Psalms 40:2
He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay,
and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
I had an opportunity to help with some friends of mine in laying sod in their new yard. The job was huge, but there was a lot of help and we got the job done pretty efficiently and fast. One of the obstacles was that the night before it had rained... a lot! So needless to say the soil was wet and clotting on our shoes.
As I was laying the sod alongside other workers, I begin to inquire about who they were. Some were from churches, others from Christian-based programs. One man begin to tell me his story of coming to Christ. He told me of his life of crime and prison before he came to Christ through this program. He then began to share of how he reunited with his parents, who also didn't know Christ. He said, "I didn't try to push it on them, I just tried to show them what happened to me." He said his parents now know Christ and attend worship also. All this was said through tears in his eyes.
Remember now that during all of this...the sun was beating down on an August day and my feet were sore because they now weighed much more than when I started. Step after step, the mud just kept on building on my shoes. But then it came! We finished! I was so ready to change my sweaty clothes and get those heavy shoes off. Finally I reached down and slipped them off. I'm not sure but I think my feet shouted for joy!
All they way home from working that day I couldn't help but think about this man that Christ saved. Did you know that my life was the same? Step after step in the sin of the world my life became so bogged down. I was so tired and defeated because sin ruled my life. Then Christ came and pulled me out of the miry clay of sin. He set my feet upon a rock, The Rock, Jesus Christ. Those old muddy shoes that me and my sod laying friend used to wear are now sitting at the foot of the cross.
Lord, thank you for the simple parables and illustrations that you show me everyday. You help me to see and understand you so much better. I love you!
Friday, August 25, 2017
Thursday, August 24, 2017
I Have a Question
Mark 12:41-44
And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
After reading this scripture this morning let's just dive straight into the point. Have you given Jesus your all? This woman came and placed everything that she had in to the ring. Now don't misunderstand me at all, I'm not speaking about money or tithing. I have found out over the years that the tithing will handle itself when people are right with God and excited about serving. No, what I am asking you is if you have given Jesus everything?
Have you surrendered your life to Him? Surrendered to His Lordship and authority? There can be no room for giving God half of your life or even a percentage of your life. You must surrender it all. Is there a way that you can have your old life and the new life in Christ? No. The old must perish and the new must flourish.
Lastly this morning, have you given all your sin unto Him? Is there anything that is holding you back? An unconfessed sin is like a infection. It lies dormant at times but is still there, lurking throughout the body. It continues to build slowly and steadily until finally it has your body into complete subjection and defeat. Allow the Holy Spirit to point it out to you this morning. Confess them all. No matter how small you believe they may be, sin is still sin.
So I leave you with the question, Have you given it all to Jesus?
And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
After reading this scripture this morning let's just dive straight into the point. Have you given Jesus your all? This woman came and placed everything that she had in to the ring. Now don't misunderstand me at all, I'm not speaking about money or tithing. I have found out over the years that the tithing will handle itself when people are right with God and excited about serving. No, what I am asking you is if you have given Jesus everything?
Have you surrendered your life to Him? Surrendered to His Lordship and authority? There can be no room for giving God half of your life or even a percentage of your life. You must surrender it all. Is there a way that you can have your old life and the new life in Christ? No. The old must perish and the new must flourish.
Lastly this morning, have you given all your sin unto Him? Is there anything that is holding you back? An unconfessed sin is like a infection. It lies dormant at times but is still there, lurking throughout the body. It continues to build slowly and steadily until finally it has your body into complete subjection and defeat. Allow the Holy Spirit to point it out to you this morning. Confess them all. No matter how small you believe they may be, sin is still sin.
So I leave you with the question, Have you given it all to Jesus?
Wednesday, August 23, 2017
Ready, Set, Go!
1 Chronicles 22:19
Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the Lord.
Do you know that God has a specific thing for you to do? I mean God has a plan for your life. You remember David in the Bible don't you? He was a great man of war for the Lord. Many battles were won because of the leadership and calling of King David. But there is one thing that David wanted to do and it was to build the Lord a house. God told David that he could not do that because his hands of war shedding blood, but he told him that his son Solomon would do it. He promised days of peace for Solomon and that he would build the house of God in those days.
