Author: E. DeWayne Swann

“Where Will You Be When You Get Where You Are Going?”

Part 4

For the Nonbeliever “The two choices”

 If you don’t have a relationship with God, you now have one of two choices, there is a difference in knowing about God, and KNOWING HIM! The choices are:

 Choice 1:

 Do Nothing! You can do absolutely nothing and go on in life as always. But you have been warned.

A staggering statistic says one out of one person alive today will someday die!

There was a song in the 1980’s, “If You Die Before You Die” by Benny Hester from his Album: Perfect. And it said this:

“What does it mean, when they say, if you die before you die, then when you die you won’t die?

Can you tell me what it means? It’s not as easy as it seems. What you conclude may not agree. With what it means to me Think about it carefully

If you die before you die, then when you die you won’t die

If you die before you die, then when you die you won’t die

You probably know but think you don’t, say you’ll have but you won’t.

There’s so much here in thirteen words. Maybe it’s absurd.

Or it could be what you thought you heard.

If you die before you die, then when you die you won’t die

If you die before you die. There’s a way, there’s a way,

When you die that you won’t die

What does it mean?”

The Bible teaches that we all are going to die someday and then what.

Die to yourself and accept Christ. Before you die the physical death.

1 Corinthians 15:31 (NKJV) I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

Colossians 3:10 (NKJV) and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Romans 6:1,2 and 6 (NKJV) What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
² Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
⁶ knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

Romans 6:10 (NKJV) For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.

Then you won’t have to die the spiritual death or “The second death”.:

 Revelation 2:11 (NKJV) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” ‘

Revelation 20:6 (NKJV) Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

Revelation 20:14-15 (NKJV) Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. ¹⁵ And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

 Revelation 21:8 (NKJV) But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

 

So, one has to be Born Again!

 John 3:1-6 (NKJV) There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
² This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
³ Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
⁴ Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
⁵ Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

 

So, we see that if you are born twice then you die once and if you are born only once then you will most assuredly die twice.

Again, if you do nothing someday you will stand before God and face the Second Death! Or you can choose choice number 2 and accept what Christ did for you and inherit eternal life.

 

Choice 2:

 How to Accept Jesus Christ into your Heart!

Can God Forgive Me? Yes! God can forgive any sin, and has forgiven all sin’s, past, present, and any in the future, on Calvary’s Cross.  No matter how terrible—cheating, murder, lying, infidelity, gossip, theft, selfishness. All people fail and disobey God. No one measures up. In fact, the Bible says that no one can please God by good deeds. Good deeds aren’t good enough.

 

You just have to accept Christ as your savior.  

1 John 1:8-10 (NLT2) If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. ⁹ But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. ¹⁰ If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

But if we confess, we are sinners, acknowledge Christ has paid for ALL our SIN’S we only die the first death and live forever.

 

How do we do that? Pray the Sinner’s Prayer.

 The Sinner’s Prayer is a Christian name relating to any prayer of repentance, prayed by individuals who believe convicted of the presence of sin in their lives and have the desire to establish or renew a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

The Sinner’s Prayer in Scripture

The Sinner’s Prayer is a prayer that is said when someone seeks to repent of their sin, accept God’s forgiveness and state their belief in the life, death, and saving resurrection of Jesus Christ. The sinner’s prayer is sometimes also known as the “salvation prayer” or “Consecration Prayer.” In scripture, there is reference to a process of repentance, faith, and salvation in the book of Romans.

The “Romans” Road to the Gospel of Jesus Christ

The Problem of Sin

Romans 3:10 As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”

The Wages of Sin

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so, death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Romans 6:23a “For the wages of sin is death…”

The Love of God

Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

The Free Gift of Salvation

Romans 6:23b “But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Accepting the Free Gift

Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

(13) For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.

 

Millions, if not billions, have established a saving relationship with Jesus Christ through church services, friends, and family guiding them in a salvation prayer. However, it is not solely the words in a prayer that save us eternally. We are “justified by faith” in Jesus and saved by our genuine belief in Him. J.D Greerer describes it well – “It’s not the prayer that saves; it’s the repentance and faith behind the prayer that lays hold of salvation. My concern is that over-emphasizing the prayer has often (though unintentionally) obscured the primary instruments for laying hold of salvation: repentance and faith.”

 

Just Pray something like this in your own words from the heart.

 The Sinner’s Prayer: Examples

How to Pray (Ask Jesus in your heart)

 A Simple Sinner’s Prayer

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness.

I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin.

You said in the bible that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved.

Right now, I confess Jesus as my Lord. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Amen.

 

Prayer of Salvation

Dear Lord, I admit that I am a sinner and have done many things that don’t please you. I have lived my life for myself only. I am sorry, and I repent. I accept that you forgive me.

I believe that you died on the cross for me, to save me. You did what I could not do for myself. I come to you now and ask you to take control of my life; I give it to you. From this day forward, help me to live every day for you and in a way that pleases you.

I love you, Lord, and I thank you that I will spend all eternity with you. Amen.

 

Sinner’s Prayer for Children

Jesus – I know that you made me and want me to obey you with all my heart. I know I have disobeyed and wanted to be my own boss. I have thought and done things against your directions. For this I am sorry. I know that you gave up His (Jesus) life to save me from these sins and make me your child again. I accept your promises and ask you to please save me now and forever. Amen.

Or

All you have to do is Pray and say something like this but in your own words. “God, thank you for sending Jesus to take my place and forgiving me of my wrong doings, so please I accept that forgiveness and help me to live a better life, so He won’t have so much more to pay for, and come and live in my heart, so I can be with you in Heaven someday, Amen””.

 

Sinner’s Prayer from Scripture

“Have mercy on me, O God,
according to Your unfailing love;
according to Your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
Against You, You only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in Your sight,
so that You are proved right when You speak
and justified when You judge.
Surely, I have been a sinner from birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me…
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me and I will be whiter than snow…
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from Your presence
or take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.
Then will I teach transgressors Your ways,
and sinners will turn back to You.”

– (Psalm 51, King David)

 

The Sinner’s Prayer (by Dr. Ray Pritchard)

Lord Jesus, for too long I’ve kept you out of my life. I know that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself. No longer will I close the door when I hear you knocking. By faith, I gratefully receive your gift of salvation. I am ready to trust you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth. I believe you are the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Thank you for bearing my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life. I believe your words are true. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, and be my Savior. Amen.

 

If you have prayed this prayer in honest faith, you will want to write down your initials with the prayer along with today’s date as a reminder that you have come to Christ in faith, trusting him as your Lord and Savior.

And please let us know through the contact page. We would love to hear from you. May God richly bless your life.

And as my Grandmother used to say.

“Live for Jesus”

“Where Will You Be When You Get Where You Are Going?”

Part 3

For the Believer and the Non-Believer

How are you living?

We all are going to end up somewhere so the question is “Where Will You Be When You Get Where You Are Going”?

At the end of this life what is your destination?

The song “The Night” by Avicii Lyrics says “One day you’ll leave this world behind So…”

So, when you leave where will you be?

