Author: E. DeWayne Swann

What Kind of Bait are you Using?

From: Chapter 19 of “Something to Ponder”

 

In March 2000 a great friend of mine and former employer Ceylon Plemmons let me borrow his timeshare at Big Canoe in the mountains of North Georgia. I wanted to take my parents on a vacation and I knew that they had a couple of lakes and that would be right up my Dad’s alley and it was in the mountains and that is my Mothers favorite place to be.

So off I went to prepare the Villa for my parents’ arrival, I went up on Saturday and stocked the cabinets and the fridge, and returned on Sunday afternoon and picked up my Mother and Father. At first, we just road around the lake and up and down the mountains and took in the scenery because my Dad wouldn’t fish on Sundays.

We rode around and got our bearings, learned our way in and out of the resort, from the main gate to the north gate. We saw deer, turkeys, and a number of other animals as we rode around. The mountains were beautiful, and the lake was beyond our expectations. We were told that they had just the week before stocked the lake with a fresh batch of Rainbow Trout, we could hardly wait to try out our skills trying to catch some of those trout.

The next day came and off to the lake my Dad and I went. We were used to catching stream trout stocked by the state about 10 to 12-inch-long, but we were about to get a surprise. We talked over or options that we had to try to land a trout, and my Dad finally settled on a yellow doll fly, because it resembled corn. After a few casts My Dad said there he is, which meant he had one on the line, and boy did he, he worked and fought for a few minutes and landed a two and a half pound and around twenty-something inch long beautiful rainbow trout. He then looked at me and said “are all the trout in here this big”? And my reply was “that’s the first fish I have ever seen come out of this lake; I really don’t know”.

Within the hour we had our limit of four fish a piece around a pound and a half to two and a half pounds. After my Mother saw our catch we went back to the lake, and within 30 minutes we were back at the Villa with her limit cleaning and freezing our trout. It was a great day, and we went exploring the rest of the day. My Dad ask if he could stay another day and I told him we were there till Saturday if he wanted to stay, and the reason I got the Villa was for Him and Mother, I got no complaints about him staying.

The next day back to the lake we all three went, but this time we cast and cast and cast and cast and no luck. There was a man about fifty feet down the dam from us, and he didn’t seem to have any problem getting his limit that day, so as he was headed back to his car, he stopped and talked with us for a while. My Dad ask him how he managed to get his limit, and we were not, and here is the question the man ask. “What kind of bait are you using”?

My Dad was the best Bass fisherman I had ever seen, he could catch a boat load of bluegill bream with ease and I have seen him about fill up our old boat with crappie, when no one else on the lake was catching anything, but he had not yet mastered this elusive fish my brother Charles got him fishing for called trout.

Our new friend talked for a while and told us he was from Alabama, and has been fishing here for a few years and that we were using the wrong bait and that we needed some “Power Bait” for trout. I love that name “Power Bait”, then he went on to tell us how to rig up our line and even went as far as giving us a jar of the “Power Bait”. We finished listening to him teach us how to fish with this bait, and he then went on his way.

Within the hour my Dad and Mother had their limit then a little while longer I had mine (I was busy helping them land their fish is the reason they were ahead of me). Then off to The Bargain Barn Sporting Goods store we went and bought us some new hooks, some new sinkers, and of course, some “Power Bait”.

We caught our limit every day that year, and we have learned how to catch trout over the years, but the lesson is, when one bait didn’t work, we quickly changed bait.

Ceylon gave us that timeshare a few years later and every March since we make the trip to Big Canoe. Over the years we have had a number of family members come up that week, and we always enjoy a week of getting together telling stories about the one that got away and reminiscing about the things that happened while we were there.

When you cast and cast and cast and cast, and don’t catch anything it’s time to change your bait. We knew that fish were there, we were told that they had just stocked the lake. But we were fishing with the wrong bait at that time.

Jesus said in John 4:35 that the fields are white and ready to harvest, then why are people not being harvested? Why are they not coming to church anymore?

I have heard some pastors saying “people just don’t go to Church anymore” They want to make sure it’s not their fault people are not coming; they just don’t go anywhere is their thinking. The very week I heard that statement in a church running about 25 people on a good week I went into a Church the next week that had about 1200 people in the early service that I was in, and they still had 2 more services left to do.

Well then, they do go somewhere, they just don’t go to your church, then why are you not getting people to come to your Sunday services, and the question is “What kind of bait are you using”?

Don’t get me wrong I know that there are numerous folks that don’t attend a Church at all on Sundays, and my heart is breaking for Churches that I love, and I am watching them dwindling down to nothing because they are too stubborn to change,

Albert Einstein is widely credited with saying, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

But that is exactly what a lot of Churches are doing and not accepting the responsibility of their actions by saying Gods word will draw them to Jesus, and they are right God’s word will draw them to Jesus,

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9 to preach the Gospel of Jesus.

The message never, and I mean never changes but the method must change. The message is Jesus and Him crucified, and dying for our sins. The message is Jesus’ resurrection from the grave and ascending to the right hand of our heavenly Father.    The message is Jesus’ interceding for us and being the, “propitiation for the sins of the people.” (Heb 2:17) That is the message, not your legalisms, not your bias, and not your opinion.

