Not Anymore!

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

I heard a man preaching in our church this past Sunday evening. He was talking about how he used to see me around town. He was sharing how I had seen him in the local grocery store. He was on the alcohol aisle and I was getting some milk. He took off running from me, but I made it a point to holler a hearty hello. His face turned red and he kinda ignored me. He took off toward the register and paid for his beer. He then took it out to the vehicle and came back inside. He found me down another aisle and shook my hand like he had not seen me before. 

It wasn't much after this that he surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. Wow what a difference Jesus has made in his life. It excites me because I see what Christ did for me years ago through him. I was exactly like this man. I was good, a good friend, a good person, and a real good sinner. (This was the way I viewed myself) But just like our scripture this morning, I would not have entered Heaven on my good thoughts or deeds. I was a drunkard, reviler, just a sinner. But look closely at the scripture and you will see some of the greatest words ever written. "...and such WERE some of you..." 

I used to run from the Christians. I didn't want to hear them. I especially ran from God because I didn't want to hear Him either. I was so lost in sin!  I love that I WAS lost. I am no longer lost. 

Just like when I hear this man speak, or many of the others that were lost speak, I get excited. I hear them talk about what they used to be. I hear them tell of things that they used to do. Not bragging about it but humble about it. And I want to shout, "NOT ANYMORE, NOT ANYMORE!"  

And such WERE some of you: BUT ye are washed, BUT ye are sanctified, BUT ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. See it? Say this morning, "NOT ANYMORE!"

I'm A Jesus Fan

John 6:66-68

From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

With football season underway everyone has washed the old flag of their favorite football team and hung them from the front porch. Friday after Friday they go to the local grocery store and stock up on the favorite tailgating foods. Some purchase tickets at a great expense, load up the RV and head out to the campus of their team. For weeks, some even months, have studied over the new recruits and who will be starting. To some I know, it's a passion and even sometimes a religion. 

The excitement begins to fill the air. People make preparations for the opening game parties. The band begins to play that old fight song. The cheerleaders are flipping across the field and yelling for their team. The team comes out on the field for warmup drills. People in the stands, and at home, point out to everyone who are the all-star players. They give statistics of the quarterbacks throwing arm, the running backs yardage per carry from their high school days and the defensive line and their bench press weight. People know it like the back of their hands. They passionately talk of how their team is going all the way this year. "We are gonna run-n-gun this year", they say. 

Then the kick is off...and the first play of scrimmage is about to take place. The huddle is broken and everyone is to the line. The quarterback snaps the ball and takes three steps back and fires one over the middle! The ball is perfect and tightly spiraled. The receiver comes across the center of the field...reaches for the ball...BOOM! He's hammered! The pass is incomplete. The crowd and fans everywhere begin to yell, "That's ok, that's ok, come on guys, you can do it!"  

Huddle is broken, line is set, ball is snapped and the quarterback hands it to the beast of a running back that we have this year...BOOM! He's dropped for a three yard loss. "What? Come on line...BLOCK SOMEBODY!" are the screams from the crowd now. After an hour or two of this the stadium begins to empty. On the way home from the campus the newly washed flag is now being torn to shreds or even burned. The team jerseys and team apparel that was pressed is by now hanging back in the closet. 

Some people love when the team is exciting and passing the ball and touchdown after touchdown is scored. But then when it gets tough in the trenches people want to walk away. Some want their team to always throw the ball and be fast paced, while others like the bulldozing of a running attack. If the team doesn't perform like they think they should, well they just walk away. If it gets too difficult, like it will sometimes, they just leave and hang the shirt back in the closet until the next season that rolls around. 

If Jesus were to ask you this morning, "Will you also go away?"  What would be your answer?  What would be your reason for staying?  Will you only serve and love Him while it's easy? Or will you stay with Him in the trenches?  My answer would be... Lord Jesus, I have nowhere else to go. You are my Savior! I'm on your team! 

