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Last Updated: Nov 18th, 2008 - 16:22:05 |
Pastor's Corner
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Sorrow for the Lost
Bishop Nicholson Message
Romans Chapter 9
The Word of God declares in Romans 1: 18 that God’s righteous judgment is already upon the wicked! Romans has been a very interesting book to study. I hope you are reading it along with me.
Did you know in Romans, Paul does not talk of the cross until Romans Chapter 3? In Romans 6:23 Paul speaks of the results of sin. Here it says, "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." And it's interesting that Paul does not mention God’s love until Romans Chapter 8, a chapter which we looked at last Sunday. In Romans 8 we find a key to living the abundant Christian life and that is by living in the Spirit, not living according to the flesh.
A word of encouragement from Paul. He says, in verse 1 of Romans Chapter 8: “There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Chapter 8 is one of the most important passages for the Christian. In Chapter 8 its teachings cannot be overemphasized, because the power of God’s Spirit in the life of the believer is what help us to overcome and to live in God’s will. This Chapter speaks of the Spirit 20 times. It's all about allowing the Holy Spirit to influence us daily. Having the Holy Spirit fill us daily is a key to living in freedom and power.
Today we take a look at Chapter 9. Let’s read Romans 9:1-3 - “I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh." Here we see an emotional side of Paul. What made Paul sad and in anquish?
Nov 16, 2008, 13:01
Pastor's Corner
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The True Gospel and Living by the Spirit
Bishop Nicholson Message
Romans Chapter 7 & 8
Many are very worried about the direction of our country. As Christians we should not lose heart. The Lord knew who would win. He allowed it to happen. He has a plan and purposes for our nation as well as our lives! Now God continues to call us to serve Him faithfully - to do whatever He tells us to do, to go wherever He tells us to go, to say whatever He tells us to say.
Today we celebrate Christ as our Chief Elder. May we always seek His leadership each day.
Today let's take a brief look at Romans 7 & 8. For several Sunday’s now, I have been studying and preaching on the book of Romans. The book of Romans reminds me that we must be faithful to the Word of God and faithful to Christ. We are reminded that we are servants of Christ; we must build up and bring the gospel to the people around us. When it comes to how we should share the gospel to others, I learned from the recent Moravian Pastor and Elder’s Conference in Bethel, Alaska that possibly some of the pastor’s are not sharing the entire gospel! An example shared at the conference I will share with you: Think of doctors. If they are just nice like some pastors are and only prescribe orange juice and aspirin for one month for someone that has cancer without telling them what their problem is. This would not be a good doctor; it does not help the one who is sick to ignore their problem. If the doctor did not tell me the truth I would be deeply upset.
Nov 9, 2008, 12:56
Pastor's Corner
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Path Out of Self Destruction
Bishop Nicholson Message
Romans Chapter 6
According to a recent Anchorage Daily News article, “A man police said was apparently suicidal told officers he molested a 6-year-old girl over the weekend to justify ending his life, though he never followed through with his death wish, Anchorage police said Tuesday." This young man, I’ll call him Bobby (not real name) from an Eskimo village is charged with "sexually assaulting a minor and was being held at the Anchorage jail in lieu of $50,000 bail, police said." When questioned by police, Bobby told them "he planned to kill himself but couldn't do so without having a reason, Honeman said". "He figured he had to do something very disgusting to make people hate him," Honeman said. "He needed a justification to kill himself." Bobby told police "he loaded a gun to shoot himself but the weapon didn't fire when he pulled the trigger.” Later when I became involved as the Anchorage Moravian Church pastor, I visited the family impacted by Bobby's behavior. I spoke to the man who owned the weapon Bobby used to try to end his life. I was told the cartridge used was new; the fact that the gun did not go off was a miracle!
Oct 12, 2008, 13:39
Pastor's Corner
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Ruin and Rescue
Bishop Nicholson Message
Romans Chapter 5
In last Sunday’s message we learned about faith and trust from Abraham, the Father of Faith. We realize that we can’t live daily unless we have faith in God and a firm belief that no matter what comes, God’s Will is good for us.
When I visited the Anchorage City Jail this last week, I spoke with an inmate who said that when his mother died, he lost his job and with a few weeks even lost his truck. He became mad at God. He was extremely angry for a long time. And because of his anger, he was now in prison. He went on to share that he lost his faith in God. But Praise God God never gave up on him; he shared with me that he recently regained his faith in God in prison. I am glad that I can represent you as your pastor and bring encouragement to prisoners this last week.
Oct 5, 2008, 12:52
Pastor's Corner
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Our Faith: Taking the Impossible and Making It Possible
Bishop Nicholson Message
Romans Chapter 4
Before I share some thoughts on Paul’s letter to the Romans, last Monday and Tuesday, September 22-23, 2008 I had a good trip to Bethel and visited Alaska Bible Seminary. While I was there one of the former Seminary students, Harry Nicholi wanted me to pass on to Billy Olsen Sr. who is one of our Church members and musician that he still remembers dialogue with Billy, especially when they spoke and argued as brothers about justification, sanctification, mystification, exaltation and glorification. Today, I would like to focus on Justification. I feel that Justification is dealt with or presented in a very important and understandable way here.