 

God cannot draw people to the altar or to the conviction of the Holy Spirit if they are not there. If you don’t get them into the Church then how on earth do you expect them to hear the word? Paul said in Romans 10:17 that faith “accepting and believing” comes by the hearing of the Word, but they have to hear the Word to get the Word, and they have to be where the Word is being presented.

But we can’t get people to come! And again “What kind of bait are you using?”

I heard a preacher say years ago, “If you can bring them in with a hot dog, I can take them out with a hamburger.” Maybe so, but while they are there eating that hot dog, they’re going to get a lot more than a hot dog, they are going to be under the Word of God.

My dear friend and brother in the faith and prayer partner Tim Croft, works with a ministry called “Truth In Nature” They mentor fatherless boys, and teach them how to fish, and hunt, and to enjoy the great outdoors, they teach them gun safety, how to hunt and track deer, how to turkey hunt, squirrel hunt, and how to plant a garden and reap the rewards of the said garden and the rewards of the hunts and fishing trips that they go on.

Just a few weeks before this writing, Tim said that Truth In Nature had a fishing class to teach the young men how to tie different lures and hooks on their lines, and then they took them fishing for a while, but every Truth In Nature outing has a devotion, and on this particular weekend two young men made a profession of faith. Not bad for a fishing knot tying class.

Tim said he asked the young men if they would show up, because they do have a choice, if all they did was read the Bible and preached and prayed the whole time, they were together. And their response was NO! but they get together play games, eat dinner, hear the word of God then go to bed, the next morning they have breakfast, learn to tie fishing knots, and have a devotion, and go fishing. See what’s happening? These guys get under the word and enjoy Gods creation at the same time. The fishing and hunting, they are just a bait.

Are you getting this?

So, what kind of bait are you using?

My services are starting to dwindle, Change your bait!

My youth group is getting smaller and smaller, Change your bait!

We can’t get visitors to come back after one visit, Change your bait!

There are not as many people coming for midweek Bible study as they were, Change your bait!

I was the interim Pastor for a while at a little Church and the Wednesday night service was down to about 5 or 6 people. My brother Charles and I went to the Church and sat on the steps and prayed. We asked God what to do, and the answer came while sitting on the steps. I said, “I wish it was like the Journey Group I teach on Thursday nights,” and my brother said, “Why can’t it be?” He said, “Why don’t you just meet in the fellowship hall and have a “Fill Your Cup” service?”

A “Fill Your Cup” service (that is what my brother named it), is to bring a coffee cup and some snacks and enjoy each other’s company (We as Baptist call this fellowship) and sit and listen to the lesson and have some cake and coffee at the same time, and it worked.

So, the next week, we met in the fellowship hall of the Church with about 10 people. They came to see what was going to happen. We had coffee, cokes, and hot cocoa, whatever they wanted to put in their physical cup. Someone brought a cake, and we were off. I taught out of the book of Acts starting with the first verse and did the kind of teaching I love most, Expository teaching, by going verse by verse and poured out my cup for them. I love what Pastor Andy Stanley once said “It’s not my job to fill your cup but to empty mine.” It’s up to you to bring a cup and fill your own.”

The next week more people and more snacks more coffee and brownies and cakes and more teaching the word, an open forum formed, they had the freedom to ask questions and to give their prospective on the scripture, and we all were enjoying the Wednesday night classes, the attendance grew each week. We had to sit up more tables, bring more coffee, and cakes and more of the Word of God. At the last gathering had over 35 people, and God was truly blessing the “Fill Your Cup” services.

See, the coffee and snacks were just bait, and it was working.

So, what kind of bait are you using?

In the early 1990s I have mentioned I helped a ministry called Sweet Spirit Band, we would go into the Youth Detention Centers or YDC and preform and the leader Eddie Rogers would speak to them and tell them about the Love of Jesus and how much He cared for them. Over the years the local Churches around us would tell us we were doing it wrong because we had a full band with two keyboard players, a bass player, a guitar player, a drummer on a drum rise, backup singers, a smoke machine, a light bar with flashing lights and a sound board and sound man and some big honking speakers.

The young people in the YDC’s had a choice to come hear the band or go to the rec room or stay in their cells, so we needed something to get them out to hear the message. That something was the Band, “BAIT” and it worked, hundreds of young souls was saved as a result of that ministry, I was told one day by a preacher that did not like us even a little that we would answer for doing all the wrong we were doing at the time, my response was I like the results of us doing it wrong better than the way he wasn’t doing anything at all. The last year of that ministry we saw over 500 young people make a profession of faith. Pretty good bait, wouldn’t you say.

Those Churches have a band and loud music. Bait.

They have a worship leader instead of a song leader, Same thing, but Bait.

They have a parking lot crew that tells you where to park, greeters that open your doors and give you this week’s bulletin, people that help you find a seat, Bait, Bait and Bait.

They greet you with a smile and make you feel welcome to be there. Bait.

Don’t get me wrong, these people are there because they love the Lord, and this is their way to serve, so they hold doors open on stormy days and on freezing days to show you God’s love, they don’t see it as bait they see it as service and that is exactly what it is.

The Church that I attend and teach a small group, has a parkway that brings you down to the Church building where you turn to get to the parking lot. There is a little lady there every Sunday, just pointing out the way to go and smiling and waving to everyone as they come by, She makes my day every time I see her, I have seen her in the pouring rain, manning her post, I have seen her with snow piled up on her shoulder and the hood of her coat, and no matter what the weather she is there, smiling and waving, and no matter how bad of a mood I was in when I saw her I could see the Love of Christ and it cheered me up right then and there.  This is showing God’s love, and Bait to get people back.

