I have come in contact with many "Fake People" as of late. The are people who know how to act or play the game but don't truley get it. They don't committ their hearts and minds fully.
If these people aren't getting the attention that they crave the have to step it up to satisfy their needs.
I have tried to talk to people like this and always gotten the same run around of them trying to be charming or dance around the subject, but if you look into their eyes and read their facial expressions you can tell they are fake.
So I have just started calling them out on the lies as they tell them to someone, mainly because people fake like this are a detriment to christianity and the work of God as they see the hipocosy in the fake people and cloud over the genuine real people since the real people aren't craving the attention like the fake people.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Don't give up
I have seen many give up on God, they give up on their church's, Their pastors, their spouces, and their lives.
Why?
No matter what don't give up. Keep on fighting! God has never given up on you, why slap him in the face and give up on Him
Why?
No matter what don't give up. Keep on fighting! God has never given up on you, why slap him in the face and give up on Him
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
The Missing Amen
THE MISSING AMEN
Act 28:31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
รข What’s Missing - The Amen
The word "amen" is a most remarkable word. It was transliterated directly from the Hebrew into the Koine Greek of the New Testament, then into Latin and into English and many other languages, so that it is practically a universal word. It has been called the best-known word in human speech. The word is directly related--in fact, almost identical--to the Hebrew word for "believe" (amen), or "faithful." Thus, it came to mean "sure" or truly," an expression of absolute trust and confidence. When one believes God, he indicates his faith by an "amen." When God makes a promise, the believer's response is "amen"--"so it will be!" In the New Testament, it is often translated "verily" or "truly." When we pray according to His Word and His will, we know God will answer, so we close with an "amen," and so also do we conclude a great hymn or anthem of praise and faith.
Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
> The Power of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is not a dirty word.
* In our lives - Decision making
* In our Teaching - Gods word will not return void
* In our direction
Act 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
> Being on the Same page “One Accord”
* Church Constitution - Have you ever Read
* Being behind you pastor
Act 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
> Praising God in everything you do
* Not taking the credit yourself - Giving God the Credit
* Even During the Bad Times.
# Act 12:23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
* Consequences for not giving credit where credit is due
Act 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
> Prayer
* For Others
* For Self
* Just to Thank God
* For Our Enemies
Act 4:34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
Act 4:35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
Act 4:37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
> Sacrifice
* Alabaster Box
* Tithing
* Offerings
* Our Time
* Giving up sins
Act 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
> Obedience
* God First
* The bible
* The Pastor
* The Church
* Holy Spirit - Like I mentioned before
* Authority in General
* The Local Laws
Act 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
> Helpers - Mature
* Taking the load off you Pastor
* Helping Others
* Helping God - Soul winning
< This includes getting yourself right in order to be qualified to assist>
Act 7:51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
Act 7:52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
Act 7:53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
Act 7:54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
> Thick Skin
* Words
* Actions
< What is the Proper Response
Act 7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Act 7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Act 8:2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
> People to Pick up the Pieces after someone fails
* Through Struggles
* When A Family Member is struggling
Act 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
> Total Belief in God & his plan for your life
* Not Doubting that he has a plan for you and your family
Act 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
> Fear of the Lord
* Not so fearful you don’t talk to him or love him But in Respect
Act 10:25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
Act 10:26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
> Worship the Master not the Servant
* Hyles Worship
* Giving God the credit
* Following a man of God over the scripture
< Don’t take the credit for what God has done>
* “look what I did”
* Talking about your self
* Having to be the center of attention
Act 11:29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
> Using you talents to your full ability for God
* You use your talents for a paycheck, but when it comes to the The one who died for you sins, you short him
Act 13:44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
> Regular Church Attendance
* The Whole City came - Could you imagine what could be acomplished
* Some Came to hear the word of God
< Act 13:45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
* When some come they speak evil trying to cause problems
* they are not to learn, ignore them
* even then the word is preached, some will never be satisfied
Act 14:3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
> Boldness for Christ
* To speak out against what the world teaches
* To Stand out being a little different
* To tell someone about Jesus
Act 15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
> Absenence
* From Idols
* Fornacation
^on Tv
^in movies
^in video games
* And other pollutions to you mind
Act 19:19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
> Cleansing the home
* they burned the bad things in their lives
* the Burned the evil books
^Notice they burned them, they could not return into their lives because the fire consumed the wrong things and they were no more
Act 21:5 And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.
> Family Prayer
* Notice they took their wives and children and knelt down and prayed together
I don’t want you to be discouraged about the Missing Amen’s in you church today,
I want you think of the things missing in christiandom today as a challenge.
You must first think,
How can I not be a missing Amen
And most of all help someone else
By helping someone else you will find that you are helping your self
Some look around on Sunday and see seats that once were filled, the trick is don’t look back at seats that were once filled,
Look forward to see who can fill that seat now.
Act 28:31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
รข What’s Missing - The Amen
The word "amen" is a most remarkable word. It was transliterated directly from the Hebrew into the Koine Greek of the New Testament, then into Latin and into English and many other languages, so that it is practically a universal word. It has been called the best-known word in human speech. The word is directly related--in fact, almost identical--to the Hebrew word for "believe" (amen), or "faithful." Thus, it came to mean "sure" or truly," an expression of absolute trust and confidence. When one believes God, he indicates his faith by an "amen." When God makes a promise, the believer's response is "amen"--"so it will be!" In the New Testament, it is often translated "verily" or "truly." When we pray according to His Word and His will, we know God will answer, so we close with an "amen," and so also do we conclude a great hymn or anthem of praise and faith.
Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
> The Power of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is not a dirty word.
* In our lives - Decision making
* In our Teaching - Gods word will not return void
* In our direction
Act 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
> Being on the Same page “One Accord”
* Church Constitution - Have you ever Read
* Being behind you pastor
Act 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
> Praising God in everything you do
* Not taking the credit yourself - Giving God the Credit
* Even During the Bad Times.
# Act 12:23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
* Consequences for not giving credit where credit is due
Act 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
> Prayer
* For Others
* For Self
* Just to Thank God
* For Our Enemies
Act 4:34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
Act 4:35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
Act 4:37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
> Sacrifice
* Alabaster Box
* Tithing
* Offerings
* Our Time
* Giving up sins
Act 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
> Obedience
* God First
* The bible
* The Pastor
* The Church
* Holy Spirit - Like I mentioned before
* Authority in General
* The Local Laws
Act 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
> Helpers - Mature
* Taking the load off you Pastor
* Helping Others
* Helping God - Soul winning
< This includes getting yourself right in order to be qualified to assist>
Act 7:51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
Act 7:52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
Act 7:53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
Act 7:54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
> Thick Skin
* Words
* Actions
< What is the Proper Response
Act 7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Act 7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Act 8:2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
> People to Pick up the Pieces after someone fails
* Through Struggles
* When A Family Member is struggling
Act 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
> Total Belief in God & his plan for your life
* Not Doubting that he has a plan for you and your family
Act 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
> Fear of the Lord
* Not so fearful you don’t talk to him or love him But in Respect
Act 10:25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
Act 10:26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
> Worship the Master not the Servant
* Hyles Worship
* Giving God the credit
* Following a man of God over the scripture
< Don’t take the credit for what God has done>
* “look what I did”
* Talking about your self
* Having to be the center of attention
Act 11:29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
> Using you talents to your full ability for God
* You use your talents for a paycheck, but when it comes to the The one who died for you sins, you short him
Act 13:44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
> Regular Church Attendance
* The Whole City came - Could you imagine what could be acomplished
* Some Came to hear the word of God
< Act 13:45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
* When some come they speak evil trying to cause problems
* they are not to learn, ignore them
* even then the word is preached, some will never be satisfied
Act 14:3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
> Boldness for Christ
* To speak out against what the world teaches
* To Stand out being a little different
* To tell someone about Jesus
Act 15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
> Absenence
* From Idols
* Fornacation
^on Tv
^in movies
^in video games
* And other pollutions to you mind
Act 19:19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
> Cleansing the home
* they burned the bad things in their lives
* the Burned the evil books
^Notice they burned them, they could not return into their lives because the fire consumed the wrong things and they were no more
Act 21:5 And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.
> Family Prayer
* Notice they took their wives and children and knelt down and prayed together
I don’t want you to be discouraged about the Missing Amen’s in you church today,
I want you think of the things missing in christiandom today as a challenge.
You must first think,
How can I not be a missing Amen
And most of all help someone else
By helping someone else you will find that you are helping your self
Some look around on Sunday and see seats that once were filled, the trick is don’t look back at seats that were once filled,
Look forward to see who can fill that seat now.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
It's Back to School for Me
Pray for me, it looks like I am going to start takeing some classes online. I have prayed hard and have done some research on many online type bible colleges and narrowed it down to two.
This week I decided to take the plunge and after council from my pastor it looks like Its going to be Southern Indian Baptist College that I looked at several times over the years. Then I met Bro N. online and after talking to him some and more prayer it looks like it is a go.
Here is the kicker, as soon as I made that decision, I had a finantial hit, so the money I saved up has to go pay some bills, but the application is ready and after I get paid This Tuesday, it will be in the mail bills or not.
This week I decided to take the plunge and after council from my pastor it looks like Its going to be Southern Indian Baptist College that I looked at several times over the years. Then I met Bro N. online and after talking to him some and more prayer it looks like it is a go.
Here is the kicker, as soon as I made that decision, I had a finantial hit, so the money I saved up has to go pay some bills, but the application is ready and after I get paid This Tuesday, it will be in the mail bills or not.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
How Do You Know For Sure
This is something that's been troubling me for several months now.
Who can you tell the difference between the call of God and Frustation with your current job?
Last year was a tough year finantialy at work and in my own personal finances because of that. Things were more confratational with on of my employers and my church activities.
So lately (in the past few months) I have been distracted at work. I haven't wanted to be there as much as I used to be.
I used to love what I did and now don't.
Since I have been young I have have several dreams of me preaching, I have had sermons pop in my head while driving or doing activities, it wasn't until the last year or so I have started to write them down and share them with anyone else other than myself.
So is my disctraction and lack of motivation twards my job God telling me something or is it just me being down about the job.
I don't know?
Who can you tell the difference between the call of God and Frustation with your current job?
Last year was a tough year finantialy at work and in my own personal finances because of that. Things were more confratational with on of my employers and my church activities.
So lately (in the past few months) I have been distracted at work. I haven't wanted to be there as much as I used to be.
I used to love what I did and now don't.
Since I have been young I have have several dreams of me preaching, I have had sermons pop in my head while driving or doing activities, it wasn't until the last year or so I have started to write them down and share them with anyone else other than myself.
So is my disctraction and lack of motivation twards my job God telling me something or is it just me being down about the job.
I don't know?
