Psalms 1:1
Blessed is the man
that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor standeth in the way of sinners,
nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Read this scripture over and over again and try and see it. No there is no secret code hidden in it. The thing that we need to see is very obvious.
First, we see the person who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, or stands with sinners in the way, or sits in the seat of the scornful is blessed. Blessed meaning favored and full of joy in God. We can see right off the bat that we are blessed people of God when we walk in His ways and honor Him with our lives.
Think of this, the older we get the slower our steps are. We struggle with the next steps sometimes to the point of having to stand or sit. Our age gets the best of us. Our strength is at a loss at times because of our age and it slows us.
Second, and the thing I want you to see today, is the slow effects of sin. Notice what God says happens to the person who lives ungodly. They start out walking in the counsel of the ungodly. Then find themselves standing now in the way of sinners. Eventually they find themselves sitting in the seat of the scornful. From walking, to standing and then to sitting.
Don't be tempted by the sin of walking in the counsel of the ungodly. If you listen to their counsel you will stop your walk and stand with them in their sin. If you stand and linger with sin and sinners you then will find a seat among the scorners.
Thursday, September 21, 2017
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Way Too Common...
Acts 2:44
And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
Common means shared by, coming from, or done by more than one. Our scripture this morning says that the first century church had all things common or together. They pooled their resources together and sold their goods because they thought the kingdom of God was coming immediately. These people shared their food as well as their struggles with one another. All things were common to them.
A few years ago I heard a testimony of a friend about he and his wife losing their baby to a miscarriage. Although I'm sure the doctor didn't mean any implications of unconcern, the doctor made a statement of it being a common thing. Something that happens often to young couples and mothers. My friend said, "It is maybe a common thing, until it happens to you." How true a statement! The sad truth is that we don't become concerned about something until it happens to us.
Years of war could go by overseas and no one becomes concerned but when our homeland is struck then it's not so common. Death happens around us all the time but it's blow of grief doesn't burden us until it strikes our family. Sin has become one of those things that happens more and more common today. It is openly paraded in our world, nation and God forbid even through our Christian churches. It is not something new, it is common, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't drive us to our knees in weeping prayer.
Sin has become so common today that maybe you are no longer effected by it. Maybe murder, abortion, rape, adultery, lies, theft, hate, and other common sins no longer tug at your heart. I remember, and also read in the Word of God, where people used to come before God weeping about the sinful condition of their world, nation, family and church. I'm afraid that sin has become so common that it's hard to even find the ones who will weep for the sin that they themselves have committed, much less the sins of others. Is it really that common to you today?
And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
Common means shared by, coming from, or done by more than one. Our scripture this morning says that the first century church had all things common or together. They pooled their resources together and sold their goods because they thought the kingdom of God was coming immediately. These people shared their food as well as their struggles with one another. All things were common to them.
A few years ago I heard a testimony of a friend about he and his wife losing their baby to a miscarriage. Although I'm sure the doctor didn't mean any implications of unconcern, the doctor made a statement of it being a common thing. Something that happens often to young couples and mothers. My friend said, "It is maybe a common thing, until it happens to you." How true a statement! The sad truth is that we don't become concerned about something until it happens to us.
Years of war could go by overseas and no one becomes concerned but when our homeland is struck then it's not so common. Death happens around us all the time but it's blow of grief doesn't burden us until it strikes our family. Sin has become one of those things that happens more and more common today. It is openly paraded in our world, nation and God forbid even through our Christian churches. It is not something new, it is common, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't drive us to our knees in weeping prayer.
Sin has become so common today that maybe you are no longer effected by it. Maybe murder, abortion, rape, adultery, lies, theft, hate, and other common sins no longer tug at your heart. I remember, and also read in the Word of God, where people used to come before God weeping about the sinful condition of their world, nation, family and church. I'm afraid that sin has become so common that it's hard to even find the ones who will weep for the sin that they themselves have committed, much less the sins of others. Is it really that common to you today?
