Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
What Grace, what Amazing Grace! Doesn't it just make you wanna shout? The Grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. Everyone, not just some men. Not a selection of men and women that are good enough. But the Grace of God has appeared unto ALL men. From those men and women that have kept themselves clean and pure from the desecration of this world to the men and women who have done just about every foul, nasty, disgusting thing you could hear about.
I'm so excited this morning to be saved! Saved from the man that I used to be. Saved unto the man God desires me to be. Saved by His power divine. Saved to new life sublime. Saved, Saved, Saved! To most people being "saved" is just a coined term for those church-goers. All they ever talk about is being "saved" or "have you been saved?" They may even say, "Why in the world do you talk about being saved all the time?" Well the only answer I can come up with is... I'm saved and you need to be saved!
Salvation is the Grace of God in action. When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, He saved us. In other words, He redeemed us from sin, death and hell. We are lost without the Grace of God. I'm so glad the Grace of God that saves us is not limited to the people who come to church. For you see the people who come to worship at church do so because they are saved by the Grace of God that has appeared unto all men.
Aren't you glad to be saved today? Aren't you excited about it? You did nothing for it. You do nothing to keep it. It's God's Grace, God's saving Grace. God's saving Grace that has appeared unto ALL men and women. Trust upon Jesus as your Lord right now. Be saved by His Amazing Grace. Maybe you too will become excited about that word, "SAVED".
Friday, January 30, 2015
Thursday, January 29, 2015
The Pace Setter
Hebrews 12:1-2
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
A couple of years ago I was just beginning to run. I started out by running a little and walking a lot. Then a friend of mine encouraged me to run in a ten-mile race. Needless to say, I laughed about it and thought he was nuts. But I prayed and begin to train for it. As I would train for this race he would often run with me. I can remember the first day we ran together because it was the first time I was to run five miles without stopping. After arriving at his house, I stretched a bit and found some music for my journey and he comes out the door and says, "Just follow me, I'll set a decent pace." And off we went.
Well you can imagine that my Army friend was breathing well and enjoying the run while I was gasping for air and about to die. But something happened to me. I just looked at his back, and the rhythm of his feet as he set the pace and I began to tune out the pain and began to breathe better. Before I knew it we were finished. On the day of the ten-mile race I brought this same attitude with me and finished in a decent time.
Our scripture this morning tells us to lay aside the things that will beset us or weights that will bring us down and run the race, here it is... "with patience". I wanted so bad to run the full ten miles in the spring while I was training and could never do it. I was not patient at all and would often get discouraged because of my impatience. Also look at the greatest blessing of this scripture. It says, "Looking unto Jesus" our pace setter. He is the author and finisher of our faith. He endured the cross. He despised the shame. Finally, He is now at the right hand of the throne of God.
As you are waking up to the new day that God has allowed you to have, listen to Him as He says to you, "Just follow me, I'll set the pace." This worlds pain and struggles will not go away during our race, but they can be tuned out by looking to the pace setter. Follow His steps.
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
A couple of years ago I was just beginning to run. I started out by running a little and walking a lot. Then a friend of mine encouraged me to run in a ten-mile race. Needless to say, I laughed about it and thought he was nuts. But I prayed and begin to train for it. As I would train for this race he would often run with me. I can remember the first day we ran together because it was the first time I was to run five miles without stopping. After arriving at his house, I stretched a bit and found some music for my journey and he comes out the door and says, "Just follow me, I'll set a decent pace." And off we went.
Well you can imagine that my Army friend was breathing well and enjoying the run while I was gasping for air and about to die. But something happened to me. I just looked at his back, and the rhythm of his feet as he set the pace and I began to tune out the pain and began to breathe better. Before I knew it we were finished. On the day of the ten-mile race I brought this same attitude with me and finished in a decent time.
Our scripture this morning tells us to lay aside the things that will beset us or weights that will bring us down and run the race, here it is... "with patience". I wanted so bad to run the full ten miles in the spring while I was training and could never do it. I was not patient at all and would often get discouraged because of my impatience. Also look at the greatest blessing of this scripture. It says, "Looking unto Jesus" our pace setter. He is the author and finisher of our faith. He endured the cross. He despised the shame. Finally, He is now at the right hand of the throne of God.
As you are waking up to the new day that God has allowed you to have, listen to Him as He says to you, "Just follow me, I'll set the pace." This worlds pain and struggles will not go away during our race, but they can be tuned out by looking to the pace setter. Follow His steps.
Monday, January 26, 2015
Right In Front Of You
Acts 17:27
That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
I know some today that will teach you that there is no possible way that you can seek the Lord. They will say that because you are lost and wicked, that you'll never seek God. But scripture teaches us that we can clearly see God in all of creation which brings about a truth in our lives that there is an Almighty God. After we have "known" God (Romans Chapter 1), people have turned from the truth unto a lie. This is because after the revelation of God in our lives we didn't seek Him.
