It's Worth the Wait

Acts 1:4-5 - "And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 

Jesus didn't recommend or suggest that the disciples not depart from Jerusalem until the "Promise of the Father" had come, He commanded them. After His resurrection, they had spent many amazing days together, He taught them kingdom principles, and He knew the disciples were eager to share the good news all over the world.  But He commanded them not to get started until they had been clothed with the Spirit's power (Luke 24:49).  

In 1 Corinthians it says that He gave this command to about 500 people, yet in Acts 1:15 it says there were only 120 men and women in the upper room filled with the Holy Spirit.  What happened to the other 380?  Perhaps they didn't want to wait.  They wanted to get started doing the work of the ministry…without the power of the Holy Spirit!

When God calls us to do something, we need to make sure that we don't get so excited about the task, that we move out ahead of Him.  Moving out in our own power and timing will actually interfere with what He wants to do in our lives, and interrupt the process.  Our decisions greatly affect the lives of those around us, and the people that God has called us to reach.  Slow down!  Don't worry, you'll know when the Holy Spirit says to move, and He will empower you for the task at hand.  It's worth the wait.

 

You've Got to Love God More!

1 John 2:15 - "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him" 

There is a great misunderstanding as to why people are entangled in sin and love the things of this world.  Some people say that it's because they don't love God enough.  That if they loved God more, they would sin less.  

In 1 John 2:15, John tells us that "if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him".  Notice it says the love of the Father is not in them.  It doesn't say the love for the Father.  People are trapped in sin because they don't know or don't believe the love of the Father for them.  People are in love with the things of this world is because they have no idea how in love God is with them.  

Once a person experiences the love of the Father, and truly receives it into their heart, they will simply lose their desire for sinful and worldly ways.  When they've embraced God's goodness and grace, they become transformed from the inside out.  Always remember, it will never be about our love for God, but always about his overwhelming and unconditional love for us.

 

Home "Sick"


Indeed, nearly all people miss something about home when they are away, making homesickness a nearly universal experience.  However, an intense desire to go "back" to a familiar place and time can be very debilitating.  A longing for the "good ol' days" and what "used to be" makes it impossible to look with hope to the future.
 
According to Hebrews 11:15, you follow the direction of your most dominant thought.  You don't go anywhere in the natural that you haven't first gone in your imagination. This can be good or bad, depending on where your mind is taking you.  If you spend your time meditating on God's promises in His Word, by faith you'll move forward and fulfill God's plan and purpose for your life.  If you follow thoughts that want to take you backwards, you will find "constant opportunity to return to it".  You'll be home "sick", instead of enjoying and being content with and trusting in God's goodness and faithfulness in the place He has for you today and every day to come.  

 

The Worst Trade in History


Exodus 19:8 "And all the people answered together, and said, "all that the Lord hath spoken we will do"
 
The worst trade that ever took place in sports history was when the Boston Red Sox traded future baseball icon Babe Ruth for $100,000 and a loan of $300,000 to finance the musical No, No Nannette.  Red Sox owner, Harry Frazee, dealt Ruth to the arch rival New York Yankees and watched them dominate the World Series for the next 20 years while his team won absolutely nothing.  Again, the worst trade in sports history!
 
The covenant God made with Abraham and his seed was based totally on grace.  Every blessing that Abraham and his descendents received was unearned.  Every promise undeserved.  This is clearly seen in the exodus of Israel. On their flight from Egypt they complained and murmured, and still God did not treat them as their sins deserved. Instead He gave them grace.
 
At Sinai, everythingchanged. The Israelites traded the grace and goodness of God for the law.  They actually chose a covenant whereGod's blessings now hinged on their faithfulness. 
 
THIS is undeniably THE worst trade in history, of all time!  Before the law, the Israelites sinned and received God's grace.  On the day they received the law the Israelites sinned again, but this time 3,000 people died.   Like I said, the worst trade in history.  They exchanged God's grace and mercy for a performance based covenant, the law..
 
But thanks be to God for the blood of Jesus, which paid the penalty for our sin once and for all, and redeemed us from the curse of the law.  Romans 10:4 says, "Christ is the END of the law for righteousness to them that believe".  Hallelujah!  The trade has been reversed and it's time to win, win, win, again! 
 

 

Pick Up Sticks

Numbers 15:32 " And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks on the Sabbath day"

When I was a kid we spent a lot of our rainy days inside playing all kinds of games. Monopoly, war, a card game, hide and seek, one of the games we always played was a game called " pickup sticks". The object of the game was to pick up the most sticks. To begin the game a bundle of sticks are randomly distributed so that they end up in a tangled pile. The players attempt to remove a single stick without moving any other stick. Players must not move any other things while attempting to remove the stick, if any other stick moves, he loses his turn.

In Numbers 15: 32-36, there's a story of a man who simply picked up sticks on the Sabbath day, you would have thought that he broke some law or something because immediately he was thrown in a prison and the Lord said " The man shall be surely put to death"! WOW! What is going on? You pick up a few sticks on a Sabbath and your put to death. According to the ten commandments you couldn't do any work at all, no raking leaves, no laundry, no washing the car. That all changed when Jesus came, Moses came by the law but Jesus came by grace and truth, under the law there was serious consequences for breaking any of the laws of Moses, now you can "PICKUP STICKS" and not be stoned! Good news you are not under the law but you are under grace so you don't have to live under fear of punishment from an angry God He loves you and accepts you!

