Greater is He In Me!

1 John 4: 4

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

One of my all time favorite Gaither Vocal Band songs is…. “Greater Is He In Me”

The lyrics of the chorus go like this….

Greater—Greater, greater is He in me.

I’m singing—I’m shouting, I’m happy and I’m free.

I’m a soldier, In an army, that never has known defeat.

Greater—Greater, greater is He in me….

Is that how you feel?

I’m amazed that Jesus is inside of me, and that He’s also greater than anything in this whole wide world.

I can’t speak for you, but for me, that brings me a great sense of awe and wonder.

Jesus overcame every hint of darkness at the cross.

It’s when we doubt that, that we begin to minimize His greatness.

The devil just thinks he’s great—but the difference is, is that Jesus KNOWS He’s greater!

Life got you down?

Maybe you need to focus on the greatness of a great Savior.

Remember that John said we are God’s children, and because He’s so great—we’re also great over comer’s….   

Sacrificial Participation!

Galatians 2: 20

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Participation in the local church is self sacrificial.

It is a crucifixion of our own desires and plans.

We no longer live for ourselves, but for the Christ we are now one with, in faith.

Our unity and relationship with other Christian believers, is hammered out as a result of our union in Christ.

Maybe when we don’t feel a part of the church, it’s because we’ve not yet become united with the brethren.

When our spiritual life becomes dry, maybe we should stop and ask God, how He wants us to participate.

Being in the church, and being a part of the church are two totally different things.

We’re not part of the church, until we become actively engaged in the church.

When our agendas are still the rule, it could be that we’ve still not come the end of us yet.

It is only through Jesus Christ, that we begin to participate with God in discipleship, community and mission.

Do you still feel like you’re on the outside looking in, in your church?

Then maybe we need to really come in.

Maybe our spiritual life is stale, because we’ve not exercised our God given gift yet.

It is in active participation with the triune God, and other Christ centered followers, that we find wholeness and fulfillment in the faith….

Worry Warts

Matthew 6: 31

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.”

 

So if we believe that Jesus said this, why are we so slow to adhere to this command?

We worry if we’d made the right choice about a job, or what we’re going to do after graduation.

Worry overwhelms us in loss of job or when health issues creep in, or when a marriage is not working out.

There are times we even justify worrying.

 

I wonder what might happen, if we focused on the words… “do not”?

If Jesus thought that worrying was worth it, do you think He’d issue such a command?

 

What if we did this? What if we turned our worry into worship?

What if we’d turn our worry into prayer?

 

Worry is a pretty common practice even among Christians.

For some of us, it’s even a favorite pastime!

 

Worry tells us what we think about the character of God.

Worry says that we don’t trust in God. I’m pretty sure worry is a sin.

 

So if it is, why do some of us spend more time worrying, than we do trusting God?

If you are a child of the most High God, then by definition you have a Heavenly Father.

Maybe we need to trust in Him, more than we worry……

Radical Living!

Isaiah 37: 32 (NLT)

For a remnant of my people will spread out from Jerusalem, a group of survivors from Mount Zion. The passion of the LORD Almighty will make this happen!

 

I find it amazing, how much chaos a small minority of people can bring to a culture.

The Boston bombers as their now known as, inflicted terror and fear in the hearts of millions of people.

Literally, a nation of people stood vigil near their TV sets, to watch the take down unfold.

 

The words of the prophet Isaiah, talks about a small group of people, coming out of Zion to bring a message of great hope.

It was a message that brought much fruit to the Kingdom of God.

 

Can you imagine what a group of Christians could do, if they had just a little of the Lord’s passion?

It is possible that people would take notice?

Why let all these left wing radical terrorists have all the headlines.

As sick as it sounds, the bombers did have passion—you’ve got to give them that.

 

Maybe that’s what we need.

A radical group of people, radically loving people to Christ.

A passionate display for the whole world to see.

 

I’m a little tired of evil dominating the scope of media in this world.

It’s high time that believer’s in Christ—the called remnant—start to get more serious about affecting the culture.

We have a message of great hope, and it’s time we witness that kind of Kingdom fruit, instead of the rotten kind we’re getting used to seeing…..

Earnestly!

Acts 12: 5

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

 

I love those words….. “but the church was earnestly praying…”

Peter was in prison one minute, and then out the next.

Why was that? Because the church was praying like they meant it!

I have a feeling they were not praying silently in some circle.

 

When the church prays earnestly, that’s what happens.

People get healed—jail cells become unlocked—the wayward child returns home—the broken marriage becomes mended.

Jailers even get saved!!

 

Do you really expect God to answer your prayer?

Somehow I have the feeling, that if we knew a believer in Christ who was falsely imprisoned today—we’d probably start a prison ministry, instead of praying.

What God wants us to do, is pray in faith believing.

 

How would our prayer life be different, if we focused on God, instead of the problem?

