Knowledge is Power

2 Peter 3:17-18
Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Years ago, when I was a child, I used to sit and watch cartoons on a Saturday morning. Transformers, Heathcliff, and my all time favorite cartoon Thundercats. The one thing I remember about my Saturday mornings were those commercials. When Christmas time was upon us there would be toy commercials or ones about the new Nintendo Entertainment Systems. There was always, without fail, the commercials thrown in there for the education of children. The "knowledge is power" or the "now you know" commercials. Even in my G.I.Joe cartoon the phrase, "knowing is half the battle" still comes to my mind.

God has told us in our scripture this morning that we know these things. What things? He was speaking about the day of the Lord approaching. We, brethren (Christians), know these things. Since we know these things we should be careful in our walk. We don't want to be led away with the error of the wicked and fall from our steadfastness. What is the error of the wicked? To trust in your worldly wisdom and lean upon your own knowledge.

God says to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We have the source for the knowledge that we need. I feel like I need to make a commercial. Show a picture of the Bible and all kinds of Christians reading it. Then bring in the slogan, "the more you know, the more you grow."

Spiritual Knowledge is Power. Don't make a mistake and trust in wisdom that the world can give. Trust in Christ Jesus and the wisdom that He gives from above.

Watch THEIR Step

Psalms 19:12-13

Who can understand his errors?

cleanse thou me from secret faults.

Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins;

let them not have dominion over me:

then shall I be upright,

and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

David prays for deliverance from secret faults and presumptuous sins. Secret faults we understand, but what are presumptuous sins?  It is sins that are committed when we fail to observe the limits of what is permitted or allowed. This deals with freedom and liberty that we have in the Grace of God. Paul tells us to be careful not to use the liberty we have as an occasion to fulfill our flesh, or to allow sin to come into our lives. (Galatians 5:13). He also tells us that we shouldn't use the a Grace of God to sin the more so that Grace would become greater. (Romans 6:1)  God also told us to be careful about our liberties. 1 Corinthians 8:9 "But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak."

Sin is sneaky. It doesn't always have to be just out and out blatant. It comes in slowly. Many of us think that water rushing into our homes is a lot more dangerous than just some small undetected leak. But both are equal in their damage. Sin that floods in is clearly seen and the damage is great, but just as damaging is the water that slowly drips from a leaky faucet or water heater. Before you know it... your flooring is severely damaged. 

David said, "God forgive me of my sins. Not just the ones that are ever before me. But even of the ones that are secret. David said Lord help me to stay away from those presumptuous sins also because those can have dominion over me and destroy me, because it's things that I will justify and allow. But to you Lord they are like a leaking faucet and you can see the damage it can bring."  

Lord, keep me from this also. Help me to never use liberty to do what ever I want. But help me to walk in Grace and liberty toward the cross of Jesus everyday. Never let me be a stumbling block! Help me to watch out for THEIR steps as I lead the way to you. Please show me the way so I don't cause anyone to step into a pothole because of presumptuous sins. I love you Jesus. 

Read it Again and Again

Psalms 78:5-8
For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel,which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not steadfast with God.

If there has ever been a scripture that we need to listen to for our time we live in, it is this one. Oh, how we need some God-lead, Holy Ghost-filled dads today. How desperate are we in need of some sweet Holy Ghost-filled, Christ-loving moms. God my prayer today is that people would read and re-read this scripture again and again.

Let's look at its teaching. The first thing I see is that he spoke of the testimony of Jacob and the law He commanded them to obey. Then He says that these parents should make them known to their children. He said that if they would make them known unto their children that those would make it known unto their children and so on.

But why? "That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God,..." Parents, isn't there a reason you pray with them? Isn't there a reason that you bring them to the house of God and worship with them? Isn't there a reason that you study the scriptures with them?

I know, you'll do it later right? Don't you think there was a reason that God said to make it known unto your children and grandchildren? If you wait they could very well be like the last portion of this scripture... "a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not steadfast with God."

Lord help ME!

