to attend one of our services or you just took time to listen to one of our messages. Whatever the case you are welcome.

Founded in February of 2000, Texas Baptist Church welcomes everyone from all backgrounds. A place where lives are touched, hearts are encouraged and new beginnings are possible. It is our desire to see your family find and thrive in God's will. There are many churches in the San Antonio area to chose from, but I pray that you will give Texas Baptist Church a visit! I hope to see you soon.

Sincerely,
 Keith Bell, Pastor

20240508 PM - "IF" IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY

Texas Baptist Church of San Antonio

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