MEMORIAL DAY

“The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it. And one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender, or submission.” -John F. Kennedy

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 1 John 3:16

Today, in America, we honor those that have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Many, that right out of High School took an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, those that trained for eight to thirteen weeks that came out as Marines, Sailors, Airmen and Guardsmen, those that traveled to foreign lands to defend the weak and defeat their enemies, those that moved dirt and built schools to put towns back together, those that came home in a flag draped casket. Today, we honor the Soldier that has given their life in order for every American to live free.

President Harry S. Truman said it best when he said, “Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices.”

Will you take a moment and honor those that gave you the freedoms we enjoy every day?

HONOR

What we are afraid to do before men, we should be afraid to think before God. –Anonymous

Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. Isaiah 8:13

What we say, we have already thought! What is sad is many professing Christians don’t care. They don’t care the Lord knows what they have thought! They don’t care they will stand before God and give an account of their life! They don’t care others are watching them and their actions will be parroted. Living a double minded life isn’t Christ honoring and produces a life that is unstable! A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. James 1:8

I praise the Lord we don’t have to remain being double minded! The Lord tells us in James 4:8, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” The way to a consistent, Christ honoring life is, confessing and repenting of sin! It is keeping Him on the throne of our heart! It is honoring Him with our life—ALL OF IT!

HONOR THE LORD

            It’s not about you, your family, your church, it’s all about Jesus!

Psalm 115:1, Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.

            For a longtime I have attempted to convey this message about life that is so needed during these days. The message is a simple one of honor and respect, praise and glory, and pointing people to the One Who it’s all about. The message is about Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.

            Is the message of honoring the Lord on display on our social media accounts? Is it displayed when you speak? Is it on display when respond to someone else’s post? Let me remind you of a verse found in Matthew 12:36, “… That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”

HONORING THE FALLEN

I only regret I have but one life to lose for my country. — Nathan Hale

John 15:13, Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

            Today, in the United States of America, we celebrate the men and women who have laid down their lives for freedom. Husbands and Wives, Fathers and Mothers, Son and Daughters, Nieces and Nephews, maybe even a Grandpa or Grandma who have sacrificed their lives for freedom! Specifically, some of these freedoms include: the right to assemble to worship, the right of free speech, the right to carry a gun, and the right to vote.

            So yes, I will honor the lives of those who have given their lives to secure our freedom! Will you join me?

BE HONORABLE

                 My honor is dearer to me than my life. –Cervantes

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. Proverbs 22:1

                       “On my honor I will do my best, to do my duty to God and my Country and to obey the Scout Law…” That is the first part of the Boy Scout oath that I learned over 30 years ago. It’s amazing the impact those years have had on my life. I can honestly say, for the most part, my time in the Scouts was good. It helped develop part of the man I am today.

            While the Boy Scouts has changed for the worse in the past 30 years, my understanding of what honor is has not. Is has only gotten deeper and richer. Honor is remaining true to godly core values. It’s doing our best even when no one is watching. It’s doing our duty to our fellow man. Being honorable is still doing our best and doing our duty to God and country!

RENDER HONOR WHEN HONOR IS DUE

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

            As we celebrate this Memorial Day, let’s not forget who it is for. It is not for the active duty service member. It is not for the veteran. It is not for the military retiree. This day is for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. It is for those who gave their life for our freedom and the freedoms of others. It is for those family members who are left behind.

            Would you take a moment to recognize those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for your freedom? Will you honor those who have given their life for you, your family, your friends, and your Country?

NO KISS FOR JESUS?

A kiss is a sign of affection for the one you love.

Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. Luke 7:45

            In Luke 7, we see a humble lady come to Jesus, break an alabaster box of ointment, anoint Jesus’ feet, and then she began kissing His feet. She couldn’t stop. She was exhibiting her love toward her Saviour in such a way it made others uncomfortable. They didn’t see the need of humility in a kiss. However, that didn’t stop her. She continued on!

            In our service to our Saviour, there will be some who cross our paths that don’t like the way we serve Him. Many of those people do nothing for Him. We should not be discouraged by them. Do not let those that sit back and criticize your service hinder you. Continue on serving Him with gladness, keeping your eyes on Him, and not them! For if we do, He will bless our work and He will be honored!

MISSIONS- THE HEART BEAT OF THE CHURCH

Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter. –Spurgeon

 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. John 15:16

            When I visit other churches I often find myself looking at the Missionaries they support. Some have pictures of their Missionaries along the walls, some have Missionary displays, and I went to one church that had a digital photo frame with pictures of the Missionaries it supported scrolling on the screen. I thought, “WOW, what a way to honor those that give so much!”

