Go, Flow, Sow

Psalms 126:6

He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed,

shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

I remember going to my grandmother's church when I was young. It seemed like they would sing, "Bringing in the sheaves" every Sunday. It was sung so much that I found myself singing it all during the week. "We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves..."  

I didn't realize until later in my life that there was much work to do before you could ever bring in any sheaves. Look at this scripture...

First of all we must decide to GO!  We've got to make our minds up that we are willing to do the labor of planting the seed. 

Second, we must become broken for the need. We must see the need in order to be effective. Nehemiah saw the broken walls of Jerusalem and became broken himself because of the need. We must look upon lost men and women and see the need for Christ in their lives. This should burden us to be broken and even weep for their condition. Sometimes what wisdom and labor can't do, brokenness and weeping can do!  We should pray that God place a brokenness in us. That the flood waters of our eyes and soul cleanse out any debris that cause us not to see clearly the need for planting this precious seed. 

Lastly, we bear the precious seed of the Gospel. We need no other seeds!  We have the truest, purest and holiest seed. But look at what God calls it... Precious Seed!  Precious, because we must be careful with it. Precious, because of its power. Yes we should invite people to church. Yes we should invite people to revivals. Yes we should invite people to special meetings at the church. But we should never forget that in real gardening...we should invite them to the cross. Invite them to Christ!  

Like a preacher once told me... GO, FLOW and SOW!  

Victory in the Word

Psalms 119:50

" This is my comfort in my affliction:

for thy word hath quickened me."

The other day my wife said the most profound thing I have ever heard. She said, "If Joshua conquered Canaan with just five books, what could we do with the sixty-six we have?"  (I know, She's pretty deep). 

Stop and think of how Moses took the word of God, that he was told to write, and rehearsed it into the ears of Joshua. Day after day, he told him of the victories they had through God's leading. He told them of the suffering times they experienced. Moses shared of how God supplied water from a rock. He also explained to him the sin of the children of Israel while he was on the mountain with God. Day after day, month after month, and story after story. Rehearsing the lines over and over. 

Do you know what happened when they spied out the land to inherit?  There were only two spies that believed the land God promised could be taken. It was Joshua and Caleb. Joshua being one that heard of God and His supplying hand of grace from Moses. Joshua listen to Moses as he speaks of victories and always trusting in God. Moses shared with Joshua about God meeting every need and always taking care of the house of Israel. No wonder he knew that they could have the land if God desired them to have it. 

The rehearsal was just with the first five books of our Bible, also known as the Torah. Well if Joshua could accomplish that feat with God, what more could we do?  

You've got a whole book of answers, solutions and victories. How do you treat the Bible?  Do you hear it's power and victory. Remember now, there are sixty-six books of God's victory and provisions. What a victory in the Word of God. Rehearse it!

Swelling Waters and Simple Prayers

Matthew 14:28-31

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Have you ever been to church and the preacher ask someone to lead in a word of prayer?  Did you listen to their prayer?  Come on now, most of the time you know that's what you are doing. You are listening and agreeing with their prayer unto the Lord. Sometimes you may find yourself readjusting their prayer for them, or applying it in a different way.

Well this morning I want you to pray. Do it right now! Take the time right now and talk unto the Lord. Listen carefully to what you are saying. Too many times is turns out to be words of habit. Like our prayer over the food we eat... "By His hands we are fed, thank you Lord for daily bread". Or maybe the bedtime prayer... "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep". Too often we talk to the Lord the exact same way we did the times before. 

Our prayers change at times, especially in times of trouble. Oh how honest and true are our prayers unto the Lord when we are at thhe lowest point. It seems that when we are sinking in the waters our prayers are simple and straight forward. We don't flatter with swelling words. We don't add the fillers that so many think are needed when they are asked to pray in church or public. No, we address Him in such a way that it grabs His heart. 

