Our message today comes from the most famous and most memorized scriptures within the Bible. John 3:16 is well known around the Christian world as the most memorized and studied scripture ever. With Easter on our heels, it is important for us to be reminded of this scripture as well as John 3:17. We will be examining 4 questions frequently asked by all. These questions are all about God. Christians are faced with these questions as we go out into the world and try to grow our churches and our army. Therefore; it is important that our views and answers are crystal clear even to us, so that cloudiness doesn't hinder our ability to win people to Christ as we are all called to do.
John 3:16 - 17 says:
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
4 Questions we all face:
1.) Is God real?
2.) How does He communicate with people?
3.) Will He forgive me?
4.) Does He really love me?
Let's look at each questions one at a time.
Is God real?
Do you know that 90% of the world says they believe in God? However; how we view God is very different. Some believe that God does not reveal himself to humanity and generally does not intervene in what happens in the world....though they do believe He created the world. Some believe that God is the universe itself. Others seem more atuned to Him being merely a spirit within humanity. Some see an angry and vindictive God, while others see God as so loving that He couldn't judge anyone. The Christian has always defined God as a being who is far beyond our comprehension but we know He is all around us constantly protecting and guiding. We know this and believe this through FAITH.
During WWII newslines read, "God is dead." But if you get nothing else from this message, know this....God is real and alive. Most seasoned Christians could go on and on for hours at telling of His power and proving He is real and we can find scripture to back ourselves up. You know, the secular people want to educate everyone in the world and try to explain and disect everything that happens or has happened in history. Many people walking this earth can not believe in something they have never seen and they have a hard time believing things that can't be explained through science. Scientists everywhere work diligently to explain everything to us. Maybe we try to explain too much...there are many miracles everyday that can't be explained through science. When I had my daughter, I didn't create the miracle of that birth. I didn't give my beautiful child breath. God did. How does the ocean know exactly how far on the sand it can go? How do the stars know exactly where to shine? How does the earth know exactly how slow or fast to rotate? How does the bird learn it's specific song? God, God, God, God, God. He can't be explained. His miracles in life can't be explained through science. It is when we deny His existence that we get in trouble.
In Exodus chapter 3, Moses was called into ministry. Moses gave legitimate excuses to God and had very reasonable questions for Him. "These people don't know me and you want ME to go and talk to them?" God said, "YES". Moses: "Who will I tell them sent me to talk to them?" God replied, "Tell them I AM sent you....that's all you need to say is I AM." You can't explain God....He is the I AM. It is only by FAITH that we believe in God....not by calculations or formulas or explanations.....FAITH! We have THE ultimate scientist working for us and He says, just have FAITH and believe in ME!
Second Question:
How Does God Communicate With Me?
Each of us can give a different answer. Does God talk directly to people today as He did with some in the Bible many years ago? Yes He does. God wants to talk to us all the time and could talk to us all day if we would let Him. Have you ever been wrestling with something in your life or your heart? And then out of the blue someone says something to you that practically answers your questions you have been wrestling with? Or have you had a dream where answers to your life's challenges are revealed to you? Has someone ever come into your presence and given you words of encouragement or a hug just when you needed it most? God....God....and God again. He doesn't just speak audibly or through others, but He can speak through scripture and worldly events as well. Scripture isn't just a bunch of words to read about history or God's creation or Jesus' life....scripture is literally our life owner's manual. It isn't coincidence that many figures within the Bible face the same problems and issues we do today. It isn't coincidence that some of the most Godly humans recorded in the scriptures were once murderers and adulterers. That is purposely placed in the Good Book so WE can see how to live today and see that regardless of what we have done in our lives, God still has a divine plan for each of us. We just have to be ready to listen. Many of us walk around with ear plugs in our ears, tuning God out, until we need Him. What we really don't understand is that we need His guidance at ALL times, not just in times of great need. We have a tendency to think that as long as life is going good and we are in control, everything is great. But boy when something goes wrong we begin to question God and begin begging for Him to reveal answers to us, when if we were seeking His guidance all along, we probably never would have gotten ourselves in the mess in the first place.
Question 3:
Will He forgive me?
The answer is simple....YES! If you are sincere in your plea, He WILL forgive ANYTHING you have done. The only thing He will NOT forgive is allowing yourself to take your last breath without ever accepting Him while on earth. Once you shut your eyes and take your last breath it is too late. You can not make a last minute decision at the pearly gates. But there isn't anything that you could have done in this world that God can not forgive. Remember, above....it is not coincidence that some of the most Godly men in the Bible were at one time murderers and adulterers. They lied, cheated, killed....you name it....God forgave them and He will you too. But you have to be sincere. You can fool any other human on this earth. You can fool other believers in the church, but you can't fool God. He knows your heart. The church walls will not explode if you walk into the church. Again, no sin is too great for God to forgive. Every sin available today was available back when Jesus walked the earth....it just came in different packaging. That is why reading your Bible and diving into daily scripture reading is so important....so you can see your life parallel with someone else's. The more you read, the more you realize that the sins you have committed are not as unforgivable as you think they are. God wans us to know wwe are no different than any sinner before us. He forgave them and used them then and He WILL do the same for you.
And question 4:
Does He love me?
Love has been given a very bad name. People use and abuse those words way too often. Men will abuse their wives but in the same breath tell her those empty words to make things temporarily better. Many do not know what love really is. You don't know love until you have God in your heart and understand what He did for you. God sent His son to take nails through his hands and feet. Because He loves YOU. He sent His son to drip blood and have a sword driven into his side. Because He loves YOU. He sent His son to be mocked and ridiculed and to gasp for breath while gravity tore at his hands and feet. Because He loves YOU. He DOES LOVE YOU! God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to walk our walk and to die for us so that we could be forgiven. Jesus knew it was coming, yet, he didn't cry out for them to stop. He never asked them to take it easy on him. He never faught back. He took every beating, harsh word, stab, nail, for YOU. Because He loves YOU.
If you have been moved by this message and feel you need some guidance....do not hesitate to call or communicate with our deacons listed or our pastor. If you would like to visit Sparta Baptist Church, do not hesitate. God may be moving in you and remember...ALLsins are forgivable except denying Christ.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Are You Sure Your Name is on the Roll?
