Ignorance is Bliss? (Dec 27)

Have you ever heard the statement, “Ignorance is Bliss?” What do you suppose that it means?

Well, let's see. What is ignorance? Ignorance is the lack of knowledge, education, or awareness. It can describe the state of being unaware or uninformed. Sometimes a person is ignorant because he or she chooses to selectively ignore pieces of information.

Some people might suggest that with ignorance is a certain innocence because if you are not aware of certain laws, then you cannot intentionally break them. If you are unaware of certain dangers, then you cannot possibly fear them. If you have not been introduced to various stress-causing elements of life, then you cannot possibly understand the pain and frustration that they cause. And so, it might be supposed that a person that is very unaware or uninformed might be in some sort of aloof, naïve, clueless state of happiness that is oblivious to reality. I suppose if that were true, then some might find ignorance to be bliss, but people have a conscience. The Law of God is written in the conscience and deep down we know right and wrong. We also know that there is a God and that we answer to Him. Even remote tribes that have never heard the Gospel have been found to have at least some sort of vague understanding of a supreme deity. Consider the folks in Athens that Paul met (Acts 17). They had not yet heard of the Gospel, yet there in the midst of all of their many altars and holy places was an altar to “The Unknown God.” Paul proceeded to tell them about this unknown God. Today, we have churches on nearly every other street corner and millions of Bibles printed every year. God's laws are written in our hearts and His words are preached to us from countless sources. I believe that what it pretty much comes down to is that a person ignorant of God is willfully ignorant of God. In other words: People ignore God.

Have you ever intentionally ignored someone? Have you ever been intentionally ignored? There is a guy at work that apparently doesn't talk to people. I heard about this the other day when someone brought it up. Apparently, they always greet him or try to talk to him, but he always brushes them off and ignores them. I had this happen to me just a couple of weeks ago. I walked into a room and greeted someone that I knew. They completely ignored me. Literally, there was no response. It was as if I hadn't spoken a single word. I must admit it was kind of awkward: should I have repeated myself or just pretended the whole thing hadn't happened? Walk down a busy sidewalk in a city. There are many people that won't even acknowledge your existence. But they are people you don't know. Walk up to someone and talk to them face-to-face. They don't acknowledge your existence either. Now you should be able to see the difference between ignorance and willful ignorance.

Many years ago, God sent His Son to people as a gift. He would teach them and lead them to the heart of God. Then He would die on the cross to pay the debt for their sins. God called the wise men and they journeyed across the world to find Him. God called the shepherds and they went out rejoicing, telling everyone what they had found. God called so many others. Some received the gift and some put their fingers in their ears, saying, “Lalalalalala, I didn't hear anything! Leave me in my ignorance!” As if not knowing God would somehow mean that they weren't really sinning and weren't really rebelling against God.

So God has been calling you. He's been speaking things to your heart. Maybe you've been ignoring Him. Maybe you've been acting like He isn't even there, just brushing off the words that He speaks. You are unaware of the blessings He has for you and oblivious to the empty spot that is in your heart...but not because you weren't told. It's because you chose to be ignorant. (But today is a new day.)

1 John 3:6

Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

Job 21:14

Yet they say to God, “Depart from us, for we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways.”

Zechariah 7:11-12

But they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear. Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath came from the Lord of hosts.

So, is ignorance bliss? Did someone ever intentionally ignore you over and over again? How did that make you feel? Now multiply that by a million (a quick coefficient that I made up because certainly a supreme authority is so much more important than some lame person) and see that God in His mercy and patience continues to call you even though you ignore Him and fight against Him. But as we saw in Zechariah, the people refused to heed and God responded in wrath. God will not be mocked for long. Quit ignoring Him, thinking you'll somehow live in a state of oblivious bliss. Answer Him for once and let Him show you His heart.

Good Words (Dec 13)

Proverbs 12:25

Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Colossians 3:12-17

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Philippians 2:1-8

1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Galatians 6:9-10

9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Thanks for the Memories (Nov 29)

Psalm 105

1 O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. 2 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works. 3 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. 4 Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore. 5 Remember his marvelous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth; 6 O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen. 7 He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth. 8 He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. 9 Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac; 10 And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant: 11 Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance: 12 When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it. 13 When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people; 14 He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; 15 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. 16 Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread. 17 He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: 18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: 19 Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him. 20 The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free. 21 He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance: 22 To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom. 23 Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham. 24 And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies. 25 He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtly with his servants. 26 He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen. 27 They shewed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham. 28 He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word. 29 He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish. 30 Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings. 31 He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts. 32 He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land. 33 He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts. 34 He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillars, and that without number, 35 And did eat up all the herbs in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground. 36 He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength. 37 He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes. 38 Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them. 39 He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night. 40 The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven. 41 He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river. 42 For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant. 43 And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness: 44 And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labor of the people; 45 That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD.

Let me also share with you a reading from Chris Tiegreen's Walk With God.

Gratitude Remembers

Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced. - Psalm 105:5

Gratitude is born in hearts that take time to count up past mercies. - Charles Edward Jefferson

Many people are waiting to be thankful until they have something to be thankful for. It's a flaw of fallen humanity. We are always looking forward to what we want and always aware of what we don't have. For most of us, the glass is always half empty—at least.

What is our remedy? It's given often in Scripture. We are to be “rememberers.” God urges us to rehearse His past mercies intentionally and actively. Whenever we begin to focus on what we are lacking, we're to redirect our focus to what we've been given. The change in attitude that will result is remarkable. Joy begins to resurface and faith gets stronger.

That's what Psalm 105 is all about. It is a brief summary of history from the call of Abraham to the victories of David. It reminded Israel's worshipers that God began a great plan with His people and would certainly continue it. It encouraged them to count the miracles He had done. It helped them think of God as their Provider, Deliverer, Protector, Strength, Warrior, and more—just in case they had forgotten, as fallen human beings are prone to do. It stirred up a sense of destiny and a confidence in God's ability to bring them through. It created the context for true worship.

Don't we need such reminders? We easily forget God's providence, salvation, and love. We fear that He might not protect us this time, or that He might not hear our prayer this time, or that He might abandon His plan for us. An intentional memory of His works will help us dispense with those lies. It will cultivate all the things we need to believe in Him and worship Him again.

