UNITY -- The concept of the unity of God and the unity of God's purpose are clearly seen in the Bible. There is also complete unity among men in the sinful state of humankind.
The Bible is full of contrasts and differences, both in the spiritual world and in the created, temporal world. Even though there are many nations, kindreds, and tongues; males, females, Jews, Greeks, bound, and free, we are all unified in our humanity. Just as importantly, we are all unified in our sin. A common need creates a unity among all men.
Our great God has revealed Himself to us in the creation, in his names, in his Word, as Father, as Son, and Holy Ghost, but he is one God in unity. The 66 books of the Bible, written under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, by many different writers from various cultures, backgrounds, and points of view, still comprise one Book in unity.
In totality, we find the one God, reaching out to one humanity, to meet their one overwhelming need, through the finished work of one man, Jesus Christ, our Lord. The awesome plan of God is plainly and powerfully declared in the Bible, and vividly demonstrates the unity of God's purpose. Praise God. (Steven Gary)
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DOCTRINE -- As the fiery preacher began to deliver his message, he asked the following question, "Is your doctrine important?' Then the preacher made the following statements about Jesus: "His doctrine was divisive. It was unpopular! He was uncompromising and got crucified for it. Should our doctrine give way so all believers can get together under the banner of "love"? The preacher continued, "Let's see what the Scripture says: Jesus stated flatly that the doctrine He preached was from above. With Him there was no room to compromise. He was not interested in "getting along" with his religious contemporaries. He was interested in pleasing the Father. What about each of us, what about you?"
This preacher is taking a strong stand about an important issue in the life of every Christian today. The points he makes concerning compromise are valid. The issue of compromise in the church today is what makes "knowing and studying" the Word of God so absolutely necessary for all believers. Compromise means everyone gives something up in order to reach agreement. But, there is no compromise in God. He is an uncompromising God, the source of all truth, revelation, and sound doctrine.
If I compromise the Word of God to gain unity or fellowship with other folks, then I am saying in effect that the Word of God is not the ultimate source of Biblical revelation and understanding. If I compromise, then I have said that the Bible is not equal with God, even though Jesus says that He is the Word, and that the Word is settled forever in heaven.
I must follow the command of Scripture to "study to show thyself approved unto God", thus making sure that my doctrine is not watered down or politically correct, and that it will stand up to strong and accurate Biblical examination. He gave us the word so that we would not be overwhelmed by every wind of doctrine or every new thing. We can praise Him and thank Him for that. AMEN! (Steven Gary)
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SIN AND GUN CONTROL -- Gun control is a hot topic in the secular world of America today. Hamartiology is the study of the doctrine of sin. "What does it have to do with gun control?" you might ask. Plenty. The rationale for gun control reduces to this: people use guns to commit violent, sometimes terrible crimes. If we can regulate the sale and possession of guns, then we can reduce gun-related crime. This argument is disputable on many grounds. It is even more disputable on theological grounds.
Every argument favoring gun control represents a skewed 'doctrine of sin'. It is a classic example of an environmentalist sin doctrine: we reduce sin or its effects by altering man's environment. The realistic and achievable civil solution to gun-related violence is stiffer penalties for harming humans and property--whether by guns, knives, axes, spray paint, or computers, not simply by altering the human landscape. The ultimate solution to gun-related violence is the transformation of individuals by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Bible tells us, "there is none righteous, no, not one." It also states emphatically that, "All have sinned, all fall short of the glory of God." Modern society often takes the opposite approach and proclaims that man is basically good. Therefore, the argument goes, given a good environment, man will do good things. A nation that refuses to understand the truth from God's Word will soon find itself looking for the causes of an endless list of societal problems.
Divorce, violence, crime, abortion, homosexuality, lawlessness, drug addiction, war, and greed are all rampant. "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." But righteousness is from God alone. The goal of every man and every nation must be to become righteous. The only way to righteousness is to seek God, repent, be saved, and then transformed by the renewing of your mind in Christ Jesus. Praise God! (Steven Gary)
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INTERPRETATION -- To use the terminology popular in many quarters today, Bible interpretation involves a "fusion of horizons" -- which is the world of the text (what it says) and the world of the interpreter (what I say it says). Which theory is right, best, proper, necessary, most useful? The most common answer is usually, "Mine, of course!"
As Christians and hungry students of the Word of God, at some point in our walk with God, this issue will be of great concern. What does someone mean when they tell you what denomination they are from? What if they say they don't have a denomination? Can anyone be truly nondenominational? How much of our belief systems or theological doctrines are shaped by the background from which we developed? If it is simply a matter of proper Biblical study, examination, and exegesis, it seems reasonable to assume that all Bible scholars would arrive at the same conclusions. But that is obviously not the case.
We must assume that dedicated scholars and loyal Christians all approach the Scripture with the same intention. But, amazingly, the results are significant differences in interpretation. Salvation, baptism, faith, grace, holiness, the Incarnation, miracles, eschatology, tongues, the Rapture, and other fundamentals issues all have their separate adherents. The Bible says that, "Every man must work out his own salvation with fear and trembling." This verse takes on new meaning when you realize that you have been blessed by God with your own Bible, and your doctrine can not be just simply what you hear but what you hear that you have verified in your Bible. Faith does come by hearing, but hearing is by (from) the word of God.
Our personal relationship with the Lord demands that we rightly divide the Word of Truth. No Christian has any real excuse for not knowing what you believe and being able to explain it. It also doesn't hurt to examine what the other 'Christians' believe. God can handle any challenge to His Word, but can we handle any challenge to our doctrine? This is not about one being right and the other wrong, but simply that you and I must know what we know and even why we believe it. Study to be show thyself approved unto God. Not man! Only then will you know that you know that you know! Glory to God! (Steven Gary)
THE GREATEST SCRIPTURE -- God is great and greatly to be praised. Everything about our great God is truly great. When you think about the greatness of God, even the word "great" is not enough to describe Him. Awesome, majestic, extraordinary, magnificent, tremendous, there are no words that are adequate. But in keeping with the theme of greatness, here is the greatness of God revealed; in John 3:16--the Greatets Scripture:
GOD: The greatest Being.
SO LOVED: The greatest devotion
THE WORLD: The greatest number.
THAT HE GAVE: The greatest act
HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON: The greatest gift.
