JANUARY - JUNE 2007
DEVOTIONAL ARTICLES
By Rev Mike Jones
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Lessons for Living for Tuesday, January 2, 2007
MOM’S FINAL MESSAGE
It was late when we arrived home from
the Nursing Home after Mother’s death. Although I had many details to take care
of the next day I had previously made an appointment for an internet cable to be
installed at my home so I had to take care of this before I could do my other
duties.
In order to allow the service man to drill a hole in my floor
against the back wall in my home office I needed to move a filing cabinet.
Behind this filing cabinet I noticed a card that had fallen to the floor so I
picked it up and threw it on my desk. Once the service man finished his work and
left I finally looked at this card. It was a Christmas card sent from mother
several years previously. Almost as if she was speaking to her family one last
time from the grave I read this message inside the card- "I wish I could tell
you how much you mean to me. All I can say is I love You. Mother".
| This coming year will hold many circumstances and surprises.
Some will be good and some will be bad. It is even possible that 2007 is the
year that death will decide to visit your home. If your family found a final
message from you in some hidden place after your passing would it be about love
and encouragement or would it be a heartache?
"As the tree falls, there it shall be." (Ecc 11:3). If you
live right then the tree will fall right; and any hidden message your family
finds from you will be an emotional blessing instead of a shocking revelation.
Minister Message for Wednesday, January 3, 2007
SPEED DIAL NUMBER THREE
For many years my brothers and I called
mother almost every day to check on her and tell her about what we were doing
(She knew my schedule better than I did!). Mother recently passed away and with
her passing came many details as we dealt with her funeral and final
preparations. So many things were going on until I never really had time to let
her death "sink in".
Finally, I got back to the office to do some needed work.
After several hours of work I automatically reached for the phone and started to
dial speed dial number three. That was when it finally dawned on me that mother
was gone and the person on the other end of speed dial number three would never
answer again.
The good news is that although mother is not at the other end
of speed dial number three I know she is resting safely in the arms of God and I
will see her again one day and we will have all the time we need to catch up on
everything I have done since last we talked. The end is not the end for a child
of God. What a great joy to serve a God who not only forgives our sins but also
gives us eternal life. Glory! What a great God.
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, January 9, 2007
WRONG WAY
Due to disease, death, disasters, and such like among his
members it is extremely difficult for a Pastor to take an entire week of
vacation. My wife and I learned many years ago to take two day "mini-vacations"
from time to time. We usually leave early Monday morning and return Tuesday
night. Because we like to see new sights we normally journey to a different part
of our state and find roads we have not gone down before and then see what is
down those roads.
One such time brought us to a sign that said, "King’s
Mountain Park" so we decided to check it out. We enjoyed the visit and spent
several hours touring the park. When we left the park the exit road was
separated from the entrance road. In discussing what we had just seen we did not
realize that the exit road led to a four lane road instead of the two lane road
we had entered on. Yes, I can testify that going the wrong way on a four lane
road gets your heart pumping and your prayer life in order!
Nearly forty five years ago a fourteen year old boy realized
he was headed down the wrong road and if he kept going in that direction he
would end up in disaster. Thank God, he turned onto a different road and began a
great new journey that has been filled with excitement and wonder and will one
day end in the best destination imaginable. If he would have kept going the
wrong way there is no telling how many lives he would have wrecked in addition
to his own. Praise the Lord that someone told this young man how to get off the
wrong way that leads to destruction and onto the straight way that leads to
eternal life.
Minister Message for Wednesday, January 10, 2007
DISTRACTED
A lady recently told me about an interesting after
Christmas experience. She had been to her dad’s home to take down his Christmas
decorations and pick up some dishes from the family Christmas get together. When
she put the dishes in the passenger’s seat she put several cake plates on top of
the pile and began her journey back home.
The problem came when she made a turn from one road onto
another road. The cake plates started to tumble and she instinctively reached
over to grab them. While she was busy grabbing the cake plates her car and a
stop sign decided to go to war. The car won the battle and the stop sign ended
up broken and flat on its back but the car came out with some pretty big
"bruises" of its own (Can you say, "One Thousand dollars!"?).
Jesus shared with His followers that one of the greatest
dangers they faced in their journey with God was allowing "the cares of this
world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desire for other things" to distract
them from their service for the Lord. Like this incident, these things do not
stop the car but the consequences soon become apparent to everyone.
Distractions from your divine duty can be disastrous. Be
careful what you allow to occupy the seat beside you. It may take your eyes off
of God and that is always a disaster just waiting to happen.
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, January 16, 2007
STUFF STAYING SHARERS
One of the great principles among God’s people was
established by King David. He and his men had returned from a military excursion
to find their homes had been burned and their families had been taken captive.
The soldiers were already exhausted from their previous obligations and now
David had to ask them to begin a forced march in order to overtake the army that
had taken their wives and children captive. Soon 200 of the 600 men in the army
felt they could not go on so David left them to recover beside a stream while he
and the remaining men pursued the enemy.
God greatly blessed when David and his men found the enemy’s
camp and David was able to win a great victory and recover all the captives, the
stolen goods, and a large amount of spoils. When the victorious army returned to
where the 200 exhausted soldiers were camped some of the men in David’s army did
not want these men to share in the extra spoils that were recovered. It was then
that David established this great principle- "As his part is that goes down to
the battle, so shall his part be that tarries by the stuff; they shall part
alike" (I Samuel 30:24). Glory! What a great blessing from the Lord.
Many people have greater talents and skills than I have.
Sometimes I do all I can do but then find I must sit off to the side while those
with more energy and abilities gain the victory. Praise the Lord. God knows my
limitations but that does not limit His rewards nor His love. I have learned to
do what I can where I am with what I have and then wait on a good and just God
to makes sure rewards are distributed correctly. What a discouragement defeater
that becomes in my work for God.
Minister Message for Wednesday, January 17, 2007
SCORNING THE SCORNER
"The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but
he blesseth the habitation of the just. Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he
giveth grace unto the lowly." (Proverbs 3:33-34)
I can not even imagine what it must be like to have the
"curse of the Lord" on a home! I enjoy so many of the blessings of the Lord
until it is hard to even conceive what it would be like if God decided to turn
against me and do me harm instead of good. I would not be in the shoes of the
wicked for the world!
Not only does the Lord curse the home of the wicked but He
also "scorns these scorners" (In the Hebrew it says He "scoffs at the
scoffers"). That simply means that God makes fun of those who make fun of His
people- "The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his
teeth. The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming."
(Psalms 37:12-13)
Comedians in America today seem to think the "in" thing to do
is to make fun of God’s people or God’s word or God’s name. I wonder how they
will feel when God scorns these scorners and declares, "I will laugh at your
calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;" (Proverbs 1:26). That will be a
horrible day indeed. I am extremely thankful I belong to those who laugh with
God instead of those who laugh at God.
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, January 23, 2007
EMPTY LIVES
Young people are going crazy trying to find a new game or
a new gimmick that will provide them the thrill they desperately seek. They
abuse their bodies with drugs and alcohol, paint their bodies with tattoos, and
give their bodies to casual companions in the hope that something will fill that
nagging hunger deep in their heart. But nothing they do produces the joy they
crave or prevents disease, disaster, and death from visiting their life.
