TEA WITH MY FATHER

By Latrice Pace

The most meaningful moments in a daughter’s life is spent with her father. I remember my mother telling me the story of her and my Daddy sitting up in the dining room late one night around the heater talking. I was playing around in his lap for hours and was suddenly at his feet. He then asked her what I was doing; I was sleep. **

Daddy had been working all day, just as he did every day of my life. When he finally got home I just wanted to be around him. I’m sure my bed was more comfortable than that hard wood floor, but I was comforted and at peace knowing that I was at the feet of my Daddy.

In losing my Daddy in November of 2008 his purpose in my life became all the more clearer. Fathers play an essential role in their daughter's lives. Many things are learned and many things are taught. I learned to be assertive without being aggressive. I learned that some men are only capable of communicating their love with provision and security (Note: I didn’t generalize). I was taught that a man should be willing to dig ditches if he had to in order to provide for his family. Just a few of the invaluable lessons I will cherish.

As a little girl I sought acceptance, validation, and the approval of my Daddy, as every little girl does. Sometimes wishing I were an only child so I could get it all and get it all of the time. After his homegoing I didn’t only mourn his death, I also mourned the void that the absence of his presence left. As well as those things I felt I was deprived of. I thought, “How in the world am I going to get them now?”

Well, a few weeks later I had a dream about him. He was sitting at a table having tea and I was invited. Now, I have personally experienced in the European culture that for years they honored their tea time. Not only for it’s health benefits, but to relax, unwind and spend time with their friends. Their businesses would cease to operate in honor of afternoon tea. Purposely to relax, unwind and spend time with friends. My Daddy wanted to relax, unwind and spend time with me, his daughter and friend.

Playing on a black and white television behind the table where he was sitting was footage of my mother in her younger years. He then apologized to me and wished things could have been better, different. He wished he could have left a greater inheritance. He then wished he could simply take me to dinner.

Now, I’m not here to debate whether the dream I had about my deceased father was of God or scriptural. I’m simply sharing my experience. Even after his death he had a desire to provide for me. He wanted me to want for nothing. As our tea time came to an end I then assured him that I was going to be ok and that our heavenly Father had it covered.

Many have lost their natural father, but just as it is in the natural, it is in the spiritual. Our spiritual Father is waiting for His time to fill your void and validate. His time to relax, unwind and talk to you, his friend.

Scripture Of The Day: "Our fathers trusted in You;They trusted, and You delivered them." - Psalm 22:4 (NKJV)

Latrice A. Pace, longtime member of Gospel group, The Pace Sisters. Latrice was recently featured in Tyler Perry’s What’s Done In The Dark, as well as the stage musical play, Jesus Christ Superstar Gospel. She has performed with and contributed background vocals for many of today’s most popular gospel artists.

**Reminds me of our "SPECIAL BLESSING" AT THE FEET OF JESUS. LJG

AN ARTICLE ALL TRUE BELIEVERS IN GOD SHOULD READ

Chrislam – Christianity and Islam Can Never Merge

This article is being typed up on 5/24/11. The other night I was watching a prominent Christian teacher on TV and he then brought up a subject that I just about fell out of my chair on. He said there is now a growing movement within the extreme liberal end of the Body of Christ to try and unite Christianity with the false religion of Islam. The name they are using to describe this movement is – “Chrislam.”

Just when you thought things could not get any more crazy, we now have this crazy demonic movement coming out of the woodwork and starting to gain more traction within the liberal end of the Body of Christ.

This teacher then went on to say that there were several liberal, Presbyterian ministers who had taken out all of the verses in the Bible about Jesus being the Son of God – and then gave this revised Bible to some of their missionaries so they would not offend any of the Muslims they would be preaching to, since the religion of Islam thinks it is blasphemous that God would have a Son.

Bottom line – to tell God the Father that Jesus Christ is no longer His only begotten Son just so we can appease a false, demonic religion is heresy and blasphemy at its absolute worst.

As we have said in our article titled, “The Basic Tenets of Christianity,”there are certain basic, fundamental beliefs that we can never, ever throw out or attempt to try and compromise on.

Since we are living in such a politically correct climate where everyone is trying to compromise and appease everyone, there are some Christians, including some of our leaders and pastors, who are falling into this demonic trap. They are playing right into the hands of Satan when they do this, and this particular movement of trying to combine our Christian faith with that of Islam is definitely one of those traps being laid by the devil.

Read more here: http://www.bible-knowledge.com/chrislam-christianity-and-islam-can-never-merge/

SAVED

If someone walked up to you and asked you 'What is a Christian?' what would you say, would you be able to answer them, or would you go into overkill. Think about it for a bit. Most of us do not know how to answer, and when we do we go on and on about things that while not important are going to deep at the time. People have a way of saying to much to soon.

There is a good answer. Romans 10:9 'If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.'

The next thing is how do we do that, again the scriptures, look at Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.

What I really like about this is it shows that there is a connection between the Old and New testament. Jesus came to fulfill the law and the law is from the Old testament. Together the two are complete. Alone they are good but not complete. To be a Christian we have to read and study the two together.

There are plenty of scriptures that we can read alone and they make a good point. It is in reading and studying that we come to the truth of the Word of God

God Bless
recj/LJG

GOD-ESTEEM NOT SELF-ESTEEM

Acts 15:14

[James speaking] "Simon has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself."

Did you know that you and I (who are Christians) are the people (Gentiles) referenced in our passage today? James is saying that God has placed the same emphasis on the saving of you and me, as He did on the saving acts of Israel of the past and future. The wording James uses is the same or similar to Exodus 3:16, "...I have watched over you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt;" Exodus 4:31, "...And when they heard that the LORD was concerned about them;" Exodus 19:5, "...then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession;" and Deuteronomy 7:6, "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession".

James point in using this phraseology with his Jewish audience is this -- God in His sovereignty chose the Gentile believers just as He did Israel -- to be "a people for himself." How does that make you feel? It makes me feel pretty special that God has "watched over" and been "concerned" about me. Then God decided to choose me "out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." I don't need self-esteem anymore because I have something much better: God-esteem!

God has chosen you, but are you living the victorious life of one who is chosen by God? Sin and death were conquered on the Cross, and as a believer you have been given life in Christ Jesus because of your faith and by the grace of God. Are you the joyful person God intended you to be when He chose you as one of His treasured possessions? Is there any area of your life that consistently stands in the way of you living a victorious life? Make a choice today to surrender that area to God -- asking Him to work through His Holy Spirit to remove that stumbling block from your life. Ask another person of the same gender as you to share with you how he has experienced victory in that particular area. Ask him to pray for you to experience a similar victory

Note: I think it is so important that we start to develop relationships with spiritual mentors -- those just a bit further down the road in their spiritual journey who can help us find our way. Is there someone in your life you can ask to mentor you? It is essential that these mentors match your gender -- men mentored by men and women mentored by women.


pocketpower.org

AMERICA'S STENCH

"Sodom
Easton's Bible Dictionary
burning; the walled, a city in the vale of Siddim (Gen. 13:10; 14:1-16). The wickedness of its inhabitants brought down upon it fire from heaven, by which it was destroyed (18:16-33; 19:1-29; Deut. 23:17). This city and its awful destruction are frequently alluded to in Scripture (Deut. 29:23; 32:32; Isa. 1:9, 10; 3:9; 13:19; Jer. 23:14; Ezek. 16:46-56; Zeph. 2:9; Matt. 10:15; Rom. 9:29; 2 Pet. 2:6, etc.). No trace of it or of the other cities of the plain has been discovered, so complete was their destruction. Just opposite the site of Zoar, on the south-west coast of the Dead Sea, is a range of low hills, forming a mass of mineral salt called Jebel Usdum, "the hill of Sodom." It has been concluded, from this and from other considerations, that the cities of the plain stood at the southern end of the Dead Sea. Others, however, with much greater probability, contend that they stood at the northern end of the sea. [in 1897].

Gomorrah
Easton's Bible Dictionary
submersion, one of the five cities of the plain of Siddim (q.v.) which were destroyed by fire (Gen. 10:19; 13:10; 19:24, 28). These cities probably stood close together, and were near the northern extremity of what is now the Dead Sea. This city is always mentioned next after Sodom, both of which were types of impiety and wickedness (Gen. 18:20; Rom. 9:29). Their destruction is mentioned as an "ensample unto those that after should live ungodly" (2 Pet. 2:6; Jude 1:4-7). Their wickedness became proverbial (Deut. 32:32; Isa. 1:9, 10; Jer. 23:14). But that wickedness may be exceeded (Matt. 10:15; Mark 6:11).


"Halley's Bible Handbook
Genesis chapters 18 and 19 Sodom and Gomorrah (You need to take the time to read these two chapters. It will do you good and start you to thinking, hopefully!)

These cesspools of iniquity were only a few miles from Hebron, the home of Abraham, and from Jerusalem, the home of Melchizedek; yet so vile, their stench reached Heaven. It had been only 400 years since the Flood, almost within the memory of men then living. Yet men had forgotten the lesson of that cataclysmic destruction of the race. And God "rained fire and brimstone" on these two cities, to refresh men's memories, and to warn of the wrath of God that is in store for wicked men; and, perhaps, to serve as a token of the earth's final doom in a holocaust of fire (II Peter 2:5. 6, 3:7, 10).