See I don’t want you to fake it till you make it; I just want you to go a little further in showing the Love of our Lord and Savior.

That’s why they send their youth group to Florida, or to the mountains on ski trips, or play basketball in the gym before the services. Again Bait, Bait, and Bait.

My dear friend Rick Stephens inspired this chapter. He said if you are hunting for deer, you use a different baited field and style of hunting than when hunting turkey. You use a different weapon for hunting squirrels than deer. So, we need to apply that same principal to the church.

You can’t expect the youth and the older adults to like the same kind of service, so give them what they like. Change the method not the message.

There is nothing wrong with having a strong youth program, by having games, and snacks and then presenting the word. And having a more contemporary music for them than what the older adults are listening to, after all they are different. And it’s just Bait.

Having an open forum Bible study for the older folks, and allow them to ask their questions and concerns. Have a “Small Group” Bible study for couples and a singles small group, a new families and newlywed small group whatever the case may be. It’s all Bait to get them involved. But we get them under the word.

So how can we Preach to them, or teach them, or counsel them and lead them down the right path if they are not here. And how do we get them here. We need Bait.

But what if they still don’t come? Change your bait until we find what works. It’s different at times in different Churches, sometimes what works in one church may not work in another, you just have to keep on changing bait until you find the one that works.

First start with prayer, and then pray about it. after a while I think you need to lift it up in prayer, and then maybe spend some time praying and seeking God’s response, and if that doesn’t work, I would just pray about it. Because you don’t want to use your bait but you want to use His, His “Power Bait.” The reason is that without His power we have nothing.

Are you getting this, it must be God’s plan or it will not work?

Church not growing? What kind of Bait are you using?

Paul said to the Church in Corinth that he became all things to all Men,

1 Corinthians 9:22-24 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (Though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but under Christ’s law), so as to win those not under the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. (NIV)

Paul was saying if you want to win people to the Lord you sometimes must change your Bait to suit the people you are addressing.

So, your church not growing, people not coming as often as they use to, the young people not wanting to come to the youth services?

What kind of bait are you using?

If it is not working, I have one thing to say:

CHANGE YOUR BAIT!!!

And keep changing it till you find one that works, and after a while when it stops working, and it will stop after a while, my advice is again:

CHANGE YOUR BAIT!!!

Good fishing advice, better Church advice. After all, are the lost not worth it. Jesus thought so as I have mentioned Jesus treat us all different because we are all different, what bait that doesn’t work on one group may work on another.

Don’t give up, don’t throw in the towel, it’s not over until God says it’s over.

The little Church that I was raised in went from six to eight people to running over one hundred in Sunday School in just a few years, from meeting in a gutted little house to a Church building in the same few years, and then to a larger Church building a few years later. And every note paid off, God blessed us then because we were doing it His way, and I believe that he can do it again. They just have to change what is not working to what God wants that is working. In other words, CHANGE YOUR BAIT, and use GODS POWER BAIT. Guaranteed to work every time.

After all, did Jesus not say “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19 ESV

Gods will Gods way works every time so:

So, What Kind of Bait Are You Using?

 

The File Room

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features save for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endlessly in either direction, had very different headings.

As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read “People I Have Liked.” I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one.

And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn’t match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching. A file named “Friends” was next to one marked “Friends I Have Betrayed.”

The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. “Books I Have Read,” “Lies I Have Told”, “Comfort I Have Given”, “Jokes I Have Laughed At”. Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: “Things I’ve Yelled at My Brothers.” Other I couldn’t laugh at: “Things I Have Done in My Anger”, “Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents”. I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my 20 years to write each of these thousands or even millions of cards?

But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature. When I pulled out the file marked “Songs I Have Listened To”, I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn’t found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of music, but more by the vast amount of time I knew that file represented. When I came to a file marked “Lustful Thoughts”, I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only and inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded.

An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: “No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!” In an insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn’t matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards.

But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it. Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot.

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

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

But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him. No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn’t bear to watch His response. And in the moments, I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one?

Finally, He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn’t anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn’t say a word. He just cried with me. Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. “No!” I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was “No, no,” as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn’t be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written in His blood.

He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don’t think I’ll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, “It is finished.” I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.

By Joshua Harris, “I Kissed Dating Goodbye”

 

“Two Great Hopes”

Text:  1 Peter 1:3-5 (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, ⁴ to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Introduction: There are many hopes that Jesus has for our lives. But there are “Two Great Hopes” that that he has for everyone.

1. He hopes to do something “TO” us.
2. He hopes to do something “Through” us. 

First, we need to know what HOPE means!

In Hebrews 11 we see the writer saying what faith is,

Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

The Word Hope here means an overwhelming confidence in something. Not wishful thinking, but knowing absolutely in something, and that something is God.

1. TO US: “Regeneration”

Jesus wishes to come into our lives and perform “Regeneration.”

Luke 19:10 (NKJV) … for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

John 3:3 (NKJV) Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

If Jesus comes into our hearts at all, He comes in as Savior, and giver of eternal life. When a person experiences conviction of sin and is ready to repent (turn away from) sin, then they are ready to, “in faith” receive Jesus as their personal Savior. —Without this experience, the individual, though he be baptized and add to the church roll, is not a Christian!!!