Middle age couples are bailing out of marriages looking for
that elusive thing called love. They join the party crowd and do everything
within their power to be young again but they find that acting as foolish as a
twenty one year old does not make you a twenty one year old. In spite of all of
their efforts, even a "bow-flex" body does not satisfy the desires of their
soul.
In the midst of all this spiritual hunger it amazes me to see
the number of church members who pencil God into their schedule for an hour on
Sunday morning and then spend half of that time worrying that the preacher’s
sermon will be so long until they will have to wait in line at the local
restaurant. God to them is a mildly inconvenient but socially necessary part of
life. This kind of Empty Religion produces empty hearts that rattle around in
empty churches whistling in the dark instead of shining forth God’s light.
Jesus Christ left Heaven to die for our sins in order for us
to have eternal abundant life. What a shame He is regulated to a curse word by
some or a spare tire when disease or disaster appears by others instead of
becoming the life altering, eternity changing God He longs to be.
Minister Message for Wednesday January 24, 2007
ETERNITY’S CALL
I have a friend who is losing a battle with cancer.
Recently, he told his wife that the most disappointing thing in his day was to
wake up in this world instead of in Heaven. I know how he feels.
People spend all their time and energy in this life trying to
accumulate houses, land, and wealth but one day I will live in a city where gold
is used for pavement and jewels are used to decorate walls. Wealth is not all it
is cut out to be.
When Jesus found himself knocking at death’s door His prayer
was short and to the point. In that prayer He defined what the real goal of
eternal life should be- "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the
only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3). Eternal life
is not about mansions and money; it is about spending eternity with God and
being able to fellowship with God’s Son, Jesus Christ on a regular and
continuous basis.
My life verse (Psalms 16:11) states that in the presence of
the Lord is completeness of Joy. In this life I am able to get just a taste of
that complete Joy as I worship and work for the Lord. One day I will finally see
Him face to face whom so long I have known heart to heart and the joy will be so
great until nothing will matter except to be close to where my Lord lives. It is
that expectation that motives my life and helps me to anticipate my death.
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, January 30, 2007
YOU DID GOOD
I talked with a lady recently who told me that her husband
had taken the afternoon off from work in order to do some things the preacher
has asked him to do around the church. I told her that I hoped the preacher
would brag on him Sunday. I am tired of preachers who spend every service every
week telling me how sorry I am! Sometimes even a blind squirrel finds an acorn!
I know that I am a sinner saved by God’s grace and all my
good works are just filthy rags before God. I also know that God loves me and
thinks so much of my testimonies about Him until He writes them down in a log
book in Heaven- "Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and
the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before
him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name." (Malachi
3:16)
It is wonderful to me that Jesus bragged on a poor widow who
gave a good gift at church (Matt 12:42-44) and honored a woman who washed His
feet with her tears (Luke 7:44). Jesus had a very sharp tongue when it came to
dealing with Pharisees but He managed to say a lot of good things about a lot of
people.
I can almost guarantee that you are not as good as you are
supposed to be. I feel confident that you are probably not as good as you need
to be. But, more than likely, you did a few things well this week and I am glad
you did what you could, where you were, with what you had. God took notice of
what you did; and that makes it pretty special.
Minister Message for Wednesday January 31, 2007
PRAYING FOR YOU
Thank you for taking the time to read this. For over
seventeen years I have written these devotional articles and each week I pray
that God will use them to speak to the hearts of the people who take the time to
read them. Here are some other things that I pray God will do in your life.
Your Words- May you have something to say and may you say it
well. We will give account to God for what we say- "But I say unto you, That
every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day
of judgment." (Matthew 12:36) and for what we fail to say- "When I say unto the
wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the
wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood
will I require at thine hand." (Ezekiel 33:8). May your words have purpose and
power when they are spoken.
Your Wealth- May you have money but may money never have you-
"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after,
they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many
sorrows." (1 Timothy 6:10). May you have enough to spare, a heart to share, and
the great joy that comes when you truly care.
This is the day the Lord has given you. May you be able to
rejoice and be glad in it.
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, February 6, 2007
SNEAKY SNAKE
I heard a story recently about an interesting series of
events. A man was taking a shower. The weather had begun to turn cold so his
wife decided to bring in some plants she had under the garage so the cold would
not kill them. When she sat the plants down in the house she saw a small green
snake slide out of the plant and slither across the floor.
Immediately she began to panic and scream. Her husband rushed
out of the shower to see what was the matter. She told him about the snake so he
bent down to see if it had crawled under the couch. About that time the dog put
his cold nose to the exposed rear of the man. The man thought the snake had
bitten him and jumped into the corner of the couch knocking himself unconscious.
His wife thought the snake had bitten him so she call 911.
When the medics arrived they assumed the man had been bitten by a snake so they
loaded him on a stretcher to transport him to the hospital. As the medics picked
up the stretcher to move the man the snake came out from under the couch. One of
the medics panicked and dropped the stretcher, breaking the man’s leg!
Satan is first shown in the Bible as a snake. The next time
you allow him into your house through the means of books, TV programs, or movies
remember this story. You may think that allowing a little snake into your home
will not cause you much trouble but you will probably end up with a lot more
hurt and misery than you expected.
Minister Message for Wednesday, February 7, 2007
4 TREES
(Gen 2:9) And out of the ground made the LORD God to
grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of
life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and
evil.
When God placed man in the Garden of Eden He put 4 kinds of
trees in the garden with him. These trees represent the 4 areas of a man’s life
that need constant cultivation.
1) Pleasant to the Sight- Cultural Awareness. Man does not
live by work alone. He needs some things that exist simply because they are
pleasant to the senses. God has given us a world of breathtaking beauty to
enjoy. Take time to "smell the roses".
2) Good for Food- Physical Development. Man was originally a
vegetarian so God provided exactly the trees he needed for proper nourishment.
Man today needs to learn that God wants us to eat the right foods, in the right
proportions. If we did, what an amazing difference that would make in the health
and well being of mankind.
3) Tree of Life- Spiritual Nourishment. This tree represents
the cross where the Son of God died for our sins. Yet it also brings forth fruit
that enables us to live and show the abundant life we receive when we eat of
this fruit.
4) Tree of knowledge of good and evil- Moral Discernment. God
did not want "robots" who simply obeyed. He wanted "family" who would chose to
chose Him because of the pull of His love. What a great privilege, and
responsibility, God has given us.
Four Trees, which ones will you eat from today?
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, February 13, 2007
COVERING LOVE
Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. (Proverbs 10:12)
God’s love does not make any sense. It causes Him to
forgive people who commit murder, abuse children, steal from the poor, and, in
general, act like the sorriest form of humanity you could imagine. The human
response to these people would be "kill them all, the sooner the better" but God
reaches out in Love and invites them to become His children and share in His
glory and His riches.
Amazingly, God’s love goes even deeper than that. It allows
God to forgive His own "children" when they act more like the world than they
follow the example of His Son who died to save them. Some Christians spread much
more gossip than they do gospel, seek earthly riches much more than they seek
heavenly righteousness, and some even get so absorbed with life until they fail
to worship and serve the source of life. Yet, the Love of God calls these people
to repentance and renewal and exchanges hog pen poverty for robes and rings and
eating fatted calf at the Father’s house!
