Fight for Your

In the book of Nehemiah chapter 4 Nehemiah has rallied the Jews to begin to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem that have been down for many years. The gates had burned and all kinds of things went in an out with no restraints what so ever. As they started to rebuild the words of discouragement came from the outside by Sanballat and Tobiah. Sanballant made fun of them while Tobiah belittled them about how weak their work was. When others see you doing something it is easy for them to make fun of what you are doing; and then tell you that what you are doing is useless and you’re wasting your time by doing it. Now Nehemiah encouraged the Jews to keep working and they did.  This displeased Sanballat and Tobiah and they and their people decided that the only way to stop them was by attacking them.

Nehemiah 4:7  But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,

Nehemiah 4:8  And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it. What is Nehemiah going to do? I think you’ll be surprised to see what he instructs his people to do. Now these Jews had been working on the wall independently but Nehemiah does something different. I think if I had been in charge I would have put what I thought to be the biggest and the meanest out front. I then would have worked back from that and finally would have put the women and the children in the rear. No, that’s not what Nehemiah did; he put the families together and said don’t worry about the walls or Jerusalem. Then what are we fighting for Nehemiah? I love what Nehemiah said.

Nehemiah 4:13  Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.

Nehemiah 4:14  And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

Nehemiah stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places; but here’s the twist he placed them by families. He then told them to not be afraid remember the Lord who is great and terrible and he tells them to fight for your brethren, your sons, daughters, your wives and your houses. Nehemiah knew that if they were fighting for the city and the wall, then the people might not fight for the wall could be rebuilt and so could the city. Now the family is much different. I think it should be the same in our lives you and I can replace things but not lives and to use the word fight; our families are worth fighting for. Our friends are worth encouraging and our Lord deserves our praise for He is still Great and awesome. Encourage someone you love today. It will do you both good.

Masterpieces

 There was a man one day drawing on the sidewalk with chalk; he must have been there for some time for he had drawn a picture of the Mona Lisa. It was beautifully done, and after the artist had left and went home some young boys on bicycles intentionally ran over the artwork sliding their tires and really destroying the artist hard work. When I read that I was immediately upset in my mind. I said “why on earth would someone literally destroy something so beautiful for no reason.” All of a sudden my mind went by to a time when a man came to King David by the name of Nathan. Nathan told King David a story that upset him, the King got so upset that he said this.

2Samuel 12:5  And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: David was so angry that he was ready to send that man to his grave but then Nathan said to David that he was the man. It’s easy to read a story about a chalk drawing of the Mona Lisa being destroyed by young boys and get upset. I must ask myself this question; have I ever marred anyone’s clay?  The Bible tells us that we are God’s workmanship.

Ephesians 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Every one of us are God’s masterpieces so that means if I use unkind language toward another one of God’s masterpieces then the possibility of me marring someone else’s clay is very possible.

Ephesians 4:29  Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. I got angry when I read the story but then God used something to show me a picture of myself. It was with a young man with Down syndrome. He spoke to everyone he came in contact with and he had a smile on his face. He was also hugging everyone; it didn’t matter if they were fat, skinny, black or white. It didn’t matter to him if they wanted his love or not. You might say oh yes but he was inflected with a disease that caused him to act and do those things. I don’t know maybe we are the ones with the disease. That young man didn’t say harsh words, hold grudges or dislike anyone and it didn’t matter to him if you liked him or not. You were going to be loved on. In this world that you and I live in people are constantly tearing down the worth of others. Wouldn’t it be great if we were to see others as God’s unique workmanship. Can you remember someone saying harsh words to you? I sure do, in 1968 my drill sergeant said to me “boy you’ll never amount to anything.” Those words cut to the bone and on that day I said to myself you just wait and see. As I look back now; those words did cut to the bone and hurt, he was upset with me and rightly so. He said something he may or may not have meant in his anger. I have done the same thing in my anger and impatience at a critical moment have marred God’s workmanship. So God sent a Nathan to me in the form of a Down syndrome child to show me my wrong. I must be slow to speak and quick to think of what I might do to others that could last a life time.