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Thank You Lord For My Heartache
2 Samuel 24:10
And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the Lord, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O Lord, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.
Aren't you glad and thankful for the Holy Spirit? We all love when we worship and the Spirit begins to move upon our lives don't we? When we read in His Word something that we need, we love how God's Spirit hits us and speaks to us. What about when you've done wrong? Some would say that they really don't like that.
Seems like everyone loves it when the Spirit makes us happy, joyful or excited. What about when God strikes your heart when you are wrong? Why don't you rejoice at that? Maybe I'm crazy, but I am so very thankful when the Spirit attacks my heart when I have sinned. It shows me that I belong to God.
Do you remember when you were young and got caught doing something you shouldn't have been doing? I know I can. I remember getting a whipping or having to sit out of playing because we did something we shouldn't have done. Some kids didn't get the whooping or discipline and I would wonder why. It didn't seem fair that my parents, who said they loved me, would discipline me like this. But now that I'm older I realize that it was their true love for me.
The next time you think God is picking on you or being unfair to you because of the foolish sin you have committed, try confessing it to Him. Really that's what He wants.
God I want to tell you thank you today for making my heart ache when I commit sin. Thank you for your discipline and love for me.
And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the Lord, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O Lord, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.
Aren't you glad and thankful for the Holy Spirit? We all love when we worship and the Spirit begins to move upon our lives don't we? When we read in His Word something that we need, we love how God's Spirit hits us and speaks to us. What about when you've done wrong? Some would say that they really don't like that.
Seems like everyone loves it when the Spirit makes us happy, joyful or excited. What about when God strikes your heart when you are wrong? Why don't you rejoice at that? Maybe I'm crazy, but I am so very thankful when the Spirit attacks my heart when I have sinned. It shows me that I belong to God.
Do you remember when you were young and got caught doing something you shouldn't have been doing? I know I can. I remember getting a whipping or having to sit out of playing because we did something we shouldn't have done. Some kids didn't get the whooping or discipline and I would wonder why. It didn't seem fair that my parents, who said they loved me, would discipline me like this. But now that I'm older I realize that it was their true love for me.
The next time you think God is picking on you or being unfair to you because of the foolish sin you have committed, try confessing it to Him. Really that's what He wants.
God I want to tell you thank you today for making my heart ache when I commit sin. Thank you for your discipline and love for me.
Monday, September 18, 2017
The First Thing
Philemon 1:4
I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
Would you consider prayer as a last resort or a priority? Seems that among believing Christians today they would view it as the last resort. Almost as if it is the final hope. No, no, no. Christians, we need to open our eyes to the truth today! Prayer is a priority privilege.
When thankfulness comes to our minds we should take it to God in prayer. When suffering comes to our lives, we should take it to God in prayer. When blessings come to our heart we, should take it to God in prayer. When temptation and trials come our way, we should take it to God in prayer. When questions and confusion come to our thoughts, we should take them to God in prayer. When sickness and disease inflicts our bodies, we should take it to God in prayer.
For some reason this phrase is common among the people of God... "I can't do anything for you but I can pray." What?! That is the best thing you could ever do. Prayer is the spoken or written faith to God about the situation at hand. It is asking in humility for the God of Heaven and Earth to hear your request. Prayer is knowing that He is listening and that He will answer in His time.
Hear me again, prayer is not a last resort. No, it is the first answer.
When I have been discouraged or burdened there is absolutely nothing that has filled my heart with greater joy than knowing that someone is praying. To any who have ever prayed for me, thank you. Keep praying, always and forever.
I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
Would you consider prayer as a last resort or a priority? Seems that among believing Christians today they would view it as the last resort. Almost as if it is the final hope. No, no, no. Christians, we need to open our eyes to the truth today! Prayer is a priority privilege.
When thankfulness comes to our minds we should take it to God in prayer. When suffering comes to our lives, we should take it to God in prayer. When blessings come to our heart we, should take it to God in prayer. When temptation and trials come our way, we should take it to God in prayer. When questions and confusion come to our thoughts, we should take them to God in prayer. When sickness and disease inflicts our bodies, we should take it to God in prayer.
