JULY - DECEMBER, 2007 DEVOTIONAL
ARTICLES
By Rev Mike Jones
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Lessons for Living for Tuesday, July 3, 2007
I have traveled over much of the world and I can tell you today that
The
problems that have developed in
If the
limitations to
Minister Message for Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Paul was writing this letter to a church which suffered under the tyranny
of a corrupt government and which daily saw the agony of homes and lives
destroyed by human slavery. Now that they were beginning to experience the
wonderful liberty of Christianity they needed to guard against this liberty
becoming simply another version of the corruption all around them.
Paul
declares that the one Guideline People need to follow in order for
Note
how often God repeated this Guideline in Scripture- James 2:8
If ye fulfil the royal law
according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do
well: Lev 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge,
nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD. Mark 12:31
And the second {great commandment}
is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none
other commandment greater than these. Rom 13:9
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery,
Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly
comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Joy
should increase. Paul said that Christians who relate to Christ as they should
will bring forth joy. Jesus said we would have abundant life. Now contrast that
with people who must be begged or browbeaten in order to get them to come to
Church and worship God and tell me what is wrong that that picture.
Strife
should decrease. Church should be a place of harmony and unity. Tell me how it
advances the cause of Christ when Christians can not get along with other
Christians in a church so they go a mile or two down the road and build another
Church or they abandon church services all together.
Pride
should cease. Dying to self means just that. Paul calls self exalting pride vain
(worthless) glory. That is a good description.
Concern for others should be obvious. The world will know we are Christians by
our love. This kind of love is not mushy sentiment but active involvement. It
does not just talk, it acts.
When
Christians get it right it changes them and it draws others to what they have.
If that is not happening in your church then you need to look again at Paul’s
formula for a correct Church.
Minister Message for Wednesday, July 11, 2007
THE DEVIL’S
DISTRACTIONS
The
Devil’s first goal is to control your life and condemn your soul. If you claim
the victory in Christ so that he cannot accomplish this purpose he has two
additional tactics he attempts. First, if the Devil cannot defeat you then he
will attempt to defeat someone whose defeat will defeat you- a trusted Pastor
will fall into sin, someone at church will say or do something that deeply hurts
you, etc.
Secondly, if the Devil cannot defeat you he will try to distract you. Normally,
these distractions will come in the form of powerful desires, overwhelming
debts, family divisions, major diseases, or ever increasing duties which allow
you no time for God or His work. The Devil does not care who he has to hurt, and
how much he has to hurt them, as long as he ends up controlling or condemning
you.
Do not
allow the Devil to distract or defeat you. Remember that “whatsoever is born of
God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world,
even our faith” (I John 5:4).
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, July 17, 2007
When
Matthew the tax collector became a follower of Jesus he immediately invited his
former friends to meet the one who had changed his life completely. When the
Pharisees rebuked Jesus for eating with Publicans Jesus told them that a
physician was not needed by well people but by sick people.
When
the woman washed the feet of Jesus with her tears and wiped them with the hair
of her head the Pharisees were upset about Jesus socializing with sinners. Jesus
said sinners who knew they were sinners loved much, and served greatly, because
they knew they had been forgiven much.
The
third time the Pharisees rebuked Jesus for eating with Publicans and sinners
Jesus told them parables about lost sheep, lost coins, and prodigal sons and
explained the great joy which resulted when something of value was found after
it had been lost. If the Pharisees did not have a party for prodigals then they
must value their religious pride above the lost being restored to God’s family.
I am
glad Jesus loved men of all stations in life so much until he socialized with
them. He realized Publicans were sick with sin, stigmatized by society, and
separated from a God who loved them. Jesus made it His business to share a meal
with them as He shared God’s love with them. Not a bad plan for us to follow
today.
Minister Message for Wednesday, July 18, 2007
GOOD ENOUGH FOR HELL
That
is surprising when you look at the "religious" qualifications the first man
possessed. The first man, as a Pharisee, was good in the Eyes of Society, good
in the Eyes of his Neighbors, and good in his own Eyes (He was convinced
everything was alright). Everyone just thought he was a "good old boy".
Not
only was he Good, he also believed in God (It is good to remember that the
devils also believe in God and tremble). This belief in God caused him to Pray
to God, come to Church regularly, Tithe all he had, and even Fast twice a week.
Contrast that with the Publican, who could only cry out to God for mercy, Yet,
God said the Publican went home justified rather than this Pharisee. The reason,
the Pharisee came to God trusting in his own Goodness while the Publican came
pleading for God’s mercy. The Pharisee was good enough to meet the standards of
the world but he was not good enough to make it into Heaven.
Being
good enough is not good enough. A person is saved by grace through faith and
that not of themselves, it is the gift of God. It is not of works, lest any man
should boast. Don't get caught boasting instead of believing.
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, July 24, 2007
A HIT IS NOT A HIT
Because of my sight problem I was the kid that was always chosen last when ball
teams were selecting players. I could barely see the pitcher so it was a
complete accident if my bat and the ball arrived at the same place at the same
time.
After
I got my glasses I could finally hit the ball from time to time (A big deal to
me!). That was when I learned the next rule of playing ball; a hit is not a hit
if you hit the ball and make an out. It is only called a hit if it is hit is
such a way until you arrive safely at a base. Now I had to learn to not simply
hit the ball but to hit it where I wanted it to go.
I was
once blinded by sin. One day the glorious light of the gospel of Jesus Christ
opened my eyes and I could see. That was the most wonderful and glorious day in
my life! Soon I learned, however, that the goal of Christianity was not simply
to get me to become a Christian. God wants me to actually live the Christian
life without “making an out all the time”. God gave me sight but He expected me
to actually accomplish something in the game of life.
