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Weekly Devotional

” FORGETTING THE PAST AND GOING FORWARD ” Part 2

” FORGETTING THE PAST AND GOING FORWARD “

Part 2

(3) FUNCTIONING IN THE PRESENT!

Please notice v.13 again ….
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,

A) Paul said, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do,”
Notice that Paul did not say, “One thing I will do.”

He did not say, “One thing I’m going to do,”
Or “one thing I will get around to someday.”

He said, “One thing I do.”

B) Paul was living and acting in the present!

Many people today try to live in the future.

Do you know what the busiest day in the world is going to be?
It’s not Christmas … It’s not the day after Thanksgiving … It is “someday.”
Everyone in the world has something scheduled to do “someday.”
You hear people all the time saying, “Someday, I’m going to do this or that …”
The problem is that “someday” is not on any calendar.
I’m sure that we’ve all made plans for “someday,” but the fact is, “someday” will never come!

C) Paul is the ultimate example of living each day to the fullest … Living each day as if it were your last!

For example ….

When he was imprisoned in Rome, he did not sit there stewing, thinking about all the things he would do when he got out of jail.
He wrote letters to churches, sang praises to God, and even converted some of the people who had imprisoned him!

Paul used every day to the uttermost.

D) Benjamin Franklin once said, “Do you love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff that life is made of.”

It was Abraham Lincoln who first said, “The leading rule for a man of every calling is diligence; never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.”

That’s not what I think all the time!

E) Perhaps, the saddest example of procrastination is found in the life of the Roman Governor Felix, who listened to Paul “speak about faith in Christ Jesus.”

Acts 24:24-27

24 And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.” 26 Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him.

27 But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound. NKJV

But as he was discussing “righteousness, temperance and judgment to come,” Felix became frightened and said,

“Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient …”

F) Never again did Felix listen to God’s Word!

Once he had put it off for a time, as with so many things in life, that time never came.
We all ought to be more like the psalmist, who wrote in

Ps 119:57-64

57 You are my portion, O LORD; I have said that I would keep Your words.

58 I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; Be merciful to me according to Your word.

59 I thought about my ways, And turned my feet to Your testimonies.

60 I made haste, and did not delay To keep Your commandments.

61 The cords of the wicked have bound me, But I have not forgotten Your law.

62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, Because of Your righteous judgments.

63 I am a companion of all who fear You, And of those who keep Your precepts.

64 The earth, O LORD, is full of Your mercy; Teach me Your statutes. NKJV

The Room by Joshua Harris

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features save for the one wall covered with small index-card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endlessly in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read “Girls I Have Liked.” I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one.

And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn’t match.

A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching. A file named “Friends” was next to one marked “Friends I Have Betrayed.”

The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. “Books I Have Read,” “Lies I Have Told,” “Comfort I Have Given,” “Jokes I Have Laughed At.” Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: “Things I’ve Yelled at My Brothers.” Others I couldn’t laugh at: “Things I Have Done in My Anger,” “Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents.” I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped.

I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my 20 years to write each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.

When I pulled out the file marked “Songs I Have Listened To,” I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn’t found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of music, but more by the vast amount of time I knew that file represented.

When I came to a file marked “Lustful Thoughts,” I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded.

An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: “No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!” In an insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn’t matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it

Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh. And then I saw it. The title bore “People I Have Shared the Gospel With.” The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.

And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key.

But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him. No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus.

I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn’t bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one?

Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn’t anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn’t say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card.

“No!” I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was “No, no,” as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn’t be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood.

He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don’t think I’ll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side.

He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, “It is finished.”

I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.

By Joshua Harris. Originally published in New Attitude Magazine. Copyright New Attitude, 1995. You have permission to reprint this in any form. We only ask that you include the appropriate copyright byline and do not alter the content.

CLOSE

A) What if there were no church tomorrow because we were too busy to worship God today?

What if God could not hear your prayers tomorrow because you were too busy to pray today?
What if there were no Bible tomorrow because you would not read His Word today?
What if there were no forgiveness tomorrow because you did not stop sinning today?
What if there were no invitations tomorrow because you did not respond today?

B) As we embark on the journeys of this New Year, let us determine ahead of time that it will be a year of victory!

Let us choose our attitudes and follow the advice of the Apostle Paul.
Resolve to … Forget your Past: Look beyond the sins and failures of yesterday; learn from them, repent of them, and then move forward.

C) Focus on your Priorities: Place God at the top of your “to-do” list every day!

Worship Him … Study His Word … Put His Kingdom first in your life and everything else will fall into place!

D) Function in the Present: Stop living in the future!

Do not put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
Invitation: Would you bow your heads and close your eyes for a moment?

E) This morning, the absolute best way to start this year is to become a part of God’s eternal Kingdom!

Focus your priorities by making Jesus the Lord of your life … Allow the cleansing power of His blood to wash away your past sins, and start living your life for Christ everyday!

The Bible says in

2 Cor 6:1-2

We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says:

“In an acceptable time, I have heard you,

And in the day of salvation, I have helped you.”

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.  NKJV

The invitation is open to all!
If you are ready to begin your life anew today … Or if you are already a Christian, but need a fresh start … The Lord invites you to please come!

 

Categories
Weekly Devotional

” FORGETTING THE PAST AND GOING FORWARD ” Part 1

” FORGETTING THE PAST AND GOING FORWARD “

Part 1

Phil 3:12-16

Pressing Toward the Goal

12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.     NKJV

There is an old story about a happy little boy who went out into the field wearing a baseball cap … And in one hand he carried a baseball, and in the other his trusty bat!  His face had a look of tremendous confidence … Cocking his bat, he tossed the ball into the air, saying, “I’m the greatest batter in the world!”

Then he swung and missed.  “Strike one,” he said.  He picked up the ball, examined it, and then threw it into the air again.  As he swung, he repeated, “I’m the greatest batter in the world.”  Once again, he missed … “Strike two,” he said. * This time, he stopped to examine his bat to make sure there was not a hole in it.
Then he picked up the ball, adjusted his cap, and tossed the ball into the air for the third time. He repeated, “I’m the greatest batter in the world,” and swung with all his might, and missed for the third straight time.
Now most boys might be discouraged by that, but this boy said, “Wow! I am the greatest pitcher in the world!”

Today in this Lesson for 2025, and as we look back over the last 12 months, I am unsure whether most consider ourselves pitchers or batters!
One thing for sure is that we have all struck out occasionally.
So, I guess it’s good to be able to start fresh.

Kids are going back to school.
Young people will be headed back to college.
And most of us will soon recover from the holiday season and will be well into doing our jobs and the activities of the new year real soon.

As we anticipate the next 12 months, some people might eagerly look forward to what each day will bring!
Others might be filled with dread, worried that this year will be worse than the last.
Like the little boy with his baseball bat, I would suggest that our attitude will make all the difference in the coming year.
How we react to its event will largely determine whether it is a year of victory or a year of defeat.

