Macedonia Baptist Church Podcast

At the core of obedience is the pull of our will that demands freedom. It is our own human nature that desires to do what we want to do. It is our fleshly desire to be the masters of our destiny. While God has given us intellect and minds, he has also given us his love. When we struggle with obedience to God's commands we can be more consumed with our desire for freedom, while not realizing the blessings that God has in store for us. So if we simply put the coin of our obedience into the vending machine of God's blessings will we be guaranteed the blessings we want? Or in the fashion and time we desire? NO. However obedience means something greater than what we can get from God. It means we get God. In other words, when we truly love God obedience to his commands turns from our will to our love for Him. In this study of chapter twenty-six in the book of Leviticus we find that it not just God's desire for us to reap his blessings from obedience but to be a part of holiness as his creation made in his image and

In our world today we can see many differences around us. We don't often recognize just how powerful our military is until its time for us to defend ourselves against foreign nations. We can fail to see just how democratic election system is until we see other countries that elect leaders only to have them deposed by the opposition. We may not appreciate the abundance of food in this country until we see how many people actual go to bed each night starving. However we can understand the superiority in these things just as God wants us to see His holiness and our need for it. In a pew research study conducted June 8-18 and June 27 to July 9 found that many people in America said belief in God is not needed to be moral. In fact in this same study in 2011 42 percent who identify themselves as protestant evangelicals said belief in God is not needed to be moral and now in 2017 the number has now grown to 45 percent. If belief in God is not necessary to be moral what does that say about what we believe who God is

When God gave the Ten Commandments they were never intended as a means to require works for salvation. They were provided for the welfare of God's people. When believers follow Jesus and his teaching we understand that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind (Mt 22:27). And to love your neighbor as yourself (Mt 22:39). Jesus said, "All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Mt 22:40). So then why the law, or why the commandments? The Ten Commandments have never been more relevant and more needed than times such as these. However we must have a right understanding of the commandments so that we can also have a right relationship with God. The commandments are in effect our response to the love that we have to God and demonstrate in our lives to others. Today's message is from Exodus 20:1-17.

In each of our lives sin can steal the joy God has intended from a right relationship with Him. It is God's desire that our relationship with him be free from sin. However in all of our lives we fall prey to temptation. King David of Israel fell prey to temptation in his adultery with Bathsheba. The fallout from this sin led David to think he had to cover up his sin, which resulted in even more damage between his relationship with the Lord. Here in Psalm 32 David testified that being silent about sin only brings sorrow, but confessing sin to the Lord means having a life of true joy. Here in this message we see four incentives we have in confessing our sin to the Lord. When we allow God to instruct us and become honest with our sin with Him we are delivered from sorrow into joy.

God's desire for our relationship with him is his utmost concern for his creation. He has redeemed us through faith in his Son, Jesus Christ. However our relationship becomes separated from him when we sin. Nevertheless God allows our relationship with him to become close and real when we repent of our sin through confession. King David of Israel was a man after God's own heart, yet he sinned greatly even at the apex of his rule. Here in this message we hear how David's confession was a prayer of restoration. His prayer was not simply to avoid condemnation, but to be restored to the joy and gladness he experienced before his great sin. Psalm 51 is that confession of by King David. In this penitential psalm we read of the heart of David. His confession declares of his great need for mercy and the grace only God can provide through His Son, Jesus Christ.

We live in a world that does not like the concept of sacrifice. We live in a country that has enjoyed enormous prosperity. Our children get to go to school, we have hospitals were people can get care, when an accident happens we have people to respond to emergencies, and we have social programs to provide for those in need. However the life we live cannot be measured by how much we have, nor how much we suffer. No. However in the midst of suffering or a life lacking can you rejoice? How can you have faith in the midst of sacrifice or suffering? In this message we hear a story of woman whose life was changed when God blessed her with a son. When Hannah was able to bare a son she was faithful to her vow and prayed a prayer of praise and rejoicing. However her life was not so much based on what she had, but who God is. Hannah's faith rejoiced not in just the deliverance from her circumstances, but who God is. Believers today must rejoice who God is rather than what our perception is of our circumstances. Be

How does remembering that you were made for eternity affect the way you will live your life today? Each of us needs to know that God has appointed a place, a relationship and a heritage for all who desire to come to him through his Son Jesus Christ. In this message we hear how the apostle John was given a glimpse of the fulfillment of God's promise to his creation. This promise is our hope for our real home, and the gifts, which await for all who believe in Jesus.   

Each of us get news from time to time. Sometimes it involves us directly and other times it does not. However the difference is not the news we get, but the hope that we have. When Mary Magdalene announced the news of the risen Jesus to the grieving disciples she said, "I have seen the Lord." So the Bible announces hope for everyone who gets the news of the resurrection.  In this message we see three reasons for the best news ever heard, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The news of the resurrection demands a response from everyone, because that news directly effects everyone for salvation. The key verse for this message is the gospel of John 20:18.

If you knew the final moments of your life what words would you choose to say? The last words Jesus spoke was, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46). Just prior to the death of Jesus on the cross he faced the choice, save himself or save the world. While his choice saves us, his choice forces everyone to make a decision. Whom will you choose? In this message we conclude our sermon series: 7 Words from the Cross. In it we are faced with the decision to define our relationship with Jesus Christ. His decision was made and so now we are given that same choice.    