Try making a list of all the things you are thankful for. Remember God's past mercies and write them down. Try composing your own psalm of remembrance. Then read over these things often. Set them to music if it helps. Let your mind be saturated with the goodness of God, and you'll be amazed at how the goodness of God become real. (Tiegreen, 331)

Psalm 105 is a psalm of remembrance. It rehearses the things that God did for His people throughout parts of Israel's history. If I were to take a few moments to think back over this past year, I could come up with a long list of things that God has done. I would be able to come up with quite a list of the times that I said, “God is good.” Unfortunately, there were also many times throughout the year when my thoughts were probably more along the lines of “This predicament is bad.” or “This person is a problem.” How many of those times did I find myself also thinking, “God is good.” instead of focusing on the bad? Well, if I had spent some time strolling down “Memory Lane,” then I would have remembered all of the amazing things that God has done at other times. I would have remembered all of the times when God answered my prayers in His perfect timing and in His perfect way. I would remember all of the times when I have said, “God is good,” and responded with a new proclamation that indeed “God IS good!”

Whether you choose to keep a journal of God's goodness toward you, write a “psalm” of remembrance as Chris suggests, or just take time every now and then to reminisce about all that God has done, it is definitely very important to be reminded over and over again of God's mercy and love. Today I am looking forward to many things. I am hoping for some changes. I am hoping for new attainments. I am looking for a good future. But perhaps we can't necessarily be thankful for something that we don't have. But when I am reminded of how good God was yesterday or six months ago, I am truly thankful and my faith and hope are strengthened for today, tomorrow, and six months from now. God IS good. Yes, God WAS good. But, even today, He IS good and WILL BE good! Praise Him! And thank Him for the memories...and hope for what is to come!

(1) Tiegreen, Chris. The One Year Walk with God Devotional: 365 Daily Bible Readings to Transform Your Mind. Carol Stream, Ill: Tyndale House Publishers, 2004.

Believing in Thanksgiving (Nov 22)

I would like to share with you today a reading selection from Chris Tiegreen's Walk With God.

Gratitude Believes

Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. - Psalm 105:4

Faith without thankfulness lacks strength and fortitude. - John Henry Jowett

Faith without thankfulness is like a huge, unanswered question. It come to God with possibilities, but has no assurance that He will address them well. It knows He can do things, but it doesn't know that He will. Forgetting the God of the past, it tries in vain to figure out the God of the present and the future. It is weak.

Faith with thankfulness doesn't just look for the Lord, it looks to the Lord. It knows who He is. It remembers past mercies and bases today's needs on their proven source. It comes to God with possibilities, not knowing how He will address them, but knowing He will address them well. It is not a tentative question about God; it is a knowledgeable statement. It understands His grace.

We need no reminders to seek God; it is a natural impulse, especially when we're in trouble. No, our problem is remembering how to seek Him. Paul's letters are abundant in instructions to utter prayers filled with thankfulness. The faith that Jesus always applauded was a faith that acknowledged up front who He was. We may have lots of questions when we come to God, and we may be confused about many spiritual issues. But we have no reason to ever come to Him questioning His goodness. Our gratitude for what He has done in the past will prepare us to know what kinds of things He will do in the future. It will get us in sync with His heart.

Are your prayers filled with fear and confusion? Do you wonder if God will be good to you? There is no need for such uncertainty. Scripture is filled with His goodness, and so is your life. Look between the hardships and the pain and see that He has granted life and redemption. There are always blessings to find—far more than we can count. Gratitude makes faith strong. Thankful people understand the God who is strong. They see His face and are not afraid. They aren't just hoping for His goodness. They're expecting it. (Tiegreen, 330)

Thanksgiving Day is coming up this week and we always use that time to think of things for which we are thankful. Usually, I'd say that if we were to make a list, we'd probably fill that list with all kinds of good and happy things. I doubt that we'd put anything on there that we didn't like. After all, how can we be thankful for something that we don't like? Well, then we read scriptures like 1 Thessalonians 5:18 - “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” - and we realize that even some things that we don't necessarily like need to be on that thanksgiving list. We then discover that all things have a purpose and that God works all things for good. (Romans 8:28 - “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”) When we can see God's purpose through all things and in that be truly grateful, then we can truly believe that He is who He says He is and He will do what He says He will do. When we are thankful, we can believe!

Praise God today! Praise God in all things! Be thankful for what He has done and how He has been working in your life (even if it sometimes hurts in the process). And, remembering the works of God, you can believe when you pray. You can believe when you wait for the answer. You can believe for tomorrow!

In thankfulness, believe!

(1) Tiegreen, Chris. The One Year Walk with God Devotional: 365 Daily Bible Readings to Transform Your Mind. Carol Stream, Ill: Tyndale House Publishers, 2004.

Blue Books (Nov 15)

I'm sure that everybody that has been through college has fond memories of the blue books. It gives me a warm feeling just thinking about it. No, I'm kidding. You know, the blue books are those small composition notebooks (with a blue cover of course) that many professors require you to use for exams, particularly if the exam requires essays or pertains to literature or philosophy. If you've ever taken a blue book exam, you'll remember the feeling of coming into the classroom and having nothing on the desk except for a blank blue book and a pencil. Then you begin to write. You write and write until the book is full. Sometimes you have only one question and sometimes many questions, but you must fill that book with all of the right answers if you hope to get an A for the course. There are other exams, of course, which don't require the blue book, but these written exams came to mind as one of the more pressured and stressful types of exams. But, for any exam, you'll remember that you usually study a lot before hand. Sometimes the professor gives you an idea of what information will be on the exam and sometimes they leave it very vague so that you will study everything (after all, they want you to learn ALL of the information). I'm sure we all had at least one professor that would give exams that were so difficult that we had to study for days, memorizing every little detail so that we had a chance of getting most of the answers correct. But, I also had the occasional professor that would let us use notes or some other resource while taking the exam. These exams were often the easiest, because if I had good notes or a good resource, I could readily find the answers.

Well, let's face it: life can be difficult and every day we usually face a test. We go through trials and we deal with temptations. Even on a good day (which are hopefully more often than the bad ones), we have decisions to make.

Psalm 119:105-112

105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. 106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments. 107 I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word. 108 Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments. 109 My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law. 110 The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts. 111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart. 112 I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes always, even unto the end.