A hit
is not a hit if it does not produce a base runner. This is a truth Christians
need to remember
Minister Message for Wednesday, July 25, 2007
RULES MATTER
If you
are playing baseball and you hit a ball outside of the drawn boundaries then it
is a foul ball and you are not allowed to go to a base like you would if the
ball was hit inside the boundary lines. If you are playing football and you
catch the ball one inch outside the field of play it is not a catch and it does
not score or advance the ball. Boundaries are binding.
Christ
came to set the captive free and to give us spiritual freedom. We do not obtain
this freedom by keeping a set of rules but once we are set free by God’s Grace
we are expected to follow God’s guidelines and stay within the boundaries God
has established. For example, “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed
undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” (Heb. 13:4)
Freedom in Christ was not meant to let us live like the devil. God calls us to
the abundant life but He gives us guidelines to follow and boundaries to stay
within. Anything you do outside of these guidelines and boundaries will be
disqualified for a winning reward from God.
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, July 31, 2007
The
The
The
The
Minister Message for Wednesday, August 1, 2007
SIX DECADES
During my pilgrim journey through the wilderness of
this world, I can humbly say that I have tried not to be lazy or lukewarm in my
work for the Lord. I have made more mistakes that I have fingers, toes, and
elbows but people have always been kind and forgiving and the Grace of God has
enabled me to continue in my ministry for God even when I failed to serve God
correctly or completely.
I am getting so close to Heaven now until it seems I
can sometimes faintly hear the hallelujah choruses seeping over the walls of
Glory. Like everyone else, I do not look forward to the pain of dying but I sure
do look forward to the joy that will be mine after I draw my last breath in this
sin cursed world. What a joy beyond description it will be when finally I see
Him face to face whom so long I have known heart to heart. Glory! Sometimes I
can hardly wait.
I look back on life with joy and I look forward to
death with anticipation because of my relationship with Christ. It can make that
kind of difference in your life also.
THINGS THE GOOD
SAMARITAN DID NOT DO
Sometimes one of the most difficult decisions a
person has to make is deciding just how much to help someone in need. Most
people have a good heart about helping other people but they are afraid they
will be fooled by a con artist or latched onto by a continual beggar. In the
Parable of the Good Samaritan we see four things we should NOT DO for those in
need.
He did not pass him by. The Thieves thought this man
was someone to exploit. The Priest thought he was someone to avoid. The Levite
thought he was an object of curiosity. But the Samaritan saw him as a person to
be loved.
He did not take him home. He cared for this “certain man”
himself by binding up his wounds. He then took him to an inn where he could get
rest, refreshment, and feel secure. (The Emergency Medical Services Act of S. C.
allows for “Good Samaritan” transport of a victim to a place of safety without
meeting the normal qualifications of an ambulance).
He did not obligate himself to long term care of the
victim. He got him stable; made sure he had provision for adequate recovery; and
then went on with his life. The victim’s need did not control the life of the
Good Samaritan.
He did not expect this to happen again. He could
reasonable assume that this “certain man” would learn from this robbery and
beating and make necessary changes. He did not expect to find this man in the
same ditch under the same circumstances the next week.
It is easy to find reasons not to help people.
Instead, you should look for ways to really help and make a difference in a
lonely hurting world.
Minister Message for Wednesday, August 8, 2007
BARBER
BREAKFAST
I sat down, ordered my meal, and starting reading
about the ministry of Jesus’ Disciples in a book I am presently using as part of
my daily devotion. About the time I received my meal someone came in and sat at
the table beside me. As I glanced over I noticed that it was my barber. I
politely spoke and went back to my meal.
When I finished my meal I sat there drinking coffee
for awhile as I concluded the chapter I was reading. That was when the Barber
slipped into the chair beside me. He wanted to talk to me about some spiritual
items and we had a good time of Christian fellowship. As he left, He picked up
my meal ticket and told me he wanted to pay for my breakfast- Glory!
Walking the “Path of life” with God is the most
exciting and wonderful life imaginable. May you hear his guidance this week and
may you see His glory as you walk in His way.
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, August 14, 2007
CHANGING CULTURE
Far too often today the Church spends its time condemning the culture or
compromising with the culture instead of changing the culture. Preachers stand
each week and tell their congregation that the world outside the Church walls is
becoming increasingly wicked and they wring their hands as they proclaim TV is a
wasteland, Movies are a cesspool, Music is an abomination, and the “good old
days” are gone forever. The congregation shouts, “Amen” and tells the preacher
what a wonderful sermon he preached as they hurry to their cars so they can flop
in front of a TV all afternoon and watch the very thing they just said was
wrong.
Wouldn’t it
be wonderful if the preacher ended his sermon with five practices Christians can
do to change their culture and then asked people to commit to practicing these
practices in the coming week? What if Christians committed to watching less TV
each week and communicating more with their neighbors? What if Christian
Families willingly shared hot dogs one night a week in order to use the money
they would normally spend on an expensive meal to buy a bag of groceries for a
needy family in the community? Cities have learned that painted house with neat
lawns cut down on crimes and drugs; what could your family do to help make that
happen?
Culture is
changed one paintbrush, one caring conversation, and one compassionate act at a
time. The Church can yell each week about how bad things are becoming or they
can believe that Christianity in action can make a difference. A thermometer
tells you the temperature. A thermostat connected to a heating / cooling unit
helps change the temperature. Which one are you?
