Friday, December 24, 2010

GREAT JOY FOR ALL PEOPLE

“I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”. I stand before you today a Criminal guilty of breaking the law. I have broken ten very serious laws and I have not just broken them once but countless times. I am a criminal guilty but despite all I have done I have been set free, no longer held by the law. The crimes that I have committed are serious and the punishment is the death penalty but I have been let go because the judge Himself took the punishment in my place. And He is a good and just judge, being a good and just judge by His very nature He had to find me guilty but He also loved me so much that He didn’t want to punish me, so He Himself took the punishment for my crime and this is all He asked of me. To admit I had broken the law and deny myself the pleasures that breaking these laws gave me and put my trust in Him, to follow Him.

“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul”. Why is the law of the Lord perfect converting the soul? “For by the law is the knowledge of sin”. The Apostle Paul said in his letter to the church in Rome: “I would not have known sin except through the law”. It was the law of God that showed Paul and me both that we are sinners (law breakers) in need of repentance. These are but a few of the laws I have broken. I have lied countless times, more times than I care to imagine, which makes me a liar. Have you ever told a lie? I have stolen things that didn’t belong to me, it doesn’t matter the value of what I have taken, what matters is it wasn’t mine to take, this makes me a thief. Have you ever stolen anything? I have used the Lord’s name in vain, I used God’s Holy name, the name of the one who gave me life, gives me the air I breath, the food I eat, the legs I stand on, and I used His name in place of a filthy curse word to express discuss, making me a blasphemer. Have you ever used the Lord’s name in vain? The law of God says do not commit adultery and I thought I was good on this one then I read what Jesus said, He said: “You have heard that it was said to those of old, you shall not commit adultery. But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart”. I have looked at many women with lust making me an adulterer at heart. Have you ever looked at someone you’re not married to with lust?

Now I have just mentioned four of God’s Holy Ten Commandments with six more to go, and I have broken these, a multitude of times. If you sin just five times a day, in one year that’s 1825 sins (that’s 1825 times you’ve broken the law in one year), and if you live to be 80 that’s 146,000 sins over the course of your life. Could you imagine all of those sins laid out before you and having to account for every single one of them? That’s exactly what will happen. The Bible says:”it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment”. The Bible says that “God will judge the world in righteousness”. “Each of us shall give account of himself to God”. Now I ask you like I asked myself, when you stand before God on Judgment day and He judges you by His law, will you be found innocent or guilty? Will you go to heaven or Hell? Keep in mind that you have broken the law. The Bible says “No thief and no adulterer will inherit the kingdom of God”, “and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death”. Speaking of the lake of fire and brimstone the Bible says:”And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever”.

Jesus came into this world from God, born of a virgin in the town of Bethlehem. He was both fully God and fully man, He himself being man was subject to the law but never once breaking God’s laws lived a perfect sinless life. Then He did something incredible, He who never sinned, laid down His life for guilty sinners like me and you. He was beaten and hung on a Cross crucified, dead and buried then on the third day He rose from the dead defeating death. He offers forgiveness of sins and this is available to everyone who will accept it. I began this with the Christmas message: “I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”. It is a message of great joy for all people because there is a savior, there is salvation from our sins in Jesus Christ and it is a free gift; it is the gift of God available to all who accept it. There is nothing we can do to earn it, what we have earned is death in Hell but “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus”. It is by the grace of God that we are saved, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast”.

To receive this gift what you must do is Repent and trust in Jesus, turn away from sin and turn to the Savior Jesus. Jesus said: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me”. To deny yourself is to turn away from the sins that give you pleasure, to take up your cross is to die to yourself admit that you are not good, that you have broken God’s laws no longer trusting in your own goodness but trusting in Jesus’ goodness to save you from God’s righteous judgment. So “I implore you on Christ behalf, be reconciled to God”. Repent of your sins, do a 180 degree turn away from the sins that give you pleasure and turn toward the saver, do it today, you don’t know when your life will end putting you be before the judgment seat of God. Repent and put all of your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do that you will move from death to life, God will give you His spirit as a deposit for your salvation, He will give you a new heart with new desires. So go to God in prayer admit that you are a sinner, and say you’re sorry, commit your life to God. Repent and trust in Jesus. Do it today, receive the Christmas gift, receive eternal life in Jesus Christ.


Merry Christmas,
Mike Peek


(Bible verses quoted NKJV: Luke 2:10-11, Psalm 19:7, Romans 3:20, Romans 7:7, Exodus 20, Luke 5:27-28, Hebrews 9:27, Acts 17:31, Romans 14:12, 1 Corinthians 6:9, Revelations 21:8, and Revelations 20:10, Romans 6:23, Luke 9:23, 2 Corinthians 5:20)

Saturday, December 18, 2010

WHAT ARE YOU WORTH

A question was posed to me earlier this week. What is your source of joy? Well my answer is the Lord Jesus Christ is my source of Joy but my explanation of that answer may surprise you. I came to grips with who and what I was several years ago; I am a criminal, that’s right a criminal.

