Warning: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in /home1/heartof6/public_html/blog/wp-content/themes/responsive-mobile/includes/functions-extentions.php on line 35
Home › View all posts by Regina Meredith

Author: Regina Meredith

The Last Hour

Posted on by

A few days ago when I was with my 3 grandchildren, I shared with them the story from Matthew 20 about the laborers in the vineyard.  I told them the story in slightly different words.  I said what if you went out to work on the farm and at 8am one of you started your job, later in the day around noon one of the others came and started to work, and finally at 4pm the last one showed up to work.  After 5pm, the farmer came out to pay all of you and you all received the same pay.  My oldest said that’s not fair and I would be mad if I was the one that started working first.  I said it doesn’t seem fair to us but it is “mercy” exemplified in the greatest way.  When I then explained, what if we are talking about being saved?   She said, “Oh that is different.”

It is a hard concept for us as humans to wrap our minds around.  Our thought process is about self.  But every time I read this scripture my heart is so overwhelmed that we serve a God that has such great mercy.  I’m so very thankful that God’s ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts above our thoughts.  I have had family members that spent 75 years of their life ignoring God and his plan of salvation and then at the last hour they realized they needed a Savior.  Did God say “No I’m sorry it is too late, you should have come earlier when you had years to serve me”?  No, He did not.  In fact, it was quite the opposite: He just said welcome home, my Child.

Salvation is a gift of God.  We could never do enough to earn it.  This scripture has given me much hope over the years, to know that as long as the person is alive, they can still ask God to save them.  It does not matter if you have made wrong choices all your life and you have suffered the results of those and you are at the bottom of the barrel, God will still say “Yes!” if you will just offer yourself to him.  I know people do not easily forgive or forget but God loves with an everlasting love and is benevolent in all His ways.  I love the mercy and grace of God and that He overshadows me with these.  No wonder, He said the last shall be first.

Matthew 20:1-16 

1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.

2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,

4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.

8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.

9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.

11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,

12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.

13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?

14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.

15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Of the Heart

Posted on by

Did you know the heart is what really matters? Physically it is the hollow, muscular organ that circulates the blood by alternate dilation and contraction. The heart needs to operate within a certain pressure and rhythm for your body to stay healthy. If it fails to operate then the body ceases to function and you die. The health of your heart is very important. This is also true spiritually. Spiritually the heart is the center of feelings and the seat of the affections. There are several versus that describe how important your heart is your spiritual life. Matthew 15:18-19 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?
What is in your heart guides your speech, your thoughts, and your actions. A heart that is full of sin cannot produce good fruit. Your heart is what the Lord sees. I’m not saying he doesn’t see your actions or deeds but your heart is where God wants to be.

1 Samuel 16:7 For the Lord seeth not as man seeth: for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

This why the greatest commandment given is “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” (Matthew 22:37)

You might ask how do I change my heart from being evil to being good? David said “Create in me a clean heart O God;”

Ezekiel 11:19-20 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh. That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

Psalms 34:18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart: and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
I have read scriptures in the Old Testament that talked about serving God with a perfect heart. What does this mean? Does it mean that you are without sin? That you live a perfect life?

1 Chronicles 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee:…

Serving the Lord with a perfect heart doesn’t mean that you are a perfect person. I feel that it means that your heart is fixed on God and that he is at the center of your life. Your thoughts are toward Him. Your desires are toward Him and His way.

Psalms 57:7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.

This verse doesn’t include doubts about what your purpose is or fear of what might happen. It says your heart is determined and settled. Sometimes in the journey of life we lose our focus. Our heart becomes drawn away by our own desires and we dwell on our circumstances instead of seeking God first in our lives.

I was reading my Bible and read the verse below and God convicted my heart. Like me you might be going to church, reading your Bible, doing good to others but if your heart isn’t fixed on Him then you will feel empty. When I read this verse I realized that I wasn’t seeking Him with my heart. It’s when my heart seeks after Him that I am blessed.

Psalms 27:8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face: my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.

I think this is what is lacking in our worship of the Lord. You can go through the actions and follow the program but if you heart is not seeking and fixed upon Him then the heart will not be filled as it needs to be but will be empty of that strength that it needs.