So pickup as many sticks as you want this Sunday, play tennis, go swimming, and if your scheduled by your boss to work, you're in a guilt free zone He is your Sabbath rest, be blessed not stressed! God's not mad at you He's not even giving you a dirty look, He certainly loves and accepts you.

You've Already Got It!

Philemon 6 "That the communication of your faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus"

You've already got it!  Everything that you will ever need for this life has already been provided for you. Your healing has already been provided.  Your deliverance has already been provided.  Financial prosperity has already been provided.  You’ve already got it!

Where is it?  It's IN CHRIST JESUS!  Philemon 6 say's that if you're in Christ, then every good thing is already in you, in your spirit!  It's like a water well, and the pump is activated by "acknowledging every good thing that's already in you”.  In Christ Jesus you are now living from the inside out, not the outside in.  Peace is in you.  Joy is in you.  More than enough is in you.  Start declaring it.  Why?  Because you’ve already got it!

One definition of faith is - a positive response to what Grace has already provided!  God didn't provide healing the day you got sick, HE provided it 2016 years ago.  God didn't provide finances the day you got that bill in the mail.  He provided it 2016 years ago!  God didn't provide deliverance the day you fell into bondage or addiction.  He provided it 2016 years ago!  

If you’re born again, every good thing is already in you, you've already got it!  All that you need is not “out there” somewhere, or in your future, you don’t have to go get it from God.  Simply release the healing that is already in your born again spirit.  Release the finances that are already in you through the finished work on the cross.  Release the peace that is already in you, a fruit of the Spirit.  

Go ahead, “Abound and overflow in thanksgiving” as in Colossians 2:7.  Hallelujah!  Whatever you need, you’ve already got it.  It is finished!

To Obey is Better Than ________

1 Samuel 15:22 - "And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." Have you ever had something in your heart that you know you were supposed to do, but you tried to substitute anything and everything else instead of doing what the Lord has told you to do?...

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A Bug's Life - Living Abund-ANT"


Proverbs 6:6 "Go to the ant...consider her ways and be wise”.  In the classic 1998 Disney film, A Bug’s Life, a story is told of an incredible journey with one little ANT as he searches for a brave band of warriors to help him battle against the grasshoppers who threaten his home.  I enjoyed this story because...
 

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Grace Recliner

John 6:10-11 “Jesus said, Make all the people recline (sit down). Now the ground (a pasture) was covered with thick grass at the spot, so the men threw themselves down, about 5,000 in number.  Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks, He distributed to the disciples and the disciples to the reclining people; so also [He did] with the fish, as much as they wanted.”  “In our home the recliner in our family room is a special place...

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Mary, Did You Know?

Luke 1:31 "And thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus."  
If you’re anything like me, you want to know as much as you can about a new experience before moving forward.   What's it going to be like at the new job.  What the accommodations are like when you go away.  Will I get along with the new neighbors?  All the unknowns.  Questions, questions, questions!

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Bright Future Ahead

Proverbs 4:18 - But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.  I just heard someone say, "In God, your future is so bright, you have to squint to see it".  Don’t you love it!?  I instantly thought of today's verse, which has blessed me countless times. That’s why I never have issues with...

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"Whatsup"

Revelation 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to Him, and I will SUP with him, and he with ME" (Emphasis mine).  "Whatsup" or "whasup", that's what my kids always would say to me years ago.   "Hey dad, WHASUP?"  It's a combination of two words, what's and up.  Recently  a beautiful family from a church that I had been privileged to preach at, invited me to their home for "supper"...  

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No Sweat

Matthew 11:28-30 (Message Bible) “Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.  I’ll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.”  I love that, the unforced rhythms of grace.  When it comes to exercise, I know that I’ve done an exceptional workout when...

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Teach Me Lord to Wait

Galatians 5:22-23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. "  I heard a very interesting fact recently that really changed my perspective about waiting.  Ready for this?...on The Golf Channel!  The presenter was talking about the recipe for success for winning a golf tournament.  They gave many "ingredients", but the one that caught my attention was...

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The Perfect Resort

Psalm 71:3 (Amplified Bible) "Be to me a rock of refuge in which to dwell, {and} a sheltering stronghold to which I may continually resort, which You have appointed to save me, for You are my Rock and my Fortress."  Whether you made your summer vacation plans many months ago or several days ago, the anticipation of getting away is like no other.  The countdown starts…

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Adding Fuel to the Fire

1 Corinthians 15:56 – “The strength of sin is the law”.  Recently in the news was a story of a man that accidentally set fire to three cars while trying to get rid of bed bugs!  The New Yorker was hospitalized after dousing the interior of his rental car with...

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Sweatless Grace

Ezekiel 44:17-18 – “And it shall be, when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with bleached linen clothing. And no wool shall come on them while they serve in the gates of the inner court, and inside. Turbans of bleached linen shall be on their heads, and shall have bleached linen undergarments on their loins. They shall not clothe themselves with anything that causes sweat.”  Did you ever buy a deodorant that didn’t…do what it was supposed to do, stop the sweat?  I have...

 

 

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Dynamic Soaring in 2015

Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”  When I was in the window and siding business many years ago, there was a saying among the sales people, “Are you working hard, or working smart?”, meaning...

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