Lessons taught

Proverbs 24: 32

I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw…..

Life sure is filled with lots of life lessons, isn’t it?

Walking with Jesus on a day to day basis, is a lesson in and of itself.

Actually, the Bible is filled with so many lessons.

Can you imagine what might happen if we applied our heart, to the lessons God wants us to learn?

My Mom often wanted to teach me a lesson, when I disobeyed her.

Sometimes I think she even enjoyed teaching me a lesson or two.

The lessons I learned as a child, have helped me greatly over the years.

I never remembered those lessons learned, to be fun, but they sure were beneficial.

Did you stop to think, that whatever you’re experiencing in life right now, God may be trying to teach you a lesson?

Don’t stop Him from doing so, for that experience may be worse than the lesson He wants you to learn!

Observe the God of the Bible, and apply your heart, and then learn from the lesson He wants to teach you……………..

Reflecting or Deflecting?

2 Corinthians 3: 18

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord…..

Being born again in Christ is so much more than being reformed—it’s about being transformed.

So many people make New Year’s resolutions, only to break them later—that’s reforming.

Speaking of which—how are you doing on your New Year’s resolution?

Reforming is only temporary, but transforming must be in our new  and forever nature.

The new birth in the bible teaches, that a man or woman must enter into a new world.

So in turn, it explains that there must be a brand new dimension of living.

The Bible also teaches that our will should be changed, and our objectives for living should be changed.

Have you been  changed (transformed) into the likeness of Jesus?

If you are, your affections have been transformed—and your meaning and purpose in life have been transformed.

We’re either reflecting the Lord’s glory, or deflecting the Lord’s glory…….

Injustice

Habakkuk 1: 3

Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.

 

The talk of the morning today, will undoubtedly be the last play of the Packer game last night.

Was the call, the ref’s made, justified?—absolutely not.

One opposing player even gave God the glory after the game—honestly, I think God could care less.

But really—what’s worse?

 

What about the innocent child who will be aborted on this very day?

What about the child who died in a foreign orphanage today?

What about the people in Haiti who are still waiting for their home to be rebuilt, since the 2010 earthquake?

Injustice?

 

Truly, the play call at the end of the game was one of the worse ever.

What I think we need to do though, is keep things in perspective.

 

We’ll all live to see another Packer game—and no doubt we’ll enjoy another victory.

But what about the folks who will never see victory?

What about those people who still don’t know about Jesus, and have never experienced His overwhelming love?

Are you going to tell them?

 

You talk about injustice……………

Recommit

Psalm 25: 10

All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant.

 

When you and I are committed to following God, He will lead you and me, to discover His will for our life.

He has a satisfying purpose, for which He created us for.

 

Are you committed to the things of God?

When you are committed to God, He is committed to watching out for you.

 

Commitment is a mark of true friendship, and commitment to others is evidence of your love for them.

We should actually honor God in everything we do.

 

Maybe as we begin a new week, it would be good, to test our commitment.

Marriages need commitment—our children need commitment from us—our bosses need commitment—and so does our God.

 

Wouldn’t it be great, to be committed to the things of God, like we’re committed to so many others things?

Maybe today, we should recommit…………

What do you fix your eyes upon?

2 Corinthians 4: 18

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Don’t we get this exactly the opposite?

We fix our eyes on the stuff and the experiences of this world, but the things of God….not so much.

If we could see into the eternal abyss, what we’d see would blow our minds.

It’s because our faith is weak, and so we focus on the things we can see, touch, smell and enjoy.

What a waste!

What we do for the great Kingdom of God is what counts.

We cannot see our eternal rewards, and yet we know that they are there.

We don’t even realize how our service and sacrifice will impact God’s people, but one day we will see our fruits for what they are.

The things of this world are so temporary—the thing of God’s Kingdom are not.

Maybe we should switch our focus to the things we cannot see?

The unseen things of God, will come into focus one day.

I’m willing to bet we’re going to look pretty foolish, for the temporary things that got our attention………..

Stomp out Pride

Proverbs 13: 10

Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

 

There are many reasons for quarrels and conflicts within a family/marriage, or even a church, but pride is probably the most common cause of the offense.

