The Faithful God

Deuteronomy 7:9

Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

Have you ever heard... "I'll be there" only to disappoint you because there was no truth in it?  I've heard so many promises, but the crazy thing is the ones that were broken stick out the most. Why is that?  Maybe it's because they hurt us. Or because we depended on them the most and we were shocked when they were broken. Or it could have been because of the one who promised had never broken one until then. The Word of God tells us to not make a promise if we are not going to keep it. (Ecclesiastes)  

But you know something?  I think it's time for us to stop focusing on the hurts from broken promises. This attitude could cause us to miss out on the promises that have been made, and kept. By only remembering broken promises we will never trust future promises. 

We should learn to trust those who have never broken the promises they have made us. Like our Faithful God!  He is called "The Faithful God". Why is that?  Because He has never broken His promises. He told us that He wouldn't tell us of great things He has for us if it wasn't true. 

John 14:1-4

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

Listen to the "Promise Maker" not the "Promise Breaker" He tells us that He will come back for us, Hallelujah!

Lord, Help Me Understand

Mark 9:32

But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

"The only dumb question, is the one not asked". Remember that statement? Every year, teacher after teacher would start off by saying this statement. We were taught that there were no wrong questions. This is an absolute truth!  

How much pain and confusion comes because we don't talk to the Lord? We are so often left in the dark because we don't want to ask a dumb question. God is our Father!  The greatest Father ever! He wants us to talk to Him. He desires us to ask of Him. 

He says if we seek for wisdom and understanding in our lives to come and ask Him. He wants us to ask through faith and not doubt it. 

James 1:5-8

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

He says the reason for our lack, is because we don't ask. And also, we don't have because we ask for the wrong reasons. 

James 4:2-3

Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain:ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Have you talked to our Father this morning?  Have you asked Him the questions that are within your heart?  Are you afraid to talk to Him? Have you asked in love and the right desire and motive?  Then patiently wait for the answer. 

I Need This One...

Luke 10:39-42
And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

"I need this!" is a phrase that I'm used to hearing. Now you may think that I'm speaking of hearing my wife or sons say this, but you would be wrong. It's a phrase that I often hear rumble through my head and rattle out of my mouth. I really don't think anyone has ever had any trouble buying birthday or Christmas gifts for me. I'm usually always blabbing about the things I need. If we go to the fishing stores... I need one of those... I need this... If we go to a music store... Oh, this is what I've always needed! I haven't been able to find one of these...boy I need it.

Isn't it always something that we need? Some have gone as far as telling God that He said He would supply all of our needs. God, I need this, I need that! Stop for a moment. Are you sure it's a need, or could it be a want? That's right, it is mostly a want or desire and almost never a need.

What is it that you think you need from God this morning? In our scriptures Martha thought that the need was for her sister to help in serving the meal. But Jesus said, Mary chose the one thing that was needful. What was the one thing needful? Worship, adoration, a heart seeking the Lord. Mary knew that she needed a moment at the feet of Jesus. Do you realize that all those other things that we think we need have an expiration date on them? Our ministries, service, etc... will eventually be taken away and given to another. But the one thing that is needful and can never be taken away from us is our time in worship, adoration, especially our times of prayer. People may preach in our place, they may serve in our place, they may labor in our place, but they can never pray and worship in our place.

Do you know what is carried all the way up the Heaven right now? Something that is significant and so personal that there is none alike? It's not a message preached or the seed sown. No, it's your prayers. They belong to you and your Lord. No prayer is the same and they go up before God right now as you pray them. It is your time with the Lord. It is the "ONE THING" that is needful for your life. Tell Him how much you need this time with Him today. I hope that you have realized what is needful.

Hide and Seek

Jeremiah 29:13
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

When we were kids our favorite game to play was hide and seek. We especially loved to play it when it had gotten dark outside. It was much easier for a chubby kid as myself to hide in the dark. I can remember all the counters leaning against a tree with their eyes closed and counting out loud. "1...2...3...4...5...20...21...22...25...Ready or not, here I come!" Then the search began. Around the sides of the house we would run. Scanning everywhere for a the ones that were hiding. Stopping every now and then to listen for the giggles of those who just couldn't be quiet. We would always stay close to the counting tree though because it was base and eventually those hiding would have to make it to the tree in order to be safe.

Maybe this morning you have leaned against the tree, counted out your prayers and now you are seeking for God. Let me tell you that He is not hiding. He has told us this morning that we shall seek Him, and FIND HIM. God has given you a promise. A promise is His commitment. It's His word and He will keep it. But don't just stop at the beginning of our scripture. Look at the most important part, which is at the end. "...when ye shall search for me with all your heart."

Do you remember those kids who played hide and seek with you that would count, look for a minute or two, and then give up to go in the house? They wouldn't seek for us. They would love for you to seek them. They could hide forever, but when it came their time to count and come find you they would quit. Seemed like they always wanted to make up another game when they had to seek. Their hearts weren't in it. Maybe because the seeking part of the game was difficult or took effort.

You have closed your eyes, prayed your prayer, and now you wait for God to stick His head out and say, "I'm right here, do this...." What about seeking Him and the answer in His Word? Are you seeking Him with all your heart? Seriously, all of it? Or is that just too difficult and you want to change the rules up? God has given you a promise and it says that when you seek Him that you will find Him, when you seek Him with all your heart. My joy today is knowing that God isn't hiding from me! When I seek Him, He is found.

