Why Did David Sin Against God? Psalm 51:1-4
Just because God forgives sin, does not mean I should go on sinning. God wants me to conquer sin, and victory over sin, like victory in any battle, is a costly experience.


1. David Laid Aside His Armor - Where did David make his mistake? For one thing, he laid aside his armor. The Word of God says in 2 Samuel 11:1, that at the time of the year when kings went forth to war, David did not go to battle. David laid aside his armor and tarried in Jerusalem. Do you put on the Gospel armor today? In Ephesians 6:11, we are exhorted to “put on the whole armor of God.”

2. David Stopped Looking to God - His eyes began to wander, and he saw his neighbor’s wife. Job said, “I made a covenant with mine eyes, why then should I think upon a maid?” (Job 31:1). Proverbs 4:25 says, “Let thine eyes look right on .” Hebrews 12:2 says, “Looking unto Jesus.”

3. David Did Not Watch And Pray - Jesus said to His disciples, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41) David did not watch and pray.

4. David Was Alone - When God’s people are alone, it is easy for them to be defeated. David should have called Nathan the prophet and said, “Let’s pray together! Let’s meditate on the Word together!” One of the greatest encouragements to keep us from sinning is the fellowship of God’s people in the local church. They encourage me to live a godly life.

5. David Ignored God's Word - It is the Word of God that keeps us clean. “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9). “Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee” (v11).

6. David Did Not Depend On The Holy Spirit - He had been given the gift of the Holy Spirit for the power he needed for his life and ministry. That is why he prayed in Psalm 51:11, “Take not thy Holy Spirit from me.” We need to yield to the Spirit so we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh.

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The Ministry of the Church

Prayer - Bible Study - Bible Preaching - Bible Reading and Memorization - Witnessing - Bearing One Another’s Burdens & Keeping the Unity of the Spirit!

These 7 things describe and outline the ministry of the Church; this is our work. Hebrews 3:13 says: “Exhort one another daily while it is called today.” I want to encourage all of us to make these scriptural truths the priority of our lives. Be faithful in attending Sunday School, spend good quality time in the Word, be a soul winner, be a burden bearer, stay in one accord, but most important of all ”PRAY.”

Prayer is important and potent. Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees. Look with me at some simple Biblical reasons for praying.

1. Prayer is a definite Work. Luke 11:9-10 We must take time to pray--We must have a deepening concern about praying. If we fail to pray: We will fail.

2. Prayer is a distinctive Work. In Luke 11:1 the disciples asked the Lord to teach them to pray. Serving is not a substitute for prayer. Giving is not a substitute for prayer.

There are no substitutes for prayer. Prayer is a distinctive work. It was in the life of Moses, Joshua, Daniel, Job, Peter, Paul and in the life of our Lord. It is a separate function. Be sure to fulfill it!

3. Prayer is a difficult Duty. It is easy to grow weary. The forces of evil are against us. The world is against prayer. Our flesh gets tired The devil hinders praying. We need passion, power and perseverance in our praying. We need to watch and pray: Matthew 26:40-42

4. Prayer is a decisive Work. Nothing is settled until we’ve prayed about it. Uncertain activities are settled by prayer. Unusual strength comes by prayer (Acts 4:24-31). Untouched fields are evangelized by prayer (Acts 13:1-3). Unfailing deliverance comes by prayer. Prayer makes the impossible-possible.

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We Need God to Hear and Answer Our Prayers

We have needs, in our fellowship, that only God can meet, and like never before, we need to make sure that our prayers are unhindered.

These reasons call us to examine ourselves, for our own benefit, and for the sake of others.

1. Refusing to hear the truth  Proverbs 28:9
2. Refusing to humble self  2 Chronicles 7:14
3. Forsaking God  2 Chronicles 15:2
4. Provoking God  Deut. 3:26
5. Hardheartedness  Zech. 7:12-13
6. Lack of Charity  Proverbs 21:13
7. Regarding iniquity in our hearts  Psalm 66:18
8. Wrong Motives  James 4:3
9. Dishonoring our wife 1 Peter 3:7    
10. Unbelief  Matthew 17:20-21
11. Sin  James 4:1-5
12. Parading our Prayers  Matthew 6:5
13. Vain Repetitions  Matthew 6:7
14. Unforgiveness  Matthew 6:14-15
15. Hypocrisy  Luke 18:9-14
16. Being Discouraged  Luke 18:1-8
17. Worry & Anxiety  Philippians 4:6
18. Doubting & Double-mindedness  James 1:5-8

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Prayer, Bible Study, Bible Preaching, Bible Reading & Memorization, Witnessing, Bearing One Another’s Burdens & Keeping the Unity of the Spirit!

