NOT MY WILL BUT THY WILL BE DONE

            There is but one question, and that is the will of God.  That settles all other questions. --William E. Gladstone

James 4:14-15, Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

            Friend, we do not know what tomorrow holds for us. It could be filled with joy or devastated by death. Whatever tomorrow holds, it will not surprise the Lord. Whatever you are going through right now, God knew about it long before you did! He was preparing you for the trial. He is preparing you for the next trial as well! We may not like the trial. We may not enjoy the trial. It is only our responsibility to give thanks in everything that comes into our lives.

            So, this morning, take some advice from a great man of God, Dr. David Gibbs; “Finish this life in the Will of God, with the joy of the Lord in your heart.”

100% SATISFIED

I suppose they say of me, 'He is a radical; he is a fanatic; he only has one idea.' Well, it is a glorious idea. - D.L. Moody

As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. Proverbs 25:25

            The Gospel is the answer to this lost, dying, and hurting world. It is the answer everyone seems to be over-looking. I mean they even put it on license tags, “When all else fails, pray, Read the Bible, Try Jesus.” When all else fails???? Forget that!!!! How about before all else fails!!! Before you try drugs, before you try sexual promiscuity, before you try alcohol, before you try empty relationships, before you try tatting your whole body, before you try the next fad to attempt to be satisfied—trust Christ as Saviour and you will not need to try anything else! He satisfies! He saves! He is the answer you are looking for! So, GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH, looking for the answer that 100% satisfaction!

FREEDOM IS ERODING

Freedom should not be given away it should be fought for!

1 Corinthians 7:23, Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

            I’m going to meddle a little today! I am for freedom! I am for the freedom I have in the country I live in. I am for the freedom men and women have given their lives for. I do not believe I need to give any more of those freedoms away for the sake of someone’s feelings! I don’t care if you don’t feel like I need to own a gun! I have the Second Amendment to the Constitution that gives me the right to own a gun. If I decide I want another or three, I’m going to get it! That’s just one of the freedoms our Constitution gives us!

            I also don’t care if you don’t like it that I preach against sin! Friend, Hell is real and God has called me to share the Good News of the Gospel. Part of the Good News is that you’re a sinner in need of Jesus Christ as your Saviour! I don’t care what color your skin might be. I don’t care what nationality you are. I don’t care how rich or poor you think you are. The sin you commit against God requires a payment! Scripture says that payment is death! But praise be to the Saviour of the world Jesus Christ! He paid that sin debt with His blood! He bought your redemption at Calvary and all you have to do is believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved!

            Friend, stand for freedom; Freedom we have in the world and freedom we have in Jesus! Will you stand up for Him? Will you stand up for the freedom you have in this country? Or will you give them away? Will you give them away for money? Will you give them away for benefits? What would it take for you to give up and be enslaved to this world? Freedom is eroding, will you stand?

KNEEL TO HEAR THE ANSWER

I used to pray that God would do this or that. Now I pray that God will make His will known to me.-- unknown

1 John 5:14, And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

Seeking God’s will for our lives can be taxing sometimes. Not because He is hiding it from us but because we are looking in all the wrong places. We need to start looking for it on our knees! When we do that- we are sure to find it!

BE AN EXAMPLE

   If you want your neighbor to see what the Christ will do for him, let him see what it has done for you. -H. Beecher

1 Timothy 4:12, Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

            Paul, wrote to Timothy his son in the faith to encourage him in his walk with the Lord. R.B. Ouellette wrote in his book, Trusting God in Troubled Times, “You have an opportunity to be to someone what Paul was to his shipmates, a source of comfort, encouragement, faith, and good cheer.” We are on duty each and every day of our lives. The days we take it easy is the day that one that has been watching you truly takes notice. It is then you either win the for the Lord or your weak faith drives them further away.

            Will you be the example God wants you to be? If not now, when? It’s something you ought to examine yourself before you lead others away from the only One that can make the difference in their life!

WHAT IS THE PRAYER MEETING?

