CHURCH - "A SPIRITUAL LIGHTHOUSE"

CHURCH - A SPIRITUAL LIGHTHOUSE

        When our church was started almost 19 years ago, we wanted a name that would describe what a church was supposed to be.  A name on a church doesn't save anyone, but we wanted people to know just by looking at our name what we were all about.  In the Bible, the church was called, "the way, the church of God, the church of the living God, churches of Christ, church of the Gentiles and churches of the saints."

        Someone brought up the name, "Lighthouse."  When I thought about it, that described exactly what a church is supposed to do.  The first thing a church is to do is to shine the light of Jesus and the Bible, warning people of the rocks of sin and of Hell.  Then, if someone doesn't see the light or if they do not take heed to the light and get to close to the rocks, the people in the lighthouse are there to rescue them.  They are not there to condemn them now or preach now.  They just bandage their wounds and try to help them to salvage the rest of their lives.

       I believe that is what God does with us, and what we are to do to help others.  Yes, as a Pastor, I will preach and cry aloud of all the rocks the Devil puts in our way to destroy our lives.  Then, if they don't see or listen, I will be there to help them recover and  go on from there.

  "Helping to keep homes and lives from becoming shipwrecked."

Wed. Bible Studies: What My Children Must Know (Week 12)

THOUGHTS

The thoughts our children think is so important and the bad part of it is most of us don’t know what they are thinking most of the time.  Their thoughts will either help them to do great things, or their thoughts will destroy them.  We need to use this lesson to help change their life.

Day 1 – What our children think about they will become.

Prov 23:7  For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

            -We must help our children with their thoughts, because they will become what they are thinking. (Good and bad)

            -This principle should be taught and retaught every day. 

Day 2 - If you are righteous, then your thoughts will be righteous.

Prov 12:5  The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.

           

Day 3 - God hates the thoughts of the wicked.

Prov 15:26  The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words. 

           

Day 4 - The diligent think good and have plenty.

Prov 21:5  The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.  

           

Day 5 – If we think foolishly it is wrong.

Prov 24:9  The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.  

Many people say it is ok to think things that are bad just as long as we don’t do them.  That is wrong and eventually they will do and become what they are thinking

Day 6 – If you have thought evil, put your hand on your mouth and don’t say it.

Prov 30:32  If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.  

            -Ask God to forgive you of the thought, but don’t speak it.  Just tell it to God.

Day 7 – Here is how you fix your thoughts

Prov 16:3  Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. 

            -The best way to control your thoughts is to commit your works to God.  When you are working on what you are supposed to work on, then your thoughts are already set, established, and hardened like concrete.

PARENTS NEED TO WORK ON KNOWING WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE MIND OF YOUR CHILDREN.  (If you don’t know what they are thinking, you can’t help them.)

Prov 20:5  Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.  (time, care, attention, love, openness, grace)

IF YOU KNOW THE BIBLE, YOU CAN KNOW WHAT THEY ARE THINKING.

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.