Making the Most of Your Walk With God

Part 1

by

Making the Most of the Time We Have.

Time is precious. We really are not here on this earth for very long. We are like when you go to turn the light switch on, and the bulb is shot. One day it will eventually happen. So, how can we make the most of the time we have? We can make the most of the time we have left on earth by making the most of our walk with God. Many people live carelessly not giving much thought about their relationship with God. One day we will all have to stand before the Creator of this universe. The question that demands an answer is this: Will this God be your Heavenly Father who will receive you as a forgiven child? Or will this God be your Judge who will expel you to an eternal punishment?

 

To make the most of your walk with God, it is essential that you know Christ as your Lord and Savior. Apart from Christ there is no walk with God. Apart from Christ there is no saving relationship with God. To the person who is outside of God’s saving grace, I urge you to go to Jesus. He is ready to receive you. I pray you will find Jesus to be your Savior this very day.

 

To the child of God, I urge you to make the most of your walk with the Lord! Don’t be a careless Christian who lives day by day with no thought of a deeper walk with Christ. Don’t settle for a “I know-nothing; I feel-nothing; I want-nothing; I desire-nothing”.

I would seriously question whether I was a believer if I did not want to know more of Christ. I would seriously question my salvation if I did not feel and sense God’s presence from time to time. It’s not that our faith is based on feelings, but I should have some sense of God at work in my life. I would seriously question my salvation if I did not want anything at all from the Lord. I would seriously question where I stand with God if I did not desire anything of the Lord.

 

In Psalm 1we have a plea for a deeper, more solid, more productive walk with God.

The person who has a close walk with God is called Blessed!

So, how can we make the most of our walk with God? How can it become a blessed Walk?

 

To make the most of our walk with God, we will need to look carefully in three directions and answer three important questions.

 

1. LOOK AROUND. How are you being influenced? (vv.1,2)

 

Psalm 1:1-3 (NKJV)
¹ Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
² But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.
³ He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

There are only two possible ways we can be influenced. Either we are influenced with godly influence, or with ungodly influence. We need to look around and ask ourselves the question: How are we being influenced? We are surrounded by all kinds of influence. What are we allowing to influence us? To shape us? To mold us?

 

(a) The Ungodly Influence v.1 You don’t have to teach kids to be bad. They learn that quite well. We were by nature the children of wrath. We must be delivered from wrath. Thank God, in Christ, He has rescued us, and made us a child of God. Yet, we must beware of ungodly influences. It gets worse and worse. Note the stages of ungodliness:

 

(1) Walking in the counsel of the ungodly. Walk speaks of the direction we are going. Turn from ungodly counsel. Don’t go that direction. Some folks start each day by reading their horoscope. That’s the counsel they get each day. It’s ungodly counsel. Some people will consult some psychic they heard on TV. Some folks will listen to a “talk show” and get counsel on how to deal with everyday life. Some folks will buy a magazine just to read some ungodly counsel that’s not worth the paper it’s printed on.

When we go in the direction of worldly wisdom, and forsaking godly wisdom, we are under ungodly influences. The next step is…

 

(2) Standing in the way of sinners. After we go in the direction of seeking advice from the ungodly, we move from consulting the ungodly to identifying with the ungodly. Standing speaks of how we are now identifying with the way of sinners. We are not opposing their viewpoint; we are embracing what they say. At first, we walk to the ungodly to listen to what they say, now we don’t walk back to where we should be, we stand where they stand. We identify with their position. There’s only one position that’s worth having—-that’s God’s position. There’s only one viewpoint that’s worth having—that’s God’s viewpoint. Everything else must go to the TRASH CAN!!!

 

(3) Sitting in the seat of the scornful. Sitting speaks of a resting place. We have landed on a position that we feel very comfortable with. We first just walked around some ungodly counsel, then we began to stand around in ungodly counsel, finally we adopt it for our very own. We now sit down and take our seats. We sit in the seat of the scornful. SCOFFERS! MOCKERS! We now embrace ungodliness and scoff and mock at everything that is holy and godly.

 

We need to look around us and ask this question, how are we being influenced? Television has helped to make a nation of scoffers! Oh, but preacher, TV doesn’t influence me. Maybe it does, or maybe it doesn’t…. I do know this…. there are millions and millions of dollars spent on advertisement. Why? Advertising has influence on what kind of cereal you eat, what kind of toothpaste you buy, and what kind of truck you’ll drive. We are influenced by what we see on television.

Look around…How are you being influenced?

 

(b) Godly Influence v.2

The Blessed Man…the Person who makes much of His Walk with God will surround himself with godly influence. He does that by…

 

1- Delighting in the Word of God. How do you come to delight in God’s Word? It is because there was a time when you found delight in Jesus. SEE 1Peter 2:2,3 “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” Your appetite for the Lord and His Word will become dull when you have tasted too much of this world. Get back in God’s Word and keep on allowing the Word of God to speak to you. Pray and ask the Lord to give you a hunger for His Word.

If we are to be exposed to godly influence, it will be found in the Bible.

 

2- Meditating on God’s Word.

 

It’s not enough to just read words from the Bible, but there must be some passages that we allow to get into our thinking and to shape our thoughts into the mind of Christ. I think of a verse in Romans….

Romans 12:2 “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.” This is more than just reading casually through the Bible. There are truths that must be internalized. There are some verses that must be memorized, or at least become so familiar that we know where they are in the Bible, and we can say the verse almost word by word.

How can we stay clean while in a world that influences us in the wrong way? Meditate on this verse….

Psalm 119:9 “wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.” Meditate on this verse John 15:3

 

“Now are you clean through the word which I have spoken unto you”

John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth”

 

WE CAN MAKE THE MOST OF OUR WALK WITH GOD BY MAKING MUCH OF HIS WORD!

2. LOOK INSIDE. What are you becoming? Vv.3,4

 

How we are influenced will reflect in what we become in character.

 

Look Inside your heart. Look inside where you really live. Ask yourself, “what kind of person am I becoming?”

 

The person who delights in God’s Word, and He, or She meditates on God’s Word will become like a tree planted by the rivers of water. You have found the source of true happiness. You are refreshed and nourished. It shows. It shows in three ways:

 

1- Fruitful. Bringeth forth his fruit in his season. You will be a fruitful person. What is a fruitful person? John Piper describes them this way, “They are refreshing and nourishing to be around. You go away from them fed. You go away strengthened. You go away with your taste for spiritual things awakened. Their words are healing and convicting and encouraging and deepening and enlightening. Being around them is like a meal.”

 

2- Durable. His leaf also shall not wither. The hot winds may blow, and the rain does not fall, this person is planted by the rivers of water. He is planted in God’s Word and while other people are withering away, he remains nourished, strong and vibrant in faith. Regardless of which way the winds blow, he is planted in the Word. He delights and meditates in the Word day and night. He is durable.

