Coosa Valley Church of God - Cropwell, Alabama

 

 

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Passages: Philippians 2:21; Luke 11:1-2; John 14:14; Ephesians 3:20; Jude 24; 1 Corinthians 10:13; James 1:12; Hebrews 12:2; 1 Peter 2:25; John 20:28-29; Revelation 1:18; Psalm 23:4; 1 Corinthians 15:55-57; 1 Corinthians 4:14; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 John 3:2; Hebrews 11:16; 1 Peter 1:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17

 

 

Jesus should mean more than all the world to us. He is our pardon, peace, joy, hope, assurance, friend, companion and soon coming King.

 

Philippians 2:21 ~ “For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.”

 

JESUS IS OUR ASSURANCE IN PRAYER

He has given us the pattern for prayer. (Luke 11:1–2 ~ “1 Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.”)

He wants us to pray in His name. (John 14:14 ~ “If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” )

He is able to answer our prayer. (Ephesians 3:20 ~ “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,” )

 

JESUS IS OUR ASSURANCE IN TEMPTATION

He is able to keep us from falling. (Jude 24 ~ “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,” )

He will give us victory over temptation. (1 Corinthians 10:13 ~ “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” )

He will reward us for resisting temptation. (James 1:12 ~ “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” )

 

JESUS IS OUR ASSURANCE OF ETERNAL LIFE

He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2 ~ “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” )

He is the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls. (1 Peter 2:25 ~ “For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” )

He gives us eternal life. (John 20:28–29 ~ “28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”” )

 

JESUS IS OUR ASSURANCE IN DEATH

He has the keys of death. (Revelation 1:18 ~ “and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” )

He gives comfort in death. (Psalm 23:4 ~ “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” )

He takes the sting out of death. (1 Corinthians 15:55–57 ~ “55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” )

 

JESUS IS OUR ASSURANCE IN THE RESURRECTION

We shall be resurrected because of Him. (1 Corinthians 4:14 ~ “I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.” )

We shall have a new body. (Philippians 3:20–21 ~ “20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” )

We shall be like Him. (1 John 3:2 ~ “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” )

 

JESUS IS OUR ASSURANCE OF HEAVEN

We have desired Heaven. (Hebrews 11:16 ~ “But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” )

We have an inheritance in Heaven. (1 Peter 1:4 ~ “to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,” )

We will be taken to Heaven by Him. (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 ~ “16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.”)

 

 

Pastor Andy Lambert

Email: [email protected]

Phone/Text: 205.642.8744 ext 101

 

 

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Christ, Creator of All Things (Colossians 1:1-17)

Christ, Head of the Church (Colossians 1:18-23)

Christ, Our Hope of Glory (Colossians 1:24-29)

 

 

Truth: Christ is supreme over all things and deserves our complete devotion.

Focus: Recognize the supremacy of Christ and trust Him completely.

Emphasis: Christ gives hope to those who trust in Him.

 

 

Golden Text: Colossians 1:18 (ESV) ~ And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

 

 

Monday - Christ's Birth and Reign Foretold (Isaiah 9:2-7)

Tuesday - Christ the Light (Isaiah 49:1-7)

Wednesday - Christ the Suffering Savior (Isaiah 53:1-12)

Thursday - Christ Reveals the Father (John 1:14-18)

Friday - Christ Above All (Hebrews 1:1-12)

Saturday - Christ the Worthy Lamb (Revelation 5:6-14)

 

 

 

Passages: Matthew 6:16; John 4:10-11; John 6:51; John 7:38; Hebrews 10:20; 1 Peter 2:4; 1 Peter 1:3

 

 

We are thankful to the Most High God because He is our:

 

 

Matthew 6:16 ~  “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.”

 

As the Son of the Living God, He is the basis and foundation of the Church.

 

 

John 4:10–11 ~ “10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water?”

 

As the Living Water, He supplies and satisfies.

 

 

John 6:51 ~ “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.””

 

As the Bread of Life, He feeds and nourishes us

 

 

John 7:38 ~ “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ””

 

As the Fountain of Life, floods of living water flow from Christ into us.