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Salvation Pain and Simple
If you were honest with me this morning and you couldn’t say you knew for sure if you were going to heaven I invite you to ask him this morning. I won’t embaris you at all
First
Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me." (John 14:6)
Good works cannot save you.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Trust Jesus Christ today! Here's what you must do:
1. Admit you are a sinner.
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23)
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" (Romans 5:12)
"If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:10)
2. Be willing to turn from sin (repent).
Jesus said: "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:5)
"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:" (Acts 17:30)
3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you, was buried, and rose from the dead.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10:9)
4. Through prayer, invite Jesus into your life to become your personal Saviour.
"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:10)
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)
What to pray:
Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sin. I am willing to turn from sin. I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Saviour.
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" (John 1:12)
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
First
Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me." (John 14:6)
Good works cannot save you.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Trust Jesus Christ today! Here's what you must do:
1. Admit you are a sinner.
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23)
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" (Romans 5:12)
"If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:10)
2. Be willing to turn from sin (repent).
Jesus said: "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:5)
"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:" (Acts 17:30)
3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you, was buried, and rose from the dead.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10:9)
4. Through prayer, invite Jesus into your life to become your personal Saviour.
"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:10)
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)
What to pray:
Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sin. I am willing to turn from sin. I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Saviour.
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" (John 1:12)
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Unconditional Love
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Elizabeth Kubler-Ross a long time and well know counceler on grief was interviewed in a magazine in 1991,
In this article she reflects back to a time she visited a consentration camp at Maidnek
She thought It would help her undersant how victims of the holocaust had suffered and how people could be capable of such hatred and cruelty.
She way the gas changers and crematoriums
She way railroad cars filled with baby shoes of murdered childrend and filled with hair shaved from women on their way to the cambers and used to make coats for the Germans.
As she surveyed the places where such unimagable horrors had taking place she noticed a beautiful you woman there
And she was staring right at Ross
Filally she went up to her and interdicted themselves, and she told her her that her name was Golda.
She was a German or and Jewish.
Golda told Ross that her father had been taken by the Gestapo and never saw him again.
Then her mother and the rest of the family was deported to Maidanek and herded into a gas chamber.
Golda was the last one in the chamber.
But there was so many in the chamber they couln’t shut the door. So they bulled her out and proceeded to slam the steel door shut.
SHE WAS THE SOLE SURVIVOR.
Golda said she was one of the first liberated from the concentration camp.
At that time she wanted to get sweet revenge on the one’s who had killed so many of her people and her Family
Then it struck her that If she got revenge she would be no better than HITLER himself.
So She was there, until she could forgive the one’s that caused her so much pain.
She had learned a lesson that day of unconditional love.
Love with no expectations, no hooks, no strings attached.
We can make all our choices in life built on love or fear.
How many today would be able to have the uncondional love to forgive someone who has wronged you.
In society today this love is not common.
We must always get the person back
We must Hold on to the wrong that was done to us until it eats us up.
Even though it is no excuse, Hitler never had unconditional love as a child, and he never had an outlet for his rage.
Some of you today might belive that no one loves you unconditionally
First you must love someone in that way to release yourself.
In our text verse we see uncondiontional LOVE.
• We neglect telling others about Christ
• We live our lives for us instead of Christ
• We poison our bodies with alcohol
• We burn our lungs with cigarettes
• We force the Holy Spirit who dwells in us to watch filth on TV
• We rob him of our gifts that he has given us
• We Steal from him in our tithes
• And we bicker behind his under shepherds back (Your Pastor)
I have a hard time understanding this uncontional love
- MY TESTMONEY
Abraham loved God so unconditionally that he was willing to sacrifice his beloved son to him.
If you were to put a holocost survivor and Hitler in the same room, I wouldn’t stop for fault them from squeezing the life out of his neck until he was to face jugement.
But does that make you any better than the one who has wronged you.
Jesus left a perfect place in heaven, took human form
He ate
He got tired
He had heartbrake
He was beat until his flesh was raw
His beard was ripped out
He had nails drove into his hands
Then was hung on a cross for all to mock.
But even then the said: Father Forgive Them
How often have you prayed for you worst enemy
When was the last time you prayed for that gossip that ruended your reputation
When was the last time you prayed for that one that might have stolen from you
When was the last time you prayed for the polatition you might not agree with
It is not good enough to just pray for them though
You must forgive like we were forgiven
Co 2:7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
Forgiveness shows unconditional love.
Uncontional means that there may be no response.
Uncondiotnal love means we must love, even then they might mock you.
Uncondtional love means that even when you are being wronged you don’t respond with hate or with anything else but LOVE.
I an thankfull today for Gods UNCONDTIONAL LOVE.
In my life I have turned my back from God.
I have used his name in vain
I haven’t loved some like I should.
In order to start your path to unconditional love you first must forgive
• TRULY FORGIVE
• Read God’s Word
• Pray for the one who wrongs you
And never take you eyes off Jesus.
Later on in the article that I read at the beginning of this message, Golda states that if we love our children uncondionally we could change the word
I firmly believe that
We need to love our children Uncondionally
We Need to love our church members unconditionally
We need to love our pastor unconditionally
But most of all we need to love Jesus UNCONDITIONALLY LOVE Jesus.
Then you will feel that weight lifted off you shoulders.
I encourage you today to show you love to your friends,
Your enemies
Your families
Forgive them, Love then and be thankful for them.
You might as how can I start Loving Uncondionally
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Elizabeth Kubler-Ross a long time and well know counceler on grief was interviewed in a magazine in 1991,
In this article she reflects back to a time she visited a consentration camp at Maidnek
She thought It would help her undersant how victims of the holocaust had suffered and how people could be capable of such hatred and cruelty.
