Unshakable

There are things that shake people up; many walk around not sure of what will happen to them on tomorrow. They are not clear about their salvation and walk around in fear and doubt. If you and I are going to be Unshakable  there are some things we must know and understand. I want to look at the word “give” for a moment; what does that word mean? It means to put into the possession of another. Now with that in mind I want to look at these verses found in the book of John John 10:24  Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.

John 10:25  Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.

John 10:26  But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

John 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

John 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Here we read about the Jews coming and asking Jesus a question, wanting to know how long He was going to make them doubt. Jesus said I told you and you decided to believe not and the reason for your unbelief is because you are not of my sheep. My sheep hear and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life; did you notice that eternal life was given unto them.  I want you to see three things in  John 10:28 

#1-Eternal Life is given to us by the Lord I give 

#2- We will never Perish they shall never perish

#3- It can’t be taken away from us.  neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

The Lord gives us the free gift of Salvation. Once we have it we will never perish and it will never be taken from us. It’s Monday and it’s a great day so put a smile on your face and rejoice in what the Lord has given you. 

Possibilities

What are our Possibilities? Webster tells us that “possibilities” are the condition or fact of being possible. With that thought in mind ask yourself how far can I travel in this career I’m in? How far can you see and how far is the horizon? How much can you believe? I am afraid that we follow the patterns that have been laid down by others; what I mean by that is we have been conditioned. Let me explain; we don’t use all of the brain that God has given us. We enjoy our vacations because we plan them and hate our life because we let someone else plan it.  We leave the bank rejoicing that we have been approved for the loan to buy our dream home and don’t really think that we will pay for it 3-times; that’s not our plan that’s what someone else plans for us. God has given us a big brain but do we use it? What I’m saying to you is turn off the junk going on in your life. You get in the car and the radio is already going, we get home and  the TV is playing. In the mean time our brain is not thinking or working. We need to get alone with our big brain and write down ideas looking into the near future and ask ourselves how far is my horizon. I love the mornings; no phones, no one is up moving around and I get alone and allow God to speak to my heart. If you are going to hear Him you are going to have to get still and listen. Maybe that is why we read in 

Mark 1:35  And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he (Jesus) went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

Before the day got started Jesus spent time in prayer. We weren’t told that Jesus got up and met with His disciples to plan the day. No! We are told that Jesus got up before Sun Rise and went to a solitary place and there in that solitary place He prayed. Before the busyness of the day He got alone and prepared Himself for the day ahead of Him. You know what if it was good enough for Jesus then we can rest assure its good enough for all of us too. The weekend is here and what do you see out in front of you? How far can you see? Only as far as your horizon! Let’s go to the Lord’s house this Sunday? We will talk some more on Monday.

Promise

Oral Lee Brown is an Oakland, CA. woman. Wait you don’t know who Oral Lee Brown is, do you? Well, let me tell you something about her so you will know who she is. Oral Lee Brown grew up poor and struggling in Mississippi in 1987. She decided to informally adopt the first grade class at nearby Brookfield Elementary School and they became her babies. She made a promise to those first graders at Brookfield that she would give them all a free college educations.  Brown isn't the only person to send kids to college, but what makes her story unique is the personal sacrifice. She was making just $45,000 a year when she first started and she put $10,000 of it into a trust fund every year for her kids. In 1999 came one of her happiest moments -- 19 of the 23 students graduated from high school, Not everyone from Brookfield is a success story. Some dropped out of school; one girl was murdered but Miss Brown made good on her promise. You know, I like you have been promised something that never happened. The first promise I can remember as a young boy was the one my uncle made. He asked if I had a swing set at our house and I told him no! He then told me that he would have his men come to our home and install one the next day. I tell you I was excited; all day at school the next day the excitement was almost unbearable. When I finally got home I ran to the back yard and what did my little eyes behold…. no swing set and my heart dropped. Oh, my uncle’s men must not have arrived yet they will be here later; but later came and no men. You guessed it no swing set.  When I asked my mother about it she said a word I had never heard before; no it wasn’t one of those words. She told me that my uncle was “drunk” when he told me that and he didn’t have any men that could do anything or would do anything like that. My first broken promise and there have been many others since that day. While thinking about promises there is one in the book of John chapter 14 and in verse 2 and 3 we read about this promise given by our Lord Jesus Christ.  John 14:2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. Jesus makes a promise not only to His disciples but also to you and I that He Himself is going to prepare a place and that He would personally come and take us to where He is. Then the Apostle Paul tells us more 1Thessalonians 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 1Thessalonians 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Then in the book of the Revelation we read this  Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, My uncle may not have made good on his promise but you can rest assure the Lord Jesus will make good on His promise. Are you ready and are you looking for Him. As the late Dr. M. R. DeHaan, who wrote much on the second coming of our Lord used to say “Perhaps Today?”

