I Made You Something

2 Corinthians 5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

How special is it when your son or daughter comes up to you after Sunday School and says, "I made you something"? It could be a picture that they colored of Jesus and His disciples. It could be a tissue paper flower for Mother's Day. It could even be a print of their hand or foot on a piece of paper that they have made into a turkey. No matter what it is, isn't it special?

With every stroke of the crayon, with every tickle of the paint brush across the bottom of their foot, they already knew who they were going to give this gift to. With anticipation and excitement they hurry to find you. Searching for you through the crowds of people. Asking others, "Have you seen my Mommy? Have you seen my Daddy?" They have put so much effort in their gift and they can't wait to see you receive it.

God has made His Son, Jesus, to be sin for us. He painted Him with suffering and stripes. He was pleased to bruise Him. God allowed His Son to be beaten, spat on, ridiculed, mocked, and nailed to a cross. He painted Him with pain and death and offers His gift to you. He has gone through the crowds of people in order to give you this exciting gift. Notice that He made Him to be sin so that you could be made into the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ. He made Him to be a portrait of sin so that you could be made the son or daughter of God.

What if you were to take that gift your child hurried down the stairs to give you and crush it their faces? Their brokenness couldn't be repaired with an ice cream cone. They would think of that moment you took their gift and threw it away. I'm asking you this morning to think of what God has brought you. Think of the gift before you throw it away as if it were a flyer being passed out in the grocery store parking lot. This gift that God has for you took everything that He had. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..."

Listen and hear God say, "I made you something..."

Do You Know Him?

John 17:25

O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.

Don't you think it would have been so great to talk with your ancestors? What about George Washington, Alexander Graham Bell or Thomas Edison?  We can know them by articles written about them. We can understand some of their thought processes in inventions. We can feel as if we know them because of others that have written of their presidency. But he truth is we will only know of them and not actually know them. 

The scriptures teach us today that the world hasn't known God. Although we have so many things written of Him in the Word of God and many other books, the world does not know Him. They can only know of Him. Jesus declares that He knows the Father. He has been with the Father and is the Son of the Father. But look further!

He then says... These also (the ones that know Him) know that the Father has sent me. Wow!  Look at what He is trying to show us today. He says, "If you know me, you know the Father and if you know the Father, you should know me".

John 14:6-10

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Even though Phillip knew Jesus, he was missing out on actually knowing Him. Just like Phillip, the world and many church goers today know of Jesus but are missing out on actually knowing Him. May I ask you a question this morning?  How well do you know Jesus?

1 John 5:20

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

Those Same Hands

John 1:3

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Do you have time this morning to take a timeout?  Think about something with me. Think of the hands of God. The word of God teaches us that with his hands and fingers, Jesus created all things. "And without Him was not anything made that was made."

Psalms 8:3

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers,

the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

Those hands stretched out the blanket of Heaven. They flung the stars off of the fingertips. Those hands drew a line in the sand which told the ocean to stay put. It's so awesome to think of the creation hands of God. Think of how He created the rivers and valleys in the palm of His hands. He molded the hills and mountains in perfect balance with those hands. 

Isaiah 40:12

Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,

and meted out heaven with the span,

and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure,

and weighed the mountains in scales,

and the hills in a balance?

Then we go n in the scriptures to read that those same hands are stretched out for us unto salvation. 

Isaiah 59:1

Behold, the Lord 's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save;

neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

Then we continue to read that those same stretched out hands were rejected and placed on a cross. After His resurrection , Jesus shows the disciples His hands that were nailed to the cross. 

Luke 24:40

And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

But what really amazes me this morning is that in all this... He still stretches out those hands to us today. Right now, He is extending those same nail-pierced hands to you with forgiveness. Oh, how He loves us! Thank you Jesus for those creation, rejected, salvation hands. I hope the first image I see in Heaven will be those same hands that made me, my surroundings, and brought me salvation. 

Well Good Luck With That...

