Philippians 1: 3-6 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Being confident is having a blessed assurance; Jesus is mine it’s just a foretaste of glory divine a down payment on what you will get when you get over yonder! I’m an heir of salvation, purchased of God, born of His spirit, washed in his blood! This is my story this is why I sing my song, praising my savior all the daylong! Filled with his goodness, lost in his love! Having confidence is the same as having trust we trust that God having started a good work in us (Through Jesus Christ) will be able to finish that work because we look unto the one who is the author and finisher of faith! Jesus, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending of all things, the first and the last!

  That is why the Apostle Paul said, I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all, making request with joy, for your fellow ship in the gospel from the first day until now! You stuck with it, God is looking for stickers, those who will hang in there no matter what comes or what goes! Those who are faithful to the church, faithful to their pastor, and faithful to God! Do not be weary in well doing, for you shall reap if you faint not! (If you don’t give up) That is how we can be confident of the very thing that God has said; he will see it through to the end! He will never leave you nor will ever forsake you, but as He told us he will go with us all the way, even to the ends of the Age (The world). He has not brought us this far to let us down, he has never failed me yet and I have nothing to regret! I truly believe with all my heart that “He can do anything but fail!” (A song off our latest CD)

 Hebrews 10: 35 & 36 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath a great recompense (Repayment) of reward. God repays faith; he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. Without faith it is impossible to please God for he that comes to God must believe that he is (That he does indeed exist) you must be confident of whom the Lord is and what he is able to do! He is my confidant! 

  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him. Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience, but allow patience to have her perfect work in you! 

 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. We are not of them who draw back unto perdition, those who have put their hands to the plow and look back! Remember Lot’s wife? But we are of them that believe to the saving of the soul. People with a vision, children who have confidence in their heavenly father.

 Nehemiah 4:6 so built we the wall; and the entire wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work. If we work for God, God is working with us, and if God be for us, who in the world can be against us? There is more with us than there is against us! Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world!

  And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things, which we command you. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch, as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

  I am so glad that we have a savior that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. God bless and keep you is my prayer.

 

 

2 Corinthians 5: 1-11 1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;
We have a terrestrial body, there are bodies that are celestial and those that are terrestrial, one is earthy (Made of clay) and the other is heavenly (Made of spirit). The terrestrial groans to clothed upon with the spiritual one, a body celestial. The earthy house of this tabernacle, this lump of clay earnestly desires our new home eternal in the heavens! To be delivered from this body of death, for we that are in this earthly tabernacle do groan being burdened, (but one day we'll lay these old burdens down). This life can be such a burden and as Christians we should be longing for heavens green shores, where we will stroll all over streets of gold, shout around the hills of glory, swim in the river of life that flows from the throne room of almighty God! I have a home prepared where the saints abide, just over in the glory land, with the blood washed throng I'll shout and sing!
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (literally a new creation) old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Clothed upon with the righteousness of God that we should not be found naked or unclothed. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen, there is going to a marriage supper after while have you got your invitation? He has provided the wedding garment (as it was customary for the king to do so) however when He came in to view the guests that were invited (to inspect them and weed out the undesirables thus many are called, but few chosen to remain and take part in the feast) Not having on the wedding garments which are provided in Christ the white linen spoken of in Revelations. What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. I want to be ready when my change comes, don't you? That is what Old Job said, I'm waiting for my change to come!
Romans 8:17-25 heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory, which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God, because the creature itself also shall be delivered. from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (If any man be in Christ he is a new creature, a new creation) For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it?
Now he that wrought the selfsame thing for us is God, the first fruits of those who are changed from the bondage of corruption to the glorious liberty of the children of God! This corruptible must put on incorruption. The first fruits of those who are raised from death unto eternal life! The redeemed of God; let the redeemed of the Lord say so! Romans 8:15 if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be but, we do know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; we shall see Him as He is! And we shall be changed in the moment in the twinkling of an eye.
We know that to be at home in this body of flesh is to be absent from the Lord. Therefore we can say with confidence that to be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord! If we try to save our life, we will lose it, (Through the wonders of modern science, wonder drugs, the world is going vitamin crazy, they take penicillin so they don't catch something and now there are new strands of viruses that have become immune to it, flu shots and everything else, not that I see anything wrong with a flu shot, but let's face it everybody wants to go to heaven but, nobody wants to die! we must be willing at all times to give up this mortal and put on immortality! As Dad preached the other night Paul said I'm ready to be offered up, the time of my departure is at hand, he knew he had insurance beyond the grave, protection for the soul!
2 Corinthians 4: 10-18 for which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

