The Recabites

This weekend was a life changing event in my life! Even though this weekend was an amazing time when you come back to "reality" what's going to be different, I think we as humans have a tendency to resort back to what we are use to. (it's familiar it's comfortable). Most of us do not like change even if its a good change because we can be fearful of the unexpected, (the what happens next) And I think instead of taking that step of faith we return to our comfort zones. Like the speaker said you need to take control of your body. I'm gonna be honest it's been a challenge to break my patterns of waisted time but it can be done it's not easy but its a choice you need to make daily.

I want this morning to challenge you with this passage of scripture Jeremiah 35:1-19. I'll sum it up but you should read it! What happening is The people of Jerusalem were being unfaithful to the Lord and were resistant to the revelations brought by Jeremiah. The Lord brings in this dedicated family as a contrast. In Jeremiah’s day, the Recabites were an example of a group of people who stayed faithful and never deviated, even to customs within their own family, the people of Israel were never consistent, but always deviated from God’s revelations. This passage isn't talking about alcohol but a commitment of a family. Jonadad was commanded not to live in houses, not to have farms or vineyards, and not to drink wine. 250 years later his descendants are still honoring a commitment there for father made!! Obeying Jonadab's words had only a limited and temporal significance, but disobeying God's Word has eternal consequences!! How often God's people are put to shame by the devotion and discipline of people who don't even know the Lord but who intensely loyal to their family, their religion, or their personal pursuits. Even people who want nothing to do with the Word of God can be loyal to traditions and man-made codes. If Christians were putting into their spiritual walk the kind of discipline that athletes put into their chosen sport, the church would be pulsating with revival life. REMEMBER THE COMMITMENTS YOU MAKE!!!!! I want to leave you with this verse have a blessed day. Acts 20:24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.

Happy New Year

2010 is here!!! It's hard to believe. I've been asking myself recently what's going to make 2010 different from 2009. Looking at Ephesians 5:15,17 I think the Apostle Paul has some words of wisdom that we need to heed. Ephesians 5:15, 17 says, "Be very careful, then, how you live not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Looking at these verses I feel like Paul is saying don’t walk in your sleep! WAKE UP!! Open your eyes! Make the most of the day. It is sad to see many professed Christians “drift” through life, like sleepwalkers who never really make the most of opportunities to live for Christ and serve Him. Paul presented several reasons why we should be accurate and careful in our walk.

(v15) It is a Mark of wisdom: Only a fool drifts with the wind and tide. A wise man marks out his course, set his sails, and guides his rudder until he reaches his destination. When you want to build a house you first draw plans so you know what your doing. How many Christians plan their days so that they use their opportunities wisely? It’s true we cannot know what a day may bring forth. But I think a planned life can better deal with unexpected events. Someone once said, “When the pilot does not know what port he is heading for, no wind is the right wind.”

(V16) Life is short: Simply put since life is so short this is a strong reason for making the best use of the opportunities God gives us.

(V16) The days are evil: In Paul’s time, this meant that Roman persecution was on the way. How foolish to waste opportunities to win the lost when soon those opportunities might be taken away by the advances of sin in society! If the days were evil when Paul wrote this letter, what is their condition today?

(V17) God has given us a mind: Understanding in verse 17 suggests using our minds to discover and DO the will of God. To many Christians have the idea that discovering God’s will is a mystical experience that rules out clear thinking. But this idea is wrong and dangerous. We discover the will of God as he transforms the mind (Rom 12:1-2); this transformation is the result of prayer meditation, and worship. If God gave you a mind he expects you to use it. This means that learning his will involves gathering facts, examining them, weighing them, and praying for his wisdom (James 1:5) God doest not want us to simply to know His will; He wants us to understand his will.

(v17) God has a plan for our lives: Paul alluded to this plan (Eph 2:10) If God saved me, He has a purpose for my life and I should discover that purpose and then guide my life accordingly. He reveals His plan through his Word (Col. 1:9-10), His spirit in our hearts (Col. 3:15), and the working of circumstances (Rom. 8:28). A servant of God can walk carefully and accurately because he knows what God wants him to do. Like the builder following the blueprint, he accomplishes what the architect planned.

Challenge question: what does God want you to do in 2010??

Philippians 2:5-8

I just finished reading Philippians chapter two what a powerful piece of scripture. Verse 8 really stood out to me it says, "And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death even death on a cross." I know this is Christmas time a time of the year when we recognize Jesus birth. You might be asking why did this verse about his death stick out to me? As I sit here and reflect about it I wondered how did Jesus feel growing up knowing that he came to this earth to die for the sins that we committed? Does knowing the purpose God has for you change how you live?? Many people are willing to serve others if it does not cost them anything. But if there is a price to pay they suddenly lose interest. Praise God that Jesus knew his father plan from the beginning and remained faithful even to death. His death was not a death of a martyr but a death of a savior. Dr. J. H Jowett has said, "Ministry that costs nothing accomplishes nothing." If there is to be any blessing there must be some bleeding. I once heard a story about a missionary shopping at a festival in Brazil he saw a sign that said "Cheap Crosses." He thought to himself thats what many christians are looking for these days Cheap Crosses. Jesus cross wasn't cheap. Why should mine be? A follower of Christ does not avoid sacrifice. He lives for the glory of God and the good of others, and if paying a price will honor Christ and help others he is willing to do it. I think it is one of the paradoxes of the Christian life that the more we give the more we receive; the more we sacrifice the more God blesses. We share in his joy as we also share in his sufferings. I want to conclude with this question is it costing you anything to be a Christian????