She way the gas changers and crematoriums
She way railroad cars filled with baby shoes of murdered childrend and filled with hair shaved from women on their way to the cambers and used to make coats for the Germans.
As she surveyed the places where such unimagable horrors had taking place she noticed a beautiful you woman there
And she was staring right at Ross
Filally she went up to her and interdicted themselves, and she told her her that her name was Golda.
She was a German or and Jewish.
Golda told Ross that her father had been taken by the Gestapo and never saw him again.
Then her mother and the rest of the family was deported to Maidanek and herded into a gas chamber.
Golda was the last one in the chamber.
But there was so many in the chamber they couln’t shut the door. So they bulled her out and proceeded to slam the steel door shut.
SHE WAS THE SOLE SURVIVOR.
Golda said she was one of the first liberated from the concentration camp.
At that time she wanted to get sweet revenge on the one’s who had killed so many of her people and her Family
Then it struck her that If she got revenge she would be no better than HITLER himself.
So She was there, until she could forgive the one’s that caused her so much pain.
She had learned a lesson that day of unconditional love.
Love with no expectations, no hooks, no strings attached.
We can make all our choices in life built on love or fear.
How many today would be able to have the uncondional love to forgive someone who has wronged you.
In society today this love is not common.
We must always get the person back
We must Hold on to the wrong that was done to us until it eats us up.
Even though it is no excuse, Hitler never had unconditional love as a child, and he never had an outlet for his rage.
Some of you today might belive that no one loves you unconditionally
First you must love someone in that way to release yourself.
In our text verse we see uncondiontional LOVE.
• We neglect telling others about Christ
• We live our lives for us instead of Christ
• We poison our bodies with alcohol
• We burn our lungs with cigarettes
• We force the Holy Spirit who dwells in us to watch filth on TV
• We rob him of our gifts that he has given us
• We Steal from him in our tithes
• And we bicker behind his under shepherds back (Your Pastor)
I have a hard time understanding this uncontional love
- MY TESTMONEY
Abraham loved God so unconditionally that he was willing to sacrifice his beloved son to him.
If you were to put a holocost survivor and Hitler in the same room, I wouldn’t stop for fault them from squeezing the life out of his neck until he was to face jugement.
But does that make you any better than the one who has wronged you.
Jesus left a perfect place in heaven, took human form
He ate
He got tired
He had heartbrake
He was beat until his flesh was raw
His beard was ripped out
He had nails drove into his hands
Then was hung on a cross for all to mock.
But even then the said: Father Forgive Them
How often have you prayed for you worst enemy
When was the last time you prayed for that gossip that ruended your reputation
When was the last time you prayed for that one that might have stolen from you
When was the last time you prayed for the polatition you might not agree with
It is not good enough to just pray for them though
You must forgive like we were forgiven
Co 2:7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
Forgiveness shows unconditional love.
Uncontional means that there may be no response.
Uncondiotnal love means we must love, even then they might mock you.
Uncondtional love means that even when you are being wronged you don’t respond with hate or with anything else but LOVE.
I an thankfull today for Gods UNCONDTIONAL LOVE.
In my life I have turned my back from God.
I have used his name in vain
I haven’t loved some like I should.
In order to start your path to unconditional love you first must forgive
• TRULY FORGIVE
• Read God’s Word
• Pray for the one who wrongs you
And never take you eyes off Jesus.
Later on in the article that I read at the beginning of this message, Golda states that if we love our children uncondionally we could change the word
I firmly believe that
We need to love our children Uncondionally
We Need to love our church members unconditionally
We need to love our pastor unconditionally
But most of all we need to love Jesus UNCONDITIONALLY LOVE Jesus.
Then you will feel that weight lifted off you shoulders.
I encourage you today to show you love to your friends,
Your enemies
Your families
Forgive them, Love then and be thankful for them.
You might as how can I start Loving Uncondionally
Step Up, Step Back or Step Aside
Pray
STEP UP, STEP BACK OR STEP ASIDE
2Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Mat 14:29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
Mat 14:30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
Mat 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Step Up – Matthew
• Drawing closer to God
• Doing more for God
• Giving up worldly things
As you step closer to God “The Light” your shadow of influence will Grow.
Mar 14:67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.
Mar 14:68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
Step Back – Mark
• Giving up what you have done
• Not being faithful you bible reading
• Not being faithful to church
• Giving up ministries
Consequences of Stepping back:
• Lords work getting done
• Younger Christians being discouraged
• The unsaved not getting reached
This gets you closer to the edge, where you can stumble
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease
John – Step Aside
• Stagnate Ministry
• Heart not in it
• Someone Better
• God calling you elsewhere
Most believe that they are stepping aside, when they are stepping back
John had to decease his numbers and himself, but he did not give up the ministry or preaching.
It’s not “lightning the load” it’s letting someone take over to pick up another ministry
It’s not losing you focus, just refocusing
You can’t be stagnate, just look at what happens to a pool of water that doesn’t move
You can’t live off past accomplishments
In physics you lean what is in motion says in motion unless acted on by an outside force are you that outside force, are you not where God wants you, are you standing in the way, are you giving up when you are supposed to be giving more
Are you and your family being a discouragement instead of an encouragement
I’ve learned the Christian life is a journey and you will get there if you are standing still or walking backwards, you must step up.
Jeff Owens Story of Donkey
So Where are you.
If you think you’re just stepping aside, take a closer look and see if it isn’t a step back, are you standing in the way of someone who can take a ministry to the next level or in this new year will you step up.
