April 21 why are you here?

 Why are you here?  Have you discovered your purpose in living?  God knows who you are.  He knows everything about you.  Even the number of hairs on your head.  Matthew 10:30  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  He knows the good and bad you have done. Still, He loves us and has a plan where He can use us.  But first we must be cleaned.   James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.    How do we cleanse our hands and purify our hearts?  By repenting of our sins, putting our faith in Jesus, and pray asking Him to save us.   Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Then He begins to reveal His will for our life and begins the process of molding us into the person He wants us to be. Isaiah 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.  In due time we begin to resemble God.  Romans 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Transformed: Greek metamorphoō.  Think caterpillar to butterfly.  Old desires become less desirable.  Perhaps our vocabulary changes.  Even friends sometimes change. 1 Peter 4:4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: We become a new person in Christ.  2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. How wonderful it is to look back at who we were and see who we have become in Jesus.  He continues to work on us until He calls us home. Jesus gifts you.  A few of His gifts include: 1 Corinthians 12:8-11  For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9   To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10   To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11  But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.  It is exciting to discover what gifts He has given to you.  Use your gifts to build up your church. 1 Thessalonians 5:11  Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.  Do His will and enjoy the Christian adventure. 

 You are not welcome here.  Years ago a friend gave me a weed eater of a particular brand.  He had purchased the string head from the dealership of a competitive weed eater.  I took the machine into the competitors shop to ask something about the head I was having trouble with.  As the clerk was examining the machine a woman who worked there became irate with me.  Said she, “How dare you bring that competitors weed eater into my shop.  You are not welcome here.  Leave.” Then she told the clerk “Do not wait on this man.”  I was in shock.  Rather than try to explain that the weed eater head was purchased at her business I thought it best to quietly leave and buy another head somewhere else.  What a way to run a business.  Or should I say what a way to ruin a business.  I have not gone back there since.  I only know one side of the story.  There are always two sides.  Perhaps she had just received bad news that she was terminally ill.  Perhaps someone she loved recently died.  I try not to judge but I have respected her command to not come back.  We all say things we regret.  We need to ask the Lord for the wisdom to know what to speak, when to speak and the wisdom to know when to keep our mouth shut. Man can tame wild animals but not his tongue. “James 3:6-8   And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.  7  For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8  But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”  No man can tame his tongue.  However, as a Christian with the Holy Spirit living within us as we grow in grace and become more like Jesus, He will help us to control our tongue.   The Bible tells us a man who can control his tongue can control his whole body. “James 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.”  Perfect in this verse means completeness, mature.   Jesus will help you control your tongue.  Once you bridle it you can control your whole body.  Your words reveal what is in your heart.  “Matthew 15:18  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:” Guard your words.  It’s best to bite your tongue rather than let it make a fool out of you.  

 Yucky food.  Like liver and onions?  No thank you.  Chicken gizzards?  No thank you.  I am a finicky eater.  There are probably some things you don’t like also.  So, what about food from the Bible?  Different denominations (and non-denominations) teach different doctrine. Why?  We use the same Bible.  Why can’t there be just one church?  Satan tried to stomp out Christianity from the very beginning.  He successfully removed the breath of Jesus as the God-human.   “Mark 15:37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.”  The dummy Satan tried to stop the truth of Christ but overlooked “Genesis 3:15  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.'  Satan fulfilled the prophesy of bruising the heel of the Messiah, but he ignored the part about Jesus bruising his head.  Someday Jesus will stomp the devil.  'Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone… ' Satan’s plan to stop Jesus backfired.  Christ arose!  What a shock.  Both Satan and the followers of Jesus were shocked.  He tried to tell them several times that He would be killed but come back to life the third day.  They missed it.  I wonder how much Jesus tells me or tries to tell me that goes right over my head.  I pray and ask the Lord to give me understanding and wisdom.  So back to different denominations.  Satan tried to stomp out the church.  His persecution just caused Christianity to spread similar to throwing water on a grease fire. Even to this day persecution of the church causes it to multiply.  Want to see revival in America?  Persecution will bring it.  Persecution is coming when Antichrist, the son of Satan becomes ruler.  When Satan realized he couldn’t stomp out the church, he decided to join the church.  Inside, he compromised the Gospel.  He brought heresy, false doctrine, and division.  At last, he was successful.  Today we have a fat, drunk in sin, lukewarm compromised church.  Many “churches” deny the virgin birth, the resurrection,  judgment, hell, Jesus coming again to this earth, being washed in the blood of Jesus and the authority and literacy of the Bible.   ''Matthew 15:14  Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” We don’t all enjoy liver.  We will have different denominations until we all get to Heaven.  Follow Jesus to the church where the Spirit of God touches your spirit and brings the Light of Jesus into your soul.  Where the Bible is taught as being the Holy Word of God.  Where you are convicted of sin in your life which causes you to repent and cry out to Jesus for mercy.  He will save you if you hear, believe, repent, and cry out for His mercy.   

