Category Faith

I’m unworthy to serve

The Preacher Leave a comment

What do you do, as a Christian, when your life is a shambles?

We attempt to disappear, becoming invisible. By becoming less involved.
We feel we’re unqualified to serve, assist, give aid because we have been such a failure.
We feel we’re unqualified to evangelize. Why would anyone believe us since we’ve failed in so many ways?
The worst is we feel so dejected, thinking our lives should be better now that we’re saved. We begin to think and act as if saying, “What’s the point?”

Is that you? Don’t be shy, because many times it’s me also!

So what is a Christian to do when it seems that nothing is working?
  • We can look at Moses….
    • losing the ability to enter the Promised land, pleading to go in. De 1:37; 3:23-29;
    • yet at the transfiguration of Jesus, Mt 17:3-4
  • We can look at Joshua….
    • He and Caleb had to endure 40 years of wandering also, Nu 32:13,
    • yet entering the promised land to lead the people of Israel to serve God. Nu 27:18-23
  • We can look at David….
    • Committed adultery with Bathsheba, lied, caused another to get drunk, conspired to murder; 2Sam 11
    • yet still called, “..a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.” Ac 13:22
  • We can look at Elijah….
    • requested that he might die; and said, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life;” 1Ki 19:4
    • yet continuing on passing his mantle to Elisha 2Ki 2:1
  • We can look at Paul….
    • made havoc of the church, Acts 8, persecuting, death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. Ac 22:4
    • yet becoming a great evangelist and Apostle, writing 13 books of our New Testament.
  • We can look at Peter….
    • Denier of Christ, cursing & swearing, Mark 14:70,71
    • yet a preacher of the gospel, preaching in spite of imprisonment, Acts 2 & 4

How sad it is that we fail to serve fully because we feel so unworthy, being so imperfect in our lives. I’ve got news for you, we are all unworthy! (Lu 17:10 We are unprofitable servants)

The reality is this, we are BETTER servants because of our failures. We are able to identify, have compassion and empathize with one another. As humans together, we can sympathize with one another, facing the same trials as everyone else.

Paul himself had a major “thorn in the flesh” that he pleaded with the Lord three times to have removed. Look at what the Lord said to him……

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2Co 12:9

Paul’s response gives us even further encouragement…..

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 2Co 12:10

Let us serve in spite of our troubles. Through Christ, our weakness gives us strength. So let me give you a little PEP talk……(inspired from a talk given by Scott Futrell)

  1. Pray – ask God for strength, boldness, help. In 1Co 10:13, it says; There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
  2. Engage – get involved, become a servant of God despite your sorrows and your pains. An incredible thing will happen, you will get strength. From God, from other members, and you just may be able to help someone else. Mt 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
  3. Persevere – stick with it. Remain faithful, for a reward awaits you at the end of this life when the Lord comes to receive His own. Re 2:10 …be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

One more thing, we have a sympathetic Savior…..

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Heb 4:15, 16

spencer
Borger, Tx
806/274-5021
Ask me how to make your calling and election sure. 2Pet 1:10

  

To whom will we compare God?

The Preacher Leave a comment

There are gems throughout the bible that we fail to notice. One such gem is found in Isaiah 40. This chapter should be a great chapter of comfort to all of us.

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. – 1-8

In the opening verses we find words of comfort to an exiled people. “her iniquity is pardoned:”. Vs 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. In 7-8, though flesh be weak and failing as the grass withers, the word of the Lord shall stand forever.

Faithfulness of God – 9-11

In this section we hear of the coming of the Lord GOD, with a strong hand, strong arm and His reward with with Him. Therefore we should declare it from a HIGH mountain. As a shepherd feeds his flock, He shall gather his lambs with his arm and carry them in his bosom.

It reminds me of the words in the New Testament about Christ;

  • Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Heb 13:20

  • And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 1Pe 5:4

  • I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. Joh 10:11

THE SIZE OF GOD – 12-17

Continuing the comforting words, Isaiah uses the only words he can to describe the size and power of God. Vs 12 has the waters contained in the hollow of HIS hand, able to measure out the heavens with the span of HIS hand. HE is able to measure, weigh the earth, mountains and hills in a balance.

