The enduring word of God

1 Peter 1: 23 – 25

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever."

The older I get, the more the second part of this verse is coming to light.

I have finally realized, that I’m not going to live forever.

Today, I will officiate at the funeral of two souls from our church, who passed together last week into an eternity with God Himself.

I’m sure that at one time in their lives, they thought they would live forever.

What will stand as a testimony to their lives?

Will 65 years of marriage stand? Will the children and grandchildren they loved, stand?

Will their bank accounts stand? Or will how they applied God’s Word over the years, stand as a lasting testimony?

Truthfully, after you and I are long gone from this earth—after we have withered from existence, the only thing that will stand, is God’s Word.

For some reason, the older I get, the more I realize that God deserves my very best.

He deserves my best worship, and my best praise and my best service and my best love and my best devotion.

I’m still perplexed, that for some, God’s Word isn’t enough. For some, it’s no longer exciting enough.

I come from imperishable seed, and I have been born from above.

In the last years of my life, I have to live like that—because in the end, how I live this life for God, will one day be measured.

I’ve decided today, that I’m falling for the things, that stand forever……….

What do you hunger for?

2 Peter 3: 18

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

If only our hearts in Christ, would grow as steadily as most people’s waistlines.

Of course, that’s not what Peter had in mind, when he penned these departing words.

Did you know that the more a believer grows in grace and knowledge, the greater desire to grow even more?

How does that happen for you and me?

We simply ask the Holy Spirit to make us more grace filled.

We also must develop a greater hunger for God’s Word.

I wish I could say I see that happening in all the people I know.

Honestly, if that were happening in the church, more people would participate in bible studies, and God’s great power would be manifested beyond measure.

Hosea 4: 4 says, that we are destroyed for lack of knowledge. I wonder if we're destroyed for lack of grace?

God wants to hear that in our prayer life. He wants to hear us asking for more.

James 1: 5 says, that God gives generously to all who ask.

What will you ask Him for today?

Walking in Righteousness

Hosea 14: 9

Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.

Things happen in life that we sometimes don’t understand.

The things of the Lord are always right, and maybe the reason we don’t understand, is because we lack wisdom or a discerning heart.

How can those two concepts be sources of great spiritual inspiration? By walking in the righteous ways of the Lord.

Where will you walk today? Will you walk in the righteous ordained steps of the Lord, or will you on the other hand, walk in rebellion?

We can understand and realize the things of God, when we walk in His ways.

The choice is ours to make……….

As far as the east is from the west!

Psalm 103: 11 – 12

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

God’s love is great for those who fear Him.

The other cool thing here, is that He has removed our sins as far as the east is from the west.

I’m not sure what that distance is, but it’s probably something I would have learned in geography many years ago.

I lost my cars keys a few weeks ago, and they were literally right under my nose.

Think of how easy it would be, to lose something at the opposite ends of the earth.

That’s what God does with our sin, and that’s what the Psalmist is talking about in Psalm 103.

If there was anything worth losing forever, it’s our sin—Amen?

When we come to God in sweet confession, God not only cleanses us, but He puts our sins away, and never ever remembers where He put them.

Our Heavenly Father, not only forgives our confessed sin, He forgets about them too.

Maybe there is something to that forgiving and forgetting thing, after all?

Remember!

Psalm 22: 27 – 28

All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations.

There are over 160 references in the NIV translation of the bible, to the word “remember”.

What do you suppose that is?

Maybe it’s because we’re good at forgetting?

Revelation 3: 3 sums it up pretty well….. “Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent.”

Statistics show, that 30 minutes after the church service has ended, 50% of the flock has already forgotten what the Pastor preached on.

God has given us tools to bring His Word to remembrance.

Maybe we should remember His Word—it could just keep us out of the trouble we seem to keep getting into…………

The old news is still the GOOD news!!

Ecclesiastes 1: 9 – 10

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.

