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The Power of the Gospel Video link: https://www.facebook.com/gregory.dubois.547/videos/10158020767461195 Today is Pentecost Sunday and annually we read with joy the Biblical account of the day the Holy Spirit came down and filled the disciples with his holy presence and power so that they proclaimed the gospel message in many languages and with great boldness, resulting in about 3,000 new believers repenting of their sin and joining the Church. Many messages given on this day focus on the event itself. The awesome manifestation of the Holy Spirit and Peter’s defense of and explanation of it in his first sermon. But for today’s message, The Lord led me to focus on the power of the gospel and how it opened the way for the events of that first Pentecost Sunday. I agree with Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” It occurred to me that the power of the g...

The leech has two daughters. “Give! Give!” they cry. There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, “ENOUGH!” The grave, the barren womb, land, which is never satisfied with water, and fire, which never says, “enough!” ~Proverbs 30:15-16 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with Him? ~Psalm 42:1-2 O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You. My soul thirsts for You. My body longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” ~Psalm 63:1-2 In the Proverb above, we see six negative examples of never being satisfied. You might not see that right away. The writer said, three and four, so where did I come up with 6? He started with the leech, but it has 2 daughters! We know the things he names really are never satisfied. Our daily news is full of stories of out of control fires and drought. All of us will die one day. Probably all of us know someo...

There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand: The way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a maiden. ~Proverbs 30:18-19 Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. (Paul’s Creed) ~1 Timothy 3:16 And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. ~Ephesians 1:9-10 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together of the promise in Christ Jesus. ~Ephesians 3:6 This is a profound mystery, but I am talking a...

All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. ~Proverbs 14:23 If you work your land you will have abundant food, but the one who chooses phantasies will have their fill of poverty. ~Proverbs 28:19 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. ~Ephesians 4:28 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value. But godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. ~1 Timothy 4:7-8 This proverb brings to mind the classic dreamer who has his head in the clouds. He boasts of what he can do, or what he knows, but never lifts a finger to help. He or she is a person of many words, and little action. We tire of being around them quickly because they are pretty self-absorbed and seem to just, kind of suck the air out of t...

Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness. ~Proverbs 14:22 Those who are far from You will perish. You destroy all those who are unfaithful to You. But as for me, it’s good to be near God. I have made the sovereign Lord my refuge. I will tell of all Your deeds. ~Psalm 73:27-28 We’re back to the theme of the road. Again, there is a choice. Stay on the straight and narrow and stay close to God, or (Squirrel!”) be distracted, stray, and move away from Him. However, in today’s proverb we aren’t dealing with distraction. In today’s proverb we are talking about two people who are planners. One, who plans good, for good’s sake, is rewarded with love, faithfulness, and, surprise, there’s Jesus right ahead! The other person is a planner too, plotting evil. It wouldn’t be surprising if he is the one that actually puts up the signs to entice others off the path. After all, it’s not as fun to go it alone. They believe they can get away w...

The poor are shunned even by their neighbors. But the rich have many friends. He who despises his neighbor sins. But blessed is he who is kind to the needy. ~Proverbs 14:20-21 My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring, and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the one wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You, stand there,” or “sit on the floor at my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers: has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble n...

Evil will bow down in the presence of good, and wickedness at the gates of the righteous. ~Proverbs 14:19 Turn to Me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; I am God, and there is no other. By Myself I have sworn. My mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked. Before Me every knee will bow. by Me every tongue will swear. They will say of Me, “in the Lord alone are righteousness and strength.” All who have raged against Him will come to Him and be put to shame. But in the Lord, all the descendants of Israel will be found righteous and will exult.” ~Isaiah 45:22-24 God exalted Him, (Jesus), to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ~Philippians 2:9-11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand time...

A quick tempered person does foolish things, and a crafty person is hated. ~Proverbs 14:17  A patient person shows great understanding, but a quick tempered person displays folly. ~Proverbs 14:29 A hot tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel. ~Proverbs 17:18 A violent person entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good. ~Proverbs 16:29 A hot tempered man must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do it again. ~Proverbs 19:19 An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot tempered one commits many sins. ~Proverbs 29:22 The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is right. The way of the guilty is devious, but the way of the innocent is upright. ~Proverbs 21:7-8 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered, Or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared. ~Proverbs 22:24-25 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be symp...

A simple mind believes anything, but a prudent mind gives thoughts to steps. A wise mind fears the Lord and shuns evil, but a fool is hot headed and reckless. ~Proverbs 14:15-16 The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. ~Proverbs 14:18 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. ~James 1:22-25 First of all, thank you for your understanding in allowing us to take a week away from these daily writings. It was a blessing to have a break, and it is also a blessing to return to the work. Sometimes it can be a challenge to have new thoughts on the Proverbs. ...

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end, it leads to death. ~Proverbs 14:12 All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart. To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. ~Proverbs 21:2-3 Samuel said: “Why did you not obey the Lord? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the Lord?” “But I did obey the Lord,” Saul said. I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to your God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal.” But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.” ~1 Samuel 15:19-22 You do no...

The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish. ~Proverbs 14:11 Therefore, anyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like the wise man who builds his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who builds his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash! ~Matthew 7:24-27 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work w...

Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy. ~Proverbs 14:10 Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief. ~Proverbs 14:13 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. ~Matthew 5:4 Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn. ~Romans 12:15 Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him. ~Psalm 126:5-6 You turned my wailing into dancing. You removed my sack cloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to You and not be silent. O Lord, my God, I will give You thanks forever! ~Psalm 30 11:12 For all our talk of community, which is right and good, there is also an individuality and uniqueness to life that cannot be denied. There are general observations made about the human experience. We use statistics to create general principles of how men and women experience life. There have been differe...

A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies. ~Proverbs 12:17 A truthful witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies. ~Proverbs 14:5 A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful. ~Proverbs 14:25 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will perish. ~Proverbs 19:9 A false witness will perish, and whoever listens to the lie will be destroyed forever. ~Proverbs 21:28 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is the one who gives false testimony against a neighbor. ~Proverbs 25:18   Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good. Seek peace and pursue it. ~Psalms 34:13-14 Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to Me.” “What is truth?” Pilate asked. ~John 18:37-38A   Jesus answered, “I am the wa...

John 20: 24-29 Listen link is a video: https://www.facebook.com/gregory.dubois.547/videos/10157950625016195 Good morning! Happy Mother’s Day! Pastor Greg Du Bois here and thanks for being interested in this presentation of the gospel coming to you from the Lake City Evangelical Presbyterian Church. I have an announcement. For the next 2 weeks I will be on vacation. We will have two guest speakers for the next two Sundays. May 17 the message will be provided by one the elders of Lake City EPC, Chris Klein. May 24 it will be my friend Ed Gilbert, Chaplain of the Cadillac Munson hospital and long time singing pastor. In today’s message, we will be back on track with the events of the that first Easter. Today we meet Thomas, called “doubting Thomas” because he didn’t believe the testimony of his friends that Jesus was risen from the dead. But is that really fair? I wonder why Thomas wasn’t present for Jesus’ first appearance in Jerusalem on Easter evening. We don’t know why not, no...