I was talking with a friend about life and the subject of “tomorrow” came up. When I was younger I thought “there’s always tomorrow.” I could put off things indefinitely, because, in my mind anyway, I had at least 50 more years to do stuff.

I think when my cousin died several years ago it brought home to me the reality of “we’re not promised tomorrow.” My cousin and I were the same age.

We always want to put off the more serious and important things until later because we want to have fun now. But for many people, tomorrow will never come. Whether it’s sickness or a freak accident, people of all ages, your age and my age, die every day.

Is there something that God has been telling you to do and you’re just putting it off? Don’t wait! Listen to Paul’s words to the church at Corinth,

1. As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. 2. For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.”Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (NLT)

A lot of times that verse (the last half of verse 2) is only quoted to show people who have not yet accepted Jesus that they may not have tomorrow to do it, they need to accept him now while they are still here on this earth.

But…I want you that know Jesus as your Savior to notice verse 1 and Paul’s admonition not to take God’s wonderful gift (Salvation – Rom. 6:23b) for granted. We are cautioned not to accept the gift and ignore it. In other words, if you accept Christ as your Savior and say you are a Christian, you need to live every day AS a Christian, following the ways of God.

Yes we will all make mistakes but “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9 (NASB)

Check out this passage by James, Jesus’ brother on the same subject.

James 4:13 - 17 (NLT) 13. Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” 14. How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. 15. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” 16. Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans and all such boasting is evil. 17. Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM….

Does everybody that uses a computer understand how a processor chip is made or that when you turn it on, why or how it does what it does?

Do you know the pilot of the airplane that you flew on last time and that he or she was qualified?

How do we really know that when we sit down in a chair it will hold our weight?

Basically the answer we could all agree with is that we trust the source. We trust that the people that make the computer chips know what they are doing and we simply accept it. We trust the people that check the qualifications of the airline pilot and that the pilot is keeping up on his or her skills. We can confidently sit in a chair because our experience has shown us that it won’t collapse (most of the time!).

We trust or have faith in many things. As I was reading chapter one in 2 Timothy this morning the word “faith” jumped off the page. Here are a few verses:

This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I have been sent out to tell others about the life he has promised through faith in Christ Jesus. I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 1:1, 5, 13 (NLT)

• Through faith, Paul reminds us we have LIFE, eternal life.
• He points out that faith in Christ is nothing new but was held by those who came before us. We are not alone.
• Paul then points out that we are to live in the faith and love that we have through our relationship with Christ Jesus.

Trusting (having faith) in God ought to be easier for us than trusting pilots, or computers or chairs. After all, God made the pilot. He made the air through which the plane flies. God made the materials that planes, computers and chairs are made from and gave man the wisdom to create them.

Trusting God is simply believing what He says in the Bible is true. The writer of the book of John in chapter 20, verses 30-31 tells us his whole reason for writing the book in the first place was that we might believe or have faith in Christ.

30. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Won’t you trust Him today? You’re not alone and He has promised that you will live with Him forever when you take that step. Simply talk to God aloud or silently and say something like,

Dear Jesus, I realize that I am in need of you in my life. I need and want your help. I have tried to be a good person, but I know I fall short of your perfection. Please come into my life and help me. I want to trust you today. Thank you, Jesus…thank you.

Romans 10:9 (NASB) …if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

A lot of times we see something on TV or in the possession of a friend and we just have to have it. Perhaps we started out with good intentions of pursuing a goal we believed God was leading us toward, but it takes a lot of money to live, and well, we deserve nice things too!

Many times the pursuit of things, which of course require money, becomes our focus instead of God. Most people, even those who don’t know Jesus as their Savior have probably heard “money is the root of all evil.” Well, here is the passage of Scripture from which it comes:

1 Timothy 6:6 - 10 (NLT) 6. Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 7. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. 8. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. 9. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

I see you noticed that other well known saying, “You can’t take it with you.” Many times, rather than an incentive for ignoring earthly treasures we use that saying as an excuse to spend more and do more things that we want to do. You may have seen the bumper sticker, “I’m Spending My Children’s Inheritance” or something to that effect.

Paul’s reason for writing this passage was not to give us an occasion to amass great amounts of money and spend it. Neither was it to make us feel that all money, in any amount, is evil. Rather, that our seeking after the things of God, pursuing His desire for us to lead lives of purity, love and respect for others ought to be NUMBER ONE.

Matthew 6:33 (NLT) Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Here’s the right kind of “roots.” Let this benediction guide your thoughts in the coming day, week and ….

Colossians 2:6 - 7 (NLT) 6. And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

You may have heard the song that Aretha Franklin sings called, “R.E.S.P.E.C.T.” Or perhaps Rodney Dangerfield’s famous line, “I don’t get no respect.” These examples may have made the word itself famous, but they have not increased the frequency of the act of respect.

I am always hearing “You have to earn respect.” Some of us that are parents say it. Some of you may say it to your friends. The truth of the matter is that we are talking about a person’s worth. To respect someone is to acknowledge that they have worth in God’s eyes. ALL people have worth in God’s eyes. That doesn’t mean we have to agree with their beliefs, or actions, but it does mean that we are to treat them with respect even if we disagree with them; even our parents; even our children!

You may say, “They don’t respect me, so I don’t have to respect them.” Consider the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:44,

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Perhaps it would help to remember that saying “It is better to give than to receive.” Now consider the Apostle Paul’s words to Timothy:

1 Timothy 5:1 - 2 (NLT) 1. Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers. 2. Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters.

Paul here is assuming that one respects their father and mother, brothers and sisters which is something that has declined in our society as the family unit has undergone drastic attacks in the last several decades. Paul’s right to “assume” comes from one of the Ten Commandments:

“Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12 (NLT)

Respect is not something that we earn, it is something we are due as a creation of God. We need to keep in mind that ALL people are due this same basic respect:

ALL your friends that hurt you...
ALL your teachers…
ALL your business associates…
ALL the people you come into contact with EVERYDAY.

All were created by God. We are told to first love God and then our neighbor in Matthew 22:37-39. It is very difficult to love someone if you don’t first respect them as one of God’s creation.

Grrr...

Your friend did something to hurt you and you were supposed to help them with a homework assignment. What do you do?

Your best friend called and cancelled an outing with you that you were looking forward to going on. You found out later they took another friend. What do you do? How do you react?

