Daily Word of God - Genesis 50:15-21

Genesis 50:15-21 New International Version (NIV)

Joseph Reassures His Brothers

15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.

19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

Mid-Week Message - The Task Set Before Us

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."  2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)

This past weekend brought news of two mass shootings.  One in El Paso, Texas and one in Dayton, Ohio.  Once again there are family members and friends grieving the losses of those dear to them.  I say "once again" because these shootings are just two more in a succession of violent attacks in this nation.  

Although some of our lawmakers wish to take these incidences and use them as evidence that gun control needs to be enacted, or guns outlawed, I would argue that the reason for this violence runs far deeper than the choice of weapon used.  Rather, my belief is that it stems from a nation that is moving away from the principles it was founded upon.  

Not that long ago in our history, parents took their children to church where they learned the Word of the Lord.  At home, they learned to say a blessing before they ate and to pray before they went to sleep.  Hearing the name of the Lord in school, in our courts and other places in public was not only accepted, it was expected.  However, those times have dwindled away.  Fewer parents attend church, let alone take their children.  Prayer in public is looked at as something odd.  God isn't welcome in our classrooms anymore, nor in our courts.  Christmas is now a "winter holiday" with protests being made about manger scenes or any mention of the birth of Jesus.  

So we have become a nation where our Creator is welcome in far fewer places.  Our children are not being taught His Word which provides a moral foundation unlike any other.  When we don't know that we have Christ to turn to in our times of difficulty then we will seek something else to turn to and the enemy is just waiting to offer his own solutions to our issues.  Unfortunately, many listen to him and choose evil and violence as the answer to their problems and their perceived problems of the world.  

If you think that I am over-simplifying what we are experiencing then you are welcome to your own opinion.  However, when I read God's Word I find that we as His followers are told to pray for our nation and for each other.  Today's verse holds a great promise but the operative word in it is the word "if".  "If"  we humble ourselves, seek His face, turn from our wicked ways and pray, "then" He will hear, forgive and heal.  

There is another verse that is tantamount in this reasoning.  It is Matthew 28:19 which says, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost:".  This verse, also called "The Great Commission", was a command, not a suggestion.  We have been tasked with carrying the Good News to those around us.  But because we as Christians have become afraid of being ridiculed, screamed down, or shunned, we have stopped taking this command seriously.  Yet, Romans 10:14 asks us, "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?  And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear without a preacher?"  

Beloved, the times are urgent.  We must return to obedience of the Lord's Word.  We are to be the carriers of the love, the hope and the salvation of Jesus Christ.  If we sit in our homes with our mouths shut, then how will those who are desperately seeking answers ever hear the truth?  We cannot wait and assume that someone else will tell our neighbor.  We may be the only ones that have the opportunity.  If we refuse, then we are denying Christ and doing harm to that neighbor.  

And we must return to earnest prayer.  God longs to hear our voices raised to Him.  We are to pray for this nation, including the elected officials no matter whether we agree with them or not.  And we are to pray for each other, including our enemies, including those who do harm to others.  Because they are loved just as much as we are by our Father and it is His desire that none should perish.  As we pray, we need to ask to see others as He sees them, rather than relying on our own opinions and reactions.  Maybe, just maybe, if these shooters had been reached with the truth, this evil would not have occurred.  I don't know for sure, but I do know that my job, and your job, is to make sure everyone hears the Gospel.  Those are my thoughts.  God bless.

Daily Word of God - Luke 15:8-10

Luke 15:8-10 New International Version (NIV)

The Parable of the Lost Coin

8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Footnotes:

1. Luke 15:8 Greek ten drachmas, each worth about a day’s wages

Purple Heart Day

Purple Heart Day is observed on August 7 each year and is a time for Americans to pause to remember and honor the brave men and women who were either wounded on the battlefield or paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives. Purple Heart Day is also known as National Purple Heart Day, Purple Heart Recognition Day and Purple Heart Appreciation Day.

Please take a moment today to remember our brave men and women who were either wounded in battle or gave that last full measure.

Daily Word of God - Hebrews 3:1-6

Hebrews 3:1-6 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Greater Than Moses

3 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. 3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5 “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,”[a] bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.

Footnotes:

1. Hebrews 3:5 Num. 12:7

Daily Word of God - Philippians 3:12-14

Philippians 3:12-14 New International Version (NIV)

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Daily Word of God - Psalm 42:5

Psalm 42:5 New International Version (NIV)

5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.

Daily Word of God - Matthew 16:5-12

Matthew 16:5-12 New International Version (NIV)

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees

5 When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. 6 “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

7 They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.”

8 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? 9 Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 11 How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Daily Word of God - 1 Timothy 6:6-10

1 Timothy 6:6-10 New International Version (NIV)

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Sunday Praise & Worship Message - The Lord’s Purpose for Your Life

As I was growing up, I, like every boy or girl, thought about what I was going to do when I grew up. I never thought about God’s purpose for my life and how I could be used to further His kingdom. There was one evening in a small church in Gatesville, Texas when I felt God’s hand on my life. As I think about that moment, it seems so far away and so isolated in my memory. I guess I never gave that much thought to it. 

