Posts from 2021 (Page 6)
LOOKING STEDFASTLY
Yesterday we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus. But, where is He now? Well my friend, look at what Stephen saw as he was being stoned to death because of his witness for Christ. Stephen got a glimpse of Jesus standing on the right hand of God. What comfort that must have been for Stephen! Notice this, before he saw Jesus he stedfastly looked into heaven. I do not know what you might be going through today, but I know this, if you want to see Jesus in the midst of trouble, if you want the comfort of Christ, you need to take your eyes off of the trouble and look to where He can be found. He is not hard to find. He is still in the same place that Stephen saw Him.
RESURRECTION SUNDAY
Imagine for a moment, the day we call Good Friday, the day the Son of God was crucified on the cross of Calvary. Beaten beyond recognition, treated with contempt and disdain, mocked and spat upon; rejected by those who just a few days before we’re shouting “Hosanna in the highest” this Messiah, Israel’s Deliverer….DEAD! Satan and the multitude of fallen angels must have been celebrating their victory over the one called “the Son of God”. Imagine, if you will, how Satan and his minions must have felt! Now, it’s Sunday and some women are headed toward the tomb but they notice that Jesus isn’t there! Where could He be. He’s risen! Just as He said He would! God ALWAYS keeps His promises. Jesus conquered the grave, He conquered death, He conquered sin and He conquered Satan. The celebration abruptly ends once the Devil discovers what happened at the tomb. His minions scurry like bugs do when a rock is turned over and they’re exposed to light…..they were exposed to Light! Hallelujah! He’s risen! Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives all fear is gone! Praise God, He’s Risen.
B-I-B-L-E
Do you fondly remember the song we used to sing in Sunday School when we were little? “The B-I-B-L-E, yes that’s the book for life, I stand alone on the Word of God, the B-I-B-L-E.” Oh dear Christian, is the Bible the book for you? It’s the only book that has the words of life, the power to save, to make the simple wise! It’s God’s love letter to us! Do you love the Word of God? When we stand on the Word of God we’ll not easily fall for the wiles of the devil.
WHAT’S SO GOOD ABOUT IT?
We call today Good Friday. What is so good about it? After all, it is a day that Jesus suffered the most brutal beating and death that an innocent man has ever endured. The disciples at the time certainly did not see the day as good. They saw it as a day they were losing someone they loved; their friend and leader. Yet we call it good. You see, the problem that all of has is that we see things from our perspective and not God’s. So things that he sees as good we do not always see as good. The answer to the question lies in a verse we often quote:
HIS WORKMANSHIP
Meditation: These two verses have blessed me tremendously through the years. They assure me that although I may feel at times that in my walk with the Lord I’m taking a step forward and two steps back, I’m God’s workmanship created in Jesus unto good works.I can be confident that what He has ordained will come to pass.Reminds me of a song I used to sing to the kids when I would push them on the swing:
VOMIT (YUCK)!
It’s interesting how often the Bible compares us to animals. Sheep, wolves, beasts, dogs etc. Sheep aren’t very bright, wolves devour sheep but what about dogs? Every dog owner has witnessed at one time or another their dog going back to their vomit (yuck!). We are disgusted when we see that and make sure they don’t come back anytime soon to give us kisses! Yet God compares those who go back to their folly or foolishness to those dogs that return to their vomit. Ponder that a moment. Makes you think twice about going back and doing that very thing that God told you not to do, right?
EXCUSES
Have you ever given it any thought how sin makes one say stupid things! It’s amazing how Aaron just took the gold, threw it in the fire and presto! out comes this golden calf! We kind of chuckle at this but how often have we’ve been guilty of making up the most fantastic excuses once we get caught red-handed in our sin? I’m sure it’s more than we’d like to admit. Be smart! Don’t get caught up with the crowd that’s egging you on to something that God wouldn’t approve of.
SENSITIVITY TO SIN
Before God destroyed Sodom, he sent His angels to warn Lot to get out of the city along with his family. We see here in our text that the angels tried to get Lot out in a hurry yet he seemed to linger, certainly in no hurry to leave the place that God was ready to destroy due to it’s overwhelming wickedness. In fact, he seemed to make light of the fact that the city would be destroyed! The Hebrew word for “mocked” means “to jest, play, to laugh repeatedly”. When we surround ourselves with wickedness on every side, we have a tendency to become acclimated to it. We are no longer “shocked” as we once were. We become less sensitive to sin, even making light of it as Lot seems to have done. How about you? Does sin still shock you or have you become friends with it?
BE GENUINE
At the height of the Vietnam War a song came out in 1968 called “The Games People Play”. It’s a protest song, one of many during that era whose lyrics speak against, among other things, hypocrisy and irresponsibility: “Oh the games people play now Every night and every day now Never meaning what they say now Never saying what they mean.” The Lord spoke through Isaiah to address the same problem back then that this song addresses…..Hypocrisy and irresponsibility. Talking the talk but not having the heart. Indeed, Jesus quoted this passage when he rebuked the religious leaders of His day for their hypocrisy. Today, people are still playing games! Pretending to be something or someone they’re not. Praising God at church and cursing their fellow man at work, bringing their Bibles to church but leaving them untouched from Monday till the next Lord’s Day! STOP playing games! Peter warns us to be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as roaring lion,walketh about, seeking whom he may devour; (1 Peter 5:8)
THE UNPROSPERITY GOSPEL
There is a “gospel” being taught that does not require you to deal with your sin. In fact, they rarely if ever mention the word sin. They say God wants to bless you as if God is their servant. This false gospel teaches a worldly prosperity that tells you to “believe God for things you want and you will get it.” However, the man that does not deal with his sin will never prosper in regards to the riches of heaven. It is the man that confesses and forsakes his sin that is truly blessed. Psalm 32:1-2 ……..Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.