Romans 12:2--And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.
We all have to admit that God says some pretty wild things. He told Abraham, at the age of 75, that he would father a multitude of children. On top of that, that they would come from his 69 year old wife. We know the story that Sarah only had one child, but on down through the years, one grew to be a multitude just like God said.
When the Hebrews were in Egyptian bondage, God said that He was going to set them free and GIVE them a land flowing with milk and honey. Sounds unvelievable, huh? We'll talk more about that later.
Let's talk about Abraham. Why did God wait 25 years just to give him ONE child? Because, by that time, it was impossible for man to do it. Was He mad at Abraham for some reason? No. Is God just a real mean God and doesn't like to see people happy? On the contrary, He sent His Son so that our joy could be full. (John 16:24) Then, why in thunder does God do goofy stuff? Because He is trying to show that He is able to do anything for His children. He is proving to Abraham AND HIS DESCENDANTS that He is well able to do whatever He promises.
Here is something that I have never heard preached or taught or even talked about. See if you have. When Isaac began getting to an age where he could reason, he started looking at all of the young men and young women who were having children. He looked at married couples 69 and 75 years old and figured out that they didn't have children, much less a couple in their 90's. Reasoning would have yelled out at Isaac, "Hey, there really is something to this God stuff my Dad has been preaching to me." When his daddy took him up to a mountain to sacrifice him and the angel stopped Abraham and talked to him, Isaac must have thought, "Hey, there really is something to this God stuff my Dad has been preaching to me." And all that Abraham did, was believe what God said instead of what it looked like. God said that was the righteous thing to do. (Rom 4:3, Gal 3:6, Jam 2:23) By not conforming to the world's way of doing things and saying what God said, Abraham transformed not only his life but TRANSFORMED HIS CHILDREN'S LIVES, ALSO. How about it mom's and dad's? Is standing on the Word of God worth the lives and souls of your children? I reckon so.
God said something pretty nifty to the Hebrews in Egyptian bondage. He told them that He would bring them out with great prosperity and them give them their on plot of land in Canaan that they and their children could own. All of this was well and good until they sent 12 spies into the land just to see how good it really was. They all agreed that the land was a good land just like God said. However, 10 of them said that there were giants in the land and that THEY ARE STRONGER THAN WE ARE. Duh! Of course they were. God already told them that they would be and not to panic. So this doesn't really rate a Fox News Alert. They must not have been paying attention to the rest of what God said. He said that He would drive their enemies out. He told them specifically that, with His help, they would conquer seven nations stronger than they were.
Here's the jist of the conversation.
Num 13:30--And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. Num 13:31--But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they [are] stronger than we.
Now, which ones are conformers and which ones are transformers. The 10 spies were being conformed by what they saw. That is extremely dangerous when you begin contradicting what God has said. Long story short. Caleb and Joshua agreed with God and started thinking and talking what God said. They got what God said they could have. It took them 40 years plus five years of battle, but they got the land of their dreams. Not only that, but Mt. Hebron belonged to Caleb's children, grandchildren, etc,. etc. By what he went through and stood for, Caleb proved what is that good and perfect will of God to his children. Thanks, Dad.
How about the 10 conformists. They were conformed by what they saw and died with unfulfilled
desires. They were miserable, cantankerous and rebellious and left no hope for their children. Their children had to believe the Word of God for themselves. Thanks for nothing, Dad.
Is praying for and believing God for revival worth it? You bet. Are you willing to step out on a limb and believe His Word instead of what you see? I hope so. When you refuse to conform and you believe in the transforming power of God, God will prove to you AND YOUR CHILDREN that He is a God worth serving.
Happy loving,
Henry
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Read about Jesus-Learn about God's Heart
Jhn 9:1
¶ And as [Jesus] passed by, he saw a man which was blind from [his] birth.
Jhn 9:2
And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
Jhn 9:3
Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
Don't the disciples sound like a lot of so-called Christians that you know? Something bad happens and it's time for the church members to break out the ole cross again. Either that or bar-b-que and french fry some struggling Christian.
Let's start off with a very important point. None of us are perfect, especially me. There are thousands of mistakes that I have made and every one of them I regret. A lot of them I regret with a broken heart but that doesn't give me a chance to do it all over again to get it right. As for right now.......today is concerned.....it won't take a whole lot of lookin' to find faults in my life. U-u-u-u-h.........and if I spent some time around you, I could find a couple if I was looking. However, don't count on me looking. I learned a long time ago, through many bumps and bruises on the road of life, it's a lot easier to enjoy someone when you're not looking for their "sins". When you get right down to it, and you took the time to do it, you could write down more good things about folks than bad things. I know, I know, it might take a lot longer to find the good in some people, but if you were to get into the habit of looking for the good, you would get into the habit of finding the good.
You see, looking at people with their faults at the center of your thoughts acts like a veil between you and the other person. When you get around them 'zip' the veil goes up and you almost don't hear a word they say or see a thing they do because you have put their 'sins' between you and them. If, while you are around them, you would find something good about them and think about that, you would sense that veil being torn to shreds. The problem you might have now is that you will find yourself liking that person. Isn't that a gruesome thought?
Let's look at God's heart manifested through what Jesus did. The apostle, Peter, spent a lot of time side by side with Jesus and he summed it up with this: 1Pe 4:8--And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. The disciples were not ole meany-guts. They were normal, everyday guys doing what the normal, everyday person is prone to do----judge people just like everybody else does. They heard it all of their lives. Their mammas and daddies did it, uncles, aunts, etc. The neighborhood did it. Everybody did it........but Jesus.