THAT WHOMSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM: The greatest condition.
SHOULD NOT PERISH: The greatest mercy.
BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE: The greatest reward.
Yes, our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ is the greatest. (Steven Gary)
THE PERFECT PASTOR -- Thank God for Pastors. They minister to millions around the globe each day as well as preach the Gospel to the whole world every Sunday. They truly are the Lord's representatives. In our modern world, we live in a computerized, high-speed environment. Surveys guide behavior, shape advertising, and help companies compete for resources. Americans survey everything to help us make up our minds when we can't make up our minds. Here are the results of a church survey with the subject being what folks expect in a Pastor. You can almost imagine what the questions must have been.
The results of a computerized survey indicate the perfect minister preaches exactly fifteen minutes. (We live in a busy world.) He condemns sins but never upsets anyone. (He's inspired) He works from 8:00 AM until midnight. (He earns his pay) He works hard and he's also a janitor. (Isn't that reasonable?) He makes $50 a week, wears good clothes, buys good books, drives a good car, and gives away about $50 a week to the poor and needy. (We want to be proud of him, but he doesn't need to get rich.) He is 28 years old and has preached 30 years. (We want him young and full of energy, as well as wise and full of wisdom.) He has a burning desire to work with teenagers and spends all of his time with senior citizens. (He uses time wisely.) The perfect minister smiles all the time with a straight face. (He always has the right behavior.) He has a sense of humor that keeps him seriously dedicated to his work. (He never has a bad day.) He makes 15 calls daily on congregation families, shut-ins and the hospitalized, and is always in his office when needed. (He never overlooks anyone, and no one else can substitute for him.)
For all the Pastors out there, we give praise unto God. "Pastors must be all things to all people, that they might by any means win some." Let's all pray fervently, and continually for the shepherds of God's flock. For every good gift, for every blessing, for victory, for anointing, for health, for safety, for happiness, for a hedge of protection. While they minister to the household of faith, Jesus expects us to pray for them. It is our reasonable service. Praise God! (Steven Gary)
If you want a better Pastor, pray for the one you have! You might be suprised at the results.
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TOTAL VICTORY -- To many Christians worry about yesterday, or they are concerned about circumstances today. And there are many Christians that worry about tomorrow. The Bible says that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Heb 13:9) That means I have victory yesterday, today, and forever. We can take comfort in this fact. He has me covered completely -- past, present, and future!! I have total victory in every area of my life and in every season of my life.
Regardless of the past sin in my life, I have total victory over my past. My PAST is covered by the blood. It doesn't matter if I sinned ten years ago, ten days ago, or even ten minutes ago. If I confess my sin (to Him), He is faithful and just to forgive me my sin. The blood is working to cover me and give me access to the throne of God, through Jesus. He not only covers my sin, He forgets it. He not only forgets it, He works to bring about my total healing in my mind, will, and emotions, as well as in my physical body. He allows me to have a clear conscience towards God, being able to stand in his presence, calling Abba, Father! He has blotted out my transgressions! He has given me a full pardon, not just a parole! Without the shedding of blood is no remission of sins, but He shed his precious blood for all of us.
Today, I walk in my anointing. I am more than a conqueror. Elijah ran ahead of Ahab's chariot 24 miles into Jezreel. Ahab could not overtake him. I have the victory in My PRESENT. The anointing removes every burden, destroys every yoke. No weapon formed against me shall prosper. If God is for me (and He is) then who can be against me? I tread on the devil and his power, I obtain wealth by the power that worketh in me, I witness my faith to lost and dying people, and if they receive his word, they also are saved. This anointing that is working in me and through me, means that I can not be overwhelmed by circumstances, no matter how loudly they scream at me. It doesn't matter how big the problem is that I am facing (Goliath-sized or mountain-sized) they shall be removed. I am more than a conqueror (more than someone who has already won and defeated his enemies), in him I have the victory right now.
What about my tomorrows?? I have total victory in my Future. My FUTURE is covered by the promises of God. The promises of God are yea in Him, and amen in Him. Great and precious promises. The Word of the Lord is settled forever in heaven. God watches over his word to perform it. There are over 7000 promises in the Word of God. I can face tomorrow because Jesus has become the door to my inheritance, through Him I possess the land, not just receive it. He said it, that settles it. The principle of sowing and reaping is working in my behalf. I walk, live, stand, and receive by faith. God will supply all of my need according to His riches in glory, through Christ Jesus. His plans for me are plans of success, not failure. He has given me a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. I can do all things through Christ. The one absolutely true thing about tomorrow is that Jesus Christ will be with me, and never leave me nor forsake me.
The devil's power over my past is broken by the blood. The devil's ability in my present is destroyed and overcome by the anointing. The devil's only ability in the life of the Christian is to cause you to worry about your future. But that lie is destroyed and cast down because of the promises of God. This is my future: that the same God that was great and greatly to be praised yesterday, will be the same today, and therefore as I look to my future, I can trust that this same magnificent God of glory, will be the same tomorrow. Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor entered into the heart of man, what He has prepared for us. Sow the promises of God into your future, resist the devil and his lies, he will flee from you. By the time tomorrow gets here, it will be today, and you have the victory because of the anointing.
We are in a win-win-win situation. Praise God for the blood, Praise God for the anointing, Praise God for his promises.
PROMISES OF A FAITHFUL GOD --
CONTEXT: Some Christians struggle or experience difficulties and setbacks
SOLUTION: Encourage and strengthen yourself in the Word
I Am The Head, Not The Tail.
I Shall Possess The Land.
He Renews My Strength, I Shall Run And Not Be Weary.
He Opens The Windows Of Heaven And Pours Out A Blessing.
He Restores My Soul.
No Weapon Formed Against Me Shall Prosper.
He Shall Give Me The Desires Of My Heart.
He Heals My Diseases, Sicknesses, & Infirmities.
I Shall Call Those Things That Are Not, As If They Are.
He Will Never Leave Me Nor Forsake Me.
To Be Absent From The Body Is To Be Present With The Lord.
I Have Power To Tread On Serpents And Scorpions.
Have Power Over The Enemy.
I Belong To The Lord, Nothing Can Snatch Me From His Hand.
He Will Rebuke The Devourer For My Sake.
He Keeps Me In Perfect Peace When My Mind Is On Christ
He Has Given Me Love, Peace, And A Sound Mind.