 Alone with God.   'Acts 20:13   And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot.”  Paul and his companions were slowly making their way to Jerusalem.  Their ship was leaving Troas headed to Assos.  It would have to sail around Cape Lecture and back up to Assos.  The trip was about 40 miles by sea and the ship would face strong prevailing north-easterly winds.  However, the Romans had built a good road from Troas across to Assos and the distance was about 20 miles.  Paul decided to walk to Assos and meet the ship there.   for so had he appointed   Paul was a leader.  Others respected his leadership. He wanted to walk the distance instead of taking the ship.  The Bible doesn’t tell us why.  Perhaps he wanted some alone time with God. Many of us enjoy driving by ourselves and spending time with Jesus.  I especially enjoy time praying and praising God while riding my motorcycle. Basically, Paul lived in the presence of others constantly.  This naturally leads to conversation, teaching, correcting, counseling, and meeting the physical needs of others.  The 24 hours on call days take a toll.  Paul needed some down time.  We examine the life of Jesus, and we see the same thing.  Always surrounded by others.  Meeting the needs of others as He traveled.  He too needed down time.  “John 6:15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.” The night Jesus was betrayed He spent time in the Mount of Olives alone in prayer. “Luke 22:41  And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,”  Any job where a person is on call 24 hours a day 365 days a year is demanding to health and family.  My contract with our church states that I am to take two days off each week and do nothing related to church work except in emergencies.  I hope they don’t fire me for breach of contract.  But the bottom-line question is this:  Do you spend enough alone time with Jesus?  Alone time praying, reading the Bible, watching Christian videos, listening to Christian music, and reading books that bring you closer to Jesus.  I suggest you make that a priority.  It will bless you personally.  It will bless your family. And it will bless your church. 

 Can you keep a secret?  I hope when someone confides in you the confidence is kept between you, the person, and the Lord. It is interesting to look at the word “secret” in the Bible. We cannot hide from God in some secret place.  Jeremiah 23:24  Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD. His grace amazes me that He knows me through and through and He hasn’t given up on me yet. I thank God for His grace. Ecclesiastes 12:14  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Many criminals may get by without getting caught.  But someday they will stand before Jesus and their sins will be made known to all.  No place to hide.  No mercy to be found.  How I pray they trust the Lord down here while they can. Mark 4:22  For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. What secret sins have you committed that need to be confessed and forgiven?  The blood of Jesus can wash away all of your sins. Ephesians 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;  Prayer should be an everyday habit for Christians.  However, we must be careful to not draw attention to ourselves. Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. When we walk close to Jesus He secretly hides us. Psalm 27:5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. Our last verses today on secrets. Romans 16:25-26 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26  But now is made manifest … The greatest secret should not be a secret.  Jesus saves! Please don’t keep this a secret.  Tell the world that Jesus lives.  Jesus saves.  Bring others into His kingdom. 

