DRAW ME CLOSE is the Bible Teaching Ministry of Whitestone Christian Fellowship, taught by Pastor Bob Lawrenz.
We pray these messages bless and encourage you in your Christian walk. It is our desire that you draw ever so close to our Savior, our Redeemer and Lord.
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Colossians 3:16
From Death To Life
The Invitation
Pastor Bob Lawrenz
"Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage."
The beauty and tragedy of The Parable of the Wedding Feast shows how God’s invitation stands to all, but many choose not to accept.
The Armor of God - Ephesians 6:10-18
Pastor Bob Lawrenz
We may forget at times but one thing is true - this world is a battlefield. Day by day, hour by hour, we face a spiritual war and an enemy who’s real. He wants nothing more than to bring defeat, for his main aim is to steal, kill, and destroy. The forces of darkness don't wait for us to be ready for their attack. They're ruthless, determined, and cunning. The devil could care less if we "feel" prepared, or prayed up for our day. In fact, he prefers we're not.
God has given us his Word and Spirit, powerful and true, so we'll have the wisdom and protection to stand against the enemy.
The full armor of God—truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer—are the tools God has given us, through which we can be spiritually victorious. Satan is a defeated foe.
Center your heart, your mind, your life, your relationships, your conversations upon the Lord and His Word.
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." Psalm 1: 1-2
Judgement of the Nations - Sheep or Goat?
“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left” (Matthew 25:31-33).
Delight in the Lord! Delight in His Word!
Pastor Bob Lawrenz
What are you distracted with? What dominates your thoughts, your conversations?
Center your heart, your mind, your life, your relationships, your conversations upon the Lord and His Word.
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." Psalm 1: 1-2
These words picture the final judgment that will occur at the second coming of Christ. Each one of us will be present on that occasion. The Bible tells us, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ….” (2 Corinthians 5:10). You and I and every other person will be either on the right or left hand of Jesus. Those on the right hand, represented as sheep, are the saved. Those on the left hand, represented as goats, pictures the lost. To those on His right-hand Jesus, the King, will say, “…Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). However, those on the left hand of the King will hear the words, “…Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41).
God wants you and every other person to be saved eternally (2 Peter 3:9). That is why He has revealed in His Word the exact response required to receive the forgiveness of sins. Faith in Jesus as the Son of God (John 8:24), repenting of sin (Acts 17:30), confessing faith in Christ (Matthew 10:32-33) is what the Bible teaches is necessary to be saved. So, are you a sheep or a goat?
THE ESSENTIAL CHURCH
The upcoming film Essential Church, a dramatic production brought forth by John MacArthur and Grace Community Church, delves deep into the trials and tribulations faced not only by this church in California, but also by many other churches across the nation and around the world during the media-hyped COVID-19 “pandemic.” This awe-inspiring cinematic journey challenges the unconstitutional restrictions placed upon churches by government authorities and raises a clarion call to defend religious freedom.
With fervent passion and unyielding conviction, Essential Church takes a powerful stance on the issue of religious liberty and government interference. The film boldly espouses a mistrust of government officials, including the notorious Governor Gavin Newsom and the eminent Anthony Fauci, laying bare the dark agenda of the government’s pandemic response. According to the film, this response was driven not by a genuine concern for public health and safety, but by a deep-seated desire for control, which ultimately poses a grave threat to religious freedom.
In the midst of the pandemic, the nation was engulfed in protests and riots sparked by the killing of George Floyd. Yet, amidst all of this chaos and confusion, the government permitted large gatherings for protests while at the same time restricting church services. Such flagrant hypocrisy cannot be ignored, and Essential Church boldly calls it out.
Undoubtedly, Grace Community Church and other like-minded churches faced formidable opposition from local authorities during these tumultuous times. John MacArthur himself received threats of jail time and legal action, yet he along with many other unknown pastors stood their ground and remained steadfast in their commitment to biblical truth and their constitutional rights.
Essential Church, which will be released in August, promises to be an important testament to the ongoing struggle for religious freedom and the unwavering commitment of those who are willing to fight for it, no matter the cost.
CRY OUT TO JESUS!
With fervent passion and unyielding conviction, Essential Church takes a powerful stance on the issue of religious liberty and government interference. The film boldly espouses a mistrust of government officials, including the notorious Governor Gavin Newsom and the eminent Anthony Fauci, laying bare the dark agenda of the government’s pandemic response. According to the film, this response was driven not by a genuine concern for public health and safety, but by a deep-seated desire for control, which ultimately poses a grave threat to religious freedom.
In the midst of the pandemic, the nation was engulfed in protests and riots sparked by the killing of George Floyd. Yet, amidst all of this chaos and confusion, the government permitted large gatherings for protests while at the same time restricting church services. Such flagrant hypocrisy cannot be ignored, and Essential Church boldly calls it out.
Undoubtedly, Grace Community Church and other like-minded churches faced formidable opposition from local authorities during these tumultuous times. John MacArthur himself received threats of jail time and legal action, yet he along with many other unknown pastors stood their ground and remained steadfast in their commitment to biblical truth and their constitutional rights.
Essential Church, which will be released in August, promises to be an important testament to the ongoing struggle for religious freedom and the unwavering commitment of those who are willing to fight for it, no matter the cost.
CRY OUT TO JESUS!
THIS DO IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME
UNSHAKABLE FAITH
Faith often matures in hardship, because trials remind us how dependent we are on the Lord. And as we allow ourselves to trust Him more deeply, we will increasingly find that with Him, we can endure anything.
TEACH ME THY WAY - PSALM 86
Whitestone Christian Fellowship
Pastor Bob Lawrenz
SALT + LIGHT
More videos available here: Whitestone CF Media
Pastor Bob Lawrenz
The idea that power is inherent in prayer is a very popular one. According to the Bible, the power of prayer is, quite simply, the power of God, who hears and answers prayer.
We sometimes forget about the power of prayer and we question whether God really hears us. We wonder if He truly understands the pain that is within us. Yet the Bible teaches that He does hear our prayers, especially of those who have put their trust in Him. Scripture tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, the beginning of knowledge, and by this we know that God truly loves us and cares about what we are going through.
The power of prayer is supernatural, it does not flow from us, but comes from the omnipotent One who hears our prayers and answers them. Prayer places us in contact with Almighty God, and we should expect almighty results, whether or not He chooses to grant our petitions or deny our requests. Whatever the answer to our prayers, the God to whom we pray is the source of the power of prayer, and He can and will answer us, according to His perfect will and timing.
SALT + LIGHT
Jesus used the concepts of salt and light a number of different times to refer to the role of His followers in the world. The metaphors of salt and light specifically addressed the impact faithfulness should have in the world. It should illuminate and preserve. Like both salt and light, our relationship with God should have an obvious impact on everyone who comes in contact with it. Jesus isn't just calling us to be devoted, He's encouraging us to have an influence everywhere we go.
More videos available here: Whitestone CF Media
