WHAT GIVES YOU AWAY?

Matt 26:73
73 A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away." NASU
** What gives you away? I mean, do people know you are a follower of Christ? How? How do they know it? Do you have to wear Christian Tshirts to tell them or do you have to put a bumpersticker on your car for them to recognize you? What is it that gives you away to others that you are a true follower of Jesus Christ? Peter was recognized by the way he talked. Even when Peter was in the middle of denying Jesus, his speech gave him away. Isn’t it strange that either try too hard for others to know that they are Christians or they hide the fact very well? And often times those who have neon signs flashing showing the fact that they are Christians are usually the ones who fall flat on their faces with hidden sins that come out. Maybe that’s why so many Christians hide the fact that they are Christians….. because they feel they can’t be constant in their walk with Jesus. We’ve got to start somewhere…. We will all fall into sin sooner or later. Some more than others but we all will fall. So what is the answer? Being accepted by Christ rather than man when we fall and being prepared so we won’t fall as much and often because we walk closely to the Father. Wow, so much to write and not enough time or page to finish…. Let us be found guilty in our action and voice in people finding out that we too are followers of Jesus Christ.

HIS TIME IS NEAR

Matt 24:32-33
"Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; 33 so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. NASU
** It can’t be any clearer than this….. Jesus clearly says that we will clearly know the season of when He is coming back for us. He says “You KNOW that summer is near.” So why does everyone get all up in arms when someone starts confessing that the return of the Lord is very soon? People are so afraid that we’ll miss the date of His return….. We probably will miss the date, but the bible is very direct in saying that we will know the seasons of His return. In Thessalonians it says that that day should not over take you as a thief. Why? Because we know the time of His return. Not the day or the hour but the season or time of His return. I say unto you, “lift up your eyes, because His return is very very near.”

JUST SERVE

Matt 20:28
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." NASU
** I just saw a question on facebook the other day concerning people being upset because someone sat in their pew in the church. Now I’ve been in the church my whole life and I must admit that people get pretty picky when it comes to where they sit and if someone sits in their seat. Sounds like first class servitude huh? I mean, what’s more important, to get to sit in YOUR seat or for a visitor, a person that is there to find Jesus, to sit in your seat? I’m afraid of what some of our long term Christians would answer to that question. I can’t wait until I see the church become the servants that Jesus intended us to be in the first place. I mean, if we all would just be servants and put ourselves last in every situation, I would be amazing at how fast the kingdom of God would grow. I used to sing a song when I was little and growing up in the church. It went like this; J-O-Y, J-O-Y, Tell me what it means. Jesus first and Yourself last, and Others in between….. Just SERVE!

HE'S GOOD TO US

Matt 19:29
29 "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. NASU
** Sometimes the cost of following Jesus is everything. Sometimes you will have to leave the things and people you love to do the work He has called you to do. But oh the great rewards there are for those who put their trust in Him and obey His commands. He says that the rewards are not only heavenly but also earthly rewards while we’re here. God is not a bad God. He wants us to have a great life here on the earth and He is preparing a place for us after we die. He loves us so much that He gave His only Son to die for us. Why would we think that He would want us to be in misery and pain after all He did for us? Yes sometimes we will have to leave those we love to do the work He is calling us to do but He will not leave us alone and His rewards far out weigh the stuff we have to go thru for the sake of the Gospel.

CHECK YOUR STUFF

Matt 6:19-21
19 " Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. NASU
** Where’s your stuff? I mean, how much stuff do you have and what does it look like? Is your stuff stealable? Do you have to guard it? Are you afraid you’ll lose it? Is it eternal or earthly stuff? Where ever your stuff is, that’s where your heart is. Stuff = heart. Today make a list of all my stuff and see if it will go with me when you die. Make a list and examine it and see if any of the stuff profits you here on earth or there in heaven. God is a great barterer, He is willing for you to trade Him the earth stuff for some heavenly stuff if you’ll let Him. Check your stuff!

OBEDIENT

Matt 2:13-14
13 Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him."
14 So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt.
NASU
** Joseph was a very obedient man. This man amazes me with this whole season of his life. It doesn’t say a whole lot about his life after the birth of Jesus, but all the times it does mention him, he is doing exactly what the Holy Spirit tells him to do. I like Joseph, he seems to be a man of integrity and for a man to take this on and put himself in line with a lot of grief and accusations shows me that he was a great man of God.

TESTS

2 Cor 13:5
5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you — unless indeed you fail the test? NASU
** I hate tests! I know, I know, some of you love the thrill of setting down and marking on a piece of paper answers that, you probably studied for, and getting it back with great grades. I on the other hand, do not like test. I do not like them at the school I do not like them on a stool. I do not like them in the house. I do not like them with my spouse. I do not like test not even when I cram, I do not like them Sam I am! I love giving test but when it comes to getting them, I know that they are there to make me look stupid! HOWEVER, God tells us to test ourselves that way we can see how we can get to where He wants us to be. Our work book and study book is the bible and our test is not on paper but it is in the every day life that you live. Does your life line up with the study book that you read every day? Take the test and see.

SOW, SOW, SOW

2 Cor 9:6
6 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. NASU
** Ok, so….. now I know why sometimes I’m not reaping the harvest that I thought I should…. I’m not sowing the seed like I should have to receive a harvest that I thought! I mean, if I’m expecting God to add to the church the harvest of souls into His kingdom, then I’ve got to plant seed that produces the harvesting of souls. Ok, another way…. If I want to see a lot of people come to Christ (harvest) then I’ve got to TELL a lot of people about Christ and His saving grace. (seed). I’m amazed at how many people will be depressed or upset because things aren’t happening in their lives but when you dig into their lives trying to help them, you can see that they have not been planting bountifully but sparingly. Want your finances to change? “give and it will be given you, pressed down shaken together and running over. Want to have a better love relationship with your spouse? Read and DO 1 Cor. Chapter 13. What do you want? Then seek first HIS kingdom and His righteousness and ALL these things will be added unto you.