For some reason this phrase is common among the people of God... "I can't do anything for you but I can pray." What?! That is the best thing you could ever do. Prayer is the spoken or written faith to God about the situation at hand. It is asking in humility for the God of Heaven and Earth to hear your request. Prayer is knowing that He is listening and that He will answer in His time.
Hear me again, prayer is not a last resort. No, it is the first answer.
When I have been discouraged or burdened there is absolutely nothing that has filled my heart with greater joy than knowing that someone is praying. To any who have ever prayed for me, thank you. Keep praying, always and forever.
Friday, September 15, 2017
No Need to Thank Me
Proverbs 27:2
Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth;
a stranger, and not thine own lips.
How tempted we could be to praise our own works at times. Can I tell you something? That would be the flesh leading you to do so. I have been around some that I wanted to ask if it hurt or not. They were hard at work in slapping themselves on their own back.
Don't let these next things I say discourage you, but think about them. If your praise comes from yourself then wouldn't that be prideful and glorying in yourself? When you feel the need to tell of the things you do at work, or even the labor for God, this can lead to glorifying yourself instead of God. Now don't misunderstand me. When you are telling of what God has done in or through your life, Jesus always gets the glory. When you draw it out with "I, me, mine" that has a tendency to sound like self glorification.
Do this with me... Do your labor, whether for an employer or Christ Jesus, and let the labor speak. Let it show forth the glory of God. Don't bring praise and draw people to yourself, but rather let your praise be unto the Lord who has strengthened and guided you in this labor. If there is any praise , let it not come from your lips.
When I read this scripture I think of what I heard once about a woman who cut the grass, washed the car, clothes and dishes. She fed and changed all the babies, and even did the taxes. The man knowing he should also help, bent over and picked up a piece of trash that had fallen from the garbage can. Instead of throwing it away, he brought it into the room where his wife was and said, "Can you believe this fell out of the trash? I got it though, no need to thank me."
Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth;
a stranger, and not thine own lips.
How tempted we could be to praise our own works at times. Can I tell you something? That would be the flesh leading you to do so. I have been around some that I wanted to ask if it hurt or not. They were hard at work in slapping themselves on their own back.
Don't let these next things I say discourage you, but think about them. If your praise comes from yourself then wouldn't that be prideful and glorying in yourself? When you feel the need to tell of the things you do at work, or even the labor for God, this can lead to glorifying yourself instead of God. Now don't misunderstand me. When you are telling of what God has done in or through your life, Jesus always gets the glory. When you draw it out with "I, me, mine" that has a tendency to sound like self glorification.
Do this with me... Do your labor, whether for an employer or Christ Jesus, and let the labor speak. Let it show forth the glory of God. Don't bring praise and draw people to yourself, but rather let your praise be unto the Lord who has strengthened and guided you in this labor. If there is any praise , let it not come from your lips.
When I read this scripture I think of what I heard once about a woman who cut the grass, washed the car, clothes and dishes. She fed and changed all the babies, and even did the taxes. The man knowing he should also help, bent over and picked up a piece of trash that had fallen from the garbage can. Instead of throwing it away, he brought it into the room where his wife was and said, "Can you believe this fell out of the trash? I got it though, no need to thank me."
Thursday, September 14, 2017
May I Have Some More
James 4:6
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
As if His grace wasn't enough, He tells us that He gives more grace. Maybe today you think that God's grace is running low. Maybe you think there is some kind of shortage on the grace of God. I want you to know that nothing could be farther from the truth.
Have you ever stopped to think of the grace of God? This grace is best explained as...God's Riches At Christ's Expense. Grace is a sinless man being born unto a virgin woman. This same son living a life of honor and devotion unto His Father's will. Being obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. This same grace is found in His Father raising Him from the dead. Then the grace of all grace, Jesus reaching to your broken heart to save you and lead you home. Wow! That's enough right?
