Gospel to the World

2008-10-02T13:12:00.000-07:00

Unhappy America

Rev 3:17-20

It is not hard to tell that we are in the midst of an economic recession these days.

In the past 3 months, we have seen a great amount of collapse on Wall Street.
The mortgage industry has seen it share of pain with the government takeovers of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, two of the largest mortgage holders. Their struggle throughout this year led them almost to the brink of collapse. There was also the financial collapse of Lehman Bros., one of the largest financial institutions that held an enormous amount of mortgage backed securities.

Still, there are other industries that have felt a sharp decline and collapse.
The recent banking failures of Washington Mutual which is one of the largest banking institutions in the United States as well as recent discussion of Wachovia which has both being sold to other banking institutions before complete takeover of the FDIC.
There are the recent sales of Merrill Lynch and Bear Stearns, as well as the bailout loan given to one of the largest insurance providers- AIG.

There is no doubt that we are facing unprecedented times.

Amidst all of this, we are told to have hope in a 700 billion dollar bail-out plan that will help to restore the economy and are happiness. Or will it?

What is the answer to this economic crisis?

We are dealing with an unhappy America.

How do we find true happiness in troubling times?

Rev 3:17-20
Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' — and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked — 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

-AMERICA’S UNHAPPINESS-

Some blame it on Bush, others blame it on global warming.
We are not happy people.
The unhappiness goes far deeper than the economy. It is at the core of families throughout the nation.

It is a nation of unhappiness

On the outside, there is the making of greatness. There is the tremendous opportunity in a land of abundance. This is what forged this land to greatness. Our forefathers saw potential in this land. The pilgrims settled here to build a society that created an atmosphere of Christian values. Through these values, schools were made society flourished, and the making of a nation under God thrived and flourished us into becoming a strong superpower in the world.

However, the inside was deteriorating.
Families are torn apart. Home is no longer the safe alternative. Scattered throughout the homes of America are war zones. There is war on drugs, war on the streets, war on poverty. There are incurable illnesses that are destroying lives. Not just AIDS, Cancer and the like, but deeper illnesses such as depression and loneliness.

Unhappiness is all around.

As the nation has thrived, so has greed and corruption. If we were to take a look into the history of this country, we would see that the very principles we first sought to create are being removed one by one.

There began a slow fade.

It started with the introduction of evolution.
Until the late 19th century, creation was taught in nearly all schools in the United States, often from the position that the literal interpretation of the Bible is inerrant. In the 1860s, there was widespread acceptance of the theory of evolution in public schools after being first introduced in 1859. *

Then there was the removal of prayer and reading the bible in schools. The 1960s court cases of Engle vs. Vitale and Abington Township School District v. Schempp. Many believe that this had a part in plunging America into the hippie craze of the 1960s. Teen pregnancy sky rocketed; drugs abuse increased, and regard for godly principles were ignored.

In 1973, Roe vs. Wade was a Supreme court ruling that brought abortion out. According to the Roe decision, most laws against abortion in the United States violated a constitutional right to privacy under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Roe v. Wade centrally held that a mother may abort her pregnancy for any reason, up until the "point at which the fetus becomes ‘viable.’" The Court defined viable as being potentially able to live outside the mother's womb, albeit with artificial aid.*
Since then over 50 million babies have been aborted!

An entire generation that has been lost!

More recently is the push to remove the Ten Commandments from Courthouse displays. There was the push to make Christmas a more tolerable holiday and removed the manger as well as any inclination of Christ.

Today we have tolerance for any other religion and for homosexuality, but no tolerance for Christianity and God.

Although these are the fundamental principles that our forefathers set forth, what is seen that the inside has deteriorate while trying to hold a great outside appearance.

It is no wonder why we live in an unhappy society.

The foundations of principle have been removed.

America is riddled with sin.

Teen pregnancy is now acceptable and practically encouraged.
Drugs and alcohol is found in many families to escape from reality.
Provocative Relationships on the internet, and the availability of pornography on the web as well as T.V., Movies, even radio.

No longer is it what would Jesus do, but what would the idols do.
Divorce is at an all time high.
Every person knows someone close who has a broken home. Many children don’t live in a two parent home.

The list goes on- unhappiness is obvious.

What we see in the recent economic issues is not some new thing, but a small glimpse in the American home. There are toxic waters that have created an atmosphere of collapse.
It is the reality of truth. Financial collapse is inevitable if greed and corruption continue. An example of this was Enron.

The greed and corruption of America has grown.

While there are those who strive to seek a solution for the symptoms, we must seek out the cause and deal with it.

Our text gives us some insight into this.
…'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' — and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked…

This portion of scripture is given to a particular church, but when we seek the deeper element, we realize that Jesus is bringing to attention a particular attitude that can be found not only in the church, but individually and to a nation. In fact is addressed to anyone who would listen. Hence the words in vs.22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

On April 30, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln gave a speech called the Proclamation for a National Day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer. It expresses the same sentiment to us.

We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven. We have been preserved, the many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to God that made us It behooves us, then to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.

We see times where God spoke to the children of Israel in the same context and sought their repentance.

…'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'
This is the same attitude we see in America, a nation under God. America would rather try to seek for answers everywhere else than God.

The same response is given by God.
— And do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked…

America is in a crisis, not only economically, but fundamentally.

