Sermon Summary

I want to thank you for reading this sermon today and giving me the opportunity to spread the word of God with you.

The purpose of Barefoot Ministry is to Spread the word of God to any and all that will listen. I will try very hard to plant the seed of God in your hearts, provide you with the knowledge to nurture that seed thru prayer, Bible Study and fellowship so that it can grow, so that in time that seed will mature and you will be saved and re-born so that you can have the greatest gift of God’s Love, Everlasting Life.

Let Us Pray

Dear Lord, in Heaven, The creator of all

We look forward to the joys of heaven.

Where there is no more pain, No suffering, No Sickness

God remind us that our actions matter here in this world.

Our actions here on this earth will pave our way to live in your house

Here on earth Each and every day is a struggle against sin and temptation. Give us the strength to overcome cruelty with grace

and hatred with love. Remind us Lord We do not fight a physical battle,

but a spiritual one and with each act of compassion here on earth

We build your kingdom.

Help to guide us to be kingdom builders today and every day.

As a Kingdom builder we will try to plant the Lord’s seed in the hearts of any and all that will listen

Then we will help nourish that seed so it can grow and they too can receive the Lord’s greatest gift of Love Everlasting Life

Soon We will be done with the troubles of the world

and will be walking down the path we paved with our actions

As Kingdom Builders To live in the house of the Lord forever

Thru Jesus Christ we pray

AMEN

Now for today’s message. I am very excited about this sermon.

What greater Love between two Humans then the love between a mother and her child.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

² And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

³ And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body ^[a]to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

⁴ Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not ^[b]puffed up;

⁵ does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, ^[c]thinks no evil;

⁶ does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

⁸ Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

¹⁰ But when that which is ^[d]perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

¹² For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

¹³ And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Lasting Love on Mother’s Day

I remember a Mother’s Day card I saw that was really cute. It was a great big card written in a little child’s printing—little first-grade printing. On the front was a little boy with untied sneakers. He had a wagon, and toys were everywhere. He had a little cut on his face and there were smudges all over this card. It read, “Mom, I remember that little prayer you used to say for me every day,” Inside was the prayer: “God help you if you ever do that again.”

What greater Love then the love of a mother?

Mother’s day is the day we honor mothers here in the United States.

What greater Love between two Humans then the love between a mother and her child.

To we are going to look in to the power of Love for one another.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1–13, especially verse 1: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.”

You’re never too old for your mother to correct you.

When I remember this story about the Knoxville Police Chief who was in the middle of a city council meeting in Knoxville, Tennessee, when his phone beeped letting him know he had a call. Startled to see that the call was from his mother, he rushed to the press table and call her back. “Phil Keith, are you chewing gum?” demanded his mom, who had been watching the City Council Meeting on local TV. “Yes, ma’am.” “Well, it looks awful. Spit it out.” Keith dutifully removed the gum and went back to his meeting.

There’s no one like mothers! The words “mother” and “love” go together like left and right hands, and on this Mother’s Day,

There’s no better passage to study than the “Love Chapter” of the Bible which describes the agape love of God which is necessary for mothers, fathers, sons, daughters—and for all the rest of us.

The Place of Love (vv. 1–3).

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

² And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

³ And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body ^[a]to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love is superior to eloquent words (v. 1). Love is the vital principle, and without it all other endowments, including excellence in communication, is vain.

Love is superior to wisdom (v. 2). If a person could unlock the mysteries of the entire universe and call forth faith to remove mountains, he would be zero without love.

Love is superior to work (v. 3). Albert Barnes notes, “If there is not true piety, there can be no benefit in this to my soul. It will not save me. If I have not true love to God, I must perish, after all. Love therefore, is more valuable and precious than all these endowments. Nothing can supply its place; naught can be connected with salvation without it.”

2. The Portrait of Love (vv. 4–7).

⁴ Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not ^[b]puffed up;

⁵ does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, ^[c]thinks no evil;

⁶ does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love is patient (v. 4). It bears injustice without anger or despair.

Love may be practiced (v. 4). It is mild under all irritations and ill usage.

Love produces good manners and courtesy at all times.

Love is pure (v. 4), not jealous or displeased when others are successful.

Love never embarrasses the owner or recipient.

Love is peaceful (v. 4). It is not rash.

Love takes a back seat and is willing to work behind the scenes.

Love does not brag or boast or sing its own praises. Love is polite (v. 5), doing nothing to cause shame.

Love prefers others (v. 5). There is no selfishness in true love. It seeks the good of others.

Love is not easily provoked (v. 5). When love holds the reins of the soul, there is little danger of provocation to anger and spiteful action that leads to sin.

