"Standing Against Goliath's"

  Sometimes they are like "Goliath's" in the church. God's people have a great heart to love and help but then there are those who just seem to want to point out everything wrong, what they deem as a misstep and challenge those leading. Leaders in the church must be patient, loving and able to endure the "Goliath's" that come to the forefront at times.

  God raises up leaders in the church, that's His gift of grace at work (Rom. 12: 8). Leaders are going to feel challenged and find themselves emotionally distressed at times. That's what the body doesn't see. Attacks are made and words spoken yet here are the leaders enduring for the sake of the whole. The leaders are simply men but they are spiritual men raised up by God trying to do what is best for the whole. How their hearts ache at times and are distressed over situations. More words are thrown at them and they simply do not attack back while silently enduring trusting in the Lord. If the Lord did not intervene, these men would be taken down. The people of God are a wonderful people but there are those who can be fickle at times. What I have learned in the last 32 plus years of preaching is that in the Lord's body, it's not majority rules but the Lord rules and many times, the Lord goes against the majority! It doesn't take much to look at Moses what Korah, Dathan and Abiram did to him and Aaron. In fact, they brought 250 men of high reputation to attack God's leaders (Num. 16). Why? Because they didn't like they direction Moses and Aaron were taking the people nor their decisions!

  The body of Jesus, the church of the New Testament, is led by Jesus and His leaders are raised up to do His work, His bidding. I would encourage our leaders, stand strong! Don't flinch! Where you live, encourage your leaders. They have a great responsibility and sometimes they feel the loneliness of standing against the majority. You may not realize that but they quietly and humbly stand with the Lord. Sometimes our leaders have to stand against "Goliath's" and boldly rely on the Lord for His guidance and help. If it wasn't for the Lord's help, they would fold. Thank the Lord for His strength and power and for His leaders.

"Invest In Jesus"

  I can remember as a kid that when Christmas was getting close, it seems like it took F   O   R   E   V   E   R for it to arrive. Giddy and anxious for the day to open presents was like watching molasses flow from a jar that's been in the refrigerator! Today, we are about to begin the half way point of the year and before you know, the end of the year will be here with all the holidays.

  I was watching a movie that I watched many years back and it hit me, the actors in this movie are all dead. It seems almost each week someone we knew acting has passed away. I really was disappointed when Barney Fife (Don Knotts) passed or Jed Clampet (Buddy Ebsen) and the list goes on.

  What's my point? I think you know. Life is just like a vapor and all that is left is memories. Nothing will ever return about anyone's life. Nothing will return in our times past. We are left with pictures to remind us of, "Aw, I remember that!" It makes me wonder why some never seriously invest in the Lord Jesus before their death? You know it's coming rapidly. There are those in the church that have never seriously invested in the Lord either. That might seem an odd statement but just think about the things that are against the Lord that they either stand in or have stood in without one ounce of repentance. Unless there is some seriousness and humility in heart, they are going to face a horrid ending. Too many are more concerned about saving face than saving their souls. There are those who have never been transformed by the Lord. They only conformed and their lives show it.

  Over the years I have spent a lot of time with grieving hearts over the passing of a loved one. I've heard the questions, "Do you think they made it?" like they were on a journey into space hoping they landed in the right location. I've heard the stories from families that speak about the attitudes of those who departed and it really tugs on your heart because they reveal things no one else saw or heard. So I ask us, please, let's re-examine our lives and ask if we really are in the faith? Are we really following the Lord with a whole heart? It's worth eternity to do such!

"If Only"

  Where you worship with the saints, how many times have you heard complaints or seen people go off into bad attitudes because of two words: "if only!" 

  "If only" we had this program or that program the church would move forward!

  "If only" our song leaders would stop leading this song or that song or lead different songs I would have a better attitude in worship!  

  "If only" our preacher wasn't dull and had better lessons for us!

  "If only" our elders would be informative or they need to be doing this or that more!

