Charlie Tucker

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April 2 2021

March 28, 2021

Sermon notes March 28, 2021

AM Service

Scripture: Joshua

This morning I want to look at the book of Joshua as a whole. It begins with covering the Lord’s transition of Israel’s leadership from Moses to Joshua. Early in Joshua, we find the Lord encouraging Joshua to faithfulness, obedience, and courage. We see God perform miracles that showed the Israelites God was still with them and Joshua just as God had been with them under Moses. We have read about the battles, Joshua’s conquests, and the Lord’s miracles in bringing the victories. Towards the end of the Book, Joshua divides the land of Israel among the tribes and gives a farewell address, which you will read this week in your daily Bible reading.

Here are some key points from Joshua:

God keeps His promises. In Joshua 23:1-3, 5, 9-10, 14 and 24:14, Joshua reminds the Israelites what God had done to keep His promises. God has proven to be faithful to His Word. It is so important for you and I to know God’s Word for ourselves so we can know God’s promises.
The key to us experiencing God’s promises for ourselves is being faithful and obedient to God. In Joshua 1:6-9, God tells Joshua to know His Word and that success will be found only in obedience to God. That is proven throughout Joshua, not only by the success the Israelites experienced when they were faithful but also in their defeat at Ai after Achan’s sin at Jericho.

So what does this history mean for us other than giving us information? We can trust that God keeps His promises now as God did then. Are there promises for us? You and I do not have a Promised Land like the Israelites, but we do have promises. I believe the promises offered to us are greater than the Israelite’s Promised Land, because the promises made now are superior in the power of Christ! The Israelites followed good men, Moses and Joshua, to their promise. While Moses and Joshua are faithful men they are not perfect like our Lord Jesus Christ! When we follow Jesus by abiding in Him we can experience the promises Jesus made possible by His work on the cross! Consider these promises:

John 3:16 – those who trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior are promised eternal life

John 16:33 – believers are promised peace despite troubles in life

Matthew 11:28-29 – believers are promised rest for our soul

Philippians 4:6-9 – believers are promised the peace of God during times of anxiety and that God will be with us though those times

1 Peter 2:24 – believers are promised we can live for righteousness

Romans 8:29 – believers are promised God works all things for good for those who love Him

James 1:5 – believers are promised wisdom when we genuinely seek it from God

1 John 1:9 – believers are promised forgiveness of sins and purification

Philippians 4:19 – believers are promised that God will meet our needs

Revelation 22:20 – we are promised that Christ will return

However, if we are going to fully experience these blessings, we must obey the Lord. We must abide in God. Joshua 24:14-15 reminds the people of Israel that they must make a choice whether to follow God or not. You must also make a decision – for yourself, for your family, and for your household. Wherever you have influence, will you put aside sin, selfishness, and lack of faith? Will you instead put your faith in God?

As Joshua instructed the Israelites in Joshua 3:5, we must get ready. We must repent and commit to God. We must obey Him. Then, we will see what God will do!

God bless,

Pastor Charlie

April 2 2021

March 21, 2021

Charlie Tucker Sermon Notes

Sermon notes March 21, 2021

AM Service

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30

We are close to wrapping up Deuteronomy. Your reading tomorrow will close the book. Looking back over the chapters it is important we keep the teachings of chapters 8, 9, and 10 on our mind for the rest of Deuteronomy. Chapters 8, 9, and 10 help answer important questions for us. Why did the Israelites have the law? Why have a law at all? Why obey the law? We have seen the law points us to God as a reminder of God, who is holy. We have seen obeying God’s law keeps us safe by protecting us from consequences and our obedience serves as a witness to others to point them to God. Earlier in Deuteronomy, we saw the importance to remember God’s Word and to teach it to our children. Chapters 12-28 cover details of the law again. This is the covenant God made with ancient Israel. We are not under this same covenant today, but lessons learned certainly apply to us now. Some of the truths include:

There is a proper way to worship God that glorifies God and not others.
Worship of anything besides God is to be avoided.
Teaching lies that are opposed to God’s Word is to be condemned.
We are to recognize God’s sovereignty and know all we have belongs to God.
We are to give to those in need.
We give to support God’s work.
Truth and honesty are to be emphasized.
Leaders are to not take advantage of their people but should seek God’s justice while leading.
Justice matters.
Family matters.
Sexual conduct matters, and purity is the standard.
Life matters.