Matthew 23:26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

I desire a closer walk with God. I want to make a greater difference in this world. I want to feel more of His Holy Spirit in my life.

I want God to work miracles in the lives of those around me. I want to be in God’s favor and under His wings.

God doesn’t measure us on our ability to do great things. But God does search our hearts to see if our heart is for Him. A heart that is fixed recognizes that God is omnipotent, God is in control, God knows best, and God is the center of your existence.

Psalms 28:7 …my heart trusteth in Him, and I am helped.

Staying In The Battle

Posted on by

It is so important that you as a soldier in the army of the Lord do not give up in the battle that you are waging against the enemy.  You may feel that you are not accomplishing anything and that your part doesn’t make a difference.  You may not realize the impact that your life has on others.   I would like to talk about the difference that Jonathan, the eldest son of Saul, made in the battle.

We find in 1 Samuel 12: 5-7 that Israel was facing a hard battle against the Philistines.  “And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and peoples as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude; and they came up and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven.  When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.  And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead.  As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the peopled followed from him trembling.”  Not only was Israel greatly outnumbered but they had no swords or spears to fight with.  There were no iron workers or smiths found in the land of Israel.  But the Israelites went down to the Philistines to get their axes and mattocks sharpened.  So there was neither sword or spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan.

It looked like there was no way to overcome.  In Chapter 14, Jonathan, the son of Saul, said unto his young armour bearer, “Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.”  But they told no one and no one knew they were gone.  The path that Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines’ garrison was a difficult path.  There was a sharp rock on the one side and a sharp rock on the other side.  How many times have you felt like you were in this situation?  You may have felt like there was no hope or no way out.  Jonathan said again to his armour bearer, “Come and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised:  it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.”  What faith that Jonathan had.  Heremembered God’s promises and covenant with Israel.  He was taking God seriously and claiming what God had already given Israel.  Many are the times we don’t receive from God because we don’t believe what He has already promised us.

The armour bearer told Jonathan to do all that was in his heart, behold, I am with thee.  This had to be encouragement for Jonathan.  I like to think that the armour bearer represented the Holy Spirit that is always present with us and goes with us through all our battles and trials.   Jonathan said we will pass over to these men and if they say unto us, Tarry until we come to you, then we will stand still in our place and will not go up unto them.  But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the Lord hath delivered them into our hand and this shall be a sign to us.  Jonathan was putting his fleece out, waiting on an answer from God.  Unlike his father, Saul, who had just committed sin in the earlier chapter by not waiting on Samuel to come to offer the sacrifice, Jonathan was depending on God to do the leading and willing to go forward when God sent His approval.

When Jonathan made known their presence unto the Philistines, they said, “Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing”. Jonathan knew it was time to move into the battle.  He said unto his armour bearer, “Come up after me: for the Lord has delivered them into the hand of Israel.”  Jonathan defeated a small number of Philistines in the mountain pass.  Then God Himself moved in the battle.  He sent an earthquake which caused a great panic among the Philistines.  All the noise and commotion of the retreating Philistines were noticed by Saul’s watchmen.  Saul decided to join in the battle.  In verses 21 & 22, it says that the Hebrews who had joined the Philistines earlier went up from them and turned to be with the Israelites.  Alsothe men of Israel which had been hiding in the mountain also joined in the battle against the Philistines.  Verse 23 says so the Lord saved Israel that day.

Jonathan didn’t know that he would be a “recruiter” for the Lord’s battle that day.  He was just following in his heart what he thought the Lord wanted him to do.  Your life can have a similar impact.  By staying in the battle, you will have an influence on others.  Those who had left Israel and joined the Philistines, turned back to fight with Israel.  Those who had been afraid and discouraged and had hid themselves in the mountain, gained courage and strength and joined the battle.  If others see that you are faithful to God in the good times and in the bad, they will be encouraged and want to do as you do.  So don’t ever give up but keep fighting the good fight of faith and performing the labor that God has given you.  Jonathan was humble in his obedience to God.  It was God’s victory that daybut Jonathan allowed himself to be used in the battle and as a result many who had turned away from God came back that day to fight in the battle.

