Tag: Val Watkins

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2012-02-05: Spiritual Disciplines – Fasting

Sermon: Spiritual Disciplines – Fasting
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Matthew 6:16-18
Duration: 32:16
Size: 14.7 MB

Spiritual Disciplines
Fasting
Matthew 6:16-18

Simply put, fasting is the voluntary abstinence from food for spiritual purposes.

When Jesus taught on fasting, he would say “when you fast”, not “if you fast”.

Fasting reminds us that we can get by without most things in our lives for a time, but we cannot get by without God.

Fasting is voluntarily turning up the heat in our lives.

It is both physical and spiritual and it builds our faith muscles so that we can withstand the bigger contests that come our way.

Our hunger pangs also remind us to lift our voice up to God.

When we fast in our repentance, it is not an attempt to punish ourselves for our past sin, but as a commitment and preparation for our future righteousness.

Determine the purpose of the fast. Is it to seek God, to seek direction, to pray for others?

There is so much potential power in seeking God in this way that Satan will do whatever necessary to derail your plan.

Remember that your fast is about you and God, not about impressing others, or even yourself.

Remember that we are not twisting God’s arm, we are trying to draw closer to Him.

The goal is spiritual not physical. If you want to loose weight, find a way to eat healthier, if you want to draw closer to God, try fasting.

Why Fast?

  • Fasting increases our hunger for God.
  • Fasting can train our passions.
  • Fasting can be an earnest prayer.
  • Fasting can help us humble ourselves.
  • Fasting can be a sign of Repentance.

How to Fast.

  • Start small.
  • Determine the purpose of the fast.
  • Determine the nature of the fast.
  • Determine the length of the fast.
  • Get people praying for you.

Pitfalls of Fasting.

  • Pride
  • Coercion of God
  • Penance
  • Dieting

If you’re satisfied with the status quo of your spiritual life, then just go ahead and ignore everything I’ve said today.

If you’re ready to move on to another level, and you’re not fasting as a part of your walk with Christ already, then I’d say, start right away.

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2012-01-01: Spiritual Disciplines – Bible Study

Sermon: Spiritual Disciplines – Bible Study
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Genesis 1:1 – Revelation 22:21
Duration: 39:16
Size: 17.9 MB

Spiritual Disciplines
Bible Study
Genesis 1:1 – Revelation 22:21

“A Great Commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission will grow a Great Church.”

Spiritual disciplines are practices that we willingly pursue in response to a God who created us, saved us, and guides us.

Spiritual disciplines draw us closer to God, deepen our understanding of who he is, and help make us into the men and women he desires us to become.

We study the Bible but we are not really listening for God’s voice and therefore we do not understand what He wants to say to us.

Five reasons why we should study the Bible.

1. It is divine – II Timothy 3:16

God gave it to us, God gave it to you.

2. It is truth – John 17:17

The Bible is not just partly true, it’s totally true.

3. It is our map – Psalm 119:105

The Bible not only shows us how to know God but it also tells us how we should live.

4. It is our food – Matthew 4:4

The Bible is necessary for our spiritual health and growth.

5. It is our life – Deuteronomy 32:47

The Bible shows us how we can have life, real life.

How Can I Study The Bible?

Prepare

Right Tools
Right Mindset (Psalm 119:18, I Corinthians 2:12)

Record

Exegesis (To lead out)
Context (When was it written?)
Content (What’s the meaning of the words?)

Apply

Hermeneutics (Interpretive)
How does this passage of Scripture apply to me today?

Yield

What action does God want me to take?

The goal of Bible study is not just to know the content of the Bible; it is to get to know the AUTHOR of the Bible in a deeper, more personal way.

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2011-12-25: Learning From the Songs of Christmas – Joy to the World

Sermon: Joy to the World
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Psalm 98:2-9
Duration: 25:56
Size: 11.8 MB

Learning From the Songs of Christmas
Joy to the World
Psalm 98:2-9

Even at its best, Christmas means parties to plan, gifts to buy, elaborate meals to cook, long trips to take, or out-of-town guests to host. Instead of bringing JOY, Christmas can bring frustration.

Unfortunately, many people leave Christ out of Christmas. Instead of looking to Jesus, people look for JOY anywhere and everywhere else.

