Crossing Over with the Gospel: The Meaning of True Fellowship
by Michael Serna on Jul.28, 2010, under Devotion
Here’s a short version of my sermon entitled:
CROSSING Over with the Gospel
I will be giving this message Saturday night from my camping trip at Yucaipa Regional Park in the San Bernardino mountains. I will have the full version of my sermon notes up on this site by Sunday.
The Bible says:
3 That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. – 1 John 1:3-4 NKJV
The greek word for fellowship is koinonia. Koinonia (or fellowship) is far more than socializing on cookies, coffee, sports, make-up, cars, and clothes.
Fellowship is about praying together, serving the one (God) that matters the most, sometimes weeping together, or going through trials together, or even going through victory together. If the objective of partnering with each other has nothing to do with acknowledging God, it is not considered fellowship of God’s people.
The people who attend church that are not a part of God’s fellowship are the ones we need to crossover to first. And sometimes in our attempts to crossover, we fail to bring the “cross” over. We fail to tell others that Jesus Christ died on the cross because of our sins and he rose from the dead and then ascended to heaven. And knowing this we know we can get to heaven by accepting him through faith. This is what you call the Gospel. And it’s the gospel that needs to be proclaimed as Jesus told us to do.
Physically Seeing God
by Michael Serna on Jul.27, 2010, under Devotion
One day Moses, the man of God, said to God, “Show me your glory.” God said, “No. I can’t do that for you.” Why? Because God knew that no one could see Him and live.
But there will be a day when WE will see God. Jesus says so himself on the sermon on the mount. He said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). In a burst of faith, right in the midst of his grief, Job (which by the way, was a man who lost many things. His family, his children, and health) said, “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and He will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body is decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see Him for myself. Yes, I will see Him in my own eyes. – Job 19:25-26.
We can understand non-believers asking about what does God look like? Even for Christians may wonder that too. Believer or non-believer, we wonder questions such as why did this happen in life? Why did you allow this to happen? How did Jonah survive being eaten by a whale? How about we ask God when we’re in heaven? After all the bible says look for things above and not of this world. For your place (which God is preparing for you when you commit your life to Him) is in heaven. How will it be when we get to physically see God, King David, Jonah, Peter, Moses, and Jesus? These are just a few random names I picked up.
Blink
by Michael Serna on Jul.25, 2010, under Video
The group is performing at the Anaheim Crusade in a few weeks. The group is called Revive and their hit song right now is called “Blink.”
How do We know the Bible is Real?
by Michael Serna on Jul.23, 2010, under Books, Devotion
This can be one of the more difficult questions non-believers may ask a Christian. Here are a few pointers and tips of what the bible has to offer us.
- The bible declares that the earth is in a form of a circle. People have always thought the earth was square and flat. Job 26:10 He drew a circular horizon on the face of the waters. At the boundary of light and darkness.
- Scientist have always tried to count the stars; and they have concluded that there are 100 billion to 70 sextillion (<-- such a word? yes!) stars! Science cannot count the stars or the number of sand.
- Jeremiah 33:22
“As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, nor the sand of the sea measured, so will I multiply the descendants of David My servant and the Levites who minister to Me.”- Isaiah 51:13
“(God) Who stretched out the heavens. And laid the foundations of the earth;” - God did not give us the book for science; it’s a book of redemption.
- Bible declares the future hundreds of times and has come true.
- It’s confirmed by archeologist, the bible is true. The stone of Pontius Pilat has been recently found. Watch YouTube video.
- There are 66 books written by 40 authors whom were kings, scholars, and ordinary men inspired by God and empowered by the holy spirit. 2 Peter 1:20-21 – 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God[b] spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
- The bible is true because it gave me the experience it claimed to give me. <-- Speaking from my personal experience.
Very Blessed Tonight July 22, 2010
by Michael Serna on Jul.22, 2010, under Events, Greg Laurie
Very blessed tonight at Harvest.
Good night everyone!
Interesting day with weird temptations and feelings of principalities of the world. But ended with blessing and the spirit of the Lord in my heart and soul.
The Case for Faith
by Michael Serna on Jul.21, 2010, under Film
Another thanks for Netflix for being able to make this film available for online streaming. It exemplifies the case for non-believers who doubt God in why is there is evil and suffering going on in the world and makes a case of why Jesus is the way the truth and the life. It’s worth another watch for me when I get a chance. But this film can help you tackle big-time questions if someone comes to you and is skeptical about God or Jesus Christ. Apologetics will probably take in this film as an asset to their collection. But I consider another step up into greater knowledge and growth in my faith. The film is mostly narrated by Lee Strobel, who was an atheist that came to belief in Jesus Christ. He was lucky to have talked with Charles “Chuck” Templeton who was a firm believer but then turned his faith away from Christ. Very interesting people involved in this film.
Come Now is the Time to Worship
by Michael Serna on Jul.21, 2010, under Video
Here’s a video I captured and edited. Not so much editing… I wanted to avoid it as much as I can. Just raw praise and worship! It was Sarah’s first time up there on a Sunday morning. Bless her!
Sarah Joy leads the praise and worship band with singing, “Come Now is the Time to Worship.” (C) 2001 Sparrow Records
The Rich Man in Hell; The Poor Man in Heaven
by Michael Serna on Jul.20, 2010, under Devotion
“The rich man also died and was buried. And being in the torments in Hades, (or hell) he lifed up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.” – Luke 16:22-23
The sin of this man was not his wealth; the sin of this man was that he had no time for God. Lazarus being poor and weak begged for food from the rich man. But the rich man offered no assistance. Lazarus would lay down by the gates of the rich man’s house, and no help was being offered to him. When the rich man died, it was news to everyone. It was a big deal. When the poor man died, no one really knew about it. No one really cared about him. But God did!
David DVD
by Michael Serna on Jul.17, 2010, under Film
Got another DVD from Netflix. I’m watching David today. Gotta see how the guy lived on a visual perspective. A guy that always talks to God and a guy who gave in to pleasure and murder. Let’s not forget about Goliath too!
UPDATE: Just finished watching the film and it gave great referenced based on biblical scripture. That God will even punish the great men who love God. For if one is with God, and still commits the act of sin, God will remind us that he is a Father of discipline.
Worship and Helping Others
by Michael Serna on Jul.16, 2010, under Devotion
“By Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” – Hebrews 13:15-16
Don’t you know that when you engage your heart and lift up your voice to praise the name of the Lord, it pleases Him? Notice that this verse says it is the “sacrifice of praise.” Sometimes offering our praise to God is indeed a sacrifice. We may not be in the mood because we are having trouble of some kind. But that is the best time to worship God-not because we necessarily feel like it, but because He is worthy. The Bible also states in Romans 12:1 - “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
The Bible says “Oh, give thanks to the Lord for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” (1 Chronicles 16:34) That verse does not say, “Give thanks unto the Lord when you feel good, but rather because He is good!
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