Me and My Big Mouth

Ecclesiastes 5:6
Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin;...

What would you say is the biggest problem with your body? I can almost hear you as you are going down the list of things that is wrong. Some are saying their back, feet, head, legs because of arthritis, bursitis, sickness or other things. Let me ask you again in a different way. What would you say is the biggest spiritual problem you have with your body? You may say your eyes and what you look at, which could be true. You may say your mind and the attitude you have, which also could be very true. But most would answer with this... "I can't keep my mouth shut." (I see you shaking your head right now, hahaha)

The mouth, or tongue, is described in the Word of God as being poison and set on fire from Hell. It is the number one thing that gets most people in trouble. Did you know that I have found out that when you talk all the time it could cause trouble, and even when you don't say anything sometimes it can cause trouble?

God says that we should not suffer (allow or yield) our mouths to cause our flesh to sin. Now many reading this today think that it is dealing with profane talk but it deals with much more. I've seen the mouth to cause the flesh to sin in many ways. It could be that our mouths bring sin because we said and acted in anger, but it could also be that many of us make promises out of emotional feelings and then we don't keep them. That is our mouth causing the flesh to sin.

Would you agree this morning that the mouth is probably the biggest thing you struggle with? Well then do like the teacher, your parents and your God has said. Watch your mouth! Remember, we shouldn't suffer/yield our mouths to cause sin. Yield your mouths unto the Lord. Allow Him to fill your mouth with the words you need to speak and the silence you need to keep. Lord, you know I need help with my mouth.

A Doorman at God's House

Psalms 84:10

For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand.

I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God,

than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Have you ever heard someone say, "I don't have to go to church to be saved"?  Why is it that this phrase is even spoken?  Especially among those who claim Christ a their savior. I have an answer for that one but it's not what this devotion is about. 

Let's ask ourselves a few questions...

   - Do doctors have to go to the hospital to be doctors?

   - Do mechanics have to work on engines to be mechanics?

   - Do lawyers have to go to courtrooms to be lawyers?

The answer to this could be no, if you are nit-picking. But the real answer would be that if they wanted to practice their profession then yes they need these places. Doctors are found in hospitals, lawyers are found in courtrooms, and mechanics are found working on engines. Just as Christians are found following Christ and worshipping in church.  

Here are the main questions this morning...

   - Why do I go to church?

   - Why does God desire me to be at church?

   - What good can come from me attending church?

   - How did Jesus view the church?

Hebrews 10:25

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and SO MUCH THE MORE, as ye see the day approaching.

Stop coming up with excuses.  Stop looking at those within the church that are living in sin. You know what one church member told me about looking at hypocrites?  She said, "I would rather go to church with a few of them, than to go to a Hell with all of them". Look unto Jesus. You need church! David said "I would rather open the door for people at the house of God than to dwell in the tents of the wicked". 

Running From God

Jonah 1:1-3

Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.

Jonah, a prophet of God, was called to go to this sinful place and share God's Word with them. This was not a message of vengeance but one of repentance. God wanted Jonah to tell the people that it was their final call. If they didn't repent, God was going to destroy it and them. But look at what Jonah did...

Jonah fled from the presence of God. Notice something there?  Jonah didn't flee from Nineveh, like I have always heard. He fled from God. How many times have you not done something because you thought, surely God didn't mean for me to go there or speak to them? You may have thought you were getting away from something or someone sinful, when in truth you were going away from Jesus and His Words. 

Our scripture says it twice. He fled from the presence of God. Why would you ever want to flee from the presence of God? I don't know about you, but I always wanted to get away from my parents when I was wrong and when I was in sin. Jonah knew His decision was wrong and contrary to what God asked of Him. He knew that it was sin when he went away from the presence of God. He just realized how far he had gone from His presence when he was in the belly of a whale. 

How far will you flee from His presence? Will you also have to be in the bottom of the ocean to realize God is who you need? Or will you be as the people of Nineveh? They heard the message and repented right there in the comfort of their own town. 

Bench Vise

Job 23:10

But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold

Today there may be a trial that you are going through.  It may be a tough decision to make.  You may seem as if you are so pressed inside that there is no way out.  You don't understand right now but the Lord is doing a great work in and through you.

I remember as a child watching my Dad out in the barn working on an engine.  He had all kinds of tools.  At times he would put the parts he was working on in a bench vise.  He would tighten the vise so much that the part could not move.  It would put much strain on the part but it would hold it still while he began to work on a certain area.  Then when he finished he would loosen the part and place it in the engine for a perfect fit.