 

3—Prosperous. Whatsoever he does shall prosper.

Does that mean if you delight in God’s Word and meditate in God’s Word you will be like a tree….and you will prosper? Yes. What about Psalm 34:19

 

many are the afflictions of the righteous… You’ve got to see this one…Psalm 73

 

Psalm 73:3  “for I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked”

Psalm 73:12  “Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.”

 

It looks like the wicked are the ones who are filthy rich. The good person is the one suffering. But don’t forget Psalm 73:17

 

Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

God gave the writer some insight. You haven’t seen their end. Psalm 1:4 the ungodly are not so…the wind drives them away…. last 4 words of Psalm says the ungodly shall perish

 

In this world…. For the Believer…this is the only Hell you will see and experience.

For the unbeliever. This is the only Heaven they will ever know…

How to Prepare for Battle.

Part 4

 

Ephesians 6:18-20 (NKJV)

¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints– ¹⁹ and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

 

 

Finally, Paul comes to the greatest weapon of all–and that is prayer. We note three things that he says about prayer.

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

(a) It must be constant. Our tendency is so often to pray only in the great crises of life; but it is from daily prayer that the Christian will find daily strength.

(b) It must be intense. Limp prayer never got a man anywhere. Prayer demands the concentration of every faculty upon God.

(c) It must be unselfish. The Jews had a saying, “Let a man unite himself with the community in his prayers.” I think that often our prayers are too much for ourselves and too little for others.

We must learn to pray as much for others and with others as for ourselves.

Finally, Paul asks for the prayers of his friends for himself.

And he asks not for comfort or for peace but that he may yet be allowed to proclaim God’s secret, that his love is for all men.

19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

 

We do well to remember that ever Christian leader and every Christian preacher needs his people to uphold his hands in prayer.

 

Don’t have Empty Armor

Ephesians 6:18

now…

Realize the victory – this happens in our text!

 

1. 18 Once we are all suited up in our armor, we must realize it’s not about us and our skills or tools, but it’s all about the Lord…the battle is the Lord’s! This is not an excuse to not do our part and utilize the armor…we must work hard at it, like it’s up to us, but with the underlying knowledge that it’s all up to God!

 

A sword, a shield, a helmet and such are totally useless if we have no strength to fight with…and the Lord is our strength. We must rely on Him! The arm of flesh will fail us. I CANNOT do all things! Only thru Christ which strengthened me!

 

How old will I be when I finally master this? How many years must I be saved before I stop trying to live the life in my own strength? How many reminders do we need?

 

Dressing for success in the armor of the Lord is a daily occurrence, and so must be our reminders about where our strength comes from…so must be our battling in prayer a daily habit!

 

We need spiritual energy, strength, and power with which to fight.

 

Little David faced the giant without the armor…but with the Lord!

 

What good is the Sword in our hand if we don’t have the spiritual strength to wield it?

 

Our feet can look good in the shoes of the gospel, but if we have no spiritual strength to walk the walk then it doesn’t matter if we talk the talk. We are to run the race in those shoes, and that takes spiritual strength!

 

It’s one thing to know you have Christ’s righteousness found in the breastplate, but the real question is, does anyone else know you have it? They won’t if you don’t live it…and it takes spiritual strength to live it out loud!

 

Same thing with the girdle of truth. Knowing and doing are two different things. We know a lot of truth, but do we walk in truth, do we share truth? Not without God’s hand helping us!

 

What good is the helmet of salvation if the noggin inside it isn’t actively thinking, or is asleep? Having the mind of Christ takes real discipline that I don’t have…I must pray for that kind of power.

 

Prayer is where we get the strength to fight! The armor is shiny, but it’s an empty coat of mail that can only be filled with spiritual strength from the Lord!

 

Oh, that we would put even 5% of the effort that we put into trying to make things happen into praying for things to happen!

 

In Exodus 17 Joshua and the army is at war with Amalek. Joshua is in the valley with a sword, and Moses is up on the mountain above, interceding in prayer. Both were important, but which was most important? Both are necessary…but which is most necessary?

 

Prayerlessness is the ‘umbrella sin’ under which all my other sins stay dry and cozy.

 

It’s really difficult to continue in a sinful habit that I regularly talk to God about! It’s not too often that I will fall into a deception of Satan when I’m walking and talking with the Lord! And as for the temptation to do things in my own strength — why would I do that if I’m daily proving that there’s a better way…to pray first, and then work. Pray first, and then serve. Pray first, and then preach. Pray first, and then make a decision.

 

“Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees.”

 

Prayer not only gives us the energy with which to fight, but it is also the means of communication with our Commander in Heaven. And communications with Central Command is vital in winning a battle.

 

The Christian life is much like a football game, because we need armor in this life, and we face a formidable foe, and we are at war. Football is just controlled violence!

 

The coach isn’t in the game but is vital to it. If he is cut out of the loop, the result will be chaos…but he also needs a leader on the field. He needs someone he can trust. He needs to relay messages back and forth, he needs signals.

 

Today we get to the line and call a lot of ‘audibles,’ which is cutting out the coach. How much success will we have in life if we bench our coach?

 

Communication is vital in the game of life!

 

In war, if we can undermine communications or knock them out, we can win the victory.

 

We’re so big on privacy now we even keep things private from God [as if we could!]

 

“Oh, what peace we often forfeit…”

 

The devil does all he can to keep us from having a time of prayer. And when we don’t pray, our energy wanes, and we have no strength to fight with. Our spiritual batteries need recharged, and we put a lot of emphasis on that happening in preaching services like this, where God talks to us, but that’s only half the battle, because God wants us to talk back!

 

Have communications been cut off between you and God? He isn’t the one who hung up!

 

“Stand up for Jesus, stand in His strength alone…the arm of flesh will fail you, you dare not trust your own. Put on the gospel armor, and watching unto prayer…”

 

We need strength to fight with, so we’re not just empty armor decorating the castle wall…

 

Verse 18 has 4 ‘all’s: in it.

 

1. Praying always – pray regularly.

 

2. with all supplication in the Spirit – pray correctly.

 

3. with all perseverance – pray persistently.

 

4. for all saints – pray inclusively.

 

1. Pray regularly.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

 

This doesn’t mean 24 hrs. a day…that’s impossible, and we have other duties and need sleep, etc.

 

What this does mean is that our heavenly telephone should always be in service, and used often as a first plan of action, not our last resort.

 

We should never have to start a prayer with “Lord, we come into your presence…” because you never left His presence in the first place!