A Spirit-Filled Reminder

1 Timothy 4:6
If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up on the words of faith and of good doctrine, where unto thou hast attained.

Some people tie a string around their fingers so that they don't forget something important. Many set an alarm or reminder because they are so busy and never want to forget an appointment. The Word of God reminds us of something today.

First of all it reminds me to put the brethren in remembrance of these things. What things? All things! I should remind the body of Christ (Christians) every day of the words of our Lord. We should remind one another of what Christ has told us to do. We should set an alarm so that we are sure to be awake and doing the work of the Lord until He comes. Another thing, and sometimes difficult, is that we should remind one another that we are not our own but we are bought with a price. If we see a brother or sister in Christ doing something that is against or contrary to Christ, we should remind them.  So many times we are guilty of reprimanding them instead of reminding them.

What if you were to remind them instead of reprimanding them? Maybe show them in the scriptures where God has said to abstain or depart from whatever it is that Satan has convinced them is okay? I wonder what kind of reaction and responses we would get if we would be those who reminded people of their commitment to Christ? It could be that they realize the death found in that sin and repent.

Do you know how many times that I had to remind my boys of something dangerous? Even today, as they are a little older, I still remind them of certain dangers. I still remind them of commitments. I still even remind them to take out the trash! I have been guilty at times of not reminding them in the mornings and come home to reprimand them. What if I take the time to remind and bring it to their attention every day? What have I wasted? Nothing! I have actually headed off some heartache when I come home from work in the evenings.

Don't wait until people are waist deep in their sin to reprimand them for their Christian walk. No, remind them today that they are bought with the precious blood of Jesus and should strive to live holy until He comes. You know what you'll be if you do this? A good minister of Jesus Christ and that's all I've ever wanted to be since the day He saved me.

Fidget Spinners and Bell Bottoms?

Colossians 2:6-7
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Having been a preacher of the Gospel now for close to twenty-three years, let's just say I've seen a lot of things. Things that people call God, the Spirit, an answered prayer, a movement, etc... Some of them I believe were that very thing, but some of them were just the next big thing.

Have you ever stopped and taken notice of how our society runs? We seldom go back to things of the past unless they are revamped or revitalized. Sure, bell bottoms may have come back but thank the Lord they are gone again. Actually, I'm praying that these "skinny-jeans" find their way to the back of peoples closets. But seriously, we are designed as a people of society to jump on board with the next big thing. The biggest thing in 2017... a fidget spinner. People have gone absolutely crazy over these things. Only to find out that next year there will be something else that classifies as the "Next Big Thing".

I've seen people, who I believe are truly saved and disciples of God, allow themselves to do this very thing with their walk in Christ. They hop from ministry to ministry, church to church, pastor to pastor... in following the next big thing. In God's Word, He teaches us many times to be "rooted", "built up" and "established..." He tells us that the wicked are like the troubled sea. Wave after wave, big thing after big thing. They are always searching. He tells us that we shouldn't be this way. We shouldn't be searching for every new wind of doctrine, but be grounded and rooted.

Sometimes I want to tell these Christians to STOP! Be still for just one moment and listen to the Lord's calling on your life. There is nothing wrong with trying to find what God wants you to do, but once you know it... then do it. Stop always looking for the next big thing to come your way. Stop looking for the next big ministry, the next big church, the next big pastor or preacher. Stop looking for big positions to serve God in because if you haven't been faithful in the small positions He has given you then you will never be faithful, rooted, grounded, established and fruitful in the next thing He calls you to. Stop moving from place to bigger place, position to bigger position, ministry to the next big ministry. Get your eyes off of being the "next big thing".  If you don't, you'll be nothing more than a forgotten fidget spinner or a pair of bell bottoms that people talk about. "They sold like crazy when they came out. They were the next big thing, but not anymore." You'll be discussed as a big thing of the past and not something that is rooted and grounded in God's work today.

A Threefold Plan

Titus 2:6-8
Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

Isn't it funny that all of us can identify the problem with young men, but never give the solution? Well God gives a threefold plan for us today. Although this scripture applies to the young men, we could all learn a valuable lesson from it.

First He tells us that we should live right. We should be sober minded. Live in the Spirit and not in our own thinking and ways. In all things show a pattern of good works. This means to live according to God's Word in all things. Giving God glory in everything we do.

Second, we should be sound or grounded in doctrine. In our lessons of faith we should be established firmly and forever. Don't be corrupt in doctrine, but be sure, steadfast and unmovable. We should study the Word of God and its doctrine so that we understand how to live in Him. Think right!

Last and the most important, finding the words to say can be the hardest thing to do. How to say it or what to say. We could over think it at times and then again we could not think about it enough. The words we speak are so powerful! They have the power to build or break. They have the potential to be heard or ignored. Sometimes the words we choose to speak could be a matter of life or death. So God says let your speech be sound, not able to be condemned and speech that you will not be ashamed of that gives someone the oppotunity to say something evil about you.

It's a simple threefold plan laid out for us. Live right! Think right! Speak right! This is God's desire for us all. If you are a young man, remember this plan. When you don't know exactly what to do, follow these three steps.