April 27, 2008 by admin.

For The Wheels Have Come Off, Roger Hillegas, Sunday 04-27-2008

Text: Psalm 24, Romans 1
Theme: God seems to know how long we need to stay in our trials.

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April 27, 2008 by PastorMark.

Vision is a big word that may mean a lot of things to different people. In Acts 26:19 the Apostle Paul, while testifying before King Agrippa, proclaimed, “I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.” Vision for Paul meant God’s revealed will for his future life and ministry. God has a vision for individuals and for His church. Tonight is our annual business meeting. All of you are invited and urged to attend. We will explore and explain what we feel God is saying to us and look at His vision for our future. May He unite our hearts as we walk together into His unfolding vision for Leominster Assembly of God!

Pastor Mark Boucher

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April 20, 2008 by PastorMark.

#309, Avoiding a Collision, Pastor Mark Boucher, Sunday 04-20-2008

Text: Proverbs 5:1-23
Theme: We need to receive encouragement and instruction about staying sexually faithful.

INTRODUCTION:

1. The “accident”.
   1. It doesn’t have to happen.
   2. Since it did, what do I learn from it?
2. The Book of Proverbs is all about “learning to live”.
   1. Solomon had a desire to transfer wisdom to the next generation.
   2. Much of this wisdom included moral instruction about sex. (In Proverbs 1-7, 31% of the verses talk about sexual morality)
3. Our moral decisions affect our relationship with God and others.
   1. We’re not simply told, “don’t do this.”
   2. We are given instruction on how to stay faithful, how to learn from God, others.

You don’t have to become a wreck.
What can we do to stay faithful, to avoid the problems of immorality?

1. Be willing to pay attention. (vv 1-2)
   1. Wisdom listens with the desire to practice truth.
   2. God wants us to listen to Him for our own good.
   3. Be aware of the dangers. (vv 3-6)
2. The adulteress is mentioned although any sexual immorality could be addressed here.
   1. There is the danger of deceptive talk.
   2. “You’re so special, beautiful, attractive …”
   3. Think it through to “the end” (v 2)
3. The imagination and the reality are two separate worlds.
   1. She is bitter as gall.
   2. “sharp as a double-edged sword.” (it will tear you up)
   3. Instead of a more satisfying life, your life goes down.
4. Be aware of your environment. (vv 7-8)
   1. Do not go near the door of her house.
   2. Avoid putting yourself into temptation.
   3. Example: At work, don’t meet with another alone behind closed doors.
   4. Avoid people who pull you down.
   5. Be aware of your own thoughts, weaknesses (inner environment).
   6. Watch for “cycles of temptation” and plan ahead.
5. Be aware of the consequences. (vv 9-14)
   1. Immorality and wrong relationships sap your energy. (v 9a)
   2. It takes time and energy from God and your family.
   3. Immorality costs you money. (v 10)
   4. The sex industry is after your morals and your money.
6. It’s not just who you sleep with – it’s who you leave behind
   1. (there’s alimony and child support)
   2. Immorality fills you with regrets. (vv 11-14)
   3. “How I hated discipline.”
   4. “I would not obey or listen.”
   5. “I have come to the brink of ruin.”
7. Be willing to love your spouse. (vv 15-20)
   1. Sexual expression is pictured as water (well, spring, stream).
   2. Protect what you have.
   3. Look at your husband, wife as God gift to you.
   4. Pornography, explicit movies cause you to compare your spouse downward.
   5. Allow yourself to be “captivated” by your spouse’s love
8. Be willing to make things right. (vv 21-23)
   1. God knows – we can’t hide anything from Him.
   2. “A man’s ways are in full view of the Lord, and He examines all his paths.” Proverbs 5:21
   3. If you’re in an addiction there is help.
   4. If you’re in a wrong relationship you can get out.

CONCLUSION:

August 31, 1997 it was tragic because it could have been avoided.

1. A chauffer drove when he was completely drunk …
   1. What was he thinking?
2. The paparazzi chased them down the road …
   1. What were they thinking?
3. Princess Diana and her boyfriend were traveling 180 kilometers in an 80 km zone, but wore no seatbelts …
   1. What were they thinking?

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April 20, 2008 by PastorMark.

The longer I live, the more I value team work. No matter what the task, it always seems to be more enjoyable with others. In the Book of Nehemiah, we read of Nehemiah going to Jerusalem with the God-given vision of building the wall. Step by step, Nehemiah obeyed God and shared the vision with the people. In the midst of this good work Nehemiah wrote, “So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart” (Nehemiah 4:6). God’s people, led by God’s Spirit and united in God’s work, can accomplish great things!

Pastor Mark Boucher

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April 19, 2008 by admin.

Friday evening, April 19, 2008, marks the beginning of Passover. Each year, since the blood of the ancient sacrificed lamb (Heb. Pesach) was put on the doorposts of the enslaved Jews in Egypt about 3,500 years ago, Jews around the world have celebrated the Passover under the full moon on the14th of Nissan (Hebrew calendar). The Lord commanded that Passover would be an everlasting ordinance to memorialize the deliverance of the Israelites whose homes were protected by the lamb’s blood. In the Egyptian homes, death was brought to the first born causing Pharaoh to let the Children of Israel go free and return to the Promised Land.

