tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63858542889060919402024-03-14T07:40:03.755-04:00Leverich Memorial Church, Inc.<center>102-19 32nd Avenue East Elmhurst, NY 11369 (718) 672-3371<p></p>
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<b><blockquote>"Tell It Everywhere You Go"</blockquote></b></center>Leverich Memorial Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078101750269492215noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6385854288906091940.post-7855538206043740722013-03-31T07:14:00.001-04:002013-03-31T07:14:43.189-04:00Happy Resurrection Day!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen indeed!</span></div>
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God LOVES you and so do we. Be love today! </div>
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<i>Rev. Pete</i></div>
Leverich Memorial Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078101750269492215noreply@blogger.com0Leverich Memorial Church, 10219 32nd Avenue, Queens, NY 11369, USA40.7597222 -73.866388915.237687699999999 -115.1749829 66.2817567 -32.557794900000005tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6385854288906091940.post-42870787925539480072013-01-01T00:00:00.000-05:002013-01-01T00:00:04.826-05:00Happy New Year!!!!<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="339" id="il_fi" src="http://cdn.blogs.sheknows.com/thewire.sheknows.com/2010/12/newyearsquotes.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="453" /></div>
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<em>Pastor Pete</em></div>
Leverich Memorial Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078101750269492215noreply@blogger.com0Leverich Memorial Church, 10219 32nd Ave, Queens, NY 11369, USA40.7597222 -73.866388940.7476947 -73.8861299 40.7717497 -73.846647900000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6385854288906091940.post-71105217208778763502012-12-25T22:33:00.000-05:002012-12-25T22:33:00.054-05:00Merry Christmas!<em>Today we celebrate the birth of our Savior!</em><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Jesus is the reason for the season</span></div>
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<img height="320" id="il_fi" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQ6eb1yZpMrD1DF9D5-IquHTN_bv1sPvcYPoMG9x0olB4VfT8rQFjjx6HiGzHmgqDkeslsU6fy10KGahWVehUFXc95dOsbFXbqRVPCELJh43UhVNQ1gmQdhppRpfahBjV4q1e3QWlzEA/s320/Merry-Christmas-status-updates.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="316" /></div>
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<em>Pastor Pete & the Leverich Family</em></div>
Leverich Memorial Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078101750269492215noreply@blogger.com0Leverich Memorial Church, 10219 32nd Ave, Queens, NY 11369, USA40.7597222 -73.866388940.7476947 -73.8861299 40.7717497 -73.846647900000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6385854288906091940.post-42105424853967180172012-12-02T13:00:00.000-05:002012-12-04T11:54:02.816-05:00What is This Thing Called Love? <div align="right">
December 2, 2012</div>
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The Gospel is a love letter from God. He sent His Son with it. <br />
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%204:7-11&version=NKJV" target="_blank">1 John 4:7-11</a>; <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20corinthians%2013&version=NKJV" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 13</a><br />
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<strong>1 John 4:7-11- God is Love:</strong> In order to know what this thing called love is, we have to know the author of the word and His definition. To know what love is and the definition of love we need to look at God for God is love. We need to see what He does and what He says so that we know what love looks like. God doesn't choose to love because He's trying to be nice or wants something from us. God loves because it is His essence, it is His core. "lf you cut God, He would bleed love.” <br />
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God exhibits love because He is love and His every act defines love. If God were able to stop loving, He would no longer be God. He would cease to exist. He would die and be unable to resurrect Himself. But, He CANNOT stop loving. We say, I love if ..., I love you because ..., then in the next breath say I hate your guts. We have a wrong understanding about love. <br />
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V10: If we want to know what love is we need to look at God and how He loves. God's love protects and covers us from the life destroying power of sin. God is loves and He loves completely. God can never cease to love, He is eternal therefore He can never stop loving us. We need consider and live our lives with this truth in mind. <br />
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V11: The desire of man is to love and to be loved God's way. But if you don't know God you cannot love that way. To be a recipient of God's love, one must be in relationship with Him. <br />
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<strong>1 Corinthian 13 - The Love Chapter: </strong>This chapter informs us that if the love of God is not in us, we are noise makers without substance having nothing; we are empty. <br />
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Love always needs another to test and prove its authenticity. That's why God puts us in relationships. This enables us to see how we are exhibiting His love. Often times we find we are not doing a good job at loving. But our first response is to deny it. Yet denial is the worst response we can exhibit. We need to acknowledge our inability and turn to God. Love always seeks to build us up and enables us to touch other lives in a positive way. <br />
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V4: Love is not selfish. It is other focused. For God so loved the world he gave His Son for the sins of mankind. <br />
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V5: Love does not seek to control but seeks to set the other person free to be the best that they can be. <br />
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V5: Love finds a way to support the other person even when the person is unable to or doesn't want to support themselves. We often think of drug addicts and alcoholics but this could be any ordinary person who is not doing the right thing and cannot see it. <br />
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V6: Love will never embrace a lie and call it truth. Jesus walked into the temple where they were doing all manner of wrong and He calls them on it. Love will always find a way to enable us to find what is true. <br />
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V7-8: Love seeks life and desires others to live. Love does not give up. It always seeks to heal. It always seeks to restore. Love does not give up. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Love is eternal</strong>. One day those of us who believe will meet Jesus face to face. Our faith will be made complete and our hope will be fulfilled. And the only thing that will remain as we rejoice and glory in His presence is His every abiding love. </span><br />
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<em>Pastor Pete</em></div>
Leverich Memorial Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078101750269492215noreply@blogger.com0Leverich Memorial Church, 10219 32nd Ave, Queens, NY 11369, USA40.7597222 -73.866388940.7476947 -73.8861299 40.7717497 -73.846647900000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6385854288906091940.post-5672415107077868812012-12-02T12:00:00.000-05:002012-12-04T11:27:26.644-05:00Communion: A Table of Great Love - December<div align="right">
December 2, 2012</div>
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2011:17-26&version=NKJV" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 11:17-26</a> <br />
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The greatest love act that was ever performed was done here ... sacrifice. Jesus could have said, “These folks mess up everything they touch. Let them die.” But he didn't. He gave himself as a sacrifice for us. <br />
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The greatest love attitude ever exhibited ... selflessness. He gave up his position as royalty to live among us so that He might lift us up. <br />
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The greatest love action completed… Jesus' steadfast focus on the mission. The mission was our salvation. He let nothing deter Him from completing the mission set before Him. <br />
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This is what the table reminds us of. The selfless act he did of sacrificing himself for us. He completed the mission so that we might have the opportunity to have a relationship with the Father.<br />
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<em>Pastor Pete</em></div>
Leverich Memorial Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078101750269492215noreply@blogger.com0Leverich Memorial Church, 10219 32nd Ave, Queens, NY 11369, USA40.7597222 -73.866388940.7476947 -73.8861299 40.7717497 -73.846647900000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6385854288906091940.post-74015676196108164092012-11-25T13:46:00.000-05:002012-11-26T23:53:07.673-05:00Love for God is Proven by Love for Neighbor<div align="right">
November 25, 2012</div>
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2022:34-40&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Matthew 22:34-40</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Love for God is proven by love for Neighbor</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The question was asked of Jesus because Jesus outed the Sadducees.