 

 

                                      
        © 2006 Evangelist: Chuck Gibson
Matthew 18:19 moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglects to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. 18Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
*The principle of agreement is that the place of agreement is the place of power! Agreeing with scripture (Taking God at His word) builds and releases our faith. Belief or faith brings us into agreement with God and we say amen! *You cannot stand on promises that are in the word of God unless you are in agreement with the promises that are in Him! If we abide in the Word, and have the Word of God abiding in us we can ask (A.S.K. ask, seek and knock) what we will, and it shall be done. (If is a condition pivoting on a condition that you are in agreement) remain attached to the vine. If you are attached to Him in agreement there shall not be anything impossible for you to do! John15: 4-5 abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. However if we are in agreement with His Word we can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!
*Romans 10:17 Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. You can't have power to overcome if you don't hear the word of God, and not hearers only but be ye doers of the Word, for it is the doers of the word that are justified! You can have power in your life when faith arises in you, and you can proclaim to the devil "Greater is He that is within me, than he that is in the world" I'm not talking about naming it, and claiming it, honey I'm saying believe it and receive it or just doubt it and do without it!
"Again the place of agreement is the place of power" this is true in the kingdom of God as well as in the secular world. It applies to marriage, Family, and employment relationships. How can two walk together except they agree?

 

                      