We all are hurt from time to time by people that we love. How we respond to that hurt is a good picture of our character and of what we are made in the spiritual sense. It is a good bet others will see how we act and draw some kind of conclusion about our character and perhaps even our relationship with God.

I want to introduce you to a word that you have heard of before and, like most of us, think it is simply the prayer said right before we eat. That word is:

GRACE

Wordreference.com says that the definition of grace is “a disposition to kindness and compassion.” Wordnet.Princeton.edu says grace is “the free and unmerited favor or beneficence of God.” And Calvary Chapel defines grace as “The undeserved favor bestowed upon sinners, a gift from God giving us Christ's riches which we do not deserve nor can earn.”

God’s grace appears to be mixed with His mercy. When you think about what we deserve for our disobedience, it ought to be punishment or some kind of disciplinary action. But God in his mercy gave us His Son, Jesus Christ. And the Bible tells us in Romans 5:8 that:

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Most people are familiar with the verse that says, “For God so loved the world, that He sent His only Son, that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Not only did Christ die instead of us, for our mistakes and wrong doings, but because He did, we are free to experience God’s forgiveness and live with Him forever.

That’s grace. That’s love. That’s God.

So, the next time someone you love deserves (in your thinking) anger or retribution, think about exercising God’s type of grace mixed with mercy!

Ephesians 2:8 - 10 (NASB) 8. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9. not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Endurance Race: Staying power…

1 Timothy 4:1 - 4 (NASB) 1. But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2. by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3. men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. 4. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude;

One only has to look around to see that what was once predominantly a Christian nation, is no longer. People are being told half-truths by cleverly charming leaders in an attempt to create a following; to create a new religion. The rise in the number of cults is astonishing. We are definitely in the “later times” that Paul spoke of in his letter to Timothy.

Well, does that mean we who claim to be followers of Christ are to give up, to hide ourselves in our houses until the Lord appears to take us home? Never! We are to continue to be faithful to God’s command to 19. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20. teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19 - 20 (NASB)

None of this is any surprise to God; the false teachers, the numerous cults and their followers. Jesus told His disciples these things were going to happen.

Matthew 24:11 - 13 (NASB) 11. “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. 12. “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. 13. “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.

Endures to the end. Endures in what? Endures in the truth. What is truth? Jesus said “I am the Truth.” (John 14:6)

Stick with the One who made you and gave His life for you so that you could spend eternity with Him. His name is Jesus!

Never too bad…

I’ve often heard people say, “God could never accept me. I’ve done too many bad things for Him to love me.” And, feeling like that about their self, they continue to live a life below the potential that God has created in them.

I want you to take note of one of the greatest preachers and missionaries for God that ever existed, Paul. Here’s what Paul had to say about his own condition:

1 Timothy 1:12 - 15 (NASB) 12. I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, 13. even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14. and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. 15. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.

No one is “too bad” for God to love, for God to save or even for God to use in the furtherance of His work here on earth. If you feel that God couldn’t possibly love you or forgive you then right now you need to admit your short comings to Him and ask His forgiveness. The bible tells us that if you do…

… he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 1 John 1:9b (NLT)

God wants you to succeed. He sent Jesus for everyone who would believe in Him. “For God so loved the world…” and that includes you. Trust Him today and discover the rich and rewarding life that He desires for you.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NASB) 11. ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

What a picture of happiness for us! The problem is that, all too often, we fail to read the scriptures that come before and after this verse. We want to find the stuff that sounds good and keep only that part.

God was angry with His people and sent Jeremiah to tell them that they were to be taken captive by the King of Babylon. He even told them that they were to build houses there, plant gardens (29:5), to have children there (verse 6) and to 7‘Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.’ He also told them that they would be in that city for seventy years!

Some of the people didn’t want to go into exile, the punishment that God had sent for being disobedient. In essence they were refusing to accept the discipline that God was dishing out and were continuing in their disobedience to Him. Listen to God’s response to them in the same chapter:

17. thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Behold, I am sending upon them the sword, famine and pestilence, and I will make them like split-open figs that cannot be eaten due to rottenness. 18. ‘I will pursue them with the sword, with famine and with pestilence; and I will make them a terror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse and a horror and a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have driven them, 19. because they have not listened to My words,’ declares the LORD, ‘which I sent to them again and again by My servants the prophets; but you did not listen,’ declares the LORD. Jeremiah 29:17 - 19 (NASB)

Our verse for today is indeed a wonderful promise but it is conditional on our obedience to God. Yes, He has good plans for us. Yes, He wants to give us a bright future full of hope. But it is up to us to obey Him and His will for our lives as found in His Word. We are never to take the Word of God out of context; to pick and choose pieces of it to serve our own purposes.

Prayer:
1. Bend down, O LORD, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help.
3. Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am calling on you constantly.
4. Give me happiness, O Lord, for I give myself to you.
5. O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive,
so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.
6. Listen closely to my prayer, O LORD; hear my urgent cry.
Psalm 86:1, 3-6 (NLT)

2 Thessalonians 3:14 - 15 (NASB) 14. If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. 15. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

The church of Paul’s time didn’t have the printed version of the New Testament like we do now. So, when he says “this letter” to the people in Thessalonica, we today can more broadly interpret that to mean “God’s Word.”

This verse reminded me of another from the book of Romans:

17. Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. 18. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. Romans 16:17-18 (NASB)

We, as children of God, are called to a life of holiness, purity, separation from the world and obedience to God. George Barna says that a very small percentage of people that sit in the pews (or chairs!) on any given Sunday are actually born-again Christians. That’s not for us to decide, but when we see someone who is calling themselves a Christian and yet is acting contrary to what Christ puts forth in the scriptures, we are not to associate with them.

Well, “ok” you say, “but what if they’re my best friend? What if it’s somebody I like a lot?” If someone in the church is causing dissension and hindrances to God’s work, or blatantly disobeying God, we are to avoid them even if they are our dearest friend. That may not be easy, but that’s what God says to do.

Now obviously, if we were that close to them, we could probably talk to them about it and, through God’s Word, gently and humbly lead them to seeing their error, but if not, we are to avoid them. Otherwise we will be seen as agreeing with their disobedience to God and, by association, be accomplices to it.

Prayer Verse:
Won’t you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in you?

