Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Obligated to Tell

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved. Ezekiel 33:7-9, NIV
Did you know, as a follower of Christ, you are obligated to tell others of Him? You are obligated to tell your neighbor, your fellow man, that unless they accept Christ as the Risen Savior, they will die in their sin. The obligation to tell is recorded several places within the Bible. The references most familiar to us concerning this are no doubt, Matthew 28:19-20, also known as “The Great Commission”, and Acts 1:8.

My point to you is this: too many Christians think the job of spreading the “Good News”, telling others of Christ, belongs to the pastor or the outreach committee, or in general, the church staff. My friends, this could not be further from the truth. The statement is directed to the church, the body of believers, YOU.

It is of utmost importance to note when the charge is given it is spoken by our Lord: It is an assignment, a command, an order, a directive; we are told “you”…“go”. The statement is an imperative one. It is a necessity, it is a requirement and it is urgent.

Don’t hide your light but let it shine brightly and boldly (Matthew 5:14-16). Let everyone know you are an Ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). Spread the Good News of Jesus Christ today and everyday.

God Bless!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Hearts on Fire

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8, NIV
Women’s Missionary Union (WMU), founded in 1888 has always been an auxiliary to the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). The WMU vision statement reads, WMU “challenges Christian believers to understand and be radically involved in the mission of God. One of the magazines published by WMU to the SBC is Missions Mosaic. The theme of the November 2010 issue, (Vol. 16, No. 3), is clearly Acts 1:8 and focuses upon the power of the Holy Spirit and boldly speaking and spreading God’s word.

This focus upon Acts 1:8 supports the WMU Watchword for 2010-2012, which is Hebrews 12:1-2. These verses urgently proclaim the need of speaking boldly and spreading the gospel. Verse 1 reads, “let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

My question is this, are we winning the race or losing it? Or better yet, are we truly even competing? Are we running the race with perseverance or carelessly sauntering along?

Acts, chapters 1 and 2 tell us that following the ascension of Jesus into heaven, about 120 of His believers had gathered together in an upstairs room in Jerusalem. Included in the group were the eleven Disciples of Christ; a group of women who were followers of Jesus; Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. The people gathered were ordinary men and women who were about to experience the extraordinary. It is important to note that according to Acts 1:14, the group was “joined together constantly in prayer.”

A great revival was about to begin. When the day of Pentecost came, we are told a loud sound resembling the noise of a violent wind entered the room; the group then saw what appeared to be tongues of fire resting upon their each of their heads and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.

The city of Jerusalem was no doubt filled to capacity because of Pentecost and the news spread quickly. Peter used this opportunity to boldly proclaim the message he had been given. “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”, Acts 2:38.

According to Acts, chapter 2, verse 41, those who accepted the message on this day were baptized and what had been a church of 120 had suddenly added about three thousand new members! The revival had begun and the fire was spreading! The truth of the gospel was spreading wildly and spreading quickly because of the hearts on fire with the good news of Jesus Christ. The men and women who had waited in prayer for the Comforter to come; those whose hearts were now filled with the power of the Holy Spirit were boldly speaking and preaching in the name of Jesus.

The same fire that burned in the hearts of that small group on the day of Pentecost can be, should be, burning within each of us today. As Christians, our hearts should be burdened for the lost. We should be denying ourselves daily, taking up our crosses daily, and obeying God without reservation. The whole world needs a spiritual wildfire to begin and it is possible because all fires begin with just one spark. Are you willing to be the one spark that begins a spiritual wildfire in your home, church, and community? If so, my challenge to you is this:

1. Commit to meet everyday for thirty days with a friend (or several) to pray and share God’s word with one another. Pray for your country and its leaders; pray for the lost; pray that we as Christians will have hearts on fire with the Holy Spirit and boldly proclaim Christ.
2. Commit to share God’s love with someone each day.
3. Don’t quit! Challenge others. Be faithful in prayer. Allow God to work, expecting that He will. Watch where He leads you next.

Revival begins from within with just one person. Dear Lord, please let it be me.

I’ll close with one last thought…Do you know what Satan loves best about Christians? Silence.

God Bless!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Will You Stand in the Gap?

“I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.” Ezekiel 22:30, NIV
Are you willing to stand in the gap, before God, on behalf of your country, so God will not destroy it? You may ask, why would God allow a country to be destroyed? Because of continued, willful and presumptuous sin; that’s why.

God sent the prophet, Ezekiel, (along with many others, over an extended period of time) to warn Israel they had sinned against God and that unless they turned from their wicked ways, God was going to punish them severely.

In Ezekiel 22:6-12, the sins committed by the nation of Israel are listed. Included were the mistreatment of parents; oppression of orphans and widows; worship of idols (which included child sacrifice); sexual impurity including adultery, fornication, rape, incest, homosexuality; the accepting of bribes and widespread extortion. It is no surprise the paragraph ends with these words, “And you have forgotten me, declares the Sovereign LORD”.

We live in a time when the shock appeal of reading the above list of sins escapes us. These same sins are commonplace in our country today. God hates sin today as much as He hated sin in the time of Ezekiel. Without repentance, punishment will come.

Is there hope for America? Yes, I believe there is but only if we have people willing to stand before God on behalf of the land. Are you such a person?

In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God tells us: if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

God is calling on His people, Christians, to humble themselves before Him and pray. God is calling on His people, Christians, to seek His face. God is calling on His people, Christians, to turn from their wicked ways. Then and only then, will He hear our prayers, forgive our sins and heal our land.


God Bless!

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Knowing and Using the Scriptures

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground…take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:13, 17

Matthew 4:1-11 records the temptation of Jesus by Satan. In rebuffing Satan’s attacks, Jesus quoted scripture. Look at Matthew 4:4, 4:7 and 4:10 to see Jesus’ use of “the sword of the Spirit”:
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.
Verse 11 is the victory statement of this passage and tells us, “Then the devil left Him, and angels came and attended Him.

Satan is put-off by the word of God, not by phrases which impress and dazzle the common listener. Are you studying the scriptures and using the power and authority within them? How many scripture verses do you have committed to memory…enough to defend yourself effectively? If not, begin today to memorize the scripture. By studying the scripture and committing verses to memory you will be preparing yourself for the battles to come and increasing in Christ-likeness along the way.

God bless!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Always Looking Ahead--Never Back


God created us out of love; He pursues us out of love; and He draws us to Himself out of love. There is nothing we can do to “deserve” this—it is a gift of God. Our time on earth allows time for us to be drawn, to believe, to accept in faith the gift freely offered, and to learn of and become acquainted with Christ. It is character-developing time—time for us to grow more Christ-like.

Compared to eternity, our time on earth is but a moment. The brevity of the moment gives us cause to only look forward; we should not waste any time looking back into the past. Never allow your past to control, shape, or limit your future. Like Paul, our attitude, our goal should be one thing:
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13b-14
The Apostle Paul had a past of which he was not proud. This is true of many. There are also those who are filled with anger and bitterness because of hurt and damage suffered at the hands of others. Fact—if we hold fast to the tyranny of our past it will grow into the oppression and destruction of our future. Anything we hold close to our breast and nurture will grow—whether it is good or bad.

It is imperative, that we as Christians let go of the past and hand it over to God. We are not big enough or capable enough to handle the hurts and disappointments of the past but our God is and our God will! What is impossible with man is more than possible with God. (Matthew 19:26)
“Your life as a child of God ought to be shaped by the future (what you will ultimately be),” (Experiencing God, 2008, p. 90).
Leave the past where it belongs—in the past. Allowing yourself to be shaped and controlled by your past not only hurts those close to you but also limits you; constrains you; stunts your growth—while on the other hand—being shaped by your future in Christ Jesus sets you free.
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26
“Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8: 31b-32, 36
God Bless!

