STICK TO IT!

            Be dogmatically true, obstinately holy, immovably honest, desperately kind, fixedly upright. –Spurgeon

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:4-5

            Looking at creation always amazes me. We see the ants doing their work. We see the birds doing their work. We see the fish doing what God created them to do. But with men, it’s so much different. Man has free will in which he can choose whether he will do God’s will or not. He can run from God’s will for him to be saved. He can say no to God. He can do whatever he wants to and he will live with the consequences.

            I have found when I line my will up with God’s will, my life will is so much better! When I don’t follow my heart, listen to negative influences, or chase empty dreams, God can work in and through my life. This is when God works! He works when we yield our lives over to Him. He works when we stick to His will. He works when we get out of the way. Will you surrender your will to Him today?

WHAT ARE YOU TRUSTING IN?

             You may trust the Lord too little, but you can never trust Him too much. –Anonymous

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. Psalm 18:2

            Some people trust in their riches to give them peace of mind always coming up empty. Some trust in their own wisdom only to find out they don’t always have the right answer. Some trust in their own strength failing to press their way through life’s obstacles. Those who put their trust in the Lord are those who make a difference in the world for God’s glory!

            What and or who are you trusting? Are you really making a difference according to the Word of God? But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6

LOVE LIKE CRAZY!

Faith makes all things possible...love makes all things easy. -D.L. Moody

For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? Matthew 5:46

            When you love someone like Jesus loves them hopefully sooner or later they will begin to understand the reason why you are able to do so. It’s not just because you want more friends. It’s not because you are in need of some self approval. It’s because you want them to have the complete peace of God you received when you repented and trusted Jesus as Saviour!

            How is your love life when it comes to loving the unlovable? Remember—Jesus loved you before you ever started loving Him! We love him, because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19

UTTER FAILURE!

With Jesus we have victory. Without Him there is utter failure.      

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

            We can no more have victory over sin by ourselves than we can fly without something aiding in our flight. We have Jesus’ Words. We have Jesus’ work. We have Jesus’ willingness to forgive us when we fail on our own. We have everything we need to have victory over sin and yet we still fail day after day. I am so thankful for Jesus’ forgiveness. This is not a license to sin but it is recognizing that without Jesus Christ making the way for victory for us we are utterly doomed!

            When is the last time you asked Jesus to forgive you of some sin you have done? Maybe it is the sin of being absent from church. Well, today would be a good day to GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH! While you are there you can use the altar to ask Him to forgive you one more time so you will not be an utter failure!

 

A LITTLE LIGHT

            I believe in Christ like I believe in the sun, not just because I see it, but because by it I can see everything else. --C.S. Lewis

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7

            Though we live in a very dark world of sin, God has given us all light in which to see Jesus. What we do with that light is up to us. Like the poorest, having the light of creation, to the preacher’s kid who has been drug to church their entire life, without repentance and saving faith in Jesus Christ we are all bound for hell.

            What light has God given you? Whatever light you have, you need to let it light up your path to faith in the only hope any of us have—Jesus Christ! A little light can take you a long way! In this case, all the way to Heaven!

REACTION OF VICTORY

It is cynicism and fear that freeze life; it is faith that thaws it out, releases it, sets it free.–Fosdick

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

            Newton’s third law of motion says, “For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction.” I believe the fear in our lives will be decimated at the same rate as our faith grows. In each step of faith we walk we take a step further away from fear; fear of worrying over what tomorrow will hold, fear of losing our job, fear of likability, fear of finances, fear of health issues, etc. When we walk away from fear, God is honored and our faith grows deeper!

            Is your faith growing or is fear grappling your life? Trust Jesus and fear will be removed!

RESPONSE OF VICTORY

I fear God, and next to God I chiefly fear him who fears Him not.- Saadia Ben Joseph

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. Psalm 46:2-3

            What do we have to fear when we understand God is on our side? Why should we fear man or what He may do to us? Why do we fear the unknown when He knows what that is? Why do we fear what we don’t understand? When we have victory in our life by knowing He is God, we will also come to realize we have God for our defender and we need not fear any evil! That my friend is our only reasonable response.

A LITTLE REMINDER

            God is bigger than any problem you may have! He can be reached at anytime, anywhere, with anyone around. So what’s hindering you from calling out to Him?