“The Night” by Avicii, Lyrics:

Once upon a younger year When all our shadows disappeared
The animals inside came out to play Went face to face with all our fears
Learned our lessons through the tears Made memories we knew would never fade

One day my father—he told me “Son, don’t let it slip away”
He took me in his arms, I heard him say

“When you get older Your wild heart will live for younger days
Think of me if ever you’re afraid”

He said, “One day you’ll leave this world behind
So, live a life you will remember” My father told me when I was just a child
“These are the nights that never die” My father told me

“When thunder clouds start pouring down Light a fire they can’t put out
Carve your name into those shining stars” He said, “Go venture far beyond the shores Don’t forsake this life of yours I’ll guide you home no matter where you are”

One day my father—he told me “Son, don’t let it slip away”
When I was just a kid I heard him say

“When you get older Your wild heart will live for younger days
Think of me if ever you’re afraid”

He said, “One day you’ll leave this world behind
So, live a life you will remember” My father told me when I was just a child
“These are the nights that never die” My father told me

“These are the nights that never die” My father told me My father told me.

 

Time To Know Why You’ll Leave This World Behind One Day

Sometimes the thought of the reality of inevitable death can steal your happiness away like a thief. You can own all the most beautiful and expensive things on earth but one day you’ll leave this world.  Your entire life is limited. Why not prepare for this….?

Understand the fact that one day you will leave this world behind

“Life is short. Do whatever you can to help people – not for status, but because the 95-year-old you will be proud if you did help people and disappointed if you didn’t.” —Marshall Goldsmith

My brother Glenn once said that he wanted a U-Haul hooked to his hearse because he always heard “you never see a U-Haul behind a hearse.” To do away with the saying “that you can’t take it with you when you go”. So, he wanted it to look like he was taking it with him when he goes.

I really love what Pastor Andy Stanley said once, “You can’t take it with you so why don’t so just send it on ahead?” meaning the rewards we will have when the Believer gets to heaven.

Luke 12:32-34 (NKJV)
³² Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
³³ Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.
³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The average life span is 70 to 75 years. And as 5600 people die each day, someday you would be part of them. You can’t change this fate so you have to make a choice on how you are going to live here and what you are going to face on the other side.

Have you considered that feeling when someone tells you: “one day you’ll leave this world behind?” It sounds awful. Although it is very common to almost all of us.

You are going to either going live forever in Heaven or Hell and next week we will see the choice we can make.

No wonder, the wisest man ever to live on earth King Solomon the son of King David has observed almost everything happening under the sun. He, therefore, concluded that life is meaningless with out God in our lives to give us purpose.

Ecclesiastes 1:1-14 (NLT2)
¹ These are the words of the Teacher, King David’s son, who ruled in Jerusalem.
² “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!”
³ What do people get for all their hard work under the sun?
⁴ Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes.
⁵ The sun rises and the sun sets, then hurries around to rise again.
⁶ The wind blows south, and then turns north. Around and around it goes, blowing in circles.
⁷ Rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows out again to the sea.
⁸ Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.
⁹ History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.
¹⁰ Sometimes people say, “Here is something new!” But actually it is old; nothing is ever truly new.
¹¹ We don’t remember what happened in the past, and in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now.
¹² I, the Teacher, was king of Israel, and I lived in Jerusalem.
¹³ I devoted myself to search for understanding and to explore by wisdom everything being done under heaven. I soon discovered that God has dealt a tragic existence to the human race.
¹⁴ I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind.

Something of this sort is still rolling out in this century and there is hope, in the end, people would be able to live hundreds of years. In his defense, he said prolonging life artificially is tasteless. And so, he died elegantly – Albert Einstein.

A nurse in a Hospice Hospital told me after my Dad pass from this world to Glory. That she has seen believers pass away so peacefully, as My Dad did. He was laying there that last day and he opened his eyes and reached and stretched for the celling he wouldn’t take his eyes off of what he saw no matter who called his name. I think he got a glimpse of where he was going. Then he laid back said my Mothers name and puckered up and kissed her, then he closed his eyes and a few hours latter he went home to be with the Lord.

But the nurse said she had also seen the others that didn’t have a relationship with Jesus, and how the screamed and cried out as the left this world behind.

She said she never heard a person say that they wished they spent more time at work, or more time away from their family, more time fussing and disagreeing with family and friends. No, she said they always say if I could do it over, I would spend more time with and love my family more.

As you have seen “Where will you be When you get where you are going?” has nothing with the destinations here but it does on where you will spend eternity.

But in the pages of the Scripture, you can find “Eternal Life”

And you can’t prevent death from knocking at your door. All the things you have acquired would be left out. Listen to advice and live a life worthy of remembrance. I mean, a life that would glorify God.

Uh oh, that could demoralize you if you are currently chasing your dreams. But this shouldn’t stop you from working hard to make money, build your dream house and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

But whiles you wake up each morning, remember that one day you would not see the sunlight. This is the greatest fate that is common to man, animals, the rich, the poor, the wise and the fool as well.

The Bible Reminds You: One Day You Will Leave Everything Behind

The Bible has a chilling warning for anyone living under the sun. God has already told you: your days are numbered. But for Christians, we know that we are travelers on this earth.

We have been therefore reminded that it is useless to store your treasure on earth where moth can destroy. By knowing that one day you’ll leave this world behind, why not store your treasure in heaven?

Earthly riches are useless. It is not a sin to acquire wealth or to be rich though. But money and wealth don’t satisfy. It is better to follow Christ Jesus. Because in Him you can find everything, including eternal life. And one day you will see as a believer what is says in the book of Revelation

Revelation 21:1-7 (NLT2)
¹ Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone.
² And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
³ I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.
⁴ He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
⁵ And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”
⁶ And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life.
⁷ All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.

And before you take your last breath you must live a life that will touch the heart of people who need your help. We as believers know we are just passing through. Or as the Bible puts it, we are sojourner’s

The term sojourner in the Bible refers to a person who is just passing through. Synonyms in various translations are foreigner, exile, and alien. Example’s:

During the exodus from Egypt, the Israelites were sojourners in the wilderness (Psalm 105:12–13; 1 Chronicles 16:19). Even though they remained in the wilderness for forty years, it was not their home (Numbers 14:33–34). They were merely sojourners there, yearning for the Promised Land God would give them for a permanent home.

Abraham was a sojourner in Egypt when a famine swept the Promised Land (Genesis 12:10). Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus were also sojourners in Egypt when Herod sought to kill Him (Matthew 2:13–15). And the apostle Paul sojourned from region to region, starting churches and preaching the gospel (Acts 13:1–3, 13–14, 51). All of these people lived for a short time in foreign places.

Peter wrote his first letter “to the elect who are sojourners of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia” (1 Peter 1:1, ASV). Other versions have “exiles,” “foreigners,” “strangers,” or “refugees.” The recipients of 1 Peter were persecuted Christian Jews who had been forced to leave Jerusalem and were now residing in what we would call Asia Minor. In the next chapter, Peter’s use of the term sojourners takes on a more spiritual connotation: “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul” (1 Peter 2:11).