Salvation is something that, if we allow Him to, God wants to do “TO” us.

1.  TO US: “Regeneration”
2. THROUGH US: “Transformation”

—Many Christians today have received Christ as Savior, but they have yet to make Him Lord!!! God cannot “Transform” us unless we surrender the control of our lives to Him!!! Jesus cannot remold and remake us after His will unless we permit Him to have control of every area of our lives.

Illustration: A Southwestern professor wrote.

“The failure of such a large number of Christians in our nation to yield this control to Jesus has brought a tragic result: So many non-Christians cannot see or feel any differences in the lives of great throngs of Christians and do not, therefore, feel any need to become followers of Jesus!

A great Eastern leader, after spending time in our country, said, “I might have become a Christian, had I ever saw one.”

People cannot see our “Regeneration.” It takes place in our heart!!! They could, however, see, and be deeply impressed by, our “Transformation”!!!

What we do will always speak much louder than what we say!!! The world does not need to hear about your “Regeneration,” it needs to see our “Transformation.” Have you made Jesus your Savior, and Lord? Or just Savior?

1. Joy or Misery???

Not to permit Jesus to “Transform” our life is to miss the most gratifying part of Christianity!

Illustration: Dr. Chester Swor wrote:

“The non-surrendered Christian is likely to be a most miserable person: close enough to know the claims of the Lordship of Christ yet unwilling to pay the price. Yearning for maximum joy yet unwilling to admit that it comes from maximum surrender.”

—Folks, believe it or not, Christian Joy comes from “Transformation” not “Regeneration”!!! The two cannot be separated, but one produces eternal life, while the other produces Joy in life!!!

Consider this 100+ year old statement: A Christian write….

“I am amazed that I fought so long against my own best welfare! Though I tasted of all the cups the world offered, I have found nothing to compare with my personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It produces pure joy, deep peace, and real thrills.”

And this person died 100 years before Henry Blackaby every said that God peruses a love relationship with you!!!!

Are you living a life of Joy, or something less?

Have you made Jesus Lord and Savior, or just Savior?

1. God’s Masterpieces:

The canvas’ only hope of becoming a masterpiece is that it surrenders its surface completely to the plan of the artist; but when it does so, it becomes a masterpiece!

A raw diamond only becomes a piece of fine jewelry when it completely surrenders to the cutting and design of the diamond cutter.

You and I will only be all that we can be for God, and experience God working through us, when we completely surrender and make Jesus Lord, and not just Savior!!!

1. Jesus desires to reach and change others through us:

A new look at an old passage….

Matthew 5:13 (NKJV) “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

You are the salt of the earth: That is a Christian!

but if the salt has lost his savor: That is an un-transformed Christian!

It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

This is the misery suffered by a Christian that has only allowed Jesus to save them, and not to transform them!!!

Examples of Jesus’ work through “Transformed” Christians:

One boy in a non-Christian family, permitted Christ to touch and transform his life, and all the members of his family came to faith in Christ.

A young man in basic training had the courage to read his Bible and pray in his barracks nightly, and the courage to live his Christian live consistently and openly every day. Before the end of basic training, his entire barrack joined him in nightly devotions.

A high school of 1800 students experienced a remarkable spiritual transformation primarily because of one glorious example of a dedicated, transformed Christian student!

Biblical Examples:

Jesus used Andrew to reach Peter.

Jesus used the woman at the well to reach a city.

Jesus used Phillip to reach an Ethiopian eunuch, and his country.

Jesus used Steven to reach Saul of Tarsus.

Jesus used Paul to reach non-Jewish people all over the world.

Who would Jesus use you to reach if you would surrender and allow Him to “Transform” you into the likeness of Himself?

If not now, When?

If not here, Where?

If not you, Who?

Conclusion:

Is Jesus’ HOPE of “Regeneration” a reality in your life today…….

Is Jesus’ HOPE of “Transformation” a reality in your life today……

Is your “Salt” salty? Or is it good for nothing???

Romans 15:13 (NKJV) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Happy New Year and I encourage you to start it on HOPE.

5 Attacks the Enemy Will Try Against Your Church

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).

We know this is true and all too real, but are there practical ways to help us to take a stand?

Yes.

One of the best ways to defeat the enemy, rather than be defeated, is to know the tactics. If you know what the enemy is up to, you can be on guard. You don’t need to be paranoid or fearful but possess a quiet confidence that … “the one who is within you is greater than the one who is in the world.” I John 4:4

And when you know where the landmine is, you don’t have to step on it.

 

The Enemy’s Top Five Tactics:

 

1) Prevent humility, by promoting self-sufficiency.

It’s not likely that full on pride will be your downfall. You can see that coming. But pride can be sneaky. (The enemy is a schemer.) It often comes in the form of “I can do it.” Things aren’t working so you work harder instead of leaning more on God. Lean into your humble heart, depend on God.

 

2) Prevent unity, by creating division.

The enemy loves it when churches split, staff teams compete, and church leaders don’t get along. Division is the quiet killer of the church. It starts behind closed doors, and when it gets out it’s a monster. Fight for unity in spirit, vision and oneness on the team.

 

3) Prevent joy, by causing discouragement.