And........ Go!

Matthew 11:1
And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.

I see this new style of finding information on social media these days. Someone will put a simple description of their situation or the subject they need information on and then end it with... And...Go. This means to sum up your description and answer their need through a volume of people who identify.

Well while I was reading God's Word this morning I came to this scripture. "And it came to pass, when Jesus had (I love this part) made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and preach in their cities. It makes me think of Jesus looking at those twelve that day, teaching and commanding them. Then as soon as He is finished He heads off into the city to preach. Almost as if He tells them.... "And....Go!" Or like a huddle on the sports field... "And.....Break!"

What more do you need today that will help you fulfill the sharing of the Gospel? There is nothing! You need nothing more than the teachings of Jesus Christ that have been given unto you through the Holy Spirit of God in His Holy Word. You have the completed Word of God that was penned down by holy men of God as the Spirit moved upon them to write what God instructed, or better yet, breathed. You have the message of the Cross of Calvary! You have the testimony of your salvation. What more information do you need?

Can you hear the Holy Spirit telling us this morning...And Go? Let's do it!

Settng the Record Straight

Romans 12:19

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath:  for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith The Lord. 

"Those people will get what's coming to them... You're gonna pay for that!"  This seems to be an everyday theme. We somehow get bent on getting even with people. You hurt me, I'll hurt you. We feel that we should set things straight sometimes. 

The word of God tells us that Christ will set things straight. God tells us that we should give place to wrath and let Him handle things. You will find that God setting things straight is not the same idea as ours. You see, He sets it straight and makes things even once and for all. We sin, we hurt, we do all this against God and he sets the record straight. What would you do to set things even?  

Do you know how God set things straight?  How he evened the score?  He loved you through your sin against him. He sent His Son to even the score. God gives redemption and not revenge. Don't get this wrong, God will have justice someday against all those who oppose Him. But right now, He sends salvation!  He sends love!  He sets the score even!

  

On Calvary, Jesus was brutally beaten, spat on, kicked, beard plucked out, just to even the score. Think about it, He settled it all. 

John 15:13

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends"  

You Didn’t Learn that from Jesus

Ephesians 4:20-24
But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Don't you just love it when a child misbehaves and the mom shouts, "He didn't learn that from me!" Usually that is followed by an echo from the dad with the same phrase. Often we pick up things from time to time as we are growing up. Sometimes it's words or sometimes even a look or facial expression. As soon as we see it we are tempted to say those words... "She got that from her mom!"

I remember, as our boys were growing up, sometimes this happened. Okay, maybe it was many times that it happened. One problem that I created (yes, me) was the word "crap". Whenever something would anger me, or even just playing basketball and it not falling into the hoop, I would say this infamous word of mine. I never paid much attention to it because I wasn't saying the other slang word right? Then one day my innocent two year old walked up and said it. Immediately I knew that he had been hanging around his momma too much.  Hahahaha no that's not true, it was me. I must admit that sometimes I was a bad example and it came from not truly following the right example myself.

Think about something this morning. Think of how you are living right now. Your daily actions and even words that you use. Where did you learn that from? If it's sinful, don't you dare blame that on Jesus. Our scripture says that "ye have not so learned Christ;" If we are in Christ, and know Christ, then we are to put off the old man with his conversation and deceitful lusts. We should put on the new man which is IN Christ. The way some Christians are living, well let me just say... You didn't learn that from Jesus.

Stopped in my Tracks

Hebrews 12:3
For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Stop what you are doing right now for just a moment and think of something. Take a few minutes this morning and think about Jesus. When I think of Him my mind immediately goes to grace and a love that I've never known before. In our scripture today it makes me stop in my tracks!

He tells us to take the time to consider. Consider means to ponder or give specific thought to something. Look at what he tells us to consider. He tells us to consider Jesus and what He endured. Jesus, who come to give His life, endured the contradiction of sinners. They were totally against Him and contrary to Him. It almost seems as if Jesus could never get His head above the water. The constant infliction of contradiction from sinners against everything He said or did.