Our message today comes from Ezekial 9:1-11.
1He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.
2And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.
3And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side;
4And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
5And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:
6Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.
7And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.
8And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?
9Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.
10And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head.
11And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.
Have you ever prayed and prayed and wondered where God was? If so, you need to consider two things.
1.) God is either working on His own time and feels there is something else He wants to show you or...
2.) You aren't really saved.
I think I'd rather have the first be the reason my prayers are not answered when I want them to be. The second is scary. You know, God knocks on many hearts more than once. Many times He sends someone or something our way to get our attention so we may open our hearts to Him. How many times have YOU not answered that call or knock at the door? Are you saved?
If you are a person who is attending church but you haven't accepted Christ into your heart yet, you need to. Just attending church and working in the church does not get you a ticket into Heaven. Good works cannot save you. You won't earn salvation till you accept God as your Savior.
You can't work to be saved, but once you are saved you are to work. You may not know what you are called to do or what your spiritual gifts are. Many believe the only job to do in a church is to teach but it isn't. If you are wondering what your spiritual gifts are and how you can serve your church, a simple google search will pull up many spiritual gifts tests. You "googlers" will understand this. Simply type in "spiritual gifts test" and it will pull up several on line and paper copies you can download. This is crucial if we are going to do what God asks us to do on this Earth. You know God may just be checking to see if you are WILLING to go and do. But be warned: Doing things in a church and acting on your spiritual gifts do not get you into Heaven. They won't give you a mark for doing just good things. You don't earn brownie points. You have to accept God into your heart and believe in Him.
Have you ever knocked on the doors of the White House and invited yourself in to dine with the president himself? No? Well why not? It is because you know if you do, every protection agent will get you. He is inaccessible! Yet....the Bible tells us to call on those who have charge over us. Our president falls into that category as does our senators, representatives, and governors. However; how are we to call on them when they are inaccessible? Guess what.....our country is in such a shape that many really don't want us to call on them. In fact, many avoid us Christians because they are afraid we will pull their skeletons out of their closets. Which by the way, election time is approaching and we need to take a really deep look at our candidates. We need to choose only those candidates that are as closely committed to serving God as our founding fathers did when they founded this very country we live in.
In our scripture, God is telling Ezekial to go out and to kill those who are not marked and that includes those that hold charge, those that hold weapons, anyone not bearing a mark. If you look back in the scripture you will find that these slayings began in God's own house. What does that tell us today? He will start calling on those within the church walls. And guess what??? There are people sitting in our church pews today in all churches around this nation.....unmarked! But He tells Ezekial, "Slay EVERY person without a mark, but come notnar anyone with a mark." How do you become marked? Accept Christ as your Savior! But wait a minute.....you say....you thought everyone that attended church is going to Heaven? NO! Only those that are saved and have accepted Christ into their hearts and have asked for forgiveness. There are unmarked people in ourchurches. And one day very soon, God will say enough is enough.
If you are UNMARKED/UNSAVED listen up: You will only have so many witnesses, preachers, Christians sent to you, begging you to come to church with them, accept Christ, listen to what God has done in the lives of those you encounter.....but remember this....when God has had enough, he's had enough. The next time someone invites you to church or the next time someone tries to talk to you about God' awesomeness and power, may very well be your last chance.
When you face God on your judgement day, do you want to hear him say, "I knocked, and I knocked, and I knocked many, many times, but you never answered. I am sorry my child, I cannot let you in"? Don't pass up the opportunities God is giving you.
If you ARE already MARKED.....Who are you bringing with you on judgement day? Will you be there standing alone or will you be there surrounded by those you have shared the Good News with? You will have to answer for the works you do or do not do here on earth. God is sending us to "Knock" for Him. Are you doing your job? Are you using your spiritual gifts the way they should be used? We are to be like dandelions blowing in the breeze. Each dandelion creates more and more seeds to blow in the wind and spread. If you are not spreading the seeds of God, we will never win people to Christ.
So now I ask you, are you sure your name is on the roll in Heaven? If not, this may be you last chance....don't miss it! Seek out someone you know is indeed a Christian to help you know who God is. And you may be scared to do this, but all Christians have done it before. We weren't born this way, we have all had to go through what you are going through. You are never alone in your decision. We all understand the feelings you have because we, too, have been there. Do not hesitate! God is knocking on your door at this very moment. All you have to do is answer.
1He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.
2And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.
3And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side;
4And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
5And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:
6Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.
7And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.
8And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?
9Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.
10And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head.
11And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.
Have you ever prayed and prayed and wondered where God was? If so, you need to consider two things.
1.) God is either working on His own time and feels there is something else He wants to show you or...
2.) You aren't really saved.
I think I'd rather have the first be the reason my prayers are not answered when I want them to be. The second is scary. You know, God knocks on many hearts more than once. Many times He sends someone or something our way to get our attention so we may open our hearts to Him. How many times have YOU not answered that call or knock at the door? Are you saved?
If you are a person who is attending church but you haven't accepted Christ into your heart yet, you need to. Just attending church and working in the church does not get you a ticket into Heaven. Good works cannot save you. You won't earn salvation till you accept God as your Savior.
You can't work to be saved, but once you are saved you are to work. You may not know what you are called to do or what your spiritual gifts are. Many believe the only job to do in a church is to teach but it isn't. If you are wondering what your spiritual gifts are and how you can serve your church, a simple google search will pull up many spiritual gifts tests. You "googlers" will understand this. Simply type in "spiritual gifts test" and it will pull up several on line and paper copies you can download. This is crucial if we are going to do what God asks us to do on this Earth. You know God may just be checking to see if you are WILLING to go and do. But be warned: Doing things in a church and acting on your spiritual gifts do not get you into Heaven. They won't give you a mark for doing just good things. You don't earn brownie points. You have to accept God into your heart and believe in Him.