Love is preclusive (v. 5). It does not condemn on suspicion or without evidence, nor is it malicious nor disposed to find fault.

Love exhibits propriety (v. 6). It does not sympathize with evil, nor does it delight in anything that does not conform to the standard of right.

Love takes pleasure in truth (v. 6). Love rejoices in the virtues of others, not their vices.

Love is pleasant (v. 7). Love maintains a disposition that refuses to make public or to avenge the faults of others.

Love is not suspicious. It trusts others. Love brightens all things, bears all things and braves all things.

3. The Permanence of Love (vv. 8–13).

⁸ Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

¹⁰ But when that which is ^[d]perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

¹² For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

¹³ And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Love’s permanency is suggested by the phrase “love never fails” (v. 8).

Love will always abide, may always be exercised, and can be adapted to all circumstances in which we may be placed.

Love’s pre-eminence is suggested by the phrase “but the greatest of these is love” (v. 13).

Love is the greatest of all gifts, for love makes the rest of the gifts graceful. Love is the one needful thing—our priority.

We lose our goods or even our good names, but if we truly retain love, we have exchanged the temporary for the eternal.

For when the Bible has said all it will say about God, it is contained in the one statement: “God is love.”

There’s an old story that tells of some young pastors who paid a visit to one of the great ministers of the past generation.

They found him preparing to go to a meeting where a strong debate was expected.

He was reading the 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians and praying that its teaching might guide his conduct.

The aged minister felt the need of the restraining hand of divine grace and the calming power of love, lest he should be rash in his speech.

This is the kind of love that lasts.

May God give us loving moms, loving dads, and may He give all of us loving hearts like that.

There once was a wise old physician, who said to a young doctor,

“I’ve been practicing medicine for a long time. I’ve prescribed many things.

But in the long run, I’ve learned that the best medicine is love.”

“What if it doesn’t work?” asked the young doctor.

Then “Double the dose,” he said.

Lord please give us a double dose of your love

Let us Pray

Heavenly Father, You know that mothering, though a wonderful calling, is a demanding task, filled with anxious moments and wearisome days. We ask that You will restore and refresh every mother today so that they can continue to have the strength to continue to love us everyday. That they may continue to show us that love by showing us the errors of our ways and loving us regardless of our many faults and failings. God continue to remind each of us that our mothers are to be loved by us each and everyday just as they unconditionally love us.

Thru Jesus Christ I Pray Amen

Now go and visit your Mom or call her if you are not near and tell her

Thank You Mom For Loving Me.

Not just today but everyday.

Sermon Summary

Good Morning I am Pastor Bobby of Bare Foot Ministries and I want to thank you all for coming today and giving me the opportunity to spread the word of God with you.

The purpose of Barefoot Ministry is to Spread the word of God to any and all that will listen. I will try very hard to plant the seed of God in your hearts, provide you with the knowledge to nurture that seed thru prayer, Bible Study and fellowship so that it can grow, so that in time that seed will mature and you will be saved and re-born so that you can have the greatest gift of God’s Love, Everlasting Life.

Let us pray:

Lord, in Heaven, the creator of all Each and every day is a struggle against sin and temptation.

Give us the strength to overcome cruelty with grace and hatered with love.

God remind us that our actions matter.

We do not fight a physical battle, but a spiritual one and with each act of compassion

We build your kingdom.

Help us be kingdom builders today.

Thru Jesus Christ we pray

AMEN

The Enemy is Real

I am very excited about this sermon today. This sermon is about fighting a WAR about being a Soldier in the fight against Satan.

I spent 20 years studying and fighting the enemies of this country. I woke up one day and realized that even though I’m not a fighting man in the US Military any more, I am still at war. Probably a war with more casualties more death than any battle or war I have ever been in. A war that is being waged and directed right at Me and You every minute of the day and every minute of the night. A war that is waged when we are at work at play and even when we are just relaxing on the front porch or in front of the TV.

The war we fight is against SATAN a very cunning enemy who will use any and all of the weapons he has against you and me.

When I was in the US Army we had a saying Know Your Enemy

So lets start right know to learn about our enemy

Have you ever noticed that when you set down to read the Bible you start to get distracted by other thoughts running thru your mind ? and when you finish reading that chapter or verse you really don’t remember what you read. That is Satan at work

1 Peter 5:8… “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

Question…True or false…Do you believe Satan is real?

With the Current relationship you have with Christ…Does Satan think of you as a threat Let me define threat…In this case making a difference in Gods kingdom… your obedience is noticed…You try very hard to live a Christ-like Life?