Proverbs 14:12

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

While my children were growing up, we used to watch cartoons together, (ok, we still do). One time we were watching a Spongebob movie. He was going about a usual goofy day when he stumbled upon Plankton. He asked Plankton what his day had in store.  And he answered, "I'm going to steal Neptune's crown and take over the world". And Spongebob said, "Well, good luck with that..."  

This morning when you woke up you devised a plan. You figured out, step by step, what you were going to do today. You have chosen your food for breakfast. You have chosen your clothes for the day. Some of you have chosen what sin you will commit. Plans have been made to walk away from the truth. Plans that sometimes seem right in your own eyes. 

You see, we are very good at doing things out of our selfishness. We all are like Plankton sometimes that just want to do what makes us happy. Well that is sin. Although it seems right in our eyes, it is sin in God's eyes. The end of this way is death. 

Many times I've personally heard these laid out plans from people. Plans to fulfill their own selfish desires. And I always share this scripture with them. I want to tell them like Spongebob, "well, good luck with that..."  That way will get you absolutely nowhere. It's a road with a Dead End sign on it. 

This morning surrender your thoughts, plans and desires to those of The Lord. Allow Him to lead you in the path He has laid out for you. Don't choose the way that seems right, but choose the way that IS right. And you'll never hear, "Well, Good Luck With That".  

Shut the Door!

Matthew 6:5-6

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

I remember when I was a young child certain rules my dad had for the home. I'm sure you could reminisce about some of your house rules also. Well one of the top rules around the Abney home was to keep the door shut. 

We lived in a small single-wide trailer when I was growing up. The air conditioning was a window unit in the living room right beside our television. March and April in Alabama would be the months that things would begin to get heated up. The temperature would rise and we would beg for the air conditioner to be turned on. My dad would fold his arms and say, "Not until June". (You think I'm kidding...I am not! I also must confess that when dad was a work sometimes the old unit just came on, haha) We would sit in that trailer and nearly burn up! By the time May got here I never came home until dark. I was soaking up as much air at a friends house as I could. 

Then it would happen. First day of June! That thing would come on and a hum would roll through the house like a symphony. My brother would be hollering, "Thank you Lord!" Me, well let's just say it was good to be back home. Then came the next annual words from dad's mouth... "Shut the door!"  "You either get inside and stay or go outside and play" he would say. 

Thinking about those days, I came across this scripture this morning. Jesus tells us to go inside of our closets and shut the door. Do you realize that our prayers and prayer life is for us and God?  It's not for others to hear and be impressed. Too many today think praying is what you do in church or before a game. No prayer is your alone time with God. A time when you should shut everything else down and be alone with God. Just like my dad used to say, "Shut the door, I'm not cooling the neighborhood. Get in or get out."...  Our time with God should not be hindered by other things such as TV, phones or even people. We need to get in our prayer and shut the door!

Talk About What You Know

1 Corinthians 15:3
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

Paul is telling this church that he is preaching unto them the very message he has already received of the Lord. God tells us to share the gospel with every person we come into contact with. Let me ask you this question... How are we going to share this gospel with the if we haven't received it first?

Sharing Jesus without first receiving Jesus would be like explaining the view of the Grand Canyon without ever seeing it.  It would be like telling the plot and ending of a movie without watching it. I know what you are thinking... You may think it would be possible to explain a movie to someone even though you haven't seen it personally. Someone else that has seen it could explain it to you right? Or maybe you are thinking that you could explain the layout of the Grand Canyon without ever going there. I suppose it could be possible. But what about explaining the experience? What about the smells, tastes, weather, intensity? You really couldn't explain this unless you have personally been to these places and experienced it for yourself.

Too many people are trying to explain Christ to others without beleiving in Christ first. Many, many Christians are even trying to explain the Bible without receiving it into their everyday lives first. How can we do this? It is not possible. You may find yourself in trouble if you try to give something that you first didn't receive. Paul preached about what he had already received. Share what you have received with someone today.

I Did It My Way!