The Pharisees now come to question and trap Jesus. The wisdom of the many
cannot succeed the wisdom of God. They all come together against Jesus and
still get beaten. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">They come to Jesus having devised a plan to send a lawyer to
ask Jesus the question. The Bible doesn’t say they came to get knowledge but to
test His knowledge of the law. They ask Him what is the greatest law? Jesus
says, (V37) “Love the Lord <span class="woj">your God with all your heart, with
all your soul, and with all your mind.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To love God with all your mind means opening your mind up to
learn all the ways of God and to gain His understanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the laws have been written saying that you
must put God first in your life and it is manifested in the way you treat your
neighbor. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus then asks them if they love God with everything they
have. It’s not about trying to outsmart the next guy. When the truth of God is
spoken we either have to examine ourselves and say thank you Lord or ouch. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">How much of the humanitarian work that we do is done because
we love God, because he commands us to? Do we do it because we want to look
good? Because we want cool points with God? We need to be like children who
have no motive but want to give, want to help others.</span></div>
<br />Our love of God should come from what He has done for us that we could not do ourselves. <span style="font-size: large;">And our love for God should be shown through our love for others.</span><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><em></em></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><em></em></span> <em>Pastor Pete</em></div>
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Leverich Memorial Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078101750269492215noreply@blogger.com0Leverich Memorial Church, 10219 32nd Ave, Queens, NY 11369, USA40.7597222 -73.866388940.7476947 -73.8861299 40.7717497 -73.846647900000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6385854288906091940.post-35386688875059772582012-11-22T00:00:00.000-05:002012-11-22T00:00:09.508-05:00Happy Thanksgiving<div style="text-align: center;">
<em>Let us thank God today for His grace, mercy and love that He has bestowed on us today and throughout our lives. Let us thank Him for our family, friends, measure of health and strength and blessings. Rememeber that He is why we give thanks.</em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-large;">Happy Thanksgiving!</span></em></div>
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<em>Pastor Pete</em></div>
Leverich Memorial Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078101750269492215noreply@blogger.com0Leverich Memorial Church, 10219 32nd Ave, Queens, NY 11369, USA40.7597222 -73.866388940.7476947 -73.8861299 40.7717497 -73.846647900000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6385854288906091940.post-69035693365277615432012-11-18T13:00:00.000-05:002012-11-18T23:44:53.250-05:00Thanks but No Thanks: Rejecting God’s Blessings<div align="right">
November 18, 2012</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last week we saw the disciples in the boat and now they are
on the other side. They learned a lesson while on the boat and now it is back
to reality. It’s time for action. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">V28: They reach land and they are greeted by two demon possessed
men. These men come to meet Jesus and they are fierce and violent to the point
that people were afraid to pass the road these men were on. Everyone is afraid
but Jesus. When He got off the boat the demons addressed Him and recognized him
as God asking Him not to hurt them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">V29: The demons want to know why Jesus has come to mess with them.
Why didn’t He go back to the city and heal those people and leave them alone to
terrorize this place. We have to understand that there were <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">demons</b> in these two men not one demon each
but many which is why they are so fierce. These many demons asked Jesus for
mercy. The Word of God, in James, tells us that demons tremble at the name of
Jesus and we see that happening here. Demons don’t just tremble at Jesus but
the Jesus in us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">V30 - 31: Do you notice that Jesus does not answer these demons? The
demons do all the talking. The demons knew that because Jesus is the Son of God
who has come to set us free they knew they could not stay in these two men. The
demons knew that Jesus doesn’t want man to be possessed so they asked to be
cast into the pigs. We have to open our hearts and open the door to allow the
demon in but that is not God’s will. God wants us to be free.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">V32: Jesus tells them to go into the pigs. Why would Jesus let
them go into the pig? Pigs have no soul. Demons want to be able to roam free.
Jude 1:6 – The cast out angels was locked in an abyss. This is their chance to
be move free on the earth. They want to roam free but they couldn’t stay in the
men so they chose the pigs and destroyed them over a cliff.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">V33: There are people who witnessed this. The tenders of the pigs
saw all that took place. These individuals would have to tell their employer
this story. They went to the town and told them everything; the demons, the
pigs and what happened to the demon possessed men who were now free.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">V34: The whole city came out to meet Jesus after the story
was relayed. When they saw Him they begged Him to leave. They wanted Jesus to
go far away. These people focused on drowning pigs and not on the two lives
that were now free. The people of this city did not recognize that the man that
set these possessed men free could set them free and provide them more pigs.
Sometimes we think blessing are supposed to come in pretty wrappings. They
don’t always come that way. Blessings can come out of loss and tragedy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We need to look for God’s hand in every situation. We need
to look where there is life. We always say “Oh My God” and never look for the
blessing in the tragedy. We always blame God for the wrong when it really is
our own sin that has caused it. We always focus on the negative and death. God
doesn’t focus on death but on life. Therefore our focus like God’s must be on
the living. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">God dwells in that which brings life. This story shows us
that God is about life. God is cool with us when everything is going right. When
things go bad then we cry out “Where is God?” However, when Jesus is in the
midst blessings are ALWAYS there. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This Thanksgiving season we need to be thankful that Jesus
Christ is in our lives and in our homes. There is no one that blesses like
Jesus and as long as He is in our lives WE ARE BLESSED! Let’s make sure that
our doors are always open to Jesus. <span style="font-size: large;">Never look towards the death always look
towards the God that brings LIFE!</span></span></div>
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<em>Pastor Pete</em></div>
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Leverich Memorial Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078101750269492215noreply@blogger.com0Leverich Memorial Church, 10219 32nd Ave, Queens, NY 11369, USA40.7597222 -73.866388940.7476947 -73.8861299 40.7717497 -73.846647900000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6385854288906091940.post-43621622623559565262012-11-11T13:00:00.000-05:002012-11-11T22:11:46.292-05:00Not Just Another Boat Story<div style="text-align: right;">
November 11, 2012</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%208:23-27&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Matthew 8:23-27</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus in this passage is talking to believers only. This
message is for us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In this story men who know how to take care of themselves
and are familiar with the seas are scared. Sometimes in life, in what is familiar
to you, trouble comes. Trouble comes because we live in a troubled world. Just
because we are Christians does not exempt us from trouble.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Trouble and tests shows us how weak we are or how strong we
are in our faith. The reason we are given tests is to show how much we know
about what we have learned. This is a good thing. Unfortunately, now, in school
for instance, we are taught how to take tests instead of how to learn and when
trouble comes we are clueless. Everything that is made, boats for example, are
put through tests before they are launched. In the same manner God tests us, to
show us our strengths and weaknesses. If we go through the test and show we are
strong we should not be prideful but thank God they we have passed the test. If
we are shown weak we must still thank God because he has shown where we need to
gain strength and we need to look to Him for that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">V24: In this passage the boat is in the storm and the
disciples are working feverishly to keep it from sinking. Jesus is down in the
boat asleep. This is not normal behavior in a sinking boat. The disciples go to
wake Him up because they fear that they will perish. Jesus asks them why are
they fearful? He probably said this in a soothing tone, calming the disciples.