 

 

Hebrews 10:20 ~ “by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,”

 

We have access to the Lord through Him who is the New and Living Way.

 

 

1 Peter 2:4 ~ “As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,”

 

As the Living Stone, He makes us living stones in His life.

 

 

1 Peter 1:3 ~ “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”

 

As the Living Hope, He gives to His own a living and lasting inheritance.

 

 

Pastor Andy Lambert

Email: [email protected]

Phone/Text: 205.642.8744 ext 101

 

 

Download the CV Connect Mobile App and STAY CONNECTED!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Righteousness Through Christ Alone (Philippians 3:1-11)

The Heavenly Prize (Philippians 3:12-21)

Contentment and Giving (Philippians 4:10-19)

 

 

Truth: Christians should be motivated by divine values, not secular values.

Focus: Recognize that out ultimate goal is not temporal, but everlasting, and focus on achieving that goal through Christ.

Emphasis: All believers should prioritize reaching the lost.

 

 

Golden Text: Philippians 3:13–14 (ESV) ~ Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

 

 

Monday - Radical Obedience (Genesis 6:13-22; Hebrews 11:7)

Tuesday - Directed by God (Genesis 18:16-19)

Wednesday - Unshakable Faith (Daniel 3:13-18)

Thursday - Let Your Light Shine (Matthew 5:13-16)

Friday - Witness Without Fear (Matthew 10:17-20, 26-32)

Saturday - Walk in the Light (Ephesians 5:8-14)

 

 

 

Passages: Genesis 12:6–7; Genesis 12:8; Genesis 13:18

 

 

Abraham is known as the “father of the faithful” and he didn’t receive this recognition by accident or by the fortunes of men. It was bestowed upon him because of his personal experience with God and by his willingness to let these experiences result in the building of altars in his worship to God. These altars because the high points in his life.

 

This morning, we want to look at three of the altars that Abraham built, the names of these altars and the meaning they have for us today.

 

 

 

Genesis 12:6–7 ~ “6 Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.”

 

Shechem means “shoulder”

A Shoulder represents strength.

Let’s think about what’s going on in Abram’s live at this moment:

Abram has been called to leave everything he knows and go to a land God will show him.

When Abram arrives at this land, he finds it is inhabited by some godless people.

Abram could easily see that he was not going to possess the land within the foreseeable future.

All kinds of questions must have flashed across his mind. He must have been gripped with uncertainty, misgivings, hesitation, questioning.

Could it be that he had misread God, that he had make a mistake?

Abram’s faith was being tested, sorely tested. The faith of this great pioneer for God was tested to the nth degree.

He is in the land, but he could not yet possess the land.

Then the Lord appeared to Abram …

So Abram built an altar unto the Lord.

At the altar of strength, we receive for ourselves ...

A desire to know God’s will. God’s will involves not only a willingness to go where He wants us to go, but also a willingness to stay where He wants us to stay.

A determination to fulfill God’s will. Many people spend more time seeking God’s will than doing God will.

 

 

 

Genesis 12:8 ~ “From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord.”

 

Abram built an altar at Bethel

Bethel (house of God) represents the church (the place of worship)

The church represents sacrifice

God has reassured His promises, both the promised seed and the promised land.

Abram needed God, needed God to meet him face to face once again.

Abram needed the assurance that God would mee the need of His followers.

God reassured Abram.

What was Abram’s response? Abram made the decision for God, to continue following after God and His promises.

He built an altar, this altar had at least seven purposes:

To offer sacrifices to God, asking forgiveness for unbelief and sins.

To make a rededication to God, renewing his commitment to God.

To seek God’s continued presence and guidance.

To worship the LORD: to worship the very Person who had met his need.

To acknowledge the LORD, that the LORD alone could fulfill so great a promise, that he was totally dependent upon the LORD.

To praise the LORD, to praise Him for giving so wonderful a promise.

To testify to the LORD, to bear witness to the Lord’s glorious goodness in meeting his need and in giving so great a promise.