If I had listed the tactics in order, this may be #1. I’ve seen discouragement take out more church leaders than anything else. Discouragement comes when your perspective becomes askew. When you think things like, you are alone, no one cares, and nothing is working. Get some time with a trusted friend to help you see more clearly. God is with you, and you are doing something that matters!

 

4) Prevent commitment, by encouraging complacency.

On many a Monday morning, pastors want to resign. Have you been there? Yet you rethink that and stay, but perhaps pull your foot off the throttle just a little. It’s not that you don’t care but slide into a more comfortable place of complacency thinking “This is good enough.” That’s what the enemy wants. He knows you will likely not quit, so he’s happy to have you let up on your fierce commitment. Hang tough. Remember your calling!

 

5) Prevent peace (and closeness with God), by busyness.

The peace of God is such a great gift, of course the enemy doesn’t want you to have it. And what better way to steal it from you than your work in ministry. Don’t let busyness crowd out your time with God, your family and some fun along the way.

Humility, unity, joy, commitment and peace are not new to you, but perhaps you see them in a different light. Don’t make them another to-do list. Don’t make this more work for yourself, or you may end up inadvertently stepping in more busyness. This is a lifetime process. Know that God is with you and provides you with protection.

 

“Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:11

“Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Ephesians 6:13 (See full armor—Ephesians 6:14-17)

 

We can see this is not a passive process and that we are called to take action. Paul closes this passage by reminding us to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests! With this is mind, be alert.

 

Rum Pum Pum Pum

I recall many Christmases; some were really great and some were racked with grief and disappointment. The disappointment did not come from not getting the particular gift or not getting my wish list filled, but it was at the loss of a dear friend on Christmas Eve, and another on Christmas night. The problem is that those memories have a way of seeping into the great memories also. But I want to focus on the good times.

As I grew up in the sixties, we didn’t have the internet or Amazon, but we did have the Sears and Roebuck “Wish Book” that was packed full of everything that we saw advertised on TV during our Saturday morning cartoons. We were allowed to pick a few things that we just had to have, and my Mother would call Santa (Sears) and tell him what we wanted and give him the item number, and we would be set. And just like that it would be under the tree on Christmas morning.

A few weeks prior to Christmas day, my Dad would show up with the family Christmas tree. He and my older brothers, Charles and Glenn would help set it up in the living room right in front of the picture window. Daddy would let the tree sit a day, he said to let the limbs fall into place, I think he just wanted to make the experience last just a little longer.

The next night. In a house that smelled like a pine forest, which to this day when I smell that Christmas tree smell it takes me back to those nights when we all gathered in the living room and waited patiently for Daddy to put on the lights. Again, he and my Mother or oldest brother had that job. After he did that Mother would put on the garland sometimes with my Dads help and when she got older my sister Debrah would help. And when the lights and garland was in place Mother and Daddy would open the box of ornaments, and then they would referee as all five of us would get to put them on the tree, anywhere we saw fit. And after we finished our job, Daddy would divvy up the icicle or tinsel if you prefer. Then we again could put it on the tree and again wherever we wanted, and sometimes under the direction of our parents setting back watching. So, then the final piece of the tree was put into place, The Angle was placed in her spot at the top of the tree. The whole time this was done under the blanket of Christmas music being played on the record player in the background.

After the tree was perfect at least we thought it was perfect, Mother would fix us some hot chocolate with coco not the mix and marshmallows, Daddy would turn off the lights in the room, and the room would be lit from the tree and the reflecting off the hardwood floors. The Christmas albums would be playing softly, and we would just sit there for a while and absorb what we have accomplished. Not knowing or understanding how fortunate we were at that time. We would sit and listen to the songs, “O’ Come All Ye Faithful,” “Do You Hear What I Hear?” “Little Town in Bethlehem,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and on and on and then my favorite “The Little Drummer Boy”

After hearing that song can you guess what made it to my Christmas list? Think for a second and if you said a drum, you would be correct. Now this was right up my Mother alley.

My Mother has a way of getting us not only what we wanted but also what we needed. She loved getting us toys that made a great symphony of noises. And my Dad was the one that helped Santa put everything together, and he made sure that if it needed batteries, it had an abundance of power to bring us a loud and wonderful Christmas. There was always the Christmas PJ’s, socks, underwear, shoes if we needed them. We didn’t need a new outfit that was coming a few months later at Easter.

As the weeks slowly went by, Christmas Eve, would finally make it and that was and is one of the best nights of the year. The smell of cakes, pies Chex mix and Christmas tree was one of the best memory makers that there could ever be. Mother let us watch as she cooked the cakes and pies, she even gave me and my brother Ray the beaters to lick clean, and the bowls and spoons to clean the same way. After we did the best, we could scrape and licking icing and batter and wearing as much as we ate, Mother would then take them and wash them and start again on the next pie or cake. And the process started all over again. The kitchen would be full of laughter and fun. Just as it should be.

Then Christmas morning came. I think that my parents were as excited as we were, no I know they were. We would all go into the living room together and Mother never had to say what was who’s. We knew what we asked for and in a certain section under the tree would be exactly what we requested.

