WHAT A JOY TO SERVE THE LORD!
With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Ephesians 6:7
Serving the Lord shouldn’t come with strings. We should never have the mentality of; I’ll serve the Lord if He will do this. I will serve the Lord if I can do it when I want to. I will serve the Lord if I don’t have anything else going on! But yet, so many of us respond to the Lord in such as the ways mentioned!
Child of God, get busy doing the Lord’s Work! Do it His way with His Word in hand! It will bring about a blessing bringing a smile to your face and joy in your heart!
LORD, HEAR MY PRAYER
God will hear you prayers, if you’re one of His children.
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: Psalm 66:18
I find it interesting that people who do not go to church will say the phrase, “I’m praying for you.” I get it they care and want to make everything feel better. But what I don’t understand is why they would think God hears their prayer when they don’t want to spend time with His people, listen to His Word preached or follow His commandments. I am reminded of another scripture this morning; “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
Before the Lord hears any other prayer of yours He wants to hear you call out to Him for salvation. Unless He forgives your sins, He will not hear any of your prayers. So, before you waste your breath on another empty prayer, call out to the Lord for salvation and then He will hear every prayer you pray!
WHO IS JESUS TO YOU?
C.S Lewis said, "Jesus is either a liar, lunatic, or He is Lord."
Jesus asked His disciples in Mark 8:27-29, “Whom do men say that I am?” They answered Him and said, “John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.” Jesus asked specifically, “But whom say ye that I am?” Peter answered Jesus, “Thou art the Christ.”
I know Jesus asked them all but I wonder if Jesus may have been looking right at Peter when He asked them, “But whom say ye that I am?” How much more personal does that get? Jesus, the only begotten Son of God looking you in the eyes and asking you, “But whom say ye that I am?”
Well, this morning, I am asking you, Who is Jesus to you? It’s not going to change Who He is, it has the potential of changing your destination! It may change you! If He becomes Lord of your life! Consider this, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18
If He has saved you it ought to show up in your actions! Consider what Jesus says in Luke 6:46, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” This morning, why don’t you show others you have been saved and that you know who Jesus is by GETTING UP, GETTING READY, and GOING TO CHURCH?
WHAT IS GOD TO YOU?
He’s my LORD and SAVIOUR!
And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. Exodus 3:14
If you had to describe God to someone else, how would you describe Him? He described Himself to Moses as “I AM” or the God who becomes. “Becomes what?” you may ask. Well what are you in need of today?
If you need comfort, He’s the God of all comfort. If you need to be redeemed, He’s The Redeemer. If you need grace, He’s the God of all grace. If you need forgiving today, He forgives the vilest sinner. If you need someone to talk to, He’s just a prayer away—24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and He throws in an extra day on leap year!
Who is God you ask, well here let S.M Lockridge explain it to you: https://youtu.be/yzqTFNfeDnE
I NEED TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MY ROCK!
The LORD’s our ROCK and we can talk to Him and He will hear and answer us!
Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit. Psalm 28:1
I recently saw a short portion of the View. (I don’t watch the View, someone shared a snippet of the show.) One of the show’s hosts said, “If someone hears from God, they’re crazy.” Well, I must be crazy then, because God talks to me all the time! He has a lot to say in His Word! His Spirit speaks to me while I’m studying and while I’m preaching.
Have I introduced you to MY ROCK—Jesus? He’s the solid ground I walk on! He’s the foundation of my life! Without Him I would be nothing, going nowhere! But because He lives and abides in me, I’m a Child of the King! He’s My Rock! My Shield! My Heavenly Father! My Saviour!
Is He your Rock?
WHO’S YOUR KING?
Death may be the King of terrors... but Jesus is the King of kings! - D.L. Moody
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:50-58
In 2002, my Dad found out he had cancer. He graduated to Heaven in 2003. As I often reflect back on the days following his death I remember many friends sending prayers, food for the family, or even some money to help with expenses occurred. I can’t tell you who all was there but I remember one friend who shared these scriptures. And out of all of the food shared, prayers offered, this is what has sustained the test of time—scripture! I am thankful we have The King of kings! Rejoice with me this morning for The Saviour Reigns over death, hell, and the grave!
HE KNOWS…MY NAME??
There is a name in which I stand in awe of, that name is Jesus!
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
There is a very popular song that I love to hear, “He knows my name.” I have heard many people sing it down through the years but my most favorite rendition of it is sung by the Rochester family. They will bless your heart.
I love that song but I couldn’t sleep this morning so as I lay there in the bed I got to thinking, He knows everyone’s name, even the hairs on their head, but how many people know Him? How many people know Him as Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, or The Prince of Peace? How many people know the name of Jesus as Lord and Saviour?
