"Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name". Psalm 18:49
The enemy wants to stop our praise, our thanksgiving and our testimony. We doesn't want us to talk about the Lord, much less praise and worship Him. He knows that praise is powerful. It brings the very presence of God into our situation. It builds us up and gives us strength to walk in victory. It increases our faith.
In order to get us to stop he will try to use intimidation and fear. The word this morning is: don't be intimidated! Give Him thanks anyway. The verse above says to give the Lord thanks among the heathen. That means we should not withhold our praise and thanksgiving to God because of anyone. I know the scriptures tell us not to "cast our pearls before swine". But there is a difference in that and being intimidated to keep our mouths closed and not say anything about the Lord.
We should continue to give Him thanks even in the presence of the heathen, the ungodly, the rebellious, the unbeliever, the atheist, the agnostic, the prodigal, the blasphemer, etc. Don't be intimidated by them. The Lord is worthy to be praised. He is great and greatly to be praised. Don't let them steal your praise. Keep on praising the Lord. Keep talking about His goodness and His wonderful works that He has done in your life. Keep on praising Him not only in the congregation of the righteous, not only when you are with your Christian friends, but even when you are among the heathen. They need the power to touch their lives that comes through praise and thanksgiving.
Have a great day. Don't be intimidated to withhold your praise to the Lord, no matter who is around.
Friday, September 8, 2017
Thursday, September 7, 2017
"I Think, God Says"
"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." Revelation 20:12
The world has a way of thinking. The church has a way of thinking. The religious crowd has a way of thinking. Individuals have their own way of thinking.
You may think that living together outside of marriage is all right. You may think homosexuality is all right. You may think that lying and cheating and taking advantage of others is all right. You may think there is nothing wrong with drinking, smoking, cursing, doing drugs, watching pornography, etc. But in the end, it doesn't matter what you think, it doesn't matter what I think, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. The only thing that will matter is what God says about it.
In the end we will be judged. We won't be judged by what we thought about a certain subject, we will be judged according to how God thought about it. There will be books that will be opened as we stand before Him and we will be judged out of those books. Those books contain His Word and the way we lived our lives according to His Word. Then there will be another book that is open that will determine whether we have eternal life or eternal damnation. If the record shows that we didn't live according to His Words in the books, then it is sure that our name won't be in the Book of Life.
It is not God's will or plan that any should perish. This is why He gave us "books"- His Word. They show us His love for us, His plan for us, how to receive His love, how to walk in what is written in the books, how to surrender to Him and live for Him. Are you living your life by the way you "think" or by what God says? In the end that will be the only thing that matters-- what God says.
Have a great day. It isn't about what you think or what I think, it is about what God says.
The world has a way of thinking. The church has a way of thinking. The religious crowd has a way of thinking. Individuals have their own way of thinking.
You may think that living together outside of marriage is all right. You may think homosexuality is all right. You may think that lying and cheating and taking advantage of others is all right. You may think there is nothing wrong with drinking, smoking, cursing, doing drugs, watching pornography, etc. But in the end, it doesn't matter what you think, it doesn't matter what I think, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. The only thing that will matter is what God says about it.
In the end we will be judged. We won't be judged by what we thought about a certain subject, we will be judged according to how God thought about it. There will be books that will be opened as we stand before Him and we will be judged out of those books. Those books contain His Word and the way we lived our lives according to His Word. Then there will be another book that is open that will determine whether we have eternal life or eternal damnation. If the record shows that we didn't live according to His Words in the books, then it is sure that our name won't be in the Book of Life.
It is not God's will or plan that any should perish. This is why He gave us "books"- His Word. They show us His love for us, His plan for us, how to receive His love, how to walk in what is written in the books, how to surrender to Him and live for Him. Are you living your life by the way you "think" or by what God says? In the end that will be the only thing that matters-- what God says.
Have a great day. It isn't about what you think or what I think, it is about what God says.
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
"Adultery"
"Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother". Mark 10:19
I saw a commercial last night and it was advertising birth control. The women were panicky that they may have forgotten their pill. It was obvious that those women weren't married but were concerned about getting pregnant while having intimacy with a partner. I want to address this this morning because it doesn't seem like many, if any, are addressing this issue.
If you look around there seems to be a view that is of "epidemic" proportion concerning pre-marital sex. People are engaging in it as if it were normal and there was nothing wrong with it-- even in the church. The majority of people have thrown marriage out the window and just either live together or go from one relationship with one partner to another. They think nothing of it.