SPEAK IN TONGUES

1 Cor 14:1-3
2 For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. NASU
** We don’t speak in tongues enough. I know that I don’t anyway. Sometimes I can get so wrapped up in doing life that I forget that the power to edify myself is in the speaking in tongues. And what does it matter if people around me like or dislike me if I speak in tongues? Isn’t it very clear that when I speak in tongues I’m speaking to God anyway? I’m not talking about walking around and shouting out in a unknown tongue in public places but just spending time in your prayer closet and praying in the spirit. Or in your car or walking around just praying in tongues under your breath. It is important that we spend ample amount of time allowing the Spirit to pray thru us to not only build us up but also to pray mysteries for others all around the world according to the Spirit’s will. I LIKE IT!

BIG BIG GOD

Job 37:5
5 "God thunders with His voice wondrously,
Doing great things which we cannot comprehend.
NASU
** Who knows God? How can anyone ever think that they really know God? This whole chapter makes me realize that not only do we not know God but that I don’t think that we are really afraid of how powerful He really is. Even in these chapters He makes a statement that “He even tells the oceans how far they can go upon the land.” Is that power or what?! I’m glad I serve a God that I don’t know, cause if I knew everything about Him I would be able to figure Him out and we know what kind of a man is the man who thinks he has everything figured out….. very scary person indeed! However, God is bigger than our imagination or anything we think we know. Even these great scientist who have sent telescopes flying thru the universe and think that they have found answers to our existence, have found more and more galaxies beyond us and it blows their minds and they don’t even know that they haven’t even made a pin mark on all the great things God has created and has in store for those who love Him.

PASSION OF PAUL

1 Cor 9:16
16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. NASU
1 Cor 9:22
22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. NASU
** We need to have the same passion as Paul…. “woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.” If we really felt this way then we would be constantly telling others about God’s greatness and the good news of Him dying for the whole world. Later in the chapter Paul says he became all things to all men just to save some. What are we becoming to win the world to Christ? Am I so comfortable in doing things my own way or being so busy on me that I forget to present the gospel to them? I must try harder to break out of the me box and do what the Spirit is calling me to do.

SHORT TIME

1 Cor 7:29-31
29 But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; 30 and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; 31 and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it; for the form of this world is passing away. NASU
** If Paul thought the time was short here, how much more should we believe that the time is short before the return of the Lord? Note: He’s not saying that you neglect your husbands or wives and put ministry first, he’s reminding us that ultimately the time we spend here compared to eternity is very very short so we must make sure we are doing all we can to spread the gospel to as many as we can before our lives are over. This is why I challenge those people that are getting married to make sure they have the same passion in ministry together so they can get more done for the kingdom while also being able to spend more time together.

GOD'S JOY IS OUR JOY

Gal 4:6-7
7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. NASU
** We are sons and daughters of God! How amazing it is that He loves me and even though I know that I fail Him continually and I don’t even act like a son at times He still loves me. I am so glad that I serve a God that works with all my imperfections and uses them to not only bring glory and joy to Him but also to bring joy to myself too. You see, God gets joy out of bringing joy to us. He loves to see us happy and prospering. He loves to see us in health and reaping all the benefits of this life. If He didn’t then why would He have even created the garden of Eden in all it’s spender and glory? The bible says in genesis that after God created all the earth and man and woman He looked and saw “IT WAS VERY GOOD.”

HOW TO GET WISDOM

Job 29:1
28 "And to man He said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.'" NASU
** What is wisdom? It’s the key to everything! Wisdom guides you and helps you along life’s journey. After rambling on and on chapter after chapter, Job finally tells the answer to wisdom…. “Fear of the Lord is wisdom.” And now I know why there are so many unwise people out there in the world, because we have stopped fearing God. Often times in the past year I’ve felt like I’ve made so many mistakes and I’ve made so many wrong decisions, but one thing I do and I’ve always done and I will continue to do is fear God. He is so awesome and powerful and He can remove me from this earth anytime He pleases. I lay my life down in His hands and trust in Him and His greatness and awesome power to walk me thru the dark times in this life and lead me to the light and victory. Lord God, I choose to trust you today with my whole heart and lean not on my own understanding!

PREACH THE GOSPEL

Mark 16:15
15 And He said to them, " Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. NASU
** This is our commission, our purpose, our ultimate goal….. “Preach the gospel to all creation.” So…… it makes me take a step back from all the things that I am doing now and ask myself. “Is what I’m doing, and all that I am involved in, preaching the gospel?” Am I leading people to Christ or to me? My main reason in life is to preach the gospel so I must pattern my day and everyday to preach the “good news” gospel to someone that crosses my path.

WHEN?

Mark 13:28-30
28 "Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 "Even so, you too, when you see these things happening, recognize that He is near, right at the door. NASU
** When? When, when, when, when? Is He right at the door? I believe He is….. I hope He is. How much longer Lord Jesus will you allow them to blaspheme your name? How much longer do we have to wait for your return? I believe You are close at the door and are ready to open the door and come and get us. Is Your day still a thousand years? Or are we at the end of the day and you are ready to come and bring us home…. Come quickly Lord Jesus!