Psalms 85:6 (NLT)

Psalms 84:1 (NLT)
1. How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of Heaven’s Armies.

The psalmist was making a statement. The temple, God’s house, was magnificent! God has another temple where His Spirit resides when an individual believes and accepts Jesus Christ as his Savior. 1 Corinthians 6:19 says,

19. Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?

That brings me back to Psalm 84:1, only this time I would like you to consider it, not as a statement but as a question.

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, in me? Do people view me as your dwelling place? Are you, O Lord, happy with me, your dwelling place? Do I even acknowledge that you, Almighty God, are dwelling in me?

If you’re like me, you have to say, “Sometimes, I don’t think God is too pleased with me as His dwelling place.” We all fail. We all let God down at times. But, we need to simply confess our failure (sin) and God will forgive us and make us clean again (1 John 1:9). Then make the changes that are necessary.

On a different level, we need to ask the same thing of our local church. How lovely is this church as your dwelling place, O Lord? What can we do in our church to make your dwelling place acceptable in your sight?

All too often we accept Christ as our Savior, assume everything we do is “covered by the blood” and live our lives no differently than we did before or like the world does. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey my commandments.” (John 14:15)

Ask yourself today; no ask God today, “How lovely is my life as your dwelling place?” And sincerely desire to hear His response, fully surrendered to making any changes He feels are necessary in your life, HIS dwelling place!

In a world full of hopelessness and senseless violence like the recent school shootings, there is hope and reassurance for a positive future, IF you know where to look.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 18 (NLT) 13. And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.

Some of you have had to deal with the death of a loved one in the past year or so. All of you will have to deal with the death of a loved one at some point in your life. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ you have a promise of being reunited with that loved one:

14. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.

God has told us through the Apostle Paul that we who trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior will forever (that’s’ a long time!) be with Him when he returns.

15. We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. 16. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. 17. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18. So encourage each other with these words.

But I want to recall your attention to verse 13 again, just the last part, “so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.” You see, people that don’t believe in Jesus DO NOT have this hope. For them, when it’s over, it’s over. They are stuck with their regrets, their hurts and their loss. It is up to you and me to show them that they too can have this hope that we have; to show them the love that Jesus Christ has for them.

Verse 18 is speaking to believers. We need to remind and encourage each other that Jesus Christ is coming back! There are times when all of us need to be encouraged.

So, be on the lookout for people that don’t have the hope of Christ and tell them about Jesus AND encourage your fellow believers when they are down, reminding them of God’s incredible promises to them.

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM.

Who do you trust?

In my reading this morning I came across this passage:

Jeremiah 17:5 - 8 (NLT) 5. This is what the LORD says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the LORD. 6. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land. 7. “But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. 8. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.

It reminded me of a couple of verses someone had shown me in the book of Psalms:

Psalms 118:8 - 9 (NLT) 8. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in people. 9. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.

Psalms 146:3 (NASB) 3 Do not trust in princes, In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation.

This friend had pointed these out because I had just been hurt by someone I loved and trusted. Perhaps you have been hurt by a close friend, a spouse, a boyfriend of a girlfriend. You need to listen to these scriptures.

Our main trust has to be in the One True God who made us. When that happens we have the strength and capacity to deal with being hurt by people.

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM…
Matthew 6:33

1 Thessalonians 1:7 - 10 (TMSG) 7. Do you know that all over the provinces of both Macedonia and Achaia believers look up to you? 8. The word has gotten around. Your lives are echoing the Master’s Word, not only in the provinces but all over the place. The news of your faith in God is out. We don’t even have to say anything anymore—you’re the message! 9. People come up and tell us how you received us with open arms, how you deserted the dead idols of your old life so you could embrace and serve God, the true God. 10. They marvel at how expectantly you await the arrival of his Son, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescued us from certain doom.

Now that’s a witness! Think about it…in a trial witnesses are called to the stand to testify to what they know and must swear to tell the truth. That’s the kind of witness that Jesus is looking for…one that tells and LIVES the truth. In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am…the Truth.”

These Thessalonians were living out the truth of the Gospel, the Good News about Jesus paying the price for their sin. Their lives were changed, they were excited about Jesus coming back for them and everyone around them knew it!

That’s the kind of witness we are to be for our Savior. That’s the kind of witness He was talking about in the book of Acts when He said,

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:8 (NLT)

How are you fitting into that plan? Is your life changed by the Truth of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit that indwells you as a result? Do people see and hear the difference in your life?

If you can’t answer positively to those questions you need to surrender your life to Him today. He can and WILL make a difference that all will see.

John 3:16 - 18 (NLT) 16. “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. 18. “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.

Colossians 3:1 - 2 (TMSG)
1. So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. 2. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.

Isn't that what life in Christ is supposed to be about; seeing things from Jesus’ perspective? We come to Him admitting that we can’t do it on our own; that we need Him. We ask Him to come into our lives, help us and take over even our thinking!

Once we have admitted that and yielded ourselves to His leading in our daily lives, we’re part way there. We’re still going to make mistakes but we simply confess our sin to Him and accept His forgiveness and cleansing.

To restate the opening sentence:

If you’re going to call yourself a Christian…

ACT LIKE IT.

Help each other act like a Christian. Love each other.
Let others help you to act like a Christian. Love each other.
Seek First the Kingdom...

We have been blessed to live near beautiful mountains for the past 20 years. I can sit on the porch (front or back) of my house and look at the incredible grandeur and majesty of them as they reach toward the sky. Indeed, much of God’s creation is beautiful, but we must keep in mind that He is the One who created all of the mountains…and more.

How many times have we gone camping, fishing or just sight seeing and become enamored with our incredible surroundings without giving a single thought to the Almighty God that made them and allowed us to take pleasure in them? We become tempted to worship the created rather than the Creator.

Psalms 121:1 - 2 (NLT)
1. I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there?
2. My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth!

If it isn’t nature’s beauty that we get lost in, it might be the accolades of man. We invest much of our lives trying to get others to like us or be proud of us or pay us more attention.

NEWS FLASH!
God LOVES you. God MADE you and God will pay as much attention to you and your needs as you will let Him.

Psalms 118:8 - 9 (NLT)
8. It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in people.
9. It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.

Stop looking to nature and to man for your fulfillment. Look to God that One that created it ALL.