 These 7 things describe and outline the ministry of the Church-this is our work. Hebrews 3:13 says: “Exhort one another daily while it is called today.” I want to encourage all of us to make these scriptural truths the priority of our lives.  Be faithful in attending Sunday School.  Spend good quality time in the Word.  Be a soul winner.  Be a burden bearer.  Stay in one accord; but most important of all, ”PRAY”

 Prayer is important and potent. Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees. Look with me at some simple Biblical reasons for praying.

1. Prayer is a definite Work: Luke 11:9-10
We must take time to pray--We must have a deepening concern about praying.  If we fail to pray: We will fail.

2. Prayer is a distinctive Work.
In Luke 11:1 the disciples asked the Lord to teach them to pray.  Serving is not a substitute for prayer.  Giving is not a substitute for prayer.  There are no substitutes for prayer. Prayer is a distinctive work. It was in the life of Moses, Joshua, Daniel, Job, Peter, Paul and in the life of our Lord. It is a separate function. Be sure to fulfill it!

3. Prayer is a difficult Duty.
It is easy to grow weary. The forces of evil are against us. The world is against prayer. Our flesh gets tired. The devil hinders praying. We need passion, power, and perseverance in our praying. We need to watch and pray: Matthew 26:40-42

4. Prayer is a decisive Work.
Nothing is settled until we’ve prayed about it. Uncertain activities are settled by prayer. Unusual strength comes by prayer (Acts 4:24-31). Untouched fields are evangelized by prayer (Acts 13:1-3). Unfailing deliverance comes by prayer. Prayer makes the impossible possible.

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What About the Resurrection?

In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he answers some questions that were causing doubt and discord. In the 15th chapter, he addresses their doubts and questions concerning the resurrection. Without a doubt, this chapter, along with Romans 8, simply must be considered as two of the greatest in the entire Word of God.

He begins by stating the reason for the resurrection of Christ: “For our sins” (1 Cor 15:3). Christ was not a martyr dying for his faith, but a Savior dying for our sins. He did not say, “I am finished,” but, “It is finished”.

Paul writes to give us proof of the resurrection (1 Cor 15:5-11). Paul refers to four post-resurrection appearances of Christ (1 Cor 15:5-8).

In Paul’s day, as in our own time, there were those that denied the resurrection. Look at the list of theories that are used to explain away His resurrection:

1) The Fraud Theory: The disciples invented the whole thing.
2) The Swoon Theory: Christ merely fainted on the cross and later revived in
the coolness of the tomb.
3) The Vision Theory: The disciples only imagined that they say Him.
4) The Spirit Theory: That only His Spirit arose.
5) The Heart Theory: That He was only resurrected in the hearts of His friends.

We should be thankful that the Bible plainly teaches us that Jesus arose-Bodily-Visibly-Victoriously.

In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul declares that if the doctrine of the resurrection is denied, then one is forced to nine horrible conclusions:

1) All Gospel preaching has been and will continue to be completely useless.
2) All Gospel preachers are notorious liars.
3) All living Christians are still in their sins.
4) All departed Christians are in Hell.
5) All reason and purpose for life itself is destroyed.
6) The Saviour is still rotting in some middle-eastern grave.
7) Christian service becomes a farce.
8) Suffering for Christ is senseless and stupid.
9) The sensual way is the only way. Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die. (1 Cor 15:32).

The longer I live, the more grateful I grow, because I know the glory and the power of resurrection. The old song says:

I serve a Risen Savior, He in the world today,
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him, He is always near.

In verses 1 Cor 15:39-49, Paul preaches the perfection of the resurrection. He describes the old sinful body and the attributes of the new sinless body.