You ask: How can I live righteously? How can I know the answers? How can I do the right thing? I make a commitment today to follow God and live for Him, but how can avoid going my own way and know the fullness of the truth to live by?

You have the Word of God and also access to the Heart of God. It's like being allowed to bring notes and other resources in to take that big blue book exam. One time I had a professor that gave the class a question a day or two before the exam. We were allowed to study it, consider it, and even write out some thoughts. On exam day, we had only a blank blue book and had to fill it cover-to-cover with an essay that answered the given question. Can you imagine how it would have been if we were allowed to bring in notes? I could have written the essay at home with all of the resources at my disposal and then simply copied the essay into the blue book on exam day. You have all of the resources of God at your disposal. Spend much time in God's Word! Spend much time in prayer discovering the heart of God! Be open to hear God's voice! Later today or maybe tomorrow you might have a real-life blue book exam, but remember that you can have the notes with you! You can have God and His Word with you!

Clutter (Nov 8)

Many times at work, I notice that my desk will become quite cluttered. I work on several projects at once, and before I know it, there is so much junk everywhere, that it just gets messy and hard to find things. It gets hard to focus on one project and it gets hard to concentrate at times. I've noticed the same thing sometimes in life. I often have a lot to think about. I suppose it has also been said sometimes that I think too much. But I also get busy at times. Between work, church, other things that need to be done at home, things to work out in my personal life, etc., I end up getting a lot on my plate. When I have a lot going on, sometimes I find it hard to focus or concentrate on anything. My life gets cluttered. My mind gets cluttered. And, well, I just don't think that's a good thing because how do you really focus on God and what's important when you are constantly stumbling over and around clutter?

1 Timothy 4:13-16

13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Psalm 119:57-64

57 CHETH. Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words. 58 I entreated thy favor with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word. 59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. 60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments. 61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law. 62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments. 63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. 64 The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.

Acts 2:44-47

44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness [or simplicity] of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

I think that it is important to reduce clutter. Sure, it would be great to reduce the clutter in your room, your desk or study area at home, where you spend devotions with God, and even your work area at your job. But even more importantly, I think that it is important to reduce clutter in your life, in your mind, and in your heart.

It's Not Them; It's Me (Nov 1)

People very often find it much easier to find faults in others, rather than themselves. They tend to blame other people for problems instead of shouldering some of the responsibility. Even when innocently pointing out something wrong to somebody, the other person may have a tendency to feel accused. Today we are going to look inward a bit, to see our own faults and shortfalls.

2 Samuel 12:1-14

1 And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. 2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: 3 But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. 4 And there came a traveler unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. 5 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: 6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. 7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; 8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. 9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. 11 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun. 13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. 14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

Nathan came to David and described a terrible sin that a man had committed against his fellow man. David was outraged. This man was bad! He did very bad things and should pay the consequences! He should die! How dare he wrong his neighbor in such an insensitive way? How dare he do such a wrong act as if nothing was wrong? Then Nathan stopped David and said, “You are the man!”

We hear lots of preaching and lessons that teach us all about who God is and how sin contrasts His holiness. I think it is so easy to sit back and say, “This is bad. That is bad.” I can even look around and say, “Hey, that person's life is messed up. This person has fallen away from God and is living in sin. That person is doing some really bad stuff. This person is living a lie.” They are sinners. They are bad. They, they, they.

It's not them; it's me. David responded, “I have sinned against the Lord!” David seemed like a pretty good guy, but he had lust in his heart. He even acted on that lust and people still saw a good guy because nobody knew. Then he had a guy killed so he could take his wife. Is there a hidden sin in your heart? Is there a hidden sin in my heart? Sometimes I think it takes a situation to happen where we act out a sin that we had forgotten as it was hidden in our hearts before we realize: wow, it's not them; it's me. Please, let us pray that God will show us our hidden sins and let us come to repentance. Yes, people need to hear about sin and we need to reach out to them and preach evangelistic messages, but first, I need to see that I am the man. God, cleanse my heart and let it be free of sins so that I might be used by you to reach others.

Some Stuff That We Need to Do (Oct 18)

Pray for each other

James 5:16

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Encourage each other

1Thessalonians 5:11

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Stand together to pray for those that have rejected God

Philippians 1:25-27

25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; 26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again. 27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Hebrews 10:23-25

23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Meditate on God's word

Psalm 119:9-16

9 BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. 10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. 13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. 16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

Pray

1Thessalonians 5:17

Pray without ceasing.

Make a commitment

Never give up

1 Corinthians 15:57-58

57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. :58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Have hope

Romans 12:12

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

First (Oct 11)

The other day, I had something on my mind as I approached a time with God. I had planned ahead that there was something I was going to find out and something that I was going to do. That was one of my goals for that time. But I immediately realized that my priority was wrong. The entire purpose of that gathering time was to hear from God's word and to listen for direction. I quickly changed my focus and asked God to show me something from His word. I was not there to do anything else but to hear from God and to respond in obedience, praying that my life would glorify Him. There are definitely other times for other things, but during this time, as in other times in life, God had to be first. God has to be first. I don't know how many times I can say it, but that's pretty much the gist of the lesson today. God has to be first.

Matthew 6:22-33

22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

We cannot have two masters. We cannot serve God and have other things that so occupy our thoughts that we have them set up on a pedestal higher than God. We must put God first. He must be first and foremost—our most (and only) important concern! I think that one reason we don't see revival in the church is because we care about so many other things more than we care about being right before God! Tell somebody that a friend said something mean about them and they get very upset and either work hard to make amends or begin to plot revenge. Tell somebody that their favorite sports team lost miserably and they get upset and try to figure out how the team can improve or what they need to do to still win the championship. Tell somebody that there is a sale at their favorite store and they run off to check it out before you finish the sentence. Tell somebody that they lost a loved one and they grieve. Tell somebody that they lost money, a job, or a valued possession and it seems like the worst news ever. Tell somebody that their spiritual apathy is leading to death and that God is calling them back to His heart because He loves them and they shrug their shoulders and move on to other things—and that's if you even get a response!!! What is wrong with this picture? We care about so many things and our hearts are so full of passion at times. But do we even care about God? Sometimes we're lucky if He's even on the first page of our list. God has to be first!

A God and His People, Both Zealous (Sep 27)

Joel 2:12-17

12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: 16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. 17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?