I Am Victorious, The Battle Is The Lord's, Not Mine.
I Am More Than A Conqueror, I Am An Occupier.
Nothing Can Separate Me From Christ And His Love.
I Believe And All Things Are Possible.
I Have Whatever In Ask In His Name, According To His Will.
I Am Above Only and Never Below.
He Delivers From Evil.
I Have A Mansion In Heaven
My Every Need Is Met Through His Riches In Glory By Christ.
I Cast All My Cares Upon Him, All Of Them, He Cares For Me.
I Have Been Given The Power To Obtain Wealth.
I Have Perfect Liberty.
HOLDING ON -- They tell the story of a mountain climber, who desperately wanted to conquer the Aconcagua Mountain. He began his climb after years of preparation. Since he did not want to share the glory for making the climb, he went up alone. He started climbing. The later the hour, the darker it became. He did not prepare a camp, but decided to keep on going. Night fell with heaviness. At a very high altitude; visibility was zero, everything was black. There was no moon and the stars were covered by the clouds.
As he was climbing a ridge at about 100 meters from the top, he slipped and fell. Falling rapidly he could see nothing in the darkness. He felt a terrible sensation of being sucked in by gravity. He kept falling, and in those anguishing moments good and bad memories passed through his mind. He thought for certain that he would die. But then he felt a jolt and came to a violent halt. Yes! Like any good mountain climber, he had staked himself with a long rope tied to his waist.
In those moments of stillness, suspended in the air, he had no other choice but to shout, "HELP ME GOD, HELP ME!"
All of a sudden, he heard a deep voice from heaven, "What do you want me to do?"
"Save me," said the climber.
"Do you really think that I can save you?"
"Of course, you're God", said the climber.
God answered, "Then cut the rope that is holding you up." There was only silence and stillness. The man just held tighter to the rope. The rescue team says that the next day they found the frozen mountain climber holding tightly to a rope... TWO FEET FROM THE GROUND!
What about you? Are you trusting in a rope? Are you relying on something to keep you from falling? It might be your degree, your job, your money, your self-reliance, your spouse, family, or friends. It might be fear, pride, stubbornness. God has great and marvelous things for you. But you will have to cut the rope and simply trust in Him. Faith always requires a degree of desperation. Peter walked on water, Paul raised the dead, Elijah called down fire. They were human just like all of us. The difference is their faith and ours is not how much of God is available, but how much of God you are willing to trust. Don't wait until you are desperate, step out RIGHT NOW and cut the rope!! Great and mighty promises are waiting.
JESUS, THE KING -- "Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus." (COL 3:17) "There is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved." (ACTS 4:12) "And God has given Him a name above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess, that Jesus is the Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
These statements are powerful reminders that Jesus is truly King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Yet many Christians seem confused about the absolute soveriegnty of Jesus Christ. God has put all things under his feet. He has all power in heaven and in earth. Not some, "all." The Holy Ghost bears witness to Jesus, and does not testify of Himself, just as Jesus reveals the Father to us. The Bible says we are complete in Him, in whom we move, and breathe, and have our being. Praise God!
We recently had a visit from the Queen of England. Much fuss was made about decorum and expected, proper etiquette people were supposed to render her should they be fortunate enough to come near her Majesty. From an American perspective, it was a stark reminder that we live under a government in which all men are created equal and we do not required, nor expected to render undo homage to any person. As we look to the Word of God, let us remind ourselves that Jesus is truly the King, Lord and Master of eveything. Consider:
JESUS, KING OF DISTANCE: Healing the Centurion’s Servant (MT 8:13)
JESUS, KING OF TIME: In the Beginning (JN 1:1,14-Rev 1:17)
JESUS, KING OVER THE ELEMENTS: Storm & Water (MT 14:25,LK 8:24-25, MK 4:31)
JESUS, KING OF PROVISION: Feeding the 5,000 (MK 6:41-43)
JESUS, KING OVER SICKNESS: Deaf Man, 2 Blind Men, Woman with Issue of Blood (MK 5:34-MK 7:35, Matt 20:30)
JESUS, KING OVER DISEASE: Healing the Lepers (MT 8:3, LK 17:14)
JESUS, KING OVER DEMONS/DEVILS: (Mk 5:13, MK 7:29, MK 9:25)
JESUS, KING AND MASTER OVER SATAN: Made an open show, triumphing over him (COL 2:15)
JESUS, KING OVER DEATH, HELL & GRAVE: (REV 1:18, 1 Cor 15:5)
JESUS, KING OVER DEATH: Lazarus, Jairius’ Daughter, Widow’s Son (Mk 5:4, LK 7:14, Jn 1:44)
JESUS, KING OF HEAVEN & EARTH: Every knee shall bow (Phil 2:10)
JESUS, KING OF ALL CREATION: Everything was made by Him (Jn 1:3)
JESUS, KING OF THE CHURCH: Head of the Body (EPH 5:23, Col 1:18)
JESUS, KING OF SALVATION: No Other Name (Acts 4:12)
JESUS, KING OF BLESSING: Water into Wine (JN 2:10)
JESUS, KING OF THE CHRISTIAN: Nothing Without Him (Jn 15:5)
JESUS, KING OF THE BIBLE: Hear ye Him (MK 9:7) Word became flesh (JN 1:14)
JESUS, KING OF ALL AUTHORITY: King of Kings, head of all principality & power (REV 19:6, COL 2:9)
JESUS, KING OF ALL POWER: All power in Heaven & Earth (MT 28:18)
JESUS, KING OF THE WORD: God Who dwelt among us (JN 1:14)
JESUS, KING OVER SIN: Power to forgive (MK 2:10)
JESUS, KING OF POSSIBILITY: All things are.. (MT 19:26)
JESUS, KING OVER EVERY NAME: Name above every name (Phil 2:9-10)
JESUS, KING AND LORD OF THE SABBATH: Lord of Sabbath (MK 2:28)
JESUS, Only Mediator (1 Tim 2:5)
JESUS, High Priest (HEB 3:1)
JESUS, Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world (JN 1:29)
JESUS, Truth (Jn 14:6)
JESUS, Chief Cornerstone (1 Pet 2:7)
JESUS, God with Us, Immanuel (MT 1:23)
JESUS, the Anointed One, & His Anointing: I AM HE, Messiah (JN 4:9)
JESUS, the Resurrection & the Life (JN 11:25)
JESUS, the Baptizer: Holy Ghost & Fire (LK 3:16)
JESUS, the Door (JN 10:7-9)
JESUS, the Revelation of God: My Lord, My God, In Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, He hath declared God, He reveals God to us. (JN 1:18, 20:28, 14:7-9)
JESUS, Preeminent in all things (COL 1:18, JN 15:14 Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus)
What a mighty God we serve. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, who is and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty. He is the one who lives, and was dead, and behold He is alive forever more. We are truly complete in Him. Praise His Name forever!