Jesus is the only begotten Son of the Creater God. God gave all of His authority to bless and curse to the Heir to the throne, Jesus Christ. Father God did not come down and brow beat Jesus into submission and MAKE Him like the blind man. Jesus, with the Divine Love of Almighty God beating in His heart, CHOSE to ignore the man's past and had only ONE thought about him. That thought was this---"I just CAN'T let him stay this way while I have the power to heal him. I want him to see s-o-o-o-o bad. I have GOT to heal him right now." You have heard it preached over and over again---For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. That included this man. However, Jesus never asked him was he 'saved.' He never asked him was he 'baptized.' He never asked him what church he was affiliated with. His love covered the multitude of this man's sins and Jesus healed him. Th Word of God also, says that He treats everybody the same. You know what He says about me? His love covers the multitude of my sins and He says----"I just CAN'T let Henry stay this way while I have the power to heal him. I want him to be healed s-o-o-o bad. I have GOT to heal him right now." How about you? What does God say about you? His love covers the multitude of your sins and He says----"I just CAN'T let him/her stay this way while I have the power to heal him/her. I want my beloved to be healed s-o-o-o-o bad. I have GOT to heal him/her right now." He is the same to all of us.
Can we see two things. First of all, God doesn't hate you for anything. There is no reason at all why God doesn't love you. There is no reason that exists. Quit beating yourself up and accept the love of God into your heart. Forget your past. Jesus did, even before He died for you. He sees your need and hears the cry of your heart for the mistakes you have made in the past. He is overlooking any and all sins that you have committed and wants nothing else but to hold you in His arms until the hurting stops.
More importantly, we need to practice the second thing. And that is to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. (I've heard that before, haven't you?) Forgive them so that God can forgive you. Then, cultivate the desire to see that person healed on the inside as well as on the outside. As you allow the love of God to be perfected in your life, God's love will flow into every conversation that you have. You will become a conduit for His very presence, the irresistable drawing of the Holy Spirit of God. In essence, you will be come a soul winner. AND, you will find your own heart being healed as you strive to bring healing to others. Is there any grudge that you may have worth holding back healing for you and your loved ones? Absolutely not.
Good Forgiving and Good Loving my Friends,
Henry
¶ And as [Jesus] passed by, he saw a man which was blind from [his] birth.
Jhn 9:2
And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
Jhn 9:3
Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
Don't the disciples sound like a lot of so-called Christians that you know? Something bad happens and it's time for the church members to break out the ole cross again. Either that or bar-b-que and french fry some struggling Christian.
Let's start off with a very important point. None of us are perfect, especially me. There are thousands of mistakes that I have made and every one of them I regret. A lot of them I regret with a broken heart but that doesn't give me a chance to do it all over again to get it right. As for right now.......today is concerned.....it won't take a whole lot of lookin' to find faults in my life. U-u-u-u-h.........and if I spent some time around you, I could find a couple if I was looking. However, don't count on me looking. I learned a long time ago, through many bumps and bruises on the road of life, it's a lot easier to enjoy someone when you're not looking for their "sins". When you get right down to it, and you took the time to do it, you could write down more good things about folks than bad things. I know, I know, it might take a lot longer to find the good in some people, but if you were to get into the habit of looking for the good, you would get into the habit of finding the good.
You see, looking at people with their faults at the center of your thoughts acts like a veil between you and the other person. When you get around them 'zip' the veil goes up and you almost don't hear a word they say or see a thing they do because you have put their 'sins' between you and them. If, while you are around them, you would find something good about them and think about that, you would sense that veil being torn to shreds. The problem you might have now is that you will find yourself liking that person. Isn't that a gruesome thought?
Let's look at God's heart manifested through what Jesus did. The apostle, Peter, spent a lot of time side by side with Jesus and he summed it up with this: 1Pe 4:8--And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. The disciples were not ole meany-guts. They were normal, everyday guys doing what the normal, everyday person is prone to do----judge people just like everybody else does. They heard it all of their lives. Their mammas and daddies did it, uncles, aunts, etc. The neighborhood did it. Everybody did it........but Jesus.
Jesus is the only begotten Son of the Creater God. God gave all of His authority to bless and curse to the Heir to the throne, Jesus Christ. Father God did not come down and brow beat Jesus into submission and MAKE Him like the blind man. Jesus, with the Divine Love of Almighty God beating in His heart, CHOSE to ignore the man's past and had only ONE thought about him. That thought was this---"I just CAN'T let him stay this way while I have the power to heal him. I want him to see s-o-o-o-o bad. I have GOT to heal him right now." You have heard it preached over and over again---For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. That included this man. However, Jesus never asked him was he 'saved.' He never asked him was he 'baptized.' He never asked him what church he was affiliated with. His love covered the multitude of this man's sins and Jesus healed him. Th Word of God also, says that He treats everybody the same. You know what He says about me? His love covers the multitude of my sins and He says----"I just CAN'T let Henry stay this way while I have the power to heal him. I want him to be healed s-o-o-o bad. I have GOT to heal him right now." How about you? What does God say about you? His love covers the multitude of your sins and He says----"I just CAN'T let him/her stay this way while I have the power to heal him/her. I want my beloved to be healed s-o-o-o-o bad. I have GOT to heal him/her right now." He is the same to all of us.
Can we see two things. First of all, God doesn't hate you for anything. There is no reason at all why God doesn't love you. There is no reason that exists. Quit beating yourself up and accept the love of God into your heart. Forget your past. Jesus did, even before He died for you. He sees your need and hears the cry of your heart for the mistakes you have made in the past. He is overlooking any and all sins that you have committed and wants nothing else but to hold you in His arms until the hurting stops.