Peter’s appeal for holiness was based on the identity of his readers. They were Christians, bought by the blood of Jesus and made joint heirs with Him for eternity (Romans 8:17). They were not citizens of this world, only sojourners in it. They were not to adopt its customs or embrace its worldview (Romans 12:1–2). As sojourners, Christians must exemplify the values and standards of their permanent home, heaven. Paul reiterates that theme in Philippians 3:20, reminding the church that “our citizenship is in heaven.” We are sojourners here, ambassadors for our Father, the King (2 Corinthians 5:20).

This world is not our home. The knowledge that we are sojourners on this earth keeps us from setting our hearts on its treasures. Jesus warned us that this world’s treasures are subject to loss. Therefore, we must store up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:19–20). We are to hold all God gives us with open hands, knowing that any earthly gain is only temporary. Sojourners don’t put down deep roots in the places where they reside because they know they will soon move on. Likewise, Christians don’t pour their hearts and passions into things that won’t last. The wise Christian is one who lives every day with bags packed, ready to move on when God directs and eager to vacate this world when our Father calls us home.

There is a native American proverb that says: “anytime the sun rises from the East and sets in the West; it takes part of your life”.

Ecclesiastes 12:8-14 (NLT2)
⁸ “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless.”
⁹ Keep this in mind: The Teacher was considered wise, and he taught the people everything he knew. He listened carefully to many proverbs, studying and classifying them.
¹⁰ The Teacher sought to find just the right words to express truths clearly.
¹¹ The words of the wise are like cattle prods—painful but helpful. Their collected sayings are like a nail-studded stick with which a shepherd drives the sheep.
¹² But, my child, let me give you some further advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out.
¹³ That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.
¹⁴ God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.

Knowing God, or serving this world are the destination we have!  So:

“Where Will You Be When You Get Where You Are Going?”

“Where Will You Be When You Get Where You Are Going”

Part 2

For the Believer When We get there. 

 

Philippians 3:12-14 (NKJV)
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.

  

Pastor Ben Turner “If you’re going to hammer build something.”

The Resolutions of Jonathan Edward’s

(Written before age 20)

“The first and greatest homegrown American philosopher”

“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” (1741).

Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat Him, by His grace, to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to His will.’

1 – Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to the glory of God, and my own good, profit, and pleasure… To do whatever I think to be my duty… for the good and advantage of mankind in general. ”
4 – Resolved, Never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body less or more, but what tends to the glory of God…’
5 – Resolved, Never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.
6 – Resolved, To live with all my might, while I do live.
7 – Resolved, Never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.
28 – Resolved, To study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive, myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.
43 – Resolved, Never, henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God’s.
46 – Resolved, Never to allow the least measure of any fretting or uneasiness at my father or mother.
70 – Resolved, (That) there be something of benevolence in all I speak. – (Edwards resolved to read these resolutions over once a week!).

For the Prize:

“Prize” (1017) (brabeion from brabeus = assign the prize in a public game) refers to a gift received as a prize or reward as result of having won in competition. It is a prize such as a wreath or garland bestowed on victors in the contests of the Greeks

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NKJV)
²⁴ Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.
²⁵ And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
²⁶ Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.
²⁷ But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Do you want to win the race and set before you?

Then check your direction and make sure you are moving in God’s direction. Everyone goes somewhere in life.

Christianity is not about participation trophy, its about earning a trophy, a prize.

John Macarthur interprets the “prize” as:

“To be made like Christ…What’s going to happen when that upward call comes? You’re going to be like…Christ. The goal is the prize, the prize is the goal. So Paul says, “Look, the goal of my life is to be like Christ and that’s also the reward of my race”…some day I will be like Christ, that’s the prize that God gives to the one who runs the race. The goal is to be like Christ, perfection in Christ. The prize is to be like Christ, perfection in Christ. Someday we’ll be like Him for we shall see Him as He is”

1 John 3:2 (NKJV)
² Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

Of the High Call of God in Christ Jesus:

“Upward” (507) (ano) means above or in a higher place. The idea of “a calling which is from heaven and to heaven.” The direction is away from self and toward new heights of spiritual attainment.

Romans 8:28-30 (NKJV)
²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
²⁹ For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
³⁰ Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Romans 9:23-24 (NKJV)
²³ and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory,
²⁴ even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

1 Thessalonians 2:12-13 (NKJV)
¹² that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 (NKJV)
¹³ But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth,
¹⁴ to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 3:1 (NKJV)
¹ Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,

1 Peter 1:3 (NKJV)
³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1 Peter 4:12-13 (NKJV)
¹² Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
¹³ but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

1 Peter 5:10-11 (NKJV)
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.

2 Peter 1:3 (NKJV)
³ as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

C H Spurgeon in Morning and evening, October 11 Evening:

Test Your Calling:
Is it a “High Calling”?
“Has it ennobled your heart, and set it upon heavenly things?
Has it elevated your hopes, your tastes, your desires?
Has it upraised the constant tenor of your life, so that you spend it with God and for God?”

Acts 22:10 (NKJV)
So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.’

Philippians 3:12-14 (NKJV)
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.
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,
I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

 

So, the question is:  “Where Will You Be When You Get Where You Are Going?”

 

Will it be Crossing the finish line running your best or sitting on the side lines doing nothing?

 

PRAYER
Grant unto me grace, O Lord, that I may both perceive and know what things I ought to do and may also have grace and power faithfully to fulfill the same. AMEN.
 

“Where Will You Be When You Get Where You Are Going”

Part 1 of 4

 

For the Believer While We are Here.  

As we have come into the New Year, I tend to reflect on the past and look toward the future. And lately it’s been more past than future.

But this week I was reminded of a sermon that I heard years ago about getting on fire for the Lord. And in that sermon, the minister spoke of ashes as yesterday’s fire. I think we need to rekindle that fire not only in me but in all of us. I don’t want to live in the ashes but in what is ahead of me with God and His glory.

 

Philippians 3:12-14 (NKJV)
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.

“Press” (1377) (dioko) means to follow or press hard after, to pursue with earnestness and diligence in order to obtain, to go after with the desire of obtaining. It gives us the picture of going on the track of something like the hounds pursuing after the fox and implying a continuing effort to overtake, reach, or attain the goal. Note here the verb dioko is in the present tense, emphasizing the lifelong commitment that gripped and guided Paul.

David Livingstone, pioneer medical missionary to Africa upon returning to Great Britain was asked,

“Where do you want to go now?”

Without hesitation, like the good Christian racer he was, Livingstone replied…

“I am ready to go anywhere provided it be forward.” (Amen!)

C H Spurgeon explains that the metaphor of a Christian race implies progress onward writing that…

So far as acceptance with God is concerned a Christian is complete in Christ as soon as he believes. But while the work of Christ for us is complete, that of the Holy Spirit in us is not complete, but is continually carried on from day to day. The condition in which every believer should be found is that of progress. Nearly every figure by which Christians are described implies this. We are plants in the Lord’s field, but we are sown that we may grow. “First the blade,” etc. We are born into the family of God; but there are babes, little children, etc. Is the Christian a pilgrim? Then he must not sit down as if rooted to a place. Is he a warrior, wrestler, etc.? These figures are the very opposite of idleness.

