My Best Friend

Exodus 33:11

And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend...

Some view God as the "Big Boss Man Upstairs". He's always listening and ready to come in and ruin your fun. Some view Him as the "Homeboy" who you hangout with, some even while they are doing sinful things. But Moses saw God in a different way. He became so close to God, that he and God spoke as friends would speak. This doesn't mean that Moses didn't reverence God, it means that Moses was so in love with the fellowship of God, and God was so in love with Moses, that they talked together as friends. 

My greatest friend I have is God. But let me use an earthly example so you will understand me. My greatest earthly friend is my wife, Patti. We talk about everything. Sometimes it's me listening and sometimes it's her listening. At times it could be on a heated subject, but we talk it through as friends. One of the greatest joys I have is telling you about my wife. I use her as illustrations in many of my messages to show our love and friendship, no she doesn't like all of them.  There is no one that I will allow to come between me and my wife. Remember, she is my best friend. There is no one I would rather talk about than my wife. Remember, she is my best friend. I have no problem in doing what she asks of me, and she has no problem in doing the same. Because we are best friends. 

God and Moses were best friends. At one place in scripture God told Moses that He was about to destroy the children of Israel because of their sins and his friend Moses said, "Please don't". Then in other places, Moses wanted to walk away from it all and God said, "No my friend". 

When you pray, how do you talk to your friend?  If there is sin, you do realize that all sin is against your best friend? Ask Him to restore the best friendship you could ever have right now. Repent of the sin and begin to talk to God as a man would talk to his friend. Thank you Lord for being my friend. 

My Favorite Comforter

John 14:16
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

When I was a child, I can remember going to bed at night afraid of the dark. I can remember thinking something was in the room with me and that I couldn't see it because it was so dark. So I would take my blanket and put it over my head. When I would do this it seemed that all my troubles vanished. Someone could be breaking into my house, come into my room and stand right over me, but as long as the cover was over me...there was no way they could find me or harm me.

Now that I'm older I can't wait for it to get dark. Cause I'm tired and ready for bed. I love crawling into my bed, and getting underneath that comforter. The darker the better!  Cause I'm resting in this bed underneath my comforter.  It seemed like nothing could scare or harm me when I was younger because of my comforter. Now it seems like rest and peacefulness comes while underneath the comforter.

Do you see where I'm going?  When I first accepted Jesus, and the Comforter came into my life, there were times I was afraid. There were times where I was scared, but through the Comforter I found my rest. No matter how dark it would get, I just covered up with the Comforter. Now that I'm an older Christian, I find all my comfort, all my peace, all my rest in my Comforter!

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for sending the sweet Holy Spirit. Thank you for comforting me when I'm afraid, scared and if it gets dark. Thank you for providing the rest, peace and comfort that no one else could ever give. I love you so much. I love my Comforter!

A Good Report

Hebrews 11:1-2

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report.

Nothing can beat a good report card or a good report at the doctors office. Have you ever seen a student hide a good report card?  No!  They love to show a good report card to every one they come in contact with. What about a good doctors report?  Surely you would tell everyone. I know I would.

Sometimes Fear can contaminate our report. Nothing hurts more than thinking of what the report, or outcome, will be with fear. Fear can devastate us in our walk with Christ. Fear can bring speculation and often bring discouragement. There is no possible way we can have a good report if it is contaminated with Fear. 

Look at our scripture, it says... "By Faith" we obtain a good report. In the Old Testament the children of Israel sent spies to search the promised land. They came back with a good report, but then allowed fear into it. Fear then changed the good report into one with doubt and discouragement. They allowed fear to override the goodness of the report. The children of Israel suffered because of their unbelief. 

Faith! That is what we need to obtain and maintain the good report of God. "By Faith"... I believe the report of God. "By Faith"... I trust in the report. "By Faith"... God's report remains good. 

Finish this with me...

  - By Faith God has.............in my life

  - By Fear...........has happened in my life

Confused

Luke 6:46

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Being a parent is an absolute blessing from our Lord. The Bible tells us... "Psalms 127:3 - Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward."  We are blessed by a God to have children and be able to help and encourage them. We love and cherish them beyond our own capacity of love. But at times, few as they may be, they can confuse us... See, we can tell them over and over again to not do this... Or to not say that... Or even to stay away from them, those, or that. And what happens?  Sometimes they fall into it. 

