Resurrection Sunday is nearly here. A time where church parking lots and pews are packed. Easter is a time when you go to the store and buy a new suit or a new dress. The whole family walks into church decked out!! Throw the ham in the oven and head to church!
On the Pastoral side of Easter, there will not be another Sunday throughout the year when there will be more unsaved people in the congregation. More time is spent on studying and perfecting a sermon that will pull at the heart and convict the one sitting in the pew that does not know Jesus.
For some people, it is the only day of the year that they will walk into a church. Maybe for a family member. Perhaps they just feel it is their obligation. It could even be a tradition. Whatever the reason, they come. Unfortunately, they will not sit on that pew for an entire year after that.
I fear that people that do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ only thank him when they are allowed off of work because of him. On Good Friday, Christmas Eve, & Christmas, people are very thankful when they don't have to get up and head to their jobs. That is far as it goes for most. Some will not consider what Easter truly means.
My prayer is that this weekend, people do not just celebrate Holiday Jesus, but they are radically saved by Resurrected Jesus! The one that laid down his life so that we may live. I pray that a revival shakes our churches regardless of what name is on the sign in the front lawn of the church. Let's agree that this Easter people will not leave the same way they walked through the door. Sunday is coming.
Acts 2:24
But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Don't Block the Trend
We all know have read, preached, listened to the scriptures about the life of Elijah. I even preached about him as recently as a week ago. Last night at church the minister made a point that I had not thought about. It is right there in front of us!
Elijah was a great man of God. He performed miracle after miracle. One of my favorite stories in the Bible is when Elijah calls fire down from heaven. What a sight that must have been! How strong his faith must have been when God proved who was the true God through him. Then shortly after that he receives a threat against his life from Jezebel. What does he do? He flees.
I am going to list some scriptures. See if you can see a trend develop.
1 Kings 17
2 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: 3 “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. 4 You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.”
5 So he did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.
....
7 Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. 8 Then the word of the LORD came to him: 9 “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.”
....
1 Kings 18
1 After a long time, in the third year, the word of the LORD came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.” 2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.
....
Do you see it? Everywhere Elijah went God sent him! God says, "Go" or "Leave here". When Elijah listened to him, God always supernaturally provided for him. A miracle always took place when God sent him. Now read this scripture and see what you notice....
1 Kings 19
2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”
3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness.
What is missing from verse 3? God did not say, "Go" or "Leave here"!! What could have happened? What would have happened? What should have happened? What was going to happen if Elijah didnt take matters into his own hands?
How often do we take matters into our own hands and miss our miracle? Why do we become fearful after God has delivered us time and time again? Stand still, wait on the word of the Lord! When God says to go or to leave then you do it, but not until then! When we are faced with a trial or life places a life changing decision in front of us......wait on God. It will be worth it and you will eliminate a lot of messes in your life.
God was not finished with Elijah and provided for him in the wilderness. God is not finished with you and he will provide for you. Even after bad decisions.
Elijah was a great man of God. He performed miracle after miracle. One of my favorite stories in the Bible is when Elijah calls fire down from heaven. What a sight that must have been! How strong his faith must have been when God proved who was the true God through him. Then shortly after that he receives a threat against his life from Jezebel. What does he do? He flees.
I am going to list some scriptures. See if you can see a trend develop.
1 Kings 17
2 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: 3 “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. 4 You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.”
5 So he did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.
....
7 Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. 8 Then the word of the LORD came to him: 9 “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.”
....
1 Kings 18
1 After a long time, in the third year, the word of the LORD came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.” 2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.
....
Do you see it? Everywhere Elijah went God sent him! God says, "Go" or "Leave here". When Elijah listened to him, God always supernaturally provided for him. A miracle always took place when God sent him. Now read this scripture and see what you notice....
1 Kings 19
2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”
3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness.
What is missing from verse 3? God did not say, "Go" or "Leave here"!! What could have happened? What would have happened? What should have happened? What was going to happen if Elijah didnt take matters into his own hands?
How often do we take matters into our own hands and miss our miracle? Why do we become fearful after God has delivered us time and time again? Stand still, wait on the word of the Lord! When God says to go or to leave then you do it, but not until then! When we are faced with a trial or life places a life changing decision in front of us......wait on God. It will be worth it and you will eliminate a lot of messes in your life.
God was not finished with Elijah and provided for him in the wilderness. God is not finished with you and he will provide for you. Even after bad decisions.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)