Author: E. DeWayne Swann

“The Five things to do when disaster strikes.”

 ARE YOU WILLING TO BE IN THE WILL OF GOD?

Part 2

And the story goes on…

^{John 11:33} Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. ³⁴ And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”

4. The fourth stage of grief Depression: “I’m too sad to do anything.”

 ³⁵ Jesus wept.

Third thing to see when disaster strikes

3. Emotion is natural. (John 11:35)

One of the worst temptations during a crisis is to try to appear strong. I will be a rock during this storm, you might think. But let me share a simple truth with you. When we are weak, he is strong. We live in a society that says crying is weak and for women. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Jesus wept. Why did Jesus, weep? Mourning over Lazarus? No that doesn’t make sense. He knew God was going to raise him from the dead. He wept because he saw the pain in Mary and Martha, people he loved, and his heart hurt with them.

God has made us emotional people and when a crisis hits, we need to let it out. It’s ok to be emotional. It’s ok to cry.

Jesus Wept: Human or Divine?

By Dr. Nicholas J. Schaser – September 26, 2019

The shortest verse in our English translations of the New Testament contains only two words: “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). The Messiah’s sorrow comes in response to the death of his friend Lazarus, whom he will soon raise from the dead (11:38-44). It is common for Christians to compartmentalize this show of emotion into Jesus’ “human nature” because weeping is associated with vulnerability—a character trait that they assume couldn’t possibility apply to the Divine. However, Gospel readers should not be too quick to limit outward sorrow to Jesus’ humanity, since Scripture contains more than one instance of God shedding tears.

Jeremiah contains the clearest reference to divine weeping when God cries alongside the women of Israel: “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Consider, and call for the mourning women to come… let them make haste and raise a wailing over us, that our eyes (עינינו; eyneynu) may run down with tears (דמעה; dim’ah) and our eyelids overflow with water’” (Jer 9:17-18). This passage highlights God as the speaker and includes the deity among those who weep over Israel’s coming exile. In light of Jeremiah, it is clear that to weep is both human and divine.

A similar picture of heavenly mourning appears in Isaiah. In the midst of an oracle against Moab (15:1), the text includes a lament for the towns of Israel’s contentious neighboring country, “I weep (בכה; bakhah) with the weeping of Yazer for the vine of Sibmah; I drench you with my tears (דמעה; dim’ah)… my innermost parts moan (המה; hamah) like a lyre for Moab” (16:9, 11). While one might assume that these verses describe the prophet’s own sorrow, the text that follows explicates that these were the words of God. Isaiah declares, “This is the word that the Lord spoke concerning Moab in the past” (16:13). As with Jeremiah, Isaiah presents the embodied outpouring of divine distress. According to the prophetic Scriptures, the God of Israel weeps. Therefore, when we read that “Jesus wept,” we must conclude that such emotion reflects both his humanity and his divinity.

 

Read verses 21, 32. It is ok to question God. It is ok to say “God I do not understand why this is happening to me. I don’t understand what you are trying to do in my life.”

²¹ Then Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. ³² Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

If you are going through a crisis realize that prayer must be a priority, and that it is ok to allow your emotions to be expressed.

³⁶ Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!” ³⁷ And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?” ³⁸ Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.
³⁹ Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.”

We (the Church are to remove the stones to get to the stinking people ) …we need to quit being so high and mighty and pious and go after the stinking people.

We forget where we came from!!!

Romans 3:23 (NKJV) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Isaiah 64:6 (NKJV) But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; …

Back to our text.

⁴⁰ Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”

 

 “Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also more hard to bear. It is easier to say “My tooth is aching” than to say “My heart is broken.”” – C. S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

 

Fourth thing to see when disaster strikes

4. God uses disaster for his glory. (John 11:4, 40)

He can take a negative and turn it into a positive. He turned disaster into deliverance. God can use crisis in our lives to bring about his glory.

4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

In verses 4 & 40, God did not cause Lazarus to die, but he used the crisis for his glory and it changed the lives of Mary and Martha. So how does that help us?

It helps us with the temptation to blame God. It helps us to realize that God doesn’t bring disaster into our lives. It helps us realize that he loves us and can take our defeats and turn them into his victories. It also gives us hope that God is able to cure any disease, fix any marriage, mend any heart, forgive any sin.

There is no crisis too big for God.

