Fear: Kill the spread.

Many times Christians are guided by fear.  The consequences can be long lasting and damaging.  We can experience the appropriate fear of snakes, lions, tigers and bears.  These fears may resemble wisdom, when facing a snake... it might be time for flight rather than fight.

Fear is a God given emotion. I believe God understands when we experience the rise of physical reaction inside our bodies. It's natural to be there. I believe God does not desire we park there.

We might recognize a snake or bear when we see one, but it's the wolves in sheep clothing that capitalize on times of separation. They talk peace and safety as not to stir up the appropriate fear the sheep should have. This results in the division of the flock and the wolves devouring them.

The actual idea is; Though this is a difficult time, It is a great time for ministry and coming to the aid of others, building and encouraging each one, informing them we are praying for/with them! We must not take a step back but lean in.

We must seize the day! This is not the time to be paralyzed by fear but rather mobilized by HIS peace.  We have entered a "New normal."  Today we can call, text, tweet, Facebook, e-mail etc, etc.  Even if situations are short-lived, there are many things we have realized, as the need for and doing the great commandment and of course the great commission, as well as the "golden rule."

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
Who delights greatly in His commandments.

2 His descendants will be mighty on earth;
The generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches will be in his house,
And his righteousness endures forever.
4 Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness;
He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
5 A good man deals graciously and lends;
He will guide his affairs with discretion.
6 Surely he will never be shaken;
The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.
7 He will not be afraid of evil tidings;
His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

Psalm 112: 1-7

While it is natural to fear, let the church walk in Supernatural courage.

Stand fast. Be of good courage!

                                                                             -Tim 

What have you done for me lately?

                     

We are drawing close to Thanksgiving, and a secular mindset and a humanistic worldview has blown into town. 

May I remind you of Bedford Falls turning into a Potterville.   I didn't demand they put the ten commandments in a courtroom, or Godly references all over Washington D.C. yet they did, while some have had a "change of heart."

We were we so red hot in love with Christ, celebrating His birthday.  Now it's about ...us?    How about the meaning for Christmas on a Charlie Brown Christmas, but now......?    How did the big choir numbers shouting "Hallelujah!" during high school cantata turn into; "If you sing Silent night, we'll sue!?"

 At one time we had our eye on the bigger picture.  We were at one time thankful.  We think we have moved forward.  We didn't have a blow out. It was more like a slow leak.

  There was evolution alright.  We have evolved into people who feel entitled and a generation that asks;  "What have you done for me lately?" I thought evolution was supposed to advance.  We are headed back to the animal stage.

  

Perilous Times and Perilous Men

3 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ⁴ traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! -2 Timothy 3:1-5

 

"When you pray..."- Jesus. (not if..)

We wonder why Christians are so anemic and powerless...We don't pray as we should.  Children, teenagers, are not introduced to prayer as a lifestyle.  Resulting in a selfish lifestyle that shorts out like a wire with a break in it.  Jesus instructed us to pray and not quit.  Luke 18:1.

"Pray this way...":  Praying to our father.  Are you a part of the family of God?  (John 3:15-18).  Praying like you know God is in control.  Submitting to His will.  Pray, giving Him the honor and glory not only to receive; bread, milk, and a cool spouse.  Rather the result being God receiving the applause, glory and honor!

Jesus said; while asking, seeking and knocking,  pray like a citizen of His kingdom under His Divine authority and government.  We are to ask for forgiveness- Our spiritual position is much more important than our physical one.

So it's a conversation with God, not a wish list to Santa Clause.   Do not worry He understands;  Swahili, Norwegian, German and Dutch, Spanish, Asian, English. 

You can have confidence in prayer:  Hebrews 4:12-16.
You can have fellowship through prayer.  John 15:1-8.

Paul said for us to be praying always, being watchful (expecting), with all perseverance. That's exciting!

Read: Matthew6:9-13, Psalm 27:7-14.

"HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE IT?!"

You begin to have that sinking feeling when you drive by the price sign for a gas station. The masses around the world are fighting their government because of it's economy, with each one threatening to shut down. The globe is on fire as usual with wars and rumors of wars. People stay home, locked away from the burglaries and attacks on streets of major cities.  Then the scam artist knocks on your locked door, while the hacker unlocks your website.

The future could be fantastic or scary as we face the unknown doom and gloom.  It could very well be the greatest opportunity for ministry and revival in our churches and community. I suppose it is natural for our cultures to ask in fear; "HOW ARE WE EVER GOING TO MAKE IT?!"