So you have the choice, Step up, Step Back, or Step aside.
PRAY
STEP UP, STEP BACK OR STEP ASIDE
2Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Mat 14:29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
Mat 14:30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
Mat 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Step Up – Matthew
• Drawing closer to God
• Doing more for God
• Giving up worldly things
As you step closer to God “The Light” your shadow of influence will Grow.
Mar 14:67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.
Mar 14:68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
Step Back – Mark
• Giving up what you have done
• Not being faithful you bible reading
• Not being faithful to church
• Giving up ministries
Consequences of Stepping back:
• Lords work getting done
• Younger Christians being discouraged
• The unsaved not getting reached
This gets you closer to the edge, where you can stumble
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease
John – Step Aside
• Stagnate Ministry
• Heart not in it
• Someone Better
• God calling you elsewhere
Most believe that they are stepping aside, when they are stepping back
John had to decease his numbers and himself, but he did not give up the ministry or preaching.
It’s not “lightning the load” it’s letting someone take over to pick up another ministry
It’s not losing you focus, just refocusing
You can’t be stagnate, just look at what happens to a pool of water that doesn’t move
You can’t live off past accomplishments
In physics you lean what is in motion says in motion unless acted on by an outside force are you that outside force, are you not where God wants you, are you standing in the way, are you giving up when you are supposed to be giving more
Are you and your family being a discouragement instead of an encouragement
I’ve learned the Christian life is a journey and you will get there if you are standing still or walking backwards, you must step up.
Jeff Owens Story of Donkey
So Where are you.
If you think you’re just stepping aside, take a closer look and see if it isn’t a step back, are you standing in the way of someone who can take a ministry to the next level or in this new year will you step up.
So you have the choice, Step up, Step Back, or Step aside.
PRAY
Lest We Forget
Jeremiah 18:15
Because my people hath forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up;
September 11, 2001, at 8:46 in the morning our world was changed, unless you have lived under a rock somewhere knows what I am talking about.
This day was like no other that we could remember, that day seemed to stand still. The roads were empty it even seemed like the birds had stopped singing, the emotions that were experienced, the tears that were shed, the overwhelming patriotism that was felt and the move to find the answers from God. IN GOD WE TRUST was said, people that have never attended church, stopped by their local church and sat in the back looking for answers. And many signs by the road said LEST WE FORGET.
September 11, 2007, at 8:46 in the morning I heard a brief dong and the radio and realized what it was for as I resumed working, there weren’t any big memorial services no ticker tape, just the politicians making photo ops and the world resumed its day. WE HAVE FORGOTTON
Although we may remember the emotions that we felt most of us have forgotten how they felt, the helplessness we felt on that day. All we could do was watch.
BUT WE HAVE forgotten!!
Three days after the 9/11 attacks, I received a call from my father, my mother was losing her the battle with cancer and I had better get home, the next morning was making funeral arrangements for my mother, EVELYN JANE PARISH, 52, was a loving a patient mother she never drank, she never smoked I never heard her speak ill of anyone. I sat making the arrangements at the funeral home trying to trying to make sense of everything that had happened between the great loss of life in NY and my mother, lying dead in the next room.
Three days after 9/11/07, I got to work, straiten up my desk and looked down at the calendar, Lest I HAD FORGOTTEN.
I had forgotten something that was the worst days of my life, I had gotten to busy and had forgotten, lest I Had Forgotten
Over 2000 years ago a man above all men the SON of God, came down from his perfect sinless life in heaven and became like his own creation, he ate, he got tired and most of all he hung on a cross, not deserving this punishment for our sins and how live our lives WE HAVE FORGOTTON.
Do you remember when you got saved, I mean the moment that you truly accepted Christ, at that moment we were forgiven and clean. Lest We Forget
• We neglect telling all about Christ
• We live our lives for us instead of Christ
• We poison our bodies with alcohol and burn our lungs with cigarettes
• We force the Holy Spirit who dwells in us to watch filth on TV
• We forget our roles in church
• We rob him of our gifts that he has given us
• We Steal from him in our tithes
• And we bicker behind his under shepherds back (Your Pastor)
Why do you think Jesus instituted the Lords Supper??
What does he say after every Verse, Do this in remembrance of ME.?
Because he has infinite wisdom and of our finite minds. Lest we forget we are the creation.
HE IS THE CREATOR!!
We try to hide our sins from an all knowing GOD. And insult him by trying
In Revelation Chapter 1 Verse 8 John records, I am the Alpha and the Omega the beginning and the ending. Have we forgotten in our generation that he was before anything and when it is all gone he will still be here? LEST WE FORGET what he has done for us?
• He saves our souls
• Blesses us with life
• Give us children to love
• Houses to live in
• Food to eat
• Cars to drive
• And Gives us Stewarts chocolate peanut butter ice cream
He have forgotten that God left heaven to be as his creation, born of a women, having to grow, feel physical pain, he defiled himself, to give us a way to heaven.
He didn’t have to do this, he knew how we would be, YET HE LOVED US THIS MUCH.
Lest we forget the faithful that have came before us
• Billy Sunday
• Christmas Evans
• Dwight Moody
• Charles Finney
Lest we forget the one’s that led them to Christ, inspired them and held them up during the tough times.
Lest We forget
• God doesn't require a job interview.
• He doesn't hire and fire like most bosses,
• because He's more our Dad than our Boss.
• He doesn't look at financial gain or loss.