All of these things were part of the law then and are applicable to our lives today. There is blessing in being obedient to God’s way because of the closeness in our relationship to God and His peace, courage, joy, and hope. There is harm when we reject God’s way.

After covering the law and its details we come to Deuteronomy 30 which is a wonderful chapter. The chapter deals with the fact that we are unable to always obey the law. The teaching of this chapter would have been such a welcome message to the Israelites who faced the impossible task of upholding all of God’s law. In the same way you and I should find encouragement in this chapter. Verse 1 opens the chapter with Moses telling them people that they will experience both the blessings and the curse of the previous chapters. This statement is an admission that the people would fail in part to fully follow God. Yes, there would be times of obedience but there would also be times of disobedience. This truth is one we need to understand today. You will not be perfect in your life. We should strive for perfect obedience but we cannot let a failure define us or let the failures of others devastate us to the extent our faith is shaken. People are imperfect. Verse 1 also reveals to us that when we have failures, when we stray from God, there will come a time when the follower of God realizes what has happened. In ancient time, the Israelite would reach a time when they realized the sinfulness of their ways. I believe today, a true follower of God that moves into sinful life choices, or backslides as we sometimes say, that eventually they will awaken from the sin and realize how they have strayed from God. God uses many things to bring us to our senses regarding sin such as His Word, Christian voices, and the consequences of sin. But as a true follower of God, just as the Israelites, we will realize the gravity of our sin.

And then what? Verse 2 tells us and it is so simple. We must repent! We must stop the sin we are doing and start obeying God completely again. We must seek God with all our heart and all our soul. And then, verse 3 tells us that God will have compassion and restore us. For the Israelites the restoration meant to bring that back into a nation. For Christians today our relationship with God is restored when we repent. Sin disrupts our relationship by causing interference. Sin cannot end our relationship with God, for once we surrender our life to God we are permanently brought into His Kingdom and Family forever. However, sin interferes with our closeness it pulls us away from God. When we repent we remove that interference and experience closeness to God again and enjoy the depths of His fellowship. It very much reminds me of Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son. The son disrespected his father, lived a life of sin that lead to ruin, the son eventually comes to his sense and returns home hoping to be a slave but is instead restored by his father with joy and honor. God welcomes us back when we repent. And verse 4 tells us that God restores us even from the farthest we can stray from Him! How great it is to know God always welcomes a repentant heart. Do not let guilt or shame hinder you from returning to God and His work. God bought with you with the blood of Christ so that all sins are forgiven. God redeems us from all sin. We must be willing to always repent and draw near to God no matter what sin we commit.

Once we repent we will begin to experience the fullness of dwelling with God again. Verses 5 – 10 explain those blessing again for the Israelites and remind them obedience to God is the path they should choose. For us today we don’t have a Promised Land to possess but we have spiritual blessings promised to us when we dwell in Christ. Experiencing those blessings is greatest when we obey the Lord. Verse 11 tells us that it is possible to be obedient to God. Again, we will not be perfect, but our lives should be of integrity and above reproach. Our lives should be characterized by the fruits of the Holy Spirit and obedience to God rather than sin. The truth of these teachings is plain and we have all of Scripture to serve as our guide. In this way we know what must be done just as the Israelites are told they know what to do in verses 12 – 14. Verse 15 simplifies the teaching to basic truths: life and spiritual blessing is found in obedience God while death and adversity is in being apart from God. What will you choose? I pray we all follow Moses’ instruction found at the end of verse 20 and into verse 21. Choose life. Love God. Obey God. Be faithful to God.

God bless,

Pastor Charlie

April 2 2021

March 14, 2021

Charlie Tucker Sermon Notes

Sermon notes March 14, 2021

AM Service

Scripture: Deuteronomy 4

We have begun reading in Deuteronomy in our daily Bible reading plan. The setting for Deuteronomy is the entry of the Israelites into the Promised Land. God has called the current generation of Israelites to enter and possess the land. The Israelite’s leader for the past 40+ years has been Moses. Due to his own sin, Moses will not go into the Promised Land with the people. And so, Deuteronomy marks a transition. The Israelites in this generation would have lived the majority, if not all, of their lives under Moses’ leadership. The Israelites would have faced uncertainty without Moses, perhaps fear, perhaps worry, perhaps a lack of confidence. Deuteronomy is a final teaching from Moses to the people to strengthen and encourage the people to move forward with God. The people of Israel are being reminded that Moses is not their ultimate leader, but God is. Moses’ instructions in Deuteronomy are another teaching for the Israelites to abide in the Lord. Moses recaps their history and reminds them of God’s plans and greatness, of their position with God, and of their history of failure when apart from God.

