Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires

Proverbs 26:20
Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out:
so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

Did you know the quickest way to put out a fire? Stop putting the wood to it. Years ago there used to be a commercial about fire safety. Smokey the bear would tell you to pour water on the fire and make sure you stir it up before you left it. He would always end by saying, "Only you can prevent forest fires."

Our scripture speaks of these fires from the mouth. If the talebearer would stop carrying the story then it would die. If our mouths would cease to tote the tales then the strife would cease. God uses the analogy and simple truth of where there is no wood, you can have no fire. Simple. Direct and straight to the point.

Some love to chop wood and stoke the fires of gossip. It's as almost if their existence depends on it. Feeding from the lies and drama fuels them to keep on sharing the lies. With every breath they exhale another log to put on the fire.

The answer? It is real easy. Stop toting the tale. Remove the wood from the fire and ask God to put it out. Cause old Smokey the bear was and is right, "Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires!"

What Are You Talking About?

Titus 2:1
But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

We have all walked up on a conversation and wondered what in the world they were talking about. If I was to come upon a conversation between two mechanics I would probably have no idea what they are talking about. If it was a 350 Chevrolet engine, I could hang with them in the conversation but these modern cars...I'm out.

Then we have all came upon those conversations that we really wish we had never walked into right? The ones that are foolish or especially the ones that are bashing another person. I sometimes feel like holding up my hands and walking away with my fingers in my ears. One last one, what about those conversations of false doctrines? These are the ones that our Lord is talking about this morning. He tells us that we should speak the things which are sound doctrine.

What does this mean? We should put away our senseless genealogies and endless traditions. We should search the scriptures and find true, firm, sound doctrine. There are too many arguments in the house of God today about minor issues and not enough of discernment over the major issues. Christians argue among themselves about trivial things from carpet colors to the debated "pews or chairs" concern. Then when it comes to matters of faith and sound doctrine, we cow down and allow everyone to choose their own belief or decision.

God says that we should speak those things which become sound doctrine. Until we become sure and sound about the doctrine of the Bible we can't go on to the next verses found in our scripture this morning. The next few speak about teaching this to children, women, and men who are younger. Let me end this morning by asking you a question. What are you talking about?

I’m Stuffed

Colossians 2:9
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

A lady in our church asked me if I knew what happened to the turkey. She said it got the stuffing beat out of it. We enjoy a meal with family so much that we end up with a little too much joy. Everyone leaves the table ready to put on their sweatpants because they are so full.

Our scripture this morning says to us... "For in him..." Who? Jesus! "Dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily". This is saying that "in Jesus" dwells the fullness of the Father in the bodily form. It means that Jesus is full of the Father. If you want to know the Father, then know Jesus because He is full of the Father, or the fullness of the Father.

How about you? When people look at your witness/life, what do they see? Or better yet, who do they see? Are you full? If the truth is known we are full. Most of the time we are so full of other things that we have no room for Jesus.

Just like Thanksgiving/Christmas Dinner... We have enjoyed everything that was available to us in arms reach of the table. Then someone brings out that one bowl or plate. It's a dessert or casserole that has been left behind (most of the time it's the favorite). By now you have consumed so much of the other things that there is no room for it. They ask you to try a little of it and your answer is, "I'm stuffed, I don't think I could eat another bite. I just don't have room for it."

If we make ourselves full on things of the world then we will find no room for Jesus. But flip that over and you have something great! If will are full of Jesus then when offered anything else we should find no room for it. When sin comes your way will you be able to say, "I'm Stuffed, I'm so satisfied with Jesus that I don't want anything else"?

Thank You For Praying

Colossians 1:3
We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

This morning let's stop and take the time to be thankful. As you think of it, what are some of the things that you are thankful for? It could be your health, family, friends, etc... Isn't it funny how when you stop yourself and take an evaluation, you can find many things to be thankful for? What’s really cool is that most of these things we think of we take for granted most everyday of our lives.

Have you ever thought of being thankful for that breath of air you just inhaled? Think of how it came in through the nose and throat, down into your lungs, through the different branches that changed the air oxygen into the liquid oxygen that is needed for your blood cells to operate. Then the blood transfers the oxygen into the energy that is needed to think or function. Just in that one breath of air we can be thankful for so much.