Sown in corruption (a perishable body) 1 Cor 15:42
Sown in dishonor (in a tinsel world) 1 Cor 15:43
Sown in weakness (subject to disease, infirmities and age)
Sown a natural (bounded by the laws of nature) 1 Cor 15:44

Because Jesus lives we have the promise of a new sinless body:

Raised in incorruption (an imperishable body) 1 Cor 15:42,
Raised in glory (in a perfect world) 1 Cor 15:43
Raised in power (not subject to disease & infirmities) 1 Cor 15:43
Raised a spiritual body (not bounded by the laws of nature) 1 Cor 15:44

What then is the main purpose of the resurrection? It is to destroy man’s final enemy! “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” V26. We have 5 enemies:

1) The World - Galatians 1:4, I John 2:15.
2) The Flesh - Romans 7:18, 8:8 & I John 2:16.
3) The Devil - Matthew 13:39 & Ephesians 6:11.
4) Spiritual Death - John 5:24 & Revelation 2:11.
5) Physical Death - Hebrews 2:15.

We have been given resurrection power so that we can overcome all of them. “O death where is thy sting, O grave where is thy victory? "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 15:55-57). Here, death is pictured as a venomous serpent, and its poisonous fang is sin. But someday, God will destroy both. “O death, where is thy sting?’ This may refer to departed believers, whose bodies the grave will be forced to give up.

Paul ends this great, grand and glorious chapter with the following, “Therefore, my beloved brethern, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" 1 Cor 15:58.

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True Historic Facts about Thomas Jefferson...

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), the third President, had ancestors on his father’s side of good, religious Welsh stock, Jefferson was soon recognized as one of the outstanding scholars of his time. Successful as a lawyer, he became a legislator. On February 8, 1797, he was elected Vice-President under John Adams, and on March 4, 1801, became President of the United States.

Jefferson had a deep reverence of the Bible of which he wrote:
“I have always said, and always will say, that the studious perusal of the Sacred Volume will make us better citizens, better fathers and better husbands.

He left behind him a proof of his diligent study of the teachings of our Lord in the form a scrap book, the title of which is:
The Life and Morals of Jesus Christ Of Nazareth, Extracted Textually from the Gospels in Greek, Latin, French and English.

In a letter to John Adams in 1813, Jefferson sums up the Gospels as being ‘the most sublime and benevolent code of morals which has ever been offered to man.” Thus, when he came to die, Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, was fully prepared to meet the Christ he has sought to follow.

His death came July 4, 1826, and after taking affectionate farewells of members of his family, his last audible words were: “I resign my soul to God, my daughter to my Country. Lord now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace.”

Congressman Manning said of Jefferson after he had passed away:
“Heaven, that lent him genius, was repaid."

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Why Do God’s Children Suffer?    Romans 8:18

This question has confronted God’s children throughout the ages. One of the oldest problems is that of human suffering. Every believer, at some time, has questioned and been troubled about the suffering of God’s people. Job was one of the world’s greatest sufferers, and he was perplexed over this question: Why Do God’s Children Suffer?

It is a difficult question. The complete answer will not be known until we get to Heaven. Consider with me that all of life has an undertone or a shadow of suffering upon it. We suffer in various ways in this life. We suffer in the physical, we suffer loss, disappointment, regret, remorse. We suffer mentally and spiritually. We often suffer when we have made unappreciated sacrifices.

I know Christian men and women who are and have suffered greatly. Polycarp, a famous Christian martyr, was a pupil and personal friend of the Apostle John. After serving as Bishop of Smyrna for sometime, the famous Polycarp was arrested and brought before the Roman proconsul to be tried on the charge of being a Christian.

Attempts were made to cause him to deny the Lord. After repeated appeals he gave his memorable answer: “Eighty and six years have I served Him and He has done me naught but good. How then can I speak evil of my Lord and Saviour who hath saved me.”

With calm dignity and unflinching courage, he joyfully went up to the stake; and admist the flames, he praised God for having considered him worthy to be numbered among His martyrs to drink the cup of Christ’s suffering. We might suffer the loss of property. The loss of family, the loss of health, the loss of position, the loss of sympathy, but we don’t have to suffer the loss of the way.

Jesus is the way!
Close to Thee, Close to Thee,
All along my pilgrim journey,
Saviour, let me walk with Thee.

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How to Bear Sorrow    John 14:1-3
This is the first in a series of 7 articles on Sorrow, Suffering and God’s comfort. I pray that each of these articles will be a blessing and I want to encourage you to share these unchanging truths with someone who is going through a valley of heartache and disappointment.

