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Tuesday - October 31, 2006 Tonight is our Hallelujah party. Please bring someone and let them experience the joy only Christians can have when they get together. We will have candy, prizes and games for the little children and a concert for the youth. The main event for the children will be in the Children's building and the youth will meet in the Edge. My prayer is for sinners to come and want to return to church to find salvation. My prayer is also for Christians who do not attend church, or do not like their church, to decide it is time to get dedicated to Grace. Please pray with me, and show up tonight.
Monday - October 30, 2006 God said of the giving of Cornelius, his offerings had come up as a memorial before God. The offerings represented the searching of his heart for a relationship with God. He searched for the true answers to life and God sent Peter to him with the answers. If an unbeliever could have his offerings be a memorial, how much more can the tithes and offerings of a believer be a memorial before God? It is our heart's desire to see the gospel preached and the Word taught to bring people to Jesus and disciple them into a life of Christian maturity. When we give from a heart of love for Jesus and people, we form a powerful memorial before God which will bring eternal results. Quit looking at your giving as simply putting money into an offering plate. Begin to see it as God does. It is a memorial to your love and concern for those who are going to hell or live in spiritual ignorance every day. Your giving is making eternal changes in God's kingdom and Satan's as well. Well done good and faithful servant!
Friday - October 27, 2006 Last Sunday's sermon keeps rolling around in my mind. It is such a great thing to think that Jesus will give us rewards in eternity no matter how small our ministry was on earth. God is looking for us to become involved in the lives of others whether they be saint or sinner. Just as David told his army returning from a victorious battle that those who remained by the stuff would be rewarded equally with those who went to battle. David's declaration should speak volumes to us. We do not have to have a call to a foreign country, be an evangelist or prophet or have a large ministry or church. We only have to be obedient to witness, help guide people's lives, pray, and give money into the work of the ministry. This will count tremendously in eternity with God. He will give the one who prayed for the evangelistic meeting as much of a reward as the evangelist who preached. The one who gives a cup of cold water to the prophet will receive the prophet's reward. Stay faithful to bless others and do your part. God will not overlook it.
Thursday - October 26, 2006 I mentioned on Tuesday the importance of Christians voting in the upcoming election November 7. I am amazed at the influence and power of the Christians in the past few years. Not only have we affected the political scene, we have moved heavily into television and movies. Owning a satellite television dish, I receive hundreds of channels. Many of them are Christian and offer a great variety of programs. On the movie screen this month are two Christian produced films showing family values and a Bible story of the book of Esther. No wonder the world is upset about our presence. We must be a real threat to them. But it is good to me to see our message getting out over many different forms of communication. This is all a part of our taking the gospel into the entire world.
Wednesday - October 25, 2006 I want to remind you to invite someone to the upcoming Hallelujah party on Halloween night. This is a great time to bring someone who does not know Jesus or who may be a Christian but does not go to church. So many Christians are afraid of that night as if Satan has more power than we do as believers. There is no night of the year that nullifies the scripture, "Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world." Jesus is in us and we might as well use that night to enjoy ourselves and celebrate our relationship with Jesus and our children. It is a good time to show the world we have no fears and can use any occasion to introduce people to our Savior.
Tuesday - October 24, 2006 I mentioned in church Sunday, the television networks are making a major crisis over statements from a few members of the White House concerning Christians. Apparently there were some remarks made about how we are being "used" for votes. The news media suggested that Christians lay back for awhile and even "fast" political involvement for a time to think through our position in politics. They are asking us to not vote in the upcoming election on November 7. There may be some remarks being made about Christians, so what is new? There have always been negative remarks made about us. The issue is not what is being said, but why we should not vote. Remarks are made in Washington about Muslims, African Americans, Hispanics and even homosexuals. Why aren't they being asked to "fast" to consider the remarks made about them? Why aren't they asked to not vote on Nov. 7? They have not made as much impact on the political system as Christians. We need to vote no matter what is said about us. We have a Christian as well as an American responsibility to vote. Let you voice be heard in November and vote your Christian Bible values.