James 1:19  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

James 1:20  For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 

Dirty Words

 In the movie “The Christmas Story” Ralphie had said a dirty word and when he got home his mother put a bar of soap in his mouth to clean it up. I can’t remember a time that my mother ever put soap in my mouth. I am not saying that I didn’t need it I’m just saying I don’t remember her ever doing that. She had other ways like saying “just wait to your daddy gets home” and the cold chills would run up my spine and fear filled my mind. It was then that I wanted to say “oh no go get the soap.” We hear dirty words often don’t we? Not what you’re thinking but other dirty words: Cancer, Divorce, Fired, Bankrupt, Alone, Death; you can add a few if you like. Why do I call them dirty? Because of the way they hurt us and the ones we love and care about. They are icebergs that sink the strongest people. You might ask “how do I conqueror those dirty words? Well the Child of God must realize that they are loved by God. I heard the story of a Pastor who couldn’t sleep one night because his heart was troubled. He gets up at 3:00 am and heads to a park where there is a walking track. At 1:00 am on a Sunday morning there is no one there and as he walks with a broken and troubled heart he looks up and there’s a woman. She is walking and she stops. She asked him if he were a Christian, to which he said yes. She then said God told me to tell you three things. God wanted me to tell you that He loves you, He told me to tell you to cheer up and lastly He told me to tell you to give it to Him and then she was gone.

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation( Affliction)  , or distress, (Affliction Extreme pain) or persecution, (Punishment)  or famine, (destitution)  or nakedness, or peril,(Danger; risk; hazard; jeopardy) or sword?

 Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Oh no, the one who loves us gives us the overwhelming victory in all these difficulties. So what is it that has separated you from the love of Christ? Is it the dirty words “You’re Fired?” Now you are in a tail spin; don’t forget He still loves those who have been fired. Sickness, He still loves sick people and if you live long enough you’ll get sick and the sickness may even take away this earthly life. Just remember that we have something better.

2Corinthains 5:1  For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. I just love those two words “we know” so there you go who or what shall separate us from the love of God only what you allow to get in the way. 

Little

 The Super Bowl was played last night; it’s where the two best football teams come together to see who will be number one. It’s a big thing with companies spending an average of $3.5 million for 30-second commercials. Now if you wanted to go to the Super Bowl and be there in person then you better have plenty of cash. The cheapest seat in the stadium was priced at $2,098.  There are numerous nosebleed listings in the $2300-$2400 range. The most expensive ticket listing is a $608,475. Like I said it was big. Well, that’s all good and fine but I want to write about little things. Little things are often overlooked because they are little and we may be too busy looking for Super Bowl big. The little prayers moved Jesus “Lord remember Me,” “Lord Save Me’” “Lord what would you have me to do?.” Do you not agree those little prayers moved Him? There was a little man by the name of Zacchaeus. I know you remember him; he ran and climbed into a sycamore tree just so he could see Jesus when He passed by. Zacchaeus had become successful in life and had become a rich man but the sad thing is that he had never met Jesus. As everyone looked at Zacchaeus they may have thought “now there’s a man who has it made, he’s got it all.” Zacchaeus may have had everything this world could afford him but he didn’t have the one thing that he needed that would make him happy and that was Jesus. Then there came a day of opportunity, Jesus was in town Zacchaeus being little would have to elevate himself to get above the crowd so he climbs into a sycamore tree. As Jesus came to that Sycamore tree He stops and He looks up and there is Zacchaeus.

Luk 19:5  And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house.

I think if I looked up and saw someone in a tree I think the first words from my mouth would have been “what are you doing up there.” That’s not what Jesus said He told Zacchaeus to get out of that tree for He was going to abide at his house today.

Luk 19:6  And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.  Here’s the key Zacchaeus got out of that tree and made haste and received Jesus joyfully. It’s a wonderful thing when Jesus comes and knocks at your hearts door and you open it and let Him come in. Like an old friend who comes by to see you, they knock at your door and you open it up and they come in. When one receives Jesus that person changes; listen to what Zacchaeus had to say.

Luk 19:8  And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. All a sudden that which may have been so important he is willing to give away.

Luk 19:9  And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

Salvation didn’t come because Zacchaeus was willing to give half his good to the poor. No, salvation came because Zacchaeus received Jesus and then Zacchaeus joyfully gave what he had away. Jesus will change the way you think and your actions will be different. The time clock is ticking, each day that passes by brings you and I closer to the day of our death and the question is have we received Jesus? There is still time, if you have read this far you may be up in the sycamore tree looking down and Jesus is about to pass your way don’t miss HIM!