  "If only" people in the congregation cared like I care!

  "If only" and the list continues to grow. Too many times we are hindering the work of our Lord Jesus Christ simply by our "if only." When this attitude prevails in our hearts, what are we offering to the Lord with our lives? What are we really putting our faith in when "if only" seems to be the over-riding in our attitudes and thinking?

   "If only" Abraham had gone west where the land of promise lay instead of north, he would have saved a lot of frustration and time! What did Abraham do that we don't? He believed in God! By faith when he was called and obeyed going out not knowing where he was going (Heb. 11:8). God called Abraham to put his trust, his life into God's hands! God called David to trust Him, putting his faith in His word and not look back in regrets saying, "if only!" Jacob was dying, leaning on the top of his staff and blessed the sons of Joseph and worshiped leaving out any "if only." True faith in God will keep the "if only" syndrome away from our hearts and build a loving and trusting relationship. It will lead us to encourage one another rather than assess what is wrong with one another, or who is messing up this time or what isn't going right. The only thing that holds the church back or those who keep the "if only" attitudes alive! The faithful present themselves to God as a living and holy sacrifice that is acceptable to God because of His mercies (Rom. 12:1). That's the difference of the two mind sets!

"What Do You Make Clear?"

  If you would quietly sit and examine your life, what do you think you would find? How many of us ever take that time and examine ourselves to see where we really stand in our faith? Each day you go about doing the things you do, why do you do it? Maybe your job requires it? Your home needs it? Whatever it is you do daily, there is a clear message being sent about you.

  Those faithful, God centered people of the Old Testment did something in their lives. Just listen: "For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own." (Heb. 11:14) What country is that? "But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them." (Heb. 11:16) When their lives were examined, they "made it clear" where they were walking and headed. Their lives were committed to the Lord God. The result? God is not ashamed to be called their God!

  When we examine our lives, what are you making clear? Too many speak of God and their service to God but the real question arises is God ashamed to be called their God? I know growing up I have shamed my parents and I know there were times they were ashamed of me being their son. Why? Because of my actions and lack of responsibilities. That's not what my parents stood for. What about God? As those call on Him, speak about Him, defend Him in certain situations yet go about their lives with little thought about the things they do, say and committ to. God is ours when it's convienant but when it comes to committing, listening and following, that seems to be out there somewhere. Maybe we need to ask ourselves, what are we really making clear to those around us?

"Easy To Discourage"

  Discouragement seems to want to raise its head over and over. It wants to pull me into a ditch and hold me there. Don't you find yourself there at times? Things seem to pound on you day by day. I have received comments about time for a change in our pulpit or you've been here too long. (Which I have prayed about that the Lord open the doors if that's His will! No doors opened!!!) People complain about songs that are led they don't like or disagree with. We need better teachers in our Bible studies or simply complain about something. I recently heard one say they are so tired of loving others and get no love in return! Today, I'm not discouraged at all but this is something I have recently come through. Please, I'm not looking for any sympathy but using this to teach us all a lesson.

  It seems there are those in the body of Christ that are there to discourage! Nothing is right in their eyes. They have complained so long about so many varied things that complaining is just part of who they are. And each time they speak, they start with, ""I don't want to be negative here!" But that's exactly what they want to be. They don't know how to build up the body in love. They only know how to discourage the sincere, humble servants of Jesus that something is being done they just don't like and rather speak to the Lord with a good attitude of thanksgiving, they speak to the servants with an attitude of complaint! Love is out the window.

  It's been around since the beginning. Paul addressed it in I Cor. 10, warning the brethren at Corinth about what happened to the grumblers in the days of Moses. They were destroyed by the destroyer because they craved evil things (10:6). Grumbling, complaining and disputing over things are the very tools the devil uses to divide Christ! They not only divide but prove to the world we aren't the children of God (Phil. 2:14-15). It's easy to grumble and complain! It takes no effort but what about building up the body in love? What if we would just listen to the Lord, rally around the unity of the faith and grow up into Christ? Isn't that what would build us up in love? The reason we have those complainers, those fault finders, those grumblers Paul says is because those who do such have not matured spiritually (Eph. 4:13). 