Or when Satan hear’s your name… (He just chuckles because…) he’s not even concerned with you at all?

Which one are you? Which one do you think you are?

If your answer is no…that Satan is not concerned with you at all…I ask why not, Lets change that as soon as we can RIGHT NOW. It’s never too late and there is nothing that God will not forgive you of. Don’t wait for tomorrow may be to late.

If you answered Yes to this question…then Satan does think of you as a threat…

Just like the people who answered no…I want you all to realize that you are not alone fighting against Satan.

Every day that God allows you to wakeup…and you commit your life to Him…you become a target of Satan. You become something of great value to Satan and Satan will try so very hard to claim you

Satan tries his best to tempt you into doing things that will disrupt God’s plan for you and for mankind.

In Matthew chapter 4…Jesus finds Himself being tempted 3 times by Satan…

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

² And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.

^***3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

⁴ But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

⁵ Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple,

*** ⁶ and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’and,‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

⁷ Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not ^[a]tempt the Lord your God.’ ”

⁸ Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

^***9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

¹⁰ Then Jesus said to him, ^[b]“Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

¹¹ Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

Satan knew if he could make Jesus sin by tempting Him... that he would knock out the key player in his battle against God.

Of course by reading Matthew Chapter 4 we see that Satan failed in his efforts to tempt Jesus…

And as a result of failing to control Jesus through temptation…today…you and I are left facing the battle with Satan trying to control our lives by daily tempting us.

I’m not here today to scare you into surrendering your life over to God…

But I am here today to make you aware… make you aware that…

Satan is real…and whether or not you agree to fight or not…you are in a battle.

It is a battle that not only daily challenges the relationship you have with God…but it will even make you question if there is a God at all.

One of the most difficult challenges of finding out if God Does Care about people… is realizing that both Christians and non-Christians alike are in constant battle with the enemy of God.

The enemy’s number one concern in this life is to consume you…totally control you…to saturate your mind with lies and meaningless things. Just look around at all the information that is available. With a few key strokes we can watch or read about any topic you desire. We have so much information in todays world that makes it easy for Satan to execute his battle plan and he can and does attack us on all sides at all times.

Satan loves to cause division within the church, within your marriage, your Family, with your friends, your business and work colleagues and even strangers you meet at the grocery store and even driving down the road.

Satan uses greed, jealousy, gossip, desires of the flesh, pride and every other thing you can think of to pull you away from God.

He loves to break up the unity that is being established in the church through the preaching and teaching of the Bible and fellowship.

He wants to keep you from focusing on Helping people…and sharing Jesus with the lost what’s important in this life…

I feel that it’s important for you to realize that you are not fighting this battle today alone.

Satan is real…and we all need to learn how to fight against him.

Stand with me as we read from God’s training manual…

Matthew chapter 4: beginning with verse 1

How does Satan tempt us today? Just like Jesus’ temptation.

I believe that there are 3 main areas where Satan tempts us today.

The first way that I see Satan tempt us today is….

He Physically Tempts You

I first need to share with you that…Satan hates Jesus

Satan wants to turn the church and everyone in it against God.

Since Satan’s efforts failed against Jesus…He has redirected his fight by personally targeting each of you. He knows when you’re at your weakest

Did you happen to catch from our reading that Jesus wasn’t tempted by Satan when He was in the Temple/Church or even when He was being baptized?

Matthew 4: 1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

No…Satan knew Jesus would be most vulnerable when he was all alone.

Just like we read in verse one…you too are most vulnerable when you are by yourself.

How effective would Satan be targeting you after you just get done sing praises to him?

Satan knows that he can penetrate you when you are under life’s emotional stresses…

-When you are exhausted from work…He tells you…you deserve a break…you don’t need to go to church…you don’t need to read your bible…you don’t need to pray…(just…flip on the TV and see who going to be the next American Idol is going to be)

-What about when your all alone? ...He plants thoughts in your mind like…if God truly did Love you…you wouldn’t be alone…He would have already given you a close friend…

-He clouds your minds with the uncertainties of life…When things are out of your hands and you cannot fix the problem.

He also knows that if he causes people inside the church to battle against each other...then their focus in not on the lost and he’s winning the battle

In Matthew 4: 2 & 3… ² And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. ^***3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

when Satan tempted Jesus…He knew that Jesus was physically hungry. 40 days in the wilderness no food

You have to be prepared to battle this enemy in your own physical body.