At the altar of sacrifice, we give to God:

Commitment of possessions to God’s purpose. Whatever we may possess—money, things, and so on—are all committed to His purpose.

Consecration of self to accomplish God’s purpose. We give our talents in total surrender to God.

 

 

 

Genesis 13:18 “18 So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.”

 

Abram built an altar at Hebron

Hebron means “union”

Union represents service

Abram’s faith in God continued on; Abram obeyed God; Abram worshipped God

At the altar of service, we share with others.

Companionship in daily experiences. We share together what we have received from others and gain help for faithful service.

Communion in devotional experiences. We share together what we have received from God and gain help for fruitful service.

 

 

We must be willing to not only build altars in our personal relationship with God, but also maintain these altars in order to be what God wants us to be in our ministry or service to God!!!

 

 

Pastor Andy Lambert

Email: [email protected]

Phone/Text: 205.642.8744 ext 101

 

 

Download the CV Connect Mobile App and STAY CONNECTED!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Be "Others-Focused" (Philippians 2:1-4)

Follow Christ's Example (Philippians 2:5-11)

Be an Example to Others (Philippians 2:12-16)

 

 

Truth: Christians follow Christ by serving others with humility and love.

Focus: Explore Christ's humility and love, and serve others as He did.

Emphasis: Christ humbly sacrificed Himself to save sinners.

 

 

Golden Text: Philippians 2:5 (ESV) ~ Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

 

Monday - Recognizing a Dangerous Situation (Genesis 44:18-34)

Tuesday - Taking a Life-Threatening Risk (Esther 4:1-17)

Wednesday - Standing with God (Jeremiah 26:8-15)

Thursday - Christlike Service (Mark 10:35-45)

Friday - Humble Service (Acts 20:17-24)

Saturday - Reward for Service (Galatians 6:4-9)

 

 

 

 

To many times we allow “traditions”, “culture”, “the norm”, “what has always been”, “society” or whatever other word or phrase you would like to choose to dictate what we are going to do, INSTEAD of following God. We must always TRUST IN GOD and follow His Holy Spirit in our lives, instead of allowing the world to control the narrative. To that end, for the next few moments, I would like to BREIFLY overview a few things that the church world and those who stand against the church (they just use some of these things as an excuse not to come to church) have twisted up over the years.

 

 

“God helps those who help themselves.” This proverb appears in various forms in ancient Greek literature, but is most famously attributed to Benjamin Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanac in 1757. The Bible teaches the opposite idea—that God helps those who cannot help themselves. But the Bible does say in 2 Thessalonians 3:10 ~ “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.”

“Money is the root of all evil.” The actual biblical quote is from 1 Timothy 6:10, which states, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”

“Cleanliness is next to godliness.” This phrase became popular in the 18th century, but it is not found anywhere in the Bible. The Old Testament contains numerous laws from the Mosaic Law regarding physical and spiritual purity, hygiene, and sanitation. In the New Testament, the concept of purity is linked to a “clean heart” and spiritual cleansing from sin. For example, in 2 Corinthians 7:1 ~ “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.”

“This too shall pass.” Though it sounds biblical, this expression is a Persian proverb from the medieval period and was popularized in a 19th-century hymn by William Cowper.

“God will not give you more than you can handle.” This phrase is a misinterpretation of 1 Corinthians 10:13, which says that God will provide a way out of temptation, not that he will limit the trials in your life. In fact, many biblical figures, including the Apostle Paul, were burdened beyond their own strength.

 

 

Myth: Halloween is purely a pagan holiday involving devil worship and human sacrifices.

Fact: The origins of modern Halloween are a mix of different traditions that evolved over centuries. It combines elements of the Celtic harvest festival of Samhain with the Christian observations of All Saints' Day (All Hallows') and All Souls' Day. While some ancient cultures may have made animal sacrifices at harvest time, there is no evidence of widespread human sacrifice being a part of Celtic Samhain festivities. The idea of Samhain as a devil-worshiping festival is largely a Christian creation from the Middle Ages to suppress rival beliefs.