When this happens as a parent we feel like... Why am I here?  If you're not gonna do what I say, then why do I even waste my breath?  Sound familiar?  Well, how many times have we made our Lord feel this same way?  I wonder if we include Him in every decision that is made in our lives? He daily is waiting to give us instruction and guidance. His lips are ready to tell us things to avoid and things to enjoy. He is our constant instructor, and how often to we listen?

In my life, I have seen that my parenting should be patterned after the greatest Father. He asked the question, "Why do you call me Lord, and do not the things which I say?"  He is not reprimanding these people. But rather He is showing them that if they would listen and obey His words, they could avoid much damage. He continued His message with telling them about building on the sand and the destruction that could come from it. 

If you've ever been confused by the actions of your children, think today about the actions of yourself to our Father. Would He be confused from your actions and obedience today?  Why do we call Him Lord if we aren't willing to follow His instructions. Remember, He instructs you to keep you from sin and its devastation. 

Wearied By Our Words

Malachi 2:17

Ye have wearied the Lord with your words.

Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him?

When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord,

and he delighteth in them;

or, Where is the God of judgment?

The definition of wearied is... "Feeling or showing tiredness". Being wearied can come from losing sleep or working hard. It can also come with being lied to constantly. The prophet tells us that we have wearied the Lord with our words. With the promises made every Sunday that are broken every Monday. Look the the scripture and we will see how we have wearied Him. He says, "By saying everyone that does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them". Then the people even scoffed and mocked God by saying, "Where is the God of Judgment?"  They thought God's judgment would never happen. "Nothing has happened so far", they would say. 

We weary God by justifying our sins before Him. People love sin. Sin is pleasure for the flesh. I have learned that all sin roots from selfishness. This same selfishness causes us to justify the sins that please the flesh. Before long, you will begin to call the evil sin good and ok in God's sight. Call sin by what it is...sin, evil, and hurtful. 

Our words can be so powerful. They are the ones that will bring us peace and joy. But they are also the very ones that will judge us. Our words shouldn't weary God, but they should GLORIFY God. 

Psalms 19:14

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

Right in Front of Your Face

Mark 12:32-34

And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth:for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

I can remember getting directions before and thinking we were so close to something only to find out that we were miles away from our destination. On the flip side of that, I've asked directions before thinking we were miles away from somewhere and finding out we were just around the corner from it.  

Imagine this man and the question he had for Jesus.  He asked what the greatest commandment was?  He wanted to know about true life and the source of truth. He wanted directions and found out he was so close. Notice what Jesus said about the man's response of keeping all these things. He said, "Thou art not far". "Not far", not there, but not far. You are so close but yet not there just yet. 

You see, keeping commandments are for those who are His servants or are enlisted in service. Following Him is an act of trust and love.  We are saved by His Grace alone. There is nothing, nothing good that we can do.  No greatest commandment can get us in right standing with God. Only the blood Jesus shed for our lives gives us a righteous standing before our God. 

This man was so close, so close that the Son of God was standing right in front of him. The Savior of the world was looking him in the eyes. How close are you? You are closer than you think. 

Do You Believe?

John 11:25-26

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Have you heard the story of Lazarus?  He had passed away from sickness and been placed in a tomb where has now laid four days. Jesus tells his disciples that this has happened so God could receive the glory. When He arrives in town, many of the Jews had come out to mourn with the family. They were gathering when Jesus came closer. Martha ran out to meet Jesus and ask him for help. Then she went and told Mary to come out because Jesus called for her. Everyone there was down and discouraged. They knew Jesus had the answer and the power to do whatever He wanted. 

As they were weeping, Jesus began to weep.  He wept because of the faithlessness of the people. They saw Him weep and thought that it was because Lazarus was dead, but Jesus was there to raise Lazarus. His tears were for them and their disbelief. 

Look at what he told Martha... "I am the resurrection, and the life:". Jesus told her that he was the answer to death and living. He was telling her that he could handle anything. Then he asked her something... "Believest thou this?"  He said , "Do you believe this?"  

My question this morning is, "Do you believe Jesus?"  Has he ever lied to you? How much faith do you have? Do you believe? Not as demons believe.  Not as the world believes he was here. But do you believe He can do it?  Do you believe He can speak life into you and your situation?  Then why are you crying?

Only believe, only believe... All things are possible, only believe.