Monday, October 18, 2010

An Everlasting Love

The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. Jeremiah 31:3, NIV
Jeremiah was not popular with his countrymen. He was not popular because, as a prophet, the message God had Jeremiah deliver to his countrymen was not a happy one. Israel and Judah had sinned grievously against the Lord and they were going to be punished. They would be taken into captivity in Babylon for seventy years.

However, the news wasn’t all bad. Why? Because in Jeremiah, chapter 31, the Lord tells Jeremiah about what would take place in the future—in fact, verse 17 records: ““So there is hope for your future," declares the LORD. "Your children will return to their own land.””

This serves to remind us, as children of an all-powerful, all-mighty God, there is always love, mercy, forgiveness, and hope waiting for the repentant child. Why? Because we are loved with an everlasting love, an uncommon love, a supernatural love…a Godly love. Praise God!
"Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. O great and powerful God, whose name is the LORD Almighty; great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds.” Jeremiah 32:17, 18b, 19a
God Bless!

Friday, October 15, 2010

LOVE

“How great You are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no one like You, and there is no God but You, as we have heard with our own ears.”- 2 Samuel 7:22
O Sovereign LORD; the Creator, Maker of heaven and earth; there is no God but You; King of kings; LORD of Lords; Name above all names; how great is our God? Mere words cannot express the Wonder that is our God.

Nor can words express the love with which God loves us. “For God so loved the world” (John 3:16); “the world”—that’s us—from the beginning of time until the present and onward until the end of time! “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him” (1 John 4:9).

Without God there is no love, “because God is love” (1 John 4:5). God is the inventor of—the author of—LOVE. “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us…” (1 John 4:10). Mankind’s only capacity for love is through God. “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19) and “whoever does not love does not know God” (1 John 4:5).

In the “love chapter” of the Bible, 1 Corinthians 13, verses 1-3, we are told, without love we are nothing. Verses 4-7 describe love as patient, kind, without pride, rejoicing in truth, protective, trustful, hopeful, and persevering. Verse 8 tells us that love never fails. Verses 9-12 tells us when love is made perfect (through Christ)—when perfection comes—we shall know fully, even as we are known, (v. 12). The crescendo of the chapter is verse 13, “faith, hope and love—but the greatest of these is love”.

The Bible is a book of redemption because of God’s love for us. He gave His Son for us that we might believe in Him and live. The Bible is the story of Jesus. In the Old Testament He is predicted; in the Gospels, He is revealed; in the Acts, He is preached; in the Epistles, He is explained, and in the Revelation, He is expected. (Alistair Begg, http://www.truthforlife.org/)

We are to love because we are loved by God AND we are to love others with the same love by which we are loved! Jesus told His followers in Matthew 22:37-39, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

In John 13:34-35, Jesus told His disciples, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." And further, in John 14:21, Jesus said, “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love him and show Myself to him."

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God (1 John 4:7). AMEN!

God Bless!

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

A Love Relationship

This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:9-10; 19, NIV
God loves us and desires us to have a personal, loving relationship with Him. He sent His Son as a sacrifice for our sins so that those that accept and believe in His Son may have eternal life. Make no mistake. This is not because we are worthy or deserving in any way; this was done because God first loved us.

Last night I was reading in “Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God” by Henry & Richard Blackaby and Claude King; first published in 1990 but revised and expanded in 2008. This is a great book and chapter 7 is entitled: “God Pursues a Love Relationship with You”. This chapter tells us we were created to have a love relationship with God and if we are not living our lives in the overflow of God’s love for us and ours for Him, then we are not living the Christian life as it was intended.

However, the paragraph that really caught my attention was this one:
“When you love God, He promises to respond with His blessings. You and your children will live under His favor. By trusting in Jesus, you have eternal life. God’s Spirit will reside within you. He will make you more than a conqueror over every difficulty you face. Nothing will separate you from God’s love.” 
This is so true! Not only do I claim this but I feel and experience this truth in my own life; in fact, I celebrate in the knowledge of this promise. Deuteronomy 30 verses 19 and 20 contain this promise: “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life.”

You too can have and enjoy this promise. How? Jesus said: “'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.” Amen.

God Bless!

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Pleasing Him in Every Way

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:9-14, NIV
Never be satisfied with just being saved. This is the thought Paul is presenting to the Colossians in the opening of the letter to the faithful at Colosse. Paul tells them they have been redeemed, forgiven of their sins, rescued from the dominion of darkness and brought into the kingdom of Christ as joint heirs. As such, they should now be about their Father’s business.

Paul prays they be filled with the knowledge of God’s will and they be given spiritual wisdom and understanding. Why? Not so they can grow fat, satisfied, and lazy but so they can spread the good news of Jesus Christ. The same is true of us today. God blesses us so that we may, in our turn, be a blessing to others.

We do not keep good news to ourselves! We go and tell so that others may share “in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light”. We are to live a life “worthy of the Lord” and please Him by bearing fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) and growing in the knowledge of the Lord.

We are to be actively learning, growing, and spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. As we work for the Father, our prayer is that He will strengthen us with His power and give us endurance and patience, all the while giving Him thanks for His unspeakable grace, mercy, and love. Share the joy!! Amen!

God Bless!

Monday, October 4, 2010

One Thing

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14, NIV
What is the one thing of which the Apostle Paul spoke; what is the one thing upon which we should direct our attention? Our focus—our energy—our lives are to be used to worship, adore, exalt, venerate and praise God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit.

Paul knew he had not yet reached perfection, but was pressing on toward the goal; never looking to the rear but always moving forward and heavenward.

Are you gaining ground or losing ground? Perhaps you need a spiritual realignment. Go to God in heartfelt prayer—He is always there; confess and repent, then seek His divine providence in living the Christ-centered life He desires of you.

God Bless!

Friday, October 1, 2010

Empty Words

Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save,
nor His ear too dull to hear.
But your iniquities have separated
you from your God;
your sins have hidden His face from you,
so that He will not hear. Isaiah 59:1-2
Israel wondered why God was not answering their prayers. Isaiah told them in no uncertain terms God would not answer their prayers as long as they continued in their wicked ways.

How quickly we put the blame on God when our prayers seemingly go unanswered. However, many times the reason our prayers seem to fall on “deaf” ears is because we harbor unconfessed sin in our lives. We seem to be so willing to place the blame everywhere but where it should be—on ourselves.

God always answers prayers with at least a yes, no, or wait. We tend to think God has not answered our prayers when we don’t get the answer we want or we don’t get the answer we want immediately.

The content of the prayer is of no importance when considering the content of the character offering the prayer. Just as we turn away when we see something completely disturbing, God is sickened by sin. God cannot tolerate sin and therefore must always punish sin. “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong.” Habakkuk 1:13

If we want God to consider our prayers we must align ourselves to Him. To many times we try attempting to align God to what we want. That thought seems ridiculously silly but stop and think how many times we do attempt that very thing. Jesus says in John 15:7, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”

The next time you pray, remember to give more consideration to the content of your character than the content of your prayer. God wants to communicate with you. He is not interested in vain repetitions or flowery words. He is interested in you; He wants a close, personal relationship with you.

If you find praying difficult I encourage you to use the ACTS method of prayer: adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and then supplication. The arm of the Lord is never to short too save or His ears too dull to hear.