Friends

Have you ever been hurt by a friend? Friends are wonderful people. Webster say this about the word friend  “one attached to another by affection or esteem :  one that is not hostile.”There are different kinds of friendships. There are those who we are acquainted with, there are old friends, those we use to spend time with but because of the different things that have taken place in our life we just don’t see one another very much. There is also our best friend; this is the one that really knows you and you feel comfortable spending time with  and telling them things you wouldn’t just tell anyone.  What if we were to offend our friend what would that do to our relationship? It could destroy it. That happened to me not long ago I unknowingly had hurt a close friend; my best friend years ago. When he told me how I had hurt his feeling all I could say was I am sorry and ask for his forgiveness which I did. That reminded me that our friends of long ago or friends of present are all valuable. In the book of Proverbs chapter 18 and verse 19 we are told A brother offended is harder to be won than astrong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle. Wow a friend or a person is harder to be won than a strong city. That’s what discord, strife and quarreling will do; it can become so bad that it will be as a castle which is protected by iron gates and a mote filled with alligators. Sometimes saying I’m sorry will not allow them to drop down the Draw Bridge and let you back in as their friend. We can have hope though for in verse 21 of the same chapter we read this Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.  Did you see it? We have power of killing a friendship or giving that friendship life with our tongue. What’s more important being right and losing a friend or keeping the friendship? I think keeping the friendship for we each have the power to do so. People who use to be friends still go to the same church but now they aren’t speaking to each other for one of them did something or said something and instead of working it out they just don’t speak. How childish and UN Christ like is that? Well, if we can continue on that way one day we will have no friends at all: or we can do as the last verse tell us to Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.  If you and I are going to have “FRIENDS” (that’s more than one) we are going to have to be friendly and when we become friendly we will have friends. Now the question is are you and I friendly? Answer: count your friends!

Gold

They are all over town; I’m talking about people standing on street corners waving signs that read “we buy gold.”  Television advertisements are telling you how easy it is to sell your gold Jewelry; just put in an envelope send it to this address and we will send you cash back in the mail. Would you say that there is a market for used gold? I think so. But think for a moment who would want your ring, necklace or whatever? They want it for the gold and the first thing they will do is put it in the furnace and melt it down. They will then remold it into something else more valuable.  In the book of Proverbs chapter 17 and verse 3 we read these words    The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.

As I read that I noticed a fining pot and it was for silver but then we read that for the gold there was a furnace; what’s with that? The fining pot is a place for purifying; refiners of silver have their fining pots, in which they purify the silver from the dross. The goldsmith has their furnace to melt and purify their gold, by which they can assays the worth and value of it. Our hearts are much like gold and silver mixed with ore and dross. The dross must be separated by the Word of God and the furnace is liken to the affliction or fiery trials that come into our lives. Read with me 1Peter 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

