November 10, 2018

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2

D. L. Moody is a great example of what can happen when a man commits to partner with God. One plus one may equal two in the realm of mathematics. But when one man with His God it doesn’t double, it multiplies. And not only does it multiply but it compounds!

Moody was born in a very poor New England family in 1837. They were already poor when his father died at the age of 41 their creditors came and took all they had except the clothes on their backs. They even took the fire wood stacked behind the house. When their mother took them to church and S.S., they were so poor she didn’t want to wear out their shoes and socks so she would have them go barefoot and carry their shoes and socks until they go within sight of the church when they would put them on and go into church.

When he was old enough, Moody landed a job as a shoe salesman and became one of the top shoe salesman on the East Coast. He became friends with a fellow shoe salesman by the name of Edward Kimball. Kimball was a Christian who often witnessed to Moody. One day, Kimball led Moody to the Lord in a back room of the shoe store.

Soon after becoming converted, Moody came across a quote by Henry Varley that challenged him and profoundly changed his life. The quote was, “The world is yet to see what God will do with, for, through, in and by a man fully consecrated to Him.” Moody decided he wanted to be that man, so after being denied membership in his local church who considered him too unpolished, he recruited 18 rowdies off the street and began teaching a Bible class with them. Two years later that class had grown to 1,500!

During his lifetime this rough, raw and unpolished man shared the gospel with 100,000,000 people!

In the case of D.L. Moody ONE + one equaled 100 million when he partnered with God. But that was not the full extent of the partnership with God. What began with a shoe salesman who dared to partner with God and share his faith with a co-worker in the back of a shoe store didn't end there:

·         Sunday School teacher Edward Kimball lead Dwight L. Moody to Christ;

·         J. Wilbur Chapman was converted at a D. L. Moody evangelistic meeting;re

·         Billy Sunday was converted at a Chapman meeting;

·         Mordecai Ham was converted at Billy Sunday meeting;

·    And Billy Graham was converted at a Ham rally!

On December 22, 1899, the evangelist D. L. Moody lay dying. His first job had been as a shoe clerk in Boston, gathering eighteen ragged boys off the street to organize a Sunday school class. In two years the class had grown to fifteen hundred. In his lifetime Moody was to take two continents in his hands and shake them for God. As he died, he left this epitaph written on the flyleaf of his Bible, “If God be your partner, make your plans big."

What big thing could you partner with God  for if you were fully consecrated to Him?

Have Courage To Keep Believing!

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:7-9

Years ago, Joshua had been one of the dozen spies who Moses had sent into Canaan to survey the land. But there was only him and Caleb who brought back good reports. There were great risks to be faced in the form of giants the abundant rewards would be worth those risks.

But now he was older and was actually in charge now. No longer was it a matter of just proclaiming, “We can do this!” Now it was a matter of, “Let’s go do this! Follow me!” His life and his reputation were on the line now!

The first big obstacle would be the fortress of Jericho. Could he do this? Should he even try? What if he failed?

Those must have been some of the thoughts racing through his mind on the eve of the long awaited day. Why else did God keep urging him to have courage?

As we know, Joshua stepped up with great courage and led God’s people well!

This is a day for some “Joshuas”! We stand on the verge of some unknown territory!

One thing that was obvious from the recent election is that many of the things we value and hold dear are not valued or held dear by at least half of our nation. So what happens when we are the only ones left who believe what we believe and love what we love?

What will you do when you are one of the few who believes the Bible is God’s Word and the only authoritative source of truth?

Have courage to keep believing!

What will you do when you are one of the few who believes that trusting Jesus Christ as Savior is the exclusive way to salvation and to eternal life and you are ridiculed for that belief?

Have courage to keep believing!

What will you do when you are one of the few who believes that gay marriage is immoral and wrong?  What if you are despised and called intolerant for that view?

Have courage to keep believing!

What will you do when you are the only person where you work who refuses to cheat or lie when the boss demands it?

