Throw It Down and Come

Mark 10:50
And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.

Have you ever heard the story of blind Bartimaeus? This man heard that Jesus was passing by his way and began to cry out loud. He said, "Jesus! Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me!"  Those that were around him told him to be quiet and keep his peace. But Bartimaeus didn't listen to them. He cried out more and more, louder and louder! The cries of Bartimaeus cause Jesus to stop and stand still. He then called Bartimaeus to come to Him. Then we see our scripture above... He coasted away his garment, rose and came to Jesus.

Bartimaeus cast aside those old garments and came to Jesus. What if he would have said, "Lord can't you just do this for me! I mean do I have to come to you? I would have to get my blanket off of me. God wants to help you today but you can't stay in your comfort of the world and expect God to move, heal and save.

Two things today... He is calling for you. You are blind to sin as Bartimaeus was blind. The second thing is that you have to put those worldly things aside. Cast away the garments of the old man and come to Jesus.

Therefore

Psalms 46:1-3

God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble.

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed,

and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled,

though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.

I love reading the word, "Therefore" in God's word! The words that always follow are a huge comfort to me. Read it again and see what I'm talking about. "God is our refuge and strength, He is our very present help in time of trouble." How awesome is that? God is our everything that we need. This scripture teaches us that He is our refuge and strength. He is our protector! He is our provider! He is our help!

Then here it comes...the word that I love! "Therefore." Now follow the rest of the scripture. It says we will not fear even if the earth is removed. Therefore we will not fear even if the mountains are thrown into the sea. Even if the waters roar and rage and the mountains shake. Why? Therefore is why!

Why should we fear these things if we know that God is our refuge, strength and help in time of trouble? I just love the "therefore" in the Bible. They always teach me that since God is my God, therefore I know He has me in His hands. 

All Of It?

Mark 10:28
Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.

A difficult thing for followers of Christ is to leave all, and follow Jesus. It's very difficult to give everything to Him. Now some of you may be tempted to say that this is not you. You may say that you have given Him everything from day one, right? Peter says that they had left all and followed Jesus, but later on we see that Peter had hung on to some things.

Peter left the boat, the nets and the fishing. He had left family and his very way of life, but he did keep some things. One was his self-will and self-sufficient power. Peter trusted many times in his own wisdom or strength. He couldn't give everything to Him. One time, when Jesus needed him, he denied that he even knew Jesus.

May I ask you a question? Have you given Him everything? All of it? We won't God to move fully on our situation but only give God half of the truth. Everything will always be everything! Christ doesn't want half or three-fourths of you. He wants all of you. He doesn't want half of your confession. He desires to hear your whole story.


Listen to these lyrics...
Are you tired of chasing pretty rainbows
Are you tired of spinning round and round
Wrap up all the shattered dreams of your life
At the feet of Jesus lay them down

Give them all
Give them all
Give them all to Jesus
Shattered dreams broken hearts and broke toys
Give them all give them all to Jesus
And he can tuen your sorrow into joy

Right Out of the Clear Blue Sky

Psalms 34:8

O taste and see that the Lord is good:

blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Sometimes things just seem to hit you out of the clear blue sky...

We were driving down the road on Sunday and it hit me. In my truck, Patti was across from me with Andrew and Jacob in the back seat. As we were entering the on ramp of the interstate I turned to the back seat and saw Jacob with his mouth hanging open wide catching flies. I asked Patti, "Is Andrew asleep?" She answered, "Nope, but he looks tired". She also added that she was tired. We had one of those weeks where you work and work. After working hard this week we were also preparing for Sunday services as well as a singing at a different church between our own church services. Needless to say everyone was tired from the laboring. 

But as I looked up again into the rear view mirror, it hit me out of the blue... I am one blessed man!  What has God seen in me that would bring these blessings? Then it hit me again...absolutely nothing!  God loves me and has blessed me. All I had to do was taste and see. Wow!  How many years had gone by without the blessings of God in my life all because I wouldn't taste and see. 

I saw a beautiful woman of God sitting beside me, that sings better than anyone I know. I saw a young man of God sitting behind me that picks up an instrument and just plays them because of the anointing of God on his life. And I saw my baby boy with his mouth wide open, who has such a huge heart for Jesus and is blessed with musical talent also. And it hit me..."Right out of the clear blue sky"... 

I am blessed, I am blessed, everyday that I live, I am blessed

When I wake up in the morning 'til I lay my head to rest

I am blessed, I am blessed?

I pray right now that it hits you out of the clear blue sky!

What’s at the Top?