• He's not prejudiced or partial, not judging, grudging,
• sassy, or brassy, not deaf to our cry, not blind to our need
In the year 1847, a doctor from Edinburgh, Sir James Simpson, discovered that chloroform could be used as an anesthetic to render people insensible to the pain of surgery. From his early experiments, Dr. Simpson made it possible for people to go through the most dangerous operations without fear of pain and suffering. Some people even claim that his was one of the most significant discoveries of modern medicine.
Some years later, while lecturing at the University of Edinburgh, Dr. Simpson was asked by one of his students, "What do you consider to be the most valuable discovery of your lifetime?" To the surprise of his students, who had expected him to refer to chloroform, Dr. Simpson replied, "My most valuable discovery was when I discovered myself a sinner and that Jesus Christ was my Savior."
LEST WE FORGET FOR WHOM WE SERVE and gives us everything. And without him we are nothing.
May 15, 2008 shortly after attending revival services in Hudson Falls a pastor gets a phone call on his cell phone.
In shock from what he has heard and in pain from a recent surgery he turns around and asks for a ride Back to his church it was on fire.
The man driving this pastors late model Taurus with bad brakes he witnesses a pastor at the same age as him, not worried about himself, but his congregation and his community.
There is prayer, conversation and some odd jokes between these men as they slowly transverse the web of firemen, trucks and hoses to witness what was left.
Several members of this congregation stand in solidarity and in awe of what they see.
I tell you church member Thou are Victory Bible Baptist Church and upon this rock HIS church will stand, and the gates of HELL will not prevail against it
Lest you forget
* what you saw
* how you felt
* how you feel when you see that building
That image, those feelings will assist you to never forget that God is always here, he has a plan for this church building, this area, your pastor and his family. LEST YOU FORGET
"THE PATH OF MAN IS TOO DARK, THE CROSS OF CHRIST IS TOO GLORIOUS AND THE HEART OF GOD IS TOO GRIEVED, FOR US TO FORGET NOW."
LET’S PRAY!!
Because my people hath forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up;
September 11, 2001, at 8:46 in the morning our world was changed, unless you have lived under a rock somewhere knows what I am talking about.
This day was like no other that we could remember, that day seemed to stand still. The roads were empty it even seemed like the birds had stopped singing, the emotions that were experienced, the tears that were shed, the overwhelming patriotism that was felt and the move to find the answers from God. IN GOD WE TRUST was said, people that have never attended church, stopped by their local church and sat in the back looking for answers. And many signs by the road said LEST WE FORGET.
September 11, 2007, at 8:46 in the morning I heard a brief dong and the radio and realized what it was for as I resumed working, there weren’t any big memorial services no ticker tape, just the politicians making photo ops and the world resumed its day. WE HAVE FORGOTTON
Although we may remember the emotions that we felt most of us have forgotten how they felt, the helplessness we felt on that day. All we could do was watch.
BUT WE HAVE forgotten!!
Three days after the 9/11 attacks, I received a call from my father, my mother was losing her the battle with cancer and I had better get home, the next morning was making funeral arrangements for my mother, EVELYN JANE PARISH, 52, was a loving a patient mother she never drank, she never smoked I never heard her speak ill of anyone. I sat making the arrangements at the funeral home trying to trying to make sense of everything that had happened between the great loss of life in NY and my mother, lying dead in the next room.
Three days after 9/11/07, I got to work, straiten up my desk and looked down at the calendar, Lest I HAD FORGOTTEN.
I had forgotten something that was the worst days of my life, I had gotten to busy and had forgotten, lest I Had Forgotten
Over 2000 years ago a man above all men the SON of God, came down from his perfect sinless life in heaven and became like his own creation, he ate, he got tired and most of all he hung on a cross, not deserving this punishment for our sins and how live our lives WE HAVE FORGOTTON.
Do you remember when you got saved, I mean the moment that you truly accepted Christ, at that moment we were forgiven and clean. Lest We Forget
• We neglect telling all about Christ
• We live our lives for us instead of Christ
• We poison our bodies with alcohol and burn our lungs with cigarettes
• We force the Holy Spirit who dwells in us to watch filth on TV
• We forget our roles in church
• We rob him of our gifts that he has given us
• We Steal from him in our tithes
• And we bicker behind his under shepherds back (Your Pastor)
Why do you think Jesus instituted the Lords Supper??
What does he say after every Verse, Do this in remembrance of ME.?
Because he has infinite wisdom and of our finite minds. Lest we forget we are the creation.
HE IS THE CREATOR!!
We try to hide our sins from an all knowing GOD. And insult him by trying
In Revelation Chapter 1 Verse 8 John records, I am the Alpha and the Omega the beginning and the ending. Have we forgotten in our generation that he was before anything and when it is all gone he will still be here? LEST WE FORGET what he has done for us?
• He saves our souls
• Blesses us with life
• Give us children to love
• Houses to live in
• Food to eat
• Cars to drive
• And Gives us Stewarts chocolate peanut butter ice cream
He have forgotten that God left heaven to be as his creation, born of a women, having to grow, feel physical pain, he defiled himself, to give us a way to heaven.
He didn’t have to do this, he knew how we would be, YET HE LOVED US THIS MUCH.
Lest we forget the faithful that have came before us
• Billy Sunday
• Christmas Evans
• Dwight Moody
• Charles Finney
Lest we forget the one’s that led them to Christ, inspired them and held them up during the tough times.
Lest We forget
• God doesn't require a job interview.
• He doesn't hire and fire like most bosses,
• because He's more our Dad than our Boss.
• He doesn't look at financial gain or loss.