Look at what the scriptures tell us this morning. That they should seek the Lord, if they might feel after or for Him, and find Him. Paul was preaching to these people of Rome about their altar to the "Unknown God". He made known unto them that if they will seek the truth, seek God, that they would find Him because He is not far from everyone of us. Why does this scripture say that God is not far from everyone of us?
Because it is God who does the original seeking. He is the one who does the saving. There is no man, nor will there ever be any man, who can save themselves. Never will we be able to pull ourselves up out of the pit of sin. But we will acknowledge our condition of helplessness. We should cry out and seek for help. This help can only be found in Jesus.
You may say today that you don't know if there is a God or not. You may want God to show Himself to you and reveal Himself to you. Let me tell you right now, He is right in front of your face. Could it be that you are not seeking Him? So why say that there is no God when you are not even looking? That would be like saying you can't find a job and just sit at home never looking. He is not far from everyone of us! Because He is seeking us. Now, call upon Him. Seek Him while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near.
That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
I know some today that will teach you that there is no possible way that you can seek the Lord. They will say that because you are lost and wicked, that you'll never seek God. But scripture teaches us that we can clearly see God in all of creation which brings about a truth in our lives that there is an Almighty God. After we have "known" God (Romans Chapter 1), people have turned from the truth unto a lie. This is because after the revelation of God in our lives we didn't seek Him.
Look at what the scriptures tell us this morning. That they should seek the Lord, if they might feel after or for Him, and find Him. Paul was preaching to these people of Rome about their altar to the "Unknown God". He made known unto them that if they will seek the truth, seek God, that they would find Him because He is not far from everyone of us. Why does this scripture say that God is not far from everyone of us?
Because it is God who does the original seeking. He is the one who does the saving. There is no man, nor will there ever be any man, who can save themselves. Never will we be able to pull ourselves up out of the pit of sin. But we will acknowledge our condition of helplessness. We should cry out and seek for help. This help can only be found in Jesus.
You may say today that you don't know if there is a God or not. You may want God to show Himself to you and reveal Himself to you. Let me tell you right now, He is right in front of your face. Could it be that you are not seeking Him? So why say that there is no God when you are not even looking? That would be like saying you can't find a job and just sit at home never looking. He is not far from everyone of us! Because He is seeking us. Now, call upon Him. Seek Him while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near.
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Administers of Grace
Ephesians 2:7
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
As I was staring up at that bright light from my dental chair this thought came to my mind. You know the routine... They call your name and you walk down that hall toward the "chair". Looking left and right as you pass by those being scrapped and drilled on. The noises you hear are ones that should be found on a construction site. I finally take my seat and wait for my dentist. When she comes in she is polite and somewhat perky (but she's not the one in the chair right?)
As her assistant was setting up for the drilling session my dentist was applying the normal pink deadening jelly. With needle now in hand she is ready to start. She looks at me and says, "Now comes the worst part, you'll feel a big pinch." As much as I dread these shots in my mouth I have to be honest and say that they do not hurt.
She was slowly and steadily applying pressure to the syringe and injecting the medicine. After a few seconds she says, "That's it, let's let that take effect for a moment and we will do it in the tooth area." To make a long story short, she did this four times (twice on each side) and began her work. Oh the drilling sound! The cold water and suctioning! The holding my mouth wide open for about two hours and praying to the Lord that my breath doesn't stink or that I cough and spit all that water back at the two of them. During this process my dentist constantly asked if I was in any pain. Over and over she would question me. She didn't want to hurt me.
She administered grace unto me. Not only do I see the medicine as grace, because without it she couldn't have removed the rottenness of my tooth. But I also see her attitude as an administrator of grace. Constantly she wanted my comfort but at the same time she knew she had to go deeper to remove all of the decay. She knew that she had to remove this before ever beginning to restore my tooth for use.
Thank you Jesus for your GRACE. Thank you also for your grace administrators. You may think that preacher is just trying to call you out, but he is a grace administrator. Lord help me to be just like my dentist. Help me to reveal the decaying effects of sin, so that you may restore them for use. Help me to be constantly aware of pain and administer the grace that you have given unto me.
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
As I was staring up at that bright light from my dental chair this thought came to my mind. You know the routine... They call your name and you walk down that hall toward the "chair". Looking left and right as you pass by those being scrapped and drilled on. The noises you hear are ones that should be found on a construction site. I finally take my seat and wait for my dentist. When she comes in she is polite and somewhat perky (but she's not the one in the chair right?)
As her assistant was setting up for the drilling session my dentist was applying the normal pink deadening jelly. With needle now in hand she is ready to start. She looks at me and says, "Now comes the worst part, you'll feel a big pinch." As much as I dread these shots in my mouth I have to be honest and say that they do not hurt.