Today I am thankful for prayers. Prayers that were offered for a young teenage boy who was lost and living in sin by his mother and daddy. Prayers for this teenage boy who was in the altar giving his life to Jesus. Prayers that were asked by men of God over a young saved man who surrendered his life to the call of preaching. Prayers that were prayed for a traveling evangelist, that God would give him souls for his labor. Prayers over a young couple that knew God had given them something special when He put them together in marriage. Prayers from a wife over her husband as he leads the home and also the church in the direction God would have them to go. Prayers from two great sons that see the heart of their dad hurting for people to know Jesus.

Isn't it amazing? We take for granted all those breaths of air. We also take for granted all those prayers of the saints. All I know today is that... I am thankful! In my thanks unto God, I offer my prayers for all of you that read this today. Thank you also for all prayers you have prayed for this man.

Sweet Revenge

2 Corinthians 10:6
And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

It is said that revenge is sweet payback. It is setting the record straight right? You see when someone does us wrong, everything within us wants them to suffer the same or even worse. That is not what a Christian should do or even think about. How do we keep from this? Focus our attention on a different revenge. A sweet and holy revenge.

I know you are thinking that this can't be true but revenge is sweet if in the right mind frame. The scripture this morning tells us that we need to be ready for revenge. We should revenge all disobedience. In my years of ministry I have heard people say this statement... "I wish I could have back the years I did things wrong and do them right". I tell them to take revenge on them. Take all those times of disobedience and get payback.

How can we have revenge on disobedient acts? By being an obedient servant of God now. You will never be able to take back what has been done or said in disobedience, but you can get your revenge. By starting right now! Be so obedient to Jesus that those acts of disobedience seem to fade away in the background of life.

Don't you want revenge? Come on, you know you do! Get that payback, that sweet revenge of obedience today.

I Can’t Wait To See You

Luke 2:30
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

Have you ever thought what it is going to be like to finally see Jesus? We've spent most of our lives praying to and listen for Jesus. Praising Him in the house of God and looking for Him in the clouds. But have you ever stopped to think of what it will be like when you finally meet Him? I want to look into His eyes and try to tell Him how thankful I am. I want to see the scars that my sin inflicted on Him. I want to hear Him as He calls me by my name.

Our scripture is a statement from a man in the Bible named Simeon. He spent countless days at the temple of Herod praying for the coming of the Messiah. He prayed and looked everyday for God to answer his prayer. Can you hear him saying, "God send your light! Send the Messiah, the promised one. I long to see Him. My prayer God is that I can live long enough to see your glorious salvation."

Then one day Jesus is brought to him. "For mine eyes have seen thy salvation," he says. Finally, I have seen the salvation and light of God! He waited so long. I bet he thought that this day would never come but it did!

God, I long to see you! I can't wait to see your light, to see your face, and to hear your voice. It's almost as a mother who has waited for the delivery of her child. Someday, and I know it will be soon, I'll see you face to face.

I’m Listening

Mark 4:9
And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Many times this scripture can be found from the mouth of Jesus. Over and over He is trying to speak to us and wants our undivided attention. I don't know about you but many of those times He is speaking to me I find myself not paying close attention. So this morning let's pray together. As I confess my inattention to the Lord maybe you would join in and agree. You can pray with me or just agree that I am the one who needs to listen better.

Lord, I see in your Word that you love to speak to us. I know that many occasions you have spoken to me, if it was through your Word or through your Spirit, you have tried to get my undivided attention. I could try and blame it on my stress or my attention span but that would come up short. I can find no excuse other than my laziness of hearing. Even when I try and tell you how busy that I am you already know and show me immediately when I had that time to listen during the day. It is me Lord and I am sorry.

In my study time I always listen for you. In my preaching time I definitely listen for you also. In my prayers, my goal is to hear from you. Lord my laziness and sinfulness is not listening throughout the day. I allow myself to be so filled with family, ministry and work that I miss you at times when you are desiring to talk to me.

I suppose what I am trying to say is that I am sorry for only wanting to listen when I study, preach or need something. My sin is only talking or listening to you when I initiate the conversation. God, my ears are open unto you today and from now on. Let me hear what you have to say. In Jesus' Name... Amen