Preaching

The message of Christianity cannot be delivered with words only,  it requires action.  The giver of the sermon must come down from the pulpit and practice what he preaches.  Preaching with ones mouth is the easy part,  preaching with one’s life requires sacrifice.   “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”  Ro 12:1

Givers

“For God so loved the world that He GAVE……” To be like our Father we must become givers. Our world is made up of takers and we go against the grain when we become givers. One of the first responses in the lives of the first Church was they became generous. Christmas should be more about what we give than what we get. Sometimes it is easier to give money than your time, but money or gifts of material things are not what most people need. They need our hearts, our compassion our personal reach into the pain of their lives. Giving our lives to Christ must translate into action it must be more than pulling a few bucks from your pocket. God gave and it was a LIFE. He walked into our lives, dirtied his feet on the streets of our world and reached for us with a loving heart. It is with joy that Mary, my two friends Jeff Griffith and Jim Ellis, give a bit of our lives to our friends in Haiti. jfs

TRUTH

Truth and deception often live next door to each other. Two degrees off at the point of departure can be miles apart at the arrival. Jesus taught that one of the signs of the end would be great deception. The most dangerous deception is that which is close to truth.  jfs


Mr 13:22 "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”

Anticipation

I sit on an airplane in Dallas, Texas anticipating the take-off. Take-off is about leaving. As a pilot, I know departure is one of the more anxious moments of a flight. It is about saying good- bye to friends and love ones. It is not always a happy time, but sooner or later we all must make a departure. Today the sting of the departure is taken away because I am also anticipating the arrival. Waiting for me is sweet Mary and her welcome home hug makes me anticipate the trip all the more. I pray there will be many more departures and arrivals in my life as I travel for our King. One day we will all make a final departure and a final arrival. The destination makes all the difference knowing Jesus and love ones will welcome us home. Where will your destination be on your final departure? It is worth thinking about. Jfs

But as it is written: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him. 1Co 2:9

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Ro 8:18

(NKJV)

Hearing the Word

Oswald Chambers says,  "Do not pare down the Word of God to suit your understanding.  Never drag the Word of God down to anybody's understanding. Keep digging into the Word until it drives all laziness out of your life and you are willing to face what the Bible says about your condition.
God grant that we will learn to comprehend what the Word of God says about our need, rather than trying to make the Word accommodate our limited understanding."

 2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousnes

Church

Our Lord did not birth His Church so we would have a place to go but a place to belong.  jfs

"Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually."  1 Cor 12:27

Take Away the Stone

“Take away the stone,” the words of Jesus recorded in John 11:39.  And what was behind the stone?-- DEATH, our great enemy.  Lazarus was beyond human help.  When we have done all we can do and given up hope we often roll a stone over the problem and walk away feeling hopeless.  My marriage is over, the relationship is broken the situation is impossible and so as far as we are concerned it is time to roll the stone over the issue, and then Jesus shows up and challenges us to “take away the stone.” Our human perspective ask, why?  It is too late, it is over, it is hopeless, there is nothing anyone can do.  But Jesus is not just anyone.  He created the universe.  “And he is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”  When He shows up you can take away the stone because what is impossible with man is possible with God.  I dare you, go ahead and do what He says and you will discover He is indeed LORD. jfs