I’d bet we’d see more people delivered from sin and disease than we do.

 

We really have to pray with our eyes on God, and not the difficulty.

As our church enters this early morning prayer & fast discipline today, maybe we should keep this idea in mind?

 

The only way to find God is in prayer—and the only way to a miracle, is through earnest, and faith-filled prayer….offered to a God just waiting to bring an answer…..

Are you one bit bothered?

Luke 11: 7

"Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.”

Jesus was teaching on prayer one day, and He used this illustration.

A man actually came to a neighbor, looking for bread to feed a friend who was traveling through his city.

The person was already in bed, and said and I quote…. “Don’t bother me....I can’t get up and give you anything!”

During Adult Sunday school in church yesterday, we had a great conversation about Missions and about making disciples.

So it begs the question… Are we one bit bothered that 57% of all Americans don’t go to church at all during the year?

Are we one bit bothered that there are more people below the poverty level in India, than live in the US?

Does it bother us that over 2/3^rds of the rest of the world, live on $2.00 per day or less?

Somehow I have to believe, that if it really bothered us, we’d find a way to do something about the problem.

And yet we think that by taking the attitude that it’s someone else’s problem, we think God will be OK with that.

Seriously church friends, do we really understand that most American cats and dogs eat better than most of the poorest people in the world?

Are we really OK with that? And if we are, isn’t that then our collective attitude….. “Don’t bother me!”

If it is, then as frank as I can be—that really bothers me.

What will bother you so much this week, that you’ll rise to the challenge, to make a difference?

The old time comic, W.C. Fields used to say….. “Go away Kid, ya bother me—ya bother me…”

By not being involved, isn’t that what we’re sometimes saying

Just Say It!

Jeremiah 1: 17

"Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them.”

I think one of the hardest things for me when I preach, are the facial expressions shared by some in the audience.

I also know that I’m intimated by a few comments I get from folks, about the nature of Sunday morning messages.

I even consider heading in different doctrinal directions, when people’s beaks get bent a certain way.

God told the prophet Jeremiah, to say it just as He told him to say it.

If you study the Word long enough, you know that Jesus, nor did the prophets spare the horses when it came to telling the truth.

I realize that’s not popular in the church anymore. It’s probably even considered out of touch or even old fashioned.

People get easily offended, and even leave churches when the truth is expounded upon.

I had an old preacher friend of mine tell me one day that he believed the church has been way too nice—for way too long.

And yet God tells us, that we should not be frightened by people who gripe about the content of a sermon.

Actually He said, that we should be terrified of His response—if we don’t tell it like it is.

I have to really weigh my life this way…. “Do I want to please man, or the God who saved me?”

Don’t the events that happened in Boston on Monday, get you to think even just a little bit?

If they don’t, then we’re not paying enough attention to the depravity of our current culture.

If it’s all the same to you, I have to keep doing things and saying things as the Father brings revelation and conviction.

I also need to be keep in mind, that I will be judged by God one day—and not by people…..

The Father knows best

Romans 8: 28 NKJV

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

 

I read a story one time, about a construction manager, who was trying to burn some brush on a construction site.

He came to burn the pile, and noticed a turkey had built a nest under the pile.

 

He took the nest apart, and came back to burn the pile the next day.

Guess who came back to build its nest? You guessed it, the turkey!

This continued until the turkey chose another spot to build its nest.

 

I have this feeling, that maybe the turkey thought she couldn’t catch a break.

In retrospect—she did catch a break though.

What would seem to be bad at first, actually turned out pretty good for the turkey.

Have you ever been in a situation like that?

 

Paul is not telling the church at Rome, that everything is good—because we know it’s not.

All things in this world are not good—just ask the people in Boston.

 

The point in all this friends, is that there is only one thing that is good in this world—and that’s God.

I’m sure glad He is—aren’t you?

 

I’m so thankful He knows what’s best for me—even if it does not look that way at first…..

Reasonable Service

Romans 12: 1 (NKJV)

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

And so the frantic rush to complete tax forms and submit them by midnight has come and gone.

If this would not have happened, people might have had to end up paying a penalty.

For other people, April 15^th now has a different meaning.

Some folks actually paid the ultimate sacrifice—they paid it with their life.

It is only during times like these, where we realize that we really owe God everything, anyway?

We have been bought and paid for, with a terrible price, the broken body and shed blood of God’s only Son.

Through this loving effort, the penalty has already been paid.

Because we belong to God, and if we have trusted Jesus to save us, God has a right to expect that we might end up having to render certain things.

We actually have an obligation to present our bodies and lives, as living sacrifices.

God wants us to speak to Him in prayer, so that we can receive answers  from Him.

He wants us to experience every day, the leading of The Holy Spirit.

He wants us to read His Word and receive His many promises.

God describes this process as “reasonable”.