Sorrow is defined as a state of mental pain. It grows out of the loss of some source of genuine good. The loneliness of homes from which loved ones have passed is hard to bear. Their leaving, their departure brings tears and sorrow to our eyes and hearts. Our hearts hunger for “the touch of their hands and the sound of their voices.” There is always a mystery in sorrow. We try to understand and we find ourselves questioning. We must remember:

Not till the loom is silent, And the shuttles cease to fly
Shall God unroll the canvas And explain the reason why.
“The dark threads are needful in the Weaver’s skillful hand
as the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.

” Let me give you three desirable results of our sorrow and suffering:

1. Earnest Prayer: We need to follow the example of our wonderful Lord, when His soul was sorrowful even unto death in the Garden He prayed… (Mark 14:32-34).

O' what peace we often forfeit
O' what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.

2. Christ Likeness: Romans 8:28-29-Tells us that God uses suffering and sorrow to bring about the attitude and actions of Christ in our lives. There is no doubt about it, God can use our troubles to temper us and conform us to the image of His dear Son.

3. Greater Usefulness: Our chief concern with the dark fact of suffering is not to find and explanation but to find a “Victory.” When we are in trouble we need grace and comfort. We need to be assured that the Lord loves us and He is with us. We can use our suffering as a blessing. We can become counselors and comforters, reaching out to others that are broken, troubled and hurting (II Corinthians 1:3-4, Romans 8:18).

It is only a little while Christian,
Til labors and troubles shall cease;
And instead of heartaches and sorrows
There shall be a wonderful unending “Peace.”

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Sorrow & Suffering   2 Corinthians 4:17
“For our light affliction is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” Listen to what the great Apostle Paul refers to as being light afflictions:

Troubled on every side - Perplexed - Persecuted - Cast Down - Bearing in body the dying of the Lord Jesus - Delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake

I encourage you to read 2 Corinthians 4:7-18. Some years ago, a woman who died had been confined to her room for thirty years. In that time she never took a step, but was removed from her bed to her chair, and then back to her bed again twice daily. Her body was distorted by rheumatism, and her hands were twisted and misshapen, until they had small resemblance to human hands.

She managed somehow every day to hold her pencil and write a letter of hope and encouragement to a friend or to a stranger, who was suffering. She was never heard to complain. No one could compute the number of those she had helped. Someone who had visited her and other whom she wrote affectionately gave to her the title, “Little Lady Sunshine.”

Progress has been defined as, “an increase in the capacity for suffering.” We would be more patient if we could remember this truth. We are his workmanship, and everything which comes into our lives, if we trust Him, will serve to “perfect that which concernth us.” David said, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted.” and Paul said of himself, “For I know that this shall turn out to my salvation;” and for all of us he said, “Our affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

We should thank our Father for all of those experiences, sorrowful thought they maybe, which will chasten the highest and holiest parts of us until they are beautified into the image of His dear Son--JESUS!

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You Can Win over Worry    Philippians 4:6
Boaz said and did everything that Ruth needed to overcome her doubts, fears and worries, Ruth 2:10-16. David did the same for Mehpibosheth “and David said unto him; Fear not, for I will surely shew thee kindness” 2 Sam. 9:7. All week, I’ve been using a great verse of scripture to minister to those that have every reason to be worried-Listen to (Psalm 46:1-2) “God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear.” Let me share with you some practical Biblical truths that can enable us to win over worry.

1. Dedicated to God
“Whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:8). We must remain dedicated in our praying, reading, attending and witnessing. Dedication to the things of God brings release from the things that worry us. Make up your mind to live for the Lord no matter, what happens.

2. Dependence on God
“Commit thy way unto the Lord…and He shall bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:5). We cannot lean on our own weak finite strength. If we do, frustration and failure will be the result. As we surrender our will and weakness to God’s infinite power and perfect will we find freedom from worry.

3. By Delighting in God
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice” (Philippians 4:4). We win over worry when we count our blessings and discount our losses, look for the good, overlook the bad, forgive yourself, and forgive others, (Ephesians 4:32).

4. By Diligence for God
“For the love of Christ constraineth us”, (2 Corinthians 5:14). Busy Christians are happy Christians when it comes to doing God’s work. Some Christians are unconcerned, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed when you’re unconcerned about the work of the Lord

5. By Direction from God
(Proverbs 3:5-6) Remember the Lord is able to direct and guide us through the wilderness of worry- He is the good, great and chief shepherd and today, like the Psalmist: You can say… He is my Shepherd!