More importantly, we need to practice the second thing. And that is to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. (I've heard that before, haven't you?) Forgive them so that God can forgive you. Then, cultivate the desire to see that person healed on the inside as well as on the outside. As you allow the love of God to be perfected in your life, God's love will flow into every conversation that you have. You will become a conduit for His very presence, the irresistable drawing of the Holy Spirit of God. In essence, you will be come a soul winner. AND, you will find your own heart being healed as you strive to bring healing to others. Is there any grudge that you may have worth holding back healing for you and your loved ones? Absolutely not.
Good Forgiving and Good Loving my Friends,
Henry
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Re-dig The Wells
Gen 26:17
And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.
Gen 26:18
And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.
Isaac was 75 years old when Abraham died. As they walked through the land that God had given them, Abraham had shown him all the places where he had dug wells. After Abraham's death, the Philistines had stopped up some of those wells. They had a lot of respect for Abraham but very little, it seems, for his son Isaac. Now, it was time for Isaac to begin asserting his authority as the heir to the promise of God.
There's a great lesson here. How long are we going to just hang around in the blessings that our parents and grandparents brought through prayer and dedication to God? If we would be honest, we would actually say, "The wells of revival that our parents/grandparents digged have been stopped up." All of us have heard people sigh and say, "It's not like it was in the old days when people used to shout and run the aisles." However, we forget that those times were brought on by years of dedication and hours of intercessory prayer. The "old-timers" got the outpouring because they paid for it. We are just riding on their coattails. (Please. Don't shout me down just because I'm preaching real good.)
Just as the normal cycle of a Christian goes, I have been going through some exceptionally rough times. Any child of God is going to experience "junk" at some point in time. The outpouring of His presence has not been as powerful. The joy has not been unspeakable. It has been more of a test of endurance. Perhaps some of you are going through the same things. Rejoice, we're normal!!!!
The wells were stopped because of the jealousy and hatred of the Philistines. We have an enemy that would love to stop our flow of His blessings by the same means. No, I'm not talking about the deacons or your spouse. When it comes right down to it, the only enemy we have is Satan, himself. He might use the deacons and your spouse, and he might use them re-e-a-a-l good. Why? Satan is jealous of our relationship with Almighty God. He hates us because we have experienced forgiveness and mercy that he can never have. He will use anyone and everyone that he can to hurt us and destroy our relationship with those that we love. His ultimate goal is to destroy our relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus brings us "life." Furthermore, Satan would like to keep us from the fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit that a "live" well would bring. Therefore, he dumps his 'garbage' into our wells to polute and stop up any flow. A stopped flow means no victory. A stopped flow means no souls won. A stopped flow means that he rules over me and you.
We can do one of two things. The first one is what most Christians have chosen. Listen for a minute and you will agree. They walk by the stopped up well that has junk and garbage littered in it and around it. It stinks. It is no longer a place of peace or beauty. You didn't do it, somebody did it to you. So, here's the sermon you start preaching. "Look what so-and-so did to me. No wonder I can't get anywhere. No wonder nobody wants to come to church anymore. No wonder we don't have the victory. It's all so-and-so's fault." Oh, by the way. I don't know if anyone can use these excuses any more because I have worn them out from using them so much. What did you say? You have been using them, too? And you know others that have been using them? Well, gee-whiz-gosh-a-Moses-you-all-I-swear. No wonder those phrases are all worn out. We've all used them so much.
The second alternative is the one we need to choose. We need to get down on our knees and start digging the 'garbage' of hatred, jealousy and un-forgiveness out of our hearts. God will bring us to some times of deep introspection where we have to look deep within ourselves. We can re-dig those wells of living water or we can walk away and die. Our ancestors brought in a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit. But they did it on their knees crying out to God for revival. They put away childish hurts, they quit point fingers and got down to business with God. Why? Because without a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit somebody or something would die.
Let's join together, put away petty differences and re-dig the wells.
Much love, Henry
And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.
Gen 26:18
And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.
Isaac was 75 years old when Abraham died. As they walked through the land that God had given them, Abraham had shown him all the places where he had dug wells. After Abraham's death, the Philistines had stopped up some of those wells. They had a lot of respect for Abraham but very little, it seems, for his son Isaac. Now, it was time for Isaac to begin asserting his authority as the heir to the promise of God.
There's a great lesson here. How long are we going to just hang around in the blessings that our parents and grandparents brought through prayer and dedication to God? If we would be honest, we would actually say, "The wells of revival that our parents/grandparents digged have been stopped up." All of us have heard people sigh and say, "It's not like it was in the old days when people used to shout and run the aisles." However, we forget that those times were brought on by years of dedication and hours of intercessory prayer. The "old-timers" got the outpouring because they paid for it. We are just riding on their coattails. (Please. Don't shout me down just because I'm preaching real good.)
Just as the normal cycle of a Christian goes, I have been going through some exceptionally rough times. Any child of God is going to experience "junk" at some point in time. The outpouring of His presence has not been as powerful. The joy has not been unspeakable. It has been more of a test of endurance. Perhaps some of you are going through the same things. Rejoice, we're normal!!!!