Have you ever felt this way before? I have and I'm sure there will be more of those days. When they come we must stop in our tracks and consider Jesus. Think of Him and what He did. Think of what He thought. Ask for the mind of Christ to be in you. Why? Because of the end of this verse. "Lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."  Sometimes we spin around in circles instead of stopping in our tracks and considering the one who endured such contradictions. This causes spiritual fatigue.

Lord help me to stop in my tracks and consider you.

Picking Teams

James 2:1
My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

Can you think back to those childhood days? You are standing on the playground during recess and everyone is lining up for red-rover. Team captains are being chosen and now the anticipation is building. "Billy!" is shouted out first. "Carl" is the second one chosen. "Sally is on my team!" Wait a minute. Why in the world would they pick Sally over you and the others? She is the most frail and petite beauty queen of the whole class. There is no way that they could win with her. Why would they pick her? (May I say Billy-Bob is a lot smarter than he looks? He wasn't interested in winning the game. Just gathering a few points with Sally)

The next name is called, then the next, and the next. One after one the best fit for the team is chosen. Some who were in the 3rd grade who were the size of 5th graders and some who looked as puny as 1st graders. Over and over people were picked out because of their ability or talent until the final one was picked. Didn't it seem like the game wasn't the struggle but the pressure of picking and being picked?

God tells us this morning that it is not so with Him. Yes there are many scriptures that point to Him choosing us but it was not because of our talent or skills. It wasn't because of our beauty or riches. It was, and is, because He loves us. He loves the world and is not willing that any should perish. He didn't choose Peter because he was a strong fisherman. Nope it was because he loves him. The same love he chose and offered to Peter is also that same love that he chose and offered to Judas Iscariot. "Have I not chosen twelve of you and one of you is a devil..." said Jesus.

Why would you think you can choose who comes to Christ? Have not faith with respect of persons. A good friend of mine once said, "Character is how you treat people that you don't need." - Junior Hill

Makes Me Smile

1 Thessalonians 2:13

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

Do we miss the truth sometimes because we give people our advice? Because we give people our opinions?  I believe that could be answered with a yes. I know God loves to use us and uses our advice and opinions at times, but when it matters to what truth really is, we need to give the words from our God. 

So often we want to report ON the word of God instead of reporting THE word of God. With our commentary lifestyles and our shelves full of CliffNotes, we tend to try and sum things up for people. We should do as the old preacher man used to say... "Give them what Thus Says The Word Of God". (my dad is that old preacher man)

What if Paul would have given his opinion or thoughts on what God wanted to do with the people of Thessalonica? They would have received PAUL's word, or the words of men, and not God's. But Paul said they received it not as the word of men, "but as it is in truth, the WORD OF GOD". 

When we share what God's Word says and people receive it.... It causes us to be thankful without ceasing. All because we know it was nothing that we said, but the very words that God spoke concerning the truth to our hearts, He has just spoken to theirs. Makes you smile doesn't it?

Not One!

John 7:13

Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.

Not one? Not one person spoke in favor of Jesus because of one thing...fear. They were afraid of their lives being taken away from them by the Jews. How sad of a shape are we in when will no longer stand for the truth? Are we today in that same mind frame? People are afraid to call unrighteousness by its name of evil because they are afraid. They will no longer preach the bloody truth of the death of Christ because they are afraid it may offend. What is wrong with us?

I can't believe that we would not share who Jesus is and what He has done because of fear. Let me ask you this question today. What are you actually afraid of? In the last few months we have had many, many people whose lives were taken from them because of their direct connection with Christ Jesus and the other peoples direct connection with Satan. Gunmen entered into schools asking people of their Christian faith and shot them on the spot. Coptic/Egyptian Christians have been taken to the shores of the sea, lined up as herds, decapitated in the name of Christ and in honor of Satan. 