Revelation 3:19

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Zealous (Greek) - to have warmth of feeling for or against: - affect, covet (earnestly), (have) desire, (move with) envy, be jealous over

Zealous (Hebrew) - to be (causatively make) zealous, that is, jealous or envious

Zeal (Webster) – eagerness and ardent interest in pursuit of something, fervor, syn: passion

Joel 2:18, 21

Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people...Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.

Take a moment to look at the context around Rev. 3:19. Be zealous for God and repent. He will be zealous for you and forgive. It is time to return to God and be right before Him. Do you have a desire in your heart to have fellowship with Him? Do you long for His presence? Break out of the place of death and lackadaisy and call out to God! Let your heart burn with passion for God's righteousness and you will see that passion that God has for His people. He loved you first, after all.

See God (Sep 6)

Let me ask you a couple of questions. Do you serve God? This lesson is for those that answer yes. Are you blessed? I'm going to answer this question for you: yes. Yes it's true that some people seem to have a life of endless blessings and your life, comparatively, seems to be lacking, but I'm sure if you think about it, you can think of several, if not many, ways in which God has blessed you. OK, now that we have that established, I can say that you are blessed and you serve God. But do you serve God because of the blessings? Take away those blessings and see what you have to say about God? Do you fault Him for your problems

Job 1:11

But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

Job 2:9

Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

Job 42:1-6

1 Then Job answered the LORD, and said, 2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. 3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. 4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. 6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

Have you seen God? Or are you serving God just because life is good and it's easy to attribute good things to God? But when the blessings are taken away, do you blame God or see God in the midst of (or in spite of) the difficulty?

Every now and again God will allow us to be tested. It is in these times that we will draw closer to God. In His presence we will see God and we will also see ourselves for who we really are. We won't understand all that happens to us but we can choose to trust God to take us through. On the other side of suffering God makes us usable for His kingdom and we are changed. Healing will come when God's purpose is completed in us.

When our problems go from bad to worse and the answer doesn’t seem to come, there is a bitterness that begins to rise up. We can do one of two things. We can either turn to the Lord and trust in His Word or charge God with "Fatherly negligence". God knows and cares!

God speaks the truth. Truth is only found in Him. You can trust Truth. You can know that God can be trusted in time of blessing and in time of seeming curse. When you can see that, I think that you have seen God. Job said, “I have heard you, but now I see you.”

As (Aug 23)

Today's lesson was more of a discussion on the importance of prayer and some hindrances to the power of prayer. I don't have it all written out, but here are a few scriptures / quotes that I may have used during the discussion.

Hindrances to the Power of Prayer

1. doubt

2. unbelief

3. unforgiveness

4. selfishness

There are endless possibilities through prayer. Prayer is our channel to get to know God intimately. God wants us close to Him so He can begin to share His heart with us. Through prayer we can touch anybody's heart. We must pray with clean hands and a pure heart. The two great hindrances to prayer are unforgiveness and unbelief. Don't let your prayer life be hindered. God is calling His church to believe Him for the impossible but first we must allow Him to deal with our heart. Jesus said when you pray forgive and when you pray believe. These are two great keys to answered prayer.

Psalm 24:3-5

3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Galatians 5:13-15

13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

Matthew 6:9-15

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

James 5:13-16

13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Matthew 5:23-24

23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

Hope (Aug 16)

In the washroom, we need a soap dispenser. In the church, we need a hope dispenser.

Psalm 31:24

Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.

Romans 12:12

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 6:17-20

17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

1 Peter 1:3-9

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Hope – ἐλπίς elpis From ἔλπω elpō which is a primary word (to anticipate, usually with pleasure); expectation (abstract or concrete) or confidence: - faith, hope.

Romans 4:18

Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

Despite God's promises, despite Christ's love, and despite our countless blessings, we frail human beings can still lose hope from time to time. When we do, we need the encouragement of Christian friends, the life-changing power of prayer, and the healing truth of God's Holy Word. If we find ourselves falling into spiritual traps of worry and discouragement, we should seek the healing touch of Jesus and the encouraging words of fellow Christians. Even though this world can be a place of trials and struggles, God has promised us peace, joy, and eternal life if we give ourselves to Him. And, of course, God keeps His promises today, tomorrow, and forever. - author unknown.

Trials or Blessings? (Aug 2)

Job 37:1-14 NKJV

1 “At this also my heart trembles, and leaps from its place. 2 Hear attentively the thunder of His voice, and the rumbling that comes from His mouth. 3 He sends it forth under the whole heaven, His lightning to the ends of the earth. 4 After it a voice roars; He thunders with His majestic voice, and He does not restrain them when His voice is heard. 5 God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend. 6 For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’; likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength. 7 He seals the hand of every man, that all men may know His work. 8 The beasts go into dens, and remain in their lairs. 9 From the chamber of the south comes the whirlwind, and cold from the scattering winds of the north. 10 By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen. 11 Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds; He scatters His bright clouds. 12 And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance, that they may do whatever He commands them on the face of the whole earth. 13 He causes it to come, whether for correction, or for His land, or for mercy. 14 “Listen to this, O Job; stand still and consider the wondrous works of God.

The other day, I read a devotional that was based on the above scripture. It was the second time in a couple of weeks that the scripture was put before me, so I gave it much thought. As I thought about it, I felt that God wanted me to share it with you, also. God sends clouds both for punishment or correction and for love and refreshment. This may not always be obvious to us. Two people might be listening to the weather report. The first, a farmer, upon hearing a forecast of steady showers all day, will rejoice for his withering crops. The second, someone who had planned a big outdoor picnic, will likely grumble and complain about the lousy weather. Lately, in an effort to get more exercise and enjoy nature, as well as find something to get out and do instead of sitting at home by myself on weekends, have acquired the habit of riding my bike on various trails every Saturday. When I used to hear forecasts of rain for the weekends, I would have a reaction that it spoiled my plans and I would miss my bike ride. Well, I must say that after getting rained on for the past three weeks straight, I really don't mind what the weather is when I go out for a ride. After all, the rain just cools me off. Now, see? The rain is still there. What could be considered a trial is still there, but the attitude or perception of the trial has changed. Now I see the blessing in it and it is a benefit.

