There was some information today concerning the babies [of an expectant mother in our congregation]--that there seems to be a complication with one of the babies not growing as it should. They're thinking that maybe there's some kind of an obstruction or a kink in one of the umbilical cords. We're just going to believe Father for that peace for [the mother]. Amen? Then also just the anointing and the life in that womb to bring forth glory to God. So let's just pray together.
Father, we come in the name of Jesus. First of all, Father, we just speak peace upon [the mother], just the joy of the Lord, the strength of Your presence that will undergird her. Father, the knowledge again that will be needed every day as they raise these children, to know that they're not theirs; they're the Lord's. They're Yours, Lord, and so we put them into Your hands. We thank You for strength. We thank You for life and health and the promises of God to manifest for Your glory. Father, strengthen [the father] now and encourage their hearts. We expect a miracle, Father, that You might be glorified, in Jesus' name. Amen! Amen.
Praise God. We serve a good God. Amen? You know, I was sharing that we were going to be looking at possibly a study on the faithfulness of God, and I think we may end up there, but as I've been continuing in prayer and from the pastoral perspective, just coming home and realizing a number of real needs in the fellowship here as it pertains to our relationships. We have a number of marriages here that are really hurting, and some on the verge of dissolving. We have a number of young people who have just been married, and some not so young, but [we're going to be] taking a look at what these relationships are to be and why they are...
The Miracle of Marriage, Part 2
February 24, 2008 • Pastor Star R. Scott
Genesis, verse 18 of Chapter 2, "And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; [And all the men said? Amen!] I will make him an help meet for him." We saw, then, in God's declaration that man should not be alone it's a very interesting thing. Within man all that woman is, was originally placed within the man, Adam. God removed his rib from Adam, the Scripture says.
We know from a little further understanding that the scenario that really took place--this illustration doesn't work as well as it did forty years ago when we talked about the old Polaroid cameras--you remember the negatives. Most of us don't even know, because of digital, what a negative is anymore. We remember that the negatives from those old cameras were basically the same image from the exact opposite perspective, the negative, the same image. So, basically, God reached into man and pulled out this woman. Same image, different perspective; we call it the feminine perspective.
One of the things that we've come to find out is, and sometimes it takes a lifetime for some folks, men and women are different. Did you all figure that one out yet? Why the emphasis, in our society, to make us the same? Who do you think is behind that? When the Word of God clearly defines the distinctiveness and the difference between a man and a woman, a husband and a wife, who do you think is behind the unisex movement? Satan! And how many of us have embraced it to one degree or another?...
The Miracle of Marriage, Part 3
February 24, 2008 • Pastor Star R. Scott
Let's turn to Ephesians and just continue along here; see what the Lord has to say to us as we try to fortify our fellowship, our lives, against the wiles of the devil, as the Scripture says, in these last days. We're warring against principalities against powers. Satan's going about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour and we're seeing a lot of turmoil and a lot of damage in families, in personal lives; and we just need to not be ignorant of his devices. We need to come together and make sure that we're preparing ourselves for this hour, not allowing the footmen to weary us, and preparing ourselves for the enemy's chariots that are at hand. We said that what we need to do, of course, is to fortify our families, because the church is just a corporate gathering of a family; as priests of your homes, as God's ordained leaders to make sure that the vision's clear in each of our homes to the course that we're on, that it's clear. "As for me and my house [say it] we're serving the Lord," praise God. We talked about, men, assuming that headship in a generation, especially, when that tendency of men to abdicate, to just turn things over so they can selfishly serve their own flesh and not be bothered with many of the mundane things. We need to realize that caring for our families, knowing the state of our flock, our children and our wives, is not mundane, it's more important than your job. Amen? It's more important than your hobbies, than your free time. We've been called and given a responsibility to care for these flocks, and it's your responsibility to know the state of that flock.
As we were leaving off this morning, we were talking about that headship aspect, and I won't spend a lot of time in review; most of you were here this morning. We were talking about the awareness of God's divine order and that His method of leadership is benevolent dictatorship, and we see that expressed in His lordship over us, over the church. We saw that the head of the woman was the man and the head of the man was Christ. So, there's that same dictatorship. We're not coequal, men, with Jesus. We're not able to make decisions separately. We're not going to lend to Him or bring to Him a better idea, but we're to walk in obedience to fulfilling His will and His purpose in our lives. We were talking about that role that God's given us and reassuming that authority, but doing it in a way that is Christlike that is loving, that's tender, that's kind...
The Miracle of Marriage, Part 4
February 27, 2008 • Pastor Star R. Scott
What a great time! It's a privilege just to come and be able to lead worship. Not only to lead it, but to be here in the presence of the Lord. Let's not take it for granted; amen? As good as the worship they have at times in Eldoret is, it's not like home; praise God. That's the paradox of having two homes. That's home when you are there, and this is home when you're here. That's really what obedience to the will of God is all about: the contentment and the grace to know that home is where His presence is and where His will is being fulfilled. Amen? It's great to have everybody home, and it will be good to see them go home sometime soon; praise God. Be prayerful. The negotiations over there have been back and forth and they are falling apart again. There is no violence at this time. We're thankful for that. At the same time, there's no progress. We are just waiting to see what the wisdom of God is, knowing that He will order our steps.
Let's turn to Ephesians. We are going to continue with our study. I don't know how long we will be on this topic. We probably won't stay on it until we are all perfect in these areas; so, somewhere along the line, we'll have to cut and run. I have already heard a number of reports coming back saying how the Lord has been speaking to hearts and ministering to many of our lives and families, and that's really what we are looking for. Just have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to us. Realize what it's all about. It's not just about having a better home situation; it's about fulfilling the will of God; amen? We are not to do these things so we can have a happier life. We are to do them so God can be glorified, so His Word is being fulfilled, so men can see our good works and (what?) glorify our Father (Matthew 5:16). That's why we should have good marriages, so Father will be glorified. That's why we ought to have godly homes, so God will be glorified. That's the motive behind it all, and we talked about the environment that we are living in...
The Miracle of Marriage, Part 5
March 2, 2008 • Pastor Star R. Scott
I think tonight we're going to be giving an opportunity for some interaction on the teaching we've been doing. Remember, we asked if you had any questions, it would help if you wrote them down. Get them into the hands of the deacons this morning before you go so that we could get some of those and be able to spend some time on what is really pertinent to you all, to make sure all the questions are asked. Most of us do pretty good at asking the questions in the group gathering. We're a family, and we've been together so long. Yet, some are still a little more comfortable by not having to speak publicly or even necessarily indicate their particular situations. So if you feel that way, write it down, and we'll deal with it. If you would rather just ask your question here in the community outwardly, we'll be happy to deal with that.
Let's take just a moment as we're winding down on this. Next week, of course, some of us will be headed up to Erie, Pennsylvania, to enjoy the nice cold, snowy weather for a couple of days as we go up for the basketball tournament. So we'll be winding some of this down. I've heard a lot of good reports. The good news is we got out alive Wednesday night. There seemed to be not too much hostility on the part of the ladies. They did lower me out in a basket over the wall after the service, and we were able to make our way home. It's been a good time. I think it's been very healthy for us, reestablishing doctrinally many of these practical areas of our relationships, the biblical home, the great gift that God has given us of marriage. "It is not good that the man should be alone" and "Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord," the Scripture says. "Two are better than one." We rejoice in that...
