The Master‘s Class, LifeChange Church Wichita

A PASTOR’S ACCOUNTABILITY (Hebrews 13_17)

A PASTOR’S ACCOUNTABILITY (Hebrews 13:17)

The topic of our message is going to be on the accountability of the preachers and pastors that lead our churches.  But, this message is not only for our pastors, it is for each of you as well, because you will also face a day of judgment. The Bible teaches that if the pastor is God’s man, then you ought to follow him; if he’s not, then you ought to fire him. It’s just that simple.  

It is a fact that one of these days, every pastor, every preacher, every minister, must face the Lord, and He’s going to ask them to give an account of their ministry.  But, it’s also a fact that each of us who are a true follower of Christ will one day face the Lord, and we will also have to give an accounting for not only, if we were obedient to God’s command to be submissive to our pastors, but for our own Christian work and ministry that God has given us.

Now, we are saved by grace through faith, and we cannot work our way to heaven.  But, somehow people have gotten the idea that they can live just any way they like, do anything they like, and because they’re saved by grace they can just go to sleep in a Pullman car and just coast into the yards of glory and it will make absolutely no difference how they serve the Lord, what they did, or whatever. But the Bible teaches to the contrary. 

The Bible teaches there is coming a day of accountability. The preacher is going to face an accountability.  He is going to have to answer to God for the way he leads his church. Even though he is saved by grace, he will have to give an account. 

Click on the play button to hear a message that will describe how Christ will hold pastors, and their followers, accountable the work that they have done in the name of our Lord.    

This is a live recording of The Master’s Class Bible Study at LifeChange Church Wichita, KS.

Amen.

A LIFE WITHOUT FEAR (Hebrews 13:5-6)

A LIFE WITHOUT FEAR (Hebrews 13:5-6)

When the old mapmakers were drawing ancient maps, they did not know what we know today. They didn’t have global positioning satellites. They could not see the world from outer space, and they would make maps of what they knew. But there was much that they did not know, and when they would come to the edge of their knowledge, they would often write something like this: “Beyond this, there may be dragons.” And, if you will look at some of the old maps, you will see the sea monster in the ocean right alongside those words.  This is because man has an innate fear of the future, and of the unknown.  The fear of the future is a foe that we all face.  Whether we are young or old, rich or poor, educated or uneducated, we wonder about what is going to happen. Fear has no racial bias. It’s endemic to all people.  

There is a fear of where our country is heading.  There is a fear of the persecution of Christians that is occurring as our country, and world, move further and further away from the Biblical values of God, and God Himself.  There is fear of the violence that is occurring all around us.  There is a fear of financial loss and the inability to pay the bills that are sitting on your table at home.  There is a fear of disease and failing health in a world filled with cancer and pandemics.  These are just a few of the things that we face in an uncertain future, and yet, God wants us to have a future without fear. As a matter of fact, God has not only admonished us, but God has commanded us, not to fear.

Click on the play button to hear a message that will teach you how to live a life free of fear.  

This is a live recording of The Master’s Class Bible Study at LifeChange Church Wichita, KS.

Amen.

THE ONLY WAY TO LIVE-PART II (Hebrews 10:38 to 11:6)

Life is a journey. We are headed somewhere, and it is not a casual journey. It is a race.  The life of faith, the only way to live, is a life that has a destination. It is like a race. It has a goal. Now, faith helps us to find that goal, which is the will of God.  Do you know what life is all about? It is to find, to follow, and to finish the will of God. That is the destination of faith. That is what faith is all about.

God tells us “Looking unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith.”—looking unto Jesus.  This is telling us something very important.  It is not great faith in God that you need. Oh, we all want great faith in God. But that’s a by-product.  It is not great faith in God that you need.  It is faith, in a great God.  It is faith in a great God. 

Do you know what faith is? It is the by-product of looking unto Jesus, who is the author and the finisher of our faith. He’s the Alpha, the Omega. He’s the one that fires the gun. He’s the goal to which we run. He is the coach that coaches us as we run. Put your eyes upon Jesus Christ.