The Apostle Paul was never one to let circumstances conquer him …….
Rather, with the help of God, he was determined to win the victor’s crown.
Paul’s personality, I believe, really comes through in these verses!
And, with these thoughts, Paul lays out some principles concerning our attitude that we can carry with us into the New Year!

The first of those principles is this …….

(1) FORGETTING YOUR PAST!

 

* At the end of v.13, Paul said, “… forgetting …”

13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,

A) Humans are very special beings, in that God has given us the ability to remember!

However, your memories can be you friend or your enemy.
Paul had a dreadful past and it could have easily haunted him for the rest of his life if he allowed it to!

He persecuted the church … He used his authority to kill Christians.
By his admission, he said, “I am the chief of sinners.”

B) He could have walked around all his life with this tremendous burden of guilt crippling him!

And he would have never become the great Apostle and missionary for God that he went on to be.
Many people dwell on their past failures, mistakes, and sins so much so, that they become spiritually paralyzed, unable to live productively for God.
Paul is telling us that we can turn our past sins and failures over to God and start moving “forward to what lies ahead.”

C) Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising every time we fall!

We have failed many times, although we may not remember.
We fell down the first time we tried to walk … We probably almost drowned the first time we tried to swim.

Babe Ruth struck out 1,330 times, but he also hit 714 home runs.

D) R. H. Macy failed seven times before his New York department store finally caught on!

We can’t allow ourselves to become obsessed with our failures.
We are all human … We make mistakes … We sin … We fail … But what is worse, is missing the opportunities that God puts in front of us because we are afraid to fail.

E) In a Nike advertisement some years ago, a voice came over the television saying;
“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career … I’ve lost almost 300 games.”
“Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed.”
“I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life … And that is why I succeed.”
Those words were spoken by Michael Jordan, by most standards the greatest basketball player who ever played the game!

F) God once told the prophet Jeremiah that He would, one day, establish a New Covenant with the children of Israel!

 

And when He did, He said …….

Jeremiah 31:34 No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”   NKJV


That covenant was established when Jesus Christ died on the cross.
Since that day, God’s forgiveness is so complete that it is forgetfulness.

G) If we have been washed in the blood of Christ, God has forgotten all of our failures and sins!

It is time that we forget them as well!
Let’s follow Paul’s example here, “… forgetting those things which are …….”
The first principle Paul teaches us for the New Year is Forgetting the Past, and the second is …….

(2) FOCUSING YOUR PRIORITIES!

In v.14 Paul says, “I press toward the mark for the …”
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

A) He introduced that statement in v.13 with “but this one thing I do.”

Obviously, Paul did more than one thing!

He made tents … He preached sermons.
He planted churches … He wrote books … Paul did a lot of things!
But what he is telling us is that his top priority in life was to “press toward the mark for …”

Paul is saying, “I run straight toward the goal to win the prize that God’s heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus.”

In other words, Paul’s number one priority was the Kingdom of Heaven!
He was running straight toward that goal, and he wasn’t gonna let anything distract him from it!

B) A while back an expert on the subject of time management was speaking to a group of business students!

After speaking to them for a while, he said, “Okay, it’s time for a quiz.”
He set a one-gallon, wide-mouthed Mason jar on the table in front of him.
Then he produced about a dozen tennis-ball-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, inside the jar.
When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, “Is this jar full?”

Everyone in the class said, “Yes.”

“Really?” he said.
Then he reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of small gravel.
He dumped some gravel into the jar and shook it, causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks.
Then he smiled and asked the group once more, “Is the jar full?”

By this time the class was starting to catch on … “Probably not,” one of them said.

“Good!” he replied. * Then he reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand.
He started dumping the sand in and it filled all the spaces between the rocks and the gravel.
Once more he asked, “Is this jar full?” * “No!” the class shouted. * Again, he said, “Good!”
Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim.
Then he looked back at the class and asked, “What is the point of this illustration?”

One eager student raised his hand and said, “The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try hard, you can always fit something more into it!”

“No,” the speaker replied, “that’s not the point … The truth this illustration teaches us is this: If you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all.”

C) What are the big rocks in your life?

As you look ahead over this year, what are your priorities?
Jesus said in Matt. 6:3334 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.  NKJV

Drawing closer to God through worship, spending time with Him in prayer, and seeking His
guidance for your life, by reading His Word … These should be the big rocks in your jar!

D) If you are considering resolutions for the New Year, let me make two suggestions:

(1) set aside time every day to read your Bible and pray, and

(2) determine to be more involved in God’s Kingdom.

By that I mean, attending the worship of the Church and participating in other fellowship and evangelistic activities!

E) It is a sad, but true fact, that many Christians do not make God’s Kingdom a priority in life!

There will be, generally, one third fewer Christians lifting their voices in praise at 6:00 pm than at 11:00 am.
Those who feel like they are doing their spiritual duty by going to church once a week, and punching their spiritual timecard, are not seeking “first His kingdom.”
If we intend to press on “toward the mark to win the prize that God’s heavenly call offers,” then we need to make God and His kingdom our top priority in life!

There is just one more principle that Paul offers us for the New Year, which is ……. Next week’s lesson.

 

Categories
Weekly Devotional

LORD WHAT WILT THOU HAVE ME TO DO Part 2

LORD WHAT WILT THOU HAVE ME TO DO Part 2
Is our question to God, “Lord, what would you have us to do?”

  1. The Question Acknowledges The Lordship Of Christ
    – “LORD” an address of respect
    – “LORD” to describe absolute ownership

    II. The Question Is An Expression Of a Surrendered Heart
    – By this question, Paul was giving voice to his inward repentance toward God
    – a decision was made to surrender himself
    – God was sovereign & supreme in every area of His life
    – Allegiance to Christ was Paul’s passion
    III. The Question Was The Beginning Of A New Career
    – Paul identified himself with a person and a cause
    • The person was Christ
    • The cause was the Kingdom of God
    • It was visible in the churches he established

    A. – Life is made up of relationships
    • relationships are created by choice
    • Have you found a person that you can identify with?
    B. – Life without a cause has no purpose no reason for existence
    • What’s your cause?
    • What is consuming your time your energy your money?

  2. The Question Opens The Door To What The Will Of God Is For Me
    – If we are willing to do God’s will than it is possible to know God’s will.
    HOW?
    1. It is revealed through the reading of the Word
    2. Discovery is made through prayer
    3. Worship brings our heart and God’s together
    4. Christian counsel by mature people leads us to discover God’s will
    5. Life circumstances and interest brings us to God’s purposes

 

Isn’t it amazing how people always remember the bad things you’ve done.