America has not only become complacent with God, but shakes its fist in daring Him to do something about it.

-A CALL TO REPENTANCE-

This is a nation that shows the signs of judgment. In no way is the economic crisis the judgment. It only gives us a true picture of reality.

But should we not repent, judgment will be upon us.

David Wilkerson, Pastor of the Time square Church in New York City, and author of numerous books wrote concerning this nation that is founded under God,
“We have gone completely past the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah and past the sins of the Children of Israel.”

Judgment is eminent if we don’t repent and return to our foundations.

This is what the bible is telling us.
I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

The answer to this crisis is not a 700 billion dollar bail out plan.
It is not who to vote for in the coming elections.

The answer is to return to the roots in which this great nation was birthed and turn from sin.

The answer is looking onto God and seeking Him.

It is God who can calm storms. It is God who gives and takes away.

This call to repentance is not some form of threat.
Jesus tells us in the text, I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire

In other words, God’s heart is that we would turn and repent; not after He pours out His judgment, but before.

He is counseling us; pleading that we seek after righteousness for our sake.
…that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

He goes on and says,
Therefore be zealous and repent.

Restoring the fundamental principles IS the answer to seeing America restored.
It serves as a regulator. When we seek righteousness, wickedness is drawn out.

What this nation needs is its King- Jesus Christ.

During President George Washington’s farewell address, he stated these words,
Our laws and our institutions must necessarily be based upon and embody the teachings of the Redeemer of mankind.… It is impossible that it should be otherwise; and in the sense and to this extent our civilization and our institutions are emphatically Christian.

He understood the importance of this foundation, and was not ashamed to say it.

We need to return to our foundation.

-RESTORING A NATION HAPPINESS-

Blessing is to those who seek God.

Ex 23:24-25
Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.
And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.

When we talk about blessing the word can be translated as happy.

The words bless, blessed, and blessing appears in the bible 497 times. This gives us insight that God is a God of blessing, who enriches our lives as we seek after Him.

While sin causes turmoil and chaos, those who seek the Lord are blessed.

Prov 10:22
The blessing of the LORD makes one rich,
And He adds no sorrow with it.

This brings us back to our text,
I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

He seeks to bring blessing to our lives; this is root of America’s affluence. But it is only found in Him.

We read the story in the bible of Jesus meeting with a man who was filled with destruction and demons which tormented him daily. No one could bind him, and he lived among the tombs.

But when the power of God was enabled in this man’s life, we find him clothed and in his right mind.

Only the power of God can work it out. This man would forever be changed, and while all seemed hopeless, when he stood before the Son of God, Christ had the power to release this man, and instructs him to return home.

Another restored family made through the redemption and power of Christ!

Only He can restore happiness.
As He instructs us to buy His gold and be clothed by Him, He says this will take away the shame.

Therefore be zealous and repent.

This is a plea to see relief and true happiness; to find joy and hope and peace in a hostile world. What we need is a nation that would return to its roots and help to bring joy to the world by simply regarding its King.

And it starts with you and me.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

* Reference: Wikipedia

Coronary Christianity

2007-07-05T22:29:00.000-07:00

The Golden Testimony
Sunday Evening, June 10, 2007
Bellflower, CA

Col 1:21-23
And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight — 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast , and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

_______________________________________________

It is important that God work in us, to keep us and make us fruitful witnesses.

God must do a refining work in our character.

This is most essential if we want to be effective, and be used by God in greatness.

I want to talk to you about a golden testimony.
It is important that we are steadfast in God if we are to be an influence to others around us.

[Text]

-A Reed Swayed in the Wind-

The Character of a Reed

We read of Peter in
John 1:42
Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas"

If we know anything about Peter, we recognize that his character was far from being a rock.

It was hard for him to have his yes be yes, and his no be no.

We’ve been there before.

It is likened to a reed swayed in the wind.

A reed has little root.

Mark 4:16-18
These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble.

Ineffective in our Witness

It is difficult to be effective if we are one way today and another the next.

It is very difficult to be taken seriously.

We read the story of Lot in the bible

Gen 19:14
So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said,"Get up, get out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city!" But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking.

I heard a story a letter from a man who went to prison sent to a pastor.
The letter went on to state his poor decision making and yet he wanted to thank the people that had brought him to church. He stated in the letter, how their testimony is what gave him the ability to finally find Christ. He was sad that it was a little too late, but he wanted the pastor to pass the word on to this couple that took him in and gave him the knowledge of salvation.

There was a sad ending to this story, because as the pastor looked at the couple he was referring to, he realized they had fallen away, were no longer coming to church.

What a terrible ending. To find yourself achieving in the things of God, only to turn back and not receive the joy of all that is involved in a golden testimony.

People are looking at your testimony to see if this Jesus is real.

Ineffective in our Decisions

Gen 19:17-20
Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed."
Then Lot said to them, "Please, no, my lords! 19 Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die. 20 See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one; please let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live."

Vs.30
Then Lot went up out of Zoar and dwelt in the mountains, and his two daughters were with him; for he was afraid to dwell in Zoar. And he and his two daughters dwelt in a cave.

It is difficult if we are indecisive in our actions. It will lead us into caves. Imagine what God could have done, but Lot’s decisions were mixed.

This was the reason for the long stay in a wicked place.

This was also passed down to his daughters, as they perform the most heiniest of sin with their father.

