Don’t Lose Out

“On the third day, behold, it happened that a man came from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. So it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself” (2 Samuel 1:2).

No battle is filled with more shame than at Gilboa. Herein is where Jonathan and his father Saul, the King of Israel, died. Saul was deserted by the Lord and the Philistines ransacked the nation and Saul preferred suicide than to fall into the hands of his enemy.

A more noble death could have been Saul’s tenure. Yet he continually refused the Word and will of the Lord, for he rebelled and reneged on his only hope. We should pray, “Lord, help us to end well.” Saul had a good beginning but it had a terrible ending.

One can start in light and end in darkness, begin with great courage and end in fear, to start with wisdom and fall into folly and foolishness. David ended his life in great standing before God. Though David was a great sinner we learn that David had a great Savior. He prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).

Defeat, death, and disgrace hounded Saul because Saul chose to disdain God’s chastening hand. He lost his crown, his life, his family, and his nation. Saul lost what he could have found. Let us end well.

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  • Revival

    “Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence” (Isaiah 64:1).

    Too many people are tired and worn out. They are so tired, with all of the new gadgets and technology, one would think life would be easier, but the gadgets only add to our tiredness.

    How did some of our great-grandparents do it? How did they do so much with so little and we do so little with so much? How did they bring up their children in the things of God and we just watch our children grow up?

    Is it because we are trusting in our own lives rather than the One who gives it? I pray that all of us would examine our prayer lives. How are we doing? Are we truly praying? When you and I climb to the Summit it is costly business. The bitter cold, raging winds, rarified atmosphere, the blinding blizzards, engulfing avalanches of snow and rock will try to beat us down from the climb. But it is worth it!

    God said that He would look down and come down if we invite Him. The things that wear us out are the things that are keeping us from Him and Him from us. Life on the highest plane is found as we pray, for it is the Upward Way as we press onward and upward. “Comfyness” is a sign of desertion from God.

    Someone has said that “the kingdom of God will be brought in by Christians who, when last seen, were heading toward the summit.” How true! Yes, and how thrilling! Have we allowed “iniquities to separate between us and our God?” True obedience is staying in the upward direction in prayer. It is the sign of a soul that is climbing the Summit with God.

  • Real Valor

     

    “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24).

        The Navy Seals train on the sand of Coronado Island so that can fight on the rocks of Afghanistan. Actually, the SEALs can fight anywhere–sea, air, and land. Hence the name and acronym SEALs.

          The training to become a SEAL is pure torture. But there is a reason for the harsh surroundings of training. The tests, drills, the lack of sleep, is all purposed to make a SEAL. Who will make it to become a SEAL? One writer said, “Not the weight-lifting meatheads…the kids covered in tattoos….the preening leaders who don’t want to get dirty…and the look-at-me former athletes who have always been told they are stars but who have never been pushed beyond the envelope of their talent to the core of their character.”

        Who does not make it in the Christian warfare and walk? In short, those who fail are the ones who focus on show. When it comes to famine (lean times in life), suffering (hard times in life), the rough times (doesn’t seem to-let-up times in life), many look for the exit. Though it is rough, tough, and fisticuffs, God means for us to not look for the exit, but to stay the course. His desire is for us not to be all show and no go. In Texas they have a saying, “Big hat, no cattle.”  Build on the Rock of Jesus! STAY the course!

  • What Big Teeth You Have

    “Woe be unto the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! Saith the LORD” (Jeremiah 23:1).

    You remember the story of Little Red Robin Hood? She was speaking to the wolf who tried to disguise himself with her grandmother’s cap. Red Robin Hood kept mentioning body parts of the wolf until finally she said, “What big teeth you have.” Of course the reply came back from the wolf, “All the better to eat you with, my dear.”

    There are a lot of shepherds out there who rather eat the sheep instead of feed and teach the sheep. The True Shepherd will come one day and sue for malpractice. God’s people are to be teachers and learners at the same time. Many are hirelings who flee at the intrusion of anything. The wolves in disguise cover themselves in religious overtures but reveal themselves for what they are in the day of trouble.