Myth: Trick-or-treating comes from a Celtic practice of bribing evil spirits with food.

Fact: While some Celtic customs involved leaving food out for spirits, modern trick-or-treating is more directly linked to the medieval Christian practice of "souling". In this tradition, poor people would go door-to-door on All Souls' Day, offering prayers for the dead in exchange for "soul cakes". The modern secular practice began in the U.S. in the 1930s and 1940s as a way to curb destructive pranks.

 

 

All Saints' Day: In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1st as a day to honor all saints, a Christian feast day.

All Hallows' Eve: The evening before All Saints' Day became known as "All Hallows' Eve" and eventually contracted to "Halloween".

All Souls' Day: November 2nd is All Souls' Day, a feast to remember the dead, which further linked the holiday to the commemoration of those who have died.

Christianization: The Church's strategy was to provide a Christian alternative to pagan holidays that were already deeply ingrained in culture, leading to a blending of traditions.

 

 

“Jesus was born on December 25th.” The Bible does not state Jesus' birth date, and most scholars believe he was likely born in spring or autumn based on biblical details about shepherds and the census. The date of December 25th was chosen by early Christians, in part to align with existing Roman pagan winter solstice celebrations like Saturnalia and the festival for Sol Invictus, the sun god.

“The Magi visited the infant Jesus at the nativity.” The popular nativity scene featuring three wise men alongside the shepherds at Jesus' birth is inaccurate. The biblical account suggests the Magi, or wise men, visited a young child in a house some time after the birth, not an infant in a stable. The number of Magi is also unknown, with the assumption of three coming from the three gifts they presented.

“There was an innkeeper who turned Mary and Joseph away.” The character of the innkeeper is a later addition to the nativity story and does not appear in the Bible. The New Testament says the couple found “no room in the inn,” which scholars suggest more accurately refers to a guestroom in a relative's house that was full.

“Santa was invented by Coca-Cola.” Although Coca-Cola's mid-20th-century advertising helped solidify the modern image of a chubby, red-suited Santa, the visual depiction of a jolly, fur-trimmed figure existed long before the company used it.

“Christmas trees are explicitly condemned in the Bible.” Some cite Jeremiah 10 to argue against Christmas trees, but the biblical passage refers to crafting and worshipping wooden idols, not decorating evergreens. The practice of bringing evergreens inside predates Christianity, with pagans using them as symbols of life and rebirth during winter solstice festivals. The practice became associated with Christmas much later in European, especially German, history.

“‘Xmas’ removes ‘Christ’ from Christmas. The use of “Xmas” is not a modern secular invention. The “X” comes from the Greek letter “chi,” the first letter of Christos, the Greek word for Christ. This abbreviation has been used for centuries.

 

 

Within Christian tradition, eggs symbolize rebirth and the empty tomb of Jesus. The practice of decorating eggs, and coloring them red in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, is a centuries-old custom representing the blood of Christ. The custom of eating eggs on Easter Sunday also marked the end of the Lenten fast, during which eggs were forbidden.

 

 

We could a great deal more time on many other items along these same lines, but the bottom line is simple … don’t get bogged down in the things of this world, let’s get transformed!

 

Philippians 4:5–7 ~ “5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

 

Romans 12:2 ~ “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

 

Philippians 2:12 ~ “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,”

 

What does it mean to work out your own salvation? The word work out (katergazesthe) means to work on to the finish, to completion, to perfection. It always means to complete the effort and the work begun; to accomplish it perfectly; to bring it to completion. The point is: do not go half-way in salvation. Do not take bits and pieces when there is a whole parcel. Do not be satisfied with a little when you can have much. Go on, grow until salvation is completed in you. It is your own salvation. No friend, no pastor can work it out for you. You alone must do it.

 

The point is clearly stated: once God has saved a person, that person is to get busy obeying God. He is to take hold of the new life and salvation God has given him, and he is to work on it until it is completed and finished, that is, until God takes him home and perfects it.

 

 

Pastor Andy Lambert

Call/Text: 205.642.8744 ext 101

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