Let’s read Deuteronomy 4:5-9 and consider the questions: “Why follow God’s commands?” This passage gives us two reasons. In verse 1 there is a connection made between obedience to God and living and possessing the land. Whereas, verse 3 warns of disobedience by reminding Israel what happened when they were previously disobedient. What we can learn from these verses is there are personal consequences to our choices of obeying or disobeying God. These verses do not promise that obedience equals blessings such as riches, healing, or a life without trouble. Rather these verses show that the best life – a life of hope, of purpose, of fulfillment – is available through obedience to God. This is what the Bible, as a whole, teaches. We do not have a teaching of karma or prosperity gospel, but we are taught that our best life is lived in obedience to God and a life apart from God is subject to God’s discipline.

The second reason for obedience to God is the power of our witness, as our obedience glorifies God. Verses 5-8 tell us if Israel were to be a nation faithful to God, then it would be unique in the world and others would desire God for themselves. Others would know their gods were powerless creations and see the greatness of God being reflected in the lives of the Israelites. You and I today should be doing the same as individuals witnessing of God before others, as married couples, as families, as a community. Even in government, a Christian government is the greatest possible government and would be the best way to live. However, a nation abiding in the Lord starts when its individuals abide in God and then its households and onward.

Verse 9 tells us to teach our children God’s truth. It is so important to teach them, it is reiterated in Deuteronomy 6:1-9. Notice how it is so important to prioritize God’s Word. The Israelites were instructed to repeat it to their children and to talk about God’s Word in their homes, while on the road, and day and night. They were told to wear God’s Word on their clothes and put God’s Word up as signs. This is a constant discussion of God’s Word and a public professing of God’s Word. Speaking about God’s Word is not to be limited to just the church service. We are to talk God all day and every day!

In light of our Scripture today, we must ask of ourselves some questions. Are we living a fulfilled life with hope and purpose? If not, what do we need to repent from and where do we need to put God first? What is our life telling others about Jesus? Are we teaching others about God, particularly those in our homes?

God bless,

Pastor Charlie

April 2 2021

March 7, 2021

Charlie Tucker Sermon Notes

Sermon notes March 7, 2021

AM Service

Scripture: Numbers 22

This morning in Numbers, I want us to consider what happens with a man we meet in our reading named Balaam. In the timeline of Israel’s history, Balaam enters while the Israelites are wandering in the desert as the generations that rejected God die out. Things have not gone well, as there have been multiple rebellions by the Israelites against God. Some of that starts to change, and we see some faithfulness and obedience from the Israelites. The Israelites win some battles and start to gain momentum. In chapter 22, a king of Moab, Balak, takes notice of Israel’s strength. Balak decides he must act to strengthen his nation and gain an advantage over the Israelites. To gain this advantage, Balak seeks Balaam. Numbers 22:1-7 tells us Balaam is a worker in divination. Balaam was a person who gave curses and blessings in exchange for money. He would have practiced sorcery, typically dealing with evil spirits or lying and manipulating to accomplish the blessing or curses he has issued. It is something like voodoo or witchcraft he is practicing.

Balak offers Balaam money to put a curse on Israel. God speaks to Balaam and tells Balaam to leave Israel alone. This reveals to us that God speaks in His sovereignty to whomever He chooses, even those in opposition to Him. Do not think God cannot move an evil man’s heart and mind and cannot also overcome evil.

In verses 18-22, we have what appears to be a difficult passage. We see another offer from Balak to Balaam and rather than outright rejecting this offer, and obey God’s earlier instruction, Balaam wants to twist the situation and see if he can steal a financial gain. Verse 19 should have never happened. God clearly told Balaam to leave Israel alone, why would Balaam entertain Balak’s offer again? He does so only due to his greed. We must learn to trust God’s Word and not to try to manipulate what God’s truth teaches to align with our own agenda. Many people today attempt to do just that by proclaiming distortions of God’s truth to justify their own agenda and desires. Where God has spoken, we are to trust and obey, not challenge God’s authority.