Jesus likened the time of His Return to the days of Sodom (Luke17:26-32); as He did also to the days of the Flood. Both were periods of unspeakable wickedness. Today, on a scale never before known in history, with greed, brutality, beastliness and criminal instincts, in demons in the high places of earth, it does not require much imagination to see the end toward which we are heading, however much good men and statesmen may try to avert it. Unless there comes a world-movement of Repentance, the Day of Doom may not be far off."

America is becoming as these two cities. How close to Heaven is our stench?

If you believe or think that we don't have to listen to the words of the Old Testament, then read the New Testament words.

Nobody can make you believe the Words of God. So all we can say to you to is, 'just wait and see.'

Will it be to late for you?

God's Blessing,
LJG/recj

SUNDAY EDITORIAL

Granny C used to tell us if we couldn’t say something nice to say nothing at all. People who knew her will tell you they never heard her say a bad word against anyone. Oh to be more like Granny C. What we have a problem with is being politically correct, about some things. We can be polite about somethings, but why can we not express our opinion without someone trying to burn us at the stake.

The very beliefs this country was founded on are being taken away from us. We feel you have the right to do what you want anyway you want, as long as it does not affect others, and that means anybody. If someone chooses to not follow the Bible the way we do, we respect that right. But do not push your beliefs on us.

We would love for all to desire to live for Christ, according to His Word. But we respect your right to choose not to.

So incorrect as some might think us to be, we will not judge others, but we will not accept your lifestyles.

To many there is celebration going on this weekend, we feel like wearing a black armband. It is like we are watching this country slowly killing itself. The more we have removed God from our lives the worst this country has become. Is it just me that sees this?

There is only one thing we can do as Christians and that is PRAY for the USA. Stand for what we know is truth and don’t back down. As I heard one person ask “Why weren’t the people allowed to vote for this?”

One other thing PRAY for our President, that is right. The Bible tells us to pray for our leaders, it doesn’t matter if we voted for him or not, he needs our prayers.

If we have offended anyone we are sorry, we still feel the way we do, and that is the Bible is right.

God Bless

recj/LJG

"SPECIAL BLESSING" THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER

I Samuel 18:1-4
1And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
2And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house.
3Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
4And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

As we follow the life of David through the scriptures we see that he was blessed of God. One of the ways God blessed David was giving him a friend that he could depend on during difficult times.

David’s closest friend was Jonathan… the name Jonathan means Jehovah has given.
God gave David a friend in Jonathan, he was a true friend.

In life we have had many casual acquaintances, but friends…true friends are very difficult to come by… If you have a friend who is true and trustworthy, who loves you and supports you in good times and in bad times, then you are a blessed individual.

What is a real friend? One person said, “A friend--a true friend is the first person who comes in when the whole world has gone out.” Another said, “A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you today just the way you are.”

The Bible says that a friend loveth at all times and a brother is born for adversity…A friend is one who sticks closer than a brother.

I want to take a look at this friendship between David and Jonathan. I also want us to see how their friendship parallels our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ…

You realize of course that Jonathan was a Prince! He was the son of Saul and heir to the throne…David on the other hand was a “nobody” from a family of nobodies; a poor shepherd boy… With these thoughts in mind let me speak to you about the Prince and the Pauper…

Jonathan Had an Uncommon Love for David
Verse 4 - Jonathan took off his princely robe and placed it on David…he even gave David his sword, his bow and his girdle/belt…In other words, Jonathan willingly laid aside the symbols of his position as the crown prince of Israel and gave them to David. This is a picture of a love that involves personal and profound sacrifice…a picture of uncommon love! Not common in our world today!

Why would Jonathan do such a thing? Somehow, Jonathan knew that David would be the next King…He didn’t get mad, he didn’t get jealous, and he didn’t whine or complain or seek to take David’s life… Instead, this prince took off his own robe, his own sword, his own girdle and put it on this young pauper, David…this kind of love is uncommon!

In ancient times this action would have meant that Jonathan was transferring all of his rights and privileges as a prince to David… Just as Jonathan laid aside the royal robe and gave it to David; Jesus has done the same for you and me.

Philippians 2:5-8 - 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Like David we were paupers, all our righteousness is as filthy rags…until the Prince of Glory came along and put His own robe upon us… praise God for His uncommon love!

Jonathan Had an Uncomplicated Love for David
Verse 1 - We are told that Jonathan loved David… and their souls were knitted together. Knit together - to tie or bind together… Evidently Jonathan saw something in David that caused him to love David genuinely. I believe it was the work of the Holy Spirit of God!

We were nobodies like David…poor, wretched, lost sinners, not deserving of His love. But Jesus came along and proved his love for us. His love was not complicated by our merit… nothing we could have done… but He loved us anyway!

Ephesians 2:4-6 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

His love is primary – Even when we didn’t love Him, He loved us!
I John 4:10, 19 - 10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins…19We love him because He first loved us.

His love is perpetual – His love had no beginning and no end; it is everlasting!
Jeremiah 31:3 – 3The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.

His love is proven – When we did nothing for Him; when we were criminals in relation to His law; and when we did not even know Him…He loved us to death!
Romans 5:8 - 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Jesus has an uncomplicated love for you. It’s not based on our worth or our offering… it’s based on His worth and His offering!

Jonathan Had an Unconditional Love for David
Verse 3 - Jonathan loved David as his own soul. In fact, He loved David so deeply that it caused problems between him and his father Saul. Jonathan helped David escape his father’s wrath on several occasions. Saul even tried to kill Jonathan once because of his love for David… Yet in spite of the difficulties, Jonathan remained true to David to the very end. His love was unconditional.

Verse 3 - They made a covenant with one another… a covenant is more than a promise, it is a guarantee. It is a binding, life or death agreement. (Pro athletes should try this)

We find recorded in II Samuel 1 the death of Jonathan. Here are David’s words about Jonathan… 25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. 26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. 27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

Their unconditional love for one another and their commitment to stand by that love is another picture of God’s love for us. It is not affected by our behavior; not affected by His feelings; not affected by our responses to Him; not affected by circumstances… His love is not affected by anything at all! It is totally unconditionally!

In fact, did you know that there is nothing that you can do that will make the Lord stop loving you! And there’s nothing that can separate you from His love:

Rom. 8:38-39 - For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Since nothing we did made the Lord start loving us, then there’s nothing we can do that will ever make Him stop loving us. Thank God for His unconditional love!

Closing:
Jonathan’s love for David was uncommon, uncomplicated and unconditional… Wouldn’t it be nice to have a friend like Jonathan? You do! His name is Jesus… and just like Jonathan was God’s gracious gift to David… Jesus is God’s gracious gift to us.
Aren’t you glad that the Prince of Glory loves paupers like me and you?

Oh, what a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and grief to bear.
What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer.

You and I have a friend is Jesus… He loves you uncommonly, uncomplicatedly and unconditionally… BUT you must come to him with your sins, your grief and your souls if you want to benefit from His great love! Will you come today?

Senior Pastor John Sweat. Sr
Crossroads Baptist Church
1595 Baxley Road
Middleburg, Florida

TRYING TO BE PERFECT

None of us have ever been nor ever will be perfect, by ourselves. There was only one who was and is, Jesus Christ. For some reason us humans think that we have to be perfect to talk to God/Jesus. Well it ain't gonna happen.

It is one thing to try to be right. It is quiet another to think Jesus knows how you are and He loves you anyway, and just continue doing it your way. Yes He does have agape love for you, for all of us. It is possible to have a thorn in your side, but at least know it is a thorn, and it is sin. The problem is many of us don't even consider much of what we do sin.

It is only when we confess that we are living in sin, that healing can begin to work in us to get that sin out of our lives. It is not about trying to be perfect, it is about trying to live according to the Word of God. There is only one way to do that and that is by reading His Word and implementing that Word into our life everyday.

God Bless
recj/LJG

"SPECIAL BLESSING" TRUE GREATNESS

I Samuel 18:5-16


Please Stand as we read I Samuel 18:5-14
5And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

6And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.

7And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

8And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?

9And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

10And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.

11And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.

12And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.

13Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.

14And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.

15Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.

16But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.

How do you measure true greatness?
Is it measured by the things that you achieve in life…Or, by the things that you have acquired in life…Or, maybe it is measured by what others say about you?

We often view those who have achieved great thing as great people…we often measure greatness based on position, popularity and/or by the praise that people receive…
The truth is that none of these things make a person great! What does then?

I am reminded of a quote that I once heard: “What you say, says much; what you do, says more, but who you are, says the most!”

The world’s view of greatness: An actor who wins an Oscar; an athlete breaks long-standing records or wins championships; a business person who climbs rapidly to the top of the career latter; or someone who accomplishes something that no one else has ever done before… BUT God measures greatness differently!

Let me tell you about a young man who was considered great! His name – Maurice Clarett – A super star athlete at Ohio State – destined for greatness….but during his first year at Ohio St. he received money illegally and lied to his coaches about…suspended for a whole season…wanted to go in the NFL draft, but the courts declared him too young…finally in 2005 the Denver Broncos drafted Clarett only to cut him from the team before the season began…where is this great young football superstar now? He was recently sentenced to serve 7 ½ years in prison for illegal gun charges and robbery.

“True greatness is not measured by what you have achieved in life, but how you live your life.”