Minister Message for Wednesday, August 15, 2007
THE WORLD IN THE CHURCH
One of the earliest Christian principles I learned was that it is fine for the
boat to be in the water but it is bad for the water to be in the boat. By that I
mean, it is great for the Church to be in the world but it is bad for the world
to be in the Church. The Apostle James said, “know ye not that the friendship of
the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world
is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4).
God does not
dislike the people that are in the world (John 3:16) but He dislikes the world
that is in people. God knows the damage sin causes in the life of a person and
He wants His people to avoid sin while at the same time telling others of the
destruction that will come upon them if they continue to fellowship with sin.
God is not trying to limit life; He is showing the way to abundant, eternal
life.
Is your boat
leaking? Have you allowed the world to infiltrate your conversation and your
character so much until it is difficult to distinguish you from the world? Do
you feel like Lot who watched his family dissolve before his eyes in Sodom-
“that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his
righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;” (2 Peter 2:8). Maybe
it is time you plugged the holes and bailed the boat so you can enjoy life’s
journey instead of spending all your time in fear that your boat will sink at
any moment.
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, August 21, 2007
One request was for the family of a young
man who had died suddenly while exercising in a local gym. He was a fine young
man who was heavily engaged in church work and well thought of in the community.
His sudden death left a grieving family and a huge void to fill in church.
Another request was for a man who was traveling with his wife and was suddenly
hit by another vehicle. The man ended up in the hospital in critical condition
and his wife ended up in a funeral home. Suddenly the life of this couple; and
their family and friends, was turned upside down.
The
next request was for a person who seemed to be the picture of health until a
minor ailment brought them to the Doctor who told them the dreaded “cancer” word
and talked about life expectancy in the days instead of in years and months.
Vitally important things before that Doctor visit were suddenly not so important
after all.
Death
and disaster come at you quickly; and many times without warning.
That is why it is so important that you
live for God each day so that no matter what suddenly comes your way you can
face it unafraid because you are surrounded by the love of God.
Minister Message for Wednesday, August 22, 2007
LEASING LIES
The word
Aleasing@ here threw me for a loop
until I looked it up in a Bible dictionary and found it meant
Alying@. The psalmist is declaring
that men love vanity and seek to lie. Why would they do that? It made so sense
until I found that this word for “lying” is where we get our word for “leasing”
today. And when you begin to see the similarities between leasing and lying you
will under stand why men still find it easy to lie even today.
-Leasing is for a long term, so lying has long term
consequences.
-Leasing cost a lot up front and at the end; so does lying.
- Leasing is not evident from outward observation. Unless you
tell someone your car is leased they think it is purchased. Even so, lying may
not be evident from casual outward observation.
-Leasing costs continue to escalate- the more miles you put
on your car the more it costs you. The same thing happens with lying. The more
you lie, and the longer it remains uncorrected, the more it will cost you.
-Leasing makes a car yours but it is not yours! Lying makes
you think you have gotten by with something but eventually you find it got you
instead of you getting it!
Do not sign a
Alease@
on lying. It is a very poor bargain.
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, August 28, 2007
This
dislike manifests itself in constant gossip, continual friction, and picky fault
finding. It seems to always bubble just below the surface and is quickly
manifest during times of stress. It is a constant source of discomfort and
confusion in the function of the Church as the Body of Christ.
I wish
I could tell you there was a “magic” cure for this problem that a good scolding
or a quick trip to the altar would alleviate. The truth is that human
personalities and personal perspectives will always be a part of this fleshly
body. Do not let that discourage you.
My wife and I are deeply in love with each other but we do not always like some
of the things that the other spouse does. God allows this “friction” to continue
in our lives (even after 37 years of marriage!) in order to shape us and mold us
into the person we should be.
This is NOT an excuse to justify your dislike for someone. It
is a way to point you to the fact that “Love covers a multitude of sins” (I Pet.
4:8). You do not always have to “like” everything about someone in order to love
them and learn to live together with different perspectives. Just remember that
God’s love in you will change you; and that is the beginning of changing those
around you.
Jesus
used the phrase several times “If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.”
(Mark 7:16) to warn men about the need to clearly hear the message He was trying
to convey to them. He knew it was easy to “filter” words through pre-conceived
ideas, pre-held prejudices, and preoccupied minds until what was heard had very
little to do with what was actually said. Almost every wife who has sent a
husband to the grocery store to pick up an item can relate to this. Almost
always the husband hears something like paper towels when the wife actually said
dishwashing detergent!
The
Word of God declares that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of
God” (Rom 10:17). Do not allow your pre-conceived ideas or pre-occupied mind to
cause you to hear something that you did not hear and cause you to miss the
opportunity to build your relationship with God and His people.
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, September 4, 2007
SCRIPTURE SENSE
Sometimes I find it amazing that people
know everything there is to know about events in the world news or happenings in
the life of
Read a portion of Scripture each day. Find time or make time
but spend time each day reading the Word of God. Read for salvation. Read for
sanctification. Read for relaxation. Read for edification. Read for
memorization. Read for application. Read for meditation. But, whatever you do,
read a portion of Scripture each day.
Relate the Scripture you read to the daily happens of your
life. It will amaze you how often your daily Scripture reading will be exactly
what you need in order to deal with that day’s circumstances or challenges.
Reflect on the principles and practices of the Scripture you
read. God’s Word meditated upon has the answer to the baffling questions of
life. God’s Word applied to life will change your character and your conduct.
God has given you the privilege of reading and exploring the
most important document in the history of mankind, the Word of God. Do not fail
to take advantage of this opportunity.
I am surprised how many people think like Annie.
