People Are Like Leaves

Life is like unto the wind. Jesus gives us insight to this concept in John 3:8 when he said, “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth: so is everyone that is born of the spirit.”
Paul talks about how children, spiritual children, are blown about by every wind or doctrine in Ephesians 4:14. “That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the slight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.”
In nature when the wind blows the leaves are carried about. In the fall as the leaves turn brown and begin to fall the wind will scatter them all over the yard. You can see the leaves being carried around but you can’t see the wind that is carrying them. The wind can cool us or knock us down yet the wind has no substance of its own. All that can be seen is what is carried by the wind. Damage is caused not solely by the wind but by the debris it carries. We can be protected from the wind by the shelter we select.
In the spiritual world if we are like children with little protection or guidance we will be blown by any winds that may come our way. Unless you have strong roots and a strong faith then you will be blown about by cunning craftiness. The bible speaks volumes about how the evil one walks about seeking whom he can devour. If we seek shelter under God’s wing then satan has not power over us. If satan can get you to listen to his doctrine he will get you blown off course. God is not the author of confusion. If there are winds of confusion in your life who do you think is causing the problem?
Our faith in God and His care can protect us from the spiritual winds of evil, division, corruption, and sin. While some spiritual winds are of great benefit and give us peace and strength others can cause great damage. God’s grace will shield us from those damaging spiritual winds just like our walls can protect us from the physical storms. As we must seek shelter from the physical winds so must we have a shield from the evil spiritual winds. So then we need strong roots to withstand the destructive winds. Winds of doubt, winds of carnal knowledge, winds or spiritual unrest, winds of sin that will separate us from God from all these we must find shelter. We must have roots anchored in Jesus and the love of God. Secure in the rock of ages. In Jesus’ hands we are safe and secure. Without Jesus we will be blown about just like the leaves in the fall.

The Greatest Commandment

The Greatest Commandment
When Jesus was asked , Which is the greatest commandment in the law?” He answered, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
From the words Jesus spoke we see that we must first love God with our whole being, body soul and spirit. Then we are to love ourselves. We need to love ourselves for what we are: children of God, made in God’s image, with all the attractive and unattractive human qualities we possess. The degree to which we are able to love ourselves determines how much we can love our neighbor.
When we start looking for spiritual enlightenment our humanity seems to get in the way. This hinders our commitment not only to ourselves but also to God. What will people think if I am spiritual? What will God think if your are not?
However spiritual we are, and however dedicated we are to serving God most of us will still encounter trying, human situations. Many times we seek guidance in the places we feel are closest to God. That may be a church, for God surely is in church, or it may be on a mountaintop nothing could be closer to God than that. While both of these locations can serve as a vehicle to help us reach out to God there is still a better way to commune with God. If we will but open our hearts and minds and spirits to God and His will He will dwell with us. If we don’t love our neighbor as we love ourselves how then can we truly love God? Or maybe we do love our neighbor as we love ourselves. If we go to church on Sunday and sing Oh How I Love Jesus then use his name in vane on Monday who do we love?
The bible says, “What so ever a man thinketh in his heart so is he.”
Man is a three part being. We are body soul and spirit. We choose to live in any one of these areas. The body is carnal and only wants material things; the soul and spirit want to be in Gods presence. Most of us only live in the carnal state. God wants us to live and abide with Him in all three states.
Learn to love yourself, love God then you can love your neighbor.

Finding God

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
The road to success is not straight. There is a curve called FAILURE, a loop called CONFUSION, speed bumps called FRIENDS, red lights called ENEMIES, caution lights called FAMILY. You will have flats called JOBS. But, if you have a spare called DETERMINATION, an engine called PERSERVERENCE, insurance called FAITH, a driver called JESUS, you will make it to a place called SUCCESS.
The above quote was floating around the Internet so I thought it fit well with our devotion on finding God.
God has never left us we leave Him. He is right by our side. As a loving father he will pick us up when we fall off what ever we climb upon. He will guide us through stormy seas so that we may learn life lessons. God knows what is ahead and will guide us through the maize if we will but allow Him.
One thing must be made clear. Before we can follow His direction we must first know who He is. Contrary to popular belief not everyone knows the Lord. Oh many use his name, swear by him and try to persuade the world he is only necessary when someone dies or gets into trouble. Some even try to ease their conscience by going to church on Easter and Christmas. But they don’t know Him. They have only heard of him. In our world today few there be who want to know Jesus.
Jesus is a friend in the truest sense of the word.
So if you have not met my friend let me introduce you to one of the greatest friends I have ever known. One who has stood by me in good times and bad.
The bible says in John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” That is exactly what Jesus did. He laid down his life for you and me. “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.” John3:16 Is Jesus your friend?
In my life I have wandered away from Jesus at times. During those times I have found I have wandered into places and situations that were not desirable. Even at the lowest time all I had to do was look up and reach for His hand and He helped me up, dusted me off and put my feet back on solid ground. Those who don’t have a friend like that are in a sad state.
I will tell you this that God’s love is so great that no matter how dirty we get or how far away from him we wander He still loves us. Though you sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow so the bible says.
If you don’t know Jesus seek Him in your heart, confess Him with your mouth and He will come and dwell with you. What a friend we have in Jesus.

Let Go and Let God

The following poem by Brenda Yancey sets the theme for today’s devotion.

HELP ME LORD by Brenda Yancey
Oh, gentle Savior, please hear my plea,
To Heaven’s door—thou art the key.
I am poor and weak and blind,
Help me, Lord thy grace to find.
I need thee, Lord, to guide my life
In this old world of toil and strife,
Oh, precious Savior, please take my hand
So I can take the Christian stand.
Without Thee, Lord, I can but fail,
But, by Thy help I will prevail.
Help me, Lord, to live like Thee
So others can see Christ lives in me.
Thank you, Lord, for Thy saving grace,
Now I can dwell in that heavenly place,
Help me to be worthy of Thy love
Which comes so often from above.

So many times we hear the words, “Let go and let God,” but have we ever stopped to consider what those words really mean? Human nature being what it is we have a very difficult time getting self out of the way so God can work. Too much of the time we are striving, struggling, pressing and pushing to promote ourselves and our ideals so that we can get the glory. As long as we are standing in the way it will be difficult if not impossible for God to work in our lives. I like to think God is standing by just waiting for us to give Him a chance to do wonderful things in our lives. He might be saying, “Lead follow or get out of the way.”
Life is full of ups and downs. We so often think we are in control of our destiny. We do everything we know to do to gain that higher moral plane. Each time we come upon an obstacle we struggle, push and pull a little harder to get over or by that which is blocking our path. When all we ever need to do is to “Let go and Let God.”
This concept is not only found in the secular world but is wide spread in the Christian world. We want the church to grow, but we won’t exercise any faith. The bible says, “without faith it is impossible to please God.” We find in the book of Acts that God added three thousand souls to the church. To do that the church had to be in one accord and in daily prayer.
In our lives when we reach the point when there seems to be no solution to our problem, “Let Go and Let God.” If you have reached the end or your rope and the dark chasm of despair and loneliness is just below tie a knot in the rope and let God pull you up.
So today no matter how big or how small the problem, “LET GO AND LET GOD.”
You might be surprised at how He can work in your life.

Me Give Up?

Me Give Up?

Many of us become discouraged when we face even the least difficulty. This causes us to give up, and thus fail at many tasks to which we are assigned. The following are words from an unknown author but whose words ring true about a Christian life.
“Shall I give up because I am tired and discouraged; because I have failed and no one seems to care? Ah, just let me wait and rest awhile and then go on. Shall I submit when I’m tempted and tired? Surrender? Never while I live. I’ll not give up when I’m fallen; lie there and cry and die; be hated and forgotten. I’ll rise, honestly and admit my failure and try again.
I’ll not stop when I get old. Positively no. I may not march at the front of the line, but I’ll march.
Me give up? Only when Jesus says ‘Tis done.’ Me give up? When breath is gone, when heart is stopped, when strength and life is no more. Me give up? Yes. I will some day, when God assigns a greater task.”

This expresses the true Christian’s attitude toward his work and the work of God. Does it fit your concept of life? Let us remember the words of Paul when he said, “And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9
Galatians 6:7 “Be no deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
This means there will be a payday some day. Our main task is to remain faithful over the few things to which we have been appointed.

Jesus gave up heaven went to a Roman cross shed his life’s blood that we might be saved. He never gave up on me how can I give up on Him? A greater love hath no man than he give his life for his friends. Yes we get down sometimes. Yes we think we can’t go on. God never leaves us we leave Him. He is right there by our side ready to offer a hand up. If you don’t know the Lord He still loved you and sent His son to die for you. If you are saved but have wandered away you can still stand up. I saw a quote on Face Book that I think says it all. No matter how many steps you have taken to go away from God it only takes one step to get back.

Who Is Limiting God?