Just as my Dad, the Lord Jesus is working on you.  Never forget, despite how tight things feel, God is just holding you still in order to shape and mold you into what He desires.  Remember, "I shall come forth as gold".

Lord Jesus, please help me to understand that you have my life in total control.  Help remind me that you bless me and also shape me.  Help me to understand that these trials I face in life are not to make me bitter or question your will, but rather to make me into the "Gold" that you desire for me.  Although I may never understand why you choose to do it certain ways, Help me to understand that you do this for my good.

What A Savior

Psalms 107:15

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness,

and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

"Touchdown!", is yelled from the announcer. Now the crowd is on their feet cheering at the top of their lungs. "What a play! What a run! What a pass!" While these plays are unfolding the analysts and writers are sharpening their pencils and editing their photos. The news of the winning team must be shared. 

Isn't it amazing the detail that goes into the writing of these praise articles? From their goal line that started the miracle drive, all the way down to the player who threw the touchdown pass. The linemen are praised. The backs are praised. The receivers are praised. The ones who called the plays in are praised. Why? Because it all worked out to the good. 

Flip the storyline around. Let everything fall apart and see what happens. The praise now turns to rage. See men are always ready to praise when things are good, but want to rage when things aren't so great. 

"Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness". What would your storyline say about how great God is? What would the headline read? Would you take the time this morning to praise Him? When you go to Him in prayer, after reading this, take the time to just praise Him. Tell Him how you adore Him. How you love Him. How you praise Him. Maybe you could take some time to write about the greatness of God. 

My headline would come from one of my favorite songs... Oh what a Savior, oh Hallelujah!

Come As You Are

Matthew 11:28

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

I love the old invitation hymn song, Just As I Am. What a great truth in the message of that song. God wants us to come as we are. We are told to bring all of our cares, lost condition and cast it upon the Lord. We should know that He loves us so much that He's already paid the debt for our sins. 

One problem that is prevalent in churches today is people that haven't understood that Christ saves and changes us. Some come to Jesus as they are but leave exactly the same as when they came. That's not salvation!  That's not repenting of your sins and being changed. 

So many want to hang on to a part of the old person or lifestyle. But that's not being changed. What if saved people were not changed? 

Zacchaeus came as a sinner but left saved! So much that his life showed it. A sinful woman came as an adulterer but left restored! Lazarus laid there as a dead man but rose up alive! The crippled man laid by the pool a lame but walked away with his bed in his hand! A hungry person comes to the table hungry but walks away filled! A sinner comes to Jesus lost but stands up found. He, or she, comes to Jesus broken and leaves mended. 

What if Jesus would have to allowed the woman who was caught in the act of adultery to continue on in the sin she was just set free from? What about Peter when he denied The Lord three times? What if Jesus would have said, "Don't do me that way please...!) and Peter just continues in sin? It's crazy!

So why is this our motive in some believers today?  We want to please instead of preach. We want to entertain instead of feel the presence of the Holt Spirit. We can and will always be welcome to come to Jesus with a broken heart. But we cannot stay the same. 

  

Dear Lord, change me everyday. Make me more like you and less of me. I love you and thank you

Come To Jesus

Mark 10:50

And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.

In the church, there are so many man-made stipulations for salvation. Traditions and religion has robbed many people from the salvation found in Christ. Listen to me this morning before you confuse what I'm saying. I love the VBS way of showing people salvation. They often use the ABC's. Admit you're a sinner. Believe that Jesus is the Answer. Confess your sins and Jesus as your Savior. That's simple enough that the youngest of children can understand it, but the oldest adult can confuse it. Some have taken the message of salvation to the level of a formula. It's not about a formula but about faith. 

See this blind man in our scripture had faith. His faith led to him casting away his garment. Just like this garment of the blind man held him down, so does our sin. Even our righteousness is like these filthy garments. So really it's not by what we do or don't do. It's faith. 

Secondly this man's faith brought him to his feet. Hearing the word of God brings everyone to a decision. A decision to trust in Christ as Lord or to reject the Gospel message. You will stand up and walk to Christ or walk away from Him. There is no sitting position on the issue of the Gospel. 

Lastly He came to Jesus. Now some would insert a three step program right here. They would insist on it being a step plan. Step one, cast away sin. Step two, stand up during the invitation. Step three, come to Jesus. But if you will look at scripture you will understand that faith led this man to put away the garments. Faith led to this man standing up. Faith led to this man coming to Jesus. 

Ephesians 2:8

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

God's Grace reaches in salvation and through Faith we accept it! This man's faith led to his response. How will you respond today?