God’s love does not make any sense. The creator of all could
create anything He desires that would do His bidding instantly and forever. Why
would He settle for weak humans who are prone to wander into wickedness and who
have nothing to offer Him except love and adoration. Is that it? Is the Love of
God extended because He wants it returned? I have little riches and few talents
but I can love Him who loved me. If Love is what God seeks then I want Him to
find it from me. After all, He has given me so much Love until surely I can
return it to Him.
Minister Message for Wednesday, February 14, 2007
ABOUNDING LOVE
And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: (1 Thessalonians 3:12)
The world calls for us to increase in lust for one another
and to find ways to physically exploit one another in order to provide a moment
of selfish pleasure for ourselves. But, like a man who drinks salt water to
quench his thirst, lust living leads to deeper thirst. This lust living provides
a moment of physically satisfaction that soon evolves into demanding desires
that destroy a person’s family, their health, and their life.
God calls on people to increase and abound in love, not lust,
for each other. The maker of all men knows that the greatest need of a man’s
heart is a loving relationship with his creator and a loving relationship with
other people. Nothing else; not riches or fame, or sexual experiences, or
anything man can make or find will quench the heart hunger that dwells within
every soul. Only an abounding love will produce an abundant life.
God demonstrated abounding love at Calvary. He extends this
abounding love every time a Christians tells someone about the new life that is
available through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul declared that such abounding love
never fails. And we get to increase and abound in this love in our daily lives.
What a privilege!
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, February 20, 2007
GUIDANCE GUIDELINES
Sometimes Christians feel like a cat in a room full of
rocking chairs. It is difficult to know what to do in order to keep out of
trouble. Some churches say it is wrong to do certain activities while other
churches do those things without a second thought. Or you try to live a
Christian life at work or school and people continually criticizing you about
something you did or did not do. How do you know how a Christian is supposed to
live?
I have three Principles that I use for Guidance in my
Christian life. They have been a tremendous help to me and I think they will be
a great guide for you also.
1) WILL IT DEFILE ME? If I do the action or activity before
me will it cause me to sin or bring evil thoughts into my life? Purity of heart
is one of the primary requirements of fellowship with God. Is this something I
can do in the presence of a Holy God?
2) WILL IT DISHONOR GOD? Would others think less of God
because of something I, one of His children, did? My greatest desire is to
please God and love Him with all of my heart. Will my actions or attitude hurt
God’s reputation or cause God heartache?
3) WILL IT DISILLUSION OTHERS? If other people see me do this
thing will it cause them to doubt my relationship with God and make me less
effective in God’s work? Will it cause others to doubt God’s Power and stumble
in their own Christian life?
Don’t allow yourself to be ruled by the whims and shifting
standards of others. They go up and down like rocking chairs and you always end
up being hurt no matter where you stop
Minister Message for Wednesday February 21, 2007
IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY
The most important responsibility in your life is to
develop and maintain a relationship with God through faith in Christ. If you
fail in this responsibility it will impact you greatly in this life and it will
have eternal consequences in the next life! Here are four requirements for
establishing such a relationship.
If you want to build a relationship with God then the first
thing you must do is DECIDE to Trust God to forgive you of your sins and make
you a new creature in Christ. This comes about when you repent of your sinful
actions and accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior.
Second, you must make a DEDICATION of yourself to God. This
means you make yourself completely available to God for His use and His work.
Christianity is more than a belief; it is a life changing relationship that
demands our active involvement.
Thirdly, if you would build a relationship with God then you
must acknowledge your DEPENDENCE on God. Without God’s strength at work in your
life then you will fail miserably as you fall for every trick of Satan. You must
claim, and cling to, the promises of God.
Finally, there must be a human part added to the Divine work
of God. That means you must make a DETERMINATION to follow God’s purposes and
plans. God will show you the path of life but you must determine to follow the
guidelines given to you by God.
Life brings many things our way that demand our attention.
Remember that your relationship with God is the most important of those
responsibilities.
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, February 27, 2007
SOWING SEED
Isaiah 32:20 is a good description of the mission of God's
people-"Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the
feet of the ox and the ass."
This verse describes our objective, as well as our equipment.
Our mission is to Sow the seed of God's word beside ALL waters. When Jesus
wanted to emphasis this point he told the parable of the sower in which he said
we should sow on the path to the field, on the rocky soil beside the field,
among the thorns, and on the good ground.
That's the kind of attitude we need. We should never miss an
opportunity to sow a seed. It may be a tract to a stranger, a devotion book in a
hospital waiting room, a kind word to someone, a cake to a neighbor, or a clear
presentation of the gospel in the home of a friend. The main thing is to use
EVERY opportunity to reach EVERY ONE you can with the Good News of Salvation
through Christ.
Not only is our mission in varied locations, our methods will
also vary. Some will use the "ox" and some will use the "ass". The ox is steady,
sure footed, patience, and dependable. The main asset of some people's Christian
testimony is their steady dependable Christian living.
The ass is faster than the ox, and more stubborn! Some
Christians witness with a brief word and a determination that will not be
swayed.
If you are a Christian, sow seed everywhere, using the
personality God has given you. The fruit will make every sacrifice worth while.
Minister Message for Wednesday, February 28, 2007
UPSIDE DOWN SPOONS
I did not have any sisters so my three brothers and I had
to take turns washing dishes. I don't like washing dishes.
When I married a wife I gave up washing dishes except in an
emergency or sickness. My wife doesn't try to preach for me and I don't try to
wash dishes for her!
After we were married for a few years, I decided to "butter"
her up by washing the dishes for her one afternoon while she was visiting a
friend. Instead of telling me how nice I was, however, the first thing she did
was tell me the spoons were lying in the drain the wrong way. So much for
butter!
I hated to admit it but she was right. I had rinsed the
spoons off and put them in the drain face up. That caused the rinse water to
collect in the bottom of the spoons. I should have turned them upside down so
all the water would drain from them.
That's a problem people sometimes have also. They come to God
for cleansing but they don't turn over after they're clean and sin collects in
their life again. They need to learn that God expects us to turn our back on sin
when we turn our face toward Him.
If sin is continually defeating you today, maybe you're
facing the wrong way. Turn over and let the sin drain out of your life.
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, March 6, 2007
WHO IS YOUR DADDY?
There is a slang statement used by many people that has
great implication for you today, "Who is Your Daddy?". It is used in a negative
sense to insinuate that your mother was a harlot. It is used in a boastful way
as a variation on the little boy taunt of previous years where children would
say, "My dad can beat your dad!". In plain English, this statement simply asks a
very important question, "Who is our daddy?".
According to the Word of God there are only two "spiritual
beings" who can be your father; either the Devil or God- Jesus told some people
that "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.
He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there
is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a
liar, and the father of it." (John 8:44). The Apostle Paul preached that, "Ye
are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26). The
determining difference about who is your "daddy" is based on whether you were
simply born as a person or whether you have been born again.
I am glad to report to you today that Jehovah God is my Daddy
because of the time I repented of my sins and accepted Jesus Christ as my
Savior. That means I am not the son of a harlot because I know my Father. And,
in case you are wondering, since I am a child of God, and if you are a child of
the Devil; my daddy can beat your daddy!