God will send clouds into our lives at times. These clouds could be judgment or correction. Or, they could be mercy. I think, perhaps, that rather than focus on figuring out God's intention, it might be far more important to look at our attitude towards it, particularly our response. Sometimes, people tend to go through life quite comfortable in indifference. In some cases, trials drive people to a greater trust in God. In others, trials drive people away. They will have nothing to do with a God who lets them suffer. During a trial, it seems, that middle ground of indifference is taken away. Let me give you an example.

Yesterday, I was walking through the woods and had stopped for a moment, when I looked over and saw something interesting. There was a dragonfly hanging from a single strand of a spider web, dangling from a tree overhead. There was another strand running horizontally to another tree, so it was held perfectly still. The sun glistened off the iridescent green body, contrasted by the silky black wings. It was beautiful. After taking a bunch of pictures, I noticed that it was alive, as one of the legs moved. I decided to rescue it, but breaking the spider web with a stick. The dragonfly fell and landed in a plant next to me. But, it had some spider web material on the tip of its wing, which promptly stuck to the plant. It was still going to die because it was now hopelessly stuck in a plant. I continued to prod and poke with my stick, trying to break the dragon fly free from that bit of spider web that still held it to the leaves. The dragonfly, none to happy about my poking and prodding, flashed out it's stingers and curled it's tail like a scorpion, attacking the stick. I tried harder to free it and after a couple more jabs, it was fluttering up and away. Now, the treatment that I was giving that dragonfly with my stick could have been seen as a trial or as a blessing. Now, I know that bugs work on instincts and probably don't have any thoughts or emotions, but just stick with me on this illustration (no pun intended, sorry). I came upon that bug in dire straits. Death was pretty much a given. I'm sure the poking and prodding of my stick was by no means fun or enjoyable. It certainly couldn't be seen as a blessing, but what was my intent? I came to get the little guy out of his death-bound situation so that he could have life (another day of flying around eating smaller bugs??).

Now, think about your own life for a minute. There might be some sinful things in your life, or maybe a little hidden black spot in your heart, or whatever. These things need to be repented of. God, in His love and mercy, will not leave you there, but will convict your heart and may send some clouds into your life to draw you deeper into His heart. You may not always immediately see it as a blessing. It may not always be comfortable. You may not always initially see God's intent in the matter. Let's say I see you in a bad place. I take out my stick and am poking and prodding you to get you to safety. Even if you were aware of your deadly situation, you may quickly forget your bigger problem and shift your focus on the seeming “attack” and fight the very thing that is there to help. Let's forget the intent for a moment. What is your response? “Let the clouds of adversity drive you into God's presence. Let them stir a passion in your heart to know Him more deeply and to worship Him more authentically. Do not flee from them. Let them linger long enough to see His mercy fall from heaven in the end.” -Chris Tiegreen

“God tries our faith so that we may try His faithfulness.” -Anonymous

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

State of the Heart (Jul 26)

So, how are you? How's your heart? Let's talk about that a little bit today.

1 Samuel 16:1-13

1 And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons. 2 And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD. 3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee. 4 And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably? 5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. 6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed is before him. 7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. 9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. 10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. 11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. 12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

At this point, I read a selection from The One Year Walk With God Devotional: 365 Daily Bible Readings to Transform Your Mind by Chris Tiegreen. When Samuel was selecting a new king, he learned a valuable lesson: God looks at the heart, not the outward, physical appearance. We may have a tendency to look at someone and judge them to be used by the Lord or not used by the Lord based on how they look, how educated they are, or how skilled they are. We may look at ourselves and discount our own ability to be used by God because we don't fit the “profile” of many of the great Christians from today or years past. Well, God looks at the heart. Tiegreen writes, “We can't judge people by the standards we normally use, and we can't be disciples based on the gifts we think He has given us. In both cases, popular opinion is irrelevant. The piercing eye of God is not fooled. The quality of anyone's discipleship, at all times, depends on the condition of the heart.” (Tiegreen, 206) So, before you say that you can't be used by God (or you say that you're a super-duper Christian and powerful tool in His hand), take a look at your heart. Ask God to examine your heart and see if there is any wicked way in you (Ps 139:23,24). Remember, as Jonathan Edwards once said, “The first and great work of a Christian is about his heart.” If your heart is right, God can (and will) use you for great things. As we spoke of last week, He will give you the words to say when witnessing for Him. He will transform you into a vessel that can be used for His work. It may be a great and flashy work, or it may be a quiet, secret work, like intercession. But putting outward appearance aside, God can use you for His work because of the purity and integrity of your heart.

1 Chronicles 29:17a

I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness.

Something More to Say (Jul 19)

Sometimes we are left seemingly speechless. We may desire to strike up a conversation with someone, but no words are there to come out. Sometimes we have difficulty finding the words to say or making those words come out and sometimes we just have nothing to talk about. There are no thoughts there to even formulate into words! I shared some examples of this last week and now I would like to move on and discuss some things that we should learn.

God wants us to talk to Him. God is waiting to hear from you. He desires for you to break the silence and open your heart to Him. There are so many commands in the scriptures to pray and Jesus even gave His own disciples a framework for prayer (the Lord's Prayer). Don't be shy or fearful to talk to God. Just tell Him what's on your heart, thank Him for what He has done for you, and listen to what He speaks to your heart.

God wants us to talk to other people. First of all, you should, of course, talk to your friends and to fellow members of your local church body. It is, after all, supposed to be a united body. We should support each other, be willing to listen when someone needs to talk about something, and give encouragement and advice as needed and directed by God. We should share testimony with one another. If God shows me something neat, I can tell it to you and then we've both learned something! If God has shown you something neat, please tell me! I like to hear from you and it is vital for the church to share the Word amongst its members. All of these same ideas hold with your friends that may not be in the local church. But what about other people? As much as we've talked about difficulty in breaking the silence and beginning conversation when words fail you, I think the biggest trouble is usually finding something to say to a stranger. Well, God wants you to talk to other people. He wants us to tell them about His Love. There are many people out there that need to hear the Word of God. Some of them you have never met. Some of them are at your school or workplace. You know them, but maybe you don't talk to them much, if at all. Or, maybe you talk to them on a daily basis, but you don't know how to bring up spiritual topics. Well, I can't give you particulars on what exactly to say to each person to be able to tell them about God's love. In fact, I can't really give you particulars on to whom all you need to speak. I can tell you to pray about it. If you seek the Lord earnestly, I believe that He will show you what to say and to whom. I think this is also true, by the way, with your friends and fellow Christians in the church. Yeah, we can easily strike up a conversation because we know them and have some sort of connection or something in common. But are you open to the Lord's leading when He gives you an encouraging word for a specific friend or a testimony that will dramatically touch someones life because of a situation that you don't even know about? This is why we need to seek the Lord earnestly in prayer. If we have His heart, we will have something to say.