Is there anything of which one can say, "Look! This is something new"? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time.

The reference here in this verse, is that people haven’t changed much over the years.

Folks still seek ways of corruption, and our desires and what we pursue, are the same as that of old.

Sometimes we do that with the Word of God, in a sense.

People go from church, to church, to church, looking for some new Word or marvelous revelation.

Is there something wrong with the old Word?

The Bible has stood the tests of time, and relative to the God’s Word, there is nothing new under the sun.

Sometimes the culture likes to put a new spin on the Word, so they can substantiate and justify their sin.

Maybe before we buy into some new spin, related to the bible, we should consider this verse.

The old news, is still the GOOD news!

We should probably consider  Malachi 3: 6, when we want to invent something new………"I the Lord do not change.”

Time to reflect

Acts 8: 4 – 8

Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there.

When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said.

With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. So there was great joy in that city.

Did you ever stop to think, that where God has scattered you and me, we’re to proclaim Christ there?

The crowds not only heard Phillip, they saw the miraculous signs he did.

Think hard—When’s the last time you saw a miraculous sign?

I think it’s a miracle every Sunday morning, that people pour into our church house.

I think it’s a miracle that a throng of children come every Wednesday night, to hear God’s Word proclaimed.

I think it’s a miracle, that God has allowed us to build the new church we’re building right now.

I could go on and on, but many of you have to get to work……..

“So there was great joy in that city.”

Since we’ve been WCF for the last ten years, God has allowed us to bring great joy to Winneconne.

Do you see it that way?

Maybe it’s time, that we stop and reflect on the miracles we’ve seen and witnessed?

Maybe we should  continue to pay close attention to God’s Word, and proclaim Christ to the masses?

Maybe the truth does set people free after all?

Where to find rest!

Matthew 11: 28 – 29

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

How many people do you know, that are looking for rest?

It could be that you’re among them.

I’m amazed at where we’ll go, and to what extent, and to what lengths we’ll travel to find rest.

For some reason, we think that lavish vacation beach front vacations, will give us rest.

I’ve been on a vacation like that, and it seems like we take great measures to move at supersonic speed, when we’re on vacation.

Once we return from that kind of vacation, most of the time we need a whole lot more rest.

Jesus said, that when we need rest, we should come to Him.

He said that we could actually find rest for our souls, in His presence.

Our very souls are tormented and tempted by the ways of the world.

Jesus said… “take my yoke”, and yet we find all sorts of other kinds of yokes to carry.

His is easy, and anything outside of Jesus, does not bring rest.

Are you weary today? Then run to Jesus!

Are you burdened with some great burden today, then run to the great burden Barer!

It will be at the place—the place where Jesus is….that’s where you and I will find rest today, and nowhere else……….

Totally devoted?

Acts 2: 42

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

It would seem to me, that the New Testament early church had their priorities in proper order.

The Word says that they were devoted to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Maybe these elements were what made the early church so successful?

The Word says that they were adding to their numbers daily, those who were being saved.

I wonder what might happen to the modern church culture, if we kept it as simple as our predecessors did?

Is this what we see happening in the church of today?

I have to also wonder what might happen to the current church, if we were as devoted to these key ingredients, as we are to our programs and our building projects?

I encounter so many people, with so many critical spiritual issues now a days, that it mostly takes them away from these important church factors.

I can’t help but reflect, that if we truly returned to these basic tenants, maybe we’d see more people converted to Christianity?

You have to admit, that this church had something going for it, that the church of today, doesn’t.

It often makes me wonder, what we’re really devoted to………

In pursuit of Holiness

Psalm 26: 4 – 8

I do not sit with deceitful men, nor do I consort with hypocrites; I abhor the assembly of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked.

I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, O LORD, proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds.

I love the house where you live, O LORD, the place where your glory dwells.

This verse explains someone who is pursuing holiness.

