Dens & Caves

Judges 6:1  And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.

Judges 6:2  And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.

Judges 6:3  And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them;

As we read these verses before us, what do you see? The very first thing I see is that the children did evil and because of their evil they were placed in the hands of the Midianites. There is always a result for our actions. Principle number 9 says; “We lose our freedom to choose when we give in to temptation. The consequences of our choices are inevitable, incalculable and up to God.” Because of their evil they had to find a place for safety; dens and caves. The reason being because when they tried to have anything the Midianites would come up against them. They took and took and made the life of the Israelites miserable. It didn’t get better it was getting worse for the Amalekites and the children of the east came.

Judges 6:6  And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD. Israel was greatly oppressed and made feeble because the evil the Midianites were bringing and causing in their lives. As the day you and I live I am afraid we can identify with this idea. There are those who have allowed drugs and alcohol to over take them to the point that they are oppressed and have become feeble. They try to hide their feeling and try to make those around them think they are having the time of their life. In reality they are only hiding in caves and dens as the problems only increase and they slowly but surely lose to the enemy whatever it is. To some it’s drugs and alcohol to others its pornography, then there’s the anger issue some are having which could stem from something they refuse to forgive. Someone has done something to them; maybe it was rape, being molested; Statistics say that as many as 1 out of 4 girls and 1 out of 6 boys will experience some form of sexual abuse before the age of 18. It matters not what evil has befallen us the answer is not hiding in the dens and caves of this life. The answer is and always has been Jesus and like the Israelites we need to pray unto the Lord.

I must tell Jesus all of my trials,
I cannot bear these burdens alone;

I must tell Jesus all of my troubles,
He is a kind, compassionate Friend;

Tempted and tried I need a great Savior,
One who can help my burdens to bear;

I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.

Who are you talking to about what’s going on in your life? Why not talk to Jesus for He will help you, I know that personally by experience. Have a blessed week is my prayer. 

Examine

All this week we have been looking at what most people call the Lord’s Prayer. As we looked at this prayer we discovered that it was a teaching for not only the disciples but also for each of us. In this outline we learned first about that word “hallow" which meant to make holy, that is, (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate: - hallow, be holy, sanctify. The very first thing Jesus teaches His disciples is to realize who God is. He’s not the man upstairs, the big man or the man in charge and we are not to approach Him in that manner. We are to come before His presence by calling Him our Father and then we are to show reverence to His name.  Now I repeated that because I wanted to share with each of you how the Lord dealt with me about what I wrote. The Lord said good lesson, but let me ask you, do you reverence me, and do you know who you're talking with? Wow, I had to stop and examine my prayer life and to tell you the truth it needed some improvements. Too many times I didn't realize who I was talking to and I was getting to the, give me part of my prayer way before I should. On yesterday morning as I went in front of the Lord in prayer, I asked for forgiveness for my not giving the Lord His due respect. Then I said Lord, today I don't want to ask you for anything. I just want to spend time praising you for who you are and thanking you for what you have done in my life and then I spent time reminiscing of all the Lord has done. It was a time to remember; it’s not about me nor what I have done in the Lord’s work, for its all about HIM! As we go into this weekend let us not forget who the Lord is? He's the one who gives us the air we breathe every day, something we can easily take for granted if not careful. The food we have before us, do we take time and thank Him for it? Take time and think about what God has done in your life and then just praise Him and thank Him for it. Have a blessed weekend and don't forget to pray for your Pastor and the services that you'll be in this Sunday.

Forgive Everyone

Lord teach us to pray; that was the question they wanted answered. Ok boys, the first thing you need to know about prayer is know who you are talking to not what you’re asking for and give Him reverence.  The second thing is be willing to do His will in your life more than yours. Then the third thing is give us what we need. The next two things are the hardest for you and I to do, “Luke 11:4  And forgive us our sins;” What’s that? Have we really sinned? That word just slipped out I really didn’t mean it.

Matthew 12:34  O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

 After all they said and did I’m not about to speak to them it would show weakness on my part.

Acts 20:35  I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give (to say I’m sorry, I forgive, I love, thank you)than to receive.