 I couldn’t pray.  The mammogram indicated something abnormal. Additional tests were conducted.  Then the hospital called to schedule a biopsy.  Then the doctors visit where he told us he was 99% sure it was cancer.  He gave us the details that he had, confirmed the scheduled biopsy and then turned to leave after answering any questions we had. Then my wife grabbed his hand stopping him saying, “We need to pray.”  Then holding hands my wife told me to pray. I was praying silently with tears swelling up, but I was unable to pray out loud.  After a few awkward moments of silence my wife said, “Tom can’t pray so I will.” And she prayed. Circumstances.  Sometimes they creep up behind us and knock the wind out of our sails. Emotions are so unpredictable.  The Lord gave us tear ducts so we can weep.  The shortest verse in the Bible is  “John 11:35 Jesus wept.” Tears sometimes flow without warning.  Actually, weeping is good for us.  It helps us relieve the pressure we are experiencing.  Weeping at the alter getting close to Jesus is wonderful.  My wife endured two surgeries to get all of the cancer and 20 days of radiation.  She is now cancer free.  Praise the Lord.  It is comforting to know Jesus cares and understands our emotions.  He is our High Priest.  We can boldly come to Him with whatever is on our heart. “Hebrews 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Jesus can be touched with our feelings.  He understands.  He cares.  Whereas He may not have had the exact problem you have He faced something equal and worse than what you experience, and it killed Him.  But He arose.  Now our High Priest will live in our heart through His Holy Spirit if we will hear, believe, repent and call out to Him asking for forgiveness.  Then we don’t have to go through life alone. He promises He will never leave us.  “Hebrews 13:5  … be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Being in His favor overrides anything the enemy can do to us. “Romans 8:31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” With Jesus in your heart, you are more than a conqueror.  “Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” The love of Jesus will see us through every trial.  There is not always a happy ending when the trial is over.  Jesus calls people home even when others ask Him not to.  Someone asked, “Do we spend more time praying to keep saints out of Heaven than we pray to keep sinners out of hell?”  Life can be hard.  Walk hand in hand with Jesus.   

 If it kills me.  It is good to plan and set goals.  To have the determination to see a job through till it’s complete.  The Lord wants us to be industrious.  2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. I will not get off track and talk about welfare and financial aid to illegal aliens.  But I am sure tempted to.  Back to the point.  Some people dreamed of having a Baptist church in Goodrich, Texas back in 1903.  These Christians had a dream of a physical church.  They prayed and asked the Lord to bless their efforts.  They put their money where their mouth is.  They rolled up their sleeves and the Lord blessed their efforts, and a church was organized.  Now many years later I and others enjoy the benefits of their hard work.  All of those hard workers have gone to their rewards.  Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. Hebrews 6:10  For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. Do you have the determination to follow the Lord’s will till He calls you home?  Now let’s look at something else. Physical limitation.  Years ago one of our church members had heart surgery.  He was told to do nothing strenuous.  Each year he put up spectacular Christmas lights.  He was determined to put the lights up even if it killed him.  It did.  Physical limitations break our heart. We must realize there some things we have graduated from doing.  Don’t let what you can’t do anymore ruin your life.  Enjoy pleasant memories.  Let them bring you joy.  But also set new goals.  Things you can do.  Keep on keeping on.  Jesus is not through with you yet or He would have called you home.  If you have a competent brain, you can still be a prayer warrior even if your body keeps you in bed.  Read your Bible.  Pray.  Ask the Lord what He wants you to do. Listen for that still quiet voice and the words of the Bible to lead you.  Look for the need as Paul did and was given the Macedonian vision. Acts 16:9 . 9  And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. Live the Christian adventure.  Enjoy the Christian adventure.  What a ride.  Good things and bad things. But joy and peace beyond comprehension. Purpose to serve Jesus even if it kills you.  Eventually it will.  What glory awaits.  

 Mocking Jesus.  Ever have people make fun of you?  I began wearing glasses in the first grade.  Each year my eyes got weaker and the lens got thicker. In sports I had to go down on my knees and feel to find them if they were knocked off.  I thank the Lord that through cataract surgery my sight is near normal.  I believe no one was ever mocked as much as Jesus. The Jewish leaders beat Him. “Luke 22:63-64 And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. 64  And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?” Then Governor Pilate sent Jesus to Herod when he found out Jesus was from Galilee. “Luke 23:11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.” Pilate could find no fault in Him but ordered His execution to prevent an uprising. “Matthew 27:28-31   And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. 29  And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! 30  And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. 31  And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. Jesus was crucified between two thieves.”” Matthew 27:43-44 . He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. 44   The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.” Please observe the two thieves also made fun of Him.  “Luke 23:39-43  And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40  But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41  And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42  And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” We see a progression.  Both thieves made fun of Him.  Now after hanging on the cross for a while and realizing he was going to die one of the thieves cries out for mercy.  Jesus forgave Him. People mock Jesus.  We pray circumstances will persuade them to do an about face.  We shouldn’t get upset with them. They don’t know what you and I know.  We pray they will repent before it is too late.  