As we begin a new year in 2019, be determined to stay in the battle of faith believing that God will answer your prayers, will bring you wayward family back home, will deliver individuals from the chains of addiction, and will save those who are lost.  Your fight is important not only to God but to those around you.

 

Repeat It!

Posted on by

My sister and I like to run for our exercise.  Since we are not fast runners we approach our runs from an endurance perspective.  Recently an 8k (about 5 miles) was being held at Norris Dam in honor of the dam’s 80th anniversary.  We had not run the course before and didn’t know what to expect.  When we got there we discovered that the starting line was at the bottom of the dam and you had to run out the road and then climb uphill until you reached the top of the dam.  About 45% of the 5 miles was going to be uphill and then about the 7:30 start time there came a downpour of rain which meant that now our shoes, socks, and clothes were all wet.  We began the race in the rain but about the time we reached the top of the dam it had quit.  We had to cross the dam and then run about a half mile beyond to the turnaround point.  Once we got to the turnaround it was downhill from there which made the last part easier to run but we were still questioning whether it was worth the trip we had made.

If you have ever participated in a road race you know that there are always runners and watchers that try to speak an encouraging word to you when you pass them which helps and they normally have a water station at some point so you can grab a quick drink if needed.  But at this race when we got near the end there was a gentleman stationed about 100 yards from the finish line.  When we went by, he said, “You’ve got it now, just the length of a football field, you can make it.”  We were already determined to finish but his words made us run a little faster.  It encouraged us right when we needed it.  Several minutes later after the finish line when we were going to our car we came back by the gentleman and he was still at his post saying the same thing to the runners just now at that point.  The Lord spoke to me and reminded me that this is probably how many people in the ministry feel.  Ministers may feel they preach the same sermon, singers may feel they sing the same song, teachers may feel they have taught this lesson many times before but it is still important because the runners just now finishing the race need to hear the encouraging words.  Although he had repeated the words over and over to each runner that came through it was fresh and new and encouragement to them to finish.  So if there are days that you feel like you are carrying the same message you carried yesterday just remember it is new to those that you speak it to and that they need to hear it.

Galatians  6:9  And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

A Covering

Posted on by

A covering is used to cover something else, typically in order to protect or conceal it.  When I begin to think in terms of our spiritual covering that God has provided, my heart is overwhelmed by the depth of God’s love for me.  I know that many have written and spoke on this subject and that my few words will be feeble in comparison but sometimes as one of the Redeemed I just need to say so.

First of all, if something needs covered this means it is vulnerable or weak and needs protection from the elements surrounding it so it will not suffer harm or damage.  When God came to me I was lost and undone and needed my sins to be covered by the blood of His Son.  I am reminded of a couple of scriptures that describe this covering so well.  First in the garden of Eden when Eve and Adam sinned against God and knew they were naked they tried to make their own covering to cover their nakedness and sin by sewing fig leaves together.  But this did not work.  They were still ashamed.  When God came to them in the garden and they confessed what they had done wrong, God himself made them tunics of skin and clothed them.  This highlights that there would have to be a sacrifice now to cover the sin of mankind which would be Jesus’s death upon the cross.  God himself provided the sacrifice that was needed.

The other scripture that I identify with so well is in Ezekiel 16.  In this scripture we find a babe that has been cast out without a father or mother to care for it.  As others passed by no one had compassion or pity for the babe.  But when He passed by, He said it could live.  He spread His skirt over the babe and covered it.  He entered into a covenant with the babe.  It now belonged to him.  He washed away all the blood and anointed it with oil.  Then  He dressed the babe with the best garment and shoes.  Aren’t you glad that when Jesus came by your way that he reached down into the depths of your sin, picked you up, cleansed you, filled you with his Spirit, and dressed you in new garments-made you a new creature and made a covenant with you?

Isaiah 61:10  I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with jewels.