I heard a story of a woman who had a very serious problem; a problem that would shatter her world. She had just lost her husband she was dead broke and deeply in debt. Creditors were beating down her door demanding payment. They were demanding payment in blood if she did not come up with the money she owed. This did not happen yesterday but it could have. This story is found in 2 Kings 4:1-7.
Her husband was a man of God and so she went to another man of God for counsel. The prophet Elisha asks her what she had in the house. She said, “Nothing save a pot of oil.” “Ok”, the preacher told her, “go borrow as many vessels as you can from your neighbors. Then go home and you and your sons start pouring out the oil into the borrowed vessels.” Now I am sure she must have thought the preacher was crazy, but she did as he said. As she was filling the borrowed vessels each one was filled and she asked for another until there were no more empty vessels. She then noticed that her oil pot was still full. Back to the preacher she went asking what she needed to do. “Simple”, he said. “Go sell the oil and pay your debt then you and your sons live of the rest.”
Look at exactly what she was told to do in verse 3. “Go borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.” She went and borrowed what she thought she needed not really knowing what or how many to borrow. God did what he said he would do. He blessed her to the extent she let Him. Why? Well we don’t know how many she borrowed but we do know it was enough to get her out of debt and have money to live on. God blessed out of one small jar of oil He solved her problems.
Two things had to happen here, first she had to ask God for help and second she had to trust him and do what she was instructed to do. Had she used current logic she most likely would have starved and lost her sons.
Even though this woman followed exactly what God led her to do there was a limiting factor. She borrowed as many empty jars she thought she needed. What do you think would have happened had she actually borrowed from all her neighbors and had empty jars all over the house, yard, and basement and stacked in every empty space she could find? What would her neighbors think? Had she lost her mind? Yes she was faithful, yes she followed instructions, but did she still limit God? You see we limit God when we think we know more that he does. So then the only thing that limits God is us. God’s riches are untold and His love is unlimited.
You have a problem talk to God. Don’t know God? Then go find a man of God an ask to be introduced.

Sowing Seed

In the book of Matthew chapter 13 we find a story Jesus told about service. Note verse 3 , “Behold, a sower went forth to sow…”
Let us look at what this sowing is all about.
In his story Jesus is telling us if we don’t sow we can’t reap. He is also telling us that not every seed we sow will produce fruit. There is a great mystery today how people seem to think they can get rewards without doing any work. Or reap without sowing. Farmers don’t expect that. Farmers gather their seed in the spring and prepare the ground and plant all the seed. I don’t know of any farmer who plows the ground then leaves the seed in the sacks in the barn and expect to harvest in the fall. Do you?
The prophet Isaiah told us to sow everywhere. “blessed are ye that sow beside all waters…” Isaiah 32:20
In 2 Corinthians 9:6 we find we are to sow bountifully (or a lot). “He who soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly and he who soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully.”
Let me ask you this question how good do you think your seed is if it is stored away inside the covers of your bible? If people don’t get to hear about Jesus how then can they get saved? How did you get saved? Did it just happen one dark and stormy night by magic or did someone tell you about the love of Jesus. Did they tell you about the cross the Son of God died on for your sins? Or did you just some how get a revelation and here you are? No someone sowed some seed and someone watered the seed and God gave the increase.
Paul ask these very same questions in Romans 10: 14 “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?”
Oh I see you don’t want to be a preacher. I would like to share with you a personal experience. Some 30 years ago I was working as an electrician in a potash mine. I had a good living, a good family and I thought I was doing ok. A co-worker always had a new testament in his pocket and I like many teased him about his little bible. One day I just came out and ask him why he carried that bible to work. He told me it gave him peace, joy and strength to face each day. That is all he told me. That small seed started to grow. It had struck a cord in my mind. You mean to tell me that little book can make me stronger? The more I thought about that the more curious I became until one day I invited my friend and his wife over to the house for dinner. After dinner I started asking all sorts of questions about how to get this strength he talked about. I thought it was some magic pill or something I could buy or find if I got me one of these little books. Oh I knew all about church or at lease where the church was. I knew there was a man called Jesus. I knew there was a god somewhere, because those I ran with were always calling his name when ever things went wrong. I thought I knew all about being religious and how I probably didn’t need all that church stuff. As we talked my friend asked me this question, “If you died tonight where would you go?” My answer,”Die? I’m not going to die. I’m not sick.” His answer, “Are you sure?” To make a long story short he went out to his car and came back with a BIG book; a big black well worn book. He ask if he could show me from God’s Word how I could find peace and strength. Well yes now I see that he had a much bigger book that probably had a lot more power than that little book I see him carrying to work. Show me he did! There at my coffee table in my living room I met Jesus for the first time. True to his word I found peace and such relief as I felt the weight of the world was lifted off me. Words cannot explain or express how I felt but one thing was for sure I was not the same person. Jesus was real to me and I felt I could conquer the world. Looking back now I see that weight was all my sin debt I had been carrying. Jesus took that off me and put my sin on His shoulders and told me he would carry it for me from now own.
Now my friend was not and is still not a preacher. At lease not in the sense of the word that he stands in a pulpit every Sunday, but in my mind he is a preacher none the less. Would I have found Jesus had he not carried that little book to work? Who knows, but I am sure glad he did.
So my friend planted the seed at work, the Holy spirit watered that seed in my mind then God gave the increase as he brought that seed to life in my heart. So you see you never know about the seed you plant, but God does. Where do you keep your seed between the covers of a bible or do you put them in fertile ground in someone’s soul?

Is God Real?

Is God Real?
You better believe He is real. He is also alive and well. This is contrary to the now common belief that God has somehow gone away and doesn’t care about your and me. There is a movement started by the devil and his crowd that we don’t need God in our schools, in our government, in our offices in our lives. They would love that but it won’t happen. History should tell everyone everywhere that God will take care of His own. I’ll bet you may think you are the only one who cares about God today. You know there was a prophet in the bible who felt the same way. Elijah had been following what God told him to do but then a queen got mad and threatened to kill him. So he left town went out into the woods and ask God to let him die. You will have to go the 1 Kings 19 to find out what happened.
God is real and has made a promise He will provide for those who believe. In Psalms 84:11 we find, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”
He is our guiding light. Psalms 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”
So yes God is real and very much alive and He is still in control. There is a day coming when he will say that is enough and come to take his children home. How will he know who belongs to him. First he will look for the blood. Then he will look to see if your name is written in the Lambs book. If he does not see the blood form the cross or find your name in the book he will pass you by. Don’t believe that? Maybe then you need to take that up with God for those are His rules and requirements.
Satan would have you believe God is not real and that if he was he really doesn’t care anymore. That would be a lie as satan is a liar and the father of it.
God is real and very much alive. He loves you so much He sent His only son to die for you. To take all you sin debt upon him and hang it on the cross. He then went to start building a place for you in heaven where he is waiting to welcome you home. Will we see you there?

Who Is This?

Who Is this?
In Matthew 21:10 we find a whole city was moved and ask, “Who is this?” In this age of high-tech high speed and vast technological advancement we still are uncertain as who this is. Some one has said, “We know HOW, but we do not know HIM.” An old adage says, We will never get the world right until we get the right man.” We will never get the right man until that man gets right with and has a personal relationship with the God-man.
Men have questioned who Jesus was from the first century up until today. Many things may change, but man remains largely the same and his problems are the same. The sin question is ever with us.
The opening passage marked the Passover at which time it was believed the Messiah would reveal Himself. A great multitude from all over the region had gathered to observe the Passover.
As the procession passed by, led by One on the back of a lowly donkey, the cry went up, “Who is this?” Who is this so-called “Son of David.” Who comes in the name of the Lord? Who is this Person who is the center of such an unusual demonstration? These and many more questions filled the minds of the multitude.
A universal question is raised in the human heart. “Who is this?” Kings have asked, those in search of peace have asked, hungry hearts, thirsty minds, broken spirits, searching eyes and listening ears have all asked the all important question. Who is this Jesus? The fact is all who want to know Him can know Him.
In the great search to know Christ, men have tried many things. There have been cathedrals built that tried to be worthy of Him. Many a man has tried to compose songs and poems that fully describe Him. Artists have painted pictures but all have failed to show who Jesus really is.
There is a story told of a group of people in London, England. They had been brought together in a small room, waiting for the passing of a severe storm. To pass the time, they decided each would tell of the greatest man they knew about. The names of Socrates, Plato, Charlemagne and others were mentioned. Finally it was time for Charles Lamb to speak and he said, “Gentlemen, before us this night have been paraded the names of great men. Certainly if any one of them should enter this room, we would stand in honor. But the One I would like to have known in the flesh, Jesus of Nazareth, should He enter this room tonight, we would kneel before Him and exclaim, ‘My Lord and my God.’ ”
Who is this Christ to you? Is He just a stranger you have heard about; an imaginary Person you know nothing about? What have you done with Him? Is Jesus just a bible character you have only heard about? Do you only know about Jesus and really don’t know him? The greatest sin one can be guilty of is the sin of rejecting Him. Please examine your heart and see just what you have done with this One of Whom men asked, “Who is this?”