Then the story comes to this portion of scripture. "Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God;" When is the time? Now! What should we do? Set our hearts and souls to seek God. Turn all of our attention upon Jesus and His plan for our lives.
Then secondly He says that we should arise. In other words we should get set! Set to do the work. We should gather up the plan, desire and means to accomplish what God is using us to do. If you are set for the work then you must have first been ready for it.
Last of all, He tells us to do. He tells us to go. He told Solomon to build the house. What's great is that his father David prepared the means and materials for the house of God. He made sure that his son was equipped to fulfill the call God had for his life. So then Solomon built it!
What about you? Are you ready? Are you set? Then Go!
Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the Lord.
Do you know that God has a specific thing for you to do? I mean God has a plan for your life. You remember David in the Bible don't you? He was a great man of war for the Lord. Many battles were won because of the leadership and calling of King David. But there is one thing that David wanted to do and it was to build the Lord a house. God told David that he could not do that because his hands of war shedding blood, but he told him that his son Solomon would do it. He promised days of peace for Solomon and that he would build the house of God in those days.
Then the story comes to this portion of scripture. "Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God;" When is the time? Now! What should we do? Set our hearts and souls to seek God. Turn all of our attention upon Jesus and His plan for our lives.
Then secondly He says that we should arise. In other words we should get set! Set to do the work. We should gather up the plan, desire and means to accomplish what God is using us to do. If you are set for the work then you must have first been ready for it.
Last of all, He tells us to do. He tells us to go. He told Solomon to build the house. What's great is that his father David prepared the means and materials for the house of God. He made sure that his son was equipped to fulfill the call God had for his life. So then Solomon built it!
What about you? Are you ready? Are you set? Then Go!
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
Check-Up Time
2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Years and years of my life I dreaded going to the doctor. Every time I had to go for a checkup, or because I was sick, I knew what they would say... "Mr. Abney, son, you could stand to lose a few pounds." Over and over those words would be spoken to me. They would say, "Your blood pressure is high, Your BMI is high, Your sinus infection is bad, Your diabetes is high..." Telling me this as if I didn't already know. Then the only thing that they would lower would be my checking account after paying for copays and medication.
Well listen to God's word this morning. It tells us that we need to examine ourselves. We should test and see if we are truly in the faith. We should prove or try ourselves. Do you know where my desire to care for my body came from? A self examination! I was displeased with myself and the destruction of my body. God convicted me time and time again, but on one particular day I looked myself over. I tested and tried myself and saw that it wasn't any one's fault but my own. So I asked for help and Christ helped me.
Let me ask you something this morning... Where are you in your walk with Christ? How is your faith in Jesus right now? Will you do something? Will you take the time to examine yourself this morning? Before you do anything else, take a few minutes to see where your relationship is with Christ. If we are honest with Him in prayer today, He has probably said, "You could stand to lose a few habits, You're low on desire, You're low on studying the scriptures, You're low on your prayer life." Ask the real doctor to help you spiritually to become better.
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Years and years of my life I dreaded going to the doctor. Every time I had to go for a checkup, or because I was sick, I knew what they would say... "Mr. Abney, son, you could stand to lose a few pounds." Over and over those words would be spoken to me. They would say, "Your blood pressure is high, Your BMI is high, Your sinus infection is bad, Your diabetes is high..." Telling me this as if I didn't already know. Then the only thing that they would lower would be my checking account after paying for copays and medication.
Well listen to God's word this morning. It tells us that we need to examine ourselves. We should test and see if we are truly in the faith. We should prove or try ourselves. Do you know where my desire to care for my body came from? A self examination! I was displeased with myself and the destruction of my body. God convicted me time and time again, but on one particular day I looked myself over. I tested and tried myself and saw that it wasn't any one's fault but my own. So I asked for help and Christ helped me.
Let me ask you something this morning... Where are you in your walk with Christ? How is your faith in Jesus right now? Will you do something? Will you take the time to examine yourself this morning? Before you do anything else, take a few minutes to see where your relationship is with Christ. If we are honest with Him in prayer today, He has probably said, "You could stand to lose a few habits, You're low on desire, You're low on studying the scriptures, You're low on your prayer life." Ask the real doctor to help you spiritually to become better.
Monday, August 21, 2017
Is There Any Wonder?