The wells were stopped because of the jealousy and hatred of the Philistines. We have an enemy that would love to stop our flow of His blessings by the same means. No, I'm not talking about the deacons or your spouse. When it comes right down to it, the only enemy we have is Satan, himself. He might use the deacons and your spouse, and he might use them re-e-a-a-l good. Why? Satan is jealous of our relationship with Almighty God. He hates us because we have experienced forgiveness and mercy that he can never have. He will use anyone and everyone that he can to hurt us and destroy our relationship with those that we love. His ultimate goal is to destroy our relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus brings us "life." Furthermore, Satan would like to keep us from the fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit that a "live" well would bring. Therefore, he dumps his 'garbage' into our wells to polute and stop up any flow. A stopped flow means no victory. A stopped flow means no souls won. A stopped flow means that he rules over me and you.
We can do one of two things. The first one is what most Christians have chosen. Listen for a minute and you will agree. They walk by the stopped up well that has junk and garbage littered in it and around it. It stinks. It is no longer a place of peace or beauty. You didn't do it, somebody did it to you. So, here's the sermon you start preaching. "Look what so-and-so did to me. No wonder I can't get anywhere. No wonder nobody wants to come to church anymore. No wonder we don't have the victory. It's all so-and-so's fault." Oh, by the way. I don't know if anyone can use these excuses any more because I have worn them out from using them so much. What did you say? You have been using them, too? And you know others that have been using them? Well, gee-whiz-gosh-a-Moses-you-all-I-swear. No wonder those phrases are all worn out. We've all used them so much.
The second alternative is the one we need to choose. We need to get down on our knees and start digging the 'garbage' of hatred, jealousy and un-forgiveness out of our hearts. God will bring us to some times of deep introspection where we have to look deep within ourselves. We can re-dig those wells of living water or we can walk away and die. Our ancestors brought in a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit. But they did it on their knees crying out to God for revival. They put away childish hurts, they quit point fingers and got down to business with God. Why? Because without a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit somebody or something would die.
Let's join together, put away petty differences and re-dig the wells.
Much love, Henry
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
With the Temptation
1 Cor. 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].
I was teaching from this scripture the other night at church and I felt that I need to share part of it with you today.
Have you every noticed the phrase in this verse, "with the temptation." Keep in mind that God teaches us as individuals on the level of their personality. Sometimes, my personality can be considered one taco short of a combination platter. However, God gave me this illustration. He said to consider the ink pens that you buy. All of them come "with" ink already. I know, I know, D-u-u-u-h, Bro. Henry. Yes, but think. If you bought a pen that did not have ink in it, you would consider it defective and return it for one that did. Now, read that part of the verse again. God "will with the temptation also make a way to escape." Catch a hold of what the Apostle Paul is saying through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. Every time you buy a pen, it comes "with" ink already in it. Every time you buy a loose leaf binder for your school children it comes "with" paper made and placed in the right spot in the binder.
David and his army returned home to Ziklag one day to find their homes burned with fire and their wives and children stolen. But, that wasn't the end of the story. That temptation came "with a way of escape." David and his men had to finish crying. David had to turn to God and talk to him about it. When God finally got His turn to speak He said, "Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake [them], and without fail recover [all]." 1 Sam 30:8. Not only did David and his men recover all, but they got all of the spoils that the enemy had acquired. Do you see? The temptation came "with" a great, jumping-up-and-down-and-screaming blessing.
How about the crucifixion of Jesus. Re-read all the torture He went through as well as the horrible cross. But, "with" that temptation, God "made" the resurrection.
So, the next temptation you face. Get ready to shout because every temptation comes "with" and not "without." Enjoy the day with Jesus.
I was teaching from this scripture the other night at church and I felt that I need to share part of it with you today.
Have you every noticed the phrase in this verse, "with the temptation." Keep in mind that God teaches us as individuals on the level of their personality. Sometimes, my personality can be considered one taco short of a combination platter. However, God gave me this illustration. He said to consider the ink pens that you buy. All of them come "with" ink already. I know, I know, D-u-u-u-h, Bro. Henry. Yes, but think. If you bought a pen that did not have ink in it, you would consider it defective and return it for one that did. Now, read that part of the verse again. God "will with the temptation also make a way to escape." Catch a hold of what the Apostle Paul is saying through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. Every time you buy a pen, it comes "with" ink already in it. Every time you buy a loose leaf binder for your school children it comes "with" paper made and placed in the right spot in the binder.
David and his army returned home to Ziklag one day to find their homes burned with fire and their wives and children stolen. But, that wasn't the end of the story. That temptation came "with a way of escape." David and his men had to finish crying. David had to turn to God and talk to him about it. When God finally got His turn to speak He said, "Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake [them], and without fail recover [all]." 1 Sam 30:8. Not only did David and his men recover all, but they got all of the spoils that the enemy had acquired. Do you see? The temptation came "with" a great, jumping-up-and-down-and-screaming blessing.
How about the crucifixion of Jesus. Re-read all the torture He went through as well as the horrible cross. But, "with" that temptation, God "made" the resurrection.
So, the next temptation you face. Get ready to shout because every temptation comes "with" and not "without." Enjoy the day with Jesus.
Monday, August 10, 2009
They That Wait Upon the Lord
Isaiah 40:31-But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.
This verse of scripture comes at the end of a great chapter. Read all of it and you will understand this particular promise more and more. The chapter is a reminder to God's people of how big He is, how powerful He is, and (how shall I put this as tenderly as possible) how much smarter He is than anybody else on the face of this earth. Yes, that means He is smarter than me and you. Hard to believe isn't it?
Israel was going through a rough time in it's history. Things weren't going according to all of the promises of God. There lives were just hum-drum. It looked like all the other nations around them were booming with prosperity and goodness. But, it also tells us that the nation as a whole had slipped quite a bit in their relationship with God. Just like the times we are in right now. However, God still had a people that would not be swayed by what everybody else was doing and was struggling to serve Him with all of their hearts. This promise was to those people whose desire for God and His blessings was hot and not lukewarm or non-existent.