 Penny a pinecone.  One church I was pastor of had two large pine trees growing close to the building.  The person who mowed the yard was tired of the pinecones dulling his lawn mower blades.  It was brought up in a business meeting that we should cut the two trees down. Panic. My wife and I were raised where pine trees are rare.  We didn’t want to see the beautiful trees cut down.  I suggested we postpone the motion until next month’s business meeting and pray about it. Pray about pine trees? Yes.  “1 Peter 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”   If it’s important to you it is important to your Lord.  So, the trees had a one-month reprieve. The next Sunday I told the children from the pulpit we were going to have a pinecone hunt after church.  I would pay them a penny a pinecone.  I figured 600 to 800 pinecones would cost me $6 to $8.  The children could hardly wait for the church service to be over.  With trash sacks they went on a pinecone hunt.  They had such excitement and joy in their hearts. It really pays to go to church. When the count got up to 1800 pinecones I looked around and there were still plenty of pinecones on the ground.  I grabbed a bag and went around picking up pinecones myself saying:  “A penny saved is a penny earned.”  Then they started sitting on shoulders and reaching up into the tree to get more pinecones.  The final count was 3200 pinecones.  $32 out of my pocket.  But the children were happy and there were no more pinecones on the ground.  Success.  The trees got to live until after I left there.  Does the Bible say something about blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be broke?  Oh no.  Jesus said:   “Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”    It is wonderful to be called a child of God even if I have empty pockets. We are going to have differences of opinion.  That is human nature.  We must give and take.  Not compromise our convictions but realize we are not always going to have our way.  A lady in one church offered to pay for new carpet in the sanctuary`.  A new carpet committee decided on the color.  When she went to pay for and order the carpet she decided to order a different color.  After all, she was paying for it. Lord have mercy.  At least the church got new carpet.  And she was obedient to the Lord prompting her to buy new carpet.  She was obedient.  Well sort of.  Be careful because there may be some “pine trees” that you think need to be cut down but the church may vote otherwise.  Unless it is some big doctrinal statement that is contrary to the Bible don’t let your hurt feelings drive you to another church.  Seek the Lord in all you do.   

 The Heavenly vision.   “Acts 26:19  Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:”  Paul is a great hero to me.  He was seeking God with all his heart.  But he was looking for love in all the wrong places.  As a dedicated Jew he was following the desires of his leaders of killing Christians.  They killed Jesus to stop the heresy that He was the Son of God.  But on Sunday He arose.  Seen by over 500 people after His resurrection it was hard to persuade people He was not God.   “1 Corinthians 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.”    Paul (Saul of Tarsus) was determined to stomp out Christianity.  He thought he was serving God even as some Muslims today think they are pleasing God by killing nonbelievers.  He was seeking God and putting his words into action.  The Lord pricked him trying to get him to see he was going the wrong way.  You poke an ox or other animal with a sharp stick to get them to go where you want them to go. Paul ignored the pricks and marched full steam ahead to stop Christianity.  Finally, God decided to stop pricking him and drop him to the ground. “Acts 9:3-6  And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6  And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.” What must Jesus do to get your undivided attention?  If you die without receiving Christ He will have your undivided attention.  But it will be too late. Please repent and trust Him while you can. Obeying this Heavenly vision became Paul’s purpose in living.  He was not disobedient.  Are you obedient to God’s will?  Search the Scriptures. Attend a Bible teaching church.  Pray. Do the little assignments (opportunities) God gives you. He will reveal His will if you will seek Him. Then perhaps as your life is winding down you can say with Paul: “2 Timothy 4:6-8  For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”