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HELP WANTED -- When Christians get excited about Jesus and doing the work of the church, the natural tendency is to look to the five-fold ministry and identify with one or more of them. But often missed in the reading and teaching of the Bible are the callings that many times go unfilled and therefore undone. Are there other occupations in the church? Are they filled? If I am looking to do something in the church, are there other jobs I can do? Yes!! Let's look at what the Bible says:
Ephesians 4:13: "He has set some in the church, first of all apostles, prophets, evangelists , pastors, and teachers. For the work of the ministry and the edifying of the saints."
MATT 9:37: "Then saith he unto his disciples, 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."
THE CHURCH NEEDS SOME GOOD FISHERMAN! (MATT 4:19-20 19) "And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him." If you are trying to be a witness, what kind of bait are you using? If you think you've fished every spot, maybe it's time to drop the net in again. Have you stopped sharing your faith because you didn't catch anything the first time? How about your nets? Are they in good condition? Is your testimony fresh and ready to share? We need some fisherman today!
THE CHURCH NEEDS SOME GOOD SOLDIERS. (2 TIM 2:3-4) "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that goes to war entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." Soldiers fight battles. Soldiers go head-to-head with the enemy. They have weapons to make the fight more lethal. "We war not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers...and the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds." The greatest weapon of a Christian soldier is prayer. Are you a prayer warrior? The church and others not as strong as you, need the power of your intercession. The Word is the preferred weapon of choice and prayer is the means to deliver it to the target. We need some soldiers today!
THE CHURCH NEEDS SOME GOOD FARMERS. (1 COR 3:7-9) "Some are waterers, some are sowers (farmers), but it is God who giveth the increase." (MK 4:14) "The sower (farmer) soweth the word." Farmers plow up the soil and prepare it to receive the seed. They nurture the seed and water and fertilize it until it is strong and ready for harvest. Farmers keep their tools ready. Farmers look for the best seed. Have you sown seed today? Have you nurtured the seed you have already sown? Are you an encourager? What kind of harvest are you preparing for in your fields today? We need some farmers today!
THE CHURCH NEEDS SOME GOOD AMBASSADORS. (2 COR 5:20) "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." Ambassadors represent a nation and its leader. They are in the reconciliation business and offer peace treaties for those that are estranged from the king. Are you actively representing Jesus to those that are apart from him? Do you represent Jesus so well that people can see Christ in you and be drawn to Him? We need some ambassadors today!
THE CHURCH NEEDS SOME ATHLETES AND MARATHON RUNNERS. (HEB 12:1 11) "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" Athletes and runners are those that have disciplined themselves to stay the course--to go the extra mile. They practice, they lead the way. They are faithful and don't quit. Their testimony is one of consistency, sacrifice, and excellence. Jesus says, "If any man would be my disciple, let him pick up his cross and follow after me!" When people see you in the course of your daily life, can they clearly see that you are following after Jesus, that you are committed, and determined-- that even when others have disappeared from view and you are hitting the 23rd mile, you are faithful because He is faithful. We need some champion athletes and marathon runners today!
Don't be spiritually unemployed waiting on a ministry that may be occupied. There are many job openings in the church today that often go vacant. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Jesus is hiring today!
SURRENDER -- Between two persons there is no love without an inward self-surrender to each other. If either one withholds the essential self from the other, love is blocked; it will not spring up no matter how hard you try to love around and past that core of an unsurrendered self. So between you and God there can be no love without an inward self-surrender. Not the surrender of this thing or that thing, but by the surrender of you, the essential you. (Darlene Swilley)
THE CREATION DECLARES HIS GLORY -- Consider the Sun, the Moon, the Earth, and the Stars. The creation declares the glory of God.
Romans 1:19-20: "Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse."
SUN: The sun is the only producer of true light in our solar system. If you stare at the Sun for too long, it can easily blind you. All other heavenly bodies in our solar system are merely reflecting the brightness of the sun. Very few other heavenly bodies can be seen in the daylight hours because the light of the Sun swallows them up. The Sun's mass is so great that it holds the planets in their orbits and keeps them from flying off into the outer darkness. The Sun is like Jesus, the only true light. He sustains all things by the word of his power. Jesus says that "of all He has given me I will lose nothing." God dwells in unapproachable light. "He consumes sin by the brightness of his coming."
MOON: The moon lights up the night sky. It lights up the darkness by reflecting the light of the Sun. It has no light of its own and one side is always in the darkness. The truth is that the moon is a dead dusty, body orbiting the Earth.The moon has phases from full-moon to less than a quarter-moon, and sometimes it appears as just a sliver of light in the darkness of the night sky. But it always comes back to a full-moon phase. The moon is like the church. The church reflects the light of Jesus into a dark world. The church is like a city on a hill whose light can not be hid. Regardless of the attack of the enemy, the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church. The church may be struggling, but it will always arise in victory. The church is made up of the saints of God, who were dead in trespasses and sins, but are now alive in Christ. The moon can also be likened to satan. He has no light of his own, but he wants you to think that he does. He is known as the prince of darkness. Satan's ministers come closed as angels of light, attempting to deceive.
STARS: The stars are also producers of light. Estimates of the stars are in the billions and billions of billions. In relationship to one another, some stars are very bright, others very dim, but they all are radiating light. When comparing the Sun to the visible light of stars, there is no comparison. Stars are like the saints of God. They are like the redeemed of every nation, kindred, and tongue. The are all separate, but they contribute to the visible light of the universe. The moon is like the church, but the stars are like the individual saints of God. The saints share their testimony about the great light (Jesus Christ) to those that are lost and in darkness. God told Abraham that his seed would be like the sands of the seashore and the stars of the heavens. A vast multitude that no man can number.