            Today, we start our 2019 Faith Promise Mission’s Conference at Calvary. Our goal this week is to challenge our people with this thought, “How am I winning souls for Jesus Christ?” What and how am I being effective in seeing someone come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ? Some people can’t get around too well so they pray for those that can, some knock on doors, some surrender to the Missionary Call from the Lord, some give to Missions, and some do it all! One thing is for sure, if you’re saved you will be doing something in the area of Missions! The greatest thing we can do is tell someone about Jesus and what He has done for you!

PRAISE THE LORD—FOREVER

Praise is the rehearsal of our eternal song.  -Spurgeon

 Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. Psalm 46:1-2

What a privilege we have to praise the Lord for all of His benefits. Oh, have you forgotten the benefits of the Lord? Let me name a few: the air we breathe, the sun that shines, the rain that falls, the roof above your head, the job He has given, your health, His faithfulness, His mercy, His grace, His missions, His salvation, His righteousness, His provision, His longsuffering, His work, His way, His servants, His selflessness,…. Oh, we could go on but you probably don’t have enough time. We have something to praise Him for everyday of the year!

EVER WONDER WHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR NATION?

So goes the church, so goes the nation.

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Exodus 20:12

We have lost this art of “Honoring thy father and thy mother”. We have replaced it with disrespect and dishonor. We have swallowed the lie that mom and dad are dumb and we don’t need old, out dated thoughts and ideas. The truth is there is a lot of wisdom behind those wrinkles and gray hair.

Each one of us would do good to sit at our parent’s feet for a while and just listen. Parents already passed? Find a nursing home and sit a listen to the wisdom those Senior Saints have. Bring back the honoring of the gray headed, wrinkled faced old man or woman. As we begin to honor our fathers and mothers, our children will begin to bring honor to us and more importantly—Our Saviour!

We use to teach in our schools the theory of evolution, now it is taught as fact. We use to teach in our schools absolutes, now it is situation ethics. We use to teach in our schools there is a God, now we teach we cannot know whether there is a God or not. We use to preach Jesus from the pulpit, now we put on a play. We use to preach Jesus in Sunday School, now we tell social stories. We use to preach Jesus on Wednesday nights, now we go to ball games.

TOO BUSY TO VOTE?

It’s our duty to elect the officials best representing God’s way and not our own. 

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

Many a men and women have sacrificed their lives for the rights we have in America. One of the greatest things we can do to honor their memory is by casting our vote on election day or one of the early voting days. What a great way to see our rights being employed by each one of us GETTING UP, GETTING READY, and GOING TO VOTE for the person you see as the best candidate for the office they are running for!

BE HUMBLE

Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. Proverbs 16:19

Being a humble instrument in the hands of our heavenly Father, I desire that all my words and acts may be according to His will; and that it may be so, I give thanks to the Almighty, and seek His aid. --Abraham Lincoln

Humility is missing in many Christian lives today. This is one of the main reasons we do not have the power of God in the pulpit or the pew. Humble yourself before the mighty hand of God Christian friend and watch Him move in you and through you!

JUST CAN’T PRAISE HIM ENOUGH!

Praise is the rehearsal of our eternal song.  –Spurgeon

“…I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” Luke 19:40

            If you’re saved this morning you have a lot to praise the Lord for! This is one of many ways I can give my testimony of praise… One day the Lord transcended space, pierced our galaxy, enter our solar system, counted over three plants from the sun, jumped on the jet stream, flew over the North American continent, landed in the Good Ole USA on the State of North Carolina, skidded across to Alamance County, through the town of Graham, and took a left onto Brier Lane on July 12, 1992, and saved my sin sick soul! What a Saviour is mine! Do you remember the day He saved you? 

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

No man is poor who has had a Godly mother. –Lincoln

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Exodus 20:12

It has been said, “Don’t know what to give your mother for Mother’s Day? Make your way to church this morning and sit beside her.” What a simple and cheap way to make Mama happy this morning. So why are you sitting there; GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH! At the moment you walk through the doors she will not care what you’ve done or where you’ve been—she will only know her child is with her this morning and a joy will leap from inside and come out in the form of tears from her face! Surprise your Mom—GO SIT BESIDE HER THIS MORNING!

WHAT ARE YOU USING YOUR MOUTH FOR?

The tongue blessing God without the heart is but a tinkling cymbal; the heart blessing God without the tongue is sweet but still music; both in concert make the harmony which fills and delights heaven and earth. --R. Venning

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. Hebrews 13:15

I like the verse that says, “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so”!  We have times of testimony in church and often I sit there listening how the Lord has worked in other people’s lives. Not because I don’t have anything to say but because I really enjoy hearing Brothers and Sisters in Christ praise our Saviour! It’s better than the greatest Choir singing with the Greatest Symphony backing it up!

