We Have Found Him!

Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write. . . . Come and see.

John 1:45, 46 (KJV)

   The next thing to knowing that “we have found Him” is to find someone else, and say, “Come and see.” –Francis Ridley Havergal

After Illumination, Endured Great Fight of Afflictions

After ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions.

Heb 10:32 (KJV)

   Our boldness for God before the world must always be the result of individual dealing with God in secret. Our victories over self, and sin, and the world, are always first fought were no eye sees but God’s. . . . If we have not these secret conflicts, well may we not have any open ones. The outward absence of conflict betrays the inward sleep of the soul. –F. Whitefield

Isaiah 59

Behold, the Lord'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. 3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. 4 None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. 5 They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spider's web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper. 6 Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands. 7 Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. 8 The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.

Calamity is punishment for sin

9 Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness. 10 We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men. 11 We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us. 12 For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them; 13 In transgressing and lying against the Lord, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. 14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. 15 Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.

Salvation is only of God

16 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. 17 For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke. 18 According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence. 19 So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. 20 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord. 21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever.

Isaiah 59:1-21 (KJV)

One Day! O Glorious Day!

One Day! (old hymn lyrics)

 

One day when heaven was filled with His praises,

One day when sin was as black as could be,

Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin-

Dwelt among men, my example is He!

 

Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;

Buried, He carried my sins far away;

Rising, He justified freely forever:

One day He's coming-O glorious day!

 

One day they led Him up Calvary's mountain,

One day they nailed Him to die on the tree;

Suffering anguish, despised and rejected;

Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He.

 

Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;

Buried, He carried my sins far away;

Rising, He justified freely forever:

One day He's coming—O glorious day!

 

One day they left Him alone in the garden,

One day He rested, from suffering free;

Angels came down o'er His tomb to keep vigil;

Hope of the hopeless, my Savior is He.

 

Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;

Buried, He carried my sins far away;

Rising, He justified freely forever:

One day He's coming—O glorious day!

 

One day the grave could conceal Him no longer,

One day the stone rolled away from the door;

Then He arose, over death He had conquered;

Now is ascended, my Lord evermore.

 

Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;

Buried, He carried my sins far away;

Rising, He justified freely forever:

One day He's coming—O glorious day!

 

One day the trumpet will sound for His coming,

One day the skies with His glory will shine;

Wonderful day, my beloved ones bringing;

Glorious Savior, this Jesus is mine!

 

Ready for Jesus' Command!

Ready to suffer grief and pain,

Ready to stand the test.

Ready to stay home and send others

If He sees best.

 

Ready to go,

Ready to stay,

Ready my place to fill.

Ready for service lowly or great,

Ready to do His will.

 

Ready to go,

Ready to bear,

Ready to watch and pray.

Ready to stand aside and wait

‘Til He shall clear the way.

 

Ready to speak,

Ready to think,

Ready with heart and brain.

Ready to stand where He sees fit.

Ready to bear the strain.

Ready to speak,

Ready to warn,

Ready o’er souls to yearn.

Ready in life,

Ready in death,

Ready for His return.

---Corrie Ten Boom

 

Is your Pastor, the Pastor

Some churches see the leader's task as primarily evangelism or would winning, but that is not ture in the New Testament. Leaders, especially the apostles, taught every believer. The apostles insisted that they devote themselves "to prayer and to the preaching ministry" (Acts 6:4). Leaders, however, must understand that you can't teach the people what you don't know. You can't lead the people where you haven't been. You can't take the people beyond your own walk with God. --Your Church Experiencing God Together by Henry&Mel Blackaby

You Can't do it all but YOU Can Pray!

We cannot all argue, but we can all pray; we cannot all be leaders, but we can all be pleaders; we cannot all be mighty in rhetoric, but we can all be prevalent in prayer. I would sooner see you eloquent with God than with men. --Charles Spurgeon

Deathbed Repentance #BillySunday

Death bed repentance is like burning the candle for the devil and then blowing the smoke in God's face #BillySunday

Deal with Stress

     Stress is the tension that is experienced when one has more tasks expending one’s energy than one has energy available. Stress can be a good thing at times. For example, stressed out about having to have another painful cavity can influence one to brush more thoroughly. On the other hand, overcommitting and going out every night to a ministry or social activity can easily become stressful. You always feel behind and can’t catch up on top of the inevitable additional demands of a job and family. In this second instance, stress becomes bad. It just serves as a constant reminder that you’re zapped and have committed to more than God wants you to do.