So what is sin? Sin is a transgression or violation of the law.

1John 3:4  Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

We sin when we don’t tell the truth Exodus 20:16  Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

We sin when we use the Lords name in vain Exodus 20:7  Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain;

We sin when we forget the Lords day Exodus 20:8  Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

We sin when we don’t honor our parents Exodus 20:12  Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon

The next is “for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us.”  Have you forgiven someone that has hurt you with their speech? Words do cut deep and if we allow them they will keep us awake at night while the one who said them are fast asleep. Why is it important to forgive others? Well the Lord forgave you didn’t He? Psalms 103:12  As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

We should do the same. Luke 10:36  Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

Luke 10:37  And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

We are not only to ask for forgiveness of our sins but we are also to forgive those who have sinned against us. If we fail in asking God to forgive us and we fail in forgiving others there is one word that explains why and it’s our PRIDE! Pride not only robs you but it robs others also. 

Give Me

On yesterday we looked at the outline of prayer that the Lord Jesus gave to His disciples. The first word was “hallowed” the very first thing Jesus taught His disciples was realize who God is. The first thing Jesus wants you and I to learn about prayer, is to recognize who you are talking to. After we understand who we are talking to then we are to ask for His kingdom to come and His will be done; which may not be our will. His will is far more important than our will. Remember Abraham and Isaac; God told Abraham to go to the land of Moriah; and offer Isaac there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. Abraham goes takes his only son, bound him, and laid him on the altar. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. Wow, how could this be God’s will for a father to slay his only son? God didn’t want Abraham to slay Isaac but to obey Him, regardless of how it sounded. God stops Abraham; lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. God wants you and I to be willing to do His will. Then the next thing, is where you and I usually start our praying. 

Luke 11:3  Give us day by day our daily bread.

The first thing is know who you are talking to. The second thing is be willing to do His will in your life more than yours. Then the third “give us.” Our heavenly Father wants to give us things we ask for. He gave Solomon understanding so that there was none like him before, neither shall any arise like unto thee. God wants to bless His children so don’t be afraid to say give me as long as it’s not something you are wanting to consume for selfish reasons. God wants to bless His children with good things from above so don’t be afraid to say give me.

Learn

 There’s no one reading this blog that hasn’t read the Lord’s Prayer in the book of Matthew and the book of Luke.  In the book of Luke the disciples of Jesus after hearing Him pray asked if He would teach them to pray.

Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

Here we read of Jesus disciples wanting to learn how to pray so they asked one who knows how to get in touch with His heavenly Father. If you and I ever want to learn something we must have someone teach us that knows what they are doing. Here we read basically an outline of the way we are to pray. The very first thing that caught my attention is that word “Hallowed” what is that and what does it mean?

Luke 11:2  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

The word “hallowed” means- o make holy, that is, (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate: - hallow, be holy, sanctify. The very first thing Jesus teaches His disciples is to realize who God is. He’s not the man upstairs, the big man or the man in charge and we are not to approach Him in that manner. We are to come before His presents by calling Him our Father and then we are to show reverence to His name.   

Exodus 20:7  Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. It’s important that we reverence His name for there is none like Him; and that’s respect.

Act 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

 Our Father, there is no one in your category there is no one like you, I’m in the presence of purity. The first thing Jesus wants us to learn about pray, recognize who you are talking to, not what you’re asking for. It could be that we are requesting without repentance and we might be guilty of praise without purity. Our Father “Hallowed” be thy name. When you and I pray do we “Hallowed” His name? Or do we just jump into our prayer asking for God to do something for us and not with us. Lord, teach us that we might know so we can in return teach others. That’s what the Apostle Paul told Timothy.

2Timothy 2:2  And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

The Lord taught the Disciples; the Disciples taught others and one of those others taught Paul and Paul taught Timothy.  Paul told Timothy to teach not just anybody but faithful men that will be able to reproduce it in others. Do you plan on teaching anyone anything spiritual? I sure hope so and I don’t know of a better time to start than this week. Write a name down, pray over it and then ask the Lord to help you start teaching. Reproduce yourself in someone!

Devices

Song of Solomon 2:15  Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.