Choices

I was wanting to start a daily devotion,just food for thought for the day. I still will be posting a weekly series.
So for today--
Each day we make choices that affect how we act, live, love and be. Those choices cause us to look up or down.
Look up the Psalmist said “I will lift mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my strength.” Psalms 121:1
As we travel through life we are given options which roads to travel. We make the choice where we travel, who we travel with and how fast we want to travel. A good traveling companion is the Lord. Quoting the psalm again, “The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.”
One thing I have learned over the years is that the Lord always has our best interest at heart. We sometimes are reluctant to listen to what He has to say. It’s not socially acceptable to be seen in public with the Lord. There again that is a choice we make.
Those who are recovering form an addiction I find are all seeking an answer. None know where to find it. They are too busy looking down to see all that is around them.
Have you ever felt as though you were down on hands and knees with no power to get up? Daily loads seem to get bigger and larger forcing you down even lower. I am reminded of a quote from the AA book, “Let go and let God.” Picture if you will yourself on hands and knees under a very heavy load. Standing right beside you is the Lord. He places His hand on your shoulder and gently says, “Let me take some of that load off you.” Then He says, “Give me your hand and I will help you up.” If you take His hand He will raise you to your feet. After you are standing once again you think you can handle things again and you say, “Thanks I can take it from here.” The Lord looks straight ahead and says, “ I don’t think you are ready to walk just yet. Hold my hand and let’s just take one step. See how you feel about that.” “Oh, that works well now can I run.” “Not yet there are still loads that you are not ready and should not be carrying.” “But”, you insist,” I can handle things now.” Gently the Lord says, “ Let us take one step at a time, it would be much easier if you would drop all those burdens you are carrying.” “What burdens?” “ The grudges, the hatred, the unforgiving spirit, all the things that weigh you down and get in the way. Many are trying to run while still on crutches.
If you are down look up and take the hand that is ready to lift you and support you.

The Will of God and How to Know It

I want to close this series with how to know God's will.
In the book of Romans chapter 12 verses one and two we find some instructions about Christian service.
“I beseech you therefore, breather, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
As we have looked at many areas of how to find our purpose in life we now need to look at just how God wants that to happen. Let us look at God’s will and how we can know what God would have us to do and how He would have us do it.
Step One:
The first thing anyone must do to know God’s will is to know God. To have a personal relationship with Jesus and know not only who he is but really know him as friend and savior is the first step to finding purpose.
Step Two:
Now let’s look at your surrender. Have you ever completely surrendered your self to God? If not it will be hard to know what He wants you to do. Oh I can hear all the voices clambering, “I just don’t want to go there or do that?” “I’m afraid He will send me to a faraway mission field.” “I really don’t want to preach.” Oh so then you really don’t want to know God’s will. “Well I do I just am afraid he will send me some place I don’t want to go.” May I suggest until you surrender you will have no idea what God wants you to do. The words surrender, mission, work, commitment and service all place fear in our hearts. I would like to tell you a secret God has a lot of things He needs to get done right where you are and you may be the only one who can get those things done. But until you ask you will never know.
Step three:
The next thing we all have to do to get in tune with God is forsake sin. Just like when we got married we forsook all others for the one we married. To know God’s Will we must forsake sin in our lives. Does this mean you will become perfect? Not by long shot. As a sinful creature we will all sin and come short of the glory of God, but it should be a goal to get as close to God as possible. You adversary would have you stay in a sinful condition so that you won’t hear God’s call. If you can’t hear His call you will have no idea what He wants you to do. Let’s think for a moment that there is someone God had designed to be a great teacher, preacher, evangelist, missionary (the list could go on for ever) and you are the only one who could lead them to Christ. Oh here comes another excuse, “God would find someone else to do that.” Are you sure about that? You just don’t want to get involved. After all what will people think? Who will miss the blessing? You for one would miss a blessing and then all those who that person would be able to touch, they too will miss out. Some might even miss heaven. Wow, that is a heavy load. Whose hands will their blood be on?
Step four:
Next we need to find out what the need is. Paul had a vision of a man in Macedonia who said we have a need come and help us. The great apostle heard the cry for help and went. I’ll bet your mind just went to the mission field. Right after the objection of I sure don’t want to go there. Did God call you there? Did He even mention it to you? What about the need of the local church to teach Sunday school, do administrational work, how about building maintenance, sing in the choir, help in children’s church, witness to your neighbor are these not a mission field we need to support. In other words find out what job needs to be done, pray about how God would have you do it then get it done. Here is another secret, God may have something completely different in mind for you, but until you ask you will never know.
Step five:
What are you burdened for? Paul had a burden for all those he ministered to. Pastors have a burden for those they have been called to lead. Paul prayed long and hard for those he had a burden for. I am sure the pastor has prayed for, has a burden in his heart for those he has been called to guide. Are you burdened for some lost soul? So burdened you spend time on your knees talking to God about that person. What about something you heard in a service that went to the depth of your heart and is smoldering there as a burning fire? What that is only you and God know? Isn’t it funny that some times when we are in God’s house something will be said sung or mentioned that will get our attention? The pastor is given a message and thoughts that God will direct to a special heart. Have you ever been in a service where you were sure the preacher was talking just to you? Could it be God was speaking to a heart? Is that heart yours and is it open to receiving God’s call? What are you burdened for? To find out you must search your heart and talk to God.
Step Six:
The last step to knowing God’s will and your purpose is this—look at your talents.
Honestly look at your talents. What are you really good at doing? What can you do well? What have you developed in your life that has prepared you to do what God may be calling you to do? What interest you the most? Remember God already knows what you are good at doing. He made you and put your design in you before you were brought into this world. He is just waiting for you to receive His call to fulfill your mission in this life.
“He said unto them. Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” Mark 16:15
God’s call to service reaches out to all. Everyone can do something---pray, encourage, witness, or lend a helping hand. “The harvest truly is plenteous but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.” Matt 9:37-38
So the short list to find your purpose is this:
Know Jesus as savior
Surrender to His will
Forsake sin in you life
Look for the need
Reflect on your burdens
Look at your talents.
Last and most important Trust God to direct you to where He wants you to serve.

Why Am I Here?

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

Why am I here? How many times have you asked that question? What we are going to discuss may not give you the answer to what your purpose is but it will give you a place to start looking. How do you discover your real purpose in life? I’m not talking about your job, your daily responsibilities, or even your long-term goals. I mean the real reason why you’re here at all — the very reason you exist.
As we look to find a purpose let us first examine ourselves. The Bible instructs in 2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith: prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates?” We must first take a hard look at who we are and what we truly love. Let me ask these few questions to aid in this examination. What do you really enjoy doing? What gives you the most satisfaction? To use a slang phrase, “What turns you on?” Where is your passion? Or what are you most passionate about? What are your three greatest strengths? What is your life really all about? If you had to guess your life purpose (from looking at your life to date), what would it be? Are there changes you would need to make?
These are but a few questions we each must answer if we are to find our purpose as God intended. We must do a soul search as it were. Look deep within ourselves to see what it is that makes us tick. When you stand a look in the mirror who do you see? Are you satisfied with what you see? Don’t just look on the outside look deep within for there you will find your purpose. God put it there and He may only be waiting for you to open it so He can bless. You must also be ready for the answer.
For decades men have asked the question what am I really here for. Finding our purpose has been a subject men have sought after debated and searched for, written books about and gone to the far reaches of the earth to find. This search is filled with all manner of delight and sorrow. All we need to do is go to Him and seek His will, we need go no farther. Jesus said, “And I say unto you, “ask and it shall be given you: seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you.” Luke 11:9 Rest assured God does have a plan and purpose for each life. After all He is the one who made you. He put the design in your genes. It then stands to reason to know what our purpose is we must first have a personal relationship with the creator. In Ephesians 1:11 we find these words, “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.”
God doesn’t make mistakes! He gave to each special gifts or talents. In 1 Corinthians 12 we find the Apostle Paul addressing spiritual gifts and relating them to the body. In verse 4 he states there are diversities of gifts but the same Spirit. God gave gifts or talents to every person so that His plan could be completed. In verses 8 through 11 of 1 Corinthians 12 we find a list of just some of the different gifts God places within each. “For to one is given by the spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same spirit; to another the workings of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kind of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues; but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.” So from that we are to learn God wants some to preach, some to teach and some to sing His praises. Some are to lead and govern. Others are to write so God gave them the talent to string words together that others may be instructed. He gave some the gift to understand and learn another language so the His message could be given. For some the love of education was given so that disciples can be made. To be a disciple one must learn and then teach. Jesus took three years to turn fishermen, tax collectors and other skilled laborers into a force that turned the world upside down. Common men all each had specific talents that alone had little effect but when placed together a force to be reckoned with.
I have heard many say I just don’t have anything I can do. I have to ask then did God make you by accident and forgot to give you a design? Not for a minute is that true. Every one has a reason for being. Everyone has a specific place in God’s plan. Let me make one thing very clear your job is not your purpose. While you may have talents to make you good at your job that is not what God made you for. He makes us all to serve Him to use what he has given us so that others can see Him better. We are all part of God’s picture. Each has a place. Each has a purpose. Just as each piece of a puzzle has a specific place so then do we all. Have you really ask God what your purpose is?
If you did what did he say?
Next week we will look at the body of Christ and how it is to function.