Click on the link below to hear a message on how to live a life of faith.  You will not live without faith.  The question you need to ask is, do you know Jesus?  You can exist without faith, but you will never live without faith. Jesus said, “I’ve come that you might have life.” You put your faith where God has put your sins: on Jesus Christ.

This is a live recording of The Master’s Class Bible Study at LifeChange Church Wichita, KS.

Amen.

PATIENCE (Hebrews 10:32-37)

In today’s message we are going to be talking about patience.  Oh my, how many times have you heard the saying “Don’t ever pray for God to teach you patience, because He certainly will.”  Patience.  The Bible actually has a lot to say about patience.

Heb 10:36
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
KJV

There is not a one of us that does not need patience.  Now, let me tell you something “With God, timing is more important than time.” So many of us, we want it, and we want it now.  We want instant credit.  We want instant food. Why do you think the fast food industry is so big?  Because we want what we want, and we want it now.  We want instant service everywhere we go.  Nobody likes standing in line waiting on the things we need.  We want instant gratification.  Tomorrow is almost a dirty word in today’s vocabulary. Yet, so many times, with God, there is a time of waiting between asking and receiving. 

The Bible tells us that, if we know the Lord Jesus Christ, our standard of living may change, but our standard of life will not.  You have need of patience, that you might inherit the promises of God.  

Click on the link below to hear a message on how to develop patience in your life as you look forward to receiving the promises of God.  First, remember yesterday’s provision. He saw you through then; He’ll see you through again.  Second, resolve today’s patience—not just hunkering down. Remember, it is not patience that solemnly waits in the dark; it is patience that gloriously anticipates the dawn. And then, rest in tomorrow’s promise: “though it tarry, it will come.”  Get a hold of the Word of God and never, never, never let it go. 

This is a live recording of The Master’s Class Bible Study at LifeChange Church Wichita, KS.

Amen.

LET US GO ON TOWARDS CHRIST (Hebrews 6:1-12)

If you cease to be better, then you cease to be good, and when you cease to be good you are living a life of sin.  To stop growing in Christ, means that you are living a life of sin.  The Christian who is living a life of sin, meaning they are truly saved, but not living a life in the will of God, is going to lose the rewards that God has promised them.  These are the joy of living with Christ in your heart in this life, and the crowns, or rewards, that we will receive for living a life doing the will of God.  You cannot lose your salvation, for that is secure in the hand of God, and no man can pluck you out.  But, you can lose the opportunity to have our dear Lord and Savior say “Welcome my faithful servant” as you step into Glory forever and ever.  Nothing would hurt me more than disappointing my Lord, Jesus Christ.

Click on the link below to hear a message where the writer of Hebrews tells Christians, “I am persuaded that you are going to live for God, that you are going to receive the things that accompany salvation, the joy of the Christian life, and the rewards for your work done through the Holy Spirit living in you.”

This is a live recording of The Master’s Class Bible Study at LifeChange Church Wichita, KS.

Amen.

TRUE RICHES-PART II (Proverbs 13:7)

Everybody wants to be wealthy, but God tells us that there are different kinds of riches.  There are true riches and there are false riches.  True riches are the things that you have that when you share them, they increase.  They become more.  False riches, are the things that when you try to share them, they decrease.  Anything that is of real value, anything that is of lasting value, anything that is a treasure in heaven—the more I give of it, the more I have of it. But with false riches, you hold on to them because if you give them away, then you have less.

If you want to know how rich you are, then add up everything that you have that money cannot buy and death cannot take away—then you will know how rich you are. 

You see, with the riches of this world, if I think you’re trying to take what I have from me, it’s going to make me miserable.  But if I have something that I want you to have, it’s going to make me happy to give it to you.  With true riches, you’re not trying to keep everyone else from getting it.  True riches are the kind of riches that I can share; and the more I give to you, the more I have for me. Isn’t that wonderful?