Reference Job 1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? – “Have you considered my servant Job?”
God did not say anything about what Job had done in life, but He did say something about who Job was: “A perfect and upright man, one that fears God, and shuns evil.”

In reality, true greatness is not what you say about you; not what others say about you, BUT it’s what God says about you!

We all know that David was a truly great man because God said David was a man after his own heart…but what was it that caused David to achieve such greatness?

There was the Presentation of David’s Life
Three times in our text we find the usage of an important phrase (5, 14 & 30) “David behaved himself wisely.” This simply means that David walked properly and carefully presenting himself in a godly fashion. This is commanded of believers in Ephesians 5:15-
“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise…”

David Behaved Himself in Spite of Life’s Promotions (5)
After David had slain Goliath he was instantly promoted! A “nobody” becomes a national hero. Look at chapter 17:58; 18:2 & 18:5

Apply: Be careful about the way you deal with success in your life! If you are not careful you just might let it go to your head…and in doing so pride comes in…you begin to forget or fail to recognize that God is responsible for those successes.

Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Remember, we have already seen this in the life of Saul…promotion and success brought pride and he slowly walked away from God.

Apply: A walk away from God is always slow and subtle…you begin to compromise and get careless with spirituals aspects of your Life…and in relation to promotions, if we are not careful, a new position at work could position us in a direction of walking away from God! Has you job become more important than the things of God? Time to make a change before you wake up one day and realize that your compromise has taken you on a journey far away!

David’s sudden promotion did not change him a bit; he continued to behave himself wisely in spite of the promotion…

David Behaved Himself in Spite of Life’s Problems (14)
If you think you have problems at work, be thankful it’s not as bad as David experienced…His employer actually tried to kill him and who could he complain to? His employer was the king!

Saul liked David at first…However, when he heard the people ascribing more praise to David than himself, he got jealous and angry.

Look at verses 8-15…The Bible tells us that in spite of David’s problems he continued to behave himself wisely. Note that David was not afraid of Saul, but Saul was afraid of David…Why? …Because evil feels threatened by righteousness.

Apply: Often it is the problems of life that throw us off course. We can allow ourselves to be so concerned with our problems that we fail to walk properly…A sign of true greatness is the ability to walk properly in the face of adversity. Look at Job 1:20-22

When we learn to keep the faith in fearful times, we find that the fear subsides and our faith is strengthened.

David Behaved Himself in Spite of Life’s Possibilities (30)
Now think about this…through the providence of God, David had become more popular than the king. He had married into the king’s family and had become a captain in the king’s army. He had experienced great success and had grown in power and popularity.

Also, coupled together with this was the fact that God had promised him the throne…he could have led a revolt against Saul and probably won…but instead of taking matters into his own hands, he behaved himself wisely and waited for God’s timing.

Apply: Sometimes we have a tendency to be impatient with God’s plan and we get ahead of Him. “We want to charge hell with a squirt gun!” God says, “Be patient, I’ll work it all out!” We want something to happen now! Instant gratification! “I can’t wait God!” God says, “Be patient, just wait on me and I’ll do great things.”

David may have been a young man, but he was very wise in how he presented himself…in fact it was that wise behavior that caused him to excel in God’s eyes and the eyes of the people.

David walked wisely in spite of life’s promotions, problems and great possibilities, but what about us?

Regarding your promotions, your problems and your possibilities in life – Have you lost the proper perspective? Have you let your position go to your head? Have you let your problems get you down? Or maybe you have contemplated great possibilities and instead of waiting on God, you are charging forward.

As believers it is important that we behave ourselves wisely…people are watching us!
Notice too that it was the Lord who promoted David…it was the Lord who was with David during his times of trouble, and it was the Lord who finally put David on the throne of Israel.

If we will behave ourselves wisely…in a godly fashion…the Lord will bless us, He will help us, and He will bring to pass great things in His time.

One reason David was able to behave himself wisely in all things was because of His relationship with the Lord. The deeper your relationship with the Lord, the easier it becomes to walk wisely before Him and others.

Senior Pastor John Sweat, Sr
Crossroads Baptist Church
1595 Baxley Road
Middleburg, Florida

PUBLIC OPINION POLL

"I wonder how far Moses would have gone if he'd taken a poll in Egypt?" "What would Jesus Christ have preached if he'd taken a poll in Israel?...It isn't polls or public opinion of the moment that counts. It's right and wrong." President Harry S. Truman

I came across this quote last night and it did cross my mind that Moses probably would not win a Pubic Opinion Poll in this day and age. It could also be said that Jesus also would not come across as a very likeable, or trustful person. I believe that in fact we could say both would be thought of as cultist. Neither man told their followers that they had to follow and do as they said. At any point in time followers could have left the group.

If we are honest with ourselves, we would admit that those following either of these men would be part of a cult, compared to what we see going on in the world today.

Consider that Moses was known by the people from his past, rumors surely had been spoken about of his behavior as an Egyptian and as a murderer. His followers complained from the time they left Egypt. Jesus came across as Mr. Perfect, at least until he got angry in the temple.

Polls are the public speaking out how they feel. How many of us would say we would follow someone no matter how outlandish it looked? Be honest here. Forgive anyone, anything. Follow all of the ten commandments. Getting a little deep?

As we stated yesterday keeping God in a box until you need Him, really just keeps Him out of your business. If you believe that then you are living in a lie. To live in a lie is really leading you to hell.

No Jesus would not win a public opinion poll in this day and age. The reason--we want to do it our way, not His way. The right way not the wrong way.

God Bless
recj/LJG

"SPECIAL BLESSING" SURVIVING GIANT COUNTRY

I Samuel 17


Wouldn’t it be awesome if we never had one single struggle in life? Awesome!
BUT, look at the downside…If we never had any struggles in life, then we would never have the need to call upon God or trust God…We should praise God for the struggles!

When we look at the life of David we see that he had some serious struggles. In fact there are more struggles than we can talk about this morning…but I want to tell you about one GIANT struggle David faced and how he survived it.

Some of you today are facing and will face some pretty significant struggles…If you listen carefully today I think it will help you see your next struggle in a different light…

Now, for the purpose of the message, we are going to call our struggles, GIANTS…and we are going to talk about how to survive while walking in GIANT Country.

Let’s look at the Giant Goliath Gath: Reference verses 3-7
He was 9’9 inches tall…His armor weighed about 175 lbs…His spear weighed about 35 lbs…And he was a champion among the Philistines…He taunted Israel 40 days and night…He was a big man, with big armor, taunting a big challenge.

Here’s a no brainer…GIANTS are BIG…some bigger than other, but they are all BIG!
That’s the way are struggles are! And they are too BIG for us to fight and survive alone!

By the way these GIANTS have no regard for your feelings, well-being or needs…in fact if we do not face them they will destroy our lives!

In case you are wondering…Giants are real…many references in the Bible.
Goliath was a descendant of Anak who the Bible calls a giant.
The spies who went to check out Canaan reported that giants were in the land.
There is also a man named Og of Bashan whose bed was 13ft long and 6ft wide

Early 1900’s - Robert Wadlow - 8’11 tall
Today in the Ukraine - Leonid Stadnik - 8’ 4” tall.
Many others…

Goliath was a real giant and as far as the GIANT struggles we face…they are real as well…So how do we survive Giants?

Set the scene…David began like any other day…tending the sheep like he had done for years. But, this day would be different!

In verses 17-27…We see the armies of the Philistines set against the armies of Israel…David’s three oldest brothers were there among the Israelites…Jesse sends David to the battle front with food, but more than that he wanted to make sure his sons were OK.

Little did David know when he arrived on the scene he would face a mighty BIG GIANT:
He heard the fearless Giant’s challenge…He saw the fearful soldiers cower and run away in fear…He questioned why someone hadn’t done something about this Philistine…He was criticized by Eliab…He was discouraged by King Saul…Yet this teenage boy stood to face a GIANT.

Note the contrast: In v. 10 - Goliath said, “I defy the armies of Israel.”
In v. 26 & 36 – David said, “Goliath has defied the armies of the living God.”
Understanding who we are and whose we are will go a long way when it comes to surviving giants. We belong to God and He is a Giant Slayer!

You know, Giants are not in the habit of announcing that they are coming…they just show up! They catch us off guard with their sudden, awesome, overwhelming appearance! The truth is when they show up, they scare us to death!

What kind of GIANTS are you facing?
Problems at work or school?
Problems with your spouse or your children?
Problems with finances?
How about health problems?
Habits or addictions?
Fears?

All of these are examples of GIANT struggles that taunt us day after day. We may look at some of these situations wondering of we are going to be able to survive! They came along when we were least prepared, they caught us unaware...but from God’s perspective they are all part of his perfect plan and timing!

Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."…We must get it into your hearts that God is working all things out for our good…every struggle big or small has been given according to God’s timing to work out His perfect plan!

I Samuel 17:45-4745Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
46This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
47And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands. - Here lies the key to today’s message…
In order to survive GIANT Country we must trust God’s providence…He allowed it!
We must trust His power…He will help us survive it!
We must trust His provision…He will deliver it into our hands.
BUT…not if we fail to face it and slay it!

Now David could have said, “God I am not ready for this Giant!” Or He could have said, “God hold the Giant at bay until I can get ready for it!” Or, “Take the Giant away God; He’s too big and scary for me.”