 

We should wake up to prayer, and before our feet hit the floor, recognize the One who has given us another day, and as we get up and begin, we should begin it with Him, and not just rush past Him into our day.

 

We have so much to accomplish that we MUST take time to pray. It’s time well spent, and since you can’t out-give God, do yourself a favor and take time to pray!

 

Traveling time is a great time to pray and worship.

 

You can pray for God to fill your armor to fight the battle of this day!

Thru the day, decisions will need to be made, challenges will arise, temptations will present themselves.

 

Walking with God means sharing life with Him, not just Sundays with Him.

 

We should seek Him even in small decisions, habitually.

 

When Joshua defeated Jericho, he and the people were filled with self-confidence, and didn’t seek the Lord against the little village of Ai…they would be a piece of cake, right? Only a small delegation was sent, and 36 men lost their lives!

 

Joshua got back on his knees, and God revealed the problem to him, and how to win that battle. And God would have revealed that before, just as he did after, and they wouldn’t have died!

 

God said not to make a peace treaty with the Gibeonites. They pretended to be someone else and deceived Joshua, and the Bible says…

 

Joshua 9:14 And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.

 

When we fail to seek the Lord, we are headed for trouble!

 

Maybe you’ve driven that way as well. Not nodding off,  but zoning out mentally unless something happens to awake your attention.

 

When I think of praying without ceasing, I think it means on at least a subconscious level, you are always in a spirit of prayer, even if you don’t actually pray a prayer until something comes to your attention, which should be more often than not!

 

We do a variety of things all day, but are we cognizant of the fact that God is in the same room, and thinking of us, even when we haven’t been thinking of Him?

 

We need to experience God in life, not just in church!

 

1. Pray regularly…

 

2. Pray correctly.

 

The disciples never asked Jesus to teach them to preach, but to teach them to pray!

 

Most of us are still in pre-school in this matter, with a lot to learn.

 

We pray to the Father, thru the Spirit, in Jesus’ name.

 

“Our Father, which art in Heaven…” [not dear Jesus!]

 

But we pray in Jesus’ name because that’s the only basis by which we can be heard. He is our high priest, and allows us access to the Most Holy Place, the throne of grace!

 

And we pray in the Spirit, or thru the Spirit.

 

Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

 

The Spirit helps to give us the words, and when there’s no words, prays the words without words from our heart with groanings which cannot be uttered!

 

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also help our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself make intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

 

The Spirit helps when we don’t know the right words to say to God. It also helps when we don’t know the will of God. We pray so much for our will…we should listen to the next verse…

 

Romans 8:27 And he that search the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

 

regularly, correctly…

 

3. Pray persistently.

 

We are below with the rope, and God is above, making the real sounds that go out over the earth.

 

Some Christians just give the bell an occasion jerk, but to really make things happen, you don’t let go until the job is done!

 

Jesus gave a couple of parables [Friend at Midnight / Unjust Judge] about not giving up praying until you get results, when it comes to things that you know are God’s will, such as a person being saved, or you getting victory over a sin. Now, when it’s our will, like Paul wanting a healing, you can let it rest if the Lord reveals you need to accept it.

 

George Mueller prayed 52 years for a man to be saved, and it happened after he died!

 

Our timing is not the same as God’s. Now, why would God delay an answer to prayer?

 

• patience – we live in an instant everything world. God wants us to wait on Him.

 

• purity – when God doesn’t grant an answer I know to be in His will, I must stop and examine my life. Are my prayers being heard, or is sin in the way?

 

Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

 

Is God pleased to bless me?

 

• promotion – sometimes God intends on granting our request, but only once we are spiritually mature enough to handle it and receive that answer. [Sometimes God says no, sometimes slow, sometimes go, and sometimes GROW!]

 

When a 4 year old asks for a shotgun, you may think ahead to the day when you will indeed give him one…but that day is not today!

 

regularly, correctly, persistently…

 

4. Pray inclusively.

 

We pray a lot about ourselves, but prayer is supposed to be about each other as well. You’re not the only one in this war. You may have it tough, but some have it tougher!

 

Samuel said to Israel, “God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you.” [1 Sam. 12:23]

 

I pray for you. Do you pray for me?

 

Did you know that the Church of Satan boasts that they actively pray and fast to Satan for the demise of Bible preachers? I think their prayers are being heard and answered!

Any success I have had here is because of prayer. The way to have more blessings is thru prayer. Sermon success is a direct result of prayer, not skill. The way I can stay in the ministry is not to feel confident that since I’ve done it many years so far that I always will…I need your prayers!

 

And there’s as many needs as hairs on heads in this room. Pray for each other, and your prayers for yourself may be affected as well!

 

The gnu is an African antelope. When its prey approaches, it drops to its knees. When close enough, it springs to attack from its knees.

 

We are Christian soldiers, and we can sharpen our skills and have the right tools and armor, but it all begins on our knees! Otherwise, it’s just empty armor.

 

 

THE FINAL BLESSING

Ephesians 6:21-24 (NKJV)

²¹ But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you; ²² whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may comfort your hearts. ²³ Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

 

 

Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will provide you with all information, that you too may know how things are going with me, how I do. That is the very reason that I sent him to you, that you may know my affairs and that he may encourage your hearts.

Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love the Lord Jesus with a love which defies death.

 

As we have seen, the letter to the Ephesians was an encyclical letter and the bearer from church to church was Tychicus. Unlike most of his letters, Ephesians gives us no personal information about Paul, except that he was in prison; but Tychicus, as he went from church to church., would tell how Paul was faring and would convey a message of personal encouragement.

 

 

Paul finishes with a blessing and in it all the great words come again. The peace, which was a man’s highest good, the faith, which was complete resting in Christ, the grace which was the lovely free gift of God these things Paul calls down from God upon his friends. Above all he prays for love that they may know the love of God, that they may love men as God loves them, and that they may love Jesus Christ with an undying love.

How to Prepare for Battle.  Part 3

How to Fight and win against our enemy by

Utilizing our weaponry

 

One of the best newspaper cartoons of all time is Calvin and Hobbes. One day Calvin and Hobbes come marching into the living room early one morning. His mother is seated there in her favorite chair. She is sipping her morning coffee. She looks up at young Calvin. She is amused and amazed at how he is dressed. Calvin’s head is encased in a large space helmet. A cape is draped around his neck, across his shoulders, down his back and is dragging on the floor. One hand is holding a flashlight and the other a baseball bat.

“What’s up today?” asks his mom.

“Nothing, so far,” answers Calvin.

“So far?” she questions.

“Well, you never know,” Calvin says, “Something could happen today.” Then Calvin marches off, “And if anything does, by golly, I’m going to be ready for it!”

Calvin’s mom looks out at the reading audience, and she says, “I need a suit like that!”