13 & 14 asks Who teaches God? Who is HIS counselor? Who showed HIM the way? The answers are in the asking, no one. God is self existent, all knowing and all powerful.

  • Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; 1Co 1:25

Demonstrating HIS might, the author argues turns to the leaders and nations of the earth. Vs 15 calls them a drop in the bucket and as dust. In vs 16, if you were to gather all the cattle together in one place, it would fail as a sacrifice.

I live in Texas, we have a bunch of cattle. If we were to off it all to HIM, it would be insufficient.

COMPARE GOD TO WHAT!? – 18-20

Still more words of comfort in an almighty GOD, we are asked to discover a comparable being as HE. In vs 18 we find folks making images of gold & wood to which they bow themselves in worship. Laughable. They take a created thing and worship a nothing. GOD alone saves.

Have you not known. – 21-26

In this section we see the description of HIM sitting on the circle of the earth. The heavens as a tent. HE brings the princes (leaders) to nothing and makes the judges of the earth as vanity (a waste of time).

In vs 26 we see that GOD not only numbers the stars of heaven, but NAMES them. Comforting words which lead us to the final section……

Who can be hidden from God? 27-31

Many folks wonder if God even notices them. Look again at vs 26, HE sees all. As we continue to read these comforting words, GOD is everlasting, the creator and HE never faints or grows weary. We faint, vs 30 says that our strongest people grow weak, but GOD, HE gives power to the weak. HE will carry us through.

Vs 31 however, describes the conditions. They that wait upon the LORD. This is more than just hanging out, looking for HIS return. No, it’s about serving HIM. Only those that are serving HIM shall receive the eagles wings, able to run without becoming weary, able to walk without fainting.

  • Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. Ps 37:34

  • If ye love me, keep my commandments. Joh 14:15

 

 

spencer
Borger, Tx
806/274-5021
Ask me how to make your calling and election sure. 2Pet 1:10

The faith of Abraham

The Preacher Leave a comment

 

The scriptures say, “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” Ro 4:3

Have you ever wondered what it was about Abraham to receive such praise? I have, so I looked into the Bible to see about this wonderful man. As I studied his life, I came across the story of God’s demand of Abraham…..

And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. 2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. 3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. Gen 22:1 KJV

You’ve heard the story before, but perhaps you have yet to notice one little part. It’s found in vs 3, after God commands him to take his only son and offer him as a burnt offering it says, “And Abraham ROSE UP EARLY..”

HE ROSE UP EARLY….

I have no idea about you, but ME, would I get up early to go and sacrifice my only son. I have 3 sons, would I rise early to sacrifice any of them? Abraham did. I wonder how well he actually slept that night. Was he worried, was he afraid, did he have any doubts?

To find the answer, we need to continue to study our bibles. As we do a word search, we would find this scripture;

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 8 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. Heb 11:17 KJV

I believe that Abraham had no worries, no doubt, no tossing and turning that night. He had non of these troubles because he knew, “…that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead;” NOW THAT’S FAITH!

He believed God, and then ROSE EARLY. I have a question; Would he have gotten the label as a man of faith had he failed to take Isaac to that mountain? Consider this verse and tell me if it has any bearing on the answer…

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, WHEN he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. Jas 2:17

I emphasized one of the words in that passage to point it out to you, WHEN. Abraham was justified WHEN he had offered Isaac. Abraham was fully convinced that God was able to do what He promised, just as he was fully convinced in Gen 15. (Rom 4:21) Are we in any different a position? We’re told to have faith, Heb 11:6, but how do we know that we have a faith like Abraham?

WHEN we do whatever God says.

  • Lu 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
  • Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
  • Joh 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

 

spencer

Borger, Tx
806/274-5021
Ask me how to make your calling and election sure. 2Pet 1:10