Who do you believe in? If you believe in God, do you also have faith in Christ? If you have faith in Christ, is your standing with God a firm and stable relationship? If you think you have a standing with God, do you have blessed assurance in your walk with God? If you have any issues in this area, there is blessed assurance in Romans Chapter 4.
The main character in Romans Chapter 4 is Abraham. According to this read in the Holy Scriptures, Abraham was justified by his faith in God. Justified or Justification is a big word, which literally means a declaration by God in heaven concerning a man, that he stands righteous in God’s sight.
Sep 29, 2008, 10:43
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We Are All in the Same Boat
Bishop Nicholson Message
Romans Chapter 3
Romans Chapter 3 is a good study. Since I was a young child from a Moravian missionary, I heard Romans 3:23 many times in the simple gospel messages shared - “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” We were lost in sin, but God looked for us and we find him. Even after we are found by him in our daily relationships in the church, oftentimes there is difficulty. That’s why Paul wrote to the Church at Romans to dispel misunderstandings, to bring peace, a spirit of unity amidst disharmony and to assure that the people there really understood what transformation in Christ is (Romans 12:1). This study should help us to understand what we need to do to change our attitudes and hearts and our lives so that peace will reign.
Paul recognized that Christians fail God; that’s why he wrote this letter. Let’s face it; Christians sin. We all sin! One of the sins occurring quite frequently in the life of our Moravian churches is gossip. If we gossip we go against the Bible. According to the way we do things in our church, when we are hurt by someone or if we have a “bone to pick” we must go to the offender first and seek understanding and forgiveness.
Sep 22, 2008, 14:33
Pastor's Corner
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Judge Not:
Bishop Nicholson Message
Romans Chapter 2:
Last Sunday from Chapter 1 of Romans, we learned that Paul gave up everything to Christ. His confession was the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel or good news in Romans 1:16 and 17 stills speaks. I hope that this becomes our byword as we move on in mission as a Moravian Church in Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage. It is a summary of our faith. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith’”.
As Paul penned the letter of Romans he was looking at a Roman culture and government entering its last stages of corruption. Homosexuality may not have been only a movement nor a culture, but it was rampant often-times among the elite. Paul lashes out against the alternative life-styles. No one is without excuse because what is made know about God is evident in creation. And Paul ends the first chapter by saying that God’s wrath is coming upon the sinners of the world.
Sep 14, 2008, 13:31
Pastor's Corner
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We Should Not Be Ashamed
Bishop Nicholson's Message
Romans Chapter 1:
For the next several Sundays, I will be presenting very brief series on the Book of Romans. One of my goals is to interest individuals to read their Bibles and to become acquainted or reacquainted with the important doctrines in God’s Word. Another goal is that these short messages will be installed on our church bulletin board for use by the Church at Large. As a Bishop I am praying that God will give me the words to help inspire Moravian ministers to get into God’s Word and to teach it! This way God’s grace and power will be more evident in the lives of people living within the Alaska Moravian Province.
The book of Romans is really a letter. It is one written by Paul the Apostle to the believers in Rome. Paul at this time was a believer for 21 years and had become a mature believer who received some very important words that God gave him to share, not only to the people of that day, but to us today! Rome had a church which was located in the largest and most powerful city of the known world at that time. The City of Rome, like many of our communities today, was full of corruption and worldly living. The people there are people just like today, looking for answers about life. With these people in mind Paul gives an outstanding literary work in his writing of the Epistle of Romans. This work helps people to find Christ as Savior and helps believers to understand how to live out their faith in Christ.
Sep 8, 2008, 09:25
Pastor's Corner
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Experiencing God Introduction
Spiritual Maturity is important; I mentioned that last week. Also last week I mentioned that God has
given me a desire to teach more from His Word.
We have to assume that people are hungry for God’s Word; people want to
experience God more in their lives. For
the next few weeks, I will be sharing a bit on experiencing God using some of the information I’ve gathered from Henry Blackaby & Claude King's book on Experiencing
God. It is my expectation that many of
our people who attend church regularly and want to grow, will grow in the Lord.
Sep 2, 2007, 11:31
Pastor's Corner
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What's Next?
Last Sunday Pastor's Announcements & Message "What Next?": Again it is good to be back among you. I promised I would shared a testimony; it’s in print. A testimony of God’s loving care is provided for your review in the bulletin. I trust that each one of us no matter what the difficulty or danger will give ourselves unreservably to our Lord. Henry W. Beecher says, “Difficulties are God’s errands; and when we are sent upon them we should esteem it a proof of God’s confidence as a compliment from Him.” Again, thanks to all who led, spoke, and served our Church during the pastor’s absence.
Reminder for the lay leaders leading during the evening. Please assure that you have a replacement from the approved listing incase you are out. If not please contact me, anytime.
The fall/winter Church Calendar is being developed. Sunday School at 2 PM and regular worship at 3 PM will begin on September 9, 2007.
Aug 28, 2007, 15:19
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