Colossians 1:15 - 17 (NLT)
15. Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 16. for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. 17. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

Here in southeast Arizona there are Mesquite trees everywhere. The larger ones can provide shade to escape from the blistering sun. But they don’t seem to need water. Actually they do, it’s just that the Mesquite tree is vigorous in sending its roots down into the soil to find it.

I was clearing Mesquite from a section of fence one day with my tractor. I came to one that was only about 4-5 feet tall and begin to lift it out with the bucket of my tractor. The bucket went up and up and up until it reached its limit of about 14 feet. The tap root from the Mesquite was still in the ground!! Its main root was over 3 times longer than the tree was tall.

Paul talks about our “roots” in Colossians 2:6 - 7 (NLT),

6. And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

The roots of a plant cannot be seen, but they provide the nourishment needed for growth and survival. Similarly, our nourishment comes from “unseen” things. Our nourishment comes from Christ Jesus, but as Paul says we must let our roots grow down into him.

How do we do that? By things which are unseen as roots:

Prayer: simply talking to God!
Reading the Bible: God’s Holy Word.
Faith: the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)

It really starts with faith as we trust that God is Who He says He is.
If you don’t know Him as your God, your Lord, your Savior, won’t you trust Him today?

And those of us that do, let’s make sure our roots are wrapped around the anchor of our hope, Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Read Jeremiah 3:11-4:1

God gives us through the prophet Jeremiah three calls in chapter 3 to “come home” to Him; to return to Him.

Come home. Wherever you are in your life, if it is away from God, He is calling you home. He only asks that you:

Acknowledge your guilt
Admit that you rebelled against Him
Confess that you did not listen

Come home. He promises to give you a shepherd or special friend* who will guide you into knowledge and understanding of Him. That special friend for us that call Him Savior is the Holy Spirit!

Come Home. He will heal your broken heart.

In chapter four God gives a universal benefit of His people returning home. He says that when we return to Him that we

will be a blessing to the nations of the world,
and all people will come and praise my name.

If you find yourself away from home, the Savior is waiting with open arms to receive you and welcome you home. It doesn’t matter where you are now or what you have done. He wants you to come home.

Father, for those that may feel hopeless and hurting; for those who feel they have hurt you and cannot be forgiven, I pray that you will shine your light into their lives through your Holy Word and give them comfort. Draw them to yourself, Father. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.


SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
12b. (NLT, second edition) “O Israel, my faithless people, come home to me again, for I am merciful. I will not be angry with you forever. 13. Only acknowledge your guilt. Admit that you rebelled against the LORD your God and committed adultery against him by worshiping idols under every green tree. Confess that you refused to listen to my voice. I, the LORD, have spoken! 14. “Return home, you wayward children,” says the LORD, “for I am your master. I will bring you back to the land of Israel— one from this town and two from that family—from wherever you are scattered. 15. And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will guide you with knowledge and understanding.

22. “My wayward children,” says the LORD, “come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.”

4:1 “O Israel, come back to me,” says the LORD. “If you will throw away your detestable idols and go astray no more, 2. and if you will swear by my name alone, and begin to live good, honest lives and uphold justice, then you will be a blessing to the nations of the world, and all people will come and praise my name. (NLT, first edition) (Emphases and italics are mine)

*Browns-Driver-Brigg’s Hebrew definitions

WORD...
Philippians 4:8 (NASB) Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Turn on the news, any channel, and see how much of it lines up with the above paragraph. Listen to the political posturing going on around us today and see if any of it fits into these categories.

I guess that's just not how the world thinks, is it? Human nature wants to hear the "dirt" and wants to read about the scandal. But we are not to operate in our "human nature, human though we are. We that claim Christ as Savior are to operate in the Spirit nature that He has given us.

Romans 8:13 - 14 (NASB) For if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

That's not to say that we run around "happy, happy" and ignore all the problems in our lives and the lives of others. But it means we try to see those problems through God's eyes and learn to deal with them in His power.

Colossians 3:2 (NASB) Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

Seek first the Kingdom!

Ecclesiastes 1:3 - 4 (NASB) 3. What advantage does man have in all his work which he does under the sun? 4. A generation goes and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.

I have been going through the process of closing out the estate of Stella and Lupe, a dear couple that lived down the street from me. They were in their mid to late seventies and had lived good lives when they went to be with the Lord. They were not wealthy by earthly standards. Going through all the possessions they had and selling them at a garage sale we may bring in as much as $750, counting the old van and small trailer that they owned. Not much to show for an entire lifetime of “work” is it? But they believed in God and His Holy Word.

Matthew 6:19 - 21 (NLT) 19. “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Lupe was a very talented wood carver. Even His best carving, if the house were to burn down would be gone; just a memory.

1 Corinthians 3:11 - 13 (KJV) 11. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13. Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

Both of these dear souls were kind, loved God and loved to serve others for God. That’s the kind of thing that will last forever. They are the epitome of the poem by C. T. Studd which says,

"Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
only what's done for Christ will last.
And when I am dying, how happy I'll be,
if the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee."

Jesus was trying to get the young man to understand this same principal in Matthew 19:21 (NLT) when he said,

“If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

I don’t think that he was saying that everyone has to sell everything that they have to please God. But I do think that if we have even one possession that comes between us and God and the fulfillment of His task for us here on this earth, that we should get rid of it. He knows our heart.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33

Isaiah 62:6 - 7 (NLT) 6. O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen on your walls; they will pray day and night, continually. Take no rest, all you who pray to the LORD. 7. Give the LORD no rest until he completes his work, until he makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth.

Can we apply this same principal to our lives today? I believe that we can. Verse 7 says, “until he (God) completes his work.” In Philippians 1:6 (NLT) it says,

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

God is at work in your life even today. He is trying to get your attention. He is trying to form you into that person that you were created to be; made in the image of God. Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17) that God will keep working on you as he promised. Pray that he won’t give up on you despite your failure or even your refusal to follow his ways. With God all things are possible (Mark 9:23).

As today’s scripture says, “Give the Lord no rest until he completes His work,” in you and in the hearts and lives of the rest of His children. God loves you and wants to hear from you today and tomorrow and the next day and the next and...

Other reading: Luke 18:1-8

I was listening to T. D. Jakes the other day and he said “what’s killing the church today is bad religion.” His point was that it wasn’t religion that saves you and gives you a life worth living; it is a relationship with Jesus Christ.