Do you ever think that Peter May have gotten into the rut of swelling prayers? It could be possible that Peter could have gotten into religious and legalistic ruts in his walk. We all at times could have this happen to us. But I wonder if he ever went back to the night he got out of the boat. The night where he walked across the water. The same night he had his eyes fixed on the Savior. The exact same night that he saw the wind and waves, and fear entered into his heart. This night where he was up on top of the water and now begins to sink. Notice what he prayed... "Lord, save me."  He could have said, "Jesus, the Son of God, who was brought to this earth to save and redeem people from their sins... Please reach down thine hand and help a sinking sinner such as me. With your stretched out arm, lift me up from this watery grave that will soon be mine..." 

No! There wasn't enough time for swelling words. Peter had no time to repeatedly call Him Savior, Lord, God, Jesus, etc... He made the prayer simple. And do you know something? The response, or answer, from Jesus was just as simple. Peter cried for help because he doubted and Jesus answered him by saving him and saying, "Why did you doubt?"  It was like Jesus was saying... "Trust me, trust in me, I've got you". 

Now pray again. Take the time to talk to him, not repeatedly or in repetition. Pray to Him with simplicity, direct and honesty. 

A Long Way From The Shore

Matthew 18:12-13
How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

Every year around June/July, the Abney's would take off for the beach.  I used to call it the "Redneck Riviera".  We would travel from Alabama into Florida to our special spot.  Many years it was a house that we rented together with a few other family members.  So think about it... Same road, same house, same beach, same scenario year after year. It was so routine! The same swimsuit, which consisted of the shorts from a previous year and a shirt due to my chubbiness. The same crab net and flashlight for the night hunts along the beach. Even down to the same old blowup raft equipped with paddles and all. (I hope that you are picking up on the "routine" of our trips because I'm laying it on pretty thick)

When we arrived at our destination the very first thing I would do is grab the swimming attire and raft.  Mom would be trying to rub sunscreen on me before I could get the old shirt on, but that was for wimps.  "No time for that mom, I've gotta get in the water!" as I fought her away.  Dad, mom, brother and other family members all lined up as we took the walk to the beach.  I've got the raft above my head leading the pack across the road obviously.

I'm the first one in the water!  Mom, dad and the others are now settling in their routine, which was thirty minutes and flip, thirty minutes and flip.  Well I had jumped into the ocean and forgot the paddles to the raft on the shore.  It really didn't matter that much though, because I wasn't going to go far.  As I was relaxing it the bottom of the raft and allowing the waves to sooth my childhood sorrows away, I lost thought and track of time.  I sat up in the raft and looked toward shore.  Let's just say I almost needed a new swimsuit.  I had drifted so far away from the shore.  If you know anything about Florida and the beaches... I was past the second sand bar.  (Yea, that far)

I started screaming like Tom Hanks when Wilson drifted from him in the Castaway movie. "Daaaady! Come get me!" He was waving his hands and saying, "Paddle back buddy."  To which I said, "Look beside you! I ain't got no paddles."  You know my Dad could have allowed me to drift to Cuba and blame it all on my carelessness, but he didn't.  I'll never forget in my life what he did.  He took off his shirt, leather Jesus sandals and black dress socks and headed out to where I was drifting. As he was coming out to me he still wanted me to paddle with my arms and I would say, "No way, there are probably sharks out here." So he kept swimming to where I was. He grabbed that handle on my raft and brought me to the shoreline.  

Listen today to the Holy Spirit as you read these words... No matter how far you may have drifted, call out to Jesus right now.  Can't you just see Him as He stands up when the cry is heard?  Can't you see Him as He comes to where you are and brings you home?

Donald Abney, daddy, thank you for swimming out to a little boy who was drifting away.  Not only on the shores of Florida that day, but also as a teenage boy who was totally drifting from Christ and headed to Hell.  I know that you came and got me in the raft when I was little, but only Jesus could have swam out as far as He did when I was lost in sin.  Thank you Mom and Dad for pointing me out to Jesus when you couldn't swim to me.  Thank you Jesus for coming to me and saving my life.

It makes me want to sing that song... "Without Him, I would be drifting like a ship without a sail."  