In verse 20, God seems to say Balaam can go with the representatives of Balak. In verse 21 Balaam goes, and in verse 22 God is mad that Balaam went. How is it that God can be mad, if God gave permission? Some translations of verse 20 read as “if” not “since” so it is conditional. We see in verse 21, Balaam just goes and does not wait for the condition. This suggests Balaam’s sin was to put his agenda over God’s command that he wait for Balak’s envoy. However, The New Testament gives us further details as well. In 2 Peter 2:15-16 and Jude 11, we see Balaam loves wages and profits through wickedness and greed. Balaam got a word from God: that God watched over Israel and Balaam was not to curse Israel; but Balaam wanted money. You can read that in Numbers 22:18 when Balaam refers to houses full of gold and silver as a cost for his services. Balaam tries to play both sides. Balaam must have realized hearing from God was big deal. Balaam must have known he could not openly defy God’s command to not curse Israel. But doing so, would not provide Balaam a pay day. And so Balaam schemes to try to appease God with words while acting out of view from the public eye to gain a pay day from Balak. He acknowledges God in his oracles, saying he can only report God’s Word, but Balaam is doing this to hide his true intention to make a defeat of Israel. Balaam assumed he could hide his real intentions from God, but God sees all and God knows our hearts. We must not deceive ourselves and think we can perform sin freely without God knowing. Nor must we align ourselves with people working to go against God’s teachings.

You may be asking, what I mean by referring to this scheme Balaam has developed to earn his pay day from Balak. After all, Balaam’s oracles clearly disappoint Balak. We find in Numbers 25:1-3, Israel worships Baal. Doing so was a sin against God and Israel experiences punishment at God’s hand for their error. Now, jump ahead to Numbers 31:13-17. Here, Moses tells us how Balaam was behind the events of chapter 25. After his show of supposedly refusing to curse Israel, Balaam developed a plan to deceive the people of Israel into following Baal.

We must beware of the false prophets – of liars and deceivers. False prophets speak some truths in favorable ways to hide their true intentions. When a prophet is mixing in evil with some good truths, it is a problem. Instead of dabbling in sin, dancing along the line of right and wrong, we need to act decisively against sin like Phinehas. Look at Numbers 25:6-14. Here Phinehas acts to end a sin but spearing two sinners blatantly ignoring God. This was a big deal. The man Phinehas killed was leader of an Israelite family. Killing this man surely would have angered many Israelites. But what does God say about the act? Phinehas showed a zeal for God.

Today, you and I are not supposed to demonstrate a zeal for God by spearing people in the act of sin – please understand that. But what do we have that same zeal for God as Phinehas? Are we willing to see sin as sin and then remove its influence from our life? Personally, are we willing to remove temptations from our lives, are we willing to turn off the voices of evil influence that distort God’s Word, are we willing to separate our selves from sinful actions? This repentance and we must do this in our life! Furthermore, are we willing to take a public stand against evil? Our society and culture are busy celebrating so much evil and championing sin. For us to take a stand against the evil, to condemn it before others and to point to God instead; it will offend some – just as Phinehas must have angered some. But what matters most to us, our zeal for God or our appeasement of people? Our world, our country, our state, our county, our cities, our families, our households desperately need the witness of Christians zealous for God!

God bless,

Pastor Charlie

April 2 2021

February 28, 2021

Charlie Tucker Sermon Notes

Sermon notes February 28, 2021

AM Service

Scripture:

In the last week, we have been reading through Numbers. We have seen some of the rituals the Israelites were to observe. We have seen the Nazarite vow – a special vow before God. We have seen offerings brought to God as people worship and honor God. We have begun to see the movement of the people following God in the cloud. Today’s reading in chapters 11-13 brings some disappointments due to the human element. God has been miraculously providing for the people and appearing to them, and they have experienced some of the most amazing displays of God’s presence. However, life is hard, and they complain. They get tired of the manna, and they complain. Aaron and Miriam get jealous of Moses, and they complain. God deals dramatically with each, but they continue to not trust God. Today’s reading ends in chapter 13, which is where we will focus this morning.

This is such a sad part of the Israelite history. God, who has freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, parted the Red Sea, fed millions, provided water for millions, and done so many miracles, brought the people through a battle victoriously, and is now promising the Israelites the land of Canaan to be theirs. Spies go in and all but two give a negative report. How could they do this? They knew and recognized Canaan was great, as God had promised (verse 27). Despite this promised future, they instead focus on four negative things.

