Bless you!

Number 6: 24 – 26

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."

We end almost every one of worship services, with this verse of scripture.

Too often, we forget the depth of meaning behind these words, and commonly just go through the motions.

I wonder how often do we think about what we’re conveying, when we bless someone?

These aren’t just the words at the end of a letter… “Sincerely Yours”, but conveying a blessing, is a whole lot more that just words.

A number of people who send me correspondence, via e-mail, will often use the valediction… “Blessings!”

I personally receive every one of them someone sends to me, because I understand the depth of what that person is trying to say.

Offering a blessing, sets someone up to encounter God.

It invokes His protection and favor, and a blessing carries a lot of weight.

When we Christians receive a blessing, you’ll generally not see much of a reaction.

I like to say it to people who almost never receive one, and I love the hairy eyeball that often comes after.

People that haven’t received many blessings, will often look skeptical.

Remember, that offering a blessing, not only benefits the one being blessed, but the one who’s offering the blessing, too.

So, who’s going to get blessed by you today?

The God who truly desires to bless, loves to respond, to those declaring His Word from the Bible.

Go ahead—what are you waiting for? You have everything to gain, and so does the recipient…

Steadfast!

Isaiah 26: 3 – 4

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.

My great-grandmother was a very special lady.

Alice Ringling was a tall, slender, dignified lady, and in her younger day, she must have been a real looker.

I remember arriving in her upstairs apartment for visit, and I would often catch her sitting on her sofa, cradling her Bible.

The funny thing is, my grandma couldn’t read, because she was blind.

Macular Degeneration took her sight—but it did not take away her focus.

In her older years, she spent a lot of time alone—yet she was never alone, because she invited the living God to dwell with her in her tiny apartment.

She suffered from chronic back pain, and would often take one Bayer aspirin to help cut the suffering.

Like one Bayer aspirin would ever be considered today, as we live in the day of pain remedies—pills & narcotics.

One thing that I believe that helped Alice Ringling cope with situational problems, was the Word of God.

There must have been something about just holding onto to God’s many promises, that brought my great-granny relief.

What going on in your life, that the Word might be the answer for?

When’s the last time you just cradled God’s Word, in an effort to bring you His peace?

Maybe you need a steadfast moment?

Maybe you need to tell God, that your trust in Him, has never wavered?

The Rock eternal is ready and waiting to bring you everything you need.

Consider taking the time today, to drink in His perfect peace…

Blinded Minds!

2 Corinthians 4: 4

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

This verse would most likely offend a number of people.

We much prefer the encouraging, lovey-dovey verses in the Bible.

Is it possible that the God of this age, has even blinded the minds of people who attend church regularly?

Nah, couldn’t be?

If we truly saw the light of the Gospel, I think the church wouldn’t have as many disconnected people as it has today.

Some of the most important people in the history of the United States, confessed to not being able to figure out the Gospel.

Did you know that Benjamin Franklin, heard the great George Whitfield preach, and went away disappointed.

Later in his life, he would write… “The prayers of that great evangelist, Whitfield, must not have done any good—because I’m quite sure I’m still not converted.”

Not the chubby guy with the kite?

Not the guy who invented the Ben Franklin wood stove? (He did by the way…)

If God could blind the mind of a great inventor like Benjamin Franklin—He could do it with well intentioned church going people too.

The power of the Holy Spirit, is the only One who can convince.

No Spirit—probably no salvation… 

Offerings!

1 Chronicles 16: 29

Ascribe to the Lord, O families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength, ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name.

Bring an offering and come before him; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

There are many churches today, that subscribe to signing a commitment card following an evangelistic event.

There’s nothing wrong with signing a card per say, but there’s much more to it than that.

The reason that we are brought to faith and salvation, is so that we might worship God in the fullness of truth.

Our only reason for salvation in the first place, is so that we can worship and adore the Person who supplies salvation.

We do not come to God that we might become machine stamped/cookie cutter Christians.

God provided each of us with salvation, so that it could be personal, and individual.

A vibrant child of God, loves Him with all of their hearts.

We are called to worship Him, in the beauty of holiness.

Is that your plan this week?