Now to bring light to this subject of joy a separate question needs to be asked. What is value? For something to have value it must be valuable to someone. Nothing in itself has value unless someone is willing to pay for it. The Qianlong vase is an 18th century porcelain vase from the Qing Dynasty; The Qing Dynasty succeeded the Ming dynasty in 1736. The vase was sold at auction for a reported $80 million making it the world’s most expensive vase. Now I ask you, is the vase itself valuable or is the vase valuable because someone was willing to pay a lot of money for it?


Is the vase pretty? Yes, but there are a lot of pretty vases. What makes this vase so special? This vase is special because it was special to someone, to the amount of $80 million. Is it worth that much to me, I should say not, in fact to me it has no value at all, I wouldn’t buy this vase, in fact if I saw it while out shopping in an antique store; not knowing it had value to someone else, I would pass it by not giving it a second glance.

Now I told you earlier that I am a criminal. What do criminals deserve? Criminals deserve punishment for their crimes. The punishment I deserve for my crimes is death and eternal torment. You see the laws I’ve broken are not man’s laws but are the laws of God the creator of all things. This is not a light matter, God gave me life yet I defied Him who created me and did whatever I wanted to do. He asked that I love and worship Him and not other things yet I have worshiped the creation rather than the creator, He said “do not murder” the bible says “If you hate your brother you are a murder at heart” and I have hated several people during this life making me a murder at heart, He said “do not lie” yet I have lied countless times. And this is just three of God’s Holy Ten Commandments with seven others. God said “He will judge the world in righteousness” also “each of us shall give account of himself to God”. The bible says “it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment”. I know who I am, I am a criminal, if I face God on judgment day and have to give an account for the things I’ve done in this life I will be found guilty and the punishment for my crimes is eternal punishment in Hell.

I told you earlier nothing in itself has value unless someone finds it valuable. My joy in the Lord is this; God found me valuable to Him. In fact He found me to be more valuable than the Qianlong vase. How valuable am I to God? What is the price He was willing to pay for me? You see I have broken His laws and the punishment for that is death, but He loved me so much, He Himself paid the price for My Crimes. God sent Jesus Christ His only begotten son to pay the price for my crimes and anyone else who will believe and follow Him. Jesus said: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life”.

“I implore you on Christ behalf, be reconciled to God”. Jesus said: “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand, Repent and believe the Gospel”. This is how to be reconciled to God, Repent (turn away from sin and turn to God) and put all of your trust in Jesus Christ for salvation. If you do this you will be saved from the judgment of God and rejoice because God has found great value in you, He purchased your freedom from death and punishment with His own blood.


Mike Peek

(Bible verses quoted NKJV: Exodus 20, 1 John 3:15, Psalm 9:8, Romans 14:12, Hebrews 9:27, John 5:24, 2 Corinthians 5:20, Mark 1:15)

Saturday, December 11, 2010

The Corners of a Building

Most all buildings have four corners especially very large buildings. A roof without walls requires four pillars to hold it up. It is this square structure that gives the building stability to withstand the weight of all the floors above and the four pillars withstand the weight of the roof above. Take away one pillar and the entire roof comes crumbling down. Take away one corner of a large building and the building will come crumbling down. Today I’m going to share with you the four pillars of salvation take away one of these and you have a lost soul.

{We are all sinners}. The Bible says: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. God has given us His law to follow and if you fall short at any point you have sinned; and we all have sinned. Take a look at God’s laws, His ten commandments.
1. I am the Lord your God and you shall worship only me.
2. Do not create for yourself any false God’s and bow down to them.
3. Do not take the Lord’s name in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it Holy.
5. Honor your father and mother.
6. Do not murder.
7. Do not commit adultery.
8. Do not steal.
9. Do not lie.
10. Do not covet what belongs to your neighbor.
They go even deeper, God is spirit He sees every thought we have, Jesus said: “whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment”. The Bible says: “Whoever hates his brother is a murder”. Jesus expounds on adultery, He said: “whoever looks at a woman to lust for her as already committed adultery with her in his heart”. No one can look at God’s laws and be clean. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.

{Our sin separates us from God}. “For the wages of sin is death”. When you work a job you get a wage for the work you have done, the Bible tells us that the wage we have earned for the things we have done is death and it’s not talking about the death of your body but the death of your soul. “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, will inherit the kingdom of God”. “All liars will have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death”. “And they will be tormented day and night forever”. There is no soft way to put it; this is the wage we have earned by breaking God’s laws and sinning. This is hard to except, but it is the truth.

