DO EVERYTHING WELL

Mark 7:37
37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. "He has done everything well," they said. NIV** I like this verse. “everything well.” Often times we get in so much of a hurry that we don’t do things well. I can do things that are passing grades to others but deep inside me I know I should have done better. I’m not talking about people who are perfectionist who are never satisfied with almost any job they do. I’m talking about people who know that they can do better than what they are doing and yet they settle for less. As a pastor, I can see out in the congregation many people who are just getting buy in many areas of their lives. They are living good lives when they should be living great lives. I pray that they one day will wake up and see their potential in the kingdom of God and in this world as a testimony to others. When I stand at the gates of heaven, I don’t want Jesus to say pretty good done you good and faithful servant…. I want Him to say “Well done you good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your God.”

IS WHAT YOU HEAR TURNED INTO FEAR?

Mark 5:35-37
35 While He was still speaking, they came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, "Your daughter has died; why trouble the Teacher anymore?" 36 But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, said to the synagogue official, " Do not be afraid any longer, only believe." NASU
** Jesus heard and said…. He heard then said. When we hear things that are negative or bad news, what is the first thing that comes out of our mouths? Jesus’ first words were “Do not be afraid any onger, only believe.” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been told bad or scary news and then feel that cold chill bump fear that rolls over my flesh sometimes to the point that I feel like I’m getting light headed. I’m getting better because I’ve been listening to Jesus more and the world less. The more I listen to the world thru TV or movies or shows that incubate fear the more that fear grows when I’m faced with bad news. So also it is with the Word of God. The more I listen to things that are Word driven or read the bible or hang around people who speak God words, I find that I’m getting stronger against those fear attacks. This whole reading today is a definite faith builder and a fear killer. Reading scriptures like today plants seeds of faith that will grow for years to come. So …… “Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.”

ABUNDANT HARVEST

Mark 4:20
20 "And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."
NASU
** I want to be a 100 fold Christian! I’m not happy with 30 or 60….. it’s got to be 100 with me. I know that some people are happy just being a producer and that is fine, but I want to have so much harvest that as I’m carrying and having it carried to the throne, I see Jesus smiling from ear to ear. Look how much He has done for me. Look at the price He paid for me. How much more I should be producing great works of harvest to show Him my live back. So how do I produce a 100 fold harvest? Well, I must take care of the soil that the seed is planted in. I know that the seed is good, (it comes from God), so if the soil is my heart, then I’ve got to keep my heart pure and fertilized with good stuff that will help the seed grow. Then there’s the watering. What am I watering my life with? There is so much work to do to produce the 100 fold that I long for. So each day I will ask Him what I need to do to keep my heart’s soil willing and ready to receive seed that will produce an abundant harvest for His kingdom.

BLASPHEMIES

Mark 3:28-30
28 " Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin" — 30 because they were saying, "He has an unclean spirit." NASU
** All my life I thought that “blaspheming the Holy Spirit” was dying rejecting God. That is not what Jesus was talking about here. He is talking to people who hated Him so much that they, with their hearts and mouth, were saying that Jesus was demon possessed. The mercy for people inside me wants to believe that everyone can repent and be forgiven but I know that there are people out there that hates Jesus Christ so much that they don’t want to be forgiven even if they had the chance. Because when you blaspheme the Holy Spirit it is because you have come to the point that you don’t want to be a part of anything that has to do with Jesus. I feel sorry for these people because of what they are missing but it’s their choice not mine to reject Christ. If they’ve come to the place of rejection it means that they have had the opportunity to hear the Gospel and they stand without excuse before God. How sad it is for them for being enemies of the cross of Christ and enemies to the bride of Christ the church because they have no future after this life other than an eternity without God and a fire that never goes out. Jesus, please pour your Spirit out on our land and move people’s hearts to know you more and receive your mercy and forgiveness.

