Ironworks

But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. Mark 13:32-33            No one knows the day nor the time. In a moment's notice, the Lord could very well return. At the time you are reading this, are you ready? If you have obeyed the Gospel, that is great; there is nothing like the assurance that we have fought the good fight and remained faithful unto death, quenching fiery darts of the devil (cf. 2 Tim 4:7; Rev. 2:10; Eph. 6:16). There are so many things that we can do to be ready: we can study, we can sing, and we can teach others. But, Jesus reminds us of two other critical elements of our preparation for the coming of the Lord. Take ye heed, watch and pray.            Watching carries the idea of anticipation. God desires that we will watch and wait on the Lord, anticipating His coming and always on the ready. The second part of this

For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.  1 Cor. 9:19-22 What are you willing to give? That will be the question that is posed repeatedly in the new sermon series. It has been laid out last month that God is the great provider, Jehovah Jireh, who has lavished us with a grace that can cover all of our sins. Considering that, how can we give and be better givers? The first thing we can do is give up. I know that is not the most common of encouraging phrases, but it is truly pertine