DUE DILIGENCE

Studying for a reason.

2 Timothy 2:15, Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Some Christians think that Bible reading, study, and prayer is just something pastors do. They don’t have time to read the Bible. They don’t have time to study. They don’t have time to learn of the One who gave Their life for them. What in the world are they thinking???

Christian, let’s do our due diligence, getting busy reading and studying so we can please God with the work He has called us to do.

OVERCOMING HINDRANCES

Victory comes by faith in God’s power!

1 John 5:4, For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

David had many things that could have kept him from becoming the man God wanted Him to be. His family, his friends, his enemies, and his youth could have held him back. None of it did because he overcame by the faith he had in God! He defeated Goliath, he saw the defeat of Saul, he overcame the problems of his family, and of his youth and experience by walking, not in his own strength, but in the power of God.

Will you have faith that overcomes the hindrances in your life? Or will you become another statistic and fall by the way side because of your lack of faith?

ALL IN

Without giving God our all, we are really saying I haven’t given Him anything.

1 Corinthians 6:20, For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

When Christ gave His life for our sins on the Cross of Calvary, He didn’t give part of His blood or some of His blood. Oh no; He shed all of His blood for our sin. He gave His all! If Jesus gave His all for you and I on the Cross, why do we think He will expect any less from us in our Christian walk?

Friend, without giving God your all, you really haven’t given Him anything. Throw in the towel! Give up and give 100% to the Lord! Don’t hold back anything—He didn’t hold anything back for you, He was all in!   

EX NIHILO

If the Father deigns to touch with divine power the cold and pulseless heart of the buried acorn and to make it burst forth from its prison walls, will He leave neglected in the earth the soul of man-made in the image of his Creator? --William Jennings Bryan

Romans 1:20, For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

The word, Ex nihilo, simply means; out of nothing. God made everything out of nothing. There was no matter. There were no gases. There were no liquids. There was no plasma. There was nothing but God and He created the heavens and the earth out of nothing. He created the seas, oceans, land, plants, animals, bugs, humans, and well… He created everything out of nothing! Pretty amazing isn’t it!

Where do you believe you came from? What if you’re wrong? Think about it this morning!

LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES

A man's feet should be planted in his country, but his eyes should survey the world. -Santayana

Mark 16:15, And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

There isn’t a time we should not be telling someone about Jesus. On vacation, in the super market, at the doctor’s office, at the dentist, at work, during football practice, at camp, or at a family reunion; God gives us opportunities to tell others. Sad thing is, many times we are not thinking about the opportunity that is right before us.

When is the last time you woke up looking for an opportunity to tell others about the Saviour? What about right now? Go to the Lord right now asking Him to give you an opportunity today!

ANSWERS

The answer is in the Word of God!

Hebrews 11:3, Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

If you have any real questions about life, you can find the answers in the Bible. You don’t have to walk around wondering where we came from or what happens to us after we die. Just as those that say man came from monkeys take it by faith, so must we that believe in God, His Holy Spirit, His Son, and His Word must have faith. To have saving faith we must believe the Truth of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.  

Friend, you can have the answers for why you believe, what you believe. You find them in the Word of God! Get to digging and find real answers for the real questions you have!

BY DESIGN

A Man and A Woman- there is no other way to reproduce naturally.

Genesis 1:28, And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

It was no freak accident that God made man and woman. No, He created them to be distinct in many different ways. When He united them, becoming one, He commanded them to be fruitful and multiply. This is a type of the Trinity on display; God the Father (A Dad), God the Holy Ghost (A Mother), and God the Son (Children). This is why Satan is always attacking the family. He hates the display of God’s Trinity for people.

As I said, it was no freak accident that God made man and woman. He did it by design and that design was perfectly created for you and I to see Him! Will you let a bunch of wicked, God haters sway your view on God? Will you let folks that don’t know God decide how your kids learn about God? God tells us to teach our kids, not the school system, to, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6. What are you teaching your kids about God?