So the next time you look at God's glorious creation, stop, look, and mediate on the glory of God that is written in every living thing and in everything that God created. AMEN!
BREAKING THE HABIT OF LACK -- "You have not because you ask not and when you ask, you ask amiss."
"Lack" can be a description:
Lack of money
Lack of resources
Lack of success.
"Lack" can be a symptom:
Lack of peace
Lack of self-esteem
Lack of health.
"Lack" can be a spiritual condition:
Lack of growth as a saint & a church
Lack of evangelism
Lack of love for God and others
Lack of souls.
Lack can be caused by Lack:
Lack of prayer
Lack of faith
Lack of obedience
Lack of commitment
Lack of patience
Lack of trust
Lack of knowledge
Lack of time with God.
To overcome lack, you must do more: You overcome lack very simply -- You must interrupt the "lack" of something with "more" of something else.
Love more
Read the Bible more
Pray more
Give more
Testify more
Then you will become more!
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PROMISED LAND -- The existence of ancient Babylon is a fact, both historically and biblically. The messsage and symbolism of Babylon is a particularly relevant message for Americans to heed today. America is often portrayed as the Promised Land -- the hope of the world, a shining city on a hill, with liberty and justice for all. But unfortunately, it is not paradise, and never was. A nation founded on the Christian world-view must practice the Christian world-view to make any difference in the affairs of men.
It is always a good reminder for us as Christians that we must be like Abraham -- sojourners and pilgrims in a strange land. We are in the world, but we are not of the world. I have often found myself longing for the day when America would return to her special position as "one nation under God." But the Bible tells us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Unless our nation repents, and comes back to God through Jesus Christ, there can never be day when the world we live in becomes the literal Promised Land of the Bible. The message then is that we as individual Christians and as Americans, can still make a difference. We can do right things, for right reasons; we can be a witness and a testimony; and we can preach this gospel to the unsaved world around us. In other words, our job is to be fruitful and multiply, to continually increase. The real Promised Land still has vacancies that the Lord wants to fill.
Remeber Lot? He pitched his tents towards Sodom, and was swallowed up by the culture of that city. Abraham lived in tents in the wilderness, and became the father of the faithful. When we consider the world around us, we can live in it, but we can not become a part of it. If we become a part of the secular world, our effectiveness in populating God's city is eliminated or significantly reduced. The Promised Land is still over the horizon.
Keep your bags packed, and stay ready for the sound and the signal to move out. Because one day it will come. As a pastor once said, "He could come at 8:00 o'clock in the morning." (Steve Gary)
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THE GARDEN -- The deeper meaning of the work of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane cannot be understood unless the "garden theme" of Scripture is understood. Geerhardus Vos in his book entitled "Biblical Theology" observes that the symbol "garden" stands in the Bible as a place of fellowship between God and his people.
I have always been intrigued with the typology themes in the Bible. The first Adam began his relationship with God in the Garden of Eden. But Adam violated God's will in the first garden and gave up true fellowship with God. Man was cast out as a result of sin. Fellowship was broken!
The second Adam, Jesus Christ, fought His final battle to restore our relationship with God in the Garden of Gethsemane. "For by the disobedience of one man, many are made sinners, so by the obedience of one man, many are made righteous." The decision of the cross was made in that Garden. Jesus obeyed God's will in the last garden, and pleased the Father by his obedience. "Not my will, but thy will be done." Fellowship was restored!
God gave man the assignment to "dress and keep" the Garden of Eden. For thousands of years, the garden (fellowship with God) lay dormant. Because of Jesus, we are now reconciled to God. The consequences are significant. I am no longer to work by the sweat of my brow. The ground is no longer cursed and refusing to yield her increase. By faith, I am in the Garden as Adam was. Everything is yielding to me and is GOOD. My service to God should not be tedious, but a joy of sowing and reaping and serving. I dress the garden and I keep it. I hedge it about with prayer and I work that ground with determined hands to make it produce more and more. I operate in joy, not "work." My only labor should be to enter into his rest and to produce fruit in my life. Praise God!!
Am I producing good fruit? Are people nourished by the fruit of the Spirit that the Lord is producing in me? Can someone truly say that after being with me that they received love, peace, joy, and edification? If not, I'll keep working my patch of the garden until it yields the fruit that God intended it to. The good news is that because of the obedience of Jesus, I get to start over again and again, until I get it right. That was something Adam was not able to do. Thanks, Jesus! (Steve Gary)
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GOD'S LOVE LETTER -- "The ability and concern of the Sovereign God will determine the quality of the Word of God. Therefore, the idea of an inerrant Bible derives immediately from the idea of an infinite and loving God who, having used every other means of self-revelation, spoke at last: "by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." (Heb. 1:2-3 KJV).
This is an amazing fact: the inerrancy and infallibility of the Bible is directly tied to, and flows from, a loving God. God's love for us guarantees the inerrancy of His Word. His love for us guarantees the reliability of his Word. He speaks it in the creation. He speaks it through the Law and by the Prophets. He speaks it through themes and shadow and types. And finally, He speaks it to us in these last days through His son, Jesus Christ. From the time of Adam until today, God has never stopped speaking to us. His words are life. In His Word, we find the answers to every question. Nothing is overlooked.
The depth of God's Word reflects His incommunicable attributes of omniscience and eternity. Jesus says, "I have come that you might have life, and that more abundantly." Later He says, "I go to prepare a place for you." God is love; God is eternal. His love is eternal. His love for us is eternal. Therefore, God will love us for all eternity. Praise God.
Jesus is the Word made flesh (John 1:14). Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6 ). "For God so loved that He gave us his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16). Because God loved us He gave us the truth; because God loved us He gave us the Word; because God loved us, He gave us JESUS! AMEN. (Steve Chittum)
TEST THE SPIRIT -- The Bible is God's love letter to us. Its purpose is to lead believers, collectively and individually, into a close and loving relationship with Him. It is primarily a means of communication by which God leads individual people from hostility toward Him, into an understanding of Him and of His love. Mere academic theology, which is not built on the author's relationship with God and is not directed at helping others find a closer friendship with God, is empty.