I am also so glad that He not only saved my soul but that He is ever present upon this journey of life to be our Protector and Provider.  Many times I think about the mother hen and her little chicks and how that they may be all over the place but when danger arises they flock to their mother and she spreads her wings over them to protect them.  I want to stay under the wings of God’s protection.  A great example of God’s protection is shown when Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness.  It took the blood on the doorpost to bring the deliverance but also on the journey through the wilderness God protected and provided for their every need.

Exodus 13:21  And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night.

In the desert the heat is unbearable during the day and the nights are so very cold.  The cloud provided them shelter from the sun and the pillar of fire provided heat and light for the night.  At one point the Egyptians were so close that the children of Israel could see them.  They began to worry and complain and blame Moses.  Moses told them that the Lord shall fight for you and to hold their peace.  So the angel of the Lord which went before the camp of Israel removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face and stood behind them.  It came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud of darkness to the Egyptians and a cloud of light to the children of Israel and they came not near each other all night.  Moses stretched out his hand over the Red Sea and the Lord caused the sea to go back all night long to create a path wide enough for the thousands of Israelite’s to cross over.  If anyone had decided to leave the camp they would not have survived.  If you want God’s protection and favor you have to stay in His camp and do His will.

God is in control of everything and I definitely want to be in a place where I can be covered by His protection.  I have been in this way for several years and know that many times in my life that God’s hand has kept disaster and trouble from overwhelming me and mine.  I believe that He can do anything and that He will work on my behalf when I have needs or problems.

Deuteronomy 33: 12  And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.

 

 

 

The Mudroom

Posted on by

First let me say that I am not a dreamer and very seldom ever have a dream that I can remember but I have had God show me things in dreams from time to time. Perhaps because I am simple in nature God quite often uses ordinary things or situations to reveal to me a greater spiritual meaning. I’m a firm believer that God knows how to speak to each individual in a way that they can understand.

The other night I had a dream about a huge wind storm. It wasn’t a tornado but almost to that point. I was in a house with my Mom and my aunt Gertrude (both already gone home to be with the Lord). We were watching the storm through the window when I noticed there were a Hispanic woman and two children outside in the woods. I knew they were in danger and wanted to bring them to safety. I opened the door and shouted to them that it was okay if they wanted to come in out of the storm. They came into house into the mudroom. A mudroom is a room at an entrance to a house where people can leave wet or dirty clothes or shoes before entering the main portion of the house. Since I didn’t know anything about who they were or where they came from I was hesitant about inviting them further than the mudroom. I then heard God speak to me and say, “I didn’t just bring you into the mudroom but I invited you to sit at my table, to sleep in my bed, to have full access to all that I have.” This convicted my heart. I knew my compassion and love were lacking. My love should reflect the same love that God has for me. It humbles my heart to know where He brought me from and I am now a joint heir with Christ-not an outsider. I have complete access to the Father’s house and all His benefits.

I began to study further on this thought and realized that so many times we are just satisfied to be in the mudroom. We are in the house and safe from the storm so we are satisfied with just being inside the fold without enjoying all of the blessings that God has for us. I was reminded of the scripture in II Kings 4:3 where Elisha told the widow woman that she needed to go and borrow vessels from her neighbors and to borrow not a few. I believe that the woman didn’t just knock on 3 or 4 doors to borrow the vessels but I believe that she went through the whole community and knocked on every door to borrow the vessels. Every vessel that she borrowed was filled with oil. She sold the oil, paid off her debt, and she and her children lived off the rest. Hallelujah for God’s amazing grace! If she had borrowed only a few, she might have paid off the debt but then she would have struggled with her everyday living to make ends meet. But her desire to borrow all that she could provided for her family for many days.

I also thought about another situation in II Kings 13:18-19. Joash, King of Israel, had come to visit Elisha who was sick. Elisha told him to take his bow and arrows. When Joash put his hand on the bow, Elisha put his hands over the King’s hands. He told Joash to open the window and shoot. He shot the arrows and Elisha declared this to be the arrow of deliverance from Syria. Elisha told Joash to take the arrows and smite them upon the ground. Joash smote the arrows three times and stopped. Elisha was upset with Joash and told him he should have smitten them five for six times and he would have smitten Syria until they were consumed whereas now he would only smite Syria three times. So many times God wants us to do something for him and because the situation may not improve immediately we get discouraged and give up. God wants us to serve him with a full heart to give him our all and to keep our faith strong and persevere regardless of the situation.

