November 21, 2012

 

^"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." Colossians 2:6-7

 

Something to reflect on as you sit down to your Thanksgiving dinner:

If you had been a Pilgrim, would you have given thanks?

Consider what they had been through, the men and women who broke bread together on that first Thanksgiving in 1621.

 

They had uprooted themselves and sailed for America, an endeavor so hazardous that published guides advised travelers to the New World, "First, make thy will." The crossing was very rough and the Mayflower was blown off course. Instead of reaching Virginia, where Englishmen had settled 13 years earlier, the Pilgrims ended up in the wilds of Massachusetts. By the time they found a place to make their new home - Plymouth, they called it - winter had set in.

The storms were frightful. Shelter was rudimentary. There was little food. Within weeks, nearly all the settlers were sick.

"That which was most sad and lamentable," Governor William Bradford later recalled, "was that in two or three months’ time, half of their company died, especially in January and February, being the depth of winter, and wanting houses and other comforts; being infected with the scurvy and other diseases.... There died sometimes two or three of a day."

When spring came, Indians showed them how to plant corn, but their first crops were dismal. Supplies ran out, but their sponsors in London refused to send more. The first time the Pilgrims sent a shipment of goods to England, it was stolen by pirates.

If you had been there in 1621 - if you had seen half your friends die, if you had suffered through famine, malnutrition, and sickness, if you had endured a year of heartbreak and tragedy - would you have felt grateful?

 

We know they were. And we know why. With all their hardships and challenges they had the three things they had braved an ocean to gain - their freedom - their faith - and their families.

 

Therein lies two big keys to thankfulness.

 

The first key is know WHAT to be thankful for. In their former land they had limited freedom and their faith was under attack. So, now that they were free they could worship as they wished and offer greater opportunity to their families. Despite the difficulties they were thankful.

 

Secondly, know WHO to be thankful to. They gave praise to their God!

 

How about you? Will you be thankful regardless of the hardships you have faced this year?

 

Will you thank God for what He has done?

 

 

 

 

November 20, 2012

^“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” Romans 14:17-19

 

“Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.” I Timothy 3:13

 

What do volleyball, tennis and ping pong have in common with FredWes?

A good serve is hard to beat! And the FredWes family served well and we had an experience that will be hard to beat!

 

I have never been more proud of a group of Wesleyans than I was last night watching you lavishly loving people and meeting needs!

 

Here are three reasons why I was so pleased by the dinner last night:

 

You served with excellence!


The event was well planned, well organized and well executed. Not only does that reflect well on you but more importantly it reflects well on God and it communicates to those we served that they are worthy of our best.

You served with empathy!

 

By the way you served them you communicated your recognition of their needs without seeming judgmental or condescending. That is HUGE when you serve under-privileged people. You did it very well!

 

When you serve the working poor you must do it with the very real understanding that you are just one or two bad breaks away from being where they are.

You served with enthusiasm!

 

Last night required a lot of hard work and long periods on your feet but you looked as fresh at the end as you did at the beginning! It was obvious you were excited about being there and energetic about serving them. Enthusiasm literally means “in God” from the root words “en theos”! You were clearly “en theos” last night!

 

Our annual church Thanksgiving dinner is an event I always enjoy and look forward to. I know many of you do, too. So to give that up to serve others was no small sacrifice. But in retrospect I think you agree it was a good decision!

 

From my perspective it seemed that the fellowship between our folks was better, there was more excitement among our people AND in the end we got to eat together anyway!

God got a big win through us last night! To Him goes all the glory!

 

 

Pray that the seeds of kindness we sowed last night will result in continuing ministry opportunities among this group and ultimately result into conversions for the Kingdom!

God was well served by FredWes last night!

 

November 19, 2012

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." Matthew 6:24

A 16-year-old named William left home to seek his fortune. His earthly possessions were tied in a bundle carried in his hand. One day he met an elderly canal-boat captain who listened to his story that his family was too poor to keep him, and the only skill he had was making candles and soap.

The old captain knelt and prayed for the boy’s future and afterward gave him some advice.

“William, someone will be the leading soap-maker in New York. It could be you. Be a good man, give your heart to Christ, pay the Lord all that belongs to Him, make an honest soap, give a full pound, and I’m certain you’ll be a prosperous and rich man.”