The house was always full of people on Christmas, which with three brothers and a sister, my Mother and Father, we were pretty much a crowd by ourselves. But there were always others to show up also. The main reason I think was just to eat my Mother’s Christmas dinner. There was always a huge turkey, a perfectly cooked ham, salad, two pans of turkey dressing, one with celery and one (mine) without celery, gravy, cranberry sauce, corn, green beans, candied yams, deviled eggs, potatoes salad, piping hot dinner rolls and for dessert she would have a pineapple upside-down cake, a coconut cake, and the best hard-boiled fudge chocolate cake in the world. (We called it the concrete cake, but it was what we all looked for and at times fought over.) an abundance of sweet potatoes pie and then there was also the best banana pudding ever there was that graced the earth.

This wasn’t just one Christmas like this, but it was this way year after year when we were young. We gave our wish list, we knew to ask for what was in the budget, some years a lot, some not so much. We were taught to accept and to be thankful for what we did received. Furthermore, we knew that we were not rich, but we also knew that others had it far worse than we did even in the lean years.

In my section under the tree one Christmas was just a single little drum with my other gifts. As the years went on and as I grew, one year was a little drum set. A bass drum, one tom drum and a snare, with two cymbals. Then as I got older and in middle school, I even got a bag and hardware for a snare drum my Uncle Gene gave me. My Uncle Dee took it had new heads and snares put on it. And then I joined the Tapp Middle School Band. Made first chair, section leader and then honor band, all from that little drum I received that Christmas because of that song “The Little Drummer Boy.”

As the years went on, I didn’t play in high school and sort of lost the ability to play as well as I once did because of lack of practice, but I never lost the love for drums and to beat on them. I later bought me a Pearl Drum Kit. It had a snare four toms a floor tom the kick drum with two crash cymbals a ride cymbal, and hi-hat. I added a set of roto toms which made my set a ten-piece kit. It sat in my living room for years and when people first came into my house they would usually say when seeing them “I can tell you are single because no woman would allow those drums in a living room.” The kit is now serving God in my home church as I have them on loan to them.

I never lost the love for drums, and I still love to hear a good drum corp. It all started with that little Christmas song “The Little Drummer Boy.” And now I want to look at that song a little and maybe give you something to ponder.

From the internet we get this:

The words and music to the Christmas song Little Drummer Boy was composed by Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone in 1958.

The lyrics of Little Drummer Boy consist of no less than 21 rum pum pum pum’ — a major part of the song and therefore presenting an apparently easy task for the lyricist! However, Little Drummer Boy has been a huge hit for several artists.

I took out the rum pum pum pum’ to get you to look at the words.

Come they told me, we need to do that very thing, Go into ALL the word and present the Gospel (the Good News) what did the Bible tell us to tell…

A newborn King to see, unto you a child is born, angels telling the shepherds…

Our finest gifts we bring, the best we can offer as far as earthly things are as filthy rags. God wants more He deserves more…

To lay before the King, King of Kings

So, to honor Him, when we come…we honor by coming into His presence God wants to hear from us…

Little Baby, I am a poor boy too, He gave up heaven, came as a baby…

I have no gift to bring, that’s fit to give the King, we have nothing, we came into this world naked and naked we will return. You can’t take it with you when you go.

Shall I play for you, On my drum? And there it is.

Mary nodded, the ox and lamb kept time, that always bring a smile to me, and then I saw animals on Facebook keeping time with music…

I played my drum for Him, do whatever God has called you to do.

I played my best for Him,

Then He smiled at me, Me and my drum. Me and my drum.

I don’t want you to miss the best part of the song, and that is that the Little Drummer Boy could only offer what we all need to be offering Jesus. And that is our BEST! Snyder Turner my mentor used to say if you are going to sleep in church then at least snore and do you best.

“He did it all for His Love for You.”

By: Richard Mullen

He can turn the tides and calm the angry sea. He alone decides Who writes a symphony. He lights ev’ry star That makes our darkness bright. He keeps watch all through Each long and lonely night. He still finds the time to hear a child’s first prayer. Saint or sinner call and always find Him there.

Though it makes him sad to see the way we live, He’ll always say, “I forgive.”

He can grant a wish or make a dream come true. He can paint the clouds

And turn the gray to blue. He alone knows where To find the rainbow’s end.

He alone can see What lies beyond the bend. He can touch a tree And turn the leaves to gold. He knows every lie That you and I have told.

 

He, did it all for me,

He = used to refer to a man, boy, or male previously mentioned or easily identified. “Jesus”

Did = achieve or complete. What? Calvary’s Cross.

It = used to refer to a thing previously mentioned or easily identified. Gave us the Gift of Salvation

All = the whole of one’s energy or interest. Forgave us from every sin past present and future

For = in support of or in favor of (a person or policy). on behalf of or to the benefit of (someone or something). Took someone’s place

Me = used by a speaker to refer to himself or herself as the object of a verb or preposition. Compare with I.

So, we have in this:

Jesus, achieve and completed on Calvary’s Cross, paid for the Gift of Salvation. With His whole energy and interest to Forgive us from every sin past present and future in support of, in favor of, on behalf of, to the benefit of taking someone’s place and that someone was and is to refer to as ME!

He, did it all for me,

That’s the gift of Christmas.

The Gift that had Worth, Jesus gave it all. Therefore, who did He do it all for?

You that is who!  I pray you have received His Present to you.

Merry Christmas!

The Gift from GOD to You

The Christmas Present, if you will.

 

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

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

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

I truly would rather give than get.