Let me remind you of some things concerning our Saviour:

            He never sleeps nor slumbers- Psalm 121:4, Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

            He will never leave thee nor forsake thee- Hebrews 13:5, Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

            He doesn’t hide from us—We attempt to hide from Him— Jeremiah 23:24, Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD. 

            He doesn’t forget anything-- Luke 12:6-7, Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

            Humility moves our Saviour: Psalm 44:25-26, For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth. Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies' sake.

AT THE END OF THE DAY- TRUST THE LORD

You may trust the Lord too little, but you can never trust Him too much. –Anonymous

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. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. Psalm 84:11-12

            Many times when we make a decision in life we begin to second guess that decision. It brings about doubt in our abilities, worry, fret, and most of all we question, did we obey the Lord. It causes loss of sleep, anxiety, health problems, and if not dealt with could cause a mental break down.

            Here are some questions to help cope with second guessing your decisions: Did you go to the Lord before you made the decision? Did you wait on His answer? Did He give you clear direction? Did you make the decision seasoned with grace if it involved others? If anyone was involved, did everyone leave understanding why the decision was made?

            When you are all in knots about the decision you made you’re not doing the business God has called you to. Guess what, Satan loves that! At end of the day that you have trusted God at the beginning, trust Him even more for another day is coming!

JUST TRUST THE LORD!

But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. 1 Kings 19:4

Many times right after some of the sweetest victories in our life God will allow some discouragement enter in. This is exactly what happened to Elijah. He had just defeated 450 of Baal’s prophets and then old Jezebel sent a messenger telling him she was going to kill him. Instead of Elijah calling upon God the same way he did against the prophets of Baal— he ran! A couple of days later we find him under a juniper tree ready to die. How can a man of God be so on fire one day and discouraged, hiding under a tree the next?

He listened to evil influences. He got his eyes off God. He ended up discouraged, despondent, and destitute. There was a cure for Elijah just like there is a cure for you—Just trust the Lord!

SO YOU SAY YOU’RE SAVED…?

So this is now the mark by which we all shall certainly know whether the birth of the Lord Jesus is effective in us: if we take upon ourselves the needs of our neighbor. --Martin Luther 

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2:26

Many proclaim with their mouths, they’re saved and on their way to Heaven. However, you never see them in church. You never see them on visitation. You never see them giving of their time, talents, much less their treasures. Makes you wonder if they are truly saved.

It would do you and I good to get in the Bible seeing what it says about Biblical salvation.

I CAN'T TALK ABOUT MY FAITH BUT WILL OTHERS?

If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of itself. -Moody

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. Romans 1:8

Do you talk the talk but don’t walk the walk? There are many of us that are just, “Key board Christians”. We set behind a screen typing away, sharing Christian pictures and quotes but never giving of our time, talents and treasures to the local church. Some of us head to church on Sunday morning leaving our Bibles at home. Some of us head to church on Easter or Christmas and claim we have done our Christian duty. As I have said before, being a Christian is twenty four seven. It’s not just on Sunday. Not just behind the pulpit. Not only on a foreign or domestic mission field, it’s every hour of every day, everywhere we go! Are people talking about your faith? Let those that come behind us find us faithful!

STAY THE COURSE

The seasons may come and go and the harvest will change with them, but God always honors those who remain faithful in His service.—Paul Chappell.

Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:5

What are you holding back from the Lord? Is it your soul that needs saving? Is it your life that needs sanctifying? Is it your talents that need to be used? Whatever you are holding back from the Lord—surrender to Him! Commit thy way! Trust in Him! Then watch Him work miracles in and through your life!

YOU CAN’T- BUT GOD CAN!

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26

Many times when I was growing up I heard, “You can’t do that!” But then…I tried anyway. Yep, I was a tad bit hard headed. I remember once trying to go down this sliding rock in the mountains. The guy said, “You can’t go down the rock if you don’t know how to swim.” I lied through my teeth and said, “I can do it!” Guess what, I almost drown!

That’s how sinners are, we try to do things our own way turning a deaf ear to God. The Children of Israel were that way, the disciples were that way, and yes even you and I are that way. Friend, if you are trying to do something without God—you will utterly fail! Christian friend, if you’re trying to do something for God leaving Him out of the process—you’ll fail! Sinner friend, if you’re trying to work your way to Heaven— you’ll fail!