What will you do? Will you be afraid and not speak of Jesus to your family because you don't want to ruffle feathers while they draw closer and closer to the flames of Hell? Will you keep quiet while the aborted babies are slaughtered to the god of convience? Will you rejoice in the proposition of worldly love, while trampling on the foundation of marriage that God instituted all because you are afraid? 

Listen to those words again... "Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews." No man! Well through His grace, I will stand for Jesus and let the world go by. 

Very Impressive

Isaiah 55:11

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:

it shall not return unto me void,

but it shall accomplish that which I please,

and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

How many highlight reels have you seen of football, baseball, basketball, softball, etc...?  It's always some kind of miraculous breakaway from a defender to make a touchdown pass. It could be a last minute buzzer-beater shot to win the championship. Or a down by three grand slam to walk away with the trophy. It could also be some amazing throw from third base behind your back to second to make that out. We have become accustomed to desire these kind of plays in our sports. We feel if we don't do it this way then the impact of the game will not mean anything. They will become forgettable. 

This kind of thought process is bleeding into our churches and pulpits. Some feel if there is not a joke to break the ice then something will be missing (I'm all for laughter by the way). We feel if our preacher isn't entertaining then he can't relate to us. We feel if our music program isn't modern and fresh that we aren't powerful. But this isn't true. 

How many times have you seen an out from third to first? Were they effective? Did the player make an impact on the game?  Did the player always throw it behind their back?  You see, it doesn't matter if the player is talented. God has always used people that weren't talented. At times they have made spectacular plays or we've had great services but the main thing God wants us to do is get the ball there. 

We spend too much time on preparing our delivery than praying for His power. We spend much practice on our "behind the back" moves than just being behind the cross. Preachers used to pray, "Lord let them see You and hear Your Word". Too often the players want to be seen or heard. 

Gods word is what we need.  Not pumped up or pimped up preachers. Don't misunderstand me, if you've ever heard me preach you would know that I get very, very excited but let me tell you why!  It's because He can use someone like me to throw the ball from third to first. Someone that has no skill, but has the Spirit of God to deliver it. Someone who understands that it should always be about Him and His Word!  Someone who would rather make an IMPACT than to be impressive! Well, I've gotta go now I'm about to shout!  

Thank you Jesus for using FALLIBLE men to preach your INFALLIBLE Word! God's Word is enough!

Are You Pointing in the Right Direction

John 4:39

And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.

Have you ever read the story of the "woman at the well"?  If not, take time this morning. It's found in John Chapter 4, it won't take you long to read this great salvation story. I want to focus on the scripture above this morning. 

What I think is so interesting about this story is how she was treated. She came out to draw water during the noon hour because she was probably not accepted by the other women of the town. Normally they would draw in the morning and evening, but this woman was alone at noon. The reason for her unacceptance was her sins. Jesus told her in this scripture to go bring her husband back to the well and she said, "I don't have a husband". Jesus told her she was surely telling the truth, because she had already had five husbands and the one she was shacking up with now wasn't her husband. But at the well this day, Jesus gave her living water. She found true worship and salvation at the well. She ran back to the city and told them to come see a man that she believes is the Christ. 

What if she told those people in the city, "I've met a man... that told me every thing I've ever done... isn't this the Christ?" And they replied with, "Yea, we know you and your meeting of men. We hear you meet a lot of men". You know, that's what many in the church do today. Someone has a well experience and begins to share with others the change that Jesus Christ has done in their lives only to have the world (and sometimes sadly the church) question and bring doubt upon them. The people of the city didn't treat her in this manner. They believed her word and came to see. I have a theory on this... It's just what I see from this scripture. This woman didn't want them to look at her, she wanted them to come meet Jesus. If she would have said, "I've met a man and I'm forever changed" it would have been a failure. She wanted them to see Jesus. She pointed them to Jesus and they came to Him. 

Do you want people to look at you? Our testimonies should point to Jesus.  Our preaching should point to Jesus.  Our lives should point to Jesus. This woman brought many people to salvation because she said, "I've met a man, come see Him for yourselves"! 