    May we remember that God will set up in His kingdom teachers who will lead and not drive, visit and not be self-serving, and learners instead of just talkers. One of the reasons for the mess that many local churches are in is because of many who talk Bible but who do not incarnate the Word of God.

    True Shepherds will feed the sheep so that they will not fear, nor be dismayed, neither lacking in their lives. Yes, Red Robin Hood saw correctly, but she was slow to see before it was too late.

  • Can Revival Happen?

    “Run to and fro through the streets…and see now, and know, if you can find a man…that seeketh the truth…” (Jeremiah 5:1).

    There is a great problem today as it was in the days of Noah and Lot. Many do not believe in the existence of God, or the biblical God that we serve. Also, there is not a  respect for Scripture as authoritative and lawful. There is another quandary as well, it is the problem of a guilty conscience over personal sin.

    Throughout the history of the church, there have been episodes of revival and reformation within and through the church. But upon closer observation, the people revived and the sinners converted, already had, for the most part, a belief in the evidence of God, which is described in Scripture as a respect for the authenticity and authority of Holy Scripture, as well as the presence of a guilty conscience over one’s own personal sin.

    We must turn back to the doctrines of Scripture found in the only Book that shows us who God is and what we are. We are totally depraved–mankind is not lightly sinful-we are totally, entirely sinful. We sin because we are sinners. And because of this fact every unbeliever is headed for a future damnation. Society is ignoring this truth, but more than they, the church is ignoring the warning of the Bible.

    Pleasing God is better than feeling good. Truth hurts before it heals. There is coming judgment wherein a judgment day appointed by God. The payment for sin is death–an eternity in hell, instead of heaven. May we tell and may we tell someone soon.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • A Jewish Lady and a Bible

     “He that cometh from above is above all; he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaks of the earth; he that cometh from heaven is above all” (John 3:31).

    My copy of God’s Word is back with me again. It was in the Christmas year of 1981 that dad and mom bought me a Scofield reference Bible, and I received it as a Christmas gift on the twenty-fifth of December. I have had it rebound once back then, plus other minor work done to the pages over the years. But yesterday I picked up my copy of God’s Word from Susan that had my personal Bible, and once more had an overhaul and completed. She really did a remarkable job.

    My heart was burdened as I spoke with Susan face to face. I told her that I love what the Jewish people have done for the world and for what they have given to us. I spoke of Jesus who is the Messiah and what He did and is doing. I spoke with pathos as I called her attention to the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah. I tenderly but hurriedly spoke of how our hearts are wicked and deceitful and how God took My hard heart and gave me a heart of flesh. It is tendered to the touch of the finger of God. It responds to Him.

    She really did not seem to be too impressed but we talked and I went as far as I could in my witness and love for Christ. She said to me that she hoped to see me again, and I said the same. I will continue to pray for Susan.

    When I step up to the pulpit to preach or introduce Christ in private speaking to others, I have asked the Lord to lay the world’s burdens upon my heart that I may care and have compassion. Today there will be around 150,000 people who will die and many will die in their sins. I don’t want people to live without God and to die without God. Will you join me this Christmas season and pray, seek, and “Love One More”?

  • Galactic Starveyors

    What a joy to study God, not just about God, but God. What a privilege to get outside of the world and come back to the center where we meet God who creates new things. What joy there is to know that God has revealed himself in the pages of his Word. We know Him, we embrace Him, and then we reveal Him as we obey Him.
    I am amazed at the Scripture. I’m amazed and stand in awe of God’s Word. It speaks. It is living, and this breathing Scripture gives breath and life. It transcends sin and death. It conquers all. God is in control and He is winning and has won.
    “Be broken, you peoples, and be shattered;
    Give ear; all you far countries;
    Strap on your armor and be shattered;
    Strap on your armor and be shattered.
    Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing;
    Speak a word, but it will not stand,
    For God is with us.”     (Isaiah 8:9, 10).

     

    There will never come one moment when we will say, “I’ve seen it all.” As you know and trust God through His Son by the power of His Spirit, you and I will not be bored.