A reed is not able to make the right choice in difficult situations, and as we see it can be passed down as an inherit trait to those after us.

Just imagine what God's call was for Lot's life. He has spared it, only to have this reed make poor decision after poor decision.

In the kingdom of God, there is no time to be comprised, simply because of lack of decision.

Rev 3:15-16
"I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

This is bred in the characteristics of a reed.

James 1:6-8
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways

Peter needed a change of character in order to be effective for the gospel.

-A Solid Rock-

For most of us, we need to be refined as a solid rock.
This is how we become fruitful, or effective.

Mark 4:20
But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."

This leads us to our portion of scripture.

23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast , and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Paul understood that this would help us in becoming effective in our lives.

Endurance

James 5:11
11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure . You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord — that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

This calls for endurance.

Heb 10:36
36 For you have need of endurance , so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

Imagine running the race and missing out on the promise.
This is what that poor couple suffered. A young man giving thanks for their example, and yet not able to receive the honor.

Heb 12:1-2
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Coronary Christianity

I am glad for adrenaline; I suspect it gets me through lots of Sundays. But it doesn't do much for Mondays. I am more thankful for my heart. It just keeps on serving – during good days and bad days, happy and sad, high and low, appreciated and unappreciated. It never lets me down. It never says, "I don't like your attitude, Piper, I'm taking a day off." It just keeps humbly lubb-dubbing along.

Coronary Christians are like the heart in the causes they serve. Adrenal Christians are like adrenaline – a spurt of energy and then fatigue. What we need in the cause of racial justice and justice for the unborn is coronary Christians. Marathoners, not just sprinters. People who find the pace to finish the (life-long) race.
(John Piper-desiringgod.com)

-The Blessedness of a Coronary Christian-
Rewarder of Those

This morning we are talking about the joys of this salvation.
Coronary Christians are those who are able to experience the portion of scripture, He is a
…rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
And the wonders of His promises.

The beatitudes are people who are considered coronary Christians.
Not those who are shaken by the wind, but are stable in their faith.
He says blessed are those.

A Chosen Character

David was a man chosen by God.
We read the account of Samuel going to choose the king, God’s says I test the heart.

Peter was chosen.

Luke 22:31-32
And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."

He became a refined character, and because of this, his witness and ministry is affecting lives even today. This could not have been possible with his original character.
Great men are those who would endure.
These are solid rocks with golden testimonies.

It is important for us to maintain this golden testimony.
It will help us in our decision, it will cause us to be an effective influence, and it will also bring blessing into our lives.

For you have need of endurance.

Heb 10:36
36 For you have need of endurance , so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
"For yet a little while,
And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him."
But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

The writer is talking about a golden testimony.

Col 1:21-23
And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight — 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast , and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

This morning, may we be able to stand on the solid rock of Jesus, and have the testimony as our scripture talks about-indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast , and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard...

Paul is talking about a golden testimony, and he leaves us these words, "of which I, Paul, became a minister."

We can learn this type of character in the apostle Paul.

In the midst of adversity, yet he kept on going on.

In the end, he would state the words, (2 Tim 4)...and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight , I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

May we be able to speak these words, as we walk as coronary Christians, and be a part of those who have loved His great appearing.

Col 1:21-23

And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight — 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast , and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

The Spirit of Rejection

2007-03-29T10:56:00.000-07:00

Mark 10:7-16

The New Testament account of Paul
There were many triumphs, but there were also disappointments.

II Timothy 4, Paul writes concerning one of these defeats,
9 Be diligent to come to me quickly; 10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.

This was a devastating blow in the ministry.
We can hear a sense of rejection in these words.

-The Spirit of Rejection-

We all deal with some type of rejection in our lives. How to live in the freedom of Jesus, and the victory that can be found in Him

[Text]

Rejections

We all have been seared with the iron of rejection at some point. We can all relate to how it feels to be rejected.
It is something that Jesus says is a way of life.

Luke 17:1
Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!

Rejections can come from many different situations.

Close Relationships
Separations
Broken Homes- many children living angry lives.

In our text, Jesus is dealing with divorce.

It is no question about God’s stance when it comes to divorce.

Malachi 2:16
“For the LORD God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one’s garment with violence,” Says the LORD of hosts.
“Therefore take heed to your spirit;
that you do not deal treacherously.”

God looks at all that involved. He sees the children and he sees the hurt.

A certain study showed,
If a fire alarm were to go off in the home of a married family, the first instinct of the parents is to grab the children.
The same was conducted with divorced parties, and what was seen is that the children were forgotten in the confusion, while the parent found safety for himself.

Divorce does bring with it a spirit of rejection.

A certain psychologist studying the behavior of women in therapy, found a common thread in their response to their parent’s divorce. Daddy left me.
Never mind that daddy was looking out for himself.

Rejection is what is left in the middle of a divorce, and this is the reason why God hates it so much.

The root breeds rejection.

Rejection breeds hurt, and with it abandonment, and even frustration.

Rejection creates an atmosphere where one is trying to find acceptance, and yet never able to attain it.

It leaves one with an inability to get close to people.
It doesn’t want to get close, for fear of loss.

There are many Christians that are moving in this spirit.

They begin to push people away, for fear of getting too close.

(Jennifer’s escape from rejection)

We need to understand that there is a healthy way of dealing with rejection, so we don’t live in this kind of spirit.