Instead, David understood that if the Giant was there it had to be slain and because God was on his side he believed that he would get the victory!

What happens when we run from Giants?
Remember Israel? They refused to enter the Promised Land because they were afraid to face the Giants in the land…So they wandered in the wilderness for forty years…truth is most of them never received the promise…when they finally did enter, the giants where still there to be dealt with. You can’t just ignore them.
A lot of Christians are wandering in the wilderness because they refuse to face Giants. And until you face your Giants and slay them with God’s help…you will fail to receive all that God has in store for you.

Whatever that Giant may be…face it in the name of Jesus, and slay it!

We can get depressed, defeated, or upset over it…or we can realize that every GIANT struggle we face is being used by God to work out His will in our lives.

We can be like Saul and Israel and we can hide from the giant; or we can be like David and we can face the giant. The choice is yours.

The only way to survive giant country is to stand up, face the GIANT and put it to death! Are you ready to slay your GIANTS?

Senior Pastor John Sweat, Sr
Crossroads Baptist Church
Middleburg, Florida

"SPECIAL BLESSING" TOOLS GOD USES TO BUILD A KING

I Samuel 16:13-23


Last week I spoke to you about “How God Chooses”…God’s choices are sovereign…surprising…and specific. What I really wanted to bring out last week was that regardless of who you are God can choose and use you for His glory! Remember we learned that David was a “nobody” from a family of nobodies…yet God in His sovereignty surprisingly chose this young boy to be a great king.

What I want you to see today is that God is constantly busy, behind the scenes, molding and making us into the man or woman of God that He wants us to be. In fact, we could say that He is in the building business…building you and me. He uses certain tools to build us into the person that He wants us to become.

Here’s the problem…construction is a rough and tough job! It takes time, and it takes persistence. It also requires the use of certain tools…What kind of tools does God use? We find the answer as we look at the life of David.

God Uses the Tool of Solitude (v. 19)
When Samuel asked Jesse if he had any other sons, Jesse said, “There’s the youngest David, but he’s keeping the sheep…David was a shepherd boy…and being a shepherd is a lonely job. He was constantly alone.

BUT one commentator has described that solitude in this way… “It was there on the lonely hills of Judea, with a flock of sheep as companions; the starry sky as his cathedral; and the vast expanse of nature as his classroom that David learned some of the most valuable and basic lessons of life. He learned how to be alone with God and with himself. Away from the distractions and noise of others, David learned how to hear the voice of God…how to commune with God…how to worship God…how to be at peace with himself and his lot in life.”

There are a lot of people who do not like being alone…they just cannot survive without company or noise or activity…most people go to sleep with the TV on!

People who have trouble being alone with themselves, usually have serious inner issues that need to be dealt with…People who have trouble being alone with God, have serious spiritual issues that need to be dealt with.

Remember, God taught Elijah that He doesn’t usually speak with the wind, or with an earthquake, or in the fury of activity and things…but in that small, still voice. It is in the times of solitude that God speaks and we listen.

Problem is…we are rarely still and quite enough to hear His voice. We need to seek solitude…it is a tool of God used to build our relationship with Him. After all if Jesus needed daily solitude with the Father, how much more do we?

I am reminded of part of a song that you might recognize:
In the secret, in the quiet place, in the stillness you are there.
In the secret, in the quiet hour I wait, only for you, because I want to know you more!

God Uses the Tool of Secrecy (v. 18)
Where did David learn these things? How did David come by such characteristics?

He learned lessons in the secret places that he could have never learned in the public eye. We could say that God trained David in obscurity…God trains His servants in private long before He puts them on public display.

Before Elijah stood in power on Mt. Carmel, he learned to walk with God faithfully in private.
Before Elisha stood tall as a great prophet of God, he learned to be a servant in the background as he followed Elijah.
Before Moses was ready to lead God’s people, he spent forty years on the backside of a desert tending sheep.
Remember, even Jesus was raised in obscurity before He stepped into the public.
Before the Lord revealed things to come to the Apostle John, he had to be exiled to a place of solitude on the Isle of Patmos.

It is the same for you and me…we should never despise those moments, days or even years of obscurity…for in those secret places God does His greatest work in us.

Could it be that some of God’s greatest rewards are reserved for those precious saints who have labored in secret closets of prayer or faithfully in positions that are shunned by others? God often saves the best for those who have gone unnoticed, unrecognized, unacknowledged and unappreciated.

So “keep pressing on!” There is a payday someday…God may use you in a public way or a private way, but as He trains you in your secret place, He is getting glory to Himself and that is all that matters!

Have you ever heard of a man named Hur? Probably not! But when Israel went to war with Amalek Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up on a hill…when Moses raised his hands Israel prevailed, when Moses hands came down Amalek prevailed…so Hur and Aaron held up the hands of Moses and Israel prevailed over Amalek…Hur was a nobody who is forever recorded in the Bible for his small, but meaningful task.

God Uses the Tool of Sameness (vs. 11, 19; 17:15)
David was a faithful shepherd. In verse 11, we see that David was with the sheep. Then after he was anointed king over Israel, he returned to keeping the sheep. That’s where we find him when Saul sends for him in verse 19. Then if you will notice in 17:15, David returns to feed the sheep again.

Day after day…tending sheep…sheep to the left and to the right…here a sheep, there a sheep, everywhere a sheep! If David had problems sleeping, no problem! Plenty of sheep to count! OOOH the monotony of it all!

We may get tired of the unending monotony, the mundane, or routine of our lives, but it is during those times that God teaches us to be faithful, persistent, and responsible. Do not ever forget that the little things are the most important things in life.

It was there, alone one those mountains, doing the same things day after day that David learned the priceless lessons of faithfulness. David was good at tending sheep, he did his best, even in the mundane times of life. Then, when God promoted him, he did not have to learn to be faithful; he already knew how. He did not have to learn responsibility; he had already learned that lesson. God used the unending monotony of the routine to shape David for greater things.

God Uses the Tool of Struggle
David may have had a boring job, but there were certainly times of excitement. (The lion and the bear…the giant Goliath…the assault of Saul).

Why would God allow these struggles? ...a lion, a bear, a giant, an angry king? God used them to build David into the man He wanted him to be.

Someone has said that the classroom of adversity teach us the most about the power, provision and providence of an awesome God! (3 Hebrews, Daniel, Paul etc.)

Important: The way we respond to these struggles tells what we really believe about God.
Only 10% of life is about what happens to you…the other 90% is about how you respond to what happens to you. Remember…your struggles can work out to God’s Glory!

I Samuel 17:26 is a great illustration as to the way David responded to the struggle with Goliath…

Conclusion:
The tools that God uses to build a king are the very same tools that He uses to build you and me…

As David was honed upon the wheel of life by God…through solitude, through secrecy and through sameness…God was shaping this boy into the man who would become king.

Think of it this way…you and I are in God’s workshop…He is building us up, and preparing us for His use. Whatever tools the Lord may be applying to your life today, let me encourage you to yield to Him. He isn’t trying to harm you; He is trying to develop within you a life fit for His use.

As you look at the life you are living; can you recognize the qualities that marked David’s life in your own? Can you see the evidence of God at work in you? Is there still room for improvement? I challenge you to come before the Lord and ask Him to continue to work on you. If you have been struggling against His work in your life, then I challenge you to come and submit to Him right now. God is in the business of building kings. What is He doing in your life?

Senior Pastor John Sweat, St
Crossroads Baptist Church
1595 Baxley Road
Middleburg, Florida

"SPECIAL BLESSING" HOW GOD CHOOSES

How God Chooses
I Samuel 16:1-13


Introduction:
I want to speak to you today about “How God Chooses.” Now it should be understood that God’s decision making process is much different than ours…Also, His choices are always perfect, always right, and always have our best interest at heart.

This chapter begins with God reminding the prophet Samuel that Saul had been rejected as King of Israel. Remember the people had wanted a king like other nations...so Saul was chosen to be their King. Now Saul was an impressive looking man, standing head and shoulders taller than anyone else in Israel…However, while he may have been a giant among men, inside he was a spiritual pygmy! He was a jealous man, who lived for the praises of the people; constantly overstepped his boundaries and was guilty of gross disobedience to God time after time. Therefore, God rejected Saul as the king of His people.

As a result of Saul’s rebellion, God had chosen a new king for Israel…he chose a young man named David. David was the youngest son of a poor family from the tiny town of Bethlehem. David was a young man who was not even respected by the members of his own family. He was a “nobody” living in a family of “nobodies”. Yet, by the grace of God, he became the greatest king in the history of the nation of Israel. He also became and ancestor of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is listed among the great heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11. During his life, he received great promises and remarkable blessings from the hand of God…But, greatest of all, David was a man after God’s Own heart.

As I speak to you about “How God Chooses.” keep in mind that His hand may be on someone in this room today…could be that He is searching your heart today…looking for a person to do a great work for Him.

God’s Choices are Sovereign
The word sovereign simply means – above all others in character, importance and excellence. Therefore, God’s choices are above all others. He is the Sovereign!

God’s Choice Involves His Sovereign Providence (1-3)
Here we see a backdrop of rebellion and rejection…in the midst of this God is working behind the scenes to put His man on the throne of Israel. He was working in their behalf and for their good to raise up a new king…one of His choosing.

