WAKE UP FOOL

A soul unalert and drunk with this world’s wickedness will end up eternally separated from God.

Psalm 53:1, The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.

Don’t frown upon the word “fool”. It’s a Biblical word that is used to wake up a lost, dying, and hurting soul out of their sleep and slumber! For a fool is one that either rejects Truth or has willfully believed a lie. If either of those describes you, then wake up! There are all kinds of evidence around you! Quit rejecting the Truth God has given. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved!

REJOICING IN JESUS

Happy is the heart that Jesus has touched!

Psalm 32:11, Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

We’ve hit hump day! Since we have made it this far, take a moment this morning to thank the Lord for what He has done in your life this week! If you’re saved, you have a lot to be thankful for! If you’re lost, you need to get saved. With the assurance of your salvation, you too can be glad in the Lord and rejoicing this morning because happy is the heart that He has touched!

HIDING IN CHRIST

Satan is seeking you, so hide in Christ.

Psalm 32:7, Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

Did you ever play hide and seek when you were growing up? I did! At my house, at the local ball field, at school, at friends, at our extended family’s house. Hide and seek was the go-to game when it got dark! While I didn’t know this back then, they say the best place to hide was right behind the seeker!

Hey friend, that may be true for a game of hide and seek, but Satan is seeking you, so the best place for you to be is in Christ! Not in the world! Not in the flesh! But in Christ Jesus!

CONFESSION IS THE BEST CLEANSING

Asking God to forgive your sins is better than AJAX cutting stains from a 6 year old boy’s jeans!

Psalm 32:5, I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

David had committed adultery, a grievous sin, and then tried to cover it up. The first time by getting Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, to go sleep with her. Then by getting him drunk to do the same. When those two things didn’t work, David sent him to the hottest part of the battle so he would be killed. David orchestrated Uriah’s death to cover up his sin. He tried everything he could but yet God knew his heart! God knew the wickedness he had committed.

With the guilt and shame holding him down, he cried out to God for forgiveness. When he did, the is what he said about God; “… thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.”

Hey friend, confession is the best cleansing! He will take that mess you have made and make it a message of Grace! Would you follow David’s lead and ask the Lord to forgive you this morning?

GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH

The Church is not a gallery for the exhibition of eminent Christians, but a school for the education of imperfect ones. -Beecher

Hebrews 10:25, Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Since the Church House is the place to learn of our Saviour the best, we ought to be there each and every time the doors are open. You see, when we are in the House of God, we hear the Word preached and that is what grows us in our walk with the Lord. When we miss a service, that very service could be the one God was going to use to help us the most!

So, friend, GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH this morning!

GIVE A LITTLE MORE

He, who is not liberal with what he has, does but deceive himself when he thinks he would be liberal if he had more. -Tulner

Luke 6:38, Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

I have heard most of my Christian life that you can’t out give God. Guess what, it’s true! The more time, talents, and treasure I have given God; the more He gives back!

What are you being stingy with this morning? Why not give a little more and see how God uses it and gives you more in return! Don’t do it for personal gain, do it because God desires to use your sacrifice to see others come to Him. Do it because God loves a cheerful giver!

FEAR NOT

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. -F.D. Roosevelt

2 Timothy 1:7, For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

In this fear mongering-area we are living in, I am reminded that God has not given us the spirit of fear! He has given us power, love, and a mind that is aware of what the enemy desires to do to God’s children! His desire is to sift us like wheat, devouring us like a roaring lion does his prey.

Child of God, FEAR NOT! God is still on the throne! He has not relinquished any of His power to the enemy! The time at hand has not surprised the Lord. He has prepared us through His Word for such as time as this!

So, dust that Bible off! Open its’ pages, asking God to guide you in His Truth so that you will have victory in this life!

WISE COUNSEL

No man is wise enough by himself. -Plautus

James 1:5  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.