In a situation that was out of control God was in control.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">V25: In this passage we see choice at work. The disciples
could have rested on their skill. They are trying to save themselves here. They
are probably baling water out of the boat and trying to steer it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they make the decision to go wake up
Jesus. Choice is a beautiful thing. Sometimes when we get in trouble the last
person we think about is God, if at all. Here, in the boat, as the storm is
raging the disciples go to Jesus and say Lord, save us. We must know that God’s
desire is always to save us. We must understand and rest in that truth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We also see the power of observation. The disciples have had
time to observe Jesus sleeping. We must be observing what is happening around
us so that we can make a choice. When you have time to observe, you have time
to choose. The best choice we can make is to call on the name of the Lord. The
disciples had enough time to observe Jesus sleeping and make a choice to wake Him
up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">V26: Finally, we see God’s intervention. The disciples woke
Jesus and he went into action. When God intervenes we see three things that
happen.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There
is a pause – Jesus got up</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God
always stops death – he stops the storm</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God
introduces life – The lives of the disciples are spared.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When God speaks everyone stops and listens and nature
responds. In the course of this day they see Jesus heal the leper, the servant
of the centurion, Peter’s mother-in-law, the multitude and Jesus tells them the
cost of following Him but they were never in trouble themselves. Now they were
in trouble and they needed Jesus and they marveled at what He had done for not
just others but more importantly for them. That is what God wants in our lives.
He wants us to recognize the things He has done for us and marvel at them so
that we know that we must make the choice for him.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This story is a lesson for us that we must look to God.
Trouble should not be looked at as being something that is uncontrollable. We
need to invite God in. It’s not about the winds and the waves obeying Him but
us obeying Him. This story is for us because we need to allow God into our
lives in good times and times of trouble.<strong><span style="font-size: large;"> When we allow God to take control He
preserves our lives.</span></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: right;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>Pastor Pete</em> </span></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
Leverich Memorial Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078101750269492215noreply@blogger.com0Leverich Memorial Church, 10219 32nd Ave, Queens, NY 11369, USA40.7597222 -73.866388940.7476947 -73.8861299 40.7717497 -73.846647900000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6385854288906091940.post-30907505989484090422012-11-11T12:00:00.000-05:002012-11-11T22:25:29.029-05:00Happy Veteran's Day<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><span style="font-size: large;">We thank all the men and women who fight to protect our freedom.</span></em></div>
<em></em><br />
<div align="center">
<img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="214" data-width="236" height="214" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRrcQttxzQMzD6CGybxxb0B19mBFLXwXppqUV7wFF7ICOQ5L8XZ" style="height: 214px; width: 236px;" width="236" /></div>
<em></em><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<em></em> </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<em>Pastor Pete & the Leverich Memorial Church Family</em></div>
Leverich Memorial Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078101750269492215noreply@blogger.com0Leverich Memorial Church, 10219 32nd Ave, Queens, NY 11369, USA40.7597222 -73.866388940.7476947 -73.8861299 40.7717497 -73.846647900000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6385854288906091940.post-45632505317831603082012-11-04T13:00:00.000-05:002012-11-04T16:08:12.321-05:00Your Decision Costs
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">November 4, 2012</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%208:18-22&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Matthew 8:18-22</a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We, in our study of Matthew, have seen Jesus heal a leper
(direct ask), the servant of a Roman believer (mediator), and Peter’s mother
in-law (saw the need). This is how God works even now. We can go to Him ourselves, someone can go on our behalf, and God will see and meet our need. God’s mercy endures even today.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In v18, Jesus calls his disciples aside for a little
teaching. Jesus was touching the lives of a lot of individuals. The multitude
was still following him but he shifted the focus to feeding his disciples. He
decides to leave the multitude to go to the other side so that he could explain
to the disciples what is going on. Jesus lets us know that we have to know what
we have gone through and what we have experienced to fully understand its impact and what it means.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus needed to have a private conversation
with his disciples to explain everything they have seen and heard.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">v19: As they went, a scribe asked if he could join them. He has
written the laws and seen the lives of the Pharisees and now, seeing the life of Jesus
he wants to follow Jesus because he has seen the good things Jesus has
done. We follow things that look good to us but Jesus wants us not to just see
Him but also understand who He is and why He came.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">V20: We all want to be followed but instead of Jesus saying come
on He gives this scribe a lesson. He lets the scribe know that following Him
will not be easy. His decision will cost him. The Christian life can be
difficult. It is not always easy. It costs us to follow Jesus.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">V21: A disciples then asks to bury his father. The disciple is
starting to consider what Jesus is saying and may be looking for an excuse to get
out of following Jesus. The price that Jesus laid out was too much for him.
Jesus responds by saying that those who are in darkness can take care of those
in darkness. But you have experienced the Light and you need to share that
Light. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The decisions we make cost not just us but those around us.