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How Could We Ever Estimate the Value of a Christian Education?

Long before our wonderful Lord commanded us to fulfill “The Great Commission” -Preaching to all the Lost-Baptizing those that believe on Him and teaching, educating baptized believers to become disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). We find these words in Isaiah43:10 - ”Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am He; before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.” This is the reason God created us and saved us, that we may know, believe and understand Him.

Our aim must be to know God and to teach others to know Him personally and intimately. It is our desire at Gateway that our students will grow to know Him more and more and walk with Him day by day. Our goal is to teach our children to believe God--
Believe His Love for the World
Believe His Salvation
Believe His promises
Believe the Holy Scriptures
Believe that He is with us no matter the trial or temptation
Believe that He cares for us
Believe that He has commissioned every believer to be a witness
Believe that He has a plan for us and a plan for the world
Believe that the most important thing in life is to live for the Lord and look for His return


Our aim, our goal, our mission at Gateway is to teach our students to understand God.
Understand that He alone is God, the only living and true God, the sovereign Lord and Majesty of the universe.

To understand that God is loving as well as Holy and righteous-God is merciful and gracious as well as just-that God will forgive sin as well as judge sin. To understand that God loves and cares for man, that He has demonstrated His love in the most supreme way possible: He has given His son to die for us-To understand that God alone can save man; therefore, He alone is to be worshiped and served by man.

The teaching and practice of these truths brings peace in the midst of trouble-Hope in a hopeless world and security in an insecure world. This is what our children need-peace, hope and security!

This describes our spiritual mission at our Christian School. To know God-Believe God and Understand God and at the same time our academic achievements have once again surpassed and gone far beyond all the national educational standards. I want to personally invite you to attend tonight’s graduation to see for yourself what we have invested our time and tithe in over the past 22 years. It is our ministry of priority-It fulfills the Great Commission, and Isaiah 43:10.

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Redeemed by His Blood   1 Peter 1:18-20

In first Peter, chapter 1, Peter is reminding us what we were, but he also reminds us what Christ did. He shed his precious blood to purchase us out of the slavery of sin and set us free forever. To redeem means “to set free by paying a price.” A slave could be freed with the payment of money, but no amount of money can set a lost sinner free. Only the blood of Jesus Christ can redeem us.

Peter was a witness of Christ’s sufferings, (1 Peter 5:1) and he mentioned his sacrificial death often in the letter 1 Peter 2:21, 3:18, 4:1-5). In calling Christ “a Lamb,” Peter was reminding us of an Old Testament teaching that is important to us today. It is the doctrine of substitution: an innocent victim giving his life for the guilty.
The doctrine of sacrifice and substitution begins in (Genesis 22:13). The Passover lamb was slain in Egypt (Exodus 12). Jesus is presented as an innocent Lamb in (Isaiah 53). John the Baptist said, “Behold the Lamb.” (John 1:29). In Heaven the redeemed sing, “Worthy is the Lamb,” (Rev. 5:11-14).

Peter made it clear that Christ’s death was an appointment, not an accident (1 Peter 1:20). He willingly laid down His life for us (John 10:17-18). Frances Ridley Havergal saw a picture of the crucified Christ with this caption under it: “I did this for thee.” Quickly, she wrote a poem but was dissatisfied with it and threw it into the fireplace. The paper came out unharmed! At her Father’s suggestion she published the poem, and today we sing it:

I gave my life for thee,
My precious blood I shed;
That thou might ransomed be,
And quickened from the dead.
I gave, I gave, my life for thee,
What hast thou given me? A good question, I pray we can give a good answer!
Saturday, August 29, 2009

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“Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; 2 Corinthians 11:23

• In labours more abundant
• In stripes above measure
• In prisons more frequent
• In deaths oft.
• Of the Jews five time received I forty stripes save one.
• Thrice was I beaten with rods
• Once was I stoned
• Thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep
• In journeying often
• In perils of waters
• In perils of robbers
• In perils by mine own countrymen
• In perils by the heathen
• In perils in the city
• In perils in the wilderness
• In perils in the sea
• In perils among false brethern
• In weariness and painfulness
• In watchings often
• In hunger and thirst
• In fastings often
• In cold and nakedness.

Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern my infirmities.”  2 Corinthians 11:23-30