That’s the way many of us feel as we see the news and deal with life. Sometimes this world seems quite violent, and people seem to be at each other’s throats. A suit like that would help, so we can say with Calvin, “Whatever may come my way, I’m going to be ready for it! Bring it on!”

 

Where can we get a suit like that? Do they make a suite like that?

Utilize our weaponry – we have now looked at each article of Christian armor.

The devil is strong, but Christians are stronger through the Lord (Eph 6:11).

Ephesians 6:11 (NKJV) Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

They have the protection needed to withstand his assaults. The devil tempts, but God provides a way of escape (1 Cor 10:13);

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV) No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

the devil tries to take advantage of people (2 Cor 2:11),

2 Corinthians 2:11 (NKJV) …lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

but he will flee if fought (James 4:7).

 James 4:7 (NKJV) Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

The devil should not be feared, for Jesus is more powerful than this deceiving prince of the demons (1 John 4:4).

1 John 4:4 (NKJV) You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

(from Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

 

Utilize our weaponry – we to have now looked at each article of Christian armor.

Ephesians 6:13-17 (NKJV)

¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

 

As Paul takes leave of his people, he thinks of the greatness of the struggle which lies before them.

Undoubtedly life was much more terrifying for the ancient people than it is for us today.

They believed implicitly in evil spirits, who filled the air and were determined to work men harm.

The words which Paul uses, powers, authorities, world-rulers, are all names for different classes of these evil spirits.

To him the whole universe was a battleground.

The Christian had not only to contend with the attacks of men; he had to contend with the attacks of spiritual forces which were fighting against God.

We may not take Paul’s actual language literally; but our experience will tell us that there is an active power of evil in the world.

Robert Louis Stevenson once said: “You know the Caledonian Railway Station in Edinburgh? One cold, east windy morning, I met Satan there.”

We do not know what actually befell Stevenson, but we recognize the experience; we have all felt the force of that evil influence which seeks to make us sin.

 

Paul suddenly sees a picture ready-made.

All this time he was chained by the wrist to a Roman soldier. Night and day soldiers were there to ensure that he would not escape.

Paul was literally an envoy in a chain. Now he was the kind of man who could get alongside anyone; and beyond doubt he had talked often to the soldiers who were compelled to be so near him.

 

As he writes, the soldier’s armor suggests a picture to him.

The Christian too has his armor; and part by part Paul takes the armor of the Roman soldier and translates it into Christian terms.

There is the belt of truth. It was the belt which girt in the soldier’s tunic and from which his sword hung, and which gave him freedom of movement. Others may guess and grope; the Christian moves freely and quickly because he knows the truth.

 

There is the breastplate of righteousness. When a man is clothed in righteousness, he is impregnable. Words are no defense against accusations, but a good life is. Once a man accused Plato of certain crimes. “Well then,” said Plato, “we must live in such a way as to prove that his accusations are a lie.” The only way to meet the accusations against Christianity is to show how good a Christian can be.

 

There are the sandals. Sandals were the sign of one equipped and ready to move. The sign of the Christian is that he is cagier to be on the way to share the gospel with others who have not heard it.

 

There is the shield. The word Paul uses are not that for the comparatively small round shield; it is that for the great oblong shield which the heavily armed warrior wore.

One of the most dangerous weapons in ancient warfare was the fiery dart. It was a dart tipped with tow dipped in pitch. The pitch-soaked tow was set alight, and the dart was thrown.

 

The great oblong shield was made of two sections of wood, glued together.

When the shield was presented to the dart, the dart sank into the wood and the flame was put out.

Faith can deal with the darts of temptation.

With Paul, faith is always complete trust in Christ. When we walk close with Christ, we are safe from temptation.

 

There is salvation for a helmet. Salvation is not something which looks back only.

The salvation which is in Christ gives us forgiveness for the sins of the past and strength to conquer sin in the days to come.

 

There is the sword; and the sword is the word of God. The word of God is at once our weapon of defense against sin and our weapon of attack against the sins of the world.

Cromwell’s Ironsides fought with a sword in one hand and a Bible in the other. We can never win God’s battles without God’s book.

 

as in the book of Nehemiah.

 

Can’t live in the will of God living outside the Word of God.

How to Prepare for Battle, Part 2

We need to Know Our Enemy

 

Eph 6:10-24

 

1. Analyze the enemy – began by getting to know Satan and his tactics.

 

 

Ephesians 6:10-12 (NKJV)

¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

 

 

We need to Know Our Enemy

 

On 10 September 1813, after defeating the British fleet in the Battle of Lake Erie, Oliver Hazard Perry, commander of the American fleet, dispatched one of the most famous messages in military history to Maj. Gen. William Henry Harrison. It read: “Dear Gen’l: “WE HAVE MET THE ENEMY, AND THEY ARE OURS.”, two ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop. Yours with great respect and esteem. H. Perry.”

 

Who is our enemy?

 

DEVIL (accuser) – the main title for the fallen angelic being who is the supreme enemy of God and man. Satan is his name, and devil is what he is-the accuser or deceiver. The title “devil” appears 38 times in the KJV. In every case it is preceded by the article “the,” indicating a title rather than a name. The term comes from a Greek word that means “a false witness” or “malicious accuser.”

 

If you see “a devil” or “devils” it means demons.

 

Several descriptive phrases applied to the devil in the New Testament point out the nature of his wicked personality and the extent of his evil deeds.

 

The Wicked or Evil One (Matt 6:13; 13:19,38; 1 John 2:13).

This phrase depicts the devil’s fundamental nature.

 

Matthew 6:13 (NKJV)
¹³ And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

 

He is the source of all evil and wickedness. While the KJV reads, “Deliver us from evil,” the NKJV more accurately reads, “Deliver us from the evil one.”

 

Matthew 13:19 (NKJV)
¹⁹ When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.

 

Matthew 13:38-39 (NKJV)
³⁸ The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.³⁹ The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.

He is in direct opposition to everything God is or all he wishes to do.

 

1 John 2:13 (NKJV)
¹³ I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.

 

Humanity needs this deliverance, for the devil “walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

 

1 Peter 5:6-11 (NKJV)
⁶ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, ⁷ casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
⁸ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ⁹ Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. ¹⁰ But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. ¹¹ To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

 

 

Enemy (Matt 13:25,28,39). The devil is man’s worst enemy.

This is one enemy Jesus does not want us to love.

He is an enemy of Christ, the church, and the gospel; and he is tireless in his efforts to uproot good and sow evil.

Matthew 13:25 (NKJV) but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.

Matthew 13:28 (NKJV) He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’

Matthew 13:39 (NKJV) The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.

 

Murderer (John 8:44). “He was a murderer from the beginning” are strong words from the lips of Jesus.