REMEMBER THE LORD YOUR GOD

In DEUTERONOMY 8:7-20 In this sermon, Moses urges Israel to remember their dependence upon God and warns them about pride and self-sufficiency when they reach the promised land. In this sermon, Moses remembers their experience in the wilderness, especially the harshness of those conditions when compared to the relatively lush surroundings of the promised land and God's miraculous provision of manna. Moses calls for Israel to remember their dependence upon God and reminds them that their faithful observance of the commandments is the proper way to further that relationship. In God's plan, the difficulties of the wilderness prepared Israel for their life in the land by teaching them that nature alone cannot provide for their every need (v. 1-6). Upon their arrival in the promised land, its relatively prosperous abundance will tempt Israel to forget their dependence upon God's nurture (v 7-17). Their proper response is to remember and to "Thank" (literally "bless") the Lord their God (v18-20). Moses encourages Israel not to forget who to thank even though all these amazing resources are in front of them.

Looking at today when God brings us through a trial due we thank God for our provision in the wilderness. Or do we think we deserve whatever were seeking because we worked hard for it. That we achieved something by ourself with no help from anybody. I want to encourage you today THANK GOD daily for his provision on your life. And the unmerited favor he sheds upon us. 1 Thessolonians 5:18 "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Veterans Day

Today we celebrate Veterans day!! I think over time people have forgotten about this Holiday and to some it has lost its significance on our culture. Today we remember those who fought and gave there lives for our freedoms. This past weekend I went to Gettysburg I can't describe the feeling of what it was like to stand on a battlefield where thousands of men gave their lives so freedom could prevail. As I take a moment and reflect over wars this country has fought I was thinking how would our lives be different if our veterans didn't respond to the call to fight? Imagine if the British won the revolutionary war? What would our country be like today? Or if the South had won the civil war? Or if we decided not to get involved in WWI and WWII? Our world in which we know might be drastically different. In John 15:13 it says "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." We as Americans our indebted to those soldiers who give up their lives so we can live another day. What a selfless act of love our soldiers show towards there country and its people.In 2 Sam 23:13-17 David is dyeing of thirst 3 mighty men who served David risked their lives just to bring him a cup of water. David would not drink it, David showed his gratitude, David did not take lightlythat they risked their life for him Many Americans risked and gave their lives to bring us freedom Do we take it without considering the price paid for it. Far be it for us to do this. Lets honor and remember those who gave of themselves. I want to concluded with this We honor our vets because it is their day. However, everyday is the Lord's and we should honor him every day. He is our hero, he defeated the enemy and has given us gifts to serve with.Lets continue to honor him with our words, and deeds. Have you begun to honor him? What does Jesus ask in return Accept him as Savior and Lord Turn your life around, be baptized, and live for him.

Stand in Awe of God!!!!!!!

In Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 Solomon has been watching worshippers come and go, praising God, praying, sacrificing, and making vows. Solomon sees that many of them where not sincere in there worship, and they leave the temple worse then when they entered. What was their sin? They were robbing God of who he is. There worship became hypercritical. Offerings in the hands without obedient faith in the heart become "the sacrifice of fools," only a fool thinks he can deceive God. The fool thinks he is doing good but he or she is only doing evil. And God knows it. Solomon then brings up the topic of careless praying (vv. 2-3). If we had an opportunity to bring our needs or request to those in authority we would approach the situation with careful choosing of words and exhibit proper behavior. How much more then should we as we approach our father in heaven?? The last two things Solomon notices is making a vow to God with no intention of keeping it,(lying) the second was making a vow but delaying to keep it, hoping you could get out of it. When we rob the Lord of the worship and honor due to Him, we are also robbing ourselves of the spiritual blessings on those who worship him in spirit and in truth. To me it seems like the people in this passage were more concerned about presenting an image of holiness instead of being amazed and really wanting to grow closer in their relationship with God. I think we can get so consumed with life that we forget to stand silently in awe of God. My challenge is today stand in awe of God and give him the reverence that he deserves!!!!!!!!

Selfless Love

For the last couple of months I have been reflecting over 1 John 4:7-21. A very famous passage of scripture. As I take time and reflect over this passage. I can't get over Jesus selfless act of love towards us. It's something of a paradox that he has to die so we may have life. Lately I have been so amazed that God loves us regardless of how we treat him. I have been so amazed that I have actually been challenged by it and today I want to challenge you. My challenge to you is to be selfless!!!!!! That regardless of how people treat you, can you show the love of Christ to them. I have been challenged by this question. Is it possible to love people and expect nothing in return? To genuinely care about somebody even if they never say thank you or reciprocate that love. Sometimes I think we treat love like a math problem. I shouldn't say we maybe I do this. Where we say in our head I've done this and that for you and what's in it for me! when are you going to do something for me! I know I have felt like that at times, where because we did this we expect the same feelings or care or love in return. Does your stance of love and care change because of how the other person treats you? Is it possible to say, "regardless of how you treat me it doesn't change the fact that I love and I need to reflect Christ love to you. I have to be honest I have been trying to do this in my own life for months now and it has been one of the hardest things I have ever done. My challenge is more of a dare, I dare you to find ways where you can put your pride and your agenda aside in order to show selfless love to somebody.