Who we choose as our elected officials, where we work, how we work, who we marry all have a compound effect on our lives and our world. Our decision to sin
cost Jesus His life. But we need to make the decision for Christ. We need to
make the choice to follow God. We need to trust in Him to provide for our
needs, to take care of us so that we can have peace in our heart knowing that
God will provide.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Your decision will always cost. <strong><span style="font-size: large;">When the rubber meets the
road and we are in dire need its Jesus.</span></strong></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<em><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pastor Pete</span></em></div>
Leverich Memorial Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078101750269492215noreply@blogger.com0Leverich Memorial Church, 10219 32nd Ave, Queens, NY 11369, USA40.7597222 -73.866388940.7476947 -73.8861299 40.7717497 -73.846647900000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6385854288906091940.post-65594273547718564622012-11-04T12:00:00.000-05:002012-11-04T15:52:14.373-05:00Communion - November
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
November 4, 2012</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Matthew 26:26-30</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Communion </span>is a time of thankfulness and rejoicing. In the passage
Jesus was facing death. After this supper Jesus and the disciples were to depart to go to the Garden of Gethsemane and then Jesus would be arrested, tried and crucified. After the supper they sang a hymn and then they left the supper
rejoicing, not sorrowful. When we partake of this table it is a time of
rejoicing for what God has done. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Taking of the bread should remind us of the
punishment that should have been ours. We should remember that the punishment
that Jesus received should have been for us. We do suffer today but without
Jesus imagine how much more our suffering would be. Jesus came to destroy his
body so the destruction would stop. He shed his blood so that others blood
might not be shed.</div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before Christ came man knew how to kill, how to destroy, how
to die. Jesus offers us life. If we receive it He will change our outlook, our in-look, and our whole life. Even in all the destruction we face we can give God
thanks because he is still on the throne & he still reigns.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<em>Pastor Pete</em></div>
Leverich Memorial Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078101750269492215noreply@blogger.com0Leverich Memorial Church, 10219 32nd Ave, Queens, NY 11369, USA40.7597222 -73.866388940.7476947 -73.8861299 40.7717497 -73.846647900000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6385854288906091940.post-87541603239281955822012-10-21T13:00:00.000-04:002012-10-22T20:26:10.352-04:00Jesus Covers It All
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">October 21, 2012</span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%208:12-17&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Matthew 8:12-17</a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Continuing in our our study of Matthew, we see that Peter was married. Many times in the Bible
we see the disciples with Jesus but here we see that the disciples have
families because they are at Peter’s house. When they went to the house Jesus
saw that Peter’s mother-in-law was sick. Jesus observed that she was not doing
her usually things and she was lying down sick. There is no request here like
the leper and centurion had made. There is simply an observation made by Jesus.
He didn’t wait for a request He just touched her and the fever left. With that
one touch she was healed and not because a request was made.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus' encounter here is two verses long. In our other explorations in this series they are much longer. But here He saw, He touched, and
she was healed. This tells us that Jesus is always watching over us. We can’t
say I have aches and pains all over my body and you only touched my knee. We
forget that God didn’t have to touch us at all. Any touch we receive from God
deserves our praise. We are never out of His sight or far from his touch. The question is, Do we
expect His touch?</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now there where many people here to witness this event, as
in the case of the leper and the centurion where multitudes were following
Jesus. Peter’s mother-in-law was healed in the morning and by the evening
people were bringing those who were demon possessed to Jesus. Jesus cast out
these spirits with a word. Jesus did nothing that was out of line with the
Father that was foretold - Isaiah 53:4.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">V17 – Jesus covers it all, no matter what the situation is.
Jesus reached out to the leper. The centurion was not Jewish but he was able to
come to Jesus with a request and have it be fulfilled. He even covers you when
you don’t make the request as with Peter’s mother-in-law. There are holes in
healthcare but there are no holes in Jesus-care.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In our lives this means that no matter what we are going
through, when we feel like an outcast, when other people bring us, when there
is a spiritual need, even when we don’t make the request, God covers us. We may
want things to go right all the time but that doesn’t always happen. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">No matter
what the future holds <span style="font-size: large;">God will cover us</span>.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="right">
<em>Pastor Pete</em></div>
Leverich Memorial Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078101750269492215noreply@blogger.com0Leverich Memorial Church, 10219 32nd Ave, Queens, NY 11369, USA40.7597222 -73.866388940.7476947 -73.8861299 40.7717497 -73.846647900000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6385854288906091940.post-43185550631495811212012-10-14T13:00:00.000-04:002012-10-22T22:20:58.313-04:00Faith Works When You Know & Understand its Author
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">October 14, 2012</span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%208:5-13&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Matthew 8:5-13</a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus didn’t come to die for the world but he came to die
for the individuals in the world. He loved the world but died for mankind, for
the world dwellers. It is about saving the people in the world. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The world is groaning, waiting for the Lord’s return. It
groans for God’s repair, while we destroy it. Yet and still God seeks to save
us. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">V6: In the passage, Jesus is entering Capernaum. The centurion
is waiting for Jesus. He is a high ranking official with status and power in Rome. We
find out that his servant is sick and because of the centurion's status he has
probably gotten doctors to look at him to no avail. His servant was so sick, it was to
the point of them not being able to move. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>We must have absolute trust</strong>. This is a servant, someone the centurion does not have to
care about. He doesn’t see this person as just a body, he cares about this person's welfare. No one else
can help so the centurion waits for Jesus. He has absolute trust that Jesus can heal his
servant. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>We need a humble heart</strong>. When Jesus arrives, the centurion states his case and Jesus
says I will come and heal him. The centurion says he is not worthy to have Jesus come into
his house. All he asked of Jesus was to speak a word. The centurion lives in a
very nice place but he says that his house is not good enough for Jesus to
come to. The centurion believed that just a word would do. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">V10: Jesus is telling us something. A lot of us will sit
down with the law and miss Jesus, miss the Gospel, miss the truth. This is
because you will have a faith that is about the head and not the heart. People
go to church with their head and do not have Jesus in their heart. God gets
tossed out and religion is what we live by.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">V11-12: Many people think that they will be going to glory
but Jesus will tell them I don’t know you. Jesus is trying to warn us to
examine ourselves. The centurion had a non-visible acceptance of Jesus. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">That is what Jesus asks of us, non-visible
acceptance</b>. He didn’t need Jesus to come and do it, he just needed him to
say it. And when Jesus said it the centurion went home knowing it was done.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Faith works when we know and understand its author. God sent
His Son to go and find us and save us. Just like the centurion when himself to
seek Jesus for the healing of his servant. To understand who he is, we must
humble ourselves and know that he is working on our case and give him praise.
He gives us the choice.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<em><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pastor Pete</span></em></div>
Leverich Memorial Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078101750269492215noreply@blogger.com0Leverich Memorial Church, 10219 32nd Ave, Queens, NY 11369, USA40.7597222 -73.866388940.7476947 -73.8861299 40.7717497 -73.846647900000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6385854288906091940.post-74836541718761732512012-10-07T13:00:00.000-04:002012-10-22T21:06:20.675-04:00Lord, If You’re Willing, I am Waiting
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">October 7, 2012</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%208:1-4&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Matthew 8:1-4</a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you find a good teacher you will see what they are
teaching next semester. We do that with church as well. If we are motivated by
what is said by Joel Olsteen or T.D. Jakes, etc you will follow them. Here the
temple is empty and the multitudes are following Jesus. The Pharisees are not happy about
this. The people were following them but compared to Jesus they were sorely lacking.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In Matthew 8:1-4, we encounter a leper who is segregated from all others but he positions himself to be in the path so that he could talk to Jesus so he would be healed. He believed that if he could just get to Jesus, if he just positioned himself to be near Him, he would be healed. When we pray do we believe that God is all powerful? Do we position ourselves to talk to Jesus?