Minister Message for Wednesday, March 7, 2007
STIR THE SUGAR
The man came into the small town restaurant and asked for
a cup of coffee as he sat down at the counter. When the waitress brought the
coffee the man emptied the last two packs of sugar in the receptacle in front of
him into the coffee and then started looking around for more sugar. The waitress
noticed him and asked if there was anything she could do so the man asked for
more packets of sugar. Almost all small town waitresses have a "mother" complex
and it came out in this waitresses as she leaned over, looked into the coffee
cup, and said, "You have plenty of sugar in your cup if you would just stir it
up!".
Paul must have had that same thought in mind when he
admonished young Timothy to "Stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the
putting on of my hands." (2 Tim 1:6 ). He was telling this young preacher that
he had everything he needed for success in the ministry if he would just put it
to work instead of simply allowing it to "lay on the bottom of his cup".
Minister’s today have advantages in education and equipment
that Pastors in past years could only have dreamed about. I believe there is
plenty of "sugar" in the cup and that ministers today could really make a
difference if they would get stirred up. May God help us to stop looking around
for more equipment all the time and, instead, begin using what we have to make a
real difference for Christ.
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, March 14, 2007
THINGS THAT DEFEAT US
1) Secondary Defeats- If Satan cannot defeat you he will
try to defeat someone whose defeat will defeat you.- "And when his friends heard
of it, they went out to lay hold on him (Jesus): for they said, He is beside
himself." (Mark 3:21). The other Gospels tell us this was the family of Jesus.
If Satan cannot stop you then he will try to get those close to you to stop you.
2) Lack of Discernment Defeats- Satan will try to get you to
push on the brakes or push on the gas instead of going at God’s timetable (Jesus
was tempted by Satan to worship Satan now and he would receive the kingdoms of
the earth instead of following God’s plan to the cross)
3) Mixed Multitude Defeats- "And the mixt multitude that was
among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said,
Who shall give us flesh to eat?" (Numbers 11:4). There will always be "good"
people in the church who want the "onions of Egypt" instead of the manna from
Heaven; beware of them.
4) Example Defeat- "And some of them of understanding shall
fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the
end: because it is yet for a time appointed." (Daniel 11:35). When Leaders fall
the ripples rock many boats
5) Faith Failure Defeats- "And he did not many mighty works
there because of their unbelief." (Matthew 13:58). How sad that our unbelief can
limit God’s work!!
Satan wants to defeat you today. Team up with Christ and get
on the Victory side!
Minister Message for Wednesday, March 15, 2007
DEFEATING DEFEATS
: Satan is out to discourage, defile, defeat, and destroy
you. Do not let him get you down. Here are a few verses you can claim to get
Satan off your back. Remember that it was the Word of God that Jesus used when
He was tempted by Satan- "Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for
it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou
serve." (Matthew 4:10
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this
is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." (1 John 5:4). You are
a winner when you walk by faith, worship in faith, and war with the weapons of
faith.
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to
man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye
are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be
able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13). Satan cannot corner you into a place
that God cannot reach and from which God cannot rescue.
"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them:
because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1 John
4:4). Satan has a loud bark but he is just a little puppy when he tangles with
the Holy Spirit who lives in the heart of Christians. Live in Glory instead of
in Gloom- God is on your side and that means you are on the winning side!
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, March 20, 2007
RESISTING TEMPTATION
Temptation is a troublesome problem. Here are some ways to
win the battles.
1. GUARD YOUR GOING- (Prov 4:14-15) "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and
go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass
away." If you keep walking by the Devil’s house then he will invite you in!
2. TRANSFORM YOUR THINKING- (Rom 12:1-2) "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by
the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to
this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may
prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Recognize
Temptation as a harm to defeat you instead of a help to delight you.
3. EXERCISE SELF CONTROL- (1 Cor 9:27) "But I keep under my body, and bring it
into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I
myself should be a castaway." The limits you put on your life will end up giving
you more pleasure than the pleasure sin promised you.
4. BE ACCOUNTABLE- (James 5:16) "Confess your faults one to another, and pray
one for another,". Ever notice how easy it is to overcome temptation when others
are watching? Remember that.
5. RELY ON GOD’S HELP- (1 Cor 10:13) "There hath no temptation taken you but
such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be
tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to
escape, that ye may be able to bear it." Don’t allow temptation to drive you
into the rocks of ruin. God’s lighthouse is pointing the way through dangerous
waters into a safe harbor. God wants you to win and He will help you.
Minister Message for Wednesday, March 21, 2007
RECOGNIZING TEMPTATION
Temptation is a troublesome problem. It varies from person
to person- Things that tempt one person have little impact on another person or
as I tell people, "one man’s worm is another man’s bait". But regardless of
where it comes from, all of us face temptation on a regular basis; and, sadly,
Temptation triumphs more that we would like to admit. Here are some things to
help you recognize Temptation when it knocks.
Temptation tempts us by sneaking into our mind and heart. A
worldly song several years ago proclaimed that the Devil came to the door
wearing a "Blue Dress" instead of a red suit. Temptation lurks in Churches as
well as in bars. Remember that.
Temptation tramples us by suddenly stampeding the desire for
wrong desires into our life. Sometimes temptation explodes in our life like a
dam has broken and a wall of "temptation" tries to drown us in an instance. We
have to learn to just hold on until the wave passes and things return to normal.
Temptation taunts us by exposing the beauty and pleasures of
sin in such a way until we look at sin as a need we must fulfill. Temptation
sings her siren song of unmet needs so that we ultimately believe that wrong is
right and a good God would really want us to have this bad thing that seems so
good.
Temptation is strong; but not as strong as God! Temptation is
pretty but it cannot compare to the beauty of God. Do not let Temptation trip
you up.
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, March 27, 2007
HEARING GOD’S STILL SMALL VOICE
The lovely Princess Paula gave me a portable MP3 player
for Christmas. What a good wife I have! On a recent trip to India I loaded the
player with the Psalms, the New Testament, and a large selection of music in
order to help with the long flight times.
To avoid music monotony I mixed a large amount of Southern
Gospel music with a few Contemporary songs, some Bible College Choir songs, and
several Classical Music Albums. That way the tempo changes almost every time I
change songs.
I was frustrated on the flight to India because the low part
of the Classical Music was drowned out by the hum of the airplane. If I turned
the volume up loud enough to hear the low parts then the rest of the music
blared so loud until it hurt my ears.
I was reminded of this incident during my prayer time in
India. As I sat just spending time with God I realized how soft His still small
voice sounded. That was when I realized again how often the hum of daily living
downs out God’s sweet voice and I end up only hearing part of what I need to
hear.
Oh, how careful I need to be in order to make sure I take
time regularly to still my heart and calm my soul so I will not miss a single
word from my wonderful Lord- "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be
exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalms 46:10)
Minister Message for Wednesday, March 28, 2007
BOSOM OF GOD
Translating the Bible from one language to another can
cause some interesting problems. In English we use the word "Bosom" to represent
a place of comfort and care close to the heart of God. In other languages
talking about the "Bosom of God" would confuse people because it would mean God
was a woman.