                                                                   (C) 2003 By: Evangelist Chuck Gibson
Acts 24:10-25; Paul before Felix the governor
Acts 26: 12-28 Paul tells King Agrippa about his conversion
God told Ananias arise and go into the street called straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul. Ananias began to reason with the lord, saying Lord I have heard evil things about this man, but the lord said unto him, Go! (Capitol G) thy way for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel. I will show him how great things he must suffer for my namesake!
In Paul's defense he reasoned with Felix the governor of Rome about righteousness, temperance, and of judgment to come. The Bible says that Felix having more perfect knowledge of that way, knowledge without love will puff up, and does not edify! (The devils also believe and tremble) *(some other convenient time) (Some will keep putting it off till it's too late) Isaiah 1:18-20 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: (To reach a logical conclusion of the matter) (To which the preacher of Ecclesiastes said, "let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter, most people make a decision before they hear all the facts, fear God and keep his commandments) though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If (a pivotal word) ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But (another pivotal word) if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. There is the fear of God in a nutshell. Tell me please where is the fear of God in today's society?
Joel 3:14 said, "There are multitudes in the valley of decision" God's Spirit striving against mans will about making "the decision" Just as Joshua (who was a type of Christ Yashewa) The Jews had strayed from God, so Joshua rehearsed the whole matter to the congregation. He said, "Now therefore fear the Lord (Which by the way is the beginning of wisdom!) And serve him in sincerity and in truth (sound familiar? God is a Spirit, and he must be worshipped in Spirit and in truth) And put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt and serve ye the Lord, choose this day whom ye will serve" Don't turn him away my friend (Please decide he has given you the freedom of choice) Just as the Holy Ghost is saying "today if you hear his voice, harden not your hearts as they did in the days of provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness. The children of Israel challenged God's authority over them by their rebellious ways. (Which is the same sin as witchcraft!) No wonder the Bible refers to them as the children that never grew up! (Another message)
King Agrippa was so moved by Paul's defense that he was almost persuaded, like the song says, "Almost persuaded Christ to receive, go spirit, go thy way, till some other convenient day" Today is the day of salvation, behold now is the accepted time, seems to indicate that tomorrow it could be that you will not be acceptable to god! Don't believe that? Better read Proverbs 1: 24-27 so that you will know the truth and the truth will make you free.
Paul was testifying of his conversion and mounting his defense before King Agrippa. However the King thought that maybe, "much learning" had made him a mad man. Religious folks thought that Jesus was beside himself. So you see, I don't mind if someone calls me crazy or a fanatic. Paul said I am a fool for Christ's sake! Myself I'd rather be a fool for him, than a fool for the devil anytime!
The title of the message "Almost Persuaded" is taken from RO. 14:5 "Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind" Allow me to stop right there and tell you what God has told me. He told me that hell would be full of people who were almost persuaded!
The weeping prophet Jeremiah pleaded with the people to seek out the old path wherein is the good way and walk therein, but the children of Israel rebelled and said, "We will not walk therein"
1cor. 1:18 "The preaching of the cross is to them that perish a bunch of foolishness, but to us who are saved it is the power of God that brings salvation! As a matter of fact (FYI) it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching, to save those that would believe (have faith in the plan of salvation) in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. To trust him to lead you and guide you in the paths of righteousness for his namesake, it's the Romans road as described in Ro.10: 9&10.
Now listen real close to what I am going to say next. If you haven't heard anything else I've been saying, please (I plead with you) Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. How can you hear without a preacher? However the natural man, the person that is almost persuaded, such as was King Agrippa, someone who is not born of the Spirit of God cannot receive the things of God, because it is foolishness to him. Neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (understood) 1cor. 2:6-15. Jesus said, "No man cometh unto me except the Spirit draw him"
This gospel that I now proclaim is understood by divine revelation. How about it friend? Do you feel the Spirit of God drawing you to a place of repentance? Jesus said, "Behold (When he says this he is asking you to consider what he is about to say) I stand at the door and I knock, if anyone would hear my voice and open unto me, I will come in. It is by invitation that we open our hearts to him; he will not stand and beat down the door to our hearts. If you noticed he was not only knocking, he was talking, if you would hear his voice harden not your hearts, because today might be the day when he will save your soul. Don't stay in that valley of decision too long, and miss out with God!
Pray this prayer with me, dear God, I come to you asking your forgiveness. I have rebelled against you long enough, as your prodigal child I'm coming home, never more to roam. I accept the Spirit's invitation; I hear the knock at my hearts door, right now I open unto you Jesus, please come-on in and sup with me. I believe you died for my sins and you arose the third day to give me victory over sin. I am persuaded right now that those things, which I commit into your hands, even my soul, mind, body and spirit, you are able to keep against that day in Jesus name, thank you Lord.
If you prayed that prayer, please let us know. We would be very happy to hear from you. http://sem3.multiply.com

 

A preacher's-preacher

 "I'm against sin. I'll kick against it as long as I've got a foot, and I'll fight it as long as I've got a fist. I'll butt it as long as I've got a head. I'll bite it as long as I've got a tooth. And when I'm old and fist less and footless and toothless, I'll gum it till I go home to Glory and it goes home to perdition!" William A. Sunday was born November 19, 1862, in a two-room log cabin near Ames, Iowa. His father was in the Union army then, where he soon died of pneumonia so Billy never knew his father. The evangelist died November 6, 1935, at the age of 72. His funeral was held in Moody Church, Chicago, with the sermon by H. A. Ironside, pastor.

Sunday held some three hundred crusades in thirty-nine years. It is estimated that a hundred million heard him speak in great tabernacles before public address systems were invented. And more than a million people made a profession of faith in Christ as Savior under his preaching.

He was probably the most spectacular evangelist since John the Baptist. His long-time associate, Dr. Homer Rodeheaver, called him "the greatest gospel preacher since the Apostle Paul."