Peter’s Denial not His preaching at Pentecost
David’s sin with Bathsheba not him bringing the ark home.
Jonah running from God not his preaching in Nineveh,

Eve’s sin as opposed to her beginnings

The World remembers the bad things that we have done, Praise God, He forgive us.

Ps 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

What do we want to be remembered for?
What legacy do we want to leave behind? Not to take any credit, but to say how God has used us.

Don’t let your past stop you from serving God, we can all find an excuse to use from our past, “I was too bad…” “I was a drunk…” “I was a thief…”

Look at who God used,

Abraham was a liar, yet became the father of a great nation
Moses was a murderer, yet he led the children of Israel out of Egypt
David was a sinner, yet he shows us how to truly repent (Psalm 51)
Peter was a denier yet preaches an awesome message and sees 3000 saved.
Paul was a persecutor, yet wrote 13 books of the NT

Their past did not stop God from using these men; God used them in a mighty way.

Paul is a prime example. He goes from persecuting the church to preaching to the church. God would use him to take the Gospel to the Gentiles.

It doesn’t matter what we’ve done in our past – God has forgiven us – Through Christ – and He will use us.

Are you willing? – Are you willing to hear God’s call? Are you willing to put Him first?

Are you Teachable? – Do you think you know it all already?
Are you receptive? – Spend the time with Him, in study / prayer. Pray for God’s guidance. Often times God is speaking but no one is listening.

Are you yielded? – Are you willing to do His will no matter what the cost? If God calls you to do something, don’t delay – do it!

I told my brother Glenn about hunting place and fishing place of course I want to tell him about the LORD.

If you had the cure for cancer, would you share it with people? If you held that cure in your hand, would you let people know? We have in our hands the answer to eternal life – don’t keep it to yourself

CONCLUSION

Saul was instantly and eternally changed in the flash of light.

Where he was threatening, now he was trembling
Where he was in control, now he was under God’s control
Where he could see his future under his own control, now he was blind to the world around him and blind to the future that lay before him.

For three days Saul was blind – that gave him time to focus on the things that God wanted him to do. It gave him time to think about his life, to repent and learn to depend on God’s voice and leading in his life.
Sometimes God must lead us into a blind corner and take away our ability to do anything before we will stop long enough and listen close enough to hear His voice.

This man who had once persecuted Jesus became a great missionary, and his life has touched the life of every man since that day. He is remembered for his writings and his church planting and his missionary journeys.

What do you want to be remembered for?
What do you want out of you Christian life?
What legacy do you want to leave for your children?

Will we walk in our own power and understanding?
Will we fight battles in the flesh and try to use our own strength to change the world?

Or

Will we be changed by the light, hear God’s Voice and obey His call? Will we preach the gospel and let Jesus change the world? It’s up to us!

 

16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

 

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Weekly Devotional

LORD WHAT WILT THOU HAVE ME TO DO Part 1

LORD WHAT WILT THOU HAVE ME TO DO Part 1
– Paul in Acts 9
– A decision that made a division

DIVISION
In the Rockies is a stream called Divide Creek. At a point in its course, the creek divides around a large boulder. Waters that flow to the left of the boulder rush on into Kicking Horse River and finally into the Pacific Ocean. Waters that travel to the right go into the Bow River which courses into the Saskatchewan River, on into Lake Winnipeg, the Nelson River, Hudson Bay, and to the Atlantic Ocean Once the waters divide at the rock there is
no turning back.

Acts 9:1-16 (NKJV) 1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” 13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

 

Let us briefly look at Paul’s life

1) Very religious – blameless according to the Law of Moses, a Pharisee among Pharisees, very zealous for the faith of his fathers.
2) Rich Heritage – a Jew among Jews, born into the tribe of Benjamin
3) Well educated – Trained at the feet of Gamaliel, one of Israel’s greatest teachers of the day

GAMALIEL [guh MAY lih el] (God is my recompense) – the name of two men in the Bible:

A famous member of the Jewish SANHEDRIN and a teacher of the Law. Gamaliel, who had taught Paul (Acts 22:3), advised the Sanhedrin to treat the apostles of the young Christian church with moderation. Gamaliel’s argument was simple. If Jesus was a false prophet, as many others had been, the movement would soon fade into obscurity. If, however, the work was “of God,” he pointed out, “you cannot overthrow it” (Acts 5:39).

4) Ambitious – advancing quickly up the ranks of the Pharisees and had ability, desire, and talent far above his peers.
5) Full of bitterness and hatred – hated anything and anyone who could be a threat to the things that he believed, and those who would cause trouble for his people and those who opposed the teachings of the high priest and the Law of Moses. He hated those who preached and taught heresy against the Law that had led Israel for so many years.

I. He Saw the Light

Saul had set off on a mission, to stop the spread of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and arrest or kill its followers. God had other plans.

Suddenly – a blinding flash of light knocked him off his high horse.

GOD KNOWS HOW TO GET YOUR ATTENTION!

Saul encountered the Lord Jesus Christ on that Damascus Road and it changed his life forever.

I can certainly say amen to that, I know each Salvation experience is different, but the end result is the same, a changed life 2 Corinthians 5:17.

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

My life has certainly changed since I accepted Christ as my Savior, since His Light got my attention. … what is your Testimony

Is Christ the center of your life? Is there anything in our lives that take priorities over the Lord?

Once we accept Christ as our Savior we are: –
• To live a certain way – Romans 12:1-2
• Treat our wives a certain way – Eph 5:25
• Bring our children up a certain way – Proverbs 22:6
• Study God’s Word – 2 Timothy 2:15
• Pray – 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Keep your eyes on the Savior…

The snow covered the ground, and three young boys were playing in it. A man said to them, “Would you like to try to race, with the promise of a prize for the winner?”
The boys agreed, and the man told them that his race was to be different. “I will go to the other side of the field,” he said, “and when I give you the signal, you will start to run. The one whose footsteps are the straightest in the snow will be the winner.”
As the race commenced, the first boy began looking at his feet to see if his steps were straight. The second lad kept looking at his companions to see what they were doing, but the third boy just ran on with his eyes fixed on the man on the other side of the field.
The third boy was the winner, for his footsteps were straight in the snow. He had kept his eyes on the goal ahead of him.

We have seen the light; we have been changed by the light, keep your eyes on the “Light of the World”

 

II. He Heard a Voice

Saul had only ever heard one voice before; he had heard the voice of religion and of the world.

It frustrates me that people are happy the listen to the voice of the world today, they will believe a newspaper article or a history/science book, but not God’s Word!!!

Paul now hears a different voice – a voice with power and authority that shook him to the core of his soul.

