Listen Carefully!

Exodus 15: 22

Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water.

Do you ever feel like things in life, just keep piling up?

One problem turns into another and then another, and the next day it’s still the same old stuff.

Moses dealt with one problem after another.

And in this case, it wasn’t bad enough that the water in this place tasted terrible, but then the people started to grumble, too.

Do you ever feel like, some days just can’t get any worse?

Frankly, I feel that way a lot, lately.

There’s one verse in this chapter, that I need to remember, when things get more and more terrible, and more and more discouraging.

God told Moses in Exodus 15: 26… "If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right…”

People will continue to disappoint us, but God never will.

Situations will go from bad to worse, but God is still faithful.

When things get testy in my life, and my faith becomes weak, I still need to do what is right.

Maybe I just need to remember, to listen carefully to the voice of God.

We’re living in a dry and thirsty land, but we serve a God, who brings us daily, living water…

Confess Sin!

Romans 7: 15

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

These words by the Apostle Paul, were a statement on sin.

Paul was both a sinner, and a precious saint.

Those of us who have been raised in the Christian faith, know full well what we should do—and what we shouldn’t do.

We’ve been trained to recognize sinful temptations.

Any believer I know, wants very much to make all the right choices.

Unfortunately, it seems sin is usually unavoidable.

I’m amazed that I choose sometimes, the very thing I hate.

Sin just kind of creeps in, and the consequences of such, always leave a path of destruction.

I wonder how many Christians, sit and ponder their sinfulness?

Even the word sin, suggests that we’re mostly weak, and many churches don’t even allow much dialog on the subject.

When’s the last time you admitted your sin to yourself? When’s the last time you admitted your sin to God?

Sometimes it seems easier to reflect on the good things we’ve done.

Let’s not forget, that Jesus came into our lives to redeem the sins of the present, and the sins of our past.

So try living today, in the light of His faithfulness, and a new life of forgiveness…

A Court Appearance

2 Corinthians 5: 10

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

I’ve had a number of people ask me over the last 3 years, or so… “Do you think we’ll see a revival of the church in our time?”

I happen to believe there’s a revival going on in some churches right now, but I’m not sure we’d even notice it.

It’s estimated that there are over 11,000 babies born every day in the US.

My daughter-in-law, Ashley, is expecting a child in 26 weeks.

Make no mistake about it, each child that is born every day, goes through a very individual experience.

No birth is quite like another.

And so it is for the person who is revived in the church.

Each one will go through a unique Spiritual experience, all of their own.

3,000 people were saved during Pentecost, but each of those 3,000 people, had to have a revival, and repentant experience, all of their own accord.

Revival can only come to an individual person, one at a time.

Just like we are revived and saved as a person, so will we stand before God in judgment.

The only intercessor and advocate that will be there, is Jesus.

On that day, some will know Him in a personal way.

Other’s on that day, will not have gone through the revival experience.

That will be undoubtedly, a very lonely experience for some…

Unity

Ephesians 4: 3

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

I heard someone recently pray in a prayer meeting… “Lord God, send us the Holy Spirit, that this body of believers might be unified.”

Actually, that prayer is exactly backward.

The only way the Holy Spirit will come, is when there is unity in the flock.

No unity—no power—period!

Unity is the necessary component, for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to happen.

It works that way in the family, and it most certainly works that way in the church.

I remember my Dad one time, working on an old rental house he owned.

The power was not working in the house, and he couldnot figure out the problem.

What he discovered, was that no voltage would come in, because the wiring was faulty and broken, outside.

The power was ready to do the work it was designed for, but there was something interrupting the current.

Unity is absolutely necessary in the body of Christ.

Without unity, the Holy Spirit will not, and cannot work.

If there’s a power interruption, then maybe that flock should check the flow of the current.

Many churches operate that way, and waste so much precious time.

It just could be, that there is n ot any connection to the true power source, because of a lack of unity…

Lets go fishing!

Matthew 4: 19

"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

My son, Ben just returned from a fishing trip to Ontario.

If you know anything at all about Musky fishing, they are known to be a fish of a thousand casts.

In Ben’s case, it’s turned into a fish of maybe over 5 thousand casts.

Ben said that during the week, he had at least 19 different opportunities at various Musky’s, but none really took the bait.

The last day of fishing, and all of his extreme effort, really paid off. 

Ben said that the effort, as extreme as it was, was well worth it.

He dropped to a knee in the boat, and gave God thanks, right on the spot.

The guide looked at him, like he had lost a few marbles.

Can you imagine what it must feel like, to lead another person to faith in Christ?

I’m certain that if we put forth the effort, we would all see fruit from sharing our faith.

Every morning, I kneel to acknowledge Christ’s lordship to my life.

I also purpose myself, so that He has complete, unhindered control of my life.

I had a friend not long ago, tell me that he wanted to go deeper in his faith.

Let’s be sure we understand, it is our responsibility to follow Jesus in a deeper way—but it’s through God’s Spirit, that fish get caught in the first place

The Angels voice!

1 Thessalonians 4: 16

For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God…

For some reason I keep missing this verse.

When I consider the subject of the rapture, I think about it as a quick, and quiet event.

That’s not what scripture seems to indicate.

Jesus will come down with a LOUD command—and I think the whole world will take notice when it happens.

Don’t forget the voice of the archangel or the trumpet call of God.

When the rapture happens, everyone in the world is going to know something powerful just happened.

When I meet people who are down in the dumps, or life seems to have dealt them an unfair hand, I often tell them… “Keep looking up!”

I don’t think I overuse that statement, because one day when some of us are actually looking up, something powerful is going to happen.

Are you rapture ready?

If not, why not get that all figured out real soon.

Maybe if you’ve been away from church for a while, this would be a good a Sunday as any to return.

It might be a good idea to return to church, before Jesus comes back for His church.

Jesus is about to make some noise—so don’t forget to wear your ear plugs!!

Be of Good Cheer!

Joshua 1: 9
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

The old Gospel Hymn of the Faith, “His Eye Is  On the Sparrow”, starts out…
Why should I be discouraged,  and why should the shadows fall?
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for Heaven and home?
When Jesus is my portion, my constant friend is He…

There are times in my life, when I forget that Jesus is my portion.
Can anyone else relate?

Is it really enough to know, that His eye is on the sparrow—and I know He watcheth me?
Friends—you can take that statement to the bank!

I’m not sure what you’re dealing with personally, but the Lord your God, IS with YOU wherever you go.
That’s a comforting thought, for the loneliest person I know.

No matter what’s got you down today, you can be of good courage.
Things on this earth may look like they’re headed to hell in a hand basket, but we’ve got a God who has snatched the keys of hell itself.

The “be strong and be of good courage” part—is actually a command.
I don’t know about you, but I’m not going to doubt my God.

You may be shocked at what comes your way today—but God won’t be.
Actually, I hope you won’t either—so be of good cheer!!