As believers in the Messiah Jesus, we now see how the ancient Passover lamb was a foreshadow of the coming Messiah who would himself become the Passover Lamb. He alone can bring deliverance from sin and eternal life to both Jews and Gentiles who believe in Him. The Apostle John said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” (John 1:29). And Paul said, “For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7). We have become “Passover People” whose sins have been passed over by the mercy and power of God, enabling us to pass over the sins of others and to pass over the trials and tribulations of our own lives.

Our Passover Lamb, Yeshua (Jesus), though once slain on a deadly cross, is alive and reigns in heaven and in our hearts. His Spirit causes us not only to look back and remember but also to look forward to the future, to the wedding feast of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9) where we will praise Him together, forever!

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April 14, 2008 by admin.

It happened today. The house at 856 Main Street has been demolished.

Your current Facilities Team: Jim Amirault, Steve Bibeau, Mark Butler, John “Jay” McCaffrey, Tom Richard, Harry Marshall.

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April 13, 2008 by PastorMark.

#308, Staying Clean, Pastor Mark Boucher, Sunday 04-13-2008

Text: Genesis 39:1-21

Theme: Do we walk in truth or lies?

INTRODUCTION - BLACK ICE:

1. Joseph was a young man with a dream.
2. The dream was tested when Joseph was sold as a slave.
3. By God’s grace, he found himself in Potiphar’s house.
4. Potiphar’s wife created some “black ice” for Joseph.
   1. She kept pressuring him.
   2. He appealed to her husband’s honor and trust.
   3. He appealed to God.
5. All America has become a “danger zone”.
   1. The highway of life is dulled with black ice.
   2. How will we respond to the sexual faithfulness?

Do we walk in truth or lies?

TRUE OR FALSE TEST

1. “Sex is not important” (false)
   1. “male and female He created them” Genesis 1:27
   2. Our bodies and sex were given by God.
   3. How we use our sexuality is a moral issue.
2. We don’t own our bodies, as Christians.
   1. “God wants people to enjoy sex” (true)
   2. God wants people to enjoy fire.
3. Fire makes us feel good (heat, cooking food); but the misuse of fire damages and destroys.
   1. The “safe place” of sex is marriage.
   2. “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral” Hebrews 13:4
4. “God understands our struggles.” (true)
   1. “for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust.” Psalm 103:14
   2. We can go to Him with all our temptations.
   3. Jesus welcomed “sinners.”
   4. The prodigal son wasted His Father’s estate on sin and prostitutes, yet was welcomed home.
5. “God is fine with our sexual immorality” (false)
   1. He commands sexual purity and faithfulness.
   2. “Flee from sexual immorality” 1 Corinthians 6:18
   3. We are called to mirror the character of God.
   4. God is a giver not a taker.
   5. He is faithful and pure.
   6. He commands us to change.
   7. “He who conceals his sins and does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
6. “Sex is a need” (false)
   1. Sex is not a need (air, food, water).
   2. Sex is a drive, passion which can be controlled.
   3. Example: a School Board in Bisbee, Arizona gave out condoms in a “prom bag” to its students.
   4. This gives a false sense of security about condoms.
   5. Sends a degrading message about morality and self-control.
   6. Why do we teach and expect self-control in regard to drugs, drinking, anger, but with sex … “here’s a condom.”
7. “Sex is fine as long as you love the other person.” (false)
   1. Jesus said, “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love.”
   2. True love does what is best for the welfare of the other.
   3. If you cause them to sin are you acting in love?
8. If you truly love your partner you will commit yourself to marriage.
   1. “God forgives sexual sin” (true)
   2. You can be forgiven and start over.
   3. But, don’t deceive yourself to think there are no consequences.
   4. Life gets complicated by sexual sin.
   5. God forgives but people don’t forget.
9. “God honors faithfulness.” (true)
   1. What if Joseph had just given in?
   2. God exalted him.
   3. Dreams came true.

CONCLUSION:

Above all else Joseph valued the presence of God in his life.

“Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.”  1 Samuel 2:30

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April 13, 2008 by PastorMark.

Don’t be surprised when your faith is tested. King Jehoshaphat, early in his reign, dedicated himself and his kingdom to loving and serving God. Soon after, he was told that a vast army was marching against them. Their faith was shaken but not broken. King Jehoshaphat and the people sought God together, and the Spirit gave a word of the assurance of victory. The next morning as they advanced to meet the enemy, Jehoshaphat declared to the people, “Have faith in the Lord our God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful” (2 Chron. 20:20). Faith is sometimes difficult in a world where so many things can go wrong. But God knows our struggles, and He honors simple trust and obedience.

Pastor Mark Boucher

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April 9, 2008 by admin.

It seems some would like to know “why wait until April 15th before razing the house.” Leominster ordinances allow cutting into the roads only between 15 Apr. and 15 Nov. We have to cut into the street in order to terminate water, sewage, and gas lines.

Your current Facilities Team: Jim Amirault, Steve Bibeau, Mark Butler, John “Jay” McCaffrey, Tom Richard, Harry Marshall.

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April 6, 2008 by PastorMark.

God has planned great things for His people. In the time of King David, God directed David to prepare the temple in order for his son Solomon to build it. Concerning this important work, David remarked, “The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for men but for the Lord” (1 Chronicles 20:1). In God’s estimation, what He leads us to do is a “great task.” It doesn’t matter if it seems small or insignificant to others. Whatever we do is worth doing with all our heart because it is done “for the Lord.” The Apostle Paul’s heart agreed with this when he wrote, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17). May your work be blessed!

Pastor Mark Boucher

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