Almost all other languages translate the Hebrew or Greek word
from which we get "Bosom" into the "Lap of God". People everywhere can relate to
a young child getting into their parent’s lap in order to find comfort and
security.
No matter what you call it, I hope you will spend some time
in the "Bosom of God" each day. You will know no greater joy; nor find any
greater peace, than time spent in the "Lap of God" listening to His voice and
basking in His Love. After all, that is where Jesus spent His time- "No man hath
seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the
Father, he hath declared him." (John 1:18)
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, April 3, 2007
DEATH’S DESPAIR
"For to him that is joined to all the living there is
hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know that they
shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward;
for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and
their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in
any thing that is done under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 9:4-6)
According to the Preacher in the book of Ecclesiastes Death
brings "gloom, despair, and agony on me; deep dark depression, excessive
misery". According to him, the dead "know not anything, have no reward (It is
over when it is over), and are soon forgotten". He also declares that everything
that made the deceased a person (love, hatred, envy) is perished and the
deceased no longer have a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the
sun. Talk about a "bad news sermon"! I sure would hate to have this preacher
preaching to me each week.
Thankfully, God’s character and compassion would not allow
such despair to go unnoticed and He devised a plan that would defeat Death’s
Despair and turn "no hope" into eternal abundant life. The Son of God, Jesus
Christ, came to earth, lived a sinless life, died a sin payment death, and rose
from the grave a death conquering Savior. Death is defeated and eternal abundant
life is available for all. What a glorious difference Easter makes! "O death,
where is thy sting? O grave, where is they victory? Thanks be to God, which
giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Cor 15:55, 57).
Minister Message for Wednesday, April 4, 2007
DO NOT DIE DEAD
The most awful thing that could happen to a person is for
them to die dead. The Bible declares that people who have not repented of their
sins and trusted Christ to forgive and save them are "dead in trespasses and
sins" (Eph 2:1). They may be walking around "alive and well" but spiritually
they are separated from God’s life and love and they are "dead men walking".
When breath finally leaves their body they will find themselves separated from
God forever without help and without hope. What an awful situation, to face
death dead.
When Jesus was on earth He raised from the dead a twelve year
old girl who had just died, a widow’s son who was already in the coffin on the
way to be buried, and a man who had been dead for so long until people assumed
he had already begun to "stink". Then, three days after His own death, Christ
was resurrected from the dead and showed Himself to numerous individuals and
groups before ascending to Heaven. He made it plain to all that men no longer
needed to face death dead; they could now face the end of this life with their
sin debt forgiven and the promise of eternal abundant life with God forever.
I can think of nothing worst to happen in your life than for
you to die dead. Jesus wants to give you life and change your future. Will you
trust Him today and accept the eternal life He freely gives?
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, April 10, 2007
WIFE, WORKER, WITNESS
How does God expect you to live? Are we to be like the
little Dutch boy and plug holes in the dam of life until we run out of fingers
and toes? Is the Abundant life actually just rules and regulations we have to
learn in order to live correctly?
Basically, there are three things God expects out of a
Christian. He wants us to be a good wife, a good worker, and a good witness.
The Good Wife comes from the fact that Christians are the
Bride of Christ. Christ expects His bride to love Him so much until she will
leave everything for Him. He then expects her to bond with Him so closely in
affections and actions until the two become one. That's easy to understand.
These are the same things you want out of your husband or wife.
Secondly, Christ expects us to be good Workers. A good Worker
is someone who comes to work on time every day, who gives an honest days work,
and who does his job without complaining. Simple ideas that should apply to your
place of worship as well as to your place of employment .
Finally, Christ expects us to be a Witness. Witnessing is not
throwing someone in a corner and making them believe as you believe. Witnessing
is simply telling people the difference Christ has made in your life. Sharing
answered prayers should be as natural as sharing an exciting news item from the
newspaper. Sharing your love for Christ should be as easy as sharing your
devotion to the Gamecocks or the Tigers. It's simple to witness when Christ is
the main focus of your life.
What should you pray for God to do in your life today? Pray
that God will make you a good Wife, a good Worker, and a good Witness.
Minister Message for Wednesday, April 11, 2007
RUBBER BAND CONVICTIONS
We live in the day of "Rubber Band Convictions". Instead
of being a rock in the midst of a stormy sea many church members now are driven
with the wind and tossed like the foam on the waves. Instead of standing for
righteousness and right these people, like the rubber band, stretch their
convictions to fit the circumstances of the moment.
Rubber band convictions justify live in lovers as simply a
sign of the times instead of calling it adultery and fornication.
Rubber band convictions sit hour after hour in front of a TV
which is spewing cursing, corruption, and sex and never consider turning it off.
Then that same person self righteously moan the next day at work about how bad
the world is becoming.
Rubber band convictions call Sunday the Lord’s Day; unless
company comes, or you get tired and think a day at the lake would relax you much
more than an hour in Church; or you find you haven’t been able to do all the
shopping you want to do during the other six days of the week.
Rubber band convictions believe in tithing your income;
unless finances are a little tighter than normal this week, or you don’t like
something someone at the Church did or didn’t do.
Sadly, many people have rubber band convictions today. I pray
they will finally wake up and see that "rubber band convictions" is just another
way of saying lukewarm Christians; and lukewarm Christians make God sick.
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, 17, 2007
HAND OF GOD
Gentle but firm. Tender but tough. This is how I would
describe the hand of God. When He gently lays His hand on my shoulders stooped
with despair or defeat His hand is as comforting as a warm blanket on a cold
night. When I am being rebellious and stubborn His finger points in my face
before His hand firmly grips my shoulder with enough pressure to let me know I
need to straighten up and do right.
The Word of God gives us three major areas in which the hand
of God impact our life on a regular basis.
The Hand of God holds the breath of Life- "In whose hand is
the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind." (Job 12:10).
"But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought
the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and
thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of
silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor
know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast
thou not glorified:" (Daniel 5:23)
The Hand of God helps us enjoy Life’s Journey- "There is
nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should
make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the
hand of God." (Ecclesiastes 2:24)
The Hand of God guards our Salvation- Jesus said, "And I give
unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck
them out of my hand." (John 10:28)
Whose hand is on your shoulder today; guiding, keeping, and
guarding you?
Minister Message for Wednesday, April 18, 2007
DESIRE
When people ask me why some churches grow and prosper and
other churches struggle along in survival mode I tell them there is a simple
answer to this complex problem. If a church wants to grow then two "desires"
must be in evidence. The Church must desire for people in the area to come to
that church and the people in the area must desire to come to that church. In
other words, in order for a church to grow it must really want to grow and it
must have something to offer so that people will desire to be part of what is
going on at that church.
Some churches talk about growth but their real desire is to
have more people to attend so they can brag about their growth. They do not mind
if these new people take some of the "less desirable jobs" in the church but
they absolutely do not want them to disturb the present power base. They want to
be able to brag about growing but they do not want anything in the church to
change and as soon as new people bring in new ideas and new programs then
problems arise. Soon the same little crowd is moaning in the same little church
about their desire to grow and wondering if the problem could not be corrected
with a new preacher.