Habakkuk 3:17-18

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls. Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.

Who Am I?

Posted on by

To begin to know who we are we must first recognize who God is:

Genesis 1:1

[1] In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Ecclesiastes 3:14

[14] I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

Psalms 148:5

[5] Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.

Psalms 119:90

[90] Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.

1 Samuel 2:2

[2] There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

Revelation 19:6

[6] And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

Isaiah 44:6

[6] Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

Jeremiah 32:27

[27] Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

God wants us to recognize Him as the one true God and worship Him only.

1 Samuel 7:3

[3] And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

So who am I?

Our nature is human ( or Flesh) – made from the dust, born into sin, born to die, a sinner, full of faults and mistakes, righteousness is as filthy rags.

There is none Good in this world except God through us! It overcomes our human nature and brings us into a new standard of righteous living and leads us unto life eternal through Christ!

Ezekiel 16:1-6

[1] Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[2] Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations,
[3] And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite.
[4] And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.
[5] None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born.
[6] And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.

An outcast – father was an Amorite and mother a Hittite

Alone and helpless – thy navel was not cut; was not washed, was not swaddled-none eye pietied me; polluted in my own blood; course of life was headed for destruction-could not help myself and no one else could help

Like the man that went down from Jerusalem to Jehrico and fell among thieves and was beaten and left for dead – Needed someone to come for me as I was and where I was

He came looking for me – As He passed by he saw me for what I was but didn’t turn me aside and leave me to die in my sins. God through Christ had compassion and said live! He did not leave any of us the way that he found us.

If someone comes by and asks me who I am, I can say I am a sinner saved by God’s grace which came by Jesus Christ!

I am:

Blessed because my transgressions are covered, my rough places made smooth, my crooked paths made straight. His blessings overtake me as I go down life’s road

Washed though my sins were as scarlet they are now made white as snow

Forgiven because my sins are cast out into the sea of forgetfulness

Psalms 103:1-5

[1] Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
[2] Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
[3] Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
[4] Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
[5] Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

When I think of who I am now, some words definitely come to mind: Covered, Redeemed, Pardoned, Justified, Free, Delivered, Kept, Whole, Watched, Adopted, a Joint-Heir, Loved, Clothed and in my right mind, Glad, On my way home, more than a conqueror! I am also precious in His sight, standing on a Solid Rock, Anointed, and the list goes on and on. I will always be able to claim each of these, for they are eternal.

The journey of life sometimes brings us hardships, toil and trouble. We get weary, tired, discouraged, worn, lonely, homesick, perplexed, afraid, sick etc. But remember God’s grace and his salvation is greater than, goes further, and is stronger than the trials of life. These are but temporary and will soon be left behind. When life gets hard, encourage yourself with God’s word and His promises. Remind yourself of who you are and who your Father is.

So who are you?

Tradition Will Make The Gospel Of None Effect

Posted on by

Matthew 15: 1-9

[1] Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
[2] Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
[3] But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
[4] For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
[5] But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
[6] And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
[7] Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
[8] This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
[9] But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

A tradition is a ritual, belief or object passed down within a society. Every type of group (family, community, church, religion, organizations, etc.) has traditions. If we are not very careful, we will make the Gospel of none effect by tradition. In Matthew 15 we find the Scribes and Pharisees are in opposition against Christ because the Disciples didn’t follow their tradition of washing their hands before they ate bread. Their intent was to find fault with Christ. Jesus ignored their tradition because He knew it was not scriptural. Knowing their hearts, he did however speak to them of a commandment they were not keeping. Notice the commandment was from God whereas the tradition was of a carnal nature. Jesus told them they were not honoring their father or mother but were giving their estate to the Temple so they wouldn’t have to take care of their aged parents. This freed them from their responsibility. But Jesus told them they had made the Commandment of God to Honour their father and mother of none effect by their tradition. I have visited many churches over the last few years and have found each church worships somewhat differently. Should I be offended that one church may worship God differently than I or should they be offended if I worship God differently than they? No, tradition should not matter but only that God is worshiped in spirit and truth.