 

John 8:44 (NKJV) You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

 

The devil killed Abel and the prophets, and he wanted to kill Jesus before His time (8:40).

 

John 8:40 (NKJV) But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this.

 

Deceiver (Rev 20:10).

Revelation 20:10 (NKJV) The devil, who deceived them, …

 

 

Starting with Eve, the devil has attempted to deceive every living soul. Evil men operating under the power of the evil one will continue to deceive.

2 Timothy 3:13 (NKJV) But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

 

Beelzebub, Prince of Demons (Matt 9:34; 12:24). The religious leaders of Jesus’ time were guilty of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit because they claimed the miracles of Jesus were actually conducted by the devil.

The KJV and some other versions incorrectly translate “demons” as “devils.” There are many demons but only one devil.

His name is Beelzebub, the chief leader of the fallen angels known as demons.

 

Matthew 9:32-34 (NKJV)
³² As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed. ³³ And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, “It was never seen like this in Israel!” ³⁴ But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.”

 

Ruler of This World (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). Three times Jesus called the devil the “ruler of this world.”

 

John 12:31 (NKJV) Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.

 

John 14:30 (NKJV) I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.

 

John 16:8-11 (NKJV) And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: ⁹ of sin, because they do not believe in Me; ¹⁰ of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; ¹¹ of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

 

 

The devil offered the world to Jesus if He would worship him (Luke 4:5-7),

Luke 4:5-7 (NKJV)
⁵ Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. ⁶ And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. ⁷ Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”

but the Lord refused with these words, “Get behind me Satan” (4:8).

Luke 4:8 (NKJV) And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ “

 

At Calvary God dealt a death blow to this world ruler. It is only a matter of time before God will win the final victory at the end of time.

 

1 John 3:8 (NKJV) He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

Matthew 25:41 (NKJV) Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:

 

Revelation 12:7-12 (NKJV)
⁷ And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, ⁸ but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. ⁹ So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. ¹⁰ Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.¹¹ And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
¹² Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

 

How to Prepare for Battle,

by putting on “The Whole Armor of God”

In the coming weeks we will look more in-depth at a more comprehensive breakdown of these verses in Ephesians 6:10-20. Our battel is not against Republicans, Democrats, Whites, Blacks, Latino, Asians, Men or Women. (Highly recommend the book by Andy Stanley “Not In It To Win It”) The battel is a spiritual one, and we need to FIGHT back and get ready for Battel! We as Christians know that the ultimate battel, we will be victorious. But we were warned by Christ Himself to prepare for a fight. And fight we must on every front.

 Luke 22:36-37 (NKJV)
³⁶ Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.

Otherwards GET A WEAPON!!! Again, not just a physical but including a physical weapon, but also and most importantly a Spiritual defense and weapons as well!

 

Ephesians 6:10-20

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which, you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints — 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.  NKJV

Per Charles Barclay commentary.

Paul suddenly sees a picture ready-made. All this time he was chained by the wrist to a Roman soldier. Night and day soldiers were there to ensure that he would not escape. Paul was literally an envoy in a chain. Now he was the kind of man who could get alongside anyone; and beyond doubt he had talked often to the soldiers who were compelled to be so near him. As he writes, the soldier’s armor suggests a picture to him. The Christian too has his armor; and part by part Paul takes the armor of the Roman soldier and translates it into Christian terms.

There is the belt of truth. It was the belt which girt in the soldier’s tunic and from which his sword hung and which gave him freedom of movement. Others may guess and grope; the Christian moves freely and quickly because he knows the truth.

There is the breastplate of righteousness. When a man is clothed in righteousness, he is impregnable. Words are no defense against accusations, but a good life is. Once a man accused Plato of certain crimes. “Well then,” said Plato, “we must live in such a way as to prove that his accusations are a lie.” The only way to meet the accusations against Christianity is to show how good a Christian can be.

There are the sandals. Sandals were the sign of one equipped and ready to move. The sign of the Christian is that he is cager to be on the way to share the gospel with others who have not heard it.

There is the shield. The word Paul uses is not that for the comparatively small round shield; it is that for the great oblong shield which the heavily armed warrior wore. One of the most dangerous weapons in ancient warfare was the fiery dart. It was a dart tipped with tow dipped in pitch. The pitch-soaked tow was set alight, and the dart was thrown. The great oblong shield was made of two sections of wood, glued together. When the shield was presented to the dart, the dart sank into the wood and the flame was put out. Faith can deal with the darts of temptation. With Paul, faith is always complete trust in Christ. When we walk close with Christ, we are safe from temptation.

There is salvation for a helmet. Salvation is not something which looks back only. The salvation which is in Christ gives us forgiveness for the sins of the past and strength to conquer sin in the days to come.

There is the sword; and the sword is the word of God. The word of God is at once our weapon of defense against sin and our weapon of attack against the sins of the world. Cromwell’s Ironsides fought with a sword in one hand and a Bible in the other. We can never win God’s battles without God’s book.

Finally, Paul comes to the greatest weapon of all–and that is prayer. We note three things that he says about prayer.

(a) It must be constant. Our tendency is so often to pray only in the great crises of life; but it is from daily prayer that the Christian will find daily strength.

(b) It must be intense. Limp prayer never got a man anywhere. Prayer demands the concentration of every faculty upon God.

(c) It must be unselfish. The Jews had a saying, “Let a man unite himself with the community in his prayers.” I think that often our prayers are too much for ourselves and too little for others. We must learn to pray as much for others and with others as for ourselves.

Finally, Paul asks for the prayers of his friends for himself. And he asks not for comfort or for peace but that he may yet be allowed to proclaim God’s secret, that his love is for all men. We do well to remember that ever Christian leader and every Christian preacher needs his people to uphold his hands in prayer.

Next week we will start with; “We need to Know Our Enemy”

“A Magic Dime”

 

Before we left on the adventure up the Dusty, Rocky Road. Granddaddy would always give every one of us a dime.

A “Magic Dime”, I call it a magic dime because when we got to the store it would buy pretty much whatever we wanted, always a box of Cracker Jacks, then maybe a Coke, or a bag of chips, and 5 or 10 pieces of penny candy.  All that for his magic dime. Then we would go back to his house and enjoy what WE bought.

After every visit with them, as all 5 grand kids loaded up to come back home to Georgia, Granddaddy would give all of us another dime even my Mother and Dad got a dime. This dime wouldn’t buy in Georgia what the magic dime would buy in Alabama. Believe me when I tell you I tried. It just didn’t work the same here.

Off to the Big Apple Store we went, I gather up what I got with Granddaddy and I put my Coke, my Cracker Jacks, and my ten pieces of penny candy on the counter, the clerk rang up my stuff, and then said, “that will be thirty-five cents.” I set the dime down on the counter and reached for my things, except they were not mine, I hadn’t paid the full price yet, so I left with only the candy.

