Christmas Destruction: He came to destroy the Devil!

November 25, 2012
Christmas Destruction: He came to destroy the Devil
1 John 2:28-3:10
Scott Howard

"And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.  If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.  How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!  The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.  Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known.  But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.  Everyone who as this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.  Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.  But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins.  And in him is no sin.  No one who lives in him keeps on sinning.  No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.  Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray.  He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.  He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning.  The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.  No one who is born of God will continue  to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.  This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not called a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother."  ---1 John 2:28-3:10

The Reality of Sin...
John defines sin...

• Sin's scope:  sin is universal --> 1 John 3:4 "Everyone who sins breaks the law..."
• Sin's nature:  it is lawlessness --> 1John 3:4 "...in fact, sin is lawlessness."
• Sin's origin:  it is in the devil himself --> 1 John 3:8 "...the devil has been sinning from the beginning."

When we sin we are making a choice not to follow God's law, but to follow the devil.  We are basically looking into the face of God and saying "Your law does not apply to me and I will not submit to it."  It is a direct violation of the law of God.

The Reason Christ Came...
John focuses on...

• Christ's Essence:  He is without Sin. --> 1 John 3:5 "But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin."
• Christ's Mission:  To destroy Sin. --> 1 John 3:8b "...The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work." and 1 John 2:2 "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."

The Result for Christians...

• Our belief in Christ makes persistent sin inconceivable. --> 1 John 3:6 "No one who lives in him keeps on sinning."
• Our new birth in Christ makes persistent sin impossible. --> 1 John 3:9 "No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God."

This doesn't mean that it is not possible for a Christian to sin now and then.  What it does mean is that if you truly know God, and truly live as a new life in Christ, it would be impossible for you to continue to live a sinful life, to live in persistent sin.  It just doesn't make sense that when God puts new life in you, when you become "born again", you would continue living the same old sinful way.  There must be a change, from a sinful life to a life lived for Christ; a striving toward righteousness.

This is what Jesus came to do for us.  He came to destroy sin, the devil's work, and to give us an opportunity to live without sin in a new life.  But it is our choice to accept this gift, or to reject it.  Either way, the gift is available to all, the gift of Christmas destruction of sin.

Announcements 11-25

Salvation Army Bell Ringning- Would you like to give a special gift to our community this Christmas? Consider taking a few moments to Ring The Bell for the Salvation Army. If you would like to help there is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board.

WeeSing - The next Children's Choir/ Christmas Play practice will be Sunday, December 2nd @ 5 PM.

Spud and Salad Night - The SRWC Youth are sponsoring a "Spud & Salad" Night this Wednesday, November 28th at 6:00 PM. Come enjoy a baked potato and a salad with lots of toppings. The cost is on a donation basis and all the funds raised will go to send one of our teens to the International Youth Convention in Kentucky.

The Remnant

November 18, 2012
The Remnant
Youth Service
Drew Ward
1 John 1:5-7 ; 2:3-6

God makes sure there is a "Remnant" of people who walk in His light so that we, and others, may come to know Him, even if it seems like there is no one left who truly loves God and walks in His truth.  These people bring the message of God's hope and the Good News of the Gospel to those who are lost.

"But now, for a brief moment, the Lord our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage." 
--Ezra 9:8

Has God ever placed a "remnant" in your life?  Has He called you to be a "remnant" in another's life? 

"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.  If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin....We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.  The man who says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him.  This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did."   ---1 John 1:5-7 and 2:3-6

• God is Light
• Light represents: truth, goodness, hope
• Darkness represents: lies, corruption, evil, dispair

In the dark good and evil may not be as discernible as in the light.  Things are hidden in the dark.  It is much better to live in the light, and by the light, so that all the evil and sin in our lives can be forgiven.  The passage above says that then we can have fellowship with one another.  It also says that we must walk as Jesus walked.  This is best described by Jesus himself in Matthew:

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.'"   ---Matthew 16:24-25

This is a requirement for following Him.  So what does it look like to "lose" our life for Christ?

• Denying ourselves -- denying selfishness
• Denying our own goals or dreams for those God has for us
• Denying our own wishes or desires for God's best for us
• Denying our bad habits because God has delivered us

This is what we must do to find ultimate fulfillment in Christ; it's how we begin to trust him as sovereign Lord of our lives.  This is faith.

Our faith can cost more than just denying ourselves.  It can cost relationships with family or friends, it can cost our job or profession.  Those living in darkness or in the world believe our faith puts a strain on their relationship with us because there's "too much God" in our lives.  They may not be comfortable and may not want to associate with us. 