No one is a "favorite" of God

    The priesthood of the Believer means that we do not have to go through anyone else to gain access to God. We are all priests, therefore, we don’t have to go to a priest to gain access to God. We can worship the Lord ourselves, and individually offer spiritual sacrifices. We can minister as God has gifted us whether we’ve been “ordained as clergy” or not. The priesthood of Believers levels the field—we’re all sinners saved by grace and now children of God. I grew up in a church were the minister was considered the minister and presumably more in touch with God. In ministry thus far, I’ve carried somewhat the same mindset. I know we’re all equal in God’s sight, but the practice of ministry just always seemed to make a clear distinction between the called equipper and the called follower. Now, I’m seeing that I’m equal with everyone else—other ministers, all Christians, etc—we are all Believers and given priesthood to glorify Christ.

Are Leaders AND Followers both necessary?

     Without followers there are no leaders; and unless one is humble enough to follow during seasons and submit to authority then one will be a rebel and tyrant. In the congregation, there will be certain leaders who have been called by God…as well as those who have likely been appointed by man. These leaders need to exercise their leadership in the fear of God. Followers need to follow the example of their authority and honor them, yet test their leadership by the inerrable standard of the Word. Yet leaders must also be followers in many situations, Dale points this out as he examines the Apostles. An illustration would be as follows: a pastor may be the worship leader on Sunday but when he is in a Sunday school class or Wednesday night study and isn’t teaching, he is to be a fellow follower and monopolize the conversation because he’s “in charge” in another area. Yes, he is the overseer of the flock, but there are times he is to follow the leadership of a fellow Believer the Lord has called to task in the Body.

What are Spiritual Gifts for?

    The purpose of all Believers spiritual gifts is for ministry. They are not for fame and glory. They are not for pride and arrogancy. They are not for lording it over others and they are not an excuse for not serving others. Spiritual gifts are for the service that Christ has allotted to us. They are His gifts, from His Spirit, and they are irrevocably given (the gifts and calling of God are without repentance) to empower us to fulfill our specific call.

The Acid test of Ministry...Character

    The acid test of ministry is not your calling from God, it is not your confirmation by the church, and it isn’t your giftedness. The acid test of one’s ministry is character. All the qualifications in Titus and Timothy point to character. Does one govern his household well? Does he have a proper attitude toward money and material things? Does he honor his marriage covenant? Is he faithful to the Word? Character—who you are is the acid test of ministry. You may be able to preach well, write well, administer well, appear well…but if you do not back up what you preach by who you are IN Christ, then your ministry will dissolve the acid of the world’s searching eye.

   Be a witness through the character of Christ in YOU

Qualifications for Ministry? ....Aren't we all ministers?

    The overseer is to be one who honors his marriage, parents his children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, who is faithful to the Scriptures, who does not love money, who is not easily angered, who is hospitable, who is able to teach, and who has a good reputation with outsiders. God has spelled out the needs for overseers—they aren’t degrees, seminary, or most of what the world looks at as the way to success. They are character and basic character qualities. God’s Word is a sufficient standard.

What is Servant Leadership, I mean Really

 

    I believe servant leadership is living like Christ—obeying only the will of our Father. It is not attempting to fulfill everyone’s expectation, whim or request in an effort to be a slave. We are slaves of Christ alone, not man. I believe the most basic thing a minister can do to cultivate the qualities of servant leadership involves two sides of the same coin: one abide in a life of worship of Christ, resting in His vine and easy yoke (be a Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet & not a Martha running around in one’s own strength to win the world for Christ), and obeying Christ. 

Actions Weighed

The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

1 Sam 2:3 (KJV)

    God does not measure what we bring to Him. He weighs it. –Mark Guy Pearse

By Faith

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed’

Heb 11:8 (KJV)

   Wither he went, he knew not; it was enough for him to know that he went with God. He leant not so much upon the promises as upon the Promiser. He looked not on the difficulties of his lot, but on the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, who had designed to appoint his course, and would certainly vindicate Himself. O glorious faith! This is thy work, these are thy possibilities: contentment to sail with sealed orders, because of unwavering confidence in the love and wisdom of the Lord High Admiral: willinghood to rise up, leave all, and follow Christ, because of the glad assurance that earth’s best cannot bear comparison with heaven’s least. –F.B. Meyer

Bring what you just Caught

Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.