How Can I Find My Purpose

In the last post I made reference to finding purpose for a life. This sparked a great suggestion from a friend to begin a series of how to discover the purpose for our service to God. How can we know what God wants us to do? As God works in many and wondrous ways I would like to begin such a series. Over the next several weeks I hope to explore the ways and means to discovery.

The first thing I would like to explore is how exactly do we get in touch with God so that we may know what His purpose for our lives really is. While this is a personal issue it is still not about you. It is about what God made you to be and to do. It is about your personal relationship with the creator. If you don’t know Jesus as personal savior then the rest will not make sense to you.
With that said let me be clear on one very important point. Before we were conceived God had a plan and a purpose for each of us. He made each or us special with talents only we can use. He also gave each of free will to chose how we are to use what He gave us.
As I began to look into how a person was to get to know God it occurred to me some may not know how to get in touch with God. Maybe there needs to be instructions on just how to do that. Yes God has sent preachers and teachers and given us the Bible yet there are many who still cannot understand what God’s purpose and plan is for their life. So I asked myself just how do you get in touch with God. I first began to look into what makes a person and how we must relate to God and ourselves. To do that first we must look at who we are what we are and how we function. If you will accept for a minute that each of us is made up of three parts. We are body, soul and spirit. With the body we have the ability to relate to our environment. With the soul we have a consciousness that allows us to relate to other individuals. This gives us the ability to laugh smile, and cry, weep, think and make decisions. With our spirit God has given us the capacity to relate to Him, so that in our spirit we are God conscience. In our soul we are self-conscience, and in our body we are world conscience. God created each of us in this manner. None of us are just body, none are just soul and none are just spirit. God has created us as complete beings. Each was given special talents and skills to fulfill the planned mission. There is a principle found in the Bible in John chapter 12 which gives us a very clear picture of what must happen before any of us can get in touch with God. That principle is this and is found in verse 24. “Verily, verily I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringth much fruit.” In other words a seed must be planted and the outer shell must die so that the inner seed can grow and produce more fruit. The same holds true with each of us. We must bury the outer man, controlled by bad habits and worldly desires, and allow the inner man to begin to grow and produce a new person, a person who has a clear vision, and a clear mind. This process is very painful sometimes, as we do not want to let go of the old man and let the new man grow. If the new man is to prosper we must allow the old man to die and the new one to be fed and nourished. In nature once we bury the seed we must trust God to break open the outer shell and allow the new seedling to begin to grow. We cannot break the outer shell ourselves all we can do is plant it. The same holds true when we turn our inner being over to God, we have to trust God to break the outer shell and start the growing process. We then nourish the seed with positive thinking, support from others and the Word of God. If we hold on to the old outer shell little will happen to the seed. But once we put it in the ground and cover it over with dirt something truly wonderful begins to happen and a new life is born. It is nothing we created it is a gift from God. This thing we are going to do is done by faith and trust in God. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) So when we plant the seed we hope it will grow and make more seed. It is our faith that gives us courage and knowledge that the seed will germinate and grow. The same holds true with our spirit. We have to give our being over to God trusting Him to make the changes and cause a new person to emerge. We cannot see how the changes will be made and we cannot make the changes ourselves. We must completely trust that the necessary changes will be made that will produce a new strong vibrant person. From that we see then that God has placed the design for each life within our inner man. He does the same thing when he creates the oak tree or an ear of corn. He puts the design for each within the seed. The mighty red wood trees started from a small seed. The plan and purpose or the design for each life was placed within each before we were born. As with a natural seed we need to have a relationship with the creator. It is true you can become successful as related to worldly standards and still not follow the design God made for you. We each must have a personal relationship with Jesus and be open to His leadership if we are to be able to discover our true calling or purpose. This is done when we accept Jesus and our personal savior. If you do not know Jesus then you may not have access to who and what your personal design really is. Once you accept Jesus as your savior you have access to God as never before. Just like a new born child a new Christian must be fed milk and not meat. You may have been saved for many years and yet are still a child in the Lord. There is a law in nature that states a plant will not produce fruit until it has matured. The same holds true for each of us. Once we get saved we are to learn and be fed from God’s Word, fellowship with others and trust me at some point God will show you what He wants you to do. This scares most people so they simply back away from God and stop growing. We each have a mission God wants us to fulfill, a calling for our life. I think the words calling and mission truly place fear in the hearts of men. Each one produces visions of some remote island or a far away spot on the globe where we are to go and do something. Yes God does have that in mind for some but not for all. You may be needed to cut the grass for a neighbor. Or how about sharing what God has given you with someone in need. Maybe your mission is to pray seeking God’s grace for an ill friend or family member. Then there may be a place in His church where you are needed. I am not one to tell you what your mission is that is between you and God. I will tell you this He does have a mission and purpose for you. Keep in mind He made you He gave you the skills and talents you will need all you have to do is ask Him how to use the things He gave you. He made each one unequaled and with special talents that only they possess. He then placed positions in the church that only that person could handle. Each and every person God made has a reason and a mission in life. He fully expected for us to use what He gave us in His service. Should we decide not to follow what God has planned for us to do then someone will miss out on a blessing and a very important area of God’s work will go undone. Let me make one thing clear. Traditionally we have been taught to be in God’s service we must be at work in the church house, on the mission field or secluded in a room praying. If that were true God would have provided each with the same talents and skills. God’s work is not confined to a building or to a particular location. God did not make pew warmers He made people with specialized talents to reach a lost and dying world for Jesus Christ.

I guess this whole thing could be summed up with the following illustration.
We want to get to the fifteenth floor. So we step into an elevator. Now as the doors close we must trust the cables, which support the car to raise us safely from the ground to the fifteenth floor?
We don’t know how all this is done but we have faith that it will be done and we will get off on the floor we want. The same faith must be used to reach out and touch God. Depending on Him to make all the necessary changes, which will make us whole again? As with the elevator we can’t get off the ground if we don’t step into the car. So it is with a personal relationship with God. You must get in the car. You must ask for His help. And know this He will never leave you nor forsake you.

God Made You For A Reason

God Made You-You for a reason.

One of the best-kept secrets in the church today is that God had a very special purpose for everyone in His church. Its not really a secret it is just one that is ignored. He made each one unequaled and with special talents that only they possess. He then placed positions in the church that only that person could handle. Each and every person God made has a reason and a mission in life. He fully expected for us to use what He gave us in His service. Should we decide not to follow what God has planned for us to do then someone will miss out on a blessing and a very important area of God’s work will go undone. God did not make pew warmers He made people with specialized talents to reach a lost and dieing world for Jesus Christ.
Every one was given natural talents at birth that no one else in the universe has. God then designed places for each to use those talents for His glory and to provide a blessing for someone else. Not every one can preach, not everyone can sing nor can everyone plan direct or teach. Yet we seem to place that burden on those who are not gifted to do those activities because we don’t want to get involved.
Often we hear the excuse for not serving God, “I just don’t have any abilities to offer.” This is ludicrous. That would be like telling God He made a mistake. Every ability can and should be used for God. It is the churches responsibility to identify and release your abilities for serving God. It is your responsibility to put your talents to use.
For some strange reason we have gotten hung up on only a very few gifts God has given to only a few. And we feel we should have received one of those special talents so we try to show God we have developed the talent we want. I feel the reason for this is that many of the churches of today are man made and man controlled, and driven for entertainment rather that serving God.
We should all say,” What I’m able to do, God wants me to do.” He never intended for us to do something He did not equip us to do. You are the only person on the planet who has your talents and abilities and you are the only one who can use those abilities. We each have a special mission and God expects us to accomplish that mission. I expect that will cause many thoughts to rush through your mind. ‘Oh I am not cut out to go to the mission field.” Or “I am just not a person who can teach or preach.” May I suggest you speak to God before you determine what you can’t do?
Your abilities and talents were not given simply to make a living. God gave them to you to be used in the ministry He designed for you. Others may appear to have similar ministries but only you can do what God wanted you to do. Only you are you there is not another like you on the entire planet. Maybe just maybe there is one person God is seeking to turn this world upside down and your mission is to tell them about Jesus. Who will miss the blessing if you don’t do your job?
No matter what you are good at that is what you should be doing for God in His church.
There is an old saying,” It is not work if you love doing it.” The problem today we have lost our first love.
We should each take time and look God square in the eye and ask, “What can I do for you today?” Instead of asking God, “ I need you to give me something.”
If you are serious about doing this be ready for the answer.

As we prepare for the New Year let us stop and reflect on what God has done. As God was preparing to carpet the fields with clover, to give flight to eagles and to sculpt mountains He was thinking about each of us, and what we were to do. He placed the detailed design for the mighty oak in the tiny acorn. At the same time He placed within each of us a complete design for our purpose and mission. Nothing was left to chance. He thought of everything; gave us the tools only we can use. Every one was custom made by God. Each has a special purpose and mission that only they can accomplish. He gave each the necessary talents and gifts at birth so as to be able to accomplish the mission. Custom tailored talents crafted prior to our birth and lovingly given so that the designed purpose could be accomplished.
The Psalmist had this to say, “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret, and couriously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” Psalms 139:13-16
As we look into the New Year let us seek our purpose and mission as God designed. The design is within and we must look there to see all the plans He made for us.
A new day is dawning and along with it is a new year. There is much work to do to prepare for the coming of our Lord. The fields are white unto harvest and the laborers are few. Let me leave you with this question who would you want to leave behind?