Regardless of where we walk---in the light or in the dark---we make sacrifices.  The sacrifices for living in the light we already discussed above.  However, living in the dark will cause one to sacrifice pure joy, fulfillment of life, unconditional love, forgiveness, and a never-ending life in God's presence.  Would you not rather sacrifice selfishness and the desires of this world in order to gain the presence of God?

"What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?  Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?"   ---Matthew 16:26

God is calling us to walk in His Light.  Jesus is the Light of the world.  Be the Light, live in the Light.  God will use you (whether you know it or not!) to touch other lives.  Maybe family, friends, classmates, coworkers, neighbors, or even strangers.  You are the "Remnant" for today. 

Announcements 11-18

Coat Drive - Thank You to all who contributed to our Coat Drive. You gave 50 coats which was enough to share with other schools. Thank you for caring and participating.

Salvation Army Bell Ringning- Would you like to give a special gift to our community this Christmas? Consider taking a few moments to Ring The Bell for the Salvation Army. If you would like to help there is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board.

Parents Meeting - There will be a parent's meeting NEXT Sunday, November 25th for all parents of our youth.

WeeSing - The next Children's Choir/ Christmas Play practice will be Sunday, December 2nd @ 5 PM.

Unedited thoughts on the sermon

"I want to experience the presence of God and to dwell with God." Sermon on 11-11-12.



If I never have another child, do I love him?
If he called for my life, do I love him?
If he called for Ben's life, do I love him?
If he called for Drew's life, do I love him?
If we lost our home, do I love him?
If I am in physical pain, do I love him?

Do I trust him to be useful? What if I had to trust him to be useful?

What if there was not going to be a place without suffering, and pain? Is He enough even with pain and suffering?

Psalms 27:4 - If I was facing New Testament Saul, would I still say this - "I want to dwell with God."? Do I mean it that much? Would I love him if he ordained it? Even as enemies surround me? Literally?

What makes me happiest? Doing the will of God.
Why? Because it makes him happy.
And? Because he is proud of me? Because he would love me more?

Because I love him!

Is doing the will of God similar to wanting the presence of God?

In doing His will, we are IN His presence!!!

David said, "I don't want to be delivered from this. I just want you."
Would I say that?

"This One Thing" / Part 2

This One Thing / Part 2
Psalm 27:4
Scott Howard
November 11, 2012

A Brutal Assessment:

• David sees...Devastation / v. 10; Desertion / v. 12; Danger / v. 2-3
• Believers see...Conflict in our lives; Sin in the world; An adversary in Scripture

--> How do we navigate this fallen world?

A Single-Minded Appeal: The "One Thing" David Asks:

• David asked first for: God
• I want to experience the presence of God & to dwell with God.

The Benefits of the Appeal:

• God is Absolutely Sovereign...He is in charge, and He does not ever get caught off guard.  The word Sovereign is defined as this: having supreme pwer or authority; supreme, preeminent, indisputable (Webster's dictionary)
• God is Incomparably Beautiful...He is unparallelled, all beauty that we know comes from His beauty. 

These truths that David saw in shadow, we see in Jesus (the Light of the world).

The Relevance of the Appeal:

• What is Our "one thing"?
• Do we find God merely useful?
• Or Do we find God Beautiful?

Is He beautiful to us all the time?  His Beauty is always evident, but do we really want God, or just the things he can give us?

A Confident Assertion:

• We obtain our "one thing" not based on naive predictions, rather, we obtain our "one thing" based on rock solid promises.
• The Promise is through the sacrifice of Jesus so that we can have access to God and dwell with Him forever.

Psalm 27:13-14--- "I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

What we can take away from this message is that no matter what kind of trouble or hardship befalls us, we can rely on God because he is sovereign and He is sufficient.  Don't focus on the trouble or the circumstances, focus on God and His sovereignty. 

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."  ---John 16:33 

Never Cease Praising

We are such a blessed people! Just the simple fact that we can worship our Lord freely without fear, is an amazing blessing. However in my life I know that I sometimes take it for granted. I often wonder what it would be like if we didn't have the freedoms we have today. Many people in the world live this way every day. They have to hide or go underground just to gather and worship. They face prison or the ultimate price, their lives.

Sometimes we think that worship only happens at church, but I believe that we can worship wherever we may be. Whether riding in the car, while we are at work or whatever we may be doing, we should be in a constant attitude of praise. Psalms 113:3 says, "From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of our LORD is to be praise." The praise of the Lord should always be on our lips, and in our hearts.

Many times we may not feel like worshiping. We are tired, had a bad day or maybe just don't feel well. We think it doesn't make sense to praise Him. You see, when you begin to worship the Lord you change focus from your situation to Him and this is when He can begin to work in your life. I believe this is best shown in Acts 16:25. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. You see Paul and Silas were in prison at this time. They had been stripped down and beaten and thrown in a cold, dark prison, but still were singing and praising the Lord. Satan loves for us to focus on how bad things are, and how we have failed, and especially when we haven't done something that the Lord has told us to do. Simply put, when we worship the Lord, we give Satan a black eye and he must flee!

