GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH!
It’s a privilege to go to church to praise the name of our Saviour!
I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. Psalm 22:22
Without making our way to church this morning we will miss out on some precious time we have with our Saviour! From the time we enter the sanctuary doors until we go back to the parking lot it is a time centered in and on our Saviour. Without that, we are no more than the local social club like the Shiners’, Moose Club, or the YMCA.
So do something different this Sunday morning, GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO A BIBLE PREACHING, TEACHING CHURCH!
GO VISIT SOMEONE TODAY!
Whatever God gives you to do, do it as well as you can. This is the best possible preparation for what he may want you to do next. –Macdonald
A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies. Proverbs 14:25
We have opportunities every day to be a blessing to a lost, dying, and hurting world. Unfortunately, many of us are so wrapped up in worldly events we don’t have time to do anything for the Lord. We have to take the kids to ball practice, the car to the shop, mow the yard, catch up on some sleep, all the while there are people hurting in this world. They are lost in their sins and trespasses. They are dying and will go to hell unless the Good News of the Gospel is shared with them-- unless they get saved!
How will the Gospel get to them? God says, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” It says for us to take the Gospel to them! So will you join me today? Will you tell someone about Jesus? Will you give them the opportunity that was afforded to you? Will you be a true witness by going and visiting someone today?
GIVE IT UP!
It is always right, to give right!
And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's. Luke 20:25
Yes, it’s that time again—tax time! The time of the year when we all go through our boxes to find as many receipts as we can so we can swindle out of paying our “fair share”. (We rob the state and feds every year and we have no problem doing it. Our motto is, “They have enough money!” But yet we sit back and complain about the rich folk who do the very same thing—hypocrites! I think they have enough money as well but what the feds and locals don’t know how to do is spend it wisely! Anyway I digress….)
Friend, Jesus said it was right to render unto Caesar the taxes owed. It is right to provide for our safety (Police, Firemen, Military), our well being (Good Roads, Affordable Energy, Clean Water if needed.), and many other things the government provides. But the government is bloated. It is truly filled with many fat politicians that have forgotten what it means to EARN a dollar! But that doesn’t mean we rob cheat and swindle every nickel we can out of them. No we render unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s and God is honored!
The last part of that verse says, “and unto God the things which be God’s.” Give your tithe! As I recently heard in a message from a missionary friend, “He’s going to get it anyway!” It may be with some new tires, a washing machine, or a new engine for a car with only 75,000 miles on it but He will get it out of you one way or another. I am reminded today that God loves a cheerful giver. I don’t know about you but I cannot remember the last time I was changing a flat, swapping out a washer, or headed to the ER singing, “Count your blessings name them one by one.” Naw, we too stinking mad to sing a song such as that! But you let everything be going smooth! Bills have been paid and you have money in the bank. Boy, you’ll strike up the tunes and be singing the Hallelujah Chorus!
Child of God, I do believe scripture says, “The Lord loveth a cheerful giver”—So give it up- Cheerfully! Amen!
NO TIME FOR WEAKNESS
If thou wouldst conquer thy weakness thou must not gratify it. --William Penn
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Ephesians 6:10
While in boot camp we had team challenges where 4 or five guys got together to perform a certain task. One of those task was to put out a simulation fire on board a ship. Each man had their responsibility. There was not a time nor place for weakness for if one did, we would have failed…and the ship would have sunk.
Child of God you are not alone in this life. You have the Lord who is omnipotent on your side. He will never be getting some sleep for He never sleeps or slumbers. He will always have an answer for He is omniscient. He will always be there for you for He is omnipresent. He will never waver on His way, His work, or His willingness to help you for He is immutable. So with all of this going on for you…tell me again why you give place for time of weakness? Friend, BE STRONG IN THE LORD!
GROWING WITH CHRIST- GOING WITH CHRIST
There are too many people sitting at the Father’s table when there’s work to be done!
Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. Matthew 9:37
About a month ago, there were more harvesters in the fields around here than you can shake a stick at. It was the time of the year for them to be so it was no surprise to see them on the roads moving from one field to another. It was cool to see the dust flying up in the air from the machinery gleaning the harvest. It was awesome to see the harvesters loading crates, old school buses, and boxes. There were plenty of workers to do the work that needed to be done.
But where are the labourers when it comes to the things of God? Where are the labourers going with Christ to knock on the doors? Where are the labourers going with Christ working in the church? Where oh, where have all of the labourers gone? I believe they have become comfortable sitting at the Father’s table. What will it take to get us busy? What will it take to get us to knock on a door? What will it take; famine? ...peril? ...disaster?
Child of God, in order to be growing with Christ you must be going with Christ!
WHAT’S BEHIND YOU?