The 16-year-old who listened to godly counsel was William Colgate, who not only prospered beyond his wildest dreams but was able to give millions of dollars to the Lord’s cause.

William Colgate found great success in life and was able to bless many with his generosity because early in life he committed to putting first things first.

The blessing comes down even to us today. Some of you used soap made by Colgate this morning in the shower. Or, some of you used toothpaste made by Colgate. Either way – we are blessed this morning because William Colgate put first things first!

I would not be a good pastor if I did a sermon series about stewardship and failed to remind you of the importance of putting first things first. I want you to find blessing in your life like William Colgate did!

Actually, my goal has been to take you beyond stewardship to a bigger idea – LORDSHIP! And Lordship requires that you put God first in every area of your life and keep Him there by keeping first things first.

What Is the Point?

There was a man the side of the road hitch hiking on a very dark night in the middle of a storm. It was late at night and no cars were passing. The storm was so strong he could hardly see a few feet ahead of him. Suddenly, he saw a car coming towards him and stop. Without further thought, he got in the back seat of the car, closes the door and, when he turns to thank the driver for stopping for him, he realizes there’s nobody behind the wheel. The car starts slowly down the road again. The guy looks at the road ahead and sees a curve coming his way. Scared, he closes his eyes and starts to pray for his life. Just before the car reaches the curve, a hand appears thru the window and turns the steering wheel. The guy, paralyzed with fear, watches how the hand appears every time they come to a curve in the road. Gathering his strength, he leaps from the car and runs to the nearest town. Wet and in shock, he goes to a cafe and asks for a cup of stiff coffee. He quickly drinks his coffee and starts telling everybody about the horrible experience he’s just been thru. A silence envelopes the cafe when the man begins to weep like a baby out of sheer fright from the experience he has been through. About half an hour later, two guys walk into the same cafe and one says to the other, "Look Bob, there’s that guy who got in the car when we were pushing it down the road"

The first thing you must do is make sure you have chosen to be in the right kingdom. Everyone belongs to a kingdom. You are either in the kingdom of God or the kingdom of evil. You are either in the kingdom of light or the kingdom of darkness. No one is without a kingdom.

Jesus makes it clear which Kingdom you need to be in!

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

If you are a Christ-follower today you have chosen to enter the Kingdom of God. When you made that decision you chose to live under the LORDSHIP of Christ or the KINGSHIP of God – two ways of saying the same thing.

The question is – do you?

How do you know?

A missionary in the New Hebrides watched some native killing hogs. These natives cut off the hogs’ tails and put them over in a pile. When the missionary asked the natives why they did this, they replied, “The meat is for us, the tails are for our gods.” Some Christians are just as foolish and sinful. They take everything for themselves and give God the leftovers, if anything.

If God is the King of your life and if Jesus is the Lord of your life – YOU DON”T GIVE HIM THE LEFT OVERS! You give Him the first AND the best of EVERYTHING:

1) Your Passion – What you love

2) Your Pay Check – What you earn

3) Your Pastime – What you do with your time

4) You Possessions – What you have

5) You Priorities – How you make your decisions

In other words, as a Christ-follower – you live like He is the KING of your life!

November 18, 2012

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for your selves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

 

In an increasingly dark and dangerous world, we are looking for a safe place – not just to hide our stuff, but a safe place for ourselves and those we love.

 

Jesus gives some comforting insights on Heaven in these several short verses.

 

I. HEAVEN IS A SURE PLACE – V. 20 – “in heaven”

 

You might occasionally have doubts about the existence of Heaven and wonder if it is just the product of wishful thinking. How can I be sure there really is a Heaven?

 

Because of Jesus’ Preaching

 

Jesus preached and talked about Heaven. Like in these verses, for example. Nearly 120 times He referred to Heaven.

Because of Jesus’ Promise

 

Jesus said, in John 14:1-4, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust ealso in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

 

According to this promise, Jesus is there right now getting Heaven ready for you. He is preparing a place just for you!

Heaven is for SURE! It is more real than this world you live in – of sight and sound and touch – because this world will pass away but Heaven is forever!

 

 

II. HEAVEN IS A SECURE PLACE – V. 20 – “where moth and rust do not destroy”

 

There are not disaster drills in Heaven! No armies or police, or FBI either. There is no need!

 

“Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. ”He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making   new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. ”He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.  Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. ⁸But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” Revelation 21:1-8

 

That sounds like a safe secure place to me!

