Money

Money money money money (song) Boy the world and media sure make a big deal about money. But money isn’t important, right? Well, without money in the church or in Christian radio there would be no buildings, no Christian messages over the airways. And how are we supposed to help the hurting if we can’t even pay our own bills. Now I’m not receiving an offering right now, but to warn you of the other side of money. Ecclesiastes warns in 5:10 “whoever loves money never has money enough.” Satan has a trap for us, the trap is to get us wanting more and more. Here you never even have enough money for our own wants and desires. Now you work for money, and you spend money, so how can you find out if you’re loving money? The best defense against loving money is to become a giver. Sow some seed. When you put your own needs behind others and begin to give to the Lord you are in essence sending a message that God is your priority. As you sow seed God is faithful to bring you a harvest, and now you find yourself in a position to give even more. Sure, you have needs, but put God’s needs first, and then all these things will be added to you.

He is our salvation.

Have you ever stared defeat in the face and thought, well this is it, I lose. Everything seems impossible? I imagine that is exactly how Moses could have felt as he found himself and the nation of Israel hemmed in by the mountains the red sea, and pursued by the Egyptian army. He could have said, “well, it was a good run, but it’s over now” Instead God performed the impossible. Afterwards Moses sings this song in Exodus 15:2 – “The lord is my strength and my song,; he has become my salvation.” A running theme in the word of God is that God is interested in bringing us salvation. It’s mentioned here with God, and Jesus brought us salvation as well. Salvation applies to every area of potential death and destruction in your life. Jesus saved us from death itself, that anyone who believes in him has everlasting life. Moses salvation was release from oppression, deliverance from slavery, where the entire nation goes free. God desires to become your salvation as well. Jesus came to set the captives free, and the captivity we are in today happens in many areas of our lives. Now problems come, sure, but remember God’s role in all of this, He is not the problem, instead, He is the salvation.

Hold on to your faith!

Well I wanted to bring up this scripture from yesterday again… Hebrews 4:14 says “Let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.” Okay, so you have a faith that you profess. Jesus is Lord. Okay, what else do you believe about Jesus? Well, in your faith you might say that Jesus saves. Okay, but he saves from what? Well, he rescues you from sin and death. Great okay, what else? You see as you find out more from reading the word about what God does and desires in our life, of what Christ brings, then we must apply it, learn to hold on to it. So when something happens in life that is different than what God has promised, it is different than what Jesus brought you, then you need to hold on to your faith. Hold firmly. In fact, profess that faith. Don’t believe the lie that Satan and this world bring you, but say, no no, that is not God’s plan. Jesus died so that I wouldn’t have to experience this in my life. Hold on to your faith, don’t be shaken by the worlds circumstances and storms, but be anchored in the fact that God is bigger, that Jesus has completed the work, that anything contrary to God’s word has been crucified and is powerless.

The Greatest Resistance

I think some of the greatest resistance we have as we move with God is from other people. It was the king who threw Daniel in the Lions Den, it was the Philistines forever attacking Israel, it was Jesus own people who wanted him crucified. People are not always going to be excited about your success. When Joseph got some nice new robes His brothers hated him for it. Now you have to love people anyways, but Jesus warned in “Matthew 7:6 Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs.” Jesus here is telling us not to entrust the things most important and valueable to just anyone. Your hopes, dreams, and the inner parts of you are reserved for the Lord. People won’t always be rooting for you, and don’t let that get you down. Jesus told us there would be some persecution because of Him. Instead, keep your eyes fixed on Christ, pray for those who persecute you, love everyone, and keep running your race, don’t be discouraged by people, but be encouraged by the Lord. So when the boss is on you, or your friends bag on you, just remember that if God is for you, then who can be against you. That way you won’t be quitting, but you just keep running.

Extravagant overwhelming love!

When you think of the word lavish, what do you think of? It’s like, more than you anyone would ever need. Like if you put salt on something, it’s different than if you lavished salt on it. Oops, way to salty. Or if you lavished frosting on a cake, well, the cake to frosting ratio might be off a bit, and your scraping it off. How about a house that is lavish. It’s an image of all the finest furniture and décor. Lavished. I john 3:1 “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us.” Ephesians 1:7 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us..” God has given us his Love and his Grace, and he didn’t skimp. It isn’t just enough love, it’s extravagant overwhelming love. the finest love, so much love it is too much. And his grace? Well, you think you are a mess sometimes, or think about where you came from? His grace is lavished on you, it’s the finest and purest forgiveness, and there is more of it than you need. This is how God gives when he gives to us. He isn’t just giving you enough, he’s lavishing.

It matters what we are saying.

When I was a kid I learned a great little rhyme, ring around the rosy, pockets full of posey, ashes, we all fall down. I have no idea what this is saying but the ashes part tells me something burnt, and then I fall. Well that can’t be good. Or lets tell a story of the our hero a cute little egg man who falls off the wall. And don’t forget that the London bridge is falling down. Yeah, nursery rhymes: Psalms 91:2 says “And I will say of the Lord “He is my refuge, and my fortress, My God in Him will I trust”. Well try saying this outloud. You see, it matters what we are saying, and this is the kind of stuff God wants us saying. Ponder the kinds of things we speak through the day, like I’m broke, I got no money left, I don’t know what I’m going to do now, this is never going to work, oh just my luck, or where is God? What if instead of saying that kind of stuff, which just brings us and others down, what if looked at our problem and then said, “God is my refuge, and in Him will I trust”. Well that feels a bunch better doesn’t it. And I’ll be in the Hebrew version, it even rhymes.