Have courage to keep refusing!

This is the culture in which we live. These are some of the pressures we are and will increasingly face. The election made that clear.

Will you change with your culture and compromise your beliefs? Or, will you be a Joshua and be confident in your beliefs while standing courageously for them? Will you continue teaching them to your children?

By the way, Joshua WAS courageous, God strengthened him, he stood and Jericho fell!

November 8, 2018

“Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians." Exodus 6:6

If anyone of the several million Hebrews was able to free himself from the yoke of slavery would he not do it? 

Would they have remained in slavery for 400 years if there was any other option?

Of course not! Only God had the power to bring them out! And He promised to do so!

There is a reason why God promises to bring them out from the cruel bondage of the Egyptians! He is the only One Who had the ability to do it!

History records that He did lead them out by overpowering the Pharaoh with His might acts of judgment.

God is the God of Salvation! 

No one else is mighty to save!

Just as He saved those who trusted in the blood of the Passover lamb, so God would offer salvation through the shed blood of His Son - the Lamb of God.

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12

I can do nothing to free myself from the bondage of sin except believe in Jesus and trust Him as my Savior. I can't earn it. I can't deserve. I can only receive it by faith.

"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—" John 1:12

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

Jesus is ready and able to bring you out of your bondage, hopelessness and despair.

Do you believe it?

Political Rally In Missouri

Yesterday was a big day in America. Record numbers turned out in many states for a Mid-Term election!

That is an encouraging sign!

I voted early yesterday morning. I hope you got out to vote as well.

It may be several days until we know all the results from across the country.

But regardless of the final results, here was a wonderful spontaneous moment at a political rally in Missouri featuring the President trying to get out the votes for the Republican candidates in that State:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYytDyw8JS0

I was moved by that!

I hope you were as well.

Watch it again and take note of how President Trump reacted.

I hope this will lift your post-election spirits!

There is still greatness in the people of America!

November 6, 2018

"Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it’s God’s order. So live responsibly as a citizen. If you’re irresponsible to the state, then you’re irresponsible with God, and God will hold you responsible. Duly constituted authorities are only a threat if you’re trying to get by with something. Decent citizens should have nothing to fear." Romans 13:1-3 MSG

I just realized that with this election I have been a registered voter for 50 years!

Yikes!

Over those five decades I have missed voting in very few elections.  Those were local city or country races that I was too new to the community to be informed or had not been able to register in time. But I have not failed to vote in any Presidential election or Congressional Mid-Term election. Nor will I going forward as long as I am able.

Voting in elections is a main priority of citizenship and good citizenship is a responsibility of Christians. Paul says as much in his letter to the Roman believers and they didn't even have the privilege of voting.

You and I are blessed to have the right to vote by virtue of being born as Americans. And we have to vote to be right as born-again Americans.

There have been a few elections over the years that were difficult to know how to vote. But this is not one of those. The issues are clear and the candidates hold distinctly different views of those issues.

Most Republican Candidates are not nearly as conservative as I wish they were but they are FAR more conservative than their Democrat opponents. There are some Democrats who are disturbingly radical and anti-American in their positions and views.

Part of your responsibility as a voter is to be a well-informed voter! You must know the issues and where candidates stand on those key issues.

I will be voting for those who have the best position on:

LIFE

I will not vote for any candidate who will not or has not supported the rights of unborn children.

ECONOMY

It will only vote for candidates who believe I should keep more of my money and the government should keep less of it. I support tax cuts and less government spending.

JOBS

No economy will be sound unless it is creating a favorable climate for jobs to be created and businesses to grow. Job creation is fueled by lower taxes, fewer regulations, favorable interest rates and good trade policies.

BORDER SECURITY

Without well-defined and well defended borders there cannot be a nation. 

A nation is defined by language, culture and borders. 

You cannot have a strong united nation unless you have a common language that is spoken by your citizens. Just ask Babel about that.