Luke 17:26-30
And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

Have you looked at the days in which we live? Many times I have wondered about the things that were going on in the days of Noah. I wonder what they were doing? How wicked was the world during this time that God said it must stop?

Years ago I stood at the place where Lot and and Abraham parted ways. Abraham told Lot that things were not going to work with them together because the people were fighting. So he gave Lot first choice in the way he would go. Lot chose to go toward Sodom. He chose the way of the world and entered into what was the most wicked city of the world up until that time. What was this city like? What were they doing for God to say, "Enough is enough"?

Jesus says that they were eating, drinking, marrying, selling, planting and building. During all of their sin and evil living the most obvious thing was living for themselves. All of these descriptions from Jesus says they were living their lives for themselves. All the way up till the day Noah entered into the ark. All the way up until the day fire and brimstone rained down upon Sodom. They never cared about the things of God. Never gave attention to the message of God's Word.

Jesus closed with... "Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed". Seems to me that day is now. Phrases of our people today... "Live for yourself... Make yourself happy... Do what is best for you... You must find the power in yourself... I just want to live the way that makes me happy". Eating, drinking, selling, planting, building, marrying, etc... It is destroying them all.

And now the end is near
And so I face the final curtain
My friend I'll say it clear
I'll state my case of which I'm certain

I've lived a life that's full
I traveled each and every highway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way

Having a Heart Attack

Luke 24:32
And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

Tick... tick... tick... The minutes seem like hours and the seconds seem like years. Sunday after Sunday when the Word of God is read, spoken and preached it seems like an eternity to some. From bathroom trips because we suck down two pots of coffee each morning, to sleeping because we stayed up all night watching our ballgame or favorite television show. Church goers just look and act as if they have lost their desire for the Word of God. If music is played an immediate excitement builds. If dramas are performed an enthusiasm incomparable is felt. But when the Word of God is opened an instant debate is now in session.

One says, "He's too loud" while another says, "I can't hear him and it's just boring". Some say, "I can't follow along with his Bible" while the others say, "What time do you think we will be finished?" Where are the ones that will ask for more?

If I took you to a buffet bar right now you would go back for more. If your team made a spectacular play you would be screaming at the television... "Show that again, show the instant replay!" When your favorite song comes on your playlist you will hit repeat because it excites you. What about God's Word? Isn't there a burning within your heart when you hear it? Don't you hear the very voice of God when you read it? Do you realize what took place for years and years in order for you to have the Bible?

Let me ask you this... Where is your Bible? How many of you carry it with you to church anymore? How often to you read it? Do you spend more time watching television or reading the newspaper? I promise you that this is my last question...

Is there a wonder why we lack spiritual power and a realness of God in our churches and lives today? I'm afraid that we no longer have a heartburn for His Word, but rather we are suffering from a heart attack.

Mountain to Molehill

1 Kings 19:4
But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

Don't you love the story of Elijah? Most of us can relate to him. We have known great victories in our lives as well as great defeat. Elijah had gone from the mountain of victory to the molehill of misery. He went from defeating the prophets of Baal to running from a wicked woman. He went from being a bold man who was confident in his God to laying under a juniper tree asking this same God to take his life cause there was no more reason to live. 

One time I was standing on top of a mountain in Gatlinburg, TN. that was 6,600 feet above sea level. By that night I was at the shore of the Atlantic Ocean. I also remember being on top of this same mountain Elijah stood on in Israel. As I was preaching about the day God answered the prayer of Elijah and licked up the sacrifice, an Israeli fighter jet flew over us with bombs hanging from the wings. Hezbollah was fighting with Israel and shooting rockets into the country so Israel responded with fire power. 

Let me just say that the mood changed quickly. I went from excited about the God who answers prayer to praying for God to keep me safe. It is so easy to go from Mountain to Misery at any moment. We could also go from a Mountain Top feeling to on our knees before God for help at a blink of an eye. 

Where are you today? Either way, Praise God that we have the Lord. If you're on the mountian, don't talk about those in the valley. And if you're in the valley don't look to those on the mountain. Aim higher to the God above that mountian. 