I want to remind you that sex outside of marriage is sin. I didn't say that but the Lord said that. This is not His plan for mankind. The Lord wants us to have a fulfilled life. This does not fulfill it. It only complicates it. The woman at the well that Jesus encountered had had six husbands and was living with a man she was not married to. Jesus spoke truth to her and offered her abundant and eternal life. From the very beginning, back in the Garden of Eden, God revealed His plan for men and women to marry. His plan has not changed. His view has not changed. His command has not changed. His thoughts on the subject have not changed. Pre-marital sex is still against His will, it is still sin and it will reap consequences. Society changes, men change, opinions change, cultures change, a person's view may change, but He never changes.
Doing things His way is always the best way. Why? Because He loves us and has our best interest at heart. When He gives us commands, He is trying to "deprive" us of something. He is trying to protect us from something and give us something better.
Have a great day. God's ways are always the best ways. Living in adultery is not God's way.
I saw a commercial last night and it was advertising birth control. The women were panicky that they may have forgotten their pill. It was obvious that those women weren't married but were concerned about getting pregnant while having intimacy with a partner. I want to address this this morning because it doesn't seem like many, if any, are addressing this issue.
If you look around there seems to be a view that is of "epidemic" proportion concerning pre-marital sex. People are engaging in it as if it were normal and there was nothing wrong with it-- even in the church. The majority of people have thrown marriage out the window and just either live together or go from one relationship with one partner to another. They think nothing of it.
I want to remind you that sex outside of marriage is sin. I didn't say that but the Lord said that. This is not His plan for mankind. The Lord wants us to have a fulfilled life. This does not fulfill it. It only complicates it. The woman at the well that Jesus encountered had had six husbands and was living with a man she was not married to. Jesus spoke truth to her and offered her abundant and eternal life. From the very beginning, back in the Garden of Eden, God revealed His plan for men and women to marry. His plan has not changed. His view has not changed. His command has not changed. His thoughts on the subject have not changed. Pre-marital sex is still against His will, it is still sin and it will reap consequences. Society changes, men change, opinions change, cultures change, a person's view may change, but He never changes.
Doing things His way is always the best way. Why? Because He loves us and has our best interest at heart. When He gives us commands, He is trying to "deprive" us of something. He is trying to protect us from something and give us something better.
Have a great day. God's ways are always the best ways. Living in adultery is not God's way.
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
"The Last Minute"
"And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son". Genesis 22:8, 13
The Lord God sees everything ahead of time and makes the provision when He sees it. He is not a last minute God. Although, the manifestation of His provisions often show up at the "last minute".
Before Abraham had obeyed and surrendered to the Lord's command to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice, God had already seen his obedience and provided a ram in the thicket. He didn't wait to decide or figure out what to do at the last minute. He had it already waiting, already planned out and already provided. The manifestation of His provision didn't show up until Abraham had climbed the mountain, made the altar, tied his son to it and drew back the knife. Talk about "last minute" manifestation-- but it was not a last minute provision.
God has your provision already. Whatever it is you need, whatever it is you have been praying and seeking Him about, whatever act of obedience you are doing, wherever you are following Him, it is already provided. It will manifest at the appropriate time. It will come at what you think is the "last minute". So, don't give up. Hold on. Exercise your faith. By faith Abraham offered his son Isaac and God manifested what was already provided. Believe this: what you need is already provide and it will manifest at just the right time-- even if you think the time is last minute.
Have a great day. God doesn't wait until the last minute to provide for your need, but He may wait until the last minute to manifest it.
The Lord God sees everything ahead of time and makes the provision when He sees it. He is not a last minute God. Although, the manifestation of His provisions often show up at the "last minute".
Before Abraham had obeyed and surrendered to the Lord's command to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice, God had already seen his obedience and provided a ram in the thicket. He didn't wait to decide or figure out what to do at the last minute. He had it already waiting, already planned out and already provided. The manifestation of His provision didn't show up until Abraham had climbed the mountain, made the altar, tied his son to it and drew back the knife. Talk about "last minute" manifestation-- but it was not a last minute provision.
God has your provision already. Whatever it is you need, whatever it is you have been praying and seeking Him about, whatever act of obedience you are doing, wherever you are following Him, it is already provided. It will manifest at the appropriate time. It will come at what you think is the "last minute". So, don't give up. Hold on. Exercise your faith. By faith Abraham offered his son Isaac and God manifested what was already provided. Believe this: what you need is already provide and it will manifest at just the right time-- even if you think the time is last minute.