Ecclesiastes 2:4-11

I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:
I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:
I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:
I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:
I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

Good morning, I hope that you take the time to read the scriptures today very slowly. Take them in! Doesn't it make you stop and think?

It's almost as if he was climbing a hill called life and when he got to the top, there was nothing there. You could spend your whole life getting more and more as Solomon did, but at the end of life realize that you actually have nothing.

What is at the top of your hill? Me? It's a mansion on the hill! It's a promise that God will never leave me nor forsake me. It's a promise that He will come for me and take me to His home. It's salvation! What about you?

Where is the Gift?

Proverbs 25:14
Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift
is like clouds and wind without rain.

2 Timothy 3:5
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Have you ever sat on the grass during a beautiful fall day and watched the clouds as they came rolling in? I remember as a child (just the other day), lying on my back and watching those clouds take form. Some of them would look like dinosaurs, while others looked like gigantic dogs. Cloud after cloud would roll by. Changing into shapes like birds, tall buildings, Snoopy, Charlie Brown, etc... Sometimes you would even see shapes like hands, arms and faces in the clouds thinking if this was God. Angels and trumpets would take shape and you would wonder if the Lord’s return was coming right then and there.

Then something happened... as soon as these clouds would form into a shape or image, they would quickly lose their shape. In all seriousness, one moment the cloud could look like a huge angel of God and then immediately turn into a devilish demon. Also, some clouds would roll in as though the biggest rain of the month was about to pour down and when it finally reached over head, nothing! They were just empty.

The Word of God warns us of people who portray the same manner of life. He says that there are some who “boast of a false gift”. Jesus said they are like the seeds that were sown onto the rocky ground. They jump up immediately, but because they lack moisture (Holy Spirit) they wither away and lose the form they tried to take on.

If the gift of God, which is salvation through Jesus Christ, is in you then there will be a different you. It will not be a temporary form of something new. No, it will be a forever change. If you change form daily, if you blow in as a cloud without the rain, if you have a form and not a sure foundation then please come to Christ today and surrender your life. The most dangerous place you can be in this life is to look as if you have the gift and do not. It’s too look like you’re filled with rain, but to be a cloud that’s empty. It’s to profess that you are a Christian, but in works through your life you are opposite. It’s not Jesus on Sunday when the wind blows in and then nothing through the rest of the week. Please surrender your form to God today and find the foundation that is sure in Jesus. I love you.

There is None Like You

Psalms 86:8

Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord;

neither are there any works like unto thy works.

I am taken straight to the throne of God by this song. Every single time I hear it I can’t help but rejoice in the Spirit. The words go...

There is none like you,

No one else can touch my heart like you do.

I could search for eternity long, and find,

There is none like you!

Think about it... Who else has ever loved you so unconditionally like Jesus?  Who has pursued you without you ever giving it a second thought like Jesus? Who has ever allowed you to slander his name and reject him again and again, but yet be gracious and still love you like Jesus?  

While I sat there on the front row listening to them sing, God once again showed me something spectacular. He loves me!  I've always known this, but He reminded me of it again. I've always known that there is no other God like our God, but I was reminded of it again through this song. 

Take time this morning to thank Him. Lord, thank you for reminding me that I have everything I need in you!  Thank you for showing me that there is none like you. No one can love like you. No one can forgive like you. No one can save like you. There is truly none like you... I could search for all eternity long and find there is none like you.  

Coming in Loud and Clear

Psalms 3:4
I cried unto the Lord with my voice,
and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

If you scream out, yell out, speak out or even whisper, understand the God will hear. I know that He is not deaf that we need to yell. It's not the manner in which we call out that makes Him draw His attention toward us, right? But wait a minute. There is something that can be said for crying out unto God. Crying out to Him in tears has great potential!

It has no power at all in the shedding of tears or especially conjuring up some crocodile tears. No, you don't have to cry in order for our Lord to hear you. The tears are not a confirmation of His hearing, it's a reality of our need. Tears are an outward sign of the brokenness that is within us. Tears have a way of touching the heart of people as well as our Father.

Years ago a preacher shared a story of a visitation to a family in the church. This woman had asked the Pastor to come and talk with her husband about salvation. This Pastor and minister of music went faithfully to share the Gospel with this man. But the husband would not budge. No scripture, no illustration and no prayer broke through the hardness of this man's heart. It wasn't until the Pastor looked over at this husbands child in a wheelchair that things changed. This child was crying out in prayer for his daddy to be saved. Those tears fell from his face, then the wife's face, then the Pastor and music minister were crying as well when that dad opened his heart and accepted Jesus as his Savior.