He’ll hit you below the belt line…in areas of your life like…

(Kids)…Telling you its ok to cheat on a test in school…(Adults)… having sex before marriage is an acceptable practice today…or telling you it’s ok to have an affair after you are married…

He will physically beat you up if you let him…

Be prepared to fight him…(hold up the bible)…tell him you’ve been training for him and you’re ready to fight and he will flee

The Bible says in James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

The Second way that I see Satan tempt us today is….He Spiritually Tempts You

Throughout the New Testament we see Satan revealed as a real vital power.

In Matthew 4: 6…we see where Satan Spiritually tempted Jesus by quoting scripture.

And weather you realize it or not…he is the ruler of a kingdom that has powers…He rules over Demons and rulers the darkness.

He is the prince of this world…and rules by controlling those who deny the name of Jesus.

And he is currently… still on the prowl seeking out those who oppose God the Father.

I Peter 5:8 … “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

He tries his best to make you believe that the bible is untrue…

He even tempts you through people...even some of the people you hang around with… they will try and convince you to try things or do things that you know the Bible says are wrong.

When sins like these happen in our personal lives…we try and cover them up by…looking for verses in the bible that prove in our own minds that what we did was right.

But truth being told…It is way too easy to take the bible out of context and just say we didn’t realize what we did was wrong.

This is the reason it is important for you to realize… it is important that you make time for God and the studying of His word.

If you are one here today that uses the excuse that you don’t have enough time or that your way too busy for God.

All you are doing is telling God that He is not important enough for you to take the time to invest in Him.

This is exactly what Satan wants you to say and do.

Satan will trick you into thinking you don’t have time for God.

Don’t become his next victim of control.

The Third way that I see Satan tempt us today is….

He Tempts us Psy-cho-logically (In our minds)

In Matthew 4: 8 & 9

The Devil offered the whole world to Jesus…if He would only kneel down and worship him.

Today the devil still offers us the world by offering us materialism and power.

Satan has the power to control the mind…keeping you from growing in Godly direction.

Satan is just like a weed that grows in the yard…it starts out small but when left unattended…it soon chocks out everything around it… stealing every bit of nutrition surrounding it.

Satan will tell you that missing one Sunday…or missing one Wednesday service will not harm you.

But this is where he is fooling you.

The service you choose to miss had valuable information that God personally needed you to hear.

There is nothing more God wants right now than to see this church grow physically.

But I also know that in order for the church to grow in number…you must be growing personally in your own life through Him…

You have got to be the one who steps up to the call and say…as Joshua 24:15 does… “But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Read Matthew 4:10-11…again ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to him, ^[b]“Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

¹¹ Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

When you proclaim the name of Jesus…Satan is left with no other option but to leave.

It’s time for you…the individual, the church too step up and show Satan who’s in charge of your life.

Satan will never give up in his fight against God until the day that God himself returns to retrieve His children.

(Hold up Bible)

Until that time…it’s your responsibility to take up the armor of God and fight.

Ephesians 6:10-18

¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the ^[a]wiles of the devil.

¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of ^[b]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Let us Pray

Heavenly Father, Today I will be your warrior and prepare for battle. Today I claim victory over Satan by putting on the whole armor of God! May I stand firm in the truth of Your Word so I will not be a victim of Satan’s lies. May your word guard my heart from evil so I will remain pure and holy, protected under the blood of Jesus Christ. May I stand firm in the Good News of the Gospel so Your peace will shine through me and be a light to all I encounter. May I be able to see Satan’s fiery darts for what they are doubt, denial, and deceit so I will not be vulnerable to spiritual defeat. May I keep my mind focused on You so Satan

will not have a stronghold on my thoughts. May the two-edged sword of Your Word be ready in my hands so I can expose the tempting words of Satan.

By Truth, Righteousness, Peace, , Salvation, Spirit and Faith

I put on the whole armor of God!

I am prepared to live this day and everyday in spiritual victory

Thru Jesus Christ I Pray

Amen.

Verse List

1 Peter 5:8

Matthew chapter 4

James 4:7

I Peter 5:8

Joshua 24:15

Ephesians 6:10-18

Sermon Summary

I want to thank you for reading this sermon today and giving me the opportunity to spread the word of God with you.

The purpose of Barefoot Ministry is to Spread the word of God to any and all that will listen. I will try very hard to plant the seed of God in your hearts, provide you with the knowledge to nurture that seed thru prayer, Bible Study and fellowship so that it can grow, so that in time that seed will mature and you will be saved and re-born so that you can have the greatest gift of God’s Love, Everlasting Life.

Let Us Pray

Dear Lord, in Heaven, The creator of all

We look forward to the joys of heaven.

Where there is no more pain, No suffering, No Sickness

God remind us that our actions matter here in this world.