In Isaiah 58 (read the whole chapter, its short) God is telling the Israelites the same thing. They tell God,

3. ‘We have fasted before you!’ they say. ‘Why aren’t you impressed? We have been very hard on ourselves, and you don’t even notice it!’

His response is,

“It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves. Even while you fast, you keep oppressing your workers. 4. What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me.

God then goes on to explain that freeing those that are wrongly imprisoned, sharing food with the hungry and giving shelter to the homeless is the type of “fasting” that pleases Him. In other words, thinking about other people more than ourselves.

Paul, in Philippians 2:3 (NASB) says something similar,

3. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;

And the Lord promises that when our hearts are right…

8. “Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind.

9a. Then when you call, the LORD will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.

10a. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.

Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness…

Love God. Love each other

…and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33

Ephesians 5:3 - 9 (NLT) 3. Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6. Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 7. Don’t participate in the things these people do. 8. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9. For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

One of the reasons I maintain a presence in the cyber space world known as “myspace,” is to spread God’s Word in an atmosphere where not everyone knows the Lord. All of the people on my “friends” list have professed to be Christian and yet, from time to time, I am motivated to call some of them to remembrance of God’s desires for their lives and their witness. And that’s an OK thing because that’s God’s desire for each of us, that we would help each other to know His will for our lives.

Yesterday, I noticed some posts using the infamous “F” word. Today’s verse clearly points out that this is something that God doesn’t want His children doing.

Many of us have things that we may do from time to time that may fall into the categories mentioned in the scripture verse today. Maybe it’s that off-color joke you laughed at, or the greed that inspired you to take advantage of someone in a business deal. God says His kids shouldn't be even associated with that kind of thing, and definitely not the ones doing them.

The point is, we need to help each other if we notice that someone is “slipping.” We shouldn’t run around talking behind their backs saying, “Did you know that (insert name here!) cheated on the math test?” or “Did you hear that (insert another name here!) is having an affair with?”

Instead we are to help each other (Galatians 6:1), encourage each other, pray for each other. Someday you may be the person in need of help.

Keep it pure and filled with love! Have a blessed day…

1 Corinthians 11:1 - 3 (NASB) 1. Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ. 2. Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you. 3. But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.

Christ is my head, Paul says. He’s my leader, my boss, the One that is in control of my life. It’s great that you are following what I taught you, but the most important thing to me is that you understand that Christ is the One I look to for everything. Nothing I am saying is mine, but Christ’s. I want you to know Him well enough as your head, your leader; that you will always know when someone tells you something that doesn’t line up with His teaching.

Ephesians 5:1 - 2 (NASB) 1. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2. and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

There are 3 dead trees on my land. I noticed one dead last year, the other this past spring and the final one was dead towards the end of summer. Why haven’t I cut those trees down yet? There’s something in my, I guess, that must think they’ll come back to life or regain the vigor that they once had.

The problem is the bugs are having a hay day with these dead trees and if I don’t get them out soon, those pests will affect and infect my living trees.

Could that be the same kind of thinking behind us leaving “dead” things in our services and churches? We hold on to the choir that has only 5 people in it, because we remember how great it was when there were 50 people up there. We hold on to a particular way of doing things because it used to be effective and perhaps we think it will be again.

Could some of these things possibly have become the idols Paul was speaking about in 1 Corinthians 10:14 (NLT) when he said,

“So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols.”

Rather, shouldn’t we be “pruning out” these things that are not as effective in this present generation and “planting” new things that will reach the lost souls of today?

Maybe it’s not our reluctance to prune out these dead things that hinders so much, maybe it’s our reluctance to turn things over to a “different gardener.” We like the feeling that came with our “successes” in the church.

But, there is a time when we have to look towards new things, new ideas, and even at times, new leadership. I’m not necessarily talking about the preacher or elders, but younger Christians that have ideas that will reach their contemporaries. After all, are they not the generation that will have the helm some day?

Paul said “I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.” 1 Corinthians 9:23 (NLT)

What could possibly be important enough to us that it should stand in the way of reaching people for the lost?

1 Corinthians 10:31 - 33 (NASB) 31. Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32. Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; 33. just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.

Trust God, not the past. Trust God, not your egos. Trust God. It is His Church.

Mark 9:23 - 29 (NASB) 23. And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” 24. Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” 25. When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.” 26. After crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, “He is dead!” 27. But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up. 28. When He came into the house, His disciples began questioning Him privately, “Why could we not drive it out?” 29. And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.”

Jesus had been approached by a man asking for help for his son. The man believed the boy was possessed by a spirit. He told Jesus that the spirit, “slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out.” He also told Jesus that the disciples had tried to cast out the spirit but were not successful.

Jesus’ response points out the man’s doubt when He says “If” you can. The man immediately felt convicted and his response is once that we should have…”I do believe; help my unbelief.” We all have doubts.

We’ve been praying that God would remove the demonic cloud overshadowing our town, with it’s accompanying drugs, satan worship and witchcraft. But deep down maybe we’re not sure God will do it. HELP MY UNBELIEF. God has already won the victory through His Son Jesus Christ. We need to cry out to Him, claiming that victory and, in humility, ask Him to HELP OUR UNBELIEF.

The second thing I want to point out is Jesus’ statement in verse 29, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.” God is waiting for His people to unite in prayer against things like the demonic forces in our area. He will show His mighty power when we UNITE IN PRAYER, admitting we cannot do anything, only God can.

HELP OUR UNBELIEF and HEAR OUR PRAYER, O MIGHTY GOD. Amen.

1 Corinthians 13:4 - 7 (NLT)

4. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5.or rude.
It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

You've may have seen or heard this passage a thousand times or not. But do we stop and think when Jesus tells us to "love one another" that this is what He's talking about? Or when we say that we "love" somebody that this is what love really is? Not the popularized version that is prevalent in the world today, which mostly means "I'm hot for you!" or some such romanticized notion. This biblical definition, if adhered to, would prevent a lot of the divorces that are occurring in our society.

This is an excellent list to put before yourself every day and in every situation. Ask yourself the questions,


Am I being:

Patient

Kind

And not:

Jealous

Boastful

Proud

Rude

Irritable

Holding a grudge

Rejoicing about injustice

But instead:

Rejoicing whenever truth wins out.

