Psalms 72:11
Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.
Do you remember the scriptures that speak of Jesus saving a man who was possessed by many devils? His name was Legion, because there were many devils in him. The Bible tells us in the book of Luke that the man saw Jesus and acted in a certain way. It says he... "When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? Luke 8:28"
Some people that knew this man probably thought that there was no hope for him. I can hear many of them saying, "There is no way you can keep that man bound. He breaks every chain that we bind him with. He will never be tame or at peace." But they didn't know Jesus! As many devils that were possessing this man we would be tempted to think that they would never bow a knee to Jesus right? Well we would be wrong. In the account from the book of Mark it says that he fell down and "worshiped" Jesus. What? Yes, that's right, he worshiped Him.
Are there people that you can think of that you would say will never bow a knee to Jesus? David said in our scripture this morning that ALL kings shall fall down before Him. He said that ALL nations shall serve Him. I know that from viewing our society and world it doesn't look like ALL nations, people and even demons will fall down and worship Him, but looks can be deceiving. That's why we need the scriptures. It's where truth is found. Some day, and maybe it will be soon, ALL kings, ALL nations, ALL people, ALL demons will bow down unto the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords whose name is Jesus!
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Think About It...
Haggai 1:5
Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.
What an amazing time you could have with the Lord right now. Just stop for five minutes and think of what is going on in your life. Ask yourself these questions...
Am I going forward for the Lord?
Have I included God in every decision?
Is there anything that I would change?
Am I satisfied with my walk with the Lord?
Now I'm almost certain that if you took the five minutes to think on these questions that you will probably spend more time on trying to figure out the answer to them. What would happen if we would consider our ways? Most people never do.
The person who decides to go out on the town and drink it up, will never consider the persons life they could take when they get behind the wheel until they are sitting in a police car. The person who flirts with another ones spouse never considers the children of these people until they are crying in a courtroom during a divorce trial. What if we would consider the results of our ways at the beginning and not at the end?
What have you considered today? Maybe there is something that you haven't actually thought through today. Considering is not just merely thinking about your ways, but it is considering your ways "carefully". Giving much care or attention to what you will decide. How much trouble and heartache could you save today alone by considering the outcome of your decisions?
Think about it!
Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.
What an amazing time you could have with the Lord right now. Just stop for five minutes and think of what is going on in your life. Ask yourself these questions...
Am I going forward for the Lord?
Have I included God in every decision?
Is there anything that I would change?
Am I satisfied with my walk with the Lord?
Now I'm almost certain that if you took the five minutes to think on these questions that you will probably spend more time on trying to figure out the answer to them. What would happen if we would consider our ways? Most people never do.
The person who decides to go out on the town and drink it up, will never consider the persons life they could take when they get behind the wheel until they are sitting in a police car. The person who flirts with another ones spouse never considers the children of these people until they are crying in a courtroom during a divorce trial. What if we would consider the results of our ways at the beginning and not at the end?
What have you considered today? Maybe there is something that you haven't actually thought through today. Considering is not just merely thinking about your ways, but it is considering your ways "carefully". Giving much care or attention to what you will decide. How much trouble and heartache could you save today alone by considering the outcome of your decisions?
Think about it!
Monday, April 24, 2017
Cast on... Cast off... Slip... Loop...
1 Samuel 18:1
And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
It's funny, but out of all of the revivals that I had the honor to preach, I stayed in a hotel once. Every state I went to preach a revival meeting I stayed with a member of the church. Years ago I was preaching a revival meeting in Roxie, MS. The family that allowed me to stay with them were older in years. Besides the revival itself, my greatest memories were sitting around a fireplace after each nightly meeting shelling pecans and talking. Sister Ruth would be knitting while Sonny and I were shelling the pecans talking about Jesus. Cast on, bind off, slip... These are the words that you would hear from Sister Ruth as she would knit. I remember watching her loop those threads of yarn together over and over. Pushing and pulling until they seemed like they became one piece.
The scripture today tells us that Johnathan and David had that same kind of friendship. Their hearts were woven together. Some of you would say, "What's the big deal? I have friends like that." You aren't seeing the bigger picture of this friendship. This would be one easily attacked by Satan given the opportunity. You see Johnathan is the son of King Saul. Saul hated David and was jealous of him. Johnathan could have hated David in this same manner but he didn't. Johnathan could have hated David even on his own terms. David was anointed to be the King over Israel but rightfully Johnathan could have argued that he was the one who should be the next King. He was the King's son, so next in line should have been him. But that's not what happened. The soul of David and Johnathan were knit together. Friends for life they declared.