Matthew 15:8
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
It is with a broken heart that I write you this devotion today. As I have tried to wrap my head and heart around the situation of our churches and society I have come to this conclusion... Is it any wonder? We seem to blame the children and teenagers of our day for the sinful society in which we live. But I must tell you that I have seen the root of it all.
We complain about the sexual promiscuity of young teenagers but yet tell them to overlook the adultery involved in an affair. We hear the tragic stories of young men and women hooked on meth while parents pop Loritabs and other prescription drugs as if they are candy with no reason. We send our children to school for learning in a safe environment while the wolf behind the desk is luring them into their bedroom for after school sex. We tell them to not drink and then have a "dad" or "mom" night out drinking with the friends. We stand before the ministers of the Gospel and promise to love, honor and cherish one another until death do we part and then go to the lawyer to get our divorces. We make our vows at church and cut the ties at the courthouse!
Is there any wonder why children don't listen? Is there any wonder why our generation of youth and young adults don't understand the truth? Why they don't understand the words...commitment, security, peace, honor, truth and holiness? It's because of those around them that honor, or say, one thing but live another. With their lips they say one thing, but with their hearts they live another.
In my adult years, I have heard preachers declare themselves one thing while sleeping with multiple women. I have witnessed presidents who have declared, and took what used to be the position of the most honorable man in the United States of America, only to defile it by fornication and lies. Is there any wonder that people don't know what to think?
God raise up some men like Daniel! Raise up some women like Mary, the mother of Jesus, who was blessed among women. God raise up some Elijah's who will build your altar! Send leaders who will seek you, and if they fall to sins deception help them to be honest and seek you in forgiveness. In Jesus' name and for His Glory I pray this - Amen
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
It is with a broken heart that I write you this devotion today. As I have tried to wrap my head and heart around the situation of our churches and society I have come to this conclusion... Is it any wonder? We seem to blame the children and teenagers of our day for the sinful society in which we live. But I must tell you that I have seen the root of it all.
We complain about the sexual promiscuity of young teenagers but yet tell them to overlook the adultery involved in an affair. We hear the tragic stories of young men and women hooked on meth while parents pop Loritabs and other prescription drugs as if they are candy with no reason. We send our children to school for learning in a safe environment while the wolf behind the desk is luring them into their bedroom for after school sex. We tell them to not drink and then have a "dad" or "mom" night out drinking with the friends. We stand before the ministers of the Gospel and promise to love, honor and cherish one another until death do we part and then go to the lawyer to get our divorces. We make our vows at church and cut the ties at the courthouse!
Is there any wonder why children don't listen? Is there any wonder why our generation of youth and young adults don't understand the truth? Why they don't understand the words...commitment, security, peace, honor, truth and holiness? It's because of those around them that honor, or say, one thing but live another. With their lips they say one thing, but with their hearts they live another.
In my adult years, I have heard preachers declare themselves one thing while sleeping with multiple women. I have witnessed presidents who have declared, and took what used to be the position of the most honorable man in the United States of America, only to defile it by fornication and lies. Is there any wonder that people don't know what to think?
God raise up some men like Daniel! Raise up some women like Mary, the mother of Jesus, who was blessed among women. God raise up some Elijah's who will build your altar! Send leaders who will seek you, and if they fall to sins deception help them to be honest and seek you in forgiveness. In Jesus' name and for His Glory I pray this - Amen
Friday, August 18, 2017
Fixing Our Woes
Isaiah 5:20
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
What is "Woe"? It is anguish, grief, affliction, sadness, misery, calamity or trouble. God says that all these things are upon those that call evil good, and good evil. I know that it is hard to believe, but we have some that are attempting this very thing today among us. I can remember back in the eighties, when I was growing up, we would say, "Man, that is bad!" But what we meant was that whatever we were talking about was really good or awesome. Parents would make fun of us because they knew we had our words backwards.
But this morning, it takes on a whole different meaning. We have taken evil things that are really bad and have called them good. We have taken sports players that have raped, beaten and lived such a drug and alcohol abused lives and called them heroes. We have promoted people who have once been portrayed as a man and now as a woman. We call them brave and heroic. We take the unnatural lifestyle and call it an alternative lifestyle. We have taken the sanctity of marriage and reduced it to just a common agreement. We have committed the sin of adultery and call it an affair. Is there any wonder why we have such anguish, grief, affliction, sadness and misery in our society today?