The problem posed by other people. Verse 28 says the people in Canaan are strong with large, fortified cities and verse 32 says the people were of great size. Is God greater than any person? Why do we fear people?
The problem posed by weakness. Verse 31 shows they viewed themselves as weak. Apart from God, you are limited and weak, but this Promised Land was being given by God not earned by self.
The problem of the natural state. Verse 32 indicates the spies’ concern that the land devoured its inhabitants. Again, God is promising this land to them in His sovereignty. Fear of nature can stop us even today. Look at how COVID-19 has crippled some with fear. Fear of storms weakens us. Fear of the way things are, may keep us from following God’s will.
The fear of the ominous. Verse 33 references Nephilim or children of the sons of heaven and women. They were giants. These were mysterious beings that you and I do not have details about but clearly, their presence was an ominous, overwhelming, and impossible challenge. With God, nothing is impossible. Do not let the unbeatable stop you.

Be like Caleb. In verse 30, he was confident because of God. What obstacle is preventing you from experiencing God’s blessing? God has shown that He can overcome all things. Jesus demonstrated God’s power over people – think about all the times Jesus dealt with the Pharisees and revealed their errors or how Jesus knew the hearts of people. Jesus showed God’s power over weakness: He healed so many from weakened states, He chose the outcasts of society to be with Him, He embraced the children. Jesus’ miracles over nature by feeding the thousands and calming the storms. Jesus’ power over the ominous when he drove out demons from the possessed. And of course the great miracle of the resurrection! Jesus conquering death after three days in the grave He arose and lived! And as Christians God gives us the Holy Spirit to empower us, to encourage us, to enable us to do God’s work. You and I can have courage and face whatever life brings because we serve the Lord God Almighty, the risen Savior, and His Holy Spirit indwells us!

God bless,

Pastor Charlie

April 2 2021

February 21, 2021

Charlie Tucker Sermon Notes

Sermon notes February 21, 2021

AM Service

Scripture: Leviticus 22:31-33

These verses capture much of the meaning in Leviticus: God is holy. God is to be treated as holy, and God’s chosen people should pursue holiness. The details of Leviticus give instructions to the Israelites as to how they were to pursue holiness in their relationship with God and with other people. Leviticus provides worship instructions for approaching the holy God, be it in sacrifices, priestly procedures, commands to obey, and festivals to observe. Leviticus gives instructions on how to pursue holiness with others, with commands on providing food for the priests, laws to obey and punishments for offenders, master/slave relationship guidance, marital instructions and other details. We even have in Leviticus 19:18, the command to love your neighbor as yourself. In the midst of the instructions, we have another break with an account of a person who blasphemed God’s name and is stoned to death as part of today’s reading.

This morning, we are going to focus on three aspects of Leviticus 22:

1) God is holy

2) We are to treat God as holy

3) God’s people are set apart.

God is holy. There are many implications of this. One conclusion from knowing God is holy is to know God does not do bad. God is not unjust. God is not in error. Furthermore, if we say God, the Creator of all things, is not holy; then it is impossible to have a moral standard, impossible to have certain truth, and there is no reason to truly love God. But God is holy! Therefore, moral truth is not relative but is as the holy God states. God is holy so His Holy Word is trustworthy. God is holy! He loves us completely and perfectly as only a holy being could, and we are to love Him back.

We are to treat God as holy. This requires reverence, worship, and respect for God. The exact details that resulted in death in Leviticus show us the significance of reverence. Are you reverent before God or is your worship distracted? Is your focus on anything besides God? Reverence would have us put God first and show respect. Reverence does not turn worship into an attraction for people’s glory or entertainment. There was nothing entertaining in the rituals of Leviticus, but the rituals had to be obeyed in reverence to God. We have got to focused on God. Our worship cannot be incomplete or indifferent. The demands of God in the sacrifices and offerings were for the best. Do you worship with your best? Not singing during the song service is surely not your best. Not going to church is not your best. Not listening is not your best. Give your best to God.

God’s people are set apart by God. In the time of Leviticus, the Israelites were to be set apart. They had to live differently than the ways of Egypt or Canaan so that God would be glorified and so they could be blessed by God. Glorifying the Holy God was a tremendous calling for the people of Israel. The mission of living for God could have been life changing for so many people in the ancient world. An example of a nation living according to God’s way in comparison to all the evil in the surrounding pagan nations would have been such a great hope to the world! If the Israelites had done so.

Today Christians are to be set apart for the Lord and live differently than society’s norms that are in conflict with God’s way. We are to be set apart, and we do that with obedience to God. We should reject sinful lifestyles that hurt others, that cause harm, are selfish, are false, are confusing or chaotic, all of which result from sin. Instead as we live in obedience, set apart, we would demonstrate love, kindness, peace, hope, trustworthiness, and good things! Being set apart will bring glory to God and draw people to God which is the greatest hope for any person!