God Bless!

Thursday, September 30, 2010

The Vine and the Branches

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” John 15:1-4
Branches display the beautiful leaves and lovely blossoms of the vine. The blossoms then mature into the wonderful fruit of the vine. However, the branch cannot do anything of itself; the branch is totally dependent upon the vine. If the branch is dislodged from the vine, it withers and dies. The branch can only produce when it is connected to and nourished by the vine.

Branches that do not produce are removed, while fruit-bearing branches are pruned (or cleaned) to help them keep producing. The part of the branch that is no longer useful is taken away so that the branch can be revived. In the same way, God purifies all Christians so they may be more useful. He does this by taking away that which hinders our usefulness.

What hinders your usefulness? Relinquish those things today. Fully surrender yourself to the working of the vine so that you may be the bearer of beautiful fruit.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23a
Merciful God, I surrender fully to You. Mold me and make me after Your will. I pray the fruit of the Spirit be manifest in me for Your honor and Your glory. Amen.

God Bless!

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

How Do We Honor God?

"If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight
and the LORD's holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,
then you will find your joy in the LORD,
and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land
and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob."
The mouth of the LORD has spoken. Isaiah 58:13-14
If you read Isaiah 58 you will find the people were being chastised because their worship was not sincere—they were going through the motions of worship. We honor God by obeying Him; in word, in actions, in attitude, etc.

Paul, in Ephesians 5:1, writes, we are to, “be imitators of God…and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” We are not to be deceived—for God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient (v. 6).

Christ is the light of the world and we are to live as children of the light (v. 8); honoring God, as imitators of Him; obedient to Him. Simply going through the motions, acting as the “Great Pretender” will get you nothing but the wrath of God. On the other hand, honoring God through obedience will bring blessing. Note the order here is obedience first; then blessing!

(Remember: “be imitators of God”, denotes action!)

God Bless!

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Victory in Jesus

No weapon forged against you will prevail,
and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
and this is their vindication from me,"
declares the LORD. Isaiah 54:17

"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star."

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon."
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Revelation 22:16, 17, 20
Our pastor is fond of saying, “Folks, I’ve seen the end of the book and we win.” It’s true for we have victory in Jesus.

How about you? Are you on the winning team? You can be and Jesus wants you to be. Surrender your life to Him today. Repent of your sin today in heartfelt prayer. Confess your need for the Savior and ask Him to come into your life. Celebrate victory in Jesus.

God Bless!

Monday, September 27, 2010

Righteousness Through Faith

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. Romans 3:21-22
The law made man aware of his sin. Through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ Jesus, a man is convicted of sin and drawn to the Father through the Son. Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him”, John 6:44a.

How does the Father draw men to Him? He does this through the work of the Holy Spirit. In telling His disciples of the Holy Spirit, Jesus said the Holy Spirit would “convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment”, John 16:8b.

The work of the Holy Spirit is to guide men to the truth of God, convicting them of their sin and their need of the Savior. Acceptance of the truth of God, response to the conviction of sin and the realization of their need for a Savior, brings men to salvation in Christ Jesus—righteousness through faith to all who believe. Adrian Rodgers said, “The law says you must earn salvation, while the Gospel says salvation is a gift.”

Have you received the gift of salvation? If not, do so today. Stop; pray—repent of your sin and confess your need for a Savior. Ask Jesus to come into your life; He’s waiting for you.

God Bless!

Friday, September 24, 2010

Taste and See

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Psalm 34:8
Eden=God's perfect world.
Sin=mankind's fall.
Jesus Christ=redemption.

The entire theme of the Bible is redemption and restoration. In the Old Testament, Jesus Christ is predicted; in the Gospels, He is revealed; in the Acts, He is preached; in the epistles, He is explained; in the Revelation, He is expected. AMEN!

God seeks an intimate, personal, loving relationship with you. He is calling your name; are you listening; are you answering His call? Taste and see that the LORD is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.

God Bless!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

The Purposeful Hand of God

"This is what the LORD says to his anointed,
to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of
to subdue nations before him
and to strip kings of their armor,
to open doors before him
so that gates will not be shut:
I will go before you
and will level the mountains;
I will break down gates of bronze
and cut through bars of iron.
I will give you the treasures of darkness,
riches stored in secret places,
so that you may know that I am the LORD,
the God of Israel, who summons you by name.
For the sake of Jacob my servant,
of Israel my chosen,
I summon you by name
and bestow on you a title of honor,
though you do not acknowledge me.
I am the LORD, and there is no other;
apart from me there is no God.
I will strengthen you,
though you have not acknowledged me", Isaiah 45:1-5,NIV
God uses those who do not know Him to accomplish His purpose. The above text references Cyrus (the Persian; mentioned in the Old Testament books of 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Isaiah, and Daniel). Even though Judah would be taken into captivity they would be preserved and the walls of Jerusalem and the temple would be rebuilt under the order of Cyrus.

In Isaiah 46:9-10, God declares that He is a God like no other for He knows everything from the beginning of time to the end of time and He says in verse 10: “My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.”

The children of Israel, while they have suffered greatly (e.g., WWII), they will never be completely annihilated; there will always be a remnant. God, the Creator, has declared it and so shall it be; His word always stands.

God’s perfect purpose is always accomplished in His perfect timing. God’s revelation “will certainly come and will not delay” and “the righteous will live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:3-4). Amen.

God Bless!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

God the Father

Do not withhold discipline from a child;
if you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
Punish him with the rod
and save his soul from death.
My son, if your heart is wise,
then my heart will be glad; Proverbs 23:13-15
As parents, in our eagerness to provide our children with all the best we sometimes forget character is built; not bestowed. How differently we teach our own children compared to how God teaches us as His children. However, as parents, we are certainly able to realize more fully the heartache God feels when we disobey Him.

Praise God for His love, His mercy, and His grace!

God Bless!

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

God Always Cares

The good news is that God, the Creator of the universe, knows your thoughts and your needs and He cares for you; you never escape His notice. That is always true! What God has promised, He will do. Habakkuk 2:3 says this:
For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end
and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
it will certainly come and will not delay.
“Though it linger, wait for it.” Good things come to those who hope or wait upon the Lord. Most certainly this requires patience for God’s timetable is different from our own. We have grown up in an environment that literally worships instant gratification. But the truth is good things come to those who wait and this is most true when we are waiting upon the Lord.
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31
God Bless!

Monday, September 20, 2010

The Author of the Universe

I enjoy reading the book of Isaiah. Mine you, I am not a Biblical scholar and depend on the notes of those who are when reading through the book. It is a book of extremes in that it describes the greatness of God but also describes the judgments of God.

Chapter 40 of Isaiah is one of those chapters which describe the greatness of our God. If you look at verses 12-18, you find a description of the enormity of our God in relation to Creation. Then through a series of questions in verses 13, 14, and 18, you have a description of the magnificent sovereignty of our God.

However, I want to focus on Isaiah 40:26 which reads,
Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:
Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one,
and calls them each by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing.
Our great God, the author of the Universe, knows each star by name! When I read this I was immediately drawn to the internet to do a search on, “How many starts are there?” Of course, the first thing I found was what you might expect—no one knows for sure. However, universetoday.com gave the following estimate:
Almost all stars in the universe are collected into galaxies. For instance, our own Milky Way galaxy seems to contain about 200 billion stars. On average, galaxies contain between 100 billion and 1 trillion numbers of stars. Now, how many galaxies are there? Astronomers estimate that there are approximately 100 billion to 1 trillion galaxies in the Universe. So if you multiply those two numbers together, between 10 sextillion and 1 septillion stars in the Universe. (http://www.universetoday.com/24328/how-many-stars/)
I hope you are as filled with wonder about this as I am. I am completely in awe of the fact that our great God, the Author of the Universe, the One who knows each star by name, loves me—knows me—even me—by name!