A man is impoverished if he is not rich toward God, if he does not have riches in heaven, if he has not made deposits in that safe deposit box in the glory.

Prov 11:4
4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
KJV

Who is our righteousness? Christ is our righteousness.  Why is that important?  Because it is the righteousness of Christ that “delivereth from death.”  If you want to live for eternity with Christ in heaven, then you need Jesus Christ in your heart.  Then, Solomon says, “riches profit not in the day of wrath.”  What does that mean? It means that no matter how much money you have in the vault, you’re going to die. 

There’s a life to live; there’s a death to die, and there’s a judgment to face. 

It means that you will not be able to bribe the Judge that you stand before on that Judgment Day that all men will face.  You’ll not buy God off. You’ll not buy your way into heaven. When you die a Christless death and stand before the Great White Throne of Judgment of Jesus Christ, your money is not going to profit you one little bit.

True riches are the things that you have that when you share them, they increase.  They become more.  The thing that is of most value, the thing that has the most lasting value, the thing that is a treasure in heaven, and the thing that I most want to give to my children are the true riches of God.  And the more true riches that I give of it to them, the more I have of it.  That doesn’t mean that they will all take that inheritance and make it their own, but it does mean that you have given them the key to having true riches.  Loving God.   

2 Cor 8:9
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
KJV

This means that Jesus Christ died for you, that you might be rich, and the Bible says,

Rom 10:12
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
KJV

This is God’s way to real wealth.  If you will call upon Jesus Christ today, then you will have true riches.  Based on the Word of the almighty God, I can promise you that this is true.  God’s way to True Riches, riches that will last for an eternity, is to call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and make Him your Lord and Savior.

Amen.

TRUE RICHES (Proverbs 13:7)

Everybody wants to know how to be wealthy God’s way.  In our messages over the next couple of weeks, we are going to find out about how to be wealthy. As a matter of fact, many of you may be wealthier than you realize, and some of you may not be nearly as wealthy as you think that you are.  Today, we will put everything in perspective as we talk about “True Riches.”

Now, I know, when I’m talking to you about money, I’m talking to you about something very pertinent—something that every one of us is interested in, and we ought to be. Somebody once said, “The most vital nerve in the body is the one that runs from the heart to the pocketbook.” And sometimes we seem to be so sanctified, but yet when it comes to money, we’re not really as sanctified as we act like we are.  I found a poem that describes the way we often are.

I once knew a Baptist; he had a pious look,
He had been totally immersed, except his pocketbook.
He placed a dollar in the plate and sang with might and main,
“When we asunder part, it gives us inward pain”
—AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Now, I believe there are some like that today, who really tend to love the Lord, at least outwardly, but inwardly there’s another love, an inordinate love for the material things of this world.  So, we’re going to be talking about true riches, and the measure of a man is what that man thinks about money. You tell me about money, and I’ll tell you something about your character. I’ll also tell you something about your faith. Stewardship is that area of life, not only where man makes money, but where God makes men. So, we’re going to be talking about this matter of real riches, or true riches.

Click on the link below to hear a message on the different kinds of riches that God’s Word tells us about. Some riches are not riches at all. 

Amen.

 

DON‘T MISS GOD‘S SPECIAL BLESSING (Proverbs 5:1-23)

This week my wife and I celebrated our 43rd wedding anniversary, and if you add the years that we dated before we got married, it has been 47 years.  At the age of 16, I fell in love with a young lady that I met in church, and then we happened to go to the same high school as well.  She was the first girl I ever dated, in fact, she has been the only girl I have ever dated, and the only girl I have ever wanted to date.  There has been no other in my heart, but her.  God’s special blessing has been on our relationship from the very beginning.  