Healing

Our text tells us something very peculiar.

…13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them;

Find healing in Jesus

He will never leave you nor forsake.

Psalms 37:25
I have been young, and now am old;
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.

He was forsaken for our transgression. In other words, he knows how it feels to be rejected.

He went through it at the cross.

And for this, the bible says by His stripes we are healed!

…Then the children came…

These were children who were rejected. Children of divorce. He says, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them.”

We can find freedom in Christ.

The Healing Process
Not to Dwell

Something that Paul did was he didn’t dwell. He was forsaken before by John Mark, and now he is asking for him and says, Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.

He didn’t stay in the hurt. He continued and forged on.

II Tim 4:16
16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.

Something that helped him was his relationship with God.
Fully Rely on Christ

Romans 10:11
For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.

Challenging times will come, but it is our choice on the direction we choose to go.

It can be a great time for you to grow in Christ.

Seek the Lord

Find deliverance at the cross.

We should have the attitude as these children, come to Jesus. He is there to deliver you. He is there when all the world seems to have left you.

Eyes to Perceive; Ears to Understand

2007-02-27T22:23:00.000-08:00

Matthew 13:3-17

If you know anything about bank safes, you would know that they are durable and difficult to break in. From the outside, they look indestructible. Made of steel or iron some are fire retardant.
This poses a difficult task of breaking it open.

However, there is a method that was learned in the 19th century. It was found that you can break into a steel or iron safe simply by hearing or feeling the ‘clicking’ noise of the combination.

After all, a safe is only as secure as its combination.

Of course, it would be easier if someone just gave you the combination, but this technique was mastered by pros, and as more locks became sophisticated, it became more difficult to master and had to deal with keener senses.

But the purpose of breaking the safe, was not for the thrill of it, but simply what was found inside.

In the kingdom of God, there is a safe to break. And that is the will of God. A code deciphered only through the listening and sensitivity of a person.

But the prize to be found is much more the thrill.

We need a prayer and a mastery to hear and see what God wants for us, to unlock the mystery of God for us.

No Ears to Hear

Jesus tells them after they have heard his message, “He who has an ear let him hear!"

Now why would Jesus say this?

Well we can see why in the next few verses.

Matt 13:14-15
Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,
And seeing you will see and not perceive;
15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.'

I’m amazed to see my son Isaiah's reaction when I call out to him sometimes.
I may be shouting his name, but he is oblivious to my voice.
He can even seem as if I am not even there.

Many of times this is how we can be with the voice of God.
His mouth is moving, but you can’t hear a word that He is saying.

It takes us tuning in to God. It takes us positioning ourselves, as a cat burglar would position his self to crack the safe. He doesn’t stand from a distance; his ear is on the safe. It is poised to hear the simple clicking.

When Elijah was faced with discouragement, God presented to him the technique of fine tuning to God’s voice.

1 Kings 19:11-12
Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

With all of the noise from the world, it can be difficult to hear God’s word. It can seem to drown out the voice of God, especially if it is found in a still small voice.

This takes us mastering the art of listening to God.

But Jesus goes even further.

Understanding and Perceive

In our text, Jesus’ parable is about those who hear the word of God, and respond differently because of the understanding of their heart.

While some whom understanding can be seen as seed fallen on stony ground, there are those that even after hearing the word of God, are choked by the voices of the world.

Still, there are those who found having good soil, and therefore when the word of God comes, it is able to take root and bear much fruit.

He is talking about an understanding and a response of the voice of God!

We need to pray that we may not only have ears and eyes to see and hear, but that we might understand and perceive.

Jesus references the book of Isaiah which gives us the detail of why this is so important.

Isaiah 6:10
Lest they see with their eyes,
And hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart,
And return and be healed."

Years ago, early in my Christianity, this began to be my prayer.

It later grew to ask God, that I might fine tune, or hear more clearly His voice as I continued to understand and perceive.

This is a very important prayer, because it brings the fruit of life, the healing, and the restoration that only God can bring.

There is so much more that God wants to bring to our lives, to enrich our lives, if only we would simply understand and perceive.

God’s salvation is only the beginning.

Jesus says,
Vs. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."

Gauging Our Present State

This parable carries much weight for us.
Because the purpose of this parable was to ask the question, where is our present state?

The understanding of this parable will help us decipher the will of God.
How do we receive the word of God? It is going to determine if we are fruitfull in our walk with God.

We must look within and ask ourselves, what is my present state?

This must be found through humility.
For pride would say, I am always the good soil.
I understand the mystery of God.
But the question would then be, where is your fruit?

This parable was given to a multitude of people who felt the same way. What we see here are even the disciples coming and asking what is the meaning of this. These are men who walked with Jesus daily!

Jesus says to us to he who has an ear, let him hear!

We too must find an honest gauge of our present state, that we might find victory.

Jesus gives us explanation of the parable. I love it that Jesus took the time to give us understanding. It helps the process.

Matt 13:18-23
"Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."

This is going to take us finding our present condition and working towards the goal of understanding and perceiving all that God has for us.

Throughout the history of safe cracking, it grew increasingly difficult to crack the safes. Companies began using lightweight wheels and nylon to decrease the sound of the click.

The burglar had a difficult task, nevertheless, they spent the time training themselves to listen more intently.

I began thinking about this.