They know they are supposed to live right and do the right things but they keep
looking for a loop hole that will allow them to feel good about doing bad. Their
head tells them to do better but the desire of their heart always seems to win
the battle. A preacher friend said it like this, “People generally do what they
want to do. They make excuses to not do what they only pretend to want to do.”
There is a lot of wisdom in that statement.
What do you really WANT to do for God this week? If
you really want to get to know Him better then cutting back on TV and spending
more time in Prayer and Bible Study will not be a real problem. If you are only
pretending you want to get to know God better then stress, an overloaded
schedule, and “I am just too tired” will sit you in front of a TV instead of
kneel you in front of a Bible. It will be interesting to see what actually
happens in your life this week.
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, September 11, 2007
A WATCHMAN’S
DUTY
One
afternoon several people in the village told Missionary Hanna about a sick lady
and begged him to come and pray with her. A local man had been assisting Brother
Carlisle with his book store so Brother Carlisle told him to stand guard over
everything while he tried to help this lady.
Naturally, the person is need was outside the village and the huge crowd that
followed Brother Carlisle made it difficult to go and come in a hurry. When he
finally returned to the book store tent he found it deserted with no one
watching over the books, the money, or the accordion. An hour later the man who
was supposed to be watching the store came back and Brother Carlisle asked him
what emergency had caused him to leave everything unattended. “Oh”, said he, “I
just decided to take a bath so I left everything as it was until I could
return”.
Jesus
commanded His followers to faithfully do their duty until His return. I wonder
if we will look as foolish as this man when the Lord questions us about why we
were not doing what we were supposed to do?
Minister Message for Wednesday, September 12, 2007
MANAGING A MIRACLE
1) IDENTIFY YOUR NEED- The people had gone without food for a
long time and they were far from home. If food was not provided for them then
they might die in the dessert.
2) RECOGNIZE YOUR RESOURCES- All they could find to meet this
need was a little boy
3) ORGANIZE YOUR PROBLEM- Jesus made the people sit down in
small manageable groups. Divide your problem into manageable areas and learn
that the only way to eat an elephant is a bite at a time!
4) LOOK TO GOD TO BLESS YOUR EFFORTS- Jesus took the fish and
loaves and blessed them. If you can solve your problem without God's
help then you do not need a miracle. Learn to depend on an extraordinary God to
do extraordinary things to meet extraordinary needs.
5) DON'T
WASTE GOD'S
PROVISION- Jesus told the disciples to gather up the fragments that remained- 12
baskets full (One for each Disciple!). Do you know why it is so hard to give
money to a begging bum on the street? You are afraid he will misuse the gift you
give him. Is that the reason God has not performed any miracles in your life
recently?
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, September 18, 2007
WATCH YOUR STEP
Pastor
Mac said that “Watch your step” was first of all a statement of loving concern
because it was used by people to help us realize there was the possibility of
danger on the path we were taking. It might mean there was a sudden drop in our
path or an uneven step in the stairs we were climbing but it was spoken from
loving concern.
Another meaning of “Watch your step” was a statement of stern admonition. Pastor
Mac said when it was used like this normally the word “buddy” was added and the
statement became, “Watch your step, buddy!” Used in this manner the statement
meant a person was “skating on thin ice” in some action or conversation they
were engaged in and a word to the wise was being issued.
The
third meaning of “Watch your step” was a statement of cleanliness concern. To
illustrate this meaning Pastor Mac told about visits to his grandparent’s home
in his youth when his grandparents had numerous chickens that roamed freely over
the yard. It was pretty obvious to everyone why you would need to “watch your
step”!
Let me
join Pastor Mac in advising you today to “Watch your step”. Life is filled with
dangers and disasters but do not despair. Just hold to God’s Hand and everything
will be fine- “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he
delighteth in his way.” (Psalms 37:23)
Minister Message for September 19, 2007
TWO FOR LIFE
These two life changing statements are: "I am a Sinner, God"
and "I Surrender, Lord". Simple, yet profoundly life altering statements.
"I am a Sinner, God" is your way of telling God you realize
you have broken God's law as well as His heart. It agrees with God about your
rebellious state and acknowledges you need His mercy and grace if you are to
escape the punishment that results from your sinful actions. It leads to
acknowledging that Christ died to pay for your sins and expresses your
willingness to claim God’s pardon by Faith.
"I Surrender, Lord" is that profound statement every person
realizes they need to make after they have accepted God’s pardon and
forgiveness. It signifies that you have turned control of your life over to God.
It means you are now willing to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow
God's plan for your life with complete confidence in His love and care.
Would you like to change your life today? Then make these two
life altering statements. Tell God you are a sinner and you desperately need His
forgiveness. Then surrender your life to God and tell Him you are willing to
love Him with all your heart and serve Him with all your life. The difference
will be so drastic until you will begin to tell people you have been “born
again”!
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, September 25, 2007
THE
Part
of the reason the American public accepted this story so readily was because it
had great songs and characters to which all of the family could relate- a little
lost girl, a scare crow, a tin man, and a cowardly lion. These characters
expressed needs that are felt by every person from time to time and needs for
which all of us seek answers- Courage to do what we need to do (Lion). A Brain
to help us realize our potential (Scare Crow). A Heart to change us from a
mechanical person into someone who is able to enjoy life (Tin Man). And a place
of safety and security we can call Home (Dorothy).
The
way to find all these things you seek so desperately is not to follow the
“yellow brick road” to the Wizard. Wonderfully, they all can be found by getting
on the straight and narrow road that leads to God and His gracious offer of
forgiveness and change through a relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ.