This same voice had spoken the world into existence.
This same voice had called to Adam in the Garden
This same voice had spoken judgment upon Satan, the serpent, and all of creation as a result of sin.
This same voice had spoken to Moses on Mt. Sinai and given the Law
This same voice had spoken to Lazarus and raised him from the dead
This same voice had raised the Window’s son.
This same voice had caused the Soldiers to fall backward in the Garden of Gethsemane
This same voice had cried out, “It is finished” as He paid the price of redemption on the cross
This same voice cries out to us today – follow me, and I will make you fishers of men
This same voice speaks to each of you – this is My will for your life, now do it
This same voice will someday say to us “Well done my good and faithful servant”

When that voice came from Heaven, Saul knew this was no ordinary voice.

People say that God does not talk today. I beg to differ; He speaks to us through His Word. How can people expect to hear His voice if they do not read His Word? If they are not in Church listening to His Word?

God did not call me to preach when I was on the Golf course, on the lake, or in the woods hunting, but through the preaching of His Word, He spoke directly to my heart.

When God called me to preach, He showed me in His Word, He couldn’t have been any clearer. Romans 10:14
He will reveal His plan for you, His will for your life, what He would have you to do for Him.

Study His Word and hear His voice.

III. He Obeyed a Call

A converted cowboy put it very well when he said, “Lots of folks that would really like to do right think that serving the Lord only means shouting themselves hoarse praising His name. Now I’ll tell you how I look at that. I am working for my Boss here. Now if I would do nothing but sit around the house telling what a good fellow my Boss is and singing songs to him, I would not suit Him. But when I buckle on my straps and hustle among the hills and see that my Boss’s herd is all right, not suffering for water and feed, or being driven off the range and branded by cow thieves, then I am serving My Boss as he wants to be served.” Let that be our philosophy, too, when the temptation is to talk instead of serving the Lord.

Don’t misunderstand me; we should be in Church Praising God and shouting Halleluiahs.
Is our question to God, “Lord, what would you have us to do?”

Categories
Weekly Devotional

Children Go Where I Send You

 Children Go Where I Send You

There is an old Christian song by this title, and the question is “Will you go?”

“Go Where I Send Thee”
The Kingston Trio Lyrics

Children, go where I send thee. How shall I send thee?
Well, I’m gonna send you one by one, one for the little bitty Baby
Was born, born, born in Bethlehem
Children, go where I send thee. How shall I send thee?
Well, I’m gonna send you two by two, two for Paul and Silas
One for the little bitty Baby was born, born, born in Bethlehem
Children, go where I send thee. How shall I send thee?
Well, now, I’m gonna send you three by three, three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas, one for the little bitty Baby was born, born, born in Bethlehem
Children, go where I send thee. How shall I send thee?
Well, I’m gonna send you six by six, well, six for the six that never got fixed
Five for the gospel preachers, four for the four that stood at the door, three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas, one for the little bitty Baby was born, born, born in Bethlehem
Children, go where I send thee. How shall I send thee?
Well, I’m gonna send you eight by eight, eight for the eight that stood at the gate
Seven for the seven that never got to heaven and six for the six that never got fixed
Five for the gospel preachers, four for the four that stood at the door, three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas, one for the little bitty Baby was born, born, born in Bethlehem
Children, go where I send thee. How shall I send thee?
Well, now, I’m gonna send you ten by ten, ten for the ten commandments
Nine for the nine all dressed so fine, eight for the eight that stood at the gate
Seven for the seven who never got to heaven and six for the six that never got fixed
Five for the gospel preachers, four for the four that stood at the door, three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas, one for the little bitty Baby was born, born, born in Bethlehem, He was born, born, born in Bethlehem

 

The Great Commission

Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV)
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Well, will you? Will you go? There was a saying that said “If not you, then who, and if not now, then when?” so if you are reading this, you are the one that God is saying to GO! I cannot find anywhere in the proper content that the Word of God says to go to Church, as far as that goes, there was not a Church as we know it at the time anyway. The Church as we know it did not start for a little over 300 years after Christ walked the earth. (So, now some have stopped reading and are going after ammo to counter what I just wrote instead of reading on and hearing me out) but it does say to go INTO THE WORLD (all the nations). What I want you to see is we all have a different world that we need to go into. The point is to get to the ones in need.

I am big-time pro CHURCH; We need the Church as a place to Worship and Praise a living, Savior collectively. We need the Church to educate and comfort other believers. We need the Church to do its job and to take care of the people in their communities. We need the Church for a haven, to get out of the world, and to regroup with fellow believers. We need the Church to help the orphans and the widows. We need the Church to reach a lost and dying world that is hell bound. And here you go, we need to do all the above regularly. SO DON’T SAY I AM ANTI CHURCH.

But because we sit up in our pulpits looking down on those who are not like us—they do not sing like us, they do not read the same translation as we do, they do not dress like us, they do not look like us, they are not the same race as us—then we judge them and wonder why no one wants to come to “my church.” I can tell you why, and I think I did just a little.

I love what I heard Jase Robertson say in their podcast “Unashamed” just recently. He said something along the lines of “people worship the book more than they Worship the Author.”

I think that it can also be applied to the Church building rather than the architect of the Church or Assembly. To the preacher rather than the one he should be proclaiming. The singers rather than the songs glorifying Christ. The outside of a person rather than the heart of the individual. It can go on and on.

But we need to GO into the world. (All the nations).

Mark 16:15 (HCSB)
15 Then He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.

For some, their world is to go into is their work, whether it is an office, a factory, an assembly line, on a sales floor, or even working outdoors, cutting pulp wood, pouring concrete, or building a house, being a doctor or nurse, EMT wherever you are, that is your world. For some their world to go into is a school, either as a teacher, student, or in the administration, all the way to the people cleaning, that school, college, or university, this is your world. For some that are retired, you have a great big world of stores and parks to go into, your children, grandchildren, or even great-grandchildren. When any one of us goes into a restaurant or store that is a great world to go into and “preach the gospel”.

But I am not a preacher you may say, the word preach in Greek is Kēryssō and its definition is; to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth (the gospel), and the English Words used in KJV: is preach 51 publish 5 proclaim 2 preached 2 preacher 1 [Total Count: 61times in the KJV Bible] from the Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.

So, you and every believer are to proclaim or tell the gospel so what is the gospel? It is to (euaggelizo); a good message, or (aggelos); to announce good news (“evangelize”) declare, bring (declare, show) glad (good) tidings, is to preach (the gospel). From Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.

 

That makes the verse say we are to herald as a public crier, especially the divine truth of the word of God. That is a good message, and to announce good news by declaring, to bring and show glad or good tidings, that is to preach the gospel. So, you need to tell what God has done and according to the word of God what He is going to do, that, is Preaching the Gospel.

I have a redneck Yankee friend, and he does something that I have tried to incorporate into my life. He will ask for a blessing (Prayer) over every meal when he is out eating. As we should, but he always asks the servers if they have a prayer request. He has Preached or proclaimed the Gospel or the good news of Jesus with several people, those who served him and the people around his table. He has brought several people to Christ just by showing compassion.