Before we get into the scripture, here is a great idea to ponder. Not everyone is in love with Jesus like you and I are. No big revelation there, is it? However, this word today is to encourage you to purposely set your heart on Jesus no matter what happens and no matter whether anyone else decides to serve Him to the degree that your heart cries out for you to do. Now, let's go on.
The first thing this verse says, is BUT. Whenever you see the word BUT at the beginning of a sentence, (ask any grammer teacher) it means to disregard the previous statement. The previous few statements dealt with a nation and especially the youth giving up because the way is too hard and they could not see God's hand in anything. What God is saying to the rest of us is, "Hey. It only looks bad BUT I can turn things around."
They that wait upon the Lord--How much time have you spent WAITING for things to get worse than what they are right now. This phrase is talking about those who are trusting and hoping in God that things are going to get better, just like God said they would. Sometimes as we walk along life's road we step in a cow pattie or a nest of fire ants that we did not see coming. The most comforting thing that I can say is, "Get over it." Stuff happens to all of us as we are traveling to our promise. Just because the path Jesus has us on takes us through a cow pasture and it's astute pleasures, doesn't mean that He will leave us there. This might be where we are right now, but it is not where He said He would take us. Focus on His promise and not the problem.
Shall renew their strength--This particular phrase means to re-gain strength in the same manner that grass keeps growing after it is cut. All of us will experience times when life cuts us down. It doesn't mean we have to just sit there and die. When we make up our minds that God's Word is true for us, His Holy Spirit will begin renewing the strength that we lost in the last battle. A strong relationship with the Holy Spirit is just as vital as reading God's Word. Both will remind us of His promises.
The greatest example that I can think of is Caleb. When God brought His children out of Egyptian bondage and sent them to spy out the land, Caleb came back more excited than ever about the promises of God. He was ready to take on every enemy because he knew that what God had promised, He was well able to do. You know the story. Because of the evil report of the 10 spies that said, "It's too hard and we can't do it," Caleb was forced to wait for fourty years before he could enjoy the promise of God. That's an entirely different message, so let me finish this one. Caleb waited on God and kept looking forward to inheriting Mount Hebron, the mountain that the spies camped on while spying out the land. He fell in love with that mountain and, as a result, he fell in love with the promise of God. When God finally brought them victoriously into the promised land, Caleb told Joshua that his strength at 85 years old was just as good as it was when he was 40. Why? As he kept meditating on the promise and not the problem, the vision of inheriting that mountain grew stronger the the cow pattie he was standing in.
Don't look at what you're standing in and make a decision about God. The fire ants might be causing you some intense pain right now but their sting doesn't last forever. Wait on God's promise. The healing will come. The promise of God is steadfast and sure. AND, you will inherit the promise. Enjoy today!!! You're on your way to the promised land.
This verse of scripture comes at the end of a great chapter. Read all of it and you will understand this particular promise more and more. The chapter is a reminder to God's people of how big He is, how powerful He is, and (how shall I put this as tenderly as possible) how much smarter He is than anybody else on the face of this earth. Yes, that means He is smarter than me and you. Hard to believe isn't it?
Israel was going through a rough time in it's history. Things weren't going according to all of the promises of God. There lives were just hum-drum. It looked like all the other nations around them were booming with prosperity and goodness. But, it also tells us that the nation as a whole had slipped quite a bit in their relationship with God. Just like the times we are in right now. However, God still had a people that would not be swayed by what everybody else was doing and was struggling to serve Him with all of their hearts. This promise was to those people whose desire for God and His blessings was hot and not lukewarm or non-existent.
Before we get into the scripture, here is a great idea to ponder. Not everyone is in love with Jesus like you and I are. No big revelation there, is it? However, this word today is to encourage you to purposely set your heart on Jesus no matter what happens and no matter whether anyone else decides to serve Him to the degree that your heart cries out for you to do. Now, let's go on.
The first thing this verse says, is BUT. Whenever you see the word BUT at the beginning of a sentence, (ask any grammer teacher) it means to disregard the previous statement. The previous few statements dealt with a nation and especially the youth giving up because the way is too hard and they could not see God's hand in anything. What God is saying to the rest of us is, "Hey. It only looks bad BUT I can turn things around."
They that wait upon the Lord--How much time have you spent WAITING for things to get worse than what they are right now. This phrase is talking about those who are trusting and hoping in God that things are going to get better, just like God said they would. Sometimes as we walk along life's road we step in a cow pattie or a nest of fire ants that we did not see coming. The most comforting thing that I can say is, "Get over it." Stuff happens to all of us as we are traveling to our promise. Just because the path Jesus has us on takes us through a cow pasture and it's astute pleasures, doesn't mean that He will leave us there. This might be where we are right now, but it is not where He said He would take us. Focus on His promise and not the problem.
Shall renew their strength--This particular phrase means to re-gain strength in the same manner that grass keeps growing after it is cut. All of us will experience times when life cuts us down. It doesn't mean we have to just sit there and die. When we make up our minds that God's Word is true for us, His Holy Spirit will begin renewing the strength that we lost in the last battle. A strong relationship with the Holy Spirit is just as vital as reading God's Word. Both will remind us of His promises.