Just An Old Washer

Revelation 1:5

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

My prayer this morning is that you could endure one more devotion about running and finding things on the ground. Hahaha

Remember the last devotion about finding the three pennies and a dime?  Well while I was running that morning I also saw something huge and shiny. It was about as big as a half-dollar. Man I was so pumped up!  I could see this thing shining bright. I have never found something this big before. Closer and closer I got. When it finally came into my vision I was disheartened. "It's just a washer!" I said. It's an old scratched up washer. 

I was so excited about picking the half-dollar, only to find out it was a washer. So I laughed and ran past it. I kept thinking about it though. I thought, "A washer, who loses a washer in the middle of a parking lot?"  It was just an old stinking washer. Then God smote my heart! "The reason you think it is just an old washer is because you don't see it's service", He said to me. 

Washer - a thin, flat ring that is made of metal, plastic, or rubber and that is used to make something (such as a bolt) fit tightly, distribute pressure evenly or to prevent rubbing and corrosion by separating the materials. 

I went back and picked up that old washer and held it as I ran. I kept saying, "Just an old washer, just an old washer". You know what?  That old washer reminded me of Jesus. First of all He washed away my sins. But look deeper. I am tightly secure through Him. He distributes the pressures that I may endure evenly. Lastly, He separates me from the elements and things of this world. He doesn't want me to be corrupted by the things of this world, so He separates me from it. It is the washer in between. 

Some of you may think that Jesus is just an old story, or just an old washer. Can I tell you He is more than just an old washer. He is more than just an old story or Savior. He has the ability and capability to be so much more to you. I hope that you will look at old washers differently after this morning.  But more than that, my prayer is that you will see Jesus as so much more. 

There's Another One

Proverbs 11:30

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life;

and he that winneth souls is wise.

If you have read any of the DaybreakDiscoveries before you would know how I feel about pennies. God has really shown me a great life lesson in the value of pennies. Well, here is something else that He's shown me recently. 

It was about 4:45am and I'm stretching to do my morning run. Got my headphones in and listening to some of my favorite gospel songs. Off I go!  Understand that when I run I try my best to not focus on the pain or heavy breathing. So I pray and talk to The Lord. Mostly asking Him to help me reach my daily goal. 

I'm constantly scanning the area for things. Well this morning something shiny caught my eye. It was a dime!  Praise The Lord! I pointed at it and said to myself, "I'll be back for you". (I do this every time). So when I finish my run I always try and do a walk down. During my walk down, I go back and pick up those things I have seen during my run. 

While walking back toward the area where the dime was I played a mental picture in my head. I remember exactly where it was. It was in the beginning curve of my run. I started getting excited because I knew it was a dime and I knew where it was, remember I pointed at it. I knew when I left that it would be in my pocket and then eventually in my money jug at home. I finally made it to the spot where I knew it was... I could not find it! I was saying, "I know it's here! It was right here!"

Then something shiny caught my eye. I walked over. It was a penny. One that I didn't see while running. Then my mind started telling me that maybe I was mistaken and it was a penny and not a dime. But just then, another shiny penny. Then another one! I was so pumped. And then while walking back, there it was. Shining just like I saw it while running. The dime. My dime. 

That is just like my Lord?  How many times do we go looking with our minds wrapped around a pre-concept or a specific person? We look for those we think will come to Jesus. Some even look for those who they think would make a "good" Christian. 

This morning, today, and everyday from now on. While you're out looking for the dimes, don't overlook the pennies. When your out seeking the lost, look everywhere in every place. Maybe you will be like I was this morning... There's another one, there's another one, there's another one! Praise The Lord, just keep looking.  There's another one!

You Reckon?

Romans 8:18

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

I don't know how you feel, but I absolutely love where I live. As I was growing up I heard many people say, "I can't wait until I get out of this hick town". Well I can't say that I have ever wanted to do that. I'm sure there where times I wanted to leave cause everyone was in my business, but I have come to find out that if my business is about the Gospel of Jesus and preaching the Word, then I'm fine. 

In my wonderful home of Kimberly, Alabama we use many words. People say things like... backards, fixin' and aight... Well aren't you glad that God is a southerner also?  Look at our scripture. Paul is telling us about the hardships in the Christian walk. He is sharing with us some of the things that many of our modern ministers will not share. He tells us that we will suffer in this life, and if we are heirs with Jesus Christ that we will suffer as He suffered. 