If we all do a little, then God does a lot.

The great commission is, well, quite a commission. Jesus said in Matthew 28:19 – “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everythning I have commanded you.” Well that is quite overwhelming. Christ is calling us to tell others about Him and His message. And really, where would you be without what Jesus has done in your life? So Christ wants us to share that. I think sometimes we think of reaching the whole world as quite overwhelming, but truth is you don’t have to get on a plane and go to Africa to tell someone about Jesus. There are people who don’t know Jesus next door to your house, in the cubicle down the hall, or at your family reunion. Pray and ask God for the right opportunity. Invite others to church, and tell them about this great radio station you listen to. Remember also that when you give a financial gift to help your church, or Christian Radio Station, or other Christian organizations, that your gift to God is working as a seed to reach the lost, to preach the message of Christ to the world. If we all do a little, then God does a lot.

Humanity of Christ

Humanity of Christ Heb 2:14 –
Sometimes people might stop to tell you they know how you feel. But then you might be thinking… well, No one could possibly know how I feel unless they spent a day in my shoes. And when no one knows what you are feeling, then you feel isolated, alone. Sure, you’re a Christian, so then you are invincible, unshakeable. But when we are knocked down we are reminded of our humanity. I mean, we are flesh and blood, and when we get cut, we bleed. Hebrews 2:14 “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity…” He is Jesus. Ah yes, Christ took on the form of a man. He became a part of humanity, not just dropping by to lead the charge, but he became one of us. Human. He put your shoes on. Jesus knows how you feel, and he experienced even greater suffering in order that those who would believe wouldn’t have to. What do I mean? Well, he became poor so that you might be rich. He took sickness and disease upon himself to break the power off of us, that by his stripes we are healed. He defeated death so that we wouldn’t be afraid. You are never alone, He knows exactly how you feel, and has overcome all on your behalf.

Dwell in The House.

Have you ever been home, but you weren't really home. You are distracted with thinking about other things, off somewhere else in your mind. It's hard for you to connect to others, even though you are there, you aren't really there. Psalms 84:4 "Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you". God's house is church, and blessed are those who dwell there. Dwelling is described here as those who are ever praising God. When we go to church, are we really there? Or are we distracted. Or sometimes were like, when is the music going to finish so we can get to the sermon? But God is saying that dwelling in His house means to get your thoughts on him. Not distracted, but in the moment with our Lord and Saviour. This scripture is a line from a song. It is to be sung. Are we skipping the singing part of church? When we get to church let's all get excited about dwelling with God, getting our thoughts fixed on Jesus, and really singing to God. Let's be that group of people that God describes as "ever praising". When you are at church, then be at church. It is the house of God, and blessed is he who is dwelling there.

A Life Changing Novel

Have you seen the size of kids fiction books lately. Stories of Pegasus's and swords, of myths and legends have the young people tackling books that approach the thickness of a bible. And they are being read. Ok - so how about that bible? We know you can read thick books, and fast. Some of you get through a book in a few days. That bible isn’t as hard to read as you might think. Listen to this, in Habakuk 2:3 God says "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets, so that whoever reads it may run with it." Now you have a race to run, a destiny to fulfill, and although reading about flying cattle may be fun, it isn't the key to winning in life. Now I'm not saying not to read books, I'm encouraging to also read the bible. This is the book you need to read and run with. It shows you were the hurdles are, and gets you up the mountain, or even moving the mountains. Verse 14 goes on to say "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God" And the knowledge on earth needs to find it’s way in to your heart. Grab your bible, press into it, and run with it.

Independence Day

Ah independence day. But independence from what. At a time like this it is important to remember why we are America, and by who’s might. America was first colonized as a religious refuge, to establish a church were people could worship God freely. The vast majority of early pilgrims built colonies founded on their belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. It was an era where people were escaping religious persecution by traveling to this new found land. As America declared it’s freedom they were also declaring war against England, which was at that time the most powerful of all nations. It would have appeared to the entire world that we had signed our own death sentence by committing high treason. America’s army was new, untrained and outnumbered. Yet we prevailed. Why? Was it because we were so passionate, and fought so hard? Passion only would not be enough against such incredible odds. There are a great many revolutionary battles that document the invisible hand of God showing us that through our forefathers bravery and zeal and by the miraculous power of God that we won, and exist as a free nation today. In 1787 Benjamin Franklin is quoted saying “In the beginning of the contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in this room for the Divine protection — Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. … I have lived, Sir, a long time; and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs the affairs of men!” it is Americas success in allowing it’s citizens to worship God freely that has paved the way for hundreds of other nations to hold the same principles about religious persecution. Let’s not only celebrate the Americans who fought for our freedom, let’s celebrate God who gave us the freedom and the victory. One Nation, Under God.