The greatest example that I can think of is Caleb. When God brought His children out of Egyptian bondage and sent them to spy out the land, Caleb came back more excited than ever about the promises of God. He was ready to take on every enemy because he knew that what God had promised, He was well able to do. You know the story. Because of the evil report of the 10 spies that said, "It's too hard and we can't do it," Caleb was forced to wait for fourty years before he could enjoy the promise of God. That's an entirely different message, so let me finish this one. Caleb waited on God and kept looking forward to inheriting Mount Hebron, the mountain that the spies camped on while spying out the land. He fell in love with that mountain and, as a result, he fell in love with the promise of God. When God finally brought them victoriously into the promised land, Caleb told Joshua that his strength at 85 years old was just as good as it was when he was 40. Why? As he kept meditating on the promise and not the problem, the vision of inheriting that mountain grew stronger the the cow pattie he was standing in.
Don't look at what you're standing in and make a decision about God. The fire ants might be causing you some intense pain right now but their sting doesn't last forever. Wait on God's promise. The healing will come. The promise of God is steadfast and sure. AND, you will inherit the promise. Enjoy today!!! You're on your way to the promised land.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
God's Plan for You
In Revelation 1:8, Jesus introduces himself as the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. In Heb 12:2, He is described as the author and the finisher of our faith. It is of the utmost importance for us to always remember the He starts stuff in our lives with the intentions of finishing it. Some of you might be right in the middle of Junk City, USA wondering if there really is a place called The Promised Land. Let me assure you, our journey with Jesus only takes us through Junk City. Let me give you something to shout about. He might have brought you there for a while but it is only because it is His way of bringing you into the promises of God.
How did God create the universe which includes the world that we live in? He had a plan from the very beginning. He didn't create birds to fly before He created a perfect atmosphere for them to fly in. He didn't create them with only one wing so they would fly around in circles. The oceans and rivers were created before the fish of the sea. Here again, they were created perfectly adapted to swim, live and breathe under water. Jer. 29:11 says-For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. He had a plan for the birds, He had a plan for the fishes and He has a plan for you. Notice the last part of that verse. His plans include giving us an expected end.
How many of you out there would just like to see the nasty n0w-nows that you are going through right now to just end already!!!! Me, too!!!!!
How did God's people get tangled up into being slaves in Egypt fo four hundred years? God "began" or "authored" that through a promise to Abraham in Genesis 15:3. Have you ever wondered just what was on God's mind when He said that much lest when He began to bring it about? The only answer I can give is, He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the author and finisher of our faith. God had a plan that far surpassed any of their imaginations. Did they have to live in a manner that they did not want to? Yes. Did they have to go through stuff that made it look like God had forsaken them? Yes. Then what was God doing? He was finishing their faith and culminating His promise to Abraham four hundred years earlier.
We have got to understand. God's promises include the beginning of something and the expected end. The expected end is whatever God has promised in His Word. It would do us good to read the great "Road map to Heaven" to find out what it really says. No where in the Bible does it say that God would leave us destroyed along life's highway like a piece of trash. His Word is full of "bringing them out" promises. Go find them.
Why did Moses have to run away from Egypt and go into the desert to live? Why did God appear to him in the burning bush and make him come back? Boy, I hope you're looking for great theological answers to those questions. I have many but not enough time to go into it. Let's just plainly say, "Jer 29:11." God had a plan all along that started with a promise to Abraham and ended with the children of Israel being delivered out of Egypt with a great victory. Yes, God's plan included slavery to a wicked nation. Yes, God's plan included much hardship. But it wasn't more than they could bear. Yes, from everyone's view point, it looked like God had forsaken them, but He hadn't. His plan was far greater than they could see at the time. Why Moses? Why not Aaron? The Alpha was proving they He was the Omega. Just like creation, when He spoke the word to Abraham, He had an Exodus plan in mind. Did He give Abraham all the details? No. Abraham did not need to know the details. Romans, Galatians and James all say that Abraham believed God and God counted that for righteousness. Abraham trusted that God had a better plan than he could imagine.
We all look at the situations that we face and say, "Just what was God thinking about?" Jer. 29:11 says, that he is thinking about doing us good and not evil. He is thinking about bringing us into a place of peace. His Word also says that there is great joy and abundance promised to us. His plans for us don't stop in Junk City, USA or The Nasty Now-Nows Valley. Just like the children of Israel in Egyptian bondage. All those four hundred years, God's intentions were to bring them out not leave them there. His plan was years ahead of them. He had every situation worked out. All they had to do was follow Him, love Him and obey Him and leave the rest up to Him. God help us to see that He has a plan that He has sworn to be faithful to. Then let us be faithful to the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the author and the finisher of our faith.
How did God create the universe which includes the world that we live in? He had a plan from the very beginning. He didn't create birds to fly before He created a perfect atmosphere for them to fly in. He didn't create them with only one wing so they would fly around in circles. The oceans and rivers were created before the fish of the sea. Here again, they were created perfectly adapted to swim, live and breathe under water. Jer. 29:11 says-For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. He had a plan for the birds, He had a plan for the fishes and He has a plan for you. Notice the last part of that verse. His plans include giving us an expected end.
How many of you out there would just like to see the nasty n0w-nows that you are going through right now to just end already!!!! Me, too!!!!!
How did God's people get tangled up into being slaves in Egypt fo four hundred years? God "began" or "authored" that through a promise to Abraham in Genesis 15:3. Have you ever wondered just what was on God's mind when He said that much lest when He began to bring it about? The only answer I can give is, He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the author and finisher of our faith. God had a plan that far surpassed any of their imaginations. Did they have to live in a manner that they did not want to? Yes. Did they have to go through stuff that made it look like God had forsaken them? Yes. Then what was God doing? He was finishing their faith and culminating His promise to Abraham four hundred years earlier.