 

Then John the Revelator goes on to describe the walls around this city that are 200 feet thick and 1,400 miles high.

 

Talk about a gated community! Those sound like some secure walls to me!

 

Heaven is a SURE PLACE AND IT IS A SECURE PLACE!

 

III. HEAVEN IS A SPECIAL PLACE – “WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS…..”

 

We have already seen some ways Heaven is special. But it gets more special as we add treasures up there!

Heaven is special because of the special things we already have there:

 

My name is written there, my God is there, my Jesus is there, my citizenship is there, my hope is there, my reward is there, my friends and loved ones are there and I keep adding more treasures!

 

It is true you can’t take it with you but you can send it ahead!

Heaven is a SURE place! It is a SECURE place! And it is a SPECIAL place that gets more special as we put our treasures there! I believe that! You believe that!

"Imagine stepping onto a shore and finding it's Heaven.
Imagine taking hold of a hand and finding it's God's hand.
Imagine breathing new air and finding it's celestial.
Imagine feeling invigorated and finding its immortality.
Imagine passing from storms and tempest to an unknown calm.
Imagine waking up and finding it's home."

 

Jesus is preparing Heaven for you!

 

Heaven is for people who are prepared!

 

Are you preparing for Heaven?

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 17, 2012

 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21

 

I am late posting this because I have been preoccupied with comforting a friend who just lost his young wife in a tragic and senseless accident. It has been a challenge because she not only leaves him behind but also three young children and one of them found her body.

 

Comforting him has also been difficult because he is 1,200 miles away. They are members of my church who recently relocated to get a fresh start on life. Well, I guess you can say that yesterday she did. She relocated. But she leaves them a whole new series of readjustments.

 

So, I am in the middle of processing all this and trying to help him process it and what better place to turn than the Word of God? The Spirit of God keeps leading me to this Scripture. I am not sure why except I have been preaching and studying about stewardship and suddenly tragedy intrudes on me and I am thinking about heaven. I guess this verse combines those two concepts.

 

In this portion of Scripture Jesus tells us that there is a safe place to hide our valuables and heaven is that place! It is where one of this young man's most valuable possessions now resides.

 

Recently Barbara and I switched from a large national bank to a small local credit union. One of the first things we did was to ask about a safe deposit box where we can put the few valuable things we own. There was a waiting list. So we got on it and we waited.

 

Not to long ago we got that call that it was our turn to have a box. One was available for our stuff. So we gathered up our stuff and went to the credit union. The woman in charge of the safe deposit boxes escorted us into the vault where the boxes are, showed us our box and opened it for. We put our valuables in the box and she locked it up and we walked out feeling our stuff is safe and secured inside a locked box that slides into a heavy metal case that is locked in a vault that is located inside a secured building.

 

We found a safe place to hide our stuff. We all need a safe place to secure our valuable stuff.

 

Jesus is telling us that Heaven is a safe place to hide our stuff. In fact, there is no safer place to put is because no thief will break in there and there is no mold or rust. We can't take our stuff there but we can send it ahead by investing it in the things that matter to God - people.That lends a whole new significance to stewardship.

 

And Jesus mentions that the more valuables we hide safely in heaven, as we get more invested there, the more our hearts get drawn there. The more treasures that get sent there the more we want to go there.

 

As you invest your time and tithes and talents in the Kingdom of God the more deposits you are making in heaven. They are safe there and they are there forever! You will never lose them.

 

That is true of our valuable stuff but it is also true of our most valuable relationships! Your most valuable treasures that are laid up in heaven may be a mother or a father or a grandparent or a brother or a sister or even a child. And as those treasures accumulate in heaven, your heart begins to long for that place as well.

 

This young man and his three boys now have another treasure laid up in heaven. Jesus came and got her and led here into that place that He had purchased and prepared for her. She is safe and secure and enjoying the things that she has sent ahead.They can find comfort knowing she is in that safe place and find their hearts turning more toward heaven.

 

How about you? Have you found a safe place for your valuables?

 

 

 

 

 

November 16, 2012

"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’“The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.' “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness! “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’  “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 25:14-30

In Hollywood there is an exclusive school attended by children of movie stars, producers, and directors. Asked to write a composition on the subject of poverty, one little girl started her literary piece: "Once there was a poor little girl. Her father was poor, her mother was poor, her nanny was poor, her chauffeur was poor, her butler was poor. In fact, everybody in her mansion was very, very poor.

