What Time Is It?

John 12:23
And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.

Most of my life I never wore a watch. I was always asking people, "What time is it?" When I was younger it was a question I would ask every two or three minutes apart. Especially if there was a specific time I was waiting on. I'm sure I bothered many people back then.

Can't you remember your parents telling you that you were going over to your cousins house at five o'clock? Usually mine would tell me this at about eight in the morning. So all day long I would ask, "What time is it? What time is it now? Is it five yet?"

Think of all the glorious miracles that the disciples saw Jesus perform. Imagine all the words of life and power that they heard come from the mouth of the Son of God. Over and over Jesus would tell them that His time had not yet come. I imagine that they would look at Him with that look of, "Is it time yet? Will you show your full glory now? Can we glorify you now?" Then one day when they probably lest expected it... Jesus says, "The hour is come..."

"IT'S FIVE O'CLOCK, LET'S GO!" I would yell to my parents. I would hurry them out the door because this is the time I had waited on all day. At eight in the morning it seemed like it would never get here. It seemed like the minutes were hours. But when I wasn't paying attention... the time came.

You may be waiting on Jesus to show up or you may be waiting on His return. Let me assure you this morning that He will show up. He will return. The hour will come some day that ALL will glorify the Son. We will ALL bow our knees, we will ALL confess that Jesus is Lord. As John said in the closing book of the Bible, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus."

Make up in your mind this morning that it is time! It's time that you glorify the Son of God, Jesus.

Who Me?

Ephesians 3:8
Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

Can you believe that? God chose someone like Saul of Tarsus to deliver the greatest message this world has ever known to the Gentile nation. This same Saul was before a persecutor of the church people. He had them killed, imprisoned, beaten and told to stop spreading this disease called Christianity. But now he is saved and sharing Jesus with the Gentiles. When Saul got saved even his name was changed.

One of the facts I find to be the greatest is the fact of who Paul is now preaching to, it's the Gentiles. These people didn't get their name from being gentle or acting like gentlemen. To the Jew, they were barbaric dogs and not worthy of God. But to God, now that's totally different and Paul is called to tell them about it.

Paul went out into the Gentile nation preaching the Gospel of Jesus. How Jesus was born of a virgin, how He died on the cross and how He was resurrected of His Father. How could God use someone like this? Remember who he used to be? A persecutor, murderer, attacker of the Gospel is now preaching the Gospel. The one who went to all extremes to get rid of this heretic message of the Gospel is now preaching this Gospel.

Can you imagine the talk with Christ that day of his salvation? Who me? You want me? You want me to do what? I know this very well! I was one who was before a blasphemer, persecutor and often took the name of the Lord in vain. I was a drunkard. I was a brawler. I was a liar. I was a fornicator. I was, I was, I was... But that's just it. I was... But do you know something? I am now! I think of it like this... Unto me, Steve Abney who is the least of all the saints, is given this grace. See I don't stand on my experience or abilities, but in His grace. I can share with you about Jesus and not worry about who "I was" because of who "I am". AMEN! And so can you.

Turn Already

Joel 2:12-13
Therefore also now, saith the Lord,
turn ye even to me with all your heart,
and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
And rend your heart, and not your garments,
and turn unto the Lord your God:
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and of great kindness,
and repenteth him of the evil.

Have you ever driven down the interstate and seen someone who has left their blinker on? Or maybe someone on a backwoods rural road who has been riding along with their blinker on for a mile or two? Blink, Blink, Blink... “Please just turn already!” is what I usually say. Blink, Blink, Blink...

The Word of God describes to us the same scenario this morning. A people, called the Jews and who had opportunity at a right standing with God, lived much of their lives with their blinker on. Continually signaling as if they would turn, blink... blink... blink...  God told them that if they would turn unto Him with all their heart, with fasting, weeping and with mourning that He would extend His Grace and Mercy unto them.

Blink... Blink... Blink... “Turn already!” Much like these Jewish people of the Old Testament, I see the same thing unfolding today. Over and over as I share the Grace and Mercy of God with people, a view of people with their blinker on comes to me. I sometimes want to say, “Turn already!” I believe that my frustration comes from knowing that they are going to miss the turn.

I’m asking you today... Please turn already. What are you waiting for? Stop living with your blinker on as if you have intentions of turning. Just turn already. Turn... Blink... Blink... Blink... Turn to Grace, Mercy, Great Kindness.

Can I Have Some More?

2 Kings 2:9
And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

Think of your favorite food this morning. I know, I'm starting your morning off wrong. Especially if you are trying to diet or eat healthy. We all know that as soon as you read that first statement there was no broccoli or leafy green that came to your mind. Seriously, what would that favorite food of yours be? Now here are some other questions. If it were in front of you would you be satisfied with just a taste? Just one plate full? Or would you hold out your plate for maybe a second helping? If someone else were serving it up would you be satisfied with just a spoonful or would you want double?