The topics of love, and romance, and marriage, and all of the things associated with them, are subjects that everybody is interested in. At least, you ought to be interested.  It is a universal subject, no matter who you are, or where you live; and you never really outgrow it. Now, the girls get interested a little bit before the boys because they mature a little earlier.  This means that the girls start thinking about the boys before the boys start thinking about the girls.  That is a good thing because the girls need a head start before the hormones start raging in the boys.  But, it is not long before the boys are catching up with the girls, and from then on it is “neck and neck.”

Love, romance, and marriage, are very wonderful things, and we need to find out what God has to say about them, because God has some very definite wisdom on the idea of romance and love, and how to be blessed by your marriage.  Now, contrary to popular belief, God is not some kind of “cosmic killjoy.” Don’t get the idea that God is against love and romance and marriage. He is not.  Yet, when God says, “Flee fornication, and “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” God is not trying to keep sex from us. He’s trying to keep sex for us.  Because it is a wonderful gift of God.  

God has a special blessing for you when you allow God to choose your mate.  God wants you to be fulfilled. God wants you to have sexual fulfillment. God wants you to have real joy. God doesn’t want you to miss His best.  Don’t miss God’s special blessing for your life.

When God says, “Thou shalt not,” what He is really saying is, “Don’t hurt yourself.” When God says, “Thou shalt,” He’s saying, “Help yourself to happiness.” God wants you to have satisfaction. God wants you to have joy.  This is God’s plan. This is the design that we should follow.

Click on the link below to hear a message on how you can receive this special blessing by finding the right spouse, and then how to keep from destroying, or ruining, this wonderful gift of God.  

Amen.

GOD‘S PROMISES (Proverbs 3:11-22)

Over the last couple of weeks we have been talking about a believer’s freedom.  In particular financial freedom, but the same concepts of putting Christ first in our lives, being diligent in our work for God, being generous with the blessings that God has shared with us, living with integrity, and depending on the reliability of God to meet our needs, will give us true freedom in Christ in all aspects of our lives.   When we believe and trust in God, then God will take care of our needs.  To be free in Christ is to be free indeed.  

But does that freedom mean that we will have a life full of happy bliss, free of tragedy or testing?  No, that is not what the Bible promises us.  For example, being faithful to God in our tithing does not guarantee that we will never face trials.  Yet, God does promise that He will give us a way through every trial, every test, and every tragedy.

Without a doubt, the best promise that God makes in His Word is that Heaven is guaranteed to be our eternal future.  If you will make Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior, then Heaven is guaranteed to be our eternal future.  I do not limit God’s fulfillment of His promises to this life only.  If you do, then you will miss out on the best promise of all, for nothing compares to an eternity in Heaven with our Lord.

Click on the link below to hear a message on God’s promises to those who love Him.  God promises to chastise you when you need it, to give you happiness, to give you a long life, to give you a prosperous life, a peaceful life, and eternal life.  Don’t miss out on God’s promises to those who put God first in all things.  

Amen.

TRUE FINANCIAL FREEDOM (Proverbs 3:9-10)

Last week we started talking about what it means for a believer to be in financial bondage to the world, and how that impacts their ability to do the work that God has for them to accomplish.  We said that God has a plan for every aspect of our lives, and our finances are part of His plan.  In fact, God promises that if you will follow His amazingly simple plan, then you will find true financial freedom.  

Prov 3:9-10
9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
KJV

Look at the promise the Lord has given us in these verses.  He says, “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”  

God wants you to know that He has a plan for you, and His plan for you is not to be in bondage; God’s plan is for you to have liberty and freedom. God does not want His children in bondage to anything or anybody other than the Lord Jesus Christ. And when you’re in bondage to the Lord Jesus Christ, that’s perfect liberty. 

Click on the link below to hear a message about six principles from the Word of God that you can use in your life to find financial freedom.  If you want to get out of financial bondage, or better yet, if you want to keep yourself out of financial bondage, to enjoy the freedom that comes from serving the Lord, then these six principles from the Word of God will make that happen for you.  

Amen.