What really matters

This will be the last post before Christmas. I wish all a Merry Christmas and my prayer is Jesus is your reason for the season.
As we approach the Christmas event of the year let us stop for a moment to consider what all this is about. Surely we aren’t serious about a peasant boy being born in a stable some 200 years ago. We had better be serious. For that was the greatest Christmas gift ever given to this entire world. The creator of heaven and earth just gave this world His only begotten son. He gave him to us knowing full well some 33 years later he would be hung on a cruel cross giving us a second gift of greater magnitude. There this carpenters’ boy son of the living Go would give his life so that we might be saved. He also knew that gift of the life of His son was the only way we would ever be able to come into His presence. So that was the reason for the season. God gave a life so we might have life and that life more abundantly.
Somehow we have managed to twist that into something that I am not sure even God recognizes any more. Originally the name Christmas meant Christ Mass or a religious ceremony to celebrate the birth of the Christ child by the Catholic church. It was a church service not a political event. I was a solemn event and one of great joy and celebration.
For today's Christian, the origin of Christmas is, and should be, the birth of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Bible. Nothing more and nothing less. However, most of what we witness on December 25th each year has absolutely nothing to do with that blessed day, which probably occurred in late summer or early fall about 2,000 years ago. In fact, most of the customs and traditions of Christmas actually pre-date the birth of Jesus, and many of them are downright deceptive in their meaning and origin. . Here are a few examples:

The date of December 25th probably originated with the ancient "birthday" of the son-god, Mithra, a pagan deity whose religious influence became widespread in the Roman Empire during the first few centuries A.D. Mithra was related to the Semitic sun-god, Shamash, and his worship spread throughout Asia to Europe where he was called Deus Sol Invictus Mithras. Rome was well-known for absorbing the pagan religions and rituals of its widespread empire. As such, Rome converted this pagan legacy to a celebration of the god, Saturn, and the rebirth of the sun god during the winter solstice period. The winter holiday became known as Saturnalia and began the week prior to December 25th. The festival was characterized by gift-giving, feasting, singing and downright debauchery, as the priests of Saturn carried wreaths of evergreen boughs in procession throughout the Roman temples.

Variations of this pagan holiday flourished throughout the first few centuries after Jesus Christ, but it probably wasn't until 336 AD that Emperor Constantine officially converted this pagan tradition into the "Christian" holiday of Christmas.
The question now arises: How did all of these customs find their way into contemporary Christianity, ranging from Catholicism to Protestantism to fundamentalist churches?
The word "Christmas"itself reveals who married paganism to Christianity.
The word "Christmas" is a combination of the words "Christ" and "Mass.
The word "Mass" means death and was coined originally by the Roman Catholic Church, and belongs exclusively to the church of Rome.
The ritual of the Mass involves the death of Christ, and the distribution of the "Host", a word taken from the Latin word "hostiall" meaning victim!
In short, Christmas is strictly a Roman Catholic word.
A simple study of the tactics of the Roman Church reveals that in every case, the church absorbed the customs, traditions and general paganism of every tribe, culture and nation in their efforts to increase the number of people under their control.
In short, the Roman church told all of these pagan cultures, "Bring your gods, goddesses, rituals and rites, and we will assign Christian sounding titles and names to them.
When Martin Luther started the reformation on October 31st, 1517, and other reformers followed his lead, all of them took with them the paganism that was so firmly imbedded in Rome.
These reformers left Christmas intact.
In England, as the authorized Bible became available to the common people by the decree of King James the II in 1611, people began to discover the pagan roots of Christmas, which are clearly revealed in Scripture.
The Puritans in England, and later in Massachusetts Colony, outlawed this holiday as witchcraft.
Near the end of the nineteenth century, when other Bible versions began to appear, there was a revival of the celebration of Christmas.
We are now seeing ever-increasing celebrating of Christmas or Yule, its true name, as we draw closer to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ!
In both witchcraft circles and contemporary Christian churches, the same things are going on.
As the Bible clearly states in Jeremiah 10:2-4, "Thus saith the Lord, learn not the way of the heathen; and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven. For the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain. For one cutteth a tree out of the forest. The work of the hands of the workman with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold. They fasten it with nails and with hammers that it move not."

What Really Matters?
The true origin of Christmas is filled with controversy and compromise. A quick study will reveal a number of disturbing roots that we haven't been able to cover in this brief article. In short, the Christmas holiday we celebrate today is indicative of Christianity's willingness to absorb the world's customs and traditions, and forget its simple roots in the historical reality of Jesus Christ. Christmas should be nothing more than a simple, yet wonderful reminder of Christ's humble beginning as a human child in this world. His birth merely set the stage for the power, glory, and salvation that would be revealed in His life, death, and resurrection! Whether it's December 25th, sometime in late September, or any other day of the year, we should use each and every opportunity to reflect on Jesus Christ and His message of hope for all of us.
Let us reflect on the manger that shows humility. Jesus had a humble beginning and his life was one that taught humility and caring. The story told to the shepherds on the hill side shows God was excited about His son and the gift He was giving to the world. The host of heaven proclaimed his birth and the heavens rang with their song. God’s gift was given to all. Kings and common alike came to see the Christ child. Each brought gifts to give to Jesus. Each brought their very best. The bible says they opened their treasures; the Kings brought gold, frankincense and myrrh. Notice one very important thing each person who came to see the baby in the manger did before they gave their gifts. The all fell down and worshipped him. For each knew who he was and why he came. God placed that on each heart. He in effect gave each a gift that night a gift of love and hope for a better world to come.
So then we have a picture of what and how we are to give gifts this Christmas. On His birthday we are to fall down and worship Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords the savior of the world and our eternal souls. Then we are to offer the best we have to give. We should give Jesus ourselves for that is what he came for to save. What will you give Jesus this Christmas day?

Are You ready for Christmas?

In this one of the busiest times of the year we are hurriedly trying to get ready for the holidays. People are frantic to select just the right gift. Trying to give what will please others. Make the decorations look just right. Make sure all is in readiness for Christmas. The question you always hear is, “Are you ready for Christmas?” Most answer, “No I may never be ready?”
As we prepare for the Lord’s birthday let us not lose sight of what we must prepare.
We must prepare our gifts. Each selected with the utmost care and thought. We select gifts for all our loved ones. We give to each a gift selected and given with love. God is no different. He looked all over heaven and selected the most perfect gift He cold find. In the book of John we get a glimpse of what God found to give to us. “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. “ John 3:16

Now that is a gift worth giving. God gave his very best. What kind of gift are you going to give to the Lord on his birthday? As I looked into God’s Word I found in First Corinthians 3:10-13 “According to the grace of God which is the master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood hay, stubble; every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be tried by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.”

On the Lord’s birthday many will give him precious stones—for they are shining lights to a world of darkness. These stones may look like service, testimony, talent, time, love one for another, just to mention a few.
Others will give gold, and silver. For they love the Lord and want to share with others what they have received. This may be in the form of spiritual or material gifts.
But the majority will give the Lord a box of sticks. Boxes filled with wood hay and stubble, the leftovers and the most worthless with only superficial value. This is evidenced by their lack of concern for the lost, needs of others, or for the Lord’s church. They love sin too much. There is pleasure in sin for a season then we must pay the price. Most just love themselves too much they only want what is in it for me. Sounds a lot like vanity and pride is coming before the Lord.

You can’t just go out to Wal-Mart and buy Christ a gift. You do have something he wants and would love to get on his birthday. You have the power to give Jesus you soul. Are you saved do you know Jesus as savior? “For by grace ye are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works lest any man should boast.” Eph 2:8-9. You can give him your heart. How much do you really love God? How about your talent? God gave each of us special talents that only we can use. He would like to have you use those talents for him. It has been said if we don’t use the talents we have we stand a chance to loose those talents. What about your time? Oh wait now…. I am way too bust to give any of my time. Ok, but could you simply study to show yourself approved, pray for those who are in need of God’s help and guidance, how about telling someone about Jesus. How much time would that take?

Do we give God our best or is God last on our list? Is He even on our list? While you are making a list and checking it twice make sure Jesus is on your list. It is His birthday after all. On that first Christmas God gave the very best He had to offer. The best gift he owned. What will we give him?

Why does God only get the seconds, thirds the unwanted? Why never the newest and best? We give our family and friends our best. We search every store to find the perfect gift. How come we leave God out?

If you knew Jesus was coming to your house Christmas morning what would He find under your tree with His name on it? Would he find his name on any gift? If there is a gift there would it be fit for a king or a pauper?