Matthew 10:19

19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

Exodus 4:12

Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

Malachi 3:16

Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

Acts 4:20

For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

Let's trust God for the words to say: whether we're talking to Him or sharing Him with others. If you know God, you've got something to say. Say it!

Something to Say (Jul 12)

I showed you some lesson notes that were essentially blank. There was no title and just a few words like “blah blah blah.” It's like I sat down to write a lesson and nothing came. There were no words to write—nothing to share. Or maybe I had something to share, but no way to put it into words. Nothing came out. The notes were left blank. Blah.

The other day, I had a strange experience. I sat in a room with two of my friends in silence. One of them was playing with a phone and the other was sleeping. I sat there in silence. It was awkward. I felt like I should strike up a conversation, but there were no words. We hadn't seen each other for a couple of weeks, so it seems like there should have been something to talk about. I guess it was like the lesson notes from earlier. There is so much in God's Word that He wants to share with us, but we sit down with the lesson and there is nothing. Even if I did have something to talk about, no words ever formulated and I sat there, uncomfortably.

Some time ago, I was with someone taking care of some things at a store. The other person had to run outside for something and I was left alone with the salesperson for a few minutes. Every bit of common sense would dictate that we strike up a conversation while we wait, but instead, I mindlessly perused through the things on the shelves while they waited by the counter. Perhaps we've all had those moments where we wanted or needed to say something or discuss something with someone, but words failed us. We open our mouths to speak and the words aren't there. Or we just don't know how to break the silence. It's weird. It's awkward. But we've probably all done it.

God wants us to talk to Him. I have spoken before about our need to spend time with God, speak to Him, and listen to His voice. I have spoken about how we need to spend time with Him, getting to know Him, as we would with a friend. God wants to hear from you. Do you feel uncomfortable praying to God? Is He like a stranger to you and you don't know where to begin? Do you sit down to pray and then after a minute you don't really know what else to say and you wander off to do other things? Just talk to God. Tell Him about your day. Make mention of your friends and family and their needs. Thank Him for blessings that you have experienced. Ask Him for guidance in some situation in your life. It's OK to speak frankly with God. You don't have to use a bunch of Old English words and long, fancy sentences. I'm not advocating disrespecting God, but you can speak to Him as you would someone that is sitting next to you. It's OK to say to God, “I know we haven't spoken much, but I want to get to know you,” and then listen to His Word. Really, it's a good conversation starter. If you are a stranger to prayer or you have just noticed that your prayer life is suffering because you don't really know what to say to God, it might feel like approaching a stranger on the street and striking up a conversation. That can be a very difficult thing to do. I know I'm not cut out for it. But if you think about it, if you just start with a greeting to break the silence, and you listen to the response, you can maybe take it from there. Don't put off prayer because you don't know how to break the ice. Think of some people that you know that are in need and talk to God about it. Then take it from there. Even Jesus gave His disciples a framework for prayer. Also, when you are with God, the Holy Spirit will put some things on your heart to pray about.

Luke 11:2-4

2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

Matthew 7:7-8

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Philippians 4:6

Be [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

God wants us to talk to other people. As much as we've talked about difficulty in breaking the silence and beginning conversation when words fail you, I think the biggest trouble is usually finding something to say to a stranger. Well, God wants us to talk to other people. He wants us to tell them about His Love.

Matthew 10:19

19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

Exodus 4:12

Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

Let's trust God for the words to say: whether we're talking to Him or sharing Him with others. If you know God, you've got something to say. Say it!

Title (Jul 12)

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Stay Away From the Stink (Jun 28)

Most Saturdays, I take my bike out for a ride and often see some wildlife. I always see birds and chipmunks, of course, but I have also seen deer, pheasants, groundhogs, and even snakes. A few weeks ago, I rode my bike on a round trip from Sarver, PA to Butler, PA. Most of the way to the turn around point of the journey, near Vogleyville Road, while I was riding through a grassy section of trail, I happened to look down to my side. When I did, I saw black and white looking back up at me, equally as shocked. My legs were tired, but I pedaled faster to gain some distance, glad that Mr. Skunk and I were facing the same direction. So if he did spray his stink, it would have been behind me instead of into my path. But it did give me a moment to think just how stinky of a situation that could have been. I probably couldn't have ridden along side a skunk for long without becoming stinky myself.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with [Satan]? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

We all know that the things around us: the people we hang out with, the activities that we're about, and the environment in which we spend time, can have a profound impact on us. These things change us. They affect us. If I had hung around the skunk for awhile longer, I would have been quite stinky for quite some time. In like manner, these things close to our life have a tendency of rubbing off on us or changing the way we think or act.

If you've ever spent time in a place filled with people that smoke, you know what I mean. You might be in there for only a (seemingly) short time, but for the rest of the day you can smell the smoke in your clothes. One time I came home from my company's Christmas party and I believe that we had Bible Study that evening. I did not change my clothes—I wore the same sweater as I had earlier in the day. Throughout the evening, I kept getting whiffs of the smell of beer. I wished I had changed my clothes because I wasn't crazy about carrying around that smell all night, even if it was so faint that nobody else could smell it. I have noticed the smell of cigarettes on my jacket after hanging it next to other jackets when I'm getting a haircut. If our clothes can pick up these smells just by being near other things for an hour or two, how much are we affected by allowing our hearts and minds to be “close to” the ways of the world or our lives to intermingle with those that have rejected God? Do you not notice a bit of a change in the way you think, the way you act, the way you speak, or your overall desire for the purity of God?

I'm not saying that you should run off and be a hermit or something and never have any contact with anyone, especially people outside the church, lest you be dirtied by them. No, I'm talking about close relationships and intimate dealings. I understand you are going to be subjected to coarse talk and actions at work, in school, and around town. So while we can't avoid everything, we can at least spend much time in prayer, seeking God for guidance and protection. And we can make decisions that are holy instead of choosing to wallow in the filth and hang dangerously close to the stinky skunks.