Never giving up (on the other person)

Never losing faith (in God)

Always hopeful

Enduring through every circumstance

Love God….Love one another…There's the rules, now go to work!

1 Corinthians 13:4 - 7 (TMSG) 4. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, 5. Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, 6. Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, 7. Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.

Acts 2:42 - 47 (NLT) 42. All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. 43. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— 47. all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

1. They devoted themselves to (continued in):

• Doctrine/teaching (learning the bible)
• Fellowship (koinonia: partnership with Christ)
• Communion: literally “breaking of bread” – Lord’s Supper
• Prayer

2. EVERY soul FEARED (God)
3. ALL were together and had ALL things in common
4. WORSHIPED each day
5. Had the Lord’s Supper in each others homes
6. Shared meals
7. PRAISED GOD!

IF NO UNITY – NO (positive) WITNESS!
Notice that verse one does not say “some of the believers.”
It does not say:

all of those aged 40-80
all of those who only like older hymns
all of those who wear suits & dresses
all of those employed full time
all of those with college degrees
all of those who are of European descent

It says “ALL THE BELIEVERS”
We then have to ask ourselves, “What are we doing to embrace these differences?” Are we making young people feel comfortable? Are we doing some of the music that they like?

“WE” TAKES WORK! (Eph 4:3)
• Hebrews 3:13 (NLT) You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT) So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
• Galatians 6:1 (NLT) Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path.
• Galatians 6:7 - 10 (NLT) 7. Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

Together we can win the world for Christ with Him as our head. Love each other. Ignore stupid differences. Build bridges, not islands. ...and the greatest of these is Love.

1 Corinthians 10:31 - 33 (NASB) Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32. Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; 33. just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.

…do all to the glory of God.

Glory according to “thefreedictionary.com” means great honor, praise, adoration, thanksgiving, majestic beauty, splendor, perfect happiness and enjoyment.

Does everything that you do (and think and say, etc.) bring honor to God? Does it cause people to praise Him? To adore Him? You get my drift. If we would ask ourselves that question before we spoke a harsh word to someone we probably wouldn’t speak it!

Just try this today. Run everything through this filter: Is what I’m about to do going to bring glory (see above definition) to God? If it won’t, skip it!

Now that isn’t an excuse to say, well I won’t go to Math class because I don’t think that will bring much glory to God. Not true. God will be happy (see definition again) that you are doing what you are supposed to be doing!

Church, this should be our filter for everything that goes on in the church building and that we initiate outside her walls. Does it bring glory to God? Is my attitude contributing to God’s glory?

Notice Paul ends this paragraph with the reason for the church’s existence – “so that they may be saved.” That will bring glory to God! If we all filter everything we do through this question of bringing God glory then people will WANT to be part of the church. They will WANT to be saved.

…do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:23 - 30 (NASB) 23. All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. 24. Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor. 25. Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake; 26. for the earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains. 27. If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake. 28. But if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake; 29. I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? 30. If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks?

1 Corinthians 10:23 - 30 (TMSG) 23. Looking at it one way, you could say, “Anything goes. Because of God’s immense generosity and grace, we don’t have to dissect and scrutinize every action to see if it will pass muster.” But the point is not to just get by. 24. We want to live well, but our foremost efforts should be to help others live well. 25. With that as a base to work from, common sense can take you the rest of the way. Eat anything sold at the butcher shop, for instance; you don’t have to run an “idolatry test” on every item. 26. “The earth,” after all, “is God’s, and everything in it.” That “everything” certainly includes the leg of lamb in the butcher shop. 27. If a nonbeliever invites you to dinner and you feel like going, go ahead and enjoy yourself; eat everything placed before you. It would be both bad manners and bad spirituality to cross-examine your host on the ethical purity of each course as it is served. 28. On the other hand, if he goes out of his way to tell you that this or that was sacrificed to god or goddess so-and-so, you should pass. Even though you may be indifferent as to where it came from, he isn’t, and you don’t want to send mixed messages to him about who you are worshiping. 29. But, except for these special cases, I’m not going to walk around on eggshells worrying about what small-minded people might say; I’m going to stride free and easy, knowing what our large-minded Master has already said. 30. If I eat what is served to me, grateful to God for what is on the table, how can I worry about what someone will say? I thanked God for it and he blessed it!

One of the biggest barriers we have in this world is OURSELVES!! I want this, I want that. I like this, I like that. Give me this, give me that. We tend to be just a tad self-centered. But, Paul is telling us that is not to be the Christian mindset.

In verse 24 he tells us, “Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.” In the book of Philippians, chapter 2 and verse 3 (NASB) he says,

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves.”

We are to love our neighbors as ourselves (Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 22:39). We need to pray for help in this department because it is so unnatural! And remember, God, can do what is impossible for us. He can change our hearts.

When we begin thinking in this way, about the other person’s best interests, our churches will be places of peace without strife and jealousy. Then we can go forward in the Lord’s name, spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ as His pure, unblemished bride.

Let this be our prayer: Lord, make me more like you. Help me to think about what is best for the other person and not just myself. I want to do your will while I am here on this earth. I want to please you in everything that I do and say. AMEN

1 Corinthians 10:14 - 22 (NASB) 14. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15. I speak as to wise men; you judge what I say. 16. Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? 17. Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread. 18. Look at the nation Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar? 19. What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20. No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. 21. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than He, are we?

If we knowingly do something that many people believe supports a particular religious belief and that belief is not in the ONE TRUE GOD, then are we not wrong for doing it? Take for example the crazy things people forward in their email.

* If you do not forward this to at least 10 people then you don’t really love God

* If you do not forward this in 7 seconds bad things will happen

* If you forward this in the next 7 seconds you will have good luck all day long

You all know what I’m talking about! When you forward these messages, does that not say to the recipient on the other end that you believe them? “That’s silly,” you say. Well let me tell you there are many people who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and do believe in “luck” and “superstition.” Don’t feed that false belief. They will think you share the same beliefs by your participation. If you really feel the content of one of these messages is worth forwarding then delete the “superstitious” part.

1 Corinthians 10:19 - 22 (NLT) 19. What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods? 20. No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don’t want you to participate with demons. 21. You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too. 22. What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord’s jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than he is?