Jesus is coming one day how have you prepared for His coming? Jesus said, “In My fathers house there are many mansions if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. He is preparing for you are you preparing for Him?
People today are busy preparing for many things. We all have plans to make and places we want to go and things we want to do. There is one thing we fail to do we fail to prepare for Christ’ return. We must prepare and be ready.
Our hearts must be ready. “Prepare to meet thy God.” Amos 4:12 Are you saved? Is there hidden sin in your life? Are you where God would have you to be serving Him?
We must prepare our minds “Let this mind be in you which also was in Christ Jesus.” Philip 2:5 What kind of mind was that? One that loves thy neighbor and you love yourself. Forgive those who wronged you and love those who used you.
In the book of Matthew 5:23-24 I find what and how we are to present our gift. “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the alter, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift.”

When Jesus comes how will He find you? Will He even know who you are?
As you are preparing your gifts does Jesus have one? What kind is it? Is it gold, silver precious stones or a box of sticks?
There is no better way to start this New Year than to have Jesus in your heart, mind and life.

Something to think about:

The old man came and stood outside in the snow.
Though he knocked no one came to open the door.
Through the window he saw gifts or every size.
Each one containing a very special prize.
Many there were gathered all singing joyfully.
Decorations were hung skillfully.
The news spread around the world of this special day.
A time to reflect, to share and to play.
The word went out the celebration to begin.
All the guest anxiously waited warm within.
For each one a gift they would raise.
Singing songs of royal birth and Holy praise.
The old man watched as each gift was in sight.
Each name checked to be sure it was right.
Though he tried to see, and searched in vain.
Not one gift did bare his name.
As all the guest left not one stopped to ask.
Where in this world was the honored guest.
The old man turned and again walked away.
Shoulders shook and tears filled his eyes.
Another celebration for him was complete
And once again he was left out in the street.

“ Behold I stand at the door and knock.”

Did you leave Jesus out in the cold again this year?

You Have Not Passed This Way Before

Thus far we have seen how paths are chosen; fires are built and heard God speaking. We have seen how Moses gave final instructions on how to cross the river.
The book of Joshua records the trip taken by the Jews into the land God promised and prepared for them.
You have not passed this way before is the understatement of the decade.

There comes a time when we all must go to new ground. How we get there can be a story in its own right. The experiences we encounter and the problems we face could be the stuff movies are made of.
Nothing could be truer than the story of the children of Israel. As the story goes several million people had camped by the Jordan River. This was the jumping off place after forty years of going in circles in the desert. Forty years of rebellion, lack of trust whining complaining and the loss of an entire generation of people. As we look at this setting we see a remarkable picture. The river was at flood stage nobody had a boat. As far as the eye could see in either direction no bridges could be seen. All the news reports were gloomy. In the land across the river were giants, walled cities and hostile crowds. No banners or welcoming committees had been prepared. After three days of rest and preparation Joshua tells his captains. “Ok its time. Tell all the people we will cross the river in the morning. Tell them 12 members of the tribe of Levy will carry the ark. All the rest of the people are to follow two thousand cubits behind. (That’s about 972 yards.) Tell them to pay close attention to where the ark goes cause they have not passed this way before. “
To say the least this statement caused no small stir among the nation of Israel. Many may have wondered if Joshua had spent too much time on the wine.
Sleep was a lost commodity that night.
God had told Joshua he was to lead Israel after Moses‘ death. Keep one thing in mind God is only speaking to Joshua. Israel did not want God to talk directly to them. God is giving Joshua instructions as to how where and when things are to happen. Joshua was to take Israel to the Promised Land and there they were to live. God would drive out the current residents and He would open the river for them to pass. All they had to do was to go and possess the land. They had been through a lot. Forty years of hot dry desert, deadly snakes, unmarked graves not to mention blisters and sunburn. Yet God had done what He said He would do. He has brought them to the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey. As they all stared across the river that night truly they had not been this way before.
Joshua had one final instruction all the people had to do before any could cross the river. Joshua 3:5 “Sanctify yourselves. For tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” In other words they were to clean themselves of sin, dedicate themselves wholly to God, for His purpose. Do exactly what He told them to do the way He told them to do it. They were not to call a meeting, establish a committee to question if Joshua was crazy or not. They were to follow where the Ark of the Covenant led.
At daylight the Ark of the Covenant was to be carried into the river by 12 members of the tribe of Levy. Then the people were to follow by 972 yards. To cross the flooded river many things had to be done. Each and every person had to sanctify him or herself. You have not passed this way before they were told.
They had to pack not only their physical belongings but they had to make sure their spiritual life was in order.
On the surface no one could see how this river crossing was going to have a good outcome. No bridges, no boats, the river was at flood stage. It is a good bet some said or at least thought, “Let’s just stay here.” Fortunately for Israel God had gotten rid of all the old mosey horns that refused to follow any of God’s instructions. Remember an entire generation had to die before the nation of Israel could cross the river.
God did not want them to stay there it was not home. What were they to do? Well first each person had to dedicate his or her life wholly to God for His purpose. They must trust God to do what He said He would do. They were to walk into the river by faith. Keep that thought clear in your mind. They were to walk boldly into a flooded river that led into a land they had never seen. Inhabited by giants and a whole lot of mean tempered people that did not want to give up what they owned. Logic said if you do you will die. God said if you don’t you will die. What a dilemma. What a place to be! Yes we have never been here before.
God told Joshua He would part the river and make a way for them. The people not only had to trust God they had to trust Joshua. Trusting God is a difficult thing for people to do. But are we sure Joshua knows what he is doing. It is difficult to be submissive to God’s will. People have no problem trusting God with their eternal soul. When it comes to time, talent, and physical possessions trust seems to go out the window.
Had Israel felt that way many would not have survived the crossing with their worldly possessions. Many more would have lost their lives.
This is an amazing picture of what can happen when people completely and totally trust God.
Let’s take a look at the crossing. Who had to go first? Why the priest carrying the ark of course. Remember the water did not part until the first foot of the first priest touched the water. Only then did God open the path. God’s chosen men who were to carry the Ark of the Covenant had to boldly walk into a raging swollen river with complete trust that they would not get wet or drown. They had to boldly go where none had gone before.
These 12 men could only carry the ark, each trusting and working together. Each had to have total faith in God. Who carried their belongings? Someone following behind, a family member or a friend they were to support God’s men. God’s men today are to step boldly into the river; God’s people are to carry their things. This requires unity. This is how a church should be pictured.
These 12 men six on each side lifted the ark and stepped into what could not be seen with physical eyes. They stepped boldly into the righteousness of God. As they did and the sole of the first foot touched the water the water parted and the sole landed on dry ground. Each succeeding step likewise fell on dry ground. These 12 men walked with God and God provided the way. Could they see the path? Only after they took that first step!
Standing 1000 cubits behind in the early morning light a multitude of people watched and waited, each scared and excited all at the same time. Nerves must have been on edge just as the priest stepped into the river. Now it is time for each to take that first step and follow the 12. They had to keep their eyes on the ark, for they had not passed this way before. No one had ever seen the waters part before. That generation had died in the desert. No one knew what to expect. All they knew if they did as God directed they would be given a wonderful new land in which to live and raise families. If they did not, history reminded them of all that had been lost when they disobeyed God. 3 million Hebrews took a deep breath, locked their eyes on the ark, put one foot in front of the other and walked into history.
I wonder what would happen today if Americans were asked to stand together and take a step into history like Israel did. Best I can imagine we would first have to take a vote to see if it was possible. Then we would have to form a committee and investigate all the possible ways not to do it. Wale and lament about having to share with our neighbor, work with them and stand shoulder to shoulder in a raging flood. Somebody might get wet! As a whole nation we are asked to step forward for the glory of God. But no we must first consult the ACLU to make sure no ones feelings get hurt. Who is to be first? Who is to go last? Who cares so long as all get across? Not America! Trust God! That surely goes against the church/ state convention.
No I doubt America could step out like God asked Israel to do.

How Do You Spend Your Time?

I wanted to post this as I am preparing for next weeks post. "You Have Not Passed This Way Before." Just some food for thought.
How Do You Spend Your Time?
Time is a thing most of us take for granted. It seems we believe there will always be plenty of it. To go back beyond time is an almost impossible thing for us to do. Yet we must realize there was a time (and this sounds strange), when time did not exist, as we know it today. Likewise it is difficult for us to realize that time will one day run out, and that eternity shall begin.
An unknown author once said:
Life itself cannot give you joy,
Unless you really will it;
Life just gives you time and space—
It’s up to you to fill it.

Time wasted can never be regained. Once gone, it is gone forever. How many people have you known who often wished they could call back past opportunities, or who had the privilege of making time count, but did not do so? We constantly find ourselves wishing we had certain times to live over. This happens because we misused the time we had. One has said, “Four things come not back, the spoken word, the sped arrow, the past life and the neglected opportunity.”
How true this is, it behooves each of us to make the very most of each fleeting minute.
I like to picture life as if I were standing on a bridge above a river. I can stand on side of the bridge and watch opportunities disappear down river. Wishing I could but touch but one and reclaim its potential. This is the crowded side of the bridge where most people spend their lives. Yet there are those that stand on the opposite side of the bridge looking up river. There they see great and wonderful things that they can take full advantage of. This is the side of hope and challenge and fulfillment.
Where you stand is your choice. Someone told me once that you can only touch the same water in a river but once.
Time spent in prayer, Bible study and doing good to others may seem wasted to some, but to those who have engaged in such services find time spent this way is most profitable. Some people seem to “just exist looking down river,” while others, looking up river, seek to fill moments with something worthwhile. Possibly the best time you could spend today would be to sit down for a few minutes and ask yourself, “How do I spend my time?” “Which side of the bridge am I looking?”