Do you know the One who knows you by name? Get to know Him today. He’s waiting for you, right now.

God Bless!

Friday, September 17, 2010

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17, NIV
Not only does the Lord have the whole world in His hands, but as the late Adrian Rogers has written, “He has the whole universe in His hands. He’s the one who spoke it into existence. He regulates it, He rules it, and He runs it.”

Make time today and everyday to offer praise to our Almighty God for His unspeakable love, mercy and grace, thanking Him for the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ who suffered and died on the cross, then rose again, conquering death that we might have life eternal. Amen!
I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.

For great is your love, higher than the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,
and let your glory be over all the earth. Psalm 108:3-5
God Bless!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

My Help Comes From the Lord

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,
who rely on horses,
who trust in the multitude of their chariots
and in the great strength of their horsemen,
but do not look to the Holy One of Israel,
or seek help from the LORD. Isaiah 31:1, NIV
Judah had formed an alliance with Egypt to protect them from their enemies instead on relying on the Lord. They placed their trust and confidence in the strength of a worldly empire instead of placing their trust in the strength of the Lord.

Consider for a moment: reliance upon God—reliance upon worldly things; the two are mutually exclusive—they are contradictory in every way. To declare allegiance both to God and to the world is hypocritical.

This was true in the day of Isaiah and it is still true today. With whom does your allegiance rest?

The Lord fights for His people; there is no doubt about that. Verse 4 of Isaiah 31 portrays the LORD Almighty as a great lion coming to do battle on behalf of His people. Verse 5 says that like a bird hovering over and protecting it’s young the Lord will shield and defend His own.

I don’t know about you, but like the Psalmist:
I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2
God Bless!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Where Will You Be?

Last night I caught a glimpse of a teaser on the msn.com website. It was a list of searches on “end-of-the-world-theories”. There was also another list of searches on “end-of-the-world-myths”. I didn’t run either of the searches. I couldn’t be less interested in either search. Why? Because God’s word tells me all I need to know about the subject and most important of all; I know (that I know that I know) that my future is secure in Christ Jesus.

Do I know how the world will end or when it will end? No. Only God knows the answer to either of these questions. Why? Because He is the Creator and He is in control; always has been; always will be.

I did find the MSN teasers interesting however, because recently I have been reading through the book of Isaiah. The book of Isaiah tells of the invasion of Jerusalem and what the city would suffer at the hands of her enemies but it also records some very descriptive verses concerning the end of time.
Terror and pit and snare await you,
O people of the earth.

Whoever flees at the sound of terror
will fall into a pit;
whoever climbs out of the pit
will be caught in a snare.

The floodgates of the heavens are opened,
the foundations of the earth shake.
The earth is broken up,
the earth is split asunder,
the earth is thoroughly shaken.

The earth reels like a drunkard,
it sways like a hut in the wind;
so heavy upon it is the guilt of its rebellion
that it falls—never to rise again.

In that day the LORD will punish
the powers in the heavens above
and the kings on the earth below.
Isaiah 24:17-21
Pretty frightening description isn’t it? Not to worry, however; for Christians, the end is victorious and verse 23 of the same chapter records,
The moon will be abashed, the sun ashamed;
for the LORD Almighty will reign
on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem,
and before its elders, gloriously.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 assures Christians of where they will be at the coming of the Lord:
According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
Where you will be when the end comes? Do you have the assurance of being with the Lord forever? If not, settle it today. Accept Christ as Lord and Savoir of your life today. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 6:2, “behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

Stop what you are doing right now and pray—repent of your sins; confess Him as Lord of your life. He is waiting for you to open your heart to Him today. I pray that you do.

God Bless!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

The Spirit’s Work in You

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful”. John 15:1-2 NIV
The Holy Spirit works within us to live the life of Christ Jesus through us. Are you surrendering yourself fully to the working of the Holy Spirit? Is this evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit?
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23
Our Heavenly Father is the creator and keeper of the vineyard. Jesus said He was the true vine and His Father, the gardener. We, as Christians, are the branches.

What is the work of branches? The work of the branches is to bare fruit. How? The branches bare fruit through the work of the vine through the branches. The vine is planted/rooted in the garden by the gardener/vine-keeper/husbandman…our great and awesome God.

Dr. Charles Stanley explains it this way: A grape branch doesn't bear fruit because of its determined efforts to get sunshine; rather, it simply abides in the vine, and fruit appears. The vine does all the work.

As branches, our job is to fully surrender ourselves to the working of the vine. The Apostle Paul says in Galatians 2:20:
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Amen! God Bless!

Monday, September 13, 2010

Be Ye Doers of the Word; Not Hearers Only

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:22, 25 NIV
James says that faith calls us to action; as Christians we are to be participates, not sideliners or benchwarmers.

Jesus says in John 13, verses 34 and 35:
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Please note—this is a command; not a suggestion. The result of love is action; love is not and cannot be passive.

The following is a thought I’ve borrowed from my pastor and I’m using it with some poetic license:

Sow a good thought; reap a good act. Sow a good act; reap a good habit. Sow a good habit, reap good character. Faith in action, my friends—that is what we should all be about and as James says, “…but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.”

Be a blessing to someone today!

God Bless!

A thought from Max Lucado:
The sign of the saved is their love for the least . . .

No fanfare. No hoopla. No media coverage. Just good people doing good things. For when we do good things to others we do good things to God.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

You Ask Me How I Know He Lives

Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all—he is the greatest." Luke 9:48
He Lives Within My Heart. I love to feel the quickening of the Holy Spirit in my heart! When I stop to think about this, I find it unbelievably difficult to write about because I am so flooded with thoughts and emotions about the significance of knowing, without a doubt, that I am a child of God! That the indescribable, all-powerful Creator, Author of salvation would look down upon an unworthy, undesirable, creature like me…to consider me…to save me…through His unmerited mercy and amazing grace; accepted in the Beloved!

You too, can know and experience those same feelings. Have you, are you, searching for a love that satisfies; do you seek peace in a world of chaos? Look to Jesus. Accept Him today. Confess today your need of a Savior. Gather together all your wrongs and misdeeds and place them at the foot of the cross and leave them there; He is waiting for you to open the door of your heart to Him. Just go to God in heart-felt, sincere prayer. He will not disappoint. Don’t delay; do it now.

Dear God, Your word says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”, (Romans 10:13); I need and desire Your saving grace in my life; I don’t deserve it but I need it and I want it. I need Your forgiveness—I ask for the forgiveness only You can give. Please come and live within my heart today as Lord and Savior of my life. Thank you. Amen.

Monday, August 30, 2010

We Live By Faith

Now it is God who… has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

We live by faith, not by sight.

And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Corinthians 5:5, 7, 15
I struggled for years trying to figure out God’s will for my life. I prayed daily God would reveal His plan for my life to me.
“But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you””. 2 Corinthians 12:9a
I now pray daily that I be filled with the Holy Spirit; I commit each day to Him. I pray that He take control of my heart, my mind, my thoughts, my words, my actions, and my attitude. I am His; each day is His and that my friends, is the plan.

God Bless!

