Tag: Sermon

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Sermon Audio: Habakkuk: God of the Unexpected
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Habakkuk 1-3
Duration: 21:45
Size: 10.6 MB

The Minor Prophets
Habakkuk: God of the Unexpected
Habakkuk 1-3

Israel has fallen and Habakkuk ministers in Judah and struggles with the problem of evil in his days.

The structure is simple–Habakkuk complains to God, God answers him, he launches into a second complaint, God replies and then he responds with a song of worship.

We can pour out your heart to God without fear. The Psalmists do that often–1/3 of the Psalms are laments–expressing frustrations, disappointments and even anger towards God.

Time does not work against God. It works against us–we rush for time, we fight against time, we try to beat the clock.

The Babylonians had just defeated the Assyrians, and the Lord is going to use them against Judah.

Even if we do not understand, can we trust Him enough not to put any expectations on Him?

This is the reason why we can trust Him even though we do not fully understand or agree with His ways.

Habakkuk is not trying to be optimistic. The challenges are there, but he is willing to trust God and put his hope in God.

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Sermon Audio: Nahum: The Wrath of God
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Nahum 1-3
Duration: 18:41
Size: 8.96 MB

The Minor Prophets
Nahum: The Wrath of God
Nahum 1-3

The book of Nahum comes some one hundred years after the prophecy of Jonah.

It’s obvious that God has intended these messages to be heard by His people. God is consoling His people.

God is delaying sentencing, so that man will have a chance.

Life will always have its troubles and struggles, but circumstances don’t define our life.

It is certainly true that God loves the sinner but hates his sin, as we sometimes say. But that is only part of the story.

You cannot just preach the God of wrath without the God of love, but the wrath of God grows out of his love, is a manifestation of his love.

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Sermon Audio: Micah: True Worship
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Micah 1-7
Duration: 22:30
Size: 10.3 MB

The Minor Prophets
Micah: True Worship
Micah 1-7

We need to be deliberate in making time for God, to think about His Word, His workings in our lives, and His concerns.

They have all the outward forms, but their hearts were far from God.

God says, the best worship you can give Me is not the offering of the best calves or the most, thousands of ram, but to do what I have shown you.

If worship is an encounter with Christ, then it happens every day and everywhere.

The poor and needy are always on God’s radar screen. People are God’s concern.

If the Lord dwells in my heart, and is the Lord seated on the throne of my heart, then I am an agent of change for my world!

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Sermon Audio: Jonah: Merciful God
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Jonah 1-4
Duration: 22:34
Size: 11.0 MB

The Minor Prophets
Jonah: Merciful God
Jonah 1-4

God is eager to forgive. He is glad that people are given second chances.

Whether the prophet comprehends God’s mercy is left unknown.

God is the God of the second chances. In fact, God creates the second chances.

God is relentless in giving His people warnings and opportunities to repent.

The fact that the people of Nineveh are alive, that sinners are alive and well today, is because God is holding off His judgement through mercy.

Jesus came showing mercy and lives were changed.

We pray that our hearts will be filled with His love, so that His mercy and grace can flow, unhindered by our pride and prejudice.

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Sermon Audio: Obadiah: The Pride of Your Heart
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Obadiah 1-21
Duration: 21:26
Size: 10.2 MB

The Minor Prophets
Obadiah: The Pride of Your Heart
Obadiah 1-21

Obadiah reveals God’s stern words to Edom, a nation South of Judah.

The trouble with Esau and his descendants was pride. Obadiah states, “The pride of your heart has deceived you”.

We are self-sufficient when we think or feel that we’re in charge, and that our future is in our hands.

It is sometimes good for us to experience this sense of helplessness, because then we will know that we need God.

Their pride blinds them to the needs of their fellow brothers in Jerusalem.

We are taught by Jesus not to rejoice over the downfall of our enemies, but to love them and pray for those who persecute us.

It is clear from this passage that being apathetic is an issue to God.

Man is called to humble himself before Almighty God. There is hope for those who keep their trust in God.

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Sermon Audio: Amos: Enduring Grace
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Amos 1-9
Duration: 22:20
Size: 10.9 MB

The Minor Prophets
Amos: Enduring Grace
Amos 1-9

Amos saw a vision–God standing by a wall that has been built true and straight.

So, Amos came and lifted up, in a sense, a mirror for them to look at themselves and judge for themselves.

God was telling them, if they continue to go down this road, they would face dire consequences.

God will not punish without warning.

God never condemns anyone. John 3:17 tells us very clearly. Jesus came in our world to save us, not to condemn us.

God does that in our lives, giving us His messages through friends, sermons, experiences we had, to remind us of our need to return to Him.

The book of Amos is the call of God for man to return to Him and His ways.

The Bible is the revelation of God–His being and His doings, His will and His ways.

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Sermon Audio: Joel: Rend Your Heart
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Joel 1-3
Duration: 22:37
Size: 11.0 MB

The Minor Prophets
Joel: Rend Your Heart
Joel 1-3

You have this picture of a realization (or revelation), a turn around (repentance), and a restoration (a returning to God).

This realization can only come through the fresh revelation of God’s will.

The Israelites will never, ever, experience again, the true blessings of God, for their lives, until they realized their mistake and turn around.

His goal is repentance, not destruction. That’s why God is relentless in proclaiming the same message over and over again, through His prophets.

We see the INTENT of God’s judgement. God desires our repentance.

It really doesn’t matter what you do, if there is no change of heart, there is no repentance.

True repentance takes place because there is a turning to God–a revelation of God’s glory, His holiness.

That’s why daily time with God is important. Our worship of God is crucial. Close encounters with God bring repentance.

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Sermon Audio: Hosea: Relentless Love
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Hosea 1-14
Duration: 20:55
Size: 10.2 MB

The Minor Prophets
Hosea: Relentless Love
Hosea 1-14

Hosea, a young preacher, is led by God to meet and woo and win a young woman by the name of Gomer.

Even though she has left the home, she has not left his heart.

But if you’re tempted to sit in judgment on Gomer, I remind you that that’s the way you and I have acted all of our lives.

God would not love you more than He loves you right now. It is the love that you would feel if you stand beneath the cross and see Jesus died for you.

Do you know how much He loves you? Are you in love with Him?

You come close, so close until you see your reflection around the pupil of His eye.