Billy was outfielder on the Chicago White Sox baseball team when he was converted. One night, with baseball cronies, he heard a group singing on the streets of Chicago, "Where is My Wandering Boy Tonight?"-His mother's favorite song. He went to Pacific Garden Mission and was converted.

William Ashley (Billy) Sunday "The preacher of Preacher's"
1862-1935
 He was born the son of a Civil war Soldier Ames, Iowa November 19th 1862, His father never returned home from the American Civil War, leaving behind his wife and three sons to fend for themselves. They lived in dire poverty in a two-room log cabin. But when Billy was twelve he an his brother were sent to an orphanage for two years. Billy understood the life of the toiling American for that was his life. Common men loved him because he was one of them.
His young days were hard, during high school young Sunday worked as a janitor. Working in a hotel and later for Colonel John Scott. The small town made it big, though. "Billy was discovered" by the leader of the Chicago White Sox in 1883. Billy was a drunk but was rescued from the street corners by workers of the Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago in 1886. And led to the Lord by the founder's wife. He played in the major leagues for seven years. Known as the fastest runner in the game, both the public and his teammates respected him, despite his Christian scruples-he refused to play ball on Sundays. Eventually he gave up his baseball career in March 1891 and went to work for the Lord.
 Billy worked for the YMCA and later for a well-known Evangelist, Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman. Sunday began preaching in his own services. He was ordained to the ministry in 1903 by the presbytery of Chicago. Sunday preached in Army camps during World War 1 and later held citywide meetings in the various cities across America. He refused to accept invitations offered to him to go abroad.
Mr. Sunday was consumed with winning souls to Christ and so dared to do and say what no one else would. The man's language, stage drama, and acrobatics all combined to drive home the point that unless you commit your life to the Lord, you are eternally damned: he dared to send local celebrities to hell by name. He would say things like "if a man goes to hell he ought to be there, or he wouldn't be there" If this statement shocks you, you are not alone. Billy Sunday met with criticism wherever he went. Yet all over America this statement and others like it led more than 400,000 people to Christ in the early part of the century.
In one meeting in Philadelphia over 2,3 million attended his crusade during a period of eight weeks. Sunday held campaigns for over twenty years and literally "burned out for Christ." At the close of each service throngs of people came forward and grasped for the Evangelist's hand to signify their conversion. Such action was called "Hitting the sawdust trail" because the tabernacle floors were covered with sawdust. Sunday was noted for acrobatic feats on the platform as he preached.
 Billy Sunday became notorious for his verbal tirades while delivering the message of salvation to the average American. His antics, vocabulary, and his heart for the Lord were discussed in every circle of society; crowds were turned away from his tabernacle meeting; and his messages were printed in their entirety in major newspapers. The printed text of his message alone was enough to melt the hearts of those who read it, convict of their sins, and lead them to salvation, even in places as far away as China!
 Crime went down and church attendance went up when Billy Sunday rolled into town. The crowds that thronged the "Sawdust trail" (The aisles that led to the alter) at his invitation to turn their lives over to Jesus, carried on the revival that was often spawned in Mr. Sunday's wake. The effects of his campaigns were so far reaching that brewers and distillers united against him when saloons went out of business and citizens voted for temperance after his departure.
The worst ever said of him was that he occasionally let his humor run wild; the best ever said about him was that reached a million lives for Christ-the drunken, the down and out, the homeless, the common man. His blazing fisted, barehanded evangelism lives in American history. He was probably a factor in preparing the country for the passage of the eighteenth liquor prohibition amendment to the US Constitution.
 Billy Sunday died in Chicago, November 6, 1035; services were held in the Moody memorial church with 4,400 present. Mr. Sunday's own testimony stated, "I staked my soul and everything I had, on the God of the Bible, and the Christ of that Bible, and I won." Billy went home to be with his Lord in 1935. Are you willing to do all it takes and give your all to win the lost to Christ? Then like Billy Sunday, stake your soul on the word of God and dare to follow God wherever he leads you.