Follow the Leader

1 Timothy 3:5

(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

A failure among fathers today is knowing how to rule the house. First we must understand that ruling the house is not done as Hitler with force. It will never be accomplished by demanding it. Respect for authority is not a right inherited when you bring the child into the world. Surely you know that having a baby does not make you a mom or dad. Being a mom or dad goes much deeper than having a sexual relationship with someone and conceiving a baby. 

Being a dad or mom is a position of leadership. Although this position isn't viewed in a great light by our present society, it is far more influential than the presidency. I often hear parents say, "My children don't respect me... They don't do what I tell them to do."  So often it's because you are imposing rules upon them that you yourself are not willing to keep. Do you lead with respect? Do you respect others and most of all God? Then how will they know how to perform that which they have never seen?  Do you demand that they follow your rule while you are breaking every rule?  Think of this... Do you yell at them for breaking your house rules, but yet talk all kinds of trash against the police for stopping you after running through a traffic light or speeding? 

Why would they care about your rules when you don't care about keeping rules?  Why would your child want to walk with Jesus when you don't walk with Him?

Notice the scripture this morning. "For if a man KNOW NOT HOW to rule his own house..."  Dad's, do you think you can rule the home well without first being a submissive follower of Jesus?  Our failure that I was speaking of early is from not KNOWING how to lead, which comes from not knowing how to follow. 

Ask God right now to help you lead your children. Ask for His leadership. Allow Him to rule your life so that you can rule your home well. Remember, He doesn't rule you as Hitler with demands. He came in love, died in love, saves in love and rules in love. 

One of my absolute greatest concerns as a dad and a pastor is leading a whole congregation of people and not my very own children. The Lord has shown me that I could never rule the house of God without first leading my very own family. I could never lead without first following Christ. Thank you Jesus, keep leading. Where you lead, I will follow. 

Pour It Out!

Isaiah 44:3-4

For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty,

and floods upon the dry ground:

I will pour my spirit upon thy seed,

and my blessing upon thine offspring: 

And they shall spring up as among the grass,

as willows by the water courses.

Don't you just love this scripture today?  It is God's answer for what we lack. Look closely at what the Lord is speaking to us...

He says, "I will POUR water upon him that is thirsty". Oh how awesome is that?  God sees the need of our thirst. He sees our thirst and He's not speaking about our desire for something to drink. He takes notice of our need for righteousness. The Bible tells us in another scripture that He will bless those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. But look really close!  He not only meets our need or satisfies our thirst, but He POURS it upon us. He doesn't just give us a drink or taste. No, He pours His Spirit upon us. 

Then He will "flood the dry ground". Our souls are so dry and thirsty, just as a desert landscape. God pours out His Spirit upon us and it floods over. It floods throughout our life unto the lives of others. It flows in our hearts. It then flows into our marriage. Then onto our children and their children. When we are filled with the Spirit, it has a great way of showing. There is no mistaken when someone is living in the Spirit of God. 

Notice the last thing He says... "They shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water". God satisfies you, then He saturates you and others around you, and then He strengthens you!  

God please send the waters today. Send the Holy Spirit upon us right now. I pray for those reading today that may be dry and thirsty. Pour out your flooding Spirit upon them. In Jesus Name, Amen

An Impact Player

Jude 1:22

And of some have compassion, making a difference:

At our home we play video games together. We love to play sport games against each other and get our favorite teams and players (Roll Tide). Well now our games have these indicators for certain players. It could be a white star or a something similar. This is an indicator of a players strength or abilities. Impact players are huge game changers. 

The word of God teaches us that there is nothing greater than love, grace and mercy. In this scripture we see that compassion (mercy) on people who are struggling can make a difference. This could be game changing for them. Mercy and compassion could give great victories for you and the receiver. 

So put on your suit of compassion. Your helmet of salvation. Your pads of Grace. Be a game changer today. Be an impact player!

I remember a story about a young boy throwing starfish back into the sea. An old man asked him if he thought he was making a difference. There're were thousands of starfish on the shore. He picked up another one. Tossed it into the sea and said, "Made a difference to that one".