WATCH WHAT YOU SAY

Num 12:8
8 I speak to him face to face, directly and not in riddles! He sees the LORD as he is. Should you not be afraid to criticize him?"NLT
** Here we have the confrontation between God and Aaron and Miriam. This should be a lesson to all of us about criticizing men and women of God. God will not put up with it and He will allow things to happen to us if we do it. Now I don’t have an exact answer to what He would do to us but I fear God too much to test Him and see. Often times we get so carless with our words that we allow ourselves to say things that should not be said about ministries and other ministers. I’ve been guilty of it several times and I know I’ve been confronted by God before and I have repented and choose not to give my “opinion” again unless it directly conflicts with our church and will affect the people in a negative way. I’m not sure why good Christians do not live long and fulfilled lives, but reading this passage I’ve found that without repentance and forgiveness from the person that they’ve criticized maybe God takes them home early. I’m not saying that everyone that dies before their time does this I’m just wondering how many Christians do die of some disease or something because they just couldn’t keep their mouth shut about some anointed man or woman of God….. What do you think?

IN FRONT OF THEM ALL

Acts 27:35
35 After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. NIV
** Paul was never intimidated to honor God or speak about God no matter who or what was present. I want to be more like Paul in my walk with Jesus. As I study this weeks sermon, I realize that in many of my situations I have left my first love. God is not first in many decisions and things that I do. Here it shows that Paul still had his first love experience with Jesus because he did not falter in giving thanks and speaking about God in front of them all. Often times Christians get so intimidated that they can’t even pray for their food in public because they are afraid that someone will be upset about it. They have left their first love. My choice is to do whatever He asks no matter who is there and what they will think of me.

KEEP WITNESSING

Acts 26:25-29
25 "I am not insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do." 28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" 29 Paul replied, "Short time or long — I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains." NIV
** What an excellent example of the type of Christians we need to be! Here we see Paul, in prison, in chains, at the point of possible death, still preaching the gospel. And not only preaching but preaching to the very ones that could end his life. I’m amazed at how easy some Christians turn from the truth. Many people turn from Jesus if they don’t get their way in what they want when they want and how they want. I’ve seen this over and over again. Their attitude is, “if God doesn’t come thru with answering my prayer, then I’m going somewhere else.” And guess what. God will not be put in a box and He refuses to be held captive by someone’s selfish commands or desires. So what you don’t get the car you want. So what you don’t get to marry the one you thought was yours. So what you didn’t get the raise like you thought you deserved. So what all your money went down the tubes when the stocks crashed. So what you didn’t get the president you thought should have been in office. So what! What will you do now? If you don’t get your way so what? Is your life all about you? Or is there something greater that drives you? Are you not crucified with Christ? What cross do you carry? Is it one of self pity, self desires & my way? I just don’t get all the wining going on in the church today. I just want you to know that GOD IS IN CONTROL no matter what the out come. He knows what’s best for us and if we will submit to His will in our lives then we can live joyful and fruitful lives. Yea, troubles will come, we won’t get healed or heal someone every time we pray. We will not always get raises when we want or deserve them and some times we might even loose our jobs. FOCUS, Greater is He that is in you than any of this stuff you chase after. Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you. BUT MOST OF ALL…… Keep witnessing!

WE NEED WORKERS

** In Numbers 3 and 4 we see the work force of putting the temple together. Often times when I read thru chapters like this I hurry along forgetting that it’s during these chapters that many people worked very hard to keep things going. I can’t even imagine the task alone of taking the temple apart and putting it safely away without damaging the articles or poles etc. When we first pioneered Celebration Church set up and took down all the equipment for the first 2 years. It was amazing to me how quickly things got broken and damaged by just putting them up and taking them down each week. These Levites were amazing people. And they did this for 40 years! I remember after 2 years I was already tired of the set up and take down I wondered if this was ever going to end. Thank God for faithful people that came to CFC and helped me set up and take down. Most of those people are still with me today.
I think it’s because they felt like they were building ownership into the church kind of like an investment. I often find that many people that are not investing in the church by doing something. Are the ones that complain the most and are the first to leave when things get tough. Thank God for faithful workers!