Friday, August 20, 2010

The Home Front

 I will sing of your love and justice;
to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.

I will be careful to lead a blameless life—
when will you come to me?

I will walk in my house
with a blameless heart.

I will set before my eyes
no vile thing.

The deeds of faithless men I hate;
they will not cling to me.

Men of perverse heart shall be far from me;
I will have nothing to do with evil. Psalm 101:1-4
As a rule, people put on their best behavior when away from home. But what about your behavior at home; how do you walk before your family?

As believers, our behavior should be consistent without regard to our audience. We should “be careful to lead a blameless life and walk with a blameless heart” always; in every situation.

Most importantly, the first mission field on which we serve is our own homes. “Home missions” is our first priority. If we can’t proclaim the name of Jesus at home, to our family, chances are we’ll find ourselves sadly lacking and unprepared when facing other, less-welcoming situations.

God Bless!

Thursday, August 19, 2010

We Are The Created

How great is God—beyond our understanding! Job 36:26a
We may be the greatest of God’s creations, but we are merely human. We are nothing on our own lest in our pride and arrogance we should think otherwise. In Job 38, God speaks to Job and through God’s questions to Job shows him that as a mere human being he not only lacks wisdom but is also weak.

God is the author and giver of creation; He is the divine caretaker; all wisdom and power are in His hands. He is the potter; we are but the clay.

Our God is mighty and awesome. Everything we see serves to remind us that God has a right to our love, to our worship and to our constant adoration. He is the God of grace and the Father of every good and perfect gift.

The wisest of all mankind cannot comprehend the mind of God. It is impossible for the created to out-think or out-do the Creator!
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
(Doxology, Thomas Ken, 1674, James 1:17)
God Bless!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

What about Faith?

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2, NIV
What is faith? Hebrews 11:1 tells us faith is the assurance or the confirmation of things we hope for and the certainty of things we do not see. Furthermore, the Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 5:7 we walk by faith and not by sight. In other words, we do not conduct our daily lives by the appearance of things revealed to us by our senses; we conduct our daily lives by the assurance and certainty of what we believe to be true.

How do we get faith? Again, the Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 10:17 that faith in God comes from hearing the message, and that which is heard is the word of Christ.

Now would be a good time to ask the question, why would I want to hear the message of Christ? Jesus speaking in John 6:44a answers this question by saying, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him”.

Why do we need faith? Ephesians 2:8 tells us we can be rescued from eternal death and damnation; we can be saved, but only because of the grace, mercy, love and benevolence of God the Father. We can only be saved through faith in Christ Jesus, but no one comes to the Son unless the Father draws him through the urging of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ, the source of and the finisher of our faith, died on the cross, defeated death, rose again so that we might have life eternal. So back to Ephesians 2:8:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
Once saved, Paul writes in Galatians 2:20 saying, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Christ lives in us and as we walk on our spiritual journey we are to, “take up the shield of faith” in order to extinguish “the flaming arrows of the evil one”, Ephesians 6:16.

James 1:3 tells us that the testing of our faith will develop patience and perseverance and that our faith will cause us to be active. James 2:26 tells us, “as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”

The Apostle John, the beloved disciple, writes in 1 John 5:4,
“For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”
Amen and God Bless!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Called to be Different

Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? 1 Corinthians 3: 1-3, NIV
The church at Corinth had problems and Paul told them they were still acting as babes in Christ. Furthermore, Paul told them they were acting as “mere” men. When we, as Christians, are told we are acting as mere men, it is a slap in the face! As Christians we are different; our bodies are temples of God.
Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16
We are not our own; we are bought with a price; the blood of Jesus Christ and therefore we are to honor God with our body, 1 Corinthians 6:20. 1 Corinthians 7:23 also reminds us we are bought at a price and that we are not to become slaves of men. You are called to be different; don’t become slaves to the world.

Be different and be ready to tell others why you are different! 1 Corinthians 3 ends by saying, “you are of Christ, and Christ is of God”. Amen! Celebrate Christ today; keep your focus on Him. Make the most of each opportunity to declare His precious name!

God Bless!

Monday, August 16, 2010

Wisdom through the Spirit

We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:12-14 (NIV)
As believers, the Spirit of God lives within us and is in constant communication with God; interceding (intervening, mediating, arbitrating, negotiating) on our behalf. It is through the Spirit the truths of God are revealed to us. It is through the Spirit God’s messages are delivered to us.

The Spirit speaks to us in a small still voice; teaching us, leading us, directing us, urging us onward. What are we to do? Stop. Listen. Obey. Repeat.

God Bless!

Friday, August 13, 2010

Great is Our God

He stretches out the north over empty space;
He hangs the earth on nothing.
He binds up the water in His thick clouds,
Yet the clouds are not broken under it.
He covers the face of His throne,
And spreads His cloud over it.
He drew a circular horizon on the face of the waters,
At the boundary of light and darkness.
The pillars of heaven tremble,
And are astonished at His rebuke.
He stirs up the sea with His power,
And by His understanding He breaks up the storm.
By His Spirit He adorned the heavens;
His hand pierced the fleeing serpent.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand? Job 26:7-14, NKJV
In the above verses Job is commenting on the vast greatness of God, but ends by wisely saying, what we know of God is but a mere whisper of who He really is; there is no one who can understand His providence and power. We are the created and therefore can do no more than hint at the magnitude of the Creator.

If you aren’t convinced of this, I challenge you to read passages from Isaiah 6, Ezekiel 1, Daniel 7-8, and the book of Revelation to get a mere glimpse of the power and greatness of Almighty God. These are but a few examples.

Yes, our God is omnipotent (all powerful); omnipresent (present to the whole of creation and its parts); and omniscient (all knowing) and yet He not only created us but loved us so much that He gave His one and only Son to die on the cross so they we might be saved; “that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” John 3:16.

Thank-you, Lord, for loving even me.

God Bless!

Thursday, August 12, 2010

The Struggle For Obediance

After His suffering, He showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while He was eating with them, He gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." Acts 1:3-5, NIV
It is a wonderful thing to serve a loving, all-knowing, all-powerful, Almighty God. As Jesus was preparing to ascend into heaven He reminded His disciples that He would be sending them a Helper and Comforter in the form of the Holy Spirit. He KNEW we’d need help along the way and He provided for it!

Once we have accepted Christ as Savior the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our hearts. He fills us (in as much as we open ourselves to it), He teaches us, He guides us, He leads us, He walks with us, He enables us and empowers us—He is Helper and Comforter—that says it all.

When we struggle, He is there making obedience possible for us. The Holy Spirit draws us to the Father, uncovers and reveals sin in our lives, guides us into repentance and helps us realign our lives to His will and His way. Praise God!

Dearest Holy Spirit, Fill me completely leaving no room for my pride and arrogance. Mold me and make me into the person you intend me to be. Amen.

God Bless!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Speak with Confidence

"Naked I came from my mother's womb,
and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised." Job 1:21 (NIV)
The story of Job is a familiar one. Job was a very wealthy man but within a short period of time he lost his wealth and his children; afterward he praised the Lord. Later, when Job loses his health his reply is,
“Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?” (Job 2:10)
The steadfast faith of Job—saving faith is never destroyed. If you read through the book of Job you find Job never discovers the reason for his suffering but his trust in the sovereign God, the all-wise Creator, endures.

Believers, in the midst of suffering, draw near to God. In God we find comfort; in Him we find peace. When our world crumbles around us, speak with the confidence and expectation of Job saying,
I know that my Redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see him
with my own eyes—I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me! Job 19:25-27
Unbeliever, you too can have the steadfast, saving faith of Job. Accept Christ today. You may never discover the cause of your troubles but you can have the peace knowing Jesus brings.