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

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

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

He might just say, “YOU”.

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

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

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

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

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

Isaiah said it this way without me changing a word.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And Paul said:

Christ in Our Place

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

 

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

He did it all for His Love for You.

I pray you receive His Present to you.

The Gift that had Worth, Jesus gave it all.

Therefore, who did He do it all for?

You that is who!

The Gift That Keeps Giving

Chapter 11 “Something to Ponder”

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

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

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

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

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

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

He said. “This little Rapala lure.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

It was a gift.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That’s 5 times more.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. KJV

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

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

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

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

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

That was some 45 years ago.

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

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

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

It was a gift.

It was something of worth to him.

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

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

That brings us to the next weeks chapter:

Psalms 3 INTRODUCTION:

The Lord Sustained Me

HELP, I NEED SOMEBODY

 

Sermon: A Psalm of David, when he fled from Ab’sa-lom his son.

Do you live with the consequences?

One day, a mother explained to her five-year-old daughter that if she chose to disobey her, she would have to live with the consequences. “Oh, Mommy!” she said with a terrified look on her face. “Please don’t make me live with the Consequences. I want to live here with you!”

Well, we all live with the consequences, don’t we?

We all live with the consequences of the choices we have made.

This is also true of a familiar Bible character known as “the man after God’s own heart.”

David had to live with the consequences of his sin.

We are giving study to Psalm 3 that was written by David.

The background of the psalm is the betrayal of his own son, Absalom.

To truly understand the betrayal, though, we must look further back into David’s life.

2 Sam 11:1 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. KJV

David’s problems began when he took to himself the wife of Uriah the Hittite.

This act of adultery led to an even more despicable act on David’s part.

Instead of protecting and looking out for the interests of loyal Uriah, he chose to take Uriah’s life to cover up his own sin.

David’s adultery led to murder.

From this point onward, David had to live with the consequences of his sin.

2 Sam 12:1-15

Nathan’s Parable and David’s Confession

12:1 Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him: “There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds. 3 But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him. 4 And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”

5 So David’s anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! 6 And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.”

7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! 9 Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon. 10 Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 11 Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.'”

13 So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14 However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.” 15 Then Nathan departed to his house. NKJV

What we do as Christians reflect on how the world sees Christians and how they see Christ.

Many years later, one of David’s sons, Amnon, became a bit too captivated with his half-sister Tamar and raped her.

This enraged Tamar’s full brother, Absalom who sought revenge, and got it, by killing Amnon.

When David learned about Absalom’s crime, instead of dealing with him in a just manner, he simply allowed him to leave Jerusalem. Because David had committed the same crime.

He too had committed the crime of murder over a sexual sin.

Thus, as a result, David had lost the moral authority to deal effectively with Absalom.

In time, the undisciplined Absalom, who thought he was morally superior and a worthier leader than his father, mounted a rebellion. He then Sat at the gate saying, ” if I were King. ”

It was a rebellion that caught David by surprise, so much so, the historical text tells us that he fled barefoot and weeping.

Think for a moment of the shame David must have felt being opposed and hunted down by his own son.

But David was reaping the consequences of the bad choices he had made.

So, as a result, this man who was known as “the man after God’s heart” and who had rejoiced in great victories because of God’s intervention, now was characterized by failure, loneliness, disappointment, and agony.

Has that ever been true for you?

Have you ever felt like a failure because of the poor choices you have made?

And you know that more than anything else, you need God’s intervention in your life because you are powerless to make it different.

Well, this study is for you, four unfolding stages that reveal God at work in the life of those who will believe.

1. PROBLEM (1-2)
2. PRAYER / PRESENCE (3-4)

3. PEACE (5-6)

4. PUNISHMENT / PROTECTION (7-8)

 

The psalm reveals that God is at work in David’s life. And same can be true of us as well.

Psalms 3 OUR STUDY: Part 1 of 4

1. The first stage is the PROBLEM (1-2).

Psalm 3:1-2 (NKJV) ¹ LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me.
² Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah

 

1. There are times when we feel outnumbered.

David cries out to God because he was dealing with the rising tide of disloyalty.

Both family and friends have turned against him.

Now they are enemies and they surround him.

It was a real mess.

It all seemed so hopeless.

2. There are times when we feel like giving up hope.

David’s enemies were saying that God had given up on him.

God was not going to deliver him.

These are words that make a profound emotional impact, don’t you think?

It not only seemed hopeless, but it was communicated to him that he was hopeless.

Have you ever felt like that?

The situation was hopeless.

You felt hopeless. That’s why the word Selah is placed there it means to take a breath or as the Strongs Concordance says the word Selah OT:5542 Celah (seh’-law); from OT:5541; suspension (of music), i.e., pause:   KJV – Selah.

Or just Stop and think about that!

Daily Prayers of Thanksgiving

 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Give Thanks to the Lord

“Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:7

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Colossians 3:15

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Phil 4:6

 

How Great Are Your Works Oh Lord

Psalm 92:1-15 (NLT2)
¹ It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to the Most High.
² It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening, ³ accompanied by the ten-stringed harp and the melody of the lyre.
⁴ You thrill me, LORD, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done.
⁵ O LORD, what great works you do! And how deep are your thoughts.
⁶ Only a simpleton would not know, and only a fool would not understand this:
⁷ Though the wicked sprout like weeds and evildoers flourish, they will be destroyed forever.
⁸ But you, O LORD, will be exalted forever.
⁹ Your enemies, LORD, will surely perish; all evildoers will be scattered.
¹⁰ But you have made me as strong as a wild ox. You have anointed me with the finest oil.
¹¹ My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies; my ears have heard the defeat of my wicked opponents.
¹² But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.
¹³ For they are transplanted to the LORD’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God.
¹⁴ Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.
¹⁵ They will declare, “The LORD is just! He is my rock! There is no evil in him!”