Toward the Goal: kata, skopos

“Toward” (2596) (kata) literally means “down” so it could be translated “down upon the goal”. What a powerful picture Paul paints – it’s the idea of the runner “bearing down upon” the goal. We’ve all seen the Olympic runners bearing down as they near the goal. They for an earthly goal, an earthly crown. Saints bear down on the goal Who is Jesus Himself to Whom we must continually look to as we run.

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)
¹ Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The prize is Christ likeness. What a goal for a Christian!

“Goal” (4649) (skopos) is the first word in the Greek sentence which emphasizes its importance. “Skopos” refers that on which the eye is fixed, the distant mark looked at, the goal or end that one has in view. Skopos was used to refer to a target for shooting and in the present context refers to a moral and spiritual target.

Using a similar athletic metaphor in 1 Corinthians 9:26, Paul declares that because of the glorious truth that Christian racers will receive an imperishable wreath (crown),

1 Corinthians 9:26 (NKJV)
²⁶ Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus, I fight: not as one who beats the air.

(Like a serious athlete in training for the Olympic prize, Paul is focused on the goal, single minded, desiring every action to count toward that specific goal).”

Paul is drawing a picture in the reader’s mind of the Olympic runners flying toward the finish each one seeking to be the first to break the tape and win the coveted perishable wreath (which was associated with great honor and financial reward in the racer’s home city state).

Dwight Pentecost commenting on “the goal” notes that…

Often failure in the Christian race comes because we forget what the goal is. That is the danger the Philippians face. They have as the goal of their lives the approval of the company of saints with whom they live. That goal is difficult to attain but not impossible. They have forgotten that the goal of the believer’s life is not to please men. The goal of the believer’s life is to please the Lord Jesus Christ….We know from Scripture that perfect conformity to Jesus Christ awaits our translation into His glorious presence. Until that moment there is a race to be run. There is no room for carelessness, indifference, or laziness…so that I might attain the prize that there is in the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. The high calling of God is to be like His Son. In verse 14 the apostle is not speaking of the prize that God gives the believer as the victor and over comer in the race. Other passages of Scripture teach that. Paul says, “For me there is a prize in the high calling that God gave us in Christ. It is to be like Him.” And as the charioteer drives his horses to overextend themselves to reach the goal, Paul drives himself because he wants to accomplish that purpose Christ had for him when He saved him, and separated him to Himself.” (Pentecost, J. D. The joy of living : A study of Philippians. Page 150. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications

Consider for a moment the vanity of past achievements as compared to the weight of future glory. There is simply no comparison!

In his last recorded message to Timothy, Paul used this same athletic metaphor describing the fact that he had crossed the finish line and was awaiting his prize, declaring…

2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NKJV)
⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
⁸ Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

(Crown (4735) (stephanos from stepho = to encircle, twine or wreathe) was a wreath made of foliage or designed to resemble foliage and worn by one of high status or held in high regard.

The stephanos was literally an adornment worn around the head as a crown of victory in the Greek athletic games, this reward being given to the runner who crossed the goal first, to the disc thrower with the longest toss, etc. Apart from recognition of athletes and winners of various kinds of competitions, in the Greco-Roman world, the awarding of a crown or wreath signified appreciation for exceptional contributions to the state or groups within it. The recipients were usually public officials or civic-minded persons serving at their own expense

“Years ago, a group of Englishmen tried to conquer Mt. Everest. They pressed on against cold, wind, blizzards, and avalanches. When they came within 2,000 feet of the peak, they set up camp. Two men, Mallory and Irvine, eagerly pressed on, expecting to return in about 16 hours. They never came back. The official record said simply:

“When last seen, they were heading toward the summit.”

Whatever the obstacles, let’s keep pressing on in the upward call of God, trusting in Him and not ourselves. At life’s end, may it be said of us: “When last seen, they were heading toward the summit!”

(Our Daily Bread)

When the pathway seems long,
When temptation is strong,
When your strength’s almost gone—
That’s the time to press on. —Hess

When the pressure is on, press on!
(Keep heading to the “Summit”)

 

I Don’t Understand

by E. DeWayne Swann

The preacher talked of mercy and how it was freely given,

The preacher talked of Grace and how that Jesus took my place,

The preacher told of forgiveness and said all we had to do was ask,

A love that’s everlasting, A love that will forever last,

So, I bowed my head and I ask Jesus into my heart,

He promised He would never leave me, and we would never part.

But,

I don’t understand that Mercy, And I don’t understand that Grace

I don’t understand why He died on that cross, and why that He took my place.

The number of times I’ve fallen, the number of times I’ve sinned

The number of times I’ve told him I’ll never do that again

And before the day is out,

I’ll do the same old thing,

And then I’ll ask for His forgiveness,

And He’s already forgiven me of my sin.

So,

I really don’t understand that Mercy, And I really don’t understand that Grace

I don’t understand why He died on that cross, and why that He took my place.

I know His mercy is shared by each and every one,

I know His Grace is freely given to any who will ask,

God gave us the final sacrifice when He gave us his Son

He forgave us for all our sins, Now and the future and any we have done,

It was freely given to all people like me and you,

The day that Jesus said Father forgive them for they know not what they do.

But,

I may never understand that Mercy, And I may never understand that Grace

I may never understand why He died on that cross, and why that He took my place.

One day I’ll surely see Him, and maybe I’ll understand,

When He put His arms around me with His nail pierced hands,

When We walk the streets of glory,

And He tells that old, old story,

Of how that blood was shed for me,

Then maybe on that day I will see.

And then,

I might understand His Mercy, And I might understand His Grace

I might understand why He died on His cross, and why He had to take my place.

Until then,

I truly thank him for His Mercy, And I truly thank him for His Grace

And I truly thank Him that He died on His cross, and that He took my place.

 

Milk Your Own Cow

1 Peter 2:2 (KJV) As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

Patrick was an Irish Catholic, who for years had longed for the assurance of peace with God. A visiting tourist, who fell into conversation with him, left him a copy of the New Testament, the Douay version, approved by the officials of his church. Through reading this, Pat was brought to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, and from that time on, read and studied his Testament with eagerness, ever seeking a deeper knowledge of the things of God.

The parish priest, who had missed him from the regular services, called on him and found him deep in the study of the Word.

“Pat,” he asked, “what is that book you are reading?”

“Sure, your riverence,” was the reply, “it’s the New Testament.”

In horrified accents the priest exclaimed, “The New Testament! Why, Pat, that’s not a book for the likes of you. You’ll be getting all kinds of wild notions from reading it and will be running off into heresy.”

“But, your riverence,” remonstrated Pat, “I have just been reading here—it’s the blessed apostle Peter himself that wrote it—’As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,’ and sure it’s a newborn babe in Christ I am and it’s the milk of the Word I’m after. So I can’t see the harm of reading the Testament.”

“Ah,” said the priest, “It’s perfectly true, Patrick, that you need the milk of the Word, but the Almighty has appointed the clergy to be the milkmen. The clergy go to the college and the seminary and learn the meaning of the Word and then when the people come to the Church, we give it to them as they are able to bear it, and explain it in a way that they won’t misunderstand.”