If your church is experiencing "yo yo" growth; up and down,
up and down, then I encourage you to prayerfully step back and look at the
desire of your own heart about reaching a lost world for Jesus. And then ask
yourself why people in the community should desire to join with you in building
a work of God. The answers may surprise you.
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, April 24, 2007
ADULTERY COST
If you watch TV or listen to today’s music on the radio it
will soon become apparent to you that everyone is either committing adultery or
desires to commit adultery. The good news is that this is not true; there are
still a large number of faithful men and women who live and love right. The bad
news is that more and more people are saying, "If everyone else is doing it then
I might as well join the crowd". Let me give you five reasons Adultery will cost
you more in pain than the pleasure it will provide.
1) Disease- When you lay down with dogs there will come a
time you will get up with fleas. This disease will impact you personally and
will also impact your family.
2) Discontent- A one night stand with no responsibilities
often leads to discontent with the spouse you have and the duties that are part
of any real relationship.
3) Divorce- Discontent often leads to the break up of a
marriage. Now you find that the one night stand person is not so great when you
have to face them every night! And it get really "interesting" when you have to
maintain two households when you can not afford to keep up one.
4) Divided Families- Children are often the victims of adults
deciding to have some outside "fun". This broken foundation often leads to
tremendous trauma, and life long scars, for children.
5) Displeases God- "Marriage is honourable in all, and the
bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge." (Hebrews 13:4)
Low living comes at a high cost. You might want to consider
that cost before you listen to the world’s "love song".
Minister Message for Wednesday, April 25, 2007
PASSENGER CHILDREN
When I travel on public transportation I pray for the Lord
to give me the right person to sit in the seat beside me. Recently I took a trip
that involved flying a local commuter airline to Atlanta. On the flight to
Atlanta and on the flight from Atlanta my travel companions were young married
women. I have reached the "father figure" age so most young ladies do not mind
sitting beside me.
I generally try to determine the purpose of a person’s flight
and then find out some things that interest them. This will usually give me some
idea about what is going on in that person’s life. Knowing this helps me to
determine is I need to offer any spiritual help to this person.
On the flight to Atlanta the young lady beside me talked
about her children and their involvement in a Christian School and about the
wonderful Church she attended. On the flight back from Atlanta this young lady
talked about her stress filled life and her concerns for her child because of
the problems in today’s society.
Although I have been a Christian for many years it still
amazes me to see the difference it makes in a family when the parents of that
family center their life around an active faith in Christ. And it still
perplexes me when I see parents struggling through life when God is so ready to
help them. As I told that second young lady, "If your life is so busy until it
has no time for God then you are headed for some really rough days ahead".
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, May 1, 2007
REASONS FOR TROUBLE
As I travel through my life journey I have observed that
troubles generally come because of one of four reasons. Once I determine the
reason for the trouble then it is much easier to get out of the trouble or
better endure it.
1) Stupid Decisions- Sometimes all of us, for reasons that
are still unclear to me, have an attack of the "stupids". We do things that
would make no sense to us if they were done by someone else and then we have to
live with the consequences. This is a surprisingly common reason for trouble.
2) Sinful Activities- The Lust of the flesh and the Pride of
life often cause us to do things that lead to trouble in our life. Repentance,
restoration, and renewal can ease these problems but some of them have very long
term consequences. For example, repenting over the fact that you robbed a bank
will bring you forgiveness but it will probably not get you out of jail.
3) Circumstances of Life- "I returned, and saw under the sun,
that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet
bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men
of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all." (Ecclesiastes 9:11).
Sometimes things happen because things happen. When a hurricane hits, the wicked
and the righteous both endure the wind and the rain.
4) Spiritual Growth- Some troubles are allowed in our life
for our good and God’s Glory (Remember the troubles that Job experienced). This
is where we must be careful to allow trouble to make us better instead of
bitter.
More than likely you will face trouble this week. Find out
why and then deal with it accordingly.
Minister Message for Wednesday, May 2, 2007
VICTORY OVER TROUBLE
The trouble with trouble is that it troubles everyone!
"Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble." (Job 14:1).
Trouble will be different from time to time and it will vary from person to
person but as long as you walk on this sin cursed earth trouble with knock on
your door; and, always it seems, at the most inconvenient time. How can we
thrive instead of just survive when Trouble decides to visit us?
When Trouble comes it should cause us to examine our life and
see if Trouble has come because of our own wrong actions. If that is the case
then we should repent of the wrong we have done and ask God to restore us to
Himself and release us from the trouble our sin has produced- "But when they in
their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he was found
of them." (2Ch 15:4)
Trouble should also drive us to God in Prayer as we seek a
way God can use this situation to develop us- "And call upon me in the day of
trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." (Ps 50:15)
We should be very careful, however, that we do not seek
release from Trouble by leaning on Human wisdom and strength. People mean well
but they can easily make things worst because they do not know all that is going
on- "Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man." (Ps 60:11 ).
When Trouble comes then run into the arms of God for peace
and protection. That may sound simplistic but it has worked in my life for over
45 years- "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Ps
46:1)
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, May 8, 2007
KEEPING MOMMA HAPPY
A frequent comment with a great deal of truth is the
statement, "When Momma is not happy then no one is happy". Here are some
guidelines to help keep Momma happy.
1) Tell Mother you love her. Husbands and Children many times
fail to realize the amount of constant work and stress that Mothers endure. It
is so important that they hear those around them express love to them from time
to time.
2) Partner with Mother in Life. Spend time with your mother.
Learn from your mother (Good recipes and good advice many times die with
Mothers). Help Mother with some of her work without being told (Please be
careful about doing this if your Mother has a heart condition!).
3) Praise Mother often- In the great description of an ideal
woman in Proverbs the writer declares that a great woman is one whose "children
arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her." (Pr
31:28 ). I do not remember that I have ever met a Mother who was praised too
much by her family.
4) Pray for your Mother daily. I hope that your Mother is a
dedicated Christian who gives you Godly advice and shows you a daily example of
how to live right. Praise God in this case and daily pray for God to guard and
guide your mother. If your Mother is not a believer then pray every day that she
will give her heart to God so she can meet you in Heaven.
"Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that
feareth the LORD, she shall be praised." (Pr 31:30 ). May your Mother be happy
as you praise her for her love for God and her care for you.
Minister Message for Wednesday, May 9, 2007
MOTHER'S KISS
It's easy to become a Millionaire. Simply find a way to
put all the ingredients of a Mother's Kiss into a pill!
Wouldn't that be great? When someone at work mistreated you
or made you feel bad all you would need to do would be take a "Mother's Kiss"
pill and suddenly everything would be better.
Or on those mornings when you find it difficult to get out of
bed and get ready for work because you just don't feel good, you could take a
"Mother's Kiss" Pill and rush happily off to do a good day's work (It works for
kids. They come in bruised and crying. Mother kisses them and they run happily
back outside to play!).
Or think what a Blessing it would be to be able to take a
"Mother's Kiss" Pill and suddenly discouragement, disappointment, or depression
would vanish like the morning fog.
They haven't invented such a pill yet because we haven't
figured out how to capture and contain a Mother's Love. The next best thing
would be to for you to go to your Mother and give her a big hug; she'll
automatically give you a kiss back. And no matter how bad things are, that kiss
will suddenly make things a lot better!