Our actions here on this earth will pave our way to live in your house

Here on earth Each and every day is a struggle against sin and temptation. Give us the strength to overcome cruelty with grace

and hatred with love. Remind us Lord We do not fight a physical battle,

but a spiritual one and with each act of compassion here on earth

We build your kingdom.

Help to guide us to be kingdom builders today and every day.

As a Kingdom builder we will try to plant the Lord’s seed in the hearts of any and all that will listen

Then we will help nourish that seed so it can grow and they too can receive the Lord’s greatest gift of Love Everlasting Life

Soon We will be done with the troubles of the world

and will be walking down the path we paved with our actions

As Kingdom Builders To live in the house of the Lord forever

Thru Jesus Christ we pray

AMEN

Now for today’s message. I am very excited about this sermon.

Help with Our Battles Against Temptation

Helping us deal with our temptations learning from Simon Peter during the trial of Jesus

Luke 22:31-34

^{31 [a]}And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.

³² But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

³³ But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.”

³⁴ Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”

Luke 22:54-60

⁵⁴ Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed at a distance.

⁵⁵ Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them.

⁵⁶ And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, “This man was also with Him.”

⁵⁷ But he denied ^[a]Him, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.”

⁵⁸ And after a little while another saw him and said, “You also are of them.”

But Peter said, “Man, I am not!”

⁵⁹ Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean.”

⁶⁰ But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!”

⁶¹ And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster ^[c]crows, you will deny Me three times.”

⁶² So Peter went out and wept bitterly.

Did you ever wonder why the Holy Spirit led the Gospel writers to include this tragic chapter in the life of Peter in their Gospels? Had I been writing I would have left this out. The Bible is a book that lets it all hang out, so to speak. From King David to the Apostle Paul, the Bible airs the dirty laundry of even its greatest heroes. This is done, of course, to help us learn not to make the same mistakes they made. For example, there are several things in this text that we would do well to remember.

1. Remember Satan wants to sift you.

Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.

Most of us here are too old and too worn out for Uncle Sam to want us, but Satan wants us. Jesus told Peter, “Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.” I don’t know much about sifting wheat. I do remember Daddy use to pick his dried peas, put them in a tow sack, and beat them with a stick till they were all out of the hull. He would even let me have a turn beating them. Then he would put them in a washtub and shake them. All the hulls would come to the top and peas would settle at the bottom. Then he would scoop off the hulls and have pea seed for another year. The devil wants to take us and shake us until all the bad in us comes to the top. You see, if Satan can destroy our testimony, we become ineffective witnesses for Christ. This will enable him to drag more souls along with him down into the bottomless pit into which he is about to be cast.

The closer you get to Jesus the more Satan desires to have you. Remember Peter was not only a disciple; he was in that inner circle that was even closer to Jesus. The devil doesn’t bother the unsaved much because he already has them. He doesn’t even spend his time with lukewarm Christians. It’s those who are trying to walk with Jesus that he goes after.

I remember wading in the Oklahoma creeks when I was a boy. When you waded downstream, you hardly noticed the current. When you turned, and began walking up stream, the current began to push against you, sometimes making it hard to walk. When you turn around and start walking with Jesus, Satan releases his big guns on you. If you have been reading your Bible and praying this week, watch out, Satan is going to tempt you big time next week.

2. Remember that while the Spirit is indeed willing, the flesh is weak.

Matt. 26:41

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

When Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death,” there’s no doubt in my mind that he meant every word he spoke.

However, he forgot that,

Matt. 26:41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

I don’t know about you, but I’m in a battle with the flesh.

The Bible says

Rom. 6:6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

Paul had the same problem.

Rom. 7:19-25

¹⁹ For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.

²⁰ Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

²¹ I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.

²² For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.

²³ But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

²⁴ O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

²⁵ I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

3.Remember stay close to Jesus; don’t try to follow at a distance.

Luke 22:54 ⁵⁴ Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed at a distance.

Peter went to sleep in prayer meeting that night.

Luke 22:45 When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow.

Luke 22:40,46 I’ll bet he didn’t read the scripture much either. When things begin to get rough, Peter slipped into the shadows. He was still following Jesus but now it was at a distance, for fear of being associated with Jesus. Like Peter, a lot of people are trying to be Christian without letting everybody know it. They’re not totally committed and they’re careful not to let anyone know about what little commitment they do have. Let me ask you a question. Does everyone know that you are a Christian? Do they know what you stand for and which side you’re on?