“Well, sure, your riverence,” said Pat, “you know I kape a cow of me own out there in the barn, and when I was sick, sometime ago, I had to hire a man to milk the cow and I soon found he was shtealin’ half the milk and fillin’ the bucket up with water, and sure it was awful weak milk I was gettin’. But now that I am well again, I have let him go and I am milkin’ me own cow, and so it’s the rich cream I am gettin’ once more. And your riverence, when I was dependin’ on you for the milk of the Word, sure it was the blue, watery stuff you were givin’ me. But now I am milkin’ me own cow and enjoyin’ the cream of the Word all the time.”

We may well emulate Patrick and each for himself milk his own cow and thus get God’s Word firsthand as He opens it up by the Holy Spirit.

Illustrations of Bible Truth.

 Children Go Where I Send You

There’s and 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 can’t find anywhere in the proper content that the Word of God says go to church, as far as that goes, there wasn’t a Church as we know it at the time anyways. The Church as we know it didn’t 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 collectively Worship and Praise a living Savior. We need the Church to educate and to 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 safe 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 reach a lost and dyeing 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 not like us, they don’t sing like us, they don’t read the same translation as we do, they don’t dress like us, they don’t 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”.

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, if it’s an office, a factory, 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’s 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 anyone 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 the 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 make the verse say we are to herald as a public crier, especially 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 the blessing (Pray) 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 a number of people, those who served him and the people around his table. He has brought a number of 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 want to hear that or would respond to well to that. What you have to do is live it in front of them in such a way to let your life preach the Word.

I once had a company and worked with a quite a few different people, I had one man that was only there a few months. I though 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, don’t 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 does my neighbor have, namely YOU! Jesus said “Go and do likewise.”

My business partner which 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, 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 that “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 to much left over would you like it? Again, compassion with dignity. Our new worker and now friend saw God’s hand in supplying his need,

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 on 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?”

 

From Chapter 13  “Something to Ponder”

Let Your Light So Shine

The Lit Cross

Years ago, at my home Church in Powder Springs, Georgia. On the front of the Church building there was a huge Cross that stayed lit up all night. They say you could see it from miles away from the air.

I was there late one night with my prayer partner Chuck Sprayberry, standing in front of the cross around 12:30 in the morning when a man came pulling into the Church parking lot, one could tell that this man had been drinking but not to a point of intoxication. He said he needed to talk to someone and when he seen the cross, he knew that this was the place to stop.

We began to witness to him and share the gospel. Then he asks a few questions of his own, the first, was does he have to give up drinking alcohol? And before Chuck could answer I blurted out NO!

You could almost hear Chucks jaw hit the concrete, then the man ask how about smoking I again said NO, you don’t have to give that up either, Chuck later told me at that point he thought I had lost prospective, and he was about to take over, but he (Chuck) knew me and trusted I knew what I was saying, then the grand finale he asked if he had to give up going to nude bars? And again, I said NO!

No, you don’t have to give up anything to follow Christ I told him, as my buddy Chuck stood there with the look of confusion on his face. But then I said that if he met the Jesus that I knew he would be willing to give up whatever God lead him give up in time. And it would not be difficult.

The man recognized his condition, and said he couldn’t make a decision at this time but promised that he would come back when he hadn’t been drinking. I offered to get his number, and we even offered ours. But he refused.

We never saw him again.

See we often sing at the invitation in a church service:

Just as I Am:

1. Just as I am, without one plea,

but that thy blood was shed for me,

and that thou bidst me come to thee,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

2. Just as I am, and waiting not

to rid my soul of one dark blot,

to thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

3. Just as I am, though tossed about

with many a conflict, many a doubt,

fighting and fears within, without,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

4. Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;

sight, riches, healing of the mind,

yea, all I need in thee to find,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

5. Just as I am, thou wilt receive,

wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;

because thy promise I believe,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

6. Just as I am, thy love unknown

hath broken every barrier down;

now, to be thine, yea thine alone,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

 Text: Charlotte Elliott, 1789-1871

Music: William B. Bradbury, 1816-1868

Now go back and read the bold print only

See the problem is we don’t want people just as they are, we want them just as I am. See we want them changed to suit us before they come to church.

We want them to be what we think Christians should be, to many times we let the lost, needy, hurting, tattooed, pierced, drunkard, drug addict, dirty, non-suite wearing person walk right out the door and straight to HELL just because they don’t fit OUR way thinking.

1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” NKJV

Well that’s old testament well then look at this.

John 7:24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment. NKJV

2 Corinthians 10:7 Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s.  NKJV

Jesus said Himself in Matthews 11:28-30

Matthews 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.  NKJV

Did you get that “and my burden is light.”? “Take my yoke” my is Jesus’ not the Church “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Don’t get me wrong Accepting Jesus cost you nothing, Following Jesus can cost you everything, but it is well worth it.

A friend of mine was a pilot and said his instruments went out one night, and he was trying to find his way back home to McCollum airport in Kennesaw, Georgia. His fuel was getting low, and he was starting to panic when he saw the Cross. That big Cross on front of the Church. And then he knew where he was, and he found his way back home. Isn’t that what we all need to do? Look for the Cross and follow it Home.

I will glory in the Cross

By Dottie Rambo.

I boast not of works or tell of good deeds

For naught have I done to merit his grace

All glory and praise shall rest upon him

So willing to die in my place.

My trophies and crowns, my robe stained with sin

Twas all that I had to lay at his feet

Unworthy to eat from the table of life

Till love made provision for me.

I will glory in the cross

In the cross

Lest his suffering all be in vain

I will weep no more for the cross that he bore

I will glory in the cross.

Well they boarded over the lit cross, it doesn’t shine for all to see, the day that they did that it broke my heart, I remembered the night at the Cross and the story of the pilot, and I can’t help but wonder how many more people was led to that Big Old Lit Cross in search of hope, peace and rest. Just understand all that can be found at the foot of Old Rugged Cross.

Matt 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.  NKJV

Please don’t board up your Lit Cross, don’t put your light under a basket, do what you do for the glory of God.

Again, I promise you people are watching you.

Oh, when in tough times, let your Light Shine Bright.

Shine, shine for all to see, not just the church crowd.

Let the neighbors see God shine through you.

Let the waiter and waitress see the light shine through you.

Let the guy that cut you off on the interstate see the light shine through you.

In everything let Gods glory shine through you.

Friend

Friend, it’s a word that we throw around a lot, but the question is do you know what a friend is? My computer programs definition goes as follows:

 

Friend [frend] Noun plural noun: friends, plural noun: Friends

1. a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of sexual or family relations. “she’s a friend of mine”

synonyms companion, bosom friend, best friend, close friend, intimate, confidante, confidant, familiar, soul mate, alter ego, second self, shadow, playmate, playfellow, classmate, schoolmate, workmate, ally, comrade, associate, sister, brother, pal, bosom pal, buddy, bosom buddy, chum, spar, sidekick, crony, main man…  antonyms enemy

2. a member of the Religious Society of Friends; a Quaker.