If these thieves can take such extraordinary time trying to master an illegal operation that amounts to a small amount of reward, how much more should we take the time to master that art of hearing and seeing the word of God!

To take the time to understand and perceive it. We are working for a more promising an everlasting prize.

We must gauge where we are at, and look toward honing in on the fine tuning of listening the voice of God.

Where is your present state in understanding the word of God?

Is it found by the wayside? Does the word of God fall on stony ground? Is it choked by the cares of this world?

Jesus says heaven and earth shall pass away, but My word shall not pass away.

Can we spend the time honing in on the skill of not only hearing the word of God, but understanding it.

May it fall on good soil when it is given. For there is where we shall produce much fruit.

When He Has Come

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John 16:7-15
Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
12 "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

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We read in the Old Testament a very fascinating story of Elisha receiving the anointing through Elijah.

We know the story.
Elijah is about to be taken up, and Elisha makes one last request. He asks for a double portion of the Spirit of Elijah.

There is an important lesson of discipleship in here, because what Elijah was telling Elisha was “if you are going to do what I do, you have to be what I am.”

But I want you to lock your minds on Elisha’s request.

The spirit that Elijah had was a demonstration of the unction of God. The anointing of God in one’s life.

This is what Elisha was searching for.

He was looking for that same kind of anointing to come upon him.
This is why he was following him.
He knew Elijah had the Holy Spirit at work in his life.

And he was able to receive Elijah’s mantle which was a symbol of God’s anointing in Elijah’s life.

Adam Clarke’s commentary says, He smote the waters, and when they did not divide… In other words, the Vulgate bible points out that in the original language, “He smote the waters first, and they did not divide.” Then comes the words, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” It reads like this, “And he smote the waters and they did not divide, and he said, ‘Where is the God of Elijah, even now?’ And he struck the waters a second time and they were divided hither and thither…”
This surmises for us that at first, perhaps he was confiding too much in his own strength and ability, and that although he knew the drill, there was much more to it.

Then, having evoked the God of Elijah, he succeeds and the waters split.

If we are going to make impact, it’s going to take far more than ourselves to accomplish the task.

Man’s Ability

There is a competitive spirit in the hearts of man. We see this in sports. Men don’t go into a sport without having the sense that they might win.
It would be hard pressed to see someone give it there all, with the intent to lose.

We have the desire to succeed.

This is also transpired in the Christian arena.
You don’t follow after Christ without counting the cost. Christ made reference to this in the new testament-

Luke 14:28-30
For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost , whether he has enough to finish it — 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.

And so here we see that it is in man to strive to count the cost and succeed in all that we want to achieve.

Also in the heart of man is the adventure of the impossible.
Men climb the highest mountain
Men swim the deepest sea

What we are a part of is an incredible task.
We are a part of a calling that is impossible in man’s eyes.
It is impossible to see a city turn to Jesus given our own ability.

But we desire to succeed.
A desire to succeed in the call that God has for us in our lives.

This is why we are gathered here today. Because men and women are striving to see the destiny that God has for them. We are here in order that we might finish the race strong.

With success comes failure, and this is where we begin to panic.

Here is Elisha, waiting for the river Jordan to part, but nothing happens.
Picture with me if you will. Here is Elisha; he’s picked up the mantle. He understands exactly what’s involved. He understands that in order to get back across the Jordan River, he’s going to have to step up to the river. He’s going to smite the river, and the river is going to divide. Remember all the things that are involved there. Also the bible school students in the school of the prophets are watching. He steps up to the river and smites it. He’s waiting for the waters to roll back. All the motions are right. He has all the gestures that he learned from Elijah, but nothing happens.

This is the first trial of Elisha’s ministry.
He had the staff, but it seemed like he didn’t have the stuff.
He could have easily looked at the mantle and thought, this only worked for Elijah. He could have quit, but he was still on the other side of the Jordan.

Imagine if Elisha started to swim back.

This is where we can begin to trust in our own ability. .

We take matters in our own hands.

When things don’t seem to go the way God said, the way your pastor said it would go. The first instinct is to take matters into your own hands.

This is very true on the mission field. We begin to think, maybe if I study more. Maybe if I try another method. Maybe if I worked harder and beat the servants to do more.

We begin to get discouraged simply because things aren’t going the way we thought they should go.

We begin to get harder on ourselves. We take it out on the people of God. We can even blame our fellow brothers and sisters. “They are the cause for it!”
For some of you, you’ve been fighting the urge to call it quits.

There are times we are faced with no results, and the undaunted feeling that we must fix it.

But what happens when you can’t?

What can happen in this darkest of moments, is that we make the gravest mistakes. When we take matters in our own hands, we tie God’s hands and in turn fail to reach the full potential God has for us.

I want you to focus on what Elisha does. He says, “Where is the God of Elijah?” This speaks much wisdom for us.

Elisha didn’t trust in his own ability, he looked onto the God that made it happen for his fathers.

God’s Ability

Here is an important lesson.

Because God is more into what we are doing than we are. We look at the empty chairs. We look at people’s problems. We look at all the problems. All the negative. However, God is into what we are doing more than we can ever be.

The bible says,

2 Peter 3:9
not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

God is into us winning the world for Jesus. He is looking for men and women who are willing to lay it down to see God’s kingdom established.

God’s desire is that we succeed in reaching our potential.

He is seeking those who would seek the impossible.

