Keeping the Word!

This verse really spoke to me, I hope it does you too!



John 17:6

6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.



Now Jesus was praying to the Father in the hearing of His disciple shortly he would be arrested and crucified. A few things I want to point out in this verse.



First, we see Jesus says he was making clear( manifested) the name of God to those God gave Him out of the world. We also need to make clear the name of God and who He is to the world. How much do you talk about God? Do you tell folks what God has done for you? This should be a way of life for us for He deserves the glory and honor! Jesus also talks about people whom the Father gave Him....these folks are those who become followers of Christ! Isn't it awesome to know God gave us to Jesus?!!!!!



Second, Jesus repeats you "gave them to me". When you give something of value to someone it is a gift. We are gifts from the Father to Jesus! Ever thought about yourself as a gift to Jesus? Well me either til yesterday! We become gifts to Jesus when we give our lives to Him!



Third, and this is the point that really hit home to me...."they have kept your Word!" Now specifically Jesus is referring to the disciples here but it also pertains to us. Think about it, the disciples were far from being perfect. They made many mistakes greed, selfishness, pride, to just name a few. BUT they were striving hard to keep the Word of God. This is key for us. We will make mistakes but is it our desire and habit to strive to keep God's Word? Jesus gave them credit for it even though they were not perfect.



Think about this today my brothers and sisters, keep God's Word, don't compromise, it will do the soul good!



Tom

Think before you speak!

Just a quick thought this morning on this verse:



Proverbs 29:20





20 Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.



As I have aged I have learned the value of this proverb. When I was young I would speak my mind and did not care what others thought. It seemed I always thought I was right....sound familiar? With the guidance of God's Word I have been taught that speaking quickly can be a problem. It can cause damage to others and believe it or not we can be wrong! haha God 's Word teaches over and over again to think before we open our mouths. It teaches to be slow to speak which implies we should know the truth in a matter before we open our mouths. It also says to be humble. So talking just to try to show we are right may not always be in our best interest! The one exception to this may be in our faith. When someone is questioning teaching a falsehood about our God it is our duty to stand strong BUT we are to do it in love not pride!



So this morning let us ask ourselves.....are we quick to open our mouths? Don't be foolish and keep it shut!



Tom

Jesus loves you anyway!

The lyrics to this song "You love me anyway" are awesome...listen to the link below:



http://youtu.be/y8BBCYFAYRI



Here is the chorus to the song really think about what it is saying:



I am the thorn in Your crown

But You love me anyway

I am the sweat from Your brow

But You love me anyway

I am the nail in Your wrist

But You love me anyway

I am Judas’ kiss

But You love me anyway

See now, I am the man who yelled out from the crowd

For Your blood to be spilled on this earth shaking

ground

Yes then, I turned away with a smile on my face

With this sin in my heart tried to bury Your grace

And then alone in the night, I still called out for You

So ashamed of my life, my life, my life

But You love me anyway

It’s like nothing in life that I’ve ever known



This song really speaks to me. We turn out back on Jesus so often. We are the reason those thorns were shoved on his head. We are the reason He allowed the nails to be drove in His hands. We are Judas's kiss....wow!



But Jesus loves us anyway! It just makes me want to fall to my knees in praise and thankfulness as I am so unworthy of His love.



Romans 8:38-39



38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.



Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.



Ephesians 2:3-5



3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),



1 John 4:7

[ Knowing God Through Love ] Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God



1 John 4:8

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.



1 John 4:10

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins



1 John 4:16

And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.



1 John 5:3

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.



This morning I ask you just soak in God's love. Knowing how much He loves you no matter what your past is!



Tom

Are you ready for battle?

Last night I was in Mississippi watching Blue Mountain College play basketball. A young lady named Kati Prince starts as a freshmen for the team. She was in the youth group at church and has grown up into mighty follower of Jesus. When she was a Senior in High School in Waverly, Tenn she tore her ACL. She battled back through hard rehab and was ready to play this season. Last night in the first quarter she went down again, it appears at this time she has damaged the other knee. She is at the knee surgeons office right now. We are praying it is not what it appears. Being one of the spiritual leaders in her life it is tough to know what to say. Her dad and I were talking last night on the way home and we have come to the conclusion that Satan is testing her and he has chosen this area of her life. All of us have an area or areas that Satan will test us in. Have you ever thought about that? God has warned us to be prepared, look at these verses:





Ephesians 6:10-17



10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;



1 Peter 5:8



8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.



We must stand against the devil! he will use all means to try to devour us. I think of Job....He lost everything...family, health, and riches! But one thing the devil could not take from him was his faith in God. Go back and read Job! Yes Job has questions of why, yes Jobs friends told him it was his sin causing the problems but it wasn't! The devil was just trying him. Remember God gave the devil permission to do anything but take his life, and Job stood strong. Are we different than Job? No! What makes us think God won't allow Satan to do the same to us? God had confidence in Job that he would remain faithful! Guess what He did. In the end Job was greatly blessed! We will be too if we remain faithful to the King!