Have you ever knocked on the doors of the White House and invited yourself in to dine with the president himself? No? Well why not? It is because you know if you do, every protection agent will get you. He is inaccessible! Yet....the Bible tells us to call on those who have charge over us. Our president falls into that category as does our senators, representatives, and governors. However; how are we to call on them when they are inaccessible? Guess what.....our country is in such a shape that many really don't want us to call on them. In fact, many avoid us Christians because they are afraid we will pull their skeletons out of their closets. Which by the way, election time is approaching and we need to take a really deep look at our candidates. We need to choose only those candidates that are as closely committed to serving God as our founding fathers did when they founded this very country we live in.
In our scripture, God is telling Ezekial to go out and to kill those who are not marked and that includes those that hold charge, those that hold weapons, anyone not bearing a mark. If you look back in the scripture you will find that these slayings began in God's own house. What does that tell us today? He will start calling on those within the church walls. And guess what??? There are people sitting in our church pews today in all churches around this nation.....unmarked! But He tells Ezekial, "Slay EVERY person without a mark, but come notnar anyone with a mark." How do you become marked? Accept Christ as your Savior! But wait a minute.....you say....you thought everyone that attended church is going to Heaven? NO! Only those that are saved and have accepted Christ into their hearts and have asked for forgiveness. There are unmarked people in ourchurches. And one day very soon, God will say enough is enough.
If you are UNMARKED/UNSAVED listen up: You will only have so many witnesses, preachers, Christians sent to you, begging you to come to church with them, accept Christ, listen to what God has done in the lives of those you encounter.....but remember this....when God has had enough, he's had enough. The next time someone invites you to church or the next time someone tries to talk to you about God' awesomeness and power, may very well be your last chance.
When you face God on your judgement day, do you want to hear him say, "I knocked, and I knocked, and I knocked many, many times, but you never answered. I am sorry my child, I cannot let you in"? Don't pass up the opportunities God is giving you.
If you ARE already MARKED.....Who are you bringing with you on judgement day? Will you be there standing alone or will you be there surrounded by those you have shared the Good News with? You will have to answer for the works you do or do not do here on earth. God is sending us to "Knock" for Him. Are you doing your job? Are you using your spiritual gifts the way they should be used? We are to be like dandelions blowing in the breeze. Each dandelion creates more and more seeds to blow in the wind and spread. If you are not spreading the seeds of God, we will never win people to Christ.
So now I ask you, are you sure your name is on the roll in Heaven? If not, this may be you last chance....don't miss it! Seek out someone you know is indeed a Christian to help you know who God is. And you may be scared to do this, but all Christians have done it before. We weren't born this way, we have all had to go through what you are going through. You are never alone in your decision. We all understand the feelings you have because we, too, have been there. Do not hesitate! God is knocking on your door at this very moment. All you have to do is answer.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Are You Fireproof?
I simply love messages like today's! I love a good mind challenge where you have to make connections in order to understand things better. Today's message did just that! It is amazing how God's word that was written long ago has a tremendous meaning even in today's world where so much has changed.
Today Bro. Edd Deaton made connections between a very popular story of Moses and the parting of the Red Sea to Revelations. Our main message comes from Revelations 15:2 - 3, but we will be diving into Exodus 15 some as well (since that is where we find the recount of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt).
Revelations 15:2 - 3 says:
2And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
3And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
You know, there will come a day when the devil will copy God and try to fool you. The only way to prepare yourself and keep yourself from falling into his trap is to read and study your Bible. We will be comparing ourselves (Christians) to the Israelites. We all know the story of Moses and how he led the Israelites out of Egypt from Pharoah's grip and led them through prayer to the Red Sea, where God parted the waters and the Israelites crossed one by one to safety and freedom. It is a story we have grown up with in church. Anyone who went to Sunday School as a child has heard this story. Amazingly it connects to us today. For those that have never heard it.....Israelites were under a strong bondage of the Pharoah. They slaved for him and his followers. They were mistreated and overworked. Now, how are you connected to the Israelites??? Israel was a slave to bondage and you are a slave and in bondage until you accept the Lord into your heart. We know that God pulled His people out of Egypt and bondage just like He pulls you out of bondage when you accept Him. You become protected.
Satan can chase you down and threaten you, just like the Pharoah chased the Israelites and tried to capture them, but He can't have you once you belong to God. God parted the troubled waters for the Israelites just like He parts the waters for you. Satan can not touch you. You are a child of God. God that provides everything you need. God that wraps His arms around you and shelters you from all storms. God that shows light at the end of a dark tunnel. God who gives answers when answers seem to be lost. It is easy to forget just how powerful our God is in this busy busy world we live in. Sometimes, even the best Christians need to be reminded to let God be God. We sometimes only see tall mountains and huge roadblocks Satan sets in our paths and we forget to look up. We act as the Israelites did. We begin to panic and fret and complain. We sometimes forget to just let God part those troubled waters. Actually, all too often, we try to part the waters ourselves and get frustrated when we can't do it. And God allows us to do so, because He knows eventually we will drag our stubborn selves to Him and ask for help and forgiveness.
Imagine this scenario: You are running for your life. You are trusting this man named Moses. The Pharoah and his army is close behind you. They are so close you can hear their yells and almost smell their anger. What do you do? You cry out for help and mercy. Now compare this to your life today....what do you do when troubles are on your tail? You cry out for help. Moses heard them and HE prayed for them. The Israelites depended on Moses to pray for help instead of praying themselves. This happens today too. When troubles come knocking on our doorstep, what do we do? We call our deacons, pastors, and church to pray. We all have God's number. It is simply P-R-A-Y-E-R. We have just as much access to God as our deacons, pastors, and church family does. Prayer builds faith. You must talk with God and trust God in order to have that Faith that He will part those troubled waters for you.
Why hasn't God destroyed the Earth yet? We are definately living in a very corrupt world. Maybe, God is parting the waters for His churches right now. God is holding back those waves so our churches can make safe passage through. Remember what happened the very second the last Israelite made it safely across? The Pharoah and his army had begun to cross but the sea engulfed them and they all drowned. God allowed the waves to wash over the evil. The Pharoah and his chariots were caught in the water. When the last church crosses through, God will allow the parted waters to engulf and rage over the earth.