Maybe consider bringing Him an offering of praise.

Our goal at the end of the day, is to bring Him glory.

Let’s not forget, that we’re fearfully and wonderfully made…

Narcissism

Philippians 2: 3

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

The true measure of someone’s heart, is how they treat people who can do them no good.

That seems logical.

Narcissism used to be a term that was used in a clinical sense, for someone stuck on themselves.

It’s was a common psychiatric term that used to be used, but now that industry has stopped using it, because it became obsolete.

They have said that most people really don’t have this kind of problem anymore.

Really? I beg to differ.

This is one of the best definitions I have ever seen, of narcissism;

“A narcissist’s weapon is often verbal—slander, lies, playing the victim in flipped tales of who was the victim and who was the abuser, gossip, rage, verbal abuse and intentional infliction of

emotional pain. It is a systematic dismantling of another person’s relationships, reputation, emotional, physical and spiritual health, life and their very soul. Narcissists enlist cheerleaders

and enablers, fueled with lies and half truths. This is why narcissists are often called “emotional vampires.”

So what might happen to marriages, if we decided to treat our spouses, better than we treat ourselves?

Can you imagine if we operated this way in the church? There would not be enough room for all the people.

What needs to change in your life, for people to see you this way? And I don’t mean narcissistically!

One thing I do know, I need to treat other people, better than I treat myself…

Holiness

Hebrews 12: 14

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Without “holiness”, no one will see God.

What does the word, “holiness”, mean to you?

When I was a youngster, I pictured people in my mind who were holy, as folks standing around praying, and everyone was wearing white.

Then I used to see an old lady come into the church I used to attend as a kid, and how she approached prayer and reverence. It gave a young kid, a picture of holiness.

I can’t say for sure if she was holy or not.

The older I got though, I knew that holiness had nothing to do with one’s wardrobe or posture.

I knew that holiness had everything to do with lifestyle.

Jesus said that we should be holy, because He’s holy.

For a long time, I had no idea what that meant.

The direct command from Jesus, was to model our lives, after the example He set.

How would you say that’s working for you? Would your co-workers/neighbors notice something holy about you?

Holiness means complete separation from the world.

It means that it should be a deliberate act, so that we are distinguishable from those who don’t know Christ.

Now, there’s something to ponder

True Cost!

Matthew 13: 44

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”

I guess this parable, is really speaking about a guy who bought the farm—and in a good way.

One thing we know for sure though, the Kingdom can’t be purchased for any amount of money.

Aren’t you glad that the Kingdom of Heaven comes as free gift?

There are people in various denominations, that won’t consider the true cost.

The true Gospel message is extremely valuable.

Some folks will go to any lengths to have it, while others will search high and low for churches who will preach convenience.

Make no mistake about it—following Jesus has never been convenient.

Members of God’s Kingdom will do anything to get it.

Members of the dark Kingdom, will do anything in their power, to stay away from it.

The Gospel message is more valuable today, than it has ever been.

There are a select few though, who have cheapened its value.

Each of us are like that precious treasure, and Jesus paid for us with His life.

His suffering wasn’t convenient, and we were worth every drop of blood He shed—and that’s the Gospel truth…

Relevant!

Isaiah 5: 20

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

William Booth lived and died during the late 1800’s and into the early 1900’s.

He started the Salvation Army, and I’m sure things have changed some, since it’s day of early inception.

He said some things that would mark the time and trend of the modern church.

I wonder if he could come back today for just a moment, how would he feel about the statements he made?

Here is what William Booth said: " The chief danger of the twentieth century will be: Religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration,heaven with out hell"

This word of prophecy in Isaiah, would actually mark the later days in which we live.

Evil would be called good—and good would actually be called evil.

One would have to be in a complete coma, for them not to see this coming true before our very eyes.

The light has come into the world—and man has not recognized Him.

The only way that the Light can return, is when His people return to the Light.

The only way darkness is dispelled, is when people become bold and truthful and honest again.

The only way the church can be governed in truth today, is to welcome the Holy Spirit to come and have His way with us.

God despises stagnation.

It’s time for the church to become relevant again….