Cornerstone Truth

“Jesus Christ is Our Only Hope!” It doesn’t take too much time to consider the validity of the statement, Jesus Christ is our only hope.  The only sure and constant things in this life is change and death.  Indeed, from a carnal perspective everything in this life will either change or pass away!  To put your hope in those things that change or perish is foolishness.  Today, we will look at the question, “What does it mean, Jesus is our only hope?”  To answer this question we will look at the unchanging nature of the Lord’s promises to us for both life now on earth and then life with Him in heaven.  The second question we will answer is, “How is it that, Jesus is our only hope?”  We will examine the nature and character of Jesus Christ.  Who is this man, Jesus?  How do we know He will keep His promises? 

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“What are you living for?” This is a great question that has eternal consequences!  For those who choose to muse upon this question they will come to realize it is a matter of hope.  If you live like and for the world and the things of the world which are passing away you are living in a state of hopelessness that will only become eternally worse when you pass from this life.  If you choose to live for Christ, His people, and the things of heaven you will enjoy all the rich spiritual blessings of God in this life and the eternal fullness of joy, pleasures, and gladness that can only be secured in Christ when you enter into your eternal rest in heaven!  In so choosing, you will be living in an eternal state of hope which will find its fulfillment when you stand before the King of kings, and the LORD of lords and hear the awesome words, “Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world!” and also, “Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter into you rest!” 

So, this very important question is for you to answer in each and every decision, choice, thought, word, and deed!

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“Crushing the Schemes of Desires and Pleasures!” once again, is the title for our lesson this morning!  In the last two Lord’s Day we answered the questions, “What are these Desires and Pleasures?  and also Guarding our Hope against Desires and Pleasures of this World!”  Having defined these two schemes of Lust and Hedonism we illustrated them using the writings of the Apostle Paul and James the brother of our Lord.  Today, we will finish answering the question, “How can we guard our hope from being stolen by the desires and pleasures of the world?”  The answer of course is simple but the practice is challenging!  We need to have a renewed mind set when it comes to our lusts and pleasures.  We must hate what is evil and love what is good.  We need to be intentional about putting to death the deeds of the body and embracing the will of God for our body and our life.  We must recognize by faith that we are not our own but have been bought with a price.  It must be the LORD God we serve and not our own personal desires and interests.

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“Crushing the Schemes of Desires and Pleasures!” once again, is the title for our lesson this morning!  Last Lord’s Day we answered the question, “What are these Desires and Pleasures?”  Having defined these two schemes of Lust and Hedonism we illustrated them using the writings of the Apostle Paul and James the brother of our Lord,  Today, we will answer the question, “How can we guard our hope from being stolen by the desires and pleasures of the world?”  The answer of course is simple but the practice is challenging!  We need to have a renewed mind set when it comes to our lusts and pleasures.  We must hate what is evil and love what is good.  We need to be intentional about putting to death the deeds of the body and embracing the will of God for our body and our life.  We must recognize by faith that we are not our own but have been bought with a price.  It must be the LORD God we serve and not our own personal desires and interests.

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Sunday Assembly for Sunday July 21, 2024.

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Have you ever heard the old saying, “Money is a wonderful tool but a terrible Master!”  Money and the riches of this world are not evil in and of itself.  The problem is found in our lustful desires for it and all that it can do to us if we choose to live for it and not for the LORD.  Like most inanimate objects it is neither evil or good.  How it is used can be either evil or good, thus it is what resides in a person’s heart that makes it evil nor good.  This morning, we will examine the deceitfulness of riches or wealth.  It is amazing how subtle, how stealthy, how easily the love of money can creep into our hearts.  I have known many who have rationalized their working, planning, and investing to disguise their desire for riches believing it will provide the joy, fulfillment, and security their heart is seeking!  Jesus clearly teaches how deceitful riches can be in robbing us of the true joy, fulfillment, and security that only a right relationship with Him can bring.  Let us be ever vigilant that we might not be deceived by the trickery and deceitfulness of riches and wealth.

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This morning we continue our latest mini series of sermons regarding Hope!  As you may recall the title of this series is “Holding On to Hope in Trials, Temptations, and Tribulations!”  Today we continue our study on the subtle ways Satan works to distract, discourage, and destroy our hope in Christ.  We will finish our sermon, “Overcoming Temptations and Worries”  First, we will return to what the bible describes as the the worries of the world.  We will define what the word worry means and then we will look at how the worries of the world destroys our hope.  In our second point, I will describe two ways to overcome these worries of the world, this insidious way the devil works to steal our hope and faith in Jesus Christ..  This sermon is important to understand how worrying is a strategy that Satan uses to cause us to give up and walk away from the hope we possess in Christ!

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As you may recall the title of this series is “Holding On to Hope in Trials, Temptations, and Tribulations!” and our sermon last week was titled, “The Subtle Schemes to Steal Our Hope”  Today we will be preaching on how to overcome two of the four schemes, namely temptations and the worries of the world!  In our first point we will read from Luke and Matthew to determine what the the three satanic attacks are that shake out those who have joyfully received the word, are young and have “no firm root.”  We will then read from James 1:12-15 to see how the devil effectively uses temptation to steal a person’s hope.  To close this point we will look at how to overcome temptation as directed by our Christ.  In the second and final point of the sermon we will examine Scripture to determine how to overcome the worries of the world.  We will first define what these worries are and also what it means to be choked by them.  Then we will offer two ways or solutions for overcoming the worldly worries that plague and destroy our faith and hope in the LORD.  Both this sermon and next week’s sermon are designed to aid us in figuring out how to neutralize these satanic schemes used by the devil to shipwreck our faith, destroy our hope, and steal our salvation!

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This morning we continue our latest mini series of sermons regarding Hope!  As you may recall the title of this series is “Holding On to Hope in Trials, Temptations, and Tribulations!”  Today we will be examining the subtle ways Satan works to distract, discourage, and destroy our hope in Christ with a sermon I have titled, “The Subtle Schemes to Steal Our Hope”  First, we will return to what the bible describes as the foundational components of the hope we possess in Christ Jesus.  We will examine once again the faith, trust, and confidence we enjoy which builds and strengthens our hope in times of trials and temptations.  Next, we will be reminded how we actually do strengthen and grow faith in Christ and the faith of Christ in our lives.  Finally, we will look at the four subtle and insidious ways the devil works to steal our hope in Jesus Christ so we can be aware and take precautions against these satanic attacks.  This sermon is important to understand several of the many strategies Satan uses to cause us to give up and walk away from the hope we possess in Christ!  As in all conflicts, we must know our opposition and the strategies and plans they will use to try and prevail against us.

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Will you answer the hard questions or will you bask in the easy grace being proclaimed from so many pulpits today?  

Our beloved brother Luke reminds us that our Lord said, “Strive to enter the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter but not be able.”  Also, Matthew reminds us of these words in Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and their are many who enter through it.  For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and their are few who find it.” 

We begin a new mini series of sermons regarding Hope!  The title of this series is “Holding On to Hope in Trials, Temptations, and Tribulations!” This morning I will preach a sermon titled, “Can Christians Lose Their Hope in Christ?”  This is one of many hard questions that we need to ask ourselves and then search the Scripture to determine the truthful answers.  First, we need to be reminded of what hope is; how does God define Hope in Him?  Second, it is important to understand the nature of the foundation for our hope in Christ.  Finally, we will seek to answer the question, “Can Christians Lose Their Hope in Christ?”  If the answer is NO, we can sit back and coast into heaven.  If the answer is YES, we can lose our hope, then we need to grow our faith, moving on to maturity, setting our faces like flint, in being resolved to live for Him and not ourselves.

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