We are commanded to "test every spirit to see whether it be of God." Not every person involved in the study of the Scripture does so as a result of a loving relationship with God. For example, groups such as the Jesus Seminar profess to be Christians, but their work reflects a continuing effort to disprove the Bible and to deny both the deity of Jesus, and the miraculous events surrounding His death, burial, and resurrection. We are warned in the Bible to know each other by the fruit that is produced.
There is a real need for the development of 'sound' doctrine through proper study, examination, and by rightly dividing of the Scripture. But the ultimate test should be whether or not the work and study of any minister, theologian, or Christian layman, edifies the body and better equips the saints. If not, take heed. (Bro. Steven Gary)
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THEISTIC EVOLUTION -- There are some startling parallels between the "Big Bang" theory and it's subsequent events and the Genesis narrative of Scripture. However we must be careful here not to repeat the mistake of Thomas Aquinas, and try and wed big bang cosmology to scripture. For the big Bang is the result of human inquiry and understanding, but the creation is the divine revelation of God.
This is an excellent example of the danger of approaching scripture with man's reasoning. All scientific studies originally had an underlying premise of the preeminence of theology, regardless of the discipline. That in itself is amazing when you consider today scholars. There was a time when scientists, philosophers and inventors approached any discipline with an eye and an ear to seeing God in their scholarly pursuits.
On the other hand, when men impose their world-view on the scriptures, they are then compelled to try to make the scriptures line up with their own thinking, reasoning, and opinions. The result is prdeictable -- alittle leaven leavens the whole loaf. If I approach the Word of God with an attitude that some points may not be true, then the real truth is that I have approached God in doubt and unbelief. "Let every man be a liar, but God be true." Let the scriptures say what the scriptures say.
In their mad rush to disprove the Bible, many scientists have had to recant their opinions and beliefs when the archeological, scientific, and geological record once again proves the truth of God's word, and the falseness of their declarations. Unfortunately, you never hear them correct themselves as strongly and as vigorously as you heard them announce their wrong assumptions to begin with. Heaven will bear witness. AMEN!
A RECYCLED TRAGEDY -- An artist went to visit a friend. When he arrived, she was weeping. He asked why. She showed him a handkerchief of exquisite beauty that had great sentimental value, which had been ruined by a drop of indelible ink. The artist asked her to let him have the handkerchief, which he returned to her by mail several days later.
When she opened the package she could hardly believe her eyes. The artist, using the inkblot as a base, had drawn on the handkerchief a design of great beauty with India ink. Now it was more beautiful and more valuable than ever. Sometimes the tragedies that break our hearts can become the basis for a more beautiful design in our lives. Be patient with the hurts over which you have no control. They may become a source of healing, help, and beauty. (Author Thomas Lane Butts)
This is an excellent example of how the Lord Jesus deals with each of us. We struggle with many issues in life. He hears and is concerned. He makes provision for us. He orchestrates events to ensure that all things work together for our good. He takes circumstances and redirects them to a better outcome. The Bible tells us that "for the joy that was set before Him, Jesus endured the agony of the cross." That joy included you and I. Only by truly trusting the Lord can we ever experience His faithfulness. No matter what you are going through, He is at work in the day-to-day happenings of your lives. What the devil means for evil, God intends for good. This theme is repeated over and over again in Scripture. At some point in our walk with Him, we must begin to trust Him completely that no matter what we are facing or what we are going through, He directs the outcome towards our well-being, prosperity, victory, and testimony. He is a mighty God, a mighty good God.
OH REALLY? -- We hear so much today about the founding fathers of our nation and what they "supposedly" beleived when this nation was formed and established. The secular humanists in our world today are trying hard to convince us that the founders of this great nation "UNDER GOD" were really not Christian at all. If they were anything, the argument goes, they may have believed in a Supreme Being, not necessarily the God of the Bible and the Savior of humanity, Jesus Christ. To support these view, they comb early writings and pull out vague statements and opinions and then try and use them to justify their unbelief. This argument seems to find a ready audience in the media and they often quote the so-called experts who are making these claims.
Often left out of the public discussion are direct statements that completely blow these views out of the water. Here are some of the founding fathers own words and thoughts, along with some other distinguished American leaders:
GEORGE WASHINGTON: "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without the Bible."....
THOMAS JEFFERSON: "The Bible makes the best people in the world."...
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS: "It (the Bible) is an invaluable and inexhaustible mine of knowledge and virtue."...
ANDREW JACKSON: "That book, sir, is the rock on which the Republic rests."...
ABRAHAM LINCOLN: "But for this Book we could not know right from wrong. I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given man."...
WILLIAM McKINLEY: "The more profoundly we study this wonderful Book....the better citizens we will become."....
WOODROW WILSON: "The Bible is the one supreme source of revelation of the meaning of life."...
DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER: "In the highest sense the Bible is to us the unique repository of eternal spiritual truths."
In the words of Paul Harvey, now you know the rest of the story.
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VALUE -- A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20.00 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20.00 bill?" Hands started going up and in seconds all hands were up. He proceeded to crumple the bill up. He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Again, all the hands went up in the air. "Well," he replied, "what if I do this?" He dropped the bill on the ground and started to grind it with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?" Again, all the hands went up. "My friends, you all have learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did do the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth 20 dollars."
Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel that we are worthless, and that we deserve nothing. But, no matter what has happened or what will happen, we never lose our value, dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased. You are still priceless to those who love you. The worth of our lives comes not in what we do, or who we know, but, by who we are. You are special and must never forget it.
The Bible says we are fearfully and wonderfully made; that we have been bought with a great price. Acts 20:28 states that we were purchased with God's own blood. The blood of Jesus is precious blood, priceless blood. "What would a man give in exchange for his own soul?" Can you put a price on it? God was willing to pay the highest price for both you and I. Since a soul can not be priced, then a priceless payment had to be made. The Lord is literally saying that you are worth so much, that there is nothing on earth that can pay for you. Only something more priceless will do. Therefore God sent his son, in the form of sinful flesh to condemn sin in the flesh, that I might become the righteous of God in Christ.
How can I ever see myself as worthless or lacking value when the God of creation, the Lord of the heavens and the earth, has paid so HIGH a price for me? "For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten son, so that whosoever believeth on Him, should not perish but have ever lasting life." We are valuable because God says it, and that makes it a settled fact. SELAH!