GUILTY OF ONE THING

Acts 24:14
14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. NIV
** You can blame me for many things that I do wrong that is untrue and I will fight you on these things BUT one thing I will not fight you on if you blame me for and that is I AM A FOLLOWER OF THE GREAT GOD JEHOVAH! I will not deny it or try to talk you out of blaming me for it. I believe in Jesus Christ and I believe His death on the cross was the sacrifice that was needed once and for all for my sins. AND I believe that He rose from the dead on the third day. I will admit that I am guilty of believing that Jesus Christ is the ONLY WAY to heaven and that there is no other name given among men that we can be saved ONLY the name of Jesus Christ. I will stand and testify with you that I AM GUILTY! And I am happy to suffer for Him and give my life for Him…..I am guilty of this ONE THING!..... JESUS!

WHAT AWAITS US?

Acts 20:22-23
22 "And now, behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. NASU
**Amazing! I don’t know very many people who could or would keep moving on if they knew that afflictions and bonds wait them. Oh how I like to be pain free. I try so hard to go thru life without any hurt or pain or disappointment and yet it seems like life will always be life. Things still happen against my will and no matter how hard I pray or confess or focus on staying unhurt, it still comes knocking at my door. So what? What’s the problem? Am I not man enough to face it head on? Am I not Godly enough to know that with Him by my side I can face anything? Well, just as I taught my children so I say to myself. “there is only one thing I know, and that is… I know nothing.” Troubles will always come and trials and all the junk in this world. But Jesus said “be of good cheer, I have overcome the world!” I face each day not concerned about myself. I must remember that “I” was crucified with Christ. I must remember that “I” offered my body a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to Him. All the stuff? It don’t matter anymore because thru it I get to become more like Him. He allows it in my life because thru it I not only become more like Him but because He wants me to be a warrior and fight back against the devil’s schemes. I still am smart enough that I don’t yell “BRING IT ON!” but I do allow myself to face each task, trial, affliction with purpose and am focusing on WINNING!

DEFILED LAND?

Lev 18:27
27 for all these things were done by the people who lived in the land before you, and the land became defiled. NIV
** What things? Evil sexual sins and acts of disobedience. God had Israel destroy other countries and cities NOT because He is an evil God but because they were evil people! They were so evil doing all the sins listed before verse 27 that the land even became barren and unfruitful. Imagine doing sin that is so evil before the Lord that the dirt you are standing on refuses to produce crop because of it. This would begin to shine some light on why some of the countries of the world are barren and the people are starving to death. It makes me wonder is someone as their forefathers were involved in some or all of these evil sexual sins and the land refuses to produce. So all the help that we are giving them will not be helpful until they repent from their parents and grandparents and great…. Great grandparents sexual sins….. makes you wonder huh?

CONFIRMATIONS

Acts 18:8-11
9 And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; 10 for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city." 11 And he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. NASU
** Isn’t it good when you get a confirmation that the way you are walking is right? I must admit, every once in a while I need a message, a miracle, a word from God to encourage me or show me that the direction I am taking my family or my church is the right way. I’ve never had an audible word spoken to me out of the sky but I have had people speak to me that said things about me and to me that I know without a shadow of a doubt it could only come from God because of the context of the word. Then there was the 70’s when everyone had a word from God for everyone else. Boy what abuse of God’s power! I’m glad I was not a pastor back in those days, I’m sure they had a real mess to clean up every week trying to put out fires that some people who thought that they were God’s mouth piece made. I still believe in words from God today. I’m sad because of the abuse of it in the 70’s, we rarely hear about it anymore. Still, I am always aware that God is speaking to me throughout my life and confirming that I am doing the right thing and that I’m on the right pathway.

HAVE YOU UPSET THE WORLD LATELY?