1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT) The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

Sometimes we think we’re all alone facing these difficult choices in life. But God’s Word says that we are definitely NOT ALONE!

Hebrews 2:18 (NASB) For since He Himself (Jesus) was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

He is HERE for us. His Word is ALWAYS available for wise counsel. Though these things are true we must:

take the time to listen.
take the time to read His Word.

This doesn’t just hold true for individuals, it holds true for the local body of believers as well. They may be tempted to go down a road that God doesn’t want them to just because it looks glamorous. It could be the temptation to build a new building and going into debt outside of God’s timing. It could be the temptation to water down the Word of God or take the cross off of the outside of the building in order to attract new people. But God will show the church the way out of that temptation IF they are looking; IF they are listening and seeking God’s counsel through the Word and through prayer. The scripture says in Proverbs 8:17 (NASB) “I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me.” (Deuteronomy 4:29, 1 Chronicles 28:9, 2 Chronicles 15:2, Matthew 6:33)

Tempted? Seek God! ONLY He has the answer…

Hebrews 4:14 - 16 (NASB) 14. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

1 Corinthians 10:7 - 12 (TMSG) 7. And we must not turn our religion into a circus as they did—“First the people partied, then they threw a dance.” 8. We must not be sexually promiscuous—they paid for that, remember, with twenty-three thousand deaths in one day! 9. We must never try to get Christ to serve us instead of us serving him; they tried it, and God launched an epidemic of poisonous snakes. 10. We must be careful not to stir up discontent; discontent destroyed them. 11. These are all warning markers—danger!—in our history books, written down so that we don’t repeat their mistakes. Our positions in the story are parallel—they at the beginning, we at the end—and we are just as capable of messing it up as they were. 12. Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence.

The focus of “religion” is not to be parties or dances – it is to be JESUS CHRIST.

Now, substitute the word “church” for the word religion and read that sentence.
Try substituting your name for the word religion and read it again.

Paul is simply letting us know that Christ is the center of all things and we need to treat Him that way. But we are a stubborn people and despite all that our ancestors went through (vs. 8 – 10) we don’t seem to learn! Do we really think that we can get away with doing it our own way and escape the consequences if they did not?

Some of you call yourselves Christian and are sexually promiscuous; having sexual relations outside of marriage.

Some of you call yourselves Christian and still try to get Christ to “do things for you” with no regard to what He wants you to do for Him.

Some of you call yourselves Christian and you are stirring up discontent in the body of Christ by gossiping about your brothers and sisters.

Those of you that can say, “I’m not doing any of those things” Paul cautions not to become too cocky about that because you could easily slip just as others have. We can have NO confidence in the flesh but only in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer.

Trust Him. Love Him. Help each other. Love each other.

WORD…
1 Corinthians 10:1 - 6 (TMSG) 1. Remember our history, friends, and be warned. All our ancestors were led by the providential Cloud and taken miraculously through the Sea. 2. They went through the waters, in a baptism like ours, as Moses led them from enslaving death to salvation life. 3. They all ate 4. and drank identical food and drink, meals provided daily by God. They drank from the Rock, God’s fountain for them that stayed with them wherever they were. And the Rock was Christ. 5. But just experiencing God’s wonder and grace didn’t seem to mean much—most of them were defeated by temptation during the hard times in the desert, and God was not pleased. 6. The same thing could happen to us. We must be on guard so that we never get caught up in wanting our own way as they did.

Paul says, “our history…” The church at Corinth was not made up solely of Jews but He is pointing out the heritage of all Christians is from the Jews. They were, and are, God’s chosen people. God has allowed us non-Jewish people to come to Him through Jesus Christ – PRAISE the LORD!

So, Paul is telling us to learn from their mistakes. If after delivering His people out of Egypt and miraculously providing food and water in the desert He was displeased with them and caused many to die, will He not do the same to them who turn their backs on Him and choose their own way instead of His?

The lesson is for individuals and churches alike. If a church (local body of believers) gets caught up in wanting their own way instead of God’s it will suffer consequences.

We talked last night about how so many times churches come up with man made rules, often with good intentions, but none-the-less man made rules and try to insist that they be followed or else “you’re not a Christian.” Do you think God is pleased with that? Of course not! He wants everyone, every body of believers to look ONLY to HIS WORD for instruction and guidance. We’re not supposed to add anything to His Word.

So, as each of us goes about our day, let us “be on guard so that we never get caught up in wanting our own way as they did.” And let us instead truly desire His way in our lives and foster, with love, His way in the lives of other believers.

AMEN

1 Corinthians 9:24 - 27 (NASB) 24. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27. but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

1 Corinthians 9:24 - 27 (TMSG) 24. You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. 25. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally. 26. I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! 27. I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.

Do you want to miss out on going to heaven?

Matthew 7:21 - 23 (NASB) 21. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22. “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23. “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’

We can be full of the knowledge of HOW to get to heaven.
We can TELL other people how to get to heaven.

But if you don’t know Jesus Christ personally…and love Him with all of your heart to the point of obedience to Him…you will NOT get to heaven. The people Jesus is referring to in the passage from Matthew did things that “looked” like they were for Jesus but in reality they were “practicing” a lifestyle contrary to what Jesus preached.

He doesn’t want us to merely look like Him when we’re in public or talking to other Christians. He wants our hearts to be changed. He wants us to listen to Him through His Word and to obey Him.

John 14:15 (NASB) “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

If you’ll notice, Paul points out that “only one wins” the race (v. 24). We are NOT in competition with each other (so don’t act that way church!). The race of life has already been run for us, for you, by Jesus Christ. He is the Victor.

The race we’re “running” is against ourselves and our old nature. Do you want to make sure you cross the finish line with Jesus? Stay close by His side, listening to His every Word, and doing the best you can to follow what He says. Then you won’t “get caught napping” and miss out on the prize of being with Him forever.

When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be.
When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory!

1 Corinthians 9:19 - 23 (KJV) 19. For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 20. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21. To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 22. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23. And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

1 Corinthians 9:19 - 23 (TMSG) 19. Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: 20. religious, nonreligious, 21. meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, 22. the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. 23. I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!

I have “made” myself servant unto all, Paul says. He doesn’t say that when he became a Christian, “poof” he was a servant to all, or felt like a servant to all. It took a decision, commitment and follow-through to be a servant to all.