Yes, He knows your name but the question this morning is, “In what way do you know Him?” Let today be a fresh start of knowing Him by asking Him to be your Lord and Saviour!
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
WHAT ARE YOU LOYAL TO?
Loyalty to man leads us to misery, Loyalty to The God-Man leads us to a Mission Accomplished!
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:19-21
Many people are attempting to build a legacy for themselves. They have big houses, fancy cars, and debt up to their ears. All because they are loyal to a lie; the lie being; “These things will bring about happiness.” All the while they are empty inside!
For a short period of time happiness can be found in a big house, fancy cars, and any form of worldliness one can buy into…but that happiness is short lived. That type of loyalty will leave you empty and wanting because those “toys” grow old and something new is needed. What the real need is salvation. Salvation fills us with joy! Loyalty to the Son of God is what we need! With loyalty to the Lord we have the joy in our hearts we were longing for! With that joy, we have Mission Accomplished through the Lord Jesus!
I NEED HELP NOW!
To the man who himself strives earnestly, God also lends a helping hand. -Aeschylus
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
Mary thought Jesus was late when her Brother Lazarus had died. She said, “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.”But Jesus had other plans. Cutting to the quick of the story Jesus said, “Lazarus, come forth.” The whole lot of them thought there was no hope for Lazarus but Jesus knew what He was doing and guess what…He was right on time!
If you want help from the Lord all you have to do is ask. For the lost sinner, He can save your soul from hell giving you life and life more abundant! For the living saint, He can save you from yourself. No matter what trouble, no matter what temptation, no matter what mountainous of a problem you may have, God is never late with help. He is always right on time, all time!
Why are you living?
Make sure the thing you're living for is worth dying for. –Mayes
One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. Psalm 27:4
Enough is said in the chorus of the song, “Because He Lives”:
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!.......What are you living for…is it worth dying for?
Give up and let God work it out!
Blessings come down as the prayers go up!
Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Psalm 37:4
So many try to fight against what God wants for their life. When they do, it’s like trying to swim upstream of a water fall! We are not fish people! If you are a Christian, when you fight against God’s will you, like Jonah, may end up in the belly of a whale! But if you follow in His will for your life… things fall into place time and time again!
Profession or Possession...there is a difference!
Salvation is of the Lord!
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Acts 16:31
So many shout about how many people got saved at their tent meeting, VBS, or Sunday Service. I also rejoice when someone makes a profession of faith. I take pictures and rejoice with the Angels in Heaven!
However, I want to see those same people a year from the time of their profession. For at that time we shall see if they not only made a profession of faith but obtained a possession of the Saviour! Salvation is of the Lord friend…I don’t know who gets saved and who doesn’t. I just spread the seed and God gives the increase! What a privilege and responsibility we have to share the Gospel with a lost and dying world!
Blink and it's gone, are you ready?
Our life is scarce the twinkle of a star in God's eternal day. –Taylor
Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. James 4:13-14
Seems like when we were in school it took forever for us to graduate. Days were long and summers were longer. Now, a day seems like a few minutes and summers blow by like a ride on a roller coaster.
Friend you and I are not guaranteed another second much less a day. Our life is fleeting away fast and if you haven’t already, the time to get things settle about your eternal destination is now. Isaiah 55:6 says, “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:” Now the Lord is not lost but what this scripture is telling us is there will come a time when the Lord’s judgment will come. At that time it will be too late to turn to Him for salvation. This is why Paul shared the importance of getting things settled today, “For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2
Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy Cross I cling.
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Galatians 6:14
That old rugged Cross so despised by the world has a wondrous attraction to me! The sight of the Cross reminds me of my Lord and Saviour that hung on it. It reminds me of what He endured so that I could be saved! When is the last time you visited the Cross? Be reminded today what He placed on Himself so that you and I could be saved!
Praying is better than pouting!
Ten minutes' praying is better than a year's murmuring. –Spurgeon
Do all things without murmurings and disputings: Philippians 2:14
What did you say? That’s what Dad would say after he had spanked us and we were around the corner murmuring over the injustice we thought just happened. No one complains when their Father is within hearing range though. Our response would always be, “Nothing Daddy”, because we didn’t want another spanking—I mean we’re not stupid. I would’ve never said, “Well Dad, I’m complaining about the spanking I just got!” No sir that would have been insane!
Why should we complain over the affairs of this old world? The Lord knows each one and if we would just go to church as much as we can we wouldn’t murmur so much. Why? When we get to church most of us stop murmuring because we are “nearer to the Lord”. Thing is, our Heavenly Father is always close-by even knowing our very thoughts and intents of our hearts. So He is always within hearing range!