I don’t care where you went to college. I don’t care who your daddy is. I don’t care where you grew up. Sooner or later, you are going to find yourself in a jam, needing some wise counsel. Whether that is a problem with your car, weed whacker, washing machine, or working the remote on your TV; some wise counsel in our time of need is much appreciated!

The wisest counsel we can get today is our need of the Saviour! It’s a maze out there to find the Truth but if you grab a Bible, the Holy Spirit will guide you in Truth to the knowledge of how to be saved!

Hey friend, you’re not all that and you don’t have all the answers. Sooner or later, you will stand before God and I hope you have received and believed the wise counsel from God’s Word before it’s too late!

ENJOYING THE JOURNEY

The people with whom we travel are much more important than the place to which we travel. -Wright

2 Corinthians 8:4, Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

No matter what a Christian goes through in this life, we can enjoy the journey if we understand a few things: First, the Lord is with us! Remember, He never leaves us nor forsakes us. Secondly,

people are praying for us! He commands us to pray for one another. Also, God has already been where we are going before us and has prepared the way for victory! Just a few things to encourage us in this journey we call life.

Hey friend, enjoy the journey God has got you on! Help is ahead! Heaven is ahead! He (Jesus) is ahead!

EYES TO SEE

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

Psalm 119:18, Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

My son got a new smartphone recently. He should me his camera and boy can that thing zoom in on an object. He showed me spot in a pasture and then zoomed in on the spot. WOW! It was a cow! With his phone, I had eyes to see the makings of a beautiful steak!

Hey friend, God is real and if you believe His Word in faith, you too will have eyes to see Him!

JUST ENOUGH

Doing just enough will only get you so far.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

Many years ago, when I was in middle school, I did just enough to get by. I didn’t have anyone at home pushing me. I didn’t have many teachers pushing me. The friends I hung around with really didn’t care either. I did graduate but it was not with flying colors and I definitely wasn’t offered any academic scholarships. I finished but I didn’t finish well.

Friend, the Lord wants us to finish well. He wants us to fight the good fight of faith and has equipped us with everything we need to do so. Are you doing just enough? Coming to church to check it off. Reading a devotion to be able to tell others, “I do my devotions.” Are you really doing everything mightily unto the Lord or are you doing just enough?

GREATEST MIRACLE OF ALL

The greatest of all miracles is the salvation of a soul. -Spurgeon

Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

Salvation- the act of redemption by God’s Only Begotten Son when He conquered death, hell, and the grave for all of lost mankind.

If you do not know what salvation is all about, if you have questions about how to get this greatest miracle for yourself, GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH THIS MORNING! There are plenty of folks there to help you find your way to Him!

MERCY, MERCY, GOD’S LOVING MERCY

Mercy is not for them that sin and fear not, but for them that fear and sin not. -Watson

Psalm 23:6, Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Have you ever thought about where you would be if God had not extended His hand of mercy to you? Well, if not, let me help you. We would still be dead in our sin, on the way to hell, separated from God for eternity. But mercy… But Grace…. You see, I believe grace and mercy is a double-sided coin from the Master’s hand. No matter how it is flipped, we are blessed of God!

Do you remember when you were first touch by God’s loving mercy? If you don’t remember it; it may be that you have never been touched by it. Friend, when God touches someone; they don’t walk away unchanged!

SWEET MEMORIES

When saving for old age, be sure to put away a few pleasant thoughts. -Anonymous

Exodus 17:14, And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.

Just the other day I was talking to a friend who was on vacation with his family. He was asking about different areas and I was suggesting for him to go here or there. The last thing I told him was, go make memories. My Aunt said it differently; she said, “We’re going to make Happy Tracks!”

The Lord told Moses to write the events down in a Book and tell it again and again. Why did the Lord want that done? So that no one would ever forget Who He is and what He did and can do for them.

Hey friend, go make some sweet memories but never forget what the Lord has done for you!