  Let's build! We have everything to gain because our lives are  headed to greater things in Christ. I can't wait to see what it is like in the presence of God! My mind cannot comprehend it but one things I am certain of, there will be no discouragement!!! Now that's something to look forward to.  

"To The Praise Of His Glory"

  It amazes me how many times I have heard from people saying they are trying to find their purpose in life. Sincere, honest and upright people just wanting to know where they fit. We have heard people say that God has a plan for you. But where do we get that? I cannot think of a verse that says that. It sounds noble but I'm not sure the Scriptures teach that, do you?

  God definitely has a purpose and is working everything for His purpose. His purpose was and is in Christ Jesus! God determined everything through Christ Jesus from the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:5). The result? That we would be "to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved." (Eph. 1:6) That's our purpose.

  Jesus suffered by being reviled, uttering no threats but just continually kept entrusting Himself to the Judge of mankind (I Pet. 2:21-23). It took His suffering to heal us! In order to be healed, there must be something that wounded us and left a nasty infection. It's called sin. God purposed through Jesus to bring mankind to Himself and  heal them through His wounds. The result: "The praise of His glory!" We are the wounded that have been healed. Wounded healers. That's what would bring praise to His glory if we would take that message to our neighbors and friends. Have we forgotten who He is in relation to us? You want purpose? Reach out to those who need healing from a sin sick led life! That's mankind. We have stopped talking to those who have been ravaged by sin. We have around us people just wanting a kind expression, to recognize them as someone and in the process reaching out with a message to heal. Maybe this preacher has failed. No, I know I have failed at times expressing our purpose. We have a message and are on a mission! "To the praise of the glory of His grace!" His grace reaches me and Jesus suffered my wounds so my wounds could be healed! That makes me (you) wounded healers. The person in line at the store, the empty lives around us need healing and there is only One that did that and can do that: His name is Jesus. That brings glory to God and praise from us. 

"No Place For Hard Feelings"

  Too many times those in Christ Jesus allow their emotions to determine their stance more than the Lord! Emotions are terrible 'lords'. When people live by their emotions to determine this or that, it makes one desensitized to their own villianous heart when they take aim at someone they don't like. Paul knew that Satan was a schemer (II Cor. 2:11) and Satan will use whatever advantage he can take over us. One of Satan's greatest tools in the Lord's church is hard feelings toward other brothers or sisters. Hard feelings are a terrible doctrine, a mistaken doctrine! The question pops up...how? Hard feelings are not based on dying to self but protecting self! There is no mercy shown in hard feelings but only anger and resentment. Does that sound like a sacrificing love? Hard feelings are nothing but pure emotions driving an individual to hate.

  The churches of Galatia had some brethren in them that turned on Paul. What did he do? Allow his feelings to determine his course of action or the Lord? "You have done me no wrong." (Gal. 4:12) They had done Paul little right but he wasn't going to allow that to rule. Listen as he continues: "Where then is that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?" (Gal. 4:15-16) Paul was back to the starting point with these brethren trying to form Christ in them...AGAIN! (Gal. 4:19)

  That's the problem isn't it? When we allow our emotions to rule and determine how we feel about another, we give Satan the ground he needs to take us into reasonings of the mind, excuses and seeking for faults in those we are upset at. Where is Christ found in that? People allow their emotions to be their lord. Camps are established and banners are flown over the camps saying, "The truth!" Where is the building up of one another in the love of Christ? Where is mercy, unity and service? It's not there because Christ isn't there! Christ needs to be formed in those hearts again.

  Next time you find someone in your life that is under the power of hard feelings, do this little thing: Pray for them. I mean, really pray for them with sincerity of heart. It's then the Lord does His greatest work. Just watch and see.