"The Awakening"

After watching and listening to the movie 'The Awakening', I choose to step up, to honor my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Seemingly, we, 'the church', are more interested in making sure people leave encouraged than convicted. If we think what 'we' offer on Sunday morning will be the drawing card, then we do not have the empowering agent of the Holy Spirit; all is in vain! Where is the brokenness and repentance? Will the church preach the whole counsel of God? Acts 20:20-27. When was the last time you heard a message dealing with sin and revealing or naming sin? The fear of God? A message on holiness, righteousness, purity, or that God hates sin? Lives are changed by spiritual, anointed, uncompromising biblical preaching, not by short stories, sugar sticks, and worldly techniques. Paul said it correctly in Colossians 1:28-29. When Campbell Morgan asked Martyn Lloyd Jones how things were going, he said, and I quote, 'We are emptying the place.' We probably don't want to hear or see that. 2 Timothy 4:2.

Here am I; send me!

As we journey through life, what molds and shapes us? Yes, it is Jesus... but how? What does He use or do to rid us of ourselves? Oh, maybe the Word, maybe prayer and praise? Certainly those play a part, but do we consider the challenges of life? What about those who have spoken evil, envied us, which led to hate and defilement? Those who went behind our backs and worked tirelessly to bring us down? Are we willing to submit to any means that our God permits? Jesus succumbed to the cross because of envy, strife, and hatred! Should we become angry, unjust, and mean, failing to understand that “all things work together for those who love God and are called according to His purpose,” Romans 8:28-29. We should be anchored in our Lord to the degree that we are willing to leave the highest mountain top for the most grievous and hard place known to man. Moses missed the promise of the promised land due to anger and frustration; he struck the rock, Numbers 20:11-12. The Christian theme song has seemingly been “we shall not... we shall not be moved.” Know this, my life is not my life, Galatians 2:20. Will we acknowledge the Lord's total authority over us and be Isaiah for a moment? Isaiah 6:8. A rarity happened in the life of Martyn Lloyd-Jones when he resigned as the assistant chief of staff at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in London to follow the Lord's call and eventually became pastor of Westminster in London. Someone said to him, “Dr. Jones, you have given up everything,” to which he replied, “I have given up nothing to gain it all.” Another major occurrence happened when young William Borden gave up his massive inheritance to become a missionary to China. He died in Egypt before arriving at his destination. What will we give up to gain all? Matthew 19:16-22. My calling as a pastor/preacher was never intended to make me liked by all or to climb the ladder of ministry success! Success is spelled “obedience.” May we choose to obey without understanding, trying to figure out the reason or the cost. Here am I; send me!

Thoughts to Ponder...

12/5/2022

If you don’t mind, or if you do mind, I ask this question regarding the culture we live in.

How will it be changed? Will it be through politics? Will it be through education? Will it be by economics? Will it be by medicine? The answer…. none of the above!

     The question for us as believers is not how many verses we can quote. What music do you like? Do you read your Bible daily? How often do you attend worship? Do you pray at least twice a day? Well, you get the idea. The questions could go on for some time.

     No matter how long we preach, no matter how cute our sermons may be or how loud the church shouts, it comes down to this…. When you arrive in heaven, who will come and stand by you and say thank you for telling me about Jesus and His atoning work on the cross? Who will thank you for discipling them? Who will say thank you for standing with them during a dark time?

     The world will not change because of what the republicans, democrats, Independents, PETA party, or any other activist group says or does. It will be changed one soul at a time.

     I ask this question: Have you as a professing believer led anyone to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ by the enabling power of the Holy Spirit? Who have you discipled? Have you been discipled?

     May we humble ourselves, put down our swords, pick up the Word of God and fulfill our marching orders. Matthew 28:16-20

     Regardless of what kings, presidents, congress, governors do or say, THE KING OF GLORY WILL HAVE THE LAST WORD. Revelation 22

     I am a past sinner, a present sinner, and I will be a future sinner! Praise God for my Redeemer whose grace is sufficient for all who will come to Him.

In reading Jeremiah this morning, chapter 18, and verse 23, he had this to say…”Yet you, O Lord, know all their deadly designs against me; do not forget their iniquity or blot out their sin from Your sight. But may they be overthrown before You. Deal with them in your time of anger!”

So it seems all of our praying is not to be as casual as some would think. Is Jeremiah insensitive? Uncaring? Unloving?

Can a nation be so far gone that all they deserve is the wrath and judgement? Before you answer you might want to read Jeremiah 19:3-8. Holy God is against Judah for the have abandoned Him and created their on “gods.”

Stand firm, brothers and sisters, for our God is and awesome! God and will deliver His own into His glorious presence. We may see hard, difficult, and seemingly impossible days but…… He will prevail, delivering His children into His Glorious presence.

Jude 24

Why the Baby Came

"The Word (God) became flesh and dwelt among us." - John 1:14

WHY?

    - To fulfill prophecy

    - To preach

    - To teach

    - To die

    - To rise from the dead

    - To redeem the lost

    - To sanctify the believer

    - To glorify the saints

Christmas is not about a Baby. It is about THE BABY, the sinless Savior... God in the flesh.

Look into the feeding trough and see God...

God Incarnate.

    - See the Creator

    - See the Miracle Worker

    - See the GLORY

    - See the Cross

    - See the Empty Tomb

    - See Him seated at the Father's Right Hand

    - See the King of Kings returning for a thousand year reign

    - See the Judgment of the Lord

    - See the New Heaven and the New Earth, and

    - See Yourself eternally with the Savior IF you believe, IF you trust Him alone for salvation

    - THEN you will see the GLORY of heaven. Romans 3:23; 5:8; 6:23; 10:9-10

May you know the TRUTH and the TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE. John 8:32

Let Christmas be filled with JOY: J-esus, O-thers, then Y-ou

Previous Home Page post below...

In reading Jeremiah 1:5-10, I was reminded that:

1. God knew me before I was.

2. He set me apart.

3. He appointed me.

4. He sent me.

5. He commanded me to speak (preach) His word.

6. I am not to be afraid.

7. God will deliver me.

8. He put His words in my mouth.

9. I must continue to submit to His purpose.

10. I am in a battle for His Glory!

Be blessed today as a child of the King. You also are called and obedience is your measure of success.

1 Corinthians 15:58