• He's not prejudiced or partial, not judging, grudging,
• sassy, or brassy, not deaf to our cry, not blind to our need
In the year 1847, a doctor from Edinburgh, Sir James Simpson, discovered that chloroform could be used as an anesthetic to render people insensible to the pain of surgery. From his early experiments, Dr. Simpson made it possible for people to go through the most dangerous operations without fear of pain and suffering. Some people even claim that his was one of the most significant discoveries of modern medicine.
Some years later, while lecturing at the University of Edinburgh, Dr. Simpson was asked by one of his students, "What do you consider to be the most valuable discovery of your lifetime?" To the surprise of his students, who had expected him to refer to chloroform, Dr. Simpson replied, "My most valuable discovery was when I discovered myself a sinner and that Jesus Christ was my Savior."
LEST WE FORGET FOR WHOM WE SERVE and gives us everything. And without him we are nothing.
May 15, 2008 shortly after attending revival services in Hudson Falls a pastor gets a phone call on his cell phone.
In shock from what he has heard and in pain from a recent surgery he turns around and asks for a ride Back to his church it was on fire.
The man driving this pastors late model Taurus with bad brakes he witnesses a pastor at the same age as him, not worried about himself, but his congregation and his community.
There is prayer, conversation and some odd jokes between these men as they slowly transverse the web of firemen, trucks and hoses to witness what was left.
Several members of this congregation stand in solidarity and in awe of what they see.
I tell you church member Thou are Victory Bible Baptist Church and upon this rock HIS church will stand, and the gates of HELL will not prevail against it
Lest you forget
* what you saw
* how you felt
* how you feel when you see that building
That image, those feelings will assist you to never forget that God is always here, he has a plan for this church building, this area, your pastor and his family. LEST YOU FORGET
"THE PATH OF MAN IS TOO DARK, THE CROSS OF CHRIST IS TOO GLORIOUS AND THE HEART OF GOD IS TOO GRIEVED, FOR US TO FORGET NOW."
LET’S PRAY!!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Don't Bother Me
Don't Bother Me
With Soul's To Save
I Have My Own Agenda
There's School To Do
Sports To Play
Important Stuff To Attend
Don't Bother Me
With My Friend At Work
He's Got His Own Religion
I Don't Have The Time
To Change His Mind
He'll Make His Own Decision
Don't Bother Me
With That Little Girl,
The Girl Playing In The Street
She's Much To Young
To Understand
That The Savior She Could Meet
Don't Bother Me
With The Sounds I Hear
The Sounds of People Shrieking
Although I Wonder Who They Are
Who Are These Victims
Screaming?
Don't Bother Me
With Who They Are
I Really Don't Want The Blame
Cause It's My Friend At Work
And That Little Girl
Who From Hell
Scream Out My Name.
But Don't Bother Me
Author Unknow
With Soul's To Save
I Have My Own Agenda
There's School To Do
Sports To Play
Important Stuff To Attend
Don't Bother Me
With My Friend At Work
He's Got His Own Religion
I Don't Have The Time
To Change His Mind
He'll Make His Own Decision
Don't Bother Me
With That Little Girl,
The Girl Playing In The Street
She's Much To Young
To Understand
That The Savior She Could Meet
Don't Bother Me
With The Sounds I Hear
The Sounds of People Shrieking
Although I Wonder Who They Are
Who Are These Victims
Screaming?
Don't Bother Me
With Who They Are
I Really Don't Want The Blame
Cause It's My Friend At Work
And That Little Girl
Who From Hell
Scream Out My Name.
But Don't Bother Me
Author Unknow
You Can't get there from here
I heard a sermon several weeks ago, I can't remember the preacher that preached part in 1st Kings 13.
I have heard many sermons on the lady obeying Elijah and giving him her handful of meal to to the man of God and was rewarded by this with an abundance of food while the famon was occurring.
After hearing this many times I backed up to the beginning of the chapter, as I have done for a little while in order to put the whole story in prospective in my own mind. I feel that many have missed out by not telling the hole story.
For some reason I had a time when I was driving and trying to find a mall in Rochester that popped into my mind. I had taken the wrong exit, and was obviously not in the shopping part of the city. So after some nudging from my wife and brother I stopped at a gas station to ask for directions. After explaining where I was trying to find the large black lady behind the 2 inch thick glass said “You Can't Get There From Here”. And this chapter reminded me of that trip.
I have hear the woman praised for her faithfulness and obedience but not so much Elijah. As I read from the beginning of the chapter I see that it was him that started the chain of events. When the Lord spoke to him, he said I have a plan but, You Can't Get There From Here. So Elijah went to the Brook Cherith and drank and had ravens bringing him bread. The Lord Blessed him for his obedience. I think that was a first test.
After that the Lord said, You Can't Get There From Here, you need to be bold for me, ask a starving woman who is a complete stranger to give you the last of what she had to you, putting herself and her child last, and putting what God wanted above all the rest. And she had done that and this time, the blessing wasn't just Elijah's but this women was blessed by the faithfulness by the servant of God. I know she had to give all of what she had to be blessed but, I have to think would she have been blessed if Elijah stayed in the east or if he didn't leave Cherith. She may never had that opportunity. Would she just have baked her last cake, ate it with her son and just died?
I think if we stay here we will never go on. We will never go there until we leave here and go there. Our blessings are not here they are over there. And maybe a blessing for someone else. But when you arrive there you are no longer there you are now here so you can't stay dormant we need to keep going over there.
The tip may be shorter if we travel in a straight line but sometimes we have learning to do and people to meet on or trip so we might be traveling in one direction in order to get there but God stops us and says go over here.