Again, we have such a wonderful privilege to worship the Lord in complete freedom, and to be able to lift Him up at any time. There is no right or wrong way to worship. Some lift their hands; other say amen, while others quietly lift their hearts to the Lord without saying or visibly doing anything. Let us constantly be in an attitude of worship and praise to our Lord. To quote the words of a powerful song, "Praise the Lord, He can work through those who praise Him, Praise the Lord. For our God inhabits praise. Praise the Lord, for the chains that seem to bind you, serve only to remind you. That they drop, powerless behind you,; when you Praise the Lord!" May Sandy Ridge Wesleyan Church always be a place of true worship and praise to the one who has saved our souls, cleansed our hearts, and given us an eternal home in Heaven! His Name is Jesus!

Worshiping with you,

Gene Collins

Announcements 11-11

Shells BBQ Night - Tuesday, November 13th - Enjoy a delicious meal at Shell's BBQ on Springs Rd.! Present your ticket to the cashier and they will donate 20% of your check to the SRWC Youth Group. These funds will benefit the youth trip to the International Convention in Louisville, KY in December. For tickets and any additional information, please see Pastor Drew or Andrea.

Ladies Shopping Trip - NEXT Saturday, November 17th to Gaffney, SC. See Phyllis Howard for details.

Pantry Needs - The Open Arms Food Pantry is in need of the following items:

Canned Fruit

Dried Beans - 1 lb bag

Dried Rice - 1 lb bag

Oats - 18 oz.

Peanut Butter - 18 oz.

The Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

"What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me?...I will offer to You the sacrifice of Thanksgiving and will call upon the Name of the Lord." - Psalm 116:12;17

These words do not seem to belong together. Our Thanksgiving day is far from being a sacrifice. Nutritionists say we will eat about 4,000 calories on this day. A sacrifice? Hardly!

So what did the psalmist mean when he said he would offer to God the 'sacrifice of thanksgiving'? While it would not be possible to exhaust the full meaning of this phrase in this short space, allow me to offer one avenue of thought through the following story:

We were just getting settled into our new house and new community when one evening we heard a knock on the door. Peeking through the curtains I saw an old man dressed in what appeared to be nothing but tattered rags. I slowly opened the door and said, "Yes, may I help you?" With a graceful gesture the old man said: "Good evening ma'am, my name is Thomas and I am your neighbor across the street. I just brought you these apples to welcome you to the community. I attend the church on the corner." I said: "That's where we go too." After some small chit chat, Thomas said, "Well, I need to get back home and feed my cats. See you soon." As Thomas turned to walk away, I noticed his clothes. Though they were ragged, they were clean; but his shoes caught my attention. The heels were loose from the uppers and flapped each time he walked, and it appeared that he used card board to lone both shoes. The sight disturbed me and that night, as I prayed, I asked God what He would have me do. That evening, I bagged up some good clothes and shoes and placed them on Thomas' front porch. Several days later I heard from Thomas again. As I finished up breakfast dishes, I heard a knock on the door. Looking out the curtains, I saw Thomas standing there and from the expression on his face, I knew he was very happy. Perhaps, I thought, he has come to tell me about the bag of clothes he found on his porch. I opened the door and said: "Good morning, Thomas, won't you come in and have some coffee?" "Don't mind if I do." he responded. Thomas began sharing: "I just had to tell you about the most wonderful thing that happened to me last Monday. I was talking to God and I told Him how much I would like to help the homeless at the shelter, seeing as they have no clothes or shoes. You know, some don't even have families. Do you know what I found on my front porch that morning? I found a bag of clothes and two pairs of shoes. God is so good. He answered my prayer and the folks at the homeless shelter can sure use those clothes and shoes."

Thanksgiving has two parts- gratitude and generosity. Gratitude for the blessings of God and generosity toward others. That was the basis of the first thanksgiving feast in 1621. Provisions were meager and times were very hard, but generosity was in abundance. As we enjoy the holiday with plenty of food and the warmth and love of family, let us remember those who do not have much and share in a new way that will honor the Lord Jesus.

"This One Thing" (Part 1)

This One Thing (Part 1)
Psalm 27
November 4, 2012
Scott Howard

• The Brutal Assessment...of David

1. David sees devastation ---> Psalm 27:10  "Though my father and mother forsake me..."
2. David sees desertion ---> Psalm 27:12  "Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up aganst me, breathing out violience."
3. David sees danger ---> Psalm 27:2  "When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me..."