I don’t want to worship in vain which means that my worship would not be accepted by God although it might meet the standards of man. I want to worship with my heart no matter how it may impact my flesh or those around me. I might look foolish and act differently from others but whatever God wants I want to be willing and ready to do. The Pharisees were offended at Christ because He didn’t follow their tradition. It is okay if others are offended as long as I am following what He wants in my life. If those around you get offended because you are obedient to God’s call on your life, then let them alone and press forward. This is what Christ did. He let them alone and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon where there was a Canaanite woman with a daughter who needed healing. If you are willing, God has much in store for you to learn and obtain. For years, I was wrapped up in traditions. I wasn’t listening for God to speak or for God to give me knowledge but I was taking the knowledge that another person had passed onto me instead of seeking God’s will and guidance for my life personally. Don’t be guilty of doing something because this is the way it has been done for years but ask God, Lord what would you have me do, where do you want me to be, what do you want me to say, what do you want me to do. Lord, I want to be what you want me to be. Please forgive me for not being effective in my life and in my worship of you.

A Time Of Love

Posted on by

There was a time in my life when I was all alone.  I was in darkness.  I was cast out for dead.  No one cared for my soul.  I was cold, shivering, dying in my own iniquities.  Have you ever had a natural experience like this?  Perhaps you got wet in a thunderstorm or in the snow and your clothes become damp and clingy.  You are so cold that you are shivering.  You only want one thing and that is to be warm and snug.  You are like a baby wanting someone to comfort it.  Then all of a sudden someone spreads a warm, soft blanket over you.  All of a sudden you are warm and dry.  You feel comforted and at peace.  This is what Christ does for you when he saves your soul.  He spreads his skirt of love over you and covers your nakedness.  All that misery and wretchedness is gone.  It is like going from being naked, cold, wet, and shivering to being covered by the softest, warmest fur blanket that you could wish for.  It happens in an instant.  The change that salvation brings doesn’t take days or years, it happens the very moment that you accept Jesus as your Savior.  “Whoosh”, just like spreading a blanket.  Thank you, Jesus, for covering my nakedness, my sin, my iniquity.

Ezekiel 16:4-8

[4] And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.
[5] None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born.
[6] And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.
[7] I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare.

A Place For Me

Posted on by

The word place can be defined as an area set aside for a particular purpose, a stead, a location, a home, a space, a position, a dwelling or a room. Some examples of usage are: A place where I can go, He took my place, He made a place for me at the table, this is my place!

At a previous service a while back my heart was stirred by the testimony and scripture that was given by Brother John Vanover. He talked about a special “place” that was made for Moses. And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: (Exodus 33:21) He said this place was not just for Moses but exists for all of God’s children. It is a secure place, on a solid foundation. A place of refuge.

I have been so blessed by this scripture over the last several days. I thought about the place that God has made for me to stand in. It is a place that was given to me without money and without price. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: (John 19:7) Jesus took my place so I could have a place.

Not just any place, not stuck back in a corner, or in a dard basement but I have a front row seat. Hallelujah! I can’t help but get excited when I start to describe my place. I know I don’t deserve to be here but I am so very glad to be right beside my Father. If I need something to eat, I can just reach out to the table that is spread with the very best. If I need to talk to my Father, I just have to turn toward Him and He inclines His ear to hear what my petitions are. If I am hurt or sick or down hearted, He is so close by that He can just wipe my tears away, touch me with His healing hand, or just reach out and lift up my head so that I can see all of His goodness. Again I have to say Hallelujah how wonderful it is to be part of God’s family.

If you are reading this and thinking I would like feel that way, I have good news for you. You have a “place” right beside God, too. When God gave His only begotten Son to die on Calvary he made a “place” for whosoever will. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2)

If you turn aside the place that Jesus made for you then you will have to go to a place that was made for the devil and his angels. A place called Hell. A place of eternal torment where the fire is not quenched. Choose that good “place” that was made for you.

That if thou shalt confess with my mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raise him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:8)