To abhor something means to; regard with extreme repugnance—to loathe;

Maybe we’re really not supposed to sit with anyone who is evil?

Maybe we should abhor evil and refuse to sit with the wicked?

To be holy, means to choose those things which are holy.

Some people say that church is boring, irrelevant, and hypocritical.

Yet the Word of God says that we should go to the place where His glory dwells.

Maybe that’s the place where we find out how to be holy?

Will you proclaim His praises this week?

Will you tell of His wonderful deeds?

Will you refuse to let evil come in this week?

Lots of questions, and yet the answers lie within, don’t they?

The church house was missing a number of people who were there last week.

Could it be, that some don’t love where God lives—the place where His glory dwells?

What tempts you?

James 1: 13 – 14

When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;

but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.

God does not associate with evil. So when something goes haywire in our spiritual lives, we can’t ever blame God for that.

Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2: 22 to, “flee evil desires and pursue righteousness……”

What if that was our plan today? What if we purposed ourselves to flee from every sort of evil?

What if we set up today, to be righteous in every way?

The problem is, that we allow ourselves to be tempted, and when we pursue our own evil desires, guess who drags us away.

What might happen if you and I, planned to be tempted to do good?

What if started out today by saying….. “I’m tempted to read my bible more today.”

What might happen if we said…. “I’m tempted to stay longer on my knees this morning, and pray in earnest.”

Can you imagine what might happen if we started out today by declaring….. “I’m going to do everything within God’s power, to love and serve my neighbor today!”

God desires fellowship with us—be that in the church house, or in our own intimate time spent in true devotion—or even in service to His Kingdom cause.

Remember—He is a jealous God.

What might happen to our lives, if we were dragged away, tempted, and enticed to be righteous?

Maybe the result would be righteousness……

Satisfaction

Ecclesiastes 5: 18

Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot.

Solomon refers to God as the giver of all gifts.

He even gives God the glory for the job that he had in life.

Not too many folks these days, give God thanks for the chance to work.

Is it possible to find true satisfaction in what you do for a living?

I don’t think God ever meant for us to have drudgery in what we labor for—especially when we consider that all we do, we should do for the glory of God.

Do you bring God glory in your menial, mundane tasks?

Have you found true satisfaction in what you do in life?

Maybe if we did life with God in mind, we’d find that satisfaction we’ve been looking for.

Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones released the song, “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction”, in 1965.

I don’t think the Rolling Stones ever considered God, when they wrote this song.

By what I know of their lifestyles, I don’t think they’ve ever found any satisfaction.

The days of life are few—and God is the giver of all of our days.

Maybe we need to look to Him after all, to find satisfaction in this life…………

True Contentment

1 Timothy 6: 6 – 7

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.

For some reason, I keep coming back to this verse in my personal life.

The older I get, the more I know that I am surely not going to take anything out of this world.

What I possess today, will no doubt be handed down to other people when I leave this place.

I wonder sometimes what true contentment is.

Paul said that if I have godliness, then I am content, and that I also have great gain.

Are you truly content?

If you only have Jesus, will that bring you the gain that you’re looking for?

The people I meet day after day, aren’t content with just having Jesus.

They’re looking for something else to satisfy this great hunger within.

“If I can only buy this”, or “If I can only get this”, or “If I can only attain this status”

And the emptiness continues, and contentment isn’t even within sight.

How do you measure contentment?

I’m going to pray through this verse all day long.

I invite you, to do the same……….

Resurrection power

Mark 16: 14

Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

After the resurrection, Jesus actually rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith?

Why did He have to do that? Because they had refused to believe what Jesus had told them all along.

Isn’t it just like the people of the church, to gather for food in the midst of their unbelief?

That’s what the followers of Jesus were doing.

I wonder how many people, after being in church on Easter Sunday, who hearing the wonderful words of hope yesterday, will refuse to believe them?

The church house was packed yesterday, and yet there will be plenty of room next week to sit.