The Bible says a lot about JOY. The kind of JOY the Bible talks about goes much deeper than mere happiness.

The first stanza teaches: THERE IS JOY WHEN THE KING IS RECEIVED

King Herod was anything but joyful when the Magi from the East inquired about the birthplace of a new King.

While Herod saw Jesus as a Threat, the Wise Men saw Jesus as a Gift, and they came to worship Him.

The second stanza teaches: THERE IS JOY WHEN THE SAVIOR REIGNS

Receiving Christ is the important first step. But then we must go on to let him Reign in our lives.

Most of us do a pretty lousy job of running our lives on our own. Jesus knows what will give you JOY.

The third stanza teaches: THERE IS JOY WHEN THE SINNER REPENTS

Sin promises happiness. But Sin delivers sorrow.

The baby changed everything. Has the Bethlehem Baby changed your life?

The last stanza teaches: THERE IS JOY WHEN THE TRUTH RULES WITHS GRACE

JOY comes because He rules with a perfect balance of TRUTH and GRACE.

True JOY will be yours this Christmas if you will RECEIVE Christ, REPENT of your sins, and let Jesus REIGN in your life with Truth and Grace.

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2011-12-04: Learning From the Songs of Christmas – O Come O Come Emmanuel

Sermon: O Come O Come Emmanuel
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 11:1-12
Duration: 25:21
Size: 11.6 MB

Learning From the Songs of Christmas
O Come O Come Emmanuel
Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 11:1-12

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

This popular song dates back to the year 800 and represents an important and ancient series of services celebrated by the Church.

Christmas is nothing short of the most historic day in human history. God became flesh and dwelt among us.

Indeed, our Christmas carol begins where any discussion on the central figure of Christmas must begin, by declaring Christ to be nothing less than redeemer God.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Throughout Scripture wisdom is closely linked to God. Genuine wisdom finds its roots in God and His Word.

Jesus Christ is fully the “Wisdom of God” and is worthy to be celebrated in song.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

The “Rod of Jesse” refers to Isaiah 11:1. Isaiah’s writings predict a time when things will look hopeless.

It may, in fact, look bleak and hopeless but you dare not give up hope for he who said it will be faithful.

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

A more literal translation suggests that “God has visited us as a sun rise from heaven.”

Light changes everything! The world looks different and is easier to navigate when there is light.

Jesus Christ is indeed the “Light of the world” and is worthy to be celebrated in song.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

The “power of the keys” was a significant role in a monarchy. It is none-the-less true in the Kingdom of God.

Jesus Christ is qualified to rule God’s Kingdom and is worthy to be celebrated in song.

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

He has conquered the hostile enemy that has held a grip on the human soul for millenia.

He deserves to be called “Mighty God” and is worthy to be celebrated in song.

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

We speak of “peace on earth and goodwill toward men.”

Isaiah longed for world peace too. And he knew when and where it would be fulfilled – in the Messiah – in the reign of God.

Jesus Christ is indeed the “Prince of Peace” and is worthy to be celebrated in song.

Jesus is:

  • Completely God
  • Your source of Wisdom
  • Your trustworthy Hope
  • The Light of salvation
  • The ruler of God’s eternal kingdom
  • The conqueror of evil
  • Your source for peace.
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2011-11-20: Are You Truly Thankful?

Sermon: Are You Truly Thankful?
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 17:11-19
Duration: 23:43
Size: 10.8 MB

Are You Truly Thankful?
Luke 17:11-19

Three aspects of thankfulness that we can to glean from this Scripture:

1: There are no good excuses for unthankfulness.

We as Americans love to make excuses.

In our story of the ten lepers, the nine that were not thankful probably had excuses that they thought were good for not coming back to thank Jesus.

Jesus expected every one of them to be thankful, and he expects that of Christians today.

2: Everyone has something to be thankful for.

God wants us to be thankful in all circumstances because we all have something to be thankful for.

We are a blessed people with much to be thankful for. We must be a more thankful people.

If you can attend church meetings without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than three billion in the world.

3: We as Christians need to set the bar for thankfulness.

Christians are called to be set apart from the world, yet only 10% of the population is acting that way.

When the church should have been setting the bar of thankfulness, the world was actually leading the way.

This week, I encourage you to make a list of everything you can think of that you can thank God for – and then do it.