Solomon said a Virtuous woman had a price far above rubies. I
guess he knew that even her kiss is worth a million.
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, May 15, 2007
THE WORTH OF WITNESSING
The most wonderful privilege given to Christians is the
opportunity we have to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with a world that
desperately needs to hear the good news we proclaim. Witnessing for Jesus is not
trying to enlist more people to attend your church. Witnessing is not trying to
put so much of a guilt trip on people until they reluctantly do what is right in
order to get you off their back. Witnessing is allowing people to see that the
greatest privilege in all the world is to become a child of God by faith in
Jesus Christ.
Becoming a Christian is the greatest opportunity you will
ever receive because it meets the greatest need you will ever have. The sin that
corrupts your life and condemns your soul also alienates you from God. The
greatest need you have is to find a way to return to fellowship with God. That
is the very thing that Jesus died to accomplish.
Salvation not only meets the greatest need of your life, it
also achieves the greatest results. Nothing can transform a life like being
"Born Again" by faith in Jesus Christ. It makes you a new creature in this life
and assures you of a blessed eternity with God. Nothing else in this world comes
close.
God’s gracious gift of salvation meets the greatest need of a
person and achieves the greatest results possible but it also costs the greatest
price ever paid; the death of God’s only Son. Salvation is free but it is not
cheap.
Do not be angry when I witness to you about Jesus. Witnessing
is not bad. It is simply one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread
so that you can satisfy that desperate hunger in your soul and enjoy the
wonderful fellowship with God that I enjoy.
Minister Message for Wednesday, May 16, 2007
SINNERS NEED FROM SAINTS
The Job of Christianity is to get men into Heaven; and to
get Heaven into men! It is not an easy task but it will be much easier if we
realize what Sinners need from Saints.
Sinners need COMFORT from Saints: "Reproach hath broken my
heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there
was none; and for comforters, but I found none." (Psalms 69:20). Sinners live in
a troubled world full of change and chaos. They needs someone to have pity on
them.
Sinners need CARE from Saints: "I looked on my right hand,
and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man
cared for my soul." (Psalms 142:4). Increasingly we live in a world where
society shuts itself off from others behind locked doors where the only view
they get of those around them is the distorted misshapen view given on TV.
Christians must show they really care if they will make a difference.
Sinners need CLARITY from Saints: "And Philip ran thither to
him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what
thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me?" (Acts
8:30-31). No wonder Paul preached, "if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who
shall prepare himself to the battle?" (1 Corinthians 14:8). Saints need to say
what they mean and mean what they say.
Finally, Sinners need CHRIST from Saints: "Neither is there
salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among
men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12).
Saints, are you meeting the needs of Sinners?
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, May 22, 2007
SAINTS AS SOLDIERS
Abraham, the friend of God, was a commander of the army
that defeated 4 kings and rescued his nephew, Lot. Moses, the meekest man on the
earth in his day (Num 12:3), was a commander in chief of a great army that
defeated several nations. Joshua was the commander of the army of Israel that
waged a conquering campaign throughout the promised land. David, the man after
God’s own heart, spent most of his time as king fighting, and winning, battles
against a multitude of foes. And the list goes on and on.
Cornelius, the first Gentile convert to Christianity, was a
career soldier. When Paul wanted to admonish his son in the gospel, Timothy, he
told him, "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."
(2 Timothy 2:3). Throughout history, many of God’s choice vessels have been
connected to the military and have been actively engaged in protecting God’s
people and God’s principles.
I honor these Saintly Soldiers today. Many times they must
face an overwhelming force before them and a hostile media behind them but they
stand fast and do their job day after day. Loneliness and fear are their
constant companions but they get their orders, they pray for God’s protection,
and they do their duty. God Bless them.
Will you join with me in prayer for our military today? They
are not perfect, they are just ordinary people who are doing an extraordinary
job in order that you and I may have peace and prosperity in our daily life.
They need wisdom in order to make correct split second decisions. They need
protection from enemies all around them. And they need to know someone cares
about them. Lift them up in your prayers and tell a veteran or an active duty
military person today that you appreciate them.
Minister Message for Wednesday, May 23, 2007
LAW OF FAIRNESS
The biggest stumbling block about God for many
"intellectuals" is the "law of fairness". The "law of fairness" declares that
God must treat everyone the same and love people without partiality in order to
meet men’s standards of what they believe a god should be. They believe this
"law of fairness" is higher and more absolute than God and that all of God’s
actions must be in response to this law.
The problem with the "law of fairness" is that it was
invented by man and is no where approved by God. The Bible is extremely clear
that God chooses certain people to bless or to use based simply on the fact that
He is God and He has the right to set His own standards of selection- Look at
the first two children produced by mankind. Cain brought a gift to God of the
best he had of his own works and Abel brought a bloody sacrifice. God rejected
Cain’s offering and accepted Abel’s offering based on a "God guideline" about
the necessity of the need of a blood sacrifice. It may not have been fair but it
was (and is) the principle God operates on in establishing a relationship with
man.
God declared that His thoughts are not our thoughts and our
ways are not His ways (Is 55: 8-9). Remember that the next time you think God is
not being fair to you or to someone you know. God will always do right but He
will not be bound by a definition of fair established by those who believe that
in order for God to be God then He must fit into a box that they have devised.
God is much bigger than that.
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, May 29, 2007
One responsibility I have as a Christian is to Handle my
Wealth Wisely. Americans define Wealth as money or things. When you visit other
countries where the bare necessities of life are scarce and where wealth is
measured in food for that day you reexamine what Wealth really means. God has
given each of us certain
Atalents@
to use for His Glory. God will judge me on how I have used those
Atalents@;
not on how big my bank account is when I finally come to the end of life. I have
a responsibility to use whatever I have, where ever I am, to serve God and His
people.
Another responsibility a Christian must assume is to See the
World Correctly. It is easy to develop
Atunnel vision@
that only allows me to care about my community or my color. Traveling the world
lets you see that God=s
love is needed, and available, for everyone in the world. My heart can no longer
be satisfied that my family knows Christ when I know thousands of families who
desperately need to know this same life changing Christianity that I know.
(Continued Next Week).
Christ told the Church at Smyrna (Rev 2:8-11) to faithfully
endure; even unto death. That kind of perseverance is sadly needed today. People
leave churches these days if someone fails to speak to them!
Or if they don't like the singing.
Or for almost any other reason you can think of.
They have no loyalty to the church and the work of God. All they care
about is having their needs met!
This kind of Church member wilts in the heat of persecution
and runs off to a
Achurch@
where less is required of them.
After all, they joined God's army because they had a problem they wanted solved
and they liked the retirement plan offered by Christianity.
They never expected to actually be called on to fight in God's battles or
suffer as God's soldier.
If God has assigned you a job then your job is to do that
job! If God has put you in a place then your job is to stay in that place until
God moves you to another place. Christianity is not about church shopping for
the best church with the least expectations. Christ called men to be dedicated
disciples. Time has not changed that call.
Lessons for Living for
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Today we want to look at the final responsibility that
defines the success of a Christian; learning to Cover Wickedness Rightly.