Have a great day. God doesn't wait until the last minute to provide for your need, but He may wait until the last minute to manifest it.
Friday, September 1, 2017
"Misplaced Affections"
"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth". Colossians 3:2
"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also". Matthew 6:19-21
"While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal". 2 Corinthians 4:18
"Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven". Proverbs 23:5
I don't consider myself "old" but I have lived long enough to see many things happen that remind me of just how temporary the things of this life are. Floods that destroy the things we have worked so hard to attain. Tornadoes that have taken away everything we possess. Fire that consumes a lifetime of treasures and reduces them to mere ashes. The bombing of buildings that wipe out years of records, transactions and wealth.
In just a matter of days, hours or even minutes the things that we deem important, the things that we have worked hard to attain, the things that we have poured "blood, sweat and tears" into, the things that have consumed our time, talents and efforts, the things that we hold dear as treasures can be gone-- all that is left is a memory.
This morning the Lord has laid on my heart that we need to become refocused. We have set our affections on things below and lost sight of what is truly valuable. Riches come and go-- they are temporary. Houses, lands, and material possessions come and go-- they are temporary. Riches can take wings and fly away. Moths damage things. Rust destroys. Thieves steal our possessions.
There is nothing wrong with having things. The Lord Himself promised to meet all our need. He promised that we would not lack. Whatever we need, He will provide. But the issue lies in what we have set our affections upon. If our hope, our joy, our peace is attached to material things, then when material things-- which are temporary-- are gone, so is our hope, joy and peace.
We not only have to refocus, but we have to reattach ourselves to what is eternal. We have to reattach ourselves to things that are above-- which have eternal value. Moth, rust, thieves, flooding, bombing, tornadoes, fire, economic collapse, draught, etc., can't take away or destroy what is eternal. When our affections are set on things above not on things below, when we are more attached to the eternal than the temporary, when our focus is above, they can't take away our peace, our hope or our joy. Why? Because it is anchored in something greater. It is anchored in something that will never pass away. It is anchored in something more powerful. It is anchored in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal One, the Prince of Peace, our Blessed Hope, our Strength and Joy.
Have a great day. We need to refocus and reattach ourselves to that which is eternal, not temporary.
"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also". Matthew 6:19-21
"While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal". 2 Corinthians 4:18
"Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven". Proverbs 23:5
I don't consider myself "old" but I have lived long enough to see many things happen that remind me of just how temporary the things of this life are. Floods that destroy the things we have worked so hard to attain. Tornadoes that have taken away everything we possess. Fire that consumes a lifetime of treasures and reduces them to mere ashes. The bombing of buildings that wipe out years of records, transactions and wealth.
In just a matter of days, hours or even minutes the things that we deem important, the things that we have worked hard to attain, the things that we have poured "blood, sweat and tears" into, the things that have consumed our time, talents and efforts, the things that we hold dear as treasures can be gone-- all that is left is a memory.
This morning the Lord has laid on my heart that we need to become refocused. We have set our affections on things below and lost sight of what is truly valuable. Riches come and go-- they are temporary. Houses, lands, and material possessions come and go-- they are temporary. Riches can take wings and fly away. Moths damage things. Rust destroys. Thieves steal our possessions.
There is nothing wrong with having things. The Lord Himself promised to meet all our need. He promised that we would not lack. Whatever we need, He will provide. But the issue lies in what we have set our affections upon. If our hope, our joy, our peace is attached to material things, then when material things-- which are temporary-- are gone, so is our hope, joy and peace.
We not only have to refocus, but we have to reattach ourselves to what is eternal. We have to reattach ourselves to things that are above-- which have eternal value. Moth, rust, thieves, flooding, bombing, tornadoes, fire, economic collapse, draught, etc., can't take away or destroy what is eternal. When our affections are set on things above not on things below, when we are more attached to the eternal than the temporary, when our focus is above, they can't take away our peace, our hope or our joy. Why? Because it is anchored in something greater. It is anchored in something that will never pass away. It is anchored in something more powerful. It is anchored in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal One, the Prince of Peace, our Blessed Hope, our Strength and Joy.
Have a great day. We need to refocus and reattach ourselves to that which is eternal, not temporary.
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