To hear the entire Sabbath service from Saturday 02/22/2014 click on the link below:
This service (broadcast from Ceres/Modesto) runs approx. 88 minutes and downloads to a file approx. 53MB in size.
Fresno Deacon Jerry Sandquist gave the sermonette: “The Resurrection of the Dead” (This sermonette begins at approx. 7:39 into the audio file)
Fresno Elder Mr. David O’Malley delivered the main message: “Persecution is Promised” (This sermon begins at approx. 32:06 into the audio file)
Just a few weeks ago Mr. LeBlanc gave a sermon regarding the subject of healing. In a recent Bible Study I came across a discussion on faith in the book of Romans that I found of value when thinking about healing. The verses that really came alive for me are in Romans 4. I want to write this commentary in support of the understanding given to us by Mr. LeBlanc about healing.
In order to get started though, I want to go back to the book of Genesis where we find a situation in Abraham and Sarah’s lives that was very critical for them—he and his wife were childless. In chapter 15 God visited Abram; and Abram, being of an advanced age, said, “look (Lord) you have given me no offspring.” The Lord did not rebuke him but said, “one who would come from his (Abraham’s) body would be his heir.” Abraham was well into his advanced years when God made this statement, but that didn’t matter to Abraham. Verse 6 simply states Abraham “believed in the Lord.” Notice, this promise was to Abraham, but there was no mention of Sarah at this time.
In chapter 17, the Lord again appeared to Abram and he was told, “as for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah, shall be her name. And I will bless her and also give you a son by her. Then Abraham fell down on his face and laughed, saying, ‘shall a child be born to one who is a hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old bear a child?’” And yet, as preposterous and impossible as this seemed, Abraham had all the men of his camp circumcised in an act of faith, demonstrating his belief that what God had said, He would do. Later in chapter 18, when Abraham was visited by the Lord, the Lord asked Abraham, “Where is Sarah your wife?….I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold Sarah your wife shall have a son.” Verse 11 of this chapter states, “Now Abraham and Sarah were OLD, WELL ADVANCED IN AGE, and Sarah was PAST THE AGE OF CHILDBEARING.”
Sarah also laughed when she heard the Lord. The idea of her bearing a child at her age, as impossible as it was, seemed almost comical. What did the Lord say to this: “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”
Now let’s go to the book of Romans. In chapter 4, vs. 13 the promise to Abraham and his seed he would be the heir of the world is clearly stated. However, the promise wouldn’t be fulfilled because Abraham had physical works that earned him a reward. Rather, in verse 3 of this same chapter we are told, “Abraham BELIEVED God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” It was because of his faith in God that this wonderful promise would be fulfilled!
And what was it that Abraham believed? In verses 17-18 we find that Abraham believed against all hope, yet with a lively hope, that God, who brings life back to the dead and creates from nothing, would deliver on his promises to him. Verse 20 clearly states Abraham was not WEAK in faith, so he believed the impossibility of he and Sarah having a child together was not going to be a problem for God. Sarah’s womb was “dead”, but Abraham BELIEVED God. And we are told in verse 20 he didn’t WAVER in his belief. Instead, he gave glory to God because he was fully convinced that what God had promised, He was ABLE to perform. And we know that He did.
We are told in Romans 4 these things were written for us. They are meant to strengthen our faith so that we, like Abraham, will take God at His word and believe His promises. So let’s take a look at a promise God has made to us in James 5:13-15:
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of FAITH will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. “
Those verses are pretty plain, aren’t they. Can we be like Abraham and take God at His word?
Finally, let’s reiterate the points that characterize Abraham’s faith: (1) He took God at his word – he believed Him. (2) He had hope that sustained his belief in God, though God did not immediately deliver those things He promised. (3) Abraham did not waver. He believed God was faithful to perform His word. (4) He believed that God could perform the promises He made. (5) He gave glory to God. He exalted the one who he knew would bless him, even as God had said He would.
The Bible tells us Abraham is the father of the faithful. So let’s model ourselves after his example , giving proof we are one of Abraham’s children. In that way we can also receive the promises God has made to us.
To hear the entire Sabbath service from Saturday 02/08/2014 click on the link below:
This service (broadcast from Ceres/Modesto) runs approx. 95 minutes and downloads to a file approx. 57MB in size.
Albert Guardamagni gave the sermonette: “How Do You See It?” (This sermonette begins at approx. 8:02 into the audio file)
Pastor Mr. Steven LeBlanc delivered the main message: “Ezekiel” (This sermon begins at approx. 29:40 into the audio file)