As I heard a friend preach once, "But wait there's more!" What about when you are hurting? What about when you need a healing? What about when you are dying? Is His grace available for this also? Yes, yes, yes! He giveth MORE grace.
But there's a catch. What's that you say? You must leave your pride aside. I have seen, and still see it today, that many people can't find the grace they need because of their pride, our pride. I know men who will hold on to their pride until they die. They would rather die thinking they had pride, when what they really needed was grace.
Grace is found in humility. When we realize that we don't deserve this grace our God extends to us, we can then receive it. Remember when dinner was so good that you would ask for more? Lord, may I have some more of your undeserved grace today?
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
As if His grace wasn't enough, He tells us that He gives more grace. Maybe today you think that God's grace is running low. Maybe you think there is some kind of shortage on the grace of God. I want you to know that nothing could be farther from the truth.
Have you ever stopped to think of the grace of God? This grace is best explained as...God's Riches At Christ's Expense. Grace is a sinless man being born unto a virgin woman. This same son living a life of honor and devotion unto His Father's will. Being obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. This same grace is found in His Father raising Him from the dead. Then the grace of all grace, Jesus reaching to your broken heart to save you and lead you home. Wow! That's enough right?
As I heard a friend preach once, "But wait there's more!" What about when you are hurting? What about when you need a healing? What about when you are dying? Is His grace available for this also? Yes, yes, yes! He giveth MORE grace.
But there's a catch. What's that you say? You must leave your pride aside. I have seen, and still see it today, that many people can't find the grace they need because of their pride, our pride. I know men who will hold on to their pride until they die. They would rather die thinking they had pride, when what they really needed was grace.
Grace is found in humility. When we realize that we don't deserve this grace our God extends to us, we can then receive it. Remember when dinner was so good that you would ask for more? Lord, may I have some more of your undeserved grace today?
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Need Help?
Isaiah 50:7
For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
I have needed help on many occasions and felt like I could find none. Have you ever felt this way? Maybe you're just like me. Maybe you don't get the help you need because you haven't asked for help.
I am the worst person at asking someone to help me. It's just not in me. I suppose I could say it was because of the way I was raised. I could probably say it's because I don't want to bother anyone. But the fact of the matter is that sometimes we all need help and we don't ask. How much burden could we relieve if we would just simply ask for help in the beginning? So often I have tried to do things all on my own and end up being so physically beat that I became hurt or even sick.
Now on the other hand, I have always loved to help others. I would help stranger or friend, doesn't matter to me. I love to help and I can't stand it when people won't let me. Then one day it hit me... I love to help and won't let people help me. That's wrong. Other people may love to help and I may be like the ones who won't let them.
Think of this... Our Lord loves to help and will help. But will you let Him? Have you asked Him? Today before you leave for work or school, ask for help from our Lord. He would love to do it. Don't try it on your own.
Thank you Lord for all your help in my life. I know that I could never do it without you! I love you.
For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
I have needed help on many occasions and felt like I could find none. Have you ever felt this way? Maybe you're just like me. Maybe you don't get the help you need because you haven't asked for help.
I am the worst person at asking someone to help me. It's just not in me. I suppose I could say it was because of the way I was raised. I could probably say it's because I don't want to bother anyone. But the fact of the matter is that sometimes we all need help and we don't ask. How much burden could we relieve if we would just simply ask for help in the beginning? So often I have tried to do things all on my own and end up being so physically beat that I became hurt or even sick.
Now on the other hand, I have always loved to help others. I would help stranger or friend, doesn't matter to me. I love to help and I can't stand it when people won't let me. Then one day it hit me... I love to help and won't let people help me. That's wrong. Other people may love to help and I may be like the ones who won't let them.
Think of this... Our Lord loves to help and will help. But will you let Him? Have you asked Him? Today before you leave for work or school, ask for help from our Lord. He would love to do it. Don't try it on your own.
Thank you Lord for all your help in my life. I know that I could never do it without you! I love you.
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