THE REASON WE CAN LOVE

If you neglect your love to your neighbor, in vain you profess your love to God; for by your love to God, the love to your neighbor is begotten, and by the love to your neighbor, your love to God is nourished. --Francis Quarles

1 Peter 1:22-23, Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Love is truly expressed when one has been touched by the love of God. Prior to salvation we did not love our spouses, children, or the world the way we ought to. Yes, we loved them but not with the same love that God has expressed toward us. He loves us unconditionally and sacrificially.  

Have you been touched with the love of God? Do you know what it means to be loved by God? He is the reason we can love!

MEMORIAL DAY

“The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it. And one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender, or submission.” -John F. Kennedy

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 1 John 3:16

Today, in America, we honor those that have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Many, that right out of High School took an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, those that trained for eight to thirteen weeks that came out as Marines, Sailors, Airmen and Guardsmen, those that traveled to foreign lands to defend the weak and defeat their enemies, those that moved dirt and built schools to put towns back together, those that came home in a flag draped casket. Today, we honor the Soldier that has given their life in order for every American to live free.

President Harry S. Truman said it best when he said, “Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices.”

Will you take a moment and honor those that gave you the freedoms we enjoy every day?

GO TO CHURCH

The Church is not a gallery for the exhibition of eminent Christians, but a school for the education of imperfect ones. -Beecher

Colossians 3:16, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Going to church is not just for show. Going to church is for those of us that are not perfect. Going to church is for those who seek to know the Lord better. Going to church is a fundamental thing we can do to make us better servants for the Lord.

What are you doing today that would prevent you from GETTING UP, GETTING READY, and GOING TO CHURCH? If you want a closer walk with the Lord, reevaluate your plans and GO TO CHURCH!

TRUST IN THE LORD

All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen. -Emerson

Proverbs 14:26, In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

As we walk with the Lord, we learn to trust Him more with the things we didn’t think we could trust Him with before. Friend, you can trust Him with your soul- Psalm 25:1, Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. You can trust Him with your sincere troubles- Psalm 46:1, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. You can trust Him with the scary unknown- Joshua 1:5, There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

What have you been holding back form the Lord? You can trust Him with that too!

Speak Up

There are no trifles in the moral universe of God.  Speak but one true word today and it shall go on ringing on through the ages. –Pushon

Zechariah 8:16, “These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:”

If we don’t speak the truth who will? Lift up your voice and let it be heard because today may be the last day you can tell anyone about the Saviour! Don’t let the day pass by without sharing what He has done for you. Whether it’s about the day He saved you or what He is doing in and through your life now. Speak up and praise Him for what He has done, He is doing, and what He will do in you and through you!

GET BUSY SERVING

When your will is God's will, you will have your will. –Spurgeon

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 7:21

Not everyone is called to preach, but every Christian can tell someone of Jesus. Not everyone can teach Sunday School, but every Christian can teach someone about the Word of God. Not everyone can drive the church bus but you can support the Bus workers with prizes for the kids. Not everyone can lead the choir but you can sing in it. There is one thing that every Christian can do and that is to pray. We have a lot of work to do—time to get busy serving!

OUT OF TIME

Doctor to patient: "I have bad news and worse news."

Patient: "So let's have it."

Doctor: "The bad news is that you only have 24 hours to live."

Patient: "I can't imagine what could be worse than that!"

Doctor: "I forgot to tell you yesterday."

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

Many go around thinking they are guaranteed they will live a long life. They do not consider life is a gift and is precious. They do not consider what tomorrow may hold; a drunk driver, a slip on a ladder, an unwanted report from the doctor. We never know what tomorrow may hold but we can be prepared for tomorrow!

We can be prepared for eternity! We can be prepared for a bad Doctor’s report! We can be prepared for that slip. Before you’re out of time, don’t you need to get prepared?     