Amen and Amen!

Psalms 89:52
Blessed be the Lord for evermore. Amen, and Amen.

What do you think of God this morning? Some people like to refer to Him as the "Big Man Upstairs" or they often say that there is a God up there somewhere. He is so much more than that folks. He is not just a magical genie that we call up when we need money or help. He is not just the last resort to go to if everything else falls through. He is God. He is not even "a" god, but He is "THE" God.

Compare Him this morning to every other so called god. Isn't He better? Isn't He the only true one? Compare Him to all of your possessions this morning. Isn't He greater? Isn't He of more value? Prophets in the Bible have asked, "Who is a God like unto thee?" I cannot think of any greater god than the God that I serve.

Stop for a moment and think of how blessed you are to know Him. Think of how blessed you are for His love to be shown in your life. This should stir an excitement inside of you. It should cause you to draw closer and closer unto Him. Because of His love, I can love others. Because of His death, I am alive. Because of His leading, I can help lead others unto Him. The songwriter said it much better than I could have ever said it...

Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone.
Because I know that He holds the future, my life is worth the living just because He lives.

Bless the Lord O, my soul and all that is within me bless His Holy Name!

Why don't you try sharing some of that today? Put your discouragement and negativity away and share just how blessed you are by knowing the Lord. Amen and Amen!

Sing this to Him right now before you go about your day...

Because YOU live I can face tomorrow, Because YOU live all MY fear is gone.
Because I know that YOU hold the future, MY life is worth the living just because YOU live.

A Use for Cotton

Proverbs 17:27-28
He that hath knowledge spareth his words:
and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise:
and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

I must immediately tell you this morning that I do not like cotton. It's some kind of phobia. You know the sound of fingernails on a chalkboard or the screeching of a fork gliding across your plate? That's what happens to me when I hold cotton in my hands. Aaaahhh!

When I was a kid, I would get swimmers ear every summer. It seemed like it would come every week in the summer. The pain would get worse and worse. Mainly because I didn't want the dreaded cotton in my ears. When I would go to bed mom would put in the drops and shove that stinking cotton into my ears. (She didn't shove it, just seemed that way to me...)

I know you probably think I'm crazy but I couldn't stand it. I would complain over and over again. My mom would say, "You want it to get better?"  I hated it! There were times she looked as if she was gonna take the cotton balls out of my ears and stuff them in my mouth.

Just the other day, believe this or not, I wished I had some cotton in my ears so that I could have stuffed it into my mouth. Sometimes we all should just be quiet. Truthfully we should just shut our mouths. I desire that excellent spirit our scripture talks about. I am learning more and more daily from God and His Word of how to have this spirit. The Bible teaches me that even a fool is wise when he shuts his mouth. So there is hope for me and you.

Lord please help me to be quiet when I should. Help me to speak when you lead me. Help me not to be a fool that speaks foolishness but help me to close my mouth and wait patiently on you to speak through me. I pray that you never have to take the cotton out of my ears and put in my mouth. I'll be quiet now... in Jesus' name. Amen.

What's that on your Shoulder?

Galatians 6:5

For every man shall bear his own burden.

Galatians 6:2

Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Psalms 55:22

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee:

he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

God speaks to us. There are times where He uses His word to do it, but at other times it seems as if He clearly and plainly speaks aloud. As I was driving to church on Sunday, God seemed to speak loud and clear to me. He said, "Don't let the burdens on your shoulders become chips."  I thought, Wow!  How awesome are you Lord. He wanted me to understand that my burdens I carry could have the potential of becoming chips on my shoulders. I could choose to become bitter about my burdens or become joyful and at peace about them. 

Look at our scriptures this morning. The first one tells us that we must bear our own burdens. The second tells us that we should bear one another's burdens. The last tells us that we should cast our burdens upon The Lord. So what should we do with our burdens?

Some of them we are capable of carrying. Some we are capable of sharing. But some we are only capable of giving to Jesus. If we don't understand this application of burdens then we are in real danger of becoming bitter and allowing these burdens to become chips on our shoulders. 

