Letting Jesus Love You

Zephaniah 3:14-17

Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel;

be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.

The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy:

the king of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee:

thou shalt not see evil any more.

In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not:

and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.

The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty;

he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy;

he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

All Jesus wants to do is love you. His wrath and judgment are holy filled and not hate filled. He loves you so much that he died instead of you. Did you hear that?  He died instead of you. You and I were the ones who deserved death. You and I are the ones who deserve punishment. But instead, He loves you. 

Even when Israel was at their worst and sin prevailed in the followers, Jesus still loved them. We want to look at how Jesus called them hypocrites and say that he didn't like them. We look at how He ran them out of the temple with a whip and say that Jesus was cruel and mean. But the reasons for his discipline is because he loved them. He said in one scripture, "How many times I would have gathered you up as a mother hen would gather her chicks but you would not let me". In other words, "I wanted to love you, but you wouldn't let me". 

God rejoices over you!  He loves you so much!  Even while we were in our sins He loves us! (Romans 5:8)

Listen to the words of this song an old Gospel group I knew used to sing...

When you're all alone and blue, no one to tell your troubles to,

I know One, He really loves you

When this old world has let you down, and not a true friend can be found,

I know One, He really loves you

His name is Jesus, He Really Loves You

Are you letting him love you?

What's That I Hear?

Luke 23:42

And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

They came and got Him in the garden while He prayed. As an enemy, they grabbed Him with force. The beating began... The slaps, the kicks, the punches, the spitting... But much more than that, the verbal attack upon Jesus began. 

All night the Jews sought witnesses to speak evil of Jesus. Person after person came and told of things that were not true against Him. During all of this no one said anything on His behalf. Peter stands beside the fire warming his hands from the cold while they mocked and tortured Jesus. One person came to Peter and said, "I know that you were with Jesus, your speech gives you away". And he said, "I know not the man". Over and over false accusations arise against Jesus and again there is no one to defend Him. 

On the morning Jesus is taken to the Romans. He has been bruised and battered throughout the night and now He stands before Pilate. The Jews are still talking lies about Jesus with no one to say other wise. Pilate looks at Jesus and says, "Don't you know I have power to release you?" Jesus assures him that he has no power unless His Father gave it to him. Still no one in the crowd yells, "Stop, that's my Lord". No they continually yell, "Crucify Him, Crucify Him!"

As His hands and feet are nailed to the cross, again there is no one to speak up for Him. When they lifted Him up between Heaven and Earth, the crowd mocked and shamed Him louder and louder... "If you're the Son of God, come down..." Yell after yell... Screams of wrath and hate are shouted all over the hill of Calvary. 

...But then out of the screams... Something that Satan never counted on... Something that even the demons in Hell tremble at... It could be heard over the Pharisees mockery. It was louder than the soldiers gambling at His feet. This voice was amplified from a sinners heart as he said, "Lord, remember me..." He moved from saying, "If you're the Christ, save us..." To crying out for salvation. Out of all the screaming and mockery that day Satan never bargained on a sinners prayer from a dying thief.

Through all the chaos and turmoil God still hears the prayer of a repentant sinner. "And there may I though vile as he wash all my sins away Lord!"

The Big Frog

3 John 1:9-11

I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. 

Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

The desire to be the biggest, best and popular seems to be inside of every human. Now some will tell you that they have no desire to be first in everything, and I understand this. But everyone, even you, love to be heard in their opinion. All people desire to be the best at something. The difference is that some desire to be the best in what they are called to do and there is no sin in this. While others desire to be the best in everything and over everyone. They love the preeminence. What is that? It is the desire to have supremacy over all people. 

The Bible describes these people in our scripture this morning. Look at it closely. 

  - They only receive those who do as they say

  - Tearing others down with their words is vital to their happiness

  - Never Satisfied

  - Will not receive the body of Christ

  - Target everyone who receives the brethren 

  - Kick out anyone who doesn't see things as they do

The best illustration I can come up with on the "Diotrephes" person is a frog. Not just any frog, but THE frog. The bullfrog to be more accurate. When their ways are yielded to, they seem to be the loudest in the pond. Always bossing and imposing their poison upon all in their path. "Croak, croak, croak..." Then when the truth is being preached, arms are folded and the famous "look like a blowed up bullfrog" statement comes to mind. 

Although the illustration is of a bullfrog. The truth of the matter is that they are false teachers and liars. If there is one big frog of the pond, it should be, and is, Jesus Christ. We should all sound off the Gospel which we have heard and received. Croaking the Gospel of Jesus until the day we croak in Jesus!

Cake Batter Christians

2 Peter 1:5-9

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

How many times have we been fooled by people you thought had it all together?  You know the ones...nice home, smiling faces, laughing children, helping hands. Only to find out that inside, they were full of turmoil and even sin. 

This morning take a good look at our scripture. He tells us that we, as Christians, need to add some things to our lives (walk). Now there is nothing that can be added unto salvation. Jesus completed all that on Calvary. Everything we need in salvation is found in Jesus. But after our salvation, new-birth, we must learn to walk in Jesus. Read over the list of things that we need added to our walk. Notice how He tells us, "if these things be in you...", they make you a fruitful Christian. 