How? Admit—Believe—Confess: Admit that you are a sinner; “for all have sinned…”—Romans 3:23. Believe that Jesus is God’s Son; “for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son…”—John 3:16. Confess your faith in Jesus; “for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”—Romans 10:13.

Just go to Christ in heart-felt prayer; right now, in this very moment, confessing you are a sinner and your need for a Savior. Invite Him into your life; He’s waiting for you. Amen.

God Bless!

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Forward Progress

Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 1 Thessalonians 4:1, NIV
On Sunday I had the pleasure of visiting the church where a childhood friend is the pastor’s wife. They were celebrating their 25th anniversary of serving in this particular church. One of the sections of the day’s program was a review of the church’s history. The church was established some 55 years ago and they have had four pastors to serve; I cannot remember the length of time the first two pastors served but the last two lengths of service I do recall—21 years and 25 years. The numbers in membership have grown tremendously; an average of about 50 in Sunday School has grown to about 250; around 500 have been baptized in the last 25 years and they now average offerings of about $13,000 each Sunday. It is truly amazing what can happen when you let go and let God; blessings follow obedience.

In all of this I was reminded the Christian walk should be one of growth and forward progress. As we follow our Lord in obedience to Him, we should be moving onward, learning, growing, maturing as we walk on the journey of faith. This should be true of our individual journey and should be true of our local body of believers, and thus should be true of our church.

As parents, we look forward excitedly to our children learning and progressing through each level of maturity. It is also the will of our Heavenly Father that we learn, mature and make forward progress in our spiritual journey.

Are you where you should be in your journey of faith? Are you doing what you should be doing? If not, why not? Seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit; spend time alone with God; confess, repent, believe; He not only has the answer; He IS the answer.

God Bless!

Monday, August 9, 2010

Performance Review

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1
When I worked full-time, each year I was called in by my supervisor for an annual performance review. I had an overall job description and working from that description a list of performance objectives had been generated. Each year I would be graded as to how well I had performed each task. This served as a review or a reminder of what was expected of me daily.

Romans 12 is one of those, “In case you’ve forgotten how you are supposed to act, here’s a reminder” chapters of the Bible. If you ever feel confused or perhaps in denial about what you should be doing in terms of your daily Christian walk, read Romans 12.

It begins by telling us that in view of God’s mercy, we are to offer our complete selves to Him in worship. As a child of God we are to be nonconformists in regard to the world; we may live in the world for a short time but we are to walk in the way of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are to be humble; to have fellowship with other members of the Body; to use our spiritual gifts; to love all sincerely; to live in harmony with everyone without partiality; to live peaceably and we are not to avenge ourselves—God will take care of that.

I challenge you to read Romans 12 today. Evaluate yourself using the performance standards listed. I don’t know about you, but there are some areas on which I need to focus.

God Bless!

Friday, August 6, 2010

Got Questions?

How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.

I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:9, 11 (NIV)
I sometimes wonder how we as Christians can willfully neglect the reading of God’s word. The Bible is a treasure. It God’s holy word…WRITTEN DOWN and highly accessible!

Do you want to know about the character of God? Read the Bible.

Do you want to know more about the will of God? Read the Bible.

Do you want to learn about the promises of God? Read the Bible.

Do you want to learn more about how God blesses those that obey Him? Read the Bible.

Do you want an instruction book on how to live the best kind of life possible? Do you yearn for hope and joy in your life; do you need assurance that you are loved? Read the Bible.

Do you need, want, or desire greater faith? "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ", Romans 10:17, (NASB); READ THE BIBLE!
The law from your mouth is more precious to me
than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. (Psalm 119:72, NIV)

Your word, O LORD, is eternal;
it stands firm in the heavens. (v. 89)

How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth! (v. 103)

Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path. (v. 105)

All your words are true;
all your righteous laws are eternal. (v. 160)

May my tongue sing of your word,
for all your commands are righteous. (v. 172)
Got questions? The Bible has the answers.

God Bless!

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Is That Your Final Answer?

You are the one I am teaching today.
I want you to trust in the Lord.
I have written 30 sayings for you.
They will give you knowledge and good advice.
I am teaching you words that are completely true.
Then you can give the right answers to the one who sent you. Proverbs 22:17-21 (NIRV)
When you are asked about things spiritual, how do you reply? Do you become flushed and frightened and attempt to change the subject or do you answer gladly and without hesitation? Solomon wrote we need to be able to hear and then speak the wisdom of God to others with accuracy.

But make sure in your hearts that Christ is Lord. Always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you about the hope you have. Be ready to give the reason for it. But do it gently and with respect. 1 Peter 3:15 (NIRV)
We are to be prepared to share the story of Christ with others; don’t play the role of “Artful Dodger”—don’t live your life as an under-cover Christian, hoping no one will find you out.
So we are Christ's official messengers. It is as if God were making his appeal through us. Here is what Christ wants us to beg you to do. Come back to God! 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIRV)
We are ambassadors for Christ. If you’re a little rusty on the definition of an ambassador allow me to refresh your memory. An ambassador is a “diplomatic official of the highest rank, sent by a sovereign as its resident representative” (dictionary.com).

We are the official messengers sent out on behalf of Christ appealing to the world, "Come to God" or "Come back to God", whichever message is appropriate dependant upon the person to whom we are speaking. As Christians, our purpose in life is to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Be ready!

God Bless!

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Help Me!

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. Romans 8:26-27 (NIV)
When Jesus said He would send us a comforter and a helper in the form of the Holy Spirit, He was not speaking metaphorically; He was speaking literally. Once you accept Christ as Savior and Lord of your life, the Holy Spirit takes up residence within your heart.

F.B. Meyer wrote of the Holy Spirit saying, “When the Spirit comes in power to the soul, He teaches us to know God, and truth, and things hidden from the wise and prudent.”

Likewise, Henry W. Beecher wrote, “I understand this: that there is a divine influence which is moving upon men, and which is developing itself in the form of yearnings, and of vague aspirations, and of spiritual longings, for which we have no expression; and that these yearnings and longings are the product of God’s Spirit in us, dwelling in us, stimulating us, exciting us. This is the evidence of His presence, that there is that vital longing, that incessant yearning, for something higher and better…with soul moanings—the most affecting of all things.”

Take comfort, you are never alone. The Holy Spirit is with you, guiding you, leading you, teaching you, comforting you, helping you, and always making intercession on your behalf.

If you are without the Comforter, accept Christ today. Admit that you are a sinner; “for all have sinned…”—Romans 3:23. Believe that Jesus is God’s Son; “for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son…”—John 3:16. Confess your faith in Jesus; “for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”—Romans 10:13.

Go to Christ in heart-felt prayer, confessing you are a sinner and your need for a Savior. Invite Him into your life; He’s waiting for you. Hold fast—help is on the way! Amen.

God Bless!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

We Have Come to Worship

For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised, Psalm 96:1a
This morning I got up singing a scripture song I learned as a child: “The joy of the Lord is my strength”, which comes from Nehemiah 8. Nehemiah and Ezra had gathered together the remnant (from captivity) of the Jews in Jerusalem, reading and teaching them from the book of the Law of Moses. Upon hearing the words of the book the people were grieved and began to cry, however; they were told, “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

How often do we, as God’s people, humble ourselves before Him? How often are we brought to tears—tears of conviction or tears of joy—upon hearing God’s word? How often do we stop and contemplate, the joy of the Lord is our strength; that without Him we are nothing?