John 17:15 – I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

Amos 3:3 – Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

Lost and Found (Jun 21)

I have here my camera in its case. Now, most likely that does not seem to you to be a big deal. So Joel brought his camera: what is so special about that? Well, you see, yesterday I did not have my camera. I was on my return trip from Templeton to Kittanning, when I decided to take a picture. You see, often when I go for a long ride, I have my camera case strapped to my bike, in case I see anything interesting or if there is beautiful scenery that would make a nice picture. So, anyway, I stopped to take a picture and I reached down, and there was no camera! Uh oh! I realized that my camera was lost! Now do you see why it's a big deal that I have my camera with me? It was lost. If I had just shrugged my shoulders and kept riding, I wouldn't have a camera anymore and I'd have to buy a new one or something. But when I saw that it was lost, I turned around and backtracked until it was found (some nice people had found it in the middle of the road, picked it up, and flagged me down when they saw me coming back to look for it).

Some of you that read this today are lost. The wonderful thing is, there is a God that loves you very much and He is seeking to save those that are lost. He wants you to come into His house and be His child. He loves you that much. Even though there are some churches full with many Christians, God still puts forth the effort to go out and find you...because He loves you and His family isn't complete without you. Oh, you might be in church and going through the motions, but your heart is lost. It is empty. Maybe you used to love God, but that love just isn't there anymore. Maybe you've been raised in the church, but have never personally surrendered your heart to God. He is looking for you. If I had to ride the whole way back to Templeton, I might have done it to find that camera. Fortunately, I had used the camera fairly recently on the ride, so I knew I didn't have to pedal more than a mile extra. But some of you are so far from God that there's not even a trace of His thoughts in your heart. But God will reach out that extra distance because you're lost. And when something is lost, it needs to be found.

Luke 15:4-10

4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. 8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Luke 19:10

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Consider also the parable of the lost son. The man had two sons. One of them chose to take his inheritance and ran away into worldly living. He blew all of his money and then lost all of his friends and possessions. His life was a mess. He finally chose to go home. Even though he wasn't worthy of even being a son anymore, his father was waiting for him and came running to greet him and welcome him home. God is calling you to come home. You've been lost and your heart has lost the desire and love for the Lord. But you hear God calling. He is looking for you. He has come to find that which is lost. He is calling you, lost one, to come home.

Cut-Off Communication (Jun 7)

Several weeks ago, I was speaking with a friend on the telephone. We had spoken for quite some time and the conversation was just about over, but before it was, the call went dead. Another time we were talking, right in the middle of a question, the call again went dead. In both instances, the problem was a dead battery, so we couldn't just reconnect and continue the conversation. When the call went dead, the conversation was over. Now, I know, the conversation was probably about over anyway, but it was different, not having said bye and all that other stuff to end a conversation. Sometimes you lose a call on your cell phone when you go through a bad reception area and there were still some things that you wanted to talk about. When communication lines aren't good, conversations get cut short. Sometimes it's awkward. Sometimes you sit there thinking, “Wait! We weren't done!” Sometimes you just say, “Oh well, we were almost done talking anyway.” We need to have good lines of communication open with God so that we can hear Him speak to us, and also so that we can share our praise, worship, intercession, and requests with Him.

Zechariah 7:11-12

11 But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. 12 Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.

I suppose I should also mention the times that we hang up on people. I can only think of a couple of rare instances that I have done this, but sometimes if we don't want to talk to someone or they are getting on our nerves, we might just hang up to end the conversation. (This is the same as when we avoid, ignore, or blow-off people in regular face-to-face conversations or greetings.) But, let me share a few more scriptures about how important it is to listen to God and also to be in constant communication with Him.

Proverbs 8:32-36

32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. 33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. 34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the LORD. 36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

Matthew 26:41

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Ephesians 6:18

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Luke 18:1

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Acts 4:13

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Keep the lines of communication open with the Lord: you don't want to miss an important word from the Lord! Pour out your heart to Him in prayer: He doesn't want to miss a word from you! When you have been with Jesus, it will be obvious. People will know: they will see it! Likewise, when you haven't been with Him, for whatever reason the continual conversation may have been cut off, it will be quite evident in your life!

Sold Out (May 31)

A week or two ago, I was riding my bike along a trail, and seeing some vending machines, decided to stop for a drink. I had enough water to finish the ride, but it was getting warm and I thought I cold use some cold Gatorade or something. I hadn't noticed these vending machines before, but there they were, advertising their goods. I walked to the first one and noted that the drinks were $1.50. I dropped two dollars into the machine and they came straight out the coin return. Apparently the machine did not accept dollars. I dropped the dollars into the second machine and it took them, but then the display read, “Sold Out” when I pushed a selection button. I walked back to my bike and continued down the trail with no refreshment and short two dollars. It got me thinking about a few things. How many here today are sold out? How many times have I been sold out?

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Here are some other translations for the Greek words that were used for “comfort” and “edify”.

Comfort – call near, invite, comfort, give exhortation, pray

Edify – to be a house builder, construct, confirm, build up, embolden

We are called many times in the scripture to encourage one another. We are supposed to build each other up, help each other out, pray for each other, be there for each other, console each other, give comfort, share the word of God, and many other things to help each other out in life, both naturally and spiritually. You see, as Christians, we must care about each other. That's how the church works. It's one body. Its members look out for one another and share God's heart. Listen to this, let's read on:

1 Thessalonians 5:12-17

12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing.

You see, when I saw that vending machine, it was advertising something. It was offering products for sale. It was offering refreshment. But when I approached it, it had nothing to give. Now, you may remember another lesson that I shared about false advertising, where I had a box of something that I bought at the store and when I opened the box, it contained something else. I had related that to people that call themselves a Christian but are really something else inside. That's not really where I'm going with this lesson. You see, the vending machine advertised refreshing drinks. It really was a vending machine and really did sell the drinks that were advertised. Unfortunately, it was just empty. I could have come by the week before and there would have been drinks. I could go tomorrow and there would be drinks. But on that one day, there was nothing. The supply was used up. It needed to be restocked.

Now let's consider ourselves and the Holy Spirit. We just read some verses about encouraging each other and sharing the love of God with each other (whether comfort or exhortation). But if we don't spend our own time with God and allow Him to fill us with His Spirit and His Love, we won't have anything to give. If I come to you in need of encouragement, are you going to have anything to give? If you come to me needing to hear a call to come closer to God, am I going to have anything to give? Or will we be sold out?

