HE’S DRAWING COLDER SIR…

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. Matthew 24:12

I remember watching old war movies when I was growing up. In one, the main character got shot. He was there acting out the scene with all the glamour and of course his girl friend/ wife was there with him. (They had to have a little romance in the war stories you know, to keep the women folk’s attention.) She had him in her arms and I remember her saying, “He’s drawing colder sir, meaning he was dying. He would no longer serve his country, he would no longer fight on the lines, he would no longer communicate his love, he would no longer say, “I love you babe.”

Just like that mortally wounded soldier, I believe many Christians are mortally wounded with sin. No, they will never lose their salvation but what they will lose is their effectiveness they once had. Because sin abounds in their life they will lose their ability to serve God, ability to fight the good fight, ability to tell others of His love, and they will have a dying breath of them telling Jesus… I love you, Lord.

Child of God, it doesn’t have to be so! Turn back to Him, confess your sin, repent of it, and remain faithful to what you have committed to Jesus! 

ARE YOU SAVED THE UTTERMOST?

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25

When Jesus died on the Cross He shed His precious blood for every man, woman, boy and girl! For that blood to be put to our account we must believe He shed it for us. You must believe He is able to save to the uttermost! You must believe He died, was buried, and arose the third day! Have you been saved to the uttermost?

GOD HEALS THE BROKEN HEARTED!

The only permanent fix to a broken heart is the Saviour’s shed blood!

He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

While the world chews you up and spits you out, Jesus heals and builds you up! Without His shed blood none of that is possible! It’s through His shed blood on the Cross that He heals the broken hearted, sets the captives free, makes the lame to walk again, and causes the blind to see.

I’M GONNA LIVE FOREVER, I’M GONNA DIE, NO NEVER!

Being saved is a whole lot more than not going to hell; it’s living forever with Jesus!

The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.”Psalm 34:22

Have you ever sit down and thought about what redemption is all about? It’s not just that Jesus has saved you from hell, (which would be enough) but he has given you life and life more abundant! Those who have trusted Jesus as Saviour will never die (Spiritual Death) nor spend one second in hell! Friend, if you don’t have that blessed hope you need to search those scriptures once again and see where you missed the part about eternal life! (John 3:16)

RESTORE SUCH A ONE!

Hey unspiritual man, quit kicking sinners and saints when they are down!

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Galatians 6:1

So quick we are to kick a fellow believer when they are overtaken in sin. We berate them before other believers, avoid them like they are the plague, and to some extent encourage them to find another church. Where do we find any of that in the New Testament?

Pastor, Preacher, Evangelist, Deacon, Christian friend, instead of looking down your self-righteous nose, watching your NCIS, Criminal Minds, and every other sick perverted thing you watch on TV, please don’t kick anyone else before you begin searching within your own heart where you fall short. I am reminded of another portion of scripture this morning found in, 1 Corinthians 10:12, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”

LET’S SET THE WORLD ON FIRE!

If I had three hundred men who feared nothing but God, hated nothing but sin, and were determined to know nothing among men but Jesus Christ and Him crucified, I would set the world on fire.—John Wesley

            And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good? Deuteronomy 10:12

Yes, let’s set the world on fire for Jesus! Let’s take His name across the street! Let’s take His name across our nation! Let’s take His name around the world! As the song says, someone needs Jesus and today would be a good day for them to receive Him as Saviour!

You may not be able to go physically yourself but what you can do is support those who God has called to go! You can give through your local church to support missions! You can pray! You can send encouraging notes! There’s a lot each of us can do, but will we? There are some ordinary men and women just like you that God has used…so let Him use you to change; your family, your community, your country, your world! Will you be the one God uses to set the world on fire for Jesus?

MAKE CHURCH A PRIORITY!

The difference between listening to a radio sermon and going to church, someone has said, is almost like the difference between calling your girl on the telephone and spending an evening with her. -Moody

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. Psalm 42:1

There is no substitute for the preaching of God’s Word! You cannot replace it with schooling, fellowships, plays, skits, or musical programs. The only thing that will satisfy that longing in your heart is to hear a man of God, filled with the Spirit of God, preaching the Word of God! So… GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH this morning!