Look at verse 1 – “Why are you so sad Samuel?” Samuel was mourning over the failures of Saul…and God says, “Stop it! I am in control! I have a plan and I will work it out!

God’s Choice Involves His Sovereign Planning
I wonder how often we are so busy working our own plans…or perhaps even mourning over our failures…that we fail to see God’s plan! Don’t we know that God is aware of where we are, what’s going on in our lives, and what we need the most?
Which plan are you more comfortable with? Yours??? Or His???

As we think about God’s sovereign planning…think about the history of David’s ancestry…God had been working all along to bring this moment to pass…Did you know that one of David’s ancestors was Rahab the harlot?

The significance of this is that God in His sovereign choice chose to save Rahab out of a life of sin and idolatry, and make her life count for Him. Rahab eventually became the mother of a man named Boaz who married a Gentile girl named Ruth. Ruth was also saved out of a life of sin and paganism…Then Boaz and Ruth became the great grand-parents of a boy named David.

These events are not accidental...they were formulated by God to bring His divine planning to fruition.

God’s Choices Involve His Sovereign Power
Notice verse 1 again…God says, “I have rejected Saul from being King.” He also says, “I have provided me a king.” It was God’s sovereign choice…a part of His providence, His planning and His power would bring it to pass.

People make plans all the time…the problem is that they don’t really have the power to bring them to pass. But what God proposes, He is well able to dispose!

Remember the great Napoleon? In the height of his career he was asked if God was on his side…his cynical answer was, “God is on the side that has the heaviest artillery.”
Then came the Battle of Waterloo where Napoleon suffered terrible defeat…and later in exile, now chastened and humbled Napoleon reportedly stated, “Man proposes, but God disposes.” This is the great lesson of history and the Bible!

Note: What lesson’s we can learn from God’s sovereign choice?
There are no accidents in life…God is sovereign!
God’s sovereignty extends to every area of our lives!

Isaiah 46:9-11 9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: 11 …I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

Some people are bothered by the idea of that God is in absolute control of everything.
They even question it! But I find it very comforting! I wouldn’t want to be in a world…
I know that nothing can happen unless the Father ordains it and that if He ordains it; it is for my good and for His glory. Thank God for His sovereign choices!

Now hopefully we understand that God’s choices are sovereign, but we see that…

God’s Choices are Surprising
Verse 4 says…Samuel went to Bethlehem and did exactly as the Lord had commanded. In this process God makes known His choice for a king. But His choice was surprising!

His Choice is Surprising in its Rejections (6-10)
When Samuel sees Eliab he thinks, “Surely this is the one!” But God says, “He’s not the one, I have refused (rejected) him…Eliab looked the part, he even had a godly name – “God is Father” but there was something in his heart that caused God to reject him.

What about Abinadab? His name is “my father is noble.” But God’s says no!
Then Shammah whose name means “astonishment.” Some say that his name reflected his stature…But God says no! And a total of seven sons passed by Samuel…but God had not chosen any of them.

It appears that all of Jesse’s sons were pretty impressive in stature and appearance, especially Eliab, but none of them possessed the right heart.

We sometimes choose people the same way…they look impressive, they act impressive, but we cannot see their hearts. God sees what we cannot see! God knows what we do not know! God looks upon the heart! …That’s why God’s choices surprise us…He chooses based on different criteria.

Even the old prophet Samuel was impressed with Eliab, but God wasn’t. You would have thought that Samuel would have learned his lesson with Saul.

His Choice is Surprising in its Requirements
God requires not what the outward man can offer, He requires a heart that is His! (7)
We judge people by what we think they are. God, judges them by what He knows they are…When God rejected Saul, He declared what kind of man He was looking for:

1 Samuel 13:14 14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.

It wasn’t that Saul wasn’t man enough to be king…he just wasn’t the right man! Saul was a great man, a mighty man, but his heart was seeking everything but God.

Remember Eliab? He impressed Samuel…I’ll not take the time to read it, but in I Sam. 17:28 we find out what kind of man Eliab really was…he was critical, jealous and negative. He did not meet God’s requirement. His heart was not right!

Remember church! God is not looking for the best dressed, most handsome, popular, educated, skilled etc. He is looking for those whose heart is already His.

His Choice is Surprising in its Receptions (11-12)
It appears that the old prophet was a little confused… “Jesse, do you have any other sons?” And there is confusion in Jesse’s voice… “There’s only one other, but he’s the youngest, and he is keeping the sheep.” I assure you that they were all surprised when David walks in and God says, “He’s the one! Anoint him, He’s my man!

God’s Choices are Specific
God had a specific plan. He sent Samuel to a specific place, at a specific time, to a specific family and to a specific man. Very quickly now let me give you some reasons why these specifics led Samuel to young David…

God Chooses Those Who Are Ready
Remember when Samuel first arrived he sanctified Jesse and his sons before they came to the sacrifice. In other words their sins were dealt with before they could worship God…but notice that when David arrived, there was no sanctification…he was already sanctified! Unlike his brothers…His heart was ripe and ready for God’s use.

Before God will use any of us, we must be ready! David is a picture of the believer who remains in a state of readiness…God will never use a dirty vessel! He’s looking for those who already belong to Him…

I realize that David was not a perfect man…but he kept short accounts with his sin!

God Chooses Those Who Are Reliable
David was faithful…while everyone else was having this shindig David was faithfully watching and caring for the sheep. God is looking for people who are ready and he is looking for people who are reliable.

By the way, if you read on you will see that after David is anointed king over Israel, he returns to the lonely dirty job of keeping sheep! If you really want to be used by God then be faithful and reliable where you are!

God Chooses Those Who Are Redeemed
Here’s the point…God calls those who know Him! He chooses from among His redeemed ones. Those who know Him in a faith relationship; who live clean lives; who are ready, reliable and available…are candidates to be used by the Lord.
Does that describe you today?

When Jesse looked at his sons he saw David as the youngest…when the other sons looked at David they saw a little brat, when Samuel looked at David he saw a cute little boy, but when God looked at David He saw his faithfulness, integrity, readiness, reliability and character. Others saw a "nobody"…God saw a kin

Invitation:
God is still looking for people today that He can choose and use for His glory. Can you honestly say that your life is ready and available? Do you possess the kind of character God is looking for? God chooses based on what He sees in the heart! PRAY

I invite you today to respond to God right now. He knows your heart…speaking to you…choosing you…will you answer? Need to be saved…Need to confess sin…Need to renew your commitment to the Lord? Need to join this Church? Whatever the Lord is speaking to you about…will you step out now as we begin to sing?

Senior Pastor John Sweat, Sr
Cross Roads Baptist Church
1595 Baxley Road
Middleburg, Florida

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR

Acts
13:20b-21a

"After this, God gave them judges until the time
of Samuel the prophet. Then the people asked for a king..."

Initially God was "King" of the Israelites, and gave them judges to deal with administrative matters and to lead wars. However the people were not satisfied with judges and wanted a king to lead them like all of the other nations around them. As the people expressed this to Samuel, the Lord said to him in 1 Samuel 8:7-9, "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do." God is saying, "I will not make you serve me, that is your choice. If you want a king I will give you a king, but be careful what you ask for you might just get it."

When my daughter Rebecca was old enough to get her "learner's permit" she thought she already knew everything there was to know about driving a car. I tried to go through the basics with her, but she wanted to get on the freeway and go fast, so I let her. On that fateful day weentered the freeway at Junipera Serra, heading southbound. The traffic was relatively heavy, but the onramp was long, and as Rebecca sped up to match her speed with the pace of traffic it seemed for a moment that we were going to be okay, until she realized that no one was going to let her onto the freeway (don't we have the most polite drivers in Southern California). The onramp began to narrow and the wall to our right loomed 35 feet above us, yet there was still no gap in the traffic. In near panic Rebecca finally screamed, "Dad help!" as she took her hands from the wheel and covered her eyes.

So it is with us. We think we know what is best for us despite the Lord's instruction to the contrary, so He let's us do things our own way. Funny that thousands of years later we still haven't learned this basic lesson of "Our heavenly Father always knows best." Rebecca and I avoided a disaster that day because she relinquished control of the car back to me(her earthly father), but only after running into a serious problem. The Israelites got what they asked for: an earthly king but were they better off? What about you, what about me, what about us? Who is our king? Who is in control? When am I better off: with me in control or the Lord?

If you want to know who is really in control of your life think back to the last major decision (job to take, house or car to buy, woman to marry, etc.) and minor decision (movie to watch, friends to associate with, etc.)you made. Did you look to God's Word for truth. Did you consult the Lord for wisdom? Did you see the advice of other godly men and women? You know in your heart whether or not a decision you make is pleasing or in conformity with the Lord's will, so don't kid yourself. Who do you want in control, you or the Lord? What will it take to get the Lord back in control of your life -- a disaster, an emergency or will you make a mature decision?

pocketpower.org

DYING TO LIVE

By Sharon Frame

I was about nine-years-old when I first saw a dead person up-close. Some school kids heard an old woman in the neighborhood had just died. Morbid curiosity got the best of us. Before I knew it, we were making nervous tracks through a country dirt road and into the woman’s house.

The quick glimpse of death on her face scared me so fear followed me all the way home that day. My childish imagination ran wild. I couldn’t shake the dead woman’s face. And for days, I’d check under every bed for any sign of death lurking in my house.