She was slowly and steadily applying pressure to the syringe and injecting the medicine. After a few seconds she says, "That's it, let's let that take effect for a moment and we will do it in the tooth area." To make a long story short, she did this four times (twice on each side) and began her work. Oh the drilling sound! The cold water and suctioning! The holding my mouth wide open for about two hours and praying to the Lord that my breath doesn't stink or that I cough and spit all that water back at the two of them. During this process my dentist constantly asked if I was in any pain. Over and over she would question me. She didn't want to hurt me.
She administered grace unto me. Not only do I see the medicine as grace, because without it she couldn't have removed the rottenness of my tooth. But I also see her attitude as an administrator of grace. Constantly she wanted my comfort but at the same time she knew she had to go deeper to remove all of the decay. She knew that she had to remove this before ever beginning to restore my tooth for use.
Thank you Jesus for your GRACE. Thank you also for your grace administrators. You may think that preacher is just trying to call you out, but he is a grace administrator. Lord help me to be just like my dentist. Help me to reveal the decaying effects of sin, so that you may restore them for use. Help me to be constantly aware of pain and administer the grace that you have given unto me.
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself
Galatians 6:1
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
The word of God tells us that if a man is overtaken in a fault, or sin, then those which are spiritual go and restore him. The scripture is not speaking of being spiritual in attitude, there are way too many of those. It is speaking of those that are walking in a spiritual relationship with Christ. God doesn't use those who are prideful and full of their own selves more than they are full of the Spirit. There is no possible way that we can restore someone back into Christ when we ourselves need restoration. When we spend more time on our relationship with Christ and keeping ourselves filled with the Spirit, then we can help others in restoring their relationship with Jesus.
Look at how God tells us that it must be done. He says first of all, it must be done in the spirit of meekness. Being meek does not mean to be weak or passive about sin. It means that we must be humble. Humble enough to realize that it could be us in that situation. Which is the second thing He tells us. We must consider ourselves! We should look at them as though it were ourselves. We should treat what they have fallen to as if we ourselves have fallen to it. God is telling us that if we are to help in the restoration process that we can not do it with pride!
Last of all He says that we also could be tempted in this same area. Why should we be meek and consider ourselves?...lest we also be tempted. The word of God says that pride cometh before destruction. That when we think ourselves to be something or above something to beware because our fall is on its way.
So I ask you this today. Are you a restorer or a destroyer? Are you a helper or a hinderer?
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
The word of God tells us that if a man is overtaken in a fault, or sin, then those which are spiritual go and restore him. The scripture is not speaking of being spiritual in attitude, there are way too many of those. It is speaking of those that are walking in a spiritual relationship with Christ. God doesn't use those who are prideful and full of their own selves more than they are full of the Spirit. There is no possible way that we can restore someone back into Christ when we ourselves need restoration. When we spend more time on our relationship with Christ and keeping ourselves filled with the Spirit, then we can help others in restoring their relationship with Jesus.
Look at how God tells us that it must be done. He says first of all, it must be done in the spirit of meekness. Being meek does not mean to be weak or passive about sin. It means that we must be humble. Humble enough to realize that it could be us in that situation. Which is the second thing He tells us. We must consider ourselves! We should look at them as though it were ourselves. We should treat what they have fallen to as if we ourselves have fallen to it. God is telling us that if we are to help in the restoration process that we can not do it with pride!
Last of all He says that we also could be tempted in this same area. Why should we be meek and consider ourselves?...lest we also be tempted. The word of God says that pride cometh before destruction. That when we think ourselves to be something or above something to beware because our fall is on its way.
So I ask you this today. Are you a restorer or a destroyer? Are you a helper or a hinderer?
Friday, December 26, 2014
A Forgotten Gift
2 Corinthians 9:15
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
Remember in the Christmas Story movie, the gift forgotten? Ralphie's dad said, "What is that over there behind the desk?" What about the Christmas Vacation movie? Remember when Clark is in the attic trying to hide those special gifts and finds one for Mother's Day? What if those gifts were left missing? Never to be opened by anyone. Just like this morning, all the presents that were under the tree are all opened. There was not a kid or adult that left one. When we see a gift with our name on it, it must be opened.
In John 3:16, the Bible tells us that God has wrapped a beautiful gift for you. Actually for everyone who will believe. The scripture says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever...THAT'S YOU... believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." The gift is right there with your name on it. Why would you not open it?
Some have tried to hide this special gift. We should not hide this gift like Clark or Ralpie's dad, we should share it with everyone. Remember it's not just to us, but to everyone...to the whosoever.