How To Build A Fire

Before the church can walk in old paths or possess the land one essential element must be present, a fire. Once a bright glowing fire is burning in the heart of every believer, there will also be a burning desire to serve God. In the book of Acts I find a story of a shipwreck. It is also a story of caring people who took the strangers in and gave them shelter and warmth. Acts 28:2 “And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.” If that had happened today you would have probably heard, “Be ye warmed”. With little or no effort to render aid. I fear there is too much of the “Be ye warmed” attitude and very little of let’s see if we can build a fire.
There are two kinds of cold, the spiritual kind and the physical kind. Spiritual cold goes deep and is long lasting. Physical cold while dangerous can be driven away by the simple act of building a fire. Each type of cold requires a special kind of kindling to build a warming fire. I want to explore the spiritual cold rather than the physical. We are all apt to be cold at some time or another. Let’s face it we live in a cold cruel world. Our world is unforgiving for the most part. It is a place where gracious men are not welcome. I think this is due to the inbred sin of mankind. Because of this inbred sin we are apt to be lukewarm or frozen. Nature has a means of purging the natural world. This is done with the winter season when the cold icy winds come and the temperatures drop causing all plant life to die. Unfortunately, many churches experience this same kind of atmosphere. I have been in some churches where the service at a funeral was more alive and warmer than services on Sunday morning. In fact I have felt a warmer welcome at some funerals than I have felt at some Sunday morning services. Because the church is made up of people it is only natural that the church should undergo some period of coldness. In fact I think it is needed and healthy. However, that condition is not to remain. Someone should go out and gather some kindling and build a fire.
All around us there are buildings with cold corners where the sun never shines. In those shadows live people, good people who need the warmth Jesus can provide. But for some reason many in the church think the warmth Jesus has to offer is only for them, and they are not going to share it. In the physical world when we get cold three things happen if we don’t seek shelter and warmth. First we become uncomfortable, next we become inactive, and then we die. In the spiritual world there is a parallel. If we go away from the warmth of God we first become uncomfortable when we hear about church and the Lord. Then we become inactive and a deep cold starts to creep into our soul. We might as well be dead if our spirit is cold. In the spiritual as it is in the physical there are ways to build a fire. With a physical fire you first gather small twigs and tender grass. With a match you ignite the grass and slowly add the twigs. As the fire begins to catch you add larger twigs and chunks of wood. As the fire continues to grow more wood is added until you have a roaring fire giving off life saving warmth. In the spiritual realm a fire is started much the same way. The match is the Word of God. When applied to a tender receptive heart the coals begin to smolder. As prayer is added to the life the coals begin to glow brighter. Meditation and communion with Jesus caused the fire to come to life giving off the much-needed warmth. This spiritual warmth is life saving, live sustaining, and life protecting, much like the physical fire. The 12 apostles said that their hearts burned within them as Jesus talked with them. As we fellowship with other Christians, on fire for the Lord, we add to the fire burning within our souls.
I know first hand how one can get cold when they get away from Christian people. That is good caring Christian people. If the church would return to her first love the old fires of revival would soon be burning all over this nation and around the world. As the physical body is warmed circulation is restored. Color comes back to the skin and movement establishes circulation. Now that is a strange concept in the church. Most don’t think they are to move, except to go home. The Bible very plainly states we are to go into the highways and hedges. Note the word go. This little word means to move from one spot to another. Most church members have rewritten their bibles to read the pastor is to go into the highways and hedges and bring them in so that we might fellowship with them. Now, unless I am badly mistaken the book also plainly states that if you change or add to, you are in big trouble.

There should be fires built for others. Revival fires are needed today. So many are being washed up on our shores and are dying. A revival should not be a time when only the church members are warmed. Remember our story about Paul. Why did the inhabitants of the coast give them shelter? Because of the rain and storm. They were having a hard time building a fire, as the wood was wet. Water was falling and the air was damp. Under these conditions it is not easy to build a fire, yet a fire had to be built for the people to survive. Today we live in a cold wet environment, spiritually speaking. Spiritual fires are hard to kindle, but there must be a fire or all are going to die. Barbarians cannot kindle the fire we need in the church today. It must come from God, brought to the heart of the Christian by the Holy Spirit, and stoked by Jesus. Once the fire is started it spreads not all at once but to one heart at a time. The spiritual fire spreads a little at a time first to one, then to another until all are on fire. The warmth and the light given off is something to behold. If you have a small flame started in your heart you then need to nourish it by going down on your knees and breathing on the flame. Prayer is the breath, which causes the fire to grow. Fuel is then needed to keep the fire going. The Great Apostle Paul is seen carrying bundles of wood to help keep the fire growing. We should all take example from this man. If he could carry wood so that others could be warm, who are we to set by the fire while others are freezing? The fire is for everyone we must not be content until all those who are shivering are warm and comfortable. We must feed the fire until it is big enough to give warmth to all those around its border.
The world is shipwrecked. People are wet and cold. What chance do they have without a fire? What can each of us do to build a fire? Can we not each carry sticks to kindle the flame? Maybe we can feed the flame with prayer, or with movement can restore circulation. The fire we seek is from God not from a denomination, assembly association or government. Let no one dampen the flame by indifference. Let all come and warm themselves by the Lord’s fire. Keep building the fire until all those who are cold can be warm, for to be spiritually cold is to be dead.
There is danger with building a fire. It not only warms but it will draw those unwanted creatures as well. If we awaken the serpent the fire must be large enough and hot enough to destroy them. The flame may not only bring life back into the frozen people it will also restore life into the viper. Thank God the fire that revived the viper is also able to destroy it.
Are you a fire builder or a fire fighter?

Part Three Old Paths

I conclude this post on Old Paths
The church should follow the path of instruction.
In the book of Deuteronomy I find a very interesting story of Moses. Up to this point Moses had been the leader of the nation of Israel, both from a spiritual and political standpoint. He had over come many hardships and had passed through many a valley. He stood on the mountaintop and visited with God. But this story is about none of these events. We find Moses is dying. He has called all of Israel together to instruct them one last time what they are to do. You will remember Moses had angered God and God told him he could not go into the Promised Land. So as the Nation of Israel is preparing to cross the Jordan River Moses is preparing to meet his maker. Before he goes he has one last thing he has to do. That is to give Israel a final instruction. As is the case with old men Moses is recalling the wilderness journey. He is reminding Israel as a grandparent would a young child where they came from and where they were going. A good grandparent will always give their grandchildren the benefit of their age and years of learning. Most of that learning earned through hard knocks. If the children are wise they will listen. If not they are in for some trying times.
I think the conversation Moses was having with Israel went something like this.
“Now you remember what I told you when I came down off the mountain and found Aaron building a golden calf. Boy, if you could have seen your faces when I broke the commandments God had just given me. If you only knew how mad you made God. I remember standing watching God carve the commands in the stone when He said Moses you better get back down my children are doing things they shouldn’t do. You knew better than to worship other gods but there you were in prone position bowing down to that dumb statue, and it wasn’t even a very good statue. Enough of that, I want you to remember the Lord God and Him only shall you serve. Don’t forget who brought you out of Egypt. Out of the mud pits and out of the pain of slavery. You need to fear the Lord. Now, where you are going there are people who serve strange gods. Don’t let yourself get dragged into their brand of worship. Serve only the Lord God Almighty. Keep His commandments and do like He says. Don’t tempt Him or make Him mad, as you are prone to do. Do that which is right in His sight. Keep in mind that you are a holy people chosen of God. Kind of makes you special.
Now when you get to the Promised Land there are certain things you need to do. Remember where you came from and what you came through these past forty years. Don’t be afraid and don’t do anything stupid. The Lord gave me some instructions for you. First He said you were to fear him and walk in all his ways. You were to love him and serve him with all your heart and soul. Keep his commandments and his statutes. Keep in mind that the heavens and the earth belong to the Lord. The Lord wanted me to remind you that the land to which you are going is full of hills and valleys. It is a land God Himself cares about. Do not forget that if you turn to strange gods that the wrath of God can and will be kindled against you. You sure don’t want that to happen. ‘Cause if that does happen I’m telling you from experience you are going to die. All you are to do is go in and possess the land. The Lord said that he would set before you a blessing and a curse. A blessing if you follow what he told you to do and a curse if you don’t listen. I guess the last thing I’d tell you is this; you can’t rest on this side of the river. You have to cross over to the other side; there you can rest after you have possessed the land. The Lord will see to that. Do what I tell you don’t change or add to my instructions. Now go get across the river and start to enjoy all that the Lord has promised you.”
That’s not all Moses had to say to Israel, for that you will have to read the book. I feel a lot of the same words could be said to the church today. Go and possess the land. No it’s not going to be an easy land. He didn’t say you were going to be the most popular person in town. But He did say He would bless if you would go. I think God is watching His church today, just like He watched Israel, and shaking His head. Saying, “ When will they learn? When will they listen?” I’m pretty sure God is not concerned with what we did yesterday. Or what we plan on doing tomorrow. But you can rest assured He is very concerned with what we are doing today. Remember yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come.