A 59

Proverbs 30:6
Add thou not unto his words,
lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

When I was in the eleventh grade I did the unthinkable in English class. I wasn't much for school work, or for anything back in the eleventh grade. So when the time came for term papers I took my topic of Edgar Allan Poe and devised a plan. I remembered that there was a chapter in our literature book about him. I took that article and wrote it down word for word. I had zero note cards. Zero bibliography cards. But I really thought I had this paper whipped. Then I received my graded paper. It was a gut wrenching fifty-nine. I remember the note that my teacher tagged on it very clearly. "If you are going to plagiarize someone's work, you should have chosen one different from the writer of our literature book, it's been tried before."

One of the saddest truths of today is that we have this same mentality among people. Instead of speaking the Word of God, there is an attempt to change it up a bit. There is an attempt to quote the Word of God but make it as if it was their very own word. The Bible is God's Word to man and never man's word to God. It is not something that should be changed or needs to be changed to adapt. It's not new, it's the same! The same yesterday, today and forevermore.

May I make a suggestion for all of us? Let's read what God has given us in His Word and not read INTO it. Do not ADD UNTO it! Just read it and when you share it declare that it is God's Word and not yours. While commentaries are good, and Christian books are great, they are not the pure Word of  God. Don't be guilty of plagiarism or changing God's Word... You could be reproved and be found a liar.

By the way, a fifty-nine is a failing grade and adding or changing God's Word is on the same grading curve.

He Sounds Familiar...

Isaiah 1:3-4
The ox knoweth his owner,
and the ass his master's crib:
but Israel doth not know,
my people doth not consider.
Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity,
a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters:
they have forsaken the Lord,
they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger,
they are gone away backward.

Have you ever talked with someone and tried to refresh their memory about a person they have met before? I am the worst at this! I can remember people and their faces but the name is always a problem for me. When people are trying to describe the person to me or tell me about when I had met them I always say, "Yeah, that sounds familiar..."

Well looking at our scripture this morning it seems that Israel has forgotten the Lord. God says that the ox knows its owner and the donkey knows where the barn is, but the people of God don't know who or what they are. They don't know their owner or place. He says they have gone backward. The people of God have backslidden from the Lord. The ones who should know the owner who brought them out and gave them a place have somehow forgotten it all and Him. Why? Because of their sins. If we were to ask them about the Lord they would answer with, "Hmmm, He sounds familiar..."

What about you? Have your sins gotten you into a place where your familiarity of the Lord is shady? Does He sound familiar to you? The owner who bought you with His blood? The Lamb of God who has gone to prepare a place for you? Does any of this ring a bell? Then don't forget Him! Confess to Him today and become more aquainted with Him.

Many of you would want to say that the world has forgotten Him but you would be wrong. The world knoweth Him not. It is the believers who have forgotten Him. Sound familiar? It's what Jesus said to the disciples, remember Him?

I Got My Hands Full

Ecclesiastes 4:6
Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush..." Have you ever heard this before? Do you understand the meaning of what is being said? It speaks of being content with what you have in your hand and not thinking of what you don't have, or haven't yet gotten. Thinking of the two that are left in the bush takes away from the thankfulness of the one you have in your hand.

God explains it even better than the world ever could. He says that it's better to have a handful and quietness. Quietness is speaking about peace. The kind of peace that passes all understanding. Did you notice that God said it better? If we would have written this first part of scripture it would have probably sounded like this... "Better is only a handful with quietness..." God sees a handful as sufficient and satisfying but our eyes see it as "only" a handful. Our fallen flesh desires both hands to be full. We desire this so much that we will even justify it through using God. "If God didn't want me to have both hands full He would have only given me one hand" we would say.

Having a handful with peace is much better than having both hands full with trouble. Just as a child would think that having two or more Popsicles would be better than having one, we use this same theory. But having our hands full of Popsicles would cause trouble, stickiness, and we couldn't eat all of them before they melted. On the other hand, having one in our hand and enjoying it with peace as the sun shines down on us, now that would be enjoyable.