Now, I know what you are thinking. "Wait a minute, I know that the earth will never again be destroyed by flood. I remember hearing that in church." But hold up.....did you read the scripture for the message? Did you read enough into it? Let's backtrack for a minute. Here it is again (and this is so good it will give you goosebumps)....
2And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
"A sea of glass mingled with fire"....you are right...he won't destroy it again by flood but by fire. The fire will engulf this sinful earth just as the sea engulfed the evil that followed the Israelites.
Now the question is this: You may be crossing this parted sea right now. Look around you. Are you parting it alone. Have you grabbed as many people to go with you? Are you helping others across. Some people on this earth have no clue where the sea is. Are you leading them there? Are you showing them how to get there? How many will you leave behind to be engulfed by the waves of fire that will destroy this earth? It is our job to be like Moses. To pray and lead people to the water. We may get across but in the end, God will ask you who you brought with you. You will have to answer for your actions and decisions.
One final point: EVERY Israelite made it safely across. Not just a couple, not a few....ALL. There will be NO CHRISTIAN left behind.
Exodus 14:30 says: 30Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.
When the fires rage, there won't be a SINGLE UNSAVED man get across or through, but EVERY SAVED man will make it. Now is the time to invest in your future. There is no foreclosure on you. God owns you flatout. You are worth it to Him. Make it worth it to you!
Today Bro. Edd Deaton made connections between a very popular story of Moses and the parting of the Red Sea to Revelations. Our main message comes from Revelations 15:2 - 3, but we will be diving into Exodus 15 some as well (since that is where we find the recount of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt).
Revelations 15:2 - 3 says:
2And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
3And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
You know, there will come a day when the devil will copy God and try to fool you. The only way to prepare yourself and keep yourself from falling into his trap is to read and study your Bible. We will be comparing ourselves (Christians) to the Israelites. We all know the story of Moses and how he led the Israelites out of Egypt from Pharoah's grip and led them through prayer to the Red Sea, where God parted the waters and the Israelites crossed one by one to safety and freedom. It is a story we have grown up with in church. Anyone who went to Sunday School as a child has heard this story. Amazingly it connects to us today. For those that have never heard it.....Israelites were under a strong bondage of the Pharoah. They slaved for him and his followers. They were mistreated and overworked. Now, how are you connected to the Israelites??? Israel was a slave to bondage and you are a slave and in bondage until you accept the Lord into your heart. We know that God pulled His people out of Egypt and bondage just like He pulls you out of bondage when you accept Him. You become protected.
Satan can chase you down and threaten you, just like the Pharoah chased the Israelites and tried to capture them, but He can't have you once you belong to God. God parted the troubled waters for the Israelites just like He parts the waters for you. Satan can not touch you. You are a child of God. God that provides everything you need. God that wraps His arms around you and shelters you from all storms. God that shows light at the end of a dark tunnel. God who gives answers when answers seem to be lost. It is easy to forget just how powerful our God is in this busy busy world we live in. Sometimes, even the best Christians need to be reminded to let God be God. We sometimes only see tall mountains and huge roadblocks Satan sets in our paths and we forget to look up. We act as the Israelites did. We begin to panic and fret and complain. We sometimes forget to just let God part those troubled waters. Actually, all too often, we try to part the waters ourselves and get frustrated when we can't do it. And God allows us to do so, because He knows eventually we will drag our stubborn selves to Him and ask for help and forgiveness.
Imagine this scenario: You are running for your life. You are trusting this man named Moses. The Pharoah and his army is close behind you. They are so close you can hear their yells and almost smell their anger. What do you do? You cry out for help and mercy. Now compare this to your life today....what do you do when troubles are on your tail? You cry out for help. Moses heard them and HE prayed for them. The Israelites depended on Moses to pray for help instead of praying themselves. This happens today too. When troubles come knocking on our doorstep, what do we do? We call our deacons, pastors, and church to pray. We all have God's number. It is simply P-R-A-Y-E-R. We have just as much access to God as our deacons, pastors, and church family does. Prayer builds faith. You must talk with God and trust God in order to have that Faith that He will part those troubled waters for you.
Why hasn't God destroyed the Earth yet? We are definately living in a very corrupt world. Maybe, God is parting the waters for His churches right now. God is holding back those waves so our churches can make safe passage through. Remember what happened the very second the last Israelite made it safely across? The Pharoah and his army had begun to cross but the sea engulfed them and they all drowned. God allowed the waves to wash over the evil. The Pharoah and his chariots were caught in the water. When the last church crosses through, God will allow the parted waters to engulf and rage over the earth.
Now, I know what you are thinking. "Wait a minute, I know that the earth will never again be destroyed by flood. I remember hearing that in church." But hold up.....did you read the scripture for the message? Did you read enough into it? Let's backtrack for a minute. Here it is again (and this is so good it will give you goosebumps)....
2And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
"A sea of glass mingled with fire"....you are right...he won't destroy it again by flood but by fire. The fire will engulf this sinful earth just as the sea engulfed the evil that followed the Israelites.
Now the question is this: You may be crossing this parted sea right now. Look around you. Are you parting it alone. Have you grabbed as many people to go with you? Are you helping others across. Some people on this earth have no clue where the sea is. Are you leading them there? Are you showing them how to get there? How many will you leave behind to be engulfed by the waves of fire that will destroy this earth? It is our job to be like Moses. To pray and lead people to the water. We may get across but in the end, God will ask you who you brought with you. You will have to answer for your actions and decisions.
One final point: EVERY Israelite made it safely across. Not just a couple, not a few....ALL. There will be NO CHRISTIAN left behind.
Exodus 14:30 says: 30Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.
When the fires rage, there won't be a SINGLE UNSAVED man get across or through, but EVERY SAVED man will make it. Now is the time to invest in your future. There is no foreclosure on you. God owns you flatout. You are worth it to Him. Make it worth it to you!
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Super Soul Suday!!!!
Today, as all of you know, is the celebration of the Super Bowl. Watching the Super Bowl is exciting for all. It could be a good day to be a witness to someone or be a good Christian role model. However; we all know people who take this game very, very seriously. Some even put money it. This message today is a fitting one. Our message today comes from Isaiah 45:22.
22Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
The message is a simple one to understand and it doesn't take a philosopher to disect it and read anything into it. It is easy and simple to understand but it is a difficult one to follow. It is about idols.
No, not the little carved men from other countries. The idols we are talking about today are the ones we hate to admit we have.
God has been teaching man this lesson since the beginning of time. God has always taught and continues to teach today, "Look unto me and be saved." If our church was a house for saints we wouldn't go to church. If you are waiting for the perfect time to go to church, if you are waiting to clean up your act first, you will never go. The point is we are all sinners. We all have issues within our own lives and demons we are all dealing with. We all have our idols (though we hate to admit that we consider them idols). As I said, idols don't have to be those little green men made of jade or hand carved pieces of wood. Idols come in all forms. Your idol may be a fixation on a sport, or an infatuation with your job, or howabout your appearance? Idols could also be in name brands, sports cars, a hobby, a habit, anything that you put above God. Idols are built from ego and pride. We are all guilty of that.
Let's look at some of the instances where God taught lessons against having idols. Look at the Pharoah. He thought of himself as a God or an idol. In 1 Samuel 5:1 we read about the Philistines who worshipped a fish god. They failed to see that God was the one that provided them with their riches from the sea and they gave credit to the fish god. God tried showing the Philistines that there should be no other Gods or idols before Him. God knocked over that erected idol they built of their fish god 2 times. The third time they picked it up and made sacrifices to it, God turned it to dust. God says, "There shalt be no other idols before me."
God will not allow you to continue to follow idols. This teaching is not new to God. Only our idols have changed. How many times do you think God has tried getting you to stop worshipping your own idols. Think of the events in your life where maybe God was trying to talk to you or get your attention. There are others from the Bible that God had to put in their place. The list is long but to name a few: Naaman, Jonah, Nebuchadnezzar, the Philistines and list goes on.
Look at our country. Do you think our country has the same morals and values as we did 100 years ago? Knowledge and Power have become our idols. We have so many things at our fingertips. Information is all around us. We live in a high tech world. We live in a society with everything offerd to us and it is readily available.
Anyone wonder why our country is in the mess it is in? God is knocking down our idols. We spend too much time looking to the wrong places for guidance. How many times did God knock down that fish god idol before turning it to dust? God is knocking down our idols. God tells us to look upon Him for salvation. But our nation and people in our nation are looking in other spots for excitement, peace, and happiness. Here are a few we tend to look to for those things: Our Presidents, Senetors, Democrats, Republicans, Facebook, Actors and Actresses, Music stars, Television, the News, the Superbowl or other Sports, Hot Cars, Those Shoes and Purses you have in your closet. Some even look up to the Preacher and view them as idols. Where are you hiding your idols? It is time to stop looking up to anyone or anything other than God Himself.
The scripture says, "Look unto me for salvation!" Take your eyes off yourself and your idols and turn your eyes on Jesus. Instead of celebrating the Super Bowl, let's celebrate something worth celebrating.....making your life a Super Soul!!! Accept God as your Savior and look only to Him for happiness and salvation in your life. Only God being on your team allows you the chance at winning this game called LIFE!
22Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
The message is a simple one to understand and it doesn't take a philosopher to disect it and read anything into it. It is easy and simple to understand but it is a difficult one to follow. It is about idols.
No, not the little carved men from other countries. The idols we are talking about today are the ones we hate to admit we have.
God has been teaching man this lesson since the beginning of time. God has always taught and continues to teach today, "Look unto me and be saved." If our church was a house for saints we wouldn't go to church. If you are waiting for the perfect time to go to church, if you are waiting to clean up your act first, you will never go. The point is we are all sinners. We all have issues within our own lives and demons we are all dealing with. We all have our idols (though we hate to admit that we consider them idols). As I said, idols don't have to be those little green men made of jade or hand carved pieces of wood. Idols come in all forms. Your idol may be a fixation on a sport, or an infatuation with your job, or howabout your appearance? Idols could also be in name brands, sports cars, a hobby, a habit, anything that you put above God. Idols are built from ego and pride. We are all guilty of that.
Let's look at some of the instances where God taught lessons against having idols. Look at the Pharoah. He thought of himself as a God or an idol. In 1 Samuel 5:1 we read about the Philistines who worshipped a fish god. They failed to see that God was the one that provided them with their riches from the sea and they gave credit to the fish god. God tried showing the Philistines that there should be no other Gods or idols before Him. God knocked over that erected idol they built of their fish god 2 times. The third time they picked it up and made sacrifices to it, God turned it to dust. God says, "There shalt be no other idols before me."
God will not allow you to continue to follow idols. This teaching is not new to God. Only our idols have changed. How many times do you think God has tried getting you to stop worshipping your own idols. Think of the events in your life where maybe God was trying to talk to you or get your attention. There are others from the Bible that God had to put in their place. The list is long but to name a few: Naaman, Jonah, Nebuchadnezzar, the Philistines and list goes on.
Look at our country. Do you think our country has the same morals and values as we did 100 years ago? Knowledge and Power have become our idols. We have so many things at our fingertips. Information is all around us. We live in a high tech world. We live in a society with everything offerd to us and it is readily available.
Anyone wonder why our country is in the mess it is in? God is knocking down our idols. We spend too much time looking to the wrong places for guidance. How many times did God knock down that fish god idol before turning it to dust? God is knocking down our idols. God tells us to look upon Him for salvation. But our nation and people in our nation are looking in other spots for excitement, peace, and happiness. Here are a few we tend to look to for those things: Our Presidents, Senetors, Democrats, Republicans, Facebook, Actors and Actresses, Music stars, Television, the News, the Superbowl or other Sports, Hot Cars, Those Shoes and Purses you have in your closet. Some even look up to the Preacher and view them as idols. Where are you hiding your idols? It is time to stop looking up to anyone or anything other than God Himself.
The scripture says, "Look unto me for salvation!" Take your eyes off yourself and your idols and turn your eyes on Jesus. Instead of celebrating the Super Bowl, let's celebrate something worth celebrating.....making your life a Super Soul!!! Accept God as your Savior and look only to Him for happiness and salvation in your life. Only God being on your team allows you the chance at winning this game called LIFE!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
What Do I Do?