I've had friends and then I've had knitted friends. Thank you Lord for knitting my life with some of the most faithful and encouraging people I've ever known. Loop after loop you have given me some great friends, but above all of them... My friendship with You is the greatest! Let my heart beat to the same rhythm as yours Lord. Let my love be shown daily Lord Jesus. Thank you for being my friend that is closer than any brother. Pushing and pulling you have made our hearts one with every knit.
And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
It's funny, but out of all of the revivals that I had the honor to preach, I stayed in a hotel once. Every state I went to preach a revival meeting I stayed with a member of the church. Years ago I was preaching a revival meeting in Roxie, MS. The family that allowed me to stay with them were older in years. Besides the revival itself, my greatest memories were sitting around a fireplace after each nightly meeting shelling pecans and talking. Sister Ruth would be knitting while Sonny and I were shelling the pecans talking about Jesus. Cast on, bind off, slip... These are the words that you would hear from Sister Ruth as she would knit. I remember watching her loop those threads of yarn together over and over. Pushing and pulling until they seemed like they became one piece.
The scripture today tells us that Johnathan and David had that same kind of friendship. Their hearts were woven together. Some of you would say, "What's the big deal? I have friends like that." You aren't seeing the bigger picture of this friendship. This would be one easily attacked by Satan given the opportunity. You see Johnathan is the son of King Saul. Saul hated David and was jealous of him. Johnathan could have hated David in this same manner but he didn't. Johnathan could have hated David even on his own terms. David was anointed to be the King over Israel but rightfully Johnathan could have argued that he was the one who should be the next King. He was the King's son, so next in line should have been him. But that's not what happened. The soul of David and Johnathan were knit together. Friends for life they declared.
I've had friends and then I've had knitted friends. Thank you Lord for knitting my life with some of the most faithful and encouraging people I've ever known. Loop after loop you have given me some great friends, but above all of them... My friendship with You is the greatest! Let my heart beat to the same rhythm as yours Lord. Let my love be shown daily Lord Jesus. Thank you for being my friend that is closer than any brother. Pushing and pulling you have made our hearts one with every knit.
Friday, April 21, 2017
Sudden Destruction
Proverbs 29:1
He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck,
shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
Don't do it! Don't do it! Words they have told to us over and over. Trust Jesus as your Savior. Repent for Jesus is coming. These are also words that have been spoken to us over and over. What happens when we don't listen?
Look at the scripture... "He that being often reproved... continues to hardeneth his neck". When we continually choose to reject the truth of Christ we become harder and harder. Our hearts become so calloused that we no longer hear Him. Farther and farther away we find ourselves from hearing Him. God warns us and warns us of our ways. He says that our sins will lead to death and destruction forever and we blow it off by saying we have all the time in the world but then what happens? "Shall suddenly be destroyed..." is what the scripture says. We may beat the odds today, tomorrow and maybe for years but soon and suddenly destruction could over take us. Satan could come upon us with destruction at any time. He is like a roaring lion seeking to devour us.
Everyday people tempt the odds. They roll the dice and say, "Whew! That was close". I had a friend who would come to school and tell how fast he would take a certain curve where we lived. Each day he would increase the speed and let us all know. Until one afternoon after school. He pushed the limits until he couldn't control it anymore and lost his life. Look at the last part of the scripture. "That without remedy..." As much as they tried, no one could bring him back and put him into the arms of his mother.
Let me say this today... Listen to Christ calling you now. If you continue to walk away or think you will have more time, sudden destruction could come upon you any minute and that would be without remedy. There is no second chance beyond the grave. There is no redo, or do over. Stop being stiff necked and surrender your life to Jesus now. Oh what a remedy is found in the blood of Christ.
He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck,
shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
Don't do it! Don't do it! Words they have told to us over and over. Trust Jesus as your Savior. Repent for Jesus is coming. These are also words that have been spoken to us over and over. What happens when we don't listen?
Look at the scripture... "He that being often reproved... continues to hardeneth his neck". When we continually choose to reject the truth of Christ we become harder and harder. Our hearts become so calloused that we no longer hear Him. Farther and farther away we find ourselves from hearing Him. God warns us and warns us of our ways. He says that our sins will lead to death and destruction forever and we blow it off by saying we have all the time in the world but then what happens? "Shall suddenly be destroyed..." is what the scripture says. We may beat the odds today, tomorrow and maybe for years but soon and suddenly destruction could over take us. Satan could come upon us with destruction at any time. He is like a roaring lion seeking to devour us.