{Christ died for us}. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. While we were still sinners Christ die for us. Isn’t that just absolutely amazing that God the creator of all things was willing to take our punishment, the punishment that we deserved while we were still sinning, before we were willing to turn from sin and even before we accepted who he was. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends”. The God of the universe loves you; Jesus loves you he laid down His life for you despite all you have done.

{Through trusting in Christ we can be saved}. “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved”. You see trust goes beyond belief, the Bible says: “Even the demons believe-and tremble”! Yes Satan and his demons believe that Jesus is God, that He is the Christ that takes away the sins of the world but they do not except His lord ship, they do not trust in Him alone for salvation. You will be judged; “it is appointed men to die once then comes judgment”. So trust in the saving grace of Jesus Christ to save you from the judgment for your sins. That’s right if you trust in Jesus Christ you will not be judged for your sins, for he has already paid the price for your sins. But you most trust in Him like you would a life preserver on a ship that’s going down, because in many ways we are on a ship that’s going down. This world is dying, our bodies are dying you don’t know for sure if this is the last day of your life, so trust in Christ for salvation today.

1. We are all sinners.
2. Our sin separates us from God.
3. Jesus is Lord and He died for us.
4. Through trusting in Christ we can be saved.



Trust in Christ alone for your salvation,
Mike Peek


(Bible verses quoted NKJV: Romans 3:23, Deuteronomy 5:17-20, Matthew 5:22, 1 John 3:15, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Revelations 21:8, Revelations 20:10, Romans 5:8, John 15:13, Romans 10:13, James 2:19, Hebrews 9:27)

Saturday, December 4, 2010

THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL

“I bring to you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”. “Taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, humbled Himself and became obedient to the Point of death, even the death of the cross”.

Merry Christmas! Christmas is my favorite time of year because it is this time that I am reminded of the greatest gift of all, that even though I didn’t deserve it God gave his son Jesus as atonement for my sins. Yes Christmas is about Jesus, God sent His perfect and Holy son to dwell amongst us to be the perfect sacrifice that once and for all takes away the sins of all those who follow Him. There has been a verse out of the book of Romans that I have meditated on all week. “Now we know what the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the Deeds of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin”. This is talking about every man and women walking the face of the earth, we are all under God’s laws. Who among you doesn’t know that lying, stealing, murder, and adultery are wrong. God has written His laws on the hearts of everyone, He gave you a conscience. Con means with and Science means knowledge, so every time you Sin, every time you break one of God’s laws you do it (With Knowledge) that it is wrong.

Let’s go through just a few of God’s Ten Commandments, the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th. While we do I want you to remember this, God is Spirit He knows your every thought. “You shall not murder”. Have you murdered anyone? The Bible says: “Whoever hates his brother is a murder”. Have you hated anyone? “You shall not commit adultery”. Have you committed adultery? Jesus said: “whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart”. Have you ever looked at another person with lust? “You shall not steal”. Have you ever taken anything, anything at all that didn’t belong to you? “You shall not bear false witness”. Have you ever told a lie? If you have broken these commandments you’re not alone, I have broken all of them myself. This is just four of God’s commandments with six more to go. How do you think you would fare with the other six, if you are like me not good, I’m guilty of those as well? But even if you are guilty of breaking one of these commandments one time you’re as guilty as if you had broken them all. God in His Holiness demands perfection in thought, word, and deed; and we all fall gravely short. “For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God”. The bible says God is a good and just Judge and He will judge us according to our works. If He judges you according to your works will you be found innocent or guilty, Heaven or Hell? If you said Heaven let me ask you how a good and just judge could let crimes go unpunished, if He did that, He would be nether good or just, He would be merciful yes but not just, Justice demands that the guilty be punished.

God did something so that you could escape judgment and punishment, that’s right escape. The Christmas Gift! God sent His Son Jesus to suffer a sinner’s death on the cross for your sins and mine and all you and I have to do to receive this gift is follow Jesus. The bible tells us that God did this for His righteousness, so that He could be both just and merciful to all who believe. I implore you, turn from your sins today, confess your sins to God and put your trust in the saving Grace of Jesus Christ! If you will do that God will give you His spirit as a deposit for your salvation and will give you a new heart, His heart.


God Bless I hope you will trust in Jesus today,
Mike Peek

(Bible verses quoted NKJV: Luke 2:10-11, Philippians 2:7-8, Romans 3:19-20, Romans 2:15, Deuteronomy 5:17-20, 1 John 3:15, Matthew 5:28, James 2:10, Romans 3:23, Romans 3:26)