It is safe to say that young lady is not really in touch with poverty. Most of us would be glad to sign on to her version of being poor.

Those of us this morning are no doubt more in touch poverty than this young lady seemed to be. However, it illustrates that one man’s poverty is another man’s prosperity. Even the poorest Americans would be considered wealthy by most of the world. The poverty level in the USA is around $23,500 for a family of four. Compare that to the average income $7,000 worldwide – and that is the average not the poverty level.

Suffice it to say, while we are wealthy compared to the rest of the world, we are not as wealthy as we would like to be. The American dream is characterized by one word, “MORE!”

As Christians, people who live under the blessing of God, shouldn’t we expect to be wealthier than those who don’t believe? Should we conclude that prosperous Christians are more spiritual than those in poverty? Some would say so.

Then there are other Christians who flatly reject that notion and say the Bible teaches Christians should reject materialism and live a simple life by faith.

Which is it more Biblical, prosperity or poverty?

When I am uncertain and have questions about Biblical truth, I retreat to something I know is true and start figuring it out from there. So, as the diagram illustrates – poverty is on one end of the issue and prosperity is the other extreme – I have placed what I know about stewardship in the middle and will work from there.

POVERTY --- STEWARDSHIP --- PROSPERITY

Over the next four posts I will share four big stewardship principles that will help you decide for yourself about the poverty vs. prosperity debate.

The first big principle is Sovereignty - "To one he gave five bags of golf, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability." V. 15

In yesterday's devotional I talked about the issue of fairness. Fairness is a big issue in our culture today. It has been awarded moral status by the politically correct crowd who have taken it upon themselves to make everything fair for everyone at the expense of excellence.

It seems the biggest casualties of fairness are achievement and accomplishment which is precisely why this master wasn't concened about being fair. Instead, he gave the gifts to the right guys in the proper amounts to maximize his gains.

Like this master, God is more interested in fruitfulness than He is in fairness. And in His Omniscence and Sovereignty knows who He can trust to bear the most fruit.

Please don't get caught up in the fairness of God but rather focus your concern on bearing fruit for the Master. How can you be fruitful today?

November 15, 2012

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey."  Matthew 25:14-15

 

Let's review this part of the story:

 

The master, before he left on a long trip called his servants to leave them in charge of his fortune. He divided it up in an uneven way giving one servant five bags, another servant two bags and a third servant one.

 

Frankly, that sounds sort of unfair. Now, granted when you have eight bags and three servants the math gets a little tricky. But fairness would dictate that he divide them three, three and two.

 

But he didn't. In this parable the master represents God, so does this mean God is unfair?

 

Fairness has become an important value in our culture. It was a big issue in the recent Presidential campaigns. The Democrats promise to make outcomes more fair while the Republicans promised to make opportunities more fair.

 

Think of how much money and man hours and energy and legislation is invested in the attempts to make our society a fairer place.

 

There are a number of great truths in this well-known parable and among them is that God isn't nearly as concerned about fairness as we are.

 

Brad, are you saying God is unfair? No, I am not. I am saying to God fairness isn't as important as it is to us. God is beyond fairness - He is just and He is righteous which means that when all is said and done He will make everything perfectly fair.

 

Lest you unfairly accuse God of being unfair, consider several facts in this story:

 

1) The master owned all the gold so it his right to do whatever he wants with it. It would be unfair of you to tell him what to do with his gold!

 

2) He owned the servants, too! It was their duty to serve him by doing what he told them to do. A master had all the rights and his servants had all the responsibility.

 

3) The master wanted to increase his wealth not just preserve it. Who doesn't want to increase his wealth? You do! I do!

 

Considering that and factoring how the story ended, this master could have had a greater increase had he given all the gold to the five-talent servant. Think about it. The one with five got five more and the one with two got two more and plus the one equalled 14 bags of gold. But if he had given all eight to the one servant and he doubled it that would have added up to 16!

 

So, in fact, his attempt to be fair with his servants may have cost him some profit.

 

Like the master in the parable God is not unfair but He is more concerned with fruitfulness than He is with fairness. You should be too!

 

I think it is fair to say that we would all be better off if we worried more about fruitfulness and less about fairness. Thus saith the parable!