Luke 18:27-30
But He said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."

Then Peter said, "See, we have left all and followed You."

So He said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life."

Listen, God recognizes that what you are doing is the impossible! This scripture is correlated together for a purpose. He understands this man of God, and He is in to it!
He is into making the impossible possible!

Peter says, we have left all and followed You.
Jesus says, hey I’m into that!

His ability is activated through our weaknesses. He chose the foolishness to confound the wise, because His ability is exhibited.

A man decided to buy a chainsaw. A logging foreman sold him a used one that he guaranteed would cut down 100 trees in a single day. A week later, a very unhappy man came back to report that the saw must be faulty because he could only cut down 8 trees per day. The logger looked at the carburetor. He checked the gas and the spark plug. He commented that he couldn't find anything wrong. He then grabbed the saw, pulled on the starter cord, and the chain saw promptly went "BZZZZZZZZZZ." The man who had bought the saw jumped and cried out, "What's that noise!"

At some point, we are going to have to turn on the power of God!

It is in our weaknesses that He is made strong. He chose to lessen the armies of Gideon to win the battle, so that all may know Him and His demonstrable power. It is something supernatural and this is what we must tap ourselves into, to be able to cross the river Jordan.

Zech 4:6
This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel:
'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,'

vs10
For who has despised the day of small things?

These verses are talking about the foundation of the church. It is only going to come though the Spirit of God.

With Man it is impossible, but with God it is made possible!

When He Is Come

Our text is a very important portion of scripture to take note,

“When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself . . . for He shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you."

On the day of Pentecost they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.

This is the power that He told them to wait for.

Acts 1:8
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

He knew they wouldn’t be able to fulfill the call of God on their own ability.

They came out of that room aflame with God, and were able to face a hostile world.
Under the preaching of the first Holy Ghost inspired sermon, three thousand people were born again.

Talk about seeing conversions without serving hot dogs!

Jesus was now fully revealed by the power of the Holy Spirit to Peter and the rest. They preached Christ in the demonstration and power of the Holy Spirit. There was no hesitation, no fear on the part of any one of them. They were at once ready to die if necessary.

When the Holy Spirit came down upon them, they began to prophesy and speak in other tongues. People gathered together. The Holy Spirit drew a crowd without the aid of the people!

This is the power that is needed to reach our cities. This is the power that has been demonstrated throughout all the past revivals, and will be poured out in these last days. We will not be able to reach our city without it.

It is not in our ability but His. It is His light that must shine through us to reach this dark world.

-HE-

Our text says, HE will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Acts 5: 32
"The Holy Ghost, whom God hath given"

What does God give?
Sanctification? Holiness? Purity? Perfect love? A clean heart?

Is it to these experiences our attention is called?

Let us read again: "The Holy Ghost, whom God hath given." So then, the question is not, "What does God give?" but, "Whom does God give?" And the answer is "The Holy Ghost." Do you see the difference?

There is much revelation to seeing the Holy Spirit not as just some presence to contend for, but God Himself. The third person of the Godhead.

This is whom we must contend for. He is real and has dwelled amongst our fathers and even in us.

AB Simpson said these words,
"Once it was the blessing, now it is the Lord; Once it was the feeling, now it is His Word; Once His gifts I wanted, now the Giver own; Once I sought for healing, now Himself alone."

"Once it was my working, His it hence shall be;
Once I tried to use Him, Now He uses me."

There is power in the possession of the Holy Spirit, we must be possessed by Him.

-His Annointing-

This is what we see in Elisha. He makes a move and nothing happens. Now you are faced with a decision at that point and the decision is, “Ahh, this thing doesn’t work.” Or you can do what Elisha did, “Where is the God of Elijah?

You can either throw in the towel and say this thing doesn’t work”, or you can realize that God is still God and He’s still looking for someone that would quest for power, and that will yield there lives to Him and will press through. If you don’t press in to receive that, and you are trusting in your own ability, you have nothing.

There is a dimension to be possessed and that is His anointing. You can learn the right moves, you can have symbolism, but I want to tell you that sooner or later you’ll have to cross the river Jordan. Sooner or later you are going to need that personal contact and a relationship with God that will release that anointing.

All down the centuries God has anointed His servants. He came on Jesus and Peter and Paul. On Brainerd and Wesley and Finney. And He came on Roberts and Spurgeon and Moody. And when He did, the floodgates of heaven opened.

These men contended before the Lord in prayer. They wrestled in intercession. They agonized for souls. And as they did, the Spirit came upon them and thousands upon thousands were swept into the Kingdom.

It was their constant contact with God and their daily anointing of the Spirit that made them what they were.

When the going gets rough, it’s time to call on the God of our fathers. It is time to contend for breakthrough in prayer. It is time to ask God for a fresh anointing.

God can and will use you to the full limit of your capacity.
But it is going to have to be that you wait before Him; spend much time alone with God; agonize for souls, and though you know it not, you will be anointed with the Spirit of God. And in the power of the anointing you will be used for His glory.

Luke 4:18, 19
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord".

Here, my friend, is the work of the minister. To do it Jesus Christ was anointed. Have you, too, been anointed?
If your ministry is to be effective, you must be an anointed man.

Can you do it? Not unless you are Spirit-anointed. It is a big order for any man. And only the enabling power of the Spirit will suffice.