Work as if you were to live 100 years; pray as if you were to die tomorrow. -Franklin

James 5:16, Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

            I am not sure about your testimony but I was not raised in church. I had no understanding of sin, righteousness, Jesus, salvation, etc. It wasn’t until after I got saved that I began to understand the value of prayer and the Midweek Prayer Meeting and Bible Study. It is neglected by many but blessed by others.

            There is something special about the midweek Bible Study and prayer meeting. Yes, we make our request known. Yes, we get down around the Old Fashion Altar. Yes, we sing old hymns that brings us Bible Doctrine. Yes, we praise the Lord and let Him have His way! Do you attend Midweek Services? If not, why not? If you do, share something you enjoy about them.

WHAT IS SIN?

Sin will keep you from this Book. This Book will keep you from sin. --Dwight L. Moody

Romans 5:12, Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

            Sin has been defined by so many; falling short, missing the mark are the two that come to my mind. Recently I heard this definition: Missing the right mark and hitting the wrong mark.” That gives us a whole different view on what sin is. No matter how hard we try, we will never hit the mark in and of ourselves. It is only by God’s marvelous Grace that we are able to hit the mark of God’s righteousness.

Society has its own view of what sin is. Mike Lester shares this with his Theology Classes:

Society calls sin an accident, God calls it an abomination.

Society calls sin a blunder, God calls it living in blindness.

Society calls sin a chance, God calls it a choice.

Society calls sin a defect, God calls it deviant and a disease.

Society calls sin an error, God calls it enmity.

Society calls sin a fascination, God calls it a fatality.

Society calls sin a mistake, God calls it madness.

Society calls sin a luxury, God calls it leprosy.

Society calls sin a trifle, God calls it a tragedy.

Society calls sin a weakness, God calls it wickedness.

            Will you continue to have pleasure in sin? If so, know this Truth found in God’s Word, it will only be for a season and after that, you must stand and give an account of your life.

TOTALLY SECURE

            We are Secure in the Saviour’s hand!

Romans 8:35, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

            Have you ever used Super Glue? I remember one of the first commercials I saw of it. A guy had a hard hat on and they glued it to a metal beam. Then the guy hung from the beam with his boots dangling in the air. It was a great commercial because it got people to buy the product but I have never had it do much holding for me. Each time I have used it, it didn’t hold at all.

            I’m glad this morning that I don’t ever have to worry about not being secure in my salvation! I didn’t do anything to earn it and I don’t have to do anything to keep it! He freely gives it to everyone who repents of their sins and believes in His finished work on Calvary’s tree!

            Do you have the security of your salvation? Or are you still trying to work for it? Take God at His Word and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved because nothing can separate you from the love of God! Romans 8:38-For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.           

JESUS, OUR ONLY HOPE

           By a Carpenter mankind was created and made, and only by that Carpenter can mankind be repaired. --Desiderius Erasmus

Titus 2:13-14, 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.

            I am astonished by some who claim they have the answer to man’s problems. This program will take care of it. This degree is the answer. This president, no, that president is who we need. Just throw money at it. Educate the problems away. Social reform, new laws, and local food banks will solve the issues of man’s ills.

            Can I just say, NO! No, to all of them! Jesus is the ONLY hope for fallen man! He is the answer to every problem we have! Without Him we will continue to be racist. Without Him we will continue to kill the unborn. Without Him we will continue to hate, bully, and do what sinners do… SIN!

            You want to change; trust Jesus as your Saviour! You want to be the best son or daughter, husband or wife, mom or dad, and/or citizen; repent of your sins and trust Jesus as Lord of your life!  

HEY FRIEND

            If you would be loved, love and be lovable. -Franklin

Proverbs 18:24, A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

            I often start off a text message by saying, “Hey Friend”. It’s a desire of mine to put a smile on that friend’s face. It is my way of being friendly and sharing a tad bit of the love of Jesus!

            When Jesus died on the Cross of Calvary, He was not only being friendly, He was displaying His love greater than anyone ever could! That glorious day He gave His life so that anyone who repents and trusts Him as Saviour could be saved! Hey friend, there hasn’t ever been that amount of love shown, before or since that day!