Kati, you turned many towards Jesus when you battled through this last time, if need be I have no doubt you will do the same this time. Your daddy said "Satan has messed with the wrong one if he thinks he is gonna beat you!" I stand right there beside him in agreement!



My friends don't let the devil devour you. We are in a battle, prepare for the war in Christ!



Tom

Why me?

Have you ever had one of those mornings when you have things to do (like work) and one of your children is sick and you think why me oh Lord? Well this is one of those mornings! But then it hit me....it could be so much worse. God brought it to my attention real quick of others who are suffering in so many ways. This little bump in the road is nothing in comparison. These verses came to mind:



Psalm 34:7-9

7 The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him,

And delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;

Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

9 Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!

There is no want to those who fear Him.

I trust my Lord with all my heart! He has blessed me with much more than I deserve. It was the selfish desires of my own heart that popped out first thing this morning and now I must repent of that! God has blessed me with two wonderful children and I need to keep that in the front of my mind at all times. I think of my friend Scott Saeger this morning who son Matthew is battling so hard this morning to get well from his brain surgery. We are blessed with God's gift of children, may we never take these gifts for granted. I thank God this morning for children.

So this morning are you thankful for another day? If a bump in the raod appears will you still praise our King? Most of the time if we just get self out of the way we see God's bigger picture and it is so much more than I!!!!!!!

Tom

Church excuses debunked #4

Well here is the next excuse I have heard "I don't have to go to church to worship God." While this is true as we can worship while not in church it does not hold water when we look at scripture. We are commanded to go to church. I know this one will get some riled up but remember you are not arguing with me or anyone else you are arguing with the Word of God!



First, this verse makes it clear we are to assemble together with other believers:



Hebrews 10:25



25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.



How much more plain can God make it? I mean the Word even tells us about those who makes excuses..."as is the manner of some"!



Second, God gives us gifts to use through the Holy Spirit that we are to use with our brothers and sisters in Christ:



Romans 12:3-8



3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.



1 Corinthians 12



Spiritual Gifts: Unity in Diversity

12 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2 You know that[a] you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

Unity and Diversity in One Body

12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into[c] one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.

15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best[d] gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.



Now how can you use your gifts if you are not among your brothers and sisters in Christ? To me this passage makes it very clear you are to be a part of a church using your gifts for the glory of God!



Thirdly, Christ established and died for the church:



Matthew 16:18

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.



Acts 2:47

praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.



Acts 9:31

[ The Church Prospers ] Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.



Ephesians 1:22

And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,



Ephesians 3:21

to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.



Ephesians 5:29

For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.



Colossians 1:18

And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.



1 Timothy 3:15

but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.



If you read all these verses it is clear that Jesus established the church, He expects us to be a part of the church, He expects us to use our gifts for the church, and Christ died for the church. We can make all the excuses we want but they will not stand before the Lord. If you are using this excuse repent of it now and do what the Word of God says!



I love the outdoors as much as anyone. Many of mornings on my way to church the thought runs through my mind....it sure would be a great day to hunt or it sure would be a beautiful morning on the water! But I can say without hesitation I have never regretted observing the Sabbath day in church worshiping my Lord and savior with my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.



Don't let Satan blind you with a lie....church attendance and worship is commanded by the Lord and it should be a desire of your heart!

Tom

Church excuses debunked #3

Today the excuse I want to look at is this: "I don't go to church because the preacher is always looking at me and talking about my sin."



I have heard this many times over the years. I have had folks come up after church ask me why I kept looking at them. I wasn't but I guess they felt that way. I must say myself that when I was without Jesus, many times i thought the preacher was talking to me....why is this?



The preacher has a message that God has laid upon his heart to bring to the people. The pastor is just a messenger. When I am bringing a message I am not looking at anyone intentionally. I believe I can say that for most preachers.



So why do we feel the preacher is looking at us? It is the convicting work of the Holy Spirit. Which in short is God working upon our hearts! We are being convicted of out sin! Look at these verses:



Hebrews 3:7-10



7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:



“Today, if you will hear His voice,

8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,

In the day of trial in the wilderness,

9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me,

And saw My works forty years.

10 Therefore I was angry with that generation,

And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart,

And they have not known My ways.’





1 Corinthians 2:13



13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.



Acts 7:51



51 “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.



Acts 10:44



44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.



Acts 11:15



15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning.



1 Thessalonians 4:8



8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.



1 Peter 1:12



12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.



2 Peter 1:21



21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.



1 John 5:7



7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.



Using the excuse that the preacher is pointing at me may actually be a sign that God through the Holy Spirit is speaking to you and we need to not be hardhearted and listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit!



Tom