 

Years passed and as we matured, we found that the dime wouldn’t buy much unless we were with our Grandfather.  You see, our Granddaddy had an open account at the store and whatever we purchased with our magic dimes was put on his account.

See the magic wasn’t in the dime but in the presence of the one that had control of the account. Granddaddy. Are you getting where I am going with this?

Life is the same way; we think that WE pay our way here and there, when the whole time its God that supplies our needs.

Philippians 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. NKJV

Luke 12:29 And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. 30 For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.  31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. NKJV

Malachi 3:10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it”.  NKJV

It’s all poured out from heaven.

It all comes from the one that controls the account. GOD. When I went on my own and try to spend my dime all I got was face value for a dime. But when I go with the one that has control of the account. More than what it’s worth was poured out.

 

After all, where did we get the first dime to start with. IT’S ALL HIS.

 

Remember the lesson of the dime. Give generously to the ones you love as our Grandfather did for his grandchildren and as our Heavenly Father gave so much more to us. It is with this in mind that you support your ministries and remember who gave you “The Dime”, and who carried you on that dusty rocky road?

 

The picture in the chapter page is an actual dime that I received from my Granddaddy.

Someone once said that a nickel is bigger than a dime but remember that the dime has more value. For me especially if it is from Granddaddy.

So, what are you doing with your “Magic Dime” that God has entrusted you with?

 

Dusty Roads, and Strong Shoulders

 

At times, I get reminiscent about my youth and simpler times in my life.

When I was just a child, two or three times a year my family would go to Fort Payne Alabama to visit my Grandmother and then up to Lookout Mountain to visit my step Grandparents there. My step Grandfather never showed any difference between me and his natural grandchildren, my brothers and my sister.

On every visit we (the grand kids) would go for a walk up the old dusty dirt road he lived on and go to the local store at the end of the road.

As we ventured down that dusty, rocky road I began to get tired, and the rocks were beginning to take its toll on my feet. So, Granddaddy threw me up on his shoulders. Granddaddy was one of the kindest and most humble people I had ever met, He was very trustworthy and very respected, a great mentor and role model to try to emulate as much as possible.

I was just 5 or 6 years old but I remember him carrying me on his shoulder, as if it were last week, I don’t recall ever saying anything about the walk, but he looked down and saw me struggling and up on his shoulders I went.

I wonder how often in our struggles without saying a word God just grabs us up and places us on his mighty shoulders, we go. The Bible says over and over how God guides and carries us:

Deuteronomy 33:12 Of Benjamin he said:

“The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by Him, Who shelters him all the day long; And he shall dwell between His shoulders.” NKJV

Psalms 17:5 Uphold my steps in Your paths, That my footsteps may not slip. NKJV

Psalms 119:117 Hold me up, and I shall be safe, And I shall observe Your statutes continually. NKJV

Psalms 139:10 Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me;

12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You.  NKJV

Again, that got me thinking about the nature of God.

 

The poem about footprints in the sand. How when there were only one set of tracks is when He carried us. I think that is what He wants to do the whole time. I truly believe that if there are ever two sets of tracks it’s when we are trying to do things on our own.

Now if Jesus is in my heart in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and Jesus is in the Father, so how many tracks should we see?

Someone once likened God as a Father teaching a child how to ride a bike, How He runs along behind holding the bike and making sure that it doesn’t fall over, then when the time is right, He lets go and off we go on our own.

However, the more I read the scriptures, the more I believe that God does not want to ever let go,

He never intends for us to make it on our own,

He is always there and only when we try to do it on our own are we left to do just that, on our own.

Why would we want it on our own if we didn’t want to do something we shouldn’t be doing anyway?

I can make it on my own but it is so much easier to do it Gods way and stop pulling away, because He will let you leave, in Luke 15:1-7 we see in “The Parable of the Lost Sheep”, then Luke 15:8-10 we see “The Parable of the Lost Coin.”

 

Then, Luke 15:11 The story of “The Parable of the Lost Son” reads:

Luke 15:11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons.  12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So, he divided to them his livelihood”.

 

The Father will let you go even though He knows that is not what is best for you, and as the saying goes:

 

“Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.”

As we see in this story.

13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.  14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.  15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.  16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

 

“Keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you want to pay.”

 

17 But when he came to himself, he said, How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!  18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”

 

“But when he came to himself,” when he realized that things were better off at home, and the rules were not that bad after all,

 

20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.”

 

See the Father is looking for your return every day.

21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

 

The sin is already forgiven!

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.  23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. NKJV

 

Treated the son as if he never left. Understand the fellowship may change with God, but the relationship never changes, if you are his child.

I believe He always carries us, if we let Him. We have seen that in “The Parable of the Lost Sheep”.

 

Luke 15:4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?  5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  NKJV

 

There are those shoulders again. So, happily He carries us.

Notice this even though I was on my Granddaddy’s shoulders, I was still on the dusty rocky road.

The circumstance didn’t change, where I was had not changed, my destination did not alter.

What changed was instead of me taking the steps it was Granddaddy,

Instead of me facing the rocky road, he took it on him.

Instead of my weight on my feet they are on his.

 

Remember who is carrying you! And that brings me to next weeks “The Magic Dime”

“Can’t We All Just Get Along”

 

If you were paying attention in the spring of 1992, you probably remember this quote coming from the mouth of Rodney King. His broadcast appeal to the violent masses was made half-way through the six-day-long rioting in Los Angeles.

This is the same question I feel that needs to be asked the Church community.

I am the youngest of five siblings. And to tell you we never had any disagreements would be an out-and-out lie. We fussed and fought with each other all the time, but God help anyone else who tried to attack any of us with the others around.

My brothers and sister have a different last name as mine, Their father was a motorcycle officer in the City of Atlanta in the late 50s and was killed in the line of duty. Mother later married again and her fifth and final child was me.

I never had anyone else to call my brothers or sister except them, but they had a choice. They had each other and me, but they always called me their brother.

Someone once told my sister that I wasn’t her brother. I was her half-brother, so she asked which half was her brother so she would know which half to hit. She said she didn’t understand how I could only be halfway her brother.

One day my Father came into my study and ask if I would take him riding somewhere? (He loved to go out riding anywhere). I was on Facebook at the time, and he saw DeWayne Home on the computer screen, and he asked who was DeWayne? I thought at first, he was playing with me but then I saw in his face and realized he had no idea who I was. I said, “I’m your son.” With that said he said, “DeWayne Busby?” He remembered his kids being Busby. I said “No, and I am not taking you anywhere because you don’t need to be going anywhere with people you don’t know.” About an hour later he came back into the study and said, “Are you not taking me anywhere?” I ask him then “who am I?” and his reply was “you are Elvin DeWayne Swann, you’re my boy. Aren’t you going to take me riding somewhere?” I said, “where do you want to go?” as I got up and took him riding for a while.