My mother had taken us to church a little early and I had decided to walk around the quiet, empty church. I ended up in the sanctuary and walked up to the altar and then stepped up to the dais. After looking around the sanctuary from that vantage point, I then stepped behind the pulpit and put my hands on either side of it. As I gripped the wood, I felt something weird in my heart. It was a stirring that I had never felt before. As I looked out to the empty pews, I felt deeper feelings of purpose and comfort. There was something so right about this moment. I felt that I had a purpose in life and that it was there. It was in God’s service. I heard a voice say, “I want you to preach my Word.” It was a whisper and I dismissed it quickly. As I stepped away from the pulpit and down from the dias, I lost that feeling of purpose. 

Many years later, I lost my earthly father to a heart attack and gave up on my Heavenly Father. I was so angry with God at that moment in my life. I asked God repeatedly, “Why did You have to do that?”

Anger took over my life and I walked away from God. I felt that God had left me and I did not want anything to do with Him at all. I never became an atheist or doubted His existence. I just did not want anything to do with Him. Looking back at that time in my life, I acted like an angry spoiled child that did not get his way. 

Paul, in chapter 13 of his first epistle to the Corinthians, summed up my life during that period. He wrote, “11 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 12 Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.”

In time, I put away my childish anger and ran back to Him. My return back to the Father was not something that just began by my own action. Through the prayers of my beautiful wife, Karla, I was able to slowly find my way back to Him. As we celebrated my wife’s birthday, I asked for His forgiveness and realized that He never left me or allowed me to wander far. He was always there with me even when I thought I was alone. His son, Jesus, did not leave me. He remained quietly in my heart and soul. He whispered to me regularly. Although I had tried to drown out those whispers, they were always there.

My wife and I began to attend church and I began my life of service. But, I felt something inside tugging at my heart. When I volunteered to teach Sunday school, that feeling got stronger and stronger. I felt Him reminding me of that moment in a small church so long ago and so far away. 

As I was getting ready for church, I had a voice as clear as someone speaking ask, “When are you going to preach?”

I shouted out, “No. I am not going to preach.”

Karla asked me, “Who are you talking to?”

“I answered your question about preaching,” I said.

She told me that she did not ask me that question. I thought I must be having a stroke or just hearing things. As I continued to teach, those feelings continued to get stronger. I, like Moses, gave God all sorts of excuses and just did not follow the calling that I was receiving. My final excuse was simple. I just did not have the time to preach. I was soon given that time.

In a couple of months, things began to change in my life. I soon found myself standing in a theater in a retirement community preaching His word to two people and then to four. With each passing Sunday, the congregation continued to grow larger and larger. God poured out His blessings upon us and gave us a new family. 

 As I continue to grow in my faith and study His word daily, I realize that no matter what we try to do, God’s will always prevails in the end. He will place you exactly where He wants you to be and you will find your purpose in life.

Proverbs 19 tells us, “21 You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.”

No truer words have been written. You may have plans for your life and you may find yourself making progress in them, but God’s purpose will prevail and He will make sure that you are in the right place at the right moment in life.

As I continue my studies and grow daily in the Word, I find that I am not alone. Look at Moses, Elijah, Jonah and so many others who tried to slip quietly off the dais. But, in the end, we are all called back to His purpose and placed exactly where He needs us to be. Our purpose becomes His purpose. We live each day in accordance to His will and desire for our lives. 

So, as I close today’s message, I want you to think about your life and begin to listen to that small whisper. Like Elijah in a cave fearing for his life, he hears the Master’s voice and His call. It all came to him in a whisper. Lean closer to the direction of the whisper and take heed of the words that are being spoken. Act and speak like Samuel the next time you hear the whisper. Say the words that Eli told Samuel to say when he heard the voice again, “Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.”

Once you listen and heed the words, you will soon find your purpose in God’s kingdom. As I have often said to so many, “No one ever retires in the Kingdom. You just get moved to another position and place.”

As you follow the words, you will soon find yourself standing firm in His grace.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Daily Word of God - Proverbs 15:16

Proverbs 15:16 New International Version (NIV)

16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great wealth with turmoil.

Daily Word of God - 1 Peter 2:1-3

1 Peter 2:1-3 New International Version (NIV)

2 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Daily Word of God - James 1:12

James 1:12 New International Version (NIV)

12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

Daily Word of God - Isaiah 50:4-9

Isaiah 50:4-9 New International Version (NIV)

4 The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue,
    to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
    wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.
5 The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears;
    I have not been rebellious,
    I have not turned away.
6 I offered my back to those who beat me,
    my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;
I did not hide my face
    from mocking and spitting.
7 Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,
    I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,
    and I know I will not be put to shame.
8 He who vindicates me is near.
    Who then will bring charges against me?
    Let us face each other!
Who is my accuser?
    Let him confront me!
9 It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me.
    Who will condemn me?
They will all wear out like a garment;
    the moths will eat them up.

Daily Word of God - John 15:1-4

John 15:1-4 New International Version (NIV)

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

Footnotes:

1. John 15:2 The Greek for he prunes also means he cleans.

Daily Word of God - James 1:22-25

James 1:22-25 New International Version (NIV)

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Daily Word of God - Ephesians 4:1-6

Ephesians 4:1-6 New International Version (NIV)

Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.