Psalm 96 tells us our God, “is great and greatly to be praised” (v. 1). Our God is the Creator who made the heavens (v. 5)—honor, majesty, strength and beauty are before Him (v. 6). Our Lord reigns (v. 10).

I challenge you today to take the time to praise and worship our great God; right now in this very minute. Forget your list of needs, wants, and desires; forget about how busy you are. Just take a moment, clear your mind and go humbly before the Lord and worship Him. He is worthy! Amen.

God Bless!

Monday, August 2, 2010

Trials Will Come

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. James 1:2-4, 12
James tells us that trials will come to us but that is not a bad thing. For through trials we are refined; character, integrity and patience are developed as we become mature and complete. Without the process of refinement, upon testing, we would be easily broken.

No one becomes a long distance runner overnight. It is a process. Muscles are stretched, tested then rested and tested again until endurance and perseverance are gained. (Remember, once endurance is gained, it must be maintained.)

Are you being stretched and tested through the trials of life? Hold on; don’t be afraid; Christ is with you. Remain joyful for you are being perfected for the journey ahead.

God Bless!

Friday, July 30, 2010

God's Everlasting Love

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: 
“ For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:31-39
Do you ever get up in the morning feeling out of sorts or a little glum? If so, I have a solution for you. Open your Bible and read. It won’t take you long to put on a new attitude.

The Bible, God’s holy word, is full of His promises and tells of His everlasting love. Why despair? YOU ARE LOVED!

Do you despair because you aren’t yet a child of God? Accept Christ today—don’t delay! Admit that you are a sinner; “for all have sinned…”—Romans 3:23. Believe that Jesus is God’s Son; “for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son…”—John 3:16. Confess your faith in Jesus; “for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”—Romans 10:13.

As Christians we can rejoice with joy unspeakable—1 Peter 1:8; revel in the peace which passes all understanding—Philippians 4:7; enjoy hope in abundance—Romans 15:13; and so much more! Romans 8:31-39 tells us no one can be against us if God is for us; nothing can separate us from the love of Christ; and that we are more than conquerors through Christ who loves us.

So get up, put on the full armor of God—Ephesians 6:13-17; and prepare to face the day with the assurance that He will never leave us or forsake us, (Hebrews 13:5, Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Joshua 1:5).

God Bless!

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Are You Working Faithfully?

The Parable of the Talents, Matthew 25:14-30

"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'

"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'

"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'

"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

" 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
Several years ago I had a lady under my supervision that was chronically late for work. When she did arrive, she spent the first 30 minutes of the day in the restroom applying her make-up.

The lady was very attractive and had a pleasing personality but unfortunately the tasks assigned to her were poorly done or not done at all. While there was nothing “on paper” to indicate her ability to successfully complete higher level duties she had the habit of asking me for increased responsibilities on a regular basis.

What about you? How is your work ethic? Do you work faithfully? Are you working to the best of your ability for the Master, Jesus Christ? Are you completing your tasks in such a way that He will say to you, “Well done”? Or will He call you wicked and lazy?

The talents with which we begin our faith journey all differ in variety and amount. Some of us begin in abundance (five talents) and some with less. However, it is not how much we begin with that is relevant, but it is what we do with what we have been given that is so vitally important. What are you doing and what are you accomplishing with what the Master has given you?

The Christian life is one of love and the service to others borne out of that love. You are to “invest” the talents you have been given to add value to the Master’s estate. We aren’t working for our own increase; our reward is found in the pleasure and happiness of helping (increasing) and serving others; our reward is found in the way in which the Master greets us upon His return! Amen.

God Bless!

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Joy Unspeakable

These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. 1 Peter 1:7-8
“How was He revealed to you?” asked Christian.

“One day I saw Him—not with my eyes but with my heart. The Lord Jesus looked down from heaven on me, saying, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.’ And I replied, ‘Lord, I am a very great sinner.’ He answered, ‘My grace is sufficient for you.’ And my heart was full of joy, my eyes full of tears, my love running over in the ways of Jesus Christ.” (Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan, Abridged, 2010 Barbour Publishing, Inc., p. 120)
In the above text, Hopeful is describing his salvation experience. It reminded me somewhat of my own experience. Hopeful tells of praying what he calls the “prayer for salvation”, (p. 119); also known as the sinner’s prayer, “many times”.

I, too, prayed this prayer many times in succession. Why? Because, as I think of it now, I was not merely asking God to forgive me and come into my heart to live forever; I was begging Him to do so! I had been burdened with thoughts of conviction for so long that I yearned for the saving grace and release that can only be found through Christ Jesus.

While I eagerly speak of things I feel the Holy Spirit has put into my heart, I don’t talk enough of my own salvation experience. I suppose I don’t feel my own testimony is “dramatic” enough—you see I am fortunate enough to have “grown up” in church. My life has been blessed by a loving, Christian family. But with all these advantages, at the age of 15, I still had not accepted Christ as my personal Savior.

I had fooled myself into believing I was a Christian. I was in church and certainly those around me thought me a Christian. But I wasn’t and I knew it and I was very deeply under the conviction of sin.

In the summer of my 15th year, I was attending a church camp—a typical summer activity for me and my sister. After one of the evening church services that week, I asked my pastor’s wife to pray with me. Even though it was so many years ago, I still remember it as if it were yesterday. And I did literally beg Christ to save me. I will never forget that wonderful feeling of the Holy Spirit coming into my heart and lifting that awful burden of sin!

My pastor recently said, “There are no bad testimonies.” That brought to mind a verse, Jesus Himself speaking says, “I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10

As the apostle Peter wrote, “…though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.” Amen!

You too, can have joy unspeakable in your life today, this moment, by accepting Christ as your Savior. Admit that you are a sinner; “for all have sinned…”—Romans 3:23. Believe that Jesus is God’s Son; “for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son…”—John 3:16. Confess your faith in Jesus; “for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”—Romans 10:13.

There are no magic words to recite. Just go to Christ in heart-felt prayer, confessing you are a sinner and your need for a Savior. Invite Him into your life; He’s waiting for you. Amen.

God Bless!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Are You Going? Are You Telling?

Isaiah 6 tells of Isaiah’s call to be a prophet of God. Isaiah 6:8 is an oft repeated verse:
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:
“Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?”
Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”
As Isaiah was sent to declare the word of the Lord, the apostle Paul tells of his calling in Romans 1:1 like this:
“Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God”.

As believers in Christ Jesus, we, too, are, “separated to the gospel of God” and we have been given a commandment to go:
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8
Are you going? Are you speaking the good news to others? Are you recognizable as a child of God; a joint-heir with Christ?

Do you find yourself “dropping” the name of Jesus whenever possible? Or do you behave in such a way others would be surprised to know you consider yourself a Christian?

Paul said,
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes,” Romans 1:16a.
You don’t sit on good news; you spread it! What kind of family member or friend withholds good news?? Get out there! Spread the word!

Be an Isaiah, saying, “Here am I Lord, send me!” Be like Paul, separated to the gospel and unashamed. Let others know they too can be a part of the family of God and can share in the good news of Jesus!

Godspeed and God Bless!

Monday, July 26, 2010

Successful Living

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:33-34
What is your personal definition of success? If you define success in worldly terms you no doubt include within your definition the word self-sufficiency or at least some variation of that word. Sarah Young, in her book Jesus Calling, has written, “The truth is that self-sufficiency is a myth perpetuated by pride and temporary success.”