Rest in the peace of knowing that our burdens are for our betterment. They are to help us and not hinder us. So, what's on your shoulder?

Healthy Ambassadors

Proverbs 13:17

A wicked messenger falleth into mischief:

but a faithful ambassador is health.

What does faithfulness mean?  The dictionary says, "The quality of being faithful/dependable". This seems to be an almost lost characteristic of today's people. Not necessarily in the youth of today, but people of all ages. Dependability is not on the list of priorities. 

Scripture teaches us that faithfulness is a valued treasure. When you find faithful people, you have found gold that will not fade away. When a husband has a faithful wife, he is rich beyond measure. When a wife has a faithful husband, she is blessed. As parents, if we have children that are faithful we are rich. Also think of the blessedness of an employer that has faithfulness in his employees or a church with faithfulness in its membership. These are so blessed!  

But what happens when we put faithfulness on the back burner? It hurts those who depend on us. What if Dad's stopped being faithful to his spouse, family and jobs? Not only does Dad suffer from it but his family will suffer also. If he is not faithful to his spouse, then divorce could come. If he is not faithful to his family, he could lose them to the world and its teachings. If he is not faithful to work, his family will suffer from poverty and starvation. As this is, so is the man who is unfaithful God, church and ministry. If a man isn't faithful to God, how could he be productive in church?  If he is not faithful in the church, how could he be fruitful in ministry?  If he is not faithful in his walk and devotion to Christ, how could he be beneficial to any of these?

You see, our faithfulness most always requires discipline. Being faithful is not an option in the package of Christianity, but it is one of our major teachings that we should follow. 

Look at what scripture teaches about these two scenarios...

Faithfulness brings health...

Proverbs 13:17

A wicked messenger falleth into mischief:

but a faithful ambassador is health.

Unfaithfulness brings pain...

Proverbs 25:19

Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble

is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

Send Reinforcements

Psalms 12:1

Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth;

for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

The more I attend church, the more I live in this present day and the more I search and search, one thing seems to missing. Our lives are filled with the so-called heroes of today. People who are lifted up to a high position because of their rebellion. Have you ever stopped me looked around at our society? The one who does wrong is glorified and the ones who do right are put down. Ball players that sleep around, fight, do drugs, and are rebellious seem to get all the love. Even through movies and television every girl likes the bad guy. 

The differences in our society and that of our grandparents alone are huge. Just the other day I was in a class about dealing with children. My instructor was teaching about the disobedience of children and how to address it. This instructor told of how they handled things back in their day. It was told how those children respected them and obeyed. But after every statement of how they used to do things, the instructor would say, "But you can't do that now."  I almost felt like someone was trying to get me to dig a hole while handing me a handle to what was supposed to be a shovel, but the shovel not there. 

We truly need help. The Godly men are ceasing because they are deceasing. Will you pray today, right now, that God will raise up some Godly men? You men that are reading this today, will you commit right now to be all that you can for he cause of Christ? Ladies, will you encourage those men in your lives to faithfulness in Christ? Lord, most of all, will you send the help we need? Send reinforcements Lord.

I am thankful for some men and women today that are heroes in my book. The Pastor and preacher who stays on their knees begging for the Spirit of God to forgive and restore. The mom and dad that have brought a child into their home and treated them as their very own. The soldier that I met last night who was wounded 18 times in a 38 hour battle but never stopped his mortar firing so that the enemies would not have a chance at victory. The final hero, Jesus. Who endured all pain and suffering so that I could be saved. The truest definition of a soldier, Savior and friend that I could ever know. 

Shoot the Ball

Ephesians 5:16
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.


This morning scripture tells us that we should redeem the time. This means take that shot. Take that opportunity for the glory of God. 


This summer my son Jacob was playing in a basketball camp. This is his first year playing basketball for the school. He has played park ball for a few years before this, but now he is playing at a higher level. He has a good team with some really good players. He is not a starter for the team during this summer camp, so he is patiently awaiting some playing time. Well once he gets in he is pumped!  I'm pumped! Mom is pumped!

