Graceland Christian Church

Our Choices Determine Our Future

Our Choices Determine Our Future
 
In the Bible, choice is a deliberate decision or act of will. It's a fundamental part of human existence and is closely linked to themes of free will, obedience, and moral responsibility. From the beginning of the human race, Adam and Ever were given a choice to obey God's command or eat the forbidden fruit. Joshua gave the Israelites the choice to serve God or the false god Baal. Still to this day, God gives people the ability to choose, but people are responsible for their choices and their consequences. Basically, the two choices we make are only between good and evil, following God's will or disobeying God's will, which in reality there are only two different outcomes which will determine a blessed life or a cursed life. God created children to reflect His character and attributes. Let's all remember as Christians, that people are always watching our lives and our choices will affect others in a positive or negative way. I praise God that He who lives in us (Christ) is greater than he (the devil) who is in the world! We as Christians have power to choose God over the world, flesh, and devil!
We shouldn't make choices without first praying for God's will.

The Purpose Of God's Church

The Purpose Of God's Church
 
Purpose in the Bible is the intention or plan that God has for the world and for each person. God's purpose is to transform people into the image of christ and He uses His body (the church/christians) to do so.
It is one of the greatest responsibilities we have because it involves people's eternity. Finding purpose involves identifying the values, passions, and goals that ignite our fire and give meaning to our actions.
It's the driving force behind our decisions and actions. The christian church was born through the power of the Holy Spirit. As we read through the book of Acts and the epistles of the New Testament we see a picture of the early church the way God intended it to be. Acts 2:42 says - They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. It was the Holy Spirit that gave life and purpose to these spirit filled believers then and He is still at work in His body (the church/christians) today. I pray that every christian would find their purpose and fulfill it through the empowering of the Holy Spirit.

What Is The Meaning Of God's True Church?

What Is The Meaning Of God's True Church?
 
There is much misconception today about God's church and how functions. The true church of God is an assembly of people, responding to the call of God in Christ. In Romans 16:5, Paul says "Greet the church that is in their house". He refers to the church "in their house", not a building, but a body of believers. The true church is the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. It's helpful to us to remind ourselves of the actual meaning of the church so that it never loses its significance. Jesus very simply defines His church in Matt. 18:20 - "Where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst. 2 Corinthians 6:16 says - "For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said; I will dwell in them." So, remember that we (Christians) make up the Body of Christ (church), and we meet together to worship in a church building.

Called To Be Holy (Part 2)

"Called to be holy" (Part 2)
The scripture defines holiness as a person who is separated unto God, a person (Christian) who is being sanctified (changed from glory to glory), a person who is different (in heart), and a person who is distant from things that are common. A perfect example of this is in Acts 10:15 - What God has cleansed you must not call common. Notice the importance of "What God has cleansed". Today we have many different man made programs, laws, rules, and regulations to try to make the human being like God or to know God's character but the fact of the matter is that no one can be like God (Holy) without God.
Colossians 2:9-10 says - For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete (made holy) in Him. God is not searching for perfect people, He is searching for those who have a desire to allow Him to have full control of our lives and are willing to be changed into His image from the inside out.

Called To Be Holy

Called To Be Holy
 
Holy means to be separated unto God (not religion), to be sanctified, different, distinct from everything that is common. To be holy is not something related to outward behavior, but it is an inward nature! Our holiness comes from us being adopted into Christ and is sustained ONLY by our faith in Christ. No one ever became holy by the clothes they wore, the name of a church, or denomination or anything else except being in Christ. All God ever wanted from His children was for us to be like Him, to be holy. In the modern day church, people think they can be like God without God. Holiness is not being perfect, but it is a deep desire in our hearts to be pleasing to God and to be obedient to His Word as we walk in the Holy Spirit. I want the Word of God today to reassure you that it's possible to be a holy Christian!

January 19, 2025

Thank you for joining us today! Brother David will be ministering to us today. Have a blessed week!

How Far Will You Follow Jesus?

How Far Will You Follow Jesus?
 
    2 Thessalonians 2:3 says - Let no one deceive you by any means; for that day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition. Apostasy in the church is the turning away from Christ and the teachings of Christianity by someone who formerly was a Christ follower. I personally believe we have started this period in the modern church about a year ago. No one can stop this from happening in the world but we do not have to be one who falls away. As a matter of fact, we are responsible to do everything we can to tell Christians the truth, to try and prevent this terrible thing from happening. Luke 8:13 says - But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the Word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.
    Brothers and sisters, this is the Word of God, not my words and today I will give you some more very clear scriptures that warn us to watch and pray lest we also should be deceived into believing the lies of the devil that we can live like we want to and still enjoy the benefits of salvation. The turning away of Christians breaks God's heart and it should break ours too.

January 5, 2025

Thank you for joining us today! 

Burying The Past

Burying The Past
 
I used the word "burying" in the present tense because that's what we will be
doing today. Bury = To completely cover; cause to disappear, final
disposition. I've done a lot of funerals in my life and the grave site is usually the hardest part, saying goodbye to someone we love. As Christians, we have a natural body but are Spiritual beings therefore we will have to deal with natural things but in a spiritual way. Throughout the old testament, God's people dealt with sin through the sacrifices of animals, but that only pushed back or was a temporary fix for sin until the coming of the Messiah - Jesus.
Today through the Cross of Christ we live under the 'New Covenant", a better Covenant, a perfect Covenant, an everlasting Covenant, one that paid for all of our past, present, and future sins once and for all! It's our choice as to how we will live in the future but to have the abundant life Jesus paid for us to have we must completely let go of and bury our past! Are you ready to experience the beauty of a resurrected life?
 
*Please excuse the technical difficulties*

December 22, 2024

Thanks for joining us today!