You're heart may be broken this morning...may I say that you are that much closer to the Lord hearing you? Because now you will finally tell Him your whole heart. Cry out to Him now, He's always listening. With those tears, you're coming in loud and clear!

Do As He Says

Romans 2:21-24
Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

Have you ever heard a parent say, "Do as I say and not as I do?" Let me ask you something. Have you ever heard a bigger line of bologna in your life? I mean that has to be the dumbest thing I've ever heard. You're telling that child to follow rules that you set but aren't willing to follow yourself.

Can you tell someone not to steal if you're a thief? How can you share with people about their adultery if you have been caught in the very act of it? When we do this our God is blasphemed. Blasphemed means rejected. I don't know about you, but the hardest thing to read in this scripture is the last part. "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles THROUGH you. Those are strong words!

God, help me to never be a part of the problem. Keep me close so that I may share with truth your Gospel. Let your name be glorified Lord.

Hitting on All Cylinders

Hitting On All Cylinders 

Ephesians 4:16

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Years ago, as a sixteen year old, I drove my dad's Chevrolet Chevette to football practice. Me, and three other guys, that made me look and feel small, would ride together. Now where we lived there were many hills. And the car had a problem... It was a 4-cylinder car that only ran on 3 of them. One of the cylinders was not firing. So as we would approach a hill, the car would struggle to get to the top of it. Looking back, I feel bad for that little car. (Haha)

If we could have torn apart the engine we could see that three of the cylinders were doing the work of a four cylinder. They were all tied together to the camshaft. And so what is cool... When one piston was up, the other one was down. If one of them were not firing then what would happen is that the other three took its place. 

How often do we see this happen?  20% of the people doing 80% of the work. God would have us all hitting at the same time. That way we could be ready to give full help that is full powered. We get bogged down and put stress on us when we aren't all hitting. It is a sad day when one cylinder thinks they can do it on there own. It takes teamwork. 

Pray today!  Lord if I have wronged you, I'm sorry. If I haven't been laboring in The Lord, and depending on others to carry me always. Please help me Lord. 

Can the Blind Lead the Blind?

Luke 6:39
And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?

I find it so awesome that God speaks to people like me. I don't mean that I'm better than someone else and God takes the time to talk to me. I mean that He speaks to me in a simple way because I'm simple minded. God could come out with such an illustration and even prepare a PowerPoint presentation to speak to us. (By the way, that would be pretty cool to see a PowerPoint broadcast across the sky by the Lord) He can use any way and any means possible to share with us His truth. For those like me, and you know who you are, He chooses to just speak plain and simple.

This morning He says, "Can the blind lead the blind?" Pretty simple huh? There is no need for an exegetical breakdown of this scripture or an elaborate study on it. No, it's very easy to understand. If you are still in darkness (blinded by sin or lost in sin) how can you lead someone else who is in the same condition as you? I have no idea how you could mess that statement up. Jesus, as His manner was, took it a bit further. He says the blind can't lead the blind or they will both fall into the same ditch.

So let's think about this simple truth today. How can someone who is blind help another blind person across the street? They both lack in the certain skills to do this task. If one who has their sight comes along to help what are their chances of now making it across without falling into the ditch? I know what you're thinking... Some blind people have made it across the street without any help before. This is probably true, but also rare and very dangerous. Chances are that someday, because of their inability to see, they will stumble.

The same is said of those who are lost in darkness and sin. How can someone who is blind in their sin lead someone to Heaven? Occasionally they can do some good things on their own, but eventually they will stumble into the ditch.

Are You Playing the Part?

John 6:70-71
Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

Peter had just made a statement on behalf of the others with him. He said, "We believe thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." But what Peter didn't know was that there was one among the disciples that was just merely playing the part. Almost as if it was a role in a movie.

A very big disappointment to me is when I see actors take on the role of a Christian in a movie but then only to play a cursing, drunken fool in another. I ask myself how someone could just so easily play one part to another. I remember once in an interview with Charles Manson hearing him say, "I'll be the devil if you want me to, or I'll be Jesus Christ." How could this be? How can someone swap roles so easily? Because of just that, it's just a role to them.

Judas had every opportunity to be a child of God but instead he played the role. Pharaoh had a chance at repentance but chose to play the part. Cain, Esau, King Saul, all had the opportunity at becoming a true follower of God but did nothing more than play a role. Some roles were evil in life while some chose to play the good guy. It wasn't until the closing chapters of their lives that their roles were revealed for who they actually were.

