faith | Revelations From The Road

Do You Believe?

August 28, 2011 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given August 23, 2011

This is going to be a sort of survey and might step on our toes a little, if you know what I mean. Are you a believer? Yes or No.
“All things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23).

You believed with your heart and confessed with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and asked Him into your heart. The Bible says you’re saved. Are you saved? Yes or No. (If you’re not, do what it says three sentences back.)

Jesus took a beating for your healing, “.. and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5). Do you believe you are healed? Yes or No.

When a couple becomes pregnant they say they are “expecting”. They can’t see the baby but they believe it’s there and start making preparations for its arrival. “Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” (John 20:29). Do you believe and expect good things from God even though you can’t see them? Yes or No.

God made a promise to Abraham and cut a covenant with him. “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:29). “Now if we are children, then we are heirs–heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” (Romans 8:17). Do you believe you are in Abraham’s will? Yes or No.

Do you believe we can be like Jesus? Yes or No. “.. no servant is greater than his master,” (John 13:16), “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing,” (John 14:12). Do you believe you can do what Jesus did? Yes or No.

Finally, are you more likely to believe the doctor or the Bible? Are you more likely to believe the government or your Bible? Are you believing the lies of the devil or the promises of the Bible? Do you believe the TV news or the Bible? I think we all can say like the father of the boy with the evil spirit when Jesus asked him if he could believe, “I believe, but help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24). Do you believe? Yes or No.

Jesus In The House

August 6, 2011 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given August 3, 2011

I said this on Facebook this week, “If Jesus comes into your house, there are more important things to be done than cooking supper.” I want to expand on that today. In Luke 9:10-17, we have the story of Jesus feeding the 5000. Keep in mind that was 5000 men, surely there were some ladies and kids there as well. When it was time for supper, the disciples wanted Jesus to send the people into town for food. They were thinking practical, money, worldly. Jesus basically said, “Tell them to sit down and I’ll feed them.” “What do you have I can work with?” You know the rest of the story; all were fed with lots left over. They didn’t have to worry, Jesus was there.

Now, let’s go to Mary and Martha’s house a little later in Luke 10. Martha was the owner of the house and she had about 70-some people come in with Jesus to visit. Martha was in the kitchen preparing the meal for that crowd and got upset with her sister Mary for not helping. Mary was listening to what Jesus had to say. Martha sort of got a little huffy with Jesus for not making Mary help. Jesus told her Mary was doing the, “better” thing, (v. 42). Martha was thinking practical, worldly, I-gotta-do-it-myself. I don’t know if she’d heard of how Jesus fed 5000+ people but if He could do that, surely He could provide food for 73! She didn’t have to worry, Jesus was in the house.

In this time of economic uncertainty, our thinking too often is practical, money, worldly, I-gotta-do-it-myself. I’ve got to make a living, make a deal, make a way for my family. Remember what happened to the folks at Babel? What did they say? “..let US make brick, let US build us a city and a tower, let US make us a name,”, (Genesis 11:3-4). They were thinking of doing it without God and He put a stop to it. That’s the Babylonian system and our government is pushing it hard. We, as followers of Jesus, have been added into the blessing of Abraham and we don’t have to, “do it ourselves”. Let’s try God’s system! Jesus is in the house!

Freedom

July 4, 2011 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given July 4, 2011

Years ago, our forefathers had a dream of a nation free from the tyranny of Great Britian. They acted on that dream and formed, “a more perfect Union” by creating the Constitution of the United States. It was difficult but they stood fast and many gave their lives fighting for that dream of freedom. We are still fighting for it today. God also had a dream of a people free from the tyranny of Satan. He acted on that plan and sent Jesus to lead us in the paths of righteousness. It was difficult but Jesus was faithful and gave His life for God’s plan of Spiritual freedom. We still have that opportunity today but Jesus fought and died in our place. By the sacrifices of our forefathers, military, and others we enjoy freedom in our United States. By the sacrifice of Jesus we can have true freedom. Today we celebrate our independence in this country but let’s not forget
the real independence we have through Jesus. “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John8:36). God bless America!

What Are You Giving?

June 26, 2011 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given June 21, 2011

I heard the other day that, on the average, Christians give about 2.5% of their income to the church. It made me think what percentage of our income goes to other things in our lives. That would be interesting to know. Does it show what’s important to us or where our priorities are? I’ve heard it said that the best measure of our priorities is our checkbook. We all need to take a look at that and see where our heart is.

As Christians, we are required by God to give back a tenth of our income to Him, the first tenth too, (See Malachi 3:10 and Proverbs 3:9). God gives us our entire income and expects us to give 10% of it back to Him. Why doesn’t He just keep His part and give us the 90%? That way, we wouldn’t have to worry about it or keep up with it. But He gave us a free will and He wants us to be obedient to Him. Are we? The Bible says if we don’t give back the tithe, we are robbing God! (See Malachi 3:8). Not a good thing to do. What if on January 1, God checked the books and saw what you gave during the past year and multiplied that by 10 and that’s what your income would be for the coming year? Could you live on that?

God is not requiring the tithe to be a harsh taskmaster over us but He wants to bless us. The Bible says over and over if we will give, God will give back to us and we will be blessed. I remember something about, “pressed down, shaken together, and running over”. Now, we don’t give in order to get. That would be like paying for something. We give because we want to, because God asks us to, because He loves a cheerful giver, (2 Corinthians 9:7). But the tithe is not all, God gave us another way to be blessed…offerings. That’s giving over and above the tithe. The more we give, the more it pleases God, and He does good things to those who please Him and honor His commands. It’s not a chore or a duty, it’s something we want to do for the God who has done soooooooo much for us.

Worth repeating: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” (Malachi 3:10). One last point, giving is not just money. There are many ways to give and God will provide you with opportunities every day if you’ll just look for them. And it doesn’t have to be a lot. Remember the boy who offered his lunch of some fish and bread to Jesus? (John 6:5-15). He took that little offering and fed thousands that day. Put what you are required to give and some offerings into the hands of God and see what He will do. What was your income this week?

Good Sermon Pastor

June 18, 2011 by Bill 1 Comment

Given April 2009

“Good sermon Pastor.” Have you ever said this to your pastor? He prays, listens to the Holy Spirit, and prepares the message you need to hear. Your pastor is God’s servant doing what God instructs him to do. So what’s our part in this? Imagine this…you say to the pastor, “Good sermon today Pastor, it really spoke to me.” And the pastor replies, “Thank you, now what are you going to do with it?” “Uh…do with it?” “I have to do something with what you taught?” Yes we do! “Do what God’s word says. Don’t merely listen to it, or you will fool yourselves.” (James 1:22, God’s Word Translation). We can listen to many sermons, teaching CDs, or MP3s and be able to quote fifty scriptures but if we don’t put into practice what we’ve learned, what good is it to anyone?

Jesus told his disciples, ”All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore GO and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20). Jesus had been teaching them; they had “heard” the Lord say many things from God and now He was telling them to go, baptize, and teach, (all action words), what He had told them. Basically, “Now guys go and do what you heard.” It’s the same for us.

What have you heard? What did you learn? What are you going to DO this week? “Good message Pastor. Now I’m going to go put it into practice.” And Jesus says, “Great! I’m going with you.”