Monday - October 23, 2006 At a meeting Loretta and I attended a few weeks ago, Don Francisco attended also and sang some of the songs that made him famous in the Christian world. Of course, everyone wanted him to sing, "He's Alive." He made the comment that many singers do not like to sing songs they made famous years ago because they are tired of singing them over and over again. He said he never gets tired of singing "He's Alive" because the words mean more to him each time he sings it. He said, "Thank God I did not write "What's New Pussycat." Can you imagine singing that for the rest of your life? I thought about the messages I have spoken for years as I travel. I never tire of the Word of God. It is new each time I preach it and I always see new things in the scriptures. I teach the same subjects at the church I have taught for years and I never tire of researching themes I have ministered before. Thank God the Word is not like "What's New Pussycat!"
Friday - October 20, 2006 I received a letter from a woman the other day telling me of her problems. It was a form letter to many pastors in the area telling us she did not go to church because she found the churches of our city to be unfriendly. She was not greeted by anyone in the church or offered any help to find what she needed. She now stays at home and gets her church from television, CD's and books. I thought about how sad this situation was. Friendliness does not begin with others, it begins with you. There are many situations we find ourselves in where we feel no one is paying attention to us or even noticing us. This is a great time to put the scriptures to work. One of them says if you want friends, you must show yourself friendly. Again, friendliness begins with you. Another is what we often call, the "Golden Rule." We are to do to others as we would have them do to us. If we want them to be friendly to us, we need to be friendly to them. Jesus spoke first when He met the woman at the well. She was shocked at His friendliness. I wish everyone were friendly in our church, but I know that will never be. It is possible someone may attend and feel like someone did not speak to them. I hope it will be a rare case. But, I also pray the person visiting will say hello and show themselves friendly. We all have a responsibility to act like Jesus would act.
Thursday - October 19, 2006 We not only had a good number of business leaders at our breakfast last Thursday, we had a great spirit. Business was made by God and designed to bring finances into His Church and His kingdom. Business forms a bridge from the world into the Church and brings in money to win the lost, evangelize the nations, and teach God's Word to those who are saved. You do not have to be a business owner or manager to cause this to happen. The tithes and offerings every employee brings from his job into the Church brings an opportunity to win the lost and disciple believers. Christians are in every strata of society and in every company you can imagine. Receiving pay from the businesses of the world helps to fulfill the verse telling us the wealth of the world is laid up for the just. Tithes and offerings just help to drain this out of their kingdom into ours a little at a time. Stay faithful to your job and as you receive your paycheck, determine to give from what you receive into God's work.
Wednesday - October 18, 2006 I saw on the news this morning, an earthquake hit Hawaii. It seems these disasters are hitting places we do not normally hear of. Jesus promised us this would happen and increase until His coming to the earth. I do not like to hear of destruction and devastation, but there is a silver lining in the clouds for those who know Jesus and understand His Word. This just means we are closer than ever to the coming of Jesus. When He does come, He will end the disasters because the curse on the earth will be gone. He will stop all wars and bring about the prophecy of Israel: the swords will be tuned into plow shears and the spears into pruning hooks. The nations will study war no more. Revelation speaks to us and tells us what to do until that day comes. We are to look up because we know our redemption is near.
Tuesday - October 17, 2006 As I see election signs in yards, it tells me to remind you of the great country we live in and the great opportunity we have as citizens of the United States to vote. I realize many of those we are voting for we may have little knowledge of, such as judges. It still should cause us to look the candidates up on their web sites and make the best choice possible. These types of elections only come around every two to six years. God has so blessed us as Christians and given us a responsibility, also, to participate in the choosing of our leadership. For so many years the population of our country had little respect or even fear of the power of the Christian world. Now, they have taken notice. We cannot back up on our progress and leave the elections to others. We do not want to return to the years we had little or no voice in our great country. So, get prepared and vote.
Monday - October 16, 2006 I have noticed when a person in the Bible received a call from God, it was usually while they were doing something. Very few people heard a voice for service while in their prayer closet or in a church service. I know it can happen, but I have become convinced, it is the exception and not the rule. Gideon had an angelic visitation while working. Elisha received a call while plowing. John the Baptist's parents were working in the temple when they had a visitation telling them they would have a son who would introduce the Messiah. What does this mean to us? There comes a time to quit praying about the call of God and get busy doing something. If it is ushering in church, working with the counselors or helping in children's church, get busy doing something. God usually calls those who are busy. He can trust a person with a new work for the future if they are doing some kind of work now. If you are faithful over a few things, God will make you ruler over much. Get busy and content. Make the decision now that if you have to teach a class of children or usher in the church for the rest of your life, you will do it and be happy. This is the kind of person God is looking for to give more responsibility. Above all, it is required in a steward that a man be found faithful. Are you being faithful?