“Fear of being associated with Jesus, like Peter, some of us permit distance in our relationship because we prefer the approval of people more than the approval of God. We routinely follow Jesus at a distance and utilize him only when we have needs. ” Like a teenager embarrassed to shop with their parents, we maintain a safe distance behind Jesus and run to catch up only when we need something.”

I don’t know much about shepherding, I know which sheep the wolf gets. (the devil) He gets those who are straying from the Shepherd. Those who are following behind. If we are going to survive the attacks of the devil, we must stay close to Jesus.

4. Remember not to get too close to the fire.”

“Bad company is to many an occasion of sin; and those who needlessly put themselves into it, go upon the devil’s ground” Peter joined the crowd that was cursing and mocking Jesus and before he knew it, he was doing the same, saying he never knew the man. (Matt 26:74)

He thought he could handle the pressure, but he couldn’t. He didn’t. Like it or not, we become like the company we keep.

Some of you are hanging out with people that you have no business hanging out with. Some of us are going places and doing things we ought not to be doing. Some of us are looking at things on our computer that are an abomination to God. Take this from one who knows, you are going to get burned, just like Peter did. Just like a million others who thought they could handle it.

Luke 22:62 is not the end of the event. Later Jesus met Peter on the seashore. Jesus forgave his failure, restored his joy and his ministry. (John 21:15-17) Peter had a greater ministry after he fell than he did before he fell.

Perhaps you are here and you have failed the Lord in some way. You need to come to this altar and repent. Let Jesus restore you to where you once were. Maybe you’ve been living too close to the devil’s flame. You need to come and ask Jesus to help you stay away from that temptation.

Now I have to ask

If you have not yet repented, confessed your sins, and trusted in Christ to save you from God’s wrath, then you don’t know the full extent of Gods’ love yet. John 3:36 says that “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” because “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God” (John 3:18). I pray that is not you.

I encourage you to pray this prayer with me, but I caution you that saying words alone will not save you. Prayer alone doesn’t save. Only Christ can save. But prayer can be a means of reaching out to the Lord in true saving faith. If you pray these words in faith, Christ will save you. You can be sure of that.

Prayer These Words: Lord Jesus, for too long I’ve kept you out of my life. I know that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself. No longer will I close the door of my heart when I hear you knocking. By faith I gratefully receive your gift of salvation. I am ready to trust you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth. I believe you are the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Thank you for bearing my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life. I believe your word and desire the Holy Spirit to come into my heart and give me guidance to walk your path to salvation and everlasting life.

In Jesus Name I Pray Amen.

Now go forth and share the word of God with any and all that will listen and maybe you can pray this prayer with someone who is lost so that they too can find GOD and Everlasting Life.

Sermon Summary

The purpose of Barefoot Ministry is to Spread the word of God to any and all that will listen. I will try very hard to plant the seed of God in your hearts, provide you with the knowledge to nurture that seed thru prayer, Bible Study and fellowship so that it can grow, so that in time that seed will mature and you will be saved and re-born so that you can have the greatest gift of God’s Love, Everlasting Life.

Dear Lord, in Heaven, The creator of all

We look forward to the joys of heaven.

Where there is no more pain, No suffering, No Sickness

God remind us that our actions matter here in this world.

Our actions here on this earth will pave our way to live in your house

Here on earth Each and every day is a struggle against sin and temptation. Give us the strength to overcome cruelty with grace

and hatred with love. Remind us Lord We do not fight a physical battle,

but a spiritual one and with each act of compassion here on earth

We build your kingdom.

Help to guide us to be kingdom builders today and everyday.

As a Kingdom builder we will try to plant your seed Lord in the hearts of any and all that will listen

Then we will help nourish that seed so it can grow and they too can receive your greatest gift of Love Everlasting Life

Soon We will be done with the troubles of the world

and will be walking down the path we paved with our actions

As Kingdom Builders To live in the house of the Lord forever

Thru Jesus Christ we pray

AMEN

Todays Sermon is very near and dear to my heart. I have lost several friends and comrades in arms fighting in our nations wars.

John 15:13 Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends."

Memorial Day, our nation mourns the loss of all Americans who died defending our country throughout the world since 1775. This remembrance is all-inclusive spanning 248 years and over 62 military actions that claimed 1.2 million lives. Most Americans are familiar with the major wars, the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan, but few think of those killed in lesser-known engagements.

Examples of the lesser-known actions range from the Franco-American Naval War (1798-1800) to Grenada to the tragedy of the USS Cole (2000) to the recent death in The Philippines. No American death is too insignificant not to remember when a life was lost at the behest of society. GI's do not choose when or where they serve or what foreign policy they must enforce. The death of a soldier or sailor anywhere in the world is every bit as important as one killed in during WWII. All distinctions are irrelevant.