SOLD OUT OR SCARED

If I had three hundred men who feared nothing but God, hated nothing but sin, and were determined to know nothing among men but Jesus Christ and Him crucified, I would set the world on fire. --John Wesley

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

There are many people thinking they are saved and on their way to heaven but they have never totally sold out to Him. They prayed a prayer and thought, shew—now I’m good, I can go living my life the way I want to. That’s not the way it works! If you prayed a prayer thinking that’s all it was to it… you missed the boat.

It’s time to do a check-up. It’s time to GET UP, GET READY, and GO BACK TO CHURCH to have a follow up visit with the Lord. Don’t be scared, sell out to Jesus! It will be the best visit you have ever made! 

Will You Stand?

God is searching for men who are unique, thoroughly saved, and filled to running over with His spirit. God and the world need men who will stand in the gap.... --Frank Carlson

And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Ezekiel 22:30

As time flies on by, more and more men are slipping away from church and into a life of sin! Satan has attacked us at the very foundation of our Belief. The Word of God has been attacked and is being taken out of every day life. We hear it no more in our schools. We see it no more in our courtrooms. We aren't allowed to share it on some streets anymore. How did this happen? How did a once truly Christian Nation ALLOW Satan to have a foot hold in America? Because men wouldn't stand in the gap! Men have become sissys! Men have become cowards!

It's time for men to stand up and take control of their lives back. It's time to get real about the battle before us! It is time for us to stand in the gap for our Lord and Saviour!

God has instituted the man to be the leader of the house. So men, LEAD! Single women and single parent women, take the lead in your house until God gives you a real man that will lead you in the paths of righteousness. Don't settle for Satan's Wimps! Strive for God's Warriors!

MUSIC- THE GREAT MOTIVATOR OF MAN

Music is the universal language of mankind. –Longfellow

            Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. Psalm 150:1-6

            Music has been used to motivate mankind since the days of Cain. It has been used in worship of our Lord and Saviour since the beginning of time. It can make you cry and laugh…at the same time! It can motivate one to power lift record breaking amounts. It can create a mood of fear, honor, and anger. Music is a strong tool and in the hand of the wicked will motivate people to sin.

            Child of God, it is important to protect your ears! Letting music in that motivates the flesh will create a division between you and our Saviour. If you attend a church service where the emphasis is on the music, whether it be contemporary, bluegrass, gospel, or any other, you need to flee! There is nothing wrong with music! However, when it takes the place of the preaching there has been a failure of the Biblical Method in which one gets saved. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

WHOM DO YOU RESPECT?

One should hold those Christians with gray hair in much respect for they have paved the road before us!

Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:32

Sometimes, I sit back thinking about what our senior citizens have seen come to pass in their lifetime; Microwave ovens, Telephone Answering Machines, Super Glue, Liquid Paper, and Mr. Potato Head. Yes, Mr. Potato Head! Boy they have seen a lot come to pass. Now we have the internet, cell phones, and remotes for our ceiling fans! But boy there is are more reasons to honor them than that!

Our Christian Seniors have been in this spiritual fight longer than we and have stood by the stuff! They have sent out missionaries, built churches, and have seen lives changed for the glory of God more than once! They have stayed true to the Lord when churches split, pastors fell, and members fought! Our seniors have a lot to be honored for. Let us give them a little respect while we can. Move over and let them have a seat. Help them inside the church house. Give them hugs and honor them for their service! Why? Because the Lord said so…”…and honour the face of the old man.”

HONORING VETERANS TODAY!

It Is the Veteran

It is the VETERAN, not the preacher,

who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN, not the reporter,

who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN, not the poet,

who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN, not the campus [or community] organizer,

who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer,

who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN, not the politician,

Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the VETERAN, who salutes the Flag,

Who serves under the Flag.

Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Romans 13:7

In honoring veterans, I am reminded of the oath they took to defend the Constitution of United States of America. Here is this oath in its entirety:

     "I, (state name of enlistee), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

In this oath I see a few key things each veteran will do:

1.         Take an oath to defend their country.       

2.         To remain true to their country.

3.         A rendering of their will to our president and                    those officers appointed over them.

4.         To live by a standard. “UCMJ”

5.         Seals the oath. “So help me God”

 

      We as Christians need to live by a similar oath as the American Soldier. We need to stand up for God and be a witness for Him. We need to remain true, no matter what comes our way. We need to render our will to God’s will and obey the authorities He has placed over us. We need to live to the standards of God’s Word. We need to seal this oath by faith in Christ Alone.

            As you look at your life could one look at it and call you a Spiritual Veteran?