1Peter 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Fiery trails are going to come our way; you did see it didn’t you “which is to try you” it didn’t say that might try you it said that which will try you. But in the sufferings there will be exceeding joy.  You see the goldsmith didn’t us the flame of his furnace to hurt the gold but only to purify it and make it more valuable and usable.  The flame reveals the condition of the gold and silver it softens the ore to liquid form so that it can be purified and molded into the shape that the master desires. Could that be the reason you and I face calamity, death of love ones, sickness, financial setbacks, accidents and hardships. You see the troubles you and I face will soften our heart and remove the dross from our heart.  Is that not what Job said  

 Job 23:10  But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

 We have been told that those who have put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ are in the family of God and are His children. John 1:12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Romans 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

 Galatians 3:26  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Whatever happens to you and I we can rest assured that our Heavenly Father knows all about it and it is for our good. Romans 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

What’s going on in your life right now that will make you glad and bring exceeding joy?

                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
*Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
[*And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.]

Genesis 50:20  But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. 

Attitude

Here we go a brand new week! Some will say its Monday and I am not looking forward to the rest of the week. How do you think that might affect those around us? If we have a poor or a bitter attitude it will affect those around us as well as ourselves. Our Attitude not only impacts our happiness & success but it also impacts the happiness and success of people around us. It affects our family, our friends and our peers. Attitudes are contagious so we must ask ourselves is mine worth catching. What if you met a person with a smile on their face and they were to say to you, "Isn't it a gorgeous day today?" They then began to tell you something with real zeal and enthusiasm in their voice. You might say to that person "you must be having a great day today." Their response "Every day above ground is a great day!" How do you think that person’s attitude would affect you? Do you think it might rub off on you? Now let me ask you a question, do we not have that same opportunity to affect others in our lives? We can decide to mope about or we can decide to live in AWE. We can become ducks that make a lot of noise, quacking and complaining or we can become eagles that soar above the turkeys. It’s all up to you and I.  I think I will get myself away from the ducks and turkeys and soar with my eyes fixed on the Son! No, I didn’t spell that wrong for I am speaking about the Son of God Jesus Christ. Why don’t you do the same and let’s let our attitude rub off on someone else and have one worth catching. 

Labor

We live in a day where we find people who want to have many things, but are not willing to work for them. They want something for nothing. They have not developed any character or have not been taught to be responsible. I grew up right outside of Atlanta in a place they called East Atlanta. I have wonderful memories of those first 18 years of my life. I was brought up in a good home with two loving parents. My dad was my hero and he taught me many important things. He taught me how to respect other people, he taught me how to work and he taught me how to laugh at myself which can be one of life's greatest blessings. I was reminded of that as I read this in the book of Proverbs chapter 14 and verse 23 In all labour(hard work) there is profit: (something gained)  but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury(poverty).  It is one thing to have goals and dreams and tell people what you are going to do but if all you do is talk about it then your talk is cheap. Talking requires no effort and talkers who are not walkers waste their time and the time of others. What if a hungry man stood on a bridge watching others fish? Noticing that one of those fishing baskets was full of fish asked him if he might have some of his fish so that he might make a small meal. The man fishing said I would be glad to if you will do me a small favor. The man said sure what is it? Tend this line a while for I have got some business down the street. Gladly the man accepted the offer and the other man left. After the man left the trout and bass continued to take the baited hook. Soon the man got excited about pulling in a large number of fish himself. When the other man returned, he said to the young man,"I’ll keep my promise to you by giving you everything you’ve caught, and I hope you’ve learned a lesson. Don’t waste time daydreaming and merely wishing for things. Instead, get busy and cast in a line for yourself." I am glad my dad taught me and my two brothers how to cast in a line for ourselves. My dad is still my top number one hero; hard work gains something and keeps you out of poverty. Know what? I am going to Church Sunday morning I’ll be there for Sunday School and then the Worship hour and then on Sunday night I will have the opportunity to present the Reformers Unanimous Addictions program at another Church who is interested in helping others. Pray for us and I might just see you in one of those places this Sunday; I’ll be looking for you.