Are you blending in with your role? Service after service you attend the house of God but only on a professional acting basis. It's simple to fit in and no one will ever know. But can I tell you that when you stand before Him, your role will be revealed. Don't play the part of a fool. Don't play the part of a Christian. No, understand that we aren't actors, we are children of God.

I’m Sure

Acts 1:3
To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

How great of a God do we serve that He is willing to show us His glory. He is willing to show proof of who He is. In a manger the shepherds worshipped Him because they found the words of the angels to be an infallible truth. In His walk on this earth He showed the infallible truths through miracles and the power of His words. The demons obeyed the voice of God as He commanded them to come out people. In the river of Jordan God the Father spoke up and told the most infallible truth of this being His Son when He declared He was pleased with Him. In the judgment hall He proved infallibly that He was the Son of God and the sacrificial lamb by not speaking a word.

One of the greatest places He showed this infallible truth is at Calvary. Here He laid down His life for sinners. He took our place in guilt and shame. He allowed the mockers to mock His deity. He allowed the nails to pierce His hands and feet. He allowed the soldiers to pierce His side and watch as the blood and water flowed from Him. The greatest truth was when He prayed for His Father to forgive them. You may say, "I need more truth, I need more facts." But these are the infallible truths that He has given. Truths of His salvation and love.

Did you know that these proofs of who Jesus was/is convinced even a Gentile soldier that He had to be the Son of God? He watched these infallible proofs of Jesus while He was dying, and the Roman Centurion soldier said, "Truly this was the Son of God." He needed no more proof, it was sufficient.

Then our scripture points out the proof of His resurrection. There were infallible proofs of His birth, life, death and resurrection.  I'm convinced. I'm sure! Take the time today to tell someone about these infallible truths.

I Know, It’s Crazy Awesome!

Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

I have always found it one of the most remarkable things about being the the family of God. I have seen it beside the casket of a loved one. I have seen it beside the hospital bed of a spouse. I have seen it on a road out in the middle of the path of a tornado that has destroyed everything a family had on this earth. It's called peace.

Now we have to understand that when the world tries to describe peace it really comes short of what we are talking about today. Their definition is a calming attitude or place of quietness, but God's definition goes much, much deeper than this answer.

Our scripture this morning says that the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keeps our hearts and minds through Jesus. That may seem simple in its description but if we look closely we can see it a little clearer.

First of all it's God's peace that He gives us. It isn't some man-made or store-bought peace. It isn't found in a newspaper or magazine. It isn't drank or ingested, no it's God given. Second, it is something that we could never wrap our minds around. Every time we attempt to explain it we come short. It is so great of a peace that we have no idea how it works. We only know where it came from. Third, it has great capabilities of keeping our hearts and our minds. Although our hearts (spirit within) knows and trusts in God, our minds could be going in a hundred directions. But there again is that peace that keeps both of them established. Lastly, I told you that it was God given. It is given through His Son Jesus Christ.

The only real peace that I have dear Lord is in YOU!  I know, It's Crazy Awesome!

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

John 7:18
He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

While we serve the Lord Jesus, don't do it with a bullhorn or a loudspeaker telling everyone what you are doing. Do it in humbleness, quietness and in adoration for him.  We should serve because we love him.

Can you imagine Jesus coming into the city of Nain yelling, "Where is that boy I'm going to raise? Y'all watch this!" Can't you just see him in the synagogue that day gathering everyone together... "Hey everyone! Is there a man in here with a withered hand? I'm gonna do something great today!"  Can't you see him beside the pool of Bethesda?  "Who wants the healing? Who wants the miracle?" No we don't read that because it wasn't the manner of Jesus. Neither should it be our character. The scripture said that he didn't make a reputation for himself.

C. H. Spurgeon said, "If you want to do a good thing, go and do it as naturally as ever you can. Be simple hearted and simple minded. Be yourself. Do not be affected in your piety, as if you were going to walk to heaven on stilts: walk on your own feet." 

So many want attention, glory and honor while serving our Lord. If Christ served with humility shouldn't we?  If he served in quietness shouldn't we?  If he didn't seek his own glory, but the glory of his father, shouldn't we? 

In Nain, he walked quietly over to a widow weeping about her son. He had compassion on her and told the boy to arise. In the synagogue he simply told the man to stretch out his hand and it was made whole. When he was beside the pool of Bethesda, he asked this man if he wanted to be made whole. He didn't make a big deal about stirring up the water and getting him in the pool.

You see when we serve Jesus, they will see Him. If we serve ourselves and pride, they will see us. Who are we serving right now?