If there is a person to preach to then there is your opportunity to “GO” and share the Gospel. I do not mean in any way for you to go get in their face and yell “You’re going to hell” which is probably true but no one wants to hear that or would respond well to that. What you must do is live it in front of them in such a way as to let your life preach the Word.

I once had a company and worked with quite a few different people, I had one man that was only there for a few months. I thought because I was a preacher and he knew it, if there was a spiritual example in the room it would be me. Boy was I wrong, do not get me wrong I showed kindness and respect, I spoke of Christ and tried to share the Gospel as much as possible. I would tell of a great sermon I heard just for a chance to preach. But it was not working.

We found out that one man working with us was really down on his luck, and words were not helping him much then. It reminded me of a story in the Bible about loving our neighbor, we call it the story of the good Samaritan, Jesus was asked how to have eternal life. His answer is recorded in the book of Luke:

Luke 10:25-37 (NKJV)
25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”
27 So he answered and said, “’You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ “
28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”
29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.
34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’
36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”
37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

The question is not what kind of a neighbor I have, but what kind of neighbor my neighbor has, namely YOU! Jesus said, “Go and do likewise.”

My business partner who is a Christian found out and informed me that our worker and now great friend didn’t even have enough money for food. So, for lunch, I would hear a song on the radio that I knew and was pretty sure he knew the title too. I would say name that tune and I will buy lunch, and boom! Just like that, he would call out the title and we were off to lunch. He chalked it up to my bad luck and his knowledge of pop songs. I was trying to help the needy and let them keep their dignity. He was slowly seeing compassion in us. I love what I heard a preacher say once “Compassion is man’s way of showing God’s Grace.” Grace is what he was getting.

My business partner would have his wife make a little extra food when preparing their dinner, and he would take what was left to him and say “We had too much left over would you like it? Again, compassion with dignity. Our new worker and now friend saw God’s hand in supplying his needs,

Matthew 10:29-31 (NKJV)
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Our friend later told me that he heard about Christians and how they were supposed to act but this was the first time that he actually saw it.  He ended up rededicating his life to Christ and is as of the time of this writing serving in a Church playing his guitar in their youth church.

 

As Major Ian Thomas said in one of his great sermons. If we do as instructed, then we are PUT.

1 Timothy 1:12-13 (NKJV)
12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

Major Ian Thomas then said if you are Sent, and if you Went, then you are Put. If you could ask Jesus Christ while he was on the cross why He was there He would simply say He was PUT. Put? “Yes, I was Sent and I went.

 

John 20:19-21 (NKJV)
19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
So, Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

Are you waiting for a call? Well, there it is, I was Sent and I went. “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

And now the question is “Will you go?”

Categories
Weekly Devotional

The Gift from GOD to You

The Gift from GOD to You,

The Christmas Present, if you will.

I love to see people happy; I like to crack jokes and see if I can bring a smile to someone. (Like I said it runs in the family my Uncle Dee and my Dad was like that too, even with Alzheimer’s he tried to play with people everywhere he went and to make them laugh.)

I also love to give things to people; I guess that why I love to preach so much, what better one can give to someone than Jesus’ message of salvation.

With that said I have learned the past few years that I am not a good receiver.

I truly would rather give than get.

Moreover, I do not know if I feel that I do not deserve the gifts as much as others, and they may need it and I should pass it on to them.

When we come to the Christmas season, I see a lot of Christian post on Facebook, and other outlets saying “Jesus is the reason for the Season”. I don’t want to take away from them pointing to Jesus rather than shopping, buying, wrapping, giving, and cooking, and eating, and all the lights, and trees, and the tinsel and bows.

But I believe if we ask God the Father, what’s the reason for the season?

He might just say, “YOU”.

Allow me to take a little freedom with a few verses that we know and love so well and change a few words, so we can see it a little better.

John 3:16 For God so loved YOU that He gave His only begotten Son, that if YOU believe in Him YOU would not perish but have everlasting life.  17 For God did not send His Son to YOU to condemn YOU, but that YOU through Him might be saved.

Or to put it directly to you, read it this way.

For God so loved me that He gave His only begotten Son to me, that if I believe in Him, I would not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son to me to condemn me, but that I through Him might be saved.

Are you getting the reason for the season? Is it YOU?

Isaiah said it this way without me changing a word.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; NKJV

Are you getting this? “Unto us” all of us!

Me, you, that dirty stinking sinner that you don’t want anything to do with, the cheat, the liar, the thief, the adulterer, the homosexual, the bigot, we need to see that “Unto us” covers all of them too.

Luke 2:11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  NKJV

Again, I didn’t have to change a word.

We have to get better at receiving but also sharing the story of His Son our Lord Jesus.

Yes, Jesus is the reason for the season, but look at the reason he came, so

He, some 33 1/2 years later on Calvary’s cross could say:

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

And Paul said:

Christ in Our Place

Romans 5:6-11 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 1 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.  And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.  NKJV

 

The reason for the season was for you and me. Let’s not miss the cost of the gift that God gave some 2000 years ago.

He did it all for His Love for You.

I pray you receive His Present to you.

The Gift that had Worth, Jesus gave it all.

Therefore, who did He do it all for?

You that is who!

Categories
Weekly Devotional

The Gift That Keeps Giving

 

The Gift That Keeps Giving

This is chapter number 11 of my book, “Something to Ponder”: The Book can be ordered off this website. 

Years ago, I was fishing in Pine Valley Lake with my Uncle J D Swann. Everyone called him “Uncle Dee”, whether related to him or not.

Whenever Uncle Dee would show up, he always had something with him, doughnuts, fruit, cookies or candy.

More than the things he brought was that he brought his sense of humor. (I think it runs in the family) He always had a joke or two. And they were always clean, sometimes a little corny, but always funny.

He was the kind of person (when he was in a good mood) that you just loved being around. A very smart man and Inventor, very kind to kids and I even saw the day that he let my sister put curlers in his hair, just because she asked if she could.

As we were fishing that day, he was catching fish after fish, and I was not. He would reel in one after another as I was reeling in moss. Cast after cast I am bringing in nothing. After about an hour of this, I had enough.

I said, “Uncle Dee, what are you fishing with over there?”

He spoke. “This little Rapala lure.”

I asked, “You got another one of them?”

He didn’t say anything, so I thought he didn’t hear me. How could he not hear me in this old 14-foot boat? Or maybe he didn’t want to share.

He then reeled his line in and cut off the lure and threw it to me. I asked if he had another one, and he told me no, not with him, but he had other lures he could fish with and knew that I didn’t, so he tied a different lure on and went back to fishing.

I tied the Rapala on my line and started catching some fish.

He still was catching more than me, but at least I was catching some now.

At the end of the day fishing with Uncle Dee, I reeled in my line and cut his lure off and tried to give it back, and he said it was mine and I could have it.