These men and women have remained mostly anonymous except to the families who loved them. Who were they? They were relatives, friends and neighbors melded together to perform a service for an entire society. They came from all walks of life and from all regions of our country. Nevertheless, they all had one thing in common, the love of and loyalty to country.

They were the nation’s defenders. Memorial Day, America commemorates those who made the greatest sacrifice possible, giving one’s own life selflessly. Far too often, the nation as a whole takes for granted the freedoms we enjoy. Freedoms paid for by the lives of others few of us knew. Today, we collectively remember those who gave their all.

Our passage this morning is John 15:13 and is fitting for this Sunday. Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” In this verse our Lord spoke of the greatest expression of love: sacrificial love.

When a person has enlisted in the Armed Forces they repeat the following oath: I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

These men and women volunteer to leave home and family to protect the freedoms we treasure. Our freedom of religion, speech, and the right to keep and bear arms (and many more) are defended and protected by our military. Former Senator Fred Thompson once said, “This wouldn’t be the land of the free if it were not the home of the brave.” It is good and proper for us to thank God for the men and women who have sacrificially loved each of us through military service.

Not only do Soldiers and Sailors have Sacrificial Love but the average in America does too.

My memory of January 2014 of Moore Oklahoma is my favorite example. Fred Rogers said concerning tragedies, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” Do not focus on the devastation, but focus on those who are sacrificing themselves in order to help.

The courage shown by the teachers in the schools during a tornado in Moore, OK is inspiring. Second-grade teacher Tammy Glasgow got her children into bathrooms and a closet before taking shelter for herself.

Wayne Mayes, a first-grade teacher, distracted her students with songs and games.

Suzanne Haley was impaled by the leg of a desk protecting her children.

Another teacher, Cindy Lowe, had a wall fall on her back causing her to suffer a concussion. Her taking the hit saved the lives of the children in her care.

These brave teachers and others risked their own lives to protect the lives of the students under their care and demonstrated sacrificial love. We Americans are a brave and often selfless people.

The Sacrificial Love of Jesus Christ

Look again at our verse this morning, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” We have seen two examples of sacrificial love and now we reflect on the greatest act of sacrificial love provided by God on our behalf. Jesus laid down His life for His friends and sacrificed Himself for us.

Jesus led a life of sacrifice. John 1:14 tells us that “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

In Philippians 2:7-8, Paul wrote that God the Son, “⁷ but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond servant, and coming in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

This love is sacrificial and undeserved. Paul writes in Romans 5:7-8, “⁷ For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

1 Peter 1:18-19 says, “¹⁸ knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

The greatest act of sacrificial love was when Jesus willingly sacrificed His life to free us from our bondage to sin

Romans 6:6, “knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.”

Jesus laid down His life for you and calls you friend.

Consider that for a moment, we who are Christians are friends with the Creator of this world. Jesus said in John 15:15, “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”

We rightly honor those who sacrifice themselves for their friends and their country.

The greatest gift ever made was by God himself in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. We read of it in what is called the golden text of the Bible,

John 3:16-17, ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Quite obviously, God is a giving God, a loving God, a God of mercy and grace. How marvelous indeed are His expressions to each of us!

Normally, in human terms, when we receive a little gift from some friend or loved one at Christmas or on a birthday, we like to show our appreciation. However, so glorious are God’s mercies that we overflow with thanksgiving and join the psalmist in our text, asking, "What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits?"

Our blessings from God are so numerous and so rich that we are made to testify as the Apostle Paul,

Romans 11:33, " Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!"

What we can give to God is small, so very small, when compared to what He has given us; nevertheless, we must not fail in presenting our gifts to Christ. Let us now consider four gifts we can render unto Him.

Our love: Even in human terms, love is the greatest of gifts. More words are written on love, more stories are told about love, and more people are inspired by love than any other subject in human language is. It is the constant theme of our novels, our TV dramas, and our human aspirations.

It is surely significant that Paul lists love as the first manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit,

Galatians 5:22, " But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,".

Important as well is the fact that love is twofold, reaching first toward God and then toward our neighbors. When asked of a lawyer,

Matthew 22:36-37, ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

³⁷ Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

Adam Clarke puts it succinctly, "Our Lord shows us that the whole of true religion is comprised of us loving God and our neighbor."

All gifts are worthless and unacceptable unless accompanied by, and given from, a heart of love.

True love has no limitations, no boundaries. Love cannot be purchased; it is always freely given. No, wonder the Scriptures place so much emphasis upon our love for God.