Isn’t that stubborn refusal to believe?

The writer of Hebrews in chapter 10 said that we should never forsake the gathering together.

Hundreds of people saw Jesus after He had risen. Isn’t that proof enough that He is indeed alive?

And yet there will be some, who will sulk in their own misery, and miss the blessing of celebrating a God who did what He said He would do.

I couldn’t wait to get to church yesterday and celebrate with my brother & sisters!

I could not wait to worship my King & Savior!

Now I will plan and strategize this week, to share with others what I know for sure, that Jesus is alive forever more.

What we believe in, will show in how we demonstrate His resurrection power in our lives.

If you’re a little short on power, it’s probably because you’re short on worship, or short on prayer and maybe even short on belief……….

Wake up!

Matthew 26: 40 – 41

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter.

"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

Jesus, the consummate teacher and guide, is found offering yet another nugget of wisdom to his friends, even while enduring in His own agony.

And yet what were the disciple found doing? Sleeping.

As the church moves closer to the perilous end of times, this is no time to be sleeping.

We should be active in doing what Jesus said….to keep watch and pray, so that we won’t fall into temptation.

Isn’t that how most people fall into temptation? They aren’t keeping a watchful eye out, and there isn’t often much prayer.

When I meet people who have been tempted and then subdued by the enemy, it’s one of the first questions I ask;

“What’s your prayer life like?” The answer is pretty obvious, and so then is the outcome.

Maybe if the disciples had kept watch and prayed, maybe they wouldn’t have deserted Jesus, when He needed them the most?

Maybe if Peter had kept watch and prayed, he might have saved himself a lot of pain and heartache.

Maybe when Jesus issues a command, we would do well to listen and obey……..

Do you need to regroup?

Matthew 26: 31

Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: " 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.”

How could anyone fall away, after seeing Jesus do everything He did?

Peter in later verses said, that even if everyone else falls away, he never will—but he was actually the first to fall away.

Jesus has placed a very high calling on our lives, but when some consider the beckoning, many will fall away too.

I shared with the men of our church last Saturday night, that most American men don’t even attend church.

Actually, less than 21% of all American men  attend church.

Seems to me that like sheep we have already gone our own way, and like sheep, each of us has gone astray.

Even as the church moves toward the last days, there is also another great falling away predicted.

Jesus was speaking during the last Passover meal He would share with His greatest friends, and yet He shared some pretty harsh words.

Could it be that He knows more about us, than we know about ourselves?

At this present time the church needs to regroup, because it sure seems to me that the church today looks pretty scattered.

When the going gets tough, what will you do? Will you scatter, or will you on the other hand, draw near to the presence of God?

How you treat this Holy week, will speak of your allegiance to the cause of Christ.

This week is a time for drawing near, and yet many will miss the chance to fully embrace and reflect deeply, on the suffering of their Savior—done so on their behalf…..

Choices

Matthew 26: 12 – 13

“When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.

I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."

In the days preceding the crucifixion of Jesus, a woman came and lavished worship on Jesus.

She obviously had an inside spiritual track, on what was happening to the One she recognized as her Messiah.

Jesus said that what she had done, would be told in memory of her.

What she did for Jesus has lasted through the ages, and we’re reliving it again this morning.

As we approach this week of remembrance, how much of what Jesus has done for you, will be remembered this week?

I reflect on my life without a Savior, and my heart is filled with such great appreciation that He has found me, and saved me.

One thing that jumps off the page, is that what this woman did, ministered greatly to Jesus.

The disciples were indignant about how much money this woman wasted, that could have been given to the poor.

Jesus in essence said, you will always have the poor to care for, but you won’t always have me.

Isn’t that just like us? We have every amount of Jesus that we care to have, at our very disposal, and yet we don’t often choose the greater things.

What will you choose this week? Will you choose the greater things, or will you as we often do, choose the things that have no lasting eternal value?