He is so nervous and because of his nervousness, he will not shoot the ball at all. He plays his position and passes it to a person in a better position. This game passes and it's on to the next one. I asked him if he was nervous or afraid. He immediately said no, but I knew better. I encouraged him to play hard and look for an opening or open player. I told him to play as a team and give 100%. He said, "Yes sir."

The time for the next game was at hand. Wow, He was on the court as a starter. A little bit of relaxation was in his face now. He received the pass turned, looked and then drove to the goal!  I begin to feel the rush of excitement as he dribbled the ball closer and closer to the goal.  Then it came... He drove, stretched and shot the ball! It seemed like it went through the air for ten minutes (could have been this long as it rolled around the rim, hahaha). Then the ball fell in and down through the net. Immediately I begin to cheer!  I said, "There you go!"  All he needed was to take the shot.

Our scripture says to redeem the time. Take an account of the fact that we won't be here forever. The game of life, and the clock is ticking away. Second after second is coming off the clock. And besides this, we need to redeem the time because the days are becoming evil. You may be nervous about sharing the Gospel with someone today. You will never know what will happen if you don't take the opportunity.

Shoot the ball!  Drive to the goal, and shoot the ball!  Share the Gospel! Study the Word and share the Gospel! When Jacob scored this summer at a basketball camp. The emotions that I felt were overwhelming. I wonder how our Father feels when we share the Gospel of His Son, Jesus Christ?

Box Seats

Luke 11:43

Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.

When I read the word Pharisee in the Bible I always think of someone who can "fairly see". The Pharisees were religious leaders who depended more on keeping laws and not a relationship with God. Keeping laws are important, but a right relationship is most important. Keeping laws can be done without a relationship. The rich ruler said that he kept the law from his youth up but he lacked a relationship. Having a relationship with Christ will not be without keeping His laws after you have fallen in love with Him. His word tells us, "If we love Him, we will keep His commandments". 

These Pharisees tried to keep the law but could only "fairly see" the true things of God. Jesus, the Son of God, was standing in front of them and they still couldn't see Him. They thought by placing people under the bondage of law, that they were fulfilling the word of God. They were actually imposing burdens upon these people. While they were placing the noose around the necks of others, they were filling themselves with pride. 

You see, the more they imposed laws, that they were attempting to keep but really couldn't, they were measuring themselves by those who didn't uphold the law. This caused them to look at people with arrogance. How easy is it to become this "fairly seeing" Pharisee?  It had become such a problem that they wanted the box seats in the church, and even felt like they deserved it. Shaking hands with those who would benefit their cause or wallet. 

Religion can be a destroyer of relationship. It can ruin and spoi  the person trying to walk in a relationship with Christ. It makes them compare themselves to those they walk beside instead of the one who walked before us. If you think this morning your salvation and right standing with Christ is because of what you do or where you sit let me tell you that you're wrong. You can only "fairly see" Jesus for who He really is. 

Drop the pride and lay aside the arrogance this morning. Put away the lawish religion and walk in the liberty and righteousness of Jesus right now. Get up out of your box seats and fall on your knees in humility. You'll find a relationship that will last through all eternity. 

Tear Down This Wall

Ephesians 2:14-18

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

On June 12, 1987, President Ronald Reagan spoke the people of West Berlin at the base of the Brandenburg Gate, near the Berlin wall.  President Ronald Reagan gave this address:  

..."General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek 

prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek 

liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this 

gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!'"

You know as I think about it, the American military could have broken down that wall. We could have used our power and guns to remove that wall and grind it into powder. But that would not have brought the peace needed. It had to be torn down by the very ones who put it there. 

