PRAYER MEETING TONIGHT AT 6:30!
Daily Beats from the Pastor’s Heart:
A number of years ago someone gave me a copy of The Green Letters.
It had such a profound effect upon my life that I want to share them with you.
2 Peter 3:18, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.”
Notice that this is a growth process – unlike salvation which is an event, spiritual maturity is a process.
There appears to be a common weakness in our churches today.
Good God loving Christian people who are struggling in their relationship with the Lord, struggling in their service to Him, struggling in their relationship to one another, these are good church going folks who are beat down by the problems of life – many have lost their joy and zeal for the Lord.
Rather than walking by faith and depending on the Lord for the power to live the Christian life, many are relying on their own efforts to walk this walk, which inevitably results in defeat and no significant progress in the area of spiritual growth.
We are designed to run on God’s power: not on the power that we can crank out.
Without faith it’s impossible to please Him!
Let’s begin today with what is probably the single most important principle of spiritual growth, and that is FAITH.
Without faith, any desire of ours to walk with the Lord and grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ is absolutely hopeless.
Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for hethat cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
We could probably say that the Christian life is nothing more than a walk of faith.
The Church at Ephesus was a really good Church.
Revelation 2:1-3, “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.”
Notice again in verses 2 & 3, that this was a good church; this was the church that the Apostle Paul spent more time with than any other church.
They were a serving church, they were steadfast, separated and sacrificing; they were doing many good things.
However, Revelation 2:4, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.”
They had left, NOT LOST, but left their first love.
Now first love is that child–like faith that we have when we first came to know Christ, and although the saints at Ephesus were doing many good things, they were not trusting, and resting, and depending on the lord; therefore, they were not pleasing to Him.
The Lord helps those who trust in Him.
The Christian life is not a walk of me producing/performing, but rather receiving by faith.
Colossians 2:6, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:”
An interesting thought to consider is this; it’s only natural in this production oriented society to balk at a walk of faith.
We are taught from day one to produce/do the right things, or life will not go well.
We hear things like “the Lord helps those who help themselves”.
This is not a true statement.
What is true and we find throughout the Bible is, that the Lord helps those who trust in Him.
An age-old problem.
It’s important that we know that this is not a problem that is unique to the 20th century, but rather a problem that has plagued the church and Christians since the beginning.
Galatians 3:1-3, “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”
Faith from start to finish.
The faith by which we were saved is the same faith by which we are to stand 1 Cor.16:13… and walk, 2 Cor.5:7… and live.
Galatians 2:20b, “The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Often times, one of the greatest hindrances to our spiritual growth turns out to be well meaning Christians who have sowed seeds of doubt in our minds about this Bible, and about God Himself.
Some Old Testament Saints and Jesus to encourage us: What encouragement and comfort we get from people like David, and Daniel, and Elijah, and Nehemiah, and from Jesus Himself.
In 1 Sam.17 Goliath cursed David by His God’s and said; “I will give your flesh to the birds of the air.”
David responded back; “I come to you in the name of the Lord of Hosts.”
Goliath never knew what hit him.
How about Nehemiah…Ridiculed by Tobiah and Sanballat…Who built the wall in 52 day; who won out in the end?
Not old Tobiah.
What about Elijah who stood alone against 450 prophets of Baal with all of Israel watching?
Surely they had to have been laughing him to scorn.
But whose God proved Himself by devouring the sacrifice?
It certainly wasn’t Baal.
And now Daniel…Thrown into the den of lions because he continued to pray to his God…
Don’t you just love the kings question to him the following day when he came to the lions den to see what had happened to Daniel; “O Daniel, servant of the most high God, has your God been able to deliver you from the lions?
Possibly a long moment of silence and then Daniel’s response.
”O king, my God has sent the angels to shut the mouths of these lions.”
Turn now to Matt. 27:39-44 – Who is seated at the right hand of God? It sure isn’t those chief priests and scribes.
Back to the Garden, where it all started: It all started in the Garden of Eden when Satan said to Eve, “Yea hath God said?
All he did was sow a seed of doubt in Eve’s mind, and he continues sowing seeds of doubt in the minds of Christians today.
His working in our lives is in direct proportion to our faith.
Everyone of these scriptures say that “it will be done to us according to our faith.”
In other words, His working in our lives is in direct proportion to our faith.
It might be good for us to end our time today by looking at a couple of men in scripture who had varying degrees of faith.
One had great faith, the other started out well, but along the way began to doubt.
Psalms 119:89, “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.”
Notice His word is settled in heaven…I can’t change it, you can’t change it, Satan can’t change it, and God won’t change it…IT IS SETTLED.
This book is full of the wisdom of God.
It is full of encouragement from Him.
It is full of His comfort, His mercy, His love and grace and strength, and it is all settled in Heaven and we can put our faith and trust in it here on earth.
Until Tomorrow, With A Shepherd’s Love Pastor
Today’s Prayer List
Amy Garner’s Mother – better –
Andria Carter -Ashley’s Sister –
Barbara Shed’s Family –
Bill Lawhead – Cancer returned
Bill Moody –
Charlie Sessom -Waiting –
Cheri/Barry Hill –
Colby/Connor – Allison’s G’sons–
Debra Roberts – Please Please Pray
Denise Stubbs – Kim Allison’s Mom
Don Slate – Angela Bryan’s Dad – Hospice
Doug Fritzel –
Hanna Hall
James Garner’s G’Son –
James Parsons – Mae’s Brother
Joyceann – James Garner’s Daughter
Kimberly – Dustin’s Sister-
Larry Barker
Lavona Davis –
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Lynn – Nancy Brown’s Daughter –
Mary Sims –
Michael Stanley –
Nancy Brown’s G’Daughter –
Nora Allison – Dustin’s Mom –
Pastor Stucke– Nikki’s Dad
Paula Ferus’ Missionary friend
Ricky Stubbs –
Roseleigh Osborn –
Sarah Parker –
Scott Lanier – Lisa’s cousin –
Sharon Blalock-
Shaelyn – Jill’s friend
Shannon Golden –
Sheila Simmons Cousin –
Susan Bryan – Mike’s Mom –
Tim McCollum –
Todd Bailey –
Todd Roberts –
Tom Witcher –
Tommy/Gayle Harris-
Wanda Galanti –