If we never start the journey that we never get there and it may not be just us that suffers. It may be some poor soul that has to burn in hell for eternity.
Some start the journey but when things get good and the ravens bring us bread, why leave? I think that is the case in a lot of Christians and churches the get stagent in their soul winning, works for Christ and in edifying other Christian they are happy to stay here. And you can see what a pool of stagent water looks like after some time. I believe that the stationary mentality is what holds back true revival, Maybe some of the other bible versions are right. When God goes to prepare a place for us it won't be mansions, it will be rooms. Millions and millions of nurseries to house all the baby christion's that refused to grow up.
We have to be in constant motion, going in the direction that the Lord is leading us. In physics there is a law that states what is at rest will stay at rest and what is in motion will stay in motion unless some outside force changes that.
It is that outside force that can help or hinder us depending on what It is.
If we are always looking over there, keeping our eye's on the prize then it is hard to lose the path that has been selected for us.
I believe that a Christian hasn't arrived until Christ calls us home. My actions not only effect me, my family, my church, but everyone that I will ever be in contact with and maybe someone that may never know about.
I have heard many sermons on the lady obeying Elijah and giving him her handful of meal to to the man of God and was rewarded by this with an abundance of food while the famon was occurring.
After hearing this many times I backed up to the beginning of the chapter, as I have done for a little while in order to put the whole story in prospective in my own mind. I feel that many have missed out by not telling the hole story.
For some reason I had a time when I was driving and trying to find a mall in Rochester that popped into my mind. I had taken the wrong exit, and was obviously not in the shopping part of the city. So after some nudging from my wife and brother I stopped at a gas station to ask for directions. After explaining where I was trying to find the large black lady behind the 2 inch thick glass said “You Can't Get There From Here”. And this chapter reminded me of that trip.
I have hear the woman praised for her faithfulness and obedience but not so much Elijah. As I read from the beginning of the chapter I see that it was him that started the chain of events. When the Lord spoke to him, he said I have a plan but, You Can't Get There From Here. So Elijah went to the Brook Cherith and drank and had ravens bringing him bread. The Lord Blessed him for his obedience. I think that was a first test.
After that the Lord said, You Can't Get There From Here, you need to be bold for me, ask a starving woman who is a complete stranger to give you the last of what she had to you, putting herself and her child last, and putting what God wanted above all the rest. And she had done that and this time, the blessing wasn't just Elijah's but this women was blessed by the faithfulness by the servant of God. I know she had to give all of what she had to be blessed but, I have to think would she have been blessed if Elijah stayed in the east or if he didn't leave Cherith. She may never had that opportunity. Would she just have baked her last cake, ate it with her son and just died?
I think if we stay here we will never go on. We will never go there until we leave here and go there. Our blessings are not here they are over there. And maybe a blessing for someone else. But when you arrive there you are no longer there you are now here so you can't stay dormant we need to keep going over there.
The tip may be shorter if we travel in a straight line but sometimes we have learning to do and people to meet on or trip so we might be traveling in one direction in order to get there but God stops us and says go over here.
If we never start the journey that we never get there and it may not be just us that suffers. It may be some poor soul that has to burn in hell for eternity.
Some start the journey but when things get good and the ravens bring us bread, why leave? I think that is the case in a lot of Christians and churches the get stagent in their soul winning, works for Christ and in edifying other Christian they are happy to stay here. And you can see what a pool of stagent water looks like after some time. I believe that the stationary mentality is what holds back true revival, Maybe some of the other bible versions are right. When God goes to prepare a place for us it won't be mansions, it will be rooms. Millions and millions of nurseries to house all the baby christion's that refused to grow up.
We have to be in constant motion, going in the direction that the Lord is leading us. In physics there is a law that states what is at rest will stay at rest and what is in motion will stay in motion unless some outside force changes that.
It is that outside force that can help or hinder us depending on what It is.
If we are always looking over there, keeping our eye's on the prize then it is hard to lose the path that has been selected for us.
I believe that a Christian hasn't arrived until Christ calls us home. My actions not only effect me, my family, my church, but everyone that I will ever be in contact with and maybe someone that may never know about.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
A Great Day in the LORD
Today started stressfull, there was much on my plate to do for the church and several things ran into each other.
But we had great attendance, some of my mic issues didn't come out today also.
We had several new first time visitors and some of our CEO Christians, (Chirstmas & Easter Only).
My Sunday School class hit their three memory verses right on with no errors or fidgiting, which is amazing for 1 to 6 grade boys.
Pastor preached a wonderful message and we saw the alters full and two new salvations.
Praise the Lord.
But we had great attendance, some of my mic issues didn't come out today also.
We had several new first time visitors and some of our CEO Christians, (Chirstmas & Easter Only).
My Sunday School class hit their three memory verses right on with no errors or fidgiting, which is amazing for 1 to 6 grade boys.
Pastor preached a wonderful message and we saw the alters full and two new salvations.
Praise the Lord.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
The Start of It all
This is my first Blog outside of the friendly fundimental forums.
Since the reset all what I had there was lost so I decided to create this one.
I am head of the media ministry at www.nlbcministries.org.
I also preach when asked and have done some pulpit supply for other IFB Church's in my area.
I plan on posting my notes and various thoughts about whatever I'm thinking
Since the reset all what I had there was lost so I decided to create this one.
I am head of the media ministry at www.nlbcministries.org.
I also preach when asked and have done some pulpit supply for other IFB Church's in my area.
I plan on posting my notes and various thoughts about whatever I'm thinking
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