ADVENTIST COMMUNITY CHURCH OF VANCOUVER | DECEMBER 13, 2011
| From Pastor Roger ... Dreaded wordBreast cancer strikes about one out of every eight women in the US. More than 53,000 men and women die from colorectal cancer every year. More than 80,000 women are diagnosed with a gynecological cancer every year, with nearly 30,000 deaths annually. More than 200,000 thousand are diagnosed with lung cancer yearly, with nearly 160,000 deaths attributed to the disease. (Statistics courtesy of the US Centers for Disease Control.) It's no wonder that people are full of dread hearing the word 'cancer' when they are at their doctor's office. It's a miserable disease, and it's been with us for nearly as long as humanity has existed. Some medical experts think the description of Jehoram's affliction (2 Chronicles 21:14-19) to be consistent with colorectal cancer. You won't get any argument from me that death from any kind of cancer is painful to the sufferer and to his or her family. The only good news about death caused by cancer is the hope of resurrection, fully restored to bodies God designed us to have in the first place. So it begs the question: Why aren't we more in fear of 'sin' than 'cancer'? Sin kills. Forever. "… the earnings of the wicked are sin and death." Proverbs 10:16. "For the wages of sin is death.." Romans 6:23 Praise God—there is more in these two texts. Christ saves. Eternally. "The wages of the righteous is life..." Proverbs 10:16. "… but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23. We are desperately in need of revival. Personal spiritual revival. Ellen G. White wrote in Education, 57 (1903) and in Colporteur Ministry 54.4: "The greatest want of the world is the want of men (and women) — men who will not be bought or sold; men who in their inmost souls are true and honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole; men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall." This is important, so let me reiterate the steps Mark Fox outlined for becoming this kind of man or woman for God. A. Spend an hour per day in prayer B. Pray 3x per day C. Keep a journal of miracles in your life...it does not matter how small they may be D. Write down promises on 3 X 5 cards and memorize them E. Fast F. Get involved in leading others to Jesus G. Talk to Jesus all day long H. Study the life of Jesus...i.e. read the Four Gospels and Desire of Ages I. Study Prophecy J. Spend time in nature K. Improve your health...diet, exercise Resource: The L.I.F.E. Journal | What's happening: Sunday, Dec. 18, 7pm, Fountainview Academy Christmas Concert: Mary, Did You Know? THIS WEEK Tuesday, Dec. 13 Wednesday, Dec. 21 |