It is therefore done for the One, who has done so very much for us.

I rejoice this morning in a God, who is lovingly “reasonable”….

Don't be a Cheater

Mark 12: 16 – 17

They brought the coin, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied.

17 Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's."

 

Today in America, is the infamous tax day.

April 15^th has people scrambling to get their income taxes post marked late into the night.

It’s amazing how many people wait until the last minute, when they know way in advance, they could have forgone the stress, if they had planned better.

 

Jesus essentially said, give to the government what belongs to the government—and give to God what belongs to God.

People wait until the last minute, with the things of God as well.

 

It’s estimated that over 1.6 million people cheat on their taxes each year, and that accounts for about $300 billion dollars that’s not reported as income.

I wonder then, if we’ll cheat the government out of reportable income, how much more will we cheat God out of what belongs to Him?

 

There are people who are waiting to surrender their lives to Jesus.

Some people will wait, and expect to make that decision at the last minute.

Just be sure of this—in God’s Kingdom, there isn’t any way to apply for an extension.

 

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 6: 2….. “now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.”

 

Are you giving to God, everything that belongs to Him—service, tithe, surrender, submission?

If not, the IRS could really be the least of our worries……

Sheep!

Psalm 23: 2

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

We have been spending time on Wednesday nights, on the subject of prayer.

Lately we have been studying the 23^rd Psalm, as it relates to prayer.

Did you know that surrendering to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, is an every day event?

Surrender is not a onetime event, like some people believe.

Did you also know that sheep cannot lead themselves?

Some people in the church think they can do without the intervention and guidance of the Pastor or Elders.

Sheep usually graze in one spot, until they actually eat right down to the roots, and overgraze in certain spots in the pasture.

Sheep can become very sick, by eating things that bring no nutritional value.

The case in point, is that sheep usually don’t bode very well on their own. They need someone to constantly guide them.

Sheep also have a tendency to drink from water sources that are not safe.

They will drink from any brackish water hole that looks like it will satisfy them.

Sheep need fresh water to survive.

So if sheep don’t do a very good job of leading themselves, then neither do we.

Left to our own devices, we make a mess of things quite frankly.

The messes also don’t only affect us—they affect the entire flock.

There’s a good chance that God knows more than the sheep do—and there’s also a very good chance, that the Shepherd knows what’s best also……

You sure are full of it!

Matthew 5: 6

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

Do you know what you can literally trip over on your way to serve in the Kingdom of Jesus? HAPPINESS!

Serving Christ is one thing, but the bi-product of service is happiness—which in turn comes from being righteous.

I’ve met enough people in my day, who don’t hunger or thirst for righteousness.

Talk about a bunch of sad sacks.

Folks who are trying to pursue other types of happiness—apart from God, are not filled with the good things of God.

The only way we’ll be happy, is when we pursue a righteous life.

Drink in the spirit of God—and not only will you be filled, you’ll be happy.

Feed on the Word of God, and you’ll only be hungrier for more.

The deepest need within any human heart, can only be met by the living God.

If this morning you feel empty—then ask God to fill you.

The deepest place of our soul is filled, when we trust Jesus to do so.

Wouldn’t you love it today, if someone came up to you and said….. “You sure are full of it!”

Be sure to thank them for the compliment—and be sure to thank God, for His steadfast love……..

A sense of humor!

Genesis 21: 6

"God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me."

 

I believe there is a tendency to get too serious about life sometimes.

I know that issue for me, comes and goes.

 

Are'nt you glad that God has a sense of humor?

Sarah was 90 years old when she had a baby, and I know that some women wouldn’t find much humor in that.

God had a plan that included all of us, and it took a lighter moment to prove His sovereignty.

 

Maybe instead of getting all frustrated and tense about life, we should look to the brighter side.

If we’re too busy to laugh—then we’re way too busy!

 

I hope you get a chuckle out of this……

 

Pastor Frank was in his closet one day, looking for his favorite tie, and he came across a small box containing 3 eggs and 100, $1.00 bills.

He called to his wife Louise to inquire about the box. “O Frank, I’ve had that box in the closet for over 25 years now, and I didn’t want to hurt your feelings.”

“Hurt my feelings—why would that box hurt my feelings?” Louise went on to say…. “Well, every time you preached a poor sermon, I placed an egg in the box.”

Frank thought… “3 poor sermons in 25 years isn’t so bad, but he wanted to know what the $100.00 was for.

Then Louise clarified…. “Honey, every time I got a dozen eggs, I sold them to the neighbors, for a $1.00”

 

Have a blessed day & laugh a little!

Whom will you stand for?

Isaiah 40: 25

"To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One”

 

I have  been seeing a red/pink sign posted all over the place, and then I found out what it stood for—or what people who post it, stand for

The great prophet Isaiah, spoke about a God who has no equal.

