Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Keep anger in check.

You got a solid root?



For one who claims to be a Christian, checking to see your foundation is key! You must have a solid root in Christ! Otherwise your tree will come tumbling down. In other words, you never really had a foundation in Christ!

Matthew 13:21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.

How many folks I have seen come through the church, have some sort of spiritual or emotional experience, and are faithful in church for a short time but all of a sudden they disappear never to be in church again. This is a sign of not having a true root! For once one has built upon the cornerrstone which is Christ Jesus, nothing can crumble that foundation! Not even the gates of hell!

Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus says the Lord God:
“Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation,
A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;
Whoever believes will not act hastily.

Acts 4:11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’

1 Peter 2:6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,
“Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

Proverbs 12:3 A man is not established by wickedness,
But the root of the righteous cannot be moved.

Mark 4:6 But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away.

Luke 8:13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.

Romans 11:16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

Revelation 22:16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

So is your root in Christ? Is your foundation sure? Will is pass through any tribulation or trail? Only you and God know for sure!

Tom

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Cast you cares upon Him!

You can follow but not believe!



Jesus gave a clear warning here and the church must head this warning!

John 6:63-66

63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”
66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.

There is a cost in following Jesus. We must fully believe in Him, His death, His burial, and His resurrection. Thus when we truly believe and surrender our lives to Him it will be evident to all!

Notice verse 66....many of His disciples followed Him no more! What? They did not believe and di not think it was worth the cost to follow Him....so they left! I give credit to them that they left for today in the church we have many that really don’t believe but hang around thinking they may get some kind of reward! Don’t be deceived my friends!!! Repent of your unbelief and be saved today for their is no other way but Jesus!

So do you believe are you following no matter the cost?

Tom

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Give a Thanks everyday!

Faithful followers will be....



Persecuted like our Lord and Savior Jesus! 

Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

Jesus told us it would be so:

John 15:20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

If we are doing the Father’s business as commanded in the Great Commission we will face persecution of some sort especially now in the United States where Christianity is under fire from all directions.

So are you being made fun of or shunned or harassed for being faithful to the call of Jesus? If you can say yes count it a blessing as it means you being obedient to your calling. If you answer no you may need to check and see if you are serving Jesus in the manner He has called you!

Tom

Monday, November 21, 2016

Give thanks!

Be diligent in following Jesus.



I want to share with you these words from JC Ryle this morning on not living a life of ease but diligently following Jesus:

“Christianity will cost a man his love of ease. He must take pains and trouble, if he means to run a successful race toward Heaven. He must daily watch and stand on his guard, like a soldier on enemy’s ground. He must take heed to his behavior every hour of the day, in every company and in every place, in public as well as private, among strangers as well as at home. He must be careful over his time, his tongue, his temper, his thoughts, his imagination, his motives, his conduct, in every relation of life. He must be diligent about his prayers, his bible reading, and his use of Sundays, with all means of grace. In attending to these things, he may come far short of perfection; but there is none of them who he can safely neglect.”

Proverbs 13:4 The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.

So am I and are you being diligent in following Jesus?

Tom

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Have you considered the cost?



God tells us plainly there is a cost to following Jesus:

Read very carefully!

Luke 14:25-33

Leaving All to Follow Christ

25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

God does not try to hide anything from us...to be a follower of Jesus is costly, tough, difficult, and a hard road to keep! If one thinks it is easy to be a follower of Christ it is very likely they are not truly a follower of Christ! 

Is it worth the cost? Absolutely!

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

1 Corinthians 2:9
9 But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Giving our lives to Jesus and following Him with all we got will never be regretted, that is a guarantee!

Tom

Hillary Scott & The Scott Family - Thy Will

May we all remember God is in control and may HIS WILL be done in our lives!

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

God shows us the way!

Have you overcome?



Great words for the follower of Jesus this morning:

Revelation 21:7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.

How do we overcome and gain these great promises? Faith and trust in Jesus. That is it! Become a follower of Jesus for He is the ONE who overcome sin and death on our behalf.

I want to inherit the things of God, I want to be a child of God, and I am proud to be His son! How about you? You can! I hope you already have!

So again I ask, have you overcome by the shed blood of Jesus?

Tom

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

God's Word will do as He desires!

Who are you trying to please?



As a follower of Christ we are in a spiritual battle everyday against the devil and against the ways of the world. So we must ask our selves are you trying to please the one who enlisted you as a soldier in this war? (Jesus) Or are you pleasing the devil by living in the ways of the world? Look at this verse:

2 Timothy 2:4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

Don’t fall back soldier! Fight on for the great reward and eternity in Heaven with the Captain of the Army of the Lord!

Tom

Friday, November 11, 2016

God is in control.

Remember your future!



As a follower of Christ we must remember through all the battles we face everyday and all the blessings poured down upon us what is in our future:

1 Peter 5:4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

Come Jesus Come! What a future is promised for us!

Tom

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

God gives mercy and forgiveness.

Great Words of Christ for the follower.



These words should be of great encouragement for the follower of Jesus this day and everyday. 

John 18:9 that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.”

Who are those given to Jesus? Any who call upon His name as Lord and Savior. So if you have done this you have the promise He will never lose you!!! Praise the Lord! Can I get an amen???

With that promise nothing can steal my joy!

Tom

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Honor God.

Learned something new!



God’s Word never ceases to amaze me. I have heard this verse several times over the years but just now put it together:

Ecclesiastes 4:12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

I always was think just in pure strength of the cord but it has a deeper meaning! The triune God! The triune God can not be overcome!

God the Father guards the believer by His awesome power.

God the Son intercedes on behalf of the believer at all times.

God the Holy Spirit teaches, leads, and directs the believer on a daily basis!

God sure is good! I am thankful He can not be broken!

Tom

Monday, November 7, 2016

For God's pleasure!

As you vote tomorrow remember this...



[ Pray for All Men ] Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

1 Timothy 2:1-2

Have you earnestly prayed for our candidates and for whom God would have you chose? Which candidate will lead to godliness, reverence, peace and quiet? Which one will uphold what the bible teaches? Pray! Pray! Pray! May God have mercy on us all!

Tom

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Take time to rejoice!

A prayer for all followers of Jesus.



This is a prayer we all need to lift up often to our Lord Jesus:

Luke 17:5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”

At times our faith is great and strong but at others times our faith is frail and weak, so let us follow our brothers and sisters in the faith and pray for God to increase our faith at all times! I can say for myself there is always room for more! 

Lord Jesus may we have the faith of that mustard seed you speak of and increase from there so there is no doubt whom we follow!

Matthew 17:20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

Tom

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Diligently Seeking?



Chew on this today:

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

We must have faith, we must believe, and we must seek. I want us to think about the seeking point today. How much are we seeking God? Seriously, how much?

How mush time in worship, how much time in prayer, how much time in bible reading? So many get stuck of only seeking God when they need something....do you think that pleases God? Neither do I! It is to be a lifestyle of seeking in the good, in the bad, and in the ugly!

So chew on that today, after all God is worthy of us seeking in a continual manner!

Tom

Do good!

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Live for Christ!

Can you feel it?



God’s Word is clear that when you become a follower of Christ and are then filled with the Holy Spirit there is a war going on inside of you....do you recognize that?

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

This is why we must be ready for battle at all times! The Word helps us recognize what sin the flesh is pushing on us and the Spirit gives us the power to overcome! 

Stand strong brothers and sisters!

Tom

Save For Retirement?