• The Brutal Assessment...of Believers

1. We see conflict in our lives ---> John 15:18 & 20  "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first...Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.'  If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also."
2. We see sin in the world ---> Genesis 6:5 "The Lord saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time."
3. We see an adversary in Scripture --->  1 Peter 5:8 "Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

**So how do we navigate in this fallen world?

• A Single-Minded Appeal...

Psalm 27:4 "One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple."

The shock of the appeal...when the enemy army is literally encamped around David...

• David does not ask first for Deliverance
• David asks first for God Himself---for the very presence of God Almighty

In our language today:
I want to experience the presence of God.  I want to dwell or to be with God.

It's not necessarily about the first words we utter, but it is about the disposition of our hearts.  It doesn't mean that we should not cry out to God for help.  There's nothing wrong with appealing to God, but if the only time we call on God is when we're in a crisis, then there's something wrong with our relationship with God.

What was lost in Eden (at the fall of man) is gained through Christ and is perfected in Heaven.  When we get saved, we get God!

John 17:3 "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."
Philippians 3:7-8 "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ..."
Colossians 3:3-4 "For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."
Revelation 21:3 "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.'"

It's not knowing of God, but knowing Him personally, having a relationship with Him; this is how to dwell with God while in this fallen world.

From the Pastor's Heart - November

"You have granted me life and favor, and Your care has preserved my spirit." - Job 10:12

Just like Job, that is my testimony. As I look back on my life, the Lord has definitely "granted me life and favor.". And I'll be completely honest with you - I am completely at a loss as to why. I do not understand why the Lord has been so good to me. The only explanation I can come up with is simply - THE GRACE OF GOD.

Today when I think of "favor of God" on my life, I think of Sandy Ridge Wesleyan Church. This church has been such an incredible blessing on my life and the lives of my family. I wish I could adequately express my love and appreciation to you, but words such as "Thank You" seem so lacking. But for lack of a better way, here it goes.

THANK YOU... for allowing me the honor of being your pastor.

THANK YOU... for being a living example of God's grace as you consistently put up with my mistakes, failures, and many short-comings.

THANK YOU... for loving me and my family with the love of Christ.

THANK YOU... for trusting me and helping me build the Kingdom of God here at SRWC.

And finally THANK YOU for last Sunday. I will honestly admit to you that I felt uncomfortable most of the time last Sunday; but at the same time, I have never felt so loved, appreciated and encouraged. THANK YOU!

Sandy Ridge Wesleyan Church - you are truly the "FAVOR OF GOD" upon my life. And as I have told you before, you have had many pastors in the past and will have many more in the days to come - but you will never have a pastor that loves this church and you as much as I do! THANK YOU!!!

Believing in you,
Pastor Scott

Announcements 11-4

Open Arms Food Pantry -  In October, the Open Arms Food Pantry served a total of 122.2 pounds of food to 4 families - 13 people all together. We received 129.8 pounds of food form the church. We have 608 pounds of food on the shelves.

Fall Festival - THANK YOU!!! A BIG THANKS to Brad and Laura Cannon for all their hard work in making our Fall Festival a big success. And Thank You to all of you who helped with the games, and to everyone who brought your child or grandchild to the Fall Festival.

Trunk or Treat- THANK YOU!! Thanks to all who participated in our Trunk n Treat. We passed out candy to more than 150 children and was able to share information about our church to several parents.

Operation Warmth- Coat Drive for children in our area schools. You have until November 9th to participate in this outreach. Look in your closets, your boxes, your plastic tubs - if you can't find one there, try the local thrift stores. If you have any questions or would you like to help with this outreach, please see Pastor Charles.

Men's Prayer Breakfast-  Sunday November 11 @ 8:30 AM.  All the men of the church are invited to join us for a great time of fellowship, food, and much needed prayer.

Wee Praise -  November 11, the Children's Choir will practice at 5:00pm and the Children's Christmas play will practice at 5:30PM. Parents, please remember to bring your child early for this practice.

Youth Fundraiser -  Enjoy a delicious meal at Shell's BBQ on Springs Rd and present your ticket to the cashier and they will donate 20%  of your check to the SRWC Youth Group. These funds will benefit the Youth trip to the International Convention in Louisville, KY in 
December

Ladies Shopping Trip-  Satrurday, November 17th to Gaffney, SC. See Phyllis Howard for details.

Youth Sunday - Don't miss this special Lord's Day and invite others to come with you to support our youth.

Holy Communion -  November 25th

Salvation Army Soup Kitchen.- The team will be serving at 4:00 pm on November 25 at the soup kitchen. We are needing another team to go help serve food at the soup kitchen. If you are willing to serve, please see Pastor Charles.