A LIFE TO VALUE

The purpose of life is not to be happy-but to matter, to be productive, to be useful, to have it make some difference that you lived at all. -Rosten

And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land: And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh: Exodus 18:3-4

God reminds us of Moses’ children’s names here in Exodus 18:3-4. I see two reminders;

1. We are strangers in this land, just passing through to our Heavenly Home!

2. God is my help! Not just in my time of need but at all times! He gave me help last night to get the sleep I needed. He helped me this morning to get up. He will help me throughout my day, sometimes even before I knew I needed help! That’s just how my God works!

With that being said, How will you spend your day?

C.T Studd said, “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.” What meaningful thing are you planning on doing for the Lord today?

DUST ON YOUR BIBLE?

The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Psalm 12:6

If you have dust on your Bible you probably have a clouded mind unable to discern right from wrong. So instead of walking around in this life without help, pick up that dusty Bible, wipe it off, and get to digging into the treasures found within. Victory is around the corner when you have a well used Bible!

WHAT SEASON IS IT?

Joy in God is never out of season. –Henry

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. John 15:11

What things was John speaking of when he said, “These things have I spoken unto you”; I believe it may have been God’s love and our obedience. God’s love toward us while we were sinners brought to us joy unspeakable! Our obedience to His Word keeps it close and always in season!

As Christians, we should never walk around with the poochy lip! There should always be a smile on our face and praise on our tongue! Why? Because joy is never out of season!

DON’T TRIP OVER YOUR OWN TONGUE!

It is bad to think ill, but it is much worse to speak it, for that implies consent to the evil thought and a willingness to infect others with it. -Henry

Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Psalm 34:14

Boy sometimes I’m just like Andy Griffith, I want to pull the words I just spoke right back into my mouth. Now, I know you’re always perfect with your words and never make a comment out of place but I do and many times, I pay for it for a long time! (Now be honest, you do to…)

Friend, it would do us good to listen twice as much as we speak today. I mean, the Lord did give us two ears and one mouth! If we did, maybe, just maybe we wouldn’t trip over our own tongue as much as we do!

DO YOU SMELL WORSE THAN A DEAD CORPS?

Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. Proverbs 16:5

There is nothing into which the heart of man so easily falls as pride. And yet there is no vice that is more frequently, more emphatically, and more eloquently condemned in Scripture. –Spurgeon

I once went up to a dead possum that was hit by a car. It had been there on the side of the road for a few days. He was swollen up looking like a yeast roll fresh out of the oven. What a mistake that was! I rolled him over and the gases that had built up inside of his rotting corps came out like a bottle rocket on July the Fourth! It was one of the grosses smells ever to enter my nostrils!

I imagine a prideful person’s life smells even worse than that to the Lord. He speaks a lot of pride and how it impacts our lives in a huge negative way. It would do each of us good to follow the Word of God where He says, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” 1 Peter 5:6

ETERNALLY SECURE

Look at what He is, and what He has done; not at what you are. -D.L. Moody

But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Hebrews 9:11-12

If my salvation is based on my good works and I can lose it, then it takes away from what scripture says, “He obtained eternal redemption.” My salvation isn’t based on me but Jesus and His finished work on the Cross. My salvation is complete! It is complete in Him, for Him, and by Him. If it’s based on me, a sinner saved by His grace, then I could lose it for I am not capable of keeping myself from the “least” of sins. Oh what a Saviour is mine that He would redeem a worm such as I. Wicked and vile no more, but redeemed how I love to proclaim it, redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb!

YOU’VE GOT ACCESS TO THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!

Every believer has equal and instant access to God.—Paul Chappell

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14

What a privilege for us to have access to the Lord. When Jesus died on the Cross He provided us access to God through the shedding of His blood! We do not have to go through a priest. We do not have to make an appointment. We don’t have to request a meeting. Each believer can, at anytime, call out to Him and He hears us! He hears our cries of desperation when someone dies. He hears our cries of hurt when someone betrays us. He hears our praises. He hears our worship. He hears us when we whisper His name for help because we have been given access by His Only Begotten Son, Jesus!