I fear that all too often, it is hit or miss with me and with so many in the church. Maybe you will come to me today and I will comfort you and pray for you. Perhaps two weeks ago I had nothing to give. Well, that might seem perfectly fine to the person that received encouragement. But to the person that got nothing it will seem completely worthless. You see, when I approached that vending machine on my bike ride, I needed refreshment. I got nothing. That may have been the first time in five years that the machine was empty, but that didn't matter to me. What mattered on that day was that it was sold out. Christianity and serving God (and therefore also one another) is an every day thing. Are you sold out today? If I come to you tomorrow, will you have God's heart to share with me? I believe that if you are constantly seeking the Lord and being filled with His Spirit and His Love that you will always have that same Spirit and Love flowing from you to others. It won't matter what day it is, whether it's a good week or a bad week, or what time of day or night, when a friend comes in need of refreshment, you will always have an appropriate word from God's heart and a commitment to prayer. That's the kind of Christian I want to be. That's the kind of friend I want to be. If I were a vending machine, that's the way I would want to be: always offering much-needed refreshment—never sold out.

Calling Your Name (May 24)

I went back to the last place I'd known Him to be; Every promise He'd once spoken seemed only for me; I don't know just how it happened; But in the midst of all my pain; Softly sweetly I heard Jesus calling my name. Calling my name, calling my name; Never I'd heard it with such sweet refrain; Through the tears all darkness vanished; I'll never be the same; Since the morning I heard Jesus calling my name. “Touch me not 'til I've ascended to my Father,” said He; Go and tell all others fearful they've no need to be; Be not faithless but believing He's coming again; For I tell you that I've heard Him calling my name. ©2002 Carter Conlon Music. “Calling My Name.” Quiet Times. Carter Conlon.

John 20:14-16

14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

Mary had lost Jesus. He was dead and she was coming to anoint the body when she found the tomb empty. She didn't know where He was. Had someone moved the body for some reason? Had someone stolen the body? Did she suddenly become anxious? Did she worry? She asked the gardener if He moved it. I have to find Him. I am lost without Him. What am I going to do? Mary. She heard her name. She heard it like she had never heard it before. It was Him. It was Him!

John 11:39-44

39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. 40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. 43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

Lazarus was dead. Dead people don't hear. They don't do much of anything. There was no life whatsoever in his body. In fact, Martha put it quite bluntly when she said, “He's been dead four days: he stinks!” Why would Jesus want to open the tomb with a stinky dead body inside? Lazarus had been dead for awhile. There was no chance of being alive. The body was full of decay. It was beginning to rot away. Lazarus. He heard his name. Everyone heard it. Jesus had called out his name. Never before had anyone ever heard such a call. The dead man heard Jesus call out his name and he came out to meet Him! He wasn't rotting or decaying: his body was now full of life...every bit of him full of life!

If you listen, you will hear Jesus calling out your name. [Insert name] come and meet me. Come out of death and into life. [Insert name] I have a place for you. I love you and want you to fellowship with me in my Father's house. [Insert name] I am right here. You were looking for me because you knew that I used to be in your life and you miss me. I miss you too; come let us walk together. [Insert name] I have a great job for you to do. I want you to serve me in my kingdom and you can do that by praying for your pastors and teachers, and by sharing your testimony with others. I heard Jesus calling my name. Since that day, I'll never be the same. You too can experience that glory when you hear Him call you. Listen. [Insert name].

Asking Answered Questions (May 17)

How often do you ask a question, the answer to which you already know? How often have you had to ask the question because, even though someone already answered it, you weren't paying attention and so you still didn't know?

Earlier this week, I was on a website to check on something, and there was a little poll box on the sidebar that was asking who will win the conference semifinals: Pittsburgh or Washington. The thing is, the series was already over and Pittsburgh had already won. I thought it was odd that they still had the poll up. In fact, several times in the past week or two, I've seen the same thing, where there is a poll asking about the possible outcomes of an event that is already over with. Now, I know that the polls had been up for awhile ahead of time and that the website person just hadn't yet gotten around to changing it yet, but it still got me to thinking about how often we ask answered questions.

Let's take a moment to think about why we ask answered questions. Go ahead and think of a few.

1. We already know the answer, but don't like it, and are hoping to hear something different.

2. We already got the answer, but weren't paying attention and missed it.

3. We don't believe the answer.

I'm sure that you can think of a few more possible reasons.

2 John 4-6

4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. 5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

Jeremiah 7:23-24

23 But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. 24 But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.

Sometimes we ask God for guidance and more specifically what we should do in a certain situation. God answers us and we see what He calls us to do through His word and also through pastors and teachers. But then we continue to ask God what to do. Once He's given the answer, take it and obey! Do we continue to ask the answered question because we hope that the second time, God's desire will be different? Will He change His will? Speaking of that, are we even paying attention to His answer? Sometimes when we ask God a question, He makes us wait for awhile before He gives an answer. This time of waiting is rarely fun, since we want an answer now and we always feel that our situation is the most urgent. We should use that time of waiting to seek God and listen for His answer. I think often, we ask a question and if we don't hear a response immediately, we run off to do our own thing. When God gives us the answer, we aren't listening and don't hear it. When our own way fails and we have to ask God again and again, because we ignore His answer! Also, I think sometimes people don't believe the answer. I see people that say, “Well, how about I go my own way and we'll just see how it works out in the end.” We can look in the Bible and see how it works out in the end. God wins. The Bible says that the wages of sin is death and the gift of God eternal life. There's your answer: in the end, your way works out to death.

Let's not continually ask the answered questions. Let's be open to hear God's answer, receive it, and obey.

Listening to the Holy Spirit (May 10)

How many people do we know who proclaim to be saved but they have a dominate human spirit that has never come under the control of the Holy Spirit? When the Holy Spirit speaks and we listen with an intent to obey we are given supernatural power to walk it out. Hearing and not obeying results in an obstinate heart that keeps us locked into contentious situations. In life we will be challenged again and again to choose humility. God will always give us the victory when we submit to the Holy Spirit. It's time to end the battle!

Please listen to this message, delivered to Times Square Church on 4/21/09 by Neil Rhodes

http://media.tscnyc.org/mp3/20090421T1.mp3