Do we believe that he can do anything for us? The leper knew that Jesus could
heal him. The leper knew Jesus could if it was His will. Do we go to God like
that? Do we know that He can?</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus says that He will as He is reaching out to touch us. Our
God, no matter what is going on around us and what the world says our shame is,
the Lord is approaching us to touch us and draw us to himself. He wants that one
on one relationship with us. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">V3: The multitude is following but this man gets in the way
because he wanted Jesus to change his life. God wants to change our
situation; First, our spiritual situation and then our physical situation. This
leper was waiting for Jesus to pass. How long was he waiting? We don’t know but
he said, if you are willing I am waiting. That is how our attitude must be.
Lord, no matter how long if you are willing, I am waiting.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">V4: Jesus tells the man to tell no one. In order to be
restored to society he had to go to the priest. to be declared clean. We often times don’t go back to
where we can be restored. Jesus is saying go straight to the priest to be
declared clean so that you may be restored so that it may be a testimony to
everyone else. What God does for us is a testimony of what he has done and can
do. God was calling him to be an obedient witness. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Where do we stand in the things of our lives? Is our
attitude, Lord if you’re willing I am waiting? Hebrews 11:6 says, it is about faith.
We must continue to read his Word so that we give Him access to our lives. And
we must believe His Word. (Rev 22:18) If our position is that God’s Word has a
flaw then the truth is not in us. Therefore, if we agree with God we need to
pray and ask him if He is willing to fix it. We have to be waiting knowing that He can.
<span style="font-size: large;">Keep a mind of prayer, knowing that He is willing and worship Him.</span></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<em><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pastor Pete</span></em></div>
Leverich Memorial Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078101750269492215noreply@blogger.com0Leverich Memorial Church, 10219 32nd Ave, Queens, NY 11369, USA40.7597222 -73.866388940.7476947 -73.8861299 40.7717497 -73.846647900000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6385854288906091940.post-12454318245220364292012-10-07T12:00:00.000-04:002012-10-22T21:21:37.518-04:00Communion: The Table of Faith - October
<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">October 7, 2012</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2011:23&version=NKJV" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 11:23</a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Lord’s Supper is a supper of faith. This supper means
our sins are paid for. If we had to face the punishment for our sins we would
stand guilt and would perish. The cup, representing his blood was shed for us
that our sins would be washed away. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This supper is a practice of faith and is only for
believers. If you don’t belief what just said and has merit then participating
is just going through the motions. This table means being able to live our
lives according to God’s Word and allowing no one to change our minds. This
table is faith.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="right">
<em>Pastor Pete</em></div>
Leverich Memorial Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078101750269492215noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6385854288906091940.post-50018851499922857112012-09-30T13:00:00.000-04:002012-10-22T23:51:04.188-04:00It is knowing Him and not just His Name that gets you into Heaven.<div style="text-align: right;">
September 30, 2012</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%207:21&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Matthew 7:21</a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus was talking to a multitude of people. Young and old,
lazy, enthusiastic, rich and poor and yet they all got a lesson from Him; so
much so that they wanted more.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus is setting them straight. It is not about religion but
relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus is not talking to
the Pharisees, the high-falootin’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Pharisees would never come to Jesus saying “Lord, Lord”. It is those in the
trenches. Not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven.
It is not about works or whatever people say it takes to get there. It is about
what God says.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To get on the heaven bound train you need the right ticket
and the ticket is Jesus. Doing God’s will is what gets us heaven bound. People
think about heaven as being in the sky but Jesus is taking about the kingdom of
heaven; becoming a part of the family of God. </span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many will say to Jesus at the Day of Judgment, “have I not…”
And HE will say depart I do not know you. Why? Because what is missing is that
they have not walked according to the Will of God. It does not mean that they
have disobeyed the law of this land. You may have lived a perfect life to the
world’s standards but not embraced Jesus Christ which is God’s standard.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus is saying, you are saying the right words but your
allegiance is not with me. God wants us to know why we are here. </span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">As we live our lives for the Lord we need to challenge
people about their lives. No one wants to hear God say, I never knew you. </span></div>
<br />
<div align="right">
<em>Pastor Pete</em></div>
Leverich Memorial Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078101750269492215noreply@blogger.com0Leverich Memorial Church, 10219 32nd Ave, Queens, NY 11369, USA40.7597222 -73.866388940.7476947 -73.8861299 40.7717497 -73.846647900000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6385854288906091940.post-53254909877935936432012-09-23T13:00:00.000-04:002012-11-19T16:38:51.066-05:00Eyes Open, Be Alert, Watch<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">September 23, 2012</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%207:15-20&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Matthew 7:15-20</a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We must apply these verses to every aspect of our lives. We must examine those we are supposed to trust. Be alert. Keep your eyes open. Watch out for falseness.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Beware of false prophets that come in sheep’s clothing. Be careful when you watch the news on TV and the newspaper. Look for the truth in it but do not take it at face value.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus comes to us talking about an influential group that is strong at this time, the Pharisees. They are making money off of the people. They look good and sound good but they are wolves with rabies. All they want is to rip you apart. We have Pharisees in our world today. They look good but they will destroy you.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The media is bought and paid for. We need to stop letting people persuade us with a lie. The Bible says that Satan will entice you with sweet words. V16 says that we will know them by their fruits. We know it’s an apple because it grows on an apple tree. Don’t just embrace someone who says trust me, look at their lives.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You have to look before you make a decision. V17-18 – Every good tree bears good fruit and every bad tree produces bad fruit. Nothing good can come out of something bad. A good tree means the roots are good. A bad tree means that the roots are bad. A tree produces bad fruit because deep down at the roots something is wrong. </span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">V19: We need to open our eyes to what is going on in our lives at every level. Don’t make excuses for it. You can put a pig in a dress and pearls but it will still be a pig. We need to get rid of the stuff that is bad, that is not profiting us. </span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Keep your eyes open and be alert because you have to come to a decision. Do not let anyone think for you. Parents are supposed to get their children to the point where they can think for themselves. We never want our children to be dependent on us forever. We have to make sure that we plant in our children the knowledge to survive. That is what God has given to us.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">God showed us his credentials. He didn’t have to tell people to trust him. He just said follow me because he had proven Himself faithful and trustworthy. </span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Keep your eyes open. Remain alert. <span style="font-size: large;">Let’s be ready to make the judgment call with the right information.</span></span></div>
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</div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<em><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pastor Pete</span></em></div>
Leverich Memorial Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078101750269492215noreply@blogger.com0Leverich Memorial Church, 10219 32nd Ave, Queens, NY 11369, USA40.7597222 -73.866388940.7476947 -73.8861299 40.7717497 -73.846647900000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6385854288906091940.post-15476331904479827802012-09-16T13:32:00.000-04:002012-09-23T01:33:42.852-04:00It’s a Judgment Call<div align="right" class="MsoNormal">
September 16, 2012</div>
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</div>
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</div>
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%207:1-6&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Matthew 7:1-6</a></div>
<br />
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</div>
First words people see in this text is
judge not and we think that God is saying not to judge but that is not true. We
make judgments every day.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Webster’s dictionary says
to judge means to form an estimate about something. To judge just means to make a decision. We
are called to make decisions every day. It’s easy to judge a light. Green means
go, red means stop. But stop signs require judgment. </div>
<br />
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We make judgments at
school, at home, at work. God has made us to make decisions. A sad thing is when one cannot make a decision or makes a decision based on another people’s opinions and not there
own.</div>
<br />
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The text says the same
meter that you use to judge someone else will be the meter you will be judged
by. Be very careful about how you come to a decision about someone.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
All Jesus is doing here
is making it clear; do unto others as you would have them do unto you. As you
see the splinter in someone’s eye remember that it’s broken off of the plank in your own eye.</div>
<br />
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We may not have all the
facts when making final decisions about some one. Jesus is saying make sure you
have all the facts. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
We judge things from a
point of prejudice. We take people’s opinions and how we’ve grown up as a frame of reference not
considering that we could make the same mistake. Jesus asks us to put ourselves
in that person’s shoes. We want to look at the person with fresh, open eyes. We
need to take our time. We don’t want to be the jury that finds one guilty only
to find out that they are innocent.</div>
<br />
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That’s why Jesus called
us hypocrites. We don’t look at it from the other side. We don’t want to be at
the mercy of man. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first thing we need
to do is look at ourselves, understanding the biases we have. First we must
remove the plank from our own eye. We need to remove anything that would impede
our judgment before we go to help our brother. We have to be willing to take
care of our brother. We come with a quick response of judgment. But its not
about quick response its about making your brother whole. Instead, we condemn.</div>
<br />
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The Pharisees always came
with condemnation. Jesus came to make us whole again.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
An unfair judgment or decision
will come back to bite you. From one extreme to the other can condemn us. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Judgment evaluates before
you come to the conclusion. Once something comes out of your mouth you can’t
get it back. If you come with biases you are not going to get it right. A
Christians we need to realize that judgment calls affect other people's live.