Verb; third person present: friends, present participle: friending, past tense: friended, past participle: friended

1. add (someone) to a list of contacts associated with a social networking website.

“I am friended by 29 people who I have not friended back”

2. befriend (someone).

 

origin

Old English frēond, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vriend and German Freund, from an Indo-European root meaning ‘to love’, shared by free.

 

In the late 1990s I had the pleasure of being our Church sound coordinator, this also meant that I was responsible for running the sound for our choir. Running the sound for the choir also came the responsibility of going with them on singing appointments. I really enjoyed and loved mixing the sound for the Church and the choir as long as we were at our Church, or close to home where I could drive. The Church choir had gotten a pretty good reputation at that time for being anointed. God really seemed to use us a lot at that time.

The problem was we were invited to do the Smoky Mountain Jubilee in Gatlinburg Tennessee, which wasn’t too bad because I would ride up with the drummer which is dear friend and help him set up his kit. Tennessee wasn’t too bad of a ride and the Evangelist that ran the Jubilee also was a Pastor of a Church in Virginia, and he invited us to go to his annual Church Jubilee. So, now, we are going to go to Virginia and minister there.

There is one of many reasons that I don’t want to go, the main reason is the same reason I don’t like to fly, the same reason I don’t like to be in an elevator, the same reason that I don’t like being in the back of a large crowd. I am, and have always been claustrophobic. I don’t like closed in places and I really don’t like being anywhere that I can’t control when and where I can stop and get out of the room or of the vehicle. With that known by our pastor Snyder, he came to me and asked me to go with them and that I could have any seat on the bus that they chartered. I asked any and he assured me any. So, I insisted that I drive, knowing that that wasn’t going to happen and knowing that I didn’t trust my little S 10 truck to make the trip, I thought that I would get out of going, I did not.

Now I am on a bus that I don’t want to be on and going somewhere that I didn’t want to go. As I have stated I love my Church and the choir and mixing the music and singers, I went not to please God but to please man, and that is never the reason to minister, but God had me where he wanted me for a reason.

I love good preaching and I truly love anointed preachers, such as Tony Evans, Ike Reighard, Dr. Charles Stanley, Andy Stanley, and on and on. A few weeks before we headed out on this outing, I had the chance to go to the Bailey Smith Real Evangelism Conference, in Marietta, Georgia at Roswell Street Baptist Church, Pastored by Nelson Price. After attending there for a week, I had an opportunity to purchase a number of cassette tapes. (I said that this was in the 90s didn’t I) There were some great sermons and testimonies on these tapes and some would just break your heart.  So, I decided that I would bring all my tapes and my little tape player, some headphones and enough batteries to make the trip and back, with batteries to spare. Now I was hoping that I could just submerge myself in preaching and never contemplate on being on a bus full of people and having little to no control over the situation.

Now as I am set, hoping and praying that no one would bother me and remind me of my surrounding’s. I was setting alone and I liked it that way, everyone else was talking and getting ready for a great time together, and as the bus was loading up to go. I made sure that I got a seat next to a window and not too far from the front so if I had a meltdown, I could be drugged off the bus rather easily. People already knew who they wanted to be with and where they wanted to sit. So, all was going just the way I wanted it to go, Until, (I have said in the past “until” is hardly ever a good word to hear in a story). She said may I sit with you? And everything inside me was screaming NO! But I tried to conjure up a smile and said sure.

I spent most of my time in that Church at that time either in the sound room or in the pulpit. I am sorry to say that I am not much of a social person, don’t get me wrong, I love people and I care deeply for their souls. But, because of certain circumstances I got to a point in my life where I was really careful who I let get close to me. Way too many people have come into my life and I have gotten really close to them and now they are gone. I was not on that bus but for one reason and one reason only and that was to get to our destination and do my responsibility. Not to socialize and definitely not to make any new friends. But I believe that God had other plans.

As I recall I told her she could sit with me if she left me alone, her name is Dianne, she seemed to be okay with that because she had a book she wanted to read and acted as if she didn’t want to be bothered either. Boy was I wrong about not wanting to talk with me. Her son is our drummer and a great friend of mine, so I thought she would be okay to be around because I always enjoy being around Mark.

As the trip progressed, she started asking me questions, and I thought why not talk maybe it will get my mind off the fact that I was still on a bus. It didn’t work, so to get her quite I offered for her to listen to some of my tapes, and she took me up on the offer. As she sat there listening, I saw her starting to tear up and then I remembered that I just gave her the tape of Ike Reighard testimony. It is a great sermon and testimony, and it broke her heart. After listening to it, she got yet another tape and then after completing it she said you sure listen to some tear jerkers. We then started talking about what she had been listening to. If you want a preacher to be your friend just ask him a spiritual question about the Word of God and sit back and enjoy the ride.

That happened over twenty years ago, and to this day I consider her as one of the few friends that I call close. She later came to work as my company office manager and was by far the best employee I ever had. She was encouraging when I need encouraging, and never worries about my feelings when it comes to setting me straight when I start to drift. We all need people like that in our life. She and her husband are now in the Journey Group that I have the honor of teaching, and is someone I love dearly. You just never know who God is going to put in your life and for what reason.

 

Oswald Chambers said, “Friendship is rare on earth. It means identity in Thought and Heart and Spirit.”

 

1. S. Lewis said friendships are discovered when you say, “What, you too?! I thought I was the only one” (Four Loves, 248).

 

Very few people have met that criteria in my life and I bet the same can be said for most of us. We claim hundreds or even thousands of friends on Facebook and other social media outlets, and having never met many of them, how can they be friends.

 

In the book of John, it says:

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” … and then Jesus continues “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you”.  NKJV

 

As of the writing of this we as a nation just remembered the 75th anniversary of “D Day” and how these men of the greatest generation of Americans

 

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

“What a Friend We Have in Jesus” is a Christian hymn originally written by preacher Joseph M. Scriven as a poem in 1855 to comfort his mother who was living in Ireland while he was in Canada. Scriven originally published the poem anonymously, and only received full credit for it in the 1880s. The tune to the hymn was composed by Charles Crozat Converse in 1868. William Bolcom composed a setting of the hymn.

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

What a friend we have in Jesus. All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged— Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful? Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness; Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden? Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge—Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms He’ll take and shield thee. Thou wilt find a solace there.

Blessed Savior. Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear;

May we ever, Lord, be bringing All to Thee in earnest prayer.

Soon in glory bright, unclouded. There will be no need for prayer—

Rapture, praise, and endless worship Will be our sweet portion there.

 

As Christians, we should know that Jesus is our friend, but we need to make sure that we introduce the surrounding people to Him also. In one of the talks in a Christian weekend retreat that I work with on occasion, says “make a friend, be a friend, and bring that friend to Jesus”.

I have this penned in the back of my Bible

“If I just do my thing and you do yours, we stand in the danger of losing each other and ourselves, we are fully ourselves only in the relation to each other, the “I” detached from the “thou”, is disintegrating. I do not find you by chance, I find you by an active life of reaching out” by Walter Tubbs

Did Jesus not say in Mark 16:15 …” Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. NKJV

 

All the world and let everyone as you come in contact with them know about Jesus. As it’s been said “no one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care”.