You cannot have a nation unless you have a unique and identifiable culture! Culture consists of a value system, a set of customs, laws, a code of acceptable behavior and a dominant religion.

SUPREME COURT JUSTICES

Who will support  the best Supreme Court justice nominations? A good Supreme Court Justice is one who believes in upholding the original intent of the Founders of the Constitution.

NATIONAL SECURITY/FORGEIGN POLICY

Which candidate will support legislation and policies that protect the interests of the United States around our dangerous world?

Go vote today!

Do it now!

Shut your lap top or shut down your desk top or your tablet as soon as you finish this article and head to your local polling place.

After you have voted for conservative candidates post a selfie showing your "I Voted" sticker!

November 5, 2018

"Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians." Exodus 6:6

Pastor Gerald made a statement yesterday during his message, "The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed."

Exodus 6 is a good example of that truth. 

Egypt, of course, was a very real nation that played a significant role in ancient history. The Pharaohs of Egypt at times ruled a dynasty and the Hebrew people served as their slaves for 400 years.

But Egypt is also a representation of the bondage experienced in life dominated by the sinful nature. The Hebrews were powerless to free themselves from the power of Pharaoh's dominion. They were destined to be trapped in slavery for their entire miserable existence.

No man existed who had the power or the might to deliver God's people from the bondage of Egypt. So they cried out to Jehovah, their God. For centuries they cried out to Him.

God's promise to Moses was the first ray of hope they had encountered and how amazing it must have been to hear the words, "I am the Lord and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians"! Finally!

Only God could deliver them from the terrible, cruel, monotonous bondage of slavery! And only God's Son can bring you out of the bondage of your sinful nature. That sinful nature that has separated you from God and left you spiritually dead.

Moses was the "type" or the "representation" of Christ but Jesus IS the Christ the Son of God! He is God in the flesh!

Just as the Hebrews only hope of deliverance from bondage was to trust Moses and obey him as God's servant, so is trusting Jesus your only hope for salvation!

You cannot ever, under any circumstances in any way ever free yourself from the bondage of your sinful nature. But God, through Jesus can and will bring you out if you call on Him and trust Jesus! And you don't have to wait 400 hundred years or 400 hundred months or 400 hundred weeks or 400 days or 400 hours or 400 minutes or 400 seconds! You can trust Him right now and He will bring you out!

November 4, 2018

"Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians." Exodus 6:6

God promised to bring His people out of slavery and history records that he did! Using His mighty hand and His acts of judgment and His chosen leader, Moses, the came out of 400 years of bondage bound for the Land of Promise!

But it raises the question, "How did they get into bondage in the first place?"

The answer is a bit surprising and a lot inspiring! 

They arrived in Egypt because God led them in! Because of the favor and influence Joseph has earned during the years of his capable service to the Pharaoh in Egypt he had prepared their nation to survive the devastating famine that ravished the entire region. And to show his respect and appreciation to Joseph, the Pharaoh allowed him to bring his father and his brothers and their families into Goshen which was the most fertile area in all of Egypt!

Here's the record from the Old Testament:

"So Joseph settled his father and his brothers in Egypt and gave them property in the best part of the land, the district of Rameses, as Pharaoh directed. Joseph also provided his father and his brothers and all his father’s household with food, according to the number of their children." Genesis 47:11-12

It is important to note that God led them in to Egypt to save them from the famine and to preserve them as a nation!

If you know the rest of the story you remember that God prospered these people so abundantly that they were becoming numerous and powerful. So when the next Pharaoh came to power and he didn't have the attachment to Joseph he made the Israelites into slaves.

God truly does move in mysterious ways! Wonderful ways! Redemptive ways! But unexpected and unpredictable ways! Except for one predictable truth that you can take away from this thought this morning:

God will never lead you into a situation that He is not able to lead you out of!

No matter how trying or difficult the circumstances you can rest in this assurance - IF GOD LED ME IN HE WILL BRING ME OUT! (And He will be with you in the meantime!)