The Crowd

In Matthew chapter 20 we see Jesus has departed from Jericho headed to Jerusalem with a great multitude of people following Him.  It’s not long before they come upon two blind men sitting by the road. They hear a crowd coming in their direction and they understand that it is Jesus. This was their day; these two men were in the right place at the right time. They began to cry out saying “Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.” That is when they are criticized and told to keep quiet. They cried out more saying the same thing in hope of getting Jesus’ attention. Now what I don’t understand is why this crowd doesn’t want Jesus to have anything to do with these blind men.  Could it be that these men didn’t really meet their standards? They could have been dirty. We already know they were loud maybe to the point that they were embarrassing to this fine group of men that were following Jesus. Had they forgotten what Jesus had just said?

Matthew 20:28  Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. I wonder what Jesus meant by a ransom for many? Did it include blind men that may have been dirty and loud? I know what you are going to say; you were going to say, yes, Jesus is interested in these blind men. Sure He was but this crowd sure wasn’t. Just let them stay blind was their attitude. You say how awful and I agree fully! It is an awful thing not to help others when we can. You know what, it happens in our day and right in our Churches. Right after I was saved I began working in the bus ministry; I loved it. I would go where no one else would go. I remember one night talking to a young boy about riding my bus; he took me to meet his mom and dad and they were drunk as could be. They agreed to let him ride my bus. The next morning I pull that bus up to his house and blew the horn and nothing. No one opened the door, no little boy running out to meet the bus; nothing. I got out of the bus and went and beat on the door and in a few minutes his dad opened the door. I refreshed his memory and told him I was here to pick up his son. He told me that he was still in the bed but if I wanted too I could go back and wake him. I walked down the hall to his room and when I saw him I almost cried. There he was sleeping on the floor with a blanket wrapped around him. I reached down and woke him up. When his eyes opened and he saw me he smiled. I told him to get dressed and I would be back in a few minutes to get him. When I returned he was waiting on me, his cloths were wrinkled and miss matched but his smile was from ear to ear. Off we went Church, but when we arrived he was not met with the same joy that I had. Mothers and dads made sure their child had nothing to do with him. Can I tell you that he picked up on that quick and that was the last time he ever came to Church; can you blame him? This is the way those blind men were being treated. I am afraid many have forgotten what they were before the Lord found them maybe they thought they were good sinners. What’s that? Is that just telling small lies, stealing little things, not using too many cuss words and not gossiping too much? That is ridiculous. There are those that will not have anything to do with sex offenders, alcoholics, those who abuse drugs, different color, different nationality, poor or broke. The list goes on and on and you can fill in the blanks. Jesus didn’t listen to the crowd. He stopped, stood still and asked those two men what will ye that I shall do unto you.  Jesus did what the crowd didn’t want to do. He had compassion on them and touched their eyes and they received their sight immediately.  Here is what I like, those two men after receiving their sight decided to get up and follow Jesus. Wonder what that good crowd of people thought then? Who is in your crowd or what crowd do you identity yourself with? If you follow Jesus there are going to be an assortment of different kinds of people. There will be some people who have a terrible past and others that as far as most people are concerned were fairly good people. May I remind you both kinds were on their way to a devil’s hell for without Jesus we’ll never see. Can I say, just like those two blind men I’m just happy to be in the crowd. 

Quit

Have you ever just wanted to quit? You have been entrusted with a certain position but for some reason all of a sudden nothing’s going right.  Quitting is always the easy way out of any problem, the problem with quitting is that you never grow above the problem. We can pray and pray but see no or little results, so we decide to quit. We talk and tell others about the Lord but as we do, it seems that no one pays little or no attention to what we are saying, so we quit. If we act and think like that we will discourage our own self; remember it's easy to quit. The runner who quits in the race never wins!  Abraham Lincoln is a man that I admire because he didn't quit. In 1832 he lost his job, 1833 he fails in business, 1835 his sweetheart dies, 1836 he had a nervous breakdown, 1838 he is defeated for house speaker, 1843 he is defeated for nomination for Congress, 1854 he was defeated for US Senate, 1856 he was defeated for nomination for Vice President, 1858 he was defeated again for US Senate. Over twenty-five years of failures and setbacks; he could have said "what’s the use I'll never amount to anything I have tried and failed, I think I'll just quit." If Abraham Lincoln would have had that type of attitude he would have robbed me of an attitude that it can be done! He has shown me it could by his not quitting because in 1860 this so called failure became the sixteenth President of the United Stated. How do we learn not to become quitters? The Apostle Paul found himself in prison as he wrote Timothy a letter and in that letter he wrote that a man named “Demas” had quit.

2Timothy 4:10  For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world,  Demas left, he quit, he didn’t quit over night for he had been with Paul for some time. Somewhere Demas got his mind and eyes on what he thought was better and he quit. Paul may have been disappointed even hurt but he asked Timothy to bring him some things.