THE PICKLE JAR -- As far back as I can remember, the pickle jar sat on the floor beside the
dresser in my parents' bedroom. When he got ready for bed, Dad would empty his pockets and toss his coins into the jar. They landed with a merry jingle when the jar was almost empty. Then the tones gradually muted to a dull thud as the jar was filled. I used to squat on the floor in front of the jar and admire the copper and silver circles that glinted like pirate's treasure when the sun poured through the bedroom window.
When the jar was filled, Dad would sit at the kitchen table and roll the coins before taking them to the bank. Taking the coins to the bank was always a big production. Stacked neatly in a small cardboard box, the coins were placed between Dad and me on the seat of his old truck.
Each and every time, as we drove to the bank, Dad would look at me hopefully. "Those coins are
going to keep you out of the textile mill, son. You're going to do better than me. This old mill town's not going to hold you back."
Each and every time he slid the box of rolled coins across the counter at the bank toward the cashier, he would grin proudly. "These are for my son's college fund. He'll never work at the mill all his life like me."
We would always celebrate each deposit by stopping for an ice cream cone. I always got chocolate. Dad always got vanilla. When the clerk at the ice cream parlor handed Dad his change, he would show me the few coins nestled in his palm. "When we get home, we'll start filling the jar again."
He always let me drop the first coins into the empty jar. As they rattled around with a brief, happy jingle, we grinned at each other. "You'll get to college on pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters," he said. "But you'll get there. I'll see to that. "
The years passed, and I finished college and took a job in another town. Once, while visiting my parents, I used the phone in their bedroom, and noticed that the pickle jar was gone. It had served its purpose and had been removed. A lump rose in my throat as I stared at the spot beside the dresser where the jar had always stood. My dad was a man of few words, and never lectured me on the values of determination, perseverance, and faith. The pickle jar had taught me all these virtues far more eloquently than the most flowery of words could have done.
When I married, I told my wife Susan about the significant part the lowly pickle jar had played in my life as a boy. In my mind, it defined, more than anything else, how much my dad had loved me. No matter how rough things got at home, Dad continued to doggedly drop his coins into the jar. Even the summer when Dad got laid off from the mill, and Mama had to serve dried beans several times a week, not a single dime was taken from the jar. He became even more determined than ever to make a way out for me.
The first Christmas after our daughter Jessica was born, we spent the holiday with my parents. After dinner, Mom and Dad sat next to each other on the sofa, taking turns cuddling their first grandchild. Jessica began to whimper softly, and Susan took her from Dad's arms.
"She probably needs to be changed, " she said, carrying the baby into my parents' bedroom to diaper her.
When Susan came back into the living room, there was a strange mist in her eyes. She handed Jessica back to Dad before taking my hand and leading me into the room. "Look," she said softly, her eyes directing me to a spot on the floor beside the dresser. To my amazement, there, as if it had never been removed, stood the old pickle jar, the bottom already covered with coins.
I walked over to the pickle jar, dug down into my pocket, and pulled out a fistful of coins. With a gamut of emotions choking me, I dropped the coins into the jar. I looked up and saw that Dad, carrying Jessica, had slipped quietly into the room. Our eyes locked, and I knew he was feeling the same emotions I felt. Neither one of us could speak.
This story is an excellent example of how FAITH works. "Day by day, step by step, thy way shall be made known unto thee". "The Lord is faithful and watches over His Word to perform it". Are you standing on the Word of God by FAITH? It can move mountains. Take whatever faith you have today and apply it to your needs. The power of faith is not that you need a lot to get things done, but that God only needs a little. Fear looks back; worry looks around; Faith looks UP!
REVIVAL -- What is a revival? Most Christians have at some point or other in their walk with God, witnessed and experienced a mighty move of God. These moves of God are awesome and necessary. In many ways, they clear the spiritual air, help us repent, and call out to God. We are refreshed, and life's events and circumstances are brought back into proper Biblical perspective. Mainly, He answers our unasked questions "is anything to hard for God?" with a resounding NO!
The move of God always reduces down to the level of leadership and spiritual discernment. What do we do with the experience, the move of God, the outpouring of His Spirit? Do we perpetuate the "experience" or do we impact our world? The disciples in the upper room on the day of Pentecost recognized that "this is that" spoken of by the prophet Joel and that it was the fulfillment of the words of Jesus to "tarry in Jerusalem till ye be endued with power." Power for a specific purpose -- power to be his witnesses, power to tread on serpents and scorpions; power to turn the world upside down; power to set the world on fire.
It came with such an incredible outpouring of the Holy Spirit that they staggered under the anointing. They were even accused of being drunk. "In the presence of the Lord is fullness of joy." They were drunk in the Spirit. "Be not drunk with wine, but be filled with the Spirit."
What would have happened if the experience had become the focal point and the main topic of discussion? It was not given then, and surely not given today, simply to bless those present. The picture is one of God gathering the kindling and then igniting the kindling with unquenchable Holy Ghost fire. They became the matches that set the world on fire. What if it had taken a weekly Pentecost with the same 120 disciples to get the fire started? That would be hard to comprehend. But I think we can easily agree that a weekly Pentecost ought to be happening somewhere all the time, but it should be a new experience with new kindling. I have become the fire of God, not the log that can't or won't stay lit.
Yes, I have been revived many times, the Lord is good. He reached down into the midst of my stress, anxiety, fear, uncertainty, fatigue, depression, need, and lack, and poured out His Spirit upon me. Praise His Holy Name! I needed it to stay the course. I was refreshed and reenergized. The need was real, it was personal, and the move of God ministered to my condition at that moment. It was to bring me back to a place of preparation. To equip me as a minister to do the works of him who sent me.
Coming back each day or each week just to be "slain" or "touched" or "anointed" and not be motivated to "go and preach," would be very sad. "Behold I give unto you power!!!" It is given to fulfill the Great Commission and bring fire to a person or a place that has never had it or needs to be re-ignited. That is REVIVAL!!
FREE WILL -- God has given mankind a free will. The condition of the world is a living testimony to man's ability to make wrong decisions. Even Christians struggle with submitting our wills to His will. We may even ask, "Why does God let us get into trouble? Couldn't He keep us out of the trouble if He wanted to? Couldn't He have warned Adam or David or Moses? Doesn't the Bible say, "It is His will that none should perish?" So why doesn't He stop us? Of course, if He did, it would no longer be free will.