John 21:10 (KJV)

   Why was this? Oh, the Lord wants us to minister to Him as well as to receive from Him, and our service finds its true end when it becomes food for our deal Lord. He was pleased to feed on their fish while they were feeding on His. It was the double banquet of which He speaks in the tender message of revelation, “I will sup with him, and he with Me.” –A.B. Simpson

What's your work?

To every man his work.

Mark 13:34 (KJV)

   He does the most for God’s great world who does the best in his own little world. #ThoughtsfortheQuietHour

I will help you says the Lord

I will help thee, saith the Lord

Isaiah 41:14 (KJV)

    O my soul, is not this enough? Dost thou need more strength than the omnipotence of the united Trinity? Dost thou want more wisdom than exists in the Father, more love than displays itself in the Son, or more power than is manifest in the influences of the Spirit? Bring hither thine empty pitcher! Surely this well will fill it. Haste, gather up thy wants, and bring them here—thine emptiness, thy woes, thy needs. Behold, this river of God is full for thy supply; what canst thou desire beside? Go forth, my soul, in this thy might. The eternal God is thine helper!—Spurgeon.

Don't Boast about Tomorrow

Boast not thyself of to morrow

Prov 27:1 (KJV)

    The only preparation for the morrow is the right use of to-day. The stone in the hands of the builder must be put in its place and fitted to receive another. The morrow comes for naught, if to-day is not heeded. Neglect not the call that comes to thee this day, for such neglect is nothing else than boasting thyself of to-morrow. –G. Bowen

Are you Sealed?

In whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise

Eph 1:13 (KJV)

   The Lord puts a seal upon His own, that everybody may know them. The sealing is your case is the Spirit producing in you likeness to the Lord. The holier you become, the seal is the more distinct and plain, the more evident to every passer-by, for then will men take knowledge of you that you have been with Jesus. –Andrew Bonar

At the Command of the Lord, MOVE

At the commandment of the Lord they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the Lord they journeyed

Num 9:23 (KJV)

      This is the secret of peace and calm elevation. If an Israelite, in the desert, had taken it into his head to make some movement independent of Jehovah; if he took it upon himself to move when the crowd was at rest, or to halt while the crowd was moving, we can easily see what the result would have been. And so it will ever be with us. If we move when we ought to rest, or rest when we ought to move, we shall not have the divine presence with us. –C.H.M.

Are you a Living Sub-stone?

What mean these stones?

Josh 4:21 (KJV)

Ye also as lively stones

1 Peter 2:5 (KJV)

   There should be something so remarkable, so peculiar about the live and conversation of a Christian that men should be compelled to ask, “What does this mean?” . . . . Is there anything in your character, words, and habits of life so different from the world around you that men are involuntarily compelled to ask themselves or others, “What does this mean?” Not that there is to be a forced singularity, a peculiarity for the sake of being peculiar; that were merely to copy the pharisaism of ancient days. . . . Oh, that we might realize that this is the purpose for which God sends us into the world, as He sent His only begotten Son!—S.A. Blackwood

In Christ all the Fulness Dwells

 

For it pleased the Father that in him (Christ) should all fulness dwell; 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

Colossians 1:19-21

Everlasting Etchings

For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.

Luke 7:5 (KJV)

   Marble and granite are perishable monuments, and their inscriptions may be seldom read. Carve your names on human hearts; they alone are immortal! –Theodore Cuyler

This is God's Way-F.B. Meyer

therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you

Isaiah 30:18 (KJV)

   This is God’s way. In the darkest hours of the night His tread draws near across the billows. As the day of execution is breaking, the angel comes to Peter’s cell. When the scaffold for Mordecai is complete, the royal sleeplessness leads to a reaction in favor of the threatened race.

    Ah, soul, it may have come to the worst with thee ere (before) thou art delivered; but thou wilt be! God may keep thee waiting, but He will ever be mindful of His covenant, and will appear to fulfil His inviolable word. –F.B. Meyer

Tempted beyond what you can Resist?

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)

God is with you for the Whole Ride

You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will receive me to glory.

Psalms 73:24 (ESV)

When All else fails, what do you have?

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalms 73:26 (ESV)