I like to call these people, "Cake Batter Christians". Because they are first of all filled with the right ingredients. When making a cake you need eggs, milk, flour, etc... You would not make a cake out of 5W30 motor oil, sawdust, milk of magnesia, etc...  If you would, then please show it to me so I can give my piece to someone else. 

Are you filling your batter bowl with everything else except these things? Then you're not going to have a very tasty cake. I don't know about you but whenever I cook, I want people to love every bite of it. Sometimes when I cook things I go a little overboard with flavoring it and the taste is no good. Sometimes I under flavor it and the taste is bland and dull. That's the reason God has given us this recipe for a great cake batter Christian. So there is no guesswork. 

Last of all, consistency is key!  If you just throw things together and never measure them out, you will find that your consistency will be off. Nothing ruins a good cake batter than poor consistency.  We have a tendency to go overboard on some things and lack in others. We need a right balance of temperance, patience, virtue, kindness, love, etc... We need to walk in these everyday in every way. Christians are guilty of beating the doors down of the church one month and then the FBI can't find them the next month. They knock on doors and share Jesus one week and then they will not answer their door the next. Why is this?  The consistency of the cake batter. 

Lord Jesus, we cannot be a great sweet smelling or tasting cake unto you without your help. Thank you for the recipe this morning. Thank you for the model and guide that you are to us. Please help us to be consistent "Cake Batter Christians" for you and the Gospel. We love you Jesus. 

Soft and Sweet

Matthew 12:36-37

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Someone once told me... "Make the words you speak today be sweet to the taste, because they may be the ones you eat tomorrow". 

How often do the words we say come back to us?  Seems like my words are way to often a size 12 1/2. I try to guard my mouth and keep my words calm and edible. I have found that sometimes it's best just to be quiet. But you and I both know that we can't always be quiet. We must speak. So we must learn how to speak. 

Before we speak we need to realize certain things...

  - These words are recorded!

God's word teaches us that He is recording every word, all the way down to even the idle word that you mumble under your breath. So before we speak, we need to remember that His perfect ears are listening and recording. 

  - These words will judge us!

He also tells us that we will give an account for the things we speak. These recorded words will try us. We will either be justified by them or condemned by them. 

Lord Jesus, please help guide the words of my mouth. Please let them honor you through every breath. Let my words be stern with love, bold with grace and saturated with mercy. Please help guard my speech. Let it be seasoned with your Amazing Grace!  In Jesus' name. 

Heart Melting Words

Joshua 14:8

Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God.

A man named Caleb in the Bible was strong and faithful. He and Joshua were two of the twelve spies that went into Canaan. They both saw things that God had promised the children of Israel. Their report of the land was true and with enthusiasm. I can see these two right now... Rejoicing and punching each other in the arm as they try to out do each others memory of what they saw. "Those clusters of grapes where huge... The soil of the land was so rich... Did you ever think we would see such beauty?"

In our scripture this morning, Caleb recalls his brethren and their response. He had just spoken about what God promised through the mouth of Moses. He said, "I was forty years old when I spied the land". He said, "I have wholly followed The Lord my God". Caleb knew that what God had promised, He would perform. 

But notice what he said about his brethren that went up with him. He said their words, "made the peoples heart melt". The words of these negative friends made the people disbelieve and melt. The power of a negative influence is very strong. 

Being negative requires no work, it can begin on its on through very little force or desire. Out of 12 spies, 2 were solid and believed, but the negative words spoken had spread and caused the encouragement from these two to fade out.

How are you influencing people today?  Are you following God wholly? Or just being negative?

A Day I will Never Forget

John 8:36

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Yesterday I had the privilege to attend an old fashion Campmeeting. Oh what a time we had. There was singing and shouting. People in the altar praying unto God. Special music that would fill your hearts with the Spirit. Preachers declaring the Gospel of Jesus with passion and truth. 

I was praising God for the moment He saved me. I had just finished singing a song that says, "I'm free, so free... I'm in the Spirit and the Spirit's in me... I'm rejoicing because, I'm not what I was... Thanks to Calvary's tree, I'm free". My tears began to flow and my heart began to rejoice because of the freedom I now have in Jesus. For so many years I was lost without hope, but thanks to Jesus and what He did on Calvary I'm now saved. I'm free!  The scripture this morning says, "To whom the Son sets free, is free indeed"!  

As I was having a great time in The Lord, a man named Lloyd Thomas stood to preach. This man was older than any other preacher that had preached thus far. He began by introducing himself. Then he made this statement... "I've just been saved over 40 years ago". That caught my full attention. I started rejoicing even more. I thought, "How awesome! I've just been saved over 40 years ago". 

Don't you get it?  It's not that the man had been saved over 40 years. If he had been saved over 400 years ago, it wouldn't shock me, because God is faithful that promised. The Lord Jesus who saved us is also able to keep us. Don't get me wrong, I love the security of the believer but that is not the chord of my heart that God plucked. It was the beginning... "I've just been saved..."  

What makes me so excited this morning is that no matter if we've been saved 4 years, 40 years, or 400 years it changes us so much that it seems like it was just yesterday. Praise God!  Ask a prisoner the date they were released and they will tell you, probably along with the time. Ask a drug addict when they found freedom from those chains and they could probably tell you the last time they took a hit. Ask a drunkard about the day they got victory over the chains of alcohol and they could tell you about the last sip they had. 

Ask me about the day God saved me... I'll tell you how the sins rolled away.  I've just been saved over 22 years ago.