Warnings

People especially those who call themselves Christians should take seriously God's warning in Hebrews. ²³ Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.²⁶ If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, ²⁷ but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. ²⁸ Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” ³¹ It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 

Hebrews 10:23-31

Stop sinning and start obeying the Word. Amen?

Respond, Repent, and Reconciled

In the book of Jonah we read about one of the greatest revivals of all time, but Jonah was a reluctant evangelist. He was disobedient and tried to run away, but after a three day “fish trip” found himself doing what God had commanded. When God’s messengers brings forth the Word of God three things will occur, and true revival will break out.

First of all people Respond to the Gospel.  Jonah’s message was simple and direct. He said God was going to destroy them because of their evilness. The response was immediate. “They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.” Our sin has separated us from God, and we are doomed unless we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. Have you responded to God’s Word?

The second thing we see in revival is that people Repent of their sins.  In Jonah’s time, the king declared a national time of fasting and repentance. They prayed for forgiveness, and that they would turn from their evil ways. Many people came with tears and brokenness before the Lord. They also prayed for forgiveness, and cleansing. God calls for His people to repent. Jesus said, “ Unless you repent, you too will perish.” When you have asked for forgiveness did you truly repent?

Salvation is complete when people are Reconciled to God.  God saw what the Ninevites did and how they had turned from their evil ways. He had compassion, and did not destroy them.  In 2 Corinthians, Paul tells us that we become a new creation when we accept God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. We are reconciled with God through Him. All believers are to be Christ’s ambassadors, and are given the ministry of reconciling man to God. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Where are you at in your relationship with God today?

As the body of Christ, let us continue to pray for revival in our lives, our families, our churches, our city, our country, and throughout the world. Amen?

His Way

We are to apply God’s instruction to all our circumstances and relationships. It comes with a great promise. Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Doing life His way will lead us to His purposes, and put a smile on His face.

Jesus wants our trust and action to be based on our faith in Him. It doesn’t matter where we come from or who we are. God wants our commitment. The Lord is our Rock and security. Remember, even if you have fallen, you can get back up with the power of the Holy Spirit! 

Amen?

Submit Anew

Society says to submit is a bad thing, but James 4:7 tells believers that we are to submit to God in word, action, and spirit. Put your emotions, thinking, and doing under Christ's control. Trust Him with everything.

So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet. - James 4:7-10 The Message

God wants your commitment. God wants your thoughts and action based on that trust. It doesn’t matter where we come from or who we are. God is our Rock and security. Remember even if you have fallen, you can get back up, and be under God's care and control. Today can be your day of new beginnings. Amen?

A Plumb Life

The Lord used, and uses, a "plumb-line," His Word, to determine how upright His people truly are in His sight. How upright they think they are, or how upright they proclaim themselves to be, means nothing to God. There is a standard, a right and wrong, things we’re to do, and things to refrain from. We must focus on God and His Word to make sure we are in His will.

Joshua learned that lesson, “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

Contemplate on these verses today. Use the Bible to make sure your life is "plumb" with God's plan and purpose for your life. 

Seeking Purpose

You have probably asked yourself, What's my purpose?" There has been a lot written about the church's purpose and a Christ-follower's purpose that you can read. But I think one of the greatest reasons we don't live out our Godly purposes is that we are too easily distracted. God is trying to tell us something but we're not listening. We have a great example by Jesus about keeping our focus in Mark chapter five. 

A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”

31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

Jesus was sent to heal this broken world. He was so focused on His mission that even in a huge crowd He could discern a woman of great faith had touched Him for the purpose of getting healed and as a result healed her. At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"

Are you seeking God’s purpose for your life? Are you proactive in pursuing that purpose or do you let life’s circumstances distract you? Are you living life with a purpose or are you merely existing?

“Aim for Heaven and you’ll get the world thrown in, aim for the world and you’ll get neither.” C.S. Lewis

Loving Jesus means trusting God has a purpose for your life.  Amen?

In Control

Peace comes from an immovable trust that God is in control. This enables the Christian to live above his/her circumstances. When someone is not at peace it typically is displayed in crankiness. Usually it is because we feel pressed for time because we have so many things that “need” to be done. Martha was freaking out because she felt she needed to get dinner on the table but her focus should have been on Jesus first like her sister Mary. "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things,  but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." - Luke 10:41-42

Do you have a time set apart each day to be with the Lord? Have you ever skipped your quiet time because the “to do list” for the day was so big? How is your disposition on those days, cranky?

Spending more time with God on those busy days will give you the strength, wisdom and time to accomplish your tasks. Martin Luther was quoted as saying,  “I have so much to do, that I cannot get on without three hours a day of praying.” 

Even Jesus who was faced with a busy day of healing went away to spend time with the Father: Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses.  But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.- Luke 5:15-16

Trust God who should be in control of your time and He will give you the time necessary to fulfill your purpose. Amen?