When Jesus was on the cross before his death he said "it is finished." He was saying that the work the father had given him was complete. But the good news is that the work he did on the cross for the father benefited us for all eternity! In this message we learn how the grace Jesus offers us from the cross allows us to enjoy a life free from the bondage of debt, a sin-debt. Macedonia Baptist Church is located on the westside of Jacksonville, Florida. We are located at 8081 Lenox Ave. Join us every Sunday at 10:30am for worship!

When Jesus was crucified on the cross his last demonstration of his suffering was thirst. Jesus said, "I thirst" (John 19:28). The humanity of Jesus was being demonstrated because he was actually dying of thirst. Yet his plea was not just because he was physically thirsty. He was still thirsting for the souls of men! The world's desire to quench it's thirst with fortune and fame are only able to  fill it with the things that are perishable. Jesus offers eternal life where men will never thirst "but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:14). So while Jesus’ thirst was physical it symbolized something else he desired. In the face of suffering and evil, the world desires to satisfy it's own thirst for earthly desires, but Jesus’ thirst desires too. He thirst for us. Macedonia Baptist Church is located on the westside of Jacksonville Florida at 8081 Leno

Whether it’s a replacement part for your car, home appliance or item in your life, many of you will always look for something or someone to replace. Some of us even have parts in our body we want to replace too. The difference is that we have to give up something in order to replace it. When we replace something it is because we see the value of something else. We desire to replace love. We are driven to replace because of doubt, and we replace because we see the need that something else can provide in our life. On the cross Jesus plea of why was answered with silence. Today the silence we think we don’t hear is answered with the substitution of God’s grace. In this message you will find 3 replacements for your life and hear how the love of Jesus Christ values you and your life greater than you may even see yourself. Join us Sundays at 10:30am for worship at Macedonia Baptist Church located at 8081 Lenox Avenue on the westside of Jacksonville Florida. We want you to discover all that we bel

Christ gave affection in his time of death, yet gave it to everyone for all time. Christ desires to comfort everyone, because his work on the cross gives comfort and eternal life. As we experience grief and suffering Christ has given us divine empathy to our problems––him. Join us each Sunday at Macedonia Baptist Church at 10:30am for worship. We are located at 8081 Lenox Avenue in Jacksonville, Florida. We faithfully worship the Lord Jesus Christ through his Word.

Jesus prophesized that the disciples would desert him in fear, but their only solution would be to return to him. In a world today that offers tribulation Jesus offers peace. Only Christ can conquer the falsehood of a lying world and deliver true peace, if we accept his offer. The way to peace is Jesus, and that beginning is found in salvation through Christ alone. “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him” Ps 62:1. Sometimes God calms the storm, and sometimes he lets the storm rage, and calms his child. Jesus tells us to “take heart” or “take courage.” This means that he is encouraging us not only to take what he is offering, but to know that he would not offer something if it didn’t have a guarantee. We have been given that guarantee when he said, “I have overcome the world” v.33. Jesus does not offer us false promises; he offers us the ultimate guarantee, himself. Jesus said “behold the hour has come…” Perhap

Each of us experiences grief in some measure either through direct experiences or indirectly in the lives of others around us. It is easy to ask if God is truly God and truly good then personal tragedy betrays rational confidence in God. In times of grief we often ask more questions because we seek more answers, but the often that answer is only one. Jesus was summoned to a despairing situation. However Jesus was more interested in letting the disciples know who he was and how their situation would change because of that. Today in a world of violence, suffering and pain we too must realize that Jesus is Lord, but that Jesus loves us more than we hurt.

For many of us facing difficult situations of despair and discouragement can be a part of our experience. When the disciples found themselves unable to cast the evil spirit out of a possessed boy they were confused and frustrated. However Jesus told them the only way to face their situation and doubt was through prayer. Today everyone who has placed their faith in Christ should know that the power of God is available to overcome the most difficult situations in life. However, the source of all power is Jesus Christ and he wants us to come to him for everything in our life. In this sermon podcast we hear how that peace comes from knowing that only God can do the miraculous and from trusting Jesus Christ for all our needs in prayer.

As each of face trials and difficulties in life we come to experience what is often referred to as the “gap.” This is a place that you may not necessarily want to be in and are wondering how long it will take until God moves you to where you hope to be. Abraham experienced just such an experience upon waiting for a child and when God demonstrated his faithfulness to Abraham he too was found faithful in waiting for God’s promise. As each of us experience our own gap situation God is faithful and in this sermon we see just how we are to handle the “gap.”

Many people celebrate Christmas, however not many people realize what exactly they are celebrating. Christmas is about the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. What is important to realize is just who is Jesus Christ. In this sermon we will see who he is and the reason he came into this world. When we understand this we can then celebrate Christmas knowing that Jesus Christ is the founder of our faith.

As we approach Christmas we are reminded that God sent his Son. Christmas also reminds us that we have been given a sign that demands whom we will put our faith in. Isaiah prophesied to the king Ahaz. Despite Ahaz's rebellion, God was still faithful and told him he would give him a sign that "the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14), which means God is with us. So as we celebrate Christmas are reminded that God's Son, Jesus Christ is with us.

While Christmas is upon on us, many anticipate it as a time of joy and peace. However the real hope we have in Christ is not that he will change our situation, but that he will change us. So my question is, "As you prepare for Christmas are you willing to change?" Because the real message for the celebration of the birth of Jesus is the hope we have in Him. While we prepare to celebrate Christmas let us also prepare to hope, but be willing to change. The text for this sermon is Matthew 3:1-12.