LOST WITHOUT GOD

Let us continue this morning, on our relationship between man and God.

How exciting to know, we do not have to live by the law alone, but now we are redeemed, living by faith; as we read in Romans 3:28 Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Truly, faith in Christ Jesus is the truth of the matter. We are made righteous in God’s eyes, by faith; in believing, in trusting, and receiving Christ as the Lord and Savior of our mind, body, spirit, and soul. His blood washes away our sin, and we as believers are made a New Creation in Christ, for all things are made new and old things are passed away.

Man has lost their fear of God. Man must realize that they are lost without God in their lives. When we once again fear the Lord God, turn to Him, cry out to Him with a repentant heart, seek His face, turn from our sinful old ways; God will heal our mind, body, and soul. God desires a relationship with His creation, but it will take us as an individual to come to Him by faith, trusting in His infallible plan of Salvation for all mankind, the very Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In Christ, new believers are to be dead to sin and alive unto righteousness (right living).

Apostle Paul put it this way in Romans 6:11-14 (KJV);
Vs.11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Vs .12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

Vs. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Vs. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace (KJV).

As a believer, in Christ Jesus, we are dead to the law and alive to God. The law could never deliver us from sin; but the Spirit that was is in Christ is now in the believer. The power of the Holy Spirit now delivers us from the power of the flesh, unrighteousness. The Holy Spirit gives us Sonship and assures us of a future glory with God our Father and Christ Jesus.

HAPPY ANIVERSARY  to my wife Gleneva. On this day in 1976 we pledged our love to each other, and a lifelong commitment for life. Here is our story.

Love For a Lifetime

I had just completed reading the Bible throughout my senior year of high school also spending some time in prayer. The year was 1973. I was uncertain about my future. I considered attending a Bible School/ College in Arizona, where several of my brothers had gone, but ultimately, I chose to accept a four-year scholarship to a local college/ university. I thought about studying music and perhaps becoming a Band Director.

At 19, life was full of possibilities. My brothers and I began attending a local Pentecostal Church where my mom and sisters went. I remember our first visit; several girls around our age noticed us Lundmark brothers, likely wondering which one of us would be theirs.

The following Wednesday, I noticed a young lady who led the testimony time of praise and worship. She was about my age, and I found her quite attractive, with a sincere spirit and love for God. Over the next few services, other girls tried to catch my attention, but they seemed too wild for my taste. My mother had taught me to date only someone I could see raising my children and spending my life with.

The young woman who led the testimonies also took an interest in me. When I played the trumpet with the church band, she enjoyed it and made it clear to the other girls that I was off-limits. A few weeks later, I received two tickets to a youth event and invited her—Gleneva—to join me.

We started going out and attending church together. As I began college and took a part-time job at the Post Office, our time to nurture the relationship was limited. The thought of marriage loomed, and I hesitated, recalling my mother’s swift three-month courtship, and then marriage. I was not ready for marriage, so I ended our dating, citing a lack of time due to college and work commitments.

How mistaken I was. For six months, I was miserable, dodging what felt like destiny. I remember asking her to meet me at Arby’s Restaurant after a Sunday Morning service; we needed to talk. Gleneva, then seeing another man and wearing his ring, knew in her heart she still loved me. After hours of conversation, she asked if I loved her. “I like you a lot, if that’s love, then I guess that is what you call it,” I replied. That settled it.

That evening, we entered the church, joyful and side by side, for a gospel concert. I must laugh, she wore two rings that night but returned the other man’s ring the following week, declaring her love for me.

This marriage was destined. Gleneva became my lifelong companion and wife. We married in November 1976, and 47 years later, with three grown children and eight beautiful Granddaughters, we remain grateful for our enduring love.

Let me add, the glue/bond that kept us together is our relationship to God first and our ever-ending love for each other secondly.

Experienced by Paul V. Lundmark