“Somewhere over the rainbow” for you could be as near as kneeling beside your
bed; which will make the Home you go to a lot better than
Minister Message for September 26, 2007
HALLOWEEN INFORMATION
Sadly,
October has changed into my least favorite month because of the increasing trend
of society to make Halloween a major holiday event. Everywhere you look in
stores and in yards you will soon see welcome signs for witches and goblins. The
TV will be filled with horror movies where people are supposed to find joy in
watching blood spray everywhere as people are killed in every way imaginable.
And, unbeknown to many people, their open invitation to demonic powers to come
into their home and life through their decorations and their activities will
gladly be accepted by those demons.
Soon
you will note the increase in anger and irritation in people at home and work as
evil spirits stir hearts to believe the bad about everything and to act their
worst in daily actions. Demons are out to do you harm and to cause you to do
damage to as many others as possible. Amazingly, even though schools outlaw
anything to do with Christ they gladly sponsor activities and events concerning
witches and demons. One day I hope they will learn that inviting Demons into
your thoughts and activities is certainly not a smart thing to do.
More
information about the origin of Halloween and some alternative activities can be
found at www.ministerministry.com
under “Halloween Information”.
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, Oct 2, 2007
WHAT KIND OF
CHRISTIAN?
I. CRISIS CHRISTIAN. This is the person who does not have time for God or
His work until some Crisis comes along. As long as the bank account is big,
their health is fine, and their family is doing well they don’t need to serve
God. But as soon as a crisis arrives that messes up their play house they come
running to Church expecting God to put everything back together again. They will
make great promises and put on a good show but as soon as the crisis dies down
they put God back in their emergency compartment until the next crisis comes
along.
III.
COMMITTED CHRISTIAN. This is the minority group that believes the Bible is the
word of God, that Jesus Christ is not just their Savior but also their Lord, and
that God’s will in their life is the most important obligation they have.
Christianity is not a game they play; it is a life they live. They don’t blow a
lot of trumpets but by their lives they testify that God is real and that Christ
is the answer.
Three
kinds of Christian. Which group would your family and friends say you belong in?
Minister Message for Wednesday, October 3, 2007
DEDICATION
First,
there must be a DETERMINED DESIRE. If you are going to be committed to God’s
work and will in your life than you must really want God to be first in
everything you do. Sadly, many only want God to Bless them with ease and comfort
on the earth and one day take them to Heaven. They have no burning desire to be
all they can be for God in service and sacrifice.
Secondly, becoming a dedicated Child of God requires an ACT OF THE WILL. You
must resolve that you want to put God first in your life. It is not just a
mental thought you think about; it is a deliberate choice on your part. Flesh,
friends, and even family will oppose you but you must make a definite choice to
commit your all to God.
Thirdly, commitment requires a STEP OF FAITH. You don’t wait until you
understand everything or until you can see far enough into the future to believe
that everything will be alright. “The Just shall live by his Faith” is one of
the most important statements in the Bible and one you will learn the meaning of
as you walk in full dedication to God.
Finally, there must be CONTINUED PERSEVERANCE. This is not a moment’s decision
but a lifetime commitment. It means burning your bridges and casting yourself
completely on the Lord for now and forever. Your reward will be knowing a joy
beyond description as you daily walk in dedication to the Lord!
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, October 9, 2007
5 KEYS TO RESISTING TEMPTATION
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 walk by
the Devil’s house you will be invited 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 that Temptation is 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. Recognize that boundaries
are blessings when they keep us from things that would harm or hurt us.
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. God wants you to win and He
will help you if you will cling to Him for help and support.
Minister Message for October 10, 2007
LEARNERS LEARNING
Paul
talked about people who would be
Aever
learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth@
(II Tim 3:7). Sadly, that seems to be happening in many churches today. Teachers
and teaching resources are better than ever but the moral climate of
There are 3 test of teaching that determines if real learning
has taken place. Keep them in mind the next time you prepare a Sunday School
lesson or preach a sermon. Learning only takes place when the Student can:
1) Rethink the
Thought. If the learner can only repeat back to you what you have said to
them then they are memorizing the message instead of learning the truth. A
lesson must be given in such a way until the student can translate the truth
being taught into something that is understandable to them.
2) Apply the
Application. Knowledge in the head must be applied in the Life to have
lasting impact. If you want students
to be
Abetter
people@
then tell them how they can achieve that goal.
3) Pass the Principle.
If the student cannot convey to you, and to others, the objective of the lesson
then they have not really grasp the principle of that lesson. It become their
own when they able to give it away!
Life is too precious to
pass up an opportunity to properly convey the teachings of Jesus to members of
your Bible Study Class. Do not let them sit through twenty years of Bible Study
and still not understand how God relates to the actions and activities of their
life.
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, October 16, 2007
FEAR OF
FLYING
One
thing I have noticed in my study of the life of Jesus is that He did not invite
people to be saved! Salvation was the Purpose of Jesus (The Son of man is come
to seek and save that which is lost- Matt 18:11) but it was not His Invitation.
His invitation always involved people denying themselves, taking up their cross,
and following Him. Jesus did not simply ask people to put their Faith in Him, He
required that they commit to Follow Him.
I
believe that many people will spend eternity apart from God because they are
willing to BECOME a Christian but they are not willing to BE a Christian! They
are willing to make a profession of faith in Christ but they are not willing to
allow Christ to control their life and change their actions. To them salvation
is simply granting God the benefit of their faith.
God
wants you to be saved. You desperately need to be saved. But it is more than
dreaming about Heaven. It is being willing to get on the “plane” and make the
trip.