⁴¹ Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.⁴² And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.”
⁴³ Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” ⁴⁴ And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”

We need to take off the grave clothes of old habits:

We need to take off the grace clothes of old attitudes:

We need to be renewed by the changing of our minds –

We need to begin to think differently – like we’ve been set free!

 

Galatians 5:1 (NKJV) Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

⁴⁵ Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him.

5. The fifth stage of grief Acceptance: “I’m at peace with what has happened.”

Fifth thing to see when disaster strikes and:

5. God changes lives through crisis. (John 11:45)

That’s the final lesson for us. Sometimes it is the life of the one going through the crisis. Other times it is the lives of those around a suffering person. Most of the time it is both.

Think about the lives that were changed in the Lazarus story:

Lazarus- he was never the same again. He had some wild stories to tell.

Mary and Martha- new love and appreciation for life, Lazarus, and Jesus.

The Jews- (verse 45) changed hearts, a new faith.

John 12:11 (NKJV) because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

It is sad that it takes a crisis, but thank God that through a crisis he can turn the lost into saved, he can melt hardened hearts, he can make the bitter loving, he can turn orphans into children of the king.

 

We play in fair weather but we pray in the storms.

If you are a Christian and have gone through a disaster in your life, then you know exactly what I mean. You could say today, “I am not the same person that I was before the crisis came into my life.” God has shaped and molded you into who you are today, and has done it through crisis.

If you are a Christians and have not had any “great disasters”, I do not want to be the bearer of bad news, but at some point, you probably will have a time of crisis and testing in your life. I pray that you will keep these things close to your heart so that you will be totally prepared in a time of crisis.

One final scripture today-

John 11:25-26 (NKJV) ²⁵ Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. ²⁶And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Do you?

Christians are you living your lives reflecting your hope in the risen Lord?

If Jesus is not the Lord of your life, he can be. The Bible says we must:

Believe in Jesus as the Son of God.

Repent of our sins and confess Jesus as Lord.

Arise and live for him each and every day.

 

We don’t reach everyone; Some are totally against anything Jesus does!!

 ⁴⁶ But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did.
⁴⁷ Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs.⁴⁸ If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.”

Next week; “Sitting at the Table with Jesus.”

“The Five things to do when disaster strikes.”

ARE YOU WILLING TO BE IN THE WILL OF GOD?

Part 1

When we face hard times!

 

My find and prayer partner Ben Bennett says:

“LORD KEEP ME IN YOUR WILL OR I’LL BE IN YOUR WAY”.

Sometimes being in His will put you right in the middle of a disaster.

We are going to see “The Five things to do when disaster strikes.”

And in this story, we see “The five stages of grief”

1. Denial: “This can’t be happening to me.”
2. Anger: “Why is this happening? Who is to blame?”
3. Bargaining: “Make this not happen, and in return I will ____.”
4. Depression: “I’m too sad to do anything.”
5. Acceptance: “I’m at peace with what has happened.”

 

John 11:1-48 (NKJV) ¹ Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. ² It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.

(This does not happen until the next chapter)

 The first stage of grief Denial: “This can’t be happening to me.”

³ Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”

Note the two different words for love here and in verse 4, Love = NT:5368  phileo (fil-eh’-o); from NT:5384; to be a friend to (fond of [an individual or an object]), i.e. have affection for (denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment or feeling;; specifically, to kiss (as a mark of tenderness):

KJV – kiss, love.

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

First things to do when disaster strikes.

1. Prayer must be a priority. (John 11:1-3)

The first thing the sisters did was to send word to Jesus.

The one you love is sick. When a crisis hits our lives, be it a death, an accident, a diagnosis, a relationship breakdown, whatever it is… the first thing we need to do is to send word to Jesus.

When a crisis brings us to our knees, we are in perfect position to pray.

Prayer changes things. When we communicate with the creator of the universe, things happen. We call on the greatest power in the world. And yet too many times we lack the faith that prayer will make a difference. How do I know that? Because we do not pray until we have tried everything else. Instead of prayer being a last resort, it should be our first option.

Now the sisters could send word to Jesus because they had a close friendship relationship with Jesus. Had they not known Jesus; they would have been in an awful position with nowhere to turn.

⁴ When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” ⁵ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

Love = NT:25 agapao (ag-ap-ah’-o); perhaps from agan (much) [or compare OT:5689]; to love (in a social or moral sense): NT:25 is wider, embracing especially the judgment and the deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle, duty and propriety: the two thus stand related very much as NT:2309 and NT:1014, or as NT:2372 and NT:3563 respectively; the former being chiefly of the heart and the latter of the head)

KJV – (be-) love (-ed). Compare NT:5368.