 

I love the Randy Newman song for “Toy Story”:

 

“You’ve Got A Friend in Me”.

You’ve got a friend in me, You’ve got a friend in me,

When the road looks rough ahead, And you’re miles and miles,

From your nice warm bed, You just remember what your old pal said,

Boy, you’ve got a friend in me, Yeah, you’ve got a friend in me.

 

You’ve got a friend in me, You’ve got a friend in me,

You’ve got troubles, I’ve got ’em too, There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you,

We stick together and we see it through, Cause you’ve got a friend in me,

You’ve got a friend in me.

 

Some other folks might be A little bit smarter than I am,

Bigger and stronger too, Maybe,

But none of them will ever love you, The way I do,

It’s me and you, boy.

 

And as the years go by, Our friendship will never die,

You’re gonna see it’s our destiny, You’ve got a friend in me,

You’ve got a friend in me, You’ve got a friend in me.

 

The word friend is found some 58 times in the NKJV, 22 of those are in the New Testament. Jesus used the word 14 of those 22 times.

 

Why does one need a friend, Solomon said in Ecclesiastes that two is better than one, and we need to make sure the one with our one is the one that God desires for us to have in our lives?

 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NKJV)

9 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.

10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.

11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?

12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

 

We have to be very careful as to not only to whom you call friend and to whom you let in your life as a friend.

 

I like what a young preacher in our church once said in one of his first sermons, and that is if you take a white glove and put it on your hand and then submerge that hand in mud, the glove gets muddy. It is never said that the mud got glovie. (I know that glovie is not a word, but do you get the point.)

 

So, we need to be very careful who we accept as a real friend, if the person brings you down, takes you away from the ones that once lifted you up. If that person takes you places that you once wouldn’t go because it would hurt your testimony. If that person uses language that brings dishonor to God and make you look cheap. So, if that person has more influence on you and you start emulating them instead of representing Christ. There should be warning horns going off big time in your heart and mind. You should step back and look and see if you are getting muddy or if they are getting glovie. My bet is the mud is winning, if you step back from real friends and start following this kind of people you are not doing them any good, and you are really not doing you any good either.

 

Well Jesus hung out with sinners and bad people. Yes, He did, and he showed them love and brought them around to His way, by the example that He led. Not by acting like them. I am not saying you can’t have bad people in your life as friends, I am saying don’t let them lead you away from the witness that took you years to build up. Satan would have nothing better than to tare you down.

Remember “Make a friend, be a friend, and bring that friend to Jesus.” Not make a friend, be a friend, let that friend take you from Jesus.

So, here is the question, are you getting muddy or the ones you are hanging with getting glovie? If you are a Christian and you allow someone to take you down the wrong road, and you are allowing them to tear down the witness that God had in you then I say it’s time to do as Joshua said in the book that carry’s his name:

Joshua 24:15 (NKJV)

15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

 

You have to make a choice whether to follow God or follow the world! Sometimes the one that is leading you down the wrong road may be waiting for you to make a stand and say NO, I’m going to follow God. Just so they can see if this Christianity stuff is real in your life and if, so then they may want to follow Christ themselves.

 

James 4:4 (NKJV)

4 … Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

 

As I have said in the past and am sure I will say again and again. When God is talking about neighbors and friends, I don’t think he is talking about what kind of friend you have but what kind of friend does your friend have namely, YOU.  Are you loving that friend enough to say for me, I will serve the LORD! Do you love them enough to let them leave, because Jesus did? He gives us a choice, to love them and live for Him and lead them out of hell. Or watch them go on their way while destroying your testimony and your witness.

I beg you to love them enough to bring them to Christ. “Make a friend, be a friend, and bring that friend to Jesus.” That is real love.  They are worth your love, but not at the expense of taking away the love you once had for God and his word.

Let them see the Love of the Lord in you and they may just want it to. It’s been my experience that most people living a Godless life are looking for something and I promise you that something is God himself.

I heard a preacher say once that he could tell the ones not as close to God as they once were. They were in the Church down front, then about half-way back then in the back, then in the overflow, then they were gone. It’s always gradual. One small step at a time away from Christ and for every step you make away its one more step closer to Satan and his way of life, which leads to destruction.

I once had a great quiet time and now my time is quiet. I once went to church religiously (did you see what I did there?) now my religion is anything except Christ. I once went to Sunday School or Small Group and now I am in places that I know that God is heartbroken over. Does He stop loving you? NEVER!!! But there will come a time that someone that once watched how much you loved God and how you wouldn’t compromise your belief in Him. They are seeing something different, and they may say if that is Christianity, I want no part of it. Is your moment of enjoyment worthy of their soul?

As I stated at the beginning, I have a number of people that I know, but I only have a few people that I call Friend. God calls everyone his friend. Are you in need of a friend let me tell you where to get a friend?

 

Proverbs 18:24 (NKJV)

24 A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

 

Can we find a friend so faithful? Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness; Are we weak and heavy-laden? Cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge—Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer! In His arms He’ll take and shield thee. Thou wilt find a solace there. Blessed Savior. Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear; May we ever, Lord, be bringing All to Thee in earnest prayer.

 

Can we find a friend so faithful? Yes, His name is Jesus!!

 

I hope and pray that the ones that call me friend that I live up to their expectation. I hope that when my name is spoken that that people can say he is my friend.

I hope that I follow the example set before me in Christ Jesus.

I hope if you ever have called me friend that you still can.

But I know me, I know that I have let people down, I know that I probably have said or done something that I shouldn’t have said or done. And hope and pray that my friends can forgive me and that I can forgive my friends that have let me down.

 

The example that is set before us is Jesus himself. He forgave us even before we let him down and keeps loving us anyways. Let’s try to live that way and remember:

 

“Make a friend, be a friend, and bring that friend to Jesus.”

And know this “You’ve Got A Friend in Me”

From “Something to Ponder”

It’s not my Fault!

Or was it?

 

Being the youngest of five, I always had someone to blame for my wrong doings. (Not that I did that many things wrong.) I have one brother that rarely did anything bad.

If something went wrong and the question was asked “Who did this?”, the answer was always Ray. Knowing that he never did wrong and would be forgiven for the minor offense very quickly rather than me messing up again.

Even after we were grown and Ray was in basic training for the United States Air Force in Texas, a question by my Mother went like this, “who left that cup on the counter,” or “who left that plate on the end table” or and one of my favorites, my Dad’s shoes in the floor and the question was “who do these shoes belong to?” and the answer was always “Ray.” No matter the only people in the house all day was me and my Dad, the answer was “Ray”

It’s good to have a person to blame things on, that way it’s not my fault if I am wrong. As I have mentioned I was raised in a somewhat legalistic Church, the hair had to be long on a girl and short on a guy. Women had to wear dresses, and they had to be long, and all men had to wear suites, the clothes on their back was more important than Jesus in their heart.