We as the church and followers of Christ answer; "God!"  We who believe and trust in Christ can inform the world the correct question is; "What must I do to be saved?"  Instead of shrugging our shoulders we share; "Repent and believe, trust in the birth, life, death, blood and resurrection of Christ"

That conversation progresses into answering the question: "How are we ever going to make it?"
Three ideas:  1.  Contentment in God's presence. 2.  Contentment in Gods protection and 3.  Contentment in God's provision.

You can imagine the blessing in your life as these intertwine, as we run into the new warm seasons ahead with great expectation!

Please take some quiet time today reading the 23rd Psalm.

1.  His Presence- Jesus said; "I am with you always."  The song says; "He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way."  Whether you are in a worship service or washing the dishes or ready for sleep. He comes to you in your fears and says; "It is I. Do not be afraid."  God is involved in your life working all circumstances for your good and His ultimate purposes. You don't have to go alone. The Bible says: "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."

2.  His Protection- Bible assures us:  "The angels of the Lord encamps all around those that fear Him."  When I/we realize the reality of His presence and protection We don't have to be paralyzed by our fear but mobilized by our peace.  Plainly stated; "If God be for us who could be against us."

3.  His Provision-  I get a little anxious sometime. But when I remember what He has done in the past and in the Bible, I begin to "wait on the Lord."  The Hebrew name, Jehovah-Jireh is the "God that provides" I then rest in "Be still and know that I Am God!"

Church, you have a message of HOPE.  In our society you can shine as lights, seize opportunities and challenges,

to help others in trusting Christ as their only hope to spend eternity with God!

"You don't trust me!"

I have told lies, stolen and cheated on tests while in high school.  If someone were to say: "I don't believe you or , trust you." I would have to say  "I understand."  Even though I am not that person anymore ( I have matured and have developed into a more reliable human),  I am not perfect.

I have to snicker when I hear a young person say "I don't believe you don't trust me!" We would support, encourage, mentor them but the keys to the car every night?  "No. The reason is not the trust factor that you mean....." and so you explain for a number of hours until it's to late for them to go anyway.

You had better not trust every chair that comes along.  I speak from experience, sitting in some weak lawn chairs that have bent or snapped.

You can be sincere about believing the boat will get you across the lake, but you had better first look for holes and cracks.

When it comes to heaven or hell, living for eternity with God or not, there will will be many ideals and person,  asking for your trust.  Be sure to check for leaks.

Through life experiences and God's word and following Christ, being taught, comforted, and convicted by God's Holy spirit, we believers know it is trustworthy and reliable.  Jesus said: " For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

 Psalms of the Bible tells us to;  "Trust God and do good."

Today's Choice is Huge.

Joshua 24:15

If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Ex. 32: 26

then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me!”

Deut. 30: 15

“See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity;

Deuteronomy 30:19

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,

Ephesians 2:13,14.

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

CHOOSE:  The Gospel, True Worship, Biblical preaching, prayer. 

John 3: 16

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION!

Stay the course

I believe God's Word encourages/commands us to remain faithful or stay the course.  With the Bible being our map, we might have to do more than glance at it. Some of us should ask ourselves are we on the RIGHT course.  Many times, we say we are sincere in the direction we are headed. We know we can be sincerely wrong as well. Confession and repentance will change our mind as well as our direction.

If you and I are guided by emotions or culture's behavior, we will soon discover, we have slowly gone off course.  The Word of God, prayer and depending on empowerment from His Holy Spirit is what the true Christian will need in order to navigate the "seas of life."

Truth will lead us where we NEED to go. Truth is not what we always want to hear. Paul writes to Timothy that in the last days we'll desire to hear only what we want to hear, having our ears tickled.

It is no secret that this culture and its paradigms are headed for the "rocks of life."  The church in general, is joining the convoy as we veer off course away from God and his Truth.

We have been obsessed about painting the cruise ship, swabbing the deck (mopping?) Some are even down below sleeping in our bunks. We have lost sight of the mission and destination

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:18-20

We have been sent (rough waters and all) into all the world with the Gospel. We have chosen rather to dock in safe harbors on every street corner.  We are singing the songs of the sailor while actually being land lovers.  We have counted the cost and we're staying in safe waters. Ships are safer there but are built to handle the stormy seas.

Then there is joy and rest from a job well done.

We have been cruise ships far too long. We must also be rescue boats in the fog shouting "come aboard, come aboard!"  We need all hands-on deck and full speed ahead.

Let's get the map out and read it. In these uncertain waters, we have to get back to the truth and stay the course!