Minister Message for Wednesday October 17, 2007
THREE
CHRISTIAN DANGERS
A non
Christian person would probably have thought that the greatest dangers a
Christian would face would be Drunkenness, Adultery, and Worldly Living. A
Church Member who just shows up on Sunday Morning would probably have listed
Gossip, Anger, and Power Struggles as the three greatest dangers in the local
Church. But Jesus listed Cares, Cash, and Coveting.
Jesus
knew the day would come when men would be too busy to serve God, too burdened
with debt to serve the Lord, and too besieged by their desire to live like the
world to realize their soul was decaying and their ministry was dying. It would
not be Satan as a roaring lion that crippled the church. It would be the little
foxes of the flesh that sapped the strength and dimmed the vision of the Church.
Many
churches are struggling and dying because they have ignored the warning of Jesus
about these three dangers to their ministry. May God help us today to “pull
these weeds” so the fruit of God can grow tall and strong.
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, October 23, 2007
BE JOYFUL
People
often confuse Happiness with Joy. Happiness results when things happen to happen
happily. Joy, on the other hand, is a state of heart that acknowledges bad
circumstances come our way but it does not allow these circumstances to control
the joy in the heart.
Joy
replaces Happiness when we "know that ALL things work together for the good to
them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Rom
8:28). This centers our faith in Christ instead of Circumstances. What a
difference that will make when we face the real problems of a real world.
With
this kind of Joy, Paul could sing in a jail in
This
kind of joy satisfies your aching heart, eases your troubled mind, and makes it
easier for everyone to live with you! Joy like this comes from only one source;
Jesus. You accept Him as your Savior and serve Him as your Lord; and the joy of
the Lord becomes your strength. And what a Joy it is to experience that Joy in
your life each day.
Minister Message for October 24, 2007
WHY YOU ARE
STILL HERE
Many
Christians have the idea that Christianity is built around them and they believe
God got a really good deal when they decided to leave Satan’s crowd and join
God’s Army. What they fail to realize is that God views our righteous works as
filthy rags- “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses
are as filthy rags; “ (Isaiah 64:6)- and there is nothing we can do for God that
an all powerful God could not do much better and much quicker for Himself.
God
redeemed us in order to transform us into the image of His Dear Son, Jesus
Christ. This transformation process takes place in the daily activities of life
as we are put under pressure and persecution and learn to deny ourselves, take
up our cross, and follow the example of Jesus (Matt 16:24).
As a
Christian, you are on your way to Heaven. Will you crawl in as an underdeveloped
baby or will you arrive as a fully developed servant?
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, October 30, 2007
THINGS THAT
MATTER
The
Apostle Paul was faced with a situation like this. He didn't know the exact time
of his death but he knew his days were numbered. As he writes his last letter to
his son in the ministry, Timothy, he gives us 3 values that matter when death is
knocking at your door.
II. A COMPLETED TASK- "I have completed my course". Paul had not done everything there was to do but he had done everything God told HIM to do. Someone once said, "God buries his workers but His work goes on". Paul wasn't building his kingdom but God's kingdom; and he was satisfied to stop when God said enough. Is God your goal, or is God only a means to help you obtain what you want from life?
III. A CONFIDENT TRUST- "Now there is laid up a crown of righteousness for me". Paul had trusted God with his life and now he looked forward to standing before him at his death. His motto had been, "To live is Christ and to die is gain". He knew that the God who cared for him in life would crown him in death. Do you?
Can you confidently face God about the things that matter? There is still time to change, but you need to remember that you do not know how close YOUR clock is to midnight.
Minister Message for Wednesday, October 31, 2007
DATING DEATH
One
thing that people need to know about Death is that it needs to be prepared for.
You need to have a will or the government will make your will to please their
will. You need to prepare for your funeral or a distraught family will decide
what to do at a time of extreme pressure and emotions. You need to keep your
bank records and computer passwords in a safe place that is well known and
easily accessible to family members when death knocks at your door.
Of
course, you need to prepare spiritually for your date with Death. Death is
coming and you cannot prepare for death after death; you must prepare now. After
death is eternity and eternity will be a long time of regret, remorse, and never
ending pain for those who thought living life was more important than preparing
for their date with death.
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, November 6, 2007
GOD HUGS
That
was when God did something extraordinary. The person leading the meeting saw me
and came out to where I was. He told me the meeting was just concluding so I was
welcome to visit the person I had come to see. That meant I was able to have a
good visit with the patient and then go home for some rest.
This
may not seem unusual to you but it was obvious to me that God had shaped
circumstances in such a way until I could do what I needed to do without delay.
God’s presence was so very real during this time and it felt just as if God had
His arm around me saying, “Everything is OK, son. I am still here, I still love
you, and I still go ahead of you and prepare your path”.
Ps 142:3 “When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my
path”. Glory!
I do
not know what you will face this week but I do know that getting a “God Hug”
along the way will certainly make things go much better. Keep you eyes open,
your “hug” may come at a time and place you least expect.
Minister Message for Wednesday, November 7, 2007
IN PRAISE OF
RECEPTIONIST
Receptionists in medical facilities sometimes have to deal with stress “crazed”
families- “All I know is that someone called and said Mother was sick and I will
disturb this whole hospital if I have to in order to find my mother”; the world
revolves around me people- “I know there are rules but surely you do not expect
those rules to apply to ME!”; and misinformed visitors- “They told me she was in
this hospital so I know she is here somewhere (When in reality she was taken to
another hospital). They have a hard job and I do not envy them their task.
The
next time you visit a medical facility try to be nice to the receptionist. They
are good people doing a difficult job and they will give you all the help you
need if you just give them a fair chance- “esteem
them very highly in love for their work's sake.” 1Th 5:13.