Free will is simply this: Our great God is all-knowing and all-powerful. He knows the end from the beginning, and knows the thoughts and intentions of the heart. He acts, interacts, and deals with you in the NOW, and does not tell you your specific future. He gives you His principles and His commandments in the Word. He even tells you in a general and sometimes specific sense, what you can expect if you do or don't follow his commandments. In other words, the Lord has given you real "facts" with which to make right "decisions." Even when I am overwhelmed by events and circumstances, as a Christian I probably know what the right decision ought to be or should have been.
Yes, He knows what you are going to do, and He even knows when you are going to do the wrong things. Even then, He does not change the way He deals with you. Our God deals in the NOW! He doesn't tell you specifically what is going to happen to you because of your decisions. He lets you choose, He let's you decide. And up to the minute you do it, He is unchanging. Free will is simply God with-holding what will take place in your immediate future as a result of your actions in the present. Anything less and you would no longer have free will.
But, in a very real sense, God always tells us what the future holds. In Deuteronomy, He tells us that He has set before us blessings or curses. All through the Word, He points us to the promises of God, and tells us that they are our heritage in Christ. However, they are all conditional and require faith, obedience, and right behavior. He has always told everyone what His expectations are. He told Adam & Eve, Cain, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the prophets, Saul, David, the kings, and on and on.
What has He told you lately?
THE DYNAMIC CHURCH -- A confused, chaotic, convulsing world, gasping for life and breath, will not be touched by a tame church mouthing timeworn cliches and pious platitudes! The world will not care about what we know, until they know that we care! To affect a dirty world, it will take a pure church; to infect a sad world, it will take a joyous church; to rapture an apathetic world, it will take a convicted church; to challenge a dying world, it will take a living church; to heal a sick world, it will take a healthy church!
It will take a church unafraid of cancer, unaffected by roadblocks, unflinching in the face of criticism, and unmoved by persecution. It will take a church that dares to dream big, to work long, to pray desperately, to plan carefully, to fight bravely, to storm the gates of hell constantly. It will take a church that is unwilling to compromise, more than willing to sacrifice, more than ready to be inconvenienced, and more than anxious to risk all for the Gospel.
It will take a church whose strength is equal to her task, a church manifesting all the gifts of the Spirit, demonstrating all the power provided, and using all the authority given. It will take a church with Godly gusto, prevailing prayer, and intense determination. It will take a church divinely sent, moving, planning, and conquering with supernatural power, victorious in battle. It will take a church that knows Jesus, the risen Savior, Lord of Lords, and King of Kings. A church that knows and speaks the Word of God with faith and boldness; a church that knows the power of the blood to remit sin; a church that knows that the anointing of the Holy Ghost removes burdens and destroys yokes. A church that knows that we have dominion in the earth!
Let this describe our church; let it describe each of us!
INTERSECTIONS -- Decisions for the Christian are like intersections. When driving in traffic, our actions are often governed by traffic signs and traffic lights. These signs and lights provide us with both right and wrong choices, and they require us to make decisions. A wise Pastor once preached a short, profound message about intersections, choices, and decisions.
The Pastor said, "I've always believed that a Christian can get a good measure of the state of their relationship with God by the thoughts that pass through the brain as a traffic light changes from green to amber."
Do you ask yourself the question: "Can I run through that light without getting a ticket?", or do you ask "Can I safely stop before that light?"
"If you ask the second question," he concluded, "then your heart desires to obey that law. If you ask the first then your heart desires to break it, but you fear the consequences."
In the New Testament we are presented with the Pharisees, who constantly test the law to it's limit. They always obey the letter of the law, but their wish is to evade it by technicalities. Jesus is critical of the Pharisees.
If we love the Lord, then we desire to obey Him. To obey Him means to obey Him in big things and in small things. In our personal behavior, in the way we do business, the way we treat our family, friends and colleagues, the way we fill out our tax returns and even the way we drive our car.
Do we obey grudgingly? Or do we really desire to obey our God? Now we're not perfect, and we won't ever be perfect this side of Heaven. However if we are serious about loving our Lord, then we should be constantly trying to do better. We have to start somewhere.
The light just turned 'yellow' - what will you do?
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ARE YOU WASTING YOUR TIME? -- "Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." (James 4:14)
Why are you wasting time? In today's fast-paced society, there is one thing that most people are saying, "I just don't have enough time." This is a strange but true statement. We are so busy doing something, that we don't get anything done. Our lives are consistently bombarded with choices of what to do and what not to do; where to go and where not to go; simply because of time. It seems like every day speeds up, and what you intended to do never gets done because of something else that had to be done.
What is God's purpose for time? The answer to the above question is found in Ecclesiastes 3:1: "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." Time has been given to us by God to fulfill His purpose. What purpose you may ask? His purpose. Every man or woman that has been born on the face of this earth has been given a purpose. How we find out that purpose is largely based on what we do with the time God has given us.
Time is the greatest resource that God has given to man. Both rich and poor, male and female are on equal ground when it comes to time. They all have 24 hours in a day to perfect the habits that will bring about their success or their failure. We often blame God for the things that go wrong in our life. When most of the time our situations are a result of our misuse of time. Wrong attitudes, wrong relationships, wrong jobs, are all a result of misuse of time, lack of focus, and lack of purpose.
A mid-life crisis is basically a person realizing that they are getting older, and they are realizing that they have not yet discovered what their purpose in life is. God has invested our purpose in the things that we have a desire to do, and if we take the time to find out our desires, we can find out our purpose. Jesus recognized His purpose at the age of twelve but did not branch out to do it until the age of thirty. Jesus fulfilled His purpose in three years. He wasted no time. Time, are you investing it or wasting it?
How much time have you wasted? Some of us have wasted precious time, sleeping, worrying, watching television, talking on the phone, and surfing the Internet. Don't let yesterday use up too much of today. Very few people are fast enough to keep up with all their good intentions. Promises are like snowballs - they are easy to make but hard to keep. Trying to make up time from our past is very difficult because we do not gain extra hours; we still lose for that day.
The Strong Hebrew Greek dictionary states that the word 'redeem' in Ephesains 5:16 means to 'make good use of and improve the opportunity according to the time available." That coincides with the scripture in Philipians 3:13 which says, "Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead." Forget yesterday, strive today, make good use of your time today and God will honor you.
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