When Elisha called upon God, he was anointed with the same spirit that had rested on Elijah, and he fulfilled double of the things Elijah did in his life. Our pattern works. Call on the God of your fathers and find that same anointing that brought revival to them.

Facing Temptation

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James 1:12
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

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The Old Testament gives us an interesting story about a man by the name of Gehazi.

He was a servant of Elisha. This man was being groomed by one of the greatest man of God. Gehazi had much potential, and yet temptation took him from the destiny that was before him.

In II Kings we see a man named Naaman coming to ask for healing from his leprosy. Leprosy is a chronic, infectious disease characterized by sores, scabs, and white shining spots beneath the skin.
Leprosy is a decaying of the body. It deadens the senses of its victim.

After being healed from this horrific disease, Naaman offers Elisha a gift.
Elisha refuses the gift, and yet we see Gehazi as he begins to ponder this.

2 Kings 5:20
But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "Look, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, while not receiving from his hands what he brought; but as the LORD lives, I will run after him and take something from him."

This is the heart of temptation.

I want to preach a sermon I've entitled Facing Temptation, because we will all face with temptation.

The question is not if you will face it; it is inevitable even if you are the saintly of saints. But the question is what will our decisions be when it comes.

The Origins of Temptation

Our text helps us to see the origins of temptation.

It tells us, it does not come from God, but it comes from the desires of our heart.

Vs. 14-15
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

This is what we see in the account of Eve in the garden of Eden. The bible shows for us that it comes from within:

Gen 3:6
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.

This is not isolated to Eve, but to all of humanity.

1 John 2:16
For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world.

This is found within the hearts of all that live and have ever lived on this earth.

It is birthed through selfish desires.

Our text tells us when desire is conceived, it gives birth to sin.

Temptation and desire enacted upon together are the parents of sin.

Cain’s heart was rousing with the possibilities of his actions, as God exclaimed for him, “sin is crouching at your door”.

This is true for every one of us.

If we are not careful, temptation can seize us and bring us to sin.

Vs. 15
…and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

This is why we need to be prepared when temptation comes.

How to Handle Temptation

As I stated before, it is not if we will face temptation, but when. It will be very important how we handle it when it comes, because it can determine our outcome.
Here are some things to keep in mind to help us handle temptation:

1. Rooted in God’s Word

Jesus gives us understanding on how to handle it, when we see Satan come to tempt Him.

Luke 4:3-4
And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread."

The devil will bring in doubt to what God has ordained. This is the same trick he used on Eve.

Jesus’ response:
…"It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'"

We are going to have to know our bible. Jesus first says it is written. But actually, it is what He says that has the ability to set us free.

He says, 'Man shall not live by bread alone...'

He found his food, not in the wonders of this world, not through His own personal ability, not the words of the enemy, but His reply is the same reply that should be true for us.

Do we live by every word that is spoken out of the mouth of God?

Whose word do we fill ourselves with?
Many are filled with the riches of this world.

1 Tim 6:8-9
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

We need to be rooted in the word of God.
This will keep us, so that when temptation comes, we would be able to stand our ground.

1 Cor 10:12-13
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

The previous text tells us:
1 Cor 10:12-13
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

2. Worship, Watch and Pray

Satan sought to tempt Jesus again, but His second response can also teach us.

Luke 4:8
"Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"

In the midst of temptation, it is a time we should take our eyes and focus them on God.

Heb 12:1-2
…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

When we readjust our eyes from our desires to God’s will, we can be saved from temptation.

Mark 14:37-38
Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

As we turn our eyes toward heaven, temptation is weakened, and the spirit of God is able to prevail.

3. Flee
A third thing that we can do is flee.

2 Tim 2:21-22
Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Some people like to play with temptation, as if they can be saved from its downfall.

When temptation comes, flee!

The Triumphs vs. The Perils

Blessed

Our text tells us the joy of those who are able to overcome.

James 1:12
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

We will receive a crown.
A Crown signifies authority
We will receive the crown of life!

This is why we should put our focus towards heaven.

The Peril

Unfortunately, Gehazi was not able to overcome.
Look at the outcome.

2 Kings 5:27

Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever." And he went out from his presence leprous, as white as snow.

The unfortunate event happened.
His destiny was done for.

This is the peril of Temptation.

There have been many who have lost out on destiny, simply because they gave into temptation.

Leprosy has spiritual attributes. We can find disease of the spirit as we continue to endulge in temptation.

We need to know how to handle temptation, so we can continue to live victorious lives for Jesus.

Making the Most of Today

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Ps 90:9-12
For all our days have passed away in Your wrath;
We finish our years like a sigh.
10 The days of our lives are seventy years;
And if by reason of strength they are eighty years,
Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow;
For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
11 Who knows the power of Your anger?
For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath.
12 So teach us to number our days ,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom.

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Days can go by so quickly. It seems as if 2006 came and went in a blur. Lately I’ve talked with Jenn and reflected on how my children have grown so quickly. It blew my mind to realize how old Cameron and Shane are!

Life goes by very quickly.

We need to make our lives count for the gospel while there is still time.

The Brevity of Life

James 4:14
For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

The bible tells us that man’s life is but a vapor. This speaks of the brevity of life.

Ps 39:11
…Surely every man is vapor.

We will someday pass from this life.

Ps 102:11
11 My days are like a shadow that lengthens,
And I wither away like grass.