The church today may have made God mad. How, you say? Well, by what she worships. Many worship the buildings, the programs, the buses, the preachers, the schools and the Lord only knows what else. I’m sure God is not at all pleased with what the church is doing today. In fact I’d bet Jesus wouldn’t even recognize some that claim to be a church.
Jesus gave us a very simple task. “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Now to the best of my knowledge, that means that the church is to go. The church is by definition an assembly of called out believers. Not an assembly of called out preachers, elders, bishops, popes or any other office in the church. John said in John9: 4 “I must work the work of Him that sent me, while it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work.”
I do not believe the church today wants to possess the land. For if they did nothing could stop the salvation of the lost or the addition to the church. I believe the mark is three thousand a day. I believe all the church today wants to do is set back and argue over which man made doctrine is right. I also believe the wrath of God is being kindled against the church.
Whew! That was a mouth full. What evidence do I have to support such claims? Well take a look at the evening news, look at how many different churches there are on every corner and listen to all the TV preachers who want you to send money to the Lord but give their address. Look at all the crime and violence in our city streets and the mess our government continually stays in. History repeats itself. Rome was once a mighty empire but lust greed and lack of conviction brought it to its knees. Are we on that same road?

Part Two of Old Paths

Returning to Old paths is getting longer so I have put it into parts here is part two.
Another path we are to walk down is the path of love. In fact this is a command. We are to love one another. Love your neighbor as yourself. Now that is a real hard thing to do. For if you are a Democrat how can you love a Republican and vise versa. In the Bible I find a clear-cut statement that is not hard to understand; hard to accept maybe, but not hard to understand. It is found in I John 4:20-21. It reads, “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from Him That he loveth God love his brother also.”
I think many times we say we don’t understand the Bible simply because we don’t want to accept what it says. It has always been amusing to me to hear someone sing, O How I love Jesus on Sunday and on Monday cuss the person in the car in front of them on the way to work. My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth, so says the apostle John.

The church today needs to return to the old path of compassion. There is not real compassion in the church today. Oh, I know someone will scream, “Look what we did for this one or that one”. But while that may be momentary compassion real compassion is caring for someone without thought of reward. I know a man who goes out of his way to help his neighbors. He watches their houses when they are gone, cares for their animals, and looks in on them if they are sick. He simply cares for people. This man is a rare and sadly a vanishing breed today. To my knowledge this man has never once thought of any reward or gain for himself. This is the kind of compassion that the church should have. Jesus wept when He saw the multitude that had come to listen to Him preach without bringing a lunch. So He fed them. I laugh when on Sunday morning the preacher is inspired by the Lord and starts to run over the pre appointed stopping time that the multitude start to get hungry and are sure they will lose their place in the food line, or serious malnutrition effects will attack their bodies. It’s long about this time that compassion for the lost or what the Lord has to say is replaced by the passion for a steak, and, “We need to talk to that preacher for keeping us in church so long”. If the church only had compassion for the lost and for those who might have come seeking help from the Lord, Oh what a place the church would be if the membership were on fire for the Lord you couldn’t run them off. But today we only have the church open four hours a week. I guess people don’t need God the other 164 hours that week. I remember right after I got saved I couldn’t get enough of the Word. The only place I knew to get it was at the church. So every time the doors were open I was there. I was hungry. I later found out the meals I was receiving were not as wholesome as they appeared. I’m still hungry, but now my meals are harder to come by. When Jesus was preaching people came from all over the territory to hear Him. Well you say He was the Lord sure people would come to hear Him. He is still the Lord yet few come to hear what He has to say. Fewer still truly believe what He is saying. He had something to offer those on the hillside, bread and fish. Yes but He also had something they all wanted, the truth. He still offers that today. People are just not as hungry.
Today what most want is the bread and fish not the truth. I’ll bet if Jesus was to come to a hillside in your town and start to preach that very few would stop to hear him. In fact he would probably be asked to move on and to stop creating a traffic problem. He would not be very popular with those in authority.
Especially the religious authority, but then He wasn’t popular with authority when He did speak on a hillside outside Jerusalem. So I guess not much has changed. People still are hungrier for steak than they are for the Word.
Tune in next week for part three.

Following the Old Paths

Here is Chapter 5 This is a bit longer and I will make it a two part article. Part one this week Part 2 next week.
CHAPTER 5 FOLLOWING IN THE OLD PATHS
Our Heavenly Father we ask you to be present and speak to the heart. This one who reads is seeking your guidance and loving care. Send the Holy Spirit to heal any hurt and show how much you care and love us. We know Lord that you have given each special gift for a specific purpose. Thank you Lord for caring enough to listen as our hearts seek you and loving enough to send your only son to die for our sins. In Jesus name we ask all things.

“He sure is old fashioned.” “ He needs to get with it.” That is what I overheard a group of young people saying about an elderly gentleman at the mall just the other day. All he did was say hello and wish them a good day. All they could think of was “He is just a dirty old man.”
“Hath a nation changed their Gods, which are yet no Gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the Lord.
For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that hold no water.”
Jeremiah 2:11-13

If you will read the story in the book of Jeremiah you will find the nation of Israel was is a bad state. Look epically at verses 7 & 8 of chapter 2 and you will see a picture not unlike the church today.
Verse 8 gives a clear picture of the church today. “The priest said not, Where is the Lord? And they that handled the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.”

The church today is in a backslidden condition. In Jeremiah 6:16 the Bible says that the tribe of Judah was also in a backslidden condition. I would like to draw some parallels between the two. In verse 13 of Jeremiah 6 Judah is accused of being overtaken with covetousness. This appears to be a wide spread problem as the Bible says it is from the least to the greatest. Now the church today is in a like condition as there are among the membership those who are overtaken with covetousness for the material things, the spectacular things, and the things which draw attention to ones self. This is evidenced from the pulpit to the back pew. There are preachers who only preach for the sensationalism and the money. There are members who only attend a certain church because it’s “good for business.” The politicians of Judah’s day were screaming peace, peace when there was no peace. What is being said today? Peace talks here, there and everywhere. In fact it kind of rings of a passage in Matthew 24, “And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars...” Everywhere you look there is talk of peace but there is no peace. Do you suppose God is trying to tell us something? Judah’s morality must have been an issue with the Lord as He said they were not ashamed after they had committed an abomination. The US today has the morals of an alley cat. She is not ashamed of how her citizens act in public. I remember a time when someone said a four-letter word someone would be embarrassed and blush red. Not today, that kind of language is the norm, even among women. Judah was instructed in verse 16 of Jeremiah chapter 6 to look to the old paths or the old ways of doing things. Boy would that not set well with the yuppie crowd today. Go back to the old ways, what are you crazy. I didn’t say this was going to be popular, just right. What are some of the old ways? Well for one we should return to the path of prayer. Prayer is the most powerful tool we as Christians possess. If it wasn’t why do you suppose those who are at risk ask for prayer? Take note of whom they ask for prayer. It is not the president, the congress or any political leader. Who then gets this request? It is those who have shown they have God’s ear. If you don’t believe in prayer don’t get on the bad side of someone who has God’s ear. I think mothers have a corner on the market of prayer. If ever there was a group who prayed more successfully for others it is mothers. Guess what God listens to them.
What is prayer? It is nothing more than talking to your heavenly father, talking with your heart not your head. That is if you have a heavenly father. Some don’t, as they are not saved, born again as it were. Jesus explained it this way when He said, “Ask and it shall be given unto you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you.” Matt.7:7-8. Now that’s not too hard to understand. Sounds pretty straightforward to me.
If you will examine the early church you will find that they were a praying church. The first church was started with prayer and continued steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine, fellowship, breaking bread and prayers. Now doesn’t it seem strange that if the first church was a praying church then the church of today should be a praying church? That doesn’t mean having the pastor open and close with a prayer. It means that the entire church should be in a prostrate position before God exhorting Him with their petitions. Many think they have prayed simply by bowing their heads when someone recites a prayer and then they say amen. However, I feel the prayers of many are hollow. Kind of sounds like tinkling cymbals or breaking glass.

Judah was instructed to harken to the watchman set over them. Now that is a strange thing for God to tell these people. You must pay attention to the preacher. The one to whom I have spoken and given direction, the one I have called. What a strange concept. Actually He said “Harken to the sound of the trumpet.” What the Lord is saying is that they as well as we are to pay attention to the warnings. Okay but who is giving the warnings? It should be by the local pastor, not the TV evangelist or money preacher, but the one, who God has called, and is speaking to, directing and blessing. We are not to question the warning just obey them. If you came upon a sign in the road that said, “Danger Bridge Out Ahead”, and a policeman was directing traffic onto an alternate route would you tell the policeman you didn’t have to listen to him as he was just trying to make your trip harder. It’s doubtful you would do or say such a thing. Yet when God sends messages to His watchmen and they give out clear warnings why don’t we listen? Why do we crucify the messenger?