Along with our love-in fact, in full confirmation of our love-we must give ourselves as a vessel for His use. Paul writes, Romans 12:1, "I beseech you therefore, brethren by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living’ sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God."

In light of all His great gifts to us, how can we do less? Paul faced this question, adding the observation that such is our "reasonable service."

When a young man or woman enters Military Service, he or she is trained and schooled in the hardships of military life. He or she holds none of his strength in reserve.

He or she gives all. Our spiritual Commander, Jesus Christ, calls today for those who will bring all their powers into subjection and serve without reservation in the army of the Lord.

There has never been a time in history when the cause of righteousness needed consecrated people more than it does today.

2 Chronicles 30:8, " Now do not be stiff-necked,^[a] as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the Lord; and enter His sanctuary, which He has sanctified forever, and serve the Lord your God, that the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you."

What better gift to bring to Christ than a yielding of our total selves to His will,

Acts 20:24, But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my ^[b]race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Our loyalty: The wise men who saw Christ’s star, upon the occasion of His birth present a lesson in loyalty worthy of note. Not only did they pursue their journey with diligence, against great odds, but also they refused the bribes of an earthly king, their loyalty firmly anchored in God himself. Others were unseeing, others refused to believe, but the wise men grasped a promise. They clung to God’s Word. We will never find Him, or serve Him, if we do not believe His Word.

The wise men were not satisfied just to find Him and leave. They recognized His divinity and they worshiped Him reverently, whom even angels bow before. Hebrews 16, "Let all the angels of God worship him" and of whom David wrote, Psalm 29:2, "Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness."

What is more, they verified their love and worship through presentation of gifts-gold, frankincense, and myrrh, some of earth’s most valuable treasures. They gave to Christ their very best. We must do no less. Christ must be first in our life.

Our talents: In one form or another we each have special and unique talents. Our talents are not the same. They may not be equal in number or variety, but they are gifts, or graces, from the Creator and we must consecrate them to God.

When Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was a young man, he expressed himself in a letter to his father, "I am not sure as yet for what my talents fit me, but I am determined to be eminent in something."

I truly believe God has endowed each of us with capacity, with potential, with talent to become eminent in something. That eminence may not appear to men and women of this world but it will certainly register on God’s perfect scale of values. The beautiful thing about giving what we have, our talents, to God is seen in what they then become under His leading and the direction of His Holy Spirit. Every Christian soon discovers himself, in the power of Christ, doing more and becoming more than he is personally capable of doing or becoming.

Paul wrote to young Timothy, his son In the Lord, 1 Timothy 4:14, "Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership."

Nor must we either neglect our gifts or use them selfishly. Life is more than earthly existence, more than that which is presently seen.

It is also the laying up of treasures in heaven.

we use our talents for His glory, we will hear Him say,

Matthew 25:21, " His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord."

Because our Country’s Armed Forces have been willing to give the last full measure, we are able to meet together and say, for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring (Acts 17:28)

Let Us Pray

Father in heaven, Monday we pause to remember the brave soldiers, sailors and airmen who gave their lives for our freedom. Father we are thankful for them all, all these courageous men and women. They fought on land, at sea and in the air sacrificing their lives that we may live in freedom and worship You in peace. We honor them now, their bravery we cannot ignore. Heroes of war, but they were so much more, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and friends. Our beautiful red, white and blue flies at half-mast for those of the past to whom our gratitude we send. We place flowers on the graves of those who were brave. We salute them, remembering proudly those who gave the last full measure of devotion. They fought not for glory, nor for wealth, nor honor but only and alone for freedom which no good man or woman surrenders but with his or her life. Father, let us not have on our conscience that they died in vain. Guide us to live with hatred toward none and love for all through freedom in Christ.

In Jesus Name We Pray AMEN

If you have not yet repented, confessed your sins, and trusted in Christ to save you from God’s wrath, then you don’t know the full extent of Gods’ love yet. John 3:36 says that “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” because “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God” (John 3:18). I pray that is not you.

I encourage you to pray this prayer with me, but I caution you that saying words alone will not save you. Prayer alone doesn’t save. Only Christ can save. But prayer can be a means of reaching out to the Lord in true saving faith. If you pray these words in faith, Christ will save you. You can be sure of that.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, for too long I’ve kept you out of my life. I know that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself. No longer will I close the door of my heart when I hear you knocking. By faith I gratefully receive your gift of salvation. I am ready to trust you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth. I believe you are the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Thank you for bearing my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life. I believe your word and desire the Holy Spirit to come into my heart and give me guidance to walk your path to salvation and everlasting life. In Jesus Name I Pray Amen.