Our message comes from Genesis 37: 23 - 24
23And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;
24And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.
How many times have you found yourself in a place where you didn't know what to do or which way to turn? There is an old sayin, "You gotta take the lesser of the two evils." There needs to be a clear understanding of something that will help us from this day forward. THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS EVERYTHING IS GOD! Everything is in His control. There is absolutely nothing that happens in life that God doesn't already know about. In our heads we know all our options but we have no clue which way to go. When forced to choose which path to take, do you look for God? Anytime somthing bad happens you should look for God in it. We find ourselves looking at God ad sometimes even blaming God when we are forced through life's trials. Whether you are like Joseph catapaulted into the situation or if you are more like Saul and Go is pressing you, we always end up questioning God. "Oh, God why is this happening to me?" "Why me?" "What did I do to deserve this?" Instead of asking "Why, why, why?" We should be asking, "God what are you trying to teach me?" Godhas always been, stil is, and always will be in cntrol. The problem is....we don't let Him. We want to control everything ourselves. If God wants your attention, He's going to get it.
You think things are running smoothly. You are living your life the way you want it. You realize you aren't spending as much time going to church, Sunday school, praying, or worshiping with others, but that's not so bad. It couldn't be bad...look at all the good things happening in your life. But uh, oh! Something goes wrong. Things begin to unravel. Where is this coming from? What did I do to deserve this? Why me?
Back up! God wanted your attention so He got it. We each have an important role to play on this Earth. We each have jobs to do and shoes to fill in the church and ou communities. God chose us each to serve in those jobs and if we aren't doing it then He will get our attention. I can't do your job and you can't do mine. It's like a puzzle. We each are a piece that completes the whole picture. Without one piece, the picture is incomplete and unappealing. But when all the pieces are put into place, the picture draws you in. It is complete.
Instead of asking God, "Why you are being punished", ask Him to show you what He is trying to teach you. We often get too hung up on being selfish people that we are missing God's message and lesson. God says, "Be still and know that I am God." He wants us to be still. When we are in question about life are we being still and allowing God to teach us or are we trying to control everything ourselves. You might as well give up on controling the situation yourself. It won't work. He won't allow it.
When you fail, it isn't God punishing you.....He is polishing you. You are like a diamond. God polishes you up. You can't be a perfectly shaped and polished diamond without a little chiseling and rough buffing! We have to let God polish and shape us. The more difficult we are, the harder he buffs! Like I said, He WILL get your attention. If we continue to turn our heads and ignore Godin our trials and admit we are justbeing polished, then we will never shine. We must be still and let God take control or we will never see God in the trials. Look for God in everything whether it be good or bad. I promise you, He IS there and IS in CONTROL! LET GO!
23And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;
24And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.
How many times have you found yourself in a place where you didn't know what to do or which way to turn? There is an old sayin, "You gotta take the lesser of the two evils." There needs to be a clear understanding of something that will help us from this day forward. THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS EVERYTHING IS GOD! Everything is in His control. There is absolutely nothing that happens in life that God doesn't already know about. In our heads we know all our options but we have no clue which way to go. When forced to choose which path to take, do you look for God? Anytime somthing bad happens you should look for God in it. We find ourselves looking at God ad sometimes even blaming God when we are forced through life's trials. Whether you are like Joseph catapaulted into the situation or if you are more like Saul and Go is pressing you, we always end up questioning God. "Oh, God why is this happening to me?" "Why me?" "What did I do to deserve this?" Instead of asking "Why, why, why?" We should be asking, "God what are you trying to teach me?" Godhas always been, stil is, and always will be in cntrol. The problem is....we don't let Him. We want to control everything ourselves. If God wants your attention, He's going to get it.
You think things are running smoothly. You are living your life the way you want it. You realize you aren't spending as much time going to church, Sunday school, praying, or worshiping with others, but that's not so bad. It couldn't be bad...look at all the good things happening in your life. But uh, oh! Something goes wrong. Things begin to unravel. Where is this coming from? What did I do to deserve this? Why me?
Back up! God wanted your attention so He got it. We each have an important role to play on this Earth. We each have jobs to do and shoes to fill in the church and ou communities. God chose us each to serve in those jobs and if we aren't doing it then He will get our attention. I can't do your job and you can't do mine. It's like a puzzle. We each are a piece that completes the whole picture. Without one piece, the picture is incomplete and unappealing. But when all the pieces are put into place, the picture draws you in. It is complete.
Instead of asking God, "Why you are being punished", ask Him to show you what He is trying to teach you. We often get too hung up on being selfish people that we are missing God's message and lesson. God says, "Be still and know that I am God." He wants us to be still. When we are in question about life are we being still and allowing God to teach us or are we trying to control everything ourselves. You might as well give up on controling the situation yourself. It won't work. He won't allow it.
When you fail, it isn't God punishing you.....He is polishing you. You are like a diamond. God polishes you up. You can't be a perfectly shaped and polished diamond without a little chiseling and rough buffing! We have to let God polish and shape us. The more difficult we are, the harder he buffs! Like I said, He WILL get your attention. If we continue to turn our heads and ignore Godin our trials and admit we are justbeing polished, then we will never shine. We must be still and let God take control or we will never see God in the trials. Look for God in everything whether it be good or bad. I promise you, He IS there and IS in CONTROL! LET GO!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Thoughtful Gifts from Three Wise Men
Before I begin with today's post let me apologize for being away so long. My life has been extremely busy lately. I usually update the posts on Sunday afternoons but my time has been shortened on Sunday afternoons due to the busy season. But, here I am and here we are. Christmas is upon us. The REAL REASON FOR THIS SEASON.
Sunday's sermon was a wonderful eye-opening history lesson into the Christmas story. You have read in recent posts that our pastor, Edd Deaton, encourages us to read every word in our Bible spiritually. We sometimes get so caught up in just reading the words that we overlook very important and purposeful meaning within the deep corridors of those chosen words. The Christmas story shared in Matthew 2 should not be read by just skimming the surface. There is within, some very deep and purposeful meaning behind the events of that night. Let's dive in!