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, November 13, 2007
A 400 YEAR
MESSAGE
Truly,
Malachi’s 400 year message needed to be extraordinary if it was to make a
difference during this time. God had dealt with
Amazingly, Malachi’s message was relatively short (Four chapters with only 55
verses). One writer said that Malachi’s message consisted of four basis
commands- Remember what God has done for you. Repent of what you have done
against God. Return to the God who loves you with an everlasting love. Rehearse
the message and blessings of God to your family and friends so they will realize
how important it is to keep God in first place in their life. That is a pretty
good “400 year message”.
Sadly,
during these 400 years of “no word from God” the people invented strict
religious laws in order to maintain a form of godliness while their heart became
so indifferent to the real God until they did not recognize God when He became a
man and came to live with them. Their “religion” became more important than the
God they were supposed to worship. I wonder if we are any different today?
Minister Message for Wednesday, November 14, 2007
THE DAY AFTER
HALLOWEEN
When I
finally arrived back home that night I told my wife it had been an extraordinary
day that had left me just rejoicing in the goodness and blessings of the Lord.
It was only when I sat down and started to read some scripture that it suddenly
dawned on me what was special about this day; it was the day after Halloween.
For
weeks, as people promoted demons and witchcraft and evil spirits, it had been
almost like everyone was walking around with a dark cloud over their head. Minor
sicknesses became major. Families were fighting and fussing. It seemed every
store I visited the clerk’s temper was on its last edge and everyone I talked to
at church would begin their greeting with, “I do not know why but I feel so bad
I can hardly stand it.”
I know
many of you think I am a “kook” but I am telling you that demons and evils
spirits are very real. I see them greatly at work as I visit mission fields but
for some reason in
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, November 20, 2007
FAMOUS FOLLY
As
this scripture illustrates, the fact that a person is famous does not insulate
them from foolish and hurtful mistakes. In fact, a principle that Movie Stars,
Politicians, and Professional Athletes need to remember; and that trash
magazines use to make millions of dollars, is that
your talent can take you where your character cannot sustain you. Just because a
person is famous does not mean they will always say and do the right thing.
Just
because a person is pretty and can act does not mean the person they endorse for
President is the best person for the job. The fact that a person has tremendous
skills playing ball does not guarantee that the product they are selling on TV
is not a piece of junk. Fame does not always equal character.
If God
has blessed you to have influence over someone; whether in a family, a job, a
church, or in a wider arena, then you need to understand the great
responsibility that comes with this respect. It is very important that you
Develop Character as you develop skills.
Do the
best you can do with your life and skills but remember that character counts
more than the ability to hit a ball a long way or to cry on cue in a movie. A
very wise, rich man who was also famous once said, “Dead flies cause the
ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor: so doth a little
folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor.” (Ecclesiastes 10:1).
Remember that.
Minister Message for Wednesday, November 21, 2007
PRAISE GOD
FOR GOD
God is
a faithful friend and a loving father to me. He cares enough about me to spank
me when I do wrong and yet loves me enough to wrap me in His warm embrace when I
am hurting or afraid. He gives me daily bread in this life and is preparing me a
mansion in which to dwell in the next life. His mercies are new every day and He
continually finds new ways to express His delight that I am part of His family.
The
heart of God is so pure until I can trust His every decision on my behalf and
always feel confident in His leadership. There is no hole so deep, no mountain
so high, nor any valley so dark that it separates me from the love of God and
the light of His presence. As long as I walk in fellowship with God then nothing
can come into my life that is not screened first by God so that it will
ultimately result in good for me and glory for God.
This
Thanksgiving I thank God for God. Becoming one of His children is absolutely the
very best thing that has ever happened in my life.
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, November 27, 2007
FAULTY FRUIT
What an awful situation, to “bring no fruit to perfection”. In the Greek,
the word used for “perfection” here is a word meaning “to not become ripe”. My
wife bought some peaches that looked slightly green so she followed all the
instructions in order to get them to ripen into the juicy fruit she desired.
Long story short, they basically went from being green fruit to being rotten
fruit; they never did become “ripe”.
I
wonder how many people in the average church in
Several large churches have recently spent a great deal of time and effort
evaluating the results of their ministry. In the eyes of the world these
churches are tremendously successful with their mass marketing methods but when
these churches looked at the “fruit” they were producing they found shallow
immature church members instead of vibrant victorious Christians.
Man
made methods and business tested philosophies may sound appealing but only God
given directions produces fruit that ripens instead of rots. Which are you
following in your life in order to be a success for God?
Minister Message for Wednesday, November 28, 2007
SYNAGOGUE SERMON
Many
times in His ministry Jesus “preached in the synagogues of
I
believe that Jesus Christ is the promised one from God who came to heal and help
and provide deliverance from sin for those who accept His message. I am excited
to get to Heaven and hear the other “Synagogue Sermons” that Jesus delivered but
until then I have about all I can do to follow the instructions He gave in the
sermons that are recorded!
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, December 4, 2007
PROVDENTIAL
PRESERVATION
One of
the great marvels of God’s Gift of Salvation is that not only does He save us
from our wicked past but He also preserves us for a wonderful future. The way
that God preserves us is much the same way that we as humans use to preserve
items we value.
To
Preserve means to “put in a place of safety”. God calls us His "Peculiar"
people. The word “Peculiar” means "surrounded" and shows that God encircles His
people. No temptation or trial can come our way without God making a way of
escape or providing strength to overcome. We are put in the hand of God and no
power can pluck us out (Although I must remind you that YOU can walk out). WE
ARE SAFE IN THE SAVIOR.
We
also preserve things by putting them under heat and pressure to destroy germs
(Canning vegetables)- God preserves us by allowing the trials of life to purge
out those things that weaken us. Who does not find more time to pray when
sickness or trouble comes our way?
