Sermons
Sermons from Bay Vista Baptist ChurchAwakening's Beginning
Today, Brother Danny takes us through 2 Chronicles chapter 34, to show three principles of Awakening that must take place in our lives. The first of which is that only God’s word can convict us of the need for awakening in our spiritiual lives. Once that conviction begins to take place, God’s people begin to influence others to awaken. Finally, as awakening grows withing the people of God, we will sense a growing need to turn away from the things that can hinder our spiritual walk. Once we renew our passion for the full counsel of God’s word, and we allow God to work in and through each of us, the church will not be the same.
The Call to Decision
This morning, Brother Danny brought us to Joshua 24, verses 14 through 27. This passage helps us understand that one of the keys to the revival that must come is that we must, individually and repeatedly decide how we will respond to God’s call to decision. We must choose to take a public stand as a follower of jesus. This doesn’t mean being abrasive or obnoxious in our Christianity, but it does mean that we have to live publicly for Jesus. We also have to know that this commitment does not come lightly. There is a cost to being a disciple of Christ, we must reckon that cost every day. Finally, we have to follow through with the choice, and by God’s grace, we can.
Return to the Lord
This morning, Brother Danny shared with us from the Book of Hosea, the call for repentance for God’s people. There are three key points to this message. First, in order to have real repentance, one must have real awareness of sin. We have have to realise that sin isn’t merely a mistake, it is a crippling problem. Second, real repentance requires more than platitudes of apology. It must come from a contrite heart. Finally, we need to be assured that real repentance is not something we do on our own, but is something that can only take place by the grace of God.
If You Are Thirsty
This morning, Brother Danny shared from the prophecy of Isaiah, chapter 55, verses 1 through 3. In this passage, God says three things to his covenant people, and these three things have great implication for the church. First, God says “I can freely give you what you need.” God’s grace is what we need in order to be renewed and awakened to the call of the gospel. Second, God says “I can offer you a satisfaction that the world cannot.” No matter where we may try to find satisfaction, only God can give us what our soul desires. Finally, God says “I can fulfill your life with a faithful love.” As many people in the church struggle with self doubt, God offers us His amazing covenant love.
Back to Basics
This morning, using the text from 2 Chronicles 30, verses 1 through 9, Brother Danny calls the church to go back to basics. In this text, we find three truths that the church needs to take hold of. First, we need to return to what has been neglected. For the people of Judah, that was the observance of the Passover. For the church of today, we need to return to the spiritual disciplines that we once had a passion for. Second, we must pay attention to God’s call to return. God always calls his people to return to him before he brings punishment in their lives. We must be willing to listen. Finally, we need to follow through with our commitments to return. God is calling the church to return to him, we must decide if we will heed the call.
A Disturbing Cycle
As we begin a new series this morning, Brother Danny shares with us from the Book of Judges, chapter 2, verses 10-19. In these verses we see the pattern of the book, and the life of Israel immediately following the conquest of Canaan. Brother Danny encourges us to consider the cause of stumbling, as it is shown in Judges. When we fail to acknowledge God, we will suffer calamity. Rather we must constantly be renewed in our relationship with God. We must also consider the effect of stumbling. The human condition says that we WILL serve something. Only a vital connection with God will fill our lives with meaning. Finally, there is a solution to the stumbling that our sin will cause. We will embrace that solution when we take a serious turn toward following God’s mercy.
Victory in Jesus
This Resurrection Sunday, Brother Danny shares three truths from 1 John Chapter 5 that should cause the Christian to rejoice. First, Our risen Lord keeps us safe. Jesus will not allow his followers to be overrun by temptation, He always provides a way of escape. Second, our risen Lord delivers us from Satan’s control. We cannot be controlled by Satan, and we need not live in fear of the enemy. Finally, it is only by our Risen Lord that we can have relationship with the Father. The false gods of this world have nothihng to offer us, we can remain true to the One who is truth.
The Promise of Answered Prayer
This morning, Brother Danny shares the promise of answered prayer. John tells his readers very clearly, that we can be confident that God hears our prayers as we pray in His will. That connection of the believer to the will of God is the essential key to effective prayer. God answers the prayers that he hears. As we submit to His will, He responds favorably to our prayers. Finally, we can be confident that God hears and answers our prayers of intercession. As we stand in the gap for brothers and sisters, God will honor those prayers.
Confident of Eternal Life
This morning, Brother Danny takes us through 1 John 5:11-13. In this short passage, he reiterates the point of John’s letter to the church, and that is so that they may know that they have eternal life. John wanted his readers to know that they could have assurance of their salvation, and the eternal life that comes with that. We can share in that assurance, knowing that A) Eternal life is a gift from God that does not depend upon us, B) Eternal life is found only in the Son of God and no other, and C) Eternal life can only be a reality through faith in the Son.
The Awesome Incarnation
This morning, Brother Danny shares with us the evidences that John lists in his letter. These evidences convict and convince the believer of the truth of Jesus life, death, and resurrection. In these five verses, John tells us that we have the testimony of the Holy Spirit, who dwells in the child of God and helps us to understand the truths of the Gospel of Jesus. We have the testimony of the Father, who, throughout the Gospel accounts, repeatedly proclaims Jesus as his son, and the one in whom he is well pleased. Finally, we have the internal testimony of our own conversion. This conviction from within is more than “warm emotions” about Jesus. By these witnesses, we can know that our inheritance is secure…