We all know that 3 wise men followed the star to Bethlehem and brought with them gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But do we really know what this part of the story really means? There is some rich detail here that we must dive deeper into understanding so that we can completely understand the events of this Holy Night. These wise men didn't have a map. There were no land marks. There were no street signs. They traveled many, many, many miles by foot only following a star. Now, people I can't even get uptown without my GPS directing me along the way. These wise men only had a star to follow. I can't imagine their thoughts along the way. It makes me wonder if any of them ever questioned, "Are we going the right way? Did we make a bad turn? Should I turn around? Did I miss the turn off? Did we follow the wrong star?" They never doubted themselves. They arrived at the very stable and manger where Jesus lay all by following a star. I find that event alone truly remarkable. I couldn't have done it. Jesus would have been 10 years old by the time I had found him.
Many know the gifts they brought but many have no clue as to what they are, and many, many more have no clue as to the deep meaning behind each chosen gift. Out of the three, I would say gold is the most recognizable. We all know what gold is. It is a rustfree metal. It never evaporates no matter how long you boil it. In fact, the longer you boil it, the more pure and worthy it becomes. Kind of like us. We are God's gold. Sometimes we face the fire where we are molded and shapened. But the more we go through the stronger we become and the stronger our faith becomes. We are worth more and made more pure with every trial we go through. We never become a rusty piece of junk to God. We are more precious than anything else He created. See some symbolism? We are only beginning!
The second gift, frankincense.....anyone know what that is? Frankincense is a milky white resin extracted from species of the genus Boswellia. It is extremely fragrant and is used to make incense. Anyone who has ever burned incense knows that the smoke rises. Symbolically where do your prayers go? They rise to the Heavens. What color do you think of when you hear the word pure? White! You have heard it, "He washes you white as snow." The frankincense symbolizes your forgiveness. The Boswellia tree also has sparse bunches of paired leaves. A pair. You and God. When your eyes are focused on God alone and all else is aside, that is when you are truly washed white as snow. When it is just you and He, and you lift up the prayer asking God into your heart, you become as pure and white as snow. He makes you a new person. You have a clean slate. All is forgiven like freshly fallen snow, untarnished and pure.
The third gift, myrrh....I am guessing you also don't know what it is. Myrrh is a reddish resin that comes from species of the tree genus Commiphora. The tree can be found in the shallow, rocky soils of Ethiopia, Kenya, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Somalia. It boasts spiny branches with sparse leaves that grow in groups of three, and can reach a height of 9 feet (3 meters). Where does this tree grow? On the rock! Where did God have his church built? On the rock. Also if you noticed the leaves grow in groups of three. What else comes in threes? Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Something else about myrrh....it is drawn by cutting a huge slit in the trunk of the tree and after the trunk is slit with a deep cut, the myrrh begins to ooze out first yellow in tint. It begins to change color to a deep red as the air sets upon it. As it oozes out, it does so in tear drop shaped droplets. The symbolizm is not accidental. Before blood fell to the ground the day our Savior was placed on that cross, a huge cut was made in his side. He shed tears for us as His blood fell. The third gift is a reminder of His gift for you. He died for you. He bled for you. He shed tears for you.
And yet, we make rare appearances to his Birthday party! We make excuses for why we can't go. On that night, 3 wise men gave Jesus gifts. It is our turn now. The only gift He wants is to have YOU! It is not accidental that you are reading this. He knew you would. There is a reason. This Christmas take time to reflect upon the REAL meaning behind the events that took place that night. Read every word spiritually. Dive in deep to the hidden meaning behind every chosen event. You might actually receive a gift yourself! Merry Christmas!
Sunday's sermon was a wonderful eye-opening history lesson into the Christmas story. You have read in recent posts that our pastor, Edd Deaton, encourages us to read every word in our Bible spiritually. We sometimes get so caught up in just reading the words that we overlook very important and purposeful meaning within the deep corridors of those chosen words. The Christmas story shared in Matthew 2 should not be read by just skimming the surface. There is within, some very deep and purposeful meaning behind the events of that night. Let's dive in!
We all know that 3 wise men followed the star to Bethlehem and brought with them gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But do we really know what this part of the story really means? There is some rich detail here that we must dive deeper into understanding so that we can completely understand the events of this Holy Night. These wise men didn't have a map. There were no land marks. There were no street signs. They traveled many, many, many miles by foot only following a star. Now, people I can't even get uptown without my GPS directing me along the way. These wise men only had a star to follow. I can't imagine their thoughts along the way. It makes me wonder if any of them ever questioned, "Are we going the right way? Did we make a bad turn? Should I turn around? Did I miss the turn off? Did we follow the wrong star?" They never doubted themselves. They arrived at the very stable and manger where Jesus lay all by following a star. I find that event alone truly remarkable. I couldn't have done it. Jesus would have been 10 years old by the time I had found him.
Many know the gifts they brought but many have no clue as to what they are, and many, many more have no clue as to the deep meaning behind each chosen gift. Out of the three, I would say gold is the most recognizable. We all know what gold is. It is a rustfree metal. It never evaporates no matter how long you boil it. In fact, the longer you boil it, the more pure and worthy it becomes. Kind of like us. We are God's gold. Sometimes we face the fire where we are molded and shapened. But the more we go through the stronger we become and the stronger our faith becomes. We are worth more and made more pure with every trial we go through. We never become a rusty piece of junk to God. We are more precious than anything else He created. See some symbolism? We are only beginning!
The second gift, frankincense.....anyone know what that is? Frankincense is a milky white resin extracted from species of the genus Boswellia. It is extremely fragrant and is used to make incense. Anyone who has ever burned incense knows that the smoke rises. Symbolically where do your prayers go? They rise to the Heavens. What color do you think of when you hear the word pure? White! You have heard it, "He washes you white as snow." The frankincense symbolizes your forgiveness. The Boswellia tree also has sparse bunches of paired leaves. A pair. You and God. When your eyes are focused on God alone and all else is aside, that is when you are truly washed white as snow. When it is just you and He, and you lift up the prayer asking God into your heart, you become as pure and white as snow. He makes you a new person. You have a clean slate. All is forgiven like freshly fallen snow, untarnished and pure.