2Timothy 4:13  The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.  Paul asked for a cloke and some books but there is one thing he tells Timothy not to forget and that’s the “parchments.” What were these parchments?  Most likely these were the books of the Old Testament, which were written on parchments.  Timothy you can forget the coat and the books but you make sure that you bring me the parchments. I’m willing to be cold, I am willing not to read the books but I must have the parchments. Could it be that Paul would find words of encouragement in the writing of the parchments? Paul is facing death and urges Timothy to get there soon. Is that not what David did?

1Samuel 30:6  And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. So when we find ourselves discouraged, ready to quit that is when we need to get encouraging words and thoughts from God’s Word and allow Him to encourage us with His word. Our Lord didn’t quit He went all the way; we can too but not without the Word of God to encourage us. Remember anyone can quit!

Wonder Do You Know Him

Use your imagination for a moment; Jesus called out 12 men and trained them to carry the gospel to train others. He was with them every day teaching them by example as well as giving them some on hands training. They went from city to city with Jesus, they ate at the same table and they walked the same dusty roads together. When you saw Jesus you saw His disciples Jesus was with them every day all day. I was reading and I noticed that the Bible records this phrase 4 times as it records the life of Joseph.

Genesis 39:2  And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

Genesis 39:3  And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

Genesis 39:21  But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

Genesis 39:23  The keeper of the prison looked not to anything that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper. We read four times that the Lord was with Joseph. Now what about you and I? There came a day in the Disciples lives that Jesus said I am going to leave you guys. I’m not going to leave you comfortless; I’m going to give you another comforter and He will always be with you and never leave.

John 14:16  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;

John 14:17  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

John 14:18  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Well, that’s great for Joseph and  the Disciples but what about you and I? Then I read this;

Hebrews 13:5  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. Jesus tells His disciples that the Spirit of truth would come and dwell in them and He would teach them, guide them and lead them. What a promise we have as a child of God that the same spirit of truth those disciple had we have too. Why do I say as God’s child we have the same spirit of truth, because as they were told “the world cannot receive” and the reason is because they can’t see Him and don’t know who He is; “because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him:” Just like anyone else you must know who Jesus is in order to receive His Spirit. I know my wife and we have been together 42 years. She can walk into a room full of laughter and can even be smiling herself but just one quick look at her and I know if she is upset with me. No one else in the room will know but I will and the reason why is because I know her. If Jesus is going to teach us and lead us we have to know Him; it’s a must.

Like S.M. LOCKRIDGE sings “MY KING”

My King

The Bible says my King is the King of the Jews. He’s the King of Israel. He’s the King of Righteousness. He’s the King of the Ages. He’s the King of Heaven. He’s the King of Glory. He’s the King of kings, and He’s the Lord of lords. That’s my King.

I wonder, do you know Him?

My King is a sovereign King. No means of measure can define His limitless love. He’s enduringly strong. He’s entirely sincere. He’s eternally steadfast. He’s immortally graceful. He’s imperially powerful. He’s impartially merciful.

Do you know Him?

He’s the greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world. He’s God’s Son. He’s the sinner’s Saviour. He’s the centerpiece of civilization. He’s unparalleled. He’s unprecedented. He is the loftiest idea in literature. He’s the highest personality in philosophy. He’s the fundamental doctrine of true theology. He’s the only one qualified to be an all sufficient Saviour.

I wonder if you know Him today?

He supplies strength for the weak. He’s available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He saves. He strengthens and sustains. He guards and He guides. He heals the sick. He cleansed the lepers. He forgives sinners. He discharges debtors. He delivers the captive. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent. And He beautifies the meek.

I wonder if you know Him?

He’s the key to knowledge. He’s the wellspring of wisdom. He’s the doorway of deliverance. He’s the pathway of peace. He’s the roadway of righteousness. He’s the highway of holiness. He’s the gateway of glory.

Do you know Him? Well…

His life is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His Word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. And His yoke is easy. And His burden is light.

I wish I could describe Him to you. Yes…

He’s indescribable! He’s incomprehensible. He’s invincible. He’s irresistible. You can’t get Him out of your mind. You can’t get Him off of your hand. You can’t outlive Him, and you can’t live without Him. Well, the Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but they found out they couldn’t stop Him. Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him. Herod couldn’t kill Him. Death couldn’t handle Him, and the grave couldn’t hold Him.

Yeah! That’s my King, that’s my King.

Amen!

I wonder if you know Him? You must Know Jesus before you can follow Him.