Our text tells us the factor of life.

Vs.10
The days of our lives are seventy years;
And if by reason of strength they are eighty years,
Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow;
For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

This is wisdom to us.
Look at what he says in the prior verse

For all our days have passed away in Your wrath;
We finish our years like a sigh.

In other words, our days are not only short but miserable as our sins daily provoke God’s wrath.

The devil will lie to people and make them think that they have time to get right with God. But what they don’t realize is that life is miserable in sin.

Squandering the Time Away

As wickedness takes place, sin gets a hold and destroys life itself.

This is what sin does.

Rom 6:23
For the wages of sin is death…

The days are too short to not take each day and make them count.

We see this in the prodigal son. The bible says,

Luke 15:13-16
13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

This man took not only his possessions but the word ‘when he had spent all’, refers also to the precious time squandered.

This is much what we see in the world today.

Time wasted in entertainment.
Selfish gratification
The pleasures of life
In all kinds of circumstances with no reference to the brevity of life.

Life is too short to be wasted

So teach us to number our days ,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom

In others words, recognize the brevity of life, and make it count for what is most important.

Life is here today, and gone tomorrow. Every day is one day closer to eternity.

The story of the rich man going to build bigger barns

Luke 12:16-21
16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?' 18 So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul,"Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry."' 20 But God said to him, 'Fool ! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?'
21 "So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

When we look back at life what will life reflect to us.

I remember a pastor stating the horror of getting to heaven, and God not only showing us what we did, but what we could have been had we prioritized our time.

As we recognize the brevity of life, we must also prioritize our lives accordingly.

Jesus says, But seek Ye first, the kingdom of God…

This should come into our mind if we are to make our lives count with the full potential.

The Days are Short

Most of us might not see seventy. Should the Lord tarry perhaps, but we are living in the last generation.

Matt 24:32-35
"Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near — at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.

Time is winding up. Every second brings us closer to God’s kingdom drawing near.

And in this, we must find ourselves doing what God has called us to do.

It is a time that needs our preparation. That as we draw closer, we are ready to meet the King.

Matt 24:45-51
"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. 47 Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, 51 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

May we be found doing so when He comes. Not squandering our time, but making it count for what matters the most, and that is eternity.

Defining Moments

2007-02-07T12:19:00.000-08:00

Luke 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

Psalm 119:59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
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There are many times in our lives when we will face a defining moment - a decision we will have to make that will make who we truly are. For good or ill, it will very often be what we are remembered for, or at least what we ourselves remember and cherish or regret.

We will all come to this place at some point.
There are turning point experiences that define us and determine our very direction in life.

Defining Moments
These are reference points in the kingdom of God that will help shape us and make us.

Our obligation would be to recognize these moments, and use them as turning points in order to keep us on track with the will of God.

In the kingdom of God, you will find that there will be many of these moments. He will open our eyes to certain things. They can occur during prayer. It could happen in a sermon, or a worship service.

I want to focus on two defining moments of a believer, and help us to know what to do when turning points of life present themselves to us.

The Defining Moment of Salvation

In the text, the prodigal son reaches a turning point of his life.

Vs. 17 "But when he came to his senses…”

This was his turning point in his life
He recognized his present state, and assessed the situation, and made a decision on what he was going to do about it.

Luke 15:18-20
'I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men."' "So he got up and came to his father.

Repentance: a change of mind with a change of actions.

This experience is mirrored in the life and conversion of Paul.

We hear of Paul, who was then called Saul, and his actions prior to his conversion. He was a murderer. But one day, on his way to Damascus, he was knocked off his horse, confronted with Jesus Himself, as he heard those words

“Saul, Saul why do you persecute Me?”
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads."

This was a defining moment of salvation for Saul.
There is something about that defining moment, when you have come to your senses and recognized Jesus in the midst.

In Paul’s own words concerning the conversion experience,
O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God — through Jesus Christ our Lord!

This conversion experience became a defining moment for Paul, and became a reference point to all that he did from that point on. We see in Act 26, his vivid account of this experience that although it had been decades, it almost seemed as if it happened yesterday for him.

This is what a defining moment will do for you. And salvation is a moment in life where we get a real sense of ourselves, and as the prodigal son did, find ourselves walking to the Father’s house.

The defining moment of salvation brings with it a new life founded in Christ. It is where the old man and his old thinking is shed, and a new man is birthed. This is the born again experience.

Paul turns from his murderous ways, and begins to preach the same gospel that he was killing them for!

This is what the defining moment of salvation can do for us. We have come to our senses. We recognize that Christ is the answer and turn from ourselves and make a new king, who is King Jesus!

This turning point causes us to turn 180 degrees and face in a new direction.

The Defining Moment of Destiny

There comes a point in your life when you are found in the newness of life, that you recognize that there are others that have not experienced heard the powerful gift of salvation.
It is here where that is a definitive moment where we see that we can be used to touch a dying world.

When we recognize that as sin tried to destroy our lives, so it is with others.

Rom 10:14-15
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
"How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!"

This begins to ring crystal clear to you. It becomes your responsibility and your destiny.

There is a time to walk for Jesus, then there is a time where you must present Jesus to the world. This is a defining moment that enables you to step into a calling that God has for your life.
The new life is now put to life in its new function.

Destiny is birthed, lives are touched by us, and others are now able to experience the defining moments of the kingdom for themselves.