LIVE FOR JESUS

Make sure the thing you're living for is worth dying for. -Mayes

1 Peter 4:11, If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

            Many have forgotten the truth of dying to self. Instead, they are going about their day for self not giving a thought about the Saviour’s will for their life. This is why we see churches closing. This is why we see morals shriveling up. This is why we need divorce lawyers. This is why we have school resource officers. This is why we have curfews. This is why we have All Lives Matter, Black Lives Matter, etc. This is why Youth Detention Centers are overflowing. This is why we have abortion! This is why prison riots are on the rise. We could go on and on.

            Peter was conveying the message, Live for Jesus! Live for Jesus in our home. Live for Jesus at work. Live for Jesus at school. Live for Jesus at college. Live for Jesus at the grocery store. Live for Jesus at church. Live for Jesus on vacation. HEY CHILD OF GOD, LIVE FOR JESUS NO MATTER WHERE GO YOU OR WHAT YOU DO!

SHINE BRIGHT

Many individuals have, like uncut diamonds, shining qualities beneath a rough exterior. - Juvenal

Matthew 5:16, Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

            Sharing your testimony begins long before you open your mouth, it is on display where you go and when you walk into any room. It shines like a spotlight searching for an escaped convict. You see the light long before the light sees you.

Child of God, how is your testimony seen in the eyes of others? Is it shining as brightly as it can? Do others see Jesus in your life? Do you still have a rough exterior needing to be carved into what God wants it to be? Get into the Word of God and watch the Word pry off the crud from your exterior displaying the Grace of God in your life!

WORSHIP HIM

In math, if you divide an infinite number by any number, no matter how large, you still have an infinite quotient. So Jesus' love, being infinite, even though it is divided up for every person on earth, is still infinitely poured out on each one of us! –Spurgeon

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10

A young student asked a Sunday School teacher, “How much does Jesus love me?” The teacher with arms stretched wide open said, “He loved you so much that He died for you.” A simple but so vast reminder on this Wednesday to get you motivated to go worship Him tonight!

FIND A GOOD ROLL MODEL

            Where one man reads the Bible, a hundred read you and me. -D.L. Moody

2 Timothy 3:10-11 - But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

            Paul was telling Timothy, his spiritual son, “Timothy, you know me! My life has been an example to you! You have seen me on my good days and my bad days. You have seen me in prison and on point. You have heard what I have preached and taught. Out of everything I have gone through, the Lord delivered me! Timothy, He will deliver you as well!

            Child of God, find yourself a Christian role model. One like Paul was to Timothy. It may be the person who led you to the Lord. It may be your Mom or Dad, a Sunday School teacher, your Pastor, a Missionary, a good Christian friend, or Christian co-worker. As they follow the Lord, they are an encouragement for you to follow as well. They provoke you unto good works. They challenge you to stand-fast! They are the good roll model you need to keep on keeping on!

Stand up for Jesus!

          “No man is greater than his prayer life. The pastor who is not praying is playing; the people who are not praying are straying.  We have many organizers, but few agonizers; many players and payers, few prayers; many singers, few clingers; lots of pastors, few wrestlers; many fears, few tears; much fashion, little passion; many interferers, few intercessors; many writers, but few fighters. Failing here, we fail everywhere.”— Leonard Ravenhill 

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

           A friend shared the Ravenhill quote yesterday morning with me. Each Sunday morning he sends me a short message letting me know he is praying for me and the services at Calvary. That quote hit it home for me yesterday!

            While this world is going to hell in a hand basket, we, the church of the living God, have the potential of truly making a difference! We have the road map in which we can bring our communities, our country, and the world we live in back to God. It begins with us! We must humble ourselves to God’s will— not my will but thy will be done, Oh God We must seek God’s face! Not just a quick 1,2,3 prayer like we do before a meal. A real, agonizing prayer that acknowledges our sin and the sin of our nation! Many people stop there. I see it on yard signs; humble and pray. However, we forget to turn from our wicked ways! We forget to turn from sin!