You may ask how? How can I possibly live a life set apart for a Holy God? The standard of holiness is too perfect and I am bound to fail. We have hope to live for God only when we trust Him. As Christians we have the Holy Spirit living inside us and by the Holy Spirit you and I can live a life of righteousness that points others to God. We have examples of people like Moses and Joshua and other ancient Israelites who by and large lived for the glory of God. And although they were not perfect their lives made a difference because they committed to obeying God. And our Almighty God can work through our human weakness to accomplish so much. Furthermore, unlike Moses and the other Israelites we know the story of Jesus! We know the Books of the Gospels that give us Jesus’ perfect example. We know the power of the resurrection and can trust that God, who raised Himself from the dead, is capable of transforming us from sinners to people of righteousness by His power and for His glory! Trust the Lord today and commit to living in reverence of our most Holy God!

God bless, Pastor Charlie

April 2 2021

February 14, 2021

Charlie Tucker Sermon Notes

Sermon notes February 14, 2020

AM Service

Scripture: Exodus 35:4-36:2

This part of Exodus provides the start of construction of the Tabernacle, and the instruments of worship for God. Earlier, in chapters 25-30, God gave Moses the instructions for these items, and they are very specific. The detail in the chapters can be tedious to read. The instructions conclude, and then Moses returns to the people and finds them worshipping their false, man-made calf god in chapter 32. In chapters 32-34, we read about the consequences of their sin and the reconciliation of the relationship between God and the Israelites. Of utmost importance is the fact their sin caused a separation between God and the people. Look at Exodus 33:1-11. Here, we find God withdrawing. The presence of God is not in the camp but outside in a different tent.

Chapters 35-40 cover the building of the worship items as instructed previously in chapters 25-30. If you read the chapters, you can find yourself almost rereading exact wording in the building record as in the instructions. Why do you think it was needed to provide so much specific detail in both the instructions and the building record? What is the application for us today? In order to understand the importance of these chapters and to make an application in our own lives today, we need to see the results of the work.

Let’s now read Exodus 39:32-34. These verses tell us the work that was instructed in chapters 25-30 is indeed complete, and it is completed exactly per the instructions from God.

Now, let’s look to chapter 40:33-38 for the ultimate results. In verse 33, Moses completes the assembly of all the items the Israelites made. Then verse 34 tells us something amazing! The glory of the Lord came down into the tabernacle. There again is God’s presence with the Israelites. At first, God went before the people as the cloud or pillar of fire. Then, their sin came between them and God, and God was outside the tent. Now, upon their repentance and their word for word obedience to God’s instructions, the relationship is restored. Now, God is dwelling among the Israelite camp in the tabernacle.

Let me ask you, do you think God would have filled the tabernacle if they did not follow His instructions? Maybe they could have used less gold and made things with a cheaper material. Maybe they could have used a different color scheme. Perhaps they could have changed some dimensions to better suit them. Had they done anything but what God instructed, it would have been disobedience, which is sin. God would not have dwelled with them, and they would not have experienced His blessing. It is important that we obey God’s instructions. Too often, we prefer to do things our way and expect God to bless us. If you want to feel God’s presence in your life, abide in God through love and obedience.

God bless,

Pastor Charlie

April 2 2021

February 7, 2021

Charlie Tucker Sermon Notes

Sermon notes February 7, 2020

AM Service

This morning we will continue through Exodus and continue to see more and more about God. At this point in your reading, the Israelites have been freed from Egypt. This is a crowd of 600,000 men plus their families. This is a big undertaking. To help put this in perspective, consider Atlanta has a population of 488,800 people. The Israelites had to leave in a hurry after the 10^th plague and they would not have time to pack planned provisions. When they were given the message to leave after the last plague it was an immediate order to get out right then. One of the things we see in our reading is how God is our provider. In Exodus 13:17-18, the Lord takes the people not by the road but via the wilderness. In the wilderness there were no convenience stores or mega-marts to stock up supplies.

Surviving in this wilderness was a monumental – you might even say, impossible – task. Can you imagine coordinating the water supply for 600,000 men plus families? God provides (Exodus 15:22-25)! You might also say feeding hundreds of thousands of people in a wilderness in a time of no refrigeration would be impossible but not with God! Exodus 16:1-5 shows God provides the food. God provides what you need. Trust Him (Exodus 15:19-20). Greed in our necessities is a lack of faith. Trust the Lord God our Provider in what you need.