The third gift, myrrh....I am guessing you also don't know what it is. Myrrh is a reddish resin that comes from species of the tree genus Commiphora. The tree can be found in the shallow, rocky soils of Ethiopia, Kenya, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Somalia. It boasts spiny branches with sparse leaves that grow in groups of three, and can reach a height of 9 feet (3 meters). Where does this tree grow? On the rock! Where did God have his church built? On the rock. Also if you noticed the leaves grow in groups of three. What else comes in threes? Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Something else about myrrh....it is drawn by cutting a huge slit in the trunk of the tree and after the trunk is slit with a deep cut, the myrrh begins to ooze out first yellow in tint. It begins to change color to a deep red as the air sets upon it. As it oozes out, it does so in tear drop shaped droplets. The symbolizm is not accidental. Before blood fell to the ground the day our Savior was placed on that cross, a huge cut was made in his side. He shed tears for us as His blood fell. The third gift is a reminder of His gift for you. He died for you. He bled for you. He shed tears for you.
And yet, we make rare appearances to his Birthday party! We make excuses for why we can't go. On that night, 3 wise men gave Jesus gifts. It is our turn now. The only gift He wants is to have YOU! It is not accidental that you are reading this. He knew you would. There is a reason. This Christmas take time to reflect upon the REAL meaning behind the events that took place that night. Read every word spiritually. Dive in deep to the hidden meaning behind every chosen event. You might actually receive a gift yourself! Merry Christmas!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
A Window of Hope
Our message comes from Genesis 6:15 - 16. We all know the stories and facts presented in Genesis from Adam and Eve to Noah's Ark. Most people know them so well that they just quickly skim the passages and overlook very important and purposefull text. How many times d you think you would find Jesus in the old testament? Physically you don't read His name anywhere till you get to the new testament. BUT...
He is there as much in Genesis as he is in Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John! We often ovelook and read over too quickly the sotry of Noah. Godtld Noah, "There is nothing but wicked on this Eart of mine. I want you to build an ark to protect you and the your family and 2 of all the animals I created." We know this. We heard this story a thousand times growing up....but did we ever really look at the boat? The Bible takes time to mention Noah putting a window in the boat. On this enormous boat, he put only 1 teeny tiny window and guess where it was placed???? Above their heads!! Would you have only put 1 window in that enormous boat? But the meaning behind this particular scripture goes deeper than just a simple window.
Think about it, sadness always looks down. Lost always looks around. But hope always looks up. Where was that window again??? How many times do we stop and examine what we are reading or the purpose of the chosen text. How many times do we honestly look up when the storms of life are raining down? When storms roll in we aren't interested in loking at the sights. God knew this and that is why Noah's instructions were to only put 1 window and it was up, not to the side, and not down. When God destroyed the world the first time, He showed Noah and us that the only one way to look is up. When your eyes of your head, life, and spirituality fail to look up you are doomed. There is no way to succeed and make it i life's storms if you don't look up out that window of hope.
That window was there to remind the people on that boat not to lose hope and to keep looking up. This window wasn't much of a window either. It was very, very small. You've heard the statement, "With any inkling of hope." Isn't that a very small amount of hope? That is all it takes. If you look in Matthew 7, you will find a parallel verse for this particular passage in Genesis. "Straight is the way and narrow is the gate." Think about this small and narrow window. Through that small and narrow window they see God. That window is a symbol we are to use as a promise storms end only when we look up and follow our eyes through the narrow opening and find Jesus there. When looking for Jesus in the old testament you have to pay attention to the details. He is there. This little window proves this. Irony of Jesus in the Ark is that the Ark had to go through the storm. We are the ark. Just as Noah faced the storm for 40 days and 40 nights, we will also face storms. Unless you have God to seal you in and protect you and have Faith that He will do so, you are doomed. Like the ark sealed up, you should be sealed by the blood of Jesus. Storms will continue to rage around you but is Jesus in place to open your window of hope?
He is there as much in Genesis as he is in Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John! We often ovelook and read over too quickly the sotry of Noah. Godtld Noah, "There is nothing but wicked on this Eart of mine. I want you to build an ark to protect you and the your family and 2 of all the animals I created." We know this. We heard this story a thousand times growing up....but did we ever really look at the boat? The Bible takes time to mention Noah putting a window in the boat. On this enormous boat, he put only 1 teeny tiny window and guess where it was placed???? Above their heads!! Would you have only put 1 window in that enormous boat? But the meaning behind this particular scripture goes deeper than just a simple window.
Think about it, sadness always looks down. Lost always looks around. But hope always looks up. Where was that window again??? How many times do we stop and examine what we are reading or the purpose of the chosen text. How many times do we honestly look up when the storms of life are raining down? When storms roll in we aren't interested in loking at the sights. God knew this and that is why Noah's instructions were to only put 1 window and it was up, not to the side, and not down. When God destroyed the world the first time, He showed Noah and us that the only one way to look is up. When your eyes of your head, life, and spirituality fail to look up you are doomed. There is no way to succeed and make it i life's storms if you don't look up out that window of hope.
That window was there to remind the people on that boat not to lose hope and to keep looking up. This window wasn't much of a window either. It was very, very small. You've heard the statement, "With any inkling of hope." Isn't that a very small amount of hope? That is all it takes. If you look in Matthew 7, you will find a parallel verse for this particular passage in Genesis. "Straight is the way and narrow is the gate." Think about this small and narrow window. Through that small and narrow window they see God. That window is a symbol we are to use as a promise storms end only when we look up and follow our eyes through the narrow opening and find Jesus there. When looking for Jesus in the old testament you have to pay attention to the details. He is there. This little window proves this. Irony of Jesus in the Ark is that the Ark had to go through the storm. We are the ark. Just as Noah faced the storm for 40 days and 40 nights, we will also face storms. Unless you have God to seal you in and protect you and have Faith that He will do so, you are doomed. Like the ark sealed up, you should be sealed by the blood of Jesus. Storms will continue to rage around you but is Jesus in place to open your window of hope?
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