Therefore, we need to use righteous, godly judgment.</div>
<br />
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God made a judgment call
with Jesus Christ. We were guilty. He could have destroyed the world. God
looked down the road and saw everything that man is doing now and will do. In
that instant he could have destroyed the world but he saved us instead.</div>
<br />
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Let's do judgment God’s
way so that in the end he is honered.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal">
<em>Pastor Pete</em></div>
Leverich Memorial Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078101750269492215noreply@blogger.com0Leverich Memorial Church, 10219 32nd Ave, Queens, NY 11369, USA40.7597222 -73.866388940.7476947 -73.8861299 40.7717497 -73.846647900000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6385854288906091940.post-14259877482450710012012-09-02T13:00:00.000-04:002012-10-22T23:27:20.459-04:00A Narrow Road that Invites Everyone to Walk it<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Matthew 7:13, 14</span></div>
<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We don’t want truth. We want to hear what we want to hear,
even if it is a lie. The Bible says, the truth will set you free. We would
rather be bound then be free.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So many people would rather join the group as it is going
along; not thinking, not seeing until it is too late. Running aimless; they
don’t know why and don’t know where they are running to.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To enter the narrow gate you must seek the gate. Then you
have to examine it – where does this road lead me? Then you have to make a
decision. Then you have to follow.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don’t listen to anyone who says, “trust me” and they have no
track record. Jesus has a track record of his goodness, his kindness, his
faithfulness. <span style="font-size: large;">He</span> healed the sick. <span style="font-size: large;">He</span> raised the dead.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The narrow gate must be traversed one at a time. The wide
gate can be passed by a crowd. The narrow gate calls for an individual
decision. It’s a personal invitation.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A lot of people would rather walk the way that is easy but
brings their death then to walk the narrow gate which would be a little harder
but brings life. </span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The roads that are most frequently used will be paved. The
road less traveled will have the bumps. The less traveled road seems to be the
Christian life. You don’t follow the masses. Life is not going to be easy all
the time. We will experience the same things someone in the world will
experience. As we preserve through these difficulties in the Lord it will lead
us to <strong><span style="font-size: large;">LIFE</span></strong>. You will recognize that God has brought you through and you can
give Him praise.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The things in our world may not get better but we can <strong>KNOW</strong>
that God is <strong>IN</strong> <strong>CONTROL</strong> and He <strong>WILL</strong> bring us through. He is always concerned for
our welfare and our safety. Pray that our heart will be set to walk the narrow
gate so that we see our values, what we stand for and what we stand on. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lets walk, calling on the name of the Lord not just walking
aimlessly, not looking at what is going on around us.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Let’s be excited about the Word of God. He promises that if
we serve Him, He will give us Life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<em><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pastor Pete</span></em></div>
Leverich Memorial Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078101750269492215noreply@blogger.com0Leverich Memorial Church, 10219 32nd Ave, Queens, NY 11369, USA40.7597222 -73.866388940.7476947 -73.8861299 40.7717497 -73.846647900000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6385854288906091940.post-24126223782600878492012-09-02T12:00:00.000-04:002012-10-22T23:09:11.279-04:00Communion - September <div style="text-align: right;">
September 2, 2012</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus has experienced the pain, hardship, and disappointment
of this world. As we take the bread, God wants us to understand he is not
distant from us. He is with us and understands everything that is going on in
our lives and our bodies. The cup is a new covenant. We are saved, not by the
rituals of other religions but through Jesus Christ’s blood alone. As we take
communion we need to know that He understands EVERYTYHING about us and we are
saved through Jesus Christ. </span><br />
<br />
<div align="right">
<em>Pastor Pete</em></div>
Leverich Memorial Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078101750269492215noreply@blogger.com0Leverich Memorial Church, 10219 32nd Ave, Queens, NY 11369, USA40.7597222 -73.866388940.7476947 -73.8861299 40.7717497 -73.846647900000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6385854288906091940.post-90695410075435548132012-04-08T13:19:00.000-04:002012-04-25T21:27:16.790-04:00His Resurrection Has Changed the World, How Has It Changed Your Life?<div style="text-align: right;">
April 8, 2012</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2024&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Luke 24</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><strong>Introduction:<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Ephesians
2:1, 2 – The reason we have a different outlook today is because of Jesus
Christ and that is the only reason. We can look forward to tomorrow only because
God sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins. We see and know people whose
lives are a mess but they themselves cannot see it or seemingly feel powerless
to change. Paul says our life was once like this and that we were going against
everything God stands for. This world is screwed up. Why? Sin! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">But
GOD….He has changed the world. He took what was messed up and screwed up and
marked for destruction and gives us His righteousness. Yet, the world is seemingly
still screwed up. That’s because God’s righteousness doesn’t happen in a vacuum.
God’s offers each and every person the choice to either receive or reject His
righteous plan of salvation. Parents don’t like to give their children choices.