Acts 17:6-7
6 When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have upset the world have come here also; 7 and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus." NASU
** “upset the world?” we (Christians) try so hard to fit in with the world and we want all of us to get along with each other. Well, I’ve got some sad news for you who think we (Christians and sinners) will all sit around the campfire and sing cozy songs together. It’s not going to happen. Jesus was very clear that if they persecuted Him, they will also persecute us. If they hated Him, they will also hate us. Jesus said, Matt 10:34-36
34 "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace , but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn "'a man against is father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— 36 a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'
NIV
**Why? Because darkness hates light, bad hates good, unrighteous hates righteous. Now I will give you a bit of advice. If you don’t want to be hated or persecuted and if you want everyone to like you, then just fit in and stop being a follower of Jesus Christ. In this life you will get along fine but it will not be worth what is going to happen in the life to come. Everyone will be judged by “guess who?” Jesus Christ Himself! He clearly says in the verses just before the above Matt 10:32-33
32 "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.NIV** This life is too short to give in to our comforts and give up forever with Him. Have you upset the world lately?

FIND YOUR PURPOSE

Acts 13:36
36 "For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay; NASU
** I like this verse. “After he had served the purpose of God in his own generation..” I think that is the way everyone should die. After serving God’s purpose. So, what is His purpose in your generation? If you don’t know, then how will you know when your work of God’s purpose is done? A lot of people go thru life never finding the purpose they are here for. How sad it is to be just wandering thru this life tossed back and forth without nothing to set your feet on. Well, I have great news! Jesus is the Rock and Fortress of our life. You don’t have to be tossed back and forth. He is the solid rock that you can set your feet on and stand in the midst of the storms of life. And His purpose for your life? That’s for you to find in the readings of His scripture the bible. That’s why I don’t think that the bible is ever boring or hard to read because I read it like a love letter or a road map for my life. Every verse He put in there for me and I must find what He is saying to me each day. Then each day I can SERVE MY PURPOSE.

JUST AS THE LORD COMMANDED MOSES

Ex 39:32
32 So all the work on the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, was completed. The Israelites did everything just as the LORD commanded Moses.
NIV
** “Just as the Lord commanded Moses.” Over and over again he repeats this. Everything was done “just as the Lord commanded Moses.” God has a command for each of us just as He had with Moses and the question is; are we following the command “just as the Lord has commanded us?” The reward? His presence!
Ex 40:34-35
34 Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. NIV
** Obedience always brings a blessing with it. In this case, God came down and filled the tabernacle with His presence. If you think about it, that is exactly what people want today…. The presence of God in their lives. What does it take? Obedience to do everything “just as the Lord commanded you.”

LARGE NUMBERS

Acts 11:21-25
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. 23 Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; 24 for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord. NASU** I want large numbers to turn to the Lord! I want the fruit of having the hand of the Lord with me too. And if I am a good man then I want considerable numbers to be brought to the Lord too. Is this too much to ask? I know that it is what the Lord wants and I want that in my life too. Then what is the key to open this door of large numbers being brought to the Lord? Oh God this is my prayer to you today. Show me what are the keys to seeing large numbers coming to you. I want what you want and I ask that you allow me the privilege of bringing these large numbers into your kingdom.

SKILLS

Ex 35:30-35
30 Then Moses said to the sons of Israel, "See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 31 "And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding and in knowledge and in all craftsmanship; 32 to make designs for working in gold and in silver and in bronze, 33 and in the cutting of stones for settings and in the carving of wood, so as to perform in every inventive work. 34 "He also has put in his heart to teach, both he and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. 35 " He has filled them with skill to perform every work of an engraver and of a designer and of an embroiderer, in blue and in purple and in scarlet material, and in fine linen, and of a weaver, as performers of every work and makers of designs.
NASU
** Gifts within us. God has given each of us gifts to do certain things well and it’s up to us to use those gifts either for our glory or for His glory. Here Bezalel, was a man with great craftsman skills given to him by God. I would imagine that for the first part of his life he used those skills to do the enemies work in Egypt. Crafting idols and idol temples for Pharaoh. But now he gets to use that God given skill to glorify God’s house! I’m sure he was excited and ready to get to work. We too, before we came to Christ, used our special skills to do the enemies work. Now that we have left Egypt so to speak, we can now use those skills to bring glory to God and even as the bible says, we can work for our employers “as if we were working for the Lord.” I also want to add that this man skilled in craftsmanship did not horde his skill to himself but trained others to work with him in his labor of love to God. You should not be the only one doing what you do for the Lord, you should train others to work with you so you can bring more and more glory to God.