The truth is that we would want more. Most of the time we want double of what we love. The employee would love double what they are making now. The car buyer would love to have all the bells and whistles for the same price. Even the gambler loves to take the "double-or-nothing" risk.

What if I told you that it is possible to have more, double, of God's Spirit today? No I don't mean that you supposedly become saved twice or baptized twice. You can't get any more saved than you are when you ask Christ for salvation. Once you are saved you receive the Holy Spirit. Everyday we grow more and more in the Spirit. Constantly praying that God would pour out His Spirit with double the strength everyday.

Elisha was not greater than Elijah in miracles or power at all. He just knew what Elijah had and he wanted it. Not just wanted it, he wanted it doubly more.

God my prayer today and everyday is that you fill me with your Spirit more and more everyday. May I have some more? May I have a double helping of you Lord? Surely you are not satisfied with just a spoonful of the Spirit.

I Have Sinned

Jeremiah 14:20
We acknowledge, O Lord, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers:
for we have sinned against thee.

What could happen if we just called it like it is? What if we would just come out and declare that we have sinned? Well a few words come to my mind...grace, forgiveness, salvation, healing, repair, restoration, mercy and praise. This is the short list.

God can, and always will, do great things when we acknowledge our sins unto Him. His word says if we hide or cover our sins that we will not be blessed or prosper. If we confess them, then He will hear us and forgive us. This seems very simple to me. Do not keep confession from God and always acknowldge your sins. Acknowledging your sin is defined as recognizing it or taking notice of it.

Today, will you pray with me a prayer I often pray? Father, please hear me as I ask you something today. Will you please show me my sins? I acknowledge that I have sinned against you Lord. I know that it is wickedness and sinful. Please forgive me of my sins. Forgive me O, Lord, remove my sins and cast them far from me. I am sorry that I disobeyed. I love you Lord. It's in Jesus' name I pray...Amen

Altered at the Altar

Psalms 43:4
Then will I go unto the altar of God,
unto God my exceeding joy:
yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.

With much stress and heartache among all people today we are faced with finding hope. Have you seen all of the modern medication commercials lately? They usually tell about the cure for our problem and then spend the last two minutes of a two and a half minute commercial telling how it will alter you with its many side effects. How about the alcoholic beverage commercials? "Just a little something to take the edge off", they say. We live such an altered lifestyle nowadays. Dependent upon medication to wake us as well as put us to sleep. Some to pick us up and some to chill us out. Some to fix our stomach issues and others that effect our stomach issues. Wave after wave it rolls upon us. Not to mention the slogans from alcohol dealers that tell us to forget our troubles and have a cold one. "Guinness says "it's Good For You." Another one says, "Where there's life, there's Bud". We alter our minds, some alter their bodies, we even alter our situations and still come up short on the peace we are looking for.

We are convinced that our altered minds or attitudes is the answer for our peace and hope. I know that you could say I don't know what you're going through. I don't know your life or pain. You are right! I don't, and you don’t know mine, but I bet this man named David knew. He could have easily altered his life with things that made him forget his sin and struggle, but he chose to altar himself instead of being altered.

When my heartaches come, and they do often, I love getting altar-ed! Look again at what David said, "Then will I go into the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God." Did you know that things can be altered at the altar? Go... Go now.

God Gave it Back

Matthew 27:57-60

When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus 'disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

Think of Joseph... His family tomb that he paid for and labored for was given to Jesus. Many people would say that he already knew Jesus only needed to borrow it, but I'm not sure that is the case. Even the disciples who walked with Jesus and saw the many miracles he did were in shock and disbelief of what had happened. Jesus plainly told them what would take place and they were blinded to the whole scene. So I don't believe Joseph gave his tomb for the body of Jesus with the intentions of getting it back. 

I was thinking of how the tomb could have been given back because Jesus didn't need it long, only to borrow it. Then God showed me that Adam lost dominion in the garden of Eden and all of creation was in bondage to sin and death, even blinded by darkness... But Jesus, on the cross, gave it back through his blood. Then out of the tomb, he gave it back through his resurrection. 

On the cross he gave His blood and life...and gave back our freedom from the penalty of sin, which is death.

Out of the tomb he came arose victorious...and gave back our lives through his resurrection. 

Whatever you've lost...in marriage, to addictions, to the enemy, in your life... God, through His Son Jesus, can give it back. Don't allow satan to continue and blind you from the greatest truth ever. That God desires to save you. That God desires to restore you. That God desires to give it back.