Are you at peace with what you have today in your hand? Then be thankful for it. A blessing in the hand with peace is worth two hands full of trouble and heartache. Do you have your hands full?

Dead Man Walking...

Romans 6:7-8
For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

Doesn't it seem crazy to quote that movie phrase?  It seems crazy to even think a dead man could walk right. Well we know that, in the movie, he was speaking about someone who was headed to their death. Our scripture says that we are dead men and women walking. Not walking in our fleshly dead bodies, but rather dead to sin and walking in Christ Jesus.

How can someone be both dead and alive? Our death to the old man, or old lifestyle of sin, is dead through the salvation of Jesus. We cannot continue in dead works or a dead lifestyle of sin. If we have died to that person then we are now alive unto Jesus. When we are dead, we are freed from sin. In other words it should not be our leader anymore.

Aren't you glad the scripture doesn't end at the beginning of that scripture?  If it stopped there then our only hope of victory over sin would be when we died and ceased to live in these bodies. God has given us victory over sin and the sinful life. "Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him:" If Christ has saved you, He will also satisfy and sanctify you. He will teach you how to live this new life in Him.

Oh, how I love being a Dead Man Walking. I was dead in my sins, but now I am alive walking in Christ.

Belly Laugh

Proverbs 17:22
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

There is nothing like hearing one of those good old "belly" laughs. You know what I'm talking about? The laugh that comes from deep in the gut. One that everyone can hear, even in a room filled with people. It's sound is so much more different than a normal giggle or laughter. It uses every resource of the body in order to come out differently. I love hearing people say, "I laughed so hard that my belly hurts."

There are times on my school bus route that the kids get a little out of hand and loud. I try to stay calm and understanding in these situations but I also have to maintain a little bit of sanity in order to drive the bus safely. Some of the funniest moments are when I'm trying to be serious with them and all of the sudden one of the kids (that aren't paying my speech much attention) lets out that belly laugh. I must say that in those times it has lightened to mood tremendously. Other times I have been steadily driving down the road, focused on the task at hand, and one of the little children let out that laughter and it makes me smile or even laugh myself.

There is just something about laughter. It makes the face happy. It makes the heart glad. It makes others who are around forget all that they may be going through for just a split moment. The Bible says that it doeth good like a medicine. If only we could laugh more often, maybe we wouldn't be so dry and unhealthy.

Did You Read That?

Titus 2:11
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Oh, there is so much in this scripture! The scope of it, the depth of it is unmeasurable. Look closely at what it speaks this morning.

First, it speaks of the grace of God. Can you describe the grace of God? I'm sure we could think of many words and I'm positive that every one of those words would fall short of actually defining the grace of God. God's grace is nothing short of amazing. It is deeper than any ocean and higher than any mountain. To search out the grace of our God would be endless.

Second, it says that God's grace brings salvation. There is nothing else that can bring salvation. No work or labor could ever bring you salvation. Salvation is not in membership. It is not in loyalty to attendance. It is not in singing with the choir.  It is, and will always be, God's grace that brings salvation.

Lastly, and this is my favorite, it has appeared unto all men. Did you read that? The "grace of God" that "bringeth salvation" hath "appeared to all men". Yes, yes, yes! Thank you Lord Jesus! Thank you for grace! Thank you for salvation! Thank you for it being unto all men!

Like someone used to say, "If that doesn't stir your soul, your spoon has fell out of your bowl."

Put A Sock In It

Ephesians 4:31-32
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

The running pattern of today's society is to tear down others in building themselves. We know that this is not of Christ or His Word. No, it is a characteristic of those without Christ and His salvation. The sad truth is that this attitude has somehow eased its way among those who are called Christian.

The skinny person speaks against the fat while the fat person speaks against the skinny. The beautiful person speaks against the ugly and the ugly laughs and scorns at the beautiful. The tall speak against the short and vise versa. Over and over, day after day, this happens. Why is it that we tear down someone and think that it will help us feel better?