Friday - October 13, 2006 Elections are coming up in a few weeks across our nation. Many are wondering how to vote. Some who are running for office are born again and some are not. Some in the race have conservative values and some do not. Should we vote for someone just because they are a Christian? Well, the obvious answer is no. I know many good Christians who would make lousy mayors, governors, and judges. We have been disappointed in presidents who were saved and possibly even Spirit-filled. What they lacked was a working knowledge of the Word of God applied in their life. Vote for those with biblical standards. We have had presidents, governors, mayors and others who we were not sure if they were Christians, but had strong moral foundations in their lives. These have left a great and strong mark on our society. While they were in office, prayer was free to be made, the Ten Commandments allowed to be in offices, abortion curbed, and marriage rights upheld. These are the kind of issues we should be looking for in a candidate. If they are born again too, this is even better, icing on the cake. It also helps much to pray before you make that all important vote. Exercise your right as an American and as a Christian-VOTE!
Thursday - October 12, 2006 With all the school shootings we have had in the past few weeks across the country, it should remind us of our security and the protection we have in the Lord. It might be a frightening thing to send your child to school knowing someone could want to do them harm. This is a good time to teach and train your children in the scriptures promising them protection. When your children place their trust in the Lord it will help you as a parent to maintain peace throughout the day. It will also help your children to understand the love of God for them. The best thing of all is the witness it will give other students and school faculty to see your children without worry. This could be the door you have prayed for with your children for a chance to witness to other students about the saving power of Jesus. Part of the new birth is peace in life. Peace can be a great sign to others and create a desire for the new birth. Walk in God's peace today.
Wednesday - October 11, 2006 David came back to his camp in Ziklag in 1 Samuel 30 and the Amalakites had invaded in his absence. The enemy had taken all the women, young girls, boys, money and possessions. David's men cried until they could not cry anymore. After they cried, they began to talk about stoning David. David had lost his wives and possessions also, yet he turned to the Lord in prayer. David did something we all must do from time to time. He encouraged himself. We often find ourselves alone in our distress. Others are blaming us for the trouble and sometimes, as Job's friends did, tell us just to curse God. Our problems are not God's fault. They may be from Satan himself, or we might have caused our own problems. When no one is around to give us scripture, tell us to praise God anyway, or remind us that all things work together for good, we need to be our own cheerleader. We need to remind ourselves of scripture and past experiences where God has delivered us. It worked with David. God spoke to him after he encouraged himself and David went to battle. He returned a wealthy man. Those who had wanted to kill him returned wealthy too, and were blessed by their association with David.
Tuesday - October 10, 2006 I have been to a minister's conference in Colorado with Andrew Wommack. It has not only been good to see Andrew and other ministers during the week, it has been good to visit with former students from our own School of the Local Church (now Grace School of Ministry) and with Rhema students also. It reminded me of how wonderful Heaven will be. We will be in a beautiful place forever and be with Christian friends we met while on earth. Here we must say goodbye as we go to our respective places of ministry. There, in Heaven, we will have done our work and be free to visit with each other, with those people we have learned about from the Bible, and with Jesus Himself. No wonder it is called Heaven!
Have you taken the time to find out what legally belongs to you through the shed blood of Jesus Christ? Because of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the new birth, you can enter into the perpetual Jubilee that belongs to the Church. The only way you can fail to claim your original blessings is to be ignorant of your rights, refuse to accept what is legally yours, or be talked out of them by Satan. It is vital for you to go to your deed-the Word of God-and find out what belongs to you as a child of God. God has promised to give you salvation in exchange for spiritual death, healing for sickness, deliverance for bondage, and joy for heaviness. When you find a Scripture, you have a legal right to wave it in Satan's face and take back what rightfully belongs to you-healing, joy, prosperity, and deliverance! You also have a right to return to Satan his sickness, his sorrow, his poverty, and his bondage! After obtaining what belongs to you through Jesus Christ, Satan will try to convince you that you can't keep what you have obtained. But he is a liar and the father of lies! Your deliverance is eternal and Jesus was the trumpet blast announcing the arrival of our Jubilee, a Sabbath that will last forever!