Exodus 17:14-15 reveals God is to be remembered and God is our banner. In the battle occurring in this passage, Moses holds his staff overhead towards God for the victory according to God’s command. This demonstrates God would be the authority of their victory. Why? Because God is the standard. God’s way is the way of salvation. Look to God to know truth. Look to God to know wisdom. Look to God for victory.

Exodus 20:4-6 shows God is a jealous God. God wants your loves so much and God will not share your love. God created you. God gave His Son for you. Jesus died on the cross and paid it all for you. Will you give Him your all? That’s the faith God demands.

God is the God of justice. He observes and judges evil and righteousness, and God rules accordingly. God does not allow evil to go unpunished. Look further now to Exodus 22:22-27. Here God is hearing the cries of victims and fights their cause. I love what God says of Himself at the end. I am gracious (or compassionate or merciful in some translations). This is God sharing love for unworthy people. He extends grace to you today.

God will be your provider. God needs to be your banner and your standard. God is your judge. If you will surrender yourself to His will by faith, trust in Him, admit your sins, and repent; you can have salvation by God’s grace.

God bless,

Pastor Charlie

February 5 2021

January 31, 2021

Charlie Tucker Sermon Notes

Sermon notes January 31, 2020

AM Service

This week our reading completed Genesis, and yesterday we started in Exodus. If you have kept up with the daily reading plan in January, you read two full books: Genesis and Job. This morning, we will focus on Joseph. Most people first learn about Joseph as the boy with the coat of many colors. To give a brief outline of Joseph’s story, he is the first born of Rachel, who was Jacob’s favorite wife, and thus he becomes Jacob’s favorite son, which leads to the gift of the coat. Joseph has dreams which are visions from God. Joseph tells his family about his dreams and how they foretell he would become greater than all his family, and they would bow before him. As you can imagine, jealousy and anger arise among his brothers, and they fake his death to deceive their father and sell Joseph off to traders. The traders take Joseph to Egypt and sell him as a slave. Remember, Egypt is the place of corruption and opposition to God, and it is not good. As a slave, Joseph lives for God and earns his master’s respect, becoming the head of the house. However, the master’s wife lusts for Joseph, but Joseph defies her advances. Eventually, the wife falsely accuses Joseph of attacking her, which leads to Joseph’s imprisonment. In prison, Joseph works to earn the respect of others and is well regarded. He would also interpret dreams of prisoners correctly, informing one prisoner of his future release and restoration in service as Pharaoh’s cupbearer and another prisoner of his impending death. As time continues, Pharaoh has strange dreams no one can interpret. The cupbearer remembers Josepha and tells Pharaoh. Suddenly Joseph is before Pharaoh, hearing his dream. Joseph interprets the dream regarding a future famine lasting seven years. With Pharaoh’s trust earned, Joseph is made second in command and put in charge of all preparations for the famine. This leads to family reunion when the famine-stricken family of Israel (Jacob) goes down to Egypt for food. The family is reunited, and the Israelites settle in Egypt.

Now, how is this story meaningful to us today? One thing it reveals to us about God is God’s greatness over people’s plan. Joseph’s brothers meant evil when they sold him into slavery and his master’s wife meant evil when she framed him of attempted rape, but God used all those events to place Joseph into a position where he could interpret Pharaoh’s dreams and become the head the storage of food to save so many lives. In all this Joseph brought glory to God before all of Egypt. Genesis 50:19-20 tells us God is capable of taking people’s evil schemes and accomplishing greater good. Let that truth guide you in life.

I also want us to consider the example of Joseph. In Genesis 39:1-10, we see Joseph’s commitment to obeying and honoring God. Do you see his commitment to honoring the people in his life? He is a slave, but he is not in rebellion, sulking, in misery, driven by anger or vengeance. In Genesis 39:21-23, Joseph is now in prison but continues living a life of obedience and honoring God. In Genesis 41:14-16, Joseph is placed in a position of opportunity. However, he is not self-promoting nor is he leveraging anything. In humility, he is pointing people to God. By his truth and testimony, he earns tremendous favor and brings glory to God. He does all of this after he was betrayed by family, sent to the evil land of Egypt, betrayed by a woman, imprisoned, and forgotten. None of it is his fault. But Joseph had a resolve to live for God in all circumstances.