We have got to understand. God's promises include the beginning of something and the expected end. The expected end is whatever God has promised in His Word. It would do us good to read the great "Road map to Heaven" to find out what it really says. No where in the Bible does it say that God would leave us destroyed along life's highway like a piece of trash. His Word is full of "bringing them out" promises. Go find them.
Why did Moses have to run away from Egypt and go into the desert to live? Why did God appear to him in the burning bush and make him come back? Boy, I hope you're looking for great theological answers to those questions. I have many but not enough time to go into it. Let's just plainly say, "Jer 29:11." God had a plan all along that started with a promise to Abraham and ended with the children of Israel being delivered out of Egypt with a great victory. Yes, God's plan included slavery to a wicked nation. Yes, God's plan included much hardship. But it wasn't more than they could bear. Yes, from everyone's view point, it looked like God had forsaken them, but He hadn't. His plan was far greater than they could see at the time. Why Moses? Why not Aaron? The Alpha was proving they He was the Omega. Just like creation, when He spoke the word to Abraham, He had an Exodus plan in mind. Did He give Abraham all the details? No. Abraham did not need to know the details. Romans, Galatians and James all say that Abraham believed God and God counted that for righteousness. Abraham trusted that God had a better plan than he could imagine.
We all look at the situations that we face and say, "Just what was God thinking about?" Jer. 29:11 says, that he is thinking about doing us good and not evil. He is thinking about bringing us into a place of peace. His Word also says that there is great joy and abundance promised to us. His plans for us don't stop in Junk City, USA or The Nasty Now-Nows Valley. Just like the children of Israel in Egyptian bondage. All those four hundred years, God's intentions were to bring them out not leave them there. His plan was years ahead of them. He had every situation worked out. All they had to do was follow Him, love Him and obey Him and leave the rest up to Him. God help us to see that He has a plan that He has sworn to be faithful to. Then let us be faithful to the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the author and the finisher of our faith.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
This Is The Day
In 1 Samuel, chapter 17, we read about the day that David killed Goliath. Think about how David's day got started. Did he jump up out of bed and say to himself, 'Boy, I really, really, really, feel like killing a big ole giant today?' No, he didn't. His heart and mind was being obedient to his father's command. (There's a two hour sermon just in that.) His daddy had told him to take some corn and some bread to his three older brothers. They had enlisted in Saul's army which was busy fighting the Philistines. His daddy wanted David to find out how the battle was going and how his brothers were doing. Typical daddy stuff. David wasn't even thinking about being really rich, but today would be that day. David probably hadn't given much thought to whom he would marry. And a princess surely wasn't one he would have given a thought to. But, today would be that day.
What was King Saul thinking when he woke up that morning? Was he thinking, 'Boy, it would be really peachy-keen if some sweet little shepherd boy would come along out of nowhere and whip this big, bad ole giant that's been making fun of me and my girlie-men.' U-h-h-h, nope. He had listened to Goliath's challenge twice a day for 40 days for a champion from the army of Israel to come out to fight him man-to-man. Undoubtedly, he walked through his army, talking to his men to see who would take on this 9 foot warrior. He made promises to the toughest of them that he would give them riches, his daughter's hand in marriage and make his family free from taxes. I can just imagine, that he had a couple of guys picked out that would make some real good son-in-laws. But, there was no man that wanted to answer Goliath's challenge.
What was Goliath thinking during all of this? King Saul described him as "a man of war from his youth." This big guy had trained his whole life for this one big challenge----to make fun of Israel's army. His thoughts were probably of just how bad he was going to mutilate whoever it was that came against him. He had trained almost all of his life and he couldn't wait for this day to come.
Did I say trained? Oh, yeah, trained. We-e-e-l-l-l-l. Just how did David train for this day. David started his training the very day that he was anointed to be king over Israel. His daddy and his older brothers told him to go back out and tend to the family sheep farm, Mr. King over all Israel. Can't you just hear their jeers? He trained by being faithful in what his father told him to do. He went through long hours in the pasture lands tending the sheep. However, the anointing of the Holy Spirit began to communicate with David. Psalms of praise began to come to him as he began to enjoy keeping his mind on the God of all creation. Through keeping these sheep, God was training David to throw that small insignificant sling. As a sheep would begin to wander away from the rest, he would sling a stone on the other side of the sheep to scare him back into the safety of the herd. If his aim was short, it scared the sheep away from the herd and David would then have to chase him. I would say he learned real quick how to place his shots. Don't you just imagine that, every day, David got in some sling-shot practice as well as some worship practice as he was being faithful to his father's command? Even so, God has us practicing things that seem so small and of very little importance.
David had no idea how important that sling would be to him until that day came. David probably figured that he was just wasting his time out there with those smelly, aggravating sheep. However, God saw it as a proving time for his future. David's ability with a simple, little sling was the opening of the door to many things for him. That day God manifested His love and provision to the entire kingdom of Israel. That day God began manifesting His approval on the life of a lowly shepherd boy. That day changed, forever, the path of David, the son of Jesse. That day came because David chose to be faithful in the small jobs that were given to him. It was one of many "pay days" that God would bless David with.
But, what about Goliath? He had trained physically harder than David did and for a longer period of time. It was pay day for Goliath, too. He had chosen the course of the cursed. When you choose to sin, the only pay day you have to look forward to is death and destruction. There's a high energy bill that has to be paid for all of the "bright lights" that some work hard for. It's called the pits of hell. One day, the debt would be demanded in full. And this was that day.