I have taught Sunday School for almost 30 years, that includes at my home Church, small group, home studies, hospice home care class. I have preached in nursing homes, Alzheimer’s ward, youth detention centers, and a number of churches in west Georgia and east Alabama. In doing all this preaching and teaching, I would bring lessons at first the way I was taught.

 

If I said “you needed to dress in dresses and suits”. It’s not my fault, that’s what I was taught.

If I said “you have to be in church every time the door is opened”. It’s not my fault, that’s what I was taught.

If I said “you have to use a certain kind of Bible”. It’s not my fault, that’s what I was taught.

If I said “your hair had to be a certain way”. It’s not my fault, that’s what I was taught.

If I said “you have to sing certain songs a certain way”. It’s not my fault, that’s what I was taught.

If I said “you have to pray a certain way”. It’s not my fault, that’s what I was taught.

If I said “you have to give a certain amount if you have it or not”. It’s not my fault, that’s what I was taught.

Now what is important is the reason I was taught all this, the way I was is:

It’s not their fault, that’s what they were taught.

 

That reminds me of The Parable of the Ham

A child stood and watched her mother prepare the annual holiday ham. The mother carefully cut each end of the ham off before placing it in the pan. The child asked, “Mother, why do you always cut the ends off the ham?” The mother replied, “Well, that’s the way my mother always did it.”

So, the child called her grandmother and asked, “Grandma, why do you always cut the ends off the ham?” The grandmother replied, “because that’s the way my mother always did it.”

Finally, the child called her great-grandmother and asked, “Great-Grandma, why did you always cut the ends off the ham?”

The great-grandmother replied, “Because the ham was way too big to fit in my small baking pan!!”

 

So, the cycle has to stop. I have to stop blaming Ray, and even stop blaming the way I was raised. You see time and time again with young people that are committing crimes, the reason was “it’s how I was raised”.

Now after you get a certain age it’s all on you. You make the call and do wrong you are the one responsible.

As Dr. Michael L. Brown posted on Twitter:

“Regardless of my genetics, my upbringing, and my life experiences, I alone am ultimately responsible for my actions and choices.”

The same goes with my Teaching and Preaching, after a while I am the one responsible for leading people the wrong or misguided way.

Paul told Timothy his son in the faith in:

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. KJV

 

The word study means:

NT:4704 spoudazo (spoo-dad’-zo); to use speed, i.e. to make effort, be prompt or earnest: KJV — do (give) diligence, be diligent (forward), endeavour, labour, study.

(Biblesoft’s New Exhaustive Strong’s Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

2 Tim 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  NKJV

2 Tim 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. NIV

2 Tim 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. NASU

2Tim 2:15 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. NLT

 

I love the way the Amplified Bible reads it:

2 Timothy 2:15 Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.  Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

Now my job is to do my diligence, work hard, do my best, and Study the Word of God, rightly handling the word of truth, so I won’t be ashamed when I am presented to God. Dig into the scripture and find out what is being said and why its being said. Then and only then do I do my best to tell what is being said in the Holy Scripture.

I have read the Bible through a few times, and when I came across something, I didn’t understand I would jump over it and keep on reading.

But now I stop and dig, study, and do my best to see what God is telling me. I love looking at different translations and see what words are different and why. That is what gets me in the Bible even deeper.

After looking through the scripture I can’t find anywhere that it says to wear a tie, it’s just not in there.

I never saw Jesus when on a sea shore or along a mountain, or in a garden tell the smelly people to go get dressed before He would talk to them.

I never read one word, not one, saying before He healed them that they needed a haircut.

There are so many things we get so bent out of shape over that I believe God really doesn’t care about.

I was a Carpenter and Craftsman by trade, and my Dads home was just around the corner from my house. (I had to pass his to get to mine) A lot of days on my way home, still having the residue of the day on me, a little sawdust, maybe some stain on my hands, a little paint on my pants, and sweat running down my face.

I would drop by to check on my Dad. I would knock on the door as I opened it and walked on in, see its “MY FATHERS HOUSE” I have a key and I have freedom to come in at any time. And I knew no matter how I looked or even smelled I was always welcome there.

My Dad would usually be on the sofa, and he would get up and a big smile would be on his face, because his boy came by to spend some time with him. I may be wrong but I think that’s the way God is, just happy to spend some time with me.

We get so caught up on the outside of a person the way they look and dress we miss out and never get to know the inside (the heart) of the person. Thank God He looks at the heart.

1 Sam 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” NKJV

 

I have never not ever read in the red letters of Jesus to “turn your King James Bible” to a particular verse.

It’s not there!

So why for the life of me do we get so excited if someone is reading a different translation than we have, and how on earth does that make you more spiritual than someone else because you sing from a red hymnal instead of a large screen.

I have been a part of both worship services and felt His very presence in both.

I have sat and even preached in Church services that had a hand full of people and God moved in a mighty way. Then I have sat in Church services with 1500 to 2000 people and had the same God convict and move me to tears with His presence.

What difference does it make if you open a Bible Book, a phone app, a lap top, a Kendal reader, or a Nook Book with apps. (the Nook is what I use because I can carry five different Bibles a Strong’s Concordance, and a Matthew Henry Commentary and over two hundred sermons that I have already brought.)

A friend of mine Tim Croft said, “I bet someone got upset when they opened the first book Bible rather than unrolling a scroll.”

Any reason to try to look more spiritual than those that don’t do it your way.

We the Church keep on and on debating on which Bible is the best, which songs are the best, which type of music is the best, which way to dress is the best, and we need to stop.

Just because they are not doing it the way we are does not mean it’s wrong, it’s just different.

You never see Jesus heal the same way twice, He raised three different people from death, three different ways.

The little Girl he said in Mark 5:41 He gently speaks “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”

For the widow son he stopped the funeral: Luke 7:14 Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”

And His friend Lazarus he: John 11:43 He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”  NKJV

 

One is in a bed one is in a coffin and the other is in the grave.

And Jesus handled them the different, but the message is the same Jesus SPOKE! One a whisper, one talk, and then He yells for Lazarus. Why then can’t we all let Jesus’ speak different today to different Churches. And yet be the same God.

 

Another example:

Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus in Mark

The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.”

52 Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.  NKJV

 

A Blind Man Healed at Bethsaida in Mark 8

25 Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly.  NKJV

A Man Born Blind Receives Sight in John 9

6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7 And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.  NKJV

 

Three different blind men, one He just speaks, two He used spit, one He adds touching him, and one He made a mud pack and told him to go wash.

All three healed by Christ but each case a little different, and the reason is, we are all a little different.

I don’t know if you haven’t noticed but the world is going to hell, and we are arguing about what translation of the Bible is the right one.

It’s the one Paul carried; HE WAS WRITING IT AT THE TIME.

Along with other inspired men of God and it wasn’t in 1611 it was in the first century.

All we have are TRANSLATIONS of the original Word of God.

I believe that God loves us all the same. I also believe that He treats us all different because we are all different, so why do you think if everyone is not like us that they are wrong. Here is something to ponder, what if it is you… that is wrong?

So, after pondering on this for a while I have come to realize it was my fault,

I should have checked… what I was taught.