If you have God working in you and through you… you’ll never fail because with God all things are possible!

CHARACTER- WHO YOU ARE WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING

If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of itself. -Moody

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. Romans 1:8

Do you talk the talk but don’t walk the walk? There are many of us that are just key board Christians. We set behind a screen typing away, sharing Christian pictures and quotes but never giving of our time, talents and treasures to the local church. Some of us head to church on Sunday morning leaving our Bibles at home. Some of us head to church on Easter or Christmas and claim we have done our Christian duty. Being a Christian is twenty four seven. It’s not just on Sunday. Not just behind the pulpit. Not only on a foreign or domestic mission field. It’s every hour of every day, everywhere we go!

Are people talking about your faith? They said this of our Saviour, "We never saw it on this fashion." What are they saying about yours?

GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH!

Keep the faith by going to church!

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

2 Timothy 4:7-8

            Many people think going to church is outdated and unnecessary. They think small groups, Bible studies, and group outings will suffice. Child of God, scripture says, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” And where do you and I hear preaching—at church. Sure we can hear it other places as well but I want to be where God uses His man, to preach His Word, so His Spirit can give me what I need. So that I can get the power God speaks about; power to continue on, power to make right decisions, power to lead my family, power to lead my church, power to avoid temptations, power to finish and finish well!

So this morning, will you join me by going to church?

WHAT CAN’T BE DONE?

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13

We can do anything God wants us to do because He equips us for the task at hand. Don’t you know oh Christian God knew what He was doing when He called Moses to lead a nation, Gideon to lead an army, Peter to preach, and you to the task He has giving you. Don’t give up too soon, have faith, victory is right around the corner and if you quit, you’ll miss it. So be reminded, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9

A WORD OF TESTIMONY

If you can’t say anything good, don’t say nothing at all!—Parents around the world

Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; Psalm 107:2

I would like to Praise the Lord today for my Salvation. A little over twenty five years ago I asked Jesus to forgive my sins and come into my heart. With childlike faith came a lifetime of sins being completely washed away. Did you understand that statement; “COMPLETELY WASHED AWAY”? As far as the east is from the west Jesus has washed my sins away with His precious blood!

I am thankful this is still true today as well! If you aren’t saved you can call out to Him asking Him to forgive your sins and for Him to make your life new!

LORD GIVE US REAL MEN!

When men surrender themselves to the Spirit of God, they will learn more concerning God and Christ and the Atonement and immorality in a week, than they would learn in a lifetime, apart from the Spirit. --John Brown

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13

I may and probably have said this before but it is worth repeating time and time again; WE NEED MEN TO TAKE A STAND FOR THE LORD! Those Words in 1 Corinthians, “quit you like men”, has a meaning of not to be blown away by every wind of doctrine, to put forth all your strength and courage, and once and for all to be brave and valiant men. That is something we are lacking in the world today—REAL MEN!

What do I mean by Real Men? Real Men will stand up for the Lord and be counted with Him. Real Men will not be afraid to admit when they are wrong. Real Men will love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it. Real Men will point others to the Saviour. Real Men will love their kids and not forsake teaching them how to love the Lord and other people! Real Men will provide financially for their family.

Real Men…WHERE ARE YOU?

WILL YOU NOT BELIEVE?

           Whoso draws nigh to God one step through doubtings dim, God will advance a mile in blazing light to him. –Unknown

           If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. James 1:5-6

           I recently read a short story of a young boy who had lost faith. His father had died and he had stepped up to be the man of the house. His mother was a faithful woman who kept pointing her son The Lord. One winter’s night, when it looked as if there wouldn’t be enough wood for the rest of the winter, Mom and her children set down to pray for the Lord to provide. The boy got up from praying and with doubt in his voice said, “I’ll head out tomorrow to go find some wood.”

            That night there was an unusual boisterous wind. At day light the young boy went outside to find the wind had blown drift wood up onto their side of the river bank, plenty for the winter’s bitter cold. The young boy ran and told Mom the news. Mom said, “See son, your God is real and He cares for His children.”

            Are you having a hard time taking God at His Word? Why not trust Him through the doubt one step at a time. Before you know it you might just be walking with Him every day!