There are a tremendous number of
Agood@
people in the world who are doing the best they can to be what their society
tells them they should be. They do good works and live
Agood@
lives. They are loved by many and they love many. It would be easy to say the
good works of these people far out weigh the bad they may do so a just God will
treat them justly and grant them entrance into Heaven. It would be easy to say
this but it would be a really bad mistake to say this.
God has plainly
declared that the only covering for the sin and wickedness of mankind that He
will accept is the righteous sacrifice of His only son, Jesus Christ. Mankind
can debate God, or doubt God, or deny God about this covering for his wickedness
but nothing will change what God has declared about the only way to Heaven.
Christians have a responsibility to share that there is only
one God accepted way to Cover Wickedness Rightly. Thank God if a Christian cares
enough about you to share that way with you this week.
I love this passage in the book of Philippians. It comes
immediately after the great passage where the humble mind of Christ is described
and it plainly declares how a Christian is to live as he
Aworks out his salvation@
(Not work to obtain salvation but
Awork out@
(bring to completion) what God has begun in him).
Four principles are given. 1) Submit to God so He can work in
you correctly. 2) Do not grumble and complain about God=s
development program in your life. 3) Live in such a way until God will be
glorified and people will want the life transforming power you demonstrate in
daily living. 4) Share the bread of life that you have received with a world
that is starving for something that really satisfies.
In a world of confusion and chaos may we
Awork out our salvation@
each day. When we do then the abundant life will become a daily experience
instead of a wishful dream.
Lessons for Living for
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Over
and over I have seen that Satan promises men pleasures and joy but he always
gives them empty plates and hungry families. Like the prodigal son, men find
companions and “friends” as long as they are spending their inheritance but as
soon as the money runs out so do the friends and they end up hungry in hog pens.
In the mean time, the family money is gone, the family’s heart is broken, and
family relationships are destroyed. Satan promised them the moon and gave them
the mud!
Father’s Day is upon us. It should be a time of rejoicing and honor as wives and
children rejoice in the leadership and love they receive from the family husband
and father. Sadly, many will cry at home over empty plates and broken promises.
It
does not have to be this way. I have seen the life altering power of faith in
Christ change men from drunkards into dads and from lazy no good wife abusers
into loving caring husbands. That is why I tell men that Father’s Day is a good
time to load up the family and go to a Church where you can hear God’s Word and
respond to God’s Call. If you do, it will be the best Father’s Day you have ever
experienced.
Minister Message for
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
MAKING DAD GLAD
1)
Use that wisdom your Dad had tried so hard to give you- “A wise son maketh a
glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.” (Proverbs 10:1).
Your Dad has worked hard and sacrificed greatly so you could receive a good
education in order for you to be properly equipped to be a success in life. Do
not “blow it” by making foolish decision and ignoring all your Father has taught
you - “He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool
hath no joy.” (Proverbs 17:21
2)
Stay away from people and situations that will destroy your character and
corrupt your conduct- “Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that
keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.” (Proverbs 29:3). When you
are 16 you think your Dad is the dumbest person in the world. When you are 26
you realize he was one of the smartest men you have ever known.
Remember that when you disobey your father’s instructions about boys to
date and friends to hang out with.
3) Get
into a right relationship with the Heavenly Father- “The father of the righteous
shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of
him.” (Proverbs 23:24). Nothing you could do this Father’s Day will make your
father any happier than you committing to live your life for God. It will cause
your father to “greatly rejoice” and make this the best Father’s Day he has ever
had.
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Jesus recognized a great principle;
accomplishing goals energize us. In a day in which exhaustion is a constant word
in everyone’s conversation we need to look again at the great benefit of setting
and accomplishing goals. People tend to keep going when they know WHERE they are
going and WHAT they hope to accomplish. Without a real Goal people tend to
wander into inactivity or self pity and lose heart.
Goals must have a long range Objective
while providing for short range victories. The normal formula for a goal is
“Have a Dream, Tell a Dream, Do a Dream”. That simply means you get a vision of
what you want or need to accomplish. Then you commit yourself to that goal by
telling other people what you hope to accomplish. Finally, you begin working a
step at a time to accomplish that goal.
Goals must be obtainable and worthwhile. A
dream is a nightmare if it is something you dreamed up but will never be able to
accomplish. Your goal must also be something you feel is needed or you will soon
lose interest and quite when the going gets tough.
Goals energize us. Find out God’s Plan and
get busy accomplishing His goal for your life. You will find energy and
excitement that will change your attitude and energize your life.
Minister Message for Wednesday, June 20, 2007
THE STICK THAT SAVED A
NATION
One of
the key things God did to convince Moses that he would empower him to accomplish
this task had to do with the stick that Moses used as a shepherd’s staff in
order to tend to his sheep. God told Moses to cast this shepherd’s staff upon
the ground where it became a snake. When Moses picked it up it became a stick
again.
Later
God told Moses to hold this stick out over the
On
three different occasions this common stick was instrumental in delivering the
nation of
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, June 26, 2007
IS IT WORTH IT?
How very wise was this great preacher of the Gospel, Charles Spurgeon.
Think of it. What sinful pleasure or activity could you do that would be worth
the eternal pain and suffering it would bring?
Is a
roll in the hay worth an eternity in Hell? Is a moment of sinful pleasure worth
what it really costs? What sinful activity would a man think was worth so much
until he would exchange his soul in order to participate in it?
From the
very beginning of childhood instruction parents must teach their children to
deny themselves some things they crave at that moment in order to live by God’s
Guidelines. Giving a child anything they want anytime they want it leads to
chaos and confusion, and, many time, leads to jail time. From the beginning
people must be taught that enjoying life does not always come from giving in to
every desire that comes into their mind or heart. Denying yourself something now
in order to enjoy everything later is a tremendous anticipated joy. It does not
take the fun out of life; it makes life abundant.
Jesus
asked this heart searching question, “What is a man profited, if he shall gain
the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for
his soul?” (Mt 16:26). Is anything
in this world worth giving your soul in order to enjoy?
When Satan tempts you to give in to the
lusts of the flesh just ask yourself a simple question, Is it worth it? Is the
pleasure I will enjoy worth the price I will pay?
“There
is no sin for which it is worth your while to be damned.” Amen.
Minister Message for Wednesday, June 27, 2007
SIN IS EXPENSIVE
Sin is
expensive in its Wages. “The Wages of Sin is Death” (Rom 6:23). People think
that an apology is all it takes to repay the debt they incur to God when they
violate His laws. God, however, has declared that the debt of sin is death
because sin teaches rebellion against God; which if left unpunished would
destroy the universe. Payment for the wages of this sin cost Heaven the most
precious thing it contained, the very Son of God, Jesus Christ. Sin’s debt is
the most expensive item in the universe.
Sin is
expensive in its “fruit”. Ask the wife abused by a drunken husband if Sin’s
fruit is expensive. Ask the children who suffer life long health problems
because of the drugs their mother used while she was carrying them if Sin’s
fruit is expensive. Ask the parents on their way to the county jail to try to
get their son out one more time if Sin’s fruit is expensive. Sin is like weeds
growing in a garden. If it is not dealt with early and often it will turn a
beautiful garden into a waste land.
Sin is
expensive. Who is paying for yours in this world? Who will pay in the next
world?