Our sinful human nature, sow damaging seeds within most conflicts.

 

Followers of Jesus, often experience fighting or conflict within themselves.

It is a battle of that old sinful nature, and what should be their new spiritual nature.

 

Did you ever stop to think, that you and I might have to give up our rights, to bring an end to conflict?

Praying for peace, can only come, by bringing conflict to the Prince of Peace.

Is that the process you use, to stomp out disagreement?

 

Maybe when someone disagrees with us, if we took the high road of graciousness and gentleness, we could bring an end to the madness.

Our knee jerk reaction, is often to bring about anger and a defensive spirit during an argument.

 

If right now you’re thinking of someone who should practice this approach, you’re probably the one who needs most work in this area.

Take some good advice, and you might be seen as the wise one……………

What is your level of honesty?

Psalm 24: 3 – 4

Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his Holy place?

He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.

 

What does God require, when we come into His presence?

Someone with clean hands and a pure heart.

 

Let’s take honesty for example.

I guess the Psalmist is saying, that if you want to approach God, you have to be honest.

I’m pretty sure that we have to be practicing purity and integrity, and an overall desire to do what is right.

 

One thing we know, God is honest, and He expects you and me to be honest.

The level of our honesty, demonstrates the quality of our character.

I sure have met some characters along the way!

 

Honesty brings blessing from God—honesty brings a clear conscience, and honesty brings that peace that we just can’t understand.

What’s your peace like today?

It will generally correlate, with the level of our honesty…………..

Seeker Friendly

Psalm 14: 2

The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.

God is holy, and there is no ungodliness in Him.

God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

His ways and judgments are unsearchable.

Do we really understand the nature of the triune God?

Some would say yes, but then our actions, words, thoughts and deeds would be different than they sometimes are.

Do you love the thought, that you and I merely exist, to make God look glorious?

Do you love it that, all creation exists to display the glory of God?

This is why He created the universe. This is why He ordained history.

This is why you and I exist, quite frankly. This is why He sent His one and only Son.

In the beginning of this new week, how will you seek God?

It is only in the seeking, that we truly begin to understand……….

knowing the truth

Romans 1: 25

They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised.

 

We see this happening more and more in this modern day.

Some national church congregations, even use the catchy phrase….. “Don’t place a period, when God intended a coma.”

 

Recently, I saw someone being interviewed on TV on this very subject.

The person conducting the interview asked…. “So, just where in the bible, have we replaced a period with a coma?”

The person’s response….. “I don’t know—I don’t even read the bible—I just believe in what I want to believe in….”

 

Our culture has even redefined love.

Is love really all about, just accepting people as they are?

Does God really love all people, and accepts them just as they are?

 

I think we need to know the bible. I also think we need to know the truth.

 

1 John 2: 4 – 5

The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him…..

Get over it!

Psalm 18: 29

For by You I can run against a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall. (NKJV)

We all have obstacles that seem to get in our way—spiritually speaking or otherwise.

It could be an unforgiving spirit—or some difficult issue that comes along during life’s journey.

Some obstacles in life, we can do all right by scaling on our own, but some are just too high for us to climb over on our own.

We might even need a little boost.

King David wrote in the Psalms, that he had some high barriers in his life—maybe you can relate.

These were things that he could only get over, with the help of God.

God doesn’t lift the person over the wall—He helps the person take the leap of faith.

What is it that you need to get over?

How long have you been trying to do it on your own?

Maybe it’s time to look to God for help?

Escape the trap

2 Timothy 2: 25 – 26

Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,

and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

Today is an anniversary that most people won’t ever forget.

People who opposed the plan of God, attacked many innocent people.

These evil people fell into the devils’ trap, and that trap is still set, and people are still falling into it, in record numbers.

People boarded airplanes on 9/11/2001, and were taken captive by an enemy.

They had no choice, but to walk the way of suffering that awaited them.

The trap had been sprung.

We like to think, that all the innocent people on planes that day, found peace with God.

I hope that was true in all cases.

It’s easier to think, that the Radicals that instituted this terror, would find their eternal reward in hell—and no doubt all of them did.