When is the last time you accessed Him?

HIS BANNER OVER ME IS LOVE

He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. Song 2:4

Could we with ink the oceans fill and were the skies of parchment made and every stalk on earth quill and every man a scribe by trade, to write the love of God above would drain the oceans dry, nor could that scroll contain the whole though stretched from sky to sky. --Scribbled on an asylum wall and contained in the song “The Love of God”

I cannot comprehend the depth of God’s love to me. Why would He send His Only Begotten Son to die a sinner’s death to redeem such a worm as I is beyond my comprehension! But even though I do not comprehend it, I sure am thankful this morning! I hope you can rejoice with me as you think about what He did on the Cross and when He got up out of that grave! Saved! Redeemed! Justified! Sealed! Secured! All motivated by the love of God!

FRIDAY IS HERE… and SUNDAY IS COMING!

Unless there are people who are responding to the love of God as revealed in Christ and so are worshiping Him, the Church is not very important. –Blake

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. Psalm 100:4

Are you praying for your church services for Sunday? Are you praying for your Sunday School teacher; the choir, the congregational songs, how about your Pastor? Are you praying for Him to be clean, to be studying, to be focused and in tune with what God wants Him to preach?

In every church there is someone in need of revival, is it you? Has there been a day when you were closer to the Lord than you are right now? Did you use to attend Wednesday night services, read your Bible more regularly, attend Sunday School, pray more fervently, or maybe it was you just had a heart to serve the Lord in church but all of that has past and now, you’re just a pew warmer. Child of God get up and do something for the Lord! Sunday is coming…are you preparing today?

WHAT DOES YOUR REPUTATION LOOK LIKE?

The mark of a saint is not perfection, but consecration.  A saint is not a man without faults, but a man who has given himself without reserve to God. –W.T Richardson

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. Psalm 37:37

A testimony or a reputation; they both describe a little bit of who we are. Let me give you an example, if we were to ask a co-worker to tell something about you, how would they describe you? What would stick out to them the most? Would it be, you are a good person? Would they say, you love God? Or would they say, you’re a gossiper, always late, never having anything positive to say. You see you’ve left your mark on them, a testimony, a reputation.

No, Child of God, we are not perfect but that in no way relieves us of the responsibility of the position we hold. We are ambassadors of the King of kings and Lord of lords. We represent Him and His way. How good of a mark have you left on the ones God has given you to be a witness to? What is your testimony and reputation before others? Or better yet, what does God know about your life?

EXALT THE LORD TODAY!

Praise is the rehearsal of our eternal song.  –Spurgeon

O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. Psalm 34:3

With so much to thank the Lord for, there should never be a day that goes by that we do not sing His praise. Think about our Salvation! Think about the godly friends! Think about the blessings He gives day by day! Think about His love and His goodness! The list is endless when we stop long enough to think about who He is and what He has done!

WILL YOU TELL THE TRUTH?

One taper lights a thousand, yet shines as it has shone; and the humblest light may kindle one brighter than its own.— Butterworth

A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies. Proverbs 14:25

In a court of law, when a witness comes forward to give testimony of the events pertaining to a case they are asked to place their hand on the Bible and to swear or affirm to tell the truth. They take an oath or make a promise that what they are about to testify to is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. If the jury finds the witness credible, the one who is being accused has a pretty good chance of being convicted and sentenced to time in prison.

As you and I go out and testify to the truth found in God’s Word, will it be enough to convict a sinner? Will there be enough power in our testimony to change one’s opinion about who Jesus is and what He has done for every man, woman, boy and girl in the world? Will the light of truth shine so bright in your life that it will kindle another’s?

WHERE ARE YOU GETTING FED?

“…Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4

It is imperative you and I get in the Word of God to get fed. Without the Word of God in our hearts we have no defense against the enemy, we have no source of strength, we have no nourishment for our spirit! Without it we will dry up and be of no influence for the Lord.

Child of God, begin a new week with a new desire to cultivate a heart that loves God’s Word! Will you make it a priority in your life?