It was a gift.

I then asked him if he didn’t want it any longer?

He said yes, he wanted it, but that’s what made it a gift.

He said if he didn’t want it, he would have thrown it away, but it had worth and value to him, so it was worthy of being called a gift.

From then on, I have tried to live by that rule when giving or even buying gifts.

If it doesn’t have worth to me, why would I think it would be something someone else would want it.

If it’s not something I would want to keep, then again, why would anyone want it. It has to cost me something for it to be a gift and not just trash.

The Bible says over 170 times to Receive but it says over 860 times to Give.

That’s 5 times more.

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”  NKJV

If you give a certain amount of money, that amount and more will be coming back to you? No.

You give to help the expenses of the Ministry or Church. Look at the return — Preachers get paid, the church bills get paid, Missionaries are sent to share the Gospel. Churches can do more to help reach others.

As a return, souls will be saved, lives will be changed and great is your reward.

Luke 21:1And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, 2 and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites.  3 So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; 4 for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”  NKJV

Understand this, if you give to get you got. But if you give because of Love you get. Get it?

Matthew 6:19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. NKJV

Remember “You can’t take it with you when you go, but you can send it on ahead.”

“You can give without love, but you can’t love, without giving.”

John 3:16 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. KJV

He Gave and you Got. Ponder on the cost of that Gift.

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. NKJV

The gift my Uncle Dee gave me that day has brought me hours of enjoyment.

It gives me memories of a better time and carefree days.

It gave me a life lesson that I can pass on to you today.

That was some 45 years ago.

I still have that little Rapala lure, I don’t fish with because I am afraid, I could lose it.

It has more value than just being a lure, it was a gift from my Uncle Dee.

I told this story when I preached his funeral in March 2008, and I held up the lure.

It was a gift.

It was something of worth to him.

When thinking about supporting a ministry or giving to your church, helping a missionary, or the youth ministry (and I am talking above your tithes) You may say, “Well, that is going to cost me something.”

Yep, that right, that’s what makes it a gift.

That brings us to the next weeks chapter number 12 of my book, “Something to Ponder”: The Book can be ordered off this website. 

Categories
Weekly Devotional

GIVE THANKS Part 2

GIVE THANKS

Part 2

F. F. Bruce – Ingratitude is one of the features of pagan depravity in Romans 1:21.

Romans 1:21 (HCSB) 21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened.

the children of God are expected (and enabled by the Spirit) to “abound in thanksgiving” (Col 2:7; Col 3:15, 17, 4:2; Eph 5:4,20)

Colossians 2:7 (HCSB) 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, overflowing with gratitude.

Colossians 3:15 (HCSB) 15 And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful.

Colossians 3:17 (HCSB) 17 And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Colossians 4:2 (HCSB) 2 Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving.

Ephesians 5:4 (HCSB) 4 Coarse and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks.

Ephesians 5:20 (HCSB) 20 giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

 

C. Ryle – Thankfulness is a flower which will never bloom well excepting upon a root of deep humility.

 

Hiebert – When we realize that God works all things out for good to those who love Him and are yielded to His will (Ro 8:28, Ge 50:20),

Romans 8:28 (HCSB) 28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.

Genesis 50:20 (HCSB) 20 You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people.

Thanksgiving under all circumstances becomes a glorious possibility “He who can say `AMEN’ to the will of God in his heart will be able to say ‘HALLELUJAH’ also.”‘

Consider what the Lord has done

For you and those you love;

Then give Him thanks with hearts of praise

For blessings from above. –Sper

God grant us the Spirit wrought grace to emulate Matthew Henry’s high standard who wrote in his diary the day he was mugged “Let me be thankful first because I was never robbed before; second, although they took my purse, they did not take my life; third, because although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed.” Beloved, one of the best marks of spiritual maturity is the ability to give thanks when it is difficult!

 

K. Chesterton was once asked what was the greatest lesson, he had ever learned to which he replied “The greatest lesson I have learned is to take things with GRATITUDE and not take them for GRANTED.” Chesterton added that “You say grace before meals. All right But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, walking, playing, and grace before I dip the pen in the ink.” Thanksgiving is faith in action.

 

Thanksgiving to God comes (super) naturally when we count our blessings. We would much less apt to protest the command to give thanks in EVERYTHING if it were our habit to give thanks in ANYTHING. Empowered by the Spirit, we need to focus on our “haves,” not our “have-nots.” As the psalmist says “Bless (praise) the LORD, O my soul, and FORGET NONE of His benefits; ” (Psalm 103:2). Indeed, praise to God comes naturally when we count our blessings.

 

M B Babcock encourages us “Be on the lookout for mercies. The more we look for them, the more of them we will see. Blessings brighten when we count them. Out of the determination of the heart, the eyes see. If you want to be gloomy, there’s gloom enough to keep you glum; if you want to be happy, there’s gleam enough to keep you glad. Better to lose count while naming your blessings than to lose your blessings by counting your troubles.”

 

David Cooper writes that “Thanksgiving delivers us from a victim mentality and gives us a victor’s mentality. I once read that nothing can help the person with the wrong mental attitude, and nothing can stop a person with the right mental attitude. And the right mental attitude to overcome our obstacles and win our battles is thanksgiving.”

 

Missionary Benjamin Weir was held hostage in Lebanon and imprisoned under miserable conditions for 16 months. In his first interview after his release, he was asked how he spent his time and how he dealt with boredom and despair. His answer stunned the reporters. He simply said, “Counting my blessings.” “Blessings?” they responded. “Yes,” he explained. “Some days I got to take a shower. Sometimes there were some vegetables in my food. And I could always be thankful for the love of my family.”

 

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,

And you will be singing as the days go by. —Oatman

 

Thankfulness seems to be a lost art today. A ministerial student in Evanston, Illinois was part of a life-saving squad. In 1860, when a ship went aground on the shore of Lake Michigan. Edward Spencer waded again and again into the frigid waters to rescue 17 passengers. In the process and his health was permanently damaged. Some years later at his funeral, it was noted that not one of the people he rescued ever thanked him.

 

“In Everything Give Thanks!”

Mid sunshine, cloud, or stormy days,

When hope abounds or care dismays,

When trials press and toils increase

Let not thy faith in God decrease—

‘In everything give thanks.’

“All things we know shall work for good,

Nor would we change them if we could;

‘Tis well if only He command;

His promises will ever stand—

‘In everything give thanks.’

“He satisfies the longing heart,

He thwarts the tempter’s cruel dart,

With goodness fills the hungry soul,

And helps us sing when billows roll.

