"You Have To Do It"

"You Have To Do It"

"Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no." Exodus 16:4

While the children of Israel were in the wilderness for forty years the Lord provided bread (manna) for them daily. Each morning when they woke up they were to go out and gather it. "They" were to gather it. God did not gather it for them. He didn't place it in their pots and vessels. He provided it but it was up to them to gather it.

Why do we think, or act like, God is going to do it all for us and we have no part to play in the matter? For example, God gave us His word- the Bible- but it is up to us to read it so that we will know what is written within its pages. God isn't going to just supernaturally put all this Bible knowledge in your mind. Also when we are in a battle, God is the one who gives the victory and provides the weapons, but we have to go out and fight. God didn't just supernaturally strike Goliath dead when he came out and taunted the army of Israel. Yes, God did bring the giant down, but David had to go out and face him, he had to pick up the weapon he was provided, he had to take the sword and cut his head off.

I could go on and on with example after example this morning to explain the point, but you know what I am saying. God provides everything that we need but we have to do something too. Even though the manna was on the ground, it wasn't going to get into their houses unless they went out and picked it up. There are some things that you are waiting on God to do for you but He isn't going to do them. He has already done what He is going to do, the rest is up to you.

Have a great day. God provides all we need but we have to do our part in receiving what's provided.

For further reading:
2 Timothy 2:15
Matthew 10:7
1 Samuel 17

Please Repent and Turn To The Lord

(I don't usually send out two words in the morning, but I feel so compelled to do so this morning.)

Please Repent and Turn To The Lord

I have been using this time of being at home to do just what the Lord has called the church to do.... repent, return to Him and seek His face.  Over the past several weeks He has been speaking to me and showing me things.  I haven't shared too much of it because I didn't know exactly how.  But I will tell you this, so far, everything He has shown me has either come to pass or is coming to pass.  

Having said that, I want to say that there are several other things that He has shown me-- I know that they will come to pass too.  So, it is with heavy heart, a burdened soul and tears that I make this appeal to you this morning:

People, get right with God if you aren't!  Turn from your ways.  Turn from your plans and agenda and surrender your life to Him.  Turn in repentance and receive Jesus as your Savior and then follow Him as your Lord.  It is time for the prodigals to return home.  It is time for the backslider to get up and repent.  It is time for those of you who are playing church to stop playing and repent and become the church.  It is time for you to come into a relationship with the Lord. Just because you once knew Him doesn't mean it is well with your soul now.  Just because you believe in Him doesn't mean that you are saved.  Just because you attend church doesn't mean you are right with God. In the Book of Revelation the Lord tells us plainly that if we are lukewarm He would spew/vomit us out of His mouth.  Many of you think that you are alright with God but you are lukewarm. Repent of your sins, of your compromise, of your neglect of God, of being religious only, of your backsliding, and turn to God while you still have the chance.  You can't have God and the world both. 

Again, there are things the Lord has shown me but I am not sure that I am at liberty to share them.  But I am at liberty to tell you that He does not want you to perish.  He does not want you to go to hell.  He wants you to have eternal life.  He wants you to live with Him throughout eternity.  He loves you so much that He paid the price and took the punishment for your sins on the cross.  Don't put off making sure that your soul is right with God.  He is coming-- sooner than we think.  Not everyone will go with Him when He does.  Actually, the Bible tells us that the number will be fewer than many.  Please be one of them.  Please surrender your life to Jesus.  Please don't put it off.  Please turn in repentance today.  

"Frustrating Grace - Part 2"

"Frustrating Grace - Part 2"

"What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid." Romans 6:15

Yesterday we said that good works and deeds don't save us and they don't keep us saved. We are saved by God's wonderful grace and it's His grace that keeps us afterwards also. When we try to work hard enough to "stay" right with God, then we are "frustrating" (taking lightly and making of none effect) the grace of God.

Now, having said that, on the other hand we don't want to frustrate the grace of God by taking our responsibility to "work out our salvation" lightly either. Just because we are kept by grace doesn't mean that we can neglect and take for granted our salvation. It doesn't mean that we can live "loose" "careless" lives and do whatever we want to do. It doesn't mean that we have nothing to do to help maintain our relationship with the Lord.