We fail because we don’t understand the enemy nor do we know his tactics or his devices. If you planted a vineyard what would you expect? If you saw little foxes eating your grapes, would you not say that they are destroying my fruit? If you continued to allow the little foxes to eat your grapes what do you think would happen? It would in time destroy your profits. When a person asks the Lord to come into their life or asks the Lord to save them there are some things that we should began to produces, they are called the Fruit of the Spirit.  

Galatians 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Galatians 5:23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Galatians 5:24  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Galatians 5:25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Now the enemy does not want us to produce these fruits. Why do you think he would care? It is to his advantage to keep us in the dark about: 

1- Deception- Galatians 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Galatians 6:8  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

2- Lying- Ephesians 4:25  Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

3- Anger- Ephesians 4:26  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

4- Giving up- Ephesians 4:27  Neither give place to the devil.

5- Corrupt Speech-Eph 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.

6- Bitterness- Ephesians 4:31  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

Ephesians 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

If I allow deception, lying, anger, giving up, desperation, corrupt speech, cursing, and being or getting bitter then I have just became ignorant of the enemies devices.

2Corinthians 2:11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

DEVICE, - That which is formed by design, or invented; scheme; artificial inventing, devising or planning; an artifice by which some advantage is intended to be obtained; project; sometimes in a good sense; more generally in a bad sense, as artifices are usually employed for bad purposes.

 If you and I are not aware of the devices of the enemy then we allow him to destroy us.

John 15:1  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

John 15:2  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

John 15:3  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

John 15:4  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

John 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

I guess it’s important where we find ourselves abiding. Have a blessed weekend!

Fishing

Here they come faster than a speeding bullet with the words that you have heard them say more than once. “Have you heard about_____!” I’m not much on getting the news out quickly good or bad.  There are times when I see that person and I would love to run over to them and say “did you know.” There was a man in the Bible named John the Baptist that one day had the opportunity to say “behold the Lamb of God.”   

John 1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

What if that someone had been you? Then for centuries to come people were reading your name in the scriptures; the next day Jerry, Mike, Tom, Ron, or YOU!” Now that would be something worth sharing with your grand kids wouldn’t it? Wait a moment, you and I have the opportunity to announce to this world on a daily basis that He did come. Do we take advantage of that opportunity? I’m not much on numbers and don’t keep track of the contacts that I make; it’s just part of my daily routine to make contacts for Jesus. No, I don’t corner someone up and make them feel uncomfortable if they don’t hear me out. If I talk to a person long enough it will not be long before Jesus comes into the conversation. My personal belief is that everyday Jesus has a set appoint for me with someone. I just don’t know with whom or what time. I remember talking with a pilot with a commercial air lines that I had become somewhat friends with over a period of time. One day I asked him a question about the second coming of Christ. This man was not spiritual at all and when I asked him that question he turned and looked me in the eyes and said “had anyone else asked me that question I would not have gave them an answer but because it’s you I will answer.” Little did I know that over a period of time God had been slowly leading me to a day and a point that I could make contact or plant a seed in this man’s life? Like fishing, sometimes we must be patient. Is that not what Jesus told His disciples?

Matthew 4:19  And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

I was trout fishing up in North Georgia mountains years ago and had fished all day and caught nothing. We approached some friends of my father-n-law and he had a string of fish. He asked the question “have you caught any fish.” I said no I have fished all day and have nothing to show for it. He looked at my line and hook and said you’ll never catch a trout with that; your line is too heavy and your hook to big. Take my rod; I did and in just a few seconds I caught a trout. Know what that man did? He taught me something about trout fishing and from then on I have caught trout. Jesus said follow me and I will; not might but will make you fishers of men. Jesus said pay attention boys, listen to what I’m saying and doing for I want to reproduce myself in you.  Give a man a fish and you can feed him for a day, teach that same man how to fish and you can feed him for a life time. Jesus said Follow me and I’ll teach you!

John 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

John 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Believe on Him, continue in His word, learn of Him and you’ll know the truth. Did you see it “you’ll know.” Others will not have to tell you, you’ll know. Others will not have to show you, you’ll know. Now be a fisher of men, women, boys and girls.