sacrifice | Revelations From The Road

Do You Love God?

November 12, 2011 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given February 2011

“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” (John 21:15). Who are His lambs and how do we feed them?

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30). Heart¸ soul, mind¸ and strength; what’s left?

“Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; (Matthew 10:37). How much do you love your parents, spouse, or children?

“If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15). What DOES Jesus command us to do?

How do the things in your life stack up? If you choose, fill in these charts with your calculations.

MONEY TIME

On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” (John 6:60). Really loving God can be hard, we think, but the benefits are out of this world!

Body of Christ

October 9, 2011 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given September 28, 2011

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:27). This letter written to the church at Corinth compared the church to a body and reminded the people that all of them had a part and the body wouldn’t work properly without all members doing their part. Research shows that in the typical American church, only about 20% are doing the work of the body. Eighty percent only attend services and don’t even give to support the ministry.

Think of it this way: What if, on a football team, only the center, quarterback, and one tackle did their job? They couldn’t score or, on defense, they couldn’t prevent the other team from scoring. Unthinkable right? Or, what if, on a baseball team, seven players just stood there in the field watching the game and listening to the announcer? You’d say, “What’s wrong with those players?” On both these teams, the players who ARE doing their part get worn out and frustrated because they can’t achieve the goals of the team. Theoretically, if, on that football team, every player did his part, the team would score every time. But they don’t because no one is perfect and they have opposition, the opposing team. They may need more work, training or practice. It also involves commitment and sacrifice. But they’re a team and they care about each other, feel for the one who gets hurt, and cheer when someone scores because it’s their team. Your church is just like that team!

I had a vision once that is relevant to this situation. There was a large wagon, like a farm wagon, at the front of my church. The wagon was packed with church members and our pastor had hold of the wagon tongue trying to move “the church” forward. It took great effort on his part but he was, inch by inch, moving us forward. Then, one of the church members, seeing what was happening, jumped out of the wagon and began helping the pastor pull. Then another, then another until there were several helping pull the load and the wagon was moving. However, there were still many who were content to just sit in the wagon and let the few pull them around. My question today is this: In your church body, are you in the wagon or are you helping pull? What is your part in the bodyof Christ where you attend? Ask God about it. Ask your pastor about it. Each of us have special gifts that God want to use in His body. there are great and wonderful things God want to accomplish through your church body but everyone has to do his or her part. If you’re not already doing so, make it a point to get out of the wagon and help pull! “As each individual part does its job, the body builds itself up in love.” (Ephesians 4:16).

Big Baby!

July 23, 2011 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given July 23, 2011

When we hear this term we usually take it as a negative thing unless you’re talking about a 12 pound baby at birth. Now that’s a big baby! But as we get older, to be called a baby is a cut. What if we saw a mother carrying her 12 year old child into church? Ridiculous right? What if it was because she had carried him everywhere he needed to go because she didn’t want him to fall down? He never learned to walk! As we know, a baby must fall down some while learning to walk but they get back up and try it again. We fall down, we get up. We fall down, we get up, and we learn to walk. How does that compare with our Christian walk? “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7).

What if you went to visit a first grade classroom and there in the first row was a 40 year old man all scrunched up in that little desk? Ridiculous right? He had not progressed in school because he had not followed the teacher’s instructions, had not read his books, had not studied, nor done his assignments. He had not practiced anything he’d learned either. So there he sits in the classroom and the church pew, never progressing to the next level because he was content to just come and sit. What a shame. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,” (2 Timothy 2:15).

These examples are extreme cases and would never happen in society but they do happen in the church. But it’s not too late! God, our Father, is right there beside us saying, “Come on now get up and try it again. I’ll help you.” Jesus, our teacher is saying, “Students, here’s your text book, (Bible), read it and follow my example.” “Do your homework and if you need any help, I’ve sent my assistant, (Holy Spirit) to guide you.” “Learn the material, put it into practice and you will be promoted.” Today, you are encouraged to step out and walk¸ trot, then run. You are encouraged to do the work and try for that promotion. That’s the plan of the Master and it makes Him happy.

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!

Is Your Offering Enough?

June 11, 2011 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given June 11, 2011

The apostle Paul urges us to, “..offer your bodies as living sacrifices that are holy and pleasing to God,” (Romans 12:1). What does that mean? Have you ever said this to God, maybe in a morning prayer? We sing the old hymn, “I Surrender All”, but what is ALL? Would we dare pray, “Father God, I offer most of my body a living sacrifice to You but I’m gonna keep part of it for myself.” Or sing, “I surrender some. I surrender some.” Sounds silly doesn’t it? But, I’m afraid, that is exactly what many of us do.

The Levitical sacrifices of animals were such that the animal was killed, its blood sprinkled or poured around or on the altar, and the remainder of the animal was burned either entirely or consumed in some manner. But when the sacrifice was over, there was no animal left. The animal’s body was offered as a sacrifice and it surrendered all. Are we willing to do the same?

Actually, I don’t want to keep part of me to control because I’ll mess it up as we have all done. I want God to take all of me but that is hard to do. Jesus said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you as well“. (Matthew 6:33). He says to put all these other things, even our bodies, desires, wants, back down the list and seek God first. Give Him all that, (offer Him everything), and see what happens. We can’t even think or imagine what will happen, (see Ephesians 3:20). Remember the rich young ruler in Luke 18? He was invited to “surrender all” and follow Jesus and could possibly have been the next disciple but he refused because he, “was very wealthy” (verse 23).

Let’s think about what it will take for us to “offer our (whole) bodies” and “surrender all”. Are we willing? It will take a commitment similar to the commitment an Olympic athlete makes compared to the commitment of a 5 year-old in T-ball. God wants us. He wants us all and ALL of us. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice so we could do the same. The time is now.