A Sorrowful “But”

Let us muse again today from Matthew 14:30 and the theme of Jesus the king. In the study today we find a sorrowful “but”. Peter is by faith walking on the water. The Bible says but when he saw the storm, he took his eyes off Jesus and he began to sink. Let us not miss the lesson to always set our eyes on things above and not on  things below.

Rev TG

What is in your heart?

What is in your heart?

II Chronicles 6:7 Now it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.

Solomon knew what his dad so profoundly desired. David, Solomon’s dad, had wanted to build a house to the name of the Lord God of Israel. He had wanted to honor his God. The son knew what his dad wanted and dreamed of doing with his life.

Now Solomon is fulfilling his dad’s dream. The house, the temple of God, is built. God is to be honored, glorified, and worshipped. It wasn’t about David or Solomon’s name but the name of the Lord God of Israel.

I see two beautiful truths illustrated in this verse. One, your children know what you love. They know if you adore God with all of your heart. They know if that is what you think, dream, and work to accomplish. The second thing is that God might not allow me to do what I dream of but just might permit me to be a bridge to others to help them accomplish something so great.

Solomon built the temple his dad dreamed of building. Solomon used materials his dad had prepared. Solomon’s name will be associated with the temple, but I do not think that bothered David. David just wanted to see the temple built for the Lord God. It was never about David.

What is in your heart? What would your children say? Are you helping others accomplish things you might never achieve because you are working for the greater glory of God instead of yourself?

REV AG

the voice of the Shepherd

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:10

Jesus told a parable about a sheep that was lost.  It had wandered away from the flock and did not know how to get back.  Separated from the shepherd and the other sheep, the lost sheep was alone and in danger.  The shepherd left the flock to seek for the one that was lost and when he found it, he laid it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

Like sheep, we have all gone astray.  In His parable, Jesus is talking about being spiritually lost – separated from God by sin, alone and in danger with no way to get back home.  Jesus is the good Shepherd who left heaven to seek and to save that which was lost. 

If you ever feel lost, listen for the voice of the Shepherd, for He is seeking for you.
Rev DB

Billy Graham

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. Romans 1:16

Paul had the heart of an evangelist.  The Bible records some of his missionary work.  This passage reveals his heart and passion.  He longed to visit Rome and preach the gospel of Christ.  He knew the gospel would save those who believed.

Yesterday, we lost a man who has preached to more people than anyone in history.  I believe Billy Graham shared Paul’s conviction about the gospel of Christ.  While you and I may not be called to travel the world, we should share the desire to see the world saved. 

Let us live today unashamed of the gospel of Christ.

Rev. DB

More than just signs

Genesis 8:8-11
Gen 8:8  Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground;
Gen 8:9  But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.
Gen 8:10  And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark;
Gen 8:11  And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.

One must learn, situations and survival demand more than just a sign that we will survive.  In fact the Lord said, there is nothing wrong with signs. He used signs, but you need more than just signs.
Someone might ask, what could be better than signs, HIS SURE WORD.

        I would think as Noah looked out after the rain had stopped, it would have been easy to feel, there will never be land again.
Noah sent the dove out looking for a visible sign the waters were abating.
Before there ever was a twig in the doves mouth, Noah had a word in his heart. 
It is good when God sends the visible evidence, but we appreciate it even more after we have trusted Him without it.

       In a cemetery, Mary and Martha were challenge to believe, not the sign
but HIS word that had been spoken.
All around them were signs of death.
He said, .... Thy brother shall live again, I am the resurrection and the life. Believes that thou this?

       Thomas discovered this,
He said, I will not believe unless I see and feel the wounds in the Lords hands and feet.
Eight days later, as the Lord appeared again, this time with him present, the Lord said, if you have got to see and feel, here they are to which he replied, My Lord and My God.

Jesus said,
You have seen and believed, but blessed are they that have not seen and yet believed or that took me at my word.

Sometimes the sign may be long in coming. What a treasure it is to have His word settled in our heart.
RevDN

The corner stone

The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. Ps. 118:22

Jesus was rejected by many of the religious leaders of His day.  They refused to acknowledge Him as the Christ and were responsible for putting Him to death.  When He arose from the dead, Jesus became the cornerstone of the church and our Christian faith.

Many people still reject Jesus today.  They may see Him as a great teacher or philosopher, but not as the Christ who came to save us from our sins.  Jesus is the only name given whereby men might be saved.

Is He the cornerstone of your life?

Rev DB

He receives sinners

And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying,This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. Luke 15:2

One of the problems the religious leaders had with Jesus was the company He kept.  Jesus spent time with folks they considered unworthy or undesirable.  He ate with tax collectors.  He talked with a Samaritan woman at the well.  He ministered to those with broken bodies and broken spirits.

The Pharisees looked at people and judged them for what they were.  Jesus saw them for what they could be.  Jesus came to seek and to save sinners.  He came to deliver the addict from addiction, the prostitute from bondage and to mend the broken heart. 

He came not to condemn, but to save that which was lost.
Rev DB

Perilous times

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come" (II Timothy 3:1)
PER'ILOUS, adjective Dangerous; hazardous; full of risk; as a perilous undertaking; a perilous situation. (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

I have heard much about the school shooting in Florida. Even this morning I found out that a person that I went to school with is a coach at that exact high school.

I have heard the arguments that we need more gun control and the counter arguments that say that we need more guns in schools. However, I have not heard what I am about to share with you.

Without getting into the political realm of the situation, I want to encourage you to look into THE Book, the Bible, God's Word. He has warned us that this day is coming. A time when danger lurks around every corner. WE ARE IN THE LAST DAYS! The return of Jesus Christ for the rapture is immanent! The Bible teaches us that the rapture will usher in 7 years of tribulation. Do you think it is bad now? "For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city" (Zech. 14:2).

Are you ready for His return? Are you saved? The only way to avoid a time worse than what we are seeing today is to be saved, or "born again" as the Bible teaches. "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).

I implore you, get saved today, for tomorrow may be too late!  If I can help you in any way, please message me so I can take the Bible and show you how to be saved!
Rev AS