Society is passing out light bulbs with no filament to produce light. We've traded our sweet Spirit for sour sins. We have to stop calling evil good and good evil. Lord please help us by shining your light upon us. Help us to allow your sweet Holy Spirit to guide us.
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
What is "Woe"? It is anguish, grief, affliction, sadness, misery, calamity or trouble. God says that all these things are upon those that call evil good, and good evil. I know that it is hard to believe, but we have some that are attempting this very thing today among us. I can remember back in the eighties, when I was growing up, we would say, "Man, that is bad!" But what we meant was that whatever we were talking about was really good or awesome. Parents would make fun of us because they knew we had our words backwards.
But this morning, it takes on a whole different meaning. We have taken evil things that are really bad and have called them good. We have taken sports players that have raped, beaten and lived such a drug and alcohol abused lives and called them heroes. We have promoted people who have once been portrayed as a man and now as a woman. We call them brave and heroic. We take the unnatural lifestyle and call it an alternative lifestyle. We have taken the sanctity of marriage and reduced it to just a common agreement. We have committed the sin of adultery and call it an affair. Is there any wonder why we have such anguish, grief, affliction, sadness and misery in our society today?
Society is passing out light bulbs with no filament to produce light. We've traded our sweet Spirit for sour sins. We have to stop calling evil good and good evil. Lord please help us by shining your light upon us. Help us to allow your sweet Holy Spirit to guide us.
Thursday, August 17, 2017
You Ain't Shoutin' Yet?
Nehemiah 9:16-17
But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments, And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.
As I read the scripture today I want to shout! First, go back and read what God had done for the children of Israel. He chose them and brought them out of bondage. He lead them to a land that flowed with milk and honey. He removed those that were in it and gave the land unto them. He blessed and blessed them more than they could have ever imagined. Oh what a God we serve! He has done this very thing for us as well. He redeemed us from the death and slavery of sin. He leads us into a better life through walking with Him. So amazing is our God.
But look at what these scriptures tell us. After every thing that God had done for them, they dealt proudly with God. They walked away from His commandments. They didn't even care about the wonders and creation of God. Even in their rebellion, they appointed a captain who brought them back into bondage. Doesn't this want to make you shout, "What are you thinking!?"
But my reason for shouting comes next in the scriptures... "But thou art a God ready to pardon , gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not" Come on now! That ought to make even the deadiest person shout! Although they rebelled, He was ready! Although they sinned, He pardoned. Although they were unmerciful, He was merciful. Although they hardened their necks, He reached down His hand. Although they forsook Him, He didn't forsake them.
You ain't shoutin' yet? Oh, what a God we serve! He's ready to pardon! He's gracious and merciful! He's slow to anger and of great kindness! He has never left you or forsaken you! What about now? Shoutin' yet? You should be!
But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments, And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.
As I read the scripture today I want to shout! First, go back and read what God had done for the children of Israel. He chose them and brought them out of bondage. He lead them to a land that flowed with milk and honey. He removed those that were in it and gave the land unto them. He blessed and blessed them more than they could have ever imagined. Oh what a God we serve! He has done this very thing for us as well. He redeemed us from the death and slavery of sin. He leads us into a better life through walking with Him. So amazing is our God.
But look at what these scriptures tell us. After every thing that God had done for them, they dealt proudly with God. They walked away from His commandments. They didn't even care about the wonders and creation of God. Even in their rebellion, they appointed a captain who brought them back into bondage. Doesn't this want to make you shout, "What are you thinking!?"
But my reason for shouting comes next in the scriptures... "But thou art a God ready to pardon , gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not" Come on now! That ought to make even the deadiest person shout! Although they rebelled, He was ready! Although they sinned, He pardoned. Although they were unmerciful, He was merciful. Although they hardened their necks, He reached down His hand. Although they forsook Him, He didn't forsake them.
You ain't shoutin' yet? Oh, what a God we serve! He's ready to pardon! He's gracious and merciful! He's slow to anger and of great kindness! He has never left you or forsaken you! What about now? Shoutin' yet? You should be!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)