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

⁶ So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.

Second thing when disaster strikes

2. Perseverance pays off. (John 11:6)

Do you think Jesus stayed where he was two more days because he didn’t care about Lazarus? No way. He stayed where he was because he knew that God was in control of the situation and at the right time God would take care of the crisis with Lazarus. When a crisis invades our lives we do not want to wait it out. We want it to end as soon as possible.

As Christians, when a crisis comes, we often look for the “fastest exits.” We want out of the trial or crisis just as soon as possible, and with the least amount of pain. Romans 5 tells us “We rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character, character hope. And hope does not disappoint us because God has poured his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he has given us.”

Sometimes the only way out of a storm is to ride it out. Sometimes the only way out of a crisis is perseverance. One day Lazarus was alive, the next day he was dead, just four days later he was alive again. A lot can happen in a week. A lot can happen in three days, just ask Jesus.

The song says sometimes He calms the storms and sometimes He calms the believer and lets the storm rage on.

⁷ Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”
⁸ The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?”
⁹ Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. ¹⁰ But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”

You only have so much time;

¹¹ These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.”

He’s telling them that He is bring him back from the dead

¹² Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.”¹³ However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.
¹⁴ Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.

¹⁵ And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.” ¹⁶ Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” ¹⁷ So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days.

“Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe.

Jesus said he was dead and He was glad, WHY the same reason we go through things and that is “that you may believe.” It draws you closer to God and strengthen your walk for others to see Christ in you!!

Dr Charles Stanley says in his book “How to Handle Adversity” “Nothing speaks louder to an unsaved world than a Christian that suffers successfully.”

Just four days late, or was He?

Why was Jesus Late?

By Dr. Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg – December 9, 2017

In John’s gospel, readers were told that when Lazarus of Bethany was on his deathbed, Martha and Mary sent Jesus an urgent message alerting Him that they urgently needed His assistance. However, Jesus stayed where He was for two more days (11:6).

The name Lazarus is synonymous with the Hebrew, “Eliezer.” It means “my God is help.” Bethany in Hebrew means, “house of the poor,” which may cause us to think that the area where the family lived was dedicated to the ministry of mercy in the Judean region that Josephus refers to in Jewish Wars (2.124). The irony here is significant.

Jesus was at least one day’s journey away from Bethany (10:40). By the time the message reached him, Lazarus had already died (11:11). Jesus waited for two additional days, timing His arrival to take place exactly on the fourth day after Lazarus’ death (11:17). But why?

The answer may lie in a Jewish tradition that can be traced back to the time of Jesus. The soul of a deceased person was believed to linger behind, hovering over the dead body for three days, desperately trying to get back inside the body.

“Berei and R. Pappi, R. Joshua of Sikhnin in the name of R. Levi: ‘For the first three days after death the soul floats above the body, thinking that it will return to the body. When the soul sees the body, that the appearance of the face has changed, it leaves the body and goes its way.’” (Jerusalem Talmud, Yebamot 16:3)

¹⁸ Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away.
¹⁹ And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
²⁰ Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house.

2. The second stage of grief Anger: “Why is this happening? Who is to blame?”

²¹ Then Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. ²² But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” ²³ Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
²⁴ Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

She knew the word of God, and of the resurrection at the last day.

²⁵ Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.

When Jesus arrived, He declared: “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies…” (11:25). Being deeply moved by the sorrow of His fellow Jews over the death of Lazarus, He resurrected him from the dead at exactly the time He had planned to do so all along (11:36-38).

Why was Jesus late? He was late to show that resurrection is not something that He does; resurrection is something that He is!

²⁶ And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
²⁷ She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

3. The third stage of grief Bargaining: “Make this not happen, and in return I will ____.”

²⁸ And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.”
²⁹ As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him.
³⁰ Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met Him. ³¹ Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.”

Even when you are hurting you can still lead others to Christ.

 ³² Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

 Always at Jesus’ feet, not a bad place to be.

 Luke 10:38-42 (NKJV)
³⁸  Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. ³⁹ And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” ⁴¹ And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. ⁴² But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

John 12:3 (NKJV)
Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

See, she is always at His feet. And that is a great place to be, we all need to spend more time on our knees and in prayer and praise to Abba Father.

Sometimes good people go through bad times but if you let Him God can get the Glory!!

“The Five things to do when disaster strikes.” Part 2 next week 

 

“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.