We will go through times in our lives that hardships will come. Sufferings will be a part of our lives. Times of great peril will happen. Just because we are children of God that doesn't mean all things will be easy. It doesn't mean that our lives will never have difficulties. What is great is the fact that He will be with us. He will see us through. He will help us!  And the sufferings will not be in any comparison to the glory of God. 

I love how it says, "I reckon". Think of the old Christian farmer. He's suffered throughout this year because a lack of rain. His crops are withered and pocketbook dusty. He looks out at the garden, looks at his wife, glances at his children and says through faith... "I reckon God will take care of us". 

The one in the altar who is weeping and praying about the brokenness of their heart suddenly looks up at you with a peace and contentment. You look at them as ask, "Are you gonna be alright?"  And they answer, "I reckon". You may think they have second guessed God but you are wrong. We "reckon" the sufferings of this present time can't be compared to the glory which shall be revealed. 

I reckon, do you?

Grace, Grace, God's Grace

Matthew 23:4

For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

In our churches of today we need a full and Spirit-filled understanding concerning differences between the law and Grace of God. The law teaches us that we are all sinners before a holy and just God. The law reveals to us our lost and sinful condition. It states the works and actions of sinners. The law is our school system, helping us to understand where we stand before God. The Grace of God reveals the love and mercy of God toward us. It extends, or reaches out to us even while we are yet in our sins. 

Somehow we have taken that to the next level. We have added and subtracted to the laws of God. On one end of the scales we have those who put their thumb on the scale. They add heavy burdens that are difficult to be borne. Tightening the noose pull after pull. Like our scripture says, they themselves will not even abide by the laws they impose upon people. They build book after book with law after law written inside. Too much emphasis is placed upon the law. Now listen to me... We need the law!  The law shows our condition. The law is still a great guide for Christian living even after salvation. But the difference is that it is a law fulfilled now by Christ Jesus and not us. 

Then on the other end of the scale is the Amazing Grace of God. Through His grace we are saved, not the through the law. The law reveals, but the Grace of God reaches. The law binds, but the Grace of God frees us into His liberty. It's the wonderful Grace of Jesus that has set my soul free. 

So the conclusion is this... To preach Grace and practice law is wrong. We must find the understanding of scripture. The law brings us Christ, but the Grace of God TO Christ!  The law brings us death. The law says, "For the wages of sin is death..."  The Grace of God brings us life. The Grace of God says, "...but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord". 

#daybreakdiscoveries

A Record Low

Psalms 136:23

Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:

Wow!  It is July 29, 2014 and we could be waking in the morning to a record low. It is forecasted to be 58-60 degrees in the morning. And just two days ago it was a heat index of 103 in Birmingham, Alabama. Isn't it funny how things can change so quickly? We always say if you don't like the weather, stick around it will change. 

Our lives can be much the same. Some days it seems like we are in a furnace. We are in the heat of a trial being tried and tested. The pressure is applied and we don't know if we can make it. Or some days it's blue bird skies. The birds are singing. The frogs are croaking. The cats and dogs are just laying around in the shade and enjoying the day. We spend all day with the family laughing and playing. Tired and weary from fun, we go to bed. Then on the next morning we wake up to an all-time record low. 

It happens so quickly. Even when it's foretold by God's word that these things would happen, it seems to hit us by surprise. Think of those disciples... One day they are enjoying the fellowship with Jesus in Bethany and a supper that evening. But before night could fall completely, the disciples hit a record low. Within a few hours, Jesus has been taken by soldiers and they find themselves scattered in fear and confusion. Jesus had told them these things would come to pass, but yet it still caught them by surprise. He was beaten, crucified and buried. We find the disciples are discouraged and at a record low. 

But remember our scripture today... "Who remembered us in our low estate". Thank you Jesus for not leaving us there! It's in the record lows of our lives that God can be the greatest comfort. Some people will breakout the sweats tomorrow in order to fight off the chill. Well in that same manner, Jesus will comfort you in your record low. He will walk with you in your low estate. But one thing is key... You must call upon The Lord. Ask Him right now for His presence and comfort when you've hit an all-time low.