‘In everything give thanks.'” –Author Unknown

 

As David a man after God’s heart (Acts 13:22) said “I will GIVE THANKS to the LORD according to His righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High… I will GIVE THANKS to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Thy wonders… Therefore I will GIVE THANKS to Thee among the nations, O LORD, And I will sing praises to Thy name… The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall THANK Him… Sing praise to the LORD, you His godly ones, And GIVE THANKS to His holy name… I will GIVE THANKS to Thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And will glorify Thy name forever… With my mouth I will GIVE THANKS abundantly to the LORD; And in the midst of many I will praise Him… I will GIVE THANKS to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Thy works, And my soul knows it very well.” (Ps 7:17, 9:1. 18:49, 28:7, 30:4, 86:12, 109:30, 139:14)

Psalm 7:17 (HCSB) 17 I will thank the LORD for His righteousness; I will sing about the name of Yahweh the Most High.

Psalm 9:1 (HCSB) 1 I will thank Yahweh with all my heart; I will declare all Your wonderful works.

Psalm 18:49 (HCSB) 49 Therefore I will praise You, Yahweh, among the nations; I will sing about Your name.

Psalm 28:7 (HCSB) 7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart rejoices, and I praise Him with my song.

Psalm 30:4 (HCSB) 4 Sing to Yahweh, you His faithful ones, and praise His holy name.

Psalm 86:12 (HCSB) 12 I will praise You with all my heart, Lord my God, and will honor Your name forever.

Psalm 109:30 (HCSB) 30 I will fervently thank the LORD with my mouth; I will praise Him in the presence of many.

Psalm 139:14 (HCSB) 14 I will praise You because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and I know ⌊this⌋ very well.

Hebrews 6:12 (HCSB) 12 so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.

Father grant by Your Spirit through Christ Jesus that we might be enabled to be “imitators of those (like David who continually gave thanks to You and) who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Heb 6:12) Amen

We don’t need more to be thankful for, we need to be more thankful.

 

Categories
Weekly Devotional

GIVE THANKS Part 1

GIVE THANKS

Part 1

If you pause to THINK, you will have cause to THANK.

 

A woman had a parrot who always complained about everything. It was Thanksgiving Eve, and she was preparing the Thanksgiving meal. The parrot complained about everything as she worked. Finally, she had heard enough. She took him out of his cage and opened the refrigerator to put him in to punish him, “You’ll stay in the refrigerator until you cool off and get control on your tongue,” she said as she put him and closed the door. The parrot was stunned. Shivering, he caught a glimpse of the Thanksgiving turkey, skinned, legs pointing upward from the pan. The parrot said to the turkey, “Good heavens, man! What did you say?”

 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (HCSB) 18 Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

IN EVERYTHING – The Greek word for “everything” is “pas” which means no exceptions. There is a silver lining to every cloud. God is with us whatever befalls us (Heb 13:5). It is God’s will that we find joy in prayer in Christ Jesus in every condition of life.

 

As Ruth Bell Graham well said, “We can’t always give thanks FOR everything, but we can always give thanks IN everything.”

 

Job is a prime OT illustration of the supernatural response of thanksgiving even in the face of overwhelming troubles (If you are experiencing trials and afflictions [and most of us are!] read Job 1:13-20). IN the midst of his manifold afflictions, Job declared, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21) And in the end “I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees Thee… And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning,” (Job 42:5, 12) “Behold, we count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.”

James 5:11 (HCSB) 11 See, we count as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job’s endurance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

Gratitude is always a God-honoring attitude.

For all the heartaches and the tears,

For gloomy days and fruitless years

I do give thanks, for now I know

These were the things that helped me grow! —Crandlemire

 

Ephesians 5:20 (HCSB) 20 giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

“ALWAYS (all times) giving thanks for ALL THINGS in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.” How is this possible? Certainly, it is not possible in my NATURAL inclination! But it is possible by God’s SUPERNATURAL provision. In other words, what is IM-possible, is HIM-possible! Paul had just commanded us to continually “BE FILLED with the Spirit.” (Eph 5:18). What “fills you” will “control you” and in this case He enables us to accomplish supernaturally what we cannot accomplish naturally.

 

As John Piper asks, “How can we not be thankful when we owe everything to God?”

 

Indeed, he who thanks God for His mercies shall never want a mercy for which to thank, for “Every stream should lead us to the fountain.” (M. Henry)

 

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

— J Oatman

 

Ray Pritchard writes that “The foundation of gratitude is the expectation of nothing. If one expects nothing, then anything is bonus. If one expects more than he receives, then he is disappointed. We are so prone to complain because roses have thorns than to give thanks because thorns have roses! “In everything give thanks.” How do we do this in a practical sense?

First, thank him for your blessings.

Second, thank him for how he has helped you in your trials.

Third, thank him for his presence every day.

Fourth, thank him for his promises for the future.

As a Christian, our whole life is to be one great, “Thank you, Lord.” This is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us.””

 

We should be ready to give the Lord thanks

For blessing as well as for test.

Hearts that are thankful is all that He asks.

Let’s trust Him to give what is best. —Bierema

 

Colossians 3:17 (HCSB) 17 And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Paul exhorts us “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, GIVING THANKS (present tense = continually, as our habitual practice) through Him (Christ Jesus) to God the Father.”

How is it possible to live a life of continual thanksgiving? As Jerry Bridges says we must “first renounce all confidence in our own power and then rely entirely on the power of the Holy Spirit. We must be ENABLED, not merely HELPED. What’s the difference? The word HELP implies we have some ability but not enough; we need someone else to supplement our partially adequate ability. By contrast, ENABLEMENT implies that we have no ability whatsoever. We’re entirely powerless. We can do nothing.

John 15:5 (HCSB) 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me.

But when by faith we renounce self-sufficiency and embrace reliance on the power of the Holy Spirit, we receive divine empowerment, enablement, and strength for personal transformation and ministry.” In short, the Holy Spirit enables us to continually manifest an attitude of gratitude.

Andrew Murray – A joyful, thankful life is what God has destined for us, is what He will work in us — what He desires, that He certainly does in those who do not withstand Him but receive and suffer His will to work in them.

 

Notice that in 1Thes 5:16

1 Thessalonians 5:16 (HCSB) 16 Rejoice always!
18  Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (HCSB) 18 Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

(Rejoice always) and 1Thes 5:18 we see the combination of joy and giving thanks which Paul also links in Colossians 1:11-12 in the phrase “Joyously giving thanks to the Father.”

Colossians 1:11-14 (HCSB) 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light.

WHY? Because.
13 He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves. 14 We have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, in Him.

Paul’s association of thanksgiving (eucharisteo) and joy (chara) is not surprising as both words are related to the same Greek root (charis) which is our word “grace.” Indeed, grace is the foundation for saints enabled by the Spirit to “joyously give thanks” when the circumstances are not very joy filled! And remember the lost world is watching. Will I respond naturally or supernaturally. The former draws attention to me, but the latter brings glory to the Father (Mt 5:16)!