RIGHTEOUSNESS

One of our greatest tasks is to demonstrate to the young people of this generation that there is nothing stupid about righteousness. -Tozer

Proverbs 14:34, Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

The greatest thing we can pass on to the youth of our world is the knowledge of the Gospel. For it is by the Gospel that we receive His righteousness that we live by.

Friend, we can continue to give our youth a good education, a great work ethic, or the value of investing money but none of that will never make the difference like telling them about Jesus Christ! When they accept Him as Saviour and follow His will for their life, they will begin to impact this world in such as way that His righteousness will be seen! When He is seen, we are lifting Him up! When He is lifted up, Jesus said, “… if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”

WHO HAS CONTROL

All change is not growth, as all movement is not forward. - Unknown

Psalm 127:1, Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Have you ever heard don’t get the cart before the horse? If you have the reigns of your life that is exactly what is going on. If we do not allow the Lord to have control of our lives, we are going to make a mess of it. Sure, folks may have nice homes, nice cars, a beach condo or mountain villa, but that stuff will fade away one day and then what’s left?

Slide over and give the Lord the reigns of your life. He will take you places you never thought you’d go. And when this life is over, He will take you all the way to Heaven! As the song says, “It gets sweeter as the days go by!”

COUNT ME IN

The Christian church is a society of sinners. It is the only society in the world, membership in which is based upon the single qualification that the candidate shall be unworthy of membership. -Morrison

Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Notice what it said in Acts; they “… gladly received his word” (They got saved.) Then they were baptized. Then they “were added”. What were they added to—the church. Why—for accountability.

Friend, God is interested in people. He is interested most importantly in their souls. However, He is also interested in their success here on earth. Not success defined man’s way of money and materialism, but success defined His way. Summed up it can be; a life that not only has seen its need for salvation but also has recognized its need for sanctification. A life being set a part for God’s use. A life that produces fruit. A life following God’s Word, doing His work, His way. So, count me in! Will you be counted in as well?

CROOKED AS A MOUNTIAN ROAD

This law tells me how crooked I am. Grace comes along and straightens me out. -D.L. Moody

Titus 2:11-14, 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.

Do you remember what God saved you from? Do you remember where you were at when He reach down and pulled you up out of the muck and mire of this world? Do you remember how low you had gone? Do you remember the grace He bestowed? Do you remember, that His grace is not just for salvation? Hey friend, I need His grace every single day!

I was as crooked as a mountain road when God reached down and saved my wretched soul! But praise God for that grace He bestowed upon my life! I wouldn’t take nothing for it! It gets sweeter as the days go by!

HAVE FAITH

It is not faith and works; it is not faith or works; it is faith that works. -Anonymous

2 Kings 4:3, Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.

Have you ever wondered if the widow woman had gotten more pots, the Lord would have provided more oil? I believe He would have because God goes above and beyond. So often, we don’t go the extra mile, trying God’s faithfulness when He “…is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.”

Do what the Lord has asked of you friend and HAVE FAITH that God will do His part! He is able… will you have faith?

SWEET DEATH

Some die without having really lived, while others continue to live, in spite of the fact that they have died. -Anonymous

Proverbs 14:32, The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

Yesterday, we honored the life of a man who had a great impact on many. For some, it was an eternal impact. Benny Aldridge was a friend, father, and faithful servant of the Lord who gave His life for the cause of Christ. He directed me personally when I felt the call to preach from the Lord. Unlike others, Benny directed me to Scripture. He pointed me to prayer. Even though I was stubborn eventually, the counsel He gave directed me to surrender to God’s call.

As I reflect on his life this morning, what made Benny so great was not a what but a Who. Jesus made the difference in Benny. Jesus saved Benny, sanctified Benny, and used Benny to impact a lost, dying, and hurting generation for the cause of Christ.

Will you and I leave behind that type of testimony? Will we give it all for Christ? Will we have a sweet death? We can and will IF we keep our eyes on Christ; never wavering from His will!