We were all raised in the same house, by the same parents. We are a Family. Just because our last names are different doesn’t mean that we are not family.

Everyone has extended family, I am a Swann, my brothers and sister are Busby’s. I have aunts and uncles and cousins that are Swann’s, Martin’s, Harper’s, Busby’s, Jarrells’, Sims’, Mabry’s, Yarbrough’s, Long’s, Evans’ and on and on. They may not carry the same last name as I do, but they are still part of my family.

Now as I look at the Church Family, I don’t understand why can’t we all just get along?

Some think just because they are Baptist, they are better than the other denominations. Let’s go a little further. If you are not an Independent Baptist, or let’s take it even further Independent Fundamental Baptist, then you are WRONG!

Really? (I don’t mean to attack the Baptist, but I know them because I am one).

Can I be honest, I really have heard that very statement, and not that long ago. I have heard preachers in their pulpit say that very thing and what gets me is the people that amen that statement, and they wonder why visitors don’t come back.

I hear preachers in small churches putting down the preachers in the larger churches, saying things like “they can’t be preaching anything convicting because all those people are there for is to hear only feel-good sermons”

Again Really? And what’s wrong with a sermon that makes you feel good when you leave the church? It’s better than feeling like you were held over the coals, and verbally beat to death.

Yea, boy, I want to go back to that kind of church, nothing like being beat down and never measuring up to what God wants.

So, they put the other Church down.

My question is have you ever been to one of their services? Have you ever tried to listen to them online? How on earth do you know what’s being preached?

They say, “I won’t go to one of those churches, it’s too crowded, the music is to loud, they let people dress any way that they want, I heard that they take up the offering in buckets, and they are a non-domination church” and on and on and on.

Well, I went to one of those churches, and sure enough, there was a crowd, the music was loud, they let people dress any way that they wanted, and when the time came to take up the offering here came a bucket, I really was hoping that chicken was in it, but it wasn’t, it was for the offering. (See I am still a Baptist)

Then much to my surprise the preacher came out and believe this or not he wasn’t wearing a suit, he didn’t even have a tie on and here’s the kicker his shirttail wasn’t even tucked in his pants. Heresy, I thought, how could he desecrate the pulpit in such a fashion? This was my honest thought and then much to my surprise?

As I sat in that service, I began to look around at the kind of people that would put up with that sort of thing.

I was invited to that church by some dear friends that I love and respect very much. I didn’t think that they would intentionally bring me somewhere that was bad. And so, I sat it out to see where we were going.

As the Lead Pastor began his sermon, I was ready to pick him apart, but he was spot on with his sermon, and as he continued, I saw a man in a pair of Liberty overhauls, and they have been worn more than on this occasion, his hair was on his shoulders, his beard was like something from Duck Dynasty, and as the preacher was preaching, he was wiping tears, and holding his hands up praising God.

As I looked at him, I thought you couldn’t tie him up and throw him in the church I had been attending. He wouldn’t have been welcome. But here, he was right at home.

AND SO WAS I!

The sermon was convicting, people were accepting Jesus as their Savior.

After spending a few years attending that church, it freed me up of so much stuff.

I never not once heard them put the little churches down, if anything they lifted them up. And they even allow me to teach one of their small groups.

What makes one so special, so sanctimonious, so much more spiritual, just because it says Baptist or Methodist or Assembly of God, Church of God or whatever on the sign outside the Church that they attend?

Why are you, or why do you think you are better than someone else because of the church that you are a member of?

I hate to break it to you but you’re not.

I have friends that go to nondenominational churches, one of my friends and a man I admire greatly is a Pastor of a Congregational Methodist Church. Also, I have friends that attend a Church of God, and Church of Christ, I had a lady that came regularly to a Church I served as Interim Pastor for a while that was a Catholic. After I spoke with her one day, and she assured me she was Saved through the blood of Jesus. But I had to know!

I went to the Full Gospel Businessman Association Meeting a few times with my Church of God friend Rodney Dobins. He calls me a combination of Baptist and Pentecostal a “Baptacostal”.

As I was there, I had a chance to meet with a Preacher that I love to hear preach and have a number of his books. (and even more after that day)

His name is Dr. Mark Rutland. I leaned over the table in which he was behind signing his books, and I carefully looked both ways so no one could hear us and I said “I am a Baptist Preacher.” He then carefully looked both ways and leaned up and said “Brother Pastor, you are in the wrong place”, and we both laughed. I heard some great sermons and testimony’s that day.

I live in a little city named Powder Springs, in Cobb County Georgia. While I was growing up, I attended McEachern High School. We would make jokes about the other schools in our county. Just because we went to McEachern it was the best. Then since I lived in Cobb County, it was the best county to live in, we then made jokes about Paulding County and the other counties around us. The same is said about the state of Georgia, we would make jokes about Alabama, and the other surrounding states. Nothing is any better than where I am.

I believe it’s the same for you too, right?

That seems to be the same way with Churches too, only the one I go to is right.

And again REALLY?

My Mother said when she was growing up in North West Alabama if the Baptist Church was having a Revival meeting, that the Holiness Church and the Methodist and the other Baptist Church’s in the area would all show up to the meetings.

The same was if the others were having their Camp Meetings that every church around no matter the denomination showed up and supported each other’s services.

But even then, there were some prejudice, My Mother shared a story that her Mother told; The Baptist Church was on one side of the road, and a Methodist Church on the other. They say you could stand out near the road and hear the choirs singing from both Churches. She said the Methodist Church was singing “Will there be a star in my Crown?” and on the other side of the street the Baptist Church was singing, “No Not One, … No Not One”.

So, this is nothing new.

One of my favorite Authors, Max Lucado, deals with this subject in one of his books better than I ever could.

The book is “In the Grip of Grace” Chapter 16 — Life Aboard the Fellowship.