           Child of God, the answer to this world’s problems is found when we get humble ourselves on our knees, crying our hearts out to the Lord in prayer, and turning from the wicked sinful life we have grown to love! Will you stand with many others who are making this a matter of prayer? Will you stand up for righteousness? Will you stand for holiness? Will you stand up for Jesus?

Pride

If a man has a shriveled-up heart and a big head he is a monster. - D.L. Moody

Proverbs 30:13, There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.

            One major issue of our day is how a person views themselves. While the Bible clearly describes each of our wicked, vile hearts, this old world would have us to believe there is some good within everyone. How far from the Truth that is! But praise the Lord it doesn’t have to be!

            You see, while we were yet sinners; vile, uncompassionate, prideful, wicked, self-willed monsters, Jesus died to save us! For many, pride blinds them to their sin-sick state. Pride blinds them to the Grace of God. Pride blinds them to their need of the Saviour!

            This morning, do yourself a huge favor! GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH, learning what the Bible says about you and what Jesus has done for you!

BETTER GET BUSY

Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness, no laziness, no procrastination; never put off till tomorrow what you can do today. -Chesterfield

Psalm 90:12, So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

            Days are fleeting, my friends. The pages of the calendar are flipping faster than the feet on a chihuahua in a pool. Blink, a new year! Blink, your kids are grown! Blink, your fifty! Blink you’re on Social Security! Before we know it, we will be in a nursing home sipping on an Ensure!

            Hey friend, wake up! We better invest our time in something that will last! Our kids aren’t getting younger. Spend time with them! Your parents aren’t getting any younger. Spend time with them! We are not getting any younger. You better hit the track before the track hits you right between the eyes! Our days are numbered and we better get busy doing something for the Lord!

SEND THE RAIN

            Rain to the Earth is what the Coming of the Lord is to the Child of God.

James 5:7, Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

            As we wait for the Coming of the Lord, we wait in great anticipation. That anticipation is what we call the Blessed Hope! The Blessed Hope of the coming of the Lord inspires us to finish and finish well! It provokes us to good works. It provokes us to share the Good News! It provokes us to make a difference in the communities we live in.

           Folks, Jesus is coming! As we wait with this anticipation of His coming, let us be about our Father’s business, telling others about Him. Morning, noon, or night; I don’t know when, where, or how but I do know why. It’s to get His Children! Are you one? If so, He’s coming back for you! If not, you will be left behind for that great and terrible day of the Lord. Please consider your standing before the Lord today, before it’s too late!  

ONLY TRUST HIM

“Never doubt in the night what God gave you in the light.” — Author Unknown

There are so many lessons that we learn in the dark times of our life. The thing I believe we learn the most is to trust in the Lord. When a friend or family member takes their last breath. When we lose our job. When we get a bad report from the doctor. When everything we touch seems to be falling apart. It is times like these that we either learn to trust the Lord more or we tuck tail and run.

Each one of us have moments of weakness but is there a continual streak of yellow running down our backs? Elijah thought he was the only one left that was serving the Lord, Peter denied the Lord, and Thomas doubted. But each one of these men didn't stay with that mindset. They overcame and conquered their weaknesses.

Today let’s take what the Lord has taught us in the valley to fight the battles of this life, day by day. 1 Chronicles 19:13 Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight.

WHY ARE YOU CARRYING THAT LOAD OF BURDENS?

            It sure does feel good when we lay those burdens down!

Psalm 55:22, Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

            STOP! Read that verse one more time! No matter how many your burdens you have, you can continue to cast them all on the Lord! He will sustain or provide you with everything you need in and for life. And while life may blow us to and fro like a ship upon a boisterous sea, our Saviour will never cause us to be blown over in this life!

            What loads of care are you unnecessarily carrying? Why not give them up to the Lord this morning? Why not trust Him to handle those burdens? Cast your burdens upon the Lord friend; He cares for you!