God could have removed the wall of partition that was against us Gentiles from Heaven if He would have chosen to do so. He could have ground the wall into pieces that no man could have restored it. Our God that spoke the world into existence, could have spoken this wall down with one command. But he didn't choose to do it that way. He chose to send His only Son to die a sinners death on the cross in order to remove it. You see man had placed that wall there through sin, so man must remove the wall. But not an ordinary, sinful man. No, it had to be Christ, the sinless, spotless lamb of God. Sin placed it there, but the death for sin removed it. It brought access!  It brings peace! 

Today, if Christ has removed the wall that separated you from God then why do you attempt to rebuild it through your sin?  Tear down the walls this morning. He has given you total access to the throne. Thank you Lord for removing the wall of separation. Thank you for providing me with access and peace. Thank you Jesus for "tearing down this wall". 

My Best Possession

Proverbs 16:8

Better is a little with righteousness

than great revenues without right.

A movie called "Far and Away" had a line in it that says, "Without land a man is nothing". When I heard that phrase it really sums up the way many American people feel.  The thought of possessions making people who they are is very present in society. The theory is... You must have houses, cars and an image to be something. This is why people live in shacks but drive a Mercedes. Some can't afford the power bill but have a satellite receiver on the side of the house. Priorities are so messed up nowadays. 

While the "position of possessions" is at an all time high, the priority for holiness is at it's all time low. While we want the latest and greatest thing, we daily sacrifice our respect for God and His Word. While we uphold our image to society we trash our testimony of Christ regularly. 

The scripture this morning teaches us that it is better to have little with righteousness than to have it all in sin. Years ago I bought an old soulful gospel tape. It had a group on there called, "Mighty Clouds of Joy". They sang a song called, "I Got One Thing You Can't Take Away". Oh my goodness!  When I heard this song I began to shout. The words of this song lead to a recitation. In it he told a story of a woman being evicted from her home. While they were placing her things outside the home she was holding on to a picture of Jesus. She was saying, "I got Jesus and you can't take Him away". 

Do you think you are who you are because you have things?  Do you think you are a man because of land? Or because you have cars, boats or possessions? The Word of God says, "No". It's better to have Christ than possessions. When you have Christ you will realize that all those other things are of no glory. Thank you Lord for showing us this morning what's better.

Listen if you would like... http://youtu.be/ddCJUpOs_0w

Where Is That Stinking Light Switch?

1 John 2:9-11
He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

The other night I was preparing for bed. You know the drill... Praying together as a family, going through the house turning off the lights, getting that last drink of water and that's when I saw it. I had left the flood lights on the corner of my house on. So I had to go outside on the porch and turn them off. Instead of turning on the kitchen light I convinced myself to just go and do it. I had been on the back porch a million times and I often go through the house in the dark at night. So I stepped onto the back porch, bare foot and all. One thing that I had forgotten about was that earlier in the day we cleaned up a little and moved some things around a bit. One of those things was a weight bench. Maybe we moved it two or three inches at the most. But no matter how much it was it was definitely enough to cause damage. I came around to find that light switch and BAM! My three littlest toes on my right foot felt like they fell off and were rolling around on the porch.

I didn't give this lesson much thought until this scripture came up in my studies. The Bible tells us that when we hate or build a wall of hatred toward another person that it is like stumbling in the darkness. We think we know the way, we think we know best, but the truth is that pain is just one more step away. Think about this...countless times I have been on that back porch in the dark. Making my way with ease through the obstacles that were on it. But this one time proved that I needed the kitchen light.

You may have lived with anger, bitterness or even hatred and have been able to stumble your way through the darkness. Eventually it will bring pain. This scripture tells us that we can't say we hate our brother and be in the light. But if we love others then "there is none occasion of stumbling in him." Isn't it funny that when we are in the dark we try to open our eyes wider thinking that this will help us see? Why not just turn on the light?

Untie That Donkey!

Luke 19:30-31
Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.

No man had ever sat on this donkey. There is no telling what it would do right?  But Jesus needed it. Look at what He told those disciples again. He told them that they would find a colt tied up that no man ever sat on. Here is my favorite part... "Loose him". Jesus said when you see him tied up, untie him. I know you're thinking that it's just a donkey, but I see so much more. I see myself (no jokes needed here). I see a man bound up in his sins that no one had ever loosed before.