Everyday people tempt the odds. They roll the dice and say, "Whew! That was close". I had a friend who would come to school and tell how fast he would take a certain curve where we lived. Each day he would increase the speed and let us all know. Until one afternoon after school. He pushed the limits until he couldn't control it anymore and lost his life. Look at the last part of the scripture. "That without remedy..." As much as they tried, no one could bring him back and put him into the arms of his mother.
Let me say this today... Listen to Christ calling you now. If you continue to walk away or think you will have more time, sudden destruction could come upon you any minute and that would be without remedy. There is no second chance beyond the grave. There is no redo, or do over. Stop being stiff necked and surrender your life to Jesus now. Oh what a remedy is found in the blood of Christ.
Thursday, April 20, 2017
It's All Over Your Face
1 Samuel 16:7
But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
Have you ever heard someone say, "It's all in how you look at things"? This is so true! Let's look this morning at two different views. You may think that we are going to discuss the glass half full and the glass half empty scenario, but we aren't. We are going to look at how God sees us and how we see each other.
First of all let's look at how God views us. Our scripture this morning tells us that He looks upon the heart of man. God bypasses our looks, strength and position in life and goes straight to the heart. God even knows the intent of our hearts. That could be scary for some of us, but it could also be amazing for us as well. Why? Because God is not concerned with our status but rather our condition. The Israelites chose Saul to be a king over them but man did they ever pick the wrong guy.
Lastly, look at how we view people. We look on their appearance. Did you read that right? God looks on the heart, He can because He is God, and we look on the appearance. So God looks on the inside and we look on the outside. God knows that if the inside is pure and holy that the outside will reflect what is on the inside. So we see opposite as God. We should look for purity and holiness on the outside of men and women because this would be a reflection on what is on the inside of them.
Have you ever thought, "I wonder if people know I'm a Christian?" Well if you were reflecting what Christ has done inside of you through the working of the Holy Ghost then people could see it. How else are we gonna know you are saved if you don't show it? We can't look inside the heart remember? I love it when people say, "You don't know my heart!" Yes we do... It's all over your face.
But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
Have you ever heard someone say, "It's all in how you look at things"? This is so true! Let's look this morning at two different views. You may think that we are going to discuss the glass half full and the glass half empty scenario, but we aren't. We are going to look at how God sees us and how we see each other.
First of all let's look at how God views us. Our scripture this morning tells us that He looks upon the heart of man. God bypasses our looks, strength and position in life and goes straight to the heart. God even knows the intent of our hearts. That could be scary for some of us, but it could also be amazing for us as well. Why? Because God is not concerned with our status but rather our condition. The Israelites chose Saul to be a king over them but man did they ever pick the wrong guy.
Lastly, look at how we view people. We look on their appearance. Did you read that right? God looks on the heart, He can because He is God, and we look on the appearance. So God looks on the inside and we look on the outside. God knows that if the inside is pure and holy that the outside will reflect what is on the inside. So we see opposite as God. We should look for purity and holiness on the outside of men and women because this would be a reflection on what is on the inside of them.
Have you ever thought, "I wonder if people know I'm a Christian?" Well if you were reflecting what Christ has done inside of you through the working of the Holy Ghost then people could see it. How else are we gonna know you are saved if you don't show it? We can't look inside the heart remember? I love it when people say, "You don't know my heart!" Yes we do... It's all over your face.
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
I Swear...
Acts 20:27
For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
As you approach the witness stand you are met with the bailiff who asks you this question... "Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?" Although through the years this oath or promise has been altered it is still basically the same everywhere. It's a question to your witness of the truth.
Well there would be no need to ask the Apostle Paul this question. In the scriptures he has already stated that he told every truth that he knew of God. As Paul is about to board a ship and depart he reminds the people of what his mission was unto them. With every ounce of Spirit inside him he never shunned or missed an opportunity to tell them all the counsel of God. Letting them know always of the truth that had set himself free from sin.
I wonder if Paul were permitted to approach us today with the question, "Did you tell them?" what would be our answer? Notice that God chose the word have not "shunned" to declare unto you... You see when we aren't willing to tell the truth then we are leaving the people in darkness. We are really shunning them when we don't reveal the light and life of truth unto them. Some today believe that you are shunning them or even downing them when you call the truth to their lives, but the scripture teaches us that to not tell the truth would be shunning them.