It’s harder to think, that an innocent bystander, would suffer the same fate.

I believe it’s time, that we all come to our senses—and walk in the spirit of true repentance—and live within the knowledge of truth……….

Good Seed

Mark 4: 16 – 17

Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time.

When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

Do you know that there are people like this, who are part of our local churches?

Some come in, and seem to fit in well at first, but at the first sign of any kind of trouble, they quickly fall away.

They are the same kind of people, who hear something they don’t like, and also turn away.

This kind of person also has their feelings hurt easily, and carry a grudge. The joy they often have, quickly goes by the way side.

This should come as no surprise, because Jesus said it would happen.

How deep is your root?

To spring up and produce Kingdom fruit, a person needs to be planted in good soil.

No other soil will do.

Being planted in good soil, reproduces a bumper crop.

If there’s no return, then one can conclude, that the seed or person in this case, has fell among the thorns and rocky places.

Some folks represent good seed. They hear the Word—accept it, and produce a crop……..

Ready or not! Here I come!!

Matthew 24: 44

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

 

I was trying to think this morning, the number of slogans that use the word “ready”…..

READY to use—READY to eat—Let’s get READY to rumble—READY to serve—Are you READY for some football—READY or not—I was born READY—READY for anything

 

Are you ready for anything?

I mean, Jesus could come back at any time.

I wonder how many people, won’t be ready for that moment in history?

 

Our culture would much rather get READY for some football—than they would the return of Christ.

Matthew says in this Gospel account….. “So you also must be…. ready….”

 

Those words seem so insistent.

And yet, I believe many people will find themselves unprepared (not ready), when that time comes.

 

They’ve been talking about the return of Jesus for centuries—but one day it’s going to happen.

Some folks will be ready, and others will find they waited too long, to make eternal preparations

Light & Momentary troubles

2 Corinthians 4: 17

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

 

There are those who believe that sickness and sorrow are the result of sin in a person’s life.

I don’t think I buy that at all, although everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion.

 

Is the reason that John the Baptist was beheaded, was it because he was sinful?

What about Lazarus? Was he sinful, and is that why he died? I’m pretty sure the  bible says that Paul had an infirmity.

 

Psalm 34: 19 says…..A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all….. 

Sickness can be a byproduct of transgression, but I don’t believe for a moment that believers who are forgiven, are never afflicted.

Affliction is because of the fall of man in the Garden—period!

If sickness is a result of my sin, then I should be one really sick person.

 

I know that when God brings trial, it is often times for my own good.

Deuteronomy 8: 5….Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you.

 

C.S. Lewis once wrote…… “We have no right to happiness—we only have an obligation to do our Christ centered duty”………..

Subtle tatics

2 Kings 17: 14

But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their fathers, who did not trust in the LORD their God.

 

The condition spoken of here in scripture, is the condition of backsliding.

Backsliding usually begins with a general feeling of spiritual indifference.

 

As a person fails to focus on spiritual things, and then the flesh seeks to feed itself.

In almost every case, the person who slides backward, is never ever able to identify it on their own.

The devil is a sly one, and he uses very subtle tactics.

 

Just like an illness, there are symptoms that go along with the backslidden condition.

Here are just a few: A calloused attitude toward sin—lack of prayer or worship—apathy toward lost souls—stubbornness and pride.

A backslidden person, neglects the bread of life, and in that case, they can hardly grow in the love and admonition of the Lord.

 

But there is a remedy to this spiritual illness……..God promises to receive those, who return with a repentant heart.

The road back to God is never long. Do you need to return to Him today?

 

Proverbs 24: 16…… for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.

Labor in faith

1 Timothy 4: 9 – 10

This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God,

who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

For this we labor and strive?

Labor Day

Labor: an expenditure of physical and mental effort especially when difficult or compulsory………

Have you put your hope in the living God?

It takes tremendous effort to do so.

What effort did you extend last week, in your walk of faith?

How will you “labor” for the faith this week?

Just know this…..it’s not for the weak—it’s for the strong—those willing to labor.

It’s not for the prideful, it’s for the humble……….