Unfortunately, that’s not what our current culture thinks anymore.

 

Sad to think, that the founders of our great country, tested public debate by what was written in God’s Word.

They were even willing to die for what they believed.

That could probably happen in this country again.

 

I for one, am not swayed by culture—I am swayed only by God’s authoritative Word.

I realize, that I will by some, be considered square—narrow minded—intolerant—and even radical.

I also realize that some friends will forever alienate me, for my personal belief.

 

Jesus said in Matthew 24: 13….. “but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

And so I have decided to stay faithful to this symbol instead (a cross), and not some response to the popular opinion of the current culture.

When the pressure get’s unbearable, what……no Whom, will you stand up for?

I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name……

Seek the Truth!

Proverbs 3: 9

Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

Once in a while I get to browse some social networks sights.

One of the common themes among Christians seems to be…..  “Stop Playing Church” or …. “The Lord is My Provider”

Do you know where most so called believers, play church?

It’s when the offering basket is passed. The Lord is our provider—but most don’t ever give Him the chance.

According to giving statistics in America, only 5% of confessed Christians in this country, actually tithe.

If people are really right with God, then why should giving be down in most churches?

It’s because people are not right with God, and are actually playing church.

Giving is not down because of a bad economy, or because we pay almost $4.00 per gallon of gas—it’s because people are disobedient to God.

Most folks are more concerned about gun control, than they are about doing what’s right in the Father’s eyes.

I know this hits pretty close to the vest, with many so called Christians—but one can’t argue with the truth.

And the truth will set us free?

It will, if the truth is what we’re really after……….

Hidden Treasure!

Matthew 13: 13

“This is why I speak to them in parables: Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.”

 

Jesus often taught His followers in parables.

For those who did not have the Holy Spirit or deep spiritual comprehension, the parables were almost impossible to understand.

That was the case of the Pharisees—the so called, “spiritual giants” of their time.

 

I wonder how many people in the modern church today, still don’t understand what’s being taught?

Could it be that the truth is being kept from them?

Maybe it’s an unwillingness to learn in the first place.

 

The deep hidden treasure of God’s Word, only comes by reading, praying and seeking divine understanding.

This kind of deep understanding, does not come from any Rosetta Stone distance learning program.

It comes from a willingness to dig deeply, into the treasure of scripture, and to do so, with an open heart.

 

You would think that more people would be interested in attending Bible studies than there are.

Most people either don’t have the time, or won’t take the time to learn the hidden things from God.

 

The Barna research group says, that only 20% of Born Again—Evangelical Christians, read or study the Bible regularly.

Maybe that’s the reason, most people in the church circles, are less Biblically literate, than the generation before them.

 

I’m willing to wager, that if we spent more time with God—we’d understand Him more than we do.

I’ll bet we’d see Him at work—and we’d be able to hear and understand, His still small voice……..

Rejoicing in our sufferings!

Romans 5: 3

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

 

To have a living faith in Christ Jesus, we must always expect to have some affliction come about in our lives.

Some people might think, that our car's not starting in the morning, is affliction or suffering.

Honestly, it’s probably because we have not done a good job at maintaining our vehicle, as opposed to it being suffering.

 

If you’re going through a spiritual trial right now, don’t be so quick to get rid of it.

That’s our general nature. Something tough comes along—so let’s shed it as quickly as possible.

Our knee jerk reaction is to try and dump it—when God might be trying to teach us through the affliction.

 

Once we master perseverance or patience in the difficulty, it gives birth to other good virtues.

When the peace of Jesus is prevalent, the believer can handle just about anything that comes their way.

Do you have that peace this morning? I know sometimes I don’t.

 

God also uses suffering often times, to draw people into his Kingdom.

Hard times can minister to our eternal joy, if we let them.

 

God is producing something in us this day.

Maybe instead of us getting in His way—we should let Him have His way……..

Make more of you!

Matthew 28: 19

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit….”

What have you done lately, to make more disciples?

If you can’t name anything by name, then maybe you had better get at it.

The true mark of a true disciple of Jesus, is to make more of you.

So many people think, that’s just the job of someone else.

That’s just wrong theology.

If you were not inspired during this Easter/Lenten season, then it might be a good idea to start back at the beginning.

Jesus died for your sins, and gave you and me life eternal when He stepped out of the tomb alive.

I don’t need Hollywood to season that event—it’s exciting just to think about it.

If you need to have someone inspire you with that thought—or preach some message that convinces you—then you’re not convinced yet.

How God in His mercy and Grace, could save someone like me—totally blows my mind.

So much so, I want to tell anyone who will listen to me long enough, and tell them my Salvation story.

If you don’t have a Salvation story—don’t just sit there—get saved!

There is a new opportunity awaiting me this new work week—and I don’t know about you—but I’m going to take full advantage of it.

Happy disciple making day!!!!!!!!!!