Matthew 5:16 (HCSB) 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

The secret to abounding joy is a Spirit wrought, grace-based gratitude attitude. Remember, when you can’t change the wind, allow the Spirit to enable you to adjust your sails!

 

Warren Wiersbe – An attitude of gratitude is a wonderful weapon against unbelief, disobedience, a hard heart, and a bitter spirit. Instead of complaining about what we don’t have, let’s be thankful for what we do have, because God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him… We can’t control the circumstances of life, but we can control how we respond to them. That’s what faith is all about, daring to believe that God is working everything for our good even when we don’t feel like it or see it happening. “In everything give thanks” isn’t always easy to obey, but obeying this command is the best antidote against a bitter and critical spirit. The Scottish preacher George H. Morrison said, “Nine-tenths of our unhappiness is selfishness, and is an insult cast in the face of God.”

Thanksgiving is the vibration of the soul’s heartstrings under the soft touch of God’s benevolence.

 

God’s GIVING deserves our THANKSGIVING.

 

Categories
Weekly Devotional

Sitting at the Table

Sitting at the Table

I grew up in a family of hunters and fishermen, (and fisherwomen my sister and Mother really love fishing too) and when uncles and cousins would drop by, we would sit at the table with my Dad. My Mother would usually prepare a meal or at least a snack and some coffee, and then the stories would start.

My Dad told the best stories, and he really had a way of telling them. You would feel as if you could almost step into the adventure as it unfolded. There was always a lot of laughing, and at times, the others involved in the story would jump right in and add some more parts of the story. Some sounded unbelievable, and when it looked like we were not buying the story you would hear, “isn’t that right Jimmy, or Charles, or Dee, or Glenn” or whoever was part of the adventure. They all had a chance at telling their stories too. And again, when they needed affirmation you would hear “Isn’t that right, whoever?” usually they would turn to my Dad to confirm the story. Sometimes he would say “it didn’t happen that way,” just to get a rise, but then he would agree and say “that’s just how it happened.”

Over the years a lot of the stories about how many fish were caught, or how big that deer was, were told over and over. They never grew old and as the years went on more and newer stories were added on, and one of the greatest days for me was when my Dad was telling one of his adventures, and he said “Isn’t that right Dink?” (I am Dink) Now I’m part of the story; not just a listener, but someone in the story.

Over time as I grew older more and more stories including me were added. My Dad would say, “Me and Dink were at Flying S, or Pine Valley, or Big Canoe fishing,” and the story would start; I started hunting, more stories with me in them were told, like, “we were at the hunting camp, or over at the “he did church””. (that’s what we call one of our hunting spots and that’s another story for another day) See the more time I spent with my Dad, the more stories we had to tell.

I was taught not to just go kill something to be killing it, I was taught to hunt for what you would eat, I hunted for 23 years before dropping my first (and only) deer. The main reason I hunted was to spend time with my Dad, and brothers, nephews and friends. I just love getting away and some of my best prayer times are and were in the “deer woods” hunting. Some of the best bible discussions and witnessing to friends and family is on the lake or in a boat. They have to listen in the boat they have nowhere to go.

My Dad taught me that every hunt and every fishing outing can be an adventure, and a possible story; it’s up to us.

While we sat at the table with my Dad, and others, we would get comfortable and know this is going to be a good night of adventures with people we that love.

On July 4th, 1990, I took the pulpit for the very first time. I brought my very first sermon. The title of that sermon was “Sitting at the table with Jesus.”

In the course of the weeks prior to that Wednesday Night, I received all kinds of advice, some solicited, some not so much; For instance a preacher friend named Tiny called and gave me some verses to read and then ask “if I had butterflies in my stomach,” my reply was “yes, very much so,” and he added “don’t worry they will turn to alligators before it was over.”

Another piece of advice was from one of my greatest friends Margie Sprayberry. She said “when you run out of soap, get out of the tub”. In other words when you’ve said what needs to be said, shut up and sit down.

That should tell you a lot about my support system at that time.

My sermon was based on the text in John12 after Lazarus was raised from the dead. Lazarus had a chance to just sit down with Jesus and tell him about his adventure.

I thought that was very cool, sitting with the very creator of the universe. Having a meal with the Gentle Shepherd, and listening to His stories.

John 12:1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him.  NKJV

In another translation it is rendered “reclining at the table with Him.”

John 12:2 So they made Him a supper there, and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. NASU

Now that is when it really got me thinking, reclining with Him, Wow just sitting back and taking it easy with Jesus. Being that comfortable around Jesus that you would just lay back, and take in what is being said. Listening to His adventures and telling of the things to come.

They may have heard of the meal that Martha worked so hard on and Mary just sat and listened to the stories as in Luke;

Luke 10:38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, tell her to help me.”

41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.  42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”  NKJV

Or how Peter got out of the boat, or the feeding of thousands with a kid’s sack lunch, I am sure there were stories after stories.

We don’t meet Lazarus until John 11. And as that story goes, he gets sick, and the sisters send for their friend and healer Jesus. Now four days later Jesus shows up and well just read it for yourself.

John 11:17 So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. NKJV

We look at our guy Lazarus, God didn’t let him know when he was laying there dying that everything would turnout okay. Or that it was, so he could be in one of the greatest stories in the bible. God didn’t let him know what kind of witness he was going to become because of what happened to him. He and his sisters just had to trust Jesus, even to them being four days late, that He (Jesus) knew just what had to happen. But look what did happen.

John 11:40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”  41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.  42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.”  43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”

I heard a preacher say one time He had to call Lazarus by name or that whole grave yard would have emptied out.

44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”  NKJV

“Loose him and let him go.”  Now that is one great ending.

While sitting at the table with Jesus in John 12 we meet Mary the Worshiper and Martha the Worker. But now Jesus adds Lazarus name to his list of stories, and Lazarus is now in the story, as I was with my Dad.

Not only does Lazarus get to hear Jesus tell his story, he gets to put some personal input in the story as well, and people come to hear Lazarus’ take on the story and how Jesus raised him from the dead.

John 12:9 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. NKJV

So, we see the Worshiper and the Worker but now we meet the Witness.

I believe that God wants the same for us, and it’s up to us, if we sit at the table with Him.

In Revelation Jesus said to the church, us Christians.

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.  21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”  NKJV

The more time you spend with The Heavenly Father the more stories you will have to tell as well. And that is our responsibility, to share the Gospel with the world.

Are you telling the friends and family the stories of what Christ has done for you? Even in the hard times that we go through, share how God brought you through them. There is a reason for them so you also can have a story to share.

The very purpose of the book “Something to Ponder.” is to share a few of the stories I have. This is Chapter One of the book.

So, if you will, pull up a chair and sit with me as we,

 Ponder over what God has to say.

As “We sit at the table with Jesus”.