How resolved are you to stay firmly obedient to God? I believe we may be having a reckoning soon here in America. Biden’s policies are one threat. From threatening to overturn the Hyde Amendment that kept tax dollars from funding abortion to laws that would demand doctors perform abortions to the transgender deceit that distorts the truth of gender and ends the religious protections in the Religious Freedom Restoration Act for those that would stand by the truth. Recently the Huff Post ran an article linking Christian schools and curriculums to the Washington riots and raid of the Capitol. Such articles are attempts to portray Christians as a threat to the public. These things are the work of Satan, the father of lies and the accuser of Christians. Satan is looking to destroy the witness of Christians.

We must ask ourselves is our resolve to stay with God no matter what will come? And will our witness be one that finds favor and is above reproach? Christians need to live in such a way that the lies from the devil cannot be believed by the public. Our actions and our voice in the public realm should be so dominated by God’s love and righteousness that no one would believe deceitful accusations hurled at us. Joseph was willing to remain faithful to the Lord and to do right by people even though he was repeatedly hurt and let down by others. Joseph stood firm in the Lord when everything went wrong. I believe accusations are coming soon against true believers and soon standing firm in the Lord will invite unfriendly reactions, will we have the same resolve as Joseph?

God bless,

Pastor Charlie

February 5 2021

January 24, 2021

Charlie Tucker Sermon Notes

Sermon notes January 24, 2020

AM Service

Our reading in the second half of last week introduces us to the generations after Abraham. In Abraham, we saw a man who grows in faith. We also saw God’s forgiveness repeatedly and God’s provision in Abraham’s story. Then following Abraham and moving toward the eventual nation of Israel, we have Isaac and Jacob. When you read the accounts of Isaac and Jacob, one of the things that comes forth is how terribly deceptive people can be.

We see in chapter 25 the selling of Esau’s birthright. Esau comes home hungry and exhausted and asks Jacob for food. Jacob’s price is the birthright. How arrogant and selfish to demand a birthright for stew? In chapter 26, Isaac repeats his father’s deception in presenting his wife as his sister. We also see groups of people arguing over wells. In chapter 27, we see Rebekah and Jacob deceiving Isaac to steal Esau’s blessing. In chapter 29, Jacob is looking to marry Laban’s daughter Rachel. Laban makes Jacob work 7 years only for Laban to marry him to Leah and offers an exchange of another 7 years of labor to marry Rachel. While Jacob works for Laban, both men try to deceive each other in chapter 30 over the flocks Jacob tends for Laban. We see further deception, when Jacob devises a plan to leave and manage the flocks in a way that he receives the best livestock. In chapter 31 Rachel secretly takes idols that belong to Laban as Jacob leaves Laban. In chapters 32 and 33 Jacob tries to buy Esau’s forgiveness and lies to Esau about settling in the same land. In chapter 34, we have this account of rape, and then a plan by Dinah’s brothers to deceive a group of people to weaken themselves to be ripe for slaughter and plundering.

This portion of Genesis reveals terrible incidents in these people’s lives of greed driven treachery. One thing we need to learn is greed is a sinful attitude that leads to other sinful actions. Due to the greed of different individuals in Genesis, we see people lose their dignity, wealth, and time. Trust is broken and lost. Families are divided, and people lose their lives. Ask yourself, is greed driving you or not? If greed for money, power, influence, success, status, popularity, recognition, is driving you, then hear the warning of ruin it could bring to your life and the lives of those around you.

In the midst of the history of the people, we also see God! God’s will is accomplished no matter how deceptive people become and how much people work against His plan, even the people following God. Genesis 25:19-23 shows us God hearing the prayer of Isaac and Rebekah. It gives us prophecy about the rise of Jacob over Esau, which comes to be. God appears to Isaac in 26:23-25 to reaffirm the blessings on him. In Genesis 26:26-31, after deception and betrayal Isaac is granted peace from God. In Genesis 28:10-16 God gives Jacob the dream to affirm the covenantal blessings. In the birth of the different children, God’s sovereignty and provision is seen. In Genesis 31:22-24, we see God protecting Jacob from Laban, and in Genesis 32, we see Jacob given a blessing.

God’s will is accomplished no matter how deceptive people become. God is greater than the wickedness of people. God overcomes the work of evil. We are called to abide in the Lord and remain faithful in Him even when the deceptions of the world and wickedness seem overwhelming. Our God is greater!

God bless,

Pastor Charlie