God has called us to speak the truth of His counsel unto the people today. Can you answer this for me? Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God? What is your answer? Lastly, don't attempt to share your version of the truth. Do as they say and "Just state the facts for us..."
For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
As you approach the witness stand you are met with the bailiff who asks you this question... "Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?" Although through the years this oath or promise has been altered it is still basically the same everywhere. It's a question to your witness of the truth.
Well there would be no need to ask the Apostle Paul this question. In the scriptures he has already stated that he told every truth that he knew of God. As Paul is about to board a ship and depart he reminds the people of what his mission was unto them. With every ounce of Spirit inside him he never shunned or missed an opportunity to tell them all the counsel of God. Letting them know always of the truth that had set himself free from sin.
I wonder if Paul were permitted to approach us today with the question, "Did you tell them?" what would be our answer? Notice that God chose the word have not "shunned" to declare unto you... You see when we aren't willing to tell the truth then we are leaving the people in darkness. We are really shunning them when we don't reveal the light and life of truth unto them. Some today believe that you are shunning them or even downing them when you call the truth to their lives, but the scripture teaches us that to not tell the truth would be shunning them.
God has called us to speak the truth of His counsel unto the people today. Can you answer this for me? Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God? What is your answer? Lastly, don't attempt to share your version of the truth. Do as they say and "Just state the facts for us..."
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Using a Proper Tool
Philemon 1:11
Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
As a child every time my dad would go outside and work on something I was there right beside him. I have always been interested in how things work. One of my favorite things is tools, especially new tools. I can remember when dad would say, "Go get me the split-ring pliers." I would have absolutely no clue what he would be talking about but then he would show them to me and I would remember for the next time. Some of the memories that I have is using all those tools in the yard for digging and my experiments. Dad would go looking for those tools and he couldn't find them and then all of the sudden I would remember that I used them last. I would run out, find them and bring them to him. (not much has changed today except he is the one getting the tools now, haha)
I remember once we were changing the brakes on a vehicle and dad asked me for the "brake tool". This is a funny shaped tool that is used for adjusting the brakes in a wheel drum. There is absolutely no other use for this tool than adjusting the brakes in these drums. Sure you could open a paint can lid with it but that's really not it's purpose. As I read the scripture this morning I recall how many times we pulled out that "brake tool". Out of all my life it has probably been used five to ten times. In all of our working together, and in all of our building things together, it was never really profitable unto us.
You know, there are days that I am sure I was of no use. Things that God needed done, and I was unprofitable. You see I haven't always been the choice tool. But what fills me with joy this morning is that although at times I was unprofitable, or not the tool of choice that day, God finds me profitable today and hopefully chooses to use me. Can you just imagine all of us in a giant tool box together? God searching for that perfect tool to use and fix a broken heart or life?
Maybe it's you today! Maybe you're the tool of choice. You know that the Bible says... "some plant, some water, but God gives the increase." Like a song that my friend sings, "Lord, let me be the glove in which you place your hand."
Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
As a child every time my dad would go outside and work on something I was there right beside him. I have always been interested in how things work. One of my favorite things is tools, especially new tools. I can remember when dad would say, "Go get me the split-ring pliers." I would have absolutely no clue what he would be talking about but then he would show them to me and I would remember for the next time. Some of the memories that I have is using all those tools in the yard for digging and my experiments. Dad would go looking for those tools and he couldn't find them and then all of the sudden I would remember that I used them last. I would run out, find them and bring them to him. (not much has changed today except he is the one getting the tools now, haha)
I remember once we were changing the brakes on a vehicle and dad asked me for the "brake tool". This is a funny shaped tool that is used for adjusting the brakes in a wheel drum. There is absolutely no other use for this tool than adjusting the brakes in these drums. Sure you could open a paint can lid with it but that's really not it's purpose. As I read the scripture this morning I recall how many times we pulled out that "brake tool". Out of all my life it has probably been used five to ten times. In all of our working together, and in all of our building things together, it was never really profitable unto us.
You know, there are days that I am sure I was of no use. Things that God needed done, and I was unprofitable. You see I haven't always been the choice tool. But what fills me with joy this morning is that although at times I was unprofitable, or not the tool of choice that day, God finds me profitable today and hopefully chooses to use me. Can you just imagine all of us in a giant tool box together? God searching for that perfect tool to use and fix a broken heart or life?
Maybe it's you today! Maybe you're the tool of choice. You know that the Bible says... "some plant, some water, but God gives the increase." Like a song that my friend sings, "Lord, let me be the glove in which you place your hand."
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