Thank you Lord for your unspeakable gift. Thank you that you included my name on the wrapping. Thank you that Jesus was born, was crucified, and is forever alive. Thank you for your unspeakable gift. Sometimes I don't have the words to speak my gratitude. I love you Jesus.
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
Remember in the Christmas Story movie, the gift forgotten? Ralphie's dad said, "What is that over there behind the desk?" What about the Christmas Vacation movie? Remember when Clark is in the attic trying to hide those special gifts and finds one for Mother's Day? What if those gifts were left missing? Never to be opened by anyone. Just like this morning, all the presents that were under the tree are all opened. There was not a kid or adult that left one. When we see a gift with our name on it, it must be opened.
In John 3:16, the Bible tells us that God has wrapped a beautiful gift for you. Actually for everyone who will believe. The scripture says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever...THAT'S YOU... believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." The gift is right there with your name on it. Why would you not open it?
Some have tried to hide this special gift. We should not hide this gift like Clark or Ralpie's dad, we should share it with everyone. Remember it's not just to us, but to everyone...to the whosoever.
Thank you Lord for your unspeakable gift. Thank you that you included my name on the wrapping. Thank you that Jesus was born, was crucified, and is forever alive. Thank you for your unspeakable gift. Sometimes I don't have the words to speak my gratitude. I love you Jesus.
Thursday, December 25, 2014
The Negativity Scene
1 Timothy 6:6
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
As I think of the scene of the Nativity, my first word to describe it would be grace. Now I'm almost sure the scene wasn't that of peace and quietness in the beginning. But I'm certain it ended up that way. Let's look at it this morning.
Joseph is searching and searching for a place to stay for the night. Mary is about to deliver the baby Jesus from the sitting position on a donkey. The town is full of people grumbling and complaining about tax season. Yes, there are people everywhere with their negative attitudes. "Why must we travel all the way back to Bethlehem?" You can hear them say. "We could have just mailed ours in..." All the time never fully realizing why they were there and why it had to be done this way.
Now we arrive at the scene of the birth, the Nativity. Maybe it was just like our scenes in the yard, or possibly like the ones on our coffee table. Either way it really doesn't matter because one thing we know for certain. It was not called the Negativity Scene. When I read of the scene I think of contentment. Joseph was content with being his earthly father. Mary was content while she pondered His birth in her heart. The shepherds were content to bow down and worship this child as their Savior and Lord.
You may be tempted to say, "Those tax payers were the negative ones." But you would be wrong to say it was all the tax payers. See, Joseph was there for the same reason. He journeyed from Nazareth to Bethlehem to pay his taxes. But because of his contentment in God he was blessed.
Think about it, if anyone could have chosen for this place to be called the Negativity Scene it could have been Joseph. But His servant heart, and contentment with whatever God wanted to do with him, was greater. So many people will allow this time of year to become negative and bitter. Even scholars and Christians will spend these days debating and arguing over His birth instead of praising God for it. There will be some children and adults that will complain and whine about the gifts they received. There will be crying over what they didn't get. They will turn it into a Negativity Scene. Well not you! Today, and everyday after, be content. There is so much to be found in contentment and God.
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
As I think of the scene of the Nativity, my first word to describe it would be grace. Now I'm almost sure the scene wasn't that of peace and quietness in the beginning. But I'm certain it ended up that way. Let's look at it this morning.
Joseph is searching and searching for a place to stay for the night. Mary is about to deliver the baby Jesus from the sitting position on a donkey. The town is full of people grumbling and complaining about tax season. Yes, there are people everywhere with their negative attitudes. "Why must we travel all the way back to Bethlehem?" You can hear them say. "We could have just mailed ours in..." All the time never fully realizing why they were there and why it had to be done this way.
Now we arrive at the scene of the birth, the Nativity. Maybe it was just like our scenes in the yard, or possibly like the ones on our coffee table. Either way it really doesn't matter because one thing we know for certain. It was not called the Negativity Scene. When I read of the scene I think of contentment. Joseph was content with being his earthly father. Mary was content while she pondered His birth in her heart. The shepherds were content to bow down and worship this child as their Savior and Lord.
You may be tempted to say, "Those tax payers were the negative ones." But you would be wrong to say it was all the tax payers. See, Joseph was there for the same reason. He journeyed from Nazareth to Bethlehem to pay his taxes. But because of his contentment in God he was blessed.
Think about it, if anyone could have chosen for this place to be called the Negativity Scene it could have been Joseph. But His servant heart, and contentment with whatever God wanted to do with him, was greater. So many people will allow this time of year to become negative and bitter. Even scholars and Christians will spend these days debating and arguing over His birth instead of praising God for it. There will be some children and adults that will complain and whine about the gifts they received. There will be crying over what they didn't get. They will turn it into a Negativity Scene. Well not you! Today, and everyday after, be content. There is so much to be found in contentment and God.
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