They are afraid that their child won’t choose them, so they lock them in a box,
(figuratively speaking). But eventually they have to let that child out. That
is not what God does. He is not afraid of our choices. He therefore, gives us the
means to get out of the box. In His Word, the Bible, God gives us the
opportunity to live right, to be an original and not a copy. In today’s world
we see a lot of copies. God wants us to be originals for Him and not copies of
the world. In God we can belong to Him and still be an original, one of a kind
as He has always intended us to be. But in the world we become a copy, always
changing trying to figure out whom to follow next. God’s plans for us are freeing,
He simply enhances who we are and enable us to be who He has designed us to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">The
calendar is a perfect example of how Christ has shaped the world. It is based
on the birth of our Lord. The laws that govern our nation are based on the Word
of God. If we take the Word of God out of the justice system we will be at the
mercy of a man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">As we look
at these verses in Luke chapter 24<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">V13-19:
On the road Jesus is walking with two men and they did not know it was Him
because they did not expect to see Him, they thought He was dead. When we don’t
expect to see something or someone they can be right in front of us and we can
miss it. With God we must learn to expect the unexpected especially when it is
written in the Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">V22-23:
They proceed to tell Jesus about what happened to Him still unaware of whom
they are talking to, telling His story as a new reporter reporting an event yet
doubting its veracity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">V24-27:
Jesus asks them why they are surprised, Are the Word of the prophets not true?
Isn’t God’s Word true? God’s Word is 100% true. Always has been, and always
will be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">V28-32:
When we sincerely spend a little time with Jesus we are not going to want Him
to leave. We are going to ask Him to stay. We become accustom to and enjoy His
company. Anytime someone sincerely spends time with Jesus, Jesus is going to
change their life. When we spend time with Him we will get to know Him. We will
also get to know our self and realize we are dependent on Him. We need to spend
quality time with God, this happens when we read and study God’s Word, the
Bible. Spending quality time in church is NOT quality time with Jesus. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">There are things that happen in church that
are not of God.</b> Spending time with God always brings us to a place of
decision. The question asked is, “What will you do with Jesus?”<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">To the
person who has not accepted Jesus as their Savior, I offer you God’s gift,
Jesus Christ His Son: receive Him, trust Him, get to know Him, He will
illuminate and enhance your life. . For the believer, let us be constant in the
Word of God that we may grow deeper in the knowledge of our Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><strong>Conclusion:<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Psalm
118:19-21 Christ’s resurrection has (not if, but has) changed the world, how
has it changed your life? His life, death and resurrection had the approval and
acceptance of the One who sent Him, God. If we are doing that which is not acceptable
to God, we are wasting of time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">This resurrection
day God has answered. There was a cry from this land for salvation and God sent
Jesus, His Son. If you have cried out for salvation, has God not answered you? <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
If we want access to the Father it is only through Him.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">How has Jesus affected you
life? Do you depend on Him for everything? Receive Him today.</span></span></b><br />
<br />
<div align="right">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><em>Pastor Pete</em></span></div>Leverich Memorial Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078101750269492215noreply@blogger.com0Leverich Memorial Church, Queens, NY 11369, USA40.7597222 -73.866388940.7476947 -73.8861299 40.7717497 -73.846647900000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6385854288906091940.post-90664744671879516172012-04-01T13:00:00.000-04:002012-04-05T01:08:14.993-04:00Jesus You Are Welcome Here<div style="text-align: right;">
April 1, 2012</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2021:1-11&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Matthew 21:1-11</a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Welcome
means… to receive with pleasure and friendliness into ones company or home; a
welcomed guest.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">In
order to have the power to welcome one must be the owner of the house, the
store or the body through which the guest comes. You also have to have the
power to welcome someone into our lives. We can welcome someone superficially;
when we are just being, as they say, polite. But welcome means to receive with
pleasure and friendliness. True welcome comes from the heart and not the
presentation of how you welcome the person. For the welcome to be true our
heart must be sincere; we have to want them to be there. Often times those who
we don’t want are the ones that make it their business to be in our business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">When
Jesus dwelt among us were we welcoming Him or was He extending a welcome to us?
Did the people in the crowd even know what was going on? It only took one in
the crowd to start to the cheer, Hosanna, to get the rest of the crowd going.
But the crowd did not know what was going on. We know this because days later
when the cheer went out, Crucify Him, they cheered then too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">It
wasn’t triumphant because we were welcoming Jesus but because He was welcoming
us. God says I invite you to be a part of my group. In the Gospels, Jesus says
no longer do I call you disciples but I call you friends. He welcomes us into His
family with pleasure and friendliness. He doesn’t tell us to take our shoes off
at the door. Our sin is not going to change if we take our shoes off at the
door. He tells us to come as we are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When you are ill, when you can’t settle things in your mind, He says </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">just come.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">After
we receive His welcome we must welcome Him into our lives. Many people accept
God’s welcome and walk in but never welcome Christ into their lives. It’s not
about the presentation. The presentation of when God welcomed us was on a
rugged tree, His hands outstretched, spear in His side, bleeding out. He wanted
to open His arms wide and have us run to Him. But instead, it took two nails we
put there because of our sin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><strong>Revelation
3:20</strong> – <em> Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><span class="text Rev-3-20"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span class="woj"></span></span></span>We need to open our hearts and welcome Him in. This Word is powerful,
sharper than any two edge sword. It shows what this world is like and that He
overcomes all that happens in this world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Today
he wants us to welcome Him because he has welcomed us. As He has welcomed us
with pleasure and friendliness into Him home He wants us to welcome Him with
pleasure and friendliness into ours. Have you welcomed Him in? Will you let Him
in?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<em>Pastor Pete</em></div>Leverich Memorial Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078101750269492215noreply@blogger.com0Leverich Memorial Church, Queens, NY 11369, USA40.7597222 -73.866388940.7476947 -73.8861299 40.7717497 -73.846647900000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6385854288906091940.post-20247267427904722392012-03-25T13:29:00.000-04:002012-04-03T22:04:34.065-04:00Christ is Preeminent Over Our Witness<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">March 25, 2012</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%204:2-18&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Colossians 4:2-18</a></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Recap</span></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">: The church should be
watchmen: In our community, in Washington, in our homes, in our schools. We
need to stand on the principles of God. Because we are not, sin is running
rampant in the world. We don’t pray the Word of God or our lives are so shabby
we don’t believe God will answer our prayers. So our prayers hit the ceiling and
bounce off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">If you
do not know how to live, how to walk you will be weak. Paul commends the church
in Colossians for their faith but tells then that in order to remain strong you
have to know what God’s Word is and then you have to receive it. Knowing what
it means to live upright before God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Christ is
in control over the philosophies of the world. Christ has preeminence over the
legalism and rules of the church. It is not about what we do but how we come
before the Lord, with humbled hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
what is said is does not line up with God’s Word it must be disregarded. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">If
what you think does not line up with what God says, it is wrong thinking. God
has set the standard of right. It’s not about what we think but about what God
knows. God must have preeminence in our personal lives and in our homes. We
must instill God’s principles in our children. If Christ is not preeminent in our
lives He will not be preeminent in our homes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">We are witnesses for God<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Our
lives should show who God is in our lives. We should not need an announcement
that we, the Christian, has arrived. Jesus did not require an introduction yet he
was a King. The testimony of His life was captured in what He did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">V2: It
says to continue earnestly in prayer. We don’t take time to just talk to the
Lord. We give Him the five minute quickie and then we are Gone. Let’s take
prayer seriously. We need to be vigilant; Watchful, always aware and alert. We
know the Lord, what he does and what he can do so we must always be watching.