Christ died for all. Remember, “God so loved the world…” not just “some.” It is only logical and right then for the body of Christ to be a “servant to all.”

Paul goes through a list which Eugene Peterson puts marvelously in the Message (vs. 20-22), but “all” really means ALL:

The drug addicts
The drunks
The prostitutes
The prisoners
The homeless

And the list goes on and on and on…

We in the church today can barely be servants to people who like different music than we do or dress differently than we do. We need to set aside any personal likes and dislikes and realize that God loves EVERYONE. And we have been called to be servants of EVERYONE. We are to show them the love of God, not our up-turned nose or backs as we walk away! We ARE the Body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:22 - 23 (NLT) 22. When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.

Ephesians 5:18 - 21 (NASB) 18. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19. speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20. always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21. and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

Forgive me for yet another diversion from our look at the church in 1 Corinthians, but I must go down the road God points out. For the last couple of days He has been leading me down the road of thanksgiving.

Yes, I know, it’s not November yet, so what’s the hurry! But our thanks to God is not to be a once a year thing. The passage from Ephesians says “always” giving thanks. Not only that but it tells us to be thankful for “all things.” Can we or should we do any less?

Colossians 3:15 (NASB) 15. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

As many of you know this has been a trying year in some respects. My wife, Sharon, was diagnosed with cancer and is in the middle of chemotherapy. She’s doing well thanks to God. I had a biopsy which, thanks to God, turned out negative. A very close friend of ours lost her mother to cancer and, thanks to God, she was a Christian. God decided to change the direction of our ministry and we moved my mother-in-law into a house on our property, etc. etc. etc. And, thanks to God, all things are working together for good!

God has continued to be faithful (He can do nothing else!). And, despite any of those things, even if we had nothing else to be thankful for (which we do!), we have eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord!

I was walking in the early morning hours a couple of days ago and witnessed the beauty of the sun as it began to poke its head above the horizon. I was blessed to see God paint the sky with a myriad of colors and with incredible “brush strokes” and textures. I looked at the trees that we had planted several years ago and, as if for the first time, realized how blessed I was to have witnessed their growth and beauty. God has placed me in an incredible place and it seems that I had been too busy to thank Him for it for all too long.

1 Thessalonians 5:16 - 18 (NASB) 16. Rejoice always; 17pray without ceasing; 18in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Perhaps you have let struggles and concerns get in the way, or the busyness of school or your job. Take the time to look around today (and from now on!) and thank God for the little things.

Maybe it’s the incredible school that He has allowed you to attend or the way He has provided the financing. Perhaps it’s the friends that He has surrounded you with or the fellowship of believers that He has placed around you. Perhaps it’s that He allowed you to get out of bed for one more day.

I know that if you look, you will find endless lists of things for which to thank Him. And, most of all, you can thank Him for forgiving you of your sins and reconciling you to Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Hebrews 13:15 (NASB) 15. Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.


AMEN

1 Corinthians 9:16 (NASB) 16. For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.

Is this not the mission of the church to the world in a nut shell? We, the body of Christ, are to preach the gospel; the good news that Jesus Christ died for our sins that we might have peace with God and live with Him forever.

Paul said “I am under compulsion.” I have to do it. That’s why God saved me…to tell others and show others the way.

Are you part of that mission? Do you feel compelled to tell the world the Good News about Jesus Christ? Is the body of believers that you are associated with actively telling the lost of this world the Good News of Jesus Christ? “Woe” to us all if we are not!

Mark 8:38 (NASB) 38. “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

1 Corinthians 9:1 - 15 (NASB) 1. Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2. If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3. My defense to those who examine me is this: 4. Do we not have a right to eat and drink? 5. Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? 6. Or do only Barnabas and I not have a right to refrain from working? 7. Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who tends a flock and does not use the milk of the flock? 8. I am not speaking these things according to human judgment, am I? Or does not the Law also say these things? 9. For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing.” God is not concerned about oxen, is He? 10. Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops. 11. If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12. If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ. 13. Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share from the altar? 14. So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel. 15. But I have used none of these things. And I am not writing these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than have any man make my boast an empty one.

Paul had been talking in Chapter 8 about the freedoms that we have as Christians. There he pointed out that we could even eat meat that was sacrificed to idols, since we know that idols are only lifeless statues. But his caution to us is not to abuse those freedoms. Verse 9 of chapter 8 sums up his caution:

But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble

In this passage from chapter 9 he is pointing out that even the leaders (himself) are bound by this principle. He and the other leaders of the church have freedoms but should be equally, if not more so, cautious about exercising those freedoms so that the gospel of Jesus Christ might not be hindered in any way.

What freedoms do you feel you have the “right” to exercise? Perhaps it is the freedom to have a drink of wine in public? After all, the bible only says not to drink to “excess.” But SHOULD you exercise that freedom if it might cause someone else to stumble?

A local church might exercise their freedom to worship only by singing certain songs from a certain book. Or, they might feel they have the freedom to tell other people what kind of clothes they should wear (women-skirt or dress; men-pants; and of course no black!). The problem is, if these “freedoms” cause others to stay away from their church, are they not being a stumbling block to these Christians? And, perhaps stumbling blocks to those who God is calling to be His?

Paul says in verse 22b of chapter 9,

“I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.

We need to be careful in the church not to set up exclusive “clubs” or “clicks” where others do not feel welcome. After all, the church is called to unity and love.

The Word of God is and should be our only guide for living, as individuals and as the body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NLT) Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

Psalms 51:1 - 17 (NLT)

1. Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.
2. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.
3. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.
4. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.
5. For I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
6. But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.
7. Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me—now let me rejoice.
9. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt.
10. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.
11. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
12. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.
13. Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you.
14. Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.
15. Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you.
16. You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering.
17. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

We’ve been talking for some time now in our weekly bible study about how drugs and the occult are such a problem here in the Sulphur Springs Valley (all over the country really). We’ve been praying for God to show His mighty power and eliminate these strongholds of satan in our midst.

One of the things we’ve been praying for is that the churches would be concerned about this; that all of those who call themselves Christians would unite in prayer and usher in the victory that God so wants to shower upon His people. Could it be that this Psalm should not only be our prayer as individuals, but corporately, as the prayer of our churches?

2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV) 14. 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.

Have a blessed day.