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14
If you are so busy you never have time to look back…that’s a good thing. You won’t be wondering if you made a wrong decision. You won’t be worried about who is talking behind your back. You won’t even care if someone else gets praised for something they did because you are more concerned with what the Lord knows rather than what man thinks!
What’s behind you doesn’t matter! What matters is what you’ve done for the Lord today! What matters is what you’re going to do for Him tomorrow! Get your eyes off of yesterday and focus in on what He has for you today!
SPEAK UP, I WANT TO HEAR YOU!
The tongue blessing God without the heart is but a tinkling cymbal; the heart blessing God without the tongue is sweet but still music; both in concert make the harmony which fills and delights heaven and earth. --R. Venning
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. Hebrews 13:15
I like the verse that says, “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so”! We have times of testimony in church and often I sit there listening how the Lord has worked in other people’s lives. Not because I don’t have anything to say but because I really enjoy hearing Brothers and Sisters in Christ praise our Saviour! It’s better than the greatest Choir singing with the Greatest Symphony backing it up!
GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH!
A thermometer of your love of the Lord is manifested each Sunday!
We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. Psalm 55:14
This past week, it snowed in our area. People got up the next day, got ready for work, and slipped and slid on in to meet their obligations at their place of employment. The wintry mix didn’t stop them from getting to where they were needed. They walked through the white stuff to get to the door of work. The cold powder didn’t keep them from clocking in their forty for this week. But those same people won’t be in church this morning because of snow on the roads or on the church parking lot.
Have I described you? Do you always put work before church? Maybe you need to GET ON UP, GET READY, and GET TO CHURCH where you do a check up on what or whom you truly love.
SIMPLE “MISTAKES”
We have become so intolerant of Biblical Terms we cannot even handle what God calls sin.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 1 John 2:16
Once upon a time we called sin by its Biblical name. Now we call many sins mistakes. Here are a few: “An affair”—Biblically it’s adultery. “He has Sticky fingers”—Biblically, He’s a thief. “She sure is manipulative”—Biblically, She’s a liar. We have made excuse after excuse why we do what we do. Simply put, we are sinners in need of a Saviour. Jesus is that Saviour! He didn’t come into this world to save us from our mistakes. He came to save us from our sin!
A mistake is not something done intentionally like sin. A mistake is done by a fault, a slip, or an error. Sin is intentionally done because that is who we are-- sinners. Isaiah 53:6 describes us as wondering sheep; “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6 Our “own way” is to sin! Without Jesus Christ coming to fulfill our need of a Saviour we would still be lost in our sin and trespasses. He died, was buried, and arose again the third day to conquer death, hell, and the grave for you and I! If you repent, He will save you! If you ask Him, He will save you! If you trust Him, He will save you! Unbiblically speaking, even from the “Simple Mistakes” you have made…He will save you!
SALVATION IS MORE
Salvation is not something that is done for you but something that happens within you. It is not the clearing of a court record, but the transformation of a life attitude. –Palmer
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17
If you were married but you never came home to your spouse, if you never told her you loved her, if you never had supper with Him, if you never changed the way you spent your time, would someone that wasn’t at the ceremony think you were married? Probably not!
Then it stands to reason, if someone says they are a Christian but never spends time with their Saviour by reading His Word, never comes and dines with His people, never comes to His house, then that person is deceived into thinking they are saved as well. I believe this is where many in the church house stands—lost but blinded by their own religion.
Salvation is more than just going to Heaven! It involves holy living! It involves dying to self! It involves sacrifice! It involves grace! It involves mercy! In what way have you been changed by God saving you? Are you the new creature scripture says you are? If not, there you are probably still lost in your sins and trespasses! So repent ye, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand!
CHEER UP!
Why should we go reeling and staggering under the burdens and cares of life when we have such prospects before us? If there is nothing but glory beyond, our faces ought to shine brightly all the time. - D.L. Moody
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:11-14
We sing the song, “I’ve Got so much to Thank Him For” at our church. The first verse says, “When I Look Around And See, The Good Things He Does For Me, I Know I’m Unworthy Of Them All, But His Blessings He Freely Gives, I Owe My Life To Him, I’ve Got So Much To Thank Him For.” Friend, we have truly been blessed beyond measure. No matter what you’re going through or have gone through when you consider Him, what He has done, and what He’s about to do, we have nothing to complain about!
THERE ARE DECISIONS TO MAKE EVERY DAY
Good decisions are best made when prayed for beforehand.
Commit thy way unto the Lord; and he shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:5
Every day we have decisions to make. Some will have an immediate impact on our lives while others will not be seen in our lifetime. Whether immediate results or tomorrow’s rewards we should spend some time on our knees seeking God’s guidance. We should seek out counsel when His way is not right before us. Then, when we finally pull the trigger, we will know whatever happens we have done our very best for the Lord.