Whose Reputation Are You Concerned About?

I was at my church's Sunday evening service and our pastor talked about the Faith of a Great Leader.
Hebrews 11:23-29

I. Decision of Refusal(v. 24)

II. Decision of Rejection(v. 25)

III. Decision of Reward(v. 26)

   A. He rejected a title.

   B. He rejected the pleasures of Egypt.

  C. He rejected the riches of Egypt.

IV. Decision of Resolve(vs. 27-29)

(My Notes on the Sermon- We can be offered all the things that the world has to offer, and come away from it all empty-handed. If we can refuse what the world has to offer; there is a much greater reward in Heaven. The question that I would ask here is eternal riches or temporary pleasures of the world? Rejection is hard to deal with for most of us, but what did Christ suffer for us? I have already asked the question about rewards, so what will you choose eternal or temporal? We all have a title in some form or another, but Moses chose his God over what Egypt could offer him. When Moses made these decisions; he knew what he had to do and God guided him on the journey that he had ahead of him.

I am resolved no longer to linger, Charmed by the world's delight;

Things that are higher, things that are nobler- These have allured my sight.

I will hasten to Him, Hasten so glad and free,

Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.

(I Am Resolved- Palmer Hartsough and James H. Fillmore)

Moses was the great leader that was talked about last night. He used a man with a speech impediment to speak for His people. If He could use someone like this; He can use me. God used many people in the Bible and He is still using people today. Live life like God's reputation is on the line. We do represent our God to those around us.

Why Are We So Busy Judging?

"Judge not, that ye be not judged."(Matthew 7:1) We have read the rest of this passage. Let us look at ourselves and recognize where we fall short. And even when we have done that let us refrain from the judgment. We all know what sin is and we know how to recognize it, but when we begin to judge even the greatest writers of the past about what they have chosen to write about, it has gone to far. John Bunyan, C. S. Lewis, and E. M. Bounds knew what they were writing about when they penned their works. Christian made a journey to the Celestial City, but encountered many of the things that we encounter on a daily basis during that journey. This has been read over the years and helped people understand the simple things of our Christian lives. C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia give I think the best representation of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. E. M. Bounds knew that there was a need for prayer in America, and that was at the beginning of the twentieth century and we still need prayer for our country.

What Did Jesus Do?

We all hear, What Would Jesus Do? Instead let us focus on what He did. He created us in His image and all things around us. He brought His people out of Egypt. He brought the Kings of Israel to power, and David and Solomon were two kings though flawed God chose to use them in leading His people. He came to us in the form of a child, and dwelt among us. He did many great things to show His power, like healing the blind and crippled. He taught us how we should live. He sacrificed Himself, so that we might have eternal life. He gave us His Word so that we might know Him better.

What has Jesus done in your life? He has blessed you with salvation. Let us consider all the blessings that He has given us. This being the thanksgiving season; think on the blessings that mean something to you. It is the simple things of life that are a blessing to me. My God, my salvation, my family, and my needs are taken care of by the One Who owns it all.

Don't Blame God

So many people blame God for bad things that are happening to them. These circumstances that they have found themselves is of their own choosing. Sometimes God uses those situations to show them how they need to change. It is in some of most difficult situations that God shows His power more abundantly. When you are surrounded by difficulty there is an escape, and that is through Christ. This life was not meant to be easy, but it is something that we brought upon ourselves because we chose to believe the lies of Satan in the Garden of Eden. We are the ones to blame for our sinful state. God did not leave us to ourselves and our situations, but He did give us salvation from our sins through the blood of Christ.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."(I John 1:9)

We need to admit/confess our sins to Christ and He will forgive our sins and He will cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

"And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."(I John 2:2)

He has proclaimed us righteous by His blood sacrifice and He also made that same sacrifice for the whole world. He did not exclude anyone in His sacrifice, but He offered Himself freely. There are no strings attached to this gift. Please accept this gift of salvation, and stop blaming God for the trouble you are in.

Who is this King of Glory?

“Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.”(Psalms 24:8)

This King of glory is Jesus Christ, and no one else can claim that title, except Him. None of the kings of kingdom's past can claim that title, and none of the kings of present and future kingdoms will hold that title either. If someone that has just recently become a Christian cannot explain who Jesus is; then are they really saved? God's Word is more than just a history or fairytale book that some would call it. The Word of God is a living book that speaks absolute truth. Yes, there is absolute truth. I would not say if I did not believe it. All who seek comfort in other things are seeking after vane things. God has sent a Comforter. This life is not about comfort, but He is there in those times of hopelessness. We need to look at all our circumstances and know that He is there.

To those of you that would like to stay oblivious to your eternal destination; there is a Hell, and if you do not accept Christ as your personal Savior; then that is where you will end up. Your attempts at being good and trying to improve the human condition are nothing but filthy rags in the sight of God. The only One that can improve the human condition is Christ. We are sinners, and yes, you are a sinner too. Once you recognize that you are sinner; then you have your eyes opened to what you are in need of, a Savior. Jesus can save anyone, a drunkard, a prostitute, an adulterer, a drug abuser, etc. We are more than just physical, moral beings; we are spiritual beings. Even to the Jehovah's Witnesses, the only way that you can be happy is in Christ and Him alone. Man tries to come up with step by step programs to fix the human condition, but that is only a temporary fix. The Word of God gives you everything that you need to know about who we are, who He is, and what He is able to do in our lives; if we are only willing to let Him change our lives.

Some people believe that God was not capable of creating the universe that we inhabit. They all say that it was a thing of chance. There are many things out there that we do not understand yet, but when God wants us to know He will open our eyes. It is recorded in Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth." The Bible did not say in the beginning something just exploded and everything was in perfect order. My question to you, How does order come out of chaos? Chaos has never brought order. I believe that God took seven days to create all that we see. What little brains that I have; I am amazed at all that God did in seven days. No man could accomplish what God did in seven days. If you need to understand Creation; there is a person that can help you find answers in Genesis, Ken Ham.

http://www.answersingenesis.org

If you are not satisfied with the answers that you find there; then go directly to the Word of God. I am trying to lead you in the right direction not mislead you. All the answers that man supposedly has will only lead to feeling even more lost.

Don't Ignore the Calling

"Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it."(I Thessalonians 5:24)

The Lord does not call people and leave them to fend for themselves. He leads through His Holy Spirit. Prayer is a part of the calling, because without prayer we do not know where He is leading. The Word of God gives us the Scripture to guide us through some of difficult parts of our calling. "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."(Hebrews 13:5) I have seen many people ignore their calling, and be miserable because they ignored it. He has given my family a clear calling to another ministry, and I am willing to take up that calling and minister where He would have me minister. Their are things that deter us from our calling, and we need to let those things go.

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."(Hebrews 12:1)

I ran into someone that had a clear calling to the chaplaincy in the Army, and he encouraged me to go forward and not look back. When I go into basic training, I will be laying aside everything that so easily besets me, and running the race with patience.

What Can I Say?

I am no profound orator or cunning with words, but I am a man that dwells on the promises of God. He spoke the worlds into existence and yet He spoke to me. The words of life He uttered, and I have heard His words and I have a new life in Him. What can I say? You ask, I can say that your only hope is in Christ not in anything that the world has to offer. Don't look for the answers from the government or material things, because they will leave you just as lost and hopeless. Take time to find hope and as God spoke through Paul in I Corinthians 13:7 about charity, "hopeth all things." This is God's love for us.

Three in the morning,
And I'm still awake,
So I picked up a pen and a page,
And I started writing,
Just what I'd say,
If we were face to face,
I'd tell you just what you mean to me,
I'd tell you these simple truths,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say,

Last time we spoke,
You said you were hurting,
And I felt your pain in my heart,
I want to tell you,
That I keep on praying,
Love will find you where you are,
I know cause I've already been there,
So please hear these simple truths,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say,

From one simple life to another,
I will say,
Come find peace in the Father,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
Thank God for each day,
His love will find a way,
These are the words I would say 
(The Words I Would Say- Sidewalk Prophets)

God can do great things through His people, if they would only let Him. Don't be one of those people that only takes care of themselves and not others. I can say that Jesus set the example of what we can say of Him in His earthly ministry. Be as Christ after coming down from the mountaintop and have compassion on your fellow man.