Things
are also preserved by sealing them away from the elements (Putting a lid on
Paint)- The Lord preserves us by calling us to be separate from the World. God
knows that if we do not put a “lid of holiness” on our lives then we will
eventually dry out and become so hard until we are no longer useful for
ministry.
Do not
be afraid to accept God’s wonderful Gift of Salvation. God not only wants to
pardon you but He also want to preserve you. Come to God with gladness and serve
Him with confidence for “the Lord preserveth the faithful”.
Minister Message for Wednesday, December 5, 2007
SEASON REASON
Prior
to this sheep had died for shepherds, but now the Shepherd will die for the
sheep. The Gospels describe men acknowledging Jesus as the Son of God from under
a tree, up a tree, and on a tree. Within the Gospels we hear from heaven above
and from hell beneath. At his birth Christ was offered gold, frankincense, and
myrrh by wise men who worshiped him, while at his death he was offered thorns,
vinegar, and spittle by wicked men who ridiculed him.
.
The
Gospels record that Jesus performed 36 Miracles, told 38 Parables, prayed 19
Prayers, preached 16 sermons, made 45 Predictions, and fulfilled 37 Old
Testament Prophecies. He quotes the Old Testament 22 times, converts 27 souls,
gave 10 proofs of his deity, experienced 15 kinds of suffering, and appeared 10
times following His resurrection.
All of
this helps us realize this time of year is more than Santa and snowmen; it is a
celebration of God coming to earth. It should be a time of adoration and
exaltation. Do your part to make sure the world sees that kind of Christmas this
year.
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, December 11, 2007
GETTING YOUR
GIFT
1) Be Specific in requesting your gift- (James 4:2) “You have not because you ask not”. Most people find it difficult to read your mind! If you want something specific then you need to let someone know exactly what you want.
2) Be Realistic about your gift- “Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?” (Matthew 7:16). Do not expect a thousand dollar gift from a person with a ten dollar budget!
3) Be Worthy of your gift- When the leaders of the synagogue came to Jesus to request help for a Roman soldier they preceded their request by saying, “That he was worthy for whom he should do this:” (Luke 7:4). It is hard to get excited about doing your best in gift buying for someone who has had a bitter or bad attitude all year.
4) Be Needful of your gift- It is hard to know what to get for a person who does not need anything! And an unappreciated gift does more harm than good. “Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.” (Proverbs 25:16)
5) Think Spiritual about your gift- Remember, rejoice, and receive the reason for the season: the Birth of the Son of God, Jesus Christ- “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” (2 Corinthians 9:15). Ask those who are buying your gift to consider buying a bike for mission work in India ($65) instead of getting you something you really do not need (The gift can be sent to, and an acknowledgement received from, Friends of India, 2434 Allen Road, Effingham, S C 29541).
GIVING
GUIDELINES
Give
because you want to; not because you think you have to give:
Every man according as he purposeth in his
heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a
cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7). If you can not think of a thing in the
world that a person needs then it may be that they do not need anything more
than a hug and some quality time with you.
Give
from your heart so you can touch the heart of the one who receives the gift:
they… first gave their own selves to the
Lord, and unto us by the will of God. (2 Corinthians 8:5).
Give
according to your ability; not according to people’s expectations:
For if there be first a willing mind, it
is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
(2 Corinthians 8:12). A fleeting smile in December is not worth a mountain of
debt in January.
Give
out of love for the receiver; not to impress other people:
For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with
some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and
comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. (2 Corinthians 10:12)
Give
(or receive) the greatest gift because that is the real reason for the season:
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable
gift. (2 Corinthians 9:15). For the
wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, December 18, 2007
REALITY
CHRISTMAS
That first Christmas was a time of
economic pressure as Joseph had to leave his job to journey to
I
pray that your Christmas will be filled with peace and prosperity and plenty of
time for family and friends. I am afraid, however, that it will contain more of
the harsh circumstances of the first Christmas than the hazy dreams of childhood
Christmas that everyone seems to want to recapture. Sickness and accidents and
normal monthly bills just do not take a holiday simply because it is December!
Regardless of the situations you have to
face this Christmas, let me encourage you to rest in the fact that the God who
handled all those events on that first Christmas is still the same God. He still
loves you and He still gives the same gift today that He gave back then, eternal
life through faith in the sacrifice of that baby boy who was laid in a manger
when He was born.
Minister Message for Wednesday, December 19, 2007
GUIDELINES
FOR A GOOD CHRISTMAS
Keep
the devil out of your celebration of Christmas. Getting drunk is not a good
present to give God or your family. Acting like a fool in your morals or manners
does not make Christmas better for anyone around you. Allowing Satan to goad
your pride into buying Christmas presents you can not afford so you can impress
people or try to make up for not spending time with your kids the rest of the
year does nothing to truly celebrate the gift that God gave on that first
Christmas morning.
Keep
Christ in your celebration of Christmas. The reason for the season is to
celebrate the birth of God’s only begotten son so say, “Merry Christmas” loud
and often. If you are going to decorate your yard then make sure the centerpiece
in your decorations is something that tells people about your faith in the birth
of Jesus Christ. When you get together with family and friends invite Christ
into the gathering with songs and scripture and celebration, after all, it is
all about celebrating His birthday.
May
you practice the presence of Jesus Christ this holiday season as you give and
receive your presents. And may you experience the joy the shepherds felt on that
first Christmas so you will want to come to Christ and then go tell others about
His birth.
Lessons for Living for Tuesday, December 25, 2007
MERRY
CHRISTMAS