But, what about King Saul? When that day came, was he extremely joyous that his kindom was now safe and the Philistines defeated? Not really. You see, King Saul had sinned against God by worshipping God the way he wanted to and not the way that God had said to. God had taken the anointing from him and had placed it on David. When David was ushered into Saul's tent, he began to tell the king of how God was with him when he slew the bear and the lion. Then he began to assure the king that God was the one that would help him slay Goliath. No doubt, as David was talking, Saul remembered the day when the prophet Samuel anointed him with oil and the spirit of prophecy came upon him. He knew he had lost out with God because God told him so. Now, on that day, he sees David under the same anointing that he once had. His heart began to weigh heavier and heavier under the foreboding thought that his successor was standing in front of him with the anointing and favor of God that he could have had. In a modern phrase, God was "in his face" about his sins and about his awful future. Pay day was coming for the back-slidden King Saul. That day was going to be stretched out into years of absolute agony for the man who missed God. Every day from then until he took his own life would be remorse, on top of remorse, on top of remorse.
What is today to you? Is it a day that you will choose to turn from God or not answer His call? Is this a day that you will choose to antagonize God or his servants? Or, is this a day that you will lift up your heart in praise to the Holy One and sing, "This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it." Stay faithful to Him in the little things. There is a day that God is working on right now that will begin your turn into healing and prosperity. Don't miss it by being unfaithful or falling away from God. Be faithful in the little things that He has asked you to do. You might destroy some giants one day.
What was King Saul thinking when he woke up that morning? Was he thinking, 'Boy, it would be really peachy-keen if some sweet little shepherd boy would come along out of nowhere and whip this big, bad ole giant that's been making fun of me and my girlie-men.' U-h-h-h, nope. He had listened to Goliath's challenge twice a day for 40 days for a champion from the army of Israel to come out to fight him man-to-man. Undoubtedly, he walked through his army, talking to his men to see who would take on this 9 foot warrior. He made promises to the toughest of them that he would give them riches, his daughter's hand in marriage and make his family free from taxes. I can just imagine, that he had a couple of guys picked out that would make some real good son-in-laws. But, there was no man that wanted to answer Goliath's challenge.
What was Goliath thinking during all of this? King Saul described him as "a man of war from his youth." This big guy had trained his whole life for this one big challenge----to make fun of Israel's army. His thoughts were probably of just how bad he was going to mutilate whoever it was that came against him. He had trained almost all of his life and he couldn't wait for this day to come.
Did I say trained? Oh, yeah, trained. We-e-e-l-l-l-l. Just how did David train for this day. David started his training the very day that he was anointed to be king over Israel. His daddy and his older brothers told him to go back out and tend to the family sheep farm, Mr. King over all Israel. Can't you just hear their jeers? He trained by being faithful in what his father told him to do. He went through long hours in the pasture lands tending the sheep. However, the anointing of the Holy Spirit began to communicate with David. Psalms of praise began to come to him as he began to enjoy keeping his mind on the God of all creation. Through keeping these sheep, God was training David to throw that small insignificant sling. As a sheep would begin to wander away from the rest, he would sling a stone on the other side of the sheep to scare him back into the safety of the herd. If his aim was short, it scared the sheep away from the herd and David would then have to chase him. I would say he learned real quick how to place his shots. Don't you just imagine that, every day, David got in some sling-shot practice as well as some worship practice as he was being faithful to his father's command? Even so, God has us practicing things that seem so small and of very little importance.
David had no idea how important that sling would be to him until that day came. David probably figured that he was just wasting his time out there with those smelly, aggravating sheep. However, God saw it as a proving time for his future. David's ability with a simple, little sling was the opening of the door to many things for him. That day God manifested His love and provision to the entire kingdom of Israel. That day God began manifesting His approval on the life of a lowly shepherd boy. That day changed, forever, the path of David, the son of Jesse. That day came because David chose to be faithful in the small jobs that were given to him. It was one of many "pay days" that God would bless David with.
But, what about Goliath? He had trained physically harder than David did and for a longer period of time. It was pay day for Goliath, too. He had chosen the course of the cursed. When you choose to sin, the only pay day you have to look forward to is death and destruction. There's a high energy bill that has to be paid for all of the "bright lights" that some work hard for. It's called the pits of hell. One day, the debt would be demanded in full. And this was that day.
But, what about King Saul? When that day came, was he extremely joyous that his kindom was now safe and the Philistines defeated? Not really. You see, King Saul had sinned against God by worshipping God the way he wanted to and not the way that God had said to. God had taken the anointing from him and had placed it on David. When David was ushered into Saul's tent, he began to tell the king of how God was with him when he slew the bear and the lion. Then he began to assure the king that God was the one that would help him slay Goliath. No doubt, as David was talking, Saul remembered the day when the prophet Samuel anointed him with oil and the spirit of prophecy came upon him. He knew he had lost out with God because God told him so. Now, on that day, he sees David under the same anointing that he once had. His heart began to weigh heavier and heavier under the foreboding thought that his successor was standing in front of him with the anointing and favor of God that he could have had. In a modern phrase, God was "in his face" about his sins and about his awful future. Pay day was coming for the back-slidden King Saul. That day was going to be stretched out into years of absolute agony for the man who missed God. Every day from then until he took his own life would be remorse, on top of remorse, on top of remorse.
What is today to you? Is it a day that you will choose to turn from God or not answer His call? Is this a day that you will choose to antagonize God or his servants? Or, is this a day that you will lift up your heart in praise to the Holy One and sing, "This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it." Stay faithful to Him in the little things. There is a day that God is working on right now that will begin your turn into healing and prosperity. Don't miss it by being unfaithful or falling away from God. Be faithful in the little things that He has asked you to do. You might destroy some giants one day.
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