Max Lucado shared this chapter at the 1996 Promise Keepers Clergy Conference in Atlanta which I had the pleasure of attending. It’s called:

“Rocking the Boat” He likened the Church to a Ship and said,

“God has enlisted us in his navy and placed us on his ship. The boat has one purpose—to carry us safely to the other shore. This is no cruise ship; it’s a battleship. We aren’t called to a life of leisure; we are called to a life of service. Each of us has a different task. Some, concerned with those who are drowning, are snatching people from the water. Others are occupied with the enemy, so they man the cannons of prayer and worship. Still, others devote themselves to the crew, feeding and training the crew members. Though different, we are the same… Some wear uniforms whenever seen, sporting styles we’ve never witnessed. “Why do you look the way you do?” we ask them. “Funny,” they reply. “We were about to ask the same of you.” The variety of dress is not nearly as disturbing as the plethora of opinions…””

Then he said things on how different the dominations were, but we all are in the same ship and then how we argue and put each other down, and he then said:

“And, oh, how we tend to cluster. The consequence is a rocky boat. There is trouble on deck. Fights have broken out. Sailors have refused to speak to each other. There have even been times when one group refused to acknowledge the presence of others on the ship. Most tragically, some adrift at sea have chosen not to board the boat because of the quarreling of the sailors. “What do we do?” we’d like to ask the captain. “How can there be harmony on the ship?” We don’t have to go far to find the answer. On the last night of his life Jesus prayed a prayer that stands as a citadel for all Christians: I pray for these followers, but I am also praying for all those who will believe in me because of their teaching. Father, I pray that they can be one. As you are in me and I am in you, I pray that they can also be one in us. Then the world will believe that you sent me. (John 17:20) How precious are these words? Jesus, knowing the end is near, prays one final time for his followers. Striking, isn’t it, that he prayed not for their success, their safety, or their happiness? He prayed for their unity. He prayed that they would love each other. As he prayed for them, he also prayed for “those who will believe because of their teaching.” That means us! In his last prayer Jesus prayed that you and I be one.”

Now back to me. As I have said I have a lot of family and we don’t share the same last name, but we are family by blood. I even claim people as part of my family that has no blood ties at all, but are family because of Love. We are all in the Family of God.

For the life of me why are we fighting and fussing over things that matters very little when it comes to one, just one soul accepting Christ as their savior.

Try to look at what we say, and how we treat other Brothers and Sisters in Christ and guard that mouth of yours.

Did not James say:

James 1:19So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. NKJV

So why can’t we all just get along?

Laying Down Your Stones

Part 3

 

The Reason for Throwing Stones:

The Reality of the Throwing Stones:

The Rejection of Throwing Stones:

John 8:10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”

 

[Hath no man condemned thee?] Jesus had directed them, if innocent, to cast a stone, thus to condemn her, or to use the power which he gave them to condemn her. No one of them had done that. They had accused her, but they had not proceeded to the act expressive of judicial condemnation.

 

11 She said, “No one, Lord.”

And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” 

 

 

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. KJV

 

[Neither do I condemn thee] This is evidently to be taken in the sense of judicial condemnation, or of passing sentence as a magistrate, for this was what they had arraigned her for. It was not to obtain his opinion about adultery, but to obtain the condemnation of the woman. As he claimed no civil authority, he said that he did not exercise it, and should not condemn her to die. In this sense the word is used in the previous verse, and this is the only sense which the passage demands. Besides, what follows shows that this was his meaning.

 

[Go, and sin no more] You have sinned. You have been detected and accused. The sin is great. But I do not claim power to condemn you to die, and, as your accusers have left you, my direction to you is that you sin no more.

 

Jesus is the only one who has both the right and the reason to condemn, and this is what Jesus does He condemns. Jesus always condemns the sin and loves the sinner. Sin destroys the lives of those that Jesus loves. Sin in essence is the corruption of God’s creation. We are called to look at the lives of others the way that Jesus does: recognize the corruption and still love the creation. Love the person and hate their sin.

Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died–more than that, who was raised to life–is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us

 

Romans 8:34 Through Jesus we are set free from condemnation, and the punishment of sin.

John 3:16-21

 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

Go and leave your life of sin.

12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” 

 

YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIVE LIKE THIS ANYMORE!!!

 

[I am the light of the world]

John 1:4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.

8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

We will never be completely free from the power of sin because sin brought death into the world and we will all one day die. We can be set free from the bondage of sin. The actions that reveal sin within us. When we speak destructively. When we seek to create discord. When we stir up division. When we settle in disagreement.

Forgiveness flows from the life of Jesus. It is empowered by His sacrifice on the cross and it is finalized by the triumph of the resurrection.

Conclusion: What stones are you holding onto today?

• Stone of bitterness
  • Stone of anger
  • Stone of hatred
  • Stone of prejudice

 

Are you like I was? I thought I threw away my stones, but I keep a string tide to it in case I need it in the near future. Dragging it everywhere I went and when you do that it drags you down.

Whatever stone you are carrying it is a needless weight that you bear. It is a pointless part of your life. The stone in your hand can be a means of letting go.

Don’t you think it is time for you to lay down your stones? Why not take this opportunity to give your stones over to God?

If God has been speaking to you, listen to His voice and submit those stones that you would use to destroy to let Jesus build something beautiful with them.

Come to the altar and lay down the stones that you carry?

Laying Down Your Stones

Part 2

The Reason for Throwing Stones:

The Reality of the Throwing Stones:

Why were these men so intent on destroying Jesus?

 

Jesus took away the curve of sin.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT2)
For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

The root of the cause flows from an unforgiving heart. A heart that will neither let go of past pains or endure current difficulties. Jesus has disturbed their way of life. He had challenged their preconceived ideas of religion. Jesus has disturbed their power by appealing to the masses that the religious leaders had forgotten. Jesus disturbed their position because He was drawing large numbers of people to be His disciples. Jesus disturbed their personal ideals that were not in line with the direction of the Father.
If we remember the wrongs which men have done us, we destroy the power of the remembrance of God – Abba Macarius the Great

If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her

Can we really afford to throw stones?

We all make mistakes.

We all have sinned.

We all have the same spiritual need for Jesus.

Rom 3:23-26

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,

26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

 

We would never think of actually throwing stones at other people but we far too often throw emotional or spiritual stones at others.

Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;

29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,

30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;

32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

 

Romans 2:1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.

2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.

3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?

 

• Hurtful comments just saying something to hurt someone
  • Use generalizations all that kind is like that
  • Gossip     sharing what doesn’t need to be shared, sharing a prayer request
  • Judgmental statements      well they deserve that
  • Harsh with the truth  “speak the truth in love”

What is it that makes people want to throw stones?

• Frustration: When we become frustrated it distorts our ability to see things clearly
• Fatigue: Everything always looks worse when we are tired
• Failure: When others fail us, we are quick to judge their actions. When we fail others, we are quick to justify our actions
• False Assumptions: When we get only bits and pieces of the truth, we create assumptions based on faulty logic, looking with our earth eyes
• Feelings: If we make the choice to follow our feelings, we make the choice to be shallow,

  The moment we seek retribution for wrongs done to us, either real or imagined, we lose a piece of our relationship with God. Once this happens, it becomes much, much easier to throw stones. We use the things that happen to us as a way of justifying our actions.