This serves to remind us of how differently “the world” and “the Way” define success. The world values self-reliance and independence. However, the Bible teaches us to look to God for all our needs; to be obedient to His word and His way.

The only way we can truly “take hold of our destiny” is by letting go of our own dreams and aspirations and totally devote ourselves to God. Settle the question of your future today by accepting Christ as your savior if you haven’t already done so and by committing your life fully to God by saying, “I want for my life whatever God wants for me.”

Blessed Lord, I give myself fully to You; to walk in Your way. Remove from my heart foolish pride and vain-glory that I may live in Your strength alone. I will praise Your precious name forevermore. Amen.

God Bless!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Seeking Intimacy through Prayer

As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for You, God. Psalm 42:1
What is prayer? Simply said, prayer is communication with God. Why we pray is not a question so simply answered. People pray for many reasons. However, praising God and seeking a closer relationship with Him through prayer should be a priority.

When we want to know someone better, we talk with them. It certainly follows that communication with God in prayer is a way to get to know Him better.

I challenge you to use heartfelt, sincere prayer as a way to learn more about God’s character, His will and His way. If you have an intense desire to feel the presence of God in your life, don’t neglect spending time with Him in prayer. You will find this an invaluable asset in your walk of faith.

Having an ongoing dialog with God should be as natural to you as having an ongoing dialog with your friends. Matthew 7:7 tells us to keep asking, keep searching, and keep knocking and the door will be opened to us.

God Bless!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Be Careful Little Mouth What You Say

He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity. Proverbs 21:23
The Bible has a lot to say about the tongue. And why shouldn’t it? For the tongue has the power of life or death; it can build up or it can destroy. With the tongue we reveal the truth of what is on our mind and in our heart.

By our tongues we give define the nature of our character. If you want to know what kind of person I am; what I hold to be true; what I value; my moral standards; whom I love, etc.; listen to what I have to say. It does not take long to reveal the truth of one’s beliefs if you take the time to listen.

If you count the number of scriptures relating to the tongue (good or bad), the book of Psalm has the most to say about the tongue. The book of Proverbs returns a close second in the total number of verses referencing the tongue. However, the book of James has devoted an entire chapter (James 3) to the discussion of the tongue.

James begins in chapter 3, verse 2, by saying we must keep our whole body in check. He continues in verse 5 by saying that even though the tongue is small, it is powerful and is able to cause great damage. In verse 6, James completes this thought by designating the tongue, “a world of evil among the parts of the body”!

Not to worry; James does not leave us feeling hopeless; he begins to speak of the wisdom we obtain when we have a personal relationship with God, our Heavenly Father:
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. James 3:17-18
James continues in chapter 4 by telling us if we submit ourselves to God, He will take care of us (and our frequently troublesome tongue)! Praise God!
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:7-10
God Bless!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Rely on God

At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him: "Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war." 2 Chronicles 16:7-9
How often we are tempted to rely upon ourselves and our own knowledge or the knowledge of others when called by the Holy Spirit to complete a task. Instead of relying wholly upon God, we seek the direction and blessing of others. In essence we are saying, “God told me to do this but I wanted to check with you first.”

It takes strength and courage to step out for God, especially when it seems everyone else is against you. We often face Goliath-sized battles in life. But take heart and remember the words of young David before the giant Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:47, for the battle is the Lord’s and He does not save by the sword or the spear. When the battle is the Lord’s we have nothing to fear but only need to trust Him completely, “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him”, 2 Chronicles 16:9.

Loving Father, Help me to remember always You fight for those whose hearts are fully committed to You; that You look throughout the earth to strengthen Your faithful. Amen!

God Bless!

Monday, July 19, 2010

Made to Worship

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7
When you accepted Christ as your Savior you were made a new creature in Christ Jesus; redeemed and reconciled by His love. The Lord is always near because the Holy Spirit now resides within you. We are to rejoice always for we are forever guarded by Christ Jesus. He is Protector, Provider, Advocate. Place your worries at His feet and receive His peace.

Holy, Holy, Holy; Lord God Almighty, I thank you for lifting me out of the miry pit; for redeeming me; for abiding within me; for providing me with each and every need; for protecting me always. I thank You for Your peace that passes all understanding. I thank You for directing me in the paths of righteousness. I will forever love You and praise You. Amen.

God Bless!

Friday, July 16, 2010

Teach Me

Teach me your way, O LORD,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name. Psalm 86:11
David was passionate about God. He found pleasure in learning about God; the ways of God; the commandments of God. He wanted his mind and his heart to be completely focused on God.

Are you passionate about God also? Do you seek daily to learn more about Him? Is your heart and mind undivided so that you may completely focus on God? It is the desire of God that you always seek Him with all your heart, mind, and soul.

My prayer is this:
O God, since my youth, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come. Psalm 71:17-18
Amen!

God Bless!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Speak Boldly

And pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:19-20
The Apostle Paul was serious about his obligation to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to others. He carried out this task with a sense of urgency and he spoke boldly at every opportunity.

In Acts 20:20, Paul says, “I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it”; not only teaching publicly but also from house to house. Furthermore, in the same chapter, verses 26 and 27, Paul says, “I am innocent of the blood of all men for I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”

What a powerful example Paul has left for us to follow. Do you speak boldly for the cause of Christ? Are you able to say you are innocent of the blood of all men because you have never failed to speak to others concerning Jesus?

The call to spread the gospel is not a spiritual gift that you have or do not have. The call to spread the “Good News” is a command given to us by Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8).

Father—Thank You for Your Son; thank you for saving me. Help me through the power of the Holy Spirit to be your ambassador; always proclaiming Your gospel boldly and lovingly to others. Amen.

God Bless!

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

With All His Heart

And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered. 2 Chronicles 31:21
Hezekiah became King of Judah when he was twenty-five years old and he immediately set about to clean-up the mess of the previous king. 2 Chronicles 29:2 tells us Hezekiah did what was right in the sight of the Lord. Hezekiah knew the cause of the desolation which had fallen upon the land—the people had turned away from God (v. 6-9).

Hezekiah made a covenant with God (v. 10) and he called upon the Levites to return to serving and ministering in the Lord’s house (v. 11). When the Levites had sanctified themselves and the house of the Lord, Hezekiah commanded a sin offering be made not only for Judah, but also for all Israel (v. 24). (Note: this was unusual because Israel was split into two kingdoms at this time.)

Then Hezekiah sent letters out to all Israel and to Judah that everyone should come to Jerusalem to keep the Passover (this had not been done for quite some time). He encouraged the people to serve the Lord, “for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn His face from you if you return to Him” (2 Chronicles 30:9).

Verse 10 tells us that as the runners passed from city to city delivering the letter from Hezekiah they were laughed at and mocked; nevertheless some humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. Verse 11 says that all Judah obeyed the command of the king because God “gave them singleness of heart to obey”.

As the people gathered and celebrated the Passover, we are told Hezekiah prayed—the Lord listened to him and healed the people (v. 20) and furthermore, when the Levites blessed the people, their voices were heard by the Lord in His holy dwelling place, heaven (v.27).

Hezekiah did not shrink away from his duties. He saw the situation was severe and he immediately set to work. He followed God with all his heart. He obeyed God quickly, sweetly, and completely and “so he prospered” (31:21). Blessings are linked to obedience.

Dearest Lord, I pray that I would follow the example set here by Hezekiah. Show me what you would have me do; give me clean hands and a pure heart that I may follow You and obey You quickly, sweetly, and completely in all things. Amen.

God Bless!