In any relationship there are responsibilities on each party. There are things we have to do... and good works are some of them. Like I said yesterday, the good works of Bible study, prayer, church attendance, etc., all help to strengthen our relationship with the Lord because they help us to get to know Him better. Our good works also testify to others of the goodness of God. And they are also an evidence to the faith that we profess to have. "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." (James 2:17,18)

The bottom line is this: grace, not good works, saved us and keeps us saved; but good works can't be neglected because they are the "fruit" that grace produces in our lives.

Have a great day. Grace gives us what we can never work hard enough on our own to receive. But after we have received the gift of grace our works are the evidence of that grace.

For further reading:
Philippians 2:12
Hebrews 2:3
Ephesians 2:8,9

"Frustrating Grace"

"Frustrating Grace"

"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." Galatians 2:21

Are you frustrating the grace of God by reducing your Christian life to religious practices instead of loving relationship? We usually think about grace and works in regard to receiving salvation. There are those who try to obtain the salvation of God through doing good deeds and religious acts- thinking that what they do will be good enough to save them. The rich young ruler tried to receive eternal life through good works. Some today try to receive eternal life through membership in a denomination, baptism, church participation. It can't be done. We can never do enough good works to earn our salvation. This is why it is a free gift given by grace- God's unmerited favor bestowed on us.

What I am talking about this morning is not in regard to getting saved, but after we receive salvation through faith in Christ. In the verse above Paul was referring to not frustrating the grace of God after he was saved. He was writing this to all born again believers. So what does he mean and what is he saying to us?

I don't have enough time to explain the whole matter, but there is one area that I want to touch on. If your walk with the Lord is more about a list of "dos and don'ts", if it's more about "doing" than "being", if it is more about "duty" than "desire" than you are frustrating (making it nothing- treating it lightly) the grace of God. Jesus died to bring us back into right relationship with God. Yes, good works should be accompanying our lives, but it's a relationship that He is after. Yes, we should be doing good works, but not in order to "keep our salvation" or "stay right" with God or be "good enough". If grace saved you, then grace will keep you- not your works.

The "works" of Bible reading, prayer, church attendance, tithes and offerings, visiting the sick, feeding the hungry, and so on are not done to make sure that I am "right" with Him or "acceptable". They are part of making my relationship stronger. They help me know Him better. And when what I learn about Him is practiced in my life, it helps others know Him better too.

I am getting too lengthy so let me sum this all up. Your works didn't save you to begin with and they don't keep you saved afterwards. They are an evidence and overflow of a relationship that you have with Him. So don't frustrate grace and enjoy the wonderful relationship that you are allowed to have with the Heavenly Father because of the grace of God that came through the cross of Jesus.

Have a great day. Don't reduce your Christian life to religious practices instead of a loving relationship.

For further reading:
Luke 18:18-24
Ephesians 2:6-10
Galatians 3:1-3
James 2:17-26

"In The Battles"

"In The Battles"

"Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident." Psalm 27:3

Ever feel like the enemy has set up camp at your house? Do you feel like every weapon he has is aimed right at you? Do you feel like all his forces have assembled together to attack you?

Sometimes the attacks of the enemy come in multiples. He doesn't just attack you in one area and work to take you down in it before he moves on to another area. It seems he is attacking you in every area of your life- in your relationships, finances, health, etc.- all at the same time.

The Psalmist was going through the same thing. His enemies were coming against him without letting up. He was going through battle after battle but he found the key to victory. He put his confidence in the Lord. His confidence was not in his own ability to handle the enemy. It was not in his own strength or know how. His confidence was not in a person. His confidence was not in his natural resources. His confidence was in the Lord.

He was confident that the Lord was with him. He was confident that the Lord was able to handle the situations. He was confident that Lord was able to keep His promises. He was confident that the Lord loved him and was on his side. He was confident that the Lord was with him and would not abandon him in his time of need.

Where and in whom does your confidence lie this morning? Can you say like the Psalmist, "My heart will not fear because of my confidence in the Lord." ? Our confidence comes in knowing that the Lord is with us even in the battles. We start getting worried and fearful during these times when we feel we are alone. You are not alone this morning, you are not by yourself. The Lord is with you, and He is with you in everyone- not just one or some.

Have a great day. Don't lose your confidence in the Lord during the battle or battles.

For further reading:
Psalm 27
Hebrews 13:5
Psalm 118:6
Psalm 124