It’s not just kids who get scared of death. Many adults can’t handle it either. You may be a faithful Christian who believes in the resurrection. But death is still a curious thing. It’s beyond man’s reach orcontrol. Perhaps that’s what troubles us most. We can’t bear not being incontrol.

Spiritually, that may explain why so many Christians have such
a hard time dying. For dying means relinquishing control of self. It signifies killing the flesh. And who really wants to do that? But die we must, if we really want to live.

In Matthew 16:25 Jesus said to his disciples:
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”

Jesus Christ lived to die. That was his mission on earth. Now we must die to live. That’s our mission. To resurrect means to bring to life again. Since Christ raised us from the dead, we are now charged with resurrecting a dead world still trapped in sin. We do that by living a life dying to self.

John 12:24-25 reminds us of our need to die in order to help others live.“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

How many seeds are still waiting on you to die so they can germinate? How many sinners are waiting on you to resurrect them? Like my nine-year-old self, we usually run from death. But spiritual death is worth embracing, since it can offer life to so many.

The apostle Paul urged us to “mortify (kill) the deeds of the flesh.” That’s how we relinquish our will. Jesus agonized about it in the garden. He finally said, (Father) “not my will, but yours be done.” Dying demands sacrifice. Here’s evidence:

D- Disciplined prayer life. Rise early every morning. Make prayer the first order of business. Talk to God. Allow Him proper space and time to talk to you.

I - Include Holy Spirit. Be led by the comforter, guide and
instructor. He teaches how to die to self and live unto God. Take on the fruit of His Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Goodness, Kindness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

E- Exhibit Christ. Follow Jesus’ perfect example. Walk in His footsteps. Publically display His love. That’s what draws sinners to God. They’re hungry for a taste of true love. It’s patient, kind. It doesn’t envy or boast. It’s not proud. It’s not rude. It’s not self-seeking. It’s not easily angered or offended. It keeps no record of wrongs. It doesn’t delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. (1 Corinthians 13: 4-6)

Such love means death of self.

As a nine-year-old child, mortal death scared the life out of me. Now I willingly die to live. How about you? It’s the only way some “dead man walking” in sin can glimpse Christ, the image and essence of true life.

Scripture Of The Day: “For whoever desires to save his
life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” -
Matthew 16:25 (NKJV)

Streamingfaith.com

DON'T WASTE IT

By Skip Heitzig
In 2 Corinthians 1:3, Paul calls God "the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort." Paul knew God as a merciful comforter because he suffered as a Christian. It's part of his credentials. He suffered externally from the world, who persecuted him. And he suffered internally from Christians, who misjudged his motivation. He's sort of hinting at that in verses 3 through 7.

And what I'd like to say to anybody going through a trial is this. Don't waste your suffering. When you go through a trial, don't look at it as just a dumb accident, but as a divine appointment.

When I say don't waste it, I mean analyze it, learn from it, and ask yourself, "How can what I'm going through help other people who will go through this later on?" I'm convinced that one of the reasons you experience trials is for this very reason, so that you can be a comfort to others. Verse 4 says, "that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

You know, it's amazing that with all the things that Paul suffered, he could still say, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Somebody once said that your spiritual maturity can be measured by what it takes to steal your joy. Think about that. Have you ever met a Christian who, no matter what they're going through, just seems to be above it all a little bit? "I know life is hard, I know this trial is horrible, but God is so good!" They always seem to have a lightness in their step, and they see that there's a greater purpose for what happens. Sometimes it's sort of hard to be around those people. They're so convicting because they're filled with joy! That's a mark of maturity.

I don't know what you're going through in your life. But in the midst of it, I wonder if you can say, like Paul, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." No matter what happens in your world, there's always enough bad stuff going on that you can focus on it.

But I want you to focus on that portion of scripture in 2 Corinthians, and as you do, remember that you can offer God's comfort to others because you've received it yourself. Others need to know how you handle your suffering. As Jesus said, "Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful" (Luke 6:36).

Scripture Of The Day: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ...who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

THAT YOU MAY BE HEALED

“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results”
(James 5:16, NLT)

Relationships are so important in the eyes of God. As His children, He desires that we live in unity and stay connected with one another. When we are transparent and pray for each other, something supernatural takes place. We open the door for God to pour out His abundant blessing and healing in our lives. When we walk in love and unity, our prayers become more effective, and His power is released through us.

Living in peace and unity doesn’t mean you have to agree with everyone around you all the time. It means you look for common ground. It means you reach out to others; you pray for them and help meet their needs. When we put the needs of others first, God will make sure our own needs are abundantly supplied. When we live with a servant’s heart toward others, it opens the door for God’s complete healing — physically, spiritually and emotionally.

Father in heaven, thank You for revealing Your truth to my heart. I choose Your ways above my own and ask that You open opportunities for me to pray for others and open the door for Your healing power. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

JOY IS HEARING THE VOICE OF GOD

Acts 13:25b
[Paul is speaking, quoting John the Baptist] " 'I am not that one. No, but he is coming after me, whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.' "

John was a man who knew who he was and probably more importantly, who he was not: "I am not that one... whose sandals I am not worthy to untie." This was a statement from a man who had known Jesus since they both were in their mother's wombs yet was still excited to be in the Lord's presence (Luke 1:41, "When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb").

John also understood his role, which he describes in John 1:28-30, "I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him. The bride [the church] belongs to the bridegroom [Jesus]. The friend [John] who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine..." John knew the sound of real achievement and acknowledgment, and it wasn't from people, it was the joy of hearing the Lord's voice.

Do you know when true joy is experienced? It is not when we receive something from the Lord and it isn't when we do something for Him; it is when we hear the voice of the Lord. If you are waiting for a new job, a new car, or a nicer spouse before you are joyful, be careful because you are on the road to disaster. If you need to teach a bible study, lead a small group, or go on a mission trip before you find joy, you will probably be disappointed. John knew the secret to not just a sprinkling of joy from time to time, but a life full of joy -- it was in hearing the voice of the Lord.

So how do we hear the voice of the Lord? We open our Bibles -- we read, we study, and we memorize Scripture. We contemplate, analyze and apply the Lord's Word. We allow it to take up residency within us, so when something happens: a car rear ends us or a loved one is ill, the Lord's voice springs from our heart to our head. If we spend time with the Lord, reading His Word and listening for His voice our joy will be fulfilled, in every circumstance. Are you joyful today? What about yesterday? Is your joy fulfilled in hearing the Lord's voice or are you pursuing something else that once achieved will give you joy? Joy is simple if we allow it to be. How do you need to simplify your life and your ability to experience true joy?



pocketpower.org

PREPARE

We here in the south are preparing for hurricane season. Do not forget a regular non-electric can opener! We are given lists of what to do and not do.



Personally my list starts with a tank full of gas. Many of us go through life forgetting to fill up with the Word. Like the tank of gas, if we intend to get anywhere with Christ, we need to tank up on His Word.



Just as we need that check list for hurricanes, it might be a good idea to make yourself a personal check list for Christ. Once we do something on a regular basis, it will become second nature. One thing to remember is not to let it become a habit. A habit can be done without thinking. We need to be alert and aware of our time with the Lord.



Pray about storms NOW. Get ahead of the season. Search out scriptures of protection and cover your home, this is something we should do anyway. Hurricanes are not the only thing that can come against your home. Cover and protect.



Remember be safe. Having faith in God should not be like the old story of the man on the roof during a storm. After turning away help numerous times he died. Getting to heaven he asked God why did You let me die. We all know the end of that story, he made it to heaven, but it was not his time to die.



Scriptures for protection:

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (Matthew 7:7-11 KJV)




The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. (Proverbs 18:10 KJV)



The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. (Psalms 121:5-8 KJV)



When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken. (Proverbs 3:24-26 KJV)



Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. (Psalms 91:9-10 KJV)



But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. (Isaiah 43:1-2 KJV)



The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalms 27:1 KJV)



Have a Blessed day in the Lord.



recj/LJG

LJG says: AMEN and AMEN

"SPECIAL BLESSING" A SPECIAL CHURCH PART TWO

I Thessalonians 1:5-10

This morning we saw that the Church at Thessalonica was the kind of church that brought joy to the heart of the Apostle Paul and to God himself!

Look at verses 2-3: We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;

3　Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

We learned that the first characteristic that every church should have is It must be filled with an elect people…a called out people.

They not only have heard God’s calling, but they have responded to it and are walking worthy in it!

And Church I believe more than ever that we must walk worthy as the Church of God or we will have worthless ministry!

One of the ways Paul could identify that they were an “Elect People” was the change in their lives!

Notice verse 3 compared to verses 9-10…

Your work of faith = they had turned to God from idols

Your labor of love = they now served the living and true God

Your patience of hope = they were expectantly waiting for His Son from heaven.

Bottom line is that they were an “Elect People” and the incredible change in their lives had proved it!

They were living what they said they believed! Church: This is what proves that you are who you say you are!

The characteristics of this “called out people” provide for us and all churches a model to follow.

But this church was not only filled with and Elect People, also:

It Was Filled with an Exemplary People

Let’s Stand and Read I Thessalonians 1:5-10

Did you notice verse 7? They were examples to all that believed!