Did you know that we all were bound up in our sins? Just like Lazarus bound up in grave clothes, we were bound up with sins. The stench of death and rottenness was always in the air. The noose around our neck like the one holding the donkey in its place. Satan never wanting us to go anywhere. Never wanting us to be free. But Jesus! Jesus told them to untie him. Why?

Look at the last part... "And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, BECAUSE THE LORD HATH NEED OF HIM." Come on now that should call for some kind of shout! I know that God doesn't need me in order to be God. He doesn't need me to add anything unto Him or His mission of love. Some of you would be sad to find out that God doesn't actually need you, but you would miss the whole message. Jesus could have walked into town that day without this donkey. He could have left it tied up never to be saddled with clothes of the disciples. But because of His love and His desire for its use, He sent the disciples to get it.

Because of God's love and His desire for your usefulness, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for you. He untied the chains of sin that were holding you down. He clothed you with His righteousness and uses you for His work. Not because He has to, but because He WANTS TO! Hallelujah! Untie that donkey!

Rub Some Dirt On It

Ephesians 6:10
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

"Get up and rub some dirt on it... Come on, toughen up". Have you ever heard some of those phrases before? Don't get me wrong today there are times in our lives that we need to toughen up. Don't you just love going to the doctor and they say, "This may sting a little"? Yeah right, it feels like your trying to push the thickest molasses through that syringe into my body. But we grit our teeth and toughen up.

Well this morning you may have something difficult that is before you. You are trying to be so strong and tough enough to get through it. You put on the smile. You lace up your shoes and tie them tight. Take that deep breath... and then fall to pieces. You keep telling yourself, "Don't cry, be tough, people need me to be strong". Who is going to be strong for you?

Sometimes, and in some things, we can't rely on our own strength alone. We need the strength of the Lord. The scripture today says, "Finally, my brethren, be strong IN THE LORD, and in the power of HIS might." Being strong in the Lord could mean that you are at your weakest in yourself. God's Word says that His strength is made perfect in weakness. Don't pretend that you have it all together today. Before you leave the house find the time to tell the Lord that you need His strength. Share with Him your heart and talk to Him as if He were your counselor, because He is.

Looking at the Stars

Philippians 2:14-15

Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Have you ever laid on your back during a summer night and looked at all the stars in the sky?  It seems so peaceful doesn't it?  Once while my wife and I were looking up at the stars I said, "I would love to see a shooting star". Then all of the sudden a streak, that seemed like it was close enough to touch, came shooting across the sky. It was so close and bright that it scared my wife. She thought it was lightening or a plane falling from the sky. It lit up the whole yard. 

I know that not very many people are morning risers but I am. I love getting up early to go on a fishing trip before the sun ever rises. I also enjoy getting up and running on a summer morning before the sun rises. Yesterday I finished a run and was walking it down when I looked up and saw those bright stars. I found a place to sit and talk to The Lord for a moment. Looking up at the handiwork of God while talking to Him is one of the greatest privilege we have. He has given us access to His presence through prayer and painted a beautiful picture of His ability in the sky. At about 5:30 you could look across the horizon and just see the yellow light coming up. The light from the rising sun was slowly becoming brighter and brighter.

This really stirred in my heart. God tells us that we are bright lights of His Gospel. We are reflectors of His love. So we should live in such a way that would honor Him and be blameless before all men. In the midst of a crooked and darkened world, we are lights. It reminded me of those stars on a blanket of darkness. Although it is dark, you can really see the stars shine out. But then they began to disappear because of the rising sun. You see, someday all of the brightness that I can show in a dark world will be nothing compared to the coming of the Son. Just like all those stars disappearing because the brightness of the sun, we are to shine until the Son rises in their hearts. When he comes in, they will see Him!  When He comes back they will see Him! 

Lord help me today and everyday to be the brightest I may be for the Gospel. While this world is dark, let me be your light. Keep shining until the Son appears!