We are to be vigilant in prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">When
we read the newspaper or watch the news we need to be praying, we need to take
it to the Lord in prayer. As we hear things we need to watch and pray. We ask,
what good is it going to do? We don’t know but that is what God tells us to do.
So we need to be obedient and let God worry about the rest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">V2-5:
We need to be praying for persecuted Christians, for injustices. We need our
witness to be a light to others. We need to live a life that is right before
God. It is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">NOT</b> our place to argue
anyone down to accept God’s Word. We are to share God’s Word; that is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">ALL</b>. When someone gets belligerent with
you just walk away. No one can change your faith and belief in the Lord Jesus
Christ so you can’t change their mind about what they believe. You can’t beat
people with God’s Word because you don’t want to be beat into believing
something. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">V6:<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Let your speech always be with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">grace</b></i>. When you speak be it with
favor that people will want to be in your presence. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">…seasoned with salt</i>. When we speak what we say should preserve life.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">… <span class="text">that you may know how you ought to answer each one</span></i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.
</span>We don’t always have the answer and we don’t always need to have the answer but we need to be gracious and research and find the answer.<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">V7-15:
Part of our witness is being able to fellowship with one another, being able to
reconcile with one another, being able to grow with your brethren.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">V16-18:
Paul says, make sure this epistle is read. God’s Word is key and it must be
read, it must be heard, it must be spoken. Faith comes by hearing and hearing
by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). We grow no other way. It keeps our faith
growing. Without faith we cannot please God. When persecution come what is
going to keep us? The Word of God. This is what empowers us to live for the
Lord. What is going to keep us when people try to take our freedoms away? The
Word of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">We
need to be alert because times are changing. This is not to make you afraid but
to be alert, to not be caught off guard. This is so that we as Christian can
sound the alarm. We are the watchmen. If we sleep everyone else will be lost. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Christ MUST be preeminent in our
lives</span>. We are His testimony because we bear His Name.</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"></span></b><em>Pastor Pete</em></div>Leverich Memorial Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078101750269492215noreply@blogger.com0Leverich Memorial Church, Queens, NY 11369, USA40.7597222 -73.866388940.7476947 -73.8861299 40.7717497 -73.846647900000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6385854288906091940.post-36868066890539817992012-03-18T13:01:00.000-04:002012-04-01T22:22:50.619-04:00Christ is Preeminent Over Me, Over You, Over My Family and Over Your Family<div align="right">
March 18, 2012</div>
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=colossians%203;%204:1&version=NKJV" target="_blank">Colossians 3; 4:1</a></div>
<br />
Paul is writing this letter of Colossians to those who know the Lord; believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. <br />
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In Chapter 1, Paul writes: God has preeminence over the philosophies of the world. If it is contrary to God’s Word throw it away. <br />
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In Chapter 2, Paul writes: God is preeminent over the Church. If what they say in the Church is contrary to God’s Word throw it away. <br />
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Now in Chapter 3, Paul writes: Christ must have preeminence over you. <br />
V1: Seek God. In everything we do, in every aspect of our lives, in every decision we make we must seek God. <br />
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V2: Set our mind on things above. It means to focus, especially in a world that is busy. Set your mind, your affections, and your desires on God. You have to want to. <br />
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The theme of Colossians is your mind. Changing, renewing, setting your mind on God.<br />
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Paul wants us to understand what it means to serve God. He knows it’s not easy but it is possible. The reward is being able to live and fellowship with our Savior. <br />
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Paul says in v4, this is not the end; this world is not the end. But, if we set our mind on things above we can exist in a sinful world and still live for God. If we look at God’s Word He by His Spirit places in my heart the knowledge that He will take me through all that is going on with a promise of eternal victory. <br />
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V5-11: Paul shows us what our way is, the carnality and things that are not of God. Because we are of God Paul identifies those things that are sinful so that we can be dead to those things. We need to dig a hole, take our sins and bury them in the hole and put a tombstone on it.<br />
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God is about life and giving us life. Those things that do not bring us life, we need to put to death or they will kill us. God has freed us from these things. We need to not be a slave to sin. We need to recognize the signs and temptations that lead us to sin. When the world offers temptations we need to ask God for help.<br />
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V12-17: Christ must have preeminence over our lives. We need to give all our situations over to Him and let Him deal with it. We were just like all those who are not in Christ until God saved us. It doesn’t matter who you are. Therefore, our goal is to give God glory in everything we do.<br />
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V18-25: Christ is Preeminent in the Home. <strong><span style="font-size: large;">If God is not in charge of your life, forget about Him being in charge or being preeminent in your family</span></strong>. To the degree you allow the Lord into your life that is the degree to which you allow him to have input into your home and family.<br />
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God tells wives submit to their husbands in the Lord. We have to pray for our husband and make sure our home is taken care of; always keeping God as our focus.<br />
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God tells husbands to love their wives. Love from a husband to a wife carries a sacrifice even to death.<br />
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God tells children to be obedient. The price of disobedience can be severe.<br />
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God then tells fathers not to provoke their children. A child must always know they are loved. We have to go to the Lord to find the balance for our children.<br />
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God tells bondservants to obey their masters. Bondservants are those who have chosen this master. For us, now it is our jobs that we have chosen. We need to pray for them but be obedient. We have to make sure our heart is right.<br />
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We are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and our lives are a testimony for him. Whenever we are doing the wrong thing we need to stop, pause and repent. When the Holy Spirit shows me my wrong I need to pause and ask God to help me to honor him.<br />
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God then tells masters, be fair because you also have a master in heaven. God is our master. We expect Him to show us grace and mercy and fairness and we in turn should do the same.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Does Christ have preeminence over your personal life?</span> He has come that we might have life and that more abundantly (John 10:10). He is not a kill joy but a joy giver.</strong><br />
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<em>Pastor Pete</em></div>
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</div>Leverich Memorial Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01078101750269492215noreply@blogger.com0Leverich Memorial Church, Queens, NY 11369, USA40.7597222 -73.866388940.7476947 -73.8861299 40.7717497 -73.846647900000008