 

Let Us Sing Songs of Praise

Psalm 95:1-7 (NLT2)
¹ Come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
² Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him.
³ For the LORD is a great God, a great King above all gods.
⁴ He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains.
⁵ The sea belongs to him, for he made it. His hands formed the dry land, too.
⁶ Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the LORD our maker,
⁷ for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today!

 

Faithful Instruction and Blessing

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 (NLT2)
¹² Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance.
¹³ Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.
¹⁴ Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.
¹⁵ See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.
¹⁶ Always be joyful.
¹⁷ Never stop praying.
¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
¹⁹ Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.
²⁰ Do not scoff at prophecies, ²¹ but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.
²² Stay away from every kind of evil.
²³ Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.
²⁴ God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.
²⁵ Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us.
²⁶ Greet all the brothers and sisters with Christian love.
²⁷ I command you in the name of the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters.
²⁸ May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

 

Psalms 2 Close

Why Do the Heathen Rage

 ~We need to look at PS. 2: on two levels—the human and the divine

The truth is that these terrorists, heathen, stands in rebellion against the Lord God

Peter used this psalm to explain the opposition that led to Jesus’ crucifixion and the opposition the early church was experiencing in

Acts. 4:25-28  25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? 26The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. 27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

The sad truth is when we are born into this human race; we are born in rebellion against God with the old Adamic nature.

Paul refers to Psalm 14:1,2 For the director of music. Of David.

Ps 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.  KJV

 

Paul points out in these verses to express this universal rebellion against God in Rom 3:10-18

10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:

16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:

17 And the way of peace have they not known:

18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.   KJV

That’s a sad picture of mankind, but it’s universally true

Rom. 3:23 “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,”

That is the condition of people’s heart today if they are not in Christ Jesus.
The rebellion toward God is obvious in the hearts of these terrorists.
These nations are in an uproar around the world that constantly dwell on killing innocent people, even the citizens of their own country often times.
But the root of the whole matter is, the rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s certainly of the devil without a doubt.

They’re always planning, plotting and thinking on ways and means to rebel against King Jesus.

Lets notice the contrast, –the righteous man mediates on the Word of God –—the unrighteous man mediates on ways to rebel against God
This is why the terrorists rage, –They are in rebellion against God

The kings of the earth take their stand in defiance against King Jesus. In reality it appears that these Terrorists are standing and shaking their fists in the air at God.

Psalm 2Amplified Bible (AMP)

The Reign of the Lord’s Anointed.

1 Why are the ^[a]nations (Or Gentiles.) in an ^[b]uproar (I.e. a confusion of voices.) [in turmoil against God], And why do the people devise a vain and hopeless plot?

2 The kings of the earth take their stand;
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the Lord and His Anointed (the Davidic King, the Messiah, the Christ), saying,
 
3 “Let us break apart their [divine] bands [of restraint]
And cast away their cords [of control] from us.”

4 He who sits [enthroned] in the heavens laughs [at their rebellion];
The [Sovereign] ^[c]Lord (Heb Adonai. “my lords’ ”) scoffs at them [and in supreme contempt He mocks them].

Adonai is the verbal parallel to Yahweh andJehovah. Adonai is plural; the singular is adon. In reference to God the plural Adonai is used. When the singular adon is used, it usually refers to a human lord. Adon is used 215 times to refer to men. Occasionally in Scripture and predominantly in the Psalms, the singular adon is used to refer to God as well (cf. Exd 34:23). To avoid contravening the commandment “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain” (Exd 20:7), sometimes Adonai was used as a substitute forYahweh (YHWH). 

Adonai can be translated literally as, “my lords’ ” (both plural and possessive).

5 Then He will speak to them in His [profound] anger
And terrify them with His displeasure, saying,

6 “Yet as for Me, I have anointed and firmly installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

7 “I will declare the decree of the Lord:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son;
This day [I proclaim] I have begotten You.

8 ‘Ask of Me, and I will assuredly give [You] the nations as Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth as Your possession.

9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron;
You shall shatter them [in pieces] like earthenware.’”

10 Now therefore, O kings, act wisely;
Be instructed and take warning, O leaders (judges, rulers) of the earth.

11 Worship the Lord and serve Him with reverence [with awe-inspired fear and submissive wonder];
Rejoice [yet do so] with trembling.

12 Kiss (pay respect to) the ^[d]Son, so that He does not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled and set aflame.
How blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] are all those who take refuge in Him!

 

Footnotes:

Psalm 2:12 The word in the original is bar, taken to be the Aramaic for “son.” But it is surprising that an Aramaic word would be used here. The ancient rabbis maintained that a different word with the same spelling in Hebrew was intended, whose meaning is “pure.” They claimed that it is a reference to the Torah, on the ground that all the words in the Torah are pure.

Amplified Bible (AMP)

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