The absolute fact is that we are different. That doesn't mean better than the other, just different. If you feel you need to tear someone down in order to look better can I tell you that you actually look worse! You wanna talk about ugly? Wow!

Remember what mom always said? "If you can't say anything nice... Don't say nothing at all!"  Well I say if you can't keep your mouth shut and have to tear down someone to feel good, get a sock and stuff it in your mouth. That can be Christ coming out of you when you do that.

Help me Lord to be an encourager. Help me to build up and not tear down.

Stop Talking and Listen

1 Corinthians 10:6-11
Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Wouldn't life be so much easier if we had people tell us what to do and what not to do? Well can I tell you today that we do have that? They are called parents, leaders, elders or senior adults. Daily they share stories with us of what the past was like. Constantly speaking words of warning and admonition unto us. The reason that life has taken a wrong direction for some is because we are not listening to the directions and wisdom of those before us.

Our scripture this morning is speaking about those children of Israel who walked in the wilderness. It says they ate of the same meat and drank from the same Rock, which is Christ. Then it says many of them lusted after evil things. Some worshiped idols, some committed fornication, some tempted Christ, and some grumbled and complained. Did you notice how God's Word says in the beginning that they are examples and then closes with the same statement?

Stop talking today and listen to those who have walked before you. Listen for wisdom! Listen for instruction! Find those who have walked in similar paths and listen to their warnings. You will be greatly admonished and life's steps could be so much more rewarding.

What’s the Big Deal?

Joshua 22:20
Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.

Have you ever heard someone ask the question, "What's the big deal?" You know what I mean? As a child, you walk through the store and take a piece of candy. I mean, come on they have a whole shelf full of it. They will never miss it right? Or you're selling your vehicle to someone and know that something is wrong with it, but hey, what's the big deal?

The Bible says that if we know to do good and don't do it...it is sin. Sin is a disobedience of God's truth. It's not a slip or boo-boo. It is wrong and it is disobedience. You may think that it's really no big deal, but if you could ask this man in our scripture this morning you would know that it is a big deal.

God gave us a question about Achan. He said, "Didn't he commit a trespass, sin, when he took the accursed thing of the Lord?" Because of one man's sin, wrath fell upon all of Israel. Really? One man sins and all are effected by it? But look closely at the end of our scripture... "that man perished not alone in his iniquity."

When he took of the accursed thing and brought sin into his heart, he brought it into his home. Him and his whole family were killed in the valley of Achor. I wonder if Achan would have known that his sin's penalty would not only be pronounced upon him but also his wife and children, if he would have done it?

Let me ask you, would you? The "What's the big deal?" line is a lie from the devil. Yes, it is a big deal! And yes it will cost you much. But the great news is that Christ has paid it all on Calvary for you. Confess and turn from your sin now.

Glory in the Lord

2 Corinthians 12:10
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Take pleasure in infirmities, reproaches, persecutions, and distresses? How could this be possible? It is hard for us to imagine that we could take pleasure in these things. But we must understand the mind frame and heart thinking of this man of God. Let's look closely at these words this morning.

The definition of pleasure is a state of gratification. Being in an attitude of glorying. Paul knew that, if he desired to be fleshly, he could have gloried in his labor for the Lord. He could have boasted of his prison time and his beatings, but he chose to glory in the Lord. Look at the words he used to describe his glorying.

Infirmities - the condition of being feeble
Reproaches - a cause or occasion of blame, discredit, or disgrace
Distresses - a very difficult situation in which you do not have enough money, food, etc...

How could you glory in this? It seems almost impossible to do so. Most people of today think that God would be angry with them because of the endurance of such things. But the key is found in the latter part of the verse. It's all "for Christ's sake." Knowing that when we are the weakest in our lives that He is the strongest. Without Him, we can do nothing. Without Him, have nothing. Without Him, we have no reason to glory. So if we have something to glory of it is in the truth of knowing that whether we live or die, we glory in the Lord!