WHERE’S THE MEN

God give us men. A time like this demands strong minds, great hearts, true faith, and ready hands! Men whom the lust of office does not kill, men whom the spoils of office cannot buy, men who possess opinions and a will, men who love honor, men who cannot lie. --J.G. Holland

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

We do not need any more skinny jean wearing, video playing, hippie hair sporting, limp wristed “men.” What we need is more God fearing, Bible studying, Gospel sharing men that will honor the God of the Bible with their life. Ones that will sacrifice their lives for the greatest thing in this world.

Where are the men of days gone by? Have they forgotten what God did for Abraham, Moses, David, Peter, Paul, and others? Where’s the men that will stand in the gap for their wives; for their children; for this generation? Will you be one of those men?

BROUGHT TO LIFE

True life begins when we are born again!

1 Peter 1:23, Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

This past Spring, I killed off a large section of my back yard for a garden. I tilled the soil, fertilized it, and made rows of dirt. I bought some seeds to plant for starter plants. Most of the seeds never came up. But the ones that did, I didn’t do it—God did.

You see, with plants, we can do all the preparation, planting, and watering, but without God bringing forth life of the seeds; they will not grow!

Such as it is with salvation. We can plant the Seed of God’s Word in someone’s dead soul. Someone else may water it with God’s Word. But unless the God of the Seed and the Water brings the soul to life—it will remain dead.

Praise God we have a Saviour that is not willing that any should remain dead! Based on Who He is and what He has done for us, if we believe in His death, burial, and resurrection we are brought to life! Have you been?

LIVE A HOLY LIFE

I believe the holier a man becomes, the more he mourns over the unholiness that remains in him. -Spurgeon

1 Peter 1:13-16, Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Living a holy life involves much more than just attending church. A Christian must bring into captivity their thoughts; keeping their mind focused on the Lord Jesus. They will keep themselves from their former sinful ways; protecting their heart from the fiery darts Satan hurls at them day by day. A Christian’s speech will be above reproach and Christ honoring. Why would a Christian do this? It’s in the name, “Christian.” It means to be Christ like or “Little Christ”. There are no substitutes. We must live a holy life because Christ Himself was holy.

MONDAYS ARE OPPORTUNITIES

Our days are numbered so let’s do what we can for the Lord today.

Psalm 118:24, This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

A young boy asked his grandpa one day, “Grandpa, how old were you when you were a little boy?” He said, “Son, I don’t know but it seems like it was yesterday.” Friend, the older we get, the more it seems as time flies by. It’s just like I was in the Navy yesterday, floating around the Mediterranean Sea. It seems as if few days ago my son was born, my daughter got married, and now… I’m a Papa.

It seems time is coming at us faster and faster. Before we know it, we are going to be with our Saviour wondering what happened to the life He gave us. Instead of the same old Monday routine, let’s get up today with a renewed strength in our walk with the Lord. Let’s get up rejoicing in the opportunity He has given us to be a blessing to others. Yes, even on a Monday we can rejoice because Mondays are opportunities just like every other day!

I’M GOING, ARE YOU

The difference between listening to a radio sermon and going to church, someone has said, is almost like the difference between calling your girl on the telephone and spending an evening with her. -Moody

Revelation 2:4, Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Do you remember the day you got saved? Do you remember the desire to go to church? Do you remember the burning desire to get with fellow Christians worshipping the Lord with them? Do you still have it? If not, why not? Friend, I have learned the times that I didn’t feel like going to church is when I needed to go the most!

This morning, I’m going to church, are you? Will you GET UP, GET READY, and GO?

BE A WITNESS TODAY

God cannot use you until you are willing to have the world point the finger of scorn at you. - D.L. Moody

Mark 16:15, And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

One of the greatest things God has given us to do as believers is to share the Gospel with this lost, dying, and hurting generation. He has equipped us with everything we need: Salvation, His Spirit, and His Word. One of the things that is missing in many of us is boldness! We need to be bold for the Lord. We need more men and women, boys and girls to be a witness for the Lord today! Will you?