Did you know that the scriptures tell us as much about ridding ourselves of unbelief as they do about increasing our faith? Passive unbelief comes from over-occupation with the legitimate things of life. Unbelief comes with reasonings that set themselves up against the Word of God. Jesus gave His disciples the remedy for curing this type of unbelief: It has to be starved to death! Unbelief feeds off input from the world. I recommend "fasting" from such input for a determined length of time-maybe a week or two. Instead of listening to the news on the way home from work, why don't you put a teaching CD in your player? Instead of turning on the TV when you get home, how about reading a good book that teaches principles from the Word of God? By taking this action, you will begin starving the unbelief in your heart, your faith will find a freedom, and human reasonings will no longer exalt themselves against the knowledge of God! You will have liberated your faith! And once again, your faith fill be unhindered, free from unbelief, and ready to carry mountains into the sea!
Thursday - October 5, 2006 Sometimes we get so focused on the responsibilities of our day-to-day lives, we lose sight of the fact that we are ambassadors in this earth. What is an ambassador and what are their responsibilities? First, an ambassador is a high-ranking minister of the state sent to another country to represent his own. Next, He does not appoint himself, but is appointed by the president, prime minister, or king or his own country. An ambassador does not become a citizen of the country in which he is living, but maintains the citizenship of his home country. He does not support himself and his instructions are always recorded so he has no doubt about his responsibilities. Next, ambassadors do not live under the laws of the country in which they are living, but by the laws of their home country. An ambassador lives in a foreign country to further the interests of his homeland, not for his own personal agenda. Finally, when one country declares war on another, the ambassadors are the first to be removed. How about taking time today to think about the fact that you are an ambassador in this world for the Lord Jesus Christ? Your citizenship is in heaven, but you have been given authority and power to represent Him in this world! Think on these things!
Wednesday - October 4, 2006 God is in the business of taking nobodies and making somebodies out of them. Every hero in the Word of God was a nobody who one day met God! A confident person is not arrogant, rather, they recognize their own virtues, but quickly give the credit to those who helped and contributed to the development of those virtues. The arrogant, on the other hand, believe they have always possessed these virtues and that few, if any, can attain to their level. David was an example of humility, and freedom from arrogance made him a true leader. People enjoyed his presence and felt uplifted after spending time with him. All of David's praise went to the Lord and he recognized that the Lord was the reason for success in his life. Do others feel encouraged and uplifted after spending time with you? Do you give God the credit for the gifts and virtues you possess? Why don't you decide to give someone and word of encouragement today, and like David, be quick to give God all the glory!
Tuesday - October 3, 2006 Did you know that all religion comes from human good? In other words, flesh produces religion. Religion is the attempt of man's flesh to solve his problems. Religion attempts to solve its own problems through good works and offers them to God in exchange for eternal life in heaven. But divine good solves man's problem and offers the solution as a free gift. We are told in Isaiah 64:6 that all our righteous acts (human good) are like filthy rags in God's sight. A man caught in quicksand may try to save himself, but with every attempt to deliver himself, he sinks deeper. It takes someone standing outside the quicksand to bring deliverance. This is the problem with human good. Man, by trying to solve his own problems, only worsens them. Comfortable with his own goodness, He doesn't seek God's righteousness and grows further from eternal life. If you have been trying to earn God's approval, stop! He loves you unconditionally, sent His Son to die for you, and all you have to do is receive the free gift of salvation. If you have not already, why don't you accept the free gift of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior today and then please let me know-it is the greatest gift you will ever receive!
A good way to begin this week is to look at what you have, your possessions, your family and your spiritual blessings and give God thanks for them. Too often we get caught up in our prayers for the things we are wanting and forget what God has blessed us with. It is easy for me as pastor to look at the remaining sight for our coming sanctuary and forget what a great facility God has blessed us with already. Perhaps God will be ready to provide new things when I as pastor become more thankful for all God has done for the congregation through the years. Perhaps God will be ready to provide new blessings for you and your family when you become more thankful for the things He has done for you already. Psalm 103 tells us to bless the Lord and "forget not all His benefits." A good heart filled with thanksgiving for the things you are surrounded with today will build faith and anticipation for what God will do for you tomorrow. So, open your eyes and give thanks to God for His benefits.
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