Notice verse 5 – Paul says, “You know what manner of men we were among you for your sake”

Paul is saying, “We have been good examples for you to follow.” And then in effect, they are now recognized as examples for others to follow!

Now we know that Paul himself was an exemplary man:

II Timothy 1:13 – Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

II Timothy 2:2 – And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

II Timothy 3:10 – But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

II Timothy 4:6-7 – For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

7　I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

So Paul was an exemplary Christian from start to finish!

Now look at verse 6 – “You became followers of us and of the Lord”

In other words, these believers were following the example of others…specifically Paul, Silvanus (Silus), Timothy and the Lord himself!

They first had to learn to follow the right examples in their lives before they could be the right examples to others…What or whose example are you following tonight?

“Follower” means “imitator”. When you follow someone’s example, you are imitating what they do!

Listen, there is absolutely nothing wrong with being a follower! So long as you are following the right person. Who are you following…who are you imitating or modeling your life after?

If you study the life of King Hezekiah in the O. T. you will find that he followed an example in his life to bring about restoration and order to the House of God, which had been forsaken by his father Ahaz.

As you read the story you will notice that he did not follow the example of his father Ahaz, but he followed the example of his father David…He had to look way back for a godly example to follow!

There are a lot of examples around us…as believers we must be careful to follow the right ones.

These believers were an exemplary people in many ways:

They Were Examples in the Way They Followed Their Spiritual Leaders (5-6)

“You became followers of us, and of the Lord”

In other words, they accepted the leadership that God had placed over them.

It should be noted though that Paul, Silas and Timothy had earned the right to say, “You know what manner of men we are…you know our message…you have watched our lives.”

So it was probably easy for these believers to submit to that kind of leadership.

Hebrews 13:17

– Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Paul often said, “Follow me” However, he was not so interested in people following him as he was in people following Christ. Therefore he said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.”

Spiritual leaders ought to be able to say, “Follow me, I know the way…I’ll show you the way!”

Now they themselves are not the way! They only lead the way!

If a pastor or spiritual leader does not lead the way…if he is not an example of Christlikeness, then by all means find one who is! Don’t waste time following those who are not following Christ!

They Were Examples in the Way They Received the Word (6-7)

“Having received the Word in much affliction”

They were willing to receive the messengers and the message of the gospel regardless of the opposition and persecution that they faced.

Paul was hounded and hindered in Thessalonica by unbelieving Jews who not only wanted his preaching to cease, but they also wanted him dead! They ran Paul and Silas out of town!

You can read about it in Acts 17:1-10…These believers lived among a people who were hostile toward Christianity and yet in the midst of this affliction, they still received the Word with joy!

Read – I Thessalonians 2:13-14

Can I encourage you tonight…that good things always happen when people truly receive the Word of God as truth of God, regardless of the cost!

Do you receive the Word of God, as the Word of God? Or do you receive it as the Word of the preacher? Weaker Christians need to see that example in those who are mature in the faith.

It doesn’t matter who the preacher is, or what his style is…so long as He preaches the Word of God we ought to receive it as the Word of God!

They Were Examples in the Way They Witnessed to Others (8)

This very young church became such a witness that their testimony was reaching into the rest of the world!

When Rome conquered Greece it was divided into two provinces: Macedonia was the northern province and Achaia was the southern province. Paul said, “Your witness has spread all over Greece!

“Not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith is spread abroad.”

Praise God! What a testimony! What a witness!

Might remind you tonight that there are people who are watching our lives to see if what we say we have is real or not. Is it real in your life tonight? How is your witness influencing others?

They Were Also an Enthusiastic People!

They were enthusiastic about the Gospel! They were fulfilling the great commission by sounding out the Word of the Lord!

Sounding out = ringing out, a vibrating continuing sound…the greek word is “execheo” = echo

They were telling everyone! They had to be….because for their testimony to spreading abroad.

Paul even says, “Your faith speaks for itself. So that we need not say anything!” They were excited about their faith!

When people see and hear our faith…it becomes the greatest witnessing tool we could ever have!

Is your faith resounding everywhere? Is it spreading in your family…in your school…in the workplace?

Is it contagious?

We need to remember that he has “called us out” and that through us…our testimonies He calls others out!

Acts 1:8

– But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Isaiah 62:6

– I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,

We are the watchmen Church! We are to sound out the Gospel so that all can hear us…keep not silent the Lord says!

We are the examples that others are to follow, but we need to make sure that we providing the right example.

Closing:

These believers at Thessalonica:

They were an Elect People…they understood their calling and they were walking worthy in it!

They were an Exemplary People…they followed the right examples and became examples themselves! They were an Enthusiastic People…the were so excited about Jesus that they told everybody!

And the one we didn’t really talk about much is found in verse 10…

They were an Expectant People…they lived as if Jesus was coming soon!

What kind of people are we? What kind of Church is Crossroads? What kind of examples are we?

Lord help us to live out our heavenly calling as your people;

Help us to follow and provide the right examples in our lives;

Help us to be enthusiastic in our proclamation of the Gospel;

May our faith be contagious;

Help us to remember that our time is short and that eternity is at stake for others around us;

May we learn to be the church you have called us to be;

Work in our members, cleansing us, conforming us to be all that you have called us to be…Amen!

Pastor John Sweat, Sr

Crossroads Baptist Church

1595 Baxley Road

Middleburg, Florida

"SPECIAL BLESSING" AT THE FEET OF JESUS - THERE IS A PLACE OF SERVICE

John 12:1-8

I have been speaking to you about a woman named Mary. She is Mary the sister of Martha and Lazarus. She is also the Mary who we find often at the feet of Jesus.

Two weeks ago we saw Mary at the feet of Jesus in a place of stillness as she came to listen and learn from Him. Last week we saw Mary at the feet of Jesus in a place of supplication as she came to lean on Him in a time of great sorrow. And today we will see Mary again, at the feet of Jesus in a place of service and sacrifice.

I have tried to stress to you through these messages that being at the feet of Jesus is a necessity for each and every one of us. And that we must learn to take the time every day to be at His feet…to study His Word…to communicate with Him in prayer and to worship for who He is.

So we should listen and learn from Him…we should lean on Him…and today we will learn that we should lavish Him!

Stand and Read John 12:1-8…

The first time Mary sat at the feet of Jesus because she was so overcome with His Words…the second time Mary fell at Jesus feet because she was so overcome with her World…and now she kneels at the feet of Jesus because she is so overcome with Worship!

After all, Jesus had just raised her brother from the dead! What more could she do to thank Him for what He had done?

Thought: I have often wondered how Lazarus felt about being raised from the dead!

Nevertheless, as we focus on the actions of Mary in the passage I am reminded that it is not enough to simply know His Word, or to call on Him in prayer, if I do not also take the time to worship Him for who He is and for what He has done and will do!

The first and greatest service that we could render to God is Worship!

I assure you that Jesus is worthy of all our adoration and praise and worship! So it is right and proper to kneel at His feet in a place of servitude and sacrifice and worship Him!

It is a place:

Where WE Humble Ourselves before Him

In order to truly worship our great God, there must be a genuine sense of humility!

God owes us nothing! And we owe Him everything! Amen! The Bible says that we are like grasshoppers in His sight. He is our Creator, Sustainer, Savior and King!

So why would we ever attempt to worship Him without an enormous dose of humility?

Mary humbled herself…at His feet – Being at someone’s feet is a sign, an indication of humility and submission.

Mary humbled herself…by wiping and anointing His feet. Again this was something that pointed to servitude. A servant humbly serves his/her Master. Others served Jesus as well in this passage – they made a meal, Martha served the meal, Lazarus and the disciples shared fellowship with the Lord, but Mary…Mary chose the baser service. She wiped His feet.

There are church members today who avoid the lower or lesser things that need to be done in the Church…Some who would never clean the bathrooms, take out the trash or change a diaper in the nursery. Friends every one of these things must be done! Not for me, not for the Church, but for Jesus!

Mary humbled herself…she wiped His feet with her hair. It that culture if a woman had her hair down in public it was a sign that she was an immoral woman. But Jesus knew Mary’s heart.

Mary did not care what others thought…she simply humbled herself and worshipped at His feet.

I recall an occasion where King David stripped down to his undergarments and publically leaped and danced before the Lord as the Ark of the Covenant was being carried into Jerusalem. His wife criticized him and accused him of being undignified; making a fool of himself in front of others. His response:

"It was before the Lord God of Israel that I did this…and for Him, I will be even more undignified than this!"

David cared not what others thought of him…he humbled himself in the sight of all, before almighty God!

Church, when we are together in the building it is not to promote ourselves, or CBC, or to perform a song or a sermon…it is to lift up, honor and praise, and worship our great God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

And though we worship corporately, you should worship in the place as if no one else is here except you and the Lord!

I’m gonna dance for You like nobody is watching, nobody’s watching me, And dance for You my Lord.

I’m gonna sing for You like nobody is listening, nobody is listening, And sing for You my Lord.

I’m gonna worship You like nothing else matters, nothing else matters, Worship You, my Lord.

I’m not ashamed to worship the name Jesus, Jesus.

I’m not ashamed to shout out the name Jesus, Jesus.

So, at the feet of Jesus there is a place of service where we humble ourselves before Him…and…

Where We Make Our Sacrifice to Him

Notice that verse 3 says Mary poured out a pound of spikenard ointment on the feet of Jesus. We may say well so what…but look at verse 5…three hundred pence in that day would equal about one year’s salary for the average worker. That is a lot of money!

When Mary wanted to worship the Lord and make a sacrifice to Him she didn’t really think about the cost. She simply took the very best she had and used it ALL for Him! She lavished Him with her love by pouring out the most valuable possession that she had!

When we give less than our best to the Lord can we really call it love or worship? And can we really call it a sacrifice?

Giving God what is leftover or what we do not really need or what has no real value to us is a very poor way to show our love, adoration and worship to Him.

Sometimes we express our love and devotion to the Lord like the guy who called his girlfriend and said, "Darling, I love you. I'd climb the highest mountain for you; I'd swim the deepest stream for you; I'd fight a whole jungle of lions for you; and if it doesn't rain, I'll be over to see you tonight."

Words are not enough friend! Actions speak louder than words. So what must we give to Him as a true sacrifice?

Romans 12:1 tells us what we should give: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

II Corinthians 9:6-7 tell us how we should give: But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

7　Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

And finally we learn from several different scriptures that Obedience is better than sacrifice! So what God wants most, and what He wants more, and what He wants first is obedience!

The key is that no matter what you give, no matter how costly it is your heart needs to be right before the Lord.

Remember the little widow woman only gave two mites (less than two pennies) and the Lord said that she had given more than everyone who had given money that day. Why? Because she gave ALL and her heart was in the right place.

There is a short story called "The Gift of the Magi." It is the story of a young couple named Della and Jim. They were a poor couple but they loved each other very much. They had very little of value between them. But each one had their own unique possession. Della's hair was her pride and joy. It was long and flowing and beautiful. Jim had a gold pocket watch, which his father had given him.

On the day before Christmas, Della only had $1.87 with which to buy Jim a present. She wanted to get him something that would express her great love to him…but she knew that she could not get much with a $1.87. So she did the only thing she could do. She went and sold her hair for $20.00. And with the money she bought a platinum chain for Jim's precious watch.

When Jim came home from work that night and saw that Della' shaved head, he was speechless. So she handed him her gift…as he opened it he she told him what she had done. Then, weeping Jim handed Della her gift…it was a set of very expensive tortoise-shell combs with jeweled edges for her lovely hair. Jim had sold his gold watch to buy them for her.

Now Jim had a chain, but no watch and Della had combs, but no hair…nevertheless both were happy for each had given all he or she had to give.

So, at the feet of Jesus there is a place of service where we humble ourselves before Him; where we make our sacrifice to Him and…

Where We Make Our Statement about Him

Notice verse 5 again…and also Mark 14:4-5 you see that there were some that question Mary’s act of worship some criticized and some were even angry with her.

Nevertheless, Mary’s act of worship there at the feet of Jesus was a clear statement to others about how she felt about Jesus. Turn to Mark 14:4-9…

Did you see that? Wherever the Gospel is preached throughout the whole world, what Mary has done will be a memorial to her…it will be an evident token of her love and devotion for Christ!

What will you be remembered for? Will you be remembered for your love and devotion to Christ or something else?

If we will be remembered for our love and devotion to our Lord then we must sit at His feet and learn…we must bow at His feet and prayer…and we must kneel at His feet and worship Him!

But are we willing to humble ourselves? To make a sincere sacrifice? To make a clear statement about Him?

Believe it or not a day is coming when every person will be at the feet of Jesus: Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. But for some, on that day it will be too late.

Pastor John Sweat, Sr

Crossroad Baptist Church

1595 Baxley Road

Middleburg, Florida

"SPECIAL BLESSING" A SPECIAL CHURCH

I Thessalonians 1:1-4

"If you ever find a perfect Church, whatever you do…don’t join it because you will mess it up!

We all know that there are no perfect churches and there are no perfect people, only a perfect Christ!

The Church at Thessalonica was not perfect either, but they were certainly striving to be all that God had called them to be.

Paul is writing this letter to a people who had a strong church, with the right qualities and characteristics. This was a model church for others to follow. What kind of a church was it?

First of all we begin by understanding that every church is filled with people…and the type of people that fill a church has a lot to do with that church’s effectiveness in ministry.

If the church is filled with compassionate people, that church will reach out compassionately to the needs of others.

If the church is filled with casual Christians, you can expect that Church to be casual in its work for Christ.

If it’s filled with evangelistic people, then you will see many souls won for Christ.

If it’s filled with selfish individuals who always want their way, that church will never accomplish anything God’s way.

If it’s filled with people who are sold out to Jesus Christ, there is no limit to what they can do!

So what were the characteristics that made this church so special?

Let’s Stand and Read I Thessalonians 1:1-4

So, what kind of a church was it?

Notice in verses 2 & 3 that Paul gives thanks to God for three things concerning this Church:

Their Work of Faith…their labor of love and their patience of hope…in our Lord Jesus Christ.

So right off we can see that they had the kind of faith in Christ that moved them into action…the kind of love for Christ that stirred up devotion and the kind of hope in Christ that produced endurance!

Notice all three of these things they had "in Christ"! These were not just any people; not just good people; not just religious people…these were people who had genuine faith, love and hope in Christ.

Notice verse 4…

The Church Was Filled with an Elect People

The word church means: a called out assembly. Paul says, "To the Church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ"

Look at verse 4:" Knowing brethren beloved, your election of God"

Now the doctrine of election can be a confusing topic. If it is not handled carefully and biblically is can even cause division in the Church.

However, I find it interesting that out of all the complicated issues that you read about in the early Church, you do not find any debate or argument over the doctrine of election. God declares to us over and over again in His Word that "You didn’t choose me, I have chosen you."

The Bible says that we were elected before the foundation of the world! And that is an awesome declaration that ought to give us even greater assurance of eternal security!

The Doctrine of Election should not be scary…it is securing!

If God chose you, no one can "un-choose" you!

We may not completely understand it or be able to thoroughly explain it, but we certainly ought to find great comfort in it!

One of my professors passed on the following quote to me, "Try to explain election and you will lose your mind, but try to explain it away and you just may lose your soul."

I am glad that we are elected, chosen, predestined, called out, by a sovereign God who loves us and redeems us through His Son Jesus Christ.

However, what I want you to focus on here is that we have been "called out"…

Called out of the world and into the Body Christ – Ephesians 2:1-6

Called out of the darkness and into the light – Acts 26:18

Called out of the family of the Satan and into the family of God

Called out of sin and into the righteousness and holiness which is od in Christ - I Peter 1:13-14

What an awesome privilege and blessing to be the called of God!

It is a Holy Calling

II Timothy 1:8-9 – Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

9　Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

I Peter 1:15-16

– But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

16　Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Are you living holy before a holy God?

It is a Heavenly Calling

Hebrews 3:1

- Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

(Consider where our calling is from…)

It is a High Calling

Philippians 3:13-14

– Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14　I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Have you been called? If so it is a high, heavenly and holy calling!

We Need to Live Worthy of This Calling

II Thessalonians 1:11-12

– Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:

12　That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

"Come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord"

There are too many lizards in the church…they change colors depending on their environment. That’s not how you live worthy of His calling. (We are in the world, but not of it)

Crossroads Baptist Church needs to be filled with an Elect People…a people who understand their calling of God and who live worthy of that calling.

Ephesians 4:1-4

– I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation/calling wherewith ye are called,

2　With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3　Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4　There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

And just in case you do not feel worthy of such a calling…understand that your feeling is correct! For none of us are worthy!

That’s why we can’t call ourselves…or come to God on our own merits. That’s why He must be the one who calls us…and when we respond to His calling we receive the worthiness of His Son!

And God in all His sovereignty calls men and women and boys and girls to be a part of His glorious Church. Why did He do it? Why did He die for me? Why did He call me?

He did it for His own glory! "That you who He has called out of darkness, into marvelous light might show forth His praises…that you might proclaim His name…that you might let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify HIM!

That’s why He did it! That’s the purpose! An "Elect People" called out:

Out of the world and into the Body Christ

Out of darkness and into His light

Out of the family of the Satan and into the family of God

Out of sin and into the righteousness and holiness which is only found in Christ

Called out to bring glory and honor to Him! And this is the purpose of every believer in every church to proclaim His name, His goodness and His glory! And how do we do that? By life and lip! That is by the way I live and by the things I say.

Closing:

What made the Thessalonian Church so special? It was filled with people who were not only called, but who also walked worthy of that calling.

That is what will make Crossroads a special church…not its preacher, not its music, not its ministries, but that we simply understand and live our calling of God.

Has He called you? "How would I even know if He did Pastor?"

You know that He is calling when you see Jesus for who He really is…and you also see yourself for who you really are…a sinner in need of a Savior.

If you don’t see the need for salvation; if there is no real desire in you to give your life to Jesus…then you haven’t heard His call!

But when you hear His call, your greatest need comes into focus…your need for Jesus. And then you simply respond to Him by faith…

Asking Him to forgive you of your sin…to help you turn away from your sin and to Him alone for salvation…Are you willing to do that today?

The Prophet Isaiah says that we should "Seek the